The DUP and Sinn Fein, the regions two largest parties, have agreed to re-enter a mandatory coalition ministerial executive (Niall Carson/PA) Stormonts incoming first minister Arlene Foster has vowed to get Northern Ireland moving again ahead of business resuming at the Assembly. After the landmark deal to restore devolution, Assembly members will sit at Parliament Buildings in Belfast on Saturday afternoon, three years on from the acrimonious collapse of the powersharing institutions. The DUP and Sinn Fein, the regions two largest parties, have agreed to re-enter a mandatory coalition ministerial executive. They have both signed up to a deal, tabled by the UK and Irish governments, that offered compromise resolutions to a range of long-standing disputes on issues such as the Irish language. Ms Foster, who has experienced a turbulent number of years at the helm of the party, is set to return as first minister. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill is likely to be her partys nomination for deputy first minister. Expand Close Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald announces that her party will return to powersharing (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald announces that her party will return to powersharing (Brian Lawless/PA) On Saturday morning the DUP leader tweeted: Today we will re-establish an Executive after three years of stalemate. Its time to Get Northern Ireland Moving Forward Again. We wont solve every problem immediately but local Ministers will get on with key reforms in schools and hospitals. The endorsement of the two parties was essential for the formation of an executive, as peace process structures mean an administration can only function if it includes the largest unionist party and largest nationalist party. While their inclusion is not a prerequisite, the regions three other main parties the SDLP, Ulster Unionists and Alliance could also all end up taking seats in the new devolved government. The SDLP has confirmed it will take up its entitlement to one ministry. The Alliance Party has also backed the deal. While it does not have the electoral strength to take a ministry by right it may be invited to take up the justice portfolio, which is allocated by a different process to other ministries. As of late Friday night, the Ulster Unionist Party, which is entitled to a seat, has not yet indicated whether it would enter the executive. Expand Close DUP leader Arlene Foster is set to return as Northern Irelands first minister (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp DUP leader Arlene Foster is set to return as Northern Irelands first minister (Brian Lawless/PA) The first item of business when the Assembly sits at 1pm will be the election of a new speaker and team of deputy speakers. The afternoon will also see the election of the first minister, deputy first minister and the rest of the new ministerial executive. The plenary session is scheduled to last for three-and-a-half hours. Expand Close Irish Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney, left, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Julian Smith published the deal on Thursday night (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Irish Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney, left, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Julian Smith published the deal on Thursday night (Niall Carson/PA) The New Decade, New Approach deal will also be accompanied by what the UK Government has promised will be a major investment package. Government funding is set to help tackle a host of acute problems facing a public sector that has been floundering amid the governance vacuum. One of the most high-profile of those is an industrial dispute in the health service that has seen nurses take strike action on three occasions in the last month. Under the terms of the deal, the new executive will also take action to reduce spiralling hospital waiting lists; extend mitigation payments for benefit claimants hit by welfare reforms; increase the number of police officers on the beat; and resolve an industrial dispute involving teachers. The last DUP/Sinn Fein-led coalition government collapsed in January 2017 over a row about a botched green energy scheme. That row subsequently widened to take in more traditional wrangles on matters such as the Irish language and the thorny legacy of the Troubles. "It's been a couple of days since the Iran almost-war," and "with the perspective of time, we can ask: Was any of this legal?" Stephen Colbert asked on Thursday's Late Show. "The administration says yes, the drone strike was completely justified because they were heading off an 'imminent' attack," but "so far, [President] Trump hasn't provided any evidence of that." Top-level Trump officials briefed Congress on Wednesday, but lots of lawmakers left decidedly unpersuaded. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) called it "the worst briefing" he can recall and an insult to Congress and the Constitution. Colbert co-signed that sentiment, plus some: "This is insulting to the American people. Has everyone already forgotten what happens when we don't ask for concrete evidence justifying a military attack against a Middle Eastern country whose name begins with Ira?" Back in 2002, "George W. Bush respected us enough to put some effort into his lies," he said, and Bush had Colin Powell to spread them. Instead of a trusted figure like Powell, Trump has Vice President Mike Pence, Colbert said. "Did you get that? Pence has seen all the evidence, but you won't ever see it because it goes to another school in Canada and it's super hot, and he totally got to third base with it which, for Mike Pence, is sharing fro-yo. And I say, before giving the president the authority to attack another Middle Eastern country, we must demand better lies. We deserve better lies!" After all, he said, our tax dollars are paying for them. To wit: Trump insisted Thursday morning that "numerous" lawmakers told him it was "the best" briefing, noted Late Night's Seth Meyers. "Oh, numerous senators said that? Which ones? 'You wouldn't know them, they go to a different school in Canada.'" "Trump and his team have tried to justify this strike by claiming [Gen. Qassem] Soleimani posed an 'imminent' threat," Meyers said, but "it is becoming increasingly clear that a lawless president violated the Constitution to order the assassination of a foreign official, and then lied about it. And the only people cheering him on are the reckless warmongers who've lied us into war before. But now, members of both parties want to rein Trump in," and the House has already taken the first step. Story continues The Daily Show brought in the full team to explore why Trump ordered Soleimani's killing, with a lighter touch. More stories from theweek.com 5 royally funny cartoons about Harry and Meghan's exit Chip Walter recommends 6 great science books It's so much more than cooking Advertisement A potential juror for the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault case in New York was dismissed after she told the court she could not be impartial because a friend had had an 'encounter' with the embattled movie mogul in his hotel room. The woman's comment was made this week when asked by Judge James Burke if she could be a fair and impartial juror in Weinstein's case. 'I have a close friend who had an encounter with the defendant in his hotel room,' the woman said. The news comes after reports that Harvey Weinstein's defense team was admonished on Friday by the judge for 'illegally' demanding the media be banned from reporting on the remainder of the jury selection process. A disheveled looking Harvey Weinstein leaves the New York City criminal court during his sex crimes trial on January 10 As things stand , Judge Burke is tentatively penciling in January 22 as the start of opening arguments Weinstein, 67, is facing five charges in New York from accusations he raped one woman in a hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed a sex act on Mimi Haleyi in 2006 - charges to which he has pleaded not guilty, claiming any sexual activity was consensual. Despite facing life in prison if convicted, the disgraced mogul appeared in a jovial mood when he arrived outside Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday morning, sharing a laugh and a joke with his lawyer Donna Rotunno. Cutting a frail figure and hunched over his now-infamous walker, Weinstein, with a pair of slippers on his feet, hauled himself up the steps and shuffled his way into the courthouse ahead of what proved to be a dramatic day of proceedings. Moments after he stepped into the courtroom, the conclusion to the first week of Weinstein's trial took a shocking twist when the former producer's co-counsel, Arthur Aidala, threw an unprecedented legal curveball by demanding Judge James Burke ban all media coverage of the jury selection - despite the process being nearly half-way complete. 'Most people don't speak in front of the international media,' Aidala proclaimed to Burke. 'In order for citizens to be as honest and forthright as possible, we ask that jury selection be done in private.' His downcast demeanor marked a far cry from the smiling and joking Weinstein who was pictured arriving at the courthouse hours earlier A wry smile is seen on the face of Weinstein's lead attorney, Donna Rotunno, despite her team suffering another defeat in their attempts to paint their client's trial as a media circus, one which, in their opinion, prevents the 67-year-old from getting a fair trial The ex-producer's legal team has had little success persuading Burke to rule in their favor - and Friday proved to be no exception With his proposed motion essentially a bid to cloak the proceedings, Aidala told the judge his true motivation behind the request was to ensure prospective jurors are handed the opportunity to discuss sensitive topics, such as sexual assault, without inhibiting themselves because of a press presence in the courtroom. In a week filled with similar explosive and outlandish moves on the part of the defense, Judge Burke seemed unimpressed by Aidala's latest stunt and a heated exchange followed. 'That is illegal!,' Burke thundered in retort. 'I'll read this [motion], but I'm generally familiar with this form of the law... I'm disagreeing with you on virtually every level. 'If this is inconsistent with having a transparent jury selection, it will be denied,' Burke sharply continued. 'I see this is an end run around my ruling about your desire for time limits.' The prosecution urged Burke to reject the defense's motion without review, calling the request unprecedented. 'They want each person to be questioned in private, for which I don't think there is any precedent except in the most extreme examples,' Manhattan Deputy District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon pleaded. Burke appeared to position himself with the defense, saying that jurors have already been allowed the capacity to speak to attorney's confidentially if they needed to. 'In this case, at the pre-screening level, we're already doing that,' Burke continued. 'We have had that confidential response.' Aidala insisted that jury screening for a sexual assault case involves asking people about sensitive subjects 'Those are very embarrassing, personal subjects to be saying in front of millions of people, that will be reported across the world,' he said. 'With this amount of scrutiny, which is not normal for a case.' Aidala continued by raising another area of concern, that if prospective jurors openly share their opinions in front of others - whether based on fact or otherwise - those opinions could influence the views of other jurors. But again Burke appeared unmoved: 'Jurors blurt all manner of things out that are not great, that are not desirable for entire jury panels to hear,' the judge replied. 'That is just a truism of our system of justice.' Calling the motion 'against the law', Burke tentatively denied Aidala's request, but said he would still review the eight page motion either today, or over the weekend. Obtained by USA Today, in the motion Aidala says that Weinstein's defense has reviewed some of the potential jurors' questionnaires and believes many are unfairly biased against the ex-producer. In review, Aidala writes: 'We have learned that (1) some jurors have not been candid in their responses; (2) at least one juror has expressed an ulterior financial motive for serving on Mr. Weinstein's trial and that he would find him guilty; (3) a number of jurors have been victims of or had exposure to sexual assault or domestic violence; and (4) nearly all jurors have heard about this case,' Aidala writes. The defense team further requested that all 32 jurors who heard a damning remark about Weinstein during voir dire two days ago be removed. When asked by the judge why he was raising the matter so far into the process, which has already been widely covered, Aidala simply replied: 'Our only motivation is to make sure we get a fair and impartial jury.' In a week filled with similar explosive and outlandish moves on the part of the defense, Judge Burke seemed unimpressed by Aidala's latest stunt to have the media banned from proceedings and a heated exchange followed 'That is illegal!,' Burke thundered in retort. 'I'll read this [motion], but I'm generally familiar with this form of the law... I'm disagreeing with you on virtually every level Calling the motion 'against the law', Burke tentatively denied Aidala's request, but said he would still review the eight page motion either today, or over the weekend Shamed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein arrived to court with a smile on his face in New York on Friday morning Weinstein, 67, is charged in New York with raping one woman in a hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing a sex act on Mimi Haleyi in 2006 - charges to which he has pleaded not guilty Weinstein emerged from his car donning a what appeared to be a pair of slippers on his feet Despite facing life in prison if convicted, the disgraced mogul appeared in a jovial mood when he arrived outside Manhattan Criminal Court this morning, sharing a laugh and a joke with his lawyer Donna Rotunno as he gingerly made his way up the courthouse steps Cutting a frail figure as he hunched over his now-infamous stroller, Weinstein, with a pair of house slippers on his feet, hauled himself up the steps and shuffled his way into the courthouse All smiles: Friday could prove to be a decisive day in the jury selection for Weinstein's impending rape trial Yesterday, Judge James Burke admonished Weinstein calling him 'non-compliant, defiant and challenging' as he denied the defense team's request that he recuse himself after he threatened to jail the disgraced movie mogul for texting in the courtroom Weinstein cuta frail figure as he hunched over his now-infamous stroller and shuffled into the courtroom - a recurring theme of his recent court appearances The ex-producer's legal team has had little success persuading Burke to rule in their favor. Weinstein's attorneys have repeatedly tried - and failed - to paint their client's trial as a media circus, one which, in their opinion, prevents the 67-year-old from getting a fair trial. Yesterday, Judge Burke admonished Weinstein calling him 'non-compliant, defiant and challenging' as he denied the defense team's request that he recuse himself after he threatened to jail the disgraced movie mogul for texting in the courtroom. Burke previously scolded Weinstein as jury selection was getting underway Tuesday, asking: 'Is this really the way you want to end up in jail for the rest of your life, by texting in violation of an order? Is it?' He said Thursday he issued the threat after Weinstein was 'notably non-compliant, defiant and challenging to court officers' when asked to not use his phone. The judge added: 'There's nothing prejudicial or inflammatory about scolding a recalcitrant defendant for repeated violations of a court order if using strong and even hyperbolic language succeeds after stern admonitions have failed.' Weinstein has also complained about press attention, being scrutinized for using his walker and even tried to ban celebrity attorney Gloria Allred - who represents some of his accusers - from the trial. His lawyers also unsuccessfully tried to delay jury selection in light of the new case filed in Los Angeles on Monday, asking for a 'cooling-off period' to allow the publicity to subside. But Judge Burke expressed confidence that the jurors would know that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and he pressed on. He said Thursday: 'All I meant to do was scare him enough to convince him to discontinue using his phone. I certainly never actually meant I was going to put your client in jail for life nor did I mean that I had pre-judged whether he is guilty or not-guilty or innocent of the charges.' Around 108 prospective jurors were subjected to a pre-screening process today, though only 30-40 advanced through to the selection stage. They were led down the hall and into the courtroom at 10:07am this morning. Three potential jurors raised their hands when asked if they knew somebody associated with the case. One woman identified herself as a friend of Weinstein's chief lawyer, Donna Rotunno, but assued she could still remain fair and impartial. A man revealed that he'd served on a bar committee with another of the defendants attorneys, Barry Kamins, but said it wouldn't affect his impartiality. Another man said that he had worked with one of Weinstein's charities in the past and would be 'uncomfortable' if selected to serve. Forty-four of the potential jurors raised their hands to admit they didn't believe they could be fair or impartial. Judge Burke didn't ask for further explanation. The proceedings were interrupted at 11am by the sound of chanting and percussion instruments bellowing through the courthouse window as an all-female protest against Weinstein was staged outside. The some sixty demonstrators, affiliated with the Chilean feminist organization Las Tesis, performed 'A Rapist in Your Path', a Chilean feminist performance piece that protests violence against women. 'It's not my fault, not where I was, not how I dressed,' they chanted several times. 'And the rapist was you!,' they declared, pointing up to the courthouse. When the selection process resumed, between 30-40 people raised their hands to confirm they believe they're fit to serve on the jury. They were handled a detailed questionnaire, and advanced to the next stage of selection at 11:45am. The ex-producer's legal team has had little success persuading Burke to rule in their favor Around 118 prospective jurors will be subjected to a pre-screening process today. They were led down the hall and into the courtroom at 10am this morning Weinstein has also complained about press attention, being scrutinized for using his walker and even tried to ban celebrity attorney Gloria Allred - who represents some of his accusers - from the trial The proceedings were interrupted at 11am by the sound of chanting and percussion instruments bellowing through the courthouse window as an all-female protest against Weinstein was staged outside The some 60 demonstrators, dressed in black and red, performed 'A Rapist in Your Path', a Chilean feminist performance piece that protests violence against women 'It's not my fault, not where I was, not how I dressed,' they chanted several times. 'And the rapist was you!,' they declared, pointing up to the courthouse. The proceedings paused momentarily while the demonstration took place. When they resumed between 30-40 people raised their hands to confirm they believe they're fit to serve on the jury. They were handled a detailed questionnaire, and advanced to the next stage of selection at 11.45am In total, more than 2,000 jury summonses were sent ahead of Weinstein's case and hundreds have appeared in batches through Burke's courtroom this week. As things stand currently, Judge Burke is tentatively penciling in January 22 as the start of opening arguments. Just 30 potential jurors from a pool of 120 remained at the end of Wednesday, day two of jury selection. On Tuesday 36 remained, meaning there are currently 96-106 people advancing in the process. They were each given questionnaires featuring 72 questions and will report back for further questioning on January 16. Thursday was the third day of jury selection in the case, with an additional 120 potential jurors called in for pre-screening. A murmur went through the courtroom when Burke announced the name of the defendant before delivering instructions about jury service. But Burke was forced to cut the proceedings short before noon because the lead prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi, had a medical issue. When asked by Burke how she was feeling on Friday, 'much, much better,' she responded to the judge. The questionnaire given to potential jurors asks, 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. On Tuesday some said that reading Ronan Farrow's book means they could not give Weinstein a fair trial. Pulitzer Prize winner Farrow's book tells the story of his quest to expose Weinstein, who has pleaded not guilty and maintains that any sexual activity was consensual. Weinstein, 67, brought The Brothers Mankiewicz: Hope, Heartbreak and Hollywood Classics to court Dozens of potential jurors have been released from consideration because they're returning to college in the coming weeks. More than 90 were ousted after they admitted they couldn't possibly be impartial in Weinstein's case because of what they knew about the case already. Another potential juror said they had a friend who had an encounter with the former Hollywood mogul. 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 juror's knowledge and opinions about the case. Twelve jurors and six alternates need to be selected. 'The defense 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.' In picking a jury, defense 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. Weinstein brought two books to court. One was The Brothers Mankiewicz: Hope, Heartbreak and Hollywood Classics; the other a vintage edition of Ken Follett's novel The Pillars of the Earth. The former is a biography about Herman and Joseph Mankiewicz - whose Oscar-winning films included 'Citizen Kane' and 'All About Eve'. One brother fell prey to gambling and alcoholism. The other rose to fame while carrying on sexual affairs with Hollywood actresses and was fired after a period of drug use. Weinstein founded his film production company Miramax with his brother Bob in 1979. Weinstein's lawyer, Donna Rotunno, said she did not advise Weinstein to bring outside reading material to court. 'Judge Burke did,' she said. 'During jury selection, Mr. Weinstein has much downtime outside the presence of the jury pool. He is not reading in the courtroom.' One Amazon critic of the Sydney Ladensohn Stern book said the brothers its about were 'the most brilliant and charismatic men ever to ply their sometimes dubious trade in Hollywood'. Paul Callan, a former prosecutor and defense attorney, said he did not think the book was part of Weinstein's courtroom strategy. 'It doesn't strike me as a story that has a tale of innocence or redemption, which is the kind of story you would want to present to the jury if you were using this as a mechanism,' said Callan. Weinstein was charged with sexual assault in May 2018. When he surrendered to New York police, he carried the biography of Elia Kazan, a movie director who stirred controversy for testifying before the House of Representatives' Un-American Activities Committee about communism in 1952. Moments after he stepped into the courtroom, Weinstein's pretrial proceedings took a shocking twist when the former producer's co-counsel Arthur Aidala (above) threw an unprecedented legal curveball by demanding Judge James Burke ban all media coverage of the jury selection - despite the process being nearly half-way complete In total, more than 2,000 jury summonses were sent ahead of Weinstein's case and hundreds have appeared in batches through Burke's courtroom this week Judge Burke previously scolded Weinstein as jury selection was getting underway Tuesday, asking: 'Is this really the way you want to end up in jail for the rest of your life, by texting in violation of an order? Is it?' Yesterday, Judge Burke admonished Weinstein calling him 'non-compliant, defiant and challenging' as he denied the defense team's request that he recuse himself after he threatened to jail the disgraced movie mogul for texting in the courtroom Why the jury selection process will take up to two weeks and how they will be selected Selecting the jury for the Hollywood mogul's rape and sexual assault trial is likely to be a painstaking, weeks-long process, made complicated by the high stakes, heavy publicity and public revulsion toward him. 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 juror's knowledge and opinions about the case. Opening statements shouldn't be expected before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on January 20, the judge said. 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. Jury questionnaires are commonly used to identify subject areas like their knowledge of and potential links to the case or any prior experiences with law enforcement that can then allow follow-up questions back in the courtroom before selection. Potential jurors raise their hands and explain why they can't serve on the jury of film producer Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial 'The defense 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.' Prospective jurors were introduced as a group to Weinstein and were read a list of names that could come up at trial, including actresses Salma Hayek, Charlize Theron and Rosie Perez. 120 potential jurors appeared before the court Tuesday - 36 advanced to the next stage of the process. A further 120 appeared Wednesday with 30 being selected to continue. New pools of prospective jurors will be summoned to court each morning in the coming days - around 120 per day will be called. A jury summons was sent to 2,000 New Yorkers - five times the number for a typical trial. Experts said lawyers for Weinstein and the prosecution would need to be wary of jurors who may try to mask their bias in order to 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. 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 defense asked at Monday's hearing that the jury be sequestered, a request the judge denied. Advertisement Weinstein transformed the independent film industry with award-winning films like 'Shakespeare in Love' and 'The English Patient.' Several criminal defense attorneys said it is unusual for a defendant to bring outside reading material to a trial, especially one in which the defendant is facing such serious charges. Defense attorney Gerald Lefcourt said he generally asks clients to carry a notepad and pen rather than a novel to jury selection so they can participate in the vetting process. Lefcourt said reading might be a way for Weinstein to cope with anxiety during the trial, which began the same day that the Los Angeles district attorney announced new sexual assault charges against him. 'Maybe he thinks his lawyers have it covered and rather than show any kinds of emotion, he'd rather have his head down,' he said. Opening statements shouldn't be expected before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on January 20, the judge said. Weinstein is charged in New York with raping one woman in a hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing a sex act on Haleyi in 2006. He could get life in prison if convicted. In a 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 has said any sexual activity was consensual. Since 2017, more than 80 women, including many famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct dating back decades. The trial is expected to last at least six weeks. Harvey Weinstein, center, leaves court Thursday after the judge in his trial blocked a moved to remove him from proceedings Weinstein, flanked by his attorney Donna Rotunno, has also complained about press attention and being scrutinized for using his walker and tried to ban celebrity attorney Gloria Allred - who represents some of his accusers - from the trial The former studio boss has said any sexual activity was consensual. Since 2017, more than 80 women, including many famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct dating back decades Lawyer Damon Cheronis argues in front of Judge James Burke during Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial on Wednesday Italy has given the world so many wonderful culinary wonders from espresso to pizza. And recently, America has been giving them right back. In 2018, Starbucks raised some Italian eyebrows by opening its first location in the country that inspired the chain. And now, traditionalists have something new to scoff at after Dominos is apparently eyeing a major Italian expansion. Dominos isnt new to Italy: The company first entered the original home of pizza back in 2015 and currently has 28 locations in the country, according to The Local, but that five-store-per-year expansion rate is set to explode: Alessandro Lazzaroni, CEO of Domino's in Italy, told potential franchisees that the chain is looking to open 850 stores over the next decade, the financial site Money.it reported a number that would give the American-based brand 2 percent of Italys pizza market. To be fair to Dominos, its not like they are targeting Italy specifically: As Money.it points out, the chain currently has around 16,000 locations across 85 countries. Based on that math, you could make the argument that Dominos has been slow to infiltrate Italy. Courtesy of Domino's Additionally, Dominos Italian website assures customers that the recipe has been designed specifically for the Italian market, with a product that respects tradition, top quality ingredients and a dough that is subjected to a maturation of at least 48 hours, so as to be good and also highly digestible. Compliance with the Italian pizza recipe is also ensured by the use of sourdough from the durum wheat flour of the Altamura bread. This yeast gives an exclusive fragrance to Domino's pizza in Italy. Heck, it sounds like Dominos should bring their Italian pizza recipe to the United States! Still, that hasnt kept Italians on social media from complaining (because what else is social media good for!) The Local found examples of Facebook users calling the expansion like selling ice to Eskimos or bringing sand to the beach. And yet, its not like Dominos doesnt know what theyre doing: They already have 28 stores there, so clearly, those must be doing well to warrant opening hundreds more. It's already here in Piacenza and sadly it's pretty popular! another commenter was quoted as saying. Hey, its not like the beach ever runs out of room for more sand! 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe SL Asias best destination for Wildlife Tourism, in CNNs 20 best places to visit in 2020 View(s): The New Year 2020 kicked off with a fresh start and good vibes for Sri Lanka, for the island destination bagged its first award of the year, as Asias best destination for Wildlife Tourism at the Top Asia Corporate ball 2019, which was held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sri Lanka was ranked first in the category of Asias Best Nation for Wildlife Tourism, from a survey conducted on Asian countries and out of five short listed countries, selected by Top 10 Asias premier publications. The event was organised by RHS Media, which is the publisher for the premier business, people and lifestyle magazines, Top 10 of Malaysia and Top 10 of Asia, a Sri Lanka Tourism media release said. Adding another feather to Sri Lankas cap, CNN Travel included Sri Lanka along with 19 countries as 20 best places to visit for 2020. Part of CNNs quote on Sri Lanka read as, The South Asian island nation of Sri Lanka is as ancient as it is beautiful; as complex a civilization now as at any time in its 2,000-year history. Despite recent tumult (the horrific terror attacks last Easter), Sri Lanka remains an essential destination, an epicenter of history, with relics and ruins, temples and palaces, wildlife running free. Sitting in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern tip of India, travellers may default to thinking of Sri Lanka as a beach getaway. But to truly immerse yourself in the countrys history, go inland and tour the countrys cultural triangle. In 2019, Sri Lanka was able to receive several international endorsements, including emerging as the winner of Asias Leading Adventure Tourism Destination and Asias Leading Emerging Tourism Destination Colombo, at the World Travel Awards which was held at the Vinepearl Convention Center in PhuQuoc , Vietnam, for the 26th consecutive year, amidst a large number of travel and leisure industry stakeholders, and tourism officials from all across the globe. Sri Lanka was nominated among the first six Asian countries for solo female travellers by Lonely Planet. According to Sofia Levin, who writes for the Lonely Planet magazine, You could spend a few days in Colombo, but for a more peaceful environment, head for the hills. Nuwara Eliya is Sri Lankas tea country with verdant, rolling hills and fresh air, but I preferred the smaller, laid back town of Ella. Sri Lanka was given this recognition along with several other countries including Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Turkey, South Korea and the Philippines. Narendra Modi-Mamata Banerjee Meeting LIVE Updates: Addressing an anti-CAA-NRC demonstration in Kolkata after meeting the prime minister, the West Bengal chief minister said that her government doesn't accept the notification issued by the government on the Citizenship Amendment Act Auto refresh feeds According to local reports, a protest at Kaikhali on VIP Road is still on. Another demonstration has been lined up outside Raj Bhawan, and both Left and Congress have planned to wave black flag. The prime minister's visit comes at a time when West Bengal has been witnessing widespread protests against the contentious Citizenship Act. Massive security arrangements were made by the Special Protection Group (SPG) in consultation with the Kolkata Police. Amid protests, the security is several notches tighter as the city turns into a fortress. Besides, he will unveil a plaque of 150 years of commemorative installation at the site of original Port jetties. The prime minister will also inaugurate the upgraded ship repair faciility of Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock. He will inaugurate the full rake handling facility while dedicating the upgraded railway infrastructure of Kolkata Dock System of KoPT for smooth cargo movement and improving turnaround time. In another event, the prime minister will inaugurate Kaushal Vikas Kendra and Pritilata Chhatri Avas for 200 tribal girl students of Sunderbans. He will be handing over a cheque of Rs 501 crore towards the final instalment to meet the deficit of pension fund of retired and existing employees of the Kolkata Port Trust, the statement said. The prime minister will also be felicitating two oldest pensioners of the Kolkata Port Trust -- Nagina Bhagat, 105, and Naresh Chandra Chakraborty, 100. He will also launch the Port anthem during the event. These are the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall. The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic galleries and refurbished them with new exhibitions, while curating the old galleries. The ministry is developing cultural spaces around iconic buildings in various metro cities in the country. During his visit, Modi will attend sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust and hold a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He will also dedicate four heritage buildings to the nation. Apart from attending scheduled programmes, the prime minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with Banerjee at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday evening. The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with Banerjee's Trinamool Congress opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation. The Left Front activists staged protests on Saturday against the new citizenship law in various parts of North 24 Parganas district. The ruling Trinamool Congress students wing as well as Left Front activists protested separately against the amended Citizenship Act in various parts of West Bengal as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state. Trinamool Congress students' wing, TMCP, began their 'dharna' against CAA, NRC and National Population Register (NPR) on Friday at Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata. Earlier, in September 18 last year, Mamata met PM Modi after a gap of nearly 16 months at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence. Then, she termed the meeting as 'non-political meeting' and 'very good'. Then, for the first time she had also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed many issues, including the National Register of Citizens. TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to spend an hour with the TMCP agitators during the day. She is scheduled to meet the prime minister in the evening at the Raj Bhawan. Though, the agenda of the meeting is not yet known but Mamata is likely to discuss various state-centre issues, including NRC and CAA. The politically significant meeting between the two leaders took place a short time after the PM arrived in the city on a two-day visit. The agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met on Saturday at Raj Bhawan, amidst ongoing protests across the city against the amended Citizenship Act. "I told him (the prime minister) that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC. We want that CAA and NRC should be withdrawn," ANI quoted her as saying. Speaking to reporters after her brief meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that she informed him about her government's stand on CAA, proposed NRC and NPR. Modi is in Kolkata today for a two-day visit. He will attend the sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust and hold a detailed meeting with Banerjee on Sunday. He will also dedicate four heritage buildings to the nation. After the short meeting, Mamata had said that she had informed the prime minister about her government's stand on the issue, and asked him to withdraw the contentious act. Soon after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee participated in a demonstration being held by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad in Kolkata, against CAA and NRC. Banerjee also said that the peaceful movement against CAA and NRC will continue in West Bengal. "We do not accept NRC. We do not accept CAA," adding that citizenship is the right of the people of India. "We do not accept the notification issued by the government. It's anti-constitutional. We can't allow citizenship based on religion. The CAA notification will be only on paper, it will never be implemented. We would not allow it," Banerjee said during a dharna against CAA. Addressing an anti-CAA-NRC demonstration in Kolkata, West Bengal chief minister said that her government doesn't accept the notification issued by the government on the Citizenship Amendment Act. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit in Kolkata, unveiled an Ardhnarishwar sculpture at Old Currency Building in the capital of West Bengal. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was also present at the unveiling of the statue. Announcing that the renovation work to modernise the four iconic galleries of Kolkata, including Belvedere House, Old Currency Building and the Victoria Memorial, has been completed, the prime minister said that efforts are being taken in the direction to convert the Belvedere House into a Museum of the World. He said that the project will start from the Indian Museum of Kolkata, one of the oldest museums in the world, according to ANI. Speaking at the unveiling of a statue at Kolkata's Old Currency Building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Central government has decided that five iconic museums of the country will be made of international standards. Apart from attending scheduled programmes, the prime minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with Banerjee at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday evening. The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with Banerjee's Trinamool Congress opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation. The Left Front activists staged protests on Saturday against the new citizenship law in various parts of North 24 Parganas district. The ruling Trinamool Congress students wing as well as Left Front activists protested separately against the amended Citizenship Act in various parts of West Bengal as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state. Trinamool Congress students' wing, TMCP, began their 'dharna' against CAA, NRC and National Population Register (NPR) on Friday at Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata. Earlier, in September 18 last year, Mamata met PM Modi after a gap of nearly 16 months at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence. Then, she termed the meeting as 'non-political meeting' and 'very good'. Then, for the first time she had also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed many issues, including the National Register of Citizens. TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to spend an hour with the TMCP agitators during the day. She is scheduled to meet the prime minister in the evening at the Raj Bhawan. Though, the agenda of the meeting is not yet known but Mamata is likely to discuss various state-centre issues, including NRC and CAA. #WATCH : PM Narendra Modi meets West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. The Prime Minister is in Kolkata to take part in 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. pic.twitter.com/6r6ghcLlSu The politically significant meeting between the two leaders took place a short time after the PM arrived in the city on a two-day visit. The agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met on Saturday at Raj Bhawan, amidst ongoing protests across the city against the amended Citizenship Act. "I told him (the prime minister) that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC. We want that CAA and NRC should be withdrawn," ANI quoted her as saying. Speaking to reporters after her brief meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that she informed him about her government's stand on CAA, proposed NRC and NPR. West Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee participates in a demonstration being held by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad in Kolkata, against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct and National Register of Citizens. pic.twitter.com/dv48aJR24p Modi is in Kolkata today for a two-day visit. He will attend the sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust and hold a detailed meeting with Banerjee on Sunday. He will also dedicate four heritage buildings to the nation. After the short meeting, Mamata had said that she had informed the prime minister about her government's stand on the issue, and asked him to withdraw the contentious act. Soon after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee participated in a demonstration being held by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad in Kolkata, against CAA and NRC. Banerjee also said that the peaceful movement against CAA and NRC will continue in West Bengal. "We do not accept NRC. We do not accept CAA," adding that citizenship is the right of the people of India. "We do not accept the notification issued by the government. It's anti-constitutional. We can't allow citizenship based on religion. The CAA notification will be only on paper, it will never be implemented. We would not allow it," Banerjee said during a dharna against CAA. Addressing an anti-CAA-NRC demonstration in Kolkata, West Bengal chief minister said that her government doesn't accept the notification issued by the government on the Citizenship Amendment Act. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit in Kolkata, unveiled an Ardhnarishwar sculpture at Old Currency Building in the capital of West Bengal. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was also present at the unveiling of the statue. Announcing that the renovation work to modernise the four iconic galleries of Kolkata, including Belvedere House, Old Currency Building and the Victoria Memorial, has been completed, the prime minister said that efforts are being taken in the direction to convert the Belvedere House into a Museum of the World. He said that the project will start from the Indian Museum of Kolkata, one of the oldest museums in the world, according to ANI. Speaking at the unveiling of a statue at Kolkata's Old Currency Building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Central government has decided that five iconic museums of the country will be made of international standards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Dynamic Architectural Illumination with synchronised light and sound system for Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge) as a part of 150th-anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust. Narendra Modi-Mamata Banerjee Meeting LIVE Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit in Kolkata, unveiled an Ardhnarishwar sculpture at Old Currency Building in the capital of West Bengal. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was also present at the unveiling of the statue. Addressing an anti-CAA-NRC demonstration in Kolkata after her meeting with Modi at Raj Bhavan, West Bengal chief minister said that her government doesn't accept the notification issued by the government on the Citizenship Amendment Act. "We do not accept the notification issued by the government. It's anti-constitutional. We can't allow citizenship based on religion. The CAA notification will be only on paper, it will never be implemented. We would not allow it," Banerjee said during a dharna against CAA. "We do not accept NRC. We do not accept CAA," she said adding that citizenship is the right of the people of India. Banerjee also said that the peaceful movement against CAA and NRC will continue in West Bengal. Soon after meeting Modi at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, Banerjee participated in the demonstration being held by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad in Kolkata, against CAA and NRC. Earlier, speaking to reporters after her brief meeting with Modi, Banerjee said that she informed him about her government's stand on CAA, proposed NRC and NPR. "I told him (the prime minister) that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC. We want that CAA and NRC should be withdrawn," ANI quoted her as saying. The politically significant meeting between the two leaders took place a short time after the prime minister arrived in the city. Modi is on his first visit to West Bengal since the passage of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act at a time when the state's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee has been leading an acerbic campaign against the law. However, notwithstanding the bitterness the two politicians have shared in the past, both are poised to discharge constitutional duties and withhold political niceties as Modi is expected to share the dais with the TMC supremo on Sunday. Ever since the BJP emerged the main contender of the TMC in West Bengal following the Lok Sabha poll results, Modi and Banerjee have not shared a stage at any government programme. The chief minister had gone to New Delhi in September last year and met Modi in a "courtesy call" visit. Both are expected to hold a meeting at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday, a state secretariat official said on Friday. They are also likely to share the stage during a programme in Kolkata on Sunday, a source in the Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) told PTI. Mamata, who was holding back on the Centre's invitation for almost five days, sent out indications on Friday morning that she could attend the event. Modi will be on a two-day visit to Kolkata from 11 January, amid ongoing protest at various places in the state against the amended citizenship law. "As far as we know, she (Banerjee) will attend a programme of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) on 12 January, where the prime minister would also be present," a senior TMC leader told PTI. Modi will reach the city at around 4 pm as per the schedule, said an official at the state secretariat. However, the agenda of the meeting between Modi and Banerjee was not disclosed. Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya had gone to the state secretariat on Friday to invite Banerjee to the 150th-anniversary programme of the Kolkata Port Trust, wherein Modi will announce projects related to shipping and heritage conservation, say reports. The significant political development comes a day after Banerjee had said in the state assembly that she would boycott an opposition meeting called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on 13 January over the JNU violence, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and other "anti-people" policies of the Centre. Mamata boycotts Opposition's anti-CAA meet West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier this week, said that she will boycott the Opposition's anti-CAA meeting convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on 13 January to protest the violence unleashed in the state allegedly by Left Front and Congress workers during a trade union strike. The 24-hour nationwide strike by central trade unions across the nation on Wednesday was marked by incidents of violence and arson, blocking of railway tracks and roads by protestors trying to enforce the shutdown in Bengal. Mamata said, "double standards" of the Left Front and Congress will not be tolerated. "I have decided to boycott the meeting convened by Sonia Gandhi on 13 January in New Delhi as I don't support the violence that the Left and Congress unleashed in West Bengal yesterday (Wednesday)," the chief minister said at the state Assembly. The new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with the TMC opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation. Meanwhile, reacting to the likely meeting of the two leaders, the opposition CPI(M)-led Left Front said the Trinamool Congress' "double standard" is now exposed. "The TMC is actually a Trojan horse in the opposition camp," CPI(M) legislative party leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged. The West Bengal BJP leadership, however, said it is expected that in a federal structure, a chief minister will be present at a government programme attended by the prime minister. With inputs from PTI Mangaluru (Karnataka) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): A large number of people from the Women India Movement on Saturday staged a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) here and raised slogans denouncing the newly enacted law. Protestors were seen carrying placards that read, 'Stop diving India, Boycott CAA, NRC, NPR', 'We are humans, not criminals', 'Save India from fascism'. "Today's youths are tomorrow's future. The present leaders are scared by the youths and are trying to wipe us out. They are scared of the students because they are raising their voices," a protestor told ANI. "It started with the triple talaq, then the removal of Article 370 and Babri Masjid verdict. We Muslims kept quiet but now it is a question to our Constitution. We are not here as Muslims but as an Indian Citizen protesting against the cruelty of the BJP government," she added. The protestor said the Central government is trying to make India a Hindu Rashtra by wiping out all other communities. "This fascist government is trying to poison the minds of Hindus against the Muslims. After Muslims, there will be the Christian community and then other communities. The main motive of the government is to only keep Brahmins in India," added the protestor. The newly-enacted law grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (ANI) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available In a far reaching judgement, the Tripura High Court on Thursday said a government employees presence in a political rally could not be considered a political activity in violation of service conduct rules. The High Courts order came in response to a petition filed by Lipika Paul, a government employee, who was suspended for taking part in a rally organised by the Left Front on December 31 in 2017. Paul, an upper division clerk at Fisheries Department was also put under departmental inquiry under Section 5 of Tripura Service Conduct Rules, just four days before her retirement. The High Court in its order, said the presence of government employee (at a political rally) cant be considered as political activity. The court also said the common people or any government employee has the right to express their opinions. We welcome the decision of the court, Purushottam Roy Barman, counsel of Lipika Paul, told the media after the order came out. The court also asked the state government to drop departmental inquiry against Paul and pay her all dues and benefits within the next two months. The order distinguishes between expression of political opinion and indulgence in political activity and is likely to impact how similar expressions by government employees are viewed by administrations. An assistant professor of Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC), Dr. Kaushik Chakraborty, was suspended and put under a departmental inquiry ordered last October for expressing his views on Citizenship Amendment Bill on social media. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: Hours after Iran admitted to mistakenly shooting down a Ukrainian plane killing all 176 aboard and voiced deep regret over the incident, Ukraine on Saturday (January 11) Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Iran must take further steps, including an official apology, following its admission that one of its missiles shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane. He said in a statement today that Ukraine expected from Iran 'assurances' of a 'full and open investigation, bringing the perpetrators to justice.' He added that Ukraine expected the 'paying of compensation' and 'official apologies through diplomatic channels.' Zelenskiy also expressed hope for the continuation of the crash investigation without delay. A team of Ukrainian investigators is in Iran. "Our 45 specialists should get full access and cooperation to establish justice," he said. Earlier today, Iran announced that its military unintentionally shot down a Ukraine passenger plane, killing 176 people onboard. The statement came on Saturday morning and blamed 'human error' for the shootdown. Iran had previously rejected suggestions that one of its missiles brought down the plane near the capital, Tehran, on Wednesday. But then, the United States and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces. The plane en-route to the Ukraine capital was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from different countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians. US media have speculated that the airliner may have been mistaken for a warplane as Iran prepared for possible US retaliation. A more modern facility, the privately owned EcoElectrica plant built in 2000, was also damaged during the earthquake. EcoElectrica, a natural gas facility, must have clearance from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to restart because of damage to its fuel supply equipment. It is unclear how long that process will take. The Puerto Rico power authoritys recent history has been checkered with questionable management decisions. The utility awarded Whitefish Energy Holdings, a tiny Montana firm with only a handful of employees, a $300 million contract to rebuild the islands power grid after Maria, only to face withering criticism from members of Congress and FEMA. The Puerto Rican government and a new contractor, New Fortress Energy, have come under fresh criticism for delays in completing projects. The conversion of two units at the power plant in San Juan from oil to natural gas was supposed to be complete in June 2019, at the beginning of hurricane season. But the project remains unfinished. The new completion date is within the first quarter of this year. There was fresh scandal in September, when federal authorities arrested a top FEMA administrator who was in charge of post-hurricane power restoration in Puerto Rico as part of a corruption investigation. A federal indictment charged that she took bribes from one of the electrical contractors. Tom Sanzillo, finance director for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, said efforts to improve Puerto Ricos electric system have been hampered by failure to complete development plans, debt restructuring and other services on time. The lights are on more often than they were, Mr. Sanzillo said. But the efforts of the power authority and the contractor to create a stable electric grid have fallen short. It hasnt met any of its benchmarks. It has no support from consumers. It has no support from the labor community. Puerto Ricans already pay among the highest rates in the nation. After Hurricane Maria, the power authoritys customer service offices were jammed with customers waving $700 bills for the period the lights were out. The average monthly electrical bill in Puerto Rico is $250. Celebrate the hope and magic of a new year with a dazzling feast of music, when Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet comes to Portlaoise in February 2020 as part of a Music Network Tour. If you think the harp is for angels then Alina Bzhezhinska and her quartet will set you right. She brings a new perspective to this supposedly dainty instrument, taking the ground-breaking work of Alice Coltrane in the 1960s as a stepping-off point for her own flighty improvisations and sonic adventures. Capable of high-octane lapel-grabbing statements, she can also create extraordinary lyricism and soul within her own compositions and this versatility and curiosity has marked her out as a pioneer in the field of Jazz Harp. Now theres two words you dont often hear in the same sentence, but lets get used to them because this musician is here to stay, constantly challenging the notion of boundaries in music, roughing up the harp with tones and textures that would ruffle many an angel wing. Alina Bzhezhinska is one of the most exciting and dynamic harpists based in the UK. Her imaginative programmes have established her reputation as a harpist of exceptional accomplishment. She has had the honour of playing at European Parliament, at the Queens 80th-birthday celebrations at Balmoral Castle and at the King of Thailands birthday celebrations in Bangkok. Alina studied at the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland (Masters in Arts), and The University of Arizona, USA (Masters in Music Performance). She has performed with many major European orchestras including the Young World Symphony Orchestra, the National Opera in Warsaw and the Scottish Opera. She also performed at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Glasgow Jazz Festival and the World Harp Congress in Sydney, Australia. Her jazz quartet album Inspiration was released to a high critical acclaim by Ubuntu Music in June 2018. Featuring Alina Bzhezhinska on harp, Tony Kofi on saxophones, Larry Bartley on double bass, and Joel Prime on drums and percussion The venue is St Peters Church of Ireland, Market Square, Portlaoise, on Sunday, February 9, at 6pm. Ticket are priced 5 for students, adults 12. For bookings telephone Dunamaise Arts Centre on 057 8663355, or go online at www.dunamaise.ie. This event is promoted by Laois County Council Arts Office, Music Generation Laois and Dunamaise Arts Centre. Defence experts on Saturday backed Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane over his remarks concerning Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said the armed forces have the capability to take back territory illegally occupied by Pakistan. Maj Gen (retd) GD Bakshi said that the Army chief has made a "statement of fact". "The Army chief has made a statement of fact that the Indian parliament had passed a clear resolution that all of Jammu and Kashmir including PoK is a part of India. If the government of India orders Indian armed forces to recapture that area, Army Chief has clearly said that forces will obey and carry out these orders. They are capable of retaking PoK and they will do it as soon as ordered," Maj Gen GD Bakshi told ANI. "Indian Army works on the orders of the civilian government and such orders when passed, will be fully implemented. This is the statement of fact that Army chief has made," he added. Wing Commander (retd) Praful Bakshi said rules of engagement of Army were absolutely clear. "They are only waiting for a green signal to carry out operations in PoK to take it back," he said. The Army chief had said during the customary Army Day press conference that there was a parliamentary resolution that entire Jammu and Kashmir region is a part of India. He said when Indian Army gets orders, it will take appropriate action to take back territory under illegal occupation of Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday arrived in the city on a two day-visit amidst protests against Citizenship Amendment Act outside the airport. Modi was greeted by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, state municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and other senior BJP leaders. Modi, who will be in Kolkata on Saturday and Sunday, is scheduled to attend the function marking the 150th anniversary of Kolkata Port Trust on January 12 and other programmes. From the airport, he is likely to take a helicopter to Royal Calcutta Turf Club(RCTC) and from there go to the Raj Bhawan. Hundreds of protesters staged demonstrations at the crossing outside airport gate number one despite strict security. Demonstrations were also held in various other parts of the state against Modi's visit to the city during the day. Modi was earlier scheduled to arrive at 5 pm at the Kolkata airport and go straight to the Old Currency Building in central Kolkata for an official programme. But as per the changed schedule, he arrived by an Indian Air Force flight at 4 pm. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is one of the strongest critics of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR). She has been holding protests of late across the state and assured the people that she will not allow anyone to snatch their rights. 22:58 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Prime Minister Narendra Modi on late Saturday evening reached the Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, to spend the night there and he is likely to meditate at the temple of Swami Vivekananda on Sunday, the birth anniversary of the monk. 19:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi unveils the Dynamic Architectural Illumination with synchronised light & sound system of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge), as a part of 150th anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust. CM Mamata Banerjee also present. pic.twitter.com/OiaDQADje9 ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 19:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi arrives at Millennium Park, he will shortly unveil the Dynamic Architectural Illumination with synchronised light & sound system of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge), as a part of 150th anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust. CM Mamata Banerjee also present. pic.twitter.com/TwyMxA4w0e ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 19:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In A museum called 'Biplobi Bharat' should be established, in which Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Aurobindo Ghosh, Rash Bihari Bose, Khudiram Bose, Deshbandhu, Bagha Jatin, Binoy, Badal, Dinesh, every such great freedom fighter should be given a place. 18:55 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In 1903, Rabindranath Tagore in a writing had written: India's history is not what we study for exams. It has been incorrectly written.' He had written that its important to understand how the people faced a storm, and not the storm: PM Modi 18:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We're celebrating the 200th birth anniversary of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. In 2022, when India will be celebrating its 75th independence anniversary, we will also celebrate the 250th birth anniversary of social reformer and educationist Raja Ram Mohan Roy: PM Modi. 18:47 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The demand for declassification of the files on Netaji was on for several years. Our Govt declassified them. In the new year and decade, the country feels that other revolutionaries from Bengal should get the deserved respect and regard: PM Modi 18:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Kolkata has been one of the best cultural centers in India. According to your feelings, efforts are now being made to bring the rich identity of Kolkata to the world in a new color form. Renovation of 4 iconic buildings here has been completed: PM Modi 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Renovation work to modernize the 4 iconic galleries of Kolkata like the Belvedere House, Old Currency Building, Victoria Memorial and others has been completed. The idea of converting Belvedere House into Museum of the World has been dealt with sincerely: PM Modi 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In It has also been decided that 5 iconic museums of India will be made of International standards. This movement is being started from Indian Museum, Kolkata, one of the oldest museums in the world: PM Modi 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Central Govt is renovating & refurbishing the heritage monuments in the country. We're starting from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi. These monuments will have new galleries, divisions and needed infrastructure for theatre and music: PM Modi 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Tourism and tradition have a direct connection with our identity and heritage. The Central Govt wants to present India's cultural richness to the world in a new way to make sure India emerges as a centre of heritage tourism: PM Modi. 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Today is a key day for India's culture and heritage, not just for West Bengal but for entire India. We're starting a national mission today from Kolkata to re-invent, replan, re-innovate and protect the culture, traditions and heritage of India: PM Modi. 17:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Lets get this straight. Todays meeting is government-to-government. And Trinamool don't need certificates from anyone. We started this movement & now it is a peoples movement. How many processions have you walked in? How many protests have you led? Stop giving advice sitting on a sofa: TMC MP Derek O' Brien 17:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "I told him that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC. We want that CAA and NRC should be withdrawn." 16:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In #WATCH: PM Narendra Modi meets West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. The Prime Minister is in Kolkata to take part in 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. pic.twitter.com/6r6ghcLlSu ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 16:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi meets CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. The PM is in Kolkata to take part in 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. 16:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Kolkata. He is on a two-day visit to Kolkata, to take part in 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. "Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as... Australia has snubbed an offer to send dozens of Danish firefighters to help battle the bushfires raging across the country. More than 400 firefighters in Denmark have signed up to travel to Australia and lend a hand alongside crews from the U.S., New Zealand, and Canada. Denmark's Emergency Management Agency this week formally offered to immediately send an initial group of 50 volunteers. More than 400 volunteers in Denmark, rallied by part-time firefighter Sren Elkrog (pictured), signed up to travel to Australia and help battle the bushfires Denmark's Emergency Management Agency this week formally offered to immediately send an initial group of 50 volunteers (Danish firefighters pictured putting out a house fire) Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (pictured with Prince Frederik and NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons in 2013) wrote a heartfelt letter to Scott Morrison in response to the bushfires The rejection comes after Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wrote a heartfelt letter to Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison amid the bushfire crisis, offering her condolences to families who have lost their homes and loved ones. The 47-year-old future Queen, who was born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania, said that the time of 'great hardship' in her home country has left her and husband Prince Frederik feeling deeply sympathetic. 'Your Excellency Prime Minister, in this time of great hardship caused by the ruthless bushfires, my husband and I would like to convey our warmest wishes to the Australian people as we enter a new year,' she wrote on the Danish royals website. However, the Australian government declined the offer despite firefighters being stretched thin by the unprecedented crisis. 'We've received a warm thanks for the offer, but sending Danish firefighters here and now won't be an option,' Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen said in a statement. 'There is no desire from the Australians at the moment.' Princess Mary's letter to PM Scott Morrison in full: Your Excellency Prime Minister, In this time of great hardship caused by the ruthless bushfires, my husband and I would like to convey our warmest wishes to the Australian people as we enter a new year. Our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and our deepest sympathy to the many families who have lost their homes their livelihoods. When the immediate crisis subsides and people can begin to return from where they have fled, our thoughts and concerns will remain with the affected local communities, as it will undoubtedly take great efforts and time for them to rebuild what has been lost. The courage and unyielding efforts of the volunteer firefighters have our deepest respect and admiration. Following from afar, it makes me proud of my Australian heritage to witness the strong sense of community and the Australian spirit of never giving up in the face of such devastation and adversity. Warmest regards, Mary Crown Princess of Denmark Advertisement Poll Should the Australian government have declined firefighting help from Denmark? Yes No Don't know Should the Australian government have declined firefighting help from Denmark? Yes 203 votes No 998 votes Don't know 79 votes Now share your opinion Australia's ambassador to Denmark, Mary Ellen Miller, thanked the firefighters for their offer but insisted they were not required. 'The bushfires are of unprecedented dimensions when it comes to the scale and the heartbreaking consequences, but fortunately Australia is really well equipped and organised to deal with the situation at this time,' she said. 'Our warmest thanks go out to all of Denmark for your thoughts and support.' Ms Bramsen said as the Australian fire season can extend into April and May, the effort may be required later. Daily Mail Australia asked the Home Affairs Department for more information on the reasons for the decision. Home Affairs refused to comment on the Danish offer specifically, saying only that the government was receiving numerous offers of assistance. 'These requests are being worked through in close consultation with the states and territories to determine the best options to support our emergency service personnel and fire-affected communities,' it said. Part-time firefighter Sren Elkrog, who organised the rally of his comrades, said the group would continue to lobby the Australian government. 'We have difficulty understanding this decision but we have not lost our hope, even though we prefer to see a huge yes from [Australia],' he said. Mr Elkrog earlier said that since the Danish volunteers wouldn't be able to take much of their gear, they would likely act in a support capacity. 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 Australian government declined the offer despite firefighters being stretched thin by the unprecedented crisis 'We may not face the flames, but can provide backup. For example, we can drive water supplies to Australian firefighters, and we can also help evacuate people at risk of flames. These are things we are trained for,' he told local media. 'It doesn't matter whether we are going to tow sandbags, extinguish fires or help with the evacuations. We just want to help.' U.S. firefighters received a heroes' welcome when they arrived at Sydney Airport and Australians are universally in favour of more help. The first of the 100 Americans were cheered and given a round of applause as they walked through the arrivals gate on Thursday. Princess Mary said she felt 'proud of my Australian heritage' to see so many of her countrymen coming together. 'It makes me proud to witness the strong sense of community and the Australian spirit of 'never giving up' in the face of such devastation and adversity,' she said. A new batch of internal messages has been released by Boeing in which employees discussed deep unease with the 737 Max and problems in simulators used to train pilots on the new jetliner, while also trying to avert greater regulator scrutiny of the plane. "This airplane is designed by clowns, who in turn are supervised by monkeys," said one company pilot in messages to a colleague in 2016, which Boeing disclosed publicly late on Thursday. The company had already provided the documents to lawmakers and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who are investigating the 737 Max and the process that cleared it to fly. The new communications threaten to upend Boeing's efforts to rebuild public trust in the 737 Max, which has been grounded since March after two crashes that killed a total of 346 people. That will add to the hurdles for David Calhoun, who will take over on Monday as CEO after Dennis Muilenburg was ousted last month. US congressman Peter DeFazio, who chairs a committee that is investigating Boeing and the Max, said the notes paint "a deeply disturbing picture of the lengths Boeing was apparently willing to go to in order to evade scrutiny from regulators, flight crews, and the flying public, even as its own employees were sounding alarms internally". Boeing apologised and said it was committed to "full transparency" with the FAA. "We have made significant changes as a company to enhance our safety processes, organisations and culture," it said in a statement. Boeing stock was little changed at $335.77 at 9.45am in New York, having gained 1.5pc on Thursday, after reports that a 737 crash in Iran this week was caused by a missile, not mechanical failure. Bloomberg Radio and TV veteran Red Symons reflected on the death of his eldest son Samuel at the age of 27. Samuel, who was first diagnosed with brain tumours as a four-year-old, passed away from brain cancer in October 2018. In an interview with the Sunday Herald Sun, the Hey Hey It's Saturday star said 'not a day goes by' that he doesn't think of his son. 'Not a day goes by that I don't think of him': Red Symons (pictured), 70, reflected on the death of his son Samuel at age 27, after a long battle with brain cancer. Pictured on Channel Nine's Australian Story in November last year He also admitted to 'wrestling with the idea' of having a ritual on the anniversary of Samuel's death. 'On the anniversary of his death, I sort of wrestled with the idea of should one have a ritual,' he admitted. Red said he finds himself 'seeing him everywhere', whether it's the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute where Samuel died, or a cafe that holds meaning to their family. Long battle: Samuel (pictured), who was first diagnosed with brain tumours as a four-year-old, passed away from brain cancer in October 2018 'It is a truth, I shall always have him,' Red added. 'I can look at children now and miss him when he was four years old or two years old or six years old, rather than simply being annoyed by someone else's child.' Samuel, who was first diagnosed with brain tumours as a four-year-old, passed away in October 2018 after another growth was found in his brain in 2017. Red thanked the doctors who cared for Samuel until his final days on Channel Nine's the Today show in November last year. Always in his thoughts: 'There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of him,' Red told the Sunday Herald Sun. Red is pictured with a young Samuel 'I have to of course thank the medical profession from top to bottom for sustaining him where 100 years ago he would have just been gone,' he told Deborah Knight. When first diagnosed, Samuel had just an 18 per cent expectation of living. Red, a former Australia's Got Talent judge, said he could only express the pain he has suffered to parents who too had lost a child at a similar age. 'I wrestled with the idea': Red also told the Herald Sun that he contemplated having a 'ritual' on the anniversary of his son's death. Red is pictured with Samuel and his wife Elly, who he later divorced 'It is impossible as a father to convey - I can only convey the grief - I don't need to convey the grief to somebody who has been in exactly the same circumstance,' he said. Red also revealed an emotional insight into some of his son's thoughts about death in the final weeks of his life. 'He said, "It doesn't worry me. It has been a part of my whole life". I figured, "What is this, the Buddha?" It is wise, simple and true.' The high-power committee constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government to work out a plan of action for shifting of administrative capital from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam has suggested a slew of incentives for nearly four lakh state government employees for moving to the new capital. According to the draft action plan discussed at the committees meeting at Vijayawada on Friday, all the employees would be allotted 200 square yards of house sites at Visakhapatnam at nominal rates even before they are shifted. Each of them would be given a special house building allowance (HBA) of Rs 25 lakh for the construction of new houses with approved designs and exemption from paying stamp duty for registration. Till the houses are constructed, the government would arrange residential facility for the employees: bachelors would get rent-free accommodation and those with families would be provided accommodation in double bedroom flats at a subsidised rent of Rs 4,000 per month. Higher officials would be accommodated in three-bedroom flats at a rent of Rs 6,000 per month. The employees would also be paid a shifting allowance ranging from Rs 50,000 each for Class IV employees to the maximum of Rs one lakh for gazetted employees. While recommending continuation of five-day week facility for the employees for another three years, the high-power committee also proposed to continue subsidised transport facility within Visakhapatnam, while extending 50 per cent concession in RTC bus fare from Visakhapatnam to their native places including Hyderabad, twice a month. It also proposed to start special superfast trains between Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. The employees would continue to get 30 per cent House Rent Allowance, besides an increase of 10 per cent in the City Compensatory Allowance in Visakhapatnam due to high cost of living. The committee also proposed to take steps for ensuring hassle-free admission to children of the state government employees in various schools and colleges in Visakhapatnam. Last month, an expert panel had recommended making Visakhapatnam the main capital city of Andhra Pradesh instead of the present capital Amaravati. The action plan has been worked out in the wake of apprehensions of the employees, who are important stakeholders in the government, over their fate if the capital is shifted to Visakhapatnam. In the last five years, these employees have been habituated to working in Amaravati, after their sudden shift from Hyderabad following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. While many of them have still been travelling between Hyderabad and Amaravati every week, some of them bought houses in and around Vijayawada and shifted their families. Now, it will be extremely difficult for us to relocate to Visakhapatnam and start our lives afresh. But if the government takes the decision, we cannot refuse to go, a woman employee of Secretariat in Amaravati said on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, the agitation by the farmers of Amaravati entered 25th day on Saturday. At Thullur village on Friday, hundreds of women who were on their way to Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada to offer prayers to the deity, were stopped by the police stating that they had no permission to take out the rally. The women clashed with the police after an argument over denial of permission. Several women were injured as police launched a lathi charge and some of them women shifted to hospitals. The police also took many protesters into custody. Taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma tweeted that she was sending a fact-finding team to Thullur on Saturday to conduct a probe. Telugu Desam Party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu condemned the incident. In a land where women are worshiped as Goddesses, this is how @ysjagan s Govt treating them. Women farmers & protesters fighting for Amaravati are being meted out with inhumane treatment. Every responsible citizen must come out in their support & condemn the monstrous atrocities, he tweeted. However, state agriculture minister K Kanna Babu accused Naidu of trying to create unrest in the capital region to protect his personal interests. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): A day after two unarmed civilians were killed by the Pakistani Army in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Saturday that they would deal with the situation appropriately in a military manner. "We do not resort to such barbaric activities and fight as a very professional force. We will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner," the Army Chief responded to a question by ANI on the same. Two civilians, identified as Mohd Aslam and Altaf Hussain were killed, and two others were critically injured after the Pakistani Army carried out an attack on them in the Poonch sector. Indian Army sources said that the Army carried out an attack on five unarmed civilians who crossed over fencing on LoC in the Poonch sector but were within Indian territory. Sources in Poonch said the civilians had crossed the LoC fencing for grazing their cattle when they were attacked by the Pakistan Army. The LoC in recent times has seen frequent ceasefire violations by the Pakistani side. (ANI) James Charles is pivoting to TikTok to find love, announcing in a video today something he calls, "TikTok Bachelor." "I am 20 years old and I am 5'10," he says introducing himself. "I live in Los Angeles and I am a beauty YouTuber so sometimes I look pretty and when I don't look pretty I have a pretty fun personality to make up for it. I'm a very hard worker, but in my free time I like horror movies, escape rooms, singing with friends, eating at new restaurants and I have fun nails for back-scratching and cuddling." Explaining the impetus behind picking TikTok as a dating platform, he says, "I made one major observation after downloading TikTok a few weeks ago and that is that this app is pretty much a dating app." So Charles' TikTok is his public attempt to get "wifed up." "Everyone on here is either in a very cute relationship or is painfully single and unfortunately for me, I fall into that second group of people surprise, surprise," he adds. "So, I want to play TikTok Bachelor." To apply, all you need to do is make a duet to respond to Charles' TikTok or simply leave a comment. "This may be the biggest mistake of my life, but who knows what could happen?" he wrote in the caption. While the video hasn't received many public responses yet, it'll be interesting to see if Charles does end up finding love through the platform. The influencer has been vocal about his attempts to find love. In December 2019, he was flooded with criticism for allegedly listing himself as "female" on Tinder in order to supposedly match with "straight men." "I deleted dating apps from my phone last week because although I've CONSENSUALLY met some great people from them," he wrote in response. "Unfortunately I receive a lot of harassment from people who only match to take screenshots or make videos & a spectacle of me, thanks to people like you who will not let these FALSE ACCUSATIONS die down." As he left the Capitol Friday, McConnell gloated a bit in having won this battle with his adversary. Well, weve been anxious to get started for the last how many weeks has it been now? And well get about it as soon as we can, he said. By ANI SAMBALPUR: Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday alleged that the Jawaharlal Nehru has become a hub of 'tukde-tukde' gang, which includes former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Left and Communists. "The JNU has become a hub of tukde-tukde gang, which has Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Left and communists," Singh told media reporters here. Cornering opposition parties for protesting against the CAA, the Union Minister asked them, particularly Congress whether Rohingyas and Pakistani infiltrators should get Indian citizenship and not the Hindu and Sikh refugees from the neighbouring country. ALSO READ: JNU visit in country's interest or to divide it, Giriraj Singh asks Deepika Padukone "I would like to ask the Congress and the tukde-tukde gang whether Rohingyas, Pakistani infiltrators should be given citizenship? And should Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan be denied citizenship?" he said. Stressing that the members of the minority community are being attacked in Pakistan and many temples have been demolished there, he said, "Muslims in India should not panic as the CAA will not take away anyone's citizenship. However, those infiltrating into the country would not get it." He claimed that confusion over the CAA is due to protests by some parties like the Congress, who have been trying to "spread false information about the new act and create disturbance in the country." VIEW GALLERY: Deepika Padukone to Varun Dhawan - Check out what Bollywood celebrities had to say about JNU violence Protests have been happening across the country ever since the law received the presidential assent last month. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan Kerala and West Bengal government have said that CAA will not be implemented in their states. The newly-enacted law grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. Parliamentarian Subramanian Swamy on Saturday said China should consider diverting its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) via Kolkata or Mumbai ports instead of passing through Pakistan occupied Kashmir which India is opposed to. Swamy claimed that the senior leadership of China were well disposed to the suggestion when he discussed it with them during his visit to the country. "BRI is a wonderful concept, but it has affected India as the present proposal passes through the PoK," the Rajya Sabha MP said while addressing a seminar here. BRI is China's global economic initiative for connecting with Europe, Africa and the rest of Asia through road and maritime routes with a focus on infrastructure, transportation and energy sectors. Swamy suggested that instead of passing through PoK, the BRI corridor can enter India from Kunming in southwestern China and from Kolkata Port it can take the sea route through the Bay of Bengal. Otherwise, it can enter India from Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh bypassing Kailash Manasarovar in Tibet and reach Mumbai Port through western India, he said. "BRI has large advantages that India must enjoy and if the Chinese are willing to accommodate this and not go through parts of Kashmir, we will be in a position to gain in terms of international trade and bilateral relations," Swamy said. India has retraced its path from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as it has a negative balance of trade with the countries in the forum, Swamy said while addressing a seminar on "Peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, organised by strategic affairs thinktank 'Ceners-K'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least twelve people have drowned when their boat sank off an island in western Greece, marking the deadliest toll in months in the country's migrant crisis. Twenty one people were rescued on Saturday, the Greek coastguard said. Helicopters and ships were searching the area southwest of the island of Paxos for more survivors. Medical staff transfer a survivor from an ambulance to hospital. Credit: Authorities said they had accounts of up to 50 people being on the vessel. Dancing On Ice star John Barrowman has sparked a 'favouritism row' after enjoying a boozy night out with contestants Ian 'H' Watkins and Matt Evers. The TV star, 52, who replaced Jason Gardiner as a judge on the 2020 series, has reportedly left other show stars disgruntled backstage as it emerged that he took the pair on a night out after visiting them during rehearsals on Wednesday. The trio, who shared a fun image of themselves on Instagram, headed to Cardiff's Ivy restaurant before continuing their night at the The Golden Cross pub. Drama: Dancing On Ice star John Barrowman has sparked a 'favouritism row' after enjoying a boozy night out with contestants Ian 'H' Watkins and Matt Evers However, it appears that other Dancing On Ice stars were none-to-pleased by the group's fun night out, with some complaining about 'favouritism'. A source told The Sun: 'It's not on for the judges to be cosying up to the people they are meant to be judging. They're obviously great friends so, of course, the fear is they will be treated more positively. 'There is a long series ahead and hitting the town with the judges opens up a minefield of problems. 'A couple of us feel as though it's not in the spirit of a fair contest.' Fun times: The TV star, 52, reportedly left other show stars disgruntled backstage as it emerged that he took the pair on a night out after visiting them during rehearsals on Wednesday Night on the town: The trio, who shared a fun image of themselves on Instagram, headed to Cardiff's Ivy restaurant before continuing their night at the The Golden Cross pub MailOnline have contacted representatives of Dancing On Ice and John Barrowman for comment. The controversy comes after John was moved to tears following Ian and Matt's historic same-sex routine on Sunday's launch show. Ian and Matt danced an emotional routine to High Hopes by Panic at the Disco, with the Tragedy hitmaker reducing new judge John to tears with the words: 'The world is ready for this', following their performance. Ahead of his performance, Ian addressed the prospect of becoming the first ever person in the show's 14-year history to dance with a same-sex partner. 'I am a gay guy. I always wanted a same sex partner,' he said. Extraordinary moment: The controversy comes after John was moved to tears following Ian and Matt's historic same-sex routine on Sunday's launch show Matt, 43, who is also gay, added: 'This year is pretty special. After 11 years of Dancing On Ice, I will have a same-sex partner. I'm really excited and there's no line drawn for us. We're going to set the rules.' Discussing the differences they faced after meeting each other on the rink, Matt said: 'The first day we reached to grab each others hand and we both had our hand down,' while Ian joked: 'We've found out who is lifting who. I'm not lifting Matt.' The pair placed second on the leaderboard, scoring 25 out of 40 and were commended with a standing ovation from the judges. In response to a tumultuous applause from the audience, an emotional Ian said: 'I feel that I've wanted this for so long. It means so much to so many people. The world is ready for this.' Making history: Ahead of his performance, Ian addressed the prospect of becoming the first ever in the show's 14-year history to dance with a same-sex partner. Ian said: 'I am a gay guy. I always wanted a same sex partner.' New rules: Matt, 43, who is also gay, said: 'This year is pretty special, after 11 years of Dancing On Ice I will have a same-sex partner. 'I'm really excited and there's no line drawn for us. We're going to set the rules' Matt added: 'Thank you for everybody at home. This is normal.' John said with tears rolling down his face: 'That makes me happy on a multitude of levels. Seeing two men who represent someone like me. We've shown you can do it. I'm overwhelmed. I'm almost speechless. It was wonderful.' Meanwhile, it's emerged that Ian and Matt have asked the show's bosses to allow them to perform a more raunchy routine. Matt, who was partnered with Gemma Collins last year, told the Sun Online: 'We have spoken to producers to see if we can make the routines a little steamier. 'Perhaps take it up a notch and add some romance. 'It's down to them though. Last week we tested the waters and we were overwhelmed by the response from the viewers, ' he added. TEHRAN, Iran, Jan.11 Trend: Ukrainian plane, which crashed on Jan.8 in Iran was shot down due to human error, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on his Twitter, Trend reports. A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations, he wrote. The Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) flight crashed just minutes after takeoff from Tehran on Jan.8, killing all 176 people on board. The Boeing 737-800 was headed for Kiev, where 138 passengers were expected to take a connecting flight to Canada. (Newser) There's nothing like a good internand Wolf Cukier proves it. The New York teen joined a NASA program last summer and spotted an unknown planet orbiting two stars about 1,300 light-years away. "It was awesome," he tells the New York Times. "I never expected to find anything." The 17-year-old had joined NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., to help look over images from the TESS satellite. The goal is to find new planets, and sure enough, on his third day, Cukier spotted a tiny darkness on a distant sun. He then spent weeks working with his research mentors and other scientists confirming that the sun's decrease in brightness was in fact a planet, per ABC News. story continues below The planet's name isn't catchyTOI 1338-b, partly an acronym for TESS Object of Interestbut it's interesting in other ways. It's 6.9 times bigger than Earth and orbits two suns, the first such "circumbinary" planet discovered by TESS. One sun is about 10% the size of Earth's, the other 30% the size; they orbit one another every 15 days, and Wolf's find can be seen crossing them in a so-called "transit event" every 93 to 95 days. Wolf seems humbled by it all: "You cant be arrogant," says the budding astrophysicist. "It is a planet, insofar as we can claim any other exoplanet, pretty much." Still, his brother tells the Washington Post he's got a better name for the new planet: Wolftopia. (Read more NASA stories.) New Delhi, Jan 11 : Moving ahead on the key objective to generate liquidity in the IL&FS Group entities, cash and cash equivalent balances have increased by Rs 3,333 crore to Rs 6,534 crore, which will help preserve value and make orderly payments, thereby aiding in the resolution of the relevant entities. In an affidavit, IL&FS said, "Significant progress has been made by the new board (along with the assistance of the management teams of the IL&FS Group) in the resolution of the IL&FS Group (spread across business verticals and jurisdictions)". As a result of these efforts, cash and cash equivalent balances across IL&FS Group entities has since September 30, 2018 increased by Rs 3,333 crore to Rs 6,534 crore as of November 30, 2019. In addition to this, the solvency analysis of the domestic IL&FS Group entities has also helped identifying 57 "Green" entities, which have been servicing their debt as per the scheduled repayment date. IL&FS said one of the key objectives of the payment protocol was to generate liquidity in the IL&FS Group entities, preserve value and make orderly payments, which would aid in the resolution of the relevant entities. In terms of asset monetisation, in addition to the 7 wind SPVs that have been sold to Orix, significant progress has been made in respect of the asset monetisation process, each of which are in various stages of completion. the new board along with the resolution consultant has also evaluated restructuring proposals for the "Amber" and "Red" domestic IL&FS Group Entities. Based on certain principles adopted by the new board, 3 "Amber" entities -- MBEL, JRPICL and WGEL -- having external fund-based debt aggregating Rs 3,266 crore and internal fund-based debt aggregating Rs 1,829 crore were restructured and subsequently re-classified to "Green", which has resulted in a cumulative cash release of Rs 534 crore towards servicing of financial debt and clearing overdues of operational creditors of these entities. A Russian Navy ship aggressively approached the USS Farragut and took a disturbingly long time to back off to the legal distance in open waters. It may be a sign that Vladimir Putin, whose economy is suffering because of Trump's actions, is hoping to destabilize the Trump presidency. On its official Twitter feed, the United States Navy 5th Fleet posted a series of tweets informing the world that, while it was in international waters, a Russian ship approached it aggressively and backed off only reluctantly: On Thursday, Jan. 9, while conducting routine operations in the North Arabian Sea, USS Farragut (DDG 99) was aggressively approached by a Russian Navy ship. pic.twitter.com/SCVyTINNqe U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) January 10, 2020 Farragut sounded five short blasts, the international maritime signal for danger of a collision, and requested the Russian ship alter course in accordance with international rules of the road. pic.twitter.com/OGCeAGKOy3 U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) January 10, 2020 The Russian ship initially refused but ultimately altered course and the two ships opened distance from one another. U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) January 10, 2020 While the Russian ship took action, the initial delay in complying with international rules while it was making an aggressive approach increased the risk of collision. The U.S. Navy continues to remain vigilant and is trained to act in a professional manner. U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) January 10, 2020 Although Progressives never tire of making obscene jokes about President Trump being subordinate to President Putin, or being in league with Putin, the reality is that Trump has proven to be a nightmare for Putin. In an American Thinker article only a year into Trump's presidency, Daniel Ashman detailed 12 ways in which Trump was causing stress to Russia. These included competing with Russia's energy sector, rejecting the economy-hampering Paris Accord, allowing American companies to export liquefied natural gas, selling defensive weapons to Poland and Ukraine, taking a hawkish stance against Russian allies such as North Korea and Venezuela, sanctioning Russia, and strengthening the American military. To those not blinded by Trump Derangement Syndrome, it was always obvious that Hillary would have been a more agreeable President from Putin's point of view. She would have been a continuation of the Obama policies toward Russia, policies that included refusing to sell arms to Ukraine and Poland, sitting by the sidelines when Russia invaded Ukraine, handing foreign influence over Syria to Putin, and generally being "more flexible." Hillary, meanwhile, made bank off Russia and, through her campaign's law firm, worked with Russia to create a false dossier with damaging information about then-candidate Trump. It's in Putin's interest to get Trump out of the White House. He knows that no matter how much Democrats are currently casting Russia as the world's great evil, this is all theater to fight Trump. If Trump is booted from the White House, it's reasonable to believe that Democrats will resume their decades-long love affair with Russia. For that reason, it's entirely possible that the Russian ship's aggression is meant to create more problems for President Trump, even as he's dealing with the faux impeachment and the real problem with Iran. Tehran, Jan 12 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the country welcomes any international cooperation concerning Ukrainian plane crash, official IRNA news agency reported. "Iran welcomes any international cooperation within the framework of international regulations which is aimed at clarifying dimensions of the incident," Rouhani made the remarks, on Saturday, in a telephone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He said that further investigation into the Ukrainian plane crash will be carried out to reach the final result. In another phone talk with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, Rouhani said that "all those involved in the air disaster (of plane crash) will be brought to justice." He said that the joint investigations between the Iranian and Ukrainian experts over the incident will continue and the judicial measures will "soon" start. On Wednesday, a Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane crashed near Tehran, killing all 176 people onboard. Iran's armed forces on Saturday admitted that the Ukrainian plane was "unintentionally" hit by Iran and "human error" was to blame. According to Raj Bhavan sources, 9 pm has been reserved for a meeting, which fuelled the prospect of the CM-PM meeting. Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will, despite a lot of speculation over the past few days, share the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event in the city during his two-day official visit to the state starting Saturday. Before that, she is also likely to meet the PM for a one-to-one discussion at Raj Bhavan on Saturday evening, when they might discuss several issues, including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). This dramatic development came after Union minister of state for shipping Mansukh Mandaviya, who came to the city on Friday, visited the Trinamul Congress chief at the state secretariat Nabanna in the afternoon and personally requested her to attend the 150th year celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust, that Mr Modi will inaugurate at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday morning. There was some uncertainty till the morning over her presence at the event although she was invited by the Kolkata Port Trust. After Mr Mandaviyas plea, a communication was sent from Nabanna to the KoPT confirming the CMs attendance at the event, sources said. The Union minister also met West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhavan, where the PM will stay. Mr Dhankhar, who has been critical of Ms Banerjees rule, will also be present at the KoPT event. But all eyes will be on the 9 pm meeting on Saturday when Ms Banerjee is likely to discuss national and state issues at the closed-door meeting with Mr Modi. Sources said it was the CM who has aparently sought the appointment with the PM at Raj Bhavan where Mr Modi will return after inaugurating four renovated heritage landmarks in the heart of the city the Old Currency Building, Belvedere House, Metcalfe House and Victoria Memorial Hall, launching light and sound show at Millenium Park and visiting Belur Math after his arrival at Kolkata Airport in the afternoon. According to Raj Bhavan sources, 9 pm has been reserved for a meeting, which fuelled the prospect of the CM-PM meeting. The last time Ms Banerjee met Mr Modi was in New Delhi in September within a few days of a Central Bureau of Investigation teams visit to Nabanna in its hunt for senior IPS officer Rajeev Kumar for his suspected role in tampering with evidence in the Saradha chit fund scam. But this time the significance of their possible meeting has been different in view of the Trinamul Congress chiefs tirade against the Centre over the CAA and NRC across the state, although she has recused herself from the anti-CAA meeting called by the Congress for the Opposition parties in New Delhi on Monday. Meanwhile, various Left outfits plan to hold demonstrations against Mr Modis visit on the CAA and NRC issues. Deputy Commissioner of Police and Commander of Rapid Response Squad in Lagos State, DCP Tunji Disu, has advised against dumping important documents in the dustbin. The Deputy police commissioner in his advise said documents which contain personal information should be shredded before being dumped in the dustbin. Documents he referred to, include; bank statements, utility bills, old signed Cheques, used boarding passes after use and so on. Read Also: Police Arrest Suspected Killers Of Lady Who Was Stabbed In Lagos The DCP revealed via his Twitter handle said that bin raiders search the bins, steal vital information and use them for fraud. Your DUSTBIN as a goldmine for fraudsters. Average dustbins contain bank statements, utility bills, old signed Cheques, Documents with full names, addresses, phone nos, dates of birth, bank Accts, sort codes. Bin raiders search ur bins, steal your vital info for fraud. Guard your info jealously, he said. Monmouth County authorities announced Friday evening that theyve cracked a pair of 25-year-old Long Branch murder cases. Delores Connors, her son Ted Connors and Jose Carrero have been arrested and charged with the mid-1990s murders of Ana Mejia and Nicholas Connors, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office announced. Mejia was brutally murdered in December 1994 in her Long Branch apartment that she shared with her two young children, according to a statement from the prosecutors office. Five months later, Nicholas Connors was murdered in his Long Branch home, authorities said. Delores Connors was the wife of Nicholas Connors, who was 51 when he was killed. Mejia, who was 24, was the sister of Delores Connors, the Asbury Park Press reported. Mejia was found stabbed 20 times in her Prospect Avenue apartment on Dec. 8, 1994 with her throat slashed and cocaine smeared on her face and stuffed up her nose, according to the report. Delores Connors reported finding Nicholas shot to death in the Van Dyke Place home on the morning of May 14, 1995 after she returned home from a late-night shift, the report stated. Jail records showed that Carrero was lodged in Monmouth County Jail on Friday. No further information about the the arrests were made public Friday night, but the prosecutors office said more details would eventually be shared. A Florida police department was involved in the case. Great work by the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office Cold Case Unit, the Long Branch Police Department, and the West Palm Beach Police Department, the statement said. Editors Note: This post has been updated to correct the relationship between Delores Connors and the two people killed. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Indore: A four-year-old girl named Ritika died on Friday due to severe burn by accidentally pouring hot water on herself while she was going to take bath. Ritika's mother Pinky had poured hot water on a tub and went to bring cold water to normalize it. In the meantime, the 4-year-old innocent reached the bathroom and poured a mug full of hot water on herself which led to grievous burns in half of her body. After knowing of the incident Pinky immediately sought neighbors' help and admitted Ritika to MYH hospital in Indore. Ritika died on the third day of her treatment. Her father Rampal Golkar, is a watchman by profession and also does workmanship. Rampal and Pinky also have a two and a half-year-old son Ankit who was playing outside the house when the incident took place. Originally Rampal is the resident of Khargone district in Indore. Live TV Banganga police said that the incident took place on Wednesday (January 8) in the Karol Bagh area. After post mortem, the police handed over Ritika's body to the family members. Explaining the incident in detail the police informed that Ritika was playing inside the house when her mother called her to take bath. Ritika went to the bathroom and not finding her mother their poured hot water on herself and screamed loudly. Hearing her voice Pinky rushed inside the bathroom and found her skin burnt and immediately took measures. However, the police have registered FIR and is further investigating the matter. Residents wait at a rest area after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a mobile station in Hong Kong on Sunday. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Few of the citys older residents have been fully inoculated, leaving them highly vulnerable as the city battles an outbreak of the new variant. She's the queen of the selfie, as well as a billion-dollar makeup empire. But Kylie Jenner is also a doting mother who only has eyes for her little daughter Stormi Webster, who is almost two years old. On Friday, the 22-year-old socialite posted a sweet pic of her little girl to Instagram, in which the tot is seen at home in front of a coffee table and staircase dressed in cute street wear. Love of her life: On Friday, Kylie Jenner posted a sweet pic of Stormi Webster to Instagram, in which the tot is seen in front of a coffee table and staircase dressed in street wear Stormi stands in profile in the snap, wearing a white t-shirt decorated with a graffiti-style cactus on the back, underneath some pink and black spray-painted text. The little one also wears acid wash jeans with what appears to be patchwork on the front. Her footwear is the most colorful element, a pair of bright yellow and black sneakers decorated with a blue star on the sides. She captioned the snap appropriately with the words, 'love of my life'. David Bowie jeans: Her footwear is the most colorful element, a pair of bright yellow and black sneakers decorated with a blue star on the sides Jenner also added a shot of her daughter's legs to her Instagram Story, and upon closer inspection the little girl's jeans are adorned with the visage of David Bowie from his iconic Aladdin Sane album cover. And since no Kylie upload would be complete without some supreme selfies, the social media maven also included two selfie snippets to her Story, one a video treated with the cherry filter she and her mother Kris Jenner and half-sister Kim Kardashan played with the night prior, and one a simple boomerang of herself looking coy and coquettish. In both, Kylie is sitting in the back of a moving car, dressed simply in a grey heather top, her sleek dark hair hanging straight. And since no Kylie upload would be complete without some supreme selfies: The social media maven included selfie snippets to her Story, one a simple boomerang of herself looking coy She wears Dior hoop earrings and her complexion is flawless, with a generous touch of blush and a plump nude lip. On Thursday night, Kylie and the Jenner-Kardashian clan stepped out to Nobu Japanese restaurant in Malibu, California, and brought fans with them by heavily documenting their soiree on social media with a bevy of constant selfies. Joined by sisters Khloe and Kourtney as well, Kylie stood out as usual in a figure-hugging knee-length aqua body-con dress. Family outing: On Thursday night, Kylie and the Jenner-Kardashian clan stepped out to Nobu in Malibu, and brought fans with them by heavily documenting their soiree on social media with a bevy of constant selfies Iran on Saturday admitted that it "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian International Airlines passenger plane that crashed near Tehran earlier this week, killing all 176 people aborad, state media reported. In a statement, the general staff of Iran's armed forces blamed the incident on the "human error", Press TV reported, as cited by CNN. Shortly after the development, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that the armed force's investigation showed the downing of the Boeing 737-800 was the result of "human error at (the) time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism (that) led to disaster." "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of (the) internal investigation by Armed Forces. Human error at (a) time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations," Zarif tweeted. On Wednesday, a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crashed in the vicinity of Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport shortly after takeoff. All 176 people on board were killed, including citizens of Iran, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Canada, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Tehran had earlier cited technical malfunction as the reason for the plane crash, while the US, UK, and Canadian officials have said they believe the Ukrainian aircraft was downed by a missile fired by Iran, possibly by mistake. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vietnams population and family planning work in 2019 faced difficulties, especially in communications due to decreased funding, heard a conference in Hanoi on January 9. A nurse tends to a newborn baby at the Children's Hospital No. 2 in Ho Chi Minh City Hosted by the Ministry of Health, the event aims to review the population and family planning work in 2019, and set out key tasks for 2020, including the implementation of the Vietnam Population Strategy through 2030. Reports presented at the event showed that a number of documents, regulations and guidelines on the implementation of the population work were issued late and asynchronously, while funding for communications campaigns a crucial solution to the work has reduced, greatly affecting the sectors performance. By April 1, 2019, Vietnam had a total population of over 96.2 million people, up 1.5 million compared to a year earlier. The crude birth rate was 16.3 percent, up 1.7 percent against 2018. The newborn screening rate rose by 2 percent compared to 2018 to reach 40 percent, but failing to meet the goal of 70 percent set for 2019. Thanks to efforts of the sector at all levels, a number of basic targets of the 2019 plan were satisfied. The replacement fertility was maintained at 2.09 children per woman, while the sex ratio at birth was controlled at 111.5 boys per 100 girls. The rate of couples accepting to use modern contraception reached 70.8 percent, 2.8 percent higher than the target. The number of women receiving screening during pregnancy stood at 56.43 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of elderly people receiving health checkups at least once a year reached 20 percent, exceeding the target of 10 percent. In 2020, the sector aims to firmly maintain the replacement fertility, reduce fertility disparities across regions, and bring the sex ratio at birth to the natural equilibrium, and improve the quality of population and health care for the elderly. Attention will paid to building legal documents on the population and family planning work, while promoting communication campaigns to raise public awareness of the work, and the implementation of models and measures to improve the quality and structure of population. Vietnams population is forecast to reach 97.3 million people in 2020, with the total of birth rate standing at 2.1 percent, and the sex ratio at birth at 111.3 boys per 100 girls. VNA Pinbu.com scored 51 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 31 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. pinbu.com is very popular in Facebook and Delicious. It is liked by 19 people on Facebook. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the pinbu homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if pinbu has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the pinbu homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the pinbu homepage on Twitter + the total number of pinbu followers (if pinbu has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the pinbu homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the pinbu homepage on StumbleUpon. Basic Information PAGE TITLE | DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. 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 title found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE GBK DETECTED LANGUAGE SERVER Apache/2.2.22 (Win32) PHP/5.2.5 (PHP/5.2.5) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. The language of pinbu.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Character set and language of the site. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for pinbu.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. 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 type of Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Tehran [Iran], Jan 12 (ANI): A group of Iranian demonstrators on Saturday demanded the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down as protests hit central Tehran after its military mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian plane, killing all 176 people on board last week. "Commander-in-chief [Khamenei] resign, resign," videos posted on Twitter showed hundreds of people chanting in front of Tehran's Amir Kabir University. Earlier on Saturday, Iran said its military had shot down the Ukrainian plane, calling it a "disastrous mistake". The military claimed air defences were fired in error during an alert which was imposed after Iranian missile struck US targets in Iraq. Iran denied for days after Wednesday's crash that it brought down the plane, although a top Revolutionary Guards commander on Saturday said that he had told authorities about the "unintentional" missile strike the day it happened. The Iranian leadership had last faced mass protests in November following the rise in petrol prices. The death of graduates from top universities migrating to Canada on the Ukrainian flight has struck a nerve with protesters. Many protesters felt their future is ruined in a country facing high unemployment. The plane crash has further heightened international pressure on Iran after months of friction with the US and tit-for-tat attacks. Khamenei, silent until now about the crash, said information should be made public, while top officials and the military issued apologies. A US drone strike killed top Iranian military commander Qasem Suleimani in Iraq on January 3, prompting Tehran to fire at US targets on Wednesday. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), in a rare step on Friday, apologised to the nation and accepted full responsibility for the plane crash. In a statement, the military said that the plane flew close to a sensitive Revolutionary Guards site at a time of high alert. (ANI) Oprah Winfrey is stepping away from an untitled documentary from filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering two weeks before it is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. According to Deadline, the film will also be pulled out from its Apple TV+ distribution. The upcoming documentary is about a woman who accused music mogul Russell Simmons of sexual misconduct. According to the filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, "while we are disappointed that Oprah Winfrey is no longer an executive producer on the project, we are gratified that Winfrey has unequivocally said she believes and supports the survivors in the film." The talk show host joined the project as an executive producer but has returned the film to the filmmakers who will retain their premiere slot and seek new distribution. Winfrey said in a statement, "I have decided that I will no longer be an executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering Documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+. First and foremost, I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard, in my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision." Oprah concluded the statement saying that the two filmmakers are talented, and they have great respect for their mission to have the documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival before it's completed. Winfrey also said that she feels she should take a step back. However, she claims that she will continue working with Time's Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment. Sundance Film Festival has no comment on the matter, but according to Deadline's sources, the movie still plans to premiere in Park City, Utah, on January 25. Even though Winfrey said that she left the project for "creative differences," it is believed that under Harpo Productions deal with Apple TV+, she has the authority to decide what gets placed on the streamer from her pipeline. Apple's first characterization of the project left the primary subject's name out of logline, which simply read, "A brilliant former music executive who grapples with whether to go public with her story of assault and abuse by a notable figure in the music industry." This all follows after rapper 50 Cent and Russell Simmons blast Winfrey over the documentary in December. The two claims that Winfrey is after black men, instead of the high-profile sexual abusers like Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein and Michael Jackson. In a lengthy Instagram post, Simmons said to Winfrey that it ia troubling she chose to single him out in the documentary after passing nine three-hour lie-detectors test. Russell continued to acknowledge he had been involved in an embarrassing number of compromising situations with women; however, he insisted there was sufficient evidence to back up the argument that he is not guilty of misconduct. New Delhi, Jan 11 : The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting slated for Saturday later here will see most of the discussion focussed on JNU-Jamia unrest and the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the National Population Register (NPR). The meeting at 3.30 p.m., to be held in the party headquarters, will also discuss the state of the economy ahead of the upcoming Union Budget on February 1. The party has sought removal of the Vice Chancellor and the Delhi Police Commissioner for alleged connivance with the right wing ABVP during the JNU violence. The party has extended its support to the anti-CAA protests, and has shown solidarity with the student bodies, who are spearheading the demonstrations. Sources said the Congress will come up with a detailed plan on these issues and a statement regarding the ongoing 'unrest' in the country and high handedness of the government. Sources said the chief ministers of the Congress-led state governments were likely to formally oppose the present format of the NPR, but the final decision will depend on the CWC resolution. With the CAA officially enforced on Friday, the party may call a meet of its chief ministers to formalise the strategy on the NPR. We are still in the earliest days of the new decade, one sure to bring with it a plethora of changes. Some we can already foresee happening, while others remain unknowable to us. One certainty which will forever remain, though, involves investors hard-earned cash. Namely, everybody will always want to know where the best opportunities for ample returns lay. So, how to find out, then? As is de rigueur in the investment fraternity, the new year comes along with recommendation lists. Joining the fray is California based investment firm, Roth Capital. The company is adept at unearthing untapped potential with its primary focus on small-caps. We decided to get the scoop on 5 companies the investment firm thinks stand to make headway in 2020. All choices, according to the analysts, have room for solid upside, and, additionally, all currently hold a Strong Buy consensus rating from the Street. Heres the lowdown. PowerFleet Inc (PWFL) Lets start with one of Roths choices in the technology sector. Formerly known as I.D. Systems, PowerFleet is a pioneer in the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for industrial asset tracking and management. With its patented systems for managing high value assets, the company serves big industry names such as Ford and Avis, as well as the U.S. Postal Service. The companys latest earnings report achieved record quarterly revenue of $16.9 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 26%. The quarter also saw the company sign a number of deals with major players such as Knight-Swift, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, B.A.H. Express and Jungheinrich. In October PowerFleet completed the acquisition of Israeli based Pointer Telocation, a leading provider of telematics and mobile IoT solutions, for approximately $140 million. Roths William Gibson views the combination as transformational, positioning the company for additional and larger orders. Our 2020 estimate is in line with guidance, earnings of $7.6 million or $0.26 per share on revenue of $153 million. Cross-selling opportunities are well underway and should result in meaningful upside to guidance, the analyst said. Story continues Gibson, therefore, reiterated a Buy rating on PWFL, and kept his price target of $10.30 intact. Should the objective play out, gains of 46% could be heading investors way over the next 12 months. (To watch Gibsons track record, click here) 2 other analysts are currently tracking the asset tracker, with both recommending the stock a Buy. PowerFleets Strong Buy consensus rating is accompanied by an average price target of $10.83 and represents possible upside of 54%. (See PowerFleet stock analysis on TipRanks) Forty Seven Inc (FTSV) Moving on to the healthcare sector, we encounter Forty Seven Inc. The biotech is engaged in finding novel and more compassionate ways to fight cancer. FTSV has been turning heads on the Street recently, as December saw a tripling of its share price. The reason? Last month, Forty Seven announced promising updated clinical data from its ongoing phase Ib trial evaluating Magrolimab in combination with Azacitidine for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The combination of Magrolimab and Azacitidine proved to be highly active and well-tolerated in patients with MDS and AML. Magrolimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD47, which is a dont eat me signal to macrophages and is expressed on all cells. After such a mercurial run up, what might move the stock even further? Roths Anthony Butler thinks It could be inferences of magrolimabs utility in solid tumors. The 4-star analyst further expounded, While we do not know the data, an early Phase Ib trial of magrolimab plus cetuximab in colorectal cancer will be presented at the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GI) January 23-25 in San Francisco and as well as magrolimab plus avelumab in ovarian cancer at ASCO-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium February 6-8 in Orlando. The trials could possibly provide an early read on the utility of magrolimab in solid tumors. Any positive data most likely will increase the value of the stock. Butler confirmed his bullish take on Forty Seven by reiterating a Buy rating on the cancer fighter. The analysts price target is $55 and implies upside potential of 56%. (To watch Butlers track record, click here) It looks like the rest of the Street unanimously agrees with the Roth analyst. A Strong Buy consensus rating is formed of solely Buy ratings 9, in fact. 13% upside could be in the cards should the average price target of $41.75 be achieved over the coming 12 months. (See Forty Seven stock analysis on TipRanks) NV5 Holdings (NVEE) NV5 Holdings suffered badly in the bull market of 2019, losing almost 17% of its value over the year. A series of disappointing earnings reports hampered the stocks growth potential. The infrastructure-focused engineering and consulting company has started the new decade well, though, and is so far up by over 10% year-to-date. NV5 have been busy on the acquisition front; In December, the company completed the purchase of Geospatial Holdings (QSI), the US's largest independent geospatial analytics firm for approximately $318 million. The acquisition was the companys 7th in 2019 alone. Roths Jeff Martin thinks a turnaround is due and foresees the trend extending further into 2020. The 5-star analyst said, We chose NVEE as the top pick for Business Services in anticipation of the improved margin profile of the business in 2020. We model a 420bp improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin (on net revenue) to 21.2%, aided by the 24% margin from the QSI acquisition. QSI also brings organic growth potential and continued strength in NVEEs Energy group aid in the return to organic growth in 2020. Martin, accordingly, reiterated a Buy rating on NV5, along with a price target of $91. This implies upside potential of a not inconsiderable 63.5%. (To watch Martins track record, click here) Overall, those keeping an eye on NVEE stock remain with the bulls. NV5s 3 Buy ratings coalesce into a Strong Buy consensus rating and come accompanied with an average price target of $87.33. The figure indicates upside potential of over 60% upside. (See NV5 stock analysis on TipRanks) Aspen Group Inc (ASPU) Combining tech with education, Aspen group has two for-profit universities under its holdings umbrella, Aspen University and United States University. The company provides online degrees along with on-campus studies. ASPUs innovative monthly payment plan allows students to pursue degrees without the burden of student loans, while the universitys option to pay in monthly increments provides the ability to pay for education in significantly lower amounts. Aspen has been posting impressive growth figures in its latest earnings report, exhibiting 49% year-over-year growth, while also reporting record revenue of $12.1 million. Roths Darren Aftahi anticipates continued topline growth (~36% y/y NTM) to be driven by further expansion of ASPUs two higher growth and profit segments, USU and Pre-Licensure (PL). The 5-star analyst further added, We expect variable enrollment costs to be kept stable as ASPU should continue to benefit from its industry differentiating EdTech enrollment CRM (and with it double-digit conversion rates), suggesting continued leverage in marketing costs y/y, while maintaining double-digit enrollment growth (with upside in 2H20 from the launch of 2 additional PL campuses). Shares remain attractive trading at <2.5x FY21 revenue on ~30% y/y growth and runway for incremental profitability in the NTM. Unsurprisingly, then, Aftahi kept his Buy rating on ASPU, along with his price target of $11. The figure indicates potential upside of 40%. (To watch Aftahis track record, click here) When put together, Aspens 4 Buy recommendations from the Street add up to a Strong Buy consensus rating. An average price target of $10.75 indicates possible gains of 36%. (See Aspen stock analysis on TipRanks) CryoPort Inc (CYRX) With Roths final pick we head back to the tech sector. Cryoport provide logistic solutions for the life sciences industry. Specifically, the company deals in the global transportation of temperature-sensitive materials and serves biopharmaceutical, IVF and surrogacy and animal health organizations around the world. The company is growing rapidly and making its way towards profitability. In 3Q19 revenues were up by 81% year-over-year with reported record revenue of $9.6 million. The company is expected to start turning a profit in 2021. After CYRXs share price rose by over 150% in 2019s first eight months, the final months of the year saw it experience a pullback. Roths Richard Baldry, though, sees the retracement as an opportunity. The 5-star analyst picks Cryoports as his top Software sector pick for 2020. Baldry said, As CYRXs clinical trial customer base increases and commercial therapies supported expand, we expect rapid growth and record revenue and earnings results in 2020, at odds with the roughly 40% pullback in its shares from recent highs. To this end, Baldry reiterated a Buy on Cryoport, alongside a price target of $30. Should the target be met, investors stand to take home an increase in the shape of 75%. (To watch Baldrys track record, click here) CYRXs fans on the Street are few, yet vocal. Of the remaining 2 analysts chiming in with an opinion on the logistics company, both consider Cryoport a Buy. Therefore, Cryoport receives Strong Buy status. With an average price target of $23.67, the upside potential comes in at 38%. (See Cryoport price targets and analyst ratings on TipRanks) Suarez injury problems continue Barcelona Will visit specialist Knee problems continue to plague Barcelona's Luis Suarez with the player set to see a specialist in order to assess his current predicament. The Uruguayan striker has had issues with his right knee for weeks, say Sport, and he will visit Dr. Ramon Cugat on Saturday to assess the situation and the possibility of an operation. MARCA though, can confirm that Barcelona don't consider an operation, in the near future, needed to end Suarez's issues. The knee affected is the same one which Suarez has surgery on last season in order to solve a problem with his meniscus, which subsequently prevented him from playing in the Copa del Rey final against Valencia. SPOKANE A right-wing lawmaker from Washington state said Friday that a recent report that branded him a ''domestic terrorist'' is a lie and that he will continue to represent the people of his district. Democrats and some Republicans have called for state Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, to resign in the wake of a December report involving anti-government activities. Shea has refused to resign. He issued a statement saying he will be in the chamber when the state House convenes its 2020 session on Monday. "'I look forward to continuing to represent the people of my district,'' Shea wrote. ''I do so with a renewed sense of the importance of our Constitution's protections for the powerless against the vindictiveness of the powerful.'' The report commissioned by the state House was released in December and concluded that Shea helped plan, engaged in and promoted three armed conflicts against the U.S. government in Nevada, Idaho and Oregon in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In particular, Shea's work to organize and urge supporters to attend the 2016 standoff with authorities at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon was branded domestic terrorism by the report by the Rampart Group, a Seattle-based private investigation agency. The report prompted House Republicans to immediately expel Shea from their caucus. House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, said Thursday at a legislative forum sponsored by The Associated Press that Shea ''is not a House Republican.'' But Wilcox believes it is up to the voters of Shea's Spokane Valley district to kick him out of the Legislature. "Matt Shea should resign,"' incoming House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said Thursday at the forum. "'And if he does not resign he should be expelled.'' Jinkins said Democrats alone cannot expel Shea and would need the votes of at least some Republicans to reach a two-thirds majority. Nine Republicans would need to vote for expulsion. "I don't know how this is going to end up,'' Jinkins said. Shea on Friday attacked the 108-page report, which he had refused to be interviewed for. "'I have been falsely accused of being a "domestic terrorist" by a private investigator who never spoke to the principals involved in the incidents she described and relied instead on anonymous sources,'' Shea wrote. "'This is a lie,'' Shea wrote. Shea also said he has not been contacted by the FBI or the U.S. Attorney's Office, despite Jinkins saying she had forwarded the report to those agencies. Shea said Jinkins should respect the role of federal law enforcement to make charging decisions. The report also found that Shea in the past had condoned intimidating opponents and promoted militia training by the Patriot Movement for possible armed conflict with law enforcement. -- Associated Press In a massive admission on Saturday, Iran amid tensions with the United States, has accepted that the Ukranian jet shot down on January 8 was done by mistake. Issuing a statement, Iran's military on state television said that the incident happened due to "human error." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, taking to Twitter, has said that it is an "unforgivable mistake." He also said that "investigation on this great tragedy continues." Here's the full statement that Iran's military issued on state TV: A military statement carried by state media said that the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned toward a sensitive military center of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its highest level of readiness amid the heightened tensions with the US. In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit. It apologised for the disaster and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent such mistakes in the future. The responsible parties would be referred to a judicial department within the military and held accountably, the military said. Meanwhile, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani issued a statement Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 'Deeply regret': Iran's Prez Rouhani apologises for military's downing of Ukrainian jet Iran's Foreign Minister also termed the day as a "sad day". Taking to Twitter, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that "human error" at a time of "US adventurism" has caused the disaster. On behalf of the country, he extended regrets and apologies. He also said that this was revealed after internal investigations. A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020 Iran invites Boeing, Ukraine to join probe into plane crash that killed 176 Ukrainian aircraft shot down A Ukrainian aircraft with at least 176 people aboard crashed on January 8 due to technical glitches just after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport, according to Iranian media reports. As per the reports, all 176 passengers on board the PS752 airliner had died. A spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, Reza Jafarzadeh had told the media that rescue teams were immediately sent to the spot near the airport where the aircraft belonging to Ukraine International Airlines crashed but they could not assist since the place was ablaze. Ukraine International Airlines plane crashes in Tehran; all 176 aboard dead According to media reports citing Ali Kashani, a senior public relations official at the airport, the plane was heading towards Kiev and had 167 passengers and nine crew on board. The Boeing 737 took off early Wednesday morning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook post that he would cancel the rest of his trip to Oman and would return to Kiev due to the crash. This came amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran after US airstrike killed Iran's second most important person - commander of Quds Force of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qasem Soleimani. While Iran vowed to take "revenge", and shot a missile at US airbase in Iraq, US President Donald said that Iran and the US can work together for world peace, pointing ISIS as a common enemy. However, on Friday, the US imposed new sanctions on Iran. US gives Ukraine 'important data' on Iran plane crash (Inputs from AP) Advertisement Photos taken by U.S. Special Operations forces have been released in the aftermath of the American drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad International Airport. The photos, which depict the grisly outcome of the January 3 Reaper drone's missile strike on two cars carrying Soleimani and nine others, were obtained by Fox News from a U.S. government source. The U.S. soldiers were secretly following Soleimani's convoy about a half-mile behind his entourage, and rushed to the scene immediately after the strike to confirm that the Iranian general had been killed. The photos show the burning, twisted wreckage of the vehicle Solemani was traveling in, as well as some of the items he was carrying, including a cell phone and currency. U.S. soldiers were secretly following Soleimani's convoy about a half-mile behind his entourage, and rushed to the scene immediately after the strike, taking this picture In another photo, Soleimani's body has been blurred out as it lies next to the wreckage Photos also show items Soleimani was carrying, including a cell phone (top) and currency Iranian General Qassem Soleimani (center) was said to be the number two most powerful man in Iran, after the Ayatollah Soleimani was also carrying a book of poetry, a pistol and a rifle, Fox News reported. Unreleased photos graphically depict Soleimani's disfigured body, showing him missing limbs. On Friday, it was revealed that on the same day Soleimani died, U.S. forces carried out another top secret mission against a senior Iranian military official in Yemen, according to a new report. The simultaneous strike targeting Abdul Reza Shahlai, a financier and key commander of Iran's elite Quds Force who has been active in Yemen, did not result in his death, four U.S. officials familiar with the matter told the Washington Post. On Saturday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard acknowledged that it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the airstrike killing Soleimani. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases. Other photos taken by Iraqi forces show a wider view of the scene of the drone strike Wreckage is seen following the strike in photos taken by Iraqi forces Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guard's aerospace division, said his unit accepts 'full responsibility' for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, 'I wished I was dead.' He said Guard forces ringing the capital had beefed up their air defenses and were at the 'highest level of readiness,' fearing that the U.S. would retaliate. He said an officer made the 'bad decision' to open fire on the plane after mistaking it for a cruise missile. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed his 'deep sympathy' to the families of the victims and called on the armed forces to 'pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident.' Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a statement saying the crash investigation should continue and the 'perpetrators' should be brought to justice. He said Iran should compensate victims' families, and he requested 'official apologies through diplomatic channels.' A letter sent to elderly and disabled people to do their own house chores has been slammed as 'heartless' and 'appalling'. More than 600 residents at Hawke's Bay in New Zealand received a letter from the district health board announcing their services will be cut if they're only receiving housework help. National Party MP Lawrence Yule slammed the letter as 'heartless' and that these services should be encouraged. 'Offering cleaning services like vacuuming and bathroom cleaning is a small cost compared with residential care and should be encouraged,' he told Newshub. 'It supports people to stay in their own home for longer and stay engaged in their communities.' More than 600 residents at Hawke's Bay in New Zealand received a letter (pictured) from the district health board Residents also received a pamphlet (pictured) informing them of the sort of chores they could involve themselves in to stay on top of their health Jackie Braid, whose 88-year-old mother suffers from a bad arthritic knee, would be affected by the changes. 'I'm absolutely certain there will be a lot of vulnerable people out there who think perhaps they don't deserve to have this help, I'm actually quite angry about that,' she told RNZ. 'They just send out a blanket letter and just say it's up to you to call us if you want to be reassessed or have some support and there will be people who will not do that, who need this service.' 'If you are only receiving housework help, e.g. vacuuming and/or cleaning bathrooms, your eligibility for this service will cease,' the letter read. 'This is so we can make sure those people that need critical supports receive them.' Residents also received a pamphlet informing them of the sort of chores they could involve themselves in to stay on top of their health. 'While housework may seem a chore it is also a great way to maintain a good level of health and well-being at any age,' the letter continued. 'Please find attach information to help show you how you can use housework tasks to maintain your health as you age.' However, reviews will still go ahead to ensure all those already eligible require the support (stock) On Friday, the Hawke's Bay DHB apologised for the decision and said they didn't mean any disrespect with the letter. 'Disappointingly some of the people who have received the letter clearly have an ongoing need for that support and I apologise for that,' executive director of planning and funding Chris Ash told Newshub. However, reviews will still go ahead to ensure all those already eligible require the support. The Public Service Association (PSA) welcomed the apology but said the letters shouldn't have been sent out in the first place and showed the need for more funding. 'The solution to that is to increase funding and allocate more resources to help staff and clients get the job done,' national secretary Kerry Davies told the publication. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Texas will reject the resettlement of new refugees, its governor said Friday, becoming the first state to publicly do so since a Trump administration executive order granted such unprecedented veto power. In a letter announcing the decision, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, argued that Texas has "carried more than its share in assisting the refugee resettlement process" and said the state's government and nonprofit agencies have also been strained by "a broken federal immigration system." "Texas continues to have to deal with the consequences of an immigration system that Congress has failed to fix," he wrote in the letter, which was addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Under the order, refugees could still make their homes in Texas - but only after settling in another state first, Abbott said. But critics said the policy change underscores a growing hostility to the country's refugee resettlement program - especially in some conservative states and the White House. In September, after slashing the annual national refugee cap to a historic low, President Donald Trump also gave states and localities sweeping authority to block refugee admissions by requiring their governments to consent in writing before people are allowed to arrive. So far, 42 states have agreed to accept refugees, according to a tracker maintained by the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Texas is the first state to refuse them. Human rights advocates and the state's Democratic lawmakers condemned Abbott's decision, calling it cruel and antithetical to Texas' history of welcoming those who flee their home countries. "This is a disgraceful move by Texas Governor Greg Abbott," Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat whose district includes San Antonio, said on Twitter. "He has completely submitted to bigotry and xenophobia." Texas has long been among the country's leaders in refugee resettlement. Last fiscal year, it took in more refugees than any other state, according to federal data. This year, of the nearly 3,350 refugees resettled nationally, Texas has taken in about 260, putting it third behind Washington and California. "Texas is one of the most welcoming states for refugees seeking to escape dangers abroad," Abbott wrote, adding that 10 percent of all refugees resettled in the United States have come through his state. And mayors from Texas' largest cities had lobbied Abbott to continue that policy of embrace, praising the resettlement program for spurring economic growth and introducing their communities to new cultures. "Regardless of where someone is from, who they are, or what they believe, there is a home for them in Houston," the city's mayor, Sylvester Turner, a Democrat, said in a statement. "Our welcoming spirit has led to our city becoming the national leader in refugee resettlement. We remember Exodus 22:21, 'Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner.' " But in announcing his executive order, Trump said he was empowering local governments to refuse something that has for years has been imposed on them. At an October rally in Minneapolis, Trump boasted of the change, telling the crowd "no other president would be doing that." "You should be able to decide what is best for your own cities and for your own neighborhoods," Trump said as images of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who came to the United States from Somalia as a refugee, flashed across jumbo screens. "And that's what you have the right to do right now." Shortly after, three refugee resettlement agencies sued the administration, saying the order violates long-standing federal policies to welcome refugees. The consent requirement, the organizations argued, has caused confusion and could threaten the extensive network that has helped refugees find housing and jobs for decades. A preliminary decision in the case is expected later this month. The Texas decision demonstrates the urgency of that lawsuit, said Rev. John L. McCullough, the president of Church World Service, one of the plaintiffs in the case. "This decision will devastate refugee communities, lead to family separation for refugee families and leave refugees, former refugees and United States citizens without supportive services," he said in a statement. Abbott has opposed refugee resettlement in the past, trying to stop those fleeing Syria from entering Texas in 2015, after Islamic State militants carried out a series of attacks in Paris, killing 130. That year, he directed resettlement groups to cease accepting Syrian refugees, a move blocked by the federal government. The next year, Abbott withdrew Texas from the resettlement program altogether, but even that couldn't stop the federally-funded effort from placing refugees there. Then, as now, critics argue, Abbott's decision was more about sending a hard-line message. Because the Trump administration is allowing just 18,000 refugees into the country this year, the number that would have ended up settling in Texas would not have made much of an impact, said Eric Schwartz, president of Refugees International. "The number of refugees resettled in Texas would have been very small," he said in a statement, "revealing that Governor Abbott's announcement is more politics than about policy." - - - The Washington Post's Maria Sacchetti and Ann E. Marimow contributed to this report. The same storm system that is hitting Michigan today with two rounds of heavy rain, ice, sleet and snow left a deadly path in its wake in the southern United States At least four people have died in southern states as the storms swept through, packing high winds and unrelenting rain, the Associated Press reported. In Louisianas Bossier Parish, firefighters on Saturday discovered the bodies of an elderly couple near their demolished mobile home. Strong winds had moved their trailer 200 feet from its foundation, the AP said. On Friday, another man was killed in Louisianas Caddo Parish when a tree fell on his home. In Texas on Friday, one person died when a vehicle flipped into a creek, authorities reported. Storm-related injuries were also being reported in southern states Friday and today as the system pushed through the Great Lakes region. Louisianas Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington told the AP that a truck driver and a Benton police officer were shocked by a downed power line. A power line was hanging across the road and a eighteen wheeler truck ran into it and got hung up in it and the Benton officer got there to help him, Whittington said, adding both were expected to survive. This photo provided by Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office shows damage from Friday nights severe weather in Bossier Parish, La., on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. Several people were killed in Louisiana, including an elderly couple found near their trailer home Saturday by firefighters. (Lt. Bill Davis/Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office via AP)AP Homes were damaged or destroyed in Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas on Friday. Downed trees and power lines were widespread. Transportation officials on Saturday said stretches of several highways in southeastern Oklahoma and Arkansas were closed due to downed trees and power lines and flooding. As the storm moved toward the Great Lakes, it forced the cancellation of about 1,000 flights Saturday at Chicagos two main airports. READ MORE Saturday updates on ice storm, snow and flooding rain Gale Warnings issued for Great Lakes, 22-foot waves, freezing spray forecast State Police urge people to stay off roads in Bay, Saginaw, Genesee and Midland counties A special awareness drive was on Saturday kicked off by the Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) seeking to ensure wider participation of voters from low-turnout constituencies in the upcoming polls, officials said. The campaign will be run across 30 assembly constituencies which saw a low turnout in 2019 Lok Sabha polls here, they said. "Seeking to achieve greater participation of voters in 30 assembly constituencies in Delhi that reported low voter turnout in Lok Sabha polls last year, Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh in association with District Election Officer (DEO) East Delhi Arun Kumar Mishra started the special awareness campaign on Saturday," a senior official said. On the first day of the campaign, street plays on the theme of 'voter participation' and 'functioning of EVM/VVPAT' were performed Laxmi Nagar constituency, the Delhi CEO office said. To further engage voters, a quiz was organised in which various questions related to the election process and schedule were asked, the CEO office said in a statement. Delhi elections for its 70 constituencies are due on February 8. The poll body team told people about the toll-free helpline 1950 which is meant for registering grievances and queries of voters. The team also briefed about the mobile application c-VIGIL that allows people to record any violation of the code of conduct. Another mobile app, Voter Helpline Application allows users to easily find election-related information. The team also spoke about the application that allows a persons with disabilities (PwD) to mark them as PwD voters by entering their EPIC number only that will automatically fetch their details. A group of artistes gave spectacular performance appealing to the audience to actively participate on the polling day. Similar voter awareness activities would be organised in other 29 assembly constituencies in the coming days, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Q: My manager is a nightmare. Name anything that exhibits the worst of bad management and shes done it, including presenting my ideas brazenly as her own. Recently, I did a favor for a co-worker not a personal favor, a work favor. As thanks, she surprised me by bringing in a box of fancy mini-pastries two dozen! for me and to share with my team. My manager sits next to me. After my co-worker walked away, the manager commandeered the pastries. She gave me one, then walked around meting out one here and one there to people she likes, having nothing to do with my team. With easily 18 pastries left, she put them under her desk, telling me she was taking the rest home to her family. (They dont appear to be starving; she and her husband live in a mansion and drive expensive cars.) Aside from my horrible manager, I like the company, and I dont want to quit. What, if anything, could I have done so this kind of thing doesnt happen again? I am furious. Anonymous The Trump administration announced on Friday it completed the first 100 miles of barrier wall along the southwest border. What he's saying: From Yuma, Arizona, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf touted the new 30-foot wall and responded to critics who claim it only replaces previously existing fencing. "We have replaced 1970s-era landing mat fence that was easy to compromise, or vehicle barriers that were easy to defeat, with state-of-the-art infrastructure and detection capabilities," Wolf said. What's next: Trump has vowed to construct 400450 miles of barriers by the end of 2020, per AP. Construction is underway in some areas where barriers were not previously, including the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas, according to ABC News, but those stretches remain incomplete. Go deeper: Court rules Trump can use military funds for border wall Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has turned a virtual beggar to raise funds for the Amaravati farmers movement against the proposed shifting of Andhra Pradeshs administrative capital to Visakhapatnam. On Saturday evening, Naidu led a huge rally of thousands of people and party workers under the auspices of Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi (a Joint Action Committee to protect Amaravati) in the temple town of Tirupati. During the three kilometres-long march from NTR Statue to Krishnapuram, Naidu went from person to person with his green-coloured towel stretched like a jholi, seeking alms. People responded in large numbers by dropping currency notes and coins in his towel, even as the security personnel struggled to control the crowd. Naidus beggar act had also illicited a huge response on the streets of Machilipatnam in Krishna district on Thursday and Rajahmundry on Friday. Apart from the party workers, commonners including traders, students and women had filled-up Naidus jholi. People donated even gold ornaments like rings, bangles, earrings and even chains and necklaces as a mark of their commitment to retain Amaravati as the capital city, Amaravati JAC convenor A Siva Reddy told Hindustan Times. Reddy said the cash collected during Naidus Machilipatnam and Rajahmundry tours were around 28 lakh. Naidus wife Nara Bhuvaneswari was the first person to contribute to the Save Amaravati fund by donating her platinum bangles on New Years Day. We are not monetising the gold ornaments as we want to construct a museum in Amaravati and keep these ornaments on display as a tribute to the spirit of women who fought for the capital city, said Reddy. He added that the cash collected will be used on rallies, bus yatras, legal aid and treatment for the protestors, when needed. The ruling YSR Congress party accused Naidu of indulging in theatrics. How dramatic it is to see Naidu collecting money through begging, even after earning so much during his tenure. It is a shameful act and a high drama to lure people and create panic among the Amaravati region, deputy chief minister K Narayana Swamy said on Saturday. Another senior YSRC leader and former minister Dadi Veerabhadra Rao said Naidu should have instead given concrete suggestions on the development of the capital region. He should be ashamed of such activities. What is the account for the collection of such donations? he asked. The JAC leader, however, said every rupee was accounted for. We are depositing the money collected every day into the bank account of the JAC the following morning. Everything is transparent. It is the peoples money to protect the peoples capital, Reddy said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In context: Patent disputes are the norm in the tech industry. It feels like one company is always accusing another of swiping their legally-protected ideas, and it's never clear who will come out on top. For better or worse, we're seeing this trend present itself once again: federal investigators are officially looking into Fitbit and Garmin after fellow wearable device maker Philips accused them both of violating its patents. This news was first revealed by the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) in a press release today. This organization, for the unaware, investigates unfair trade practices, as well as copyright, trademark, and -- of course -- patent disputes. In this case, Philips (yes, the same Philips that makes color-changing Hue bulbs) believes Garmin, Fitbit, and other wearable device makers copied a few patented, smartwatch-related ideas for use in their own products. Some of the wearable gadget functions being disputed include motion tracking, activity monitoring, and "alarm reporting" technology. In other words, it seems Philips is aiming to claim ownership over a few very basic smartwatch features -- or at least, specific implementations of those features. Whether or not those claims will hold up remains to be seen. The USITC's investigation has only just begun, and it will be some time before any concrete answers turn up. The organization will need to question representatives from all "respondent" companies and look for evidence to support or detract from Philips' assertions. The USITC has made it clear that it has "not yet made any decisions" on the merits of this case. Today's announcement is just that; an announcement, and not confirmation that Philips or Garmin have actually broken any patent laws. The USITC will reveal a "target date" for the completion of its investigation within 45 days, however, so we'll be sure to update this article when that information is released. For those who aren't familiar with the products developed by the companies mentioned above, Fitbit is best known for its varied line of fitness trackers, such as the Charge or Versa 2. Garmin's product line-up is a bit less specialized: it does make fitness trackers, but also smartwatches, GPS devices, and more. Philips' sole wearable device is its "Health Watch," which is no longer officially available for purchase from the company's website. When it was, it cost a whopping $250 and offered very similar features to other fitness trackers on the market. Fitbit, for its part, is none too pleased with these accusations. "We believe these claims are without merit and a result of Philips's failure to succeed in the wearables market," the company allegedly said in a statement to The Verge. We'll have to wait and see who will win this patent battle. Image credit: VentureBeat, Tom's Guide Armenia official: Those 100 soldiers absence will not assume any change in terms of border tension Millionaire Robert Durst dies aged 78 Reuters: Over 1.13 million cases of COVID-19 detected in US per day Great Armenian poet Razmik Davoyan dies 2 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Deputy PM Matevosyan: About 1,190 subvention programs implemented in Armenia from 2018 to 2021 243 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia MP: It would be right to put pressure on Azerbaijanis to remove their firing positions Oil is getting more expensive Nearly 10,000 people detained in Kazakhstan in connection with riots Tokayev: CSTO peacekeepers will pull out from Kazakhstan within 10 days Newspaper: Armenia businessmen pay customs duties to Azerbaijanis to go to Iran European Parliament speaker David Sassoli dies Alikhan Smailov appointed Kazakhstan Prime Minister Newspaper: Health minister makes decision full of contradictions in terms of Covid-related restrictions in Armenia Newspaper: Armenia authorities once again showed their being unprincipled, worthless, opposition MP says Germany teacher who had cannibalism fantasies is sentenced to life in prison Israel's military and other security services undergo largest rearmament in years Spain PM calls for a debate to consider COVID-19 endemic disease Flyone Armenia and Pegasus receive permission for Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights Pope condemns "baseless" ideological misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines Arab foreign ministers to visit Beijing Azerbaijanis stoned an Armenian car on the Stepanakert-Goris road Armenian FM has a phone call with his Polish counterpart Macron travels to French Riviera to discuss internal security issues Artsakh Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijan's aggressive behavior aims to disrupt Russian peacekeepers' activities US COVID-19 cases reach 60 million European Parliament President hospitalized due to immune system dysfunction Washington and Ankara discuss normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey WHO excludes emergence of deltacron strain In Karabakh Azerbaijanis shelled tractor Indian Defense Minister tests positive for COVID-19 US-Russia talks on security guarantees lasting for seven hours already NEWS.am daily digest: 10.01.22 Pashinyan appoints Hayk Mkrtchyan as Deputy Governor of Kotayk province Blast in eastern Afghanistan kills nine children Pashinyan: One of key priorities of Armenia presidency at CSTO is strengthening of crisis response mechanisms Internet cut off in Kazakhstan Armenia, Kazakhstan ombudspersons confer on Armenian communitys rights Armenia, Russia defense ministers discuss Kazakhstan Turkey defense minister meets with their envoy in process of normalization of Armenia relations Iranian Foreign Ministry reports progress in Vienna negotiations Dollar continues going up in Armenia New attempt by migrants in Belarus to storm Poland border Skat Airlines resumes Yerevan-Aktau and Aktau-Yerevan flights New Covid-related restrictions to be introduced in Armenia Karabakh police: Firefighters also targeted by Azerbaijan shooting (PHOTOS) Artsakh Defense Army has not fired on Azerbaijan positions Azerbaijani military are protesting amid military awards deprivation Azerbaijanis open fire in Nagorno-Karabakh Karabakh MFA: Events in Kazakhstan are result of actions planned by Turkey Armenia army General Staff has new deputy chief Australia to buy US $ 2.5 billion of armored vehicles Artsakh emergency service: Search for soldiers remains continued during holidays Kazakh Colonel Nazanov dies after heart attack Australia begins to vaccinate children aged 5-11 with COVID-19 vaccine Putin: Peacekeeping contingent to stay in Kazakhstan for a limited period Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit court session is closed Azerbaijan commandos conduct military exercises Part of the Great Wall of China collapsed due to earthquake Armenia MP: Turkey, Azerbaijans regional calculations have mixed up Copper prices decline Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit trial resumes Gold is getting cheaper EU is ready to support in addressing Karabakh crisis 126 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Fire in residential building in New York leaves 19 people killed National Center for Infectious Diseases Yerevan branch employees protesting outside center Karabakh President: Radical Pan-Turkic circles are actively involved in process in Kazakhstan Oil is getting more expensive Mars helicopter Ingenuity preparing for difficult 19th flight Interior ministry: About 8,000 people detained in Kazakhstan Earthquake hits Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone Researchers create substitute for egg whites from fungus Kazakhstan official information channel removes message about 164 casualties EC says construction of new nuclear power plants in Europe will require 500 billion in investment Ghost ship that sank 343 years ago discovered in US Post-COVID-19 antibodies may attack healthy cells, scientists say Pope says he was praying for Kazakhstan Media: 164 people die in Kazakhstan during riots Peskov: CSTO session does not plan to sign documents yet Criminal cases launched after bomb threat in Armenian, Belarus embassies in Moscow Norwegian military surrender panties before demobilization Iranian MFA says Tehran is ready for talks on downed plane of UIA Ukraine Russian defense minister says information war is on all fronts Several strategic objects in Kazakhstan transferred to CSTO contingent under protection David Minasyan elected head of Armenia's Parakar community Bloomberg: US is considering issue of limiting supply of high-tech products to Russia Armenia reports 142 COVID-19 new cases Council of Elders meeting continues in Armenia's Parakar White House speaks on Blinken statement on Russian peacekeeping troops Armed people detained at border in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan talks stabilization of situation in all regions of country Azerbaijanis demand Armenian soldier change his faith by taking away his cross, Ombudsman says Armenian painter Mher Mansurian dies in France At least 17 killed in Egypt road accident NATO chief announces Russia forces continued buildup in Ukraine Armenian militarys transfer to Kazakhstan is completed Azerbaijan opens fire on military positions near Armenia village Unidentified persons report threat of explosion at Armenia, Belarus embassies in Moscow New Delhi, Jan 11 : The Congress in Delhi is focusing on minority-dominated seats to garner Muslim votes, which comprise about 13 per cent of around 1.5 crore voters in Delhi where Assembly polls are due on February 8. After a series of protests against Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Congress is eyeing a comeback in these seats. The Congress had held these seats before Aam Aadmi Party routed it in 2015 Assembly polls. In the 2013 polls, the Congress won 8 seats with mostly Muslim MLAs. That year, the Congress had offered "unconditional" support to AAP, but the bonhomie lasted barely two months, and the AAP government fell. In the 2015 Assembly polls, the Congress was wiped out with Muslims voting for AAP. The Congress efforts to woo the Muslim community suffered a setback after its prominent leader, Shoaib Iqbal, joined AAP just when Delhi polls were announced. Shoaib Iqbal, a five-time MLA from Chandni Chowk's Matia Mahal Assembly constituency, has of late been a vocal supporter of AAP convenor and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and has supported the ruling party on the new citizenship law. Iqbal has been a party hopper -- he started off as a Janata Dal MLA in 1993. After his desertion to AAP this time, the poll equation in three constituencies of old Delhi -- Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal and Ballimaran -- can change. The Congress at present has three prominent Muslim leaders -- Haroon Yusuf from Ballimaran, Matin Ahmed from Seelampur and Parvez Hashmi from Okhla. Congress sources say that despite the work done by the ruling AAP, the minority community is miffed with Chief Minister Kejriwal for not taking a strong stand against the new citizenship law. Minority-dominated Okhla, Seelampur, Matia Mahal, Ballimaran, Mustafabad and Chandni Chowk seats were once Congress strongholds, but are now represented by AAP in the Assembly. The main problem the Congress faces is the selection of candidates. Party sources said there are just too many claimants and that it is difficult select consensus candidates. The party is also banking on a large chunk of minority votes in Sadar Bazar, Kirari, Sangam Vihar, Babarpur, Karawal Nagar and Rithala. "The community has presence in Gandhi Nagar and Laxmi Nagar (east Delhi) also, where tactical shift may benefit Congress as the community is going to vote against the BJP," said a party leader. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: With the poll process for the Assembly elections already underway, the Delhi government on Friday cautioned all its department heads to ensure that neither the proposals sent by them breach the model code of conduct nor the compliance of court orders are delayed due to the fear of their breach. The governments Services Department has issued a circular to all secretaries and principal secretaries, saying the proposals where the MCC provisions are attracted, should be submitted to a screening committee constituted for examining the same. The Assembly elections will be held on February 8 and the results declared on February 11. All departments of the government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, while forwarding the proposals to the chief secretary for consideration or approval, should clearly mention that provisions of the Model Code of Conduct are not attracted, it stated. The circular issued by the government said the proposal cleared by the screening committee will be submitted to the chief electoral officer of Delhi government along with full details and a note on urgency which would state why the proposal cannot wait till completion of the poll. With PTI inputs Police have confirmed a package found in The Strand which sparked the evacuation of nearby restaurants and a theatre this evening is not suspicious. Vaudeville Theatre in London's West End was evacuated at around 7.20pm, moments before a show was scheduled to start after the item was found. Police are now working to reopen the area after part of The Strand in the City of Westminster was shut down. Police cordons that were put in place are in the process of being removed. Police have confirmed a package found in The Strand which sparked the evacuation of nearby restaurants and a theatre is not suspicious Police are working to reopen part of The Strand in the City of Westminster Vaudeville Theatre on the Strand was evacuated. The package has since been confirmed as non suspicous A police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at approximately 19:20hrs on Saturday, 11 January to reports of a suspicious item in commercial premises on The Strand. 'Officers attended and the building was evacuated as a precaution. A number of local roads were also closed to traffic. 'The item has been found to be non-suspicious and cordons are in the process of being lifted.' Theatre-goers were booked for the performance of comedy play 'Magic Goes Wrong,' before they were told to leave the building. Theatre-goers evacuate from a performance of comedy play 'Magic Goes Wrong', which had been due to start In footage on social media, members of the public can be seen milling on the street outside the theatre. Stand-up comedian Samuel Zernig posted a picture of the cordoned-off street on Twitter, adding: 'It looks like a proper incident. Thanks to the FOH at the Vaudeville Theatre for getting us out swiftly!' Another woman said she had been evacuated from Italian restaurant Bella Italia on The Strand. Once in the late 1970s, somebody insulted David McDermotts mother at a party, so he went to Tiffany & Company and had a note engraved: Mr. David Walter McDermott is pleased to announce the elimination of _______ from his guest list. The note, which was mailed out to the offenders friends, now hangs on the wall of Peter McGoughs apartment in Greenwich Village. Now, thats pretty brilliant, to insult someone at such a high level, he said, laughing at the memory. But it is now Mr. McGoughs turn to be disinvited. Half of the Victorian-inspired art duo McDermott & McGough, Mr. McGough has written a memoir about his partnership with Mr. McDermott, Ive Seen the Future and Im Not Going, in which he recounts their bizarre journey as time-traveling artists known as much for their retro lifestyle as for their pseudo-historical art. They dressed in Edwardian clothes, drove a 1913 Model-T Ford and eschewed modern conveniences. As lovers, they shared an apartment on Avenue C that lacked a telephone, television or electric lights. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 03:56:03|Editor: zyl Video Player Close KIEV, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine wants the "black boxes," or the flight data recorders, of the Ukrainian passenger plane which crashed near Tehran to be sent to Kiev for analysis, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said Friday. "We are currently discussing with the Iranian side on where will the 'boxes' be sent - whether the records will be analyzed in Iran. We want them to be analyzed in Kiev," Prystaiko said during a press conference in Kiev. Ukrainian officials are studying all the versions of the plane crash and have not ruled out any cause of the tragedy, according to the minister. Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged all international partners, especially the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, to submit data and evidence relating to the tragedy for a speedy investigation of the case. The Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane, flying from Tehran to Kiev, crashed at about 6 a.m. Tehran Time on Wednesday shortly after takeoff, with all 176 people on board confirmed dead. Head of the General Office for Population and Family Planning under the Ministry of Health, Nguyen Doan Tu, talks to Nhan Dan (The People) newspaper about Vietnams population strategy. Head of the General Office for Population and Family Planning Nguyen Doan Tu. Photo nhandan.com.vn Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has issued Decision 1679/Q-TTg approving Vietnam's Population Strategy towards 2030. What does the strategy focus on? The strategy emphasises the need for more efforts to shift the focus from family planning to population and development to solve population issues including size, structure and distribution. The strategy will also focus on the relationship with economic, social, national defence and public security factors. The strategy sets out eight goals to be achieved by 2030. 1) Maintain the replacement fertility rate and reduce fertility disparities across regions and groups. 2) Protect and develop populations of ethnic minorities of less than 10,000 people. 3) Bring the sex ratio at birth to a natural balance, and strive to maintain the age structure at a reasonable level. 4) Improve the quality of the population. 5) Promote rational population distribution and ensure national defence and public security. 6) Complete the construction and operation of a national population database, and accelerate the integration of population factors into the formulation and implementation of socio-economic development plans. 7) Maximise the advantages of a golden population, creating strong momentum for the country's rapid and sustainable development. 8) Adapt to an aging population and promote healthcare for the elderly. It also sets out eight solutions. 1) Strengthen the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels. 2) Innovate communications and campaigning about population. 3) Perfect mechanisms, policies and laws on population. 4) Improve network development and population service quality. 5) Speed up scientific research while perfecting population information and data systems. 6) Ensure resources for population work. 7)Complete syllabus for education structure. 8) Strengthen international co-operation. Given Vietnam's current population, what advantages and challenges will the strategy encounter? Vietnam is striving to basically become an industrialised country towards modernisation by 2030. Currently, there are many shortcomings and limitations facing population work. Fertility rates vary significantly between provinces, and between rural and urban areas. Areas facing multiple social and economic difficulties have high rates, such as the northern midland and mountainous areas and the Central Highlands, where the birth rate is 2.43 children per woman. Some places have even higher rates, such as Yen Bai and Kon Tum where it reaches 2.74. Meanwhile, in areas with developed social and economic structures, the fertility rate has dropped, such as the southeast region where it's just 1.56. In some places, the fertility rate is much lower than the replacement rate, for example, HCM City's rate is just 1.39. Although adjustments have been made to policies and regulations, no increases have been seen in most places with low rates, and some have continued to decline, especially in southern provinces. In the North, the fertility rate is unstable and has increased in some places. The imbalance in the sex ratio at birth with an excess of boys over girls has become increasingly widespread, both in urban and rural areas. The golden population may meet the quantity criteria, but not the quality we need in our human resources as labour productivity remains limited. No in-depth research has been carried out to propose solutions and promulgate synchronous mechanisms and policies to promote the advantages of the golden population. Vietnam has one of the fastest ageing populations in the world, while socio-economic conditions are not prepared to adapt. Regarding the quality of the population, the current human development index (HDI) is low and is only improving slowly. The average life expectancy is high but the average number of years of healthy living is low. The rate of maternal deaths, child mortality and malnutrition among children under five years old is still high, with significant disparities across regions. The stature and physical strength of Vietnamese people has slowly improved. Child marriages and incestuous marriages are still common among some ethnic minorities, while the protection and development of populations of ethnic minorities of less than 10,000 people is limited. We are also limited in terms of population distribution and migration. Since 1989, migration has been growing, mainly from rural to urban areas. Most migrants are young and female. Family planning services, counselling, pre-marriage health checkups, screenings, diagnoses, treatment, prenatal and neonatal diseases have not been properly invested in. The network of elderly care in the community and intensive care facilities remains underdeveloped. We are also facing difficulties in communicating with people about population factors. Most population mechanisms and policies still focus on family planning. The integration of population factors in social and economic development has not received due attention. What will the General Office for Population and Family Planning do to implement the strategy? We will co-ordinate with localities to disseminate the strategy from central to grassroots levels. We will regularly provide information on the population for ministries, committees and local governments. The office will direct and support localities to formulate action plans for 2020-25 to implement the strategy with goals and targets suitable to the local fertility situation, gender imbalance at birth and aging population. The office is submitting a plan and investing in population work at all levels. We have also suggested that population projects should be incorporated into medium-term public investment plans. VNS SOFIA -- Bulgarian prosecutors have officially charged the countrys now-resigned environment minister with deliberate mismanagement of water supplies in and around the western town of Pernik in a crisis that led to antigovernment protests. Neno Dimov, who faces up to eight years in prison, resigned on January 10, a day after he was taken into custody following a round of questioning by investigators. Prosecutors accuse Dimov of providing water supplies to industrial users even when he had been informed that the water in a dam -- the only source of drinking water to the city of 70,000 and surrounding area -- had seriously decreased. "Some 97,000 people will not have normal access to drinking water in the next five months --- which they would have had if the minister had exercised his authority," Prosecutor Angel Kanev told reporters. "This is the biggest damage," he said. Dimov has denied any wrongdoing and has blamed the water crisis on dry weather and poor management of the local water facility. Last month, prosecutor Krasimira Mincheva said that, with his inaction, Dimov "did not take sufficient care of property management, which she said resulted in damage to human health. Anger in Pernik, a town of more than 70,000 located less than 40 kilometers west of Sofia, has been growing since November 18, when municipal authorities implemented water restrictions due to lack of supply from the Studena Dam. Initially, water was made available for 10 hours a day, but lately residents have had access to water for only seven hours a day. The restrictions, applied to another town and six nearby villages, were scheduled to stay in effect no more than five months. The rationing has led to protests and calls for the government to resign, amid allegations of mismanagement and malfeasance by local officials from the supply company and municipal administration. The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party said it would on January 20 file a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Boyko Borrisovs government over its environmental and water policies. Since the government can secure a parliamentary majority with support of a small populist party, the motion is unlikely to pass. With reporting by The Sofia Globe and Reuters New York: Former Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg, who was criticised for his handling of the 737 MAX crisis, will receive no severance package, the company disclosed Friday. Muilenburg also will not garner 2019 compensation under an annual bonus plan, the company said in a securities filing. Muilenburg was ousted last month as the grounding of the MAX has dragged on after two deadly crashes. Mr. Muilenburg is not entitled to and did not receive any severance or separation payments in connection with his retirement after more than 30 years with the company, Boeing said in the filing. Muilenburg, who worked at Boeing for 34 years, also forfeited $14.6 million in 2019 performance awards the company said. However, Muilenburg will still receive pension, deferred compensation benefits and long-term incentive awards totaling $62.2 million, according to figures in the filing. Muilenburg also holds options to purchase nearly 73,000 shares at around $76, well below Boeing's current share price Friday of $329.92. Boeing on December 23 announced Muilenburg's exit, replacing him with ex-General Electric executive and longtime Boeing board member David Calhoun. Boeing said the shakeup was needed restore confidence and repair relationships with regulators, customers and all other stakeholders.Calhoun is scheduled to take over as CEO on Monday. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal on Saturday accused Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of eroding the BJP from inside saying that he has an ambition of becoming the chief minister of the state. "He (Sarma) has the dream of becoming the chief minister for several years. He left the Congress over this dream and is eroding the BJP from inside. He wants to send Sarbananda Sonowal away as soon as possible so he can become the chief minister," Ajmal told ANI. Reportedly, Sarma had recently said that Badruddin Ajmal will become the chief minister of Assam if the people of the state do not identify their friends and enemies. "He is a political analyst who can tell which party will win. I believe this is his blessing for me and I am very grateful. However, I am also sad that he is giving away his dream of becoming the chief minister to me. They are diverting the Hindu brothers by telling them a Muslim will become the chief minister. They want to take votes by people by creating fear," Ajmal said. "We are not here for power. We are here as an opposition, which is a very important position in a democracy. If the opposition wasn't here, there is no telling what the government could have done by now. It is their dream to create a Hindu Rashtra," he added. Ajmal also claimed that apart from BJP leaders and workers, as many as 90 per cent people of the country are against the Citizenship Amendment Act. "The country is on fire. The government lives in air-conditioned rooms so they don't understand. It is not a matter of Hindu or Muslim but of the Constitution of India. BJP will have to face the repercussion of their decision in the coming elections," he said. The AIUDF chief said that the BJP lost in the recent Jharkhand elections and will lose the upcoming assembly polls in Delhi as well. "AAP will most likely win in Delhi. Prediction is that AAP will win and BJP will barely get 4-5 seats. BJP has to decide how long they want to rule the country. If they want to rule the country for long, they will have to work with both Hindu and Muslims," Ajmal said. He said that the BJP scrapped Article 370 and brought the Citizenship Amendment Act with the help of their brute strength in the Parliament but everything will not go smoothly. "People and students across the country are protesting against the law. However, whenever anyone raises their voice against them, they tell them to go to Pakistan. Are they the advocates of Pakistan? Our ancestors have shed their blood for India. This is our country and we will never leave," Ajmal added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Saturday said his force can take control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir if it gets orders from political authority, in what is seen as a strong message to Islamabad. In a press conference ahead of the Army Day, Gen Naravane also said that the Army will remain very vigilant at the Siachen glacier as there was a possibility of collusion between China and Pakistan against India in the strategically sensitive area. "As far as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is concerned, many years ago there was a parliamentary resolution on it that entire J and K is part of India. If Parliament wants that area should also belong to us and if we get orders to that effect, then definitely we will take action on it," the Army Chief said. He was replying to a question on whether the Army was ready to reclaim Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). A resolution by Parliament in February 1994 stated that Pakistan must vacate the areas of Jammu and Kashmir, which it has occupied through aggression, and resolved that all attempts made by Islamabad to interfere in India's internal affairs will be dealt with resolutely. After India withdrew special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories, several important functionaries said that the focus now should be on reclaiming PoK. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also said that if talks were to be held with Pakistan, then they will be only on PoK. Asked about the situation at Siachen glacier, Gen Naravane said Indian forces should not lose sight as there could be collusion between China and Pakistan in the area. "We need to hold on to it. This can take place at any level, but Siachen and Shaksgam Valley are the places where the territory of these two countries meets," said the Army Chief. On the killing of two civilians by Pakistan Army in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Naravane said Indian Army does not resort to such barbaric activities. "We do not resort to such barbaric activities and fight as a very professional force. We will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner," he said. He said the Indian Army conducts itself in the most professional and ethical manner including on the LoC. "Professional armies never resort to barbaric acts," he said. On complaints of misconduct against the Army in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Naravane said investigations concluded that all the allegations were "unfounded". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PARIS With tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators once again coursing through the streets of Paris and other cities and clouds of tear gas and smashed store windows punctuating the urban landscape, the French government made a major concession on Saturday to unions protesting its pension reform plan. It agreed to scrap, for now at least, a proposal to raise the full-benefits retirement age from 62 to 64. Unlike in the United States, the French government plays a huge role in the retirement plans of individuals in France, both as a source of funds and as overseer and guarantor of the pension system. The raised age had infuriated moderate unions that the government of President Emmanuel Macron badly needs on its side. Mr. Macron has insisted the French need to work longer to strengthen a generous retirement system that is one of the worlds most generous but may be heading toward a $19 billion deficit. On Saturday, with a crippling transport strike already in its sixth week, Mr. Macrons government backed down, announcing that it would withdraw the new age limit, and put off decisions on financing the system until it gets a report on the money problem between now and the end of April. President Donald Trump has called on the Iranian regime to allow human rights groups to monitor protests in the Islamic Republic. The call comes in the aftermath of the regime acknowledging that it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner earlier this week. Via Twitter, President Trump expressed his support for the brave, long-suffering people of Iran after hundreds gathered at universities in Tehran to protest over the governments belated acknowledgement of shooting down the plane, killing all 176 passengers on board. The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up with the regimes lies, corruption, ineptitude, and brutality of the IRGC under @khamenei_ir's kleptocracy. We stand with the Iranian people who deserve a better future. pic.twitter.com/tBOjv9XsIG Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 11, 2020 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also took to Twitter to express his support for the Iranian people, and lashed out against supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the regimes lies, corruption, ineptitude. The protesters demanded officials involved in the missile attack be removed from their positions and tried. Police broke up the demonstrations. Advertisement A photographer has put a unique spin on traditional wildlife photography, transforming flying flocks of birds into stark, futuristic abstractions across the sky. Catalan artist Xavi Bou, creator of Ornitographies project, is best known for his images which capture birds' flight patterns, making them visible as undulating waves, spirals and fractured lines against otherworldly backdrops. Bou told Atlas Obscura that he got the idea for his artwork after wondering 'what types of trails the birds would leave in the sky if that were possible' and, after imagining what that lines would look like, 'I thought it might be interesting to make them visible.' Catalan artist Xavi Bou captures the usually invisible flight trails of birds in his Ornitographies project, which he has been working on exclusively for the past five years The stark, otherworldly images show the flight patterns of birds, which can appear as swirls, lines and waves across the sky. This image is titled Ornitography #159 Among the different breeds he has turned his camera on are cranes, fulmars, seagulls and starlings. This is Ornitography_#62 Bou uses a hi-resolution movie camera, shooting in slow motion, to capture the raw video of the birds flying, before spending weeks merging the video sequences into a single image. This is Ornitography #34 He started making test images in 2012 and was so taken by the results that he stopped working as a postproduction artist five years ago to focus on his Ornitographies project. The final images, which he posts on Instagram and puts on exhibition, are actually a composite of video stills taken from recordings that Bou captures over a number of days while he's at a particular nature spot. He said that it can take anywhere from a week to 10 days to process those images at low resolution, before rendering them into their final, high-resolution form. Unlike long-exposure photography - during which a slow shutter speed produces blurred image of motion - Bou said that he achieves his unusual results by using a hi-res movie camera, shooting in slow motion and then merging the sequences into a single image. Bou said he initially started creating his images by focusing on the flight patterns of single birds. This is Ornitography #100 Over time, however, Bou said that he went from single birds to flocks of birds because of flocks lead to even more abstract images. At left is Ornitography #125. At right is Ornitography #139 Bou travels to places like Spain's Delta of Ebro (pictured) in order to capture the birds that become the subjects of his works Although Bou first started creating his artwork by capturing the flight of a solitary bird against a colorful landscape, he has since been attracted to flocks of birds against the sky. The latter provides 'a more abstract result,' he told Atlas Obscura, adding that 'for me, it is much more powerful. It goes beyond the simple "beauty."' Bou said that among his favorite scenes to shoot are when flocks are startled and take off, en masse, due to the erratic nature of their flight. Among the bird breeds and their trajectories that have caught Bou's eyes are cranes in Spain's Gallocanta Lake, seagulls in Catalonia's Delta de l'Ebre and fulmars in Iceland. Bou's work is currently on display in France's University of Rennes through January 15. Bou (left) started making his bird flight art in 2012. He is seen at right in the process of recording birds in flight Work Ornitography #97 features Atlantic puffins and Northern Fulmars, which were seen in Dyrholaey, Iceland We have to have places for people to legally consume marijuana, particularly renters whose landlords are not going to let them consume in their residences, she said at a City Hall news conference. So that was the whole thrust of carving out some spaces. Were going to take this step by step. But I think the first place to start, the obvious place to start, is with the tobacco places. These will be separate rooms with separate ventilation. The votes are there, and well bring it back up next week and get it done." U.S. President Donald Trump said that the "imminent threat" from Iran might involve planned attacks on four U.S. embassies, U.S. media reported on Friday. "We will tell you that probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad," Trump said in an interview with Fox News when asked about what had been specifically targeted by Iran. "I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies," Trump added. Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, was killed last Friday in U.S. drone strikes near Baghdad airport. The killing of Soleimani drew skepticism from some U.S. experts and Democratic lawmakers, who argued that Trump's decision was "provocative and disproportionate," and might trigger an uncontrolled conflict between the United States and Iran. Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a wing commander of the Indian Air Force, who allegedly impersonated as Union home minister Amit Shah over a phone call to the states governor to influence the appointment of a vice-chancellor in a medical university. STF also arrested a Bhopal-based dentist, whose name was recommended by the wing commander as the vice-chancellor of Jabalpurs Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University. Additional director general, STF, Ashok Awasthi said, We have arrested IAF wing commander Kuldeep Baghela and dentist Chandresh Kumar Shukla on charges of impersonating as home minister Amit Shah and calling the governor over phone to influence the appointment of a vice-chancellor. Awasthi said Baghela, who is currently posted at IAF headquarters in Delhi, was earlier posted as ADC to former Madhya Pradesh governor Ramnaresh Yadav for three years. Protests are simmering in Modasa, Gujarat after the body of a 19-year-old girl was found hanging from a tree after she was allegedly gang-raped. According to the family, the girl had gone missing on December 31 and her decomposed body was found hanging from a tree in Saira village of Modasa on January 5. The family alleged that despite them filing a police complaint about kidnapping the cops did not act for days. A relative of the victim said the family had received a threat that the girl will be kidnapped, but even after this, the cops implied that she had eloped and claimed that she will return with a marriage certificate. On Sunday the priest of a nearby temple spotted the body and informed the villagers who called the police. The family of the victim had initially refused to accept the body until the accused are arrested. Several Dalit groups also protested outside the police station demanding the arrest of those behind the rape and murder of the BA student and demanded action against the police officials. Following the protests police registered a case of kidnapping, gang rape and murder against four persons from the region under the provisions of IPC and Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Based on the family's statement the cops have named four men as accused in the case Bimal Bharvad, Darshan Bharvad, Satish Bharvad, and Jigar. According to the FIR, the girl was last seen alive sitting inside an i20 car driven by Bimal. When confronted by the victim's family, Bimal reportedly told them that he had kidnapped her and that the family can do whatever they want to. Even as the protests continue the cops are clueless about the four accused, who they say is on the run. Initial reports suggest that the girl died due to asphyxia as a result of hanging. However, other details, including if she was raped, will be clear only once the postmortem report is out. According to the recently released NCRB data, in 2018, Gujarat recorded a 16% rise in rape cases reaching 553, from 477 in 2017. Sexual offences against children registered under the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act rose from 1,671 in 2017 to 2,127 in 2018 a 28% jump. Two Gujarat cities Ahmedabad and Surat got featured in the report which recorded 6.25% (from 64 to 68) and 43% (from 32 to 46) rise in rape cases, respectively. Two out of four illegal residential apartments in Kerala's Maradu are scheduled to be demolished in a gap of 5 minutes on Saturday. The 19-floor H2O Holy Faith apartment complex with 90 flats and the Alfa Serene complex with twin towers will be demolished at 11 am and 11.05 am using implosion technology. The buildings are being razed for violating the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules. The directions in this regard were passed by the Supreme Court last year. The court has also ordered the state government to pay interim compensation to each flat owner Ahead of the demolition of two out of four illegal residential apartments in Kerala's Maradu, prohibitory orders have been put in place on both land, air and water in the area. The district administration has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the 200-meter radius of the apartment complexes. The orders came into effect at 9 am and it will continue till the authorities conduct an inspection and declare the place safe for people to return. Half an hour before the implosion, which is scheduled for 11 am, a first siren was sounded for one whole minute. The siren will warn people and ensure that they have left the demolition zone. A police team will then search the evacuation area. At 10.55 am, another one-minute siren will alert motorists and all traffic movement on major roads will be stopped. Following this, the flats will be razed down. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A primary school teacher is spending part of her school holidays on the front line battling the bushfires ravaging Kangaroo Island. Courtney Orrin, from Willunga in South Australia and who teaches students in Port Noarlunga, is on a three-day rotation to assist the island devastated by the blazes. The volunteer firefighter was photographed at the base camp on Saturday after returning from a 12 hour night shift battling the flames. Primary school teacher Courtney Orrin is on the front line battling bushfires ravaging Kangaroo Island Ms Orrin is on a three-day rotation to assist the region, which has been devastated by bushfires The 27-year-old has been a volunteer firefighter for seven years after becoming interested in the job when a bushfire struck near her hometown when she was 15. 'I felt absolutely helpless and told my parents I wanted to help but they said I couldn't - Dad said I needed to be a bloke,' Ms Orrin told Daily Mail Australia. 'We went down and cooked food for them but I didn't let that slip. Then years later I was talking to someone who was a female firefighter and she showed me how to volunteer.' Ms Orrin said she has been accepted as one of the crew. 'As a female I'm 110 per cent treated as just another member of the group. It's a cliche to say it's like a big family but it really is.' She has also been amazed at the community support being shown for firefighters. 'It's overwhelming to see how much support there is for firefighters. Being among it even just walking down the street, the positive comments were quite humbling.' The Kangaroo Island blaze is still burning in some areas but the Country Fire Service has reduced its warnings. Cooler conditions and rain on Friday allowed firefighters to stop most of its forward spread. The Kangaroo Island fires have destroyed more than 200,000 hectares along with 56 houses, as well as claiming two lives since it was first sparked by lightning more than two weeks ago. Well-known outback pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his 43-year-old son, Adelaide surgeon Clayton Lang, died after their car was trapped by flames. CFS chief officer Mark Jones said while crews were now getting the upper hand in most areas, the fires would not be completely extinguished in the short term. 'The changing conditions should allow crews to be successful in reducing spread today and controlling the fires,' he said. The volunteer firefighter was photographed at the base camp on Saturday after returning from a night shift confronting the flames The Kangaroo Island bushfires have destroyed more than 170,000 hectares along with dozens of houses 'They will not be extinguished today, I would not want anyone to take false hope from that. 'This is an ongoing and lengthy operation.' The Australian Defence Force is positioning itself to respond to deteriorating bushfire conditions forecast for Victoria and South Australia early next week. Defence Force national bushfire coordinator Major General Jake Ellwood says easing bushfire conditions have helped recovery efforts on Saturday. 'It's enabled us an opportunity to do the support work we needed to do,' he told reporters. 'Conditions are expected to worsen again in South Australia and Victoria on the 14th and we will position ourself to respond to any contingencies that may arise.' CFS Firefighter Courtney Orrin (c) with other crew members at base camp on Saturday Flights have been cancelled in Dubai after torrential rain left parts of the city underwater. Flooding and heavy rainfall has caused disruption at Dubai International Airport. Its operator said delays were likely to continue throughout Saturday, while some flights have been cancelled or diverted. Images shared on social media showed streets submerged by water and even parts of the airport flooded. Dubais government said there had been unusually heavy rain, causing pools of water in some parts of the United Arab Emirates largest city. 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 People could be seen standing in ankle-high water in the middle of roads in images shared by Dubais official media centre. Emirates Airline tweeted: Heavy rainfall has caused disruptions to several flights departing from or arriving at [Dubai International] today. They advised people to check their flight status before travelling. Dubai International is one of the worlds busiest airports and home to both the airlines Emirates and Flydubai, who also said some flights were being delayed or diverted following the heavy rain. The first major endurance motorsport event of the year kicked off in Dubai on Friday, but was called off before its halfway point due to the torrential rain. The Dubai 24 Hours race was cancelled the next morning as officials said water on the track and in the pit lane rose as bad weather continued overnight. The weather conditions have heavily impacted the entire city and the infrastructures of Dubai Autodrome, organisers Creventic said. Additional reporting by Reuters Senior Sri Lankan leader and former chief minister of the island nations Tamil-majority North Eastern province, CV Wigneswaran, on Friday urged India to grant dual citizenship to the Lankan Tamil refugees living here since the late 1980s. The demand for dual citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in several camps across Tamil Nadu and outside has gained momentum in the wake of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. And, there is unanimity on this across the political spectrum, barring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). There are more than 62,000 Lankan Tamil refugees living in 107 camps spread across the state and another 36,000 in other states. They are predominantly Hindus. The Sri Lankan leaders demand assumes significance since the opposition has been charging that CAA is discriminatory as it leaves out the Tamil refugees among other persecuted minorities. Wigneswaran, a former supreme court judge who was in Vellore for Pongal celebration at the Voorhees College, told reporters that refugees have been in the India for more than three decades and should not be left as stateless people any longer. They have been extended the benefits, including higher education, given by the government of India all these years, he pointed out. While extending his support for the return of Lankan Tamils back home, Wigneswaran, however, said their children have born and brought up in India and are studying here. Since they must extend their stay in India for this purpose and to continue to avail these benefits, they need dual citizenship, though we want them to return to our country soon, he said. Admitting that there was no specific treaty on extending dual citizenship to Lankan Tamils, he said the governments of both the countries should chalk out a new avenue to make this possible. Observing that more than 10,00,000 Lankan Tamils have left the shores and many of them want to return for extending their services to the people of the country, he pointed out that the foundation for that was lacking. If we win the provincial elections, we assure to extend all the required measures to facilitate their return. When the Tamils return to their home, the Sri Lankan government owes a huge responsibility to provide a conducive atmosphere for them to settle down, he said. Asked about the delay in the release of all the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Wigneswaran said he does not think that they were directly involved in the killing. Beyond that, there may be political reasons behind that decision, which I do not know, he said. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the country's armed forces to address "shortcomings" after a Ukrainian passenger jet was mistakenly shot down, his office said. "I emphatically advise the general headquarters (of the armed forces) to follow up on shortcomings" to ensure this kind of error does not happen again, said a statement on his official website, adding he expressed his "sincere condolences" to the families of the deceased. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prayagraj, Jan 11 : An open university in Uttar Pradesh has launched an awareness campaign on the Citizenship Amendment Act and Article 370 by including them in the college syllabus. The new syllabus came into force from January 2020. Professor Kameshwar Nath Singh, the Vice Chancellor of Rajarshi Tandon Open University, told IANS, "Our university runs courses according to the need of the time and society. There are some courses for which students do not have to appear for exams. Certificates are handed out on the basis of evaluation of assignments. Right now we have introduced CAA and Article 370 in this category." The three-month awareness course on these topics commenced from January 2020, the VC said. Admissions have begun for the course. Students will be given assignments and they will be given certificates after the successful completion of the assignments, the VC added. The CAA syllabus has been divided into five parts while the one on Article 370 and 35A has six parts. This is an exercise to make people aware about the CAA and Article 370 and 35A, the VC said. The course explains the complete process and importance of the abrogation of Article 370 and the logic behind bringing the Citizenship Amendment Act, he said. Two men were killed during an early morning car crash on Interstate 85 in Macon County. The crash occurred just after 3:30 a.m. when a 1994 Isuzu Rodeo driven by 59-year-old Donald Wayne Grantham was struck by a 1997 Buick Century on I-85 near the 30-mile marker, about six miles north of Shorter. Grantham was pronounced dead at the scene. Also killed was a passenger, Roland Lee Ridenour, 69. The driver of the Buick was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency didnt release the drivers name. State Troopers continue to investigate. An unnamed Boeing pilot wrote to another in a 2017 exchange, released Last Thursday as part of a 100-page release of internal documents from Boeing to Congress during the time of the 737 MAX certification. ( Seattle Times , January 9, 2020) Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that the present state of economy was a "temporary phase", and India will become a USD five trillion economy by 2024. He was addressing a convocation of Gujarat Technological University (GTU) here. "Don't get disheartened. This is just a temporary phase. I want to tell you that India will become a USD five trillion economy by 2024," he said. The Union minister made the claim even as India's second quarter GDP growth slowed to 4.5 per cent, weakest in over six years. "In the first 70 years, our economy grew to USD two trillion. In the first five years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, it was taken to USD three trillion," he said. "Don't be confused by false propaganda. You will be the biggest beneficiaries when India becomes a USD five trillion economy," Shah told students who passed out of the university. "Some people say that poverty, hunger and illiteracystill exist in the country. But the youth should not get carried away by these claims. No one can stop a country which has a market of 130 crore people," the Union minister said. He urged the graduating students to set up research- oriented start-ups to solve problems specific to India, such as farmers being compelled to burn crop stubble. "Activists blame the farmers who burn crop residue, saying they do not understand the problem of pollution. The farmer stays with nature and he understands the problem, but he does not have any solution," Shah said. "Our youngsters should find a technological solution to the problem," he said. Technology can also change how we manage our natural resources, the Union minister said. "The government is using space technology to map and manage our minerals and it will give a boost to the mining sector," he said. "There was a proposal to build posts on our borders. Prime Minister Modi suggested that satellite technology be used. Forty-five such posts have been built using the space technology to map the area on our as well as our neighbor's side. "Now, the security agency says we will not need to set up new posts for next 20 years in that area," Shah said. The BJP president also urged the youth to speak in mother-tongue. "The media will brand me as regressive tomorrow, but I advise you to speak in our own languages. Talk to your friends in Indian languages. It will save our culture and knowledge," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. As it is gearing up to move its administrative base soon, the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday decided to conduct the Republic Day Parade in the port city of Visakhapatnam on January 26. The decision to organise the official Republic Day function in Visakhapatnam was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, official sources said. Accordingly, Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan has been informed of the decision while the Visakhapatnam district administration has been asked to make necessary arrangements for the ceremonial event. The RD Parade will be conducted on the famous Ramakrishna Beach in the self-styled City of Destiny, the sources added. Focus has been on Visakhapatnam ever since the Chief Minister hinted last month that it could soon become the "executive capital" of the state. It is expected that all government offices, including the state Secretariat, will be shifted to Visakhapatnam before the first half of the current year. After the state bifurcation in June 2014, the previous Telugu Desam Party government conducted Independence Day and Republic Day functions in different towns and cities, though over the last two years Vijayawada, part of the capital region Amaravati, remained the venue for ceremonial events. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil on Saturday discussed water issues in the state in a meeting also attended by NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Top officials led by water resources principal secretary IS Chahal were present at the meeting held in YB Chavan Centre. "We discussed how to divert water flowing to the west from Nashik to the east side. We want to provide additional water to Marathwada. Water issues in Nashik and Jalgaon district will also be resolved," Patil told reporters after the meeting. "I took information about the two inter state projects - Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada link project," Pawar tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash Foreign capital in Shanghai achieved a new high last year in the city's history -- 19.05 billion U.S. dollars, up 10.1 percent year on year, the municipal government said Friday. An average of over 52 million U.S. dollars of foreign capital was invested in Shanghai daily. Last year, 50 regional headquarters of foreign-funded multinational companies and 20 foreign-funded R&D centers landed in Shanghai. In total, the regional headquarters of 720 foreign-funded multinational companies, as well as 461 foreign-funded R&D centers, had landed in Shanghai by the end of 2019, as the city's headquarters economy took off. Official statistics show that Shanghai added 6,800 new foreign investment projects in 2019, up 21.5 percent year on year. The contractual foreign capital amounted to 50.25 billion U.S. dollars, up 7.1 percent. Business services continued to lead the city in attracting foreign investment, while information services, trade, financial services and real estate achieved balanced development. Science and technology services continued to be the fastest-growing industry. A series of opening-up policies and business environment improvement contributed to investment growth, according to the local government. The foreign investment law, which went into effect Jan. 1, is expected to further stimulate the market. A total of 60 foreign investment projects worth over 7.3 billion U.S. dollars were signed Friday at a ceremony organized by the municipal government. Among the signed projects, there were 39 in manufacturing with a total investment of 4.7 billion U.S. dollars, 20 mega-projects worth over 100 million U.S. dollars each, nine projects from Fortune 500 companies and nearly 20 regional headquarters projects. Allergan, a Dublin-headquartered pharmaceutical company, invested 18.75 million U.S. dollars in a medical equipment company in the Shanghai free trade zone last year. At the ceremony, Allergan announced that it would establish its regional headquarters in Shanghai to integrate investment, service, operation and management so as to expand its presence in China and other countries in Asia in the long run. White Wang, president of Allergan China, said the company, which entered China 10 years ago, has benefited from Chinese residents' rising living standards and consumption upgrading over the past decade. Yang Chao, deputy head of the city's commerce commission, told Xinhua that foreign investment in Shanghai has entered a new phase of higher level, wider range and deeper involvement. Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Saturday asserted that the conduct of the 1.3 million-strong Army will be guided by its "allegiance" to the Constitution and its core values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, comments which came in the backdrop of criticism that the military was politicised under his predecessor. Gen Naravane, addressing a press conference on the eve of the Army Day, also said that his force can take control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir if it gets orders from political authority. Delving into evolving security matrix in the region, he said the Army is taking a raft of measures including moving advanced weapons and developing infrastructure to "rebalance" its operational preparedness to deal with challenge along the frontier with China. Talking about his overall focus as chief of the Army, Gen Naravane said it will be 'ABC' -- "allegiance, belief and consolidation", noting that protecting the core values of the Constitution will remain the driving force of his personnel. "We swear allegiance to the Constitution of India. Be it officers or jawans, we have taken oath to protect the Constitution and that is what should guide us in all time and all our actions," the Army Chief said. "What it translates into is also the core values which are enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution which are justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. That is what we are fighting for," he said. "We are deployed on the border safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is to secure for our people these core values. And, I think, that is what we and I would like to say that we need to keep in mind," he added. Gen Naravane took charge as Army Chief on December 31, succeeding Gen Bipin Rawat. In his three-year tenure as Army Chief, Gen Rawat faced allegations of not remaining politically neutral and allowing politicisation of the Army. READ | Congress Responds To COAS Naravane's 'Army Will Get PoK If Parliament Says' Statement Last month, he triggered a huge row after he publicly criticised people leading protests over the new citizenship law, saying leadership is not about guiding masses to carry out arson and violence across the country. He was slammed by opposition parties as well as former military officers who stressed that the armed forces must follow the decades-old principle of serving the country and not any political force. Asked whether top Army commanders should comment on domestic legislation, Gen Naravane said his force will not go wrong in discharging its duties if it understands the importance of protecting core values enshrined in the Constitution including the rights of the citizens. "We are an Army of the people and for the people," he said, adding "We are not seeking any publicity and will continue to serve the nation to the best of our ability." Asked whether the Army was ready to free PoK from Pakistan's control, the Army Chief referred to a parliamentary resolution of 1994, and said his force was ready to follow orders. "As far as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is concerned, many years ago there was a parliamentary resolution on it that entire J and K is part of India. If Parliament wants that area should also belong to us, if we get orders to that effect, then definitely we will take action on it," Gen Naravane said. The Army Chief said his force is much better prepared today to deal with any security challenge than ever before and that its combat capability will be enhanced further. On Siachen, Gen Naravane said Indian forces should not lose sight as there could be collusion between China and Pakistan. "We must not lose sight from where collusion between China and Pakistan can take place. We need to hold on to it. Though it can take place at any level, Siachen and Shaksgam Valley are the places where territory of these two countries meet. Threat of collusion is maximum in the important glacier," he said. Answering a question, he said that there is a shortage of officers in the Army but clarified that he would prefer quality over quantity. READ | Army Chief Makes Massive PoK Declaration, Says 'If Parliament Says, We'll Get It' Asked when women will be given combat role, Gen Naravane did not give a direct reply and said training of the first batch of 100 women personnel for induction into military police has started from January 6. On the killing of two civilians by Pakistan Army in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Naravane said Indian Army does not resort to such barbaric activities. "We do not resort to such barbaric activities and fight as a very professional force. We will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner," he said. He said the Indian Army conducts itself in the most professional and ethical manner including on the LoC. "Professional armies never resort to barbaric acts," he said. Gen Naravane also said that his other focus areas would be 'ITPQ' -- which he explained as Integration, Training Personnel and Quality. He said integration of purposes within the Army and with the two other forces would be a key area for him. "The formation of the Chief of Defence Staff and the creation of a department of military affairs is a very big step towards integration. We on our part will make sure that this is a success," the Army chief said. "Integration will also be within the Army and the integrated battle group is just one example of that. But I also want to assure everyone that in this process of integration, we will take everyone along. Nobody will be left behind," he said The Army Chief said the focus of training will be on preparing the Army for future wars which he said will be network-centric and complex. He said the personnel were the "greatest strength" in the Army, adding "quality and not quantity will be the mantra, be it the selection of personnel or equipment." "We are in a transformative stage and all the transformation that we are doing, we will have to consolidate upon them. We will have to carry forward the initiatives and policies set by my predecessor and make sure that all of them reach a logical conclusion," the Army Chief said. "Of course somewhere along the way, there will be mid-course correction," he said. READ | Formation Of CDS Is A Big Step Towards Integration, Says Army Chief Naravane READ | "PoK And Gilgit Baltistan Is Ours": Army Chief General Rawat DETROIT A dog that arrived at the Michigan Humane Society suffering from injuries related to a hit-and-run has hopefully found a new home with some local firefighters. Saturo arrived at the Mackey Center in Detroit as a hit-and-run victim on Dec. 6. While being cared for there, X-rays and exams revealed fractures of her left front legs, damage to the muscles and tissue on her shoulders and right front leg, and abrasions on other parts of her body, said Anna Chrisman, media manager for the Humane Society. Chrisman said Saturo was cared for there for just over a month before meeting Inkster firefighters. Shes been placed with them as a foster dog while she completes her recovery. Its our hope that she will become a permanent addition to their family once shes been cleared, Chrisman said in a statement. Satoru came to MHS several weeks ago as the victim of a hit and run. She had fractures in both front legs and her... Posted by Michigan Humane Society on Thursday, January 9, 2020 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 Texas will no longer accept the resettlement of new refugees, becoming the first state known to do so under a recent Trump administration order, Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday. Abbott's announcement could have major implications for refugees coming to the United States. Texas has large refugee populations in several of its cities and has long been a leader in settling refugees, taking in more than any other state during the 2018 governmental fiscal year, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Since the 2002 fiscal year, Texas has resettled an estimated 88,300 refugees, second only to California, according to the Pew Research Center. Texas will no longer accept the resettlement of new refugees, becoming the first state known to do so under a recent Trump administration order, Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday. Abbot is pictured meeting President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in August 2019 In a letter released Friday, Abbott wrote that Texas 'has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system.' He added that Texas has done 'more than its share.' Abbott argued that the state and its non-profit organizations should instead focus on 'those who are already here, including refugees, migrants, and the homeless - indeed, all Texans.' It wasn't clear how Abbott's letter might affect any pending refugee cases. Refugee groups sharply criticized the Republican governor. Ali Al Sudani, chief programs officer of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, predicted that some refugees with longstanding plans to come to Texas would have flights rescheduled or delayed. Al Sudani settled in Houston from Iraq in 2009 and now works to resettle other refugees. 'You can imagine the message that this decision will send to them and to their families,' Al Sudani said. 'Its very disappointing and very sad news, and honestly, this is not the Texas that I know.' Texas Democratic Party spokesman Abhi Rahman also criticized Abbott, saying refugees 'are not political pawns and bargaining chips to advance anti-immigrant policies.' President Donald Trump announced in September that resettlement agencies must get written consent from state and local officials in any jurisdiction where they want to help resettle refugees beyond June 2020. Trump has already slashed the number of refugees allowed into the country for the 2020 fiscal year to a historic low of 18,000. About 30,000 refugees were resettled in the U.S. during the previous fiscal year. Abbott's announcement could have major implications for refugees coming to the United States. Texas has large refugee populations in several of its cities and has long been a leader in settling refugees, taking in more than any other state during the 2018 governmental fiscal year, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Governors in 42 other states have said they will consent to allowing in more refugees, according to the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, which works with local agencies throughout the U.S. to resettle refugees. The governors who haven't chimed in are all Republicans and are from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Wyoming. Fierce debates have occurred in several parts of the country, including North Dakota and Tennessee, over whether to opt into refugee resettlement under the executive order. Many Republican governors have been caught between immigration hardliners and some Christian evangelicals who believe helping refugees is a moral obligation. LIRS is also part of a lawsuit challenging the order. A federal judge on Wednesday heard arguments on a request by resettlement agencies to prevent the Trump administration from enforcing it. Krish OMara Vignarajah, LIRS' CEO, called Abbott's decision 'a devastating blow to a longstanding legacy of refugee resettlement in the state.' Local officials in Houston, Dallas, and other cities will not be able to take in refugees over the governor's objection, she said. 'There are some refugee families who have waited years in desperation to reunite with their family who will no longer be able to do so in the state of Texas,' she said. Abbott has tried to stop refugees before, declaring in 2015 that Texas would not welcome people from Syria following the deadly Paris attacks that November. At the time, the administration of former President Barack Obama continued to send refugees to Texas and other states led by Republican governors who were opposed to it. Al Sudani, of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, pointed out that even if refugees are resettled in a different state, they can travel freely within the U.S. and move wherever they choose. 'Literally you can take the bus the next day and come to Texas,' he said. In yet another example of subjugation of minorities in Pakistan, Multan bar association passed a resolution which forbids non-Muslim lawyers including Ahmadis to participate in the Bar council elections in the city, local media reported. The resolution was presented by the lawyers of district bar association of Multan. It stated that the lawyers contesting bar elections will also need to submit an affidavit to prove their faith in Islam, Naya Daur reported. Pakistan has been condemned internationally for cracking down on its minorities. Islamabad has also reportedly been discriminating against its religious minorities, manifested in various forms of targeted violence, mass murders, extrajudicial killings, abduction, rapes, forced conversion to Islam among others, making Pakistani Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadiyyas and Shias one of the most persecuted minorities in the region. The condition of minorities is deplorable in Pakistan. They have always been mistreated and suffered injustices from fellow civilians and the administration. Pakistan administration has always patronised religious, ethnic, cultural and racial disagreements to further their regime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A prolific building certifier is fighting to save his career after allegations he allowed people to move into two Sydney apartment towers while they were "still a building site". Valerio "Vic" Lilli is challenging the Building Professionals Board's decision to reprimand him and strip him of his accreditation for five years for signing off on the "Atmosphere" buildings at Castle Hill. The Atmosphere towers at Castle Hill. A private certifier has been accused of allowing residents to move in while they were still a building site. Developer Toplace was behind the $86 million project, which has seen the construction of 378 apartments spread across two towers neighbouring Castle Towers shopping centre. Toplace is headed by colourful property developer Jean Nassif, who became an internet sensation over a video in which he is heard to say, "Congratulations Ms Nassif. You like?" as he gifts his wife a yellow Lamborghini. Toplace and Mr Nassif are not accused of any wrongdoing. Press Release January 9, 2020 De Lima agrees with Robredo's report on failed 'drug war' campaign Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has lauded Vice President Leni Robredo for submitting a list of actionable recommendations to the Duterte administration to improve its campaign against the use and proliferation of illegal drugs in the country. De Lima made the remarks after Robredo presented a 40-page report containing her findings and recommendations to the government as a result of her 18-day stint as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) last year. In her Dispatch from Camp Crame No. 696 issued last Jan. 7, the lady Senator from Bicol pointed out that Robredo's report showed that the Vice President has a deep understanding of the real situation of the drug menace in the country. "VP Leni's ICAD Report is a well-researched, data-driven and a completely objective look on the President's War on Drugs. She cited existing government data and based her conclusions on credible authorities," she said. "Her further statements and responses during the presscon yesterday (Jan. 6) reveal a deep grasp of the real drug situation, including the gaps and shortcomings in the bureaucratic structures and strategies," she added. Last Jan. 6, Robredo, who served as anti-drug czar before being unceremoniously fired after 18 days, gave the administration a failing score in its ongoing war on drugs that killed thousands of suspected drug offenders, mostly poor. De Lima, a known critic of the administration's war on drugs, also called out Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo for trying to discredit Robredo and her report despite not having any knowledge of its contents. "It is hypocritical of Panelo to dismiss VP Leni because she didn't take part in any ground operations during her 18-day stint when not even the President did so in all of his 3 years in office," she said. "That is precisely what is wrong with this government: all politics and blusters, no substance," she added. De Lima, the first lawmaker who initiated a Senate investigation into the human rights abuses under the war on drugs, also pointed out that Robredo's report is proof that the Filipino public suffer in the implementation of the anti-drug campaign. "Sa sobrang pamumulitika at porma, winalang bahala ang mga datos. Sa pagsantabi sa katotohanan ng War on Drugs, panalo ang mga drug lords, talo ang taumbayan," she said. "A failure indeed!," the lady Senator stressed. Since being elected as Senator in 2016, De Lima was firm in her stand against extrajudicial killings allegedly induced and perpetrated by law enforcement authorities in the country, under the guise of a legitimate anti-drug campaign. In each case, families and communities struggled to deal with the shock, trauma and cruel randomness. And each has sparked another round of debate: whether the government is adequately mitigating the risks of shark bites. But over these 20 years, the policy approach has come full circle. Crews death in 2000 was the beginning of a cluster of bites that sparked increasing political and media frenzy, until the introduction of an imminent threat hunt-to-kill policy. It culminated in the Barnett Liberal government implementing a trial of lethal drum lines in 2014 whose grisly realities finally turned the public mood. Before and on its election in 2017, Mark McGowans Labor government stated its opposition to such measures, but introduced a shark shield rebate and retained the rest of the states existing world-class risk mitigation strategy, including beach and aerial surveillance, enclosures, a response unit, beach emergency signage, whale carcass management and a shark monitoring network. Premier McGowan was forced to defend the position a month after taking office when a shark bit surfer Laeticia Brouwer on the leg and she died from the wound; he said such a tragedy should not be politicised. The situation has remained relatively stable since, but state and federal Liberal parties maintained pressure to change the policy, and after two non-fatal shark bites caused the Margaret River Pro surf competition cancellation in 2018, WA finally bowed to calls to roll out a smart (non-lethal) drumlines trial like those used in New South Wales. WAtoday revealed exclusively in August a full WA rollout could dwarf costs seen in NSW, costing $38 million per year; far outstripping both NSW costs and also the $33 million the former Liberal government invested over eight years on the full suite of non-lethal hazard reduction measures. The costs, and lack of results (the trial has hooked only two great whites, 10 months into its 12-month run) may justify dumping the trial, but the government is waiting on the chief scientists assessment, emphasising again in August its approach is, and always will, be based on science. But the test of any science is how it weathers political headwinds and few incidents supply such pressure so reliably as those involving sharks. A shark bite seems to be publicly owned. Not a potential and foreseeable, though rare, cost of entering the ocean; more like murder - beyond comprehension and sparking the same collective horror. The public and media demand answers to the unanswerable, demand to be insulated against chance. A trial of SMART drumlines in WA mostly catches tiger sharks, whalers and stingrays. But in Western Australia this week such political pressure was headed off at the pass. Ms Milligan pre-empted the debates on Monday by issuing a statement saying she and her husband were "completely" against shark killing and had agreed that to be bitten would be simply unlucky. In this and her TV interview, she publicly avowed the couple had taken a calculated risk in pursuing their dream to spend as much of their lives as possible in the ocean. This green-lit Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley to stick to his partys line and tell reporters Johnsons death was tragic but random. Loading The ocean is an inherently dangerous place; the best thing the government can do is create an understanding around the information they are getting so the public can make an informed choice, he said. He promised a transponder at Esperances Twilight Beach so a tagged shark in the area would activate beach lights and audible warnings. He pointed out that only 105 of WAs estimated 1450-strong white shark population had been tagged and committed to an intensive period of tagging around Esperance, saying what you cant measure you cant manage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says his country expects a full probe, a full admission of guilt, and compensation from Iran after Tehran admitted, after days of denial, it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 aboard. "We expect from Iran assurances of their readiness for a full and open investigation, bringing those responsible to justice, the return of the bodies of the dead, the payment of compensation, official apologies through diplomatic channels," he added. Zelenskiy spoke later in the day by phone with Iranian President Hassan Rohani. Zelenskiy's press office said Rohani admitted during the call that Iran's military mistakenly shot down the plane. Rohani apologized for the tragedy and promised that those responsible would be held accountable, Zelenskiy's press service said. The two also discussed Iranian compensation to the victims. The Ukrainian president called Iran's admission of guilt "a step in the right direction" and insisted Tehran complete the identification of the bodies and return them to Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk's office said Ukraine would pay families of the victims 200,000 hryvnyas ($8,400) each and help them collect compensation from Iran, the airline, and insurance companies. Iran state TV earlier on January 11 quoted the military as saying the plane was shot down after it was mistaken for a "hostile target" when it turned toward a "sensitive military center" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). WATCH: Iranian General Says Commander Had '10 Seconds' To Decide On Shooting Airliner It added that the military was at its "highest level of readiness" amid raised tensions with the United States. The statement also said those responsible for the tragedy, which killed all aboard the plane, would "immediately" be brought to justice. IRGC commander Amirali Hajizadeh said later in an address broadcast by state TV that his IRGC aerospace unit accepted "full responsibility" for the downing. Hajizadeh said the antiaircraft officer had little time to decide whether or not to fire. "He had 10 seconds to make a decision, and he could either strike or not strike. Under these conditions, unfortunately, he made a bad decision and the missile was fired," Hajizadeh said. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his "deep sympathy" to the families of the 176 victims, and called on the armed forces to "pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident." President Rohani on Twitter called the incident a "great tragedy & unforgivable mistake." He wrote that the military's "internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people." In a telephone call earlier on January 11 with Emmanuel Macron, Zelenskiy and the French president agreed that French specialists would help decode the plane's black boxes, Zelenskiy's office said. Ukrainian Prime Minister Honcharuk said in a January 11 post on Facebook that Iran's admission of shooting down the Ukrainian passenger jet did not mean the investigation into the tragedy was over. The admission "is an important step in the investigation process, which is still ongoing," he said. Germany's foreign minister also welcomed Tehran's decision to admit it had accidentally shot down the plane. "It's important that Iran has brought clarity. Now it should take the appropriate measures in the further investigation of this horrible catastrophe so that something like this cannot happen again," Heiko Maas told German media on January 11. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the incident occurred "at a time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism." "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster," Zarif wrote on Twitter. "Our profound regrets, apologies, and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations." WATCH: Investigator Explains Video Evidence Until the admission, Tehran had vehemently denied allegations by Western leaders and experts that evidence indicated an Iranian missile had brought down the plane. The Ukraine International Airlines flight was en route to Kyiv from Tehran on January 8 carrying at least 57 Canadians, 82 Iranians, 10 Swedes, 10 Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons. Eleven Ukrainians -- two passengers and nine crew -- were also killed. Yevheniy Dykhne, president of UIA, told a news conference in Kyiv on January 11 that the airline received no warnings before the plane took off. "At the time of the [flight's] departure from [Kyiv's] Borispol Airport our air company had no information about potential threats -- just as exactly the same way at the time of its departure from the airport in Tehran our air company had no information, and no decisions by responsible administrations have been provided to us," Dykhne said. The Iranian statement came as the West had turned up the heat on Tehran, with the United States saying it was likely that an Iranian missile had shot down the craft and vowing to take appropriate action in response. Separately, Canadas foreign minister on January 10 announced the formation of an international working group of countries to press Iran for a thorough investigation into the crash, which counted 57 Canadians among the dead, a figure revised down from an earlier death toll of 63. Initial reports blamed a technical malfunction, but doubts were quickly raised as evidence, including videos, appeared to indicate a missile attack. The air disaster came hours after Iran targeted two Iraqi bases that house U.S. troops with missiles on January 8 in response to a January 3 U.S. air strike that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. That led many experts to suspect Iranian antiaircraft batteries mistook the airliner for a U.S. warplane on a retaliatory mission over Tehran. With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 At least eight persons were killed in a huge explosion at a chemical factory at Boisar in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Saturday evening, a police official said. Mumbai/Palghar: At least eight persons were killed in a huge explosion at a chemical factory at Boisar in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Saturday evening, a police official said. Boisar is over 100 km away from Mumbai. The under-construction plant of Ank Pharma, where the explosion occurred, is located in a Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area at Kolwade village, the official said. The blast, which took place during the testing of some chemicals around 7.20 pm, was so huge that it was heard within a 15-km radius, and window panes of some houses in the surrounding area shattered, he said. The under-construction plant building collapsed after the explosion. While eight persons were killed, the injured were being extricated from debris, the official said. A fire started after the blast but it was put out, he added. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased, a statement from his office said. The chief minister was monitoring the relief and rescue operation himself, it added. An National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team had been called for rescue operations, officials said. The Bay Area port city recalls an era of can-do American spirit. I stroll alongside the SS Red Oak Victory, a World War II ammunition vessel being restored in Californias Richmond harbor, trying to wrap my head around its history, what it represents. Its great hull towers above me, with giant welded plates measuring 455 feet in length. It is the last surviving Victory ship built in Richmonds shipyard during the war, one of 747 ships of all types manufactured here between 1940 and 1945 at top speedin its case, 88 days from start to finish. Indeed, Richmond sent more ships to the worlds wartime theaters than any other shipyard in America. The SS Red Oak Victory, under construction. (SS Red Oak Victory Historic Ship) The SS Red Oak Victory, under construction. (SS Red Oak Victory Historic Ship) Thats why, its said, Hitler was aware of Richmond, California. As was Hideki Tojo, along with Charles de Gaulle, Winston Churchill, and, of course, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Anyone familiar with todays quiet, unassuming community on San Francisco Bays northern end might find that hard to believe. But back in its day, Richmond was a hub of frenetic wartime activity, as brand-new ships slipped into the bay amid blaring loudspeakers, exuberant brass bands, shattering champagne bottles, and celebratory cheers from many of the shipyards 90,000 employees. The gritty city was home to 56 different war industries, including bomb production and homebuilding for the upsurge of shipyard workers. But the Red Oak represents much more, as I learn during my recent visit to the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, where the ship is being preserved as a museum. Established in 2000 at Richmonds historic Kaiser Shipyards, the park encompasses several scattered sites that showcase home-front contributions during World War II. I begin my visit at the parks hub, a visitor education center housed in the former oil house, where vats of oil that fueled the adjacent Ford Assembly Plants tank production were kept. Today, the brick building holds interactive exhibitsincluding a rivet station, welding gear, and oral historiesthat provide an excellent overview of the regions World War II home-front story. I read about Henry J. Kaiser, the maverick industrialist responsible for building Richmonds four shipyards in the first place, who introduced groundbreaking mass-production methods that maximized prefabricated and electric-arc welding techniques. The founder of more than 100 companies (including one that built Nevadas Hoover Dam), Kaiser had never before built a ship, but he didnt let that stop him: A ship is just a building that floats, he reportedly said. I also get a glimpse into wartime Richmond, how this little city exploded in population during those years, and businesses supporting the shipbuilding worked around the clock. I learn about how, in an era still very segregated, Kaiser hired African American workers from the Souththough only in low-level positions. Library of Congress Library of Congress And I delve into the stories of the women who flooded to Richmonds shipping industry, working in wartime jobs previously reserved for men. Dubbed across the nation as Rosie the Riveterspopularized in a 1942 song praising female assembly-line workers and later made iconic by the famous We Can Do It! posterRichmonds women workers werent in fact riveters, since Kaisers new method of ship construction used welding over riveting. They were really Wendy the Welders, along with machinists, drivers, shipfitters, electricians, carpenters, and all kinds of other workers. Im captivated by the words of former Rosies (er, Wendys) sprinkled throughout the exhibits. Among one of the welders is Kay Morrison. I could weld anything anywhere, flat, vertical, overhead, whatever was needed, she says in one of the videos. She spent two-and-a-half years in Kaisers Yard Two, working the graveyard shift. But its in the basement where Richmonds eclectic wartime stories truly come alive, through films, lectures, and storytelling. I watch a documentary detailing the disturbing story of local Japanese American immigrants who had made good lives for themselves growing and selling cut flowers. Here in Richmond, I felt, being the son of an immigrant, being in business, I felt that I was as good as the next man, states Tom Oishi in the film. All that came crashing down with FDRs Executive Order 9066 of 1942, forcing Japanese Americans living on the West Coast to be moved to wartime relocation centers farther inland. Most of the families found their flower nurseries and homes destroyed upon their return after the warthough that didnt stop them from starting over, bringing the flower business back to Richmond in the postwar years. Betty Reid Soskin, 98, worked in Richmond's shipyard during the war and shares her memories with visitors. (Zuma Press/Alamy) Betty Reid Soskin, 98, worked in Richmond's shipyard during the war and shares her memories with visitors. (Zuma Press/Alamy) But most riveting is listening to Betty Reid Soskin, the spirited, 98-year-old park ranger (the oldest in the National Park Service system), who a couple times a week shares her personal story as a young African American in the Richmond shipyards during World War II. Rosie the Riveter was a white womans story, she tells a room of 50 or so people. There were no black Rosies. Segregation still prevailed in California in the 1940s, and blacks were forced to work menial jobs. As such, she worked as a file clerk in a segregated union hall. Although she technically was part of the shipbuilding process, she never once saw the fanfare that came with launching one of the great war ships. Betty recalls, I stood at my window, [processing] the change of addresses of those who lined up. I really assumed that all the ship workers were black, because thats all who I saw come to my window. Betty emphasizes that Richmonds World War II historyand the home front in generaldoesnt embrace one single story. Its the African Americans who were sharecroppers who came out of the South to answer the call for workers, she says, adding, but also the Japanese Americans who were interned, and the Port of Chicago [California] workers who were killed [in the largest industrial accident on the home front, when an ammunition ship exploded on July 17, 1944, killing 320 mainly black sailors]. Male and female workers in Richmond's Kaiser Shipyards (above) worked together to build nearly 750 ships during the war, including SS Red Oak Victory. ( The Dorothea Lange Collection, Oakland Museum of California) Male and female workers in Richmond's Kaiser Shipyards (above) worked together to build nearly 750 ships during the war, including SS Red Oak Victory. ( The Dorothea Lange Collection, Oakland Museum of California) And thats the crux of it all. Theres not one Rosie. There are many different Rosies, and many different non-Rosiesall essential parts of the overall home-front narrative. With this in mind, I visit the other sites under the parks auspices, which are scattered about Richmond, some in disrepair. Next to the visitor center rises the Ford Assembly Plant, designed in the late 1920s by esteemed industrial architect Albert Kahn. The West Coasts largest assembly plant, it churned out 49,000 jeeps and processed 91,000 other military vehicles during the course of the war. Today the beautifully restored building hosts community special events. Meanwhile, the dilapidated Kaiser Richmond Field Hospital on Cutting Boulevard recalls Kaisers revolutionary medical care system for shipyard workers, in which workers paid a nominal price on a prepaid basis (at a time when only nine percent of Americans had health insurance). Nearby, the Maritime Child Development Center on Florida Avenue provided childcare for the shipyards working women; theres a small exhibit in the back (reservations required). Theres also the shipyards abandoned employee cafeteria and first-aid station on Canal Boulevard, as well as Atchison Village, a neighborhood in western Richmond of small, wood-frame houses, now privately owned, that once served as wartime worker housing. And a path along the bayfront leads from the visitor center to Rosie the Riveter Memorial Park, on the spot where Kaisers Yard Two once operated. A sculpture evokes a ship under construction and includes pictures and recollections from Rosies arranged along a walkway measuring the length of a ships keel. And then theres the Red Oak itself. Today the ship sits on the site of historic Yard Three, its prow pointing into the bay as if ready to leap into action again. Its open as a museum, alongside a giant revolving crane that once moved prefabricated sections onto the ship hulls. The fact crystallizes in my mind that this impressive ship represents an entire era of American spirit encompassing the burgeoning notions of equal rights, fair employment, affordable housing, around-the-clock childcare, food service, and healthcareall kudos to the foresight of Henry Kaiser in his groundbreaking business model. But its not as simple as that. We talk about the war as a unifier, but a visit to the park showcases the fact that, while some equality was achieved, there were lots of bridges that had to be built. And then the war ended. As the servicemen returned home, the women and African Americans were the first to lose their jobs and the benefits that had been inspired by wartime necessity. Despite this, I leave the park feeling positive, for I see how advances made in the workplace during the war had planted a seed for the civil rights progress yet to come. The park remains an important place to continue talking about these issuesand ensures that the We can do it! optimism will not die. WHEN YOU GO Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park is located about 20 miles north of San Francisco. From San Francisco or Oakland airports, you will need to rent a car and head up I-80 to reach Richmond. Entry to the visitor center, films, and lectures is free. Real-life Rosies are on-hand most Fridays. Some of the sites are open on abbreviated schedules, including the SS Red Oak Victory which charges fees for tours. Check the website for upcoming events. Note that Betty Reid Soskins popular presentations are on hold while she recovers from a recent stroke. Where to Stay and Eat The best place to stay is in nearby Berkeley, which has plenty of hotels and restaurants. The Assemble restaurant next to the visitor education center serves up American classics in a historic setting. The Riggers Loft Wine Company, across the parking lot from SS Red Oak Victory, is in a former shipbuilding warehouse on the water and serves housemade wines and ciders. What Else to See and Do The National Park Services World War II in the San Francisco Bay Area itinerary brings together various regional sites related to World War II history, including several local forts and the Presidio in San Francisco. This article was published in the February 2020 issue of World War II. TEHRAN, Iran Irans Revolutionary Guard on Saturday acknowledged that it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guard's aerospace division, said his unit accepts full responsibility for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, I wished I was dead. He said Guard forces ringing the capital had beefed up their air defenses and were at the highest level of readiness, fearing that the U.S. would retaliate. He said an officer made the bad decision to open fire on the plane after mistaking it for a cruise missile. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the victims and called on the armed forces to "pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a statement saying the crash investigation should continue and the perpetrators should be brought to justice. He said Iran should compensate victims' families, and he requested official apologies through diplomatic channels. Iran's acknowledgement of responsibility for the crash was likely to inflame public sentiment against authorities after Iranians had rallied around their leaders in the wake of Soleimani's killing. Soleimani, the leader of the Guard's elite Quds Force and the architect of Iran's regional military interventions, was seen as a national icon, and hundreds of thousands of Iranians had turned out for funeral processions across the country. The majority of the plane crash victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians. Iranian officials had repeatedly ruled out a missile strike, dismissing such allegations as Western propaganda that officials said was offensive to the victims. The crash came just weeks after authorities quashed nationwide protests ignited by a hike in gasoline prices. Iran has been in the grip of a severe economic crisis since President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions. Rescue workers search the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. Iran has acknowledged that its armed forces "unintentionally" shot down the jetliner.AP Irans President Hassan Rouhani blamed the shootdown of the plane in part on threats and bullying by the United States after the killing of Soleimani. He expressed condolences to families of the victims, and he called for a full investigation and the prosecution of those responsible. "A sad day," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. The U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos verified by The Associated Press. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lowered the nation's death toll from 63. This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility, and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission," said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face. Iran's acknowledgement of responsibility was likely to renew questions of why authorities did not shut down the country's main international airport and its airspace after the ballistic missile attack, when they feared U.S. reprisals. It also undermines the credibility of information provided by senior Iranian officials. As recently as Friday, Ali Abedzadeh, the head of the national aviation department, had told reporters with certainty that a missile had not caused the crash. On Thursday, Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei dismissed reports of a missile, saying they rub salt on a painful wound for families of the victims. Iran had also invited Ukraine, Canada, the United States and France to take part in the investigation of the crash, in keeping with international norms. The Boeing 737 was built in the United States and the engine was built by a U.S.-French consortium. Ukraine's president said its team of investigators, who are already on the ground in Iran, should continue their work with full access and cooperation. Hajizadeh, the Guard commander, said the pilot and crew of the passenger plane had done nothing wrong and that the armed forces alone were responsible. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the supreme leader on Friday morning had ordered top security officials to review the crash and announce the results. If some individuals, in any position, were aware of the issue but made statements contradicting the reality or hid the truth for any reason, they should be named and tried," said Fars, which is close to the Guard. Others speculated that the security forces may have concealed information from civilian authorities. Concealing the truth from the administration is dreadful," Mohammad Fazeli, a sociology professor in Tehran, wrote on social media. If it had not been concealed, the head of civil aviation and the government spokesmen would not have persistently denied it. Concealing the truth for three days is dangerous," he added. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) has assured that the Port and Maritime Transport Authority under the Ministry of Communications had not given instructions to close the ports of Misrata and Khoms, and the ports are operating normally Vadodara : , Jan 11 (IANS) Five people were killed on the spot and many injured after a blast occurred at an industrial and medical gas manufacturing company in Gujarat's Vadodara district on Saturday. The explosion took place at around 11.00 a.m. at AIMS Industries Limited in Padra, said police. The company manufactures industrial and medical grade gases ranging from Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide and various mixtures associated with it. According to senior police officer, five persons were killed and several injured in a blast at an industrial and medical gas manufacturing company in Padra taluka of Gujarat's Vadodara district on Saturday. Several people who were reportedly injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital, an official from Vadu police station said. The fire brigade has been pressed into service, he said, adding that relief and rescue operations are underway. Some of Australias most extreme Christian-right parties have withdrawn from politics, claiming the election of Prime Minister Scott Morrison had rendered them redundant. This week the Victorian-based Rise Up Australia leader said the political party was deregistered after the May election because Mr Morrisons Christian values mirrored many of its own. Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Horizon Church on Easter Sunday in 2019. Credit:AAP Controversial Rise Up leader Danny Nalliah - who once claimed the Black Saturday bushfires were the consequence of Victoria decriminalising abortion - said Rise Up was formed almost a decade ago because of a vacuum in Christian-conservative politics, which had now been filled. There is no need for us to continue because Scott Morrison was elected, the evangelist pastor said. When everybody else was preparing for the Christmas festive season in November and December, Charleville's Kevin O'Shea and his cast of five were rehearsing for the world amateur premiere of 'Cypress Avenue', a play by Belfast playwright David Ireland, in what will be Kevin's final production with the award laden Shoestring Theatre Company on the circuit. If that is so, he has chosen what he says is his most difficult and challenging play in Cypress Avenue, which is set in Belfast and is about a deluded Unionist called Eric, who is convinced that his daughter has had an affair and her recently born baby girl, Mary-Mae, is a reincarnation of the former president of Sinn Fein, Jerry Adams, and his family has been infiltrated by Fenians. "This is an extremely black comedy, full of bigotry about identity and the absurdity of the sectarian divide, and though set in Northern Ireland it could be transposed to any conflict situation around the world where people are divided by religion and politics," says Kevin. "Cypress Avenue is a play of its time, especially with the rise of nationalism in Trump's America, Brexit in England and the emergence of the far right elsewhere in Europe. This is a bleak play with no hint of reconciliation and Eric is as adamant at saying 'no' at the end of the production as he is at the start of it," added Kevin. "This play is a serious challenge for any drama group to attempt as it tests the acting ability of the cast to the extreme and, indeed, the ability of the audience to absorb it. It is an ultra- black comedy which, though incredibly dark, is at the same time explosively funny, and so will carry an over 18's tag when it opens. "If we manage to pull off this play it will be a stupendous achievement for all concerned with the production," he said. The Shoestring Company hope to stage the play at the Schoolyard Theatre in Charleville for a short run in mid to late February, and thereafter they will take it on the drama festival circuit, starting in early March in Kildare. They will travel to seven festivals throughout Ireland, and they have also been booked to play on the opening night of the Listowel Writer's Week in St. John's Theatre in the Kerry town. Cypress Avenue was written Belfast author David Ireland, who now lives in Glasgow. The play was performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin last year with actor Stephen Rea in the lead role of Eric. The play won the Irish Times Theatre Award for Best New Play in 2017 and the James Tait Black Prize for Drama, also in 2017. Kevin O'Shea, who founded the Schoolyard Theatre in 1993, severed his connection with the local theatre some five years ago, and since then has been concentrating on directing the Shoestring productions that have garnered many awards, including the Abbey Theatre Award for the Shoestring production of Mark Doherty's 'Trad' at the All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone in 2015. If I will die, let it ... Having a B plus, B minus, or even B plain means that you qualify for a lot of programs offered by the leading institutions in Kenya. As a result, you might find it hard narrowing to the 5 programme choices required by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS). While making these selections, you should include some of the marketable fields in the country so that you don't end up tarmacking. So, what are the best courses for B+, B, or B- students in 2021? Best courses for B+, B, or B- students in 2021. Photo: wikimedia.com Source: UGC Following the current employment trend in the country, anyone who aspires to join the university should be cautious about which programs to pursue. Some degrees might even end up taking you nowhere. Well, it pays to do some research before finally determining which field is trending in the Kenyan job market and which ones will be as good as useless in the future. Courses for B+, B, or B- students Below are the top marketable fields for the mentioned grades. We have included the details of the requirement for easy evaluation and judgment. Best B+ courses in Kenya With a B+, you have a wide variety of programmes to choose from. However, here are the top-recommended degrees to do. 1. Medicine and Surgery This field is respected by a lot of people as it is only pursued by passionate and determined people. It takes close to 7 years to complete this programme in top universities such as the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Moi University. Upon successfully graduating, one can be employed by both the government and the private sector. If you are lucky enough, you can start your private hospital and start earning close to six figures each month. The requirements are as follows: Standard specifications for entry into any university is a mean grade of C+ B+ average in Biology, Physics/Mathematics, English/Kiswahili, and Chemistry. The four subjects above should have a score of not below B plain. 2. Pharmacy Pharmacists are ever in demand throughout the year. With the rising number of public and private hospitals, the program is highly marketable in the country. Best offered at Kenyatta University, this degree also provides an opportunity for self-employment. It is especially true as most hospitals don't have every type of prescriptions, and by starting your pharmacy in a strategic place, you can pocket thousands of Kenyan shillings daily. The requirements are as follows: B- in Biology, Chemistry, Physics/Maths, English/Kiswahili. None of the above should be below C+ 3. Architecture Best courses for B+, B, or B- students in 2021. Photo: unsplash.com Source: UGC Architects are responsible for designing most of the tall buildings you see today. As long as investors continue putting up top-class structures, you will never tarmac. If you are lucky enough, you will secure employment even before completing your university education. The requirements are as follows: C+ minimum grade in Mathematics/Physics/Biology, History/Geography/CRE/Islamic Religious Education/HRE, Chemistry, and Home Science/Art and Design/Agriculture/Aviation Technology/Computer Studies. 4. Mechanical Engineering The course is offered at the University of Nairobi, Moi University, and JKUAT. The programme equips candidates with knowledge in dealing with machines. As we all know, machinery systems are used everywhere. From manufacturing industries such as Coca-Cola to car companies such as Toyota and Isuzu, they all need engineers. If you are not lucky enough to secure employment, you can start your service centre for generators, cars, and motorbikes. The requirements are as follows: C+ in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics At least C+ in any other subjects in group 2, 3, 4 and 5 5. Telecommunications and Information Engineering Currently, there are a lot of telecommunication companies launching their services in the country. They are even predicted to be more and more, so the chances are that upon completion of this course, you will secure a good job. Newer companies in the industry, such as Mawingu Wi-Fi, Poa Internet, and old companies such as Faiba, Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom, have job openings for experts in the field. Salary for professionals can range anywhere above 50,000 per month. The requirements are as follows: Mathematics C+ Physics C+ Chemistry C+ English/Kiswahili C+ C+ in any group 2, 3, 4, or 5 subjects. 6. Geomatics As an applied science, this program involves an integrated approach to management, measurement, analysis, and somewhat display of geographic and other spatial data. Well, in the current situation, this field is critical in land surveying and sub-division of land. By use of available information, geomatics experts can easily map natural resources and land areas. As evident, this programme is so similar to surveying (A sub-discipline in the course) The requirements are as follows: C+ Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. At least C+ in any other technical subject. 7. BSc. Electrical and Electronic Engineering KPLC, KenGen, Kenya Solar Ltd, Plexus Energy, and Solagen Power are some of the best companies you can work for as soon as you graduate with this degree. You might need to undergo various internships to gain some experience before landing suitable employment. If you are not lucky enough to get employed, you can run your own company and start getting contracts from the county government and other top firms. The requirements are as follows: Maths C+ Physics C+ English/Kiswahili C+ C+ in any technical subject 8. Mechatronics Mechatronic focuses on mechanical and electrical systems with a combination of computers, telecommunication, control, operations, robotics, and product engineering. We live in a digital world where everything is being automated right from home switches to some industrial process. Designing, developing, and managing high-technology engineering systems is the primary responsibility for experts in this field. Since there are a lot of industries in the country, you can never tarmac for long after graduation. The requirements are as follows: C+ Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. C+ in any group II, III, IV, and V 9. Actuarial Science The discipline applies statistical and mathematical methods to assess financial and insurance risks. Many people believe that this is one of the demanding courses at the university. However, if you have the right mentality and attitude, you can score A's in every unit. Actuaries are considered to be good at numbers and smart. Experienced fellows have a significant potential of pocketing over 200,00 monthly. With an increase in the number of companies every year, this profession is highly demanded. The requirements are as follows: Mathematics C+ English C+ 10. BSc. Control and Instrumentation Control and Instrumentation is one of the highly demanding courses currently offered at JKUAT and Egerton University. The program bridges engineering and physics. It deals with various science laws and hence is more of Physics than engineering. If you are not good at memorizing, applying, and deriving formulas for different principals, do not pursue it as you may be frustrated. The program is highly marketable today as every company needs experts in this field to maintain and design their control processes. The course requirements are as follows: Physics C+ Chemistry C- Mathematics C- B courses in Kenya With a B plain aggregate, you can still pursue some of the respected professionals in the country, secure a good job, and earn four to five figures every month. The following are the recommended programmes for this grade: 1. Law Law is offered at Strathmore University, Kenyatta University, and the University of Nairobi. This course is exceptionally marketable. It is especially true considering the number of law firms we have in the country. As long as we shall continue having court cases now and then, getting a client will be easy. If you are reputable enough, you can get hired by top politicians, business people, and NGOs for their petitions. It means that you will pocket lots of cash before the case is over (It can take months or years before judgment is offered). It takes 7 years to complete this degree (4 years undergraduate and 3 in Kenya School of Law). The requirement is as follows: B plain English Best courses for B+, B, or B- students in 2021. Photo: unsplash.com Source: UGC 2. Medical Laboratory Science Every hospital, whether public or private, has a laboratory for diagnosis various ailments through specimens. Thus, as a medical laboratory scientist, you have a wide range of options to choose from. You can also decide to have your laboratory with a state of the art equipment. Public hospitals might refer patients to your lab for further diagnosis hence earning a good income every day. The requirements are as follows: Biology B Chemistry B Mathematics or Physics C+ English or Kiswahili B OR Biological Sciences B+ Physical Sciences B+ Mathematics C+ English or Kiswahili B 3. Renewable Energy and Environmental Physics Sustainable energy solutions such as wind turbines, solar power, geothermal, and so on are treasured by many big companies. If you can design, manage, troubleshoot, and maintain efficient renewable power systems that are environmentally friendly, then you are as good as employed. The requirements are as follows: Physics C+ Maths C+ English/Kiswahili/Chemistry/Biology/Geography C+ 4. Geophysics Geophysics is one of the best courses for B students in 2021. You will study the earth, magnetism, gravity, electricity, and seismic methods. After graduation, you will choose between working outdoors studying features of the planet or indoors using computers for calculations and modelling. We have included this programme because, in future, Kenya might be a leading petroleum producer hence the need for geophysicist in oil rigs. The requirements are as follows: Physics C+ Geography/Biology/Chemistry C+ English/Kiswahili C- 5. Geospatial Information Systems This discipline deals with computer data systems that can capture, store, analyze, and geographically display the referenced information. These systems are widely used in every field. Individuals, research institutions, communities, environmental scientists, health organizations, businesses, land planners and government agencies at every level need the assistance of experts in this field. Companies like Uber rely heavily on GIS systems hence the need for Geospatial Information Systems professionals. The requirements are as follows: C+ Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry C+ in any other technical subject 6. Agricultural Engineering The field has a shortage of experts, as more students prefer to take non-agricultural courses each year. Hence, with this degree, you are guaranteed to earn employment from county governments or top NGO initiatives such as Digi Farm. The requirements are as follows: C+ in Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry C+ in any other technical subject 7. Electronic and Computer Engineering We are in a brave new world, and so the company employing the latest technology wins it all in terms of saving time and production. Electronic and computer engineers are essential in applying electrical, electric, and magnetic theories to obtain better solutions to the development, operation and designing of any hardware or software, control and communication systems. With better computer systems in place, a company can easily save on costs while improving productivity. The requirements are as follows: Chemistry C+ Mathematics C+ Physics C+ Kiswahili/English C+ C+ in any group 2, 3, 4, or 5 8. Quantity Surveying Quantity Surveying is one of the best B courses in Kenya that are marketable. Top surveying companies, as well as the government, are in dire need of qualified surveyors. What's even more fascinating about this field is that you can opt to start your company and earn more than any other type of formal employment. The requirements are as follows: C+ minimum grade in Maths, Biology, Physics, or any other subject from groups 3, 2, 4, or 5. 9. Financial engineering Nearly every firm needs the services of Financial Engineers. By use of tools and some knowledge from computer science, economics, statistics, and applied mathematics, connoisseurs can address any financial issue and come up with related innovative products. Hence, the services of such people are essential to big organizations and companies. The requirements are as follows: Mathematics C+ English C+ 10. BSc. Operations Research Thousands of organizations and businesses are currently striving to run their operations more cost-effectively and efficiently. It calls for the services of operation research analysists. The requirements are as follows: Mathematics C+ English C+ B- courses in Kenya Here are B- courses as well as the minimum requirements: 1. Nursing Best courses for B+, B, or B- students in 2021. Photo: unsplash.com Source: UGC Nurses have significant roles in clinics, private practices, and hospitals. They are more in numbers than even doctors or clinical officers. However, this doesn't make the course unmarketable as there are a lot of hospitals in the country. The requirements are as follows: English/Kiswahili C+ Physics C+ or Maths C+ or Biological Sciences C+ Chemistry or Mathematics or Biology or English/Kiswahili C+ 2. BSc. Physical Therapy Physical Therapy is mainly a non-clinical course as it deals with physical exercises, remedies, and types of medications needed while caring for sick individuals. Typically, jobs here might range from recording patients' progress to advising them on the practices required for a quick recovery. The requirements are as follows: C+ in Biology, Physics, Mathematics, English or Kiswahili 3. Environmental Health The course aims at preventing personal injury or illness by identifying and doing an evaluation of hazardous environmental agents. Currently, most companies such as Mabati Rolling Mills, Safai Groups and hospitals such as Agha Khan are in dire need of services from doyens in this field. The requirements are as follows: Minimum of B- aggregate B- Biology, English and Chemistry B- in either Physics or Maths 32 weighted cluster points and above 4. Dental Surgery As one of the best B minus courses in the country, Dental Surgery is quite marketable in the current job market. It is even predicted to get more demand in the future, and hence if you have a passion for medicine, then we recommend taking this program. While working in a government or private hospital, you can open your own consultation dental clinic and pocket extra amounts each month. The requirements are as follows: B+ in Biology Chemistry and either Maths or Physics B+ in English or Kiswahili 40 weighted cluster points or above. 5. Computer Science Unlike a computer engineer, professionals in this domain deal with software systems. This includes their design, theory, development, and applications. With this degree, you can work anywhere as an IT consultant, cybersecurity advisor, information systems manager, database admin, system analyst, technical writer and developer. Since this field is extensive, one can typically get hired immediately after graduation. If you are not lucky enough, you can employ yourself and get outsourced by big organizations and companies. The requirements are as follows: Grade B+ in either Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry or Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences 6. Animal Science Animal Science is one of the most ignored fields, which is marketable. It entails the production and management of domestic animals. As long as we continue consuming animal products such as wool, beef and fat, the course will continue being marketable. The requirements are as follows: C+ Mathematics, Biology/Biological Sciences, Business Studies, Agriculture. 7. Construction Management Upon graduation, you can be a building surveyor, site engineer, sustainability consultant, facilities manager, and building services technician. With buildings popping out every day, you can quickly secure employment. The requirements are as follows: B- aggregate C+ in either Mathematics, Biology/Physics, or Group 3 subject (History, Geography, CRE, IRE, and HRE), or Group 2 (Biology and Chemistry), or Group 4 (Home Science, Aviation Technology, Agriculture and Computer studies) or Group 5 (Business Studies, French, Germany, Arabic, and Music). 8. Bachelor of Real Estate The demand for professionals in this domain has been growing immensely. Realtors are paid on a commission basis, so if you gain enough experience, you can earn a good amount of money monthly. The requirements are as follows: B- aggregate C+ in Maths, Physics, Biology or any Group 2,3,4 and 5 subjects 9. Industrial Mathematics Specialists are tasked with the work of developing mathematical models and applying them in science, industries, and engineering. Once you pursue other short courses, you can be anything from a market analyst, data manager, actuary, accountant, analyst, lecturer, and tens of different occupations. This is why the degree is highly marketable. The requirements are as follows: At least C+ aggregate 10. Professional Piloting (BSc. Aerospace Science) Upon graduation, you will be tasked with maintaining propulsion systems, aircraft performance, control and stability, aero-elasticity, flight testing, space systems design, and so forth. The aviation industry is ever short of these technicians; thus, this is by far the most marketable course in Kenya as of 202. The requirements are as follows: C+ Mathematics C+ Physics, English and Geography/Chemistry. The above are the best courses for B+, B, or B- students in the current job market. As you enrol in any of the above, aim at getting as much knowledge and skills in your field as you can. These are the essential things potential employers consider when hiring. Tuko.co.ke posted the list of the best courses for C+, C or C minus students in 2021 in Kenya. Having a C plain, C minus and sometimes C+ means that you miss out on a spot to undertake an excellent degree course in one of the best higher institutions in Kenya. However, this is not the end of your education road as there are some competitive courses for C+, C or C minus students. The programs are guaranteed to lead to a successful career, and if need be, you can always upgrade to the highest level of education you wish. Source: TUKO.co.ke As the Long Beach Unified School District commits to keeping classes in-person, the city a new testing site opens for LBUSD employees and students only. The city is also ramping up its own testing efforts with a new 3,000-person per... Labour chiefs were investigating on Saturday after a man died in an accident involving a rock crusher at a building site in eastern Hong Kong. Police got a report at about 11.20am that the 31-year-old, who had been working on a platform on the crusher, had got trapped and been injured by the machines conveyor belt. When police and firefighters arrived at the site on Wan Po Road, Tseung Kwan O, they found the man unconscious, having injured his head and other parts of his body. He was taken to Tseung Kwan O Hospital, where he was certified dead. Police classified the case as an industrial accident, as there was nothing suspicious about it. In a statement, the Labour Department said it sent staff to the scene once it heard about the accident, and was still investigating the cause. There were about 4,700 industrial accidents in Hong Kong in the first half of last year, a 7 per cent decrease compared with the first half of 2018. Of those, 11 were fatal, up on seven during the first half of 2018. In December 2016, a factory worker died after similarly being trapped by a conveyor belt. And in March 2018, a warehouse worker was killed when he got trapped between cargo on a powered conveying system and a closed metal door. After both accidents, the Labour Department reminded employers to provide and maintain a safe working environment. Suggested measures included appointing professionals to conduct risk assessments of the site, and fencing off dangerous parts and zones where moving parts are exposed. This article Man killed in rock crusher accident at Hong Kong building site first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Chennai, Jan 11 : Fifty-nine year old US based technology consultant Valli Arunachalam and a member of the Murugappa Group categorically said she or her family members are not legally bound by any right of first refusal clause that may be there in the agreement between shareholders of Ambadi Investments Limited. The Ambadi Investments is the family holding company of the promoters of the Rs 37,000 crore industrial conglomerate Murugappa Group which is now caught in the midst of a gender bias controversy. She also declined to comment whether she would also like the group to consider her or her sister as a candidate for the post of Executive Chairman after the incumbent M.M. Murugappan retires. "As we have consistently stated, we have offered the shares to the family. Our last communication to them some time back on this subject requested for a time bound response," Arunachalam told IANS in an interview. "We are not legally bound by any right of first refusal. The offer of shares to the family was only out of respect and deference to what we believe was our father's wish," Arunachalam added. Queried whether she is open to sell the stakes to outsiders Arunachalam said: "While we have offered the shares to the family consistent with what we believe is our father's wish, we have clarified that it is only our preference to do so." Arunachalam, a doctorate in nuclear engineering, is alleging 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 after their father M.V. Murugappan's death in 2017. She has laid two demands to the other branches of the Murugappa group family - give a board berth to her or her sister Vellachi Murugappan or buy her family 8.15 per cent stakes in Ambadi Investments at a fair value. She said her family also holds stakes in the group's listed companies. Arunachalam said after her father's demise, her family does not have a board representation in Ambadi Investments. Murugappan was on the Ambadi Investments' board since 1969 until sometime in 2016, when he resigned due to health reasons. Queried whether any valuation of her family's holdings in Ambadi Investments have been carried out, Arunachalam said: "We believe it would be inappropriate for us to share information regarding valuation of a holding company of listed companies. Therefore, at this point of time, I cannot comment on this question. But I will say that it is a well thought out and reasoned value that we have presented." As per a credit rating report by Crisil Ltd done in November 2019, the value of direct holdings of Ambadi Investments in the listed companies of the Murugappa Group was about Rs 9,484 crore. In addition, the company has stakes in several profitable unlisted companies. Apart from the enterprise valuation, a buyer has to pay a premium as 'control premium'. Arunachalam said the other members of the family have not responded to her latest communication following a media report that the latter are open for an amicable settlement. Asked whether the family offered a board berth to her or her sister's son in Ambadi Investments, Arunachalam replied in negative. Interestingly, that the unwritten 'male only' rule in the Ambadi Investments' board room was there for a long time including when Arunachalam's father Murugappan was alive. Responding to that she said: "My father and I never discussed this. However, I have checked with my mother and she has confirmed that my father often expressed his displeasure against exclusion of women from the management of the family business, albeit to the resistance of other family members. "I do hope you can see the distinction between ownership and management. Having said that, as we have stated in the past, given that we propose to exit, we believe that our father would have preferred that we offer our stake in the family business to the rest of the family. To that extent, indeed, our father did believe that ownership of the business should ideally remain within the family (and which would be no different from any other family owned business)," she said. According to Arunachalam, barring her mother, sister and herself, no other women in the family starting from her father's generation hold anything more than a token shareholding in Ambadi Investments. "Therefore to your point, I do have reason to believe that my father did not subscribe to the rule that women should be excluded from board positions. Also, during his lifetime, our father was not faced with a situation that a male member had passed away leaving behind only female heirs. I can assure you, that he was far too much of a gentleman to have left such female heirs unattended, should he have been faced with such an unprecedented situation," Arunachalam remarked. Arunachalam said her father Murugappan did not 'want' the family stakes to be sold as they are theirs to keep until such time as they please. But having proposed to exit, she believes that her father would have preferred that the stakes be offered to rest of the family. (Newser) Every four years, the nation's attention shifts briefly to Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. The town has opened the doors of its polling place at a tick after midnight for presidential primaries and general elections for almost 60 years. That tradition was at risk but has been spared, NECN reports. One of the town's selectmen had moved away, leaving it shorthanded. But Les Otten said he's moving from Maine to Dixville Notch, giving it five residents and enough officials to continue to hold its own elections. "We're all a go," a resident said. Otten developed the Balsams resort, which was the first midnight polling place. "Having the New Hampshire primary without Dixville voting first is like having winter in New Hampshire without snow," Otten said. story continues below The early opening, combined with the fact that the votes don't take long to count, means that Dixville Notch is positioned to again be the first to report presidential election results. In 2016, per CNN, the eight voters were monitored by 40 reporters. The state attorney general's office, which started the drama, hasn't issued a comment. But Otten, discussing his decision help preserve the town's distinction, said, "It was something that was crying out for somebody to step forward and say I'll be the fifth guy." (In the 2016 primary, Donald Trump received two votes.) The Bank of England now thinks the City will be better off not having free access to Europe after all. Mark Carney, the outgoing Governor of the Bank, not only acknowledged in an interview that the UK should not agree to align its financial regulations with those of the EU, he went further. He called for the Government not to compromise on this to try to get preferential trade terms. This is an extraordinary volte-face for he was part of the Project Fear camp before the 2016 referendum, but it makes a lot of sense. Europe accounts for about 20 per cent of London's financial services business It varies from market to market, but as a rule of thumb Europe accounts for about 20 per cent of London's financial services business. So much better to focus on the 80 per cent, which would be at risk if the City had European rules imposed on it. In any case, London can serve the European market by setting up local subsidiaries, or by its European customers setting up UK offices to access the City. So far there has been only a trickle of UK jobs being relocated to Europe, despite fears thousands would go. In some services such as foreign exchange, London has actually been increasing its share of the global market. It has also been paying more tax. Last financial year, UK financial services paid 75billion in tax, an all-time record, accounting for 11 per cent of the Government's revenues. The key point is the City is extremely innovative. Innovation can be stifled by regulation. The two great bursts of development in finance of the past 60 years have been London's invention of the Eurodollar market in the 1960s and the 'Big Bang' reforms from 1986 onwards. In the first case, London took advantage of new US regulations, by providing a way round a new US tax the Interest Equalization Tax in 1963. In the second, it took advantage of the freeing of UK domestic regulations such as the Stock Exchange's fixed commissions and the jobber/broker distinction. That cleared the way to increasing its international business. Current innovation includes the burst of new services known as fintech applying technology to create and deliver financial services online, ranging from crowd-funding to robotic investment advice. Some of these services are a bit ropey. But others will change the world. London has the largest single global cluster of successful fintech companies, with 17 of the top 50 located here. Sajid Javid is a Chancellor 'who understands global finance backwards', says McRae As we report here, this new Government will take a more positive attitude to finance. Of course, there have been huge failings in the industry. We need to be vigilant. But we now have a Chancellor, Sajid Javid, who understands global finance backwards, having spent 18 years working in banking in New York, Latin America, and Singapore as well as London before he went into politics. We will also have a new Governor, Andrew Bailey, who understands the City backwards, having spent more than 30 years working at the Bank. There will be tension between the two indeed there should be, because they do different jobs. But having people who understand what they are doing is not a bad place to start. John Lewis There has certainly been tension at the top of John Lewis, and the new chair, Dame Sharon White who starts tomorrow, has a mammoth task on her hands. I know her and she is terrific, but she needs to get a cluster of top retailers around her if that great national institution is to be brought back to health. First, she has to fix the online operation. It is clunky, with poor customer experience. It ought to be as slick as Amazon and as customer-friendly as its stores. Second, she has to trim the property portfolio. There probably have to be some closures, which will not be nice but may be essential. Third, she has to rethink how the partnership should reconnect with its inherently loyal customer base. More appropriate advertising? A better link between the online service and the stores? Create a John Lewis club that is as slick as Amazon Prime? Just about all of us want the Partnership to succeed and that is a great base to work from. But we need a bit of TLC to keep us on board. Newman spoke out against bullying, among other issues, explaining schools need to do a better job of teaching social and emotional learning. Newman said schools can teach children be more just and fair and the federal spending should reward schools that promote social and emotional learning. Three national resettlement agencies have sued the Trump administration in an effort to block the order. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas on Friday became the first governor in the country to refuse to accept refugees after President Donald Trump signed an executive order empowering local jurisdictions to consent to the federal programme. At this time, the state and non-profit organisations have a responsibility to dedicate available resources to those who are already here, including refugees, migrants and the homeless, Abbott, a Republican, said in his letter to the US State Department. As a result, Texas cannot consent, to refugee resettlement this fiscal year, he said. The decision is a major blow to the US refugee programme since Texas is the largest recipient of refugees in the country. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Abbott had tried to stop refugees before, declaring in 2015 that Texas would not welcome people from Syria following the deadly Paris attacks that November. At the time, the administration of former President Barack Obama continued to send refugees to Texas and other states led by Republican governors who were opposed to it. So far, 41 governors 18 of them Republican and at least seven dozen local officials have consented to resettlement, according to a tally by the resettlement agency Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Florida and Georgia, other major recipients of refugees, have so far remained silent on their stance. The governors office in Florida said it was still reviewing the issue and Georgia declined to comment. Cutting immigration has been a centrepiece of Trumps presidency and 2020 re-election campaign. One of his first acts after assuming office in January 2017 was to issue an order capping the maximum number of refugees that year at 50,000. Since then, the cap has been slashed every year. Trump set a ceiling of 18,000 refugee admissions for this year, the lowest level since the modern refugee programme began in 1980. By contrast, former Democratic President Barack Obama proposed resettling 110,000 refugees in fiscal 2017. The Trump administration has said the consent requirement, signed in September, aimed to ensure receiving communities have the resources to integrate refugees. But refugee resettlement groups have argued that giving local governors and mayors a veto over whom they accept is unconstitutional and would disrupt the way they work. Three of the nine national resettlement agencies sued the Trump administration in federal court in an effort to block the order from being implemented. Arguments in the case were held this week, and US District Judge Peter Messitte in Greenbelt, Maryland, appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, could rule on the case soon. An Idaho man accused in the September killing of a man has been charged with the additional crime of cannibalism and authorities in court documents said the suspect believed he could "cure his brain" by eating some of the victim. The most you can lose on any stock (assuming you don't use leverage) is 100% of your money. But on the bright side, if you buy shares in a high quality company at the right price, you can gain well over 100%. One great example is Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand Limited (NZSE:MCK) which saw its share price drive 115% higher over five years. In the last week the share price is up 3.7%. View our latest analysis for Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During five years of share price growth, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 35% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 17% average annual increase in the share price. So one could conclude that the broader market has become more cautious towards the stock. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 10.29. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). NZSE:MCK Past and Future Earnings, January 9th 2020 It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand, it has a TSR of 141% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand shareholders are up 0.7% for the year (even including dividends) . But that was short of the market average. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 19% over five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. Before forming an opinion on Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand you might want to consider these 3 valuation metrics. But note: Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on NZ 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. ST. JOHNS, N.L.John Crosbie had a tart tongue, a dry wit and what many have described as an unflinching devotion to Newfoundland and Labrador. The former federal cabinet minister often made headlines with his off-colour quips and stinging barbs, but as news of his death spread Friday, he was hailed as a national builder and a tireless advocate for his province. He relished the cut and thrust of politics throughout his life, not for sport, but for people, whose best interests he embraced as his own, his family said in a statement confirming his death Friday morning at the age of 88. On the wharf or around a table, he listened, he heard and he resolved to deliver. As an outspoken fisheries minister under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Crosbie faced his biggest political challenge as Newfoundland and Labrador struggled with the collapse of the northern cod stocks, for centuries the backbone of the provinces economy. Crosbie shut down the fishery in July 1992, eliminating the jobs of more than 19,000 of the provinces 25,000 fishermen, plant workers and trawlermen. Defending himself in a crowd of enraged fishermen, shortly before he announced the moratorium, Crosbie shouted: I didnt take the fish from the God damned water! He would describe the moratorium, which was later expanded, as the most difficult moment of his political career. Mulroney issued a statement Friday praising his former colleague as one of the giants of our generation, saying Crosbie would be remembered for his courage, humour and passion. He was one of the most valuable public servants for Canada and his province during our challenging debates over resources and our Constitution, Mulroney said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Tory warhorse was a true force of nature. Mr. Crosbie made lasting contributions to his province and country, Trudeau said in a statement. Over a remarkable career, he served his community at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. As a federal cabinet minister, his work to promote free trade changed the face of our country. When Crosbie was born is 1931, Newfoundland and Labrador had yet to join Confederation. At a young age, he was steeped in politics. His father, Chesley Crosbie, was a prominent St. Johns businessman and politician. He formed the Party for Economic Union with the United States in 1948, but his plans were dashed when Newfoundland joined Confederation the following year. Sir John wanted to promote free trade with America instead of a union with Canada, but his dream was dashed when Newfoundland joined Confederation the following year. As a young man, John Crosbie was an outstanding student, graduating with honours from Queens University in Kingston, Ont., and the Dalhousie Law School in Halifax. A practising lawyer, he entered politics in 1965 as a city councillor in St. Johns. Within a year, he was appointed to the cabinet of Liberal Premier Joey Smallwood. After a dispute with Smallwood over leadership in 1969, Crosbie crossed the floor to join the Opposition Progressive Conservatives led by Frank Moores. The Tories were elected to govern in 1972, and Crosbie held a number of cabinet positions before deciding to run federally in 1976. As finance minister in the short-lived minority government of Prime Minister Joe Clark, he tabled a tough budget in 1979 that included tax increases. Clarks government fell on a motion of non-confidence after less than nine months in office. Long enough to conceive, just not long enough to deliver, Crosbie quipped at the time. He ran for the partys leadership in 1983 but, hobbled by his inability to speak French, he lost to Mulroney. Questioned about his unilingualism, Crosbie shot back, I cannot talk to the Chinese people in their own language either. Mulroney became prime minister in 1984 and Crosbie was appointed justice minister the first of six cabinet posts he would hold. In an exchange in the House of Commons in 1985, Crosbie told Liberal MP Sheila Copps to Just quiet down, baby, prompting Copps to reply, Im nobodys baby. He riled Copps again in 1990 during a fundraiser in Victoria, B.C., saying Copps made him think of the song lyrics: Pass the tequila, Sheila, and lie down and love me again. The sexist quip was caught on camera, sparking an uproar. Crosbie later acknowledged the comment was ill-considered. He said he and Copps played up their squabbles for mutual gain. Shes a professional politician, and I was as well, he said in 2011. Were good pals now. Were very friendly, and shes married to a Newfoundlander, so shes a fine woman as far as Im concerned. While serving in Mulroneys government, Crosbie was one of the most vocal proponents of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. He also pushed the government to support Newfoundlands first major offshore oil development the wildly successful Hibernia offshore platform. However, his penchant for headline-grabbing jests seemed to draw more attention than his political accomplishments. In response to ribbing about his affluence, Crosbie once replied: What do you want? A politician whos rich going into office? Or one whos rich when he leaves? And in July 1998, after he had left politics, he characterized the Reform party as a boil that has to be lanced. Marjory LeBreton, a former Conservative senator and longtime party insider, said Crosbie was ahead of his time with his ill-fated 1979 austerity budget. She also hailed his tough stand in the face of the cod crisis. He is revered in the Conservative party for his intelligence, his courage and for his incredible wit, she said. We could fill a book with Crosbie-isms, some of which would not pass the political correctness restrictions we currently live with. Crosbie was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1998, and he went on to serve five years as lieutenant-governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. On his first day as viceregal representative in 2008, Crosbie said he had no regrets about his straight-shooting style. I have never hesitated to offer my opinions from time to time, verbally or in writing, on the public issues of the day, he said. Whats the point of being around if you dont give your opinions, whether anybody wants to hear them or not? I never gave a darn if they wanted to hear them or not, Ill tell you that. Crosbie is survived by his wife Jane, and children Michael, Beth and Ches, who is leader of Newfoundland and Labradors Progressive Conservative party. The familys statement said Jane Crosbie had lost the love of her life. To us as kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, he was simply dad, granddad, great-granddad our bedrock of support, the family said. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball described Crosbie as a tireless advocate for the province. Mr. Crosbie was a spirited and proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian, Ball said in a statement. Known for his colourful personality, he ensured that the interests of Newfoundland and Labrador were heard loudly and clearly over the course of his storied career. Read more about: Kashmir demonstrator REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis The Indian government placed an internet shutdown on the disputed state of Kashmir in August last year, cutting Kashmiris off from the outside world. India's supreme court ruled the indefinite shutdown unlawful on Friday, and ordered the government to review the restrictions on Kashmir within the next week. Significantly the court also ordered the government to make public all orders on internet shutdown, which India frequently deploys. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. After more than 150 days without internet, the Indian state of Kashmir might have just got a reprieve. India's supreme court ruled on Friday that the indefinite government-imposed internet shutdown in the state is unconstitutional. "Freedom of Internet access is a fundamental right," said Supreme Court justice N. V. Ramana. The court has given the Indian government one week to review the restrictions imposed on Kashmir. The state of Jammu and Kashmir has long been a disputed territory between India and neighbouring Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration implemented the internet shutdown in August last year, justifying it by saying it was to calm unrest in the region. At 159 days, it is the longest internet blackout ever imposed in a democracy. While the blackout was in force India also stripped Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status. Narendra Modi REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay The court also ordered the Indian government to make public all orders on internet shutdowns, which it frequently deploys. Since 2016 India has experienced 353 internet shutdowns, according to Internet Shutdowns, a site run by India-based advocacy group the Software Law and Freedom Centre. Human Rights Watch's South Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly told Business Insider this sets an important precedent. "Indian authorities often shut down internet access, but the Supreme Court has now said that any restrictions brought in to maintain public order should not become a tool to repress legitimate right to speech and expression. Story continues "The Supreme Court has upheld international standards that any restrictions of rights must be proportional and based on material facts," said Ganguly. Ganguly pointed out that the court order doesn't immediately lift the shutdown, and said the government may try to delay it using "security justifications," but she still expects it will lead to the end of the shutdown. Read the original article on Business Insider (@FahadShabbir) South Korea's public safety and health agency on Friday asked China to provide information on the new type of coronavirus that is suspected of having caused pneumonia-like illness in recent weeks SEOUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2020 ) :South Korea's public safety and health agency on Friday asked China to provide information on the new type of coronavirus that is suspected of having caused pneumonia-like illness in recent weeks. The request comes two days after the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported the country's first suspected case of the illness that has caused alarm in China for weeks. A 36 year-old Chinese woman, who visited the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei Province last month, reportedly showed symptoms of the illness. Beijing reported on Thursday that it suspected the unidentified illness as being caused by a new strain of coronavirus. "Once we get the genetic information, we should be able to conduct our own checks on the patient who is showing symptoms," the KCDC said. It said at the moment, Seoul does not have enough data to determine if the person has contracted the pneumonia-like illness. South Korea is also trying to get medical information from other countries that have reported patients with similar symptoms, it added. The patient, whose identity has not been released, suffered from coughing and a sore throat when she was examined by local doctors late last week, and was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. The health agency said she is currently doing well and recovering, but that she was still kept in quarantine as a precaution while more tests are being conducted. Tests carried out so far have confirmed she was not suffering from the middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), common influenza, parainfluenza or adenovirus. The authorities also said she was not suffering from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The KCDC said it has tightened monitoring of people entering the country, as well as of those around the patient and medical personnel who have come in contact with her. The center is advising all travelers going to Wuhan to avoid contact with animals and birds, and to take extra care of personal hygiene. European airlines have been told to avoid Iranian airspace until further notice. The EU Aviation Safety Agency says it follows Iran's admission that it accidentally shot down a passenger jet on Wednesday, European airlines Iran has admitted its military accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane amid heightened tensions with the United States over the killing of senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on January 3. The Iranian government had previously denied accusations that it was responsible, but President Hassan Rouhani has now said missiles were fired due to human error and described it as unforgivable and a disastrous mistake. US officials had already said the plane appeared to have been unintentionally hit by a surface-to-air missile near Tehran on Wednesday hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq to avenge the killing of its top general, Qassem Soleimani, in an American air strike. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called for a full investigation. "It is absolutely necessary that Canada participate in this investigation," he said. "We expect the full cooperation of Iranian authorities." By PTI NEW DELHI: Members of the RSS-affiliated ABVP on Saturday organised a major students' march inside the Delhi University, denouncing alleged Left violence and supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act. The march started around 1.30 pm at DU's Arts Faculty and the students then proceeded to the Campus Law Centre, Ramjas College, Kirori Mal College, Hansraj College and Daulat Ram College. The march culminated at the Swami Vivekananda statue inside the Arts Faculty. "Today's march is in support of CAA. This march is also against those who are trying to boycott exams, classes to hamper the academic calender of students. It is against the violence which took place in JNU on January 5," Delhi University Students' Union president Akshit Dahiya said. The marchers raised slogans in support of the new citizenship law and against Left parties. They demanded legal action against those involved in violence at JNU and accused the Left organisations of not accepting opinions opposed to theirs. "Students have gathered against the red terror in JNU. We have full faith in Delhi Police. Those who have been identified by police do not belong to ABVP," DUSU Joint Secretary Shivangi Kharwal said. Nidhi Tripathi, national general secretary of ABVP, addressed the students and accused the Left and other political parties of "creating a violent atmosphere in the country by spreading lies and misinformation about CAA". "Students across numerous educational institutions are coming out in support of CAA. The parties and the people involved in violence need to understand that a democracy requires dialogue and has no space for such violent activities." On January 5 night, masked people armed with rods and sticks stormed the JNU campus and assaulted students and faculty members, and vandalised property, leaving several people injured. Leftist outfits and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad blamed each other for the violence. OTTAWAIran announced Saturday that its military unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard. The statement came Saturday morning and blamed human error for the shootdown. Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned toward a sensitive military centre of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its highest level of readiness, it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit, the statement said. It apologized for the disaster and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent such mistakes in the future. The statement also said those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. Earlier, a frustrated Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said that, by Friday, Iran had issued just two visas to Canadian officials looking to fly to Tehran, short of the 12 needed to make their own assessment about the cause of the devastating crash. A team of 10 Global Affairs officials was waiting in Ankara, Turkey, Friday and two investigators from the Transportation Safety Board were on their way to join them, all hoping to get to Tehran to probe the cause of the crash and provide consular services, such as the repatriation of the Canadian victims. The Boeing 737-800 jet operated by Ukraine International Airways crashed minutes after it departed Tehrans airport bound for Kyiv. Champagne said Friday that the number of Canadian victims had been revised to 57, down from the 63 that was initially reported by the airline. In all, 138 passengers were ultimately bound for a connecting flight to Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday that evidence from multiple sources indicated that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. The TSB said it had two investigators headed overseas but cautioned that Canadas involvement in the probe is still being determined. But to help press for answers, Canada will lead an international group of countries that had citizens on the flight Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan and the U.K. to speak with one voice, Champagne said. Canada will create its own emergency task force comprising senior officials to support victims families and loved ones. And he said Trudeau has tasked Toronto-area MP Omar Alghabra to work directly with the family members. Earlier, Iran denied any responsibility, rejecting allegations that one of its missiles was to blame. What is obvious for us, and what we can say with certainty, is that no missile hit the plane, Ali Abedzadeh, head of Irans national aviation department, said Friday. He pressed countries nations such as Canada to reveal evidence to back their claims the crash was caused by a hostile act. The crash came amid heightened military tension in Iran after that country unleashed a missile attack on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. and coalition forces, retaliation for Washingtons targeted killing of a prominent general. Both the U.K. and the U.S. say they have reached a similar conclusion as Canada that a missile was the cause. Were going to let the investigation play out before we make a final determination, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a White House briefing Friday. Pompeo, who spoke with Champagne Friday, said the U.S. and others would take appropriate actions once the results of the probe are known. Yet Iranian authorities have apparently cleaned up the accident site, depriving international investigators of the opportunity to scrutinize the debris field. CBS journalist Elizabeth Palmer said on Twitter that a network crew visited the site Friday. Virtually all pieces of the plane were removed yesterday, say locals. Scavengers now picking site clean. No security. Not cordoned off, Palmer wrote. With files from The Associated Press WICHITA, Kan. - Problems for Boeing and its troubled 737 Max aircraft, which appear to be growing deeper, have begun to ripple outward, with a major supplier announcing Friday that it will lay off more than 20% of its workforce in Kansas, where it is based. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. WICHITA, Kan. - Problems for Boeing and its troubled 737 Max aircraft, which appear to be growing deeper, have begun to ripple outward, with a major supplier announcing Friday that it will lay off more than 20% of its workforce in Kansas, where it is based. The announcement of 2,800 layoffs at a major employer in Wichita, the state's biggest city, came a day after documents became public showing that Boeing employees raised doubts about the safety of the 737 Max, apparently tried to hide problems from federal regulators, and ridiculed those responsible for designing and overseeing the jetliner. The layoffs threaten to damage a state economy that has been solid for months, with low unemployment and better-than-anticipated state tax collections. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature have been able to boost spending on public schools and services, and the layoffs are likely to come up during the state's annual session, which starts Monday. Spirit AeroSystems is the largest employer in Wichita, which bills itself as the "Air Capital of the World" due to a heavy concentration of aerospace manufacturers. More than 40 aerospace companies, most of them in and around Wichita, provide parts and services for the production of the 737 Max. The governor's administration had been considering the use of the state's fund for unemployment benefits to pay part of the salaries of Spirit workers so they could remain in their jobs. Spirit's announcement also came on the same day that the jobs report shows U.S. manufacturers cut payrolls by 12,000 in December, compared to estimates for a gain. Spirit produced about 70% of the 737 Max, including the fuselage. Contracts with Boeing for the Max represents more than half of Spirit's annual income. "The difficult decision announced today is a necessary step given the uncertainty related to both the timing for resuming 737 production and the overall production levels that can be expected following the production suspension," Spirit AeroSystems CEO Tom Gentile said in a prepared statement. Employees will be paid for a 60-day notice period. Affected employees will leave the company beginning Jan. 22. Just days ago, Spirit broached the subject of voluntary buyouts with employees. The company suspended production of fuselages and other parts for the Max on Jan. 1, after Boeing ordered Spirit to suspend shipments. Spirit plans to implement smaller workforce reductions this month for its plants in Tulsa and McAlester, Oklahoma. Cornell Beard, president of the local branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers, said the union was meeting with the company to find ways to lessen the impact of the situation as much as possible. Its an extremely difficult time for the workers at Spirit AeroSystems who have dedicated their lives to making this company a leader in aerospace. Machinists members and their families in this community have some tough decisions in front of them," Beard said. The company said it has taken steps to lessen the impact by transferring some 737 Max employees to other programs and facilitate job fairs to help laid-off employees. Spirits stock price was down in midday trading Friday. It already had lost more than 20% of its value since Boeing grounded the 737 Max in March. Moodys Investors Service on Friday put Spirit's credit rating under review for a possible downgrade. Spirit is one of four Boeing suppliers being reviewed by Moody's, which said much depends on how long the shutdown lasts. Dozens of smaller aerospace companies are also beginning to shed jobs. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, said he will work with business leaders and Trump administration officials to see that the layoffs have a "short-term impact." He said he has spoken directly with Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence about the layoffs. He said he also spoke this week with the incoming Boeing CEO and the FAA's administrator about doing everything necessary to get the 737 Max back safely in the air. "The layoffs announced today at Spirit AeroSystems have dealt a harsh blow not only to the company but also to Spirit suppliers and subcontractors," he said. "I plan to continue working with the administration and Department of Defence to showcase the capabilities of Wichita manufacturers in an effort to diversify the industry and bring more job opportunities to the region. Aerospace employment in Kansas peaked in 2008, followed by a continual decline until 2017, said Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University. Kansas then had a big ramp-up in aerospace jobs in 2018 and 2019. We are losing a lot of that growth and we are back at our bottom, Hill said. The loss of the 2,800 Spirit jobs is expected to have an impact of just under 5,800 jobs in the economy, he said, noting that other aerospace manufacturers in the supply chain have been announcing layoffs. The average aerospace worker makes $81,000 annually, and the loss of the 2,800 jobs accounts for lost wages of $220 million, assuming those workers are not rehired within 12 months, Hill said. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly promised an all-hands-on-deck approach across state government to help Spirit, its workers and other affected businesses. She said state Labor Secretary Delia Garcia would be in Wichita in the coming days to lead the states response and work closely with local and federal agencies. We stand in lockstep with the workers and companies affected, Kelly said in a statement. 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. Rep. Ron Estes, whose congressional district includes Wichita, said he will continue to work with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure grounded aircraft causing these furloughs can safely return to the skies without any unnecessary delays. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat who serves on the House Transportation Committee, descried the newly released messages from Boeing employees to deceive the public and regulators. "In addition to the public safety concerns these messages raise, Boeings callousness has now cost thousands of Kansans their livelihood and endangered the economy of our state, which is dependent on aerospace," Davids said in a statement. Kansas' other senator, Republican Pat Roberts, issued his own statement of support for the workers, saying: While these furloughs will affect a large part of the aerospace workforce in Wichita, I know the community is prepared to assist in every way possible. Wichita is the Air Capital of the World, and I am committed to making sure that does not change. _____ John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report. 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 && It is a very positive sign that the agricultural community is coming together to encourage the safe application of pesticides through education Nearly 250 Central Valley farmers and farmworkers converged on the Fresno County fairgrounds today to participate in Spray Safe, a stewardship program that promotes effective prevention of accidental pesticide drift from fields, the Western Plant Health Association announced today. Joined by prominent elected officials and high-ranking regulators, participants received training in how to calibrate their equipment, properly use respirators, deal with hazardous materials and protect such pollinators as bees. It also focused on making sure all involved in pesticide applications are effectively communicating and working in concert, said Spray Safe officials. Spray Safe reinforces Californias current pesticide regulations and requirements, which are already some of the toughest limits in the world, said Renee Pinel, the President & CEO of the Western Plant Health Association, which was a sponsor of the event. More importantly, the program focuses on how to improve communication among all those involved in the pesticide application process. There are many steps and entities involved in any pesticide application, she said. We dont need more regulations, we just need to make sure farmers, farmworkers and regulators are all effectively communicating with one another to ensure those regulations are being followed, said Pinel. The best thing about the Spray Safe program is that it empowers thousands of workers to speak out if they have any concerns about a pesticide, said Hernan Hernandez, the Executive Director of the California Farmworker Foundation, a Delano-based organization dedicated to creating a better future for the states farmworkers. Farmworkers need to know what to do in an emergency. It speaks volumes that todays event was conducted in both Spanish and English. The event drew a number of high-ranking officials and representatives, including California, State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger); Michael Stoker, Administrator, EPA Region 9; Jesse Cuevas Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, as well as County Agricultural Commissioners. California has the nations strictest pesticide regulations, but it remains DPRs highest priority to make sure all Californians are aware of the rules and are protected from potential harm, said Jesse Cuevas Chief Deputy Director of DPR. It is a very positive sign that the agricultural community is coming together to encourage the safe application of pesticides through education and improved communications to make sure our communities are protected. Todays event is one of many such Spray Safe classes conducted over the years. Programs like Spray Safe have trained thousands of people, said Bill Hume, with Simplot Grower Solutions who helped lead the worker safety classes. We always want to make sure we continue to keep farmers and farmworkers up to date on the latest technology, regulations and best practices. A second Spray Safe event is scheduled for January 16 at the Tulare-Kings International Agri-Center in Tulare. The mining industry of Goa is looking with hope at the two petitions in the Supreme Court seeking to undo the apex courts judgement of 2017 that brought mining in the state to a standstill. The first is a straightforward review petition filed by the Goa government against Supreme Courts February 2017 verdict but the second one is a special leave petition by Vedanta Ltd, the largest mining company operating in the state, challenging the Goa Governments rejection of its request to extend the companys mining lease by 50 years from 1987 to 2037, in terms of Section 8(A)(3) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). On January 8, the Supreme Court directed all parties to reply within four weeks. he Mines and Minerals Development Act as amended in 2015 states that all mining leases that were operational before the amendment came into force shall be deemed to have been granted for a period of fifty years. However, the Supreme Court had ruled that Goas mining leases, initially granted as concessions by the Portuguese, expired in November 2007 and the subsequent renewals by the State government in 2014-15 were illegal and struck them down. The Supreme Court, made it crystal clear that mining in Goa will cease until fresh mining leases (not fresh renewals or other renewals) are granted and fresh environmental clearances are granted. In this context, Vedantas appeal before the Supreme Court seeking renewal has raised several eyebrows. The Goa Government has backed Vedantas plea and said it is prima facie in agreement with the companys contention but for the Supreme Court judgement which is quite clear in as much as all mining operations in the State of Goa ordered to be stopped with effect from 16/03/2018 until fresh mining leases or other renewals and fresh environmental clearances are granted. As long as the SC judgment is not reviewed or clarified, the State Government, had no option than to reject the request, Goa Advocate General Devidas Pangam said. The Goa Foundation, whose petitions brought mining in Goa to a halt has condemned the move to restart mining behind the peoples back. The Goa Foundation condemns the effort of Vedanta to try and obtain orders behind its back. Disgusting that Government of Goa and Vedanta are still supporting each others case in the SC, leaving behind the interests of both the environment and the people of the state, Director Claude Alvares said. The mining industry was a major revenue and employment generator for the state and at its peak contributed close to 30% of the States GDP. Earlier this week, Governor Satyapal Malik in his maiden address to the Goa Legislative Assembly, said that his government is very optimistic of resuming mining operations in Goa during the ensuing season thereby rejuvenating the states economy. While the mining dependents continue to hold out hope of revival, others, once dependent on the industry, believe that it is time to move on. Since mining has been stopped twice, I believe that it is time to move on. We cant cling on. We have to think of other options, a former ore trader who declined to be named, said. In particular, Akbar Padamsees mystifying oils, water-colours and drawings reflect his mastery over so many aspects of the composition, such as form, space, and colour. Often, his unique pictoriality blurred the lines between abstraction and figuration, leaving many things unsaid. You need the mind of a mathematician and poet to be a painter, Akbar Padamsee, one of Indias greatest post-Independence artists, once said in an interview to Christies. Indeed, Padamsees vast oeuvre is meditative like a verse, and at the same time, it is also born out of the methodical precision of a mathematicians mind. With his death at the age of 91, which was announced on Monday, a long and illustrious chapter in Indias post-colonial art history has come to an end. Mumbai-based auction house Saffronart has rated him among the top five highest selling modern Indian artists, along with VS Gaitonde, FN Souza, Tyeb Mehta and SH Raza. With a career spanning over five decades, the Mumbai-born artist became known for his prolific output across a diverse range of mediums and genres. These include landscapes, still-lifes, portraitures, including head studies, nudes, prophet and Christ figures, and, most importantly, his famous metascapes, grey works and mirror-images. Works in oils, plastic emulsion, water colours, drawings, photography, print-making, sculptures, computer graphics and even film-making form part of the corpus of his work. In particular, Padamsees mystifying oils, water-colours and drawings reflect his mastery over so many aspects of the composition, such as form, space, and colour. Often, his unique pictoriality blurred the lines between abstraction and figuration, leaving many things unsaid. A student of painting at Mumbais Sir JJ School of Art and one of the members of the Progressive Artists Group, the artists cosmopolitan nature and modernist outlook can be attributed to his stay in Paris. While travelling in Europe, the young Padamsee was influenced by the works of Renaissance greats Giotto and Masaccio, Dutch master Rembrandt, Fauvist painter Georges Rouault, and the Swiss-born Paul Klee, who, in his own words, helped him understand how to use colour. But the highlight of his trip to Paris was a prize awarded by Andre Breton, co-founder of the surrealist movement, for one of his earliest paintings from the prophet series. Colours explode in Prophet 1, which was painted in Paris in 1952, but the figure of the holy man in the work is imbued with stoic silence. While the prize also had Akbar Padamsees fellow progressives Souza and Raza among the applicants, its announcement in the name of an unknown, younger artist only 22 years old reportedly surprised many. In the same year, he had his first-ever solo exhibition, at Galerie Saint Placide, Paris. Two years later, his first exhibition in India was held at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, which eventually landed him in a court case as two of his paintings showed a nude couple. On 9 January, Mumbai's Priyasri Art Gallery will revisit the oft-quoted incident from the artist's life, through an exhibition titled 'Judgement in the Trial of Akbar Padamsee'. Also read: Akbar Padamsee: Consummate colourist, caring peer, anti-censorship champion and ever-evolving artist In an interview following Padamsees death, Kamini Sawhney, curator of Mumbai-based Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation (JNAF), which has several of the artists works in its collection, said: During a career that explored a wide range of mediums, Akbar Padamsee managed to remain fiercely experimental and individualistic. With his passing we have lost one of the last few pioneers of Indian modernism. From 9 January, JNAF will be hosting a three month-long exhibition of Padamsees works, which are drawn from the foundations collection. The exhibitions poster shows an ailing, bald and naked man, painted against a background of a deep shade of red, and brown. Is he lost in a reverie, dead, or fast asleep? Is he a common man or a seer? It is hard to tell. While the exhibition was announced in December 2019, Padamsees passing away ahead of the opening is expected to garner more attention than expected. For Sawhney, the exhibition is a tribute to the artist, while adding that Padamsees process of creation is deeply introspective, bringing into focus thoughts and ideas that are almost spiritual. The spiritual side of him remained alive, as it were, until he breathed his last, at an ashram retreat in Coimbatore. Padamsee was also deeply interested in Sanskrit language and texts. As the news of his death became public, critics, artists and curators recalled their conversations with him, which were peppered with references from the ancient language. In the words of artist Gulammohammed Sheikh, who has been following Padamsees works since his student days at MSU Baroda in the 50s: Akbar's quest to delve deeper into the philosophies of the Indian tradition in the last three to four decades made him a student of Sanskrit. He was known to quote from a variety of scriptures he had learnt from the original, often even in conversations. One such meeting took place in 2005, when Delhi-based author and curator Uma Nair visited Padamsees studio at his apartment in Mumbai. Nair recalled sitting with the artist in front of a metascape he had just finished. When he spoke of the work, he chanted Sanskrit shlokas from the epic play Abhigyan Shakuntalam, like a Sanskrit sage. Suffused with colours you saw nature and spiritual fervour at its zenith. Among all his works, I loved the Rooftop series, Nair added. Enormous in scale and distinct for its pictorial vocabulary, Padamsees Rooftops canvas, along with other grey works, is considered one of the milestones of his career, in which his painterly style gravitated towards powerful monochromatic tones. Rooftops is the portrayal of a visibly urban landscape, while showing what looks like rows of houses stacked on top of each other, except the aesthetic of the work is less realistic and more ethereal. Speaking in the same interview to Christies from his studio in 2018, Padamsee explained his approach to the famed grey series: I was not rejecting colour. It was an exploration of colour as quantities of black and white. Its far more exciting for me as a painter to work in grey or sepia. The brush can move freely from figure to ground, and this interaction offers me immense formal possibilities. Padamsees work is emblematic of several contradictions, just like the image of the bald man in the JNAF poster. In his work, there was the celebration of colour, and in his monochromatic experimentations a mysterious dilution of the same. This is juxtaposed with an austerity of form, pared down to the raw details, even in his nudes. Although his work commands a high price, he was known to give away his works and drawings for free or, as he did once, for a small amount of a thousand rupees, to the Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU Baroda, in the 1970s. Akbar was a living representative of the inherent duality of life. The profane and the prosaic sat alongside the profound, said Mumbai-based author and art consultant Anupa Mehta. In 2010, Mehtas The Loft gallery opened an exhibition of Akbar Padamsees works. Titled Body Parts, the show featured Padamsees drawings, lithographs, photographs and oils on board. Stoic face studies, and sensuous nudes in photographs and drawings were part of the exhibition. The works showed the artists measured treatment of form, with a deft play of light in photographs and a magical arrangement of space against the criss-crossing lines of his drawings. Nearly overwhelmed with nostalgia about Akbar Padamsees work and the exhibition, Mehta continued: When I look at the works, especially the nudes, they are like landscapes. There was a certain pristine sexuality. At the same time, there was an element of godliness, visible in the curvature of body, wave of form, and its sensual moulding. Padamsee was interested in form per se. He was a painter's painter, a colourist par excellence. The countrys aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday, suspended an Air Asia captain for a runway excursion in Indore on November 3, 2019. The Air Asia flight IAD374 that took off from Mumbais Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) airport overshot Indore airports (Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar) runway 32 in November 2019. DGCAs investigation revealed that the local air traffic control (ATC) had instructed the flight to hold at the holding point of runway 32. The first officer (co-pilot) read back the ATC instructions correctly and briefed the same to the captain, the main pilot of the aircraft. However, pilot breached the holding point runway 32, read a DGCA order. DGCA issued a show-cause notice to the pilot in command and to the first officer asking for an explanation on the lapses following which, the captain accepted his mistake. The DGCA then suspended the captains flying licence. Earlier this month, DGCA had suspended the licence of a GoAir captain for six months and that of a co-pilot for three months for a runway excursion that also took place in November last year. The low-cost carriers Nagpur to Bengaluru flight had overshot the runway during landing on November 11 as the cockpit crew violated mandatory aviation requirements by continuing to land even after losing visual reference at about 50 feet over Bengaluru airport. In September last year, DGCA had suspended a Spice Jet pilot for three months for runway incursion at the Mumbai airport in July. Fishing communities across Co Wexford are in mourning this week following the deaths of two men in a tragic fishing accident off Hook Head on Saturday night. Kilmore Quay man Joe Sinnotts body was recovered at around midnight on Saturday, while a massive recovery operation is continuing off the coast for William (Willie) Whelan, a 41-year-old Saltmills man who was married last year. The emergency services were alerted at 10.45pm on Saturday when the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) from the Wexford fishing vessel, Alize was activated. Dunmore East RNLI spokesman Neville Murphy said two RNLI vessels launched within minutes from Kilmore Quay and Dunmore East. The Rescue 117 helicopter and the LE Ciara joined the operation and they are still out searching. The search has now moved on to a search and recovery operation (from a search and rescue one). The Alize, which is one of a number of vessels owned by a family from South Wexford and is registered as operating out of Duncannon, had been out fishing for scallops for 36 hours and was due to return on Saturday night but failed to do so. The Alize is a 11.7 metre steel-hulled vessel built in the UK and is believed to be more than 20 years old. Mr Murphy, who is a winchman with the Rescue 117 helicopter, said RNLI crews were in the water at 11 p.m. on Saturday, having received the EPIRB at 10.48 p.m. Mr Sinnott, from Kilmore Quay, was discovered at around midnight after his reflective life-jacket was spotted from the helicopter four nautical miles off Duncannon. He was unresponsive when winched onboard the helicopter and was airlifted to Waterford Airport from where he was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford in Ardkeen, where he sadly passed away on Sunday. Meanwhile the crew of the Irish Coastguard Sikorski helicopter, Rescue 117, RNLI Lifeboat crews from Kilmore Quay and Dunmore East assisted by local fishing boats from both ports were searching the water for Mr Whelan. The Irish Coastguard Sikorski helicopter from Dublin, Rescue 116 joined in the search at first light on Sunday and the search is being co-ordinated by the Naval Services LE Ciara whose crew have been off Hook Head since early on Sunday morning. No one has seen the vessel. Joe Sinnott was found near to where the EPIRB indicated. The water depth is 50m which is particularly deep. I have been involved in a lot of operations (in the area) like this over the years including the Pere Charles tragedy in which five men lost their life. That recovery operation went on for weeks and the remains were never found, Mr Murphy said. The search area is not far from the scene of the sinking of the Dunmore East trawler which went down with the loss of all five crew while returning home from a fishing trip for herring in January 2007. He said: They were out until 11 a.m. on Sunday when they returned to refuel and change their oil. Fishermen came out on Sunday morning as did the Fethard Inshore lifeboat crew. Conditions were challenging but workable and the search continued until the fall of darkness at around 4 p.m. A surface search will continue in the hope that Mr Whelan and the vessel are located. We are going to do a surface search until we locate the vessel and can be 100 per cent that it is the right one and then the naval divers can dive in at some stage hopefully. On Sunday afternoons search we had naval vessel, three RNLI vessels, two helicopters and more than 20 local boats involved. We couldnt do anymore. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families. We have recovered Joe Sinnott. Its good to get him back to his family and hopefully a bit of closure will come with that. He said an extended search is very difficult on a family. Weather conditions on Saturday night were said to be reasonable with Force 4 winds while on Sunday morning winds had risen to Force 5 with two metre swells but worsened to Force 7 later on Sunday night, into Monday morning. After a wild start on Monday, the weather calmed, enabling the search operation to continue in calmer seas. Describing conditions on Monday morning as atrocious, Mr Murphy said two privately owned boats joined the LE Ciara, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay RNLI vessels in the search at 9 a.m. in 50 Knot winds. He said: The lifeboats are all weather so there is no weather that would stop us. The wind is picking up again tonight. It was 50 knots today (Monday, 6th) but calmed down a bit. Its due to ease off on Tuesday. He said local boat owners and people who were thinking of searching on the coastline were advised to keep back on Monday due to the stormy conditions. Its a very dangerous area in our seas and weve been actively encouraging people to stay back as the utmost caution is needed. Cllr Ger Carthy said it remains a mystery what happened. Some time after 10.30 p.m. something happened. They were coming in across Hook Head and it went down without even having time to give them an opportunity to send out a mayday call. The EPIRB is activated once a vessel goes underwater. The signal goes to the Dublin marine (Rescue Coordination Centre). Fortunately they were able to locate Joe Sinnott and bring him to University Hospital Waterford. Describing Mr Sinnotts death as a tragedy, Cllr Carthy said something catastrophic must have happened. He said fishing was in the blood of the two men and their families. They were both very experienced fishermen. Something very catastrophic happened and both men lost their lives. Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday condemned the violence that took place in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) recently and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer on the violence. "What happened inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University is a subject of concern and condemnation. This kind of incident has never been seen before in the university's history. Till now the police officials should have been suspended. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer on the JNU violence and should know where the country is heading," Chief Minister told the reporters here. "The Home Minister should speak about how the masked people entered the educational institution when the police were there. They have to take action against it," he added. This comes after masked mob of miscreants entered the university campus and attacked the students and professors with sticks and rods on January 5. More than 30 students, including Ghosh, were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. The Delhi Police Crime Branch investigating the case of violence in JNU had identified and released photographs of nine suspects, including that of Aishe Ghosh. Meanwhile, Gehlot came out in support of movie 'Chhapak' and said, "I am happy that the movie has been made tax-free for the people of Rajasthan as well. People have welcomed this decision. The movie will educate people. People should enjoy the movie." (ANI) The first principle, said Richard Feynman, is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool. When it comes to pundits and politics this year, Id revise the great physicists admonition as follows: The first principle is that you must not fool yourself that Bernie Sanders cant win not just the Democratic nomination, but also the presidency itself. The warning applies to me as much as to anyone else who has spent the past months, or years, insisting that the senator from Vermont doesnt have a chance. What it comes down to is this: We dont want Sanders to be elected, so we tell ourselves he cant. According to the theory, Sanderss support has a hard ceiling: It may be intense, but its also cultlike and off-putting. Too many Americans know enough about socialism to want a president who wears the term proudly (even if he insists its of a more benign variety). He embraces nearly all of the same policies, like Medicare for all, that raised Elizabeth Warren high in the polls but are now dragging her down. Union minister and RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said BJP would suffer politically if it joins hands with Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. He said the MNS' was "regional" and the BJP would take a hit due to the former's aggressive stand against Hindi-speaking migrants in Maharashtra. Thackeray had met former chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis recently, giving rise to speculation of a new alignment after the latter's old ally Shiv Sena hopped over to form an alliance with the Congress- NCP. "The Republican Party of India (A) is firmly with the BJP and the party is getting Dalit support. Hence, MNS support is not required as its is regional. Due to the aggressive stand taken by MNS against Hindi-speaking migrants, a national party like BJP will suffer," the Union minister for social justice and empowerment said. Athawale said the BJP would suffer not only in Mumbai but across the country. Thackeray had lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier but was a trenchant critic of the NDA and its policies during the campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as well as the state Assembly elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) According to Secretary of National Security and Defense Council, 30% of bodies are already identified The bodies of Ukrainians killed in a plane shot down by Irans International Airlines of Ukraine will be repatriated to Ukraine on January 20-21. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov, as BBC Ukraine reports. "He (Danilov, - ed.) Said that 30% of the bodies have already been identified. They will be returned to Ukraine on approximately January 20-21," - the statement said. As we reported, Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines, flight PS 752 with 176 passengers aboard crashed in Tehran, not far from Imam Khomeini airport. Iranian Tasnim News Agency informed about that, pointing out that the reason for the crash was a "technical malfunction." As of 7 a.m. January 8, the fate of passengers remained unknown. Local authorities feared that no one survived, because the plane was visibly on fire as it was falling, CGTN reported. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Irans statement about a missile strike at Ukrainian Boeing 737, demanding to bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies of the dead and pay compensation for the catastrophe. - Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru claimed Central Kenya MPs supporting DP Ruto were "deceiving him" - The former devolution CS said Mt Kenya region has its "owner" who is firmly in control - A section of Central Kenya MPs led by Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah have been vocal in campaigning for the Jubilee deputy party leader in his 2022 presidential bid Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has dismissed Deputy President William Rutos dalliance with a section of Mt Kenya MPs noting they were deceiving him into believing they could mobilise voters in the region to vote for him. The county boss said Kikuyus cannot be bought but can only be rented, a remark affirmed by political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi as 2022 succession politics heat up. READ ALSO: Gideon Moi: DCI denies summoning, questioning Baringo Senator Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has told DP William Ruto Kikuyus cannot be bought to support his 2022 ambition. Photo: Anne Waiguru. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: DP Ruto dismisses BBI report meetings as a channel for embezzling taxpayers' money The former devolution CS was speaking on Friday, January 10, at the Gusii stadium during a Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report sensitisation. You can rent a Kikuyu but you can never buy one. Kikuyus have their own owner and he is fully in control. His decision in succession politics will shock many when the time comes, she said. The governor said the Central Kenya will support the recommendations of the BBI report. The train has left the station, it is now in Nyanza, next it will be in Western, when it arrives at Central, the whole of Mt Kenya will be behind it, she added. A section of Central Kenya MPs have vowed to support Ruto in 2022 presidential ambitions. Photo: William Samoei Ruto. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Siwezi ingizwa baridi na sarakasi za Miguna - Raila Odinga A section of Central Kenya MPs allied to Tanga Tanga wing of Jubilee have been vocal in campaigning for the Jubilee deputy party leader in his bid to succeed Presidential Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022. The lawmakers are led by Kimani Ichung'wa (Kikuyu), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) and Alice Wahome ( Kandara). 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. Please give me a job - Stephen Kinyanjui | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke I recently found this article on the National Institute on Aging website that reinforces a topic of my programming lately: that socialization or social engagement is beneficial for brain health and longevity. I have been focusing on the effects practiced in later life but this article expands that to midlife, so I would like to share it with all of you: Frequent social contactregularly seeing friends and familyduring midlife was associated with a lower likelihood of dementia diagnosis in later life, according to a recent study in PLOS Medicine. Being socially engaged may require greater activity in areas of the brain that contribute to language and memory, which in turn may account for better cognitive health, the authors noted. Researchers at the University College London and INSERM in Paris analyzed data collected during the NIA-supported Whitehall II study from more than 10,000 British civil servants. Data were collected over 28 years, starting when the participants were middle aged. The participants responded to periodic questionnaires about social contact frequency and took tests of verbal memory, verbal fluency and reasoning. The researchers also obtained dementia diagnoses from the participants electronic health records. The main outcome of the study was that adults who reported frequent social contact in middle age were less likely to receive a dementia diagnosis. The researchers also noted that this effect seemed to be stronger for participants who reported frequent interactions with friends than for those who reported social contact only with family members. Statistical analyses revealed that more frequent social contact at age 60 seemed to be associated with a greater reduction in subsequent dementia diagnosis than contact at either age 50 or age 70. More frequent midlife social contact with friends, rather than relatives, was also linked with increased levels of cognitive performance. The researchers commented that the association between social contact frequency, reduced dementia risk and better cognitive performance may be a result of social contact improving cognitive reserve and thereby reducing dementia risk. Cognitive reserve may explain how some older adults can retain relatively normal thinking and memory abilities despite the presence of age-related brain changes. Prior studies showed that people who have infrequent social connections may have a higher risk of dementia, but most of these studies were smaller in size and shorter in duration. In contrast, Whitehall II is one of the largest studies with the longest follow-up on the effects of social contact on dementia. Nevertheless, it is important to replicate these findings with other studies, especially in people who more closely reflect the diversity of the U.S. population. So the moral of the story is to stay connected with others! That can look many different ways including: participation in social groups, organizations or clubs; volunteering by helping others; spending one-on-one time with friends, visiting with your neighbors; video chatting with grandchildren or others who live far away; or, having a furry friend or two! Just making sure that you are not isolated, but interacting with others in a positive way is the key to a healthier life. For more information on University of Illinois Unit 19 programming and to read more helpful articles, visit our website at https://extension.illinois.edu/ccdms, call us at 217-345-7034 or contact Cheri Burcham at cburcham@illinois.edu. Also visit the Family Files Blog at https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/family-files. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MBABANE It looks as though it never rains but pours for the government of the Kingdom of Eswatini. The Times SUNDAY can reveal today that if contract obligations were to be followed to the letter, Kukhanya Civil Engineering could be owed E100 million by the government in penalties for the stalled 42 kilometre-Sicunusa-Nhlangano road. This is despite the fact that the taxpayer has already spent E576 million on the incomplete project. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) whose chairperson is Deputy Speaker MP Phila Buthelezi stated in its report that government should immediately terminate the contract with the contractor as it was allegedly attracting monthly penalties in the region of E5 million while the project was being stalled. The project stopped in April 2018. Conservatively, it effectively means there has been no project activity for 20 months now, translating to E5 million multiplied by 20 months, totalling to E100 million. If the E100 million was to be paid in full, it could mean government would have paid E676 million for a failed project. Negotiations ongoing It has been revealed the contract between government and Kukhanya has not yet been terminated. Negotiations over a settlement are ongoing, sources said. While negotiations are ongoing and the project is stalled, government attracts monthly penalties in the region of E5 million, the government source said. Despite challenges in completing the project on schedule, it has been further revealed that Kukhanya Civil Engineering still has a role to play or say in the failed project. To complete the construction of the road, the initial cost was E465.99 million (E465 990 202.85) but government ended up spending E576 million. Sources say government is currently working with the company in finalising finer details of the project. Before engaging another contractor to finish the project, it has now emerged that Kukhanya should consent to this arrangement through termination of its contract with government. As it were, government sources said the Manzini based company was still in charge of the Sicunusa-Nhlangano road project. Impeccable sources within the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said the termination of the contract could be done at a cost. breached contract A party found to have breached the contract should compensate the other, according to information from those who are in the know. However, it must be said that it is not yet clear as to which party breached the contract between government and the company. Sources pointed to two argumentation theories that could be put on the table to determine or conclude the impasse one being the fact that the project could have been completed in 24 months but wasnt finished five years later and the second being which party actually caused or contributed to the delay. Investigations revealed that Kukhanya would argue that governments delay in paying for interim certificates was one of the reasons that stalled progress. At some point, the failure by government to pay for the certificates accrued interest of E14 million. Governments argument could be that despite those delays in payments of interim certificates, it finally spent E576 million on an incomplete project, sources said. Engaged on this issue, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Khangeziwe Mabuza confirmed that government was negotiating with Kukhanya over a settlement. She indicated that she was not sure what would be the outcome of their negotiations. Mabuza mentioned that talks could revolve around whether the contractor had capacity to continue with the project under the prevailing circumstances. The principal secretary said she was also not at liberty to divulge information on who should be paid after the termination of the contract Kukhanya or government. She made it clear that government could not just force out the contractor. We cannot just push out the old contractor. We have a contract with it, she said. If Kukhanya agrees to terminate the contract, she said legal tendering processes would be followed. The project will go through the tendering process. Thats my philosophy, things must be done transparently, the principal secretary insisted. Those in the know told this newspaper that certain managers within the Ministry of Public Works and Transport had suggested that one of the well established companies be engaged to take over the project through a single source procurement system. To the contrary, others are of the opinion that Kukhanya will take government to court for the breach of contract. Single source purchasing refers to purchases from one selected supplier, even though there are other suppliers that provide similar products. pushing agendas Reacting to moves to engage another company through the single source procurement system, the PS said there was none such but pointed out that it was possible some people could be pushing their agendas. Minister Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe said the PS was the rightful authority to comment on the matter. In his preamble to his report to Senate which he submitted in November 2019, the minister said: the ministry is engaged in concerted efforts to complete the stalled projects such as the Nhlangano-Sicunusa road, and the Mpandze-Mbadlane road, which have become a reflection of disservice to the intended beneficiaries. The minister also pointed out that the contractor on site suspended works due to non-payment. He mentioned that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport opted to terminate the contract. He further disclosed that they applied and subsequently obtained a no-objection to terminate the contract from the co-financiers. Once the termination process is complete, the project will be re-launched in order to complete the remaining works, said the minister. Chairman of the PAC MP Phila Buthelezi could not be reached for comment as he was reportedly in Taiwan. Persistent attempts to get hold of Peter Ngwenya, the Director of Kukhanya, failed. Since the rigmarole began, Ngwenya has never talked about the issue, and PAC has also failed to have him appear before it in Parliament. joint venture Meanwhile, another reason that might have caused the project to fail is the withdrawal of a Portuguese company styled Gabriel Couto, which had formed a joint venture with Kukhanya. Gabriel Couto held a shareholding of 70 per cent against 30 per cent held by Kukhanya. This joint venture was found to be in conflict with the conditions of the loan secured from BADEA. Gabriel Couto did not qualify to build the road because it was neither an Arabic nor African firm or from an OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) member country. On February 11, 2014, the financier, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), wrote to the Government of Eswatini: According to your above mentioned letters (written by Naniki Mnisi who was acting as Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport), the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (the executing agency of the project) has proceeded with awarding and signing the contract, without obtaining BADEAs approval on the evaluation report. The letter, written by Kamal Mahmoud, BADEAs Director of Operations, was a response to Mnisis letters dated September 30, 2013 and January 12, 2014. The bone of contention was that government did not comply with BADEAs loan agreement. Further read the letter from the bank: The firm Gabriel Couto, which was awarded the contract, is not eligible for the project bidding, based on the submitted documents via your letter dated January 12, 2014, which clearly identified that the firm is a Portuguese company. project still incomplete In the current financial year, Auditor General Timothy Sipho Matsebula reported that the initial planned duration of the project was two years but it was still incomplete five years later. He said the main concern was that the works on the project site resembled a drought stricken grazing area. He had noted that the project would be of compromised quality, if it was to be completed by the current contractor. That was due to the fact that Gabriel Couto had demobilised from site and suspended their works, regardless of the fact that a Joint Venture agreement between it and Kukhanya Civil Engineering was entered into and signed by both parties on August 9, 2013. Gabriel Couto was the lead partner, by virtue of holding the majority shareholding of 70 per cent in the joint venture. Anya Chalotra as Yennefer in The Witcher. Photo: Netflix Fantasy novels, games, movies, and television shows provide a rich tapestry of the human spirit. The adventures of sword-swinging heroes articulate the dangers of taking to the high seas to explore unknown lands, the horror of riding through battle heavy with armor, the thrill of rescuing damsels in distress, and the moral difficulty of choosing whether to fight an enemy outright or make peace before war sweeps the land. They invoke magic within, daring readers to dream impossible dreams. Those dreams, however, have been dominated by men. For years, women have often had a difficult time getting a fair shake in fantasy, no matter the medium. To have her books published in the 1960s, Alice Bradley Sheldon wrote under the pseudonym James Tiptree Jr. In 2012, 66 percent of Magic the Gathering characters were male. HBOs Game of Thrones suffered much criticism for the way one of its most powerful women, Daenerys Targaryen, showed up nude seemingly for no reason. Andrzej Sapkowskis The Witcher, a collection of eight books that have been adapted into three video games, a short film, a 2001 film called The Hexer, a Polish miniseries, and now a Netflix series, feature incredibly strong women in significant roles: a powerful queen leading her troops into battle, a rape survivor taking revenge into her own hands, and a young woman turning into a powerful warrior. But in Sapkowskis novels, womens stories often come from the mouths of jealous or spiteful men told from multiple angles to show the chaos surrounding a word-of-mouth culture. While authentic and gripping, it doesnt bode well for the depiction of women. Lauren S. Hissrich, The Witcher showrunner, strategically made alterations to the original story, forcing Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) a freelance bounty hunter who was abandoned, experimented upon, and kills monsters for coins to share the spotlight with a sensitive bard, a trauma surviving sorceress, and a princess destined to become a warrior. The differences between the books and the show can best be analyzed through The Witchers fourth episode, Of Banquets, Bastards, and Burials, written by Declan de Barra and directed by Alex Garcia Lopez. In this episode, Queen Calanthe (Jodhi May) invites the kingdom of Cintra to court for her daughter Pavettas (Gaia Mondadori) wedding feast. Sapkowskis version of the story, A Question of Price from The Last Wish, shows the 15-year-old Pavetta entering her wedding feast instead of being seated at the table with the rest of the family. After a full paragraph describing the young girls beauty, three men mentally undress her. Throughout the dinner, Pavettas mother and the men of the court, discuss her future at length. Pavetta only speaks when asked if she wants to marry the porcupine knight, who won her as a child of surprise, and when she casts a spell to that same knight, whom she had already taken as her secret lover. (In casting the spell, Pavetta reveals shes not a virgin because, as the story explains, only a penis can reveal magical abilities in a woman.) Queen Calanthe. Photo: Netflix The Witchers TV version gives Pavetta not just a motive, but a deeper connection to her mother. Though a good deal of the dialogue in the series comes directly from the English translation of The Last Wish, there are key adjustments. The bloodlust Calanthe expresses in the books reads more like a love for the fight. The battlefield is the one place she feels like an equal, despite her many privileges as queen. Theres a simplicity to killing monsters, she tells Geralt when he asks why she chooses fighting over the comfort of her throne room. Covered in blood and well on her way to being drunk as she returns from the field of war, Calanthe demands Pavetta accept her duty as a princess when she sees her sitting despondently at the head table. Itll be done soon, Calanthe gently tells her. You think I wanted to marry your father? Ill have none of your waterworks here. Youre the daughter of the Lioness, behave like it. This moment gives Pavetta agency to tell her mother she deserves to be in a loving, committed relationship. I could do better, she asserts, giving her mother pause for the first time since she entered the scene. Its a moment of power for which magic cant take the credit, transforming Calanthe from a warrior queen in power to a complicated woman forced to operate within the patriarchal systems laid before her. Calanthe laments to Geralt later at the feast, This, all this, because male tradition demands it, her voice filled with spite. If I were a man, I could simply tell the whole lot of them to fuck off, declare outright who Pavetta should marry, and have done with it. Or, better yet, let the poor girl decide her own fate. Of course, limiting feminist representation to women defeats the purpose of the cause. Of Banquets, Bastards, and Burials also highlights how the men of The Witcher got a glow-up for television. The show depicts Geralts musically gifted bestie, Jaskier (Joey Batey), as an aspiring rock star who enjoys the company of women. During Prevettas wedding feast, Jaskier brings Geralt to protect him from angry husbands whose wives he bedded. (Jaskier even courts a plus-size, older woman in the background of a scene.) This representation stands in stark contrast to Dandelion (pronounced Dan-dil-leon), the bard from the original text: In Polish, Jaskier means buttercup, a name deemed too feminine for English audiences, so it was changed. Jaskier and Geralt. Photo: Netflix In his first appearance in Sapkowskis The Voice of Reason, Dandelion gets in trouble with Geralts mother figure, Nenneke, for pinching the behind of an underage girl whos trying to study. Geralt does nothing but laugh at his friend. But how could we enjoy the earworm Toss a Coin to Your Witcher if it came from a serial sexual harasser? If Dandelion were on the adventure, the audience would look for Geralt to take the creep out the first opportunity he got. Sympathetic and enthusiastic, Jaskier instead stands out as a fan favorite. He makes the otherwise reserved Geralt come out of his shell, and his music creates an auditory touchstone for viewers as the show revisits Toss a Coin to show the passage of time. Similarly, loving the book version of Yennefer proves difficult, because without the rich backstory provided in the show, she comes off as unfeeling and icy. Her backstory sees a few changes in Hissrichs adaptation and Anya Chalotras performance. In the books, Yennefers father leaves the family in part because of his daughters hunchback and disabilities; in the show, he sells her to a witch named Tissaia de Vries (MyAnna Buring) for four marks. The books also make Yennefers mother an abuser, who cruelly takes her pain out on Yennefer after her husband leaves; in the show, her mother is simply unable to stop him from abandoning them. Yennefer. Photo: Netflix The treatment of Yennefers disability and subsequent fertility issues is yet another great distinction between the original story and the show mainly because Hissrich takes the time to explore the ways in which women are encouraged to remain childless in order to obtain power. The idea that childbirth is the only way to have a legacy controls much of Yennefers story line. After she attempts suicide as a teenager, De Vries saves Yens life, only to then degrade her and build her up as she sees fit at the magical academy Aretuza. But at the end of these trials, a promise awaits that Yennefer cannot turn down: Upon graduation, she can change her physical appearance to become her ideal self. The series makes clear, however, that magic comes from sacrifice. For the beautification ritual to work, Yennefer must undergo horrifically painful surgery to have her ovaries removed. Once beautiful, shell be assigned to a monarchy as an adviser. Its later implied that the sterilization surgery exists to control women like Yennefer. A baby between a king and a mage could unseat the dominant power structure composed of the wizards and mages who train and handpick the students who will advise monarchs. Yennefer chose to have her ovaries removed, but the choice did not seem like one at the time: Her options were to run away with her first love and be a nobody, or go after her dreams. When real power and public acceptance are finally within Yennefers reach, she grabs it with both hands. Of Banquets, Bastards, and Burials features Yennefer outside of Aretuza and serving King Virfuril (Ben Lambert) of her home country, Aedirn. Highly intelligent, Yennefer is bored with the stodgy members of the kings court. I love that I traded everything to get my seat at court, she tells Queen Kalis (Isobel Laidler), as she escorts the queen back to the castle. I love that I believed that this would all be worth it, that this would be my legacy. The greatest mage to have ever graced a court. And I really, really love that instead, Ive gotten to spend the last three decades cleaning up stupid political messes. Glorified royal arse wiper. Themes of class permeate the episode Queen Calanthe believes she can order Geralt to kill the hedgehog knight, and Jaskier worries a royal may have him killed for his indiscretions but the betrayal of Queen Kalis and Yennefer illustrates the impossibility of overcoming the great distance of wealth and status. Kaliss newborn girl, her fifth child, leaves King Virfuril without a male heir. Close to his 60s, Virfuril decides to hire an assassin to kill both the queen and the princess so that he may try again with a new wife. Yennefers mage powers get a workout as she constructs portals from thin air to try and escape the assassin. Scared and frustrated, the power dynamics and class distinction between queen and witch reveal themselves as Kalis, stripped of her royal finery, demands Yennefer get up from her exhausted state. Get up, you stupid, useless witch! How could you not foresee this? she demands. You were supposed to protect me. Tired, frustrated, and aware she is not the target, Yennefer abandons the queen and the princess on a cliff. Second thoughts creep in and she goes back, but the baby drowns as she portals into an ocean. In talking to the deceased child on the beach, Yennefer says, Im sorry you didnt have a life, but truth be told youre not missing much. She goes on to recount all the ways the world betrayed her. From being sold off to the emptiness of her string of lovers, beautification and power didnt save Yennefer from becoming a vessel for them to take and take until were empty and alone. The longing for a child of her own, the frustration for what that child would endure, and the fact that her natural ability couldnt save the child makes for fascinating, compelling television. Women empowered by their own agendas, horribly flawed women who arent punished for these imperfections but allowed to grow into better people, and women actively seeking control over their bodies: These are the stories that fantasy trailblazers like Octavia Butler, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Alice B. Sheldon told years ago. Throughout time, women have been treated as vessels for mens emotions, lineage, and reputation. Both The Witcher show and the Witcher books acknowledge and attempt to address these injustices, but the show does so without repeating the harmful depictions of women as sexual objects. Promisingly, it also joins a trend of women-led fantasy projects that suggest a brighter future. Three current shows The Magicians, Charmed, and Westworld all boast women showrunners or co-showrunners. In 2017, HBO optioned Nigerian-American fantasy writer Nnedi Okorafors novel Who Fears Death. Last summer, Disney bought the movie rights for Tomi Adeyemis novel, Children of Blood and Bone, which spent 89 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. A more diverse, womanist fantasy comes true. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Mrs Stephen, who has three sons, was urged by detective to 'please be discreet' Harry came into her shop just before Christmas to buy festive table decorations Meghan Markle sneaked back to the Vancouver island mansion where she spent Christmas on a 134 budget flight after jetting back to Canada in the wake of shock Royal resignation announcement, it is understood. With the runaway Royals' finances and spending under fierce scrutiny, film of her arrival courtesy of Canada's WestJet airline might have provided welcome publicity, but she eluded waiting TV crews who, assuming she was coming in on a private jet, focused their attention elsewhere. With no return flight booked and no official UK engagements, she could remain in Canada for the foreseeable future and, when he arrives, so too could Harry. To their new Canadian neighbours, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex seemed 'just like regular guys'. Sure, they were staying in an 11 million waterside mansion, but they were friendly, polite and, said one, 'went to the Fickle Fig farm shop and stopped for coffee just like everyone else'. Some who encountered the couple over the festive season were asked politely by royal protection officers to refrain from spilling the beans on social media for 'at least for a couple of weeks' so they could enjoy some peace. Life passes slowly on Vancouver Island's Saanich peninsula and it is a testament to the locals' quiet discretion that they largely complied. 'In fact, some might say it's a bit of a miracle,' said a neighbour. 'But then we know how to keep a secret around here.' To their new Canadian neighbours, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex seemed 'just like regular guys' Chris Stephen, the owner of Lilaberry Home decor store in Sidney, British Columbia which Prince Harry visited during last-minute Christmas shopping trip Lilaberry Home Decor store in Sidney, Vancouver Island Gradually, the Royal couple became bolder in their forays from their bolthole and went exploring, hiking and jogging. Harry even managed a bit of last-minute Christmas shopping in the nearby town. All this, though, was before last week's bombshell dropped, when the couple returned to the UK and made their announcement about their future plans, opening a potentially unbridgeable rift in the Royal Family. Yesterday, Meghan was back once more in Canada, holed up inside their holiday home and awaiting regular bulletins from her crisis-fighting husband 4,700 miles away news that will determine their future lives. It was here in the property's enormous two-storey living room that they held their council of war over Christmas, finalising their 'abdication' plan to effectively quit The Firm, move to North America and become financially independent. Meghan greets fans on a walkabout in Viaduct Harbour in Auckland For now, Harry remains across the ocean dealing with the seismic fall-out and negotiating with aides and the rest of the Royal Family over the couple's future role. With a 'packed' diary and an official engagement at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, he is not expected to return to Canada to be reunited with his wife and eight-month-old son Archie until at least next weekend. There was a strong sense on the island yesterday that with so much undecided, the freewheeling ease of their six-week sojourn would never be repeated. Stern faced policemen in grey Toyota SUVs went back and forth from the property, lashed over the past 48 hours by high winds and heavy rain. An elderly woman walking her dogs near the mansion, ringed by a hastily erected 6ft chain-link fence, noted sourly that 'everything has changed'. As she talked recalling how a previous house on the site was used as a holiday home by Hollywood stars in the 1950s a Japanese cameraman got too close to the forbidding iron gates and was shooed away by security men. 'That's what I mean,' she said, gesturing towards them. Scott Fee, director of local independent TV station CHET News based in the British Columbia capital Victoria, a half-hour drive away, spoke of 'media from all around the world setting up shop here'. He said: 'Victoria has a warm connection to the Monarch but we have already received a backlash, with people telling us to leave them alone. We are going to have to be careful.' He said he would like to think his station would 'take a respectful tone' but added: 'This is one of the biggest stories happening in the world right now and we are going to have to cover it.' The region has thrown a protective arm around Harry and Meghan and most people have no wish to criticise them. Certainly not ardent royalist Chris Stephen, owner of Lilaberry Home Decor a 'lifestyle apothecary' in the small nearby town of Sidney-by-the-Sea. Harry came into her shop just before Christmas with a protection officer to buy festive table decorations. *Prince Harry and son Archie pictured during their Christmas holiday in Canada 'They seemed like two buddies doing a bit of last minute shopping,' she said. 'I tried to interest one of them [Harry, it transpired] in a fur scarf and he asked it was real fur. I said there was no way I would sell real fur.' Harry crammed his blue woollen hat over his eyes and mumbled in 'a fake Canadian accent' into the collar of his coat. 'I thought there was something familiar about him even though I could barely see his face,' said 60-year-old Mrs Stephen. 'And then I said, 'Oh my God, you're Prince Andrew!'. 'Norma, who works with me, pointed out that it was Harry and I nearly fainted. I adored his mother and have always followed Harry's progress and here he was in my store. I think I must have shrieked.' Announcing that she wanted to give him a 'motherly hug', Mrs Stephen, who has three sons, was urged by the detective to 'please be discreet'. She said: 'So we went and had a chat in the storeroom and the first thing Harry said to me looking horrified was: 'I can't believe you thought I was Prince Andrew!' Shop owner Mrs Stephen mistook Prince Harry for Prince Andrew 'I told him that I was so overwhelmed I forgot his name. He said he tried to disguise his voice by speaking with a Canadian accent and I told him he made a terrible job of it. 'In the end I did give him a hug a big mum hug and he was very gracious and patient with me, a real well-mannered guy. His security guy then poked his head around the door and said the shop was getting busy. 'Harry played with my dachshund, Tink, while the guy paid the bill and I gave him a toy otter for Archie. I also invited him to Christmas dinner saying that our place was cosy, not a castle, but he politely declined. 'This is the best part of Canada and I can see why he and the Duchess like it so much here. I really hope they stay for good. The people here will take them to their hearts and look after them.' While she regrets not getting a selfie with the Prince, Mrs Stephen did share some stills of the visit from the store's security camera, a couple of weeks after their encounter. For this she received a social media backlash and was called 'creepy' which she said left her 'really upset.' The 10 million property where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are believed to have been staying Inside the luxury mansion on Vancouver Island where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were staying It was a salutary reminder of a toxic world beyond this folksy backwater, where crime is as rare as bad manners. Across the street, Cafe Beacon, one of the town's many coffee shops, is crammed with so much Royal memorabilia that it would seem excessive even for a Windsor tearoom. Shelves are laden with books, pictures, plates, cushions and mugs, much of it commemorating Charles and Diana's 1981 wedding. 'We're still getting over their divorce, never mind this latest fiasco,' joked 75-year-old Alan Reeve, enjoying tea and scones with his cousin. 'There's a strong bond with the Monarchy in these parts.' Mrs Stephen wasn't the only one to come up against online trolls. Bev and Pierre Koffel had made headlines for apparently turning down a booking from the Sussexes at their restaurant, Deep Cove Chalet, in North Saanich. It was said they declined because of the high security the couple's visit would require, but Mr Koffel insisted this was not the case. 'I've got no idea where that came from,' he said. 'Things take a life of their own.' Since the story went round the globe the Koffels have received hate mail, furious phone calls and inevitable abuse on social media. The Royal couple have refused to say, meanwhile, if they paid for their six-week mansion stay or even confirm who the property belongs to, raising questions about their wish to become financially independent. Additional reporting: Hugo Daniel in Toronto The US drone killing of a top Iranian commander was an act of peace, Donald Trumps man in Britain claimed today. US Ambassador Woody Johnson backed the Presidents decision to assassinate General Qassem Soleimani and insisted it was not a provocative strike. Washington and Tehran appear to have stepped back from the brink of war after Iran fired 16 rockets at coalition air bases in Iraq in retaliation for Soleimanis death. Mr Johnson said Mr Trump has always been ready to talk about peace. The envoy was asked on LBC Radio if is it the action of a President who wants peace to kill the commander of the Revolutionary Forces? Is that a peace-loving action? The American diplomat said: I think it is when his sworn duty is to protect Americans. Soleiman was killed one week ago by a US air strike at Baghdad airport in Iraq, ordered by President Donald Trump . Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Photo: Sushi by Bou/Yelp Want to hit up the newest eateries in Gramercy? From a seafood restaurant to an ice cream shop, read on for a list of the newest spots to arrive in this area of New York City. Oceans New York 233 Park Ave. South photo: oceans new york/yelp Oceans New York is a seafood-focused restaurant from chef Andy Kitko (previously of Estiatorio Milos in Midtown). Kitko's menu features seafood dishes from around the world, including nigiri, sashimi and sushi rolls; tartare and ceviche; and raw bar offerings like oyster, shrimp, Alaskan king crab and Maine lobster (all available in Oceans New York's signature three-tier seafood tower). The 220-person restaurant also offers soups, salads, grilled whole fish and meat dishes like rib eye steak and lamb chops, as well as a full selection of wine, beer and cocktails. With a five-star Yelp rating out 27 reviews, Oceans New York has been getting positive attention. Yelper Dean C., who reviewed Oceans New York on Dec. 26, wrote, "I was in last weekend, and wow, truly an amazing experience." Colleen D. noted, "Finally, a good seafood place in the area." Head on over to check it out: Oceans is open daily for dinner daily starting at 5 p.m., with plans to add lunch and brunch service. Sushi By Bou 118 E. 15th St. Photo: Sushi by Bou/Yelp The Zeckendorf Towers on East 15th Street are one of the the latest venues to play host to Sushi by Bou, chef David Bouhadana's speakeasy-style omakase concept, which has locations across the New York area and two in Miami. Sushi by Bou offers 30 and 60-minute intimate tasting menu experiences ($50 and $100 per person, respectively). Sushi courses are made with fresh albacore, yellowtail, scallop, uni and more, all served directly by the chefs. As we previously reported, this location of Sushi by Bou also shares space with sister restaurant Sushi by Bae, from female sushi chef Oona Tempest. Yelp users are generally positive about Sushi by Bou, which currently holds four stars out of 32 reviews on the site. Story continues Yelper Carol B., who reviewed the new spot on Jan. 2, wrote, "This location of Sushi by Bou is very cute, perfect for a date." Reservations for Sushi by Bou can be made via Yelp. Caffe Panna 77 Irving Place Photo: Jieun L./Yelp Caffe Panna is a cafe and ice cream shop specializing in homemade frozen deserts and affogatos (an Italian favorite traditionally combining ice cream and espresso). Every day, the shop serves five core ice cream flavors and a rotating selection of daily flavors, including everything from chocolate ginger to seaweed stracciatella. Stop in for one of Caffe Panna's specialty affogato sundaes, made with daily flavors, house-made mix-ins and panna (whipped cream), and of course a shot of espresso. Yelp users are excited about Caffe Panna, which currently holds 4.5 stars out of 104 reviews on the site. Yelper Denise L., who reviewed Caffe Panna on Jan. 2, wrote, "Wow, everything tasted really good, and the panna is perfect, not too sweet but just right!" Caffe Panna is open from 11 a.m.11 p.m. daily. 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. A young mother and her boyfriend allegedly raided a shop which had been burned by bushfires and stole hundreds of dollars worth of electrical items. Kylie Pobjie, 31, and plumber Leon Elton, 38, are accused of driving two hours through smoke to ransack the store in Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast on Wednesday. Following reports of looting, two homes were raided and the alleged stolen electrical items were seized by police on Friday afternoon. Pobjie was arrested in Narooma and Elton was arrested in Tilba Tilba, both on the NSW south coast, later that evening. Mother Kylie Pobjie (left), 31, and her boyfriend Leon Elton (right), 38, allegedly raided a shop burned out by bushfires and stole hundreds of dollars worth of electrical items in Batemans Bay on Wednesday Elton was charged with larceny, entering a building to commit an indictable offence and possessing a prohibited drug. Pobjie was charged with larceny and entering a building to commit an indictable offence. The pair were refused bail over the alleged offences at Wollongong Local Court on Saturday, according to The Daily Telegraph. Speaking to the Telegraph, Pobjie's brother James said: 'Kylie has made her own bed but she'll come good when she's ready. 'She's a lovely girl but she's lost her way at the moment.' A close friend of Elton told the publication that the plumber moved to Darwin and 'fell off of the rails'. When Elton returned to Tilba Tilba three years ago, he lost his home and his $70,000 land cruiser UTE, according to the friend. 'He (Elton) comes from good stock and is a really good person, but things have gone wrong for him recently,' he said. A close friend of Elton said he 'comes from good stock' but 'fell off the rails' three years ago. Pictured: Elton NSW Police deputy commissioner Gary Worboys said hundreds of officers were deployed on the NSW south coast to stamp out looting in the wake of the bushfires. 'If people want to steal, if people want to skulk around in the fire grounds and get up to mischief, we have a visible police presence and we have police in plain clothes and we have aircraft in the air that are looking over these grounds,' he told reporters on Saturday. 'It is quite clear that if people want to behave like that, they will be caught and they will be arrested. No one will tolerate it.' Elton and Pobjie are scheduled to appear at Batemans Bay Court on Monday. "For more than 100 years, we have issued stamps that celebrate the cultures of people who have come from around the world, reflecting the rich and multi-faceted heritage of America," said Luke Grossmann, the event's dedicating official and senior vice president, finance and strategy, U.S. Postal Service. "Ours is truly a world culture, and our stamps allow us to weave together the unique threads of our national tapestry." Joining Grossmann to dedicate the stamp was Hans Liang, mayor of Monterey Park, CA, who served as master of ceremonies. Lunar New Year is the most important holiday of the year for many Asian communities around the world. Across these varied cultures, many traditions exist for ringing in a new year of good luck and prosperity. In communities across the United States, people shop for food and other supplies, hang decorations and ceremoniously clean their homes and streets to welcome the year with a fresh start. The rat is the first of the 12 zodiac animal signs associated with the Chinese lunar calendar. Those born during the Year of the Rat may be seen as very clever, self-aware and highly social. The Year of the Rat begins Jan. 25, 2020, and ends Feb. 11, 2021. With blue as the predominant color said to be one of the lucky colors for individuals born during the Year of the Rat the rat mask in the stamp design incorporates elements with symbolic meaning. Several of the patterns were created with the style of Asian textiles and the circle in the center of the rat's head represents the new moon on which the Lunar New Year begins. A pop of the very lucky color red ties the design in with other common celebratory decorations. Art director Antonio Alcala designed the stamp with original artwork by Camille Chew. The Year of the Rat stamp is the first stamp in the third series of celebrating Lunar New Year. The first series ran from 1992 to 2005 and the second series from 2008 to 2019. The Year of the Rat stamp is being sold in panes of 20. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. Postal Products Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic , or at Post Office locations nationwide. Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1ounce price. A variety of stamps and collectibles also are available at ebay.com/stamps. Information on ordering first-day-of-issue postmarks and covers is at usps.com/shopstamps under "Collectors." The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. Please Note: For U.S. Postal Service media resources, including broadcast quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel, like us on Facebook and enjoy our Postal Posts blog. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com. National: Kim Hallums (O) 202-268-5780 (C) 202-803-1758 [email protected] Local: Evelina Ramirez (O) 510-671-4934 [email protected] usps.com/news SOURCE U.S. Postal Service Related Links http://www.usps.com By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Prominent Muslim organisations on Friday expressed concern over the grim situation in the country, particularly in BJP-ruled-states, over protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens. Demanding revocation of the CAA, the groups sought judicial inquiry into police excesses and compensation for victims of police firing during protests against the controversial citizenship law. The organisations, after a meeting, also voiced concerns over the proposed NRC and the National Population Registration, asserting that either NPR should be withdrawn or its additional clauses be removed. OPINION: Muslims, Constitution & the tricolour The meeting of Muslim organisations, held under the chairmanship of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, was attended by Darul Uloom Deoband vice -chancellor, representatives of Jamaat Islami Hind, Markazi Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadees, All India Milli Council, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, and prominent leaders from various parts of the country. The meeting took stock of the situation prevailing in the country and deliberated upon the CAA, while reviewing the ongoing movement and struggle against the controversial law in detail, a statement issued by the Jamiat said. ALSO READ: Union Minister Babul Supriyo threatens Muslim student on social media Resolutions were also passed at the meeting, including against the CAA, NPR and proposed NRC. The amended citizenship law is not only anti-Constitutional but it also violates the pluralistic character of the country. This law discriminates against people on the basis of their religion and directly contradicts fundamental rights enshrined in the Articles, 14, 15 and 21 in the Constitution, a resolution said. The CAA also contradicts the Preamble of the Constitution of India, it said. TUSTIN, Calif., Jan. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Logomark will be introducing The Dirty Cookie product line at the 2020 PPAI Expo in Las Vegas and will be serving the new edible cookie shots with beverages at the show. Americas favorite snack, milk and cookies, takes an interesting turn. The Dirty Cookies cookie shots are cookie cups lined with chocolate and are the size of traditional shot glasses. Logomarks Senior Vice President of Product Development, Maggie Wheeler says, The cookie shot is one of the most distinct and unique items Ive seen in the promotional products industry. Its a delicious and memorable addition to any corporate catered event, tradeshow hand-out or employee appreciation package, and can be personalized with your company logo printed on sugar paper. Shahira Marei, CEO of The Dirty Cookie, started her company from a personal aspiration to build a company that supports its community while offering a unique twist to traditional adult drinkware. She says, From the customization options we offer on our cookie shots to the creative freedom I give to my employees, I have worked hard to drive home the idea that anything is possible. With a company and brand built on personality, The Dirty Cookie has many well-known fans and clients including Greys Anatomy, The Clippers, Sugarfina, Netflix, Universal Studios, MGM, Infiniti and Neiman Marcus. Logomark is launching with two flavors, chocolate chip and cookies and cream. These cookie shots come in packs of 2, 6, and 12 and have a 3 week of shelf life in room temperature, and a 3-month shelf life when frozen. All cookies are made in Orange County, California and are shipped within 5 days of receiving an order to anywhere in the country. To learn more about Logomarks newest items, please visit logomark.com or follow Logomark on Facebook and Instagram. ABOUT LOGOMARK: Founded in 1993, Logomark is a premier supplier of personalized gift and promotional products for the North American and global advertising specialty market. The company is a certified member of the Quality Certification Alliance, ensuring standards that deliver the highest levels of product safety. Providing more than 3,000 top-quality products in diverse categories, Logomark persistently reinvents the promotional products industrys exceptional product selections, innovative solutions and unequaled customer support. Logomark offers a complete line of products, an easy-to-use mobile app, an award-winning website and is ranked 8th in product searches on the industry's leading search platform. For more information on the company's broad line of quality promotional products, please call 800-789-4438 or visit www.logomark.com . Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 11.01.2020 LISTEN The Independent Presidential Candidate in 2012 and 2016, Jacob Osei Yeboah has welcomed the move by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to compile a new voters register for the December polls. According to him, the woeful delay in Ghana Identification Card registration by the National Identification Authority (NIA) would be difficult for the Electoral Commission to conduct credible elections in December hence the EC has to rely on a more certain means of credible, smooth and efficient elections. The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) has stated that the Electoral Commission cannot compile a new voter register without Ghanaians first obtaining their Ghana Card, which is being issued by the National Identification Authority (NIA) across the region. Meanwhile, The Electoral Commission in response has rejected calls for it to depend on the Database of the National Identification Authority (NIA) in the quest to compile a new voters register for the December polls. According to the Commission, the NIA has no timelines in its data compilation exercise making it impossible for the EC to resort to their system since they have timelines to their work. In a statement copied to thepressradio.com , Jacob Osei Yeboah popularly, called JOY 2012 stated that all Ghanaians who yearn for peaceful elections will support the call of the EC for a new Biometric Voter Management System. The security and certainty biometrics bring to the process cannot be denied. BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT EC BIOMETRIC REGISTER JUSTIFIED, BUT PERCEIVED PRESIDENCYS INFLUENCE CAST DOUBTS Indeed, all Ghanaians who yearn for peaceful elections will support the call of the EC for a new Biometric Voter Management System. The security and certainty biometrics bring to the process cannot be denied. The call by the EC follows from the woeful delay in implementation of the National Identification System by the NIA . This left the EC with no choice but to rely on a more certain means of credible, smooth and efficient election 2020; the Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS) New BVR Justifications The Supreme Court in 2015 ruled that there should be a cleaning of the voters register. Nevertheless, the tedious CI94 process of cleansing the register made it unable for the EC to clean the over 650,000 deceased Ghanaians in the register. Currently, the dead by extrapolation might be 910,000 in 2020 . Jacob Osei Yeboah, Independent Presidential Candidate (2012 & 2016), took the EC to court to insist on the cleaning before the 2016 elections. His fears were confirmed after it was revealed that Charlotte Osei had internal quarrels with her deputies on related subject matter with perceived creation of ghost Polling Stations. A new BVR will surely minimise the temptation and improve the credibility. Apart from the issue of dead people in the BVR, the EC had also taken steps to improve the electoral process. The EC had shared with IPAC members, a documentation that sought to expatiate on the ECs plan to have total ownership and control of BVR. This is because our current system has foreign influence coupled with high maintenance costs, vendor lock-in controls etc. Unarguably the key reason for the need for the new BVR is because the current TTfingerprint data/ Biometric Template is stored in a format which cannot be recovered to the original fingerprints images of voters. This means that the EC cannot process the fingerprint data in any other hardware or software apart from that of the old vendor, STL. The data is therefore useless without STL software or hardware. Jean Mensah deserves applause for the forward-thinking vision to undertake this new BVR exercise. This will enable fingerprint data captured to be saved in a format that can be easily accessed and converted to an internationally accepted format known as Wavelet Scalar Quantization (WSQ). This format can enable the fingerprint image meet Personal Identification Verification (PIV) worldwide standard. The New BVR will give the EC competitive edge in negotiations for the services of vendors and more importantly her own IT personnel to undertake maintenance at comparatively lower cost to the nation. In a recent presentation by one of the Vendors for the New BVMS, IDEMIA GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, with successful implementation in India, Ivory Coast and other Africa countries demonstrated how the verification could be done simply and voters could even be directed to the right Polling Station for voting. With our current system, a voter has to be manually verified in the Paper Register, the BVD then scan their QR code before they can be verified for voting at that Polling Station. Also, in case of a Voter being at the wrong Polling Station, it is impossible to direct to the right Polling Station to cast his/her vote. The Way forward for New BVR Implementation The EC as a matter of urgency should outline the implementation timetable and how all stakeholders especially the Independent Aspirants and Political Parties can assist in successful implementation. It is important that a seamless procedure be adopted for those who are already in the old BVR to use their Voter ID as verification and justification to get their new fingerprint image to be stored in the WSQ format. The exercise should also include all those who have turned 18 years and more importantly those who will turn 18 years as at 7th December, 2020 to have the opportunity to also exercise their voting rights. Why NDC and other Political Parties are Apprehensive The NDC and other political parties are apprehensive not because they believe the EC is not capable of organising this new registration. But because of the seemingly undue influence the Presidency has on the EC. A recent example is when the Presidency is perceived to have clandestinely influence the EC to withhold the release of a report on the inspection of Political Party offices; a report which is a constitutional requirement of Article 55 (7) and Political Parties Law Act 574. Since 26th March of 2019, this report has still not been released, when the Daily Graphic reported the deployment of Inspection Team and logistics by EC. We therefore, call on all stakeholders to urge the EC to release the said report ASAP, so we can all get to know more about our Political Parties. Sovereign Duty Call to All Stakeholders I call upon all well-meaning and peace-loving Ghanaians to support the Jean Mensah led EC to achieve this landmark. The National House of Chiefs, the Religious community, the media and all responsible CSOs should be part of the solution in implementing the new BVR. The Independent Candidates Association of Ghana (ICAG) fully support the EC and are hopeful that the Faith-based Community would participate in the new BVR exercise. We also anticipate that for the first time, the Christians and Muslims will sponsor Polling Agents to participate in the 2020 elections so as to serve as peacemakers to help with the coalition of results. God bless our homeland Ghana. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Arunachal Pradesh has 65,875 Chakmas and Hajongs but only 5,097 of them have voting rights, the states BJP government said on Wednesday. The figures emerged after a survey by deputy commissioners of Changlang, Namsai and Papum Pare districts in 2015-16. According to another survey held in 2012, Chakma and Hajong population was stated to be 54,203. The Chakmas are predominantly Buddhists while the Hajongs are largely Hindus. They were among the earliest persecuted groups to have fled the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and arrived in India during 1964-69. In Arunachal, they are settled at Changlang and Papum Pare districts. They are also found in Tripura and Mizoram.Chief Minister Pema Khandu has informed the Assembly that the matter of citizenship for Chakmas and Hajongs was sub-judice. He said the state government had submitted a special leave petition in the apex court on September 14, 2016 which was accepted. Rights activist Suhas Chakma asserted the debate reflected xenophobia against Chakmas and Hajongs. Even though thousands were settled by the government in then NEFA (Arunachal and parts of Northeast) along with the Chakmas and Hajongs to boost security following the 1962 India-China War, only our issue is raised while the rest continue to enjoy all rights as citizens. Contrary to Khandus claim, Suhas claimed that the matter of the Chakmas and Hajongs was not sub-judice as the SC had dismissed the review petition filed with respect to the case of NHRC Vs State of Arunachal Pradesh. A high-level committee, set up by the Home Ministry to suggest ways for providing constitutional safeguards to the indigenous people of Assam, will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday. Sources said a four-member delegation of the committee, headed by Justice (Retd) Biplab Kumar Sharma, will meet the home minister and is expected to brief him about the progress of its work. The meeting will take place three days after Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met the home minister and discussed with him various aspects of the Assam Accord's Clause 6, under which the central government had promised to provide constitutional safeguards to the indigenous people. The committee is said to have completed its deliberations and discussions with various stakeholders in Assam and is expected to submit its report soon, may be within a month, the sources said. The committee with more than a dozen members was set up as per the Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord. According to its terms and conditions, "The committee will assess the appropriate level of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for the Assamese people". "The committee will recommend the appropriate level of reservations in employment under the government of Assam for the Assamese people," according to a home ministry notification. The meeting will be held amidst widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Assam. It bears significance as there's been a growing feeling among the indigenous people of Assam that the newly enacted legislation will hurt their interests both politically, culturally as well as socially. The Assam Accord provides for detection and deportation of all illegal immigrants, who have entered the country after 1971 and living in the state, irrespective of their religion. According to CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. The protesters in Assam said that the CAA violates the provisions of Assam Accord. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ms. Pelosis decision to withhold the articles of impeachment in an unsuccessful effort to extract assurances from Senate leadership about the terms of the trial has delayed the appointment of the so-called impeachment managers, raising the stakes and compressing the timetable of their already challenging task. It is a job that veterans say is fraught with legal complexity, political pressure and historic significance. I really dont want to give them any advice, Mr. Sensenbrenner said in an interview. But I guess I can say is that this is going to be a lot more work than you think. The American people, he added, are going to be watching. The pivotal role of the managers is one reason that Ms. Pelosi has waited to send the charges to the Senate. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, said this week that he had the votes to move forward with an impeachment trial without committing to calling witnesses or hearing new evidence. Without knowing whether there will be witnesses to question or new complex documents to digest, the speaker cannot decide what kind of lawmakers are best suited to the task. People close to Ms. Pelosi say it is all but certain that one of the managers will be Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, a former federal prosecutor who oversees the Intelligence Committee and led the investigation into Mr. Trumps dealings with Ukraine. Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee that approved the two articles of impeachment against the president that the House passed last month, is also widely expected to be a leader of the group. But for now, final decisions on the rest of the team remain unresolved. Bangladesh's Deputy Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam has cancelled his visit to India to speak at an event in New Delhi as it coincided with the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's UAE trip, the foreign office here said on Saturday, rejecting as "misleading" some media reports citing other reasons for cancellation of the visit. Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Alam was invited to speak at the Indian External Affairs Ministry-backed Raisina Dialogue to be held from January 14-16. The annual dialogue offers a platform for discussion on global issues and is attended by foreign ministers, diplomats and experts. "The (Bangladesh foreign) Ministry would like to convey that State Minister Md Shahriar Alam was invited as a speaker at the Raisina Dialogue which coincides with his visit to UAE to accompany the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina," the foreign ministry said "As such State Minister Alam could not avail the participation," it said in a statement. Dhaka has sent a regret letter to Overseas Research Foundation (ORF), the organiser of the event in collaboration with India's Ministry of External Affairs, it said. "It may be noted that there was no bilateral engagement scheduled during the (Delhi) visit. The inability of his participation has no other connection," the statement said. The foreign ministry described as "misleading" some media reports in India citing other reasons for Alam's non-participation. The cancellation of Alam's visit comes just a month after two Bangladeshi ministers - Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan - cancelled their scheduled trips to India. Momen was scheduled to join the ministerial keynote session of Delhi Dialogue and Indian Ocean Dialogue in December and was to meet his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar. The cancellation came a day after Momen termed as "untrue" Home Minister Amit Shah's comments on persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Both Bangladesh and India at that time, however, maintained that the visit was called off as Momen had to take part in two important national events. Home Minister Khan also cancelled his private visit to Meghalaya reportedly due to disturbances over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). 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. Bangladesh was also learnt to have been upset following roll out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam around four months ago even though India conveyed to it that the issue was an internal matter of the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had taken up the issue of NRC with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral meeting in New York in September. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Working Committee on Saturday demanded that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act should be withdrawn and the process of NPR be stopped forthwith, as it accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government of using its brute majority to impose a "divisive and discriminatory" agenda. IMAGE: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi at the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo The Congress top brass meeting, chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi, deliberated upon the social, economic and political challenges confronting the country after which it passed a resolution on "suppression of the voice of youth and the students of India". "The Modi government has unleashed the entire might of the brute state power to suppress, subjugate and stifle the voice of the youth and students across the country. The prime minister and the BJP government have betrayed the trust of the youth," the resolution stated. Almost every institution in the country -- Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia University , Banaras Hindu University, Allahabad University, Aligarh Muslim University, and many others have seen massive protests, it noted. The CWC expresses its solidarity with the youth and the students in their fight for defending the Constitution, standing for independent and creative learning and aspiring for employment-linked education at a minimal expense, the resolution said. IMAGE: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party leader Jyotiradiya Scindia and others during the CWC meet. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo Apart from Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, top party leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, A K Antony, K C Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jyotiraditya Scindia were among those present. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was not present at the meeting. The Congress also released a statement on the four main issues that were discussed -- the CAA, NRC, NPR and students protests; the state of the economy; the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir; and the US-Iran tensions. "The CWC demands that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act should be withdrawn and the process of NPR be stopped forthwith," a party statement said. The CWC calls upon the government to reveal its roadmap for reviving the economy, investors' confidence and job creation, it said. The party's top decision-making body also called for lifting of curbs and restoration of civil liberties in Jammu and Kashmir. It also expressed deep concerns over the recent developments in the Gulf region where tensions have spiralled between the US and Iran over the killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. It's official: Murray State becomes member of Missouri Valley Conference The aftershocks of last months general election continue to make themselves felt, and the latest is that Northern Ireland will this afternoon see the restoration of devolved government at Stormont. Julian Smith and Simon Coveney have both urged the local parties to endorse a newly-published deal titled New Decade, New Approach, which aims to try and resolve the disputes which have seen the Province go without a local legislature for almost three years. If you had to summarise the package you could do worse than this: DUP overcompensated with pork as price for legitimising Irish Language in any form. In essence the Government has offered a big financial bung to try and help the Democratic Unionists sell what is effectively a climb-down on the prospect of Irish language legislation. Whilst there wont technically be a stand-alone act and the DUP will now try and convince everyone that this technicality was the crucial point, for some reason there will be a commissioner and other official organs to promote, and police, the use of the language. It will also gain official status. Owen Polley neatly sums up the problem, writing of unionist concerns that a language commission will generate endless demands, impose costly legal obligations on public bodies and promote divisive policies around signage aimed at eroding Northern Irelands sense of being part of the UK. They need only look at Wales, where the use of language requirements in things like public sector recruitment has effectively created nationalist fiefdoms. Given that the DUPs base has already torpedoed one previous deal, it is not yet certain that Arlene Foster and the rest of the party leadership will be able to make this stick, no matter how desperate they are for Stormonts return now they have lost their leverage at Westminster. But the deal is not just problematic from the perspective of an Ulster Unionist. It also, as Patrick Maguire has noted, cuts across two important elements of the Governments strategy. A pledge to swiftly implement various legacy proposals, for example, completely undercuts Johnny Mercer on the subject of historical prosecutions of ex-servicemen. Another pledge to ensure Northern Irish businesses have unfettered access to the British internal market, on the other hand, is if anything even more problematic. The Prime Minister only recently, and controversially, abandoned his previous commitment to keeping the Province fully-aligned to the mainland. If that remains the case, the only way businesses based in Ulster could simultaneously have frictionless access to the British market is through a high-alignment Brexit, i.e. exactly the sort of UK-wide backstop that Theresa May tried, in vain, to sell to Boris Johnson. (Of course, a cynic might argue that such a high-alignment Brexit is probably the easiest one to sort out if your overriding political priority is getting a deal without extending the transition period) Has the Cabinet really grasped the implications of the New Decade, New Approach plan for its wider strategy? Or is it the product of a silo in the Northern Irish Office? A long-standing concern amongst Unionists is that the NIO is, fundamentally, not on their side. More than one has put to me that there is no British counterpart to the Dublin, which is viewed as being a solid partisan for nationalism. The form of todays announcement a joint statement with the Irish Government, despite the latter having no formal role in governing the Province will no more assuage these concerns than the content. They also cite the Departments extraordinary willingness to allow part of the United Kingdom to go for several years without proper democratic oversight rather than grasping the nettle of introducing direct rule, even temporarily. Polley writes of relief at the prospect of even a flawed Stormont deal, but much of that relief stems from the fact that both James Brokenshire and Karen Bradley preferred to leave crucial decisions unmade than shoulder the responsibility for making them. Bradley in particular regularly exploited provisions intended for emergencies to circumvent Commons scrutiny even of the minimal legislation she did pass. Smiths deal might have got Stormont back on its feet, at least for a little while. But its governance provisions are weak, and its implications for broader policy troubling. If the Government is serious about the Union with Northern Ireland and at the minute that is an if then Johnson will need fresh thinking and a much bolder, more pro-active approach to supporting British interests in the Province. A Secretary of State prepared to challenge, rather than champion, the institutional attitudes of the NIO would be a good place to start. For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers. CHARLESTON Was the shooting death of Mark A. Currie on May 17 at Sunrise Apartments in Mattoon premeditated murder or self-defense? Jurors heard these opposing arguments from the prosecution and the defense Friday afternoon at the close of a five day trial before beginning their deliberations on first-degree murder charges against Keith McGrew, 26, regarding the death of Currie. The jury was still deliberating and had not reached a verdict as of early Friday evening. Coles County State's Attorney Jesse Danley began his closing arguments by noting that McGrew, a Chicago resident who had been visiting his girlfriend at Sunrise Apartments, has admitted to fatally shooting Currie, 29, during the early morning hours of May 17. Danley said McGrew's defense has included that he was using cocaine at the time and that he had feared being sexually assaulted by Currie. "Voluntarily intoxicating yourself does not alleviate you from responsibility," Danley said of the purported cocaine use. Danley contended that McGrew had become enraged by sexual advances that Currie reportedly made to him earlier and he later brought a loaded revolver to Currie's apartment with the intention of killing him. Danley said McGrew fired three shots into Currie, including a fatal one through his heart, before the revolver misfired. Danley contended that McGrew, in a rage, would have continued firing more shots if he could have. "(McGrew) went back to end this man's life," Danley said to the jurors. "I am asking you to hold him accountable." Assistant Public Defender Stephanie Corum countered that the approximately 145-pound and 5-foot, 7-inch tall McGrew had reason to fear Currie, who outweighed him by more than 100 pounds and stood a few inches taller than him. She noted that McGrew referred to Currie as "big as hell" and may have felt he had a history of violence. Corum said while the prosecution says there is no evidence that the two men grappled with each other in Currie's apartment, she feels that signs of a disturbance are visible in the crime scene photos. Corum also said that Currie may have tried to take the revolver away from McGrew and used it against him. "(McGrew) didn't shoot to kill. He shot to get away," Corum said, adding that Currie may have been trying to keep McGrew from leaving the apartment. Chief Assistant State's Attorney Jenifer Schiavone countered that McGrew's girlfriend reported that he was in a rage before going to Currie's apartment. She said McGrew told police that he was going to get cocaine from Currie. However, she said no drugs were found there by investigators. Police testified that such drugs were available from others in Sunrise Apartments, and McGrew later told them he already had cocaine. Schiavone said McGrew later claimed to have thrown Currie onto Currie's couch when they grappled, but there were no signs of disturbance to the couch. She noted that there was another exit door that McGrew could have used. She said McGrew also later told police that he had to "defend his manhood" by shooting Currie. She said defending one's "manhood" is not a valid argument for self-defense. Contact Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Three Phillipsburg residents were the victims of a carjacking/robbery, when a gunman got into their SUV while stopped at a red light outside Allentown, according to Pennsylvania State Police. No one was reported physically injured in the incident last Nov. 20 in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, state police at Bethlehem said in a news release Friday. The three residents, two men ages 58 and 20 and a 14-year-old girl, were in a Nissan Armada stopped about 10:45 p.m. on Airport Road at Lloyd Street when an unidentified man entered the vehicle and pointed a gun at them, police report. The gunman directed the driver to turn off Airport Road onto a back road. The victim refused and began honking his horn and swerving around the road until the gunman exited the vehicle and ran off. He was picked up by a black Nissan Sentra with a Pennsylvania license plate, police said. Investigators ask anyone with information on the incident to call police at 610-861-2026. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan, alongside Staten Island leaders Rep. Max Rose and District Attorney Michael McMahon, called on Albany Saturday to make quick fixes to the new bail reform law to stop the release of those accused of being major drug dealers peddling heroin and deadly fentanyl. Are we concerned about bail reform in the narcotics area? Absolutely, said Brennan at a press conference at McMahons office. There is one seldom used offense in which you can get bail now in New York, its called major trafficker, and you would think that would encompass all the major traffickers, but it doesnt. Cash bail was scrapped on Jan. 1 for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, including most drug offenses, in the state of New York. The reforms were passed as part of the state budget in April. McMahon and Brennan have been vocal critics of the law, warning that prosecutors will only be able to seek bail and detention for a just a handful of drug defendants specifically charged with operating as a major trafficker. Even before the law took effect, Brennan said courts released more than 100 high-level narcotics defendants her office identified. Brennan recalled a case where her office seized 50 pounds of heroin and fentanyl in the Bronx and arrested four alleged traffickers in the bust. However, she said her office was only able to indict one as a major trafficker and the three other accused were able to walk free because of the new law. Brennan cautioned that large scale drug dealers are well aware of the new bail reform law too. These are not low-level offenders and as we know from so many these are also not nonviolent offenders, she continued. Our own governor must take the reins on this and understand that a mistake was made, changes must be made or time after time we will be seizing large supplies of drugs only to see another 50 pounds [of deadly drugs] come back again -- and why wouldnt it when there are no consequences? Their plea to Albany comes as moderate Democrats in Albany including state Sen. Diane Savino are trying to make changes to the states controversial bail reform law by pushing forward legislation that would allow judges to have more discretion to determine whether a criminal defendant should be held in custody or be required to post bail or bond as a condition of pretrial release. Brennan urged lawmakers to adopt that legislation. The bail reform impacts on pursuing major drug dealers came on the heels of a bill from Rose that puts sanctions on opioid traffickers with a focus on those from China and Mexico. We certainly stand here today urging the state to make critical changes to this recent bail reform law so that we can use the full apparatus of the state to arrest those who are trying to push these horrendous drugs onto our streets, Rose said. McMahon said that preliminary numbers from his office found that there were 76 fatal overdoses in 2019, with 61% caused by fentanyl. Fentanyl continues to be a driving force behind the majority of fatal overdoses we have seen on Staten Island and it is essential that all levels of government join together and do everything in our power to eliminate this deadly substance from our streets. While we have made serious progress in combating the opioid epidemic both by holding drug dealers accountable with significant prison sentences and expanding treatment services for those suffering from substance abuse disorder there is no doubt that fentanyl is still killing our loved ones every day, McMahon said. In the coming days, McMahons office plans to launch a public awareness campaign about the new bail reform law to inform the public about how it will affect public safety. He is also urging constituents to ask the governor and state Legislature to make changes to the laws. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. Twitter users are currently reacting to viral videos from a get together organised by youths in Ogun state . The videos has definitely caused a social media meltdown as they show young men and women engaging in sexual activities at the party dubbed #OgunTwitterHangout. In one of the trending videos, a man could be seen caressing a ladys derriere but her facial expression showed she was uncomfortable with the act and even though, she kept removing the mans hands, he seemed reluctant to let go. Another video shows a lady rocking a boy at the party. See the reactions below: https://twitter.com/officialsweetch/status/1216064591265980417?s=19 When I thought every one in Ogun state had gone back to school.Then I open Twitter and see #OgunTwitterHangout pic.twitter.com/rtHQ1lAdhz Stewie (@StewieDave) January 11, 2020 https://twitter.com/UncleMohamz/status/1216068826678337537?s=19 https://twitter.com/YomYom_/status/1216065914162098176?s=19 Bengaluru, Jan 11 : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has curbed a Bengaluru-based private bank from doing business with immediate effect for alleged irregularities in transactions, an official said on Saturday. "Sri Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank in Bengaluru shall not, without prior approval of the RBI in writing, grant or renew loans and advances, make investment, borrow funds or accept fresh deposits from January 10, 2020," the RBI said in a directive, which has been accessed by IANS. The central bank's Chief General Manager Yogesh Dayal issued the directive under Sections 35A and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, from Mumbai. The RBI, however, allowed the bank's savings and current account customers and depositors to withdraw cash up to Rs 35,000 only till further notice. "The private bank will also not disburse payment whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise, enter into compromise or arrangement and sell, transfer or otherwise dispose its properties or assets except, as instructed on January 2, 2020," said the directive. "The bank will, however, continue to undertake business with restrictions till its financial position improves," said an official, citing the directive. The regulator clarified that its directive should not be construed as cancellation of the bank's license issued by it. "The directive shall remain in force for six months from January 10 and is subject to review," added the official. In 2006, Google bought YouTube for more than $1 billion, Apple was preparing to announce the first iPhone, and the American housing bubble began to deflate. Claire Stapleton, then a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, faced the same question over and over: What did she plan to do with that English degree? She flirted, noncommittally, with Teach for America. Then, a Google recruiter came to campus and, Ms. Stapleton said, she won American Idol. The company flew her out to Mountain View, Calif., which felt to her like the promised land 15 cafeterias, beach volleyball courts, Zumba classes, haircuts and laundry on-site. But for Ms. Stapleton, now 34, the real appeal in a job at Google was what seemed to be a perfect balance of working for income and according to ones conscience. Naturally, she said yes to an offer in the corporate communications department. There was this ambient glow of being part of a company that was changing the world, Ms. Stapleton said. I was totally googly-eyed about it. His mother, with whom he lived after his grandmothers death, brought home a flier for Per Scholas, a nonprofit organization that offers free technology job training to people with low incomes. Per Scholas referred Mr. Jones to the Community Service Society of New York, one of the seven organizations supported by The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund. The society provided him with an unlimited MetroCard for two months. Mr. Jones excelled at Per Scholas, graduating in 2015 and earning a pair of certifications for various operating systems that allowed him to apply for I.T. positions. However, the next steps were not easy. Mr. Joness grandfather died later that year, and he had to sign up for food stamps until he could earn a steady paycheck. In fall 2015, he landed a paid position integrating the computer systems of two New York real estate companies. He then worked as an intern at Praxis Housing Initiatives, a Manhattan-based organization that provides transitional housing to homeless people who are mentally ill or have H.I.V. or AIDS. Mr. Jones then accepted contract positions with the School Construction Authority, which is responsible for the building and maintenance of New York Citys public schools, and Standard & Poors, the global credit ratings agency. Then, in May 2016, Open Systems Technologies, a staffing firm that provides recruiting services to financial and technology companies, screened Mr. Jones and selected him to interview for a temporary position with Christian Louboutin, best known for its tall, expensive, red-soled high heels. Mr. Jones was told he was being hired as a system analyst on a three-month contract. Christian Louboutin was not sure whether the job would turn into a full-time position, so it extended his contract until November 2016. It has been the subject of much heated debate in Kanturk and in the hallowed halls of Cork County Council for many years. Now it would appear there is at last some light at the end of the tunnel for the town's long-awaited new national school after local councillor John Paul O'Shea (FG) confirmed work is finally set to start on the project this year. Cllr O'Shea said he has received written confirmation from the Minister for State at the Office of Public Works, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, that the tendering process for the school, which formally commenced last August, will close on Friday, February 7. While a proposal to amalgamate St Colman's Boys NS and the Convent of Mercy NS into a single complex was first mooted by the Department of Education as far back as 2001, a planning application for a 24-classroom school on the 2.3-hectare greenfield site at the Mill Road was not lodged with Cork County Council until 2012. The following year, much to the disappointment of locals, the proposal hit a major stumbling block after it was refused planning permission over concerns regarding vehicular and pedestrian access, and the potential for flooding at the site. In February 2015 a new application for a 16-classroom school on the site was lodged with the authority and given the green light the following November with 26 conditions, one of them relating to the construction of a road and/or footpath linking the site with Upper Bluepool. The OPW, in their capacity as agents for the Department of Education, lodged an appeal against the condition claiming it was "unreasonable and unenforceable". "The applicant does not consider this condition to be appropriate as it refers to lands outside the control of the applicant and where the co-operation of a third party is required," they wrote. In late 2016 Cork County Council subsequently agreed to provide a budget for the purchase of lands for a link road to Bluepool Upper and the upgrading of the storm sewer near the entrance to Market Place/Strand Street paving the way for the school. However, since then the lack of progress on the project has caused much frustration locally, resulting in much heated debate at council level over the timetable for the project. Cllr O'Shea said he was confident that rapid progress will be made on the project and a contractor appointed within a matter of weeks. "It has been a long time coming but there is finally good news on the horizon for the primary school students of Kanturk, their parents and staff. The tendering process will move swiftly as pre-qualification for tenders has already occurred," said Cllr O'Shea. "It is my hope that we see construction works commence on-site before the summer, with the build phase expected to take 14 to 18 months to complete," he added. To the Editor: The need for geriatricians and geriatrics training (Science Times, Jan. 7) is becoming increasingly urgent. Yet most medical schools still lack a required geriatrics rotation, despite national guidelines calling for more rigorous training of future physicians. To address this gap, at Harvard Medical School, we have launched an Aging and End of Life curricular theme that integrates these important aspects of caring for older adults throughout the medical school experience. The updated curriculum includes a home visit to an elder individual living in the community, and mock clinical exams in which the patient-actor ages between visits. Ongoing federal and philanthropic support of such efforts is critical to ensure that doctors-in-training graduate prepared to deliver the evidence-based, compassionate and individualized care that older patients deserve. Chinese automaker Geely's subsidiary London EV Company (LEVC) brought the electric version of its iconic black cabs to Tokyo on Friday, aiming to help promote green public transportation in Japan. According to LEVC's introduction, the latest TX model is powered by an electric engine and has a total range of about 600 km. Of these, more than 100 km are actually covered electrically, for the remainder of the range, an internal combustion engine recharges the battery. Following the iconic look of London cabs, the LEVC's electric taxi has a large square intake grille, a wide, square-shaped body and a side-by-side door for passengers to get on and off easily. The front passenger seat of the vehicle is used as luggage compartment, while the rear seat can accommodate up to five passengers. Meanwhile, its high accessibility are convenient for passengers using wheelchairs. The vehicle will be sold at a price of 11.2 million yen (102,180 U.S. dollars) in Japan, which can be lowered to 7.56 million yen (68, 972 U.S. dollars) by a subsidy offered by Tokyo's local government. According to LEVC, equipped with wifi and charging port, the vehicle can also be used in high-end business reception and welfare. Japan has a large taxi market, said LEVC's chief executive officer Joerg Hoffman, adding that the company has set its sales target in the first year at 100 vehicles. LEVC is an established automobile manufacturer with nearly 70 years of professional taxi production experience, which enjoys a high reputation in Europe. In 2013, it became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Geely group. Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will address the 2020 Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, India next week. The Dialogue is Indias flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics. In her speech, the Secretary-General will highlight the need for multilateral responses to navigate the most pressing issues facing the global community. She will focus on how women can lead the way in tackling the complex and interconnected challenges of the 21st century. Secretary-General Scotland said: India holds a valued place in the modern Commonwealth, with her government, people and institutions contributing in practical and imaginative ways to collaboration among our 53 member countries. Secretary-General Scotland said: India holds a valued place in the modern Commonwealth, with her government, people and institutions contributing in practical and imaginative ways to collaboration among our 53 member countries. This includes generous financial support and strong commitment to the promotion of the rule of law, development and democracy in our member countries, in accordance with the values and principles of our Commonwealth Charter. During my time in India, I shall be working with representatives of government and other agencies to build closer strategic partnership and to discuss how we can support our membership more closely on areas such as gender equality, climate change, trade and ocean governance. This visit will reaffirm the continuing vibrancy and immense potential offered through Indias networks of connection with the wider Commonwealth, and also capitalise on the dynamic platform of the Raisina Dialogue to discuss issues of strategic importance and interest to the Commonwealth family as a whole. During the visit, the Secretary-General will meet with government officials, high commissioners and representatives of the international community in New Delhi. The fifth Raisina Dialogue, taking place 14-16 January 2020, is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of India. Note: All media (press and broadcast) wanting to interview the Secretary-General either in person or remotely are requested to enquire in writing to [email protected] Kabir Khan Reveals Shah Rukh Khan Did Not Charge A Penny For His Voice-Over In Forgotten Army: Azaadi Ke Liye! PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-11 02:13:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 310 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2020 / International Millennium Mining Corp. (TSXV:IMI) (the "Company" or "IMMC") and Phoenix Capital Enterprises Ltd. ("Phoenix") have agreed to terminate their agreement to complete a business combination and reverse takeover transaction (the "Transaction"), which would have resulted in IMMC acquiring all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Tengri Coal and Energy Pte. Limited in exchange for newly issued common shares of IMMC. The Transaction was originally announced by the Company in its news release dated August 31, 2018.Trading of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") was halted in accordance with the policies of the Exchange, pending completion of the Transaction. IMMC will file an application with the Exchange to request that trading of its common shares be resumed.International Millennium Mining Corp. (TSX-V: IMI) is focused on the exploration and development of its Silver Peak silver-gold project in southwest Nevada. The Company's common shares trade on the Exchange under the symbol: IMI.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"John A. Versfelt"John A. VersfeltPresident and CEOFurther information about the Company can be found on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com) or by contacting Mr. John Versfelt, President & CEO of the Company at 604-5278135.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, potential mineral recovery processes and other business transactions timing. 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.SOURCE: International Millennium Mining Corp. Protestors participate in a demonstration against Citizenship (Amendment) Act and NRC at Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi. PTI photo New Delhi/Bengaluru: Days after Anas Hussain was killed in his hometown of Nehtaur in northern India during an anti-government protest last month, an online crowdfunding campaign raised 1 million rupees (nearly $14,000) to help his family. Many lawyers are offering their services free of charge - pro bono - to have detained protesters released and help the families of victims. Shanu Khan, a 15-year-old in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal town, was detained by police while he was returning home from tuition on Dec. 19, his father Afzal Khan said. For four days we didnt know his whereabouts, said Khan, who has since learned that his son is lodged in jail in another city accused of involvement in violence that had broken out in the area that day. Khans family, and those of four other young men, have since received a notice demanding 245,000 rupees ($3,430) for alleged damage to public property. Where will we get the money? Were barely scraping by, said Afzal Khan, a day labourer. M.A. Farooqui, who along with other lawyers in the area has been working pro bono to help some of the detainees, including Shanu Khan, calls the property seizure notices illegal. Theres no provision in the law that allows the government to claim damages from people whose crimes have not been proven, said Farooqui. Anas Tanvir, a Supreme Court lawyer who has been working with other lawyers and law students to provide legal aid to victims and detainees, said he had never before seen such a need for immediate legal intervention. Organisations like ours only succeed if the state fails, he said. Elsewhere, students have coalesced to form networks of support groups and lists of useful contacts to help protesters with everything from trauma to mental distress. All students in cities that have been actively dissenting have a list of lawyers, doctors, counsellors and media that they are keeping handy, said Teresa Braggs, a communication studies student in Bengaluru. These small things are helpful. The US Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA) eased the ban on American airlines flying over the Iranian and Iraqi airspaces as well the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The American aviation regulator has now permitted American airlines to fly in and out of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, Muscat, and Sharjah. Meanwhile, the aviation authorities in India are closely monitoring the scenario and are expected to soon resume the routes between India and the West as they were before Wednesday. The DGCA had asked all the Indian airlines to "reroute their flights (from affected airspaces) to ensure complete safety of passengers". This announcement came after the USFAA prohibited their airlines to fly over the Gulf region and Iranian and Iraqi airspaces. Also read: Iran-US conflict: DGCA asks Indian airlines to avoid Iranian airspace, remain vigilant Since these announcements by the American and Indian aviation regulators, Indian and many other international airlines are steering clear of the airspace of Iran. According to sources, the Indian airlines could continue flying there in a day or two's time if the US-Iran conflict does not escalate further. The FAA released another notice to its airmen or Notam on Friday stating that US flights could fly to select airports in the region. The Tehran airspace is still out of bounds for the American carriers. The FAA Notam read, "(American airlines) are prohibited from operating in the overwater airspace above The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, except... operations conducted into and out of the airports (in) Bahrain, Emirates, and Muscat flight information regions (FIR) are permitted... For operations conducted into and out of Bahrain, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Muscat, operators must be on a published instrument procedure or under the direction of air traffic control, minimize overwater operations yo the maximum extent possible, and are prohibited from entering the Tehran FIR". Post the release of the FAA Notam on Wednesday, Air India had stopped its flights between India and the west in the Iranian airspace. The flying time from Delhi to Air India's western locations has spiked by 20 minutes whereas, from Mumbai and southern cities, this time has increased by 40 minutes. According to sources, the relations between India and Iran are friendly. The Iranian airspace is being avoided completely as of now as a precautionary measure post the FAA's Notam. 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. Integrative healing benefits everyone because it calms the senses and nourishes at so many levels. The integrative healing power of Ayurveda offers simple and effective ways to alleviate the suffering that too often accompanies cancer, says American integrative psychiatrist Dr. Judith E. Pentz, who will speak Jan. 12 at the Psychiatric Aspects of Cancer Management conference at the Psychiatric Society in Nagpur, India. For many years, Pentzs research on her forthcoming book, Cleanse Your Body, Reveal Your Soul (Mango Publishing, Spring 2020) has brought her to Nagpur in search of ways to break past the limits of allopathic medicine, especially in mental health. With the support of Sunil Joshi, M.D. (Ayu), who leads the Vinayak Panchakarma Chikitsalaya clinic in Nagpur, Pentz says, she has found Ayurveda to be the most balancing, complete medical approach in maintaining and returning to a level of well-being. Now Pentz will share ways that Ayurveda can improve quality of life for cancer patients. The conference, which is presented in association with Vidarbha Psychiatric Association Academy of Medical Sciences, brings together psychiatrists and other physicians treating patients with cancer. In the United States, Pentz leads a program in the department of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico that educates psychiatric trainees in the University of Arizonas integrative medicine module. The opportunity to present this work to psychiatrists in India has tremendous implications for palliative care, as well as preventive well-being. Basic nutritional changes can quickly improve the quality of a persons life, she says. Integrative healing benefits everyone because it calms the senses and nourishes at so many levels." Pentz first met conference host Dr. Vivek Kirpekar, a psychiatrist in Nagpur, in 2011 when she shared her approaches to applying Ayurveda to nutritional choices for mental health patients. In Cleanse Your Body, Reveal Your Soul, Pentz tells about her search to find a healing for her psychiatric clients that couldnt be found in mainstream practices. There must be a better way, she thought, and so she traveled to India for an ancient ayurvedic cleansepanchakarmaand found more than healing practices for her clients. She found a way to return to her soul. Her story is woven through this practical, accessible book that invites readers to participate in transformative ways to heal what they thought could never be healed. The experience changed me at the cellular level, she says. That is why the changes it brings are powerful, deep and sustainable. FOR INTERVIEWS Dr. Judith Pentz is available for interviews on: Palliative support for cancer patients through Ayurveda Sustainable wellness through the ayurvedic practice of panchakarma Simple, practical daily habits of self-care Self-care for the caregiver Integrative practices such as nutritional support and mind/body/spirit techniques About Cleanse Your Body, Reveal Your Soul Coming Spring 2020 from Mango Publishing. https://mango.bz/ Cleanse Your Body, Reveal Your Soul offers a practical map for creating sustainable life changes that promote well-being. Written by American integrative psychiatrist Dr. Judith Pentz, Cleanse Your Body, Reveal Your Soul provides not only the tools and practices of the Ayurvedait provides a compassionate yet compelling path that bridges Western and Eastern audiences. So many of us yearn to say with authority that we have been able to expand into being much more present in our lives, to experience our lives through new eyesthis book takes you there, Pentz says. FOR PRE-ORDERS OF CLEANSE YOUR BODY, REVEAL YOUR SOUL Go to http://www.drpentz.com to be added to a mailing list, and youll be the first to know! Los Angeles County confirmed it was the target of a phishing attack last month, which staff detected and contained before it exposed any county resident data.According to a statement emailed totoday from the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office, the county detected malware activity on Dec. 19 from a phishing email a scam that aims to steal a recipients personal information by getting them to click on a link or attachment. The phishing email came from a third party whose account and distribution list had been compromised by an unidentified attacker, and it was sent to more than two dozen county employees.L.A. County the most populous in the nation has more than 40,000 personal computers, 13,000 mobile phones and 800 network locations for its government, according to its website. The Internal Services Department also supports the Countywide Integrated Radio System, which ensures critical services in an emergency.The countys emailed statement said the phishing attack did not impact county services.Due to the countys quick response and established security controls, a more serious incident was averted, said Bill Kehoe, Los Angeles County Chief Information Officer, in the statement. However, as with all cyber-related incidents, the county will take immediate action to improve the overall security posture of the county.The statement added that Los Angeles County is still investigating the incident with help from private security partners.These attacks are not uncommon in local government, and this was not Los Angeles County's first phishing incident in recent years. In March 2019 , a phishing email targeting a Minnesota-based research company that contracts with the L.A. County Department of Health Services led to the exposure of medical information of more than 14,000 patients. In May 2016 , a phishing attack directed at more than 100 Los Angeles County employees led to the exposure of Social Security numbers, names, dates of birth, payment card numbers and other personal information of about 756,000 people who had done business with county departments. Our national aim must be to create a highly industrialised, prosperous country and a just social order in which our people get decent lives and enjoy a high standard of living. But to achieve that we have to wage a mighty historical struggle, make tremendous sacrifices and pass through terrible times. A curse shall light upon the limbs of men; Domestic fury and fierce civil strife shall cumber all the parts of Italy; Blood and destruction shall be so in use and dreadful objects so familiar That mothers shall but smile when they behold their infants quarter'd with the hands of war; All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, with Ate by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war; That this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for burial. Julius Caesar: Act 3 Scene 1 India is passing through turbulent times. The above speech made by Mark Antony before Caesar's body in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar portents the days to come in India. I do not wish to frighten anyone or sound alarmist, but it is time someone told Indians the truth: terrible times are coming in this country. The anti CAA agitation and the attack by masked vandals on JNU students and teachers, which has raised such a furore, is only a small omen. A revolution is coming in India, as I have said several times, but it will not be an easy or pleasant affair. And one wishes our historical transition (from feudal to industrial society) could be achieved without violence and pain, but that is unfortunately not how history functions. We are passing through a transitional period in our history, from feudal agricultural society to a modern industrial society. Do historical transitions take place easily or quickly ? No, they are terrible things, full of turbulence, turmoil, wars, revolutions, chaos, social churning, intellectual ferment, etc as a study of European history from the 16th to the 19th centuries (when Europe was passing through its transition from feudal to modern society) shows. For what is a historical transition ? It is a period in history when the old social order is being uprooted and torn apart. Can this happen peacefully ? No, the vested interests in the old social order will fiercely resist the transition, for they will feel their interests jeopardised. Only after going through this fire did modern society emerge in Europe. Our national aim must be to create a highly industrialised, prosperous country and a just social order in which our people get decent lives and enjoy a high standard of living. But to achieve that we have to wage a mighty historical struggle, make tremendous sacrifices and pass through terrible times. But there are powerful vested interests, both external and internal, which do not want India to industrialise and modernise. These vested interests will fiercely resist any change. They want India to remain backward and semi-feudal and maintain the status quo, and not become another China (as the Indian economy will become a powerful rival to their own economies). The vast majority of our people are still casteist, communal and superstitious, and fall easy prey to the wicked designs of the vested interests who polarise our society on caste and communal lines. Of late, after 2014, communal polarisation has increased exponentially. Muslims are often lynched, attacked, humiliated and discriminated against. Dalits are looked down upon and often attacked. Half our children are malnourished, and healthcare is largely non existent for our masses. Honour killings, female foeticide, dowry deaths, farmers suicides, etc are commonplace in our society. There are people whose actions tend to disrupt the unity of the country, like those who spread religious or caste hatred, propagate the son of the soil theory or discriminate against North East people. The Indian economy is in slide, and the business atmosphere is gloomy. Manufacturing and sales have dipped steeply. Unemployment is at a record high. Prices of foodstuffs and fuel have soared. The government, despite talk of vikas has offered no solutions for these real problems. Rather, we are presented with projects like Ram Mandir, Yoga Day, cow protection, CAA and so on. Also, it must have a scapegoat who must be blamed for all social ills, and these are our Muslims, who are painted as fanatics, terrorists and anti nationals or Pakistanis. Historical experience has shown that when there is an economic crisis fascist forces arise, as it happened in Italy in 1922 and in Germany in 1933. The same tendency can be seen today in India ; for instance, the attack by masked hooligans in JNU or beating of Muslims by cow vigilantes. The interests of our politicians are diametrically opposite to the national interest. The aim of our politicians is only to win elections, and for that they have to polarise society by spreading caste and communal hatred, and rely on divisive vote bank politics. Casteism and communalism are feudal forces, and our national interest demands destruction of feudal forces and spreading of scientific thinking to every nook and corner of the country, but parliamentary democracy further entrenches casteism and communalism, because it largely runs on it. It has therefore to be replaced by an alternative system which ensures our progress. Our national aim must be to transform and uplift India from the ranks of the underdeveloped countries to the ranks of the developed, highly industrialised countries. But to do that requires a mighty upheaval, a united historical people's struggle over several years (maybe several decades) led by genuinely patriotic, selfless, modern minded leaders, and tremendous sacrifices by the people. The author is a former judge, Supreme Court of India Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday demanded an immediate report on the suicide bombing at a Quetta mosque during Friday prayers that killed at least 16 people and left 19 others injured in the restive Balochistan province, terming the incident as a condemnable "cowardly terrorist attack". The Islamic State terror group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide bomb blast inside the mosque in Quetta's Satellite Town area. The terror group, in the claim posted on the IS Pakistan Telegram Channel and in messages to some foreign wire services, said it has carried out the attack targeting some Afghan Taliban member. Taliban spokesman, Qari Muhammad Yousuf, denied that any Afghan Taliban member was present inside the mosque. The suicide blast -- which took place at a time when about 60 people were offering sunset (Maghrib) prayers -- killed 16 people and left 19 others injured, Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said in a late night statement. The deadly blast came three days after a bomb explosion claimed two lives in Quetta. Reacting to the incident, President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the blast and expressed grief over the loss of lives and prayed for the peace of the departed souls and early recovery of those injured. Prime Minister Khan demanded a report. "I have demanded an immediate report on the condemnable cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta targeting a mosque & people at prayers. Have asked prov govt to ensure all medical facilities are provided to the injured. Martyred DSP Haji Amanullah was a brave & exemplary officer," he said on Twitter. Khan said the best possible treatment would be given to the injured. The nature of the explosion, which occurred inside the mosque during Maghrib prayers in Ghousabad neighbourhood, was not known. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amanullah was among the 16 people killed in the incident, Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema said. According to some media reports, the slain police officer was the likely target. Last month, unidentified gunmen killed the DSP's son in Quetta, The Express Tribune reported. Twenty others were also injured in the blast, the report said. The mosque, which is located in a densely-populated Pashtun-majority area, was being searched by the bomb disposal squad and security personnel. TV footage showed debris and shattered glass spread on the floor of the mosque. Pakistan military's media wing ISPR said that troops of the Frontier Corp (FC) Balochistan reached the site and carried out joint search operation with the police. "Every possible assistance be given to police & civil administration. Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim," the ISPR quoted army chief General Qamar Bajwa as saying. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan condemned the incident and expressed grief at the loss of lives. Reacting to the incident, Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove condemned it, saying "terrorists were scared of Pakistan's development". "Internal and external enemies are making failed efforts to create panic and unrest in the country," he said in a statement. He said that "defeated terrorists will never be allowed to succeed". Talking about the casualties in the incident, Langove said the death toll might rise as condition of some of the injured was critical after they were shifted to the Civil Hospital for treatment. The blast occurred three days after two men were killed and over a dozen injured in a blast near a vehicle of the security forces in Quetta. In May last year, a bomb blast at a mosque in the provincial capital Quetta killed two people, including a prayer leader and injured 28 others. In August, an explosion took place inside a mosque during Friday prayers in the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dramatic images have emerged showing what remains of an airbase in Iraq after it was targeted by Iran, as it's revealed US soldiers were warned two-and-a-half hours in advance that the area was going to be hit by missiles. Officers told CNN on Saturday that most American soldiers were either flown out of the al-Asad base by 11pm on Tuesday local time or were sheltering in bunkers - waiting until the missiles fell at around 1.30am on Wednesday. The Iranian missile strike lasted about two hours. According to CNN, the only area of the base that was targeted was where American soldiers were concentrated. Missiles landed just a few feet from the bunkers, and officers told CNN it was a miracle that there were no casualties. The Pentagon said Iran had launched 16 short-range ballistic missiles, at least 11 of which hit Iraq's al-Asad air base and one that hit a facility in Erbil but caused no major damage. Images show the extent of the damage done to the al-Asad base in Iraq on Wednesday Iran fired ballistic missiles at the area of the base which housed US soldiers early Wednesday morning Several US soldiers are seen above inspecting the damage done by the missile strike at the base US officials said on Thursday that they were tipped off by a European embassy that an Iranian missile attack on the base was imminent. The Iranians prepared for the missile strikes on two Iraqi airbases housing American troops by intentionally making sure U.S. intelligence could detect the plans via satellites and eavesdropping, the officials told TIME magazine. Intelligence managed to pick up the threat of strikes nearly three hours before they actually took place, according to the US officials. One official said the hours-long warning enabled a US military officer to visit one of the bases in Iraq and warn them of when and where the missiles were expected to strike. The revelations are in stark contrast to remarks made by the top US military officer on Wednesday just hours after President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested Iran was 'standing down. Army General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said earlier that Iran's missile attack intended to kill US personnel at Iraq's al-Asad airbase. A satellite image (above) of the al-Asad base after Iran's missile attack showing the damage caused to the site after Iran launched ballistic missiles US officials say they had three hours warning of the Iranian missile strikes after Iran tipped them off about the attacks via a European embassy His remarks suggested that Iran was, and perhaps still is, willing to risk major US retaliation. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had earlier revealed that Iran had given him a tip-off about the missile strikes, which they were able to pass on and give troops time to seek shelter in bunkers. Mahdi said Iran did not give specific locations to him but said they would only target locations where US forces were present. As the missiles were raining down, Mahdi said he received a call from Washington to say they already knew of the assault. Trump on Wednesday tempered days of angry rhetoric and suggested Iran was 'standing down' - as both sides looked to defuse a crisis over the US killing of a top Iranian general. Trump said the United States did not necessarily have to hit back after Iran's attack on military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq, itself an act of retaliation for the January 3 US strike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. 'The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it. American strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent,' Trump said. Trump on Wednesday tempered days of angry rhetoric and suggested Iran was 'standing down' - as both sides looked to defuse a crisis over the US killing of a top Iranian general 'Our great American forces are prepared for anything. Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world,' he said. The US imposed more sanctions on Iran on Friday in retaliation for its missile attack and vowed to tighten the economic screws if Tehran continued 'terrorist' acts or pursued a nuclear bomb. The targets of the sanctions included Iran's manufacturing, mining and textile sectors as well as senior Iranian officials who Washington said were involved in the January 8 attack on military bases housing US troops. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressing a gathering of Iranians chanting 'Death to America,' said the missile attacks were a 'slap on the face' of the United States and said US troops should leave the region. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said the strikes 'concluded' Tehran's response to the killing of Soleimani, who built up Iran's network of proxy armies across the Middle East. He was buried in his hometown, Kerman, after days of national mourning. 'We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression,' Zarif wrote on Twitter. Asked if perhaps Iran would see this as an incomplete mission, given the lack of U.S. fatalities, General Milley said: 'I think it's perhaps too early to tell.' Milley said he and others in the military 'fully expect' Shia militia groups in Iraq, backed by Iran, to carry out attacks against US and US-led forces in Iraq and Syria: 'That's a very real possibility.' Iraqi security forces clear away pieces of shrapnel from the al-Asad airbase on Wednesday after it was struck by ballistic missiles fired by Iran as part of operation 'Martyr Soleimani' Wreckage of a missile that was fired at al-Asad military base in western Iraq but failed to explode on impact Defense Secretary Mark Esper, standing alongside Milley, cautioned that the US military remained 'poised and ready.' Milley and Esper offered the most detail to date about the Iranian missile attack overnight, telling reporters at the Pentagon that Iran fired 16 short-range ballistic missiles from at least three locations inside Iran. At least 11 of them hit al-Asad, while at least one other missile hit a facility in Erbil, Iraq. The others failed in flight. Esper said targets hit included tents, a helicopter and a parking lot and there was no major damage. Milley noted the missiles had 1,000 to 2,000-pound warheads on them, each with significant explosive power and 'kill radius.' 'I believe, based on what I saw and what I know, is that (the strikes) were intended to cause structural damage, destroy vehicles and equipment and aircraft and to kill personnel. That's my own personal assessment,' Milley said. 'But the analytics is in the hands of professional intelligence analysts. So they're looking at that.' Milley and Esper said actions taken by military personnel safeguarded lives, as well as early warning from U.S. military systems that detect such missile activity. Milley noted that bases like al-Asad have scatter plans, bunkers and protective gear to help protect forces that come under attack. Esper and Milley said they were unaware of any heads-up from Iraq about the coming attack, after Baghdad said it was notified by Tehran of the strike. 'We tried to give them a quick heads-up from here,' Esper said. 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 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The net website hosting services your specialist in order to those to create their unique internet page to choose from by a World Wide Web. 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He said investigators worked with financial institutions, and confirmed there hasn't been any activity on Petrovic's accounts since Dec. 24. Submitted by RCMP "Our investigators have worked closely with financial institutions to confirm that there's been no activity since Dec. 24, 2019 on Sladjana's [bank] account," Laporte said. The Yellowknife RCMP have asked for help from their counterparts in Edmonton, Calgary and northern Alberta but, so far, that too has not turned up any clues. No evidence of foul play, Laporte says Police describe Petrovic as white, 5'7" tall and 257 lbs with a heavy build, shoulder-length grey and brown hair and blue eyes. She is believed to be wearing the same clothes in the photo a dark blue jacket, red or pink shirt, dark pants and running shoes, states the update. Police have no evidence indicating foul play may be involved in Petrovic's disappearance, Laporte said. "Any pieces of information relating to Sladjana leading up to her disappearance any conversations, any observations, anything at this point would be of value to the investigators," said Laporte. Police said their investigation has been supported by police dog services, Yellowknife Ground Search and Rescue, and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association. Story continues Submitted by Northwest Territories RCMP "Our partners ... have continued the search in spite of challenging weather conditions," states a news release sent Friday afternoon. Police said they directed a helicopter to search from the air around Tin Can Hill on Tuesday, after receiving information from a resident. Nothing resulted from those searches, they said. It is working with the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains to put a file on the canadamissing.ca website. Police say the investigation into Petrovic's disappearance continues. Britains ambassador to Iran has been arrested in Tehran during protests outside a university, the UK Foreign office has said. Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, said the arrest of Rob Macaire was a flagrant violation of international law. He was detained for more than an hour before being released, the Iranian Tasnim news agency reported. He is said to have been one of a number of individuals held on suspicion of organising, provoking and directing radical actions. In a statement, Mr Raab said: The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law. 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 Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment. It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards. In a tweet Tasnim news an organisation with links to Irans Islamic revolutionary guard, said he had been detained for organizing suspicious movements and protests in front of Amir Kabir University but released after hours. The tweet added he would be summoned by the foreign ministry tomorrow morning. It is understood that Mr Macaire had been attending what had been billed as a vigil for the victims of the crash. Rob Macaire (Instagram/@UKinIran) However the event quickly turned into a demonstration, at which point Mr Macaire left. It was as he was returning to the British embassy that he was arrested although it is not clear who he was held by. Following a number of urgent calls to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was eventually released and allowed to return to the embassy. Additional reporting by Reuters. Tokyo, Jan 11 : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday left Tokyo for a five-day trip to the Middle East, aiming to help ease tensions in a key region for Japan. During his visit, Abe will hold talks with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, according to Japanese officials, Xinhua reported. These countries are seen by Japan as important players in stabilising the situation in the region. "Based on the friendly relations Japan has built with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman, I will call on the leaders to seek stability in the region through talks and rational measures," said Abe. The visit precedes Tokyo's dispatch of Maritime Self-Defence Forces (MSDF) personnel and hardware to the region to conduct "information-gathering" operations. The MSDF's operational areas include the Gulf of Oman and part of the Arabian Sea. Abe said he wants to explain and garner support from the three countries for the dispatch to the region since it is vital to ensure the safety of Japanese commercial ships operating there. The Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Japan on Wednesday. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat will visit Bareilly next week to deliver a lecture on "the future of India" at Rohilkhand University. K C Gupta, an RSS office bearer, on Saturday told reporter that Bhagwat would visit Rohilakhand University here on January 18 to deliver a lecture on the future of India and the RSS' views on it. Bhagwat would be on a two-day visit to Bareilly, said Gupta, adding he would also address a public meeting here on January 19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Queen said her thoughts and prayers are with those who died in the crash (PA) The Queen has sent a message of condolence to the Governor-General of Canada following the Ukrainian International Airlines disaster. Iran has admitted unintentionally shooting down the aircraft which crashed near Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. There were 57 Canadians killed, with the oldest born in 1945 and the youngest born in 2018. Philip and I have been deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life following the crash of the Ukrainian Airlines aircraft in Iran. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Canada, which has suffered such a devastating loss, The Queen. (1/2) The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) January 11, 2020 The majority of the victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians, while at least four are believed to be British nationals. In her message to Governor-General Julie Payette, the Queen said: Philip and I have been deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life following the crash of the Ukrainian Airlines aircraft in Iran. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Canada, which has suffered such a devastating loss. I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all those Canadians, and indeed other nationalities, who died, and to the many others who have been affected by this terrible event. The Prince of Wales has sent a message of condolence to the Governor-General of Canada, following the recent plane crash in Iran. pic.twitter.com/9Z2SobzGJ4 The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) January 11, 2020 The Prince of Wales also sent a message to the Governor-General, writing: My wife and I were utterly horrified by the appalling disaster in Iran in which so many Canadian citizens lost their lives so tragically. We can only begin to imagine the heart-rending anguish of the families and friends of those who were killed in this catastrophe. However hopelessly inadequate it may be, we particularly wanted you to know just how much our hearts go out to all those whose grief must be unbearable. British citizens Sam Zokaei, Saeed Tahmasebi Khademasadi and Mohammad Reza Kadkhoda Zadeh were identified as among the dead. Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752 from Tehran to Kyiv came down on Wednesday, hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq in revenge for the killing its top military commander, General Qassem Soleimani. The position of Governor-General is considered the oldest public office in Canada, and dates back to colonial times when monarchs appointed governors to act as their intermediaries in state affairs. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter of India and not an issue in Indo-Russia relations, Russian envoy to India Nikolay Kudashev has said. Kudashev said he did not receive any invitation to be part of the group of 15 envoys, including the US ambassador to India, that visited the Kashmir valley on Thursday where they interacted with select political representatives, civil society members as well as the military top brass. "I have never seen an official invitation to be part of this team. This was not a private journey My colleagues (other envoys) got the invitation. It was their sovereign decision to travel. If I have one (an invitation), I would consider it," he told reporters. "Quite frankly, we believe that the situation there (Kashmir) is strictly an internal matter of India. Russian diplomacy is not in the habit of commenting on internal developments of our friendly partners. If anyone (who) has any questions on Kashmir can travel there we do not have any questions," he added. The visit by the envoys was the second one of a foreign delegation to Jammu and Kashmir since August 5. Earlier, Delhi-based think tank International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies took 23 EU MPs on a two-day visit to assess the situation in the union territory. Asked about the S-400 air defense systems deal between Russia and India and the US stance on it, he said Russia truly appreciates India's position as far as the S-400 deal is concerned. "India's commitment is there to implement it and to continue it. As far as we are concerned, there are no issues with us," Kudashev said. He also said the delivery of the first batch of missiles will come by the end of this year or early 2021. "There are no issues on the payments. No complaint as far as I can understand. The contract is being implemented safely," he added. His remarks come days after a senior US official said the Trump administration does not want to degrade India's defence capabilities. The official asserted that there will be a case-by-case analysis on where punitive measures under the CAATSA could be applied on countries buying significant military equipment from Russia. India and Russia signed the USD 5 billion S-400 air defence system deal in October 2018, after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Responding to a question on implications of India going ahead with its decision to purchase S-400 missile defence system from Russia, the official had said: "I know India has expressed valid concerns... they don't want to have a sustainment line completely shut down... That's the last thing we want to do with a significant partner. We don't want to degrade their defence capabilities". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Saturday asserted that the conduct of the 1.3 million-strong Army will be guided by its "allegiance" to the Constitution and its core values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, comments which came in the backdrop of criticism that the military was politicised under his predecessor. Gen Naravane, addressing a press conference on the eve of the Army Day, also said that a "rebalancing" of the overall preparedness along the border with China has been initiated and a raft of measures are being taken including moving advanced weapon systems. Talking about his overall focus as chief of the Army, Gen Naravane said it will be 'ABC' -- "allegiance, belief and consolidation", noting that protecting the core values of the Constitution will remain the driving force of his personnel. "We swear allegiance to the Constitution of India. Be it officers or jawans, we have taken oath to protect the Constitution and that is what should guide us in all time and all our actions," the Army Chief said. "What it translates into is also the core values which are enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution which are justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. That is what we are fighting for," he said. "We are deployed on the border safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is to secure for our people these core values. And, I think, that is what we and I would like to say that we need to keep in mind," he added. Gen Naravane took charge as Army Chief on December 31, succeeding Gen Bipin Rawat. In his three-year tenure as Army Chief, Gen Rawat faced allegations of not remaining politically neutral and allowing politicisation of the Army. Last month, he triggered a huge row after he publicly criticised people leading protests over the new citizenship law, saying leadership is not about guiding masses to carry out arson and violence across the country. He was slammed by opposition parties as well as former military officers who stressed that the armed forces must follow the decades-old principle of serving the country and not any political force. Gen Naravane also said that his other focus areas would be 'ITPQ' -- which he explained as Integration, Training Personnel and Quality. He said integration of purposes within the Army and with the two other forces would be a key area for him. "The formation of the Chief of Defence Staff and the creation of a department of military affairs is a very big step towards integration. We on our part will make sure that this is a success," the Army chief said. "Integration will also be within the Army and the integrated battle group is just one example of that. But I also want to assure everyone that in this process of integration, we will take everyone along. Nobody will be left behind," he said The Army Chief said the focus of training will be on preparing the Army for future wars which he said will be network-centric and complex. He said the personnel were the "greatest strength" in the Army, adding "quality and not quantity will be the mantra, be it the selection of personnel or equipment." "We are in a transformative stage and all the transformation that we are doing, we will have to consolidate upon them. We will have to carry forward the initiatives and policies set by my predecessor and make sure that all of them reach a logical conclusion," the Army Chief said. "Of course somewhere along the way, there will be mid-course correction," he said. On Siachen, Gen Naravane said Indian forces should not lose sight as there could be collusion between China and Pakistan. "We need to hold on to it. This can take place at any level, but Siachen and Sakshgam Valley are the places where the territory of these two countries meets." Asked whether the Army was ready to free PoK from Pakistan's control, the Army Chief referred to a parliamentary resolution of 1994, and said his force was ready to follow orders. "As far as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is concerned, many years ago there was a parliamentary resolution on it that entire J and K is part of India. If Parliament wants that area should also belong to us, if we get orders to that effect, then definitely we will take action on it," Gen Naravane said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of San Franciscos last all-girls Catholic high schools announced Friday it will close its doors at the end of this school year amid financial distress. Mercy High School, a college preparatory school founded in 1952, will shut down in June. It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of Mercy High School, an independent Catholic school sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy for the last 68 years, said Sister Carolyn Krohn, head of the school. The school is working with parents, other Catholic schools and public school districts to place its current and potential students. Students may be able to transfer to Mercy High School in Burlingame. Classes and activities will continue like normal in the next few months, according to the school, and the welfare of our students is of the greatest importance. Decreasing enrollment, lack of significant endowment and rising operating expenses made it impossible for the institution to remain financially stable, Krohn said. Many families could no longer afford tuition on top of the rising cost of living in San Francisco. We had so hoped that we would find a solution to Mercys challenges, but unfortunately, even with the multiple strategies we have explored, it is just not possible, Krohn said. The school was founded when James ODowd, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, requested the Sisters of Mercy to provide a school for Catholic girls in the Sunset, Lakeside and Parkmerced districts of the city. The school building was completed in 1954, and in 1956, its first graduating class of 173 seniors received diplomas. 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. More than 11,000 women have graduated from the school. We want to wholeheartedly thank our dedicated teachers, staff and sisters, past and present, who have exhibited dedication, and compassion while assisting young women in their dreams of a Mercy education, Krohn said. Anna Bauman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @abauman2 The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates. China's President Xi Jinping refers to the Belt and Road Initiative, aka the New Silk Road, as the "Project of the Century," and according to a recent Bloomberg article, Morgan Stanley anticipates Chinese investments will total $1.3 trillion by 2027. In addition, more than 150 countries and international organizations have committed to invest in the project as well with infrastructure enhancements, such as roadways and power plants. But will this New Silk Road ever really compete with the firmly established Maritime Silk Road? Bernhard Simon, chief executive officer of the German freight forwarder DACHSER. (Photo credit: Dachser) Over the past few years, the more I hear and read about the New Silk Road, the more grand the expectations. Politically speaking, the trade corridors between China and Europe, as well as Africa, seem to be China's key to becoming a leading global power in the 21st century. Logistically speaking, it would seem that infrastructures and networks are emerging on an entirely new scale, taking a gigantic economic area often described as representing 60% of the world's population and 35% of the global economy to the next level. The New Silk Road could be a kind of high-speed internet for the transport of physical goods. As with most narratives, it is worth taking a critical look at the facts. I would like to do this now for certain logistical aspects of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as the New Silk Road is officially known. First, let's consider the overland connection between China and Europe: the possibility of bringing Chinese consumer goods to us on the east-west route via rail. This transcontinental route was not the brainchild of China's President Xi Jinping, who made the BRI a national doctrine in 2013. In fact, goods have been rolling along the Trans-Siberian route from China to Europe since 1973 (with some interruptions due to the Cold War). Today, there are two routes out of northern China, which head via Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia to terminal stations such as Duisburg's Inner Harbor or Hamburg. China's western region, home to the megacity of Chongqing and its 30 million people, is also connected to the northern routes. This route allows cargo from the west to no longer need to be transported the many miles to China's coasts. Story continues High Costs Of Rail Freight Vs. Ocean Freight How significant are these rail links for logistics between Asia and Europe? In 2017, 2,400 trains moved about 145,000 standard containers between China and Central Europe. This corresponds roughly to the cargo of seven large container ships. The International Union of Railways (UIC) expects this to grow to 670,000 standard containers equivalent to 33 container ships in 10 years' time. Despite this forecast growth, the existing rail links between China and Europe are likely to remain logistical mini-niches. Steve Saxon, a logistics expert from the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. in Shanghai, summarizes it nicely: "Compared to sea freight, the volume of goods transported to Europe overland will always remain small." This is primarily a matter of cost. Transporting a standard container between Shanghai and Duisburg by rail costs between $4,500 and $6,700; compare that to the cost of sending a similar container from Shanghai to Hamburg by ship, currently around $1,700. This difference is simply too great for the railway transport to be truly competitive against ocean transport, even though they move the cargo at about twice the speed. Efficiency improvements will not have a big enough impact to shift from ocean transport to rail. Another factor is that at the moment, China heavily subsidizes these international rail connections. Once that support ends in 2021, competitiveness will erode further. It is not clear whether rail transport will be self-sustaining without subsidies. Also, in most cases, anyone needing a shipment quickly and flexibly typically sends it via airfreight, even if this option costs around 80% more than via railway. Thus, freight transport by rail is and will remain caught between economic (by ocean) and fast (by air). Would Adding More Train Routes Change The Situation? China is planning an additional railway line in its southern region, which will move cargo to Europe via Central Asian countries, as well as Iran and Turkey, bypassing Russia entirely. Indeed, a railway line has connected China with Iran since 2018. This route is, geographically speaking, very similar to the "old" Silk Road, a trade route for camel caravans that crossed Central Asia on its way to the eastern Mediterranean. If this railway line is completed one day, it will raise a number of questions from a European perspective: How can safety, punctuality and reliability be guaranteed? How can delays caused by customs clearance be minimized? What effect will international sanctions have, for example, on transit through Iran? How can the misuse of containers for smuggling immigrants be avoided? In other words, many issues need to be addressed before a railway corridor south of Russia can be established. There are two more routes in China's BRI strategy. One is in Southeast Asia: a 2,400-mile railway line from Kunming to Singapore plus a branch to Calcutta. The other is a rail line that starts in China's far west, then runs through Pakistan to the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea. Crossing over various passes in Central Asia, this technically challenging project is expected to cost $62 billion. However, both routes have only a very indirect connection to freight traffic between China and Europe. So the situation will remain much the same into the future some 90% of world trade will go by ship. Rail transport via the New Silk Road will not change this. If all this freight suddenly started rolling along the Silk Road, the route would be like an endless conveyor belt loop the idea is completely absurd. And What About The Maritime Silk Road? More important than Eurasian railway routes is the so-called Maritime Silk Road, i.e., the transport of cargo from China to Europe by sea. As soon as Portuguese sailors opened up China for trade by sea in 1514, the old Silk Road began to fade from memory. Today, more than 50% of global trade takes place on the Maritime Silk Road between China/East Asia and Europe. The world's largest container ports are on this route: Shanghai, Singapore, Shenzhen, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Busan and Hong Kong. The development of the Maritime Silk Road needed no Chinese master plan; logistics infrastructure arises wherever corresponding investments pay off. China has numerous plans for these established shipping routes, including port expansions. Its shareholdings in around 80 port companies including Piraeus and more recently Genoa and Trieste support its plans and ensure investments. Why should we take issue with China for pursuing these goals leveraging its position as a leading global economic power? It is not the first country to promote its economic interests with direct investments and financing. Europe, too, should pursue a strategy of developing an enhanced infrastructure to transport freight to and from China/Southeast Asia in order to ensure a reciprocal exchange. And China's plan to step up use of the maritime corridor through the Suez Canal, which shortens transport between China and Central Europe by at least four days compared with the route around Africa, is reasonable and less complicated. The Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps completed the Suez Canal in 1869 with precisely this goal in mind. Conclusion Nobody denies that the diverse projects of the New Silk Road hold great economic potential; that they would improve the network of connections between Asia and Europe; and that Beijing has a geopolitical interest in pursuing them. China is creating an enhanced infrastructure that will benefit all participants in the global economy. Nevertheless, it would be advisable to evaluate the logistical opportunities with the necessary dose of reality. I would caution against being dazzled by the beautiful visions and the fascinating narrative as it could cloud your vision and lead to using poor judgment and making risky investments. Image Sourced from Pixabay 0 See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Husband of Mob Wives star arrested in connection with massive N.J. THC bust Officials arrested the husband of Staten Island Mob Wives star Drita DAvanzo in connection to a major drug bust that took place in New Jersey, the Monmouth County (N.J.) Prosecutor's Office announced. Lee DAvanzo, 52, was arrested and charged in connection to Operation on the Ropes, a year-long investigation that busted a total of 24 people in a ring that allegedly distributed marijuana and infused THC into popular candies, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said. Click here for the story. Don't Edit S.I. man whacked two traffic agents with pipe over parking ticket, police say A Staten Island man allegedly struck two city traffic agents with a pipe Tuesday morning in Manhattan, as they were writing him a ticket. Michael Didonato, 52, of the 200 block of Bedell Avenue, Tottenville, faces charges of felony assault and weapon possession, according to an NYPD spokesman. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Ransacked! Video shows bandits door-smashing raid of Forest Ave. bagel shop A masked bandit was captured on video ransacking a bagel shop early Monday in West Brighton. The heist occurred around 1:35 a.m. at Forest Avenue Bagels at 1180 Forest Ave., according to the owner, who declined to have his name published. It makes me think hes been here before because he knew exactly where to go...and what to look for, the owner said. Click here for the story. Don't Edit 3 men allegedly stole refrigerator from home Three men were caught red-handed stealing a refrigerator from a home in Stapleton, authorities allege. Brittany Williams, 33, of Park Avenue in Port Richmond, Christopher Hertman, 35, of Holland Avenue in Mariners Harbor, and Felix Taveras, 36, of Hamilton Street in Stapleton, entered a home on Gordon Street at about 9:25 a.m. last week, according to police and the criminal complaint. Click here for the story. Don't Edit South Shore crime spree? Cops probe reports of 2 burglary attempts, 1 assault Police are investigating reports of two brazen attempts by groups of people to break into homes mere steps and hours apart in Greenridge on Tuesday morning. A man also reported to police that he was beaten by a group of people several blocks away in a parking lot near the Eltingville Transit Center on Tuesday morning. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Don't Edit Questions that remain in unsolved murders In a year where 13 people were killed on Staten Island from a mob-boss murder to the remains of a beloved teacher discovered at a storage facility five homicides remain unsolved. The unresolved murders, which, according to police, remain open and active investigations, come after a 2018 in which all 10 homicides resulted in charges being filed against an alleged perpetrator. Here are the questions that remain in the 2019 cases. Don't Edit Man, 24, accused of September stabbing in Mariners Harbor 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 a.m. in the Arlington Terrace Apartments, according to police and the criminal complaint. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Man, 22, allegedly nabbed with fake $100 bill during raid A 22-year-old man allegedly was caught with funny money during a raid of his home in West Brighton. Officers armed with a search warrant found a counterfeit $100 bill in the bedroom of Peter Rodriguez of Doe Place, according to the criminal complaint and police. The bill was a forged instrument that lacked a valid serial number, the complaint says. Click here for the story. Don't Edit NYPD seeks woman for questioning in connection with citywide YMCA grand larceny spree The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in identifying a woman sought for questioning in connection with a grand larceny spree that spans across Staten Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan. In 13 separate instances, police say an unidentified woman entered a YMCA womens locker room including one incident at the Staten Island Broadway location in West Brighton and snatched belongings including jewelry, cash and cell phones, according to a written statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Hate symbols found on Staten Island Ferry A pair of intended hate symbols were discovered Monday night on the Guy V. Molinari Staten Island Ferry. The SS bolts, which are classified as a hate symbol by the Anti Defamation League (ADL), are seen aside a reversed-swastika, which is sometimes called a sauwastika, in the mens bathroom of the ferry. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Don't Edit How IDs loom as key point in case against man who allegedly raped, killed woman, 69 One friend knew accused killer Linden Beaton as London Ace. Another one-time housemate knew him simply by his first name, Linden. More importantly to prosecutors, both witnesses identified Beaton as the man seen in a photo walking on Van Duzer Street in Stapleton near an abandoned home on the day when authorities believe a 69-year-old woman was slain inside. On Tuesday, a justice commenced a pretrial hearing in state Supreme Court, St. George, to determine whether police properly obtained those witness identifications of Beaton. Click here for the story. Don't Edit No youthful offender status for teen in ferry terminal stabbing; gets 4 years A 17-year-old boy has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a melee at the St. George Ferry Terminal last year in which two victims were beaten and stabbed. Cyhiem Baldwin was arrested one day after the harrowing March 14 episode. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Police raid South Shore home in connection to domestic violence allegations Police stormed an Arden Heights home last Thursday morning in connection with an alleged assault at the same address five days earlier. Philip Fera, 29, is accused of grabbing a 25-year-old female by the neck and dragged her across the floor inside the home on Presentation Circle, according to an NYPD spokeswoman. Inside the home, police seized a Kung Fu star, an air rifle and .22-caliber ammunition, in addition to a small amount of marijuana and a pipe, the NYPD spokeswoman said. Click here for the story. The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for authorising the presidential jet to chauffeur his daughter, Hanan, to an event in Bauchi state. The opposition party described the development as a direct abuse of his office and completely improper. In a statement on Saturday, the PDP asked the president to apologise to Nigerians who look up to him in terms of integrity, uprightness and respect for rules. The statement read partly thus: Presidential Jet: The PDP states that President Buhari directly abused his office and exhibited the worst form of corruption by detailing the officially restricted Presidential jet to chauffeur his daughter, Hanan, reportedly, for her private photography event in Bauchi state. The party describes the action as provocative, condemnable, completely improper and an unpardonable slap on the sensibility of millions of Nigerians, particularly, the youths, who look up to Mr. President for integrity, uprightness and respect for rules. Read Also: DSS Arrests Man For Using Phone Line Previously Used By Buharis Daughter The PDP holds that the development is a strong pointer to the recklessness that pervades the Buhari Presidency and the indefensible annexation of our national assets and resources for illegal private use. It is even most appalling that instead of apologizing to Nigerians, the Buhari Presidency, in its arrogance, is resorting to falsehood and trying to justify the inexcusable. Our party holds that Mr. President should apologise for approving that her daughter uses the Presidential jet just for the purpose of allegedly taking photographs in a Durbar event in Bauchi state. Perhaps, the Buhari Presidency forgot that it is public knowledge that the Presidential fleet can only be authorized for use by the President, the First Lady, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, former Presidents, Presidential delegation and no one else. Moreover, the rules do not grant the President any powers to transfer any paraphernalia of office or privileges of his position to any of his children. By PTI NEW DELHI: Russian Envoy to India Nikolay Kudashev has said he did not receive an invitation from the Indian government to be part of the group of envoys which paid a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir this week. He also said there were no hiccups in the deal to supply a batch of S-400 air defence missiles to India in the wake of fresh threats by the US to not go ahead with the multi-billion dollar deal. "I have never seen an official invitation to be part of this team. This was not a private journey. My colleagues (other envoys) got the invitation. It was their sovereign decision to travel. If I have one (an invitation), I would consider it," he told reporters. A group of 15 envoys, including the US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, visited Jammu and Kashmir this week where they interacted with select political representatives, civil society members as well as the military top brass. The visit by the envoys was the second one of a foreign delegation to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 on August 5. Earlier, Delhi-based think tank International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies took 23 EU MPs on a two-day visit to assess the situation in the union territory. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter of India and not an issue in Indo-Russia relations, Kudashev said on the sidelines of an event on Friday. "Quite frankly, we believe that the situation there (Kashmir) is strictly an internal matter of India. Russian diplomacy is not in the habit of commenting on internal developments of our friendly partners. If anyone (who) has any questions on Kashmir can travel there, we do not have any questions," he added. Asked about the S-400 air defence systems deal between Russia and India and the US stance on it, he said Russia truly appreciates India's position as far as the S-400 deal is concerned. "India's commitment is there to implement it and to continue it. As far as we are concerned, there are no issues with us," Kudashev said. He also said the delivery of the first batch of missiles will come by the end of this year or early 2021. "There are no issues on the payments. No complaint as far as I can understand. The contract is being implemented safely," he added. His remarks come days after a senior US official said the Trump administration does not want to degrade India's defence capabilities. The official asserted that there will be a case-by-case analysis on where punitive measures under the CAATSA could be applied to countries buying significant military equipment from Russia. India and Russia signed the USD 5 billion S-400 air defence system deal in October 2018, after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Responding to a question on implications of India going ahead with its decision to purchase S-400 missile defence system from Russia, the official had said, "I know India has expressed valid concerns. they don't want to have a sustainment line completely shut down. That's the last thing we want to do with a significant partner. We don't want to degrade their defence capabilities". Just to the southwest of Chicago, in a congressional district that stretches from the city like a sunray, a battle over the soul of Democratic politics is taking shape. Less than two years after New Yorks Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shocked the nation with a surprising primary victory over an entrenched and powerful Democratic congressman, Marie Newman is hoping to emulate her success in 2020 by building an army of thousands of volunteers and workers keen on ousting their own Democratic incumbent with deep roots in the community, Dan Lipinski. Its a force that Ms Newman hopes will help her to take on a congressman in the district who is often described as one of the most conservative Democrats in Washington a reputation maintained through his resistance to popular Democrat healthcare policies, and opposition to other positions like abortion rights, in spite of his heavily Democratic district. In many respects, its a fight that illustrates the challenges facing progressives seeking to steer the party left in a primary election defined between centrist and progressive candidates. And, for Ms Newman, its one that has meant finding a way forward even as the powerful Democratic Party has blacklisted her campaign in favour of a man who just last week joined Republicans in calling for the repeal of Roe v Wade. He is usually listed as the most conservative member of the Democratic Party. And, he is voting against the districts interests at every turn, literally, Ms Newman, whose campaign has essentially been ostracised by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told The Independent. US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Show all 20 1 /20 US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democratic candidate Ilhan Omar is celebrates with her husband's mother after she won a congress place, becoming the first Muslim woman to be elected into congress alongside Rashida Tlaib Reuters US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democratic House candidate, from Kansas, Sharice Davids (left) and her mom Crystal celebrate after she won. Davids is the first lesbian Native American Congresswoman by beating Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder. Davids is one of several first-time female candidates that helped the Democratic Party takeover in the House of Representatives EPA US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Republican Marsha Blackburn celebrates after winning the race for senate in Tennessee. In doing so she became that states first female senator AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Democratic House candidate Sharice Davids cheer and cry after learning she won EPA US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Ayanna Pressley beaome Massachusetts first black congresswoman by defeating 10-term Republican Michael Capuano AFP/Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Republican candidate Young Kim has become the first Korean-American woman elected to Congress AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democrat Jared Polis won his seat and became the USs first ever openly gay governor AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Jean Kasselman (left) and Teresa Booker, supporters of Democratic candidate for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District Sharice Davids, react to election results Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Republican Kristi Noem hugs a supporter after being announced as the new governor of South Dakota. Noem made history by being the first female governor of the state AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Gabierla Martinez and Cesar Delgado cheer on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis REUTERS US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest women ever elected to Congress, representing New Yorks 14th congressional district AFP/Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democratic congressional candidate Rashida Tlaib celebrates with family and friends at her midterm election night party in Detroit after won and also became the nations first Muslim woman to congress alongside Ilhan Omar who was also elected Reuters US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Democratic candidate for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District Sharice Davids react to election results Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Already having become the first Native American woman to chair a state political party, Deb Haaland has now become the joint-first Native American woman to be elected to congress, alongside Sharice Davids Reuters US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cheer during her election night party in the Queens Borough AFP/Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Young Kim hugs her son Alvin after she won a seat in congress AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cheer AFP/Getty Images US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Asma Mohammed and Ashley Fairbanks celebrate as results come in at Democratic congressional candidate Ilhan Omar's election night headquarters AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democrat Deb Haaland hugs a voter REUTERS US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Democratic House candidate from Kansas Sharice Davids cheer and cry after learning she won her race EPA Mr Lipinski has been in office since 2005, and has maintained a relatively conservative profile in his time since taking office, which he and his supporters have referred to as common sense leadership in campaign gear. Before that, it was his dad, Bill Lipinski, who held the district beginning in 1983. In Washington, the younger Lipinskis common sense approach has meant votes that seem, in the age of a seemingly ascendant progressive wing, almost absurdly out of line with contemporary Democratic politics. On healthcare, the congressman memorably voted against the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the signature legislative achievement of Barack Obama that many Democrats celebrate, even as they have moved even further left on the issue. He has previously rejected calls for a federal $15 minimum wage, a policy he doubled down on in 2018 as he faced his first big challenge from Ms Newman. And on immigration, he has often focused more on border security than providing a pathway to citizenship for immigrants a history his opponents point to as an indication Mr Lipinski is more interested in helping Mr Trump with his controversial border wall than helping vulnerable immigrants. In the past three years, he has managed to vote for policies favoured by the president more than most Democrats in the House, according to ongoing analysis by FiveThirtyEight. But, among the issues swirling in the campaign, perhaps the most viscerally and emotionally evocative where Mr Lipinski may find himself at odds with his party may be abortion. The congressman is one of the last remaining pro-life Democrats, a position he doubled down on last week by signing his name to an amicus brief to the new conservative majority on the Supreme Court urging it to reconsider abortion protections. Its on that last point, the letter, that even Democrats who support so-called big-tent parties that can welcome a diverse range of positions moderate and progressive have found the congressman to be wading into troubled waters. I am a big fan of the idea that we as Democrats need to be a big-tent party where different view points are welcome. And I for one have had no problem with some of the votes he has cast in the past, because he is just trying to represent his constituents, said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist who previously held leadership roles for former Senate majority leader Harry Reid and former senator Ted Kennedy, in an email. But, signing on to that letter to the Supreme Court was the final straw for me and I honestly dont care if we lose the seat or not. Mr Lipinskis campaign told The Independent that his record had largely been taken out of context, and cited the Cook Partisan Voting Index of districts, which ranks the district he represents as a D+6 meaning it is six points more Democratic than the national average, although it falls behind 152 districts in that tally with higher ratings. The campaign also indicated that he currently takes positions that would provide a pathway to citizenship to undocumented immigrants, and helped introduce and pass the Dream and Promise Act that would provide such a pathway last year. He also has co-sponsored a minimum wage bill to raise the federal level to $15 by 2024 (he previously wanted the standard to be $12 an hour). And the campaign claimed that while Mr Lipinski voted against the ACA originally because the bill had serious flaws, he has since joined his party to fight back against Republican efforts to repeal the landmark bill. To be clear, Dan Lipinski has voted with his party 87 per cent of the time throughout his tenure in congress, according to Congressional Quarterly, spokesperson Sally Daly said in an email. Hes a Democrat who isnt afraid to roll his sleeves up and work with colleagues on the other side to get things done. Voters and community leaders appreciate that, which is why he has the endorsements of the vast majority of elected officials in the district 28 mayors, with additional municipal, community and union support in the pipeline. Signing on to that letter to the Supreme Court was the final straw for me and I honestly dont care if we lose the seat or not Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist who previously worked for top Democrats in the Senate Mr Lipinskis current positions may reflect an evolution for the congressman, but on immigration and minimum wage the changes came as a progressive tide was swelling in the district and, perhaps, across the nation. His evolution on the Dream and Promise Act came a year after Bernie Sanders won the district against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary by eight points (Ms Clinton won the district by 16 points in the general election against Mr Trump). His position on minimum wage flipped only after Ms Newman mounted her progressive challenge to him in 2018. And the ACA, which was generally disliked by the American public writ-large during the Obama administration, has always been beloved by Democratic voters, with over 70 per cent support among members in the party even as many in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary are campaigning to replace the system with the more robust Medicare for All. When it comes to abortion, Ms Daly said that its worth noting that a majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion, which Ms Newman ardently supports. Its true that Mr Lipinski has repeatedly supported legislation or policies banning that funding during his time in congress and has frequently promoted his opposition to taxpayer funding of abortion through his congressional offices website. As recently as 2017, Mr Lipinski has co-sponsored bills with titles such as the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017. Its also true that the general population of America leans against federal funding for abortions. A 2017 Marist poll found that 60 per cent of Americans do not approve of tax money being used for abortions (compared with 36 per cent who approve), and a 2019 poll by Morning Consult asking about the Hyde amendment the actual ban on taxpayer funds going towards abortions found that more people supported a ban (49 per cent) than were in favour of that use (32 per cent). Among Democrats though, support for taxpayer-funded abortions may be more energising of an issue, especially in an election cycle that follows repeated attacks by conservatives on abortion in general. In the Marist poll, 51 per cent said they support tax money being used for abortions compared with 43 per cent who said otherwise. In the Morning Consult poll, 43 per cent opposed a ban and 37 per cent supported taxpayer money being used. There are people who are pro-life, and there are people who are pro-choice, Mr Lipinski responded to Vox in June, when that news outlet pointed out the overwhelming support for abortion rights in the Democratic Party. He provided no further details, and instead said he was focusing on kitchen sink issues. Democratic debate: AOC praises Cory Booker for encouraging men to fight for women's reproductive rights The race in Illinois third congressional district is likely to be one of the most competitive Democratic primaries in 2020, with Ms Newman mounting her second challenge in a row after losing to Mr Lipinski by less than two percentage points two years ago. In the short time since that loss, Ms Newman said she has learned quite a bit about campaigning by volunteering with local campaigns throughout her district. Shes built a coalition of progressive support since then, and a group of as many as 6,000 volunteers whom she refers to not infrequently as an army. Among her supporters are Ms Ocasio-Cortez who made Ms Newman her first incumbent-challenging endorsement the Justice Democrats group that helped the New York Democrat in 2018, as well as leading candidates for the Democrat presidential nomination Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. But Ms Newman has still been forced to face some stiff road blocks. Among them are rules imposed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) the powerful, national arm overseeing House races for the Democratic Party in early 2019, which warn political vendors that the official election arm of the party wont do business with folks who help candidates challenging incumbents. The DCCC has said the rules were imposed to help protect its sitting members, and that loyalty is the best way to keep Democrats in control of the House. But the measures have been criticised by people like Ms Ocasio-Cortez, and other progressives who call it divisive politics that puts a finger on the scales of democracy. We reject the DCCCs attempt to hoard power, which will only serve to keep that talent pool and congress itself disproportionately white and male, said Maria Urbina, the national political director of progressive group the Indivisible Project, in a statement after the policy was made public in April. Incumbents who engage fully with their constituents shouldnt fear primaries and shouldnt rely on the national institutions like the DCCC to suppress challenges before voters ever have a say. Recommended AOC endorses first liberal candidate against incumbent Democrat For Ms Newman, the policy has meant at least four political consultants leaving her campaign in April, and an estimated $100,000 (76,300) in costs to try to fill in the blanks created by the blacklist. We lost several campaign consultants, and its not their fault they have businesses to run and the DCCC threatened them, quite frankly, to the point where they wouldnt have a business left if they worked on my campaign, she said. She continued: Im not mad at the consultants at all, but it put us in a predicament. I had to sign others quickly, and then it got to the point where the DCCC kept on threatening people that I was talking to so where we landed was that we finally found some folks. The DCCC did not respond to a request for comment regarding the policy. But the timing of Ms Newmans race may prove more consequential than that rule by the DCCC. In a year marked by progressive enthusiasm, it is hard to overstate how valuable endorsements from prominent national politicians like Ms Ocasio-Cortez, Mr Sanders and Ms Warren are. Other endorsements have flowed in, too, including from pro-choice groups Emilys List and Naral. Ms Newman credits the people in her district, though, and the knowledge she gained while volunteering on roughly 12 local races in her district just after her loss in 2018, which she said has helped her to reorient her strategy in 2020 to focus on the traditional methods of door knocking and phone banking. And while Ms Newman favours progressive policies like Medicare for All, replacing ICE, and taking big money out of politics, she pointedly refused to specifically align herself with the prominent politicians behind her campaign, telling The Independent she views political labels as stupid. We have spent the year in between the campaigns building an enormous field, she said. Its an army, and were running this race together as a team. Grade A Intel: Battle hardened terrorists from Pak-Afghanistan ready to hit J&K India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 11: A high alert has been declared after the Intelligence Bureau has warned of fresh attempts to spruce up violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Top Home Ministry officials familiar with the development confirmed to OneIndia that there would be an attempt to send in battle-hardened terrorists from both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The source also said that infiltration attempts of these terrorists would not just be made in Jammu and Kashmir, but in Punjab as well. The input is a very credible one and actionable. In the wake of this Grade A alert, it has been decided not to pull out troops from Jammu and Kashmir for now. There would be a spurt in terror-related activity from March onwards, the Home Ministry official also said. 3 ISIS terrorists arrested in Delhi were conspiring terror attack in UP, NCR Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a security review meeting along with National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval. Tehran plane crash: Iran admits it hit civilian aircraft by mistake | OneIndia news The focus of the meeting was on the ongoing protests at the universities and also those against the new citizenship law. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the northeastern states, were also discussed at the meeting. The meeting was also attended by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Intelligence Bureau chief, Arvind Kumar. The source said that while the overall scenario was discussed in general, the major part of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the security ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist who gave the slip arrested During the discussion on Jammu and Kashmir, it was decided that the restoration of broadband and internet connectivity be put on hold for some time. There should be no hurried decision on this as it could lead to violence, it was also decided at the meeting. On the deployment of troops at the Valley, it was decided that no further withdrawal shall take place immediately. Any decision in this regard would be taken in the summer after a through review, it was also decided at the meeting. A factory worker was killed on Friday in Badlapur in Maharashtra's Thane district after the nozzle of a fire extinguisher blew off and pierced his chest, police said. The incident took place at noon when the man was filling gas in the extinguisher in Udekar India Fire Services company situated in Vadavali Naka on Ambernath-Badlapur Road, Badlapur fire station officer Ramesh Patil told PTI. "He was filling dry chemical powder (DCP) when the nozzle blew off and pierced his chest. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. We have registered a case under section 304 of IPC," he informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shah Mehmood to start his peace trip from Sunday ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is scheduled to open his regional trip on Sunday (tomorrow) with a visit to Iran for offering Pakistans help for defusing tensions prevailing in the Persian Gulf in the aftermath of the assassination of senior Iranian commander Gen Qassem Soleimani by the United States in an airstrike in Baghdad. He would later on Jan 13 visit Riyadh and then travel to Washington on Jan 17, a senior diplomatic source said. Mr Qureshi would tour the three capitals for meeting his counterparts to convey Pakistans desire to help in de-escalating the situation. Mr Qureshi has made a number of telephonic contacts with his counterparts over the situation. More recently, he spoke to Russian and Iraqi foreign ministers. The foreign minister, meanwhile, met the new Iranian ambassador in Islamabad Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini on Friday at his chambers in the Parliament House. Mr Qureshi told Amb Hosseini that Pakistan was determined to play its positive role for ending tensions in the region. The Iranian ambassador said that Tehran was clear that it did not want escalation. He, however, said that the countries counselling restraint need to, at least, first verbally condemn the incident. Only afterwards can they ask the countries in the region and outside to de-escalate. He said those countries needed to stop treating the aggressor and the sufferer, the murderer and the slain, and terrorists and their victims equally, a diplomatic source revealed. The foreign minister, on this occasion, recalled that the statement issued by the Foreign Office on Jan 3 had called for avoiding unilateral actions and use of force. Vietnams all-powerful Politburo on Friday issued a disciplinary warning against Hoang Trung Hai, a Party member and former deputy prime minister, for his violations in overseeing a production expansion project of a state-owned iron and steel company while in office. Hai is a Politburo member and the current Party chief of Hanoi. He served as deputy prime minister between 2007 and 2016. The decision for Hai was made during a Politburo meeting chaired by Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi on Friday. As deputy prime minister, he had serious violations and shortcomings in giving directions on the implementation of the second phase of a project to expand production at state-run Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Joint Stock Corporation, which specializes in making cast iron and steel, known as the TISCO II project, the Politburo concluded after considering a proposal by the Party's Central Inspection Committee. Specifically, Hai showed a lack of responsibility and failed to thoroughly consider opinions of ministries and agencies on the projects engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) contract No.01, against the Governments working regulations and the State regulations on investment and export credit. Hai also failed to inspect and direct the inspection provided for by the Governments working regulations, according to the Politburos conclusion. The top decision-making body of the country said that Hais violations and shortcomings were serious, causing public concern, badly affecting the Partys and his own prestige. Given the nature, level, consequences, and causes of his violations, as well as his working process and contributions to the Party and State, the Politburo decided to give a warning against him as a disciplinary measure. The TISCO II project was approved in 2005 with a total capital of over VND3.8 trillion (US$242 million). It had two main packages, one of which is an EPC package regarding the development of a metallurgy processing line. The EPC package was auctioned to the China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) for over $160 million. However, the Government Inspectorate discovered in February 2019 that the projects total capital had been illegally altered by TISCO, from over VND3.8 trillion to VND8.1 trillion ($350.4 million). Furthermore, at the time of discovery, TISCO had already paid MCC over 92 percent of the total value of the project, while the project was nowhere near completion as the EPC contractor MCC and other contractors had stopped all construction activity as of 2013. Since then, some project equipment has been damaged, further impacting the projects progress and quality, causing investment capital losses, inspectors said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi working president K T Rama Rao on Saturday asked party leaders to make concerted efforts to secure a comprehensive win in the municipal elections, scheduled to be held in Telangana on January 22. Rama Rao, son of TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, had meetings with a number of leaders, including ministers, MPs and MLAs, on preparations for the municipal polls, TRS sources said. He enquired about various aspects of preparingfor the polls, they said. Though the party's victory is certain, the leaders should not take it easy but make efforts to bag the maximum possible number of seats, said Rama Rao, who is also state minister for IT, Municipal Administration and others. Meanwhile, state Congress president and MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy held a tele-conference with party activists. Citing a report submitted by a reputed city-based institution, he alleged that municipalities in the state are in a poor shape, Congress sources said. Though the report recommended allocation of funds to municipalities and municipal corporations, the TRS government had, in fact, cut down the funds, he claimed. Alleging that the TRS government has not implemented its promises like loan waiver for farmers and financial assistance for unemployed youths, Reddy said the ruling party should be taught a lesson in the urban local body polls. He demanded that the TRS government convene the legislative assembly and pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The last date to file nominations was on Friday and they were scrutinised on Saturday. Polling would be held on January 22 and votes would be counted on January 25. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Student leaders at the University of Texas at Austin say the colleges release of information Thursday about sexual misconduct violations by employees was a good first step but not enough. In a report triggered by concerns raised by students, the university revealed that 17 employees three professors and 14 staffers engaged in misconduct over a 26-month period such as unwelcome physical contact, comments of a sexual nature, stalking and the failure to report consensual relations with a student or subordinate employee. Nine of the employees were either fired or forced out. Its the right step in the right direction, but its kind of a small victory, said Lynn Huynh, a junior who helped organize student protests and sit-ins about the misconduct last fall. I still feel like theres a lot of stuff that we dont know. Tasnim Islam, a sophomore member of the student-led Coalition for Sexual Misconduct, added that she was very conflicted but relieved when the report came out. She said the release took longer than it should have and was done in such a way that has allowed only a small amount of students to be armed with information that keeps them safe on campus. The report contains sexual misconduct information made available through public records. The report said three faculty members and four staffers were disciplined and received a letter of reprimand; five staffers resigned during the investigation or instead of termination; one staffer resigned for reasons unrelated to the investigation but was barred from employment thereafter; and four staffers were terminated. The reports release followed an investigation into allegation of sexual misconduct conducted by UTs Office for Inclusion and Equity. The report included summary findings for each case, all of which occurred during the period from November 2017 to December 2019. The release also came a month after UT administrators announced a series of steps to address sexual misconduct on campus, such as a Jan. 27 public forum to be attended by UT President Gregory L. Fenves; a working group whose members include students to evaluate the schools policy; and an external review of UTs adherence to Title IX, the law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities that receive federal funding. Islam called it telling that of the nine employees ousted by the university through termination or forced resignation, none were faculty. I personally think the university is protecting the professors, when the priority should be placed on protecting the students, said Islam. Huynh agreed. She called for faculty to be held to the same standards and levels of accountability as staff. The student protests last fall took particular issue with the fact that faculty alleged to have violated policies were disciplined for misconduct but were allowed to continue teaching classes. Huynh and Islam emphasized that the report should have been released to the UT community via a university-wide email and made permanently available on the university website to make it easy to view for both current and would-be students similar to how UT began listing all hazing violations within the past three years on its website. Huynh called the process by which the information was finally released decentralized, with student activists and journalists requesting misconduct records and disseminating them to other students. I think on the behalf of the students, it needs to come from the university, said Huynh, who noted she thought the investigation would reveal more cases of sexual misconduct. Right now, were doing the universitys job for them when it shouldnt be our job, our burden but we are (doing it), because thats what its come down to. The university needs to be responsible for once and make the right decision, Islam said. They have a moral responsibility to keep us safe. Islam said the Student Coalition for Sexual Misconduct will push for a structural approach to ensure sexual misconduct violations will be a thing of the past at UT. She said it will continue to bring attention to its petition and stress its series of demands for the university. The student group will also push for a report to be sent to the entire university community to inform them of professors who have been found guilty of sexual misconduct. Theyll also advocate for the creation of a restorative justice program by 2021, investment in interpersonal violence prevention and additional employee training about sexual misconduct, Islam said. The group also plans to demand that a list of violations starting from at least a decade ago be made public, she said. Huynh noted that during her time as a student organizer, alumni from the 1950s and 1960s would comment on how sexual misconduct was an issue then. Islam will also be working with the universitys recently established Misconduct Working Group, which held its first meeting in December amid student protests. This group will examine and identify opportunities for the university to improve how we review and communicate about sexual misconduct and other related issues, university leadership states on the UT website. It will work to solicit feedback and examine topics around vocabulary, communication and policy. brittany.britto@chron.com Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Atlanta and Charlotte, Greenville County was the heart of textile country in South Carolina for much of the 20th century. Many of the spinning rooms in the area are now gone, replaced by advanced manufacturing ranging from power-generating turbines for General Electric to sport utility vehicles (SUVs) for German carmaker BMW in neighbouring Spartanburg County. The transformation " and health " of the local economy is a testament to the efforts state and local officials have made in the past quarter-century to attract international investment and diversify South Carolina's manufacturing base. Unemployment is at a record low and per capita income has steadily risen statewide since the global financial crisis a decade ago. Not all is rosy, however. South Carolina, in the southeastern US, has found itself caught in the cross hairs of the trade war that has raged between the country and China for the past 18 months. The dispute has cast a pall over recruitment efforts, with international companies hesitant to make long-term investments, as uncertainty over the trade war outcome lingers, state and local officials said. It also has pressured the trading relationship with South Carolina's largest export market: China. As the two countries prepare to sign a "phase one" agreement on Wednesday, South Carolina officials are hopeful the truce will give companies more certainty about the future and help prolong what has been a period of unprecedented growth in the state. "It takes a long time to establish those relationships," Knox White, the mayor of Greenville, said. "The disruption of those relationships and how far-reaching that will be, whether they can be repaired and how long it would take to repair them, those are consequences we will be living with no matter if everything was over with tomorrow," he said. "People move on."" Story continues More than 400 companies from 34 countries call Greenville, Spartanburg and the eight surrounding counties that make up South Carolina's upstate region home, including Chinese-owned Volvo Cars, BMW, French tyre manufacturer Michelin and Japanese electronics manufacturer Kyocera Mita. With a population of 5.15 million people, making it smaller than Hong Kong, South Carolina has an economy that is one of the most reliant on exports in the US. The state shipped US$34.6 billion of goods overseas in 2018, or the equivalent of 15 per cent of its gross domestic product, according to data from the Office of the US Trade Representative. Only the states of Louisiana, Texas and Kentucky were more dependent on exports that year. An employee works on a S60 on the assembly line at the Chinese-owned Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina. Photo: Handout alt=An employee works on a S60 on the assembly line at the Chinese-owned Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina. Photo: Handout BMW exports 70 per cent of the cars it produces at its plant in Spartanburg, while Volvo Cars, owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding of China, ships about half of its S60 cars from its plant in Ridgeville. Boeing assembles and delivers its 787 Dreamliner worldwide from Charleston. The South Carolina Ports Authority handled a record 2.39 million twenty-foot equivalent container units and shipped 195,000 vehicles in financial year 2019, which ended in June. That represented an 8.8 per cent increase in container volume. China also has become the largest export destination for South Carolina-made goods, outpacing Germany and Canada since 2013, according to US Census Bureau data. The state was the fourth biggest exporter in the US to China in 2018 and shipped some US$5.8 billion of goods to the mainland in the first 10 months of 2019. Despite the state's reliance on international trade, President Donald Trump " and his protectionist trade policies " remain incredibly popular in South Carolina, where he took nearly 55 per cent of the popular vote in the 2016 general election. "Most companies that I talk to, they understand we need to address the issue with China, whether it's around intellectual property or whether it's around subsidisation of industries like steel," said Ted Pitts, president and chief executive of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Since July 2018, Trump has placed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese-made goods as he tries to force Beijing to change decades of industrial and trade policy. China has responded in kind with its own retaliatory tariffs. On the surface, the trade dispute does not appear to have dramatically hurt South Carolina's economy. Unemployment was at 2.4 per cent in November, its lowest level since state-by-state record-keeping by the US Department of Labor began in 1976. Per capita income rose to US$45,414 at the end of the third quarter of last year, representing a 43 per cent gain since wages last fell a decade ago, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Housing starts rose 2.7 per cent year on year in November and South Carolina was on pace to easily surpass the value of its 2018 exports at the end of October. Joseph Von Nessen, a research economist at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, said growth "softened" somewhat in 2019, much like the US as a whole, but the state's economy has proven to be "very resilient" to shocks from the trade dispute, so far. However, they have been more apparent in areas like manufacturing exports. "The growth rate of export activity dropped off significantly in 2018, primarily as a result of a 40 per cent tariff on US autos that was put in place by China in the summer of 2018 and that was rolled back in early 2019," Von Nessen said. " Since then, export activity has slowly been working its way back in terms of the overall rate of growth. It has not yet hit that pre-July 2018 level." So far in the 2020 financial year, the cargo volume growth at the state ports authority has slowed to 5 per cent. The number of empty containers it ships overseas after unloading, primarily back to Asia, has grown "exponentially", according to Jim Newsome, its president and CEO. The volume it moved out of Charleston and its inland ports rose 32 per cent in financial year 2019 as the trade war intensified. "There are very few foreign direct investment projects right now. So, and you say, well, why?," Newsome said. "I just think uncertainty is kind of the enemy of a big investment basically. If you look back in five years and you say what is the impact of this trade war, I would say the answer to that for me will be what happened to foreign direct investment in manufacturing." Companies are taking longer to decide whether to expand production or make future investments against the backdrop of the trade war, officials said. "The main difference is that companies' decision-making process is lengthened " they are looking but waiting to make a final decision," Alex Clark, a spokeswoman for the South Carolina Department of Commerce, said. Frank T. Davis III, a lawyer at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd in Greenville, said it is not just Chinese companies that are rethinking whether to locate in the US, but European companies as well. "The trade issues make it very difficult to plan for investment in long-term capital expenditures because you had what was already in a global, very competitive economy; you had some fairly nuanced economic decisions that are now being clouded by the trade uncertainty," said Davis. "If you had a clearer idea of underlying policies, it would be easier to plan for that. This one is just particularly hard because it sort of depends sometimes on what side of the bed somebody has gotten up on." In light of the trade dispute, some companies have shifted part of their production out of South Carolina, while others have sought new suppliers or borne the higher costs of raw materials and components. Volvo, which opened a US$1.1 billion plant in Ridgeville in 2018, was forced to shift its S60 exports slated for China to Europe, the Middle East and Africa when tariffs went into place, a spokesman said. It now produces S60s for the Chinese market in Daqing. "Aside from China, the trade tensions have not impacted exports to other countries," the spokesman added. Volvo plans to produce its XC90 in South Carolina beginning in 2022 and double its 1,500-person workforce when the new model production comes online. BMW's manufacturing plant in South Carolina where it produces the X3 and X6 SUVs among other models. Photo: Handout alt=BMW's manufacturing plant in South Carolina where it produces the X3 and X6 SUVs among other models. Photo: Handout BMW produces five models and their variants in Spartanburg, its largest global manufacturing facility employing more than 11,000 people. It continues to make the X3 SUVs there, even though BMW has started rolling out the same model in China 18 months ago for the mainland market, spokesman Phil Dilanni said. As such, no production was moved from the South Carolina plant and China remains its biggest export market, he added. "BMW has always made clear that we believe in free trade," Dilanni said. "It is free trade that had made the billions of dollars that we've already invested in US manufacturing and jobs possible." John Ling, who formerly headed South Carolina's economic development office in Shanghai and now works as a consultant in the US, said the trade dispute has been "unchartered territory" for many companies. He has received inquiries from both Chinese and US firms trying to navigate the uncertainty. "This past year has probably been my busiest," said Ling, a native of Chongqing who now lives in Greenville. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Courtney Everts Mykytyn, a California activist who battled educational segregation by urging white parents like herself to send their children to public schools with largely black and Latino student bodies, died on Dec. 30 when she was struck by a car in Los Angeles. She was 46. Her husband, Roman Mykytyn, said the cause was blunt force trauma. He said she was struck by a car that had inadvertently accelerated while the driver was trying to park. Through her grass-roots nonprofit organization, Integrated Schools, which she founded in 2015 and which now has about 20 chapters around the country, Ms. Everts Mykytyn (pronounced mih-KIT-in) worked to reimagine a different path to the difficult goal of desegregating schools whose student bodies are mostly nonwhite. Rather than trying to change education policy or bus students outside their school districts, she challenged white, often wealthy parents to work toward creating equitable, multiracial student bodies by enrolling their children in schools where they would be in the minority and very likely have fewer resources than their own neighborhood schools could provide. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A jury is expected to continue deliberations Monday in the trial of 77-year-old James Chance, the Holland man accused of helping his son following the murder of a young woman. James Chance is charged with being an accessory after the fact and perjury. Chances son, Jared Chance, last year was convicted of second-degree murder for the death and dismemberment of 31-year-old Ashley Young of Kalamazoo. He is serving a minimum 100-year sentence. Following a week-long trial, jurors began deliberating about 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10 and had not reached a verdict by 4 p.m., when a juror had to leave because of a conflict. Kent County prosecutors allege James Chance, a retired Rock Island, Illinois police officer, lied to investigators to protect his son and himself. Testimony showed Chance killed young early Nov. 29 at his apartment in the 600 block of Franklin Street SE, then dismembered the body some 12 hours later. He allegedly told his parents about the killing Dec. 2 at the familys home in Holland. The father soon after took his son to the Grand Rapids Police Station but told a lieutenant he wanted an attorney for his son. He did not tell police the son had killed someone, however, and they ended up leaving the station. Prosecutors allege James Chance omitted details surrounding a Dec. 1 ride he gave to Jared Chance from the Grand Rapids apartment to the family home in Holland. Specifically, prosecutors said the missing details involved the various stops made during the trip. Jared Chance was arrested later Jan. 2 at the Franklin Street apartment after another tenant found a tarp in the basement while investigating a strong odor. James Chances wife, Barbara, 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. Tehran, Iran Iran announced Saturday that its military "unintentionally" shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a "hostile target" after it turned toward a "sensitive military center" of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its "highest level of readiness," it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. "In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit," the statement said. It apologized for the disaster and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent such "mistakes" in the future. It also said those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. Iran's acknowledgement of responsibility for the crash was likely to inflame public sentiment against authorities after Iranians had rallied around their leaders in the wake of Soleimani's killing. The general was seen as a national icon, and hundreds of thousands of Iranians had turned out for funeral processions across the country. But the vast majority of the plane victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians, and the crash came just weeks after authorities quashed nationwide protests ignited by a hike in gasoline prices. "A sad day," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. "Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations." The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lowered the nation's death toll from 63. "This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility, and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission," said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. "I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face." Hong Kong is not far from Taiwan, just the distance of a flight ticket; Taiwan is not far from Hong Kong, just the distance of a ballot. That is a popular saying shared online in the two places as Taiwans presidential election approaches on Saturday. It resonates with Hong Kong protesters because one of their core demands is for the head of the citys government to be elected by popular ballot, a system already in place in Taiwan. For Taiwanese voters, the saying was a timely reminder to return home to cast their vote. Among those heading back was first-time voter Mrs Kao, a mother of two in her 50s. Supporters of Han Kuo-yu attend an election campaign in Taipei. Photo: Reuters Ive never voted before, even when I was living in Taiwan. I just did not care and found candidates from both camps were not good enough, said Kao, who moved to Hong Kong 15 years ago. For the first time, Kao wanted to make her voice heard even though she had to spend thousands of dollars on flight tickets and take leave from work. It is pathetic to see Hong Kong losing its freedoms and democracy. It reminds me that I have to cherish my vote, and safeguard democracy in Taiwan, she said. I dont want Taiwan to lose its democracy and end up like Hong Kong. In her eyes, the choice between incumbent Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and her populist rival, Kaohsiung city mayor Han Kuo-yu from the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT), was clear. Han will lead our path closer to China. The closer to China, the greater the danger for our democracy, she believed. The protests in Hong Kong have also led younger voters to support Tsai. One of them is Natalie Wang not her real name who has worked for a retail company in Hong Kong for more than five years. Tsai came to power in 2016 by defeating her main rival, Eric Chu Li-lun of the KMT. But thirty-something Wang said she did not go home for that election as she did not think either candidate would make much difference. Story continues After closely witnessing what has happened in Hong Kong, I understand how politics will affect our lives and I just feel the urge to return home and cast my vote, Wang said. The protests, sparked in June by the now-withdrawn extradition bill, have since morphed into a wider anti-government movement. Wang said she joined the massive protests in June, and recalled how shocking and moving it was to see a million people taking to the streets in solidarity. The protests served as a warning sign for Taiwan, she said. Hong Kong has been rocked by anti-government protests since June. Photo: Kyodo Beijing has already suppressed our diplomatic space and reiterated that Taiwan is part of its territory If a pro-Communist Party candidate wins this time, Taiwan could be the next Hong Kong, Wang said. And it would be us handing it over to them, with our own hands. KMT candidate Han supports the 1992 consensus an understanding that there is only one China but with different interpretations of what China means. But relations between Taipei and Beijing have deteriorated under Tsai, as Beijing insists the consensus is a prerequisite for dialogue between the two sides, a condition the DPP rejects. In January, President Xi Jinping, whose administration in Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to reclaim it, proposed that the two sides send representatives for unification talks under the one country, two systems model, which already gives limited autonomy to Hong Kong and Macau. Tsai immediately rejected the proposal, saying no one in Taiwan wanted one country, two systems, given its application in Hong Kong. Tsai Ing-wen and her main rival Han Kuo-yu. Photo: AFP Against the backdrop of Xis proposal, Tsai has successfully reframed the 2020 poll as a vote to save the island of 23 million people from being annexed by the mainland and people from losing their ability to identify as Taiwanese, according to observers. Her campaign office on Tuesday released a video, using split screens to compare the daily routines of Taiwanese and the chaotic protest scenes Hongkongers have faced over recent months, giving a strong message to not let Taiwan be like Hong Kong. To Ceci Lin, 30, who has lived in Hong Kong for almost seven years, Tsais warning of Todays Hong Kong; tomorrows Taiwan has simplified many local factors and history in both places. Yet Lin, not her real name, conceded the protests prompted her to return home to vote for Tsai, although she grew up in a KMT-supporting family. The Hong Kong protests made me more worried about the idea of one country, two systems, she said. However, Han is not without young supporters. On Thursday night, his backers joined a mass rally in Taipei, with the organiser estimating the turnout at one million. Among the relatively small contingent of young participants was 28-year-old Joey. He argued that Tsais policies would turn Taiwan into an unstable society, like Hong Kong. The stronger the stance we hold against Beijing, the tougher the tactics Beijing will come up with in handling cross-strait relations, he said. I am afraid Tsais route will only lead us in Hong Kongs direction. More from South China Morning Post: This article Hong Kongs anti-government protests loom large in Taiwan election. But who benefits? first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Here are the top 3 moments from Power Lunch this week: 1. Boeing's Bad Week It started with an analyst at Longbow Research telling investors to sell the stock. Essentially they were at a loss for words, and cannot make a bull-case argument for Boeing. He says, "There are too many lingering questions surrounding the MAX approval process, management strategy, airline customer intentions, and wide-body aircraft demand support." Then the company saw one of its planes go down in Iran. A Ukraine-bound Boeing 737-800NG jet crashed killing 176 people, including Canadian citizens. The accident was first blamed on mechanical failure, but both the U.S. and Canada revealed the plane may have been brought down by Iranian missiles. A fact that Iran still denies. Tweet Then Boeing ended the week with an internal memo leak where it boasted about bullying regulators and insulting employees. In messages from April 2017, one Boeing employee told another: "This airplane is designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys." Former NTSB Chairman Jim Hall had some strong words for Boeing's management, saying the emails showed a blatant disregard for safety. Tweet 2. Mideast Tensions Tensions between the U.S. and Iran came to a head. The U.S. killed General Qasem Soleimani and Iran retaliated by launching missiles at U.S. military bases in Iraq. The same missiles that might have brought down that Boeing jet mentioned earlier. Tensions have eased, but is the worst really over? AEI's Michael Rubin explained why there could be further escalation down the road. Tweet 3. The Scoop on Goop iStock(LONDON) -- Authorities in Britain have formally requested the extradition of Anne Sacoolas, the wife of an American diplomat, who was charged in the death of a British teenager. A spokesman for the Home Office, the government body responsible for policing and internal affairs, announced the request Friday, saying it was now up to U.S. authorities. The move appears to have deepened tensions between the U.K. and U.S. over the incident. The U.S. State Department called the extradition request "highly inappropriate" and said it would establish "an extraordinarily troubling precedent." Sacoolas, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen, is believed to have been driving the car that crashed into 19-year-old Harry Dunn while he was riding his motorcycle on a roadway in the village of Croughton, England, on the night of Aug. 27, 2019. Dunn was taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Oxford, where he died soon after, according to Northamptonshire Police. The car that hit him was driving in the opposite direction on the wrong side of the road, police said. Sacoolas returned to America in the wake of the crash and claimed diplomatic immunity, sparking a diplomatic rift between the U.S. and the U.K. She was formally charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December 2019. The U.S. State Department issued a statement Friday, making clear that the government is standing by its notion that Sacoolas had immunity at the time. "The United States has a strong law enforcement relationship with the UK and, in particular, a strong track record of close cooperation on extradition matters," according to a spokesperson from the State Department. "However, under the circumstances of this case, we strongly believe that an extradition request would be highly inappropriate." An attorney for Sacoolas, Amy Jeffress, said in a statement that the U.S. government "has made clear they will deny any extradition request and will uphold the longstanding agreement of diplomatic immunity between our two countries." Jeffress said Sacoolas continues to grieve for the Dunn family "and would do anything she could to bring Harry back." Sacoolas wrote a written apology to Dunn's family following his death. "We remain willing to work with the UK authorities to identify a path forward," according to the statement. U.K. police traveled to the U.S. to interview Sacoolas in October and President Donald Trump spoke out about the incident, describing it as a terrible accident engulfed in a very complex issue due to Sacoolas claim of diplomatic immunity. A review commissioned by the British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, concluded it is "considered the anomaly that family members of U.S. officers serving at the Annex at RAF Croughton have, under current arrangements between the U.K. and the U.S., greater protection from UK criminal jurisdiction than the officers themselves." The crash occurred less than a mile from Royal Air Force Croughton, commonly known as RAF Croughton, which is a British military station that houses an intelligence-gathering base operated by the United States Air Force. Sacoolas's husband is a U.S. diplomat assigned to the United Kingdom. The Dunn family said the extradition request was "a huge step towards achieving justice for Harry," according to a statement issued on their behalf by attorney Radd Seiger. "This will not of course bring Harry back, but in the circumstances of all that this family have been through, they are pleased with the development," the statement read. Seiger noted that despite "unwelcome public comments currently emanating from the US administration that Anne Sacoolas will never be returned," the Dunns are looking ahead at the impending legal process. "They will simply take things one step at a time and not get ahead of themselves," Seiger said in the statement. "However, no one, whether diplomat or otherwise, is above the law." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. (Support Free Thought) - Tulsa, OK The numbers do not lie. Police in America are the deadliest throughout the entire world. American cops kill far more than their counterparts in the rest of the world and these numbers are indisputable. One indicator that the problem has gotten out of hand is the fact that cops are killing cops. In a tragic case out of Florida last, a police officer killed his own police chief. Now hes in jail and appears to have amnesia. In November, Mannford police officer Michael Patrick Nealey, 49, was arrested and charged with the murder of Mannford police chief Lucky Miller, 44. The duo traveled from the small town of Mannford, Oklahoma for a conference in Pensacola over a weekend when things took a tragic turn. In a local story out of Tulsa, KTUL reports that Nealey appears to have no idea why hes in jail nor what happened. The video was just released this week, showing Nealeys interrogation just hours after he allegedly beat Miller to death. I know youre asking me questions, but can I ask you a question? Homicide? Who is dead? Nealey asked the officers interviewing him. Luckys dead, replied the officers. Luckys dead. Hmm, Nealey said in response. As KTUL reports, in pictures of the crime scene, blood and paramedic equipment is seen on the floor and a mostly empty vodka bottle is seen nearby. Nealey claims to not know what happened. I would like to know what happened. Im telling you I dont have any memory of any of this sh. Im shocked that Luckys dead. Its shocking, he said. Nealeys wife backs up this sudden onset of amnesia for her husband, claiming he just woke up in a nightmare. Only way I can describe it is he fell asleep and woke up in a nightmare. I wish we could have answers. Theres just not any at this point, said Lisa Nealey. Ive got no problem with Lucky, Nealey said. I cant believe what youre telling me has happened. I cant believe. Hmmm. Wow. But the facts do not lie. That fateful night, the two men were staying at the Hilton on Pensacola Beach over the weekend for a law enforcement conference. During their stay, authorities say an alcohol-fueled brawl broke out between the pair. On Nov. 10, hotel security was called because the two men were disrupting the other guests. When hotel security responded, they called the sheriffs department because the scene had turned violent. An actual physical altercation, said Escambia County Sheriffs spokeswoman Amber Southard. According to the Escambia County Sheriffs department, when deputies arrived on the scene, Miller was dead. Police say there was no weapon implying that Nealey may have beaten Miller to death. The statement that was given by the second noise complaint was they could hear a male scream Mike, stop. Mike, stop and then it just went quiet, said one investigator to Nealey in the newly released tapes. As WEAR reports: Channel 3 News also obtained law enforcements interview with John Garner, the hotels maintenance worker who was told to check on the room and walked into the crime scene. Garner told investigators when he went into their room, he heard grunting and then saw Millers feet sticking out from between the bed and the wall. Saw one gentleman sitting on top of another gentleman and I told him he needed to get up and all he would do was grunt, said Garner. Garner told investigators that he pulled Nealey off of Miller still grunting as Miller remained unresponsive on the floor. The gentleman on the floor, his face was discolored. I got on the radio and said, Call for the ambulance,' Garner told investigators. Did you have any sort of animosity or anything like that towards Lucky? an investigator asked Nealey. Nope, Nealey responded. Lucky is dead. I cannot believe it. I cannot believe it, he added. Nealey is currently being held at the Escambia County Jail on a $1.5 million bond for the second-degree murder of Miller. We are heartbroken by the news, Mannford Mayor Tyler Buttram said in a statement at the time. Please keep both families in your prayers as we work to move forward. As TFTP reported, in a tragic twist of irony, the conference which the pair was attending was to teach officers about death scene investigations. It is unclear if the conference will continue given the fact that there is now an actual death scene to investigate. Mike Nealey was our detective. Lucky was a hands-on guy, so he always wanted to be there to learn things like that, Officer Jerry Ridley, who has been made the interim chief, said. After the news of the murder broke, officials in Mannford were quick to praise both officers, going so far as to call Nealey a great man. Lucky was a great man, but Ill be honest, so was Officer Nealey. Those two were the best of friends. Where one was, the other one was. They were always together, said Mannford Mayor Tyler Buttram. We ask that everybody pray for both families because two families have been devastated by this horrible tragedy. They do not understand whats going on. None of this makes sense, Buttram said. Not one single person can fathom the thought of any of this. Its so confusing. I cant understand it. Lucky was a friend, a mentor, a leader, a police officer and a family man, Ridley told Tulsa World. He loved his family to death. He liked to go take his kids and go ride dirt bikes. He had two boys and a girl. She could ride a dirt bike better than all of the others. Sadly, his wife and children are now without their husband and father. Without naming actor Deepika Padukone, Union Minister Kailash Choudhary on Saturday said here that those standing with people who talk about disintegration of India are "equally guilty". Padukone, on January 7, visited Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi to express solidarity with the students who had been attacked by masked assailants two days earlier. Deepika, who was in the middle of promotion of her film "Chhapaak", attended a public meeting at JNU in the presence of former JNU Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and current president Aishe Ghosh. Addressing a press conference in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act here, Choudhary said there was a need to create "an atmosphere of nationalism", and those who shout slogans such as "Pakistan Zindabad" were free to move to the neighbouring country. Asked about the violence at JNU, he said, "It would be wrong to say (RSS-affiliated) ABVP attacked them (Leftist groups)....the incidents that took place there earlier, you must have seen that. "'Bharat tere tukde honge' slogan was shouted there," the Union Minister of State for Agriculture said. Asked about Padukone's visit to JNU, Choudhary said, "Those who stand in support of people talking about breaking up India and raising slogan of Pakistan Zindabad are as guilty as those who shouted them. "UPA leaders stood with those who spoke of breaking up India. Whether it is JNU or any other place, if anyone talks about disintegrating India, the people of this country will not accept it. There is need to create an atmosphere where nationalism is supreme," he said. "Those who have no love for Mother India and hesitate to shout Bharat Mata Ki Jai but have love for Pakistan are free to go and live there," he added. Nobody should be afraid of the CAA, he said, accusing the Congress and other opposition parties of spreading disinformation. Later, addressing a rally here, Choudhary said one would have never imagined that "traitors who shout slogans in praise of Pakistan" would be born in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt has criticised a member of a key government advisory body for accusing prominent author Bruce Pascoe of faking his Indigenous heritage. Josephine Cashman, an Aboriginal entrepreneur and lawyer, wrote to Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton accusing Professor Pascoe of "dishonesty offences", with the complaint then referred to the Australian Federal Police for assessment. Popular author Bruce Pascoe. Credit:Justin McManus Ms Cashman, a member of the Voice Co-Design Senior Advisory Group and former member of the Prime Minister's Indigenous Advisory Council, has been a vocal critic of the author, who was a joint winner of the $30,000 Indigenous Writers' Prize in NSW for his best-selling book Dark Emu. In the letter to Mr Dutton, first reported by The Weekend Australian, Ms Cashman said a genealogy search did not bring up any Aboriginal ancestors for Professor Pascoe and accused him of inappropriate financial benefit from his status. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the demise of Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said of Oman, describing him as a beacon of peace for the region. Sultan Qaboos, the longest-reigning leader of the modern Arab world, died on Friday at the age of 79. "I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary leader and statesman who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation," Modi wrote on Twitter. Sultan Qaboos was a true friend of India and provided strong leadership for developing a vibrant strategic partnership between India and Oman, the prime minister said. "I will always cherish the warmth and affection I received from him. May his soul rest in peace," Modi said. The prime minister also said the Sultan was a beacon of peace for the region and the world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eleanor Kagan is in her pyjamas in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, thinking about a dead woman. The 33-year-old podcast producer first became aware of Julie Yip-Williams from reading her blog, which she started in 2013 after being diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Its an ending no one wishes for, but Yip-Williams had a bad beginning too. She was born blind in Vietnam in 1976. When she was three, her family fled the country in a rickety fishing boat to Hong Kong in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, spent several months in a refugee camp and eventually settled in Los Angeles. Julie Yip-Williams believed a podcast would help her daughters remember her. Credit:Paul LeMarc Brown Although she underwent surgery at UCLA to remove cataracts, which gave her some vision, she remained legally blind, needed thick glasses and was not allowed to drive. She grew up to go to Harvard Law School, then become a successful lawyer and a mother of two daughters, Mia and Isabelle. Then she got the diagnosis. In 2017, when she knew her time was rapidly running out, she got a publishing deal with Random House to write her memoir, Julie: The Unwinding Of The Miracle. And in the last couple of months of Yip-Williams' life, Kagan entered to make a podcast to accompany the book. Iran has admitted it shot down the Ukraine passenger jet, killing around 180 people, in an incident it said was unintentional and the result of human error. Having initially insisted it had nothing to do with the demise of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752, whose downing it blamed on mechanical problems, officials in Tehran have now admitted the plane had been shot down after passing close to a sensitive military site. Yet, while conceding that it was responsible for Wednesdays downing of the jet, which happened shortly after Iran responded to the targetted killing of Qassem Soleimani by launching ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq used by US forces, officials in Tehran also sought to put the blame on Washingtons adventurism. A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster, Irans foreign minster Mohammad Javad Zarif, wrote on Twitter. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Show all 18 1 /18 Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People and rescue teams are pictured amid bodies and debris All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off, Iranian state media reported ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran One of the engines State news agency IRNA said 167 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft operated by Ukraine International Airlines Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work at the scene AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Passengers' belongings West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Members of the International Red Crescent collect bodies of victims EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work amidst debris AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran A relative of a victim reacts at Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Part of the wreckage Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Officials inspect the wreckage EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's aerospace division, said his unit accepts "full responsibility" for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, "I wished I was dead." He said Guard forces ringing the capital had beefed up their air defences and were at the "highest level of readiness," fearing that the US would retaliate. He said an officer made the "bad decision" to open fire on the plane after mistaking it for a cruise missile. Iran's president Hassan Rouhani said his country "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake." "My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences," he said, while promising an investigation to identify and prosecute the perpetrators. The admission by Iran came after leaders of various Western nations, perhaps most powerfully Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose nation lost around 60 citizens, pointed the finger of blame at Iran. We have intelligence from multiple sources...the intelligence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile, he said on Thursday. This may well have been unintentional. Following Iran's admission, Mr Trudeau said his government expects full cooperation from Iranian authorities in investigating the incident. Precisely what impact the admission from Iran will make to a situation already beset by distrust and suspicion, remains to be seen. Iran's ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, issued an apology on Saturday for his initial statements denying Tehran's responsibility for the incident. Mr Baeidinejad had said that Iran was "confident from our side that there has been no missile launched in that area at that time". Following Iran's admission he tweeted: "In my statement yesterday to the UK media, I conveyed the official findings of responsible authorities in my country that missile could not be fired and hit the Ukrainian plane at that period of time. I apologise and regret for conveying such wrong findings." It comes as Donald Trump on Friday doubled down on his insistence that the killing of Soleimani the incident that presaged the downing of the jet had been necessary. As Democrats and other critics questioned claims from the Trump administration that Soleimani was plotting imminent attacks on US interests, he told Fox News that four US embassies had been at risk, including the one in Baghdad. It was in Baghdad that the 62-year-old Iranian military leader, was assassinated last week by a US airstrike, carried out by a Reaper drone. Iran TV footage allegedly shows black boxes from Ukrainian plane that crashed near Tehran Iran said the passenger plane, en route to Ukraines capital Kiev and carrying 167 passengers and 9 members of crew, including 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians and 4 Britons, had been struck unintentionally by its nations military. A statement from the military, and carried by state media, said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned towards a sensitive military centre of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its highest level of readiness. it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit, the statement said. It apologised for the disaster and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies. It also said those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility, and it gives people a step towards closure with this admission, said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face. Additional reporting by agencies The death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Jan. 10, after nearly 50 years of rule over Oman, has removed one of the great "moderates" from the scene just as soaring tensions between the United States and Iran nearly escalated into another Persian Gulf conflict. In power since he ousted his father in a nearly bloodless palace coup in July 1970, Sultan Qaboos steered Oman through a period of rapid socio-economic modernization even as he kept a tight grip over the levers of political control. The centralization of authority in Qaboos, coupled with his refusal to publicly name a successor, gave rise to persistent speculation over succession as the sultan aged. (He was 79 when he died.) In the event, the transition to the new sultan, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, a first cousin of Qaboos, proceeded rapidly and smoothly, just as Omani officials had quietly predicted it would. One of three brothers long considered by Oman-watchers as the likeliest candidates for succession, Haitham was born in 1954 and represents a careful generational transition as he has accumulated more than 30 years of policymaking experience in senior government roles. Early in his career, Haitham served for 16 years in the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including eight as its secretary-general, between 1994 and 2002, and since then served as minister of national heritage and culture. His profile rose further in 2013 when Qaboos appointed him chair of a committee entrusted with developing Oman Vision 2040, the successor economic plan to Vision 2020, which Qaboos had launched in 1995 as the first of the long-range "visions" that now dominate the economic landscape in all six of the Gulf states. As a senior and experienced member of the Omani royal family and grandson of a former sultan, Taimur bin Faisal, who ruled what was then the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman from 1913 to 1932, Haitham will endeavor to stamp his own imprint on a country that has become synonymous with Qaboos and a society that mostly has known no other ruler. Having seized power at a dangerous time for Oman, then in the middle of a 10-year Marxist-backed rebellion in the southwestern province of Dhofar, Qaboos embarked on a highly personalistic program of nation-building after the rebellion was defeated in 1975. This included annual "Meet the People" tours where the sultan and his advisers would spend weeks traveling through Oman and sitting with Omanis of all backgrounds to hear and redress any grievances or issues they had, as well as rehabilitating and reintegrating former dissidents, including Yusuf bin Alawi, Omans minister responsible for foreign affairs since 1997, but an active member of the Dhofar Liberation Front in the 1960s. The national narrative that emerged also contrasted the years of progress under Qaboos with the period of darkness that preceded it and cast the 1970 takeover as Omans renaissance. While the decisive and speedy nature of the transition from Qaboos to Haitham belied external observers concern for the opacity of the succession process, the new sultan will inevitably find it a challenge to replicate the charismatic political authority that Qaboos enjoyed as the "father of the nation." In constructing an Omani narrative so closely bound with his own legacy of leadership, the visibility of the process of naming Haitham as sultan is an attempt to imbue the new sultan with immediate legitimacy as Qaboos choice of heir. Yet, at some point, and perhaps sooner rather than later, Haitham is likely to face many of the same economic challenges that built up in the final years of Qaboos rule, and without the protective veneer of untouchability that most all Omanis attached to Qaboos. Public anger over sluggish economic performance and perceptions of corruption triggered protests in 2011, during the Arab Spring, and may yet do so again. The fact that Haitham was himself an active businessman, and associated with Blue City, a failed mega-project controversially bought out by the state after it ran into difficulties in 2012, may also make it harder for him to remain above the fray if tensions ever rise. In regional affairs, Haitham immediately pledged to follow Qaboos policy of peaceful coexistence with all nations and commitment to good neighborliness. Omans longstanding refusal to pick sides or get involved in regional conflicts and standoffs enabled Qaboos to carve a reputation as a facilitator able to pass messages and create the conditions for dialogue between adversaries such as the United States and Iran, between 2011 and 2013 and, in 2019, between Saudi officials and Houthi representatives. Omani facilitation was crucial in enabling the talks that grew into the P5+1 negotiation with Iran and culminated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015. It is a sad irony that the final days of Qaboos life were marked by the spiraling of tensions between the United States and Iran after President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the JCPOA in 2018 and initiated an ill-thought-out "maximum pressure" campaign intended to further isolate and squeeze Iran. The de-escalatory messages passed through a European intermediary prior to Irans Jan. 8 missile strike against US targets in Iraq provided a timely reminder of the need for a respected "third-party" that can keep open channels of communication and prevent or minimize the chances of an accidental miscalculation that could trigger further conflict in the region. It remains to be seen whether Oman under Sultan Haitham continues to perform this role, just as it will also be instructive to see whether any of Omans more assertive neighbors seek to sway Haitham to align more closely with their own approach to regional Gulf politics. Omani officials have watched very closely the two rounds of tension in the Gulf between the trio of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in 2014 and again since 2017, and are acutely aware that the pressure on Qatar began within weeks of a new emir coming to power. These regional uncertainties mean that Haithams first moves as sultan will be followed with great interest in capitals on both sides of the Gulf as Oman adapts to life in the post-Qaboos era. I would like to see what you can find out on my great-grandfather, Valentin Opiela. Both my parents are now gone, and we heard conflicting stories of his death. He was one of eight children from a family that came over from Poland around 1860. Valentin was the youngest and the only child born in the United States, where he married Veronika Kniejski, my great-grandmother. My understanding is that she passed away, and he moved to San Antonio and married again. If this is true, how and exactly when did he die? Any other information you can provide would be helpful. Tom Dupnick This is a story to remember when you hear people talk about the good old days, when it was safe to walk the streets at night. More than 100 years ago, when San Antonio was then the largest city in Texas, it wasnt safe. Valentine (his first name was usually Anglicized) met a sudden, violent death at a relatively young age, and he wasnt the only victim. As far as can be told from records, which are complicated by free-style spellings of his last name, some of what youve heard is correct as far as it went. In the 1880 U.S. Census, Opiela was 19 and a farmer who lived with his family in Karnes County. He was the only one born in Texas. His relatives are referred to as having been born in Prussia, because Upper Silesia, their region of Poland, was then under Prussian rule. Karnes County was home to many Polish immigrants, who found a home in Panna Maria, Cestohowa and other towns settled by their countrymen. The Panna Maria Historical Society has Valentine Opielas family tree, and a spokesperson confirmed that his first wife was Veronika, who also came from Karnes Countys Polish community. The couple married Jan. 22, 1883, and had 12 children before Veronika died Jan. 17, 1902, and was buried in the Panna Maria Cemetery. Later that year, he married his second wife, Katherine Katie Malinowski, born in 1878 in Panna Maria. She helped him bring up his two youngest children with Veronika, and they had four more of their own. By the time of the 1910 census, the reconstituted family was living in Wilson County, and Valentine was doing street work, presumably grading and paving as automobiles required better roads. As reported later, he was back to farming on the day he came to San Antonio, probably in late April 1914. It was typical for farmers, with or without their families, to come into towns or cities to trade livestock, sell crops or buy equipment or other goods. We dont know why Opiela, then living in Martinez Station, was here, but he probably did some kind of trading, because he was carrying a large amount of cash on the night of May 1. He and Emil Reymann of Macdona werent together, but they had almost the same experience that night. The headline in the San Antonio Light, May 1, 1914, was Two robbed and beaten by thugs/Strangers in city lose money and sustain serious injuries. From police reports, its not clear whether just two men were the perpetrators or two pairs of thugs working independently. Both men were robbed at an early hour Friday morning (May 1), and the modus operandi was similar. Reymann, also a farmer, had been in the city a few days on business, he told police officers, when he met two men on West Commerce, one of the citys main thoroughfares, which a history on the Texas Transportation Museum website, txtransportationmuseum.org, describes as noisy and congested to the point that a street-widening project had begun. His new companions, according to the Light, appeared friendly and after an hours association, they induced (Reymann) to accompany them along Commerce Street. As they reached the Alazan Creek Bridge, Reymann said, he was suddenly attacked and beaten to the ground. Dazed by the blow, he was powerless to offer resistance, and his money was taken from him. Opiela, too, had been approached by a couple of men who later attacked him about the face and head until he was almost senseless. Police officers found him in a semiconscious condition about 4 a.m. near the city cemeteries on East Commerce Street. That would have been within walking distance of the Southern Pacific Railroads Sunset Station, as well as hotels, restaurants and saloons that catered to travelers. Opiela told the officers that he had been relieved of a roll of currency, which he said contained $115. He told a story almost identical to Reymanns but couldnt describe his assailants. Detectives were assigned to both cases, but it doesnt appear that anyone was ever charged with either crime. There was no further word about Reymanns injuries, but Opiela was taken to San Antonio City Hospital, the forerunner of whats now University Health Systems Robert B. Green Campus. It was a public hospital, and he died there, according to his death certificate, at 6:30 a.m. May 6. The doctor who pronounced him dead had been attending him for two days and gave Opielas cause of death as fracture, base (of) brain, knocked on the head, with cerebral hemorrhage as a contributing cause. Although the death certificate lists him as single, a report in the Light, May 7, 1914, said he was survived by his widow. Opielas body was prepared by Riebe Undertakers and sent to Hobson, in Karnes County, for burial. That could mean he was buried in St. Boniface Cemetery there, although his name doesnt come up in online searches. While his first wife, Veronika, was buried in the Panna Maria Cemetery as dozens of other Opielas have been Valentine is not there, according to records consulted by the Panna Maria Historical Society. According to her death certificate, second wife Katie, who never remarried, also was buried in the Panna Maria Cemetery after she died of heart disease in 1957. By then, she was living in rural Panna Maria. Its possible that Valentine is buried in one of these cemeteries but that his monument was missing or illegible when researchers listed them. historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Saturday acknowledged that it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing US troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a "hostile target." The military was at its "highest level of readiness," it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. "In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit," the military said. It apologized and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies. Those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted, the statement added. Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guard's aerospace division, later said his unit accepts "full responsibility" for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, "I wished I were dead." Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed his "deep sympathy" to the families of the victims and called on the armed forces to "pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident." Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a statement saying the crash investigation should continue and the perpetrators should be brought to justice. He said Iran should compensate victims' families, and he requested "official apologies through diplomatic channels." Iran's acknowledgement of responsibility for the crash was likely to inflame public sentiment against authorities after Iranians had rallied around their leaders in the wake of Soleimani's killing. Soleimani, the leader of the Guard's elite Quds Force and the architect of Iran's regional military interventions, was seen as a national icon, and hundreds of thousands of Iranians had turned out for funeral processions across the country. The majority of the plane crash victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians. Iranian officials had repeatedly ruled out a missile strike, dismissing such allegations as Western propaganda that officials said was offensive to the victims. The crash came just weeks after authorities quashed nationwide protests ignited by a hike in gasoline prices. Iran has been in the grip of a severe economic crisis since President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani blamed the shootdown of the plane in part on "threats and bullying" by the United States after the killing of Soleimani. He expressed condolences to families of the victims, and he called for a "full investigation" and the prosecution of those responsible. "A sad day," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. "Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations." The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. The US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos verified by The Associated Press. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lowered the nation's death toll from 63. "This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility, and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission," said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. "I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face." Iran's acknowledgement of responsibility was likely to renew questions of why authorities did not shut down the country's main international airport and its airspace after the ballistic missile attack, when they feared US reprisals. It also undermines the credibility of information provided by senior Iranian officials. As recently as Friday, Ali Abedzadeh, the head of the national aviation department, had told reporters "with certainty" that a missile had not caused the crash. On Thursday, Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei dismissed reports of a missile, saying they "rub salt on a painful wound" for families of the victims. Iran had also invited Ukraine, Canada, the United States and France to take part in the investigation of the crash, in keeping with international norms. The Boeing 737 was built in the United States and the engine was built by a US-French consortium. Ukraine's president said its team of investigators, who are already on the ground in Iran, should continue their work with full access and cooperation. The military statement, issued by the Joint Chiefs of the Armed Forces, said Guard officials had been ordered to provide a detailed explanation to the public. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The reality in many states is that policy makers face a menu of poor choices. Research by the Annie E. Casey Foundation suggests that congregate care the term for such group settings results in children with more mental-health problems, higher high school drop-out rates and a greater likelihood to commit crimes. But an earlier study of three Midwestern states foster care systems by the University of Chicago, in which two-thirds of the sampled children had lived with foster parents or relatives who served as foster parents, also showed discouraging outcomes: By age 17, more than half were arrested, jailed or convicted. The Iredell Health System held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday at the 17-acre site of its soon-to-be-constructed medical facility in Mooresville. The 68,000-square-foot facility will be off Bluefield Road near Exit 36 on I-77 in Mooresville. Construction is set to be completed in June 2021 and will cost $35 million, said John Green, president and CEO of Iredell Health System. As a local nonprofit organization, thats a little daunting, Green said, referring to the construction costs. Thats a pretty risky move by us, but, to me, the reward is bigger than the risk, because when we look at what we can provide to this community, that is why were here. Green said that a conservative estimate of the number of IHS employees for the facility would be 40 to 50. The facility will have a 24-hour urgent-care center and an ambulatory surgery center, Green said. We heard repeatedly, through focus groups and through the community, that one of the things that was needed was the opportunity to have cost-effective non-emergency care, he said. You know how you do that? You have to have something open 24 hours, seven days a week. FAIRFIELD A very special celebratory show was revived Friday night at St. Pauls Episcopal Church when the church players produced The Boars Head a Festival of Light. Close to 100 performers took part in the musical retelling of the boars head legend, which centers on an Oxford University student who halted the rampage of an angry boar by stuffing his Greek paper down his throat. A seething Nick Kyrgios has imploded in front of a sold-out Ken Rosewall Arena, falling to Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets and leaving Australia's ATP Cup hopes hanging by a thread. After a fortnight of being lauded for his new, calm on-court behaviour the old Kyrgios was back at Ken Rosewall Arena on Saturday night. The classic Nick Kyrgios was back in a heavy defeat. Credit:Getty The verbal barbs to his corner were back. So was the racquet smashing. A fan copped it at one point, too, after calling out before a point was complete. The difference on Saturday night to the past 10 days? Kyrgios trailed from the outset. Bautista Agut broke his first service game and almost immediately, the Australian No.2 let his head drop. Iran said on Saturday it unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane killing 176 people on board due to human error, after initially denying it brought down the plane in the tense aftermath of Iranian missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq. Wednesday's crash heightened international pressure on Iran after months of friction with the United States and tit-for-tat military strikes. Washington killed an Iranian general last week in Iraq, prompting Tehran to fire at U.S. targets. The United States and Canada, which had 57 citizens on board, had blamed an Iranian action for bringing down the aircraft. Ottawa had told Iran that "the world is watching." On Twitter, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the armed force's investigation showed the downing of the Boeing 737-800 was the result of "human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism (that) led to disaster." An Iranian military statement, announcing that a missile had struck the plane and expressing condolences to the victims, said the plane had flown close to a sensitive military site belonging to the elite Revolutionary Guards. It said responsible parties would be referred to a judicial department within the military and held accountable. Mobile phone footage posted and circulated by ordinary Iranians on Twitter after the crash has indicated that it came down in a ball of flames. Iran had said on Thursday it would download the information from voice and flight data recorders, known as black boxes, to determine what had happened, although it had said that the process could take one to two months. Tehran said it could ask Russia, Canada, France or Ukraine for help in an effort that it said could take one or two years. Many of the victims were Iranian with dual nationality. Iran initially dismissed the accusations that a missile was to blame for the crash, calling such suggestions "psychological warfare". Grief-stricken Iranians and others have posted images related to the crash. One showed a child's red shoe in the dirt. Another was a selfie of a mother and daughter in their seats, sent to a loved one just before takeoff. "Why were any civilian airlines flying out of Tehran airport in those conditions?" a user named Shiva Balaghi wrote on Twitter. Ukraine had been looking at various possible causes of the crash, including an attack by a Russian-made missile, a collision, an engine explosion or terrorism. Northern Ireland's assembly sat on Saturday following a three-year suspension after rival nationalist and unionist parties agreed to a new power-sharing deal with Brexit looming. The region's devolved assembly at Stormont collapsed in January 2017 over a scandal caused by the runaway costs of a renewable energy scheme. Its 90 members have since sat only for one-off sessions, with numerous rounds of acrimonious negotiations failing to reach a solution, leaving basic services unattended. But they returned on Saturday after Pro-Irish republicans and pro-British unionists struck a deal on Friday under the threat of a new regional election if they missed the latest deadline to reconvene on Monday. Members will later select new ministers and assign various portfolios. Unionist leader Arlene Foster is set to be reinstalled as first minister and effective head of the government, with republican Sinn Fein member Michelle O'Neill expected to serve as her deputy in a new executive that features several prominent women. The UK government in London promised a large cash injection into the small but strategically important province if the republican Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) found an agreement. "Sinn Fein has taken the decision to re-enter the power-sharing institution and nominate ministers to the power-sharing executive," party leader Mary Lou McDonald told reporters. "We're ready to do business," she said. DUP chief Foster called the draft power-sharing agreement "fair and balanced", and wrote on Twitter Saturday that it was "time to Get Northern Ireland Moving Forward Again" after "three years of stalemate." Downing Street called the draft deal "a balanced package," adding that the precise amount of new funding would be spelled out when agreement was reached. "History is being made," said Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney after both sides confirmed their support for the devolved government. It can help "show that in Northern Ireland can be a force for good and brings people together," he said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the breakthrough "an extremely positive development for the people of Northern Ireland". Friday's deal came with thousands of the region's healthcare workers on strike. The latest talks were launched in the wake of a December 12 UK general election that saw both the DUP and Sinn Fein lose votes to smaller groups. Analysts attributed the main parties' losses to voter frustration at their inability to reach a compromise that could let a government in Belfast take care of the region's daily needs. A 1998 peace accord that ended three decades of violence over British rule of Northern Ireland in which thousands died requires the two main parties to share power. The lack of an executive was especially fraught with danger for the region because of historic changes to its trade rules being imposed by Britain's pending withdrawal from the European Union. Northern Ireland's border with the Republic of Ireland becomes a UK-EU land frontier on Brexit. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's EU withdrawal agreement puts pressure on local authorities to maintain frictionless trade while preserving an open border on the island of Ireland. Negotiations to revive Stormont have been stuck on disagreements over the use of the Irish language and a mechanism giving minority parties veto rights. The draft requires the executive "to provide official recognition of the status of the Irish language in Northern Ireland" and to "respect the freedom of all persons... to choose, affirm, maintain and develop their national and cultural identity". It also eliminates the veto mechanism and compels the parties to build consensus on issues of dispute. The UK government additionally promises to deliver a new financial package for the region that allows outstanding public sector salaries to be paid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Storms carrying high winds of at least 60 miles per hour caused power outages and property damage across southeast Texas overnight, downing trees, power lines and even a gas port. A line of heavy storms moved through the region just after midnight with winds that caused power outages for as many as 66,000 residents at the peak, according to CenterPoint Energy figures. As of mid-Saturday, power had been restored for all but 5,200 Harris County homes and businesses. The number was 5,300, down from a peak of 19,000, for Entergy Texas, which services most counties north and east of Houston. The entire line of storms carried winds of 30-40 miles per hour, with bursts in some places topping at least 60 miles per hour, said Dan Reilly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. While there was scattered damage in Houston a tree crashing into a home in The Woodlands, jarring a family of three, and a gas station in southwest Houston saw its port collapse the brunt of the storms landed elsewhere. Brazos and Burleson County experienced more property damage, Reilly said. KBTX in College Station reports one residents trampoline crashed onto its home, leaving its legs poking through the ceiling. And officials in Louisiana said Saturday that at least three people there died as a result of the storms, including an elderly couple found near in their demolished trailer. Dallas police said one person was killed Friday night when a car flipped into the Five Mile Creek near downtown, though its unclear if that crash was weather-related. Officials in Houston monitored the storms from the Office of Emergency Management until about 1:30 a.m., Houston police spokesman Kese Smith said, and there were no major incidents to report. Reilly said the storms create downbursts with strong gusts that are responsible for much of the damage. You get these periodic downbursts and stronger winds pushing out with the wind, said Reilly. In a case like that, the wind damage tends to be laid out in one direction. Such bursts become microbursts when they are severe, but Reilly said there is no evidence yet that those occurred in the overnight storms. Reilly said the weather service also detected some rotating storms on the radar, which could indicate tornadoes touched down. We cant confirm that at this point, he said. One such storm was spotted near Hobby Airport. The weather services log of damage reports includes structural damage to a Buffalo Speedway gas station and downed trees in The Woodlands. One tree there crashed into a home on Drybrook Road, prompting the Spring Fire Department to respond for a reported gas leak around 11 p.m.. Benjamin Bailey said he was watching television around 11 p.m. when the strong gust of wind came through. A few seconds later, a tree came crashing through the roof and shaking the entire house. The first thing we thought about was our baby, Bailey said, adding that he, his wife and their 10-month-old were all unharmed. I heard a big crashing sound, almost like the wind had really picked up, he said. Essentially, thats when the tree came straight into our house, came through our kitchen, water pouring in everywhere absolutely devastating. The wind was so strong, Bailey said, that before the tree fell he was already concerned it might rip the roof off his house. Spring firefighters were there within seconds, and neighbors and friends stopped by as well, Bailey said. This is the Houston area, so everybody helps out with each other in times like this, he said. Bailey said there was an odor of gas, and Spring firefighters were on scene. CenterPoint spokeswoman Olivia Ross said the gas has been turned off and all indications are the meter there is not damaged. Somerville police were reporting the entire town was without power at 10 p.m. Friday, according to the log. The Houston Chronicle facility on the Southwest Freeway was among the buildings to lose power, which may have caused some delivery delays of Saturday's newspaper. Readers can access today's stories at houstonchronicle.com. Chambers and Galveston counties were briefly under tornado watches and Fort Bend and Harris counties were under tornado warnings. All of those have been lifted. The risk of severe weather had mostly passed as Houstonians began waking up Saturday morning. The line of storms was in Louisiana as of 8:30 a.m., Reilly said. Gusty northwest winds should be expected for much of today as cooler, drier air moves into Southeast Texas, forecasters wrote. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission holds a news conference after a European Union foreign ministers emergency meeting to discuss ways to try to save the Iran nuclear deal, in Brussels on Jan. 10, 2020. (Francois Lenoir/Reuters) EU Ministers Support Iran Nuclear Deal, Prefer Diplomatic Solution The European Union Council of foreign ministers convened at an extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Council in Brussels on Jan. 10, calling on Iran to immediately go back to full compliance with the Nuclear Deal. It gave a mandate to the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to carry out diplomatic efforts to resolve the tensions in the region via political means. The EUs High Representative Josep Borrell called this urgent meeting of European foreign affairs ministers, which was also joined by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, after the assassination of an Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, in a U.S. drone attack in Iraq on Jan. 3 and escalation of tensions in the region. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg holds a news conference at a European Union foreign ministers emergency meeting to discuss ways to try to save the Iran nuclear deal, in Brussels on Jan. 10, 2020. (Francois Lenoir/Reuters) Stoltenberg said in his remarks before the meeting that NATO should build on some reduction in tensions in the Middle East that recently had been observed. However, the fight against Daesh [ISIS terrorist group] is not over, and ISIS can return despite the progress made to defeat it, said Stoltenberg. The best strategy to defeat ISIS, according to Stoltenberg, is to train local forces in countering terrorism and build local defense and security institutions, which is currently happening in Iraq. However, NATO and the Coalition have suspended training activities due to security concerns, Stoltenberg said. He also mentioned that NATO is looking into increasing its contribution to regional stability and the fight against international terrorism in the Middle East, in response to President Donald Trumps calling on NATO to do more in fighting against international terrorism in that region. The ministers participating in the EU Foreign Council meeting assessed the consequences of the recent security incidents and the escalation of tensions in the region, as well as their impact on the activities carried out by the global coalition to defeat ISIS, according to the statement (pdf) adopted by the Council. The council gave a mandate to the EUs High Representative to carry out diplomatic efforts with all parties to contribute to deescalation in the region, support political dialogue, and promote a political, regional solution, and called for urgent deescalation and maximum restraint, according to the statement. 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) Borrell said that the council did not consider triggering a dispute resolution process under the 2015 nuclear deal that could lead to renewed United Nations sanctions on Iran due to Irans decision to intensify its enrichment of uranium. Instead, the ministers reiterated their support for the preservation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) [Iran Nuclear Deal], as a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture, and called on Iran to go back to full compliance with the JCPoA without delay. Borrell had already offered for the Foreign Minister of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to coordinate the efforts of the remaining Nuclear Deal participants to complete the implementation of the deal, and invited Zarif to Brussels for further discussions. The United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed tight sanctions on Iran previously lifted as a part of the deal. Foreign ministers of the E3 countries (three Iran Nuclear deal signatoriesFrance, Germany, and the UK) expressed their support for the deal. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said before his arrival at the council meeting: We are of the opinion that this agreement makes sense because it holds Iran to not developing nuclear weapons. But of course, it only has a future if it is complied with, and we expect that from Iran. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian continued to insist the deal is not dead and said Iran could get access to atomic weapons within one or two years if it does abide by the agreement. In a phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also reaffirmed his support for the deal. The U.S. State Department discussed with a NATO delegation how NATO could increase its involvement in Iraq in line with the President Donald Trumps recommendation to Allies to increase burden sharing in all defense efforts, according to State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus. The United States military presence in Iraq is to continue the fight against ISIS, and as the Secretary has said, we are committed to protecting Americans, Iraqis, and our coalition partners, Ortagus said in a statement. At this time, any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnershipnot to discuss troop withdrawal, but our right, appropriate force posture in the Middle East, the statement said. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Given the passengers were from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians, and 11 Ukrainians, this event has sunk the Iranian regime into an international crisis. Iranian authorities initially denied any involvement in the incident and claimed that the jetliner had crashed due to a technical defect. However, they announced that they would not deliver the black box to Boeing, the planes manufacturer. This decision raised suspicions over the Iranian regimes role in the death of innocent passengers. A little later, footages on the social media and expert estimations intensified suspicions. Many experts reasoned that it is impossible that a plane suddenly explodes without any previous notifications. On the other hand, on the same day, the Iranian regime was taking revenge on the U.S. military bases in Iraq for the death of the chief of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force Qassem Soleimani. In such circumstances, governments shut down airports to prevent any accidental disasters. However, the Iranian regime decided not to take this measure. On Thursday, Ali Rabiei, Rouhanis cabinet spokesman, tried to evade responsibility and answered reporters, rub salt on a painful wound [for families of the victims]. A day later, on Friday, Ali Abedzadeh, the head of Irans civil aviation organization, in an interview with ISNA News Agency claimed, Its impossible that a missile hit the Ukrainian plane How can a plane being hit by rocket or missile [and then the pilot] try to turn back to the airport? However, the regime couldnt conceal the truth for any longer and was forced to admit to the role of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in the jetliner crash. On the dawn of January 11, Irans joint Chiefs of the Armed Forces stated that the plane was mistaken for a hostile target. Irans military forces tried to deflect the scope of the event by blaming the late pilot for turning toward a sensitive military center. However, some people who are familiar with the flight procedures say that four flights previously passed from the mentioned district! Notably, this national disaster caused rise the of emotion against the ayatollahs and their inattention in the public sphere. Over the past week, more than 200 people lost their lives in road accidents, Soleimanis funeral, an airliner crash across Iran. These events have taken place while two months ago, security forces massacred more than 1,500 demonstrators by shooting them directly in the head and chest. In this case, under international pressure, the ayatollahs were forced to tell the truth. But there are many cases that still remain unclear. Some of the cases are killing protesters during the November protests, mass killing of 30,000 political prisoners, mostly members and supporters of the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), and violent crackdown on previous uprisings. In conclusion, as the Iranian regime eventually confessed to its crime against the innocent passengers of the Ukrainian civil jetliner, the other crimes that were committed by the mullahs should be investigated by an international court. The Iranian Resistance earlier demanded the United Nation Security Council to urgently send a fact-finding mission to Iran to reveal the genuine scope of the death toll. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), described the plane crash as a great crime that wont be forgiven and forgotten by the Iranian people. Regimes forced admission to shooting down the Ukrainian airliner that killed all the passengers is another great crime, which the Iranian people will neither forgive nor forget the Ukrainian Plane. The regime had given advance warning about its missile attack on American bases to the Iraqi government and its military and through them to the US. But did not issue any advance notice to our compatriots and did not cancel passenger flights, Mrs. Rajavi tweeted. Water governance: Could less sometimes be more? The use of environmental resources has been regulated for centuries with the aim of improving the management and behaviour of private and public actors on an on-going basis. But, does the never-ending introduction of new regulations really have a positive effect? Or, does a surfeit of rules cause malfunctions and lead to disturbing overlaps? In an attempt to answer these questions, researchers from the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Lausanne (UNIL), Switzerland, analysed water governance regulations in six European countries from 1750 to 2006. Their results, published in the journal Ecological Economics, show that rules designed to improve resource management eventually come into conflict in the long run, creating an equal number of positive and negative effects until the system falls apart. At this point, the only way out is for the state to overhaul governance. Societies have been making rules to control behaviours and the uses of natural resources such as water for centuries. At the same time, however, the competing interests of state and private actors continue to produce environmental problems. In overall terms, the scientific literature is in agreement that developments in the way these regulations are structured are, nevertheless, increasingly positive and effective. But to what extent is this really the case in the long run? "To assess whether a regulation is positive in the long run, you need to factor in the ecosystem of rules that it is part of, and which it may either reinforce or disrupt", begins Thomas Bolognesi, a researcher at the Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE) at UNIGE. In fact, a rule that induces a positive impact on the use that it regulates may cause turmoil once it begins to interact with existing regulations, causing the entire system to malfunction, conceived here as transversal transaction costs (TTCs). "And over the very long term", adds the Geneva-based scientist, "the negative effect of TTCs can grow and end up being equivalent to the positive effect generated by the new regulation, creating what we called an institutional complexity trap." The quality of governance is based, therefore, on two key components: the scope, i.e. the set of uses governed by the rules (quantity); and the consistency, i.e. the fact that the rules are defined and followed correctly (quality). Successive improvements to the system lead to breaking point To test their hypothesis, Bolognesi and Stephane Nahrath, a professor at UNIL's Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP), scrutinised the water governance systems in six European countries (Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands) from 1750 to 2006. "The aim of the study was to determine whether the increase in the scope of the governance reduced the system-wide coherence, and even went as far as overriding the positive effects intended by the additional regulations", says professor Nahrath. The researchers identified three distinct phases in the evolution of the governance in the six countries. The first phase, which lasted from 1750 to 1850 and was followed by around 50 years of stagnation, covered the launch of the governance process, i.e. the production of framework rules that had relatively little impact. From 1900 to 1980, governance developed and the rules, which grew in precision, generated significant positive effects. But since 1980, we have entered a phase where the negative indirect effect, linked to a drop in the system's coherence, has been reinforced and offsets the previous positive effect, even to the point of supplanting it. "This is due to the creation of a profusion of new rules, especially following the introduction of the New Public Management approach in the 1980s", notes Bolognesi. This proliferation of regulations, which were sometimes designed to regulate the same area but along different lines, had an indirect negative impact on governance and resulted in a decrease in efficiency and clarity, leading to a systemic malfunction. "Consequently, to achieve a positive effect - as slim as it is - more and more rules need to be produced, increasing the risk of malfunction and leading to a vicious circle", continues Nahrath. System reformed by the state Contrary to the widespread idea that water governance is constantly improving, the study by the researchers from UNIGE and UNIL demonstrates the conflicts instigated by repeatedly introducing new rules designed to increase the system's efficiency. "If we carry on in the same way, we're going to hit breaking point", warns Bolognesi. "That's why we think it's important that the state and government policy should take charge of environmental governance issues. That way, we can avoid introducing separate rules that generate frictions and uncertainties, and that could create insurmountable obstacles for coordinating the system." As professor Nahrath concludes: "The contractual rules must in no instance take precedence over state rules." ### This story has been published on: 2020-01-10. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday unveiled over 5.5 lakh postcards written by Ahmedabad residents to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thanking him for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The postcards were stacked on the dais as Shah addressed a gathering of BJP workers who formed letters 'C A A' in front of him. The state BJP claimed that the party's "largest awareness campaign" in support of the CAA had found a place in Limca Book of Records and World Record of India. "It is not just words but a letter of thanks written from the heart. Our public outreach programme is a reply to the lies being spread against the CAA," Shah said addressing BJP workers from his former Assembly constituency Naranpura. The BJP had promised to enact the CAA in its manifesto, he said, asking why the Congress did not oppose it then. Targeting Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Shah said, "Congress has a government in Rajasthan. The Congress party in that state had promised that Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan would be given citizenship. "Why do you oppose it when we fulfill the promise made by you?" the Union home minister asked. "In 2006 and 2009, Ashok Gehlot wrote a letter for the same. We covered Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, all of them under the Act, you had only mentioned Hindus and Sikhs," Shah claimed. Saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by bringing in the CAA, granted "human rights to lakhs of people", he asked why opposition was against it. He challenged "Rahul Baba" (Congress leader Rahul Gandhi), Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal to show if any provision of the CAA took away the citizenship of Indian Muslims. "There is no such provision. Lakhs and crores of people have come to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh to save their religion, their self-respect, to save themselves. Where else will they go?" he asked. "From the first prime minister of the country Jawaharlal Nehru to the first home minister, first president of the country, and Mahatma Gandhi himself had said that whoever comes to India from Pakistan will be granted citizenship. Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains coming from Pakistan have nowhere else to go," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 20:34:32|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua)--The Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Saturday pledged to boost its support for South Sudan peace process. The pledge to boost support for South Sudan peace process was made during a discussion held in Addis Ababa between Gedu Andargachew, Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs and James Morgan, South Sudan ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union (AU). "Andargachew reiterated Ethiopia's commitment in helping South Sudan to implement the necessary issues ahead of the formation of the transitional unity government". "He also expressed his hope that South Sudan peace signatory parties would come into consensus to resolve sticky issues with the remaining 50 days to form the transitional government," said a MoFA press statement. Morgan for his part hailed Ethiopia's support to the South Sudan peace process and briefed the Ethiopian Foreign Minister on the status of implementation of the peace process. He also hailed Ethiopia's achievement during its chairmanship of the east African bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). In November, the eight-nation trading and security bloc chose Sudan to take over the chair position replacing Ethiopia. Sudan is expected to hold the position for one year. IGAD has been mediating an end to the civil war in South Sudan ever since conflict broke out in the world's newest nation in December 2013. At the campaign (Photo courtesy of the US Embassy in Vietnam) As many as 269 people registered to donate their blood at the annual event, the eighth of its kind. Speaking at the event, Deputy Chief of Mission Caryn McClelland said as the US and Vietnam celebrate the 25 years of the normalisation of their bilateral diplomatic relations this year, the event manifests the countries commitment to the construction of long-standing people-to-people exchanges at all levels. Medical officer at the US Embassy Shawn Lockett noted that the blood donation campaign also helps raise public awareness of the significance of maintaining a stable amount of blood in reserve as well as voluntary blood donors. The number of voluntary donors has enjoyed constant increase since the first event held in 2012, he added. Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. Germany has announced on January 10 that it wanted to save the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran dismissing the call by US President Donald Trump to abandon the Iran nuclear pact signed in 2015 by the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, China, and Germany. Rainer Breul, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said at a press conference that they have different views on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. He added that their main aim is to save the deal because they think it is the right instrument to prevent Iran from possible nuclear armament. "The latest rocket attack on air bases in Iraq used by U.S. and the coalition forces are another example of escalation and increased confrontation. It is on no one interest to turn up the spiral of violence even further" @JosepBorrellF on #IranAttacks and the #JCPOA pic.twitter.com/uJ3fbNbOuo European External Action Service - EEAS (@eu_eeas) January 8, 2020 READ: White House Says Trump Could Still Renegotiate Iran Nuclear Deal Germany, France wants to stick to the accord France and the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, were also in favour of the deal from which the US withdrew in 2018 with the Trump administration imposing sanctions against Iran. Amid growing tensions between US and Iran, Trump on Wednesday said that it is high time for the member signatories to withdraw from the nuclear accord. He urged Iran to return its commitments under the 2015 agreement struck with the US, Britain, Germany, France, Russia, and China. READ: Flaring Tensions Could Kill Iran Nuclear Deal; To What End? White House advisor Kellyanne Conway on December 6 said that US President Donald Trump remains optimistic about renegotiating the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran despite the United States killing Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike. According to reports, the remarks by the White House advisor comes after Iran made an announcement that it would further back off from the nuclear deal after the killing of Soleimani. Responding to a question, Conway said that Trump is open to renegotiating the deal only if Iran starts to act civil. READ: 'Firmly Uphold': China Calls For Iran Nuclear Deal To Be Upheld Iran announces its exit from accord Iran officially announced on January 5 its exit from the 2015 Nuclear Accord. Tehran stated it was stepping back from the deal and it would forego the "limit on the number of centrifuges" it had pledged. Iran's nuclear deal with Britain, China, France, Russia, Germany, and the United States has been in trouble since the US unilaterally withdrew from it two years ago. Moreover, Iran stated that they had successfully enriched uranium to about 4.5 per cent, and threatened to hit the 20 per cent mark. READ: 'UK Committed To Nuclear Deal With Iran,' Says British PM Despite US' Call For Breakaway Official representative of Turkey Ibrahim Kalin held talks with U.S. Special Representative on Syria James Jeffrey to discuss situation in Syria, U.S.-Iran tension and other regional developments. The officials underlined the necessity of diplomacy to prevent the massive humanitarian crisis and migrant flow from Syria. James Jeffrey will also travel to Riyadh to discuss ongoing efforts to promote stability and security in Syria, including the need to continue stabilization activities to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. She recently vowed to make 'positive changes' to her lifestyle in 2020, branding it 'the year of health'. And it appears whatever Rebel Wilson is doing is working, as she shared a sultry cleavage-baring snap with fans on Saturday. The 39-year-old took to Instagram to share the jaw-dropping image, which showed off her visible weight loss as she gazed away from the camera. Sultry! Rebel Wilson (pictured) shared a cleavage-baring snap with fans on Saturday, showing off her visible weight loss The sultry snap appeared to be during a mid-day hike, with Rebel looking effortlessly chic in the eye-popping top and a pair of oversized sunglasses. She whisked half of her blonde locks into a ponytail for the occasion, and accentuated her features with some rouge blush and a dark pink lipstick. It comes as Rebel unveiled her new slimmed down figure on Thursday, pledging to focus on her health in 2020. Trim: Rebel showed off her slimmed-down figure on Thursday, vowing to make health a focus The photograph showed Rebel posing in a pair of black leggings and a white exercise top, with her announcing she plans to make health a priority this year. '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. 'I'm going to do it!' Rebel announced last Thursday that she is going to continue to make her health a priority in 2020. Pictured in May, 2019 Fans flocked to Rebel's page to praise her for vowing to make positive changes and insisted she is 'already looking amazing.' Australian Rebel only recently hit the headlines, after she auctioned a lunch with herself at her $3.76 million Sydney home for two people. The Pitch Perfect star raised $100,000, which will be given to the Australian bush fire relief fund. 'You'll be the first ones to christen my new dining table. The house has just been finished,' Rebel said to the crowd at the event. The idea of imposing a wealth tax on the richest Americans has elicited sharply divergent views across a spectrum of politicians, with President Donald Trump branding it socialist and progressive Democratic presidential contenders Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders prominently endorsing it. But it may have broad public support, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that found nearly two-thirds of respondents agree that the very rich should pay more. Among the 4,441 respondents to the poll, 64% strongly or somewhat agreed that 'the very rich should contribute an extra share of their total wealth each year to support public programs' - the essence of a wealth tax. Results were similar across gender, race and household income. While support among Democrats was stronger, at 77%, a majority of Republicans, 53%, also agreed with the idea. A wealth tax is levied on an individual's net worth, such as stocks, bonds and real estate, as well as cash holdings, similar in concept to property taxes. It is separate from an income tax, which applies to wages, interest and dividends, among other sources. Asked in the poll if 'the very rich should be allowed to keep the money they have, even if that means increasing inequality,' 54% of respondents disagreed. Backing: Elizabeth Warren has pushed a wealth tax hard. She can look to the Reuters/Ipsos poll for support 'Rich people have a right to blow their money on Lamborghinis and world-wide cruises or whatever,' said Esin Zimmerman, 53, a lifelong Republican from Madison, Minnesota, who wants higher taxes for the wealthy. 'But that money could be used in other ways that help people.' Zimmerman said she would especially be in favor of a wealth tax that would help pay for government programs for U.S. military veterans, or help single parents with young children. 'It could put the border wall up,' she said. The results may reflect how the economic changes of the past roughly 20 years, from globalization to the financial crisis, have shaped attitudes about economic policy. According to polling by Gallup, concerns about the rich paying too little actually declined through the 1990s and early 2000s, a relative boom period for the United States. But the concerns have been climbing since the crisis years of 2007 to 2009, from 55% to more than 60% as of 2016. The Reuters/Ipsos results suggested even stronger support for an annual levy on total wealth, not just income. Warren and Sanders have touted the idea as a way to help pay for major social programs like Medicare for All and to reverse a stark rise in the share of wealth owned by the very richest Americans, known as the '1 percent.' The poll also points to changing attitudes toward basic ideas such as 'keeping what you earn.' That notion, central to a winner-take-all brand of capitalism, got mixed reviews. While 56% of Republicans agreed the very rich should keep what they have regardless of the impact on inequality, 35% of Republicans disagreed with the statement, as did 71% of Democrats. Republican survey respondents interviewed by Reuters said they did not see their support for a wealth tax conflicting with their party ideals or their support for Trump. Kathy Herron, 56, a Republican who lives in Santa Rosa, California, said her support for Trump - a self-proclaimed billionaire - stems from his hardline policies on illegal immigration. In her view, the president would do well to support higher taxes on rich Americans. 'Were taxed from one end to the other, and it just seems the rich dont pay their share,' she said. In recent years in particular, mainstream economic institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the Federal Reserve have taken seriously the possibility that high levels of wealth and income inequality may be not just politically corrosive, but bad for economic growth. How views have changed over time: Gallup has tracked the issue of views on wealth since 1985 At the most recent Fed policy meeting, staff members presented research on how families' differing access to credit might make a recession worse - the sort of exercise that shows how unequal starting points among households can influence national outcomes. Economic and market trends have likely reinforced doubts about who gets ahead, and how fast. Since the start in 2009 of a now-decade-long recovery, the top 1 percent's share of national net worth has grown from 27.8% to 32.2%, driven by a record-setting boom in the stock market, according to Fed data. Trump has cited the rise in equity markets as a selling point in his campaign, which is centered on taking credit for historically low unemployment, and a tariff-heavy trade policy that he says will restore manufacturing jobs. But that has not changed the country's wealth picture. While the share of wealth held by the bottom 50% of Americans has increased since the crisis, to 1.5% percent, longterm the trend is down, with their share at less than half what it was in 1989. The shares of wealth held by the middle and upper middle classes - or all other Americans save for the richest 1 percent -- have all fallen since the crisis. President Donald J. Trump address to the nation from the Grand Foyer at the White House on Wednesday, Jan 08, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Trump said no Americans were killed or wounded when Iranian forces launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against two military bases in Iraq early Wednesday local time, marking the most significant Iranian attack in a growing conflict with the United States. The Trump administration this week warned Iraq that it could lose access to its central bank account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York if Baghdad expels American troops from the region, Iraqi officials told The Wall Street Journal. The State Department's warning follows the U.S. airstrike that killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Iran's top military commander and the face of the Islamic Republic's interventions across the Middle East. The strike led to Iraq's parliament voting to force out American troops a move some officials argued would hurt Iraq and a counterstrike by Iran on two bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq last week. Shutting down Iraq's account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York could be detrimental to its financial system. The country puts its revenue from oil sales there, and takes out that money to pay government salaries and contracts. The Fed held almost $3 billion in overnight deposits at the close of 2018, according to the most recent financial statement from the Central Bank of Iraq. President Trump threatened to place economic sanctions on Iraq after parliament voted to request that Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi oust about 5,300 American troops. Those sanctions would also extend to Iran. The White House could also end waivers that allow Iraq to buy Iranian gas to fuel generators that supply a large portion of the country's power, placing another pressure on the prime minister over addressing U.S. troops without enduring economic and financial loss. Mahdi has argued that forcing out American troops is the only way to avoid conflict in Iraq. He was warned about the central bank account in a call on Wednesday, an Iraqi official told The Journal. The "new and improved" Interfaith Alliance of Upstate New York has been launched "to combat hate and racism and enhance respect and understanding of each other," said co-chair Deb Riitano of Albany. "The turbulence of the last few years has seen a rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. We want people to join us who want to walk in the direction we are walking in," she said. The Interfaith Alliance of New York State and the Interfaith Alliance of the Capital District, both organizations founded in the 1990s, were at the point where "some members had very little to do with the agenda and that turned out to be more divisive than unifying," said co-chair Rev. Monshin Paul Naamon of Chatham, abbot at the Tendai Buddhist Institute in East Chatham. A retired biology professor, he worked with Riitano to reestablish the group. Riitano, Albany County Department for Aging commissioner and the former executive director of Capital Area Council of Churches, said, "We need to be the organization that straddles faith and democracy and social justice." "The national office has been wonderful in helping us restructure and get the ball rolling again," said Riitano. Rabbi Jack Moline is president of the Interfaith Alliance based in Washington, D.C. The national organization's basic premise is that the constitution protects everybody equally and guarantees the rights of all citizens. "As faith communities, we see that as part of our faith, not separate from it," he said. The Interfaith Alliance has members in every state representing 75 or more faith communities as well as people who profess no faith, said Moline. The local organization's goals are lofty to promote education, work for equality for the LGBTQ community, feed children in the summer and create a lecture series, according to Riitano. "What is often poorly expressed by people who are partisans of the Constitution or of a particular faith community is that our founders meant for both things to be honored. Faith should be protected by the Constitution but just as important is the Constitution should be protected by people of the faith," said Moline. The group has had one organizational membership meeting with its Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist partners. It will have a second meeting later this month. Each member will be asked to bring two more to the meeting. "We are hoping to expand and grow in an organic fashion," said Naamon. Membership is open to clergy as well as lay people. Riitano and Naaman asked the Jewish Federation to be a core partner. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "The federation represents the Jewish community at many levels," said Naamon. "We currently meet at the federation's offices in Albany. As a religious organization, we need the traditional aspect it represents." Both co-chairs stressed that the current organization has been established as 501(c)3, the previous organization was 501(C)4. According to IRS rules, public charities, private foundations and organizations that promote a religious, scientific, charitable or literary purpose may pursue a tax exempt classification known as 501(c)(3) status. By contrast, civil leagues and local associations that further a social welfare objective but do not quite rise to the level of a charitable organization may pursue 501(c)(4) status. Regarding the renewal locally, "The Capital Region has had a strong tradition of interfaith work for many years, helping those affected by prejudice or neglect," said Moline. "New and renewed activists are ready to take on the work again." More Information Interfaith Alliance of Upstate New York What: Members sought Goal: Advancing "faith and democracy and social justice" Contact: Deb Riitano, 518-505-7498 See More Collapse "Interfaith is becoming more important than it was 40 years ago," said Naamon. "Many people now consider themselves "nones" those who do not identify with any faith. To a large extent, what the interfaith community has in common is that it is made up of people with faith, who still have a role to play in guiding society toward light. They have to continue to join for support of causes like anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Religious perspective is important to maintain in our society. If we cannot use faith to solve our problems, we are lost as a society." Mosque bomb attack kills 15 in Pakistan Daesh terror organization claimed responsibility for the bombing, which it said targeted an Afghan Taliban seminary. The death toll from the bombing of a mosque in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta rose to 15 on Saturday, officials said, in an escalation of militant violence. SUICIDE ATTACK An improvised explosive device ripped through the mosque during Friday evening prayers, killing 15 people and wounding more than 20, police said. Fridays attack was the second in the city this week, while police said they had foiled another by killing a suicide attacker Rawalpindi city near Islamabad after he shot and killed two policemen. Two of the wounded people died overnight in the hospital, said provincial home minister Zia Langove, adding that six people were still in a critical condition. The Taliban denied in a statement that some of its members, including a top commander, were killed. Local officials in Quettas police and district administration would not confirm whether the Dar-ul-Aloom Shariah seminary belonged to the Afghan Taliban under a state policy which denies the presence of the group on its soil. However, two officials said on condition of anonymity that the seminary was part of the Afghan Taliban. Raymond Dokpesi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, says that the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is a good thing for his party. The media mogul, while speaking on Friday in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo state said the APC crisis is an opportunity for the opposition party to recapture the state. Read Also: I Plan To End Godfatherism In Edo State: Obaseki Dopkesi, during the PDP stakeholders meeting titled Afemai Declaration, said; The APC in the state is in tartars; hence it is a great opportunity for the PDP. He noted also that the Afemai Declaration would feature presentation of awards to deserving members of the party, adding that it is one of the programmes of the Edo North senatorial district to rally members of the PDP in the zone. Trump has done nothing but rob Americans of raises As we end the first decade without a minimum wage increase in the history of the minimum wage, Wall Street is celebrating. The Dow burst through 29,000 on news that the December 2019 jobs report was below expectations. Why would traders be thrilled about a bad-ish jobs report? Because wage growth is slowing down and it was already pretty weak, considering the historically low jobless rate and the almost $1 trillion in Stimulus the federal government is pumping into the economy. Lower than expected wage growth is a good thing for markets, Morning Consults John Leer tweeted. It keeps corporate costs low, which drives profits higher. Why has CEO pay grown 940% since 1978 while average worker compensation has only 12%? Why has the federal minimum wage been stuck at at $7.25, almost 1/3 below its peak buying value? Why cant 40% of Americans even afford a $400 emergency? Largely, because markets and the Republican Party like it this way, even though starving consumer spending starves the economy in general. Why have wages been rising more on the bottom than the top recently? Because state governments, largely state governments where Democrats are in charge, have been raising their minimum wages. If it hadnt been for these states stepping in to help workers, the poorest would have been experiencing worse pay growth than any other group in America. Refusing to raise the minimum wage isnt the only way Donald Trump has waged war on workers. In addition to ripping overtime pay from 8 million low-wage Americans by gutting an already too meager overtime proposal issued by the Obama Administration, hes put corporations in charge of investigating themselves for wage theft, the largest form of theft in America, while removing safety requirements for workers in some of the countrys most dangerous industries. Hospitality workers are facing a direct assault on their tips from Trumps Department of Labor, which is now run by Antonin Scalias son, perhaps the most pro-corporate and anti-labor Secretary in the Departments history. Trumps disdain for properly paying workers has been well documented yet his passion for low wages is rarely properly noted. Eclectablog was one of the few publications to repeatedly note that Trump told autoworkers that their pay is too high. And he also literally said, Wages are too high several times during the primary campaign, until he realized that he needed to start lying about having ever said that. Trumps eagerness to underpay underlings is so compulsive that he continues to employ undocumented immigrants well into his presidency and still hires foreign guest workers for his businesses as he rejects nearly all refugees and hopes to expand the travel ban to more countries. Republicans are opposing minimum wage increases everywhere, saying $15 an hour is too much for low-skilled workers. Meanwhile, Jared and Ivanka earn about $24,000 an hour, each, while applying their low sills in the White House. Theres so much to focus on, but Trumps hatred for decent wages could serve two purposes for Democrats it focuses people on the most obvious weakness in this economy, the struggles of the 140 million poor and low wealth people in the country, and it reminds us that as strategically racist Trump is, he loves ripping off Americans more than anything. [Image by Pexels from Pixabay.] WASHINGTON Donald Trump and the Kennedys are coming to South Jersey and they could be fighting it out from now 'til November. Trump and the Kennedys? In a South Jersey political election? Thats what happened after Democratic Rep. Jeff Van Drew stunned the political world by switching to the Republican Party and pledging undying support to the president. What should have been a run-of-the-mill re-election bid by a rookie congressman has suddenly turned into one of the hottest races in America. Angry Democrats who helped Van Drew capture the 2nd District seat two years ago are vowing to take him down. And Republicans who were lining up to face Van Drew in November are miffed that hes now the presidents favorite candidate. Its become an intriguing race and one that people will watch, said Ben Dworkin, director of Rowan Universitys Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship. The battle was already on the the national parties radar, largely because Van Drew was a first-term Democrat and Trump had carried the district in 2016. But it was simply one of the many seats Republicans wanted to grab back. Now it seems everyone is interested. Trump and Van Drew met before the party-swtich and the president immediately endorsed him after the announcement. Now Trump is coming to Wildwood, in Van Drews 2nd District, on Jan. 28 to hold a campaign rally. That isnt sitting well with the Republican candidates who had been running for months and are now underdogs in the June 2 GOP primary. Theres no coronation, said Nachama Soloveichik, a spokeswoman for one of the other Republicans, Bob Patterson, a former acting associate commissioner of the Social Security Administration under Trump and a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. Ultimately, voters will decide, she said. Businessman David Richter, who already has pumped $300,000 of his own money into the race, lost his coveted spot among the 71 challengers getting fundraising support from the National Republican Congressional Committee. Richter was added to the list in October, but was no longer eligible for help after incumbent Van Drew became a Republican. I assumed I was going to win, and win handily," Richter told The New York Times. "And that all gets upended. Donald Trump did what was in the best interest of Donald Trump. He did not respond to several requests for comment this week from NJ Advance Media. Brian Fitzherbert, a businessman, engineer and project manager in the defense and aerospace industry who initially sought the GOP nomination in 2018, also is trying again. While Trumps 37 percent approval rating in New Jersey isnt likely to deliver the state to the Republicans, his presence will boost Van Drews chances in a district he carried with more than 50 percent of the vote four years ago. Once the president comes in and throws his arm around Jeff Van Drew, which hes already done in the White House, the primary is effectively over, Dworkin said. It would be monumentally embarrassing to the White House if they were to endorse this party switch and then see another Republican knock him off the ballot. The Democratic race starts with Amy Kennedy, who can tap into a nationwide network of Democratic donors. She is the wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., himself the son of the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and a former chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Their cousin, Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., is the grandson of the late U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy, D-N.Y. Well-known political pundit and Montclair State University political science professor Brigid Harrison announced her candidacy as well. She may not have Kennedys connections, but she does have the endorsements of state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and the party chairs of Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. Will Cunningham, a veteran congressional aide who formerly worked for U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and lost the Democratic primary to Van Drew in 2018, decided to try again. I ran against Jeff Van Drew two years ago," Cunningham said. "I knew then he was a fake Democrat. Van Drew campaign aide Bill Stepien did not respond to a request for comment. In 2018, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee intervened in the party primary on behalf of Van Drew, drawing criticism from two candidates of color who were seeking the nomination: Cunningham and Tanzie Youngblood. This year, national Democrats have reached out to all the candidates. There are many great Democrats in this race and we are confident that a strong candidate will emerge to take on whoever the Republican nominee is, spokeswoman Christine Bennett said. Among Democrats, Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett also has entered the race, and West Cape May Commissioner John Francis III has said he will run. The two Washington-based publications that track congressional races, Inside Elections and the Cook Political Report, both give the Republicans a slight advantage in 2020. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Convicted murderer Graham Dwyer has been able to remain on the official register of architects, the Irish Independent has learned. His membership of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) was automatically revoked when he was found guilty of the horrific murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara. However, almost five years later, the RIAI has yet to consider the withdrawal of his registration. Legal observers believe the RIAI may have delayed action after Dwyer lodged an appeal against his conviction and took civil proceedings against the State. Dwyer (47) met 36-year-old Ms OHara online and his trial heard he stabbed her to death for his own sexual gratification. She disappeared in August 2012 and her remains were found 13 months later in the Dublin Mountains. The RIAI said Dwyer's membership of the organisation was automatically revoked when he was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in March 2015. However, the regulatory and support body for architects confirmed Dwyer was still on its register of architects. By law only persons on the register can use the title "architect". They can only be removed from the register following an investigation by a professional conduct committee and their removal must be confirmed by the High Court. In a statement, the RIAI said it did not comment on cases "that may or may not be under consideration by the professional conduct committee". Dwyer is serving a life sentence at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise and is in the process of appealing his murder conviction. However, the appeal is on hold while a Supreme Court judgment is awaited regarding the State's appeal of a High Court finding on data-retention laws. Dwyer is arguing the judge in his murder trial erred by allowing into evidence call data records from his mobile phone and another handset attributed to him. This information played a crucial part in the investigation leading to his conviction. The High Court ruled in 2018 the legislation under which gardai accessed the records contravened EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights. The State says the ruling has had enormous adverse consequences for the investigation and prosecution of serious crime. A ruling by the Supreme Court is expected soon. The RIAI said its articles of association at the date of Dwyer's conviction provided that a person convicted of a felony shall by that very fact or act cease to be a member. However, this does not mean they are removed from RIAI register as well. It said that on foot of a complaint about a registered architect, the RIAI's professional practice committee may investigate a person's conduct and direct their removal from the register. It's an old familiar story, set on the outskirts of an ancient and powerful empire, of a child born of a virgin and destined to save the world. His arrival is seen as the long-awaited fulfillment of ancient prophecy, and as he grows, the child's mother and his teachers marvel at his abilities. One day, the Devil comes to tempt the boy, now grown into a young man, and offers him power and glory and the chance to rule the world and even the ability to defy death itself if only he will bow down and worship his tempter. "Sounds good to me," the boy replies. The epic saga of Anakin Skywalker, failed messiah, father of Luke and Leia, grandfather of Ben Solo, came to its conclusion this Christmas season with the release of "The Rise of Skywalker" the last of nine "Star Wars" stories focused on Anakin and his family's attempts to save and rule the universe. The power of "Star Wars" has always come from its spiritual underpinnings, which are everywhere in the story. The battle for the soul of Anakin and his family revolves around the Force, the mystical power that "binds the galaxy together," as Skywalker family mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi describes it. A mashup of Buddhist spirituality and the Holy Ghost, the Force is wielded by Jedi Knights and their rivals, the Sith Lords, each convinced that only they understand its true nature and power. After the release of the first "Star Wars" film, Obi-Wan became the patron saint of new religion Jediism and the late Sir Alec Guinness, who played the desert sage, found himself turned into a spiritual guru, with fans turning to him for advice. "I get some pretty strange letters," Guinness told talk show host Michael Parkinson in 1977: "My wife and I are having problems, can you come over and live with us for a few months (and sort it out)?" Guinness' character even did a turn as Jesus, laying down his life for his friends so they can escape the Death Star. "You can't win," he told Darth Vader during their epic duel. "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." The films include ritual prayers "The Force will be with you always" and feats of spiritual power that border on miraculous. There's also a convert's tale: Han Solo, the smuggler turned rebel, who once claimed that "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." Solo later becomes a believer who claims it's all true. There's even a fight over which "Star Wars" stories belong in the canon. My own run-in with religion and "Star Wars" came during a chance encounter at the Atlanta airport in the summer of 1980, just as "The Empire Strikes Back" had hit theaters and provided "Star Wars" mania a new jolt. The Rebel Alliance had blown up the Death Star, the Empire had struck back and we were all dreaming of becoming Jedi. Our church youth group was on its way to a conference in Colorado when we spied a familiar face. He sat quietly in a chair at the gate, listening to his Walkman, reading a book and trying to make himself invisible. No such luck. "Oh my God," one of my friends said, pointing at him. "It's Luke Skywalker." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Two minutes later we'd surrounded Mark Hamill, the boy-next-door actor who played Luke, just returned from a trip to Japan. At the time, Hamill was probably the most famous person in the world, perhaps as well-known as Jesus Christ himself. And yet for about 20 minutes, he seemed happy to hang out with some high school kids and show off his new Walkman "These are going to be big," he told us. Hamill seems to have done pretty well for himself over the past four decades, becoming a beloved voice-over actor, Twitter celebrity and devoted family man, celebrating 40 years of marriage to his wife, Marilou, last year. Luke had a harder time. His dad turned out to be a monster. He got old and bitter, and his attempts to rebuild the Jedi order failed. His nephew and star pupil, Kylo Ren, turned against him. Even though his dad was saved in the end, the sins of Darth Vader were visited upon his children and grandchildren. Luke gave up the faith and retreated from the universe, spending his days on a rocky island, content to curse the darkness and his own failings. And yet the darkness did not overcome him. When his friends needed him most, he came to their aid, and like his mentor and friend Obi-Wan, laid down his life for those he loved. I haven't seen the final movie yet, so I don't know if Kylo Ren will be saved from the Dark Side or if evil will prevail. Lately, successful endings to our most beloved series, whether on the big screen or small, have eluded their creators. But like Luke, I will have faith faith in a character who will give himself up for something bigger than he is. Faith in a made-up story that's true because it brings us all together in wonder and awe. May the Force be with us all. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Friday that, as of 2020, Texas will no longer participate in the federal refugee resettlement program. The reason he gave is that the federal immigration system is "broken" and the state no longer has the resources to deal with the fallout of that breakdown. Abbott's move makes Texas the first state to withdraw from the refugee resettlement program. In a letter to secretary of state Mike Pompeo, Governor Abbott explained his reasoning: On behalf of the State of Texas, I write in response to Executive Order 13888, on Enhancing State and Local Involvement in Refugee Resettlement, as issued by President Trump on September 26, 2019. Texas is one of the most welcoming states for refugees seeking to escape dangers abroad. Since FY2010, more refugees have been received in Texas than in any other state. In fact, over that decade, roughly 10% of all refugees resettled in the United States have been placed in Texas. Even today, the process of resettling continues for many of these refugees. In addition to accepting refugees all these years, Texas has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system. In May 2019, for example, around 100,000 migrants were apprehended crossing this state's southern border. In June 2019, individuals from 52 different countries were apprehended here. And in FY2018, the apprehensions included citizens from disparate countries like China, Iran, Kenya, Russia, and Tonga. Texas continues to have to deal with the consequences of an immigration system that Congress has failed to fix. At this time, the state and non-profit organizations have a responsibility to dedicate available resources to those who are already h ere, including refugees, migrants, and the homeless indeed, all Texans. As a result, Texas cannot consent to initial refugee resettlement for FY2020. This decision does not deny any refugee access to the United States. Nor does it preclude a refugee from later coming to Texas after initially settling in another state. Texas has carried more than its share in assisting the refugee resettlement process and appreciates that other states are available to help with these efforts. According to the Austin-American Statesman, Abbott made this announcement despite "pressure to remain in the program from leaders of the state's largest cities, refugee advocates and evangelical Christians. State Democrats rebuked Abbott over the decision; a few Republicans praised him." Governor Abbott's decision will see the state lose approximately $17 million in federal money that is intended to support refugee resettlement. It is unclear how much the state will save when it no longer has to bear the economic costs of refugee resettlement. Nancy Pelosi wrote today in a letter to House Democrats that she will finally appoint impeachment managers and send the Democrats articles of impeachment to the Senate. Apparently this will happen next week. I never understood why Pelosi delayed sending the articles to the Senate in the first place, so I cant explain why she has changed her mind now. It seems obvious that the delay of several weeks has implied a loss of both momentum and perception of seriousness, to the extent that anyone ever took the Democrats partisan impeachment seriously. Mitch McConnell, meanwhile, is playing his cards close to his vest. Reportedly the Senate process will begin, like the Clinton impeachment of 1999, with both sides presenting their cases, followed by debate among senators. Only then would a decision be made as to whether and how to call witnesses. My hope is that things never get that far. There is nothing any witness can say about President Trumps dealings with Ukraine that would raise plausible grounds for impeachment. We know everything we need to know by reading the transcripts of the presidents two conversations with President Zelensky. In my view, to the extent that President Trump leaned on Ukraine to investigate the corrupt relationship between Burisma and the Bidensand he leaned very lightly, if at allthat was good, not bad. Corruption in the Obama-Biden administration should be investigated. Burismas multi-million dollar bribe to Joe Biden, through his son Hunterno one ever paid a nickel, let alone millions, for influence with Hunteris a classic example of the Swamp against which Trump ran for president. Joe Biden shouldnt be allowed to get away with corruption at this level, even though the prospect of a criminal prosecution is probably remote. So I would like to see the impeachment proceeding denounced as the partisan charade that it is, and dismissed as soon as possible. Some Republicans like the idea of a prolonged Senate trial that would tie up Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and prevent them from campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire. Warren has complained rather bitterly about this, and some speculate that Pelosi is doing the DNCs bidding by stretching out the process to the disadvantage of her partys most far-left candidates. I know nothing about that. Personally, though, I would like to see Warren and Sanders on the campaign trail. Recently there has been a lot of speculation that Sanders could well be the Democrats nominee in 2020 unless something happens to derail him. As happened in 2016, with the DNCs thumb on the scale. I would be fine with the Democrats nominating either Sanders or Warren. Alternatively, experience in this election cycle has been that the more voters see the Democratic candidates, the less they like them. This comes from Tom Bevan, via InstaPundit: If Liz and Bernie want to hit the campaign trail and drive their poll numbers lower, it is fine by me. What is sad, however, is not whatever political damage the Democrats may suffer, but rather the profound harm they are inflicting on our country by abusing the Houses constitutional power of impeachment for narrow partisan purposes. For that, Nancy Pelosi and her colleagues should never be forgiven. The European Union wants to keep the nuclear deal with Iran and calls on it to return to full compliance, the EU foreign policy chief said after an urgent foreign ministers' meeting, UrduPoint reports. Iran declared last Sunday it was rolling back the key commitments it made under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including uranium production limits. "We call on Iran to go back to full compliance with the JCPOA without delay and we rely on the International energy Atomic Agency to continue to monitor and verify Iran's activity," Josep Borrell said. The diplomat told reporters in Brussels that EU foreign ministers wanted the 2015 pact to be preserved if possible as negotiating a new agreement would take time. Borrel said Monday he had called an emergency meeting to discuss Iran and Iraq, after the US killing of an Iranian general in Iraq last Friday hiked tensions in the middle East. Following the meeting, he said that foreign ministers had given him a strong mandate to conduct diplomacy with all sides, including Iran, in order to de-escalate the crisis and search for a political solution. People accuse Sena-led civic body of doublespeak over rehabilitation. Mumbai: Mahul residents have accused the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of doublespeak over rehabilitating them. The distressed residents are expected to meet chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on January 14 to discuss rehabilitation for those affected by excessive pollution from factories. Around 200 residents had held a 24-hour-long protest at Azad Maidan on Wednesday following which housing minister Jitendra Ahwad assured the residents of a meeting with the chief minister to resolve the issue. On Friday, the residents met BMC chief Parveen Pardeshi to take stock of the procedure to accommodate the project-affected people. However, residents claimed that they were disappointed to know that the BMC would not be withdrawing its petition in the Supreme Court over rehabilitation. The BMC had last year moved the apex court to vacate the Bombay High Court order directing the state government and the municipal body to shift the affected residents to other place or provide them with compensatory rent for alternate accommodation. On one hand, the BMC is claiming that they are willing to resolve the matter and provide us better accommodation. On the other hand, when asked about withdrawing their application from the apex court, they have refused to do so, said Bilal Khan, an activist working towards rehabilitation of Mahul residents. The BMC claimed that it would be shifting 300 families in the MHADA building in Gorai. However, around 5,500 families have been seeking transfer from the polluted Mahul buildings. What about the rest 5,200 families? Where are they going to relocate them? The BMC says that the families would be shifted to MHADA project aimed at 16,000 families to relocate them on private basis in future, but what about the time being? I want to ask the Sena why there are opposite positions on the matter at the same time, added Mr Khan. At least one person has been confirmed dead, following Saturdays fire that gutted the Mgbuka Obosi Spare Parts Market in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, learnt that the deceased, who was the chairman of Zone 11 in the market, and was identified as G.O.D, did not die in the inferno. He was said to have slumped in the market after seeing that his five shops were completely destroyed by the fire. He was reportedly rushed to a private hospital in the area but was said to have died later. It was gathered that the fire, which destroyed goods valued at millions of naira, started around 1.30 am. Edwin Okadigbo, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra command, confirmed the incident to NAN in Awka. Mr Okadigbo, an Assistant Superintendent, said nobody died in the fire because it occurred in the night, when traders had all retired to their homes. He said, No life was lost in the fire, but the chairman of Zone 11, one Mr G.O.D, slumped after seeing his five shops razed down by the fire. He was rushed to the hospital but later gave up the ghost. He said the fire destroyed so many shops and goods because of the highly inflammable nature of the goods sold in the market. The NSCDC spokesperson said that the fire was put out by men of the Anambra State Fire Service, assisted by operatives of other sister-security agencies. He said that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained but suspected it could either come from an electrical fault or a wildfire from the neighbourhood. Meanwhile, the state Commandant of the corps, David Bille, has expressed his condolences to the leadership of the market and traders, who lost their goods and other valuables, as well as the bereaved family. (NAN) WESTMORELAND N.Y.- A massive tractor trailer fire slowed traffic on the New York State Thruway Friday night. The initial call came into Oneida County 911 just after 9:00 p.m. The fire was reported to be in the westbound lanes at milemarker 239, between Exit 31 (Utica) and Exit 32 (Westmoreland). These pictures were sent to NewsChannel 2 by viewer Joann Miller. At this time there is no word on any injuries. NewsChannel 2 has reached out to State Police and the Westmoreland Fire Department for more information, and we are waiting to hear back. What if you get stuck on the highway in a storm? Here are some tips After inititally denying it, Iran on Saturday (January 11) admitted to ''unintentionally'' shooting down a Ukrainian aircraft, killing all 176 people on board. In a statement released on state TV, Iran said the plane was hit ''due to human error'' when it flew near to a sensitive Revolutionary Guards base at an altitude and shape of a hostile target. On Twitter, the Iranian foreign minister expressed his condolences to those involved, but also put some of the blame on the U.S. Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday's (January 8) incident was the result of "human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism (that) led to disaster.'' Tensions between Iran and the U.S. escalated on January 3rd, when a U.S. drone strike killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at U.S. military targets in Iraq on Wednesday. And then came the downing of the Ukrainian plane just hours after. Canada, which had 57 citizens on board, believed an Iranian missile had brought the aircraft down and had been putting pressure on Iran to come clean. Responding to Iran's U-turn, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy demanded an official apology and full cooperation. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran ''deeply regrets the disastrous mistake'' and promised that those behind the incident would be prosecuted. 100% Website speakout7eleven.ca uses latest and advanced technologies like: WebFonts. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 61650 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 42691 bytes (41.69 kb uncompressed) and 9447 bytes (9.23 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-11-08, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. A Florida man pleaded guilty to his part in a trafficking scheme in which live water monitor lizards were stuffed into socks and concealed inside electronics to be smuggled from the Philippines to the United States. Akbar Akram, 44, pleaded guilty in Tampa federal court Wednesday to one count of wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Treaty, court records show. Akram admitted to illegally importing more than 20 live water monitor lizards from the Philippines in 2016, a U.S. Justice Department statement said. He avoided customs authorities by placing the lizards in socks, which were sealed closed with tape and concealed inside electronic equipment and shipped under a false label. The equipment was transported through commercial carriers to Akrams associate in Massachusetts. As part of his plea, Akram admitted that he knew the monitor lizards he received had been taken in violation of Philippine law and that the import violated U.S. law, according to the statement. Akram also admitted that upon receiving the monitor lizards, he sold some of them to customers in Colorado, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Approximately 70 monitor lizard species are characterized by elongated necks, heavy bodies, long-forked tongues, strong claws and long tails. Water monitor lizards are native to South and Southeastern Asia. The yellow-headed water monitor, the white-headed water monitor and the marbled water monitor are found in the Philippines. Also Read | Exotic species of snakes and lizards seized at Chennai airport. See pics T he Queen will host crisis talks with senior royals and Prince Harry on Monday in a bid to find a solution to Meghan and Harrys future roles. The head of state will be joined at her private Norfolk estate of Sandringham by the Prince Charles and Prince William for the crunch meeting where the next steps will be decided, according to reports. It will be the first time the four will have met since the issue engulfed the royal family, and it is thought Charles will be travelling from Birkhall in Scotland, William from his Kensington Palace apartment and Harry from Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle. Before them will be a range of options, and it is likely the royals will try to come to some agreement before the meeting ends to stop the immediate crisis causing lasting damage to the monarchy. The senior royals are said to have had their feelings "hurt" Harry and Meghan are said to have left the Queen and senior royals feeling hurt by their bombshell announcement they plan to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and split their time between the UK and North America. On Thursday, the Queen, Charles and William gave orders for their households to work with the Sussexes team to quickly find a workable solution to their desire to change the direction of their royal lives, but still support the Queen. A royal source said: The family will gather on Monday at Sandringham to talk things through, attended by Her Majesty, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex. Following a series of meetings and consultations across the last few days, there are a range of possibilities for the family to review which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week. As we have said previously, making a change to the working life and role in the monarchy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex requires complex and thoughtful discussions. Next steps will be agreed at the meeting, the request for this to be resolved at pace is still her Majestys wish the aim remains days not weeks". "There is genuine agreement and understanding that any decision will take time to be implemented." Meghan has flown to Canada to be with Archie / Getty Images Meghan flew to Canada a few days ago where she spent an extended festive break with Harry and baby son Archie in the province of British Columbia. She is with her child, but the source said it is hoped the duchess will be able to participate remotely in the meeting. Ahead of the meeting, the royals will be given written proposals produced by their offices and others, including relevant government departments from the UK and Canada, where it is thought Harry and Meghan will establish a second home. It is not known who else, if anyone, will be at the meeting but it is likely the private secretaries of the four royals may join part of the talks to assist with any questions. The atmosphere could be tense in light of how the Sussexes announcement was made, with the Queen and other senior royals not consulted about its content or timing. Prince William will also be present / PA Wire/PA Images The Sussexes statement and a new official Sussexroyal.com website have thrown up important questions about funding for the couples round-the-clock security, media access to their royal events and how they will pay for their future lifestyles. And their desire for a half-way house, as both members of the monarchy and private individuals making a living, has been described as a toxic mix by David McClure, an investigator into royal finances. He said: The history of senior royals making money the two is a toxic mix. It hasnt worked well in the past. How can you be half-in, half-out half the week perform public duties and the other half earn your own income with TV, lectures, books? It is fraught with dangers. He estimated Harrys wealth as between 10-15 million, while he suggested former actress Meghan was worth 2-3 million. Harry and Meghan receive the majority of the funding for their public duties, and some of their private costs, from Charles who pays the expenses out of the multimillion-pound income from his private Duchy of Cornwall estate. But they wish to stop receiving money from the taxpayer in the form of Sovereign Grant funds so they can earn what their website describes as a professional income. Investigation will continue under articles of Criminal Code, providing for liability for intentional killing of two or more people and destruction of aircraft Reuters General Prosecutors Office changed the qualification of the crime, which investigated the deaths as a result of the crash of a Ukrainian plane in Iran. The press service of the General Prosecutors Office reports. "Based on the results of processing data obtained as a result of cooperation with international partners, as well as from Ukrainian law enforcement officers and experts from the scene of the tragedy, and given Irans recognition of the downing of the UIA plane by the military of this country, General Prosecutors Office decided to change the qualification of a criminal offense on which production is open," - the report said. It is noted that the investigation will continue under the articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, providing for liability for the intentional killing of two or more people and the destruction of the aircraft. As we reported, Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines, flight PS 752 with 176 passengers aboard crashed in Tehran, not far from Imam Khomeini airport. Iranian Tasnim News Agency informed about that, pointing out that the reason for the crash was a "technical malfunction." As of 7 a.m. January 8, the fate of passengers remained unknown. Local authorities feared that no one survived, because the plane was visibly on fire as it was falling, CGTN reported. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Irans statement about a missile strike at Ukrainian Boeing 737, demanding to bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies of the dead and pay compensation for the catastrophe. Turkeys Erdogan and Russias Putin called for a truce in Libya starting from midnight on Saturday. Turkey has asked Russia to convince eastern Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar to respect a ceasefire initiative by Ankara and Moscow that he has rejected. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin called for a ceasefire on Wednesday in Istanbul. We are waiting for our Russian friends to succeed in convincing Haftar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference on Saturday. In a statement read by his spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari, renegade military commander Haftar claimed that a revival of the political process and the countrys stability could only be assured by the eradication of terrorist groups and the dissolution of the militia controlling Tripoli. An adviser to Haftar later told AFP news agency that Haftars position did not amount to a rejection of the ceasefire initiative, but rather conditions that must be fulfilled ahead of any truce. Turkey backs Fayez al-Sarrajs Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), which is recognised by the United Nations, while Russia has sent support to Haftars opposing forces to the east. In April, Haftars forces launched an offensive on the capital, seat of the GNA. Turkeys Cavusoglu accused regional nations a reference to Arab countries backing Haftar and also to France of opposing a ceasefire. France is looking for any means to sabotage any initiative which it is not party to, he said. Last week, Turkey started deploying troops in Libya to back the GNA. Cavusoglu also said on Saturday that a new ceasefire brokered by Ankara and Moscow was due to come into force at 00:01 GMT on Sunday in Idlib, the last rebel bastion in Syrias northwest. We hope that it will be lasting this time and that Russia will be able to control the regime forces, he said. The cause of the crash of the Boeing 737-800 of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) was the human factor, the Iranian television channel Press TV reported. "In such a sensitive and critical situation, flight 752 of Ukraine Airlines which had taken off from Imam Khomeini International Airport, moved very close to a sensitive military spot belonging to the IRGC forces when completing a loop. The altitude and the direction of the flight's movement were like an enemy target, so the aircraft was targeted unintentionally due to human error which unfortunately caused the martyrdom of a number of Iranian national together with a number of foreigners," the TV channel quoted the statement of Iranian Air Force's General Staff. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif acknowledged Tehran's responsibility for the disaster and expressed condolences to the relatives of the victims. "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations," the minister wrote on Twitter. By Associated Press TEHRAN: Iran announced Saturday that its military unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing US troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned toward a sensitive military center of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its highest level of readiness," it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. ALSO READ | Ukrainian airplane 'accidentally' shot down by Iran: US officials In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit, the statement said. It apologized for the disaster and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent such mistakes in the future. It also said those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lower the nation's death toll from 63. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 23:31:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tension is brewing in the countryside of the province of Aleppo between the Syrian forces and rebels as both sides are bringing reinforcements, a war monitor reported Saturday. The Syrian army brought in a considerable backup of forces and military gears at a time the rebels are also bringing in fighters and weapons to front line areas, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Syrian army captured the provincial capital of Aleppo in 2016. However, the rebel groups have maintained positions in the western and northern countryside of Aleppo. The Syrian government officials have stressed repeatedly that the Syrian army will capture all Syrian areas from the rebels. Still, it wasn't clear if a wide-scale offensive would take place as the Syrian army is now busy dealing with the situation in the northwestern province of Idlib, which is considered to be the last major rebel stronghold in the country. In its report Saturday, the Observatory said the army fired surface-to-surface missiles on the rebel positions in the Zawiya Mountain in Idlib. The Syrian army is fighting to secure the stretch of the road connecting Hama with Aleppo province, as it will allow for securing the entire official road between the capital Damascus in the south and Aleppo in the north, which explains the shelling in Idlib and military buildup in Aleppo countryside. The agriculture sector in recent years has appreciated significantly with the introduction of agronomical practices, improved seeds, technology and many more, yet the sector has not been fully utilized. To contribute to the realization of technological advancement in the sector, the WegVoraus in collaboration with Ghana-Indian Trade Advisory Chamber has launched AgriTech West Africa 2020 at the Ministry of Business Development conference room in Accra to provide a dynamic platform for Agribusiness community in Ghana and West Africa to count with global agritech suppliers and innovators. The AgriTech West Africa 2020 is first of its kind to be held in West Africa on 9th 11th June 2020 in Accra, Ghana. At the press launch, the Director of AgriTech West Africa, Thomas James opined that the programme would succour Ghana and other West African countries to give the leverage to compete globally in terms of technology usage and value addition to agriculture products. He mentioned that the programme would usher great business opportunities among exhibitors and the general public as the programme would converge investors across countries in the value chain at Accra. This programme we believe will guarantee the lifespan of cocoa and other farm products through Agriculture technologies. Since Ghana is the second-largest export of cocoa in the world, we challenge Ghana to take advantage of this initiative and learn to process more products from cocoa. This would reduce the long-distance that a farmer has to travel to have access to farm machinery, spare parts and technical supports in some cases, he explained. He further noted that plans have been made to invest in the agriculture sector if the government extends its technical support to the agriculture sector. A representative from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture said that the government is in full support of the project and appealed for more investments in the agriculture sector. He advocated that the sector employs more than 50 percent of the Ghanaian population and this project would revamp and encourage the youth to take agriculture as a culture to agribusiness level. To him, this would help to prevent poverty in the country and the sub-region and this serves as a clear indication of a growing partnership between Ghana and India. This is a huge collaboration between the people of Ghana and Indians which will bring a lot of transformation into the agriculture sector. This will help create more jobs and make agriculture a lucrative industry to attract the youth even though the government is doing her best in this regard in the sector. Government is ready to support any private entity ready to invest in the sector, he said. Mr. Dominic Oduro Antwi, Partner and Director of AgriTech West Africa said, the AgriTech West Africa 2020 would train the youth in and outside Ghana on how to generate opportunities in various fields of technology and service to farmers from inventors. That the use of technology in the agriculture sector would serve as a huge motivation to the youth who are not ready to venture into agriculture because they see farming as punishment, he added. He expressed his profound gratitude to the guest sponsors and urged stakeholders to register to serve as facilitators for their investment in the agriculture sector in the country. AgriTech West Africa gives credence to enhance the credibility and provides a dynamic platform for Agribusiness communities in Ghana and West Africa to count as global Agrictech suppliers, investors and innovators, he added. The AgriTech West Africa 2020 would exhibit agriculture practices, farm machinery, seeds, agrochemicals, dairy, poultry, livestock equipment, and agri processing technologies from India, Europe, China, Ghana, etc. Source: agrictoday.com.gh by Larissa Faw , January 10, 2020 Digital agency veterans Kenny Tomlin (founding CEO of Rockfish) and Dan Khabie (founding CEO of Mirum) are teaming up to launch CourtAvenue, a digital consultancy and product development company. This is about designing new models that maximize our clients interactions (both internally and externally), creating an efficient and time optimized ecosystem that supports their growth and future relevance, says Tomlin. I have been at the center of entrepreneurship and scaling large companies my entire career. CourtAvenue will effectively serve as the bridge between both. Both founders say their company is designed to meet the need for new business models to better support clients. Although each spent years in the trenches of holding companies and traditional agencies, they understand RFPs seek less advertising or project-specific work in favor of more nebulous assistance to achieve growth and success. advertisement advertisement As such, CourtAvenue is designed to be a partner for any and all client interests. People really like how we are open to anything, says Khabie, adding his company seeks to be flexible and agile. As part of this customization, the shop will embed its team of software engineers and developers within an organization to examine and overhaul both employee and customer-facing applications, resulting in bespoke applications and services. CourtAvenue is currently in final discussions with several clients, but Tomlin and Khabie say potential opportunities range from an automotive brand looking to expand its digital ecosystem to a retailer that is integrating in-person, computer-based and mobile operations (and helping with cloud migration) to a large consumer electronics company wanting to reinvent the way they work with agencies to drive speed, efficiency and innovation. Their first priority, however, is developing the proper internal framework. Frankly we are only as good as who we hire, says Khabie. Their company is designed to attract tomorrows best talent which means they are forgoing a big office in a large city in favor of smaller satellites placed where people want to live. For now, CourtAvenue has outposts in Austin, TX and San Diego, CA. We only have one chance to build the right structure, explains Khabie. Kahbie and Tomlin were both colleagues and friends at WPP (which owns both Mirum and Rockfish), and CourtAvenue serves as a perfect mix of their talents and experiences, they say. Tomlin co-founded Elevate, a commercial real-estate group focusing on connecting technology with high-value services. He was also founder and executive chairman of Subvrsive, a shop using AR, AI 360 video and digital production to build content, software and experiences. In March of 2020, Tomlin will also launch Kasita, a micro-boutique hotel development organization. Khabies background includes the formation of San Diego-based digital agency Digitaria, which was acquired by WPPs JWT in 2010. While there he also oversaw the development of the global digital agency network Mirum. They have high expectations for CourtAvenue This is not a build and flip story, quips Tomlin. The companys name selection underscores their plans for disruption as it is named for the first paved road in the U.S. We honor the innovation of its namesake by radically enhancing the end-to-end digital experiences of organizations and their stakeholders, they say. : abyssdragon (), : Biology : faculty specialist tenure : BBS (Fri Jan 10 19:30:50 2020, ) Position Number: 125052 Title: Faculty Specialist Functional Title: Faculty Specialist Category Status: 15-Fac.Non-Tenured,Continuing Con Applicant Search Category: Faculty University Authorized FTE: 1.0 Unit: AGNR-Animal & Avian Sciences Campus/College Information: Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the states flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nations legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nations capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world. Position Summary/Purpose of Position: The candidate will work with a team of researchers in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences. Incumbent will report to the Principal Investigator and apply experience and expertise in projects focused on deleting or editing genes in the early embryo as a means for studying pregnancy specific disorders, developmental disorders and for developing animal models of human disease. Successful candidates will receive advance training in somatic and embryonic CRISPR/Cas genome editing, stem cell biology, and in generating genome edited animals. Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must have an MS in Reproductive Biology, Genetics, Animal Science , or related disciplines. Experience/proficiency in basic molecular biology and cell culture skills is required. The candidates are expected to be highly motivated, have critical thinking abilities, and work as part of a team. This title cannot support J1 visa employment. Only persons who are currently legally able to work in the US will be considered. Preferences: A PhD is desired. Although not required, experience or a strong interest in embryo culture, embryo injections and embryo transfers is preferred. Experience/proficiency in gene expression analysis is highly desirable. Additional Certifications: Additional Information: Posting Date: 07/12/2019 Closing Date: Open Until Filled Yes Best Consideration Date 08/12/2019 Physical Demands Lifting of medium weight goods (20-50 lbs eg: Centrifuge Rotors), handling tissue culture cells or zebrafish tanks, use of hazardous chemicals, radioisotopes, and compressed gases. While performing the duties of this job , the employee is regularly required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stoop , kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is regularly required to type at a computer or typewriter. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds up to 25 feet. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employee may have to work in a room environment up to 83 F for extended periods. Diversity Statement: The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Applicant Documents Required Documents Cover Letter Curriculum Vitae Unofficial Transcript List of References (no emails sent from system) -- :abyssdragon Jan 10 19:33:06 2020 [FROM: 2601:14d:4300:ba] :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 2601:14d:4300:b] [] Siobhan OGorman, Rosie Martin and Deborah Cosgrave at the Celtic Christmas concert and cd launch by Suantrai in Christ Church Coolgreany: Engagement - Congratulations to Andrew Merrigan, Monareigh, and Tara Lenihan, Coolgreany Demesne, who became engaged over the Christmas. We wish them both every happiness in the future. Community Alert As the winter long nights have drawn in, and the New Year is upon us the Community Alert committee are appealing to everyone to be on the lookout for their neighbours, especially all those of our senior citizens who may need a helping hand to go shopping for some of the necessities of life. It would be a great act of charity to be able to help out. Local vandalism Sadly for a large number of our community were shocked when news got around of a serious amount of vandalism was imposed on the village on the weekend immediately before Christmas, when a number of cars were seriously vandalised and private also badly damaged. It is a sad reflection on our village when a couple of individuals saw fit to take the law into their own hands and do so much damage. Let us hope the full forces of the law come into force here for the benefit of everyone. Collection scams We are appealing to our community to be always on the lookout for scam collectors who pretend to be collecting for different charities and institutions under false names and badges, please be careful. Local notes May we wish everyone who has been good enough to supply me with messages and emails for the local notes a very happy new year and a sincere thanks for all your efforts and looking forward to that support again in 2020. Phone 087 4605166. Craanford-Monaseed ICA meeting The Monaseed ICA meeting was held on December 4 There were 25 members present; the president Olive Doyle welcomed everyone to the meeting. A dinner celebration is being held in Whites Hotel on February 9 for the 110th Anniversary of the ICA Members are reminded to bring 20 for the dinner and a 10 deposit (non-refundable) for the bus. This will be collected at the January meeting on January 8. Susan Breen showed the members the wall hanging which was handmade by the members of the Monaseed ICA guild. The hostesses for January will be Kathy Kinsella and Rita Meagher. The competition for January is 'The Nicest Pen'. The raffle winners are Olive Doyle, Dolores Tindall, Betty Wadding, Cathy Kinsella and Susan Nolan. The competition winners: Olive Doyle, Rita Meagher. Trish from Four Seasons Florist made five beautiful floral arrangements which were raffled. Gwen Stewart will commence the 'Go for life exercise programme in January'. The 50 yearly fee is due now. Split-the-pot On Friday, December 27, the prize of 150 was won by Mary Lawless, a regular at bingo. Congratulations, Mary. The coordinating team for Friday, January 10, is Team 4: Anne Kenny Marks and Trish Hancock. Dates for your diary Vintage Run to support North Wexford Hospice Homecare on Sunday, January 26, at 12.30 p.m. Craanford National School Holy Communion: Saturday, May 2, at 11 a.m. Monaseed National School Holy Communion: Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. Confirmation: Wednesday, March 4, in Craanford Church: Craanford 11 a.m. Monaseed 2 p.m. Kilnahue Patron: Wednesday, June 17, at 7.30 p.m. Rossminogue Patron: Wednesday, June 24, at 7.30 p.m. Monaseed Patron: Friday, July 3, at 7.30 p.m. Knockbrandon Patron: Friday, July 10, at 7.30 p.m. Craanford Patron: Sunday, August 2, at 3 p.m. Mt St Benedict Patron: Wednesday, August 5, at 7.30 p.m. Vintage Threshing to support friends of Gorey Hospital, in Matt Doyle's Farm, Sunday, September 6. Church News Saturday, January 11: Annie and Aidan Finn, Ballyregan. Brian Dunbar, Clonamona. (second Anniversary) Sunday, January 12: Jim Higgins, Ballyregan, Late of Strawberry Beds, Dublin. (Months Mind) Saturday, January 18: Jack Kenny Craanford. (first Anniversary) Willie Poole, Craan. (Months Mind) Sunday, January 19: Patricia Whelan, Bannpark. Sunday, January 26: John and Anne Byrne, Lyrane. Craanford Masses this week: Monday to Thursday at 9.15 a.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Monday, January 6, from 9.45 p.m. to 1 p.m. Feast of the Epiphany: since this falls on Monday, January 6, there will be Mass in Craanford at 9.15 a.m. St Patrick's National School re-opens after the Christmas break on January 6 so the children and school staff will attend this Mass. Please note: There will be no vigil Mass on Sunday evening, January 5. Visitation of sick and Housebound: Fr Richard will make his monthly visits for January on Tuesday morning, January 7. If you would like to add a name to the list please call 087 6923280. January rotas Craanford Church: Church Readers: 6 p.m. Jackie Doyle, Ballydarragh and 10.30 a.m. Joan Doran, Monbay. Eucharistic Ministers: 6 p.m. Maeve Kavanagh, Island and 10.30 a.m. Dermot Kenny, Rossminogue. Supporting Cranford Parish: If you would like to register to support Craanford parish please telephone Fr Richard at 087 6923280 to receive either a box of envelopes or the details you need to set up a Standing Order via your bank. Many thanks. Visitation of the sick and Housebound: We are anxious to visit those who cannot celebrate Mass with us due to illness, handicap or age. Arrangements to receive the sacraments at home can be made by calling Fr Richard or Fr Felix. Kindly notify us of parishioners who are housebound or hospitalised so they can be visited. We are always pleased also to receive invitations to visit your home or to give a house blessing. GAA News Happy New Year to all club members' families and friends. Thank you to all for your support throughout the year. All using the dressing rooms at complex and at the pitch please leave in a tidy manner when finished. Check Facebook for results and Fixtures and Pictures. The hugely popular 'Ireland Lights Up' walking initiative returns in January 2020, in partnership with the GAA, Operation Transformation, and Get Ireland Walking. Over 270 clubs participated in Ireland Lights Up in 2019, with a total of 65,000 walkers getting out during the initiative. The first date for clubs to host 'Ireland Lights Up' 2020 is Thursday, January 9, The aim is to make exercise more accessible on the dark winter nights and to offer local communities an opportunity to get together and socialise in a healthy way. Walking is proven to benefit both our physical and mental health. Craanford Fr O'Regans club will hold its AGM on Sunday, January 12, in Craanford Community centre at 6 p.m. Please note all nominations and motions to be with the club secretary by 6 p.m. January 5. Lotto - jackpot 1,800. No Winner. Numbers Drawn 2-12-14-29. Lucky-dip winners: Ger Doran, Caitlin Timmins, JP Steadmond, Danny Whelan, Tommy Hennessy. Seller's prize: Billy Greene. Next Week's jackpot 1,900. The lotto draw will take place on Christmas Eve instead of the normal Wednesday night. lotto tickets available in Cooney Communications, Craanford, Donals Main Street Gorey, Cooney's in Hollyfort, Doyle's Londis on Carnew Road and Lamberts in Camolin or any club member. Tickets may now be collected and dropped back to Cooney Communications in Craanford by 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening and afterwards into Cooney's Pub by 9 p.m. for inclusion in the draw. Hire the complex - Looking for a venue for your child's birthday party why not consider the indoor complex in Craanford, available to rent, protection from any weather mishaps, an ideal venue for indoor games etc. Ring 086 8228686. Bingo Bingo is played in Craanford hall every Friday night at 8.30 p.m. Bring a friend; enjoy a night out with a difference and who knows your luck could just be in. Nice money to be won every week. Kilanerin-Ballyfad GAA Notes There was no Jackpot winner in the Lotto draw on the 30th. There were four match 3 winners. The numbers were 2, 5,18 and 24. Sympathy to the Fortune family, Barnland on the death of Ann recently. Christmas tree shredding Kilanerin tidy towns will be offering a Christmas tree shredding service. Drop off your Christmas tree in the designated area behind KCC anytime until January 16. Tara Hill School news Tara Hill NS junior infants application forms will be posted out in early January. If you have not contacted the school, please contact as soon as possible. Ph 053 9420321. Happy birthday The community would like to extend special birthday wishes to May Redmond. Tomnahealy, who celebrated a special birthday recently. Wishing you many more years of good health and happiness. Your news Any notes for paper please contact ck0802@gmail.com or 087 9434090 by 7 p.m. in Thursday for inclusion in the following weeks paper. Iran is taking responsibility for the crash of the Ukraine plane that killed all 176 people on board. On Saturday (local time), the Middle Eastern country revealed they shot down the Boeing 737 jet but claims it did so unintentionally, the Iranian military announced in a statement released on state TV, according to The New York Times. The plane took the flying posture and altitude of an enemy target, and claims it made an unexpected turn towards a sensitive military base, the statement said, NYT reports. The statement continued explaining, under these circumstances, because of human error [the plane] came under fire. The admission of guilt comes after The Washington Post reported that Iranian officials said the plane likely crashed due to mechanical difficulties, but the outlet also reported that the Ukrainian embassy in Iran later took down a statement concurring with that assessment and ruling out terrorism. ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The embassy then issued a statement that said any statements about the causes of the accident before the decision of the commission are not official. [An] investigation will be conducted with the involvement of the aviation authorities of Ukraine, Iran, representatives of the Boeing manufacturer, the airline, and the National Bureau of Air Accidents Investigation of Ukraine, Ukraine International Airlines said. The airline will inform about the progress of the investigation and the causes of the tragic event as soon as they are identified. Ukraine plane crash | Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The plane involved in Wednesdays crash was a Boeing 737-800 jet, not the Boeing 737 MAX plane that was was grounded in March 2019 after two fatal crashes in less than five months. According to Ukraine International Airlines, the aircraft involved in the crash was built in 2016 and its last scheduled maintenance took place on Monday. The flight left the Tehran International Airport around 6:00 a.m. local time, the airline confirmed to PEOPLE on Wednesday. Story continues Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a press conference that once the plane was landed in Kyiv, Ukraine, more than 130 passengers were expected to change planes and head to Canada. In a statement to PEOPLE on Wednesday, Boeing said: This is a tragic event and our heartfelt thoughts are with the crew, passengers, and their families. We are in contact with our airline customers and stand by them in this difficult time. We are ready to assist in any way needed. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko confirmed in a tweet on Wednesday that 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three British nationals died in the crash. Mohammad Nasiri/AP/Shutterstock Among those killed was San Diego college student Sara Saadat, who died alongside her sister and mother. Saadat was traveling back to the U.S. to resume classes at Alliant International University in Scripps Ranch, California. She was working toward her doctorate. RELATED: San Diego College Student Killed Alongside Her Mother and Sister in Ukrainian Plane Crash The San Diego university confirmed Saras death in a statement on Facebook, noting that Sara was returning from a trip to visit family in Iran when the tragedy struck. It appears that Sara was visiting family in Iran and was on her way back to San Diego to begin our spring 2020 term in our PsyD in Clinical Psychology program, the school wrote. We know that the entire Alliant community is affected when tragedy strikes any one of us, and we are here to provide support during these trying times. Yes Bank's board approved raising of funds of up to Rs 10,000 crore in one or more tranches through qualified institutional placement (QIP) or any other private placement of equity or debt on Friday. The private lender also said that it would not proceed with the offer made by Erwin Singh Braich/SPGP Holdings. On November 30, the bank said that a number of investors had shown interest in buying Yes Bank equities of $2 billion, including Braich. Yes Bank said that it was in discussions with the family office of Braich. The private lender also said that it had received interest from the family office of Citax Holdings Ltd and Citax Investment Group for an investment of $500 million. Yes Bank has said that it is favourably considering the offer by Citax, as mentioned in a report in Livemint. The final decision will be taken in the next board meeting. The board meeting also had the resignation of Yes Bank's independent director and chairman of its audit committee Uttam Prakash Agarwal in its Friday agenda. Agarwal resigned on Friday citing deteriorating corporate governance standards and compliance failure. Appointed as independent director on November 14, 2018, Agarwal's tenure was scheduled to end in November 2023. "There are serious concerns as regards deteriorating standards of the corporate governance, failure of compliance, management practices and the manner in which the state of affairs of the company are being conducted by Ravneet Gill - MD and CEO, Rajiv Ubeoi- Senior Group President Governance Controls and Sanjay Nambiar- Legal Head and Board of Directors," said Agarwal in his resignation letter. The resignation comes after the Reserve Bank of India directed Yes Bank to re-examine the "fit and proper" status of Agarwal after he failed to disclose the details of criminal cases against him. Yes Bank stated that it is reviewing the charges alleged by Agarwal in the resignation letter as well as his "fit and proper" status as directed by the RBI. The bank had sought legal opinions from eminent jurists, which were scheduled to be considered by the board during its Friday meeting. However, Agarwal handed in his resignation before the commencement of the proceedings. The daily had earlier reported that Yes Bank had received a whistleblower complaint against Agarwal's "fit and proper" status immediately after his appointment. Agarwal had told in response that it was just an omission on his part and all the cases pending against him were civil in nature and were dismissed in 2015 itself. Also read: YES Bank independent director targets CEO Ravneet Gill, top management in resignation letter Also read: YES Bank independent director Uttam Prakash Agarwal quits; share price falls over 7% Julie Amstutz and Gene Wiley will be presented the 2019 Ohio Harness Horsemens Association Special - Service to Harness Racing Awards at the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association and United States Trotting Associations District 1 Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 18 at the Marriott Columbus University Area Hotel. Amstutz of Pandora, Ohio, will be honoured for her 47 years of service as a clerk of the course and a charter. Amstutz comes from a harness racing family. Her parents, Dr. Clyde and Bess Field, were heavily involved as harness racing officials. Dr. Field served as president of the Western Ohio Colt Racing Association and the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association while his wife Bess was the secretary-treasurer for the Western Ohio Colt Racing Association. Amstutz followed in her parents' footsteps by becoming a clerk of the course at several county fairs in 1972. She expanded that position at other fairs and then added the duties of charter to her responsibilities. Her final year of charting was in 2018. Wiley of Richwood, Ohio will be honoured for his service as a race official. Wiley has been a harness racing official since the early 1970s. His first duties were as a starter at fairs in Indiana. In early 1975, he earned his license to judge at county fairs. His first assignment as a presiding judge came later that year at the Huron County Fair in Norwalk, Ohio. He soon received other positions as a presiding judge throughout the state. Wiley believes that he has worked for at least one fair in every colt circuit that Ohio has ever had, except one. Wiley worked at a factory that manufactured hydraulic equipment for farm machinery for many years while moonlighting as a presiding judge at the fairs. He also found time to serve as an associate judge at Raceway Park in Toledo and as a substitute presiding judge at both Scioto Downs and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway. Wiley has not slowed down much as he served as the presiding judge at fifteen fairs in 2019. Tickets to the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association and United State Trotting Associations District 1 Annual Awards Banquet are $30 and are available by contacting the OHHA office at 614-221-2650. Reservation forms are also available on the OHHA website atohha.com. (OHHA) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) A service vehicle of the Philippine Navy figured in a crash with a passenger jeepney in Makati City Friday night. The Philippine Navy in a statement on Saturday said two of its personnel, including the driver, sustained minor injuries, along with at least 10 passengers of the jeepney. The driver of the jeepney fled the scene of the crash. Initial police investigation showed that the two vehicles were travelling along Chino Roces Avenue at around 8 p.m. when the collision happened. The government vehicle was headed toward EDSA from Antonio Arnaiz Avenue, while the jeepney was on the opposite lane, police said. The Philippine Navy said its vehicle was on its way back to Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City "when hit by the jeep." It said it is now "providing support" to the Philippine National Police in investigating the incident, promising to take appropriate action should its personnel be found guilty of any wrongdoing. "Rest assured, the PN do not tolerate [misdemeanor] from our ranks and if [there] will be a liability, offenders will be subject to corresponding punishments based on our existing policies and regulations," the Philippine Navy's statement read. His father had led the country since the early 1930s and kept it as it had been for centuries: Most of the capital, Muscat, was lit by lanterns at night, there were only a few miles of paved roads, and slavery was permitted. Omans status in the world was largely defined by its place in legend as the home of Sinbad, its modest exports of aromatic frankincense, and its colorful turbans influenced by centuries of trade with South Asia and East Africa. The government plans to push the central bank for a fiscal lifeline in the form of another interim dividend, as it struggles to meet its expenditure commitments amid a steep revenue shortfall, three sources directly aware of the matter said. The fresh call comes just months after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a Rs 1,76,000 crore ($24.8 billion) dividend payment to the federal government, including Rs 1,48,000 crore for the current fiscal year. The RBI largely earns profits through its trading of currencies and government bonds. Part of these earnings are set aside by the RBI for its operational and contingency needs while the rest is transferred to the government in the form of dividend. It earned a surplus of Rs 1,23,000 crore in its last financial year, which was substantially higher than previous years. One of the officials said the government wants RBI to consider its demand for an interim dividend given this financial year has been an "exceptional year", with economic growth projected to fall to an 11-year low of 5%. The current fiscal year runs to March 31. "We do not want to make an RBI interim dividend a regular thing, but this year can be treated as extraordinary," said the source, adding the government is likely to push for a payout of between Rs 35,000 crore and Rs 45,000 crore ($4.9 to $6.3 billion) If agreed, it would mark the third straight year in which the RBI has agreed to give the government an interim dividend. Spokesmen for the finance ministry and RBI both declined to comment on the matter. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to present the annual Budget for the next fiscal year on February 1, and is widely expected to announce a fiscal stimulus including more spending on infrastructure and tax incentives to boost consumer demand and investments. Shaktikanta Das, who was appointed RBI governor by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in late 2018 after the resignation of Urjit Patel, has cut the policy repo rate five times by a total of 135 basis points and eased liquidity restrictions to support falling economic growth. Also read: Here's how much RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das earns every month Some RBI officials are still reluctant to pay more funds as it could impact provisions to cover sovereign risks, sources said, but the government is hopeful that the RBI board, which include its nominees, will approve the dividend. A panel headed by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan was set up by the RBI in 2018 to recommend a formula for the sharing of its profits with government. The panel, whose suggestions were accepted, approved a record dividend and has said an interim dividend could be paid only "under exceptional circumstances." "Exceptional year" New Delhi wants the central bank to extend a helping hand as it faces a shortfall of more than one-third in its revenue target of Rs 19,60,000 crore ($276.2 billion) following a severe economic slowdown and cut in corporate tax rates last year. Modi met officials and economists on Thursday, and sought suggestions for the Budget and to make India a $5 trillion economy. The government is worried about an economic slowdown as the manufacturing sector is projected to grow just 2% compared to 6.9% a year ago, hitting tax collections. RBI officials have been told the revenue shortfall was currently estimated at between 34-37% of the budgeted target, but using all efforts may be brought down to nearly 25%, the first official told Reuters. "India is facing a serious crisis. We need all steps even to achieve 5.5% to 6% growth next fiscal year." Also read: Relief for financial firms! RBI launches video-based identification process for KYC Also read: NPA divergence not limited to commercial banks; co-operative banks also under RBI's radar "It" director Andy Muschietti is in early negotiations to helm "The Howling" reboot for Netflix. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Muschietti will work alongside screenwriter Christina Hodson for the project. The new movie is based on Gary Brandner's 1977 horror novel "The Howling", which also served as the basis of the 1981 movie of the same name. The film followed television journalist Karen White, who is traumatised while aiding the police in their arrest of a serial murderer. While undergoing therapy, her colleague investigates the bizarre circumstances surrounding her shock. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bhopal, Jan 11 (IANS) The Special Task Force (STF) of Madhya Pradesh Police has arrested a serving Air Force Wing Commander for impersonating as Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone and asking Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon to appoint a friend as vice-chancellor of a university, Additional Director General of Police Ashok Awasthi said. Wing Commander Kuldeep Vaghela who is reported to have worked in the Raj Bhawan earlier got his friend Chandresh Kumar Shukla, a known Dental Surgeon, to pose as Amit Shah's personal assistant and called the governor over phone. He asked the staff to connect the call to the Governor. Once the governor came on line Waghela took over the conversation as Amit Shah and asked him to consider Dr Shukla to be appointed as Vice-Chancellor of a medical sciences university. Shukla, who runs a dental clinic in Bhopal and has ambitions of making it big in Bollywood, has also been arrested. Both have been charged with cheating and impersonation under section 419 and 420 and have been remanded to police custody and will be produced before the court again on Monday. According to sources in Madhya Pradesh police a notification for selection of vice-chancellor of Madhya Pradesh Medical Sciences University Jabalpur was issued by Raj Bhavan on July 29, 2019. Chandresh Kumar Shukla had also staked claim for the post and was interviewed on January 3. Shukla had managed to have his name recommended through politicians. He then approached his old friend Wing Commander Kuldeep Vaghela, posted at New Delhi Air Force Headquarters, for recommendation. The police sought due permission for Waghela's arrest. The two then conspired to make the hoax call on behalf of Home Minister Amit Shah to the Governor. Shukla made a call to Raj Bhavan from his mobile phone number and he took Wing Commander Kuldeep Vaghela on conference. Wing Commander Kuldeep posed as Amit Shah and recommended Chandresh Shukla to be made the Chancellor of Madhya Pradesh Medical University. The Raj Bhawan staff,however, decided to cross-check the caller's credentials and contacted the home minister's staff through other phone. Police released excerpts from the conversation over phone. "Chandresh Shukla - I am speaking PA of Home Minister Amit Shah Is the Governor Lalji Tandon available? "Raj Bhawan Staff - He is in the Raj Bhavan itself. "Shukla - Home Minister wants to speak with the Governor. "Raj Bhawan Staff - I am transferring the phone to the Governor, please... "Vaghela - How are you? ... Chandresh Kumar Shukla ji has applied for the vice-chancellor ... he is a good person ... qualified for the job... "Governor -........ After this conversation, the Governor got suspicious and contacted the Home Minister's office through the staff and inquired about the phone. On learning that the call was not made from the Home Minister's office, they asked the STF to act. The STF investigated the case and nabbed Vaghela from Delhi and Shukla from Bhopal. ADG Awasthi said that the accused Wing Commander Kuldeep Vaghela was an ADC to former Governor Ram Naresh Yadav in Madhya Pradesh Raj Bhavan in 2014. He was fully familiar with the functioning of Raj Bhavan. naidu/in The Delhi High Court on Saturday directed the makers of Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Chhapaak' to give credit to a lawyer, who represented acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal on whose life the film is based, for inputs she shared with them. Justice Prathiba M Singh said the changes be made in the movie slides in multiplexes by January 15. The court pronounced the order on a plea by Fox Star Studio, the producer of the movie, challenging a trial court's Thursday order asking it to acknowledge the contribution of advocate Aparna Bhat. The film was released in theatres on Friday. While hearing the plea on Friday, the court had asked the filmmakers as to why they have not acknowledged the lawyer for inputs she shared with them. It had asked where was the difficulty to acknowledge the advocate and why did the makers even go to her seeking her inputs. To this, senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for film director Meghna Gulzar, had said there was no contract between the parties and seeking inputs did not confer any legal right on her to be acknowledged. Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, representing film producer Fox Star Studios, had said the trial court did not hear them before passing an order and an ad-interim ex-parte injunction was passed which is unusual. Senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for Bhat, had said she had fought the case for Laxmi pro-bono and was not seeking any publicity and she was approached by Gulzar to get some authenticity in the movie. He had Bhat's assistance was based on her communication with Gulzar that her contribution would be acknowledged. The trial court, on Bhat's plea, had directed that the film 'Chhapaak' carry the line "Aparna Bhat continues to fight cases of sexual and physical violence against women during the screening of the film". The film producer challenged the trial court's order before the high court saying it was passed one day before the release of the film and if not vacated or modified, it will cause grave injustice and irreparable harm. The producer sought setting aside of the trial court's injunction order, saying it was passed without any notice or summons issued to them and they were not given an opportunity to contest it. Bhat, in her plea before the trial court, had said that despite representing Laxmi in courts for several years and helping in the movie making, she was not given credit in the movie. She had said the filmmakers took her help in the entire process of writing and shooting the movie, but did not give the credit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON At home and in their own lives, Americans by and large have an upbeat view of the year to come. When it comes to how the country will fare in 2020, well, that's another matter. A new poll released Friday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that close to 4 in 10 Americans expect a better year ahead for them personally, while another half expect things to stay about the same. Only about 1 in 10 expect a downturn in their own lives in 2020. America's mood takes a darker turn when it comes to the year ahead for the country overall, with about 4 in 10 saying the way things are going nationwide will get worse. Only about 3 in 10 think things will get better for America overall in the next 12 months. It's going to be fine for me. I'll always be fine no matter what happens, I'm that kind of person, said Leslie Schulgren, a 75-year-old Democrat and retired science teacher in Atlanta. But, she added, this particular year, 2020, is not going to be pretty there's going to be too much fighting. At Winter Institute 2018 in Memphis, Andy Hunter, cofounder of the digital magazines Electric Literature and Literary Hub and the publishing house Catapult, was asked for advice on how to improve the American Bookseller Associations e-commerce site, IndieBound. He moved quickly to create an alternative, Bookshop, where consumers can purchase books with a single click. When it launches, Bookshop will replace IndieBounds e-commerce function. Hunter has also raised funds, met with publishers and media that cover books about selling online through Bookshop, and forged partnerships, including one with Ingram, which will handle book inventory and fulfillment. Soon after launch, Bookshop will add e-books through Hummingbird Digital Media. At press time, an audio partner had not been selected. Hunter is eager to prove that theres room for an indie e-commerce site and that Bookshop, which is set up as a B Corporation (one that balances purpose and profit) to generate meaningful revenue for both indies and for book media, can positively affect bookstores bottom line. Twice a year, 10% of Bookshops sales revenue will be divided among ABA member stores that have signed up to become affiliates. They can earn an additional 25% of the list price on books whose sales they drive. Hunter anticipates that Bookshop will have 35 bookstore affiliates at launch, although more are encouraged to sign on at bookshop.org or at Winter Institute, where Bookshop will have a consultation station. We think time matters, says Hunter, who has been on a mission to get Bookshop up and running in 24 months. Raising money for indies is not just a driving force behind Bookshop but a key component of the platform: a counter on the sites homepage shows how much money has been raised for indies to date, and the ordering page shows how much an individual customers shopping cart will contribute to indies. This year Bookshop needs to earn $5 million to break even. Within three years, Hunter thinks its feasible to earn $30 million, which would enable Bookshop to give back up to $8 million to bookstores. That would really make a difference, he says. Hunter is particularly concerned that Bookshop reflect what booksellers want for the site. He encourages booksellers to volunteer for a space on its board and also emphasizes Bookshops commitment to making changes based on indie input. When booksellers objected to Bookshop using reviews from Goodreads, which is owned by Amazon, it took Goodreads off the beta site. And when publishers asked Bookshop to run signed preorder campaigns, it said no to avoid competing with the efforts of local bookstores. Through Bookshops affiliate program, book bloggers, media groups, and other book influencers can sign up to become affiliates and earn 10% of the list price of book sales that they drive. Even though many indies prefer not to discount in-store, books will be discounted 10% on Bookshop. As for IndieBound, it will continue to provide information to consumers and booksellers, with purchasing links to Bookshop. And ABA will continue to provide sites for indies via IndieLite. Andy Hunter will speak at the Independent Publishers Caucus on Tuesday, January 21, 3:153:35 p.m., Tubman, floor 3, Hilton. Hunter will give a presentation titled How Bookshop Benefits Independent Booksellers on Thursday, January 23, 3:454:45 p.m., Grand ABC & East, floor 1, Marriott. The international community has asked the two countries to exercise restraint, while accelerating efforts to prevent the US-Iran confrontation from getting out of control and avoid the occurrence of a possible hot war. Tit-for-tat words and retaliatory moves in the field between Iran and the US have led analysts to put forward many scenarios for the situation in the Middle East. Many countries called for priority to diplomatic solutions aiming to ease the current situation. US allies in the Gulf also discussed and consulted with the US and their regional partners to relieve tensions and prevent the risk of war. Countries around the world continued to call for the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, while urging to find solutions through dialogue. As a bloc with many nations that are participating in the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, the European Union (EU) is concerned about the tense new developments posing security threats to missions of its member states in Iraq. To prevent the risk of escalating conflict, EU foreign ministers are scheduled to convene a meeting to discuss the Middle East situation, including efforts to persuade Iran to comply with its commitments under the nuclear deal. Only the maintenance of the nuclear agreement that Tehran signed with the P5+1 powers can help cool down the current tensions. Although US President Donald Trump said he does not want a war with Iran, the recent moves from Washington to prepare a response to Tehran have raised concerns within the US administration. The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on a draft resolution seeking to prevent President Trump from waging war with Iran. Democrats said they would push the vote because their concerns had not been resolved in a caucus chaired by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a number of other senior officials. US lawmakers want the White House to have a clear strategy to ensure the safety of the US people, as well as to reduce tensions with Iran and ensure stability in the Gulf. The concerns of US congressmen stem from the reality that, according to the 1973 US War Powers Act, the Government needs to inform Congress about major military actions. However, President Trump still insisted it was legal for him to order an air strike against Iraqs international airport without informing or consulting with Congress. In the meantime, even Republican senators called on the Trump administration to resolve tensions with Iran. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President Trump in the Senate, also stated that retaliation for the purpose of revenge is not necessary at the moment. Senator Mike Lee urged the US President to step down the stairs and consult with the Congress on any further steps concerning the Iran issue. Although the situation in the Gulf continues to proceed complicatedly, diplomatic efforts are underway to ease concerns. Secretary General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Mohammed Barkindo said that Iraqs oil facilities were safe and that oil production in the country still continues to take place normally. The United Arab Emirates said it has not seen a threat to oil shipment through the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the current situation is not a war and should not be exaggerated. While the media continue to report on the dangerous US-Iran confrontation, the international community urges the parties to refrain from escalating the tensions that are threatening security and stability in the Gulf. Phoenix, AZ Police in Arizona have just released the full dramatic body camera footage from when an officer shot and killed a 14-year-old boy who had attempted to escape on foot while holding a toy gun with a visibly orange tip. For the first time, we are now seeing the full situation of what happened when Officer Joseph Jaen opened fire on Antonio Arce, killing him. This week, the Tempe Police Department released the video among a slew of other documents, 911 calls and personnel files on officer Jaen. The files and the video were released only after the family and the media made numerous requests. Still, the department waited almost a full year after Arces death to release it. The files reveal a history of excessive force dating back to 2013. In total, this officer, who shot and killed a child holding a toy gun with an orange tip, had 19 separate incidents not including the investigation for killing Arce in his record. As Arces family still mourns the loss of their child, this cop with a history of excessive force was granted an early retirement with full benefits for the rest of his life. Last week, Jean was awarded accidental disability retirement. In a unanimous vote on Thursday, the Tempe Police Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Board granted former officer Joseph Jaens request for accidental disability. Jaen submitted the request back in June of 2019, AZ Family reported. As we reported at the time, the Tempe Police Department officer, known only by his surname, Jaen, was responding to reports of a burglarized car in an alleyway of the Phoenix suburb last January when he encountered the teen. The body camera footage shows Officer Jaen encountering a grey pick-up truck, taking cover behind a trash can after noticing Arce was still present in the vehicle. After Jaen shouts hey to the suspect, Arce flees holding what authorities said appears to be a handgun. In reality, however, it was a legal airsoft gun with a visible orange tip. As Arce approaches the end of the alley, Jaen fires two shots, hitting the teenager once in the shoulder while the second shot hits a wall at the end of the alley. Hes got a handgun, Jaen is heard saying on his radio as he continues his pursuit. Eventually, Arce can no longer run and collapses at the end of the alley. Instead of rendering aid to the dying child he just shot, Jaen initiates a several minutes long standoff with him because he couldnt respond to the officers commands. Once other officers arrived, Jaen realized what he had done. Fk man, hes just a fking kid. Its a fking toy gun, Jaen is heard on his body camera saying minutes after the Jan. 15, 2018 shooting. Clearly misjudging the situation, Jaens body camera recorded the officer claiming the small boy, holding an orange tipped toy gun was a man in his 40s. During questioning with his lawyer present after the shooting, Jaen appeared to know that he messed up. In describing his first realization that the gun the subject was carrying was possibly a toy gun since it had an orange tip, (officer) Jaen had difficulty speaking further until he finally stated, it was like why?' according to the police report. As AZ Central reports, the police report also says that Arces mother, Sandra Gonzalez, had called 911 to get help in finding her son. She had called police because she didnt know where her son was and he wasnt picking up his cell phone when she called it, she has previously said. She even told police that her son would likely run if he saw police, because they make him nervous. Gonzalez described him as having a nervous tick, the police report says. Furthermore, she stated that if he were to see the police, he would get nervous. Additionally, if the police tell him to stop, he would not stop due to being nervous. After killing Arce, officer Jaen was placed on administrative leave pending the criminal and internal investigations. Despite the fact that the investigations are still underway, Jaen was allowed to retire in May and was just granted full benefits last week. Questions around the shooting have focused on the distance at which the teenager was shot by Jaen and the risk he posed while fleeingwhich happened to be none. Speaking on behalf of the family of the deceased, attorney Danny Ortega said: It was a long distance. How this young man could have presented a threat at that far a distance is a question that needs to be asked. Indeed. In July, 2019, Antonio Arces parents filed a $5 million notice of claim against the City of Tempe. That lawsuit is still ongoing. When speaking with AZ Central, Gonzalez told them that her son was a typical energetic 14-year-old. Like most teen boys, he occasionally found himself in trouble, but it was never anything too serious, she said. He liked to go to the gym and practice parkour. He dreamed of becoming a lawyer and buying his mom her own house. Arces mother then shared a heartbreaking anecdote about her son, showing how much compassion this young boy had. One day, when he was 11, he came home from school and told his mother he was hungry. Desperate and frustrated that the family didnt have enough money for food, she took her anger out on him, cursing at him in Spanish. I dont even have money for tortillas, she recalled telling him. Gonzalez said Antonio went to his grandfathers job where the boy offered to help him sand furniture in exchange for some money so he could buy tortillas, she said. When he came home, he told me, Mom, I brought you the tortillas. I looked at him and told him, Where did you get them? He responded, I went to go work with Papa Raul and told him if he would pay me, so I could buy you tortillas, she said, crying. He always worried about us. Below is this disturbing and graphic video of a police officer killing a boy for holding an orange tip toy gun. Iran on Saturday announced that its military unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed on Wednesday, killing all 176 aboard. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing United States troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned toward a sensitive military center of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its highest level of readiness," it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit, the statement said. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani offered his apologies and condolences over the tragedy. Taking to Twitter after Iranian military confirmed that the plane was "unintentionally shot down", Rouhani offered his sincere condolences to families of the victims and assured that the country would "continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake." "Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably, missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake," Rouhani tweeted. "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences," he added. Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also tweeted his "profound regrets, apologies, and condolences" to the families of the victims. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 1:16AM It's the final month+ of awards mania and we'll have final Oscar nom predictions up shortly. But what a busy weekend it already is... Globe Drama winner / Oscar hopeful 1917 just expanded into wide release, France's Oscar finalist Les Miserables opened in limited release (banking on a nomination Monday, no doubt). For home viewing Best Picture hopeful Joker and Oscar longshot-in-a-couple-of-categories The Lighthouse both just hit Blu-Ray. New to streaming is the Florence Pugh showcase horror film MidSommar on Amazon Prime, while action spectacle John Wick Parabellum (mysteriously not nominatd for stunts at SAG) arrives on HBO. But here's what's still to come this season... JANUARY 12 Critics Choice Awards. Plus maybe Nathaniel's Top Ten List ... which means the Film Bitch Awards nominations begin? But it takes us a while to publish them all. 13 Oscar Nominations Announced 15 Maleficent Mistress of Evil and Gemini Man, Oscar finalists in Makeup and Visual Effects respectively, hit Blu-Ray 16 voting closes for the PGA awards, Federico Fellini Centennial celebration begins at TFE 17 Weathering With You (Japan's Oscar submission) opens in the US, plus... voting closes for SAG awards 18 PGA Ceremony, Godzilla King of Monsters hits HBO and you should watch only to marvel at how insane/inept Oscar's visual fx branch is... Cats made the finalist list but this didn't? For f***'s sake, AMPAS! 19 SAG Ceremony, plus Team Experience Awards (voted on by our contributors) are announced 20 Martin Luther King Jr Day 21 Pain and Glory (Spain's Oscar finalist) arrives on Blu-Ray. We hope it arrives with a few Oscar nominations (biting our nails about it right now) 24 voting closes for DGA awards 25 GOYA Awards (Spain's Oscars), DGA Awards, Annie Awards 27 Oscar Nominee Luncheon. Harriet and Parasite both arrive on Blu-Ray. How many Oscar nominations will they be able to advertise? France didn't choose PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE for its submission but will it give a ton of Cesar nominations? 29 Cesar Nominations Announced (France's Oscars), voting closes for BAFTA, Beanpole (Russia's Oscar finalist) opens in the US. 30 final voting begins for Oscars. 31 "Oscar Shorts Program" opens in select movie theaters in the US, The Traitor (Italy's Oscar submission) and Incitement (Israel's Oscar submission) open in the US FEBRUARY Will Laura win the Smackdown? 2 BAFTA Ceremony, Groundhog Day, plus "Supporting Actress Smackdown" returns with the current Oscar year 3 Film Bitch Awards Medals Ceremony 4 voting closes for the Oscars 6 Final Oscar Predictions. 7 And Then We Danced (Georgia's Oscar submission) opens in the US 8 Independent Spirit Awards Ceremony 9 OSCAR NIGHT It's the 92nd Annual Academy Awards 10 Oscar post-mortems begin and generally last about a week here at the site. We don't move on easily. Sue us. 11 Ford V Ferrari arrives on Blu-Ray 14 Valentine's Day! 19 Corpus Christi (Poland's Oscar finalist) opens in the US 28 Cesar Ceremony in France, The Whistlers (Romania's Oscar submission) and A White White Day (Iceland's Oscar submission) open in the US in select cities. Why so many foreign Oscar submissions each year wait until after the Oscars they were competing for to release -- even if they were nominated they couldn't really capitalize on it by then -- we'll never know. ... and then TFE gets a mini-vacation during the first or second week of March. It's usually only two to three days as we're workaholics. Which dates are you most excited for? Thousands of people gathered in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, on Sunday as nationwide protests continued. Protesters first took to the streets in October over proposed new taxes. But the nationwide demonstrations quickly grew into calls for an end to the rule of the political elite that has run the country since the 1975-90 civil war ended. The protesters blame the politicians for widespread corruption and mismanagement, which they say are the main reasons for the country's financial crisis. The protests forced the resignation of former prime minister Saad Hariri. A new prime minister, Hassan Diab, was appointed recently, but he has still not been able to form a cabinet. The ongoing protests and paralysis have worsened the economic crisis in the country. Image Source: AP OTTAWA Canada wants in on Irans investigation into the plane crash that killed so many from this country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made that clear. But questions remain about what Canadian officials will be able to do to ensure there is the thorough and credible probe Trudeau has called for, even though Iran has invited Canadas Transportation Safety Board (TSB) to visit the crash site. What does a thorough and credible investigation look like? And will Canada actually get the investigation it wants into the crash that killed 57 of its citizens? Anatomy of a proper crash investigation Doug Perovic, a University of Toronto professor who teaches forensic engineering, said one of the first steps in any proper probe is to check the planes black boxes the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. Often they can tell you a lot, he said, including what the pilots were saying and which warnings or technical problems they may have been dealing with. But in the instance of a missile strike, which Canada, the U.S. and other countries consider likely, the recorders may not tell the whole story. In a catastrophic explosion, theyre only going to be good up to the point where data stops being recorded, Perovic said. Beyond that, investigators should turn to the field of debris the bits and pieces of the plane scattered about the crash site, Perovic said. By examining pieces of the fuselage, wings and engines, investigators can start to differentiate between a missile strike, a bomb on board, a drone strike, just a mechanical engine failure. David McNair, a former TSB investigator and military pilot, said all pieces of the plane should be carefully collected and photographed before being they are brought to a new location such as a large hangar to reconstruct the shape of the plane. Quite often you build a full-scale replica cage, and you start attaching those pieces to it to see the breakup pattern and if there's any damage pattern, he said. Thats a long, laborious process that could take months and months, he said. Perovic added that, at this stage, the investigation should be working to detect explosion patterns, test any residues to determine the chemistry of an explosion, and determining whether any blast came from outside or inside the plane. Will Canada get the investigation it wants? Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the nation Thursday afternoon, saying Canada has intelligence that indicates a plane carrying at least 63 Canadians was shot down by an Iranian missile. Trudeau says it is too early to tell whether it was shot by accident or on purpose. (The Canadian Press) Like it or not, Canada will have to rely on Iran to answer that question, since Canada can only participate to the extent that Iran allows it to, aviation experts explain. As of Friday night, no Canadian personnel had arrived in Iran even while the government pushes to obtain entry visas for a team of 10 consular employees and two TSB officials, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said. It starts with the visas, because until and unless we can have our people physically on the ground at the site, at the meetings, we are obviously not in a position to have all the influence we want, he said. Time is of the essence. Every hour matters. Champagne revised the number of Canadian citizens believed to have been aboard the plane to 57 from the 63 initially provided by Ukrainian authorities. He said the new number is based on more careful cross-checking of travel documents, birthdates and other information. Iran is in charge of the investigation because the plane went down in its territory, according to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, an agreed-upon rule book managed by a special United Nations agency, which includes sections for investigating deadly crashes. But other countries are entitled to participate, according to the convention, including those where the plane operated and was registered, designed and built. Irans state news agency reported Friday that the country has invited plane manufacturer Boeing, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Ukraine to participate in the investigation. Frances air accident agency will also take part, the Associated Press reported, since the engine was designed by a joint French-American company. Canadas participation in the probe is less clear-cut. According to the convention, countries with citizens killed in a plane crash are entitled to visit the scene of the accident, access relevant information, help identify victims, and receive a copy of the final investigation report. But there is no rule to guarantee a direct role in an investigation. Their involvement is not the same as, for example, if it had been a Canadian airliner or a Canadian-designed aircraft, said McNair, the former TSB investigator. It does not mean Iran cannot give full privileges to Canada if they so desire, but its their call, he said. In carrying out a proper investigation, Perovic said the right investigators and specialists need to be available to properly assess flight recorders and wreckage. That means bringing in manufacturers and relevant countries as Iran appears to be doing is important. But he said it is highly unusual that Iran would have cleared the crash site of debris 48 hours after the plane went down, as American broadcaster CBS has reported. You cant process that kind of accident scene in two days. That is very disruptive, that is very detrimental to doing a full and complete investigation, Perovic said. It doesnt necessarily preclude getting to the bottom of this, he added. It will just take longer, and maybe some conclusions for some things may not be as definite as they could have been. Speaking in Ottawa, Champagne said he is concerned about reports from the crash site, but that time will tell whether Iran can be trusted to give Canada and the world the assurance that the investigation is transparent and up to international standards. We want full accountability, we want answers to these questions, and the world is watching what the Iranian government is doing, he said. With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press Read more about: Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Beirut, January 10, 2020The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the killing of two journalists working for the Iraqi broadcaster Dijlah TV, and urged Iraqi authorities to immediately open an investigation and hold those responsible to account. Unknown gunmen today opened fire on a car carrying Dijlah TV reporter Ahmed Abdul Samad and camera operator Safaa Ghali, according to news reports and the journalists employer. They were covering protests in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, reports said. No journalist should have to fear for their safety or be singled out for attack over their coverage of protests, said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Representative Ignacio Miguel Delgado. We call on the Iraqi authorities to immediately open an investigation into the killing of Ahmed Abdul Samad and Safaa Ghali and to do their utmost to ensure journalists can cover the protests freely and without fear of reprisal. A video posted on Dijlah TVs website and widely circulated on social media shows Samad slumped in the passenger seat, with a bullet wound to the right side of his head. The video shows at least three bullet holes in the right front door of the car. Ghali was taken to Basra General Hospital where he died shortly afterward, according to news reports and his employer. A report by the news website Al-Mirbad said that Ghali had three bullet wounds in the chest. A few hours prior to his death, Samad posted a video on his Facebook account criticizing how Iraqi security forces arrested protesters in Basra but did not arrest or beat those protesting in front of the U.S. Embassy. Dijlah TV also posted undated footage of Samad interviewing protesters on its social media accounts. Hundreds of people have been killed since the start of protests across Iraq in October over a lack of basic services, unemployment, and government corruption, according to the Independent High Commission for Human Rights of Iraq. CPJ documented how on November 12, Iraqs media regulator, the Communications and Media Commission, ordered the shutdown of Dijlah TV, which is based in Amman, Jordan, and seven other outlets, and Iraqi security forces on November 26 implemented that order by raiding the Baghdad office of Diljah TV. At least two other Iraqi journalists have been killed since the beginning of the protests in Iraq on October 1, according to CPJ research. All arrangements have been made for the two-day demolition of Maradu flats in Kochi that will begin from today at 11 am. A mock drill was carried out successfully on Friday to ensure the safety of citizens ahead of the demolition of four multi-storey flats at Maradu here. "Everything was enacted except for the pressing of the button, which will trigger the collapse. Everything is ready and Section 144 of the CrPC will be enforced on Saturday on land, air and water," said Inspector General (IG) Vijay Sakhare. The mock drill was held after a primary evaluation of safety measures taken by police. Ahead of the demolition of 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, the district administration issued an advisory and restricted drones in the evacuation zone with immediate effect. As per the advisory, Section 144, which prohibits an assembly of four or more people in an area, has been imposed in the evacuation zone of all the flats to be demolished from 8 am to 4 pm. House to house search was carried out for ensuring 100 per cent evacuation of people residing in the zone. People may witness the implosion from any place outside the evacuation zone. "The residents in the evacuation zone should switch off the electricity and all the appliances before leaving their homes. They are advised to close all windows and doors to protect their homes from dust. All traffic - air-borne, water-borne, land-based is prohibited in the evacuation zone. Since all buildings have been charged with explosives, nobody shall fly drones in the evacuation zone from immediate effect. Any violation is extremely dangerous and shall attract legal action," the advisory stated. Moreover, traffic diversions shall be regulated, based on the warning siren sequence and people may return to their homes once police remove barricades from the roads leading to the evacuation zone. This comes after 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, filed a case in Kerala High Court on Tuesday. The petitioners requested the Kerala HC to direct the respondents to immediately assess the present market value of the houses and other structures in the 200-meter area before the demolition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Can another constitution rescue Lanka? By Gamini Weerakoon View(s): View(s): Efforts made through 72 years with three constitutions the last with 19 amendments to find a legal formula to bring political and economic stability to Lanka have been futile and now, once again, the country is making an effort to find that elusive formula. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, addressing the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament on January 3, noted that the 1978 Constitution which has been amended on 19 occasions has given rise to many problems at the present time because of its inherent ambiguities and confusions. To safeguard the security, sovereignty, stability and integrity of our country, it was essential that changes be made to the existing constitution, he contended. Even though elections can be won through numbers, an unstable parliament that cannot take clear decisions and remains constantly under the influence of extremism is not one that suits the country. He claimed that this problem can be resolved through constitutional reforms with a strong executive, legislature and independent judiciary that can ensure the sovereignty of the people. Certainly, some provisions of the constitution as they are today left by the Yahapalanaya government need to be amended. If President Rajapaksa intends a drastic overhaul of the constitution as what happened to the first constitution and the United Front government constitution, both of which were stood on their heads the fallout of such changes need intense deliberations. Constitutions, however wonderful they may appear to be to their makers and their supporters, may not only fail to produce expected results but could make matters far worse for the country. A reflection on the state of affairs during the period of the first constitution and of today will be food for thought. The Soulbury Constitution enabled good governance for eight years until the vital clause protecting minorities was bypassed and the Sinhala Only was adopted as the state language. The then ruling United National Party that backed the Sinhala Only move split up immediately with Tamil members leaving the party and when the 1956 General Election was held it suffered an ignominious defeat with S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike riding the crest of the wave of Sinhala nationalism sweeping the polls. The UNPs decision to go along with Sinhala Only did not result in an electoral victory and instead brought ruination. It took 9 years for the party to return to power. In 197O, the United Front government led by Sirima Bandaranaike and allied with Trotskyites and Stalinists swept the polls obtaining more than a two-thirds majority in Parliament. They threw out the White Mans Constitution, changed the name of Ceylon to Sri Lanka , drew up a truly Sri Lankan constitution and went along not only with Sinhala Only but even enacted a special constitutional provision giving Buddhism the foremost place over other religions. The Tamils boycotted sittings of the Constitutional Assembly and the estrangement of the communities drew further apart. The Marxist politicians who had vehemently opposed Sinhala Only and strongly advocated parity of status for both languages for reasons best known to themselves went along with the Sinhala Buddhist line of Sirima Bandaranaike. In a few years time, the Marxists fell out with the Bandaranaikes SLFP and she went to the polls in 1977, with her party being wiped out to a point of near extinction by J.R. Jayewardenes rejuvenated UNP. Her Sinhala Buddhist nationalism failed to stall the onslaught of J.R. Jayewardene who bagged a record five-sixth majority in parliament giving him absolute power. JR, too, enacted a new constitution a Gaullist Constitution with himself as Executive President vested with immense executive powers and a parliament subservient to him. During his two term tenure, he accomplished many of the tasks he set before himself but failed in establishing good relations with Tamil political parties, including the TULF, and his relations with Tamil youth groups deteriorated alarmingly. This took relations with Tamils and India to rock bottom in 1986 with the arrival of Indian troops uninvited by him. The government of Sirima Bandaranaike had absolute power with a two- third majority in Parliament. The governments of J.R. Jayewardene (two terms) were vested with strong powers of the Executive Presidency and he had a parliament in the palm of his hand. And both rulers had constitutions made to their desires. But these did not result in creating political stability and economic prosperity in the country they had hoped for. Where both rulers failed was in meeting the aspirations of the Tamil people and having a continuous dialogue with the democratic Tamil politicians and their parties, when possible. Chandrika Kumaratunga was a president different to all others. She started on a note of friendship flying to Jaffna on being elected and greeted by the Tamil people and welcomed by Tamil parties but that honeymoon ended soon when Prabhakaran out of the blues sank two navy gun boats in Trincomalee harbour. He nearly missed murdering her at a Colombo Town Hall rally. Innumerable political solutions in the form of constitutional proposals were tried out by the regimes of J.R. Jayewardene, Chandrika Kumaratunga and Ranil Wickremasnghe as the prime minister of the Kumaratunga presidency. But all these efforts came to naught. Thus can the new Constitution thought out by Gotabaya Rajapaksas think tanks over four years work out and bring about communal amity? Will the backing of a preponderantly strong determined majority as expressed in the presidential election, and parliament backing with a two thirds majority which the president hopes for make Tamils change their minds? Or have both Sinhala governments and Tamil parties and groups been looking away from the elephant in the room the mutual distrust and even hatred that exist between members of the two communities after the events of the past 30 years? If this mistrust prevails, all the cosmetic legal devices and proposals are bound to fail as they have failed before. The obvious requirement is building trust and confidence while winning hearts and minds between the two peoples. Has this happened after The War was officially declared to be over a decade ago? Constitutions produced by academics and politicians must necessarily embody the consensus of all significant sections of the populace. Ignoring a significant communitys desires or worse suppressing such desires because of conflicts of opinion of the majority cannot obviously bring about political stability or foster economic progress. The 1972 constitution of Sirima Bandaranaike and the 1978 Constitution of J.R. Jayewardene should be seen in that light when thinking about a new constitution. The view of the people being embodied in the constitutional proposals has been elegantly expressed by Robert Kennedy. The glory of justice and the majesty of the law are created not just by the constitution nor by courts nor by lawyers but by men and women who constitute our society, who are the protectors of the law as they themselves are protected by the law. The survey finds meager support for former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is among the leaders in polls in the predominantly white states of Iowa and New Hampshire but stands at 2 percent among Democratic black voters nationally. A lack of familiarity with him and concerns about his experience and sexual orientation appear to be contributing to his current standing. Buttigieg has said that as African Americans get to know him, he will gain more support, but the poll undercuts that assertion. He receives only 3 percent support among black voters who are familiar with him. Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday faced protests by Left students for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegedly "diluting the fight against CAA". The Left students were protesting against her meeting Modi at the Raj Bhavan here and sharing the stage with the prime minister at a function later in the evening on the first day of his two-day visit to the state. They lanched a dharna at the Dorina Crossing at Esplanade and said it would continue as long as the prime minister is in the state. Members of SFI, AISA, IC of Presidency University students unions chanting 'Azadi' and 'Shame Shame' broke three barricades put up near the stage of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad's (TMCP) sit-in at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, not far from the Raj Bhavan, and demanded explanation from Banerjee as she rushed from a programme attended by Modi to the venue. They wanted to know why Mamata Banerjee met the PM, who, they said, is behind the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens and "diluted the fight" against it. "We were heading towards the Raj Bhavan. But we were prevented from doing so by the police near TMCP's dharna site on nearby Rani Rashmoni Avenue. When the CM arrived, we demanded an explanation from her," Subho Biswas, a student of Presidency University, claimed. Also Read: Sonia Gandhi Calls Citizenship Act 'Discriminatory', CWC Passes Resolution To Withdraw CAA, Stop NPR An SFI leader Tapas Das said the protests would go on as long as Modi was in the city on Sunday. "We demanded an explanation from Mamata Banerjee about her meeting the prime minister at the Raj Bhavan and sharing the stage at an official programme ... There is a secret understanding between Mamata Banerjee and PM Modi. She has been exposed. "We will sit on dharna at the Esplanade crossing till the prime minister leaves the city tomorrow," he said. Banerjee, who was seen arguing with Left students, sought to clarify her stand and said it was her "constitutional obligation to meet the PM". Also Read: Citizenship Amendment Act Comes Into Effect Officially As Government Issues Gazette Notification "I am the only leader who met Narendra Modi and told him that the CAA, NRC and NPR cannot be implemented. We have been protesting from day one against CAA. The issue before both of us (TMCP and Left students' unions) is the same, so please don't deviate from it. "I request you all to protest in a democratic way ... We should fight the anti-CAA battle together. We are fighting on the same issue," she told the Left students unions. She also asked the TMCP students, who were separated by a barricade put up by police, to remain calm and not retaliate. Banerjee was seen sitting on the dais surrounded by security guards and TMCP students raised counter slogans chanting 'Bande Mataram' and 'Down with BJP and its cohorts'. A senior Kolkata Police Police officer said Banerjee is still present at the sit-in venue and officers and extra policemen are present there. "We are alert," he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Sam Burgess has been seen getting cozy with a mystery brunette at a popular Sydney pub. The former Rabbitohs star, 31, was in high spirits as he shared a drink with the young woman at the Coogee Bay Hotel in the famous beach-side suburb on Saturday. A pub goer snapped an exclusive picture of the pair, saying that they appeared 'flirty, touchy-feely and were laughing a lot'. Sam Burgess (centre, right) was pictured getting cozy with a mystery brunette (left) at popular Sydney pub on Saturday In the picture, the brunette beauty, holding a glass of champagne in her hand, appears to tell a joke while beer-toting Burgess has a laugh. Although they seemed to get on well, Daily Mail Australia were told the pair did not leave together, with Sam departing the Coogee Bay Hotel first. After he left, the woman walked outside and phoned her friends to tell them she had been drinking with a footy star. Burgess got 'flirty and touchy-feely' with the mystery woman as well as sharing a few laughs, according to an anonymous pub goer Burgess and his estranged wife Phoebe split in December 2018, less than a month after their second child William was born. After attempting to resurrect their relationship in April 2019, the pair separated for a second time in October. In December, Burgess was hit with an AVO and banned from approaching his father-in-law Mitch Hooke after he allegedly intimidated him in October following the split. Burgess and his estranged wife Phoebe (pictured) split in December 2018, less than a month after their second child William was born. They split for a second time in October 2019 Since the split, Burgess has been linked to US waitress Oak Schuetz, 27, who said she dated the retired NRL star after they met at The Establishment bar in Sydney. However, Burgess denied being in a relationship with Ms Schuetz, prompting her to retract her statement. The former NRL player ended his 12-year rugby league career in October last year when he retired due to a shoulder injury. The makers of the film have been ordered by a Delhi Court to give due credit to Laxmi Aggarwals lawyer Aparna Bhat. Making biopics on people who are alive has become almost impossible in India. Meghna Gulzar and her producers faced their share of legal hassles while trying to make Talvar based on the infamous Aarushi Talwar double murder case. Now, the directors latest work Chhapaak, based on the life of the acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, continues to be inundated with controversies and legal issues even after its release. The latest problem to plague Chhapaak is a legal notice from Laxmi Aggarwals lawyer Aparna Bhat who fought a long and hard battle to get justice for her client. After watching the film, Aparna feels that she has been sidelined in the film. In a Facebook post, she wrote, Have never been the one to demand attention to my work. Deeply disturbed by the turn of events post watching Chhapaak. Compelled to take legal action to protect my identity and preserve my integrity (sic). While Meghna is battling another legal issue, a source very close to her angrily blames the films producer Fox Star for the faux pas. Even after knowing that it is a sensitive story based on true events, why did the producers hold previews days before the films release? Everyone knows such real-life stories are vulnerable to attack and bound to become a casualty of last-minute delaying tactics. In the latest development, a Delhi court had ordered the Chhapaak makers to acknowledge Aparnas contribution to the film. This court is of the considered view that facts are indicative that the pique of the plaintiff for interim injunction is well-founded and it is necessary that her contribution be acknowledged by providing the actual footage and the images, says the court order. Accordingly, Aparnas name will now appear in the credits of the movie. As the U.S. and China rewrite their rules of engagement, the open exchange of scientific research and talent between the two powers is under scrutiny. The big picture: Experts warn a "decoupling" of the two global powers unwinding economic and technological dependencies, as well as raising barriers to collaboration would destabilize the world and put the U.S.'s innovation edge at risk. "The openness of the U.S. system has been exploited," says Samm Sacks, a fellow at the New America foundation. "Now the question is, 'Is it possible to maintain that openness in a way thats resilient?'" Yes, according to a recent report from the JASON program at MITRE Corp. outlining the risks that come with international collaboration on research. The authors report instances of foreign influence in U.S. fundamental research via coercion, deception and theft of intellectual property. While the picture isn't complete, they write, there is "a developing situation that appears to be worsening and that represents a threat to our fundamental research enterprise and, in the longer run, our economic security and national security." But ultimately the authors conclude the problems can be addressed with existing ethics and disclosure practices, and that "the benefits of openness in research and of the inclusion of talented foreign researchers dictate against measures that would wall off particular areas of fundamental research." What's happening: Lawmakers recently formed two groups to address and fight foreign influence in U.S. research. There have also been proposals to wall off areas of research from foreign students or to restrict who can come to the U.S. to study in the first place. Such restrictions would be difficult to implement in practice, says Remco Zwetsloot of Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, citing AI as an example of a technology that pervades numerous fields, sectors and industries and is composed of different methods and techniques. "Agencies would have to define what they mean by AI that is in practice a very hard thing to do." would be difficult to implement in practice, says Remco Zwetsloot of Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, citing AI as an example of a technology that pervades numerous fields, sectors and industries and is composed of different methods and techniques. "Agencies would have to define what they mean by AI that is in practice a very hard thing to do." It could also hamper American universities' efforts to attract top talent if foreign researchers go to Canada or elsewhere due to U.S. restrictions. "All you achieve as U.S. policy is to drive scientists out of the U.S.," says Zwetsloot. Meanwhile, China is trying to draw scientists back to the country, and other nations are trying to woo AI talent. So far, they seem to be staying. Zwetsloot found more than 90% of Chinese students who receive AI-related PhDs from American programs, for example, remain in the U.S. for at least five years. The bottom line: A true decoupling that gives the U.S. no visibility into technological advancement in China could be "really dangerous," says New America's Sacks. "Gene-editing? AI? These are technologies that are going to fundamentally change society, and if China and the U.S. go down completely different paths here, there could be dire consequences for humanity," she says. But, but, but: "One reason not to fear imminent decoupling is that, even at its most successful, Chinas model of technological development can proceed only so fast," the Economist writes in its latest issue. "When a technology is complex and expensive, progress is slow, as is shown in the manufacture of semiconductors." Go deeper: Editor's note: This story has been updated to specify that MITRE's JASON program wrote the report discussed. Bangladesh deputy foreign minister Shahriar Alam has dropped out of the Raisina Dialogue in the wake of controversy over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) issues, people familiar with developments said on Friday. Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque, who was also expected to attend Raisina Dialogue, is not coming as well. Dhaka has expressed concern over comments by senior Indian leaders over the deportation of illegal citizens in recent months and the issues of the NRC and CAA have become fresh irritants in relations. The Bangladeshi deputy foreign minister is expected to skip the Raisina Dialogue, said a person who declined to be identified. The Bangladeshs ministry of foreign affairs said that foreign minister Md Shahriar Alam was invited as a speaker in the Raisina Dialouge but the minister could not be present as his visit coincides with his visit to the UAE to accompany the PM. The statement further said that a regret letter has already been communicated with Overseas Research Foundation (ORF), which is organising the dialogue. There was no bilateral engagement scheduled during the visit, the statement added. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. 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Digital Editor London, Jan 11 : UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has sent an extradition notice to the US Justice Department over the the death of a British teen in a car accident last year that involved an American diplomat's wife, a media report said. Harry Dunn, 19, died in a hospital of multiple injuries from the head-on crash of his motorbike with a car on August 27, 2019 in Northamptonshire in the East Midlands of England. The US State Department has confirmed that the driver Anne Sacoolas, 42, was the spouse of a US diplomat assigned to Britain, who then left the UK using her diplomatic immunity. Friday's development comes after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced last month that they had charged Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving, metro.co.uk reported. Confirming the extradition request, a spokesman for the Home Office said: "Following the Crown Prosecution Service's charging decision, the Home Office has sent an extradition request to the US for Anne Sacoolas on charges of causing death by dangerous driving. "This is now a decision for the US authorities." Dunn family spokesman Radd Seiger said they were "pleased" with the latest development and felt that it is a "huge step towards achieving justice for Harry". "This will not of course bring Harry back, but in the circumstances of all that this family have been through, they are pleased with the development and feel that it is a huge step towards achieving justice for Harry and making good on the promise that they made to him on the night he died that they would secure justice for him," Seiger added. Following the accident, Sacoolas was twice interviewed by Northamptonshire Police - once on the day after the crash, and on another occasion by officers who travelled to the US, reports metro.co.uk. But under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, families of diplomats are granted immunity from arrest or detention, with the sending state able to issue a waiver of that immunity. According to the CPS, the immunity does not apply to dependents of consular officials based outside of London. Weinstein stands charged with five counts, including an allegation that he raped a woman at a Doubletree Hotel in Manhattan in 2013. Hes also accused of forcing a sex act on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and faces two counts of predatory sexual assault which allege a pattern of conduct involving those two alleged victims and actress Annabella Sciorra, known for her roles on The Sopranos and in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. Defense attorneys for Weinstein have long maintained that he has never had nonconsensual sex with any of his accusers and that he would not be able to get a fair trial in New York City. They were denied motions for a change of venue, to have the case transplanted to another jurisdiction in the state. And they have said the credibility of the female accusers will prove problematic. Trump rally AP Photo/ Jacquelyn Martin President Donald Trump at a rally in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday claimed that the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani was an act of "American justice." "Soleimani was actively planning new attacks and he was looking very seriously at our embassies, and not just the embassy in Baghdad, but we stopped him and we stopped him quickly and we stopped him cold," Trump told the cheering crowd. In recent weeks, there has been a steep escalation of tensions between Iran and the US, with Iran responding to Soleimani's death by firing a barrage of missiles at US personnel stationed in Iraq. Trump on Wednesday had sought to calm tensions, and said there would be no US military response to the Iran strike. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The day after seeking to ratchet down tensions with Iran, President Donald Trump struck a different tone with supporters Thursday night, boasting of the US assassination of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. At a rally in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday night Trump claimed that the drone strike against the leader of the elite Iranian al Quds force had saved American lives, amid criticism from lawmakers from both the Democrats and Republicans. They say that the president has failed to provide an adequate briefing to Congress about why the strike was necessary. "Last week the United States once again took the bold and decisive action to save American lives and deliver American justice," he said, doubling down on claims Soleimani posed an imminent threat. "Soleimani was actively planning new attacks and he was looking very seriously at our embassies, and not just the embassy in Baghdad, but we stopped him and we stopped him quickly and we stopped him cold," Trump said. Story continues In the speech, Trump taunted Democrats who have questioned his decision to assassinate Soleimani. "He was a bad guy," Trump said of Soleimani. "He was a bloodthirsty terrorist, and he's no longer a terrorist. He's dead, and yet now I see ... the radical-left Democrats have expressed outrage over the termination of this horrible terrorist. "And you know, instead they should be outraged by Soleimani's savage crimes and the fact that his countless victims were denied justice for so long." Earlier, Vice President Mike Pence in an interview with Fox News had defended the administrations claims that Soleimani presented an "imminent threat," and said that intelligence that influenced the decision had been too sensitive to share with lawmakers. Vice President Mike Pence on NBC News Screenshot/NBC News The rally comes after more than a week of spiraling hostilities between the US and Iran, that saw Iran fire missiles targeting military bases in Iraq where US personnel were stationed. On Wednesday, the US military said that the missile strikes resulted in no US casualties, and in a White House address Trump backed away from further military action and called for diplomacy to reduce their differences. "The United States," Trump said, "is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it." Read the original article on Business Insider A new regional council involving eight countries in the Red Sea corridor was launched this week with Saudi Arabia at the helm as a way to tackle piracy, smuggling and other related issues. The council aims to enhance stability in the region, but regional rivalries and notable exclusions from the initiative remain a key sticking point. It seems for the moment that the piracy/maritime security angle is a good way to initiate cooperation between the countries of the region while staying outside of the political issues that may divide them, said Camille Lons, research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Middle East in Bahrain. Foreign ministers from countries including Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Eritrea, Egypt, Yemen, and Jordan signed the charter of the Council of Arab and African Coastal States of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on Monday. All border the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden. The regional grouping was initially slated to focus on a number of topics, including economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and environmental issues, Lons told RFI. Under the Saudi leadership it has been re-centred around security issues, she added. At the council charter signing in Riyadh on Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that this new regional body would not create an entirely new defense force. The idea for the council was initially announced in 2018 as a joint Egypt-Saudi initiative, as Saudi emerged as the lead after a juggling of interests, according to Ahmed Soliman, Africa Programme research fellow at Chatham House. This is borne out of increasing engagement across the Red Sea, and interests from the Gulf states and others in territories across the Red Sea in the Horn of Africa region, said Soliman, referring to the number of port projects that have started or are planned in Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Somaliland. The Red Sea corridor spans 2250 kilometres at its widest point, a key waterway that separates the Mediterranean from the Indian Ocean and beyond to Asia, as billions of euros in shipping trade pass through its waters each year. The fishing industry in the Red Sea is also a competitive one. This key strategic waterway also retains an important political dimension, said IISS' Lons. For Saudi Arabia, the aim is to preserve the Red Sea from external influence, especially from its political rivals (Turkey, Qatar, Iran). Creating a platform that focuses on littoral countries is an efficient way of claiming that Turkey, Qatar and Iran have nothing to do in Red Sea matters, she said.Who has been included and who has been excluded poses another set of issues for this new regional body. You don't want to limit participation to littoral states only there is a need to look at more inclusive engagement and membership around that, said Soliman, referring to Ethiopia, the sixth largest landlocked country in the world, and a major trading partner with Djibouti. Somaliland creates another issue in terms of lack of membership on the council. Somaliland shut out The self-declared country of Somaliland, located in the Gulf of Aden in the northwest corner of Somalia, has been trading directly with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for a number of years, specifically in shipping livestock from Berbera port. Its 850-kilometre coastline is in a key position in the Red Sea Corridor, a point in the statement from the Somaliland foreign ministry on Tuesday. It will not cooperate with any policies or programs originating from the council as long as its excluded and denied its rightful position among the important stakeholders, it said, adding that it will not recognize the formation of any blocs that exclude legitimate stakeholders based on arbitrary, irrelevant or discriminatory criteria. It is true that the question of Somaliland's inclusion into the council is problematic, said researcher Lons. Somaliland has previously sought to be included in this initiative as well as obtain observer status for the Horn of Africa regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) taskforce in the Red Sea, she said. Many officials from the region are sympathetic to Somaliland's position, but it would be diplomatically untenable for them to include it in the council, she added. Somalia-Somaliland tensions have heightened due to the UAE contract to construct a military and commercial base in Berbera, the site of its strategic port. Saudi Arabia is trying to find a balance, and although it has relations with Somaliland, it is also trying to keep its relations with Mogadishu as well, and it fears that adding Somaliland to the Council would antagonise Mogadishu, said Lons. Within the small grouping are a number of issues and competing interests, not only Somaliland. The quest for ports in the Red Sea has created deeper rivalries between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/UAE alliance and the Qatari-Turkey grouping. Mogadishu has resisted persuasive efforts from Riyadh to turn away from its support of Saudi rival Qatar. Ethiopia, the sixth largest landlocked country in the world, and a major trading partner with Djibouti, maintains its own struggle with Egypt. Its efforts to channel water from the Nile River to create its Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam, has fuelled tensions on both sides of the border. Egypt believes the dam would threaten farmers and the country as a whole by depriving it of its essential source of water. For Saudi Arabia, there is a similar dilemma over the inclusion of Ethiopia in the Council, said Lons. Keeping it outside makes little sense, but KSA is trying to spare Egypt, she added. Riyadh has a lot on its hands in terms of dealing with and appeasing its council regional partners. The actual workings of the council have not been revealed yet, and some wonder if this is another Saudi initiative carrying a lot of fanfare and not a lot of substance. After postponing the Afro-Arab summit last November, the conference is scheduled for early 2020, where more of the framework of the Council of Arab and African Coastal States of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden could be revealed or not. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The latest on Iran-related developments (all times local): 2:35 a.m. President Donald Trump has called on the Iranian regime to allow human rights groups to monitor protests in the Islamic Republic in the aftermath of the regime acknowledging that it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner earlier this week. Via Twitter, Trump expressed his support of the brave, long-suffering people of Iran on Saturday after hundreds gathered at universities in Tehran to protest the governments belated acknowledgement of errantly shooting down the plane, killing all 176 passengers aboard. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also took to Twitter to express his support for the Iranian people and lashed out against Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the regimes lies, corruption, ineptitude. The protesters demanded officials involved in the missile attack be removed from their positions and tried. Police broke up the demonstrations. ___ 2:15 a.m. Britain has accused Iran of violating international law after its ambassador to Iran was arrested and briefly detained during protests in Tehran. Iranian media said ambassador Rob Macaire was arrested outside a university and detained for more than an hour before being released. Protests have been taking place after the Iranian government admitted that its Revolutionary Guard shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane by mistake, killing all 176 people on board. U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law. The Iranian government is at a crossroads moment, he said. It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards. Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier called Irans admission that it shot down the plane was an important first step and called for de-escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States. ___ 11:55 Ukraine is offering over $8,000 in financial compensation to the families of its citizens who died in the jetliner crash in Iran earlier this week. All 176 people on board the plane were killed, including 11 Ukrainians. Iranian officials have admitted responsibility for mistakenly shooting down the plane. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address Saturday that his government will also push Iran to provide separate compensation to the victims families. He had just spoken by phone to Irans president, Hassan Rouhani, and said Iran promised to prosecute those responsible for the shootdown. The Ukrainian Cabinet says each family will receive the equivalent of $8,300 from the state. The crash happened early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq. That attack was in retaliation for the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general. 11:30 p.m. Ukraines president says Iran has pledged to quickly identify and return victims remains from the jetliner that Iran accidentally shot down earlier this week. He says Iran has also promised to prosecute any Iranian officials responsible for shooting down the Ukrainian aircraft. All 176 people on board were killed, including 11 Ukrainians. Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he will return all those dead to their families, adding: All the culprits will be punished. Zelenskiys televised speech followed a phone call with Irans president, Hassan Rouhani. He thanked the U.S, Britain, Canada and others for information about the crash and their support. He says that support undoubtedly helped push Iran to acknowledge its responsibility for the crash. Earlier Saturday, Rouhani and other Iranian officials admitted Tehrans responsibility for mistakenly downing the Ukrainian airliner, after days of denials. The crash happened early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general. 8:30 p.m. German Chancellor Angela Merkel says Irans acknowledgement that it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet earlier this week was a positive step. Merkel says it is good that those who are responsible are known ... everything has to be done now to find solution with those countries where those who are affected came from. She says it is important that everything be done to investigate the incident, which killed 176 innocent people. She says talks are needed to discuss what the consequences will be. Merkel spoke to reporters Saturday after a meeting with Russian President Putin in Moscow. The Ukrainian plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general. No one was hurt in the attack on the U.S. bases. 5:45 p.m. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his focus will be on justice for the families of those who died when Iran shot down a Ukrainian jetliner earlier this week. Iran has taken responsibility for the shootdown, saying it was by mistake amid heightened tensions with the U.S. The crash killed all 176 people on board, including 57 Canadians. Trudeau issued a statement Saturday saying Canada is concentrating on closure, accountability, transparency, and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims. Trudeau called the shootdown a national tragedy and says all Canadians are mourning together. He says they will continue to work with partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation. He says the Canadian government expects full co-operation from Iranian authorities. 5:30 p.m. Top officials of the Ukrainian airline whose plane was shot down in Iran are criticizing Iranian authorities for keeping their civilian airspace open amid hostilities with the U.S. Ihor Sosnovskiy, the airlines vice-president, says the decision was absolutely irresponsible. At a news conference Saturday, he said When you act in war then you act however you wish. But there must be protection around ordinary people. If they are shooting somewhere from somewhere, they are obliged to close the airport. Iran has admitted it downed the Ukraine International Airlines amid fears of a U.S. retaliation after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. forces. Airline president Yevhen Dykhne said the Iranians gave no information of a possible threat prior to the planes takeoff. 3:30 p.m. Swedens prime minister says that it is demanding Iran co-operate without any restrictions in investigating the downing of a jetliner by Iranian armed forces. Stefan Lofven said Saturday: The fact that a plane was shot down is terrible and horrifying. To have a civil aircraft shot down whether accidentally or not is an act that must be condemned and Iran must take full responsibility also in relation to those affected. A total of 10 people with Swedish citizenship and another seven residing in Scandinavian country are believed to have been aboard the ill-fated Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752 flying out of the Iranian capital. Sweden said it would remain in close contact with the other countries which lost their citizens in the crash. Lofven said a foreign minister-level group was formed Friday to follow up with planes downing and its investigation. He didnt provide further details. ___ 2:50 p.m. Germanys foreign minister has called on Iran to take the appropriate measures following what he said was the catastrophe of it inadvertently shooting down the Ukrainian plane near the Iranian capital. Heiko Maas told Funke Mediengruppe media on Saturday: Its important that Iran has brought clarity. Now it should take the appropriate measures in the further investigation of this horrible catastrophe so that something like this cannot happen again. Maas said that, In these hours, our thoughts are with the victims and their families in all the affected nations. ___ 2:35 p.m. An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander says his unit accepts full responsibility for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane. In an address broadcast by state TV on Saturday, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh says that when he learned about the downing of the plane, which killed all 176 passengers on board, I wished I were dead. Irans armed forces say they mistook the passenger plane for a hostile target in the tense aftermath of Irans ballistic missile attack on two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. That attack was retaliation for the killing of Irans top general, Qassem Soleimani, in an American airstrike in Baghdad. ___ 2:25 p.m. Ukraines prime minister says Irans admission that it unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet near the Iranian capital isnt the end of investigating the catastrophe. The admission is an important step in the investigation process, which is still ongoing, Oleksiy Honcharuk said in a Facebook post on Saturday. Our experts are continuing to work at the scene of the tragedy with the aim of a detailed investigation of the causes and the final establishment of the truth. ___ 1:45 p.m. Irans supreme leader has offered condolences and called for an investigation after his countrys armed forces acknowledged that they accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the 176 victims, and called on the armed forces to pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident. Iran shot down the passenger plane after it took off from Tehran, amid heightened tensions stemming from the U.S. airstrike that killed Irans top general. The military says it mistook the plane for a hostile target after launching a ballistic missile attack on two bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq. ___ 12:50 p.m. The head of the Ukrainian airline whose jetliner was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile in Iran says he was sure all along that that the company was not at fault. Iran on Saturday acknowledged that it shot down the Ukraine International plane three days earlier, killing all 176 people aboard, after repeated denials from Iranian officials. We did not for a second doubt that our crew and our plane could not have been the cause of this terrible, awful air catastrophe, airline president Evgeniy Dikhne said on Facebook. They were our best guys and girls. The best. ___ 12:15 p.m. Ukraines president says Iran must take further steps, including an official apology, following its admission that one of its missiles shot down an Ukrainian passenger plane. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a statement Saturday that Ukraine expected from Iran assurances of a full and open investigation, bringing the perpetrators to justice. He added that Ukraine expected the paying of compensation and official apologies through diplomatic channels. He also expressed hope for the continuation of the crash investigation without delay. A team of Ukrainian investigators is in Iran. Our 45 specialists should get full access and co-operation to establish justice, he said. ___ 6:40 a.m. Iran announced Saturday that its military unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard. The statement came Saturday morning and blamed human error for the shootdown. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. forces. Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. STAMFORD A attorney representing Fotis Dulos has filed to have the latest charges against his client dismissed in his estranged wifes homicide on the grounds that he has not been indicted by a grand jury pursuant to the Fifth Amendment. Fotis Dulos was charged Tuesday with felony murder, murder and kidnapping in the disappearance and homicide of Jennifer Dulos, who was last seen on the morning of May 24, 2019. After his clients arrest, attorney Norm Pattis called on the state during a press conference outside his New Haven office to prove that Jennifer Dulos is, in fact, dead. In the motion to dismiss, Pattis mentions the recent murder charges as well as previous charges of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in Jennifer Dulos disappearance. READ MORE: Lawyer: Was my client the wife that survived? READ MORE: Warrant: Fotis rode vintage childhood bike from park to Jennifer Dulos house READ MORE: Nanny: I knew something was wrong day Jennifer Dulos vanished The state chose to charge Mr. Dulos without indicting him by a grand jury a flagrant disregard for the rights guaranteed to him by the Fifth Amendment, the motion to dismiss reads. The state has blindly stacked charges against Mr. Dulos in hopes that one charge will fortuitously stick. In the motion, Pattis claimed the state does not possess the evidence necessary for any of its charges to withstand scrutiny by an average, impartial person in a grand jury proceeding. The Fifth Amendment states that no person can be held to answer to a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger... The Fifth Amendment also protects individuals from self-incrimination and double jeopardy. When Mr. Dulos chose to voice his opinions about the disappearance of his estranged wife and the states failures ... the state could not handle the truth, the motion claims. In the Wednesday filing, Pattis said the gag order was to shut Mr. Dulos up. Pattis claims through the motion that these additional charges appear to be pushing his client to avoid a trial. The defendant, Fotis Dulos, requests that the court dismiss all of the charges against him because the state failed to bring any of the charges by the indictment of a grand jury as required by the Fifth Amendment, the motion said. Fotis Dulos former girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, 45, and his former attorney Kent Douglas Mawhinney were also charged Tuesday. They were each charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Troconis was also previously charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in Jennifer Dulos disappearance. In the arrest warrants released for the additional charges, a statement from Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner James R. Gill indicated that the 50-year-old mother of five likely suffered a non-survivable injury. Gill described Jennifer Dulos death as a homicide of violence, adding that she most likely suffered traumatic blunt-force injuries such as bludgeoning and stabbing, the warrants indicated. During the alleged attack, the warrants said, Jennifer Dulos was bound with four zip ties two of which were found with her 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. A 43-year-old San Francisco man is suspected of trying to rape a woman after she refused to have sex with him in exchange for a ride from San Francisco to San Carlos on New Year's Day, authorities said Friday. Richard Fabian Silverio spotted the woman waiting for a rideshare car in the early morning hours of Jan. 1 and offered to drive her to San Carlos, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's office. The woman got in the car, but before arriving at her destination, Silverio allegedly drove to the rear of a business in the 300 block of El Camino Real in San Carlos. Silverio then allegedly brandished a knife at the victim and told her he wanted sex as his payment for the ride, authorities said. The woman resisted and struggled inside the car, breaking free and running away. Richard caught her and allegedly tried to rape her, the sheriff's office said. She managed to break free a second time and ran to a gas station, where a cashier called 9-1-1. After gathering evidence and talking to witnesses, Silverio was arrested Thursday afternoon on suspicion of felonies that include attempted rape, assault to commit rape, kidnapping and false imprisonment. Silverio was a contracted driver with a rideshare company, but he was not on-duty during the alleged assault, authorities said. If anyone had a similar incident or information on the assault please contact Detective Jose Velasquez at 650- 363-4062, or by email Jvelasquez@smcgov.org. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-547-2700. 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. Taipei: The future of Taiwan's democracy is on the line as the self-ruled island's 19 million voters decide on whether to give independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen a second term. Voting began at 8am on Saturday and wraps up at 4pm, Taipei time. The vote count will begin soon after, with results expected later in the evening. Attendees wave flags during a Democratic Progressive Party campaign rally with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei. Credit:Bloomberg For many in Taiwan, months of protests in Hong Kong have cast in stark relief the contrast between their democratically governed island and authoritarian, communist-ruled mainland China. Tsai said the election was a chance to protect Taiwan's democracy. When wished happy birthday, most of us perhaps reply with a polite but simple thanks. Not so Kim Jong-un, it seems. After Donald Trump sent well wishes to the North Korean dictator this week, the dictator has responded by apparently telling the US president he must be dreaming if he believes such a message might help revitalise stalled nuclear talks. It is not clear if a card and present a vase, say? might have done the trick. Although Chairman Kim Jong-un has good personal feelings about President Trump, they are, in the true sense of the word, personal, said Kim Kye Gwan, the countrys foreign ministry adviser, after Pyongyang received the birthday note. The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission would not discuss the state affairs on the basis of such personal feelings, as he represents our state and its interests. Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un rides a horse during snowfall in Mount Paektu in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on 16 October 2019 Reuters Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un visits the newly built Pyongyang Orphans' Primary School on 2 February 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects a women's company under Unit 5492 of the Korean People's Army in November 2019 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects the test-fire of intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location in July 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un celebrates the successful test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location in July 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects a potato at the Samjiyon Potato Factory in North Korea in October 2018 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un rides a horse through a forest in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on 16 October 2019 EPA Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects a block of frozen fish at a processing facility in North Korea in November 2018 Reuters Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un celebrates the succeful launch of a strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile in August 2016 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un shakes hands with Donald Trump as they meet for the first time at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore in June 2018 Reuters Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump share a glance as they meet in the Demilitarised Zone in Panmunjon, Korea in June 2019 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects mushrooms at Pyongyang Mushroom Farm AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects a super-large multiple rocket launcher ahead of a test in September 2019 Reuters Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects an apple farm in South Hwanghae Province in September 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects an apple farm in South Hwanghae Province in September 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects dental wares at a newly built factory in June 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un visits Farm No 1116 in September 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un visits a motor factory in November 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un rides a horse during snowfall in Mount Paektu in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on 16 October 2019 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects the Command of the Strategic Force of the Korean People's Army at an undisclosed location in August 2017 AFP/Getty The unusual rebuff comes after Mr Kim who is believed to have turned 36 on 8 January earlier opened the new year by expressing deep frustrations over the lack of progress with negotiations between the two countries. He had previously said he was planning a Christmas gift for Donald Trump widely interpreted to mean a new ballistic missile tests although Mr Trump himself has appeared sanguine about the threat. Maybe its a nice present, he told an armed forces rally. Maybe its a present where he sends me a beautiful vase as opposed to a missile test. I may get a vase. I may get a nice present from him. You never know. Pyongyang has largely held off nuclear tests since three meetings between the two leaders including a brief one at the border of North and South Korea in June this year. However, it is understood the regime has become increasingly frustrated at the impasse which has occurred since and the fact that crippling economic sanctions have remained in place. A teenager from New York is making headlines after discovering a new planet on the third day of his internship at NASA. Wolf Cukier, 17, interned at the government agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland this past summer and made the discovery during his very first assignment. Cukier was using NASA's alien-hunting space telescope TESS when he noticed the planet orbiting a pair of stars more than 1,300 light years from Earth. The planet, which had been named TOI 1338b, is almost seven times larger than the Earth - somewhere between the size of Saturn and Neptune. It lies in the Pictor constellation and the lone planet orbits the pair of stars every 93 to 95 days, NASA scientists have now said. Cukier - a high school senior - is a die-hard Star Wars fan and told CNBC that the planet is somewhat like one from the fictional sci-fi series. 'I discovered a planet [that] has two stars which it orbits around, so if you think to Lukes homeworld, Tatooine, from Star Wars, its like that. Every sunset, theres gonna be two stars setting'. Wolf Cukier, 17, is making headlines after discovering a new planet on the third day of his internship at NASA. He is pictured during an appearance on ABC's Strahan, Sara and Keke this week Cukier spotted the planet orbiting two stars for the first time, one a red dwarf and the other just 10 per cent larger than the Sun The original data came from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, and was flagged as a possible planetary system by members of the public. TESS captures a new image of a single patch of sky every 30 minutes over a 27-day period - generating thousands of photographs. These are all uploaded to the TESS citizen science website where people can flag possible planet candidates. Cukier had to manually go through pictures flagged by the public in the hope of spotting any fluctuations that could point to a planet. It was the first task he was assigned as part of his internship with the space agency. '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,' he said. Cukier was using NASA's alien-hunting space telescope TESS when he noticed the planet orbiting a pair of stars more than 1,300 light years from Earth. He is pictured using a separate telescope at home In the Star Wars universe Tatooine orbits twin stars similar to the Sun. The planet is inhospitable and desert like and was home to Anakin and Luke Skywalker 'Three days into my internship, I saw a signal. At first I thought it was a stellar eclipse, but the timing was wrong. It turned out to be a planet,' he told CNBC. Cukier is enjoying a taste of fame following his groundbreaking discovery, also appearing live on ABC's daytime chat show Strahan, Sara and Keke this week. He was additionally profiled in The New York Times. Cukier is in his senior year of high school, and is currently applying for college. He says Princeton, Stanford and MIT are his top three picks. The original data came from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission and were flagged as a possible planetary system by members of the public Meanwhile, more information about the planet was released this week. TOI 1338b orbits in almost exactly the same plane as the stars, so it experiences regular stellar eclipses, according to the research team. Scientists use the observations from TESS to generate graphs of how the brightness of stars change over time, and this can be used to detect a planet. When a planet crosses in front of its star from our perspective - a transit - its passage causes a distinct dip in the star's brightness, say NASA researchers. 'Planets orbiting two stars are more difficult to detect than those orbiting one.' TOI 1338b's transits are irregular and vary in depth and duration thanks to the orbital motion of its stars, the team confirmed. TESS is expected to observe hundreds of thousands of binary star systems with an obvious eclipse during its initial two-year mission, so many more of these planets should be waiting for discovery, say NASA researchers TESS only sees the transits crossing the larger star as 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 is why Cukier was tasked with manually searching through the images to try to identify any patterns in the light dips. He initially assumed the transit was a result of the smaller star in the system passing in front of the larger ones as both cause similar dips in brightness when viewed from Earth, but the timing was wrong for it to be the stars alone. The team from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre used software called Eleanor to verify the information in the images. The software package is is named after Eleanor Arroway, the central character in Carl Sagan's novel Contact. TOI 1338b orbits in almost exactly the same plane as the stars, so it experiences regular stellar eclipses, according to the research team This allowed them to confirm the transits were real and not a result of issues with the pictures or instruments used to capture the pictures. '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. TESS is expected to observe hundreds of thousands of binary star systems with an obvious eclipse during its initial two-year mission, so many more of these planets should be waiting for discovery, say NASA researchers. Uber has once again been kicked out of an entire country. The ridesharing firm is shutting down operations in Colombia on February 1st after a December court ruling that it violated transportation laws. It intends to appeal the ruling, which it called "arbitrary" and a violation of a free trade deal that protects American companies' subsidiaries. For now, though, this will leave about 88,000 drivers (and 2 million customers) resorting to alternatives. A lawsuit had accused Uber of breaking the law by steering customers away from taxis and offering public transportation without a license. This isn't the first time Uber has been given the boot. A German court recently ruled against Uber, and Italy temporarily banned the company in 2017. However, it appears to be the first time Uber has been forced out of an entire country in the Americas. It also comes under questionable circumstances. Taxi driver unions had lobbied the Colombian government in a bid to thwart ridesharing apps in return for promising to stay out of anti-government protests. Whatever the circumstances, Uber's departure could have mixed consequences. While it'll reassure taxi drivers worried they were being squeezed out (though they still have to compete with options like Didi), it could leave thousands of Uber drivers out of work. Unlike the US and some other countries, driving Uber full-time can pay relatively well -- this could represent a significant blow for some workers. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 11, 2020 11:03 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321bf616 1 Environment research,discovery,Sulawesi,Maluku,bird Free A joint research team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has found previously unknown birds on three small islands in Indonesia: Taliabu in North Maluku and Peleng and Togian in Central Sulawesi. Helmed by Frank Rheindt, associate professor of the Biological Sciences department at the NUS Faculty of Science, the team explored the islands for six weeks from November 2013 to January 2014. The team gathered a total of five new songbird species and five new subspecies. They published the results in the journal Science on Friday. The Taliabu Leaf-Warbler. (Birdtour Asia/James Eaton) According to National Geographic, their findings included leaf warblers, which are small songbirds that feed on insects, the Taliabu Myzomela, which consumes nectar and fruit, and the Peleng fantail, which moves its tail feathers when threatened. On Taliabu Island, located between the Central Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces, the researchers discovered three new species, namely the Taliabu Grasshopper-Warbler, the Taliabu Myzomela and the Taliabu Leaf-Warbler. They also discovered three subspecies: the Taliabu Snowy-browed Flycatcher, the Taliabu Island Thrush and the Sula Mountain Leaftoiler. On Peleng Island, the researchers found two new species, the Peleng Fantail and Peleng Leaf-Warbler, and one subspecies, the Banggai Mountain Leaftoiler. On Togian Island, they found a new subspecies dubbed Togian Jungle-Flycatcher. The Taliabu Myzomela. (Birdtour Asia/James Eaton) Located in the countrys Wallacea region (the area around the Wallace Line), the three islands were chosen due to the deep sea located between them and Sulawesi province, based on bathymetric data. Studying the routes and operations of historic collecting expeditions and identifying gaps has been a fruitful approach to pinpoint focal areas in our case. The description of this many bird species from such a geographically limited area is a rarity, said Frank Rheindt in an official statement, adding that bathymetric data could also be used to locate other promising islands. The Peleng Leaf-warbler. (File/Philippe Verbelen) However, conservation action must be taken for both islands, as the team witnessed forest destruction during their exploration. Both islands lacked primary lowland forest, and the majority of highland forests had suffered from some form of logging or forest fires. While most of the avifauna [birds that live in a particular habitat] we described seem to tolerate some form of habitat degradation and are readily detected in secondary forest and edge, some species or subspecies are doubtless threatened by the immense levels of habitat loss on these islands, said Rheindt. As such, urgent, long-lasting conservation action is needed for some of the new forms to survive longer than a couple of decades beyond their date of description. (wir/kes) Topics : research discovery Sulawesi Maluku bird Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a senior IAF officer for allegedly posing as Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a phone call to state Governor Lalji Tandon to facilitate his friends appointment as the vice-chancellor of a medical university, an official said on Friday. Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Kuldeep Baghela, currently posted at the IAF headquarters in Delhi, was arrested along with his Bhopal-based dentist friend Chandresh Kumar Shukla, who had posed as Shahs personal assistant (PA) during the phone call, the official said. Talking to PTI, Additional Director General (ADG), STF, Ashok Awasthi said, Baghela had recommended Shuklas name to the governor for the post of the vice-chancellor of the Jabalpur-based Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University (MPMSU). We have arrested IAF Wing Commander Kuldeep Baghela on the charge of impersonating as Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a phone call to the state governor to influence the appointment for the post of vice-chancellor, he said. His dentist friend Dr Chandresh Kumar Shukla has also been arrested. Both of them are in the age group of 35 to 40 years, Awasthi added. According to him, Baghela was earlier posted as the aide-de-camp (ADC) to former MP governor Ramnaresh Yadav for three years. Shukla was aspiring to become the V-C of the MPMSU and had applied for it when the process of appointment to the post begun, he said. The ADG said that Shukla had contacted Baghela expressing his wish that he wanted to become the V-C of the university and told him that it could be done if some senior leader recommended his name. Later, both of them hatched a conspiracy and called the state governor (Lalji Tandon). While Shukla posed as Amit Shahs PA, Baghela impersonated as the union home minister and talked to the governor, Awasthi said. However, the officials of the governors house got suspicious and found it to be a fraud when they cross-examined it. Subsequently, the case was reported to the STF, another official said. The STF is interrogating the arrested duo, he said. PTI ADU MAS NP NP Advertisement Iranians have gathered in the streets of Tehran to demand the resignation of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei after the regime admitted it had mistakenly shot down a civilian passenger plane. Angry crowds gathered on Saturday night in at least four locations in Tehran, chanting 'death to liars' and calling for the country's supreme leader to step down over the tragic military blunder, video from the scene shows. What began as mournful vigils for Iranian lives lost on the flight soon turned to outrage and protest against the regime, and riot police quickly cracked down, firing tear gas into the crowd. 'Death to the Islamic Republic' protesters chanted, as the regime's security forces allegedly used ambulances to sneak heavily armed paramilitary police into the middle of crowds to disperse the demonstration. Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 was carrying 176 people, at least 130 of them Iranian citizens, when it was shot down by hapless Iranian Revolutionary Guard air defense forces shortly after taking off from Tehran on January 8. Iranians protest against the government after a vigil held for the victims of Flight 752 turned into an anti-government demonstrations outside Amirkabir University in Tehran, Iran Protesters outside Amirkabir University in Tehran demanded the Ayatollah's resignation over the military disaster Thousands gather outside Amir Kabir University on Saturday screaming 'Death to the Dictator' Iranians shout slogans against the government in protests in Tehran Saturday night Iran for days claimed that a technical failure caused the crash, before admitting on Saturday that its own surface-to-air missiles brought the plane down. Iran was on high alert at the time, hours after launching ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq in a strike that caused no casualties. That missile strike was in retaliation for a U.S. operation that killed powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. After Iran's admission, however, Canada's prime minister appeared to cast doubt on the claim that the shoot-down was an accident, suggesting there may have been an Iranian motive for the disaster. Many passengers were dual Canadian citizens. On Saturday afternoon, candlelight vigils at universities in Tehran for the victims of Flight 752 began to turn to protests against the regime. Large protests were reported at the universities of Tehran, Sharif Industrial, Amir Kabir, and Allameh. At Amirkabir University, protesters chanted 'Down with the dictator' and 'shame on IRGC [Revolutionary Guard], let the country go.' At Sharif University, crowds of outraged Iranians chanted 'commander in chief, resign!' The Ayatollah is Iran's commander in chief. 'Our enemy is right here; they lie when they say it's the US' protesters were heard chanting in one video. 'I now believe the word of the Great Satan,' one protester wrote in Persian on Twitter, apparently referring to the U.S. intelligence reports that blamed Iran for shooting the plane down, which the regime furiously denied at first. A picture is seen on Saturday next to candles lit by people and families of the victims of the crash of Flight 752 Riot police with shields and batons massed to disrupt the anti-government protests on Saturday night The regime quickly cracked down on the protests with tear gas and water cannons Screams were heard as regime forces fired tear gas at the protesters in a brutal crackdown after night fell A woman gestures during a protest against the government outside Amirkabir University in Tehran, Iran on Saturday Iranians shout slogans against the government after a vigil held for the victims of the airplane of Ukrainian International Airlines that crashed near Imam Khomeini Airport turned into an anti-government protest outside Amirkabir University Protesters demanded that those responsible for shooting down the civilian plane be publicly tried and held accountable. The crowd also condemned the Islamic Republic's paramilitary internal security force, chanting 'Death to Basij.' As night fell, riot police attempted to break up the protests with tear gas. Cops armed with shields and batons tried to disperse the crowds, and police fired water canons at protesters. Anti-regime factions said that the protests reflected the frustrations of Iranian citizens with the government corruption and oppression. 'The protest by thousands of Iranians in Tehran burst the propaganda balloon of the regime regarding Qassem Soleimani's elimination,' said Shahin Gobadi, spokesman of the anti-regime group People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, in a statement to DailyMail.com. Gobadi said that the protests 'showed the true sentiments of the Iranians and once again clearly proved that Iran is a powder keg and the Iranian people will not stop until the regime change.' Iranians light candles and hang flowers for victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 during a protest in front of the Amir Kabir University. What began as a vigil for the dead turned to anti-government protests Iranians protest against the government outside Amirkabir University in Tehran, Iran on Saturday People gather for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the Ukraine plane crash, at the gate of Amri Kabir University that some of the victims of the crash were former students of, in Tehran, Iran on Saturday At Amirkabir University, protesters chanted 'Down with the dictator' and 'shame on [Revolutionary Guard], let the country go' Iranian Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, said on Saturday a surface-to-air missile operator had mistaken the Boeing 737 for a U.S. cruise missile responding to Iranian ballistic missile attacks, and only had ten seconds to decide whether or not to open fire. 'I wish I had died, and I wouldn't have seen such an incident,' Hajizadeh said somberly at a press conference. He claimed that a 'request had been made to clear the sky from civil flights at that time, but it did not happen due to reservations.' For days, Iran vehemently denied that it was responsible for downing Flight 752 from Tehran to Kyiv on January 8, accusing the U.S. of spreading malicious propaganda and lies for suggesting such a scenario. Hajizadeh claimed that the country's top military leaders were not initially aware that their own air defense system had shot the plan down, leading to confusion. Now the country has come clean, but still blames 'US adventurism' for the fatal 'error'. 'The delay in releasing information was not aimed at hiding the issue but it is the routine drill that the General Staff should study the case (first); and all information was collected on Friday morning after studies and what had happened became clear then,' Hajizadeh said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani extended condolences to the families of those killed in the incident, and promised that those responsible would be prosecuted. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake... My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences,' Rouhani said in a statement on Saturday. 'I wish I had died, and I wouldn't have seen such an incident,' said a somber Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, at a press conference. Iran admitted that it shot down Flight 752, thinking the plane was a missile Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 plane wreckage is seen in a picture from investigation team released today Rescue workers at the crash site recovered the bodies of victims on Wednesday (above) He said that 'the terrible catastrophe should be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible for this unforgivable mistake will definitely be identified and prosecuted'. But the country's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said 'US adventurism' was to blame for Iran shooting down the plane, a week after an American drone killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. Zarif wrote: 'A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. 'Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.' Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei also offered condolences to the families, as he called for an investigation and ordered the military to address 'shortcomings' on Saturday morning. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cast doubt on Iran 's claim that it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jet. Trudeau said the shoot-down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 'is one of the issues that we certainly need better answers to,' during a news conference on Saturday. 'I am, of course, outraged and furious,' Trudeau said of the crash, adding that whether the tragedy was an accident or not still needs to be determined. KINGSTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2020 / Delta Resources Limited ("Delta") (TSXV:DLTA) is pleased to announce that it will be attending the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference to be held on January 19 and 20, 2020 at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. Delta invites investors to visit Booth 1009. Management will be available to discuss the Delta-1 property in Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Delta-2 property in Chibougamau, Quebec in more detail. Delta will also be presenting a summary of its activities at 14h40pm Monday January 20th at Workshop 1 of the conference. Other News Delta Resources announces today that Michael Zurowski has resigned from the Company's board of directors to pursue other opportunities. "On behalf of our board of directors and the whole Delta team, I thank Michael for his valuable service and contributions over many years and wish him well in his future endeavors," stated Frank Candido, Chairman of Delta Resources Limited. About Delta Resources Limited Delta Resources Limited is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on growing shareholder value through the acquisition of high-potential gold and base-metal projects in Canada, exploring these projects with state-of-the-art methods, and potentially developing these projects into mines. On October 3rd, 2019, Delta announced the acquisition of the Eureka Gold Discovery in the Thunder Bay area and on October 16th, 2019, the acquisition of the Delta-2 Property which hosts the R-14 Gold Prospect in the Chibougamau Mining District of Quebec. Delta also owns a 100% interest in the Bellechasse-Timmins gold deposit in southeastern Quebec, Canada which contains a 43-101 gold resource of 171,000 ounces at an average grade of 1.83 g/t gold in the indicated category and an additional 95,000 ounces at an average grade of 1.36 g/t gold in the inferred category (SGS Canada Inc., Bellechasse-Timmins Property Resource Estimate, Southeastern Quebec, August 1, 2012). The company's focus is currently to build a strong portfolio of mineral exploration properties with a high potential for economic discoveries in Canada while evaluating the long-term potential of its 100% owned Bellechasse-Timmins gold deposit in southeastern Quebec. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DELTA RESOURCES LIMITED. Andre C. Tessier President, CEO and Director www.deltaresources.ca We seek safe harbor. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein. For Further Information: Delta Resources Limited Frank Candido, Chairman Tel: 514-969-5530 fcandido@deltaresources.ca or Andre Tessier, CEO and President Tel: 613-328-1581 atessier@deltaresources.ca Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information Some statements contained in this news release are " "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the use of proceeds of the non-brokered private placement and payment of the debt settlements. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event. SOURCE: Delta Resources Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/572753/Delta-Resources-to-Attend-Vancouver-Resource-Investment-Conference-January-19-20-2020 If you are looking for a weekend getaway from San Francisco, lunch in Sausalito followed by a night at the Steep Ravine cabins is the answer. For those of you who haven't heard of the Steep Ravine cabins, they are a cluster of individual rustic oceanside cabins right next to Stinson Beach. Here's our guide to a quick weekend escape, including what to expect and everything you need to bring. Previous Next Drinks first! They have a fun make-your-own bloody mary sheet where you can check off exactly what you want. To start, we enjoyed an appetizer of their cocktail meatballs with spicy tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil. Previous Next Next was a delicious blackened snapper sandwich that was so moist and fresh, served on a ciabatta roll with fried caper aioli (yes!). The fries that came with this were the perfect crispiness I would come to Sausalito just for these! Previous Next We also tried their albacore tuna salad melt with white cheddar cheese on brioche! This was an open-face sandwich that was almost too pretty to eat with fried shallots, arugula and cherry tomatoes. Previous Next Previous Next Previous Next We settled into our cabin and headed down to our own private beach, only accessible from the campsites. Previous Next This area is breathtaking and very private. You feel removed from everything with the hillside jutting up far above you and only the coastal cliffs below you. Previous Next After exploring this area, we took a break back at our cabin, breaking out the wine and cheese for a little happy hour with the most amazing view! Previous Next Previous Next For sunset, we hiked around the rest of the campground, taking in the ocean views and crashing waves. Previous Next Back at our cabin, we made a fire in the wood-burning oven that kept our cabin nice and toasty long into the evening. Previous Next Provisions + Brunch Before heading to Steep Ravine, you will need some provisionsSausalito makes a great pit stop to grab some food. Just off the main drag of Sausalito, Barrel House Tavern has a barrel-shaped ceiling running the length of the restaurant, as well as a patio space that makes you feel like you are literally dining on top of the water. After enjoying the view of the Bay and San Francisco, head to Driver's Market & Deli, a cute local spot a few streets from downtown, to pick up supplies. We wanted to keep our camping food simple so we grabbed some rosemary crackers, cheese, sandwiches and, of course, wine for our evening at the Steep Ravine cabins. On to the cabins! Stay at the Steep Ravine Cabins The cabins are a short drive from Sausalito up Highway 1. Turn off the road at a gated turn-out a few miles south of Stinson Beach. When you book the Steep Ravine cabins, make sure to call and get the code to unlock the gate from the National Park Service ahead of time since cell service is limited. You'll enter the gate and drive down a long winding steep hill till you are practically at the edge of the oceanthe Steep Ravine cabins! Time to unpack and set up your cabin. Each cabin has a padlock code you will need to get inside. In the cabin, there is a wood-burning stove (wood can be purchased on site for $8 a bundle), a kitchen table, and a few rooms with wooden platforms for you to set up sleeping bags or a blowup mattress. We spent the night relaxing, eating sandwiches, reading books, playing cards and drinking winedefinitely one of my favorite getaways this year. If you want to try and snag a reservation, check out my tips below. The Logistics There are nine cabins you can reserve and the competition is fierce. There is also a cluster of nine campsites you can reserve and pitch a tent if you prefer a camping experience. Reservations for Steep Ravine cabins are rolling, updated each day at 8am, and they book six months out). These reservations book up in seconds so you have to act fast and plan ahead. Search Mount Tamalpais on the ReserveCalifornia site and look for the "S Rav Cabin Area." To have the best time, here's what you'll need: Your gate code and cabin code Sleeping bags Sleeping pads Pillows Headlamps/lanterns Some light, small blankets to drape across cabin windows for privacy and to keep out morning sunlight Warm clothes, hiking boots, hats! Fork, knife, spoon, and plates Lighter Wine opener Cutting board Cups Paper towels Wine, cheese, sandwiches or whatever food you like Things you don't need: Trash bagsthere is a trash can and bag in the cabin. Toilet paperthey have normal toilets with toilet paper (no port-a-potties!). Firewoodyou can buy this onsite. Waterthere are several taps of running water. This story was originally published in June 2017 on sarahcraves.com. Eight political parties opposing the new voters register in Ghana have taken to the streets of Tamale in the Northern Region to express their disappointment against the move by Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters' register ahead of the 2020 general elections. The demonstrators are made up of supporters of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Peoples National Convention (PNC), Eagle Party, All Progressives Party (APC), Great Consolidated Population Party (GCPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Clad in red, the hundreds of demonstrators marched through principal streets of the capital singing, chanting and wielding placards with inscriptions such as Nana Bring Back Ndoum not register, Jean Mensah your days are numbered, Mr President why GHS443 million to indicate their opposition to the ECs decision. Leaders of the main opposition NDC have stated that the decision to compile a new register is ill-timed and will be a wasteful expedition. The Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Peter Boamah Otokunor at a press conference on Friday called on the public to join them in the protest to express their outrage over the moves by the EC. The leaders of the group staging the Tikusayi Korinfohili demonstration in Tamale known as the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voter Register have planned to stage two more of such exercises in Kumasi and Accra in the coming days. The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah told Citi News, they will go all lengths to ensure that the EC does not go ahead with the move. We will never agree for our democracy to be toyed with. This is the beginning of the long drawn battle to protect the democracy. We are calling on everybody to get up because peace is something that you need to struggle for and this is the beginning of the struggle peace of this country. From here, we will be moving to Kumasi, we will move to Accra and we will move to the presidency. Whatever it takes to pump a little bit of sense into the head of Jean Mensa and her cabal, we will do it, he said. GHS390m approved for new voter register Meanwhile, Parliament has approved about GHS390 million for the Electoral Commission to compile the new voters register. The EC believes a new register will be more credible and efficient than the existing one and has insisted that it also needs to replace its outmoded biometric machines for new ones that will accommodate a facial-recognition technology. The Director of Elections at the EC, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe justified the plans saying there was a need to tackle verification challenges that occur on Election Day. We have made it very clear that the current biometric system is not good enough for future activities. We are having a lot of challenges with it. In addition to that, a lot of people have found it difficult to have their fingerprints picked up by the machine so we intend to introduce the facial recognition [option] in addition so that if your fingerprint fails, your image will be used for verification. But some analysts are opposed to the move, suggesting that the EC rather embarks on the process in 2021 since it may not be possible to build a new register and introduce a new system barely before elections are held later in 2020. ---citinewsroom Representative Image The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by a resort against a Kerala High Court order prohibiting construction of resorts and removal of structures on backwater islands on Vembanad lake in Alappuzha district for violation of coastal zone regulations. A bench of Justices R F Nariman, Aniruddha Bose and V Ramasubramanian upheld an order of the high court which had in 2013 ordered demolition of resorts. The apex court held that under the 2011 notification the areas identified had to be declared as critically vulnerable coastal area (CVCA) only through a process of consultation with local fisher, etc. "Guidelines are to be put in place for identifying, notifying and implementing CVCA but 2019 notification straightaway treats the named areas as CVCAs and vests their management with the authority with the involvement of coastal communities. Therefore, the alternatives claimed by the appellants also do not appear to be viable for them. "Hence, in the light of our finding that the substantial issues that arose in common for both the islands have already been answered...and the distinguishing features sought to be projected, are not so material as to take a different view than the one taken therein, the appeals are liable to be dismissed," the bench said. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by Kapico Kerala Resorts Pvt Ltd challenging an order passed by the Kerala High Court prohibiting it from carrying on the activity of development of a resort in Nediyathuruthu island in Vembanad lake on the basis of Kerala Coastal Zone Management Plan (KCZMP) and Coastal Regulation Zone Notifications. The high court in 2013 held that the action initiated by the authorities under the Land Conservancy Act, against the project proponent in respect of Nediyathuruthu island for removal of encroachments in Nediyathuruthu island should be proceeded further in accordance with law. The high court was concerned about the development of resorts in two backwater islands, by name Vettila Thuruthu and Nediyathuruthu, located in Vembanad lake, Panavally Panchayat, in Alappuzha district. Fremont City Councilmember Glen Ellis has announced his candidacy for the mayoral position of Fremont in the 2020 election. Ellis, who represents Ward 2, was elected in 2018. He will go up against Isaac Paden and Joey Spellerberg, as current Mayor Scott Getzschman will not seek re-election. Along with being a city councilmember, Ellis is the owner of Milady Coffeehouse and nonprofit Fremont Creative Collective. He lives in Fremont with his wife, Nancy, and is a father of five. Ellis said he wanted to run for mayor after he felt like people from outside of Fremont were directing what the city should be, not the people living there. There were also just some leadership issues in the past have caused me to have more frustration with our current leadership, he said And so I just took the first step, becoming a city councilmember, and I truly believe that Im making my reputation known that I am very transparent. Currently, Ellis holds Coffee with a Councilmember at his coffee shop, which he said will turn to a bimonthly Coffee with a Candidate this year. I typically try to make myself visible so if anybody wants to, they can come and talk with me, he said. But really, thats the gist of the campaign, is making myself available here for you. If elected, Ellis said he would like to see more pro-local business efforts, citing his work with companies M&M Creamery and Run Nebraska. Im truly a champion of anyone here locally that wants to start a business, he said. So thats kind of what I think Id like my administration to focus on more than the current one. Ellis said his wife and he will be going door to door to get the word out and attending events to promote the campaign. People are voting for me, but when you get me, you get two, he said. Weve been married for over 35 years. We are two people that complement each other very nicely, and thats part of the ticket. With his campaign, Ellis said he wants to make sure the people of Fremont are heard and make the city the envy of other communities. Weve got a beautiful town, its great. But we have the potential to be so much better, he said. So thats where I, as a mayor, would like to focus my attention on, is the people of Fremont and to make this town the best possible town it can be. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 5 Sad 10 Angry 18 Abuja, January 10, 2020 -- Authorities in Sierra Leone should investigate recent attacks against journalists covering local politics, and should ensure that reporters can do their jobs safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 4, a group of men slapped and hit Foday Conteh, a reporter with the privately owned Calabash newspaper, after he arrived at the home of Musa Bamba Fodey Jalloh, a minister of parliament, to interview the politician, Conteh told CPJ in a phone interview. The attack took place at Jallohs home in Sierra Leones northern Bendugu village, and Conteh said he was afraid and confused but did not sustain serious injuries. The week before, on December 24, 2019, several Jalloh supporters harassed and threatened two other reporters, Abdul Jalloh, with the privately owned broadcaster Hamzas Radio, and Ibrahim Mansaray, with the government-owned Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, according to a report by Calabash and both journalists, who spoke to CPJ via phone and messaging app. The attackers slapped Abdul Jalloh and poured alcohol over his head, and threatened to kill both reporters, the journalists told CPJ. "Authorities in Sierra Leone should conduct swift and credible investigations into the violent attacks and death threats made against journalists covering Musa Bamba Fodey Jalloh," said CPJs Africa program coordinator, Angela Quintal, from New York. Covering local politics should not be a dangerous beat, and authorities must ensure that reporters can do their jobs without fear. Conteh told CPJ that he had been invited to Jallohs home to interview the politician about the previous weeks attacks against Mansaray and Abdul Jalloh, and had just arrived at the politicians residence when a group of young men accused him of impersonating a reporter, even after he showed them a copy of his press card saved to his phone. The men beat Conteh and then turned him over to police custody, where he was held for 17 hours on allegations of impersonating a journalist, Conteh said. Jalloh was present during the attack and did not intervene, Conteh said. A police officer told Conteh that Jalloh had ordered his detention, the journalist said. Conteh told CPJ he was released on bail with the requirement to return to the police station on January 8. He said he ultimately did not return to the police station on that date because a representative from the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, a local media union, said he did not have to. Abdul Jalloh told CPJ that he was covering a local community meeting as part of an investigation into allegations that Jalloh had neglected members of the Sambaia Chiefdom, when the politicians supporters accused he, Mansaray, and others present of smearing the politicians image. The supporters threatened to kill Abdul Jalloh and slapped him in the face, and he told CPJ that the slaps hurt but that he was not seriously injured. Mansaray told CPJ he could have been assaulted but he convinced the attackers that harming a state media journalist would damage the Jallohs image as a politician. The attackers warned him not to film the events if he wanted to make it out alive, Mansaray said. When Abdul Jalloh and Mansaray tried to leave the area via motorbike taxis, the politicians supporters followed them and threatened multiple drivers not to take the journalists, but one eventually agreed to take them, Mansaray told CPJ. When contacted over the phone by CPJ on January 10, Brima Kamara, a spokesperson for the Sierra Leone police, said he was not aware of the attacks and threats. CPJ called Jalloh for comment. He said he knew nothing about the attacks against Abdul Jalloh and Mansaray until after they had occurred, and denied having sent supporters to the community meeting. Jalloh said that Conteh was arrested for failing to present a hard copy of his press credentials, and he denied allegations that Conteh had been beaten. Jalloh, a parliamentarian with the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party, is also known as Musa Bendugu, according to the reporters who spoke with CPJ. Political reporting was the most dangerous beat in 2019, according to CPJ research on journalists killed in connection with their work. Just hours after a U.S. airstrike killed Iran's top military general, Qassem Soleimani, the White House used a Swiss back-channel to send a message to Tehran urging them against escalation. The critical encrypted fax was sent through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, one of the most secure and confidential means of direct communication between the U.S. and Iran. The Wall Street Journal reports that the White House and Iranian officials continued to exchange crucial messages over the following days, which officials on both sides say were much more leveled then their fiery public outbursts. One week later, and after a retaliatory strike by Iran against two military bases housing American troops that resulted in no casualties, Washington and Tehran appear to be slowly easing tensions. A senior U.S. official said: 'We dont communicate with the Iranians that much, but when we do the Swiss have played a critical role to convey messages and avoid miscalculation.' The Trump administration sent a back-channel message to Iran after killing Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani asking the country to no escalate the situation A spokesman at Iran's mission to the United Nation didn't disclose information about the messages, but shared a similar sentiment. 'We appreciate [the Swiss] for any efforts they make to provide an efficient channel to exchange letters when and if necessary,' the spokesman said. One Iranian official said the back-channel succeeded in opening a line of communication when others had failed. Qassem Soleimani (pictured), one of Iran's top military leaders, was killed in a U.S. airstrike ordered by the Trump administration last week 'In the desert, even a drop of water matters,' they said. The Swiss Embassy's role as a 'diplomatic intermediary' has spanned four decades and seven presidencies, including Jimmy Carter's hostage crisis and Barack Obama's nuclear deal. America's first message came just after Soleimani, the architect of Iran's shadow warfare and military expansion in the Middle East death, was confirmed dead, U.S. officials said. It arrived via an encrypted fax machine kept inside a sealed room of the Swiss mission for the White House to contact Iranian officials. According to the Wall Street Journal, this is the most enduring method since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Swiss Ambassador Markus Leitner (pictured) is said to regularly visit Washington for meetings with the Pentagon, State Department and intelligence officials to share knowledge of Iran's politics Swiss Ambassador Markus Leitner hand delivered America's message to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Friday morning to an angry response. Zarif was reportedly upset with the message and at one point singled out U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, an official familiar with the exchange said. 'Pompeo is a bully. The U.S. is the cause of all the problems,' Zarif said. Leitner, a 53-year-old career diplomat, is said to regularly visit Washington for meetings with the Pentagon, State Department and intelligence officials set on gaining knowledge about Iran's politics. Following the airstrike, Leitner shuffled back and forth between the countries in a vital diplomatic mission meant to let each side speak openly. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (pictured) reportedly received a hand delivered message from a Leitner after the U.S. confirmed the death of Soleimani However, the White House and Iranian officials engaged in rigid public exchanges. Iranian General Gholamali Abuhamzeh, a Revolutionary Guards commander in the southern province of Kerman, released a thinly-veiled threat against the U.S. Abuhamzeh said vital American targets in the region had been identified a 'long time ago', including ships in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and Tel Aviv. 'The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there some 35 U.S. targets in the region as well as Tel Aviv are within our reach,' he said, according to Reuters. Trump responded to the threat on Twitter, saying the U.S. has targeted 52 Iranian sites that could be hit 'very fast and hard.' Trump: '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!' '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!' Zarif fired back at Trump the next day, saying: 'A reminder to those hallucinating about emulating ISIS 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? Were still here, & standing tall,' he continued. The following day, Zarif called on Leitner to deliver a message to the U.S. that helped both side preventing 'miscalculations.' Pictured: The Swiss Embassy in Tehran, Iran, where messages between the U.S. and Iran funnel through during times of great tension A senior Trump administration official said: 'When tensions with Iran were high, the Swiss played a useful and reliable role that both sides appreciated. Their system is like a light that never turns off.' As of now, Tehran has continued to speak through the Swiss. The Swiss have served as a constant line of communication between the U.S. and Iran since 1980, following the seizure of 52 hostages and American Embassy in Tehran by Iranian revolutionaries. The Swiss diplomats call the messenger role 'brieftrager,' or 'the postman.' Switzerland's 'postmen' helped deliver messages after the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 to avoid direct clashes. When Obama became president, the country hosted talks that resulted in the nuclear deal. After Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran, he reportedly gave the Swiss a phone number, saying: 'Id like to see them call me.' Former ambassadors told the Wall Street Journal that their diplomatic back-channel is successful because Iran and the U.S. can trust that the message will be delivered quickly and in confidence. A group of Iranian's burn the U.S. and Israeli flags during an anti-US protest prompted by the killing during an airstrike of Iranian and Iraqi leaders on Friday Iraqi Shiite women mourn the death of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Soleimani during a funeral procession made of thousands of citizens held in central Baghdad on SAturday Additionally, Switzerland uses its position as a 'postman' to leverage access to greater power. Swiss diplomats are currently working to get Washington to approve of Swiss banks financing exports- like food and medicine- to Iran that aren't sanctions. 'We do things for the world community, and its good, but it is also good for our interests,' one ambassador said. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who worked with the Swiss on a prisoner exchange, praised the Swiss' open channel. 'The Swiss channel has become enormously important because of what they can do in the short term to lessen tensions. Its the only viable channel right now,' he said. Figures released by An Post have revealed the extent of 'hidden homelessness' throughout County Wexford. Since April of last year people in Wexford with no fixed abode have been able to list their local Post Office as their home address, thus ensuring they have a collection point for important mail and other personal documents. And, according to An Post, there are 104 people in Wexford currently availing of this service, with only Dublin (1,436), Cork (231), Galway (194) and Kildare (119) having more. In November of last year, just 37 people linked in with Wexford County Council's homeless services. Addressing the An Post figures, Sinn Fein Councillor Tom Forde said the true extent of homelessness in the county still wasn't known. 'These figures are scandalous and they understate the issue because they don't include the people sofa surfing, living in refuge centres, bed and breakfasts. 'Wexford County Council do the best they can with the limited resources they have, but these figures don't come as a surprise to me; I'm constantly engaging with homeless people in town,' said Cllr Forde. And the Wexford Town Councillor believed some of his fellow politicians were 'in denial' when it came to homelessness in the county. 'It's a huge problem in the county and I think there's a bit of denial among some of our TDs as to the extent of the crisis. We had one former Fine Gael candidate saying there was no homeless crisis in Wexford recently, this throws that out the window,' said Cllr Forde. Independent Councillor Leonard Kelly said these figures showed there was still a significant number of homeless people in the county who weren't engaging with local services. 'This is closer to the real figure, and shows there are a number of people who aren't engaging with the homeless services,' said Cllr Kelly. 'Unfortunately it's also a reflection of the current government's failure to deal with the homeless crisis over the last seven years, and the fact they haven't built enough social housing. It seems like they're playing a long game in the hope the problem will fix itself,' he said. With 2,803 people across the country using their local Post Office as a personal address, Independent Councillor Davy Hynes believes this is an issue which needs to be addressed centrally. 'I'd be the first to say Wexford County Council has done a lot, and it has done a lot in terms of houses, but as soon as houses are built there's people ready to move into them,' said Cllr Hynes. 'There's not enough social houses being provided. People are caught in the system with little way out and we're relying on landlords to provide housing for them.' Placing the blame squarely at the door of those in power, Cllr Hynes said the local council was doing all it could to alleviate the housing problem in the county. 'These figures are an indication that Wexford is not in a good place in spite of the efforts of the council. But it comes back to the Government and them putting the blame on the councils. 'They're not up to it, they're not doing the work, and people should remember that when it comes to the election. Developers, banks and landlords, that's who Fine Gael are interested in, not the people,' Cllr Hynes concluded. They are currently enjoying Australia's Gold Coast for the Magic Millions Carnival. And Zara Tindall, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, beamed as she stepped out with her husband Mike at the Aquis Park on Saturday for race day. The equestrian, 36, turned heads in an elegant pink dress and orange fascinator. Pretty in pink! Zara Tindall stepped out with husband Mike at the Magic Millions Race Day on the Gold Coast on Saturday (the couple pictured) Floral! Zara gazes at former rugby union player Mike as the pair pose for photographs head of a flower wall She accessorised the look with a matching cross-body bag, sunglasses and a bright orange headpiece that tastefully clashed with her frock. Zara, who is an ambassador for the Magic Millions, added a touch for glamour to her outfit with a stunning pair of diamond earrings and two bracelets. Meanwhile her husband of eight years opted for a dapper ensemble. Looking good! The equestrian turned heads in an elegant pink dress. Meanwhile her husband, 41, dressed his buff frame in a white three-piece suit accented with a pink and white striped shirt and a navy tie Loving display: The pair held hands as they walked through the venue on Saturday morning Pals! The couple were later pictured with Delfina Blaquier, Nicole Slater and Billy Slater at the Moet Marquee Magic Millions Raceday The former rugby union player, 41, dressed his buff frame in a white three-piece suit, accented with a pink and white striped shirt and a navy tie. He accessorised with a flower on his lapel, with a white and pink polka dot pocket square. Also at the event was former beauty queen Erin Holland, 30, who wowed in a floral off-the-shoulder dress with layers of ruffles by Alice McCall. Floral beauty: Also at the event was former beauty queen Erin Holland, 30, (pictured) who wowed in a floral off-the-shoulder dress with layers of ruffles by Alice McCall Simply elegant: She teamed her stunning frock with a headband an embellished with tear drop pearls by Avenue Designs and chandelier style earrings The frock featured a black belt around the slender and perfectly fit her statuesque figure. She teamed her stunning dress with a headband embellished with tear drop pearls, by Avenue Designs, and chandelier style earrings. Model Laura Dundovic, 32, also attended the Gold Coast event and opted to draw attention to her trim pins in a minidress. The former Miss Universe Australia stepped out in a baby blue frock made from brocade fabric that featured intricate pattern. Babe in blue: Model Laura Dundovic, 32, (pictured) also attended the Gold Coast event and opted to draw attention to her trim pins in a minidress Race day glam: The blonde beauty accessorised with blue headband with pearl embellishments, silver and turquoise drop earrings and a small clutch The blonde beauty accessorised with a blue headband that featured pearl embellishments, silver and turquoise drop earrings, and a small clutch. She was followed by former NRL star Billy Slater, who attended with his wife Nicole. He teamed his navy blazer and white trousers with stylish Gucci Princetown loafers. Dressed to the nines! Former NRL star Billy Slater wore a navy blazer with white trousers. Alongside him was his wife Nicole who showcased her sensational figure in a white trench dress (pictured together) Meanwhile Nicole showcased her sensational figure in a white dress, accessorised with a multi-coloured sequined bag and espadrille heels. Argentinian polo star Nacho Figueras dressed for the event in a suave white suit with a gold textured tie. His stunning wife, Delfina Blaquier, opted for a white and gold jumpsuit with a brimmed straw hat and a brown leather cross-body bag. Indonesians arrive at the Ain Issa refugee camp, 50 km (31 miles) north of Raqqa, Syria, after fleeing from the Islamic State group, June 13, 2017. Jakarta still has not taken a firm decision on whether to repatriate about 30 Indonesian fighters and more than 150 of their family members who have languished in Syrian camps after Islamic States last bastion fell, the new Indonesian security minister said Friday. Citizens suspected of being foreign terrorist fighters and their families number around 600, said Mahfud MD, Indonesias coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs. [They are] in different countries and we must talk about how to repatriate, or whether doing so would pose a danger, Mahfud told reporters at his office in Jakarta after a meeting with Shigenobu Fukumoto, Japans director general for counter-terrorism. From Syria alone, we have 187, of whom 31 are men, he said. Those who were clearly involved in terrorism could be tried in Syria. If thats the case, the government cannot interfere, Mahfud said, commenting publicly on the issue for the first time since becoming Indonesias top security official in October. He did not specify where the hundreds of others of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) were located. Some of the fighters had left Syria and settled in other countries, he said without elaborating. In March 2019, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) declared they had captured the last bastion of Islamic State (IS), which once controlled a swath of land that spilled across the boundaries of Iraq and Syria. The SDF victory ushered in a series of concerns, including extradition, rehabilitation or criminal trials for captured FTFs as well as their wives and children. The Indonesian government later said it would try to bring them home to face criminal charges or undergo rehabilitation, while addressing security concerns because most of the women and children were not fighting for IS. The latest figure given by Mahfud is smaller than one given in a report in November by Indonesias elite counter-terrorism police unit Densus 88. Citing data from border authorities in the Middle East, it claimed there were 1,500 IS fighters and their families from Indonesia, including 700 living in three Syrian camps. In August 2019, the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) urged Indonesia to begin repatriating its most vulnerable citizens who had joined IS and not let them remain in the camps where, the think tank reported, they faced intimidation from supporters of the extremist group. Theres no need to wait for an all-encompassing policy to begin to bring back those most at risk, IPAC director Sidney Jones said at the time. The problem is that the longer the government delays taking action, the greater the likelihood of intimidation in the camps and the higher the political risks of repatriation, she added. Commenting then on IPACs report, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said: Its just the opinion of a non-governmental group, and we may have different views on this issue. The process is not complete because there needs to be identification, he told BenarNews. Many dont have documents, so there needs to be verification to determine whether they are Indonesian citizens or not. On Friday, after his meeting with Fukumoto, Mahfud said Indonesia wanted to work with Japan to fight terrorism. As a follow-up to the meeting, there will be a kind of joint forum to regularly discuss terrorism and regional security issues, he said. Japan is also worried about terrorism, because it has become more sophisticated. It has involved women and children, the transfers of money via smartphones, so its become more digitalized, Mahfud said. A jawan of the Sashastra Seema Bal posted at an outpost here along the Indo- Nepal border went berserk on Saturday and fired more than 200 gunshots in the air, triggering panic in the area, a police official said. The incident took place inside the SSB camp at Piltola border outpost, under the jurisdiction of Dighalbank police station of the district, where the sounds of gunshots were heard at around 3 pm and the fusillade rent the air for about 45 minutes. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police of Kishanganj, Ajay Kumar Jha, the jawan Abhay Kumar - who hails from Rajasthan - took out INSAS rifles from the warehouse inside the camp and began shooting in the air. SSB officials led by commandant Subhash Chand Negi rushed to the spot and overpowered the jawan - said to be mentally unstable - upon being informed by Abhay Kumar's colleagues, Jha said. About 240 fired cartridges were later collected from the spot, he said, adding that a large number of curious and frightened villagers had gathered outside the camp upon hearing the gunshots, who were persuaded to go back to their homes. The police and the SSB were jointly investigating the matter and officials of the paramilitary force have said on condition of anonymity that the erring jawan would face departmental action and may end up facing dismissal from service. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Incumbent Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President-elect William Lai wave to their supporters after their election victory at a rally, outside the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan Jan. 11, 2020. (Reuters/Tyrone Siu) Taiwan President Wins Re-election by Landslide in Firm Rebuke to Beijing Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen won a second term by a landslide in the islands presidential election on Jan. 11, in a victory seen as a rejection of Chinese regime encroachment. Tsai of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won by a margin of around 20 percentor more than 2.6 million votesagainst her main opponent, Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang (KMT) party. Supporters of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen celebrate the preliminary results at a rally outside the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan Jan. 11, 2020. (Reuters/Tyrone Siu) The election is widely viewed as a referendum on whether Taiwan should pursue closer ties with the Chinese regime, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, despite it being a self-ruled island with its own democratically-elected government, military, and currency. The DPP traditionally advocates for formal independence from mainland China, though Tsai has said she wishes to maintain the status quo. Meanwhile, the KMT favors friendlier ties with the mainland. The election also took place with the backdrop of ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, marked by growing discontent at the regimes perceived tightening grip on the city, which protesters say is in violation of Beijings pledge to uphold the citys autonomy under a framework known as one country, two systems. The Chinese regime has proposed that Taiwan could unite with the mainland under the same framework. Tsais Message Loud cheers filled the rally site for Tsai as her supporters waved flags in celebration. Speaking to the press, she expressed appreciation to voters. Regardless of how you voted, by taking part in this election, you have put democratic values into practiceWith each presidential election, Taiwan is showing the world how much we cherish our free democratic values, and how much we cherish our nation, the Republic of China, Taiwan. Tsai also said she wanted to remind Beijing that peace, parity, democracy and dialogue are the only path to bring together two peoples. China must abandon threats of force against Taiwan, she said, adding that neither side of the Taiwan strait should deny the fact of the others existence. In the lead-up to the election, the Chinese regime twice sent its newest aircraft carrier to the Taiwan strait, a move denounced by Taipei as military intimidation. The regime has never ruled out using military force to take Taiwan. Democratic Taiwan and our democratically elected government will not concede to threats of intimidation, she said. The results of this election has made this answer crystal clear. Tsai also reiterated her firm opposition to one country, two systems. Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, in a statement carried by state media, reaffirmed its commitment to this approach and its opposition to any form of independence. Roughly 14.3 million locals cast their vote on Saturday, equating to a turnout rate of around 74 percentapproximately eight percent higher than the previous presidential election in 2016. Kuomintang partys presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu admits defeat in presidential election in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Jan. 11, 2020. (Reuters/Ann Wang) At a press conference in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, Han, who became the mayor of the city in 2018, expressed best wishes for Tsai and said he hoped to see a cooperative Taiwan in the future. Wu Den-yih, leader of the KMT, blamed himself for their partys defeat and submitted a request for resignation. The Nationalist Party will decide by next week on whether or not to approve the request. Voters also chose their representatives in parliament. The DPP is dominating with 61 out of 113 legislative seats, while the KMT and Taiwan Peoples Party secured 38 and 5 seats respectively. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Tsai on her re-election, applauding her commitment to maintaining cross-Strait stability in the face of unrelenting pressure. Under her leadership, we hope Taiwan will continue to serve as a shining example for countries that strive for democracy, prosperity, and a better path for their people, Pompeo said in a statement. Repudiation of China June Teufel Dreyer, a political science professor at the University of Miami and a senior fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told The Epoch Times that there is no doubt that the election results are a repudiation of China, and a repudiation of the idea of unification. Tsai, who had struggled in polls in early 2019, saw a surge in voter support since June, when the Hong Kong protests began. Analysts believe Beijings harsh response to protesters impacted voter sentiments. [Chinese leader] Xi Jinpings crackdown on Hong Kong handed the election to Tsai Ing-wen, Dreyer said. Supporters of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen celebrate the preliminary results at a rally outside the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan on Jan. 11, 2020. (Reuters/Tyrone Siu) Taiwanese voter Brian Huang, a middle school math teacher, said watching the escalation unfold in the nearby Hong Kong pushed him and many others to reassess their own future. If we dont stand up now, we might become the next Hong Kong, he told The Epoch Times at a Taipei rally as the election results rolled in. He said he wanted to give Tsai another four years of opportunity, noting the diplomatic challenges ahead. In September 2019, two of Taiwans allies in the Pacific, Solomon Islands and Kiribati, severed diplomatic ties with the island, switching to Beijing. Supporters of Kuomintang partys presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu cry after he admits defeat in presidential election in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Jan. 11, 2020. (Reuters/Ann Wang) Shortly after Tsai declared victory, Chinas state-run Global Times issued an editorial warning Tsais party not to be insolent. It suggested that Tsai gained the votes by demonizing the mainland and taking advantage of the toughening U.S. policy toward China, and further claimed that the overall strength of the mainland will become ever stronger and unstoppable. Although pressure from China will only continue, Tsai said Taiwan will maintain the status-quo to ensure peace in cross-strait relations under the principles of democratic values. Winning the election is only the first step, Dreyer said. Now its up to her to prove to the people of Taiwan that she has earned their confidence. Epoch Times reporter Frank Fang contributed to this report. The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) has announced that it will be felicitating German filmmaker Werner Herzog with the Board of Governors award. The director will be bestowed with the recognition at the 34th Annual ASC Awards, to be held on January 25 at Hollywood & Highland's Ray Dolby Ballroom. The award is given to a film personality whose body of work has made significant and indelible contributions to cinema. It is the only ASC Award not given to a cinematographer and is reserved for filmmakers who have been champions for the visual art form. "Werner Herzog is truly a unique storyteller, and we are honored to recognise him for his prolific contributions to cinema," ASC President Kees van Oostrum said in a statement posted on the organisation's website. The veteran filmmaker is best known for movies such as "Aguirre, "Wrath of God", "Glocken aus der Tiefe" (Bells From the Deep), "Grizzly Man", "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" and "Rescue Dawn", among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This illustrated map of the universe shows galaxy group EGS77 clearing away the cosmic fog of the early universe, some 13 billion years ago. For hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang , the entire universe was a thick soup of hydrogen atoms swimming in total blackness. So dense was this cosmic goulash that the first light from the first stars in existence couldn't penetrate it the hydrogen fog simply absorbed and scattered the starlight in circles, trapping the universe in a cosmic dark age as ever more stars, galaxies and black holes slowly smoldered to life. That all changed after about 500 million years, when a grand cosmic makeover called the epoch of reionization began. As ancient galaxies grew ever larger and radiated more powerful energy, they began to burn away the cosmic fog that surrounded them by splitting (or ionizing) hydrogen atoms into a plasma of free protons and electrons. Suddenly, light could travel across the cosmos first through "bubbles" of plasma surrounding large galaxies, then farther and farther as multiple bubbles began to expand and overlap. Now, for the first time, astronomers believe they've detected three of those fog-clearing bubbles hard at work reshaping the universe in a group of galaxies 13 billion light-years away. Related: 9 Epic Space Discoveries You Probably Missed in 2019 In a study that was presented this week at the American Astronomical Society conference in Honolulu and submitted for publication in a forthcoming issue of The Astrophysical Journal, an international team of astronomers identified a trio of faraway galaxies that seem to be radiating some of the earliest light ever observed. The galaxy group, named EGS77, dates to approximately 680 million years after the Big Bang (roughly 5% of the universe's current age of 13.8 billion years) and appears to be surrounded by three overlapping bubbles of plasma meaning these pioneering galaxies may have been caught in the act of reionizing their corner of the universe and bringing the cosmic dark ages to an end. "EGS77 has formed a large bubble that allows its light to travel to Earth," study co-author Vithal Tilvi, a researcher at Arizona State University, said in a statement . "Eventually, bubbles like these grew around all galaxies and filled intergalactic space, reionizing the universe and clearing the way for light to travel across the cosmos." To find these ancient fog-clearing galaxies, the researchers surveyed a small section of space for the precise wavelength of ultraviolet light emitted by the earliest stars, also known as Lyman-alpha emissions. The light begins at a wavelength of 121.6 nanometers but, after traveling for billions of years across the expanding universe, slowly stretches out into the near-infrared range (700 nanometers to 1 millimeter), which is easier to detect with Earth telescopes. The survey turned up three overlapping specks of space that seemed to be emitting the exact wavelengths typical of ancient stars ionizing their surroundings. The team compared these observations with data from two other telescopes and confirmed the galaxies were about 13 billion light-years away, making them the farthest galaxy group ever detected and placing them right on the frontier of the epoch of reionization. "EGS77 is the first galaxy group caught in the act of clearing out this cosmic fog," study co-author James Rhoads of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in the statement. Originally published on Live Science. The US House of Representatives has voted to stop President Donald Trump from taking additional military action against Iran. It is the opening move in a Democratic-led campaign to reassert congressional authority over the use of force abroad. The 224-to-194 vote, which came after the administration's senior national security officials briefed Congress about the strike that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, fell along party lines, with three Republicans and a Republican-turned-independent backing it. Eight Democrats opposed the measure, which instructs Mr Trump "to terminate the use of United States armed forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government or military" unless Congress declares war or there is "an imminent armed attack upon the United States". The White House, with the help of most Republicans, has argued forcefully against the effort, asserting Mr Trump as commander-in-chief had undisputed legal justification to kill Major General Solei-mani in Baghdad without Congress' prior approval. But Democrats and a handful of Republicans were so frustrated by the administration's resistance to fully involving Congress that the belated effort to engage Capitol Hill backfired - fuelling momentum for Thursday's vote. Republican Matt Gaetz - a close Trump ally who publicly defended last week's strike on Soleimani - worked with Democrats to fine-tune the resolution, ultimately crossing the aisle on Thursday to support it. "I support the president. Killing Soleimani was the right decision," Mr Gaetz said, announcing his yes vote. "But engaging in another forever war in the Middle East would be the wrong decision." he added. But the critical forum is the Senate, where Democrats are in the minority and will need the help of at least four Republicans to pass a similar war powers resolution. Put forward by Democrat Senator Tim Kaine, the measure could come up for a vote as early as next week. Republican senators Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky have committed to supporting Mr Kaine's resolution, angrily telling journalists that administration officials had failed to specify when, if ever, they might seek Congress' approval for military strikes. ( Washington Post) U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce proposed rollbacks to the National Environmental Policy Act regulations in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 9, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Reuters The US military reportedly launched a strike meant to kill another top Iranian military official the same day as the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, Iran's top general. The top-secret mission took place in Yemen and targeted Abdul Reza Shahlai, a financier and key commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite and secretive Quds Force, The Washington Post reported. A Pentagon spokesperson told Insider it was aware of reports of an "airstrike in Yemen" but added that the Department of Defense "does not discuss alleged operations in the region." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The US military tried and failed to kill another top Iranian military official, Abdul Reza Shahlai, the same day earlier this month as the drone strike that took out Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, The Washington Post first reported, citing US officials. The unsuccessful top-secret mission took place in Yemen, The Post reported, where the US has been supporting the Saudi-led coalition against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in a bloody civil war that's sparked the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "If we had killed him, we'd be bragging about it that same night," a senior US official told The Post. Another official told The Post that the US did not disclose the operation against Shahlai because it was unsuccessful but signaled that he could be targeted again in the future. Shahlai is a financier and key commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite and secretive Quds Force (IRGC-QF), of which Soleimani was the leader. Separately, a US official told CNN that to the best of their knowledge, the Trump administration is not embarking on a broader mission to decapitate senior IRGC leadership. "We have seen the report of a January 2 airstrike in Yemen, which is long-understood as a safe space for terrorists and other adversaries to the United States. The Department of Defense does not discuss alleged operations in the region," Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich, a Pentagon spokesperson, told Insider when contacted about the reports of an unsuccessful strike on Shahlai. Story continues Soleimani was Iran's most important military leader and widely considered the second most influential figure in Iran behind Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader. His killing brought the US and Iran to the brink of war, sparking a retaliatory missile attack from Iran against US and coalition forces in Iraq earlier this week. Iran offered an off-ramp to President Donald Trump immediately after the missile attack, which did not result in any US casualties. Subsequently, Trump on Thursday signaled he would not retaliate and risk sparking a wider conflict. At the same time, the Trump administration announced new economic sanctions against Iran on Friday, a move that shows tensions between the two countries are far from resolved. Read the original article on Business Insider The world held its breath on January 3 after a US drone assassinated Iranian Gen. Qassem Suleimani, who was travelling to Iran on an official diplomatic mission. The threat of a region-wide conflict that could rapidly escalate into a global confrontation loomed large. Leading media outlets and political figures spoke of a 1914 moment, drawing parallels to the shots in Sarajevo that triggered the eruption of World War I. But anyone who expected the European powers would protest the United States criminal act and oppose the war preparations quickly experienced a rude awakening. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron [Credit: Nicholas Kamm/POOL via AP] British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rushed to declare that we dont lament Suleimanis death, while Berlin and Paris stressed that they also had placed Suleimani on their terrorist lists. To the extent that they made appeals for deescalation, these calls were directed solely at the victim, Iran. Not a single leading European politician condemned the brutal murder, which was ordered personally by the American president, represented a gross violation of international law, and exacerbated the already sharp tensions in international relations. The contrast with 2003 is obvious. Seventeen years ago, Paris and Berlin condemned the illegal US invasion of Iraq. Anyone who casts off the legitimacy of the United Nations and puts the use of force above the rule of law is taking a grave risk, stated French President Jacques Chirac. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder made similar statements. The opposition from Chirac and Schroder was by no means principled. Berlin allowed the US to continue using its military bases in Germany, and made clear that it would support military intervention in Iraq if Baghdad failed to bow to Washingtons diplomatic bullying. Nonetheless, their statements encouraged the global anti-war protests, in which millions of people took part. Why is it the case that today, after the wars in Iraq, Libya and Syria have proven so disastrous, there is no comparable official protest to be heard, even though far from suspending its war preparations, the US is intensifying them? It has nothing to do with any improvement in transatlantic relations. Since 2003, they have worsened dramatically. Hardly a week goes by without Trump or Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attacking or insulting the erstwhile European allies. Just last month, the US Congress imposed sanctions to stop the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which was to link Russia directly with Germany, in what amounted to an affront to an allied country. And the unilateral abrogation by Washington of the Iran nuclear accord, the prelude to the current war provocation, took place in the face of explicit opposition from Germany, France, and Britain. Despite this, the European powers have joined in with the US war preparations. Any criticism was reserved purely for tactical questions. Like the US Democrats and sections of the military, they accused Trump of acting alone, hastily and without a thought-out strategy, thereby threatening US interests in the Middle East. But they never call into question the right of the imperialist powers to intervene militarily in the Middle East to subordinate the region to their will and in pursuit of their interests. Concepts such as the right of nations to self-determination, which the League of Nations and United Nations used for decades as democratic camouflage, have largely vanished from the political lexicon. They are only trotted out when they are needed to support separatist forces against a rival power, such as China or Russia. Three decades after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as the International Committee long ago predicted, no new era of democracy has emerged. Rather, the anarchy of capitalism and the obsolete nation state system have produced an exacerbation of inter-imperialist rivalries and a sharpening of class tensions, to which the ruling elites, both in Europe and America, are responding by turning to fascism and war. Today, the European powers are much more deeply implicated in imperialist crimes than they were in 2003. Germany and France now both have their own troop contingents in Iraq to bring to bear on behalf of their own imperialist interests. The Libyan war of 2011, which overthrew the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and transformed the country into a nightmarish civil war of competing militias, was largely initiated by France. France and Germany also played important roles behind the scenes from the outset of the Syrian war, including by supporting Islamist militias. And in the rapidly escalating conflict in Mali, they are seeking to strengthen the presence of the European imperialists in Africa. However, they are yet to achieve the long-propagated goal of establishing Europe as a world power through a joint army and common foreign policy capable of going toe-to-toe with Washington. Despite huge increases in military spending, the combined military budgets of the European NATO members amount to some $300 billion, less than half of what is spent in the US. The European powers are also deeply divided among themselves. They want to act independently of Washington, but they see no immediate alternative to reaching an accommodation with the United States until they have had the time to rearm. Specialist foreign policy journals are full of complaints that Europes defence remains virtually dependent on the United States. The United States and China increasingly view their relations with the Europeans through the prism of their great power rivalry and deliberately apply pressure to single states to compel them to take sides, notes a contribution from the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) titled, Europe is still defended from Washington. If the Europeans want to avoid becoming the plaything of rival great powers, they must better exploit their power in future, defend their interests more robustly, and make themselves less vulnerable to attack, concludes the DGAP. The European Union must learn to conceive of itself as a geopolitical power. This requires a militarisation of society and an increase in defence spending far beyond the current officially proclaimed goal of two percent of GDP. Financing this will require savage attacks on the working class. This reveals the second, more fundamental reason for the European powers support for the US war drive. They fear that a mass mobilisation against war could unite with the mounting working class struggles against social inequality, threatening capitalist rule. Workers are seething with anger across Europe. In France, this has been shown with the outbreak of the Yellow Vest movement and the mass strikes against Macrons pension reform, which still attract hundreds of thousands to the streets after five weeks. While in 2003, pseudo-left, post-Stalinist and Green forces were able to dominate and maintain control over the anti-war movement, they have since been widely discredited and have shifted into the pro-war camp. None of the establishment parties, whether they describe themselves as left or right, has even stated its verbal opposition to the war drive. The relapse into barbarism and war can be prevented only by an independent socialist movement of the international working class that unites the struggle against war with the fight against its source: the capitalist profit system. The objective conditions for the development of this mass movement have already ripened. The goal of the International Committee of the Fourth International and its sections, the Socialist Equality parties, is to lead this movement and provide it with a political perspective. A file photos of De Lijn buses. (Photo: Facebook/De Lijn) According to the prosecutor's office in Antwerp, on Thursday the driver found himself a few minutes early in the town of Kontich and disembarked to have a smoke. At this point, a suspect appeared out of nowhere and attacked the 58-year-old - "apparently with a knife" - stabbing him repeatedly before fleeing the scene on foot. The driver, working for public bus company De Lijn, boarded his bus and - "probably in a state of shock" - followed his route for another 15km to Lierre. From the terminus, he then returned without passengers to his depot in Willebroek and only then, around an hour after the alleged attack, realised that he had been wounded. His colleagues called emergency services. According to the prosecutor, he had received potentially fatal wounds to the lower torso, to the neck, to his arms and upper right leg. An investigation has been launched. On March 12, 1938, Nazi Germany annexed Austria in what has popularly referred Anschluss. The idea of forming a Greater Germany by uniting Austria and Germany began immediately after the Unification of Germany in 1871. The unification had excluded German Austrians and Austria from the German Empire. Austria is a sovereign country in Central Europe divided into nine federated states. The land-locked country is bordered by Germany to the north. It is a predominately German-speaking country with the majority of the population communicating informally in several Bavarian dialects. Historical Background of the Annexation The ideal of all Germans forming one nation-state was floated in the 19th century, following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1809 and was debated until the fall of the German Confederation in 1866. Austria wanted the German states to unite under the leadership of German Austrian, which would have meant German states, as well as non-German regions of Austria, would have been part of the Greater Germany. After the end of World War I and the subsequent fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a new country called the Republic of German- Austria was formed comprising mainly of the German-speaking population within the fallen empire. The new country attempted to form a new union with Germany by the union was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles (1919) and the Treaty of Saint Germain (1919) Nazi Germany and Austria When Nazi, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, rose to power in the Weimer Republic, the government of Austria withdrew economic ties. Austria became a great target for German capital investment. By 1937, Germans interest in annexing Austria had increased. Austria was rich in labor and raw material and supplied its neighbors, especially Germany with resources such as magnesium, iron, and textile. In 1920, Hitler who was an Austrian German, and his National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) began demanding for the unification of all Germans in the Greater Germany. The Nazi Party was determined to unite all the Germans including those who lived outside the German Reich. The Annexation The idea of Austria joining Germany had become popular and would have occurred through a democratic process had had the Austrian Nazi not begun a terrorist campaign. In early 1938, the Nazi Austrians conspired to forcefully seize the Austrian Government and unite Austria with Nazi Germany. When Kurt Von Schuschnigg (Austrian Chancellor) heard of the conspiracy, he reached out to Hitler with the hope of protecting his countrys independence. Instead, he was forced into naming a cabinet that included Austrian Nazis On March 9, 1938, the chancellor called for a referendum to try and solve the annexation problem. However, the growing pressure from Hitler forced him to resign on March 11, before the vote. The following day (March 12), Hitler led his troops into Austria where he was received by a cheering crowd. He appointed a new Nazi government and proclaimed Anschluss on March 13 and Austria effectively became a federal state of Germany. The Anschluss was declared void after World War II and Austria was re-established as an independent state. Boeing employees mocked federal rules, talked about deceiving regulators and joked about potential flaws in the 737 Max as it was being developed, according to more than 100 pages of internal messages delivered Thursday to congressional investigators. I still havent been forgiven by God for the covering up I did last year, one of the employees said in messages from 2018, apparently in reference to interactions with the Federal Aviation Administration. The most damaging messages included conversations among Boeing pilots and other employees about software issues and other problems with flight simulators for the Max, a plane later involved in two accidents, in late 2018 and early 2019, that killed 346 people and threw the company into chaos. The employees appear to discuss instances in which the company concealed such problems from the FAA during the regulators certification of the simulators, which were used in the development of the Max, as well as in training for pilots who had not previously flown a 737. Would you put your family on a Max simulator trained aircraft? I wouldnt, one employee said to a colleague in another exchange from 2018, before the first crash. No, the colleague responded. In another set of messages, employees questioned the design of the Max and even denigrated their own colleagues. This airplane is designed by clowns, who are in turn supervised by monkeys, an employee wrote in an exchange from 2017. The release of the communications both emails and instant messages is the latest embarrassing episode for Boeing in a crisis that has cost the company billions of dollars and wreaked havoc on the aviation industry across the globe. The Max has been grounded for nearly 10 months, after the two deadly crashes. A software system developed for the plane was found to have played a role in both accidents, and since then the company has been working to update the system. There is still no indication when the Max might be cleared to fly again, as the company and regulators continue to discover new potential flaws with the plane. The messages threaten to further complicate Boeings tense relationship with the FAA. Both the company and agency indicated Thursday that the messages raised no new safety concerns, but they echoed troubling internal communications among Boeing employees that were previously made public. In several instances, Boeing employees insulted the FAA officials reviewing the plane. In an exchange from 2015, a Boeing employee said that a presentation the company gave to the FAA was so complicated that, for the agency officials and even himself, it was like dogs watching TV. Several employees seemed consumed with limiting training for airline crews to fly the plane, a significant victory for Boeing that would benefit the company financially. In the development of the Max, Boeing had promised to offer Southwest a discount of $1 million per plane if regulators required simulator training. In an email from August 2016, a marketing employee at the company cheered the news that regulators had approved a short computer-based training for pilots who have flown the 737 NG, the predecessor to the Max, instead of requiring simulator training. You can be away from an NG for 30 years and still be able to jump into a MAX? LOVE IT!! the employee says, following up later with an email noting: This is a big part of the operating cost structure in our marketing decks. Requiring simulator training can be costly for airlines and even after the crashes, Boeing told the FAA it was not necessary. It was not until Tuesday that Boeing said it would recommend simulator training for pilots who fly the Max. Boeing on Thursday expressed regret over the messages. These communications contain provocative language, and, in certain instances, raise questions about Boeings interactions with the FAA in connection with the simulator qualification process, the company said in a statement to Congress. Having carefully reviewed the issue, we are confident that all of Boeings Max simulators are functioning effectively. We regret the content of these communications, and apologize to the FAA, Congress, our airline customers and to the flying public for them, Boeing added. The language used in these communications, and some of the sentiments they express, are inconsistent with Boeing values, and the company is taking appropriate action in response. This will ultimately include disciplinary or other personnel action, once the necessary reviews are completed. The messages outraged several lawmakers, who saw a disregard for safety and broader problems with the culture at the company. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in an interview that he would push for new congressional hearings to question Boeing leadership about the astonishing and appalling messages. Boeing said that it notified the FAA about the documents in December and that it had not found any instances of misrepresentations to the FAA with its simulator qualification activities, despite the employees comment about covering up issues with the simulator. Lynn Lunsford, a spokesman for the FAA, said in a statement that the messages did not reveal any new safety risks. Upon reviewing the records for the specific simulator mentioned in the documents, the agency determined that piece of equipment has been evaluated and qualified three times in the last six months, Lunsford said. Any potential safety deficiencies identified in the documents have been addressed. Natalie Kitroeff is a New York Times writer. Srinagar, Jan 11 : Two days after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expelled eight of its leaders after they met Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, a former MLC Javed Mirchal resigned from the party on Saturday in protest against the expulsions. Mirchal in a statement issued here, said that he has resigned in protest against the way his colleagues were expelled by the PDP leadership, especially Raja Manzoor Ahmad, former MLA Karnah, who had met the Lieutenant Governor to put forth some of the important public demands in the present political circumstances. Mirchal resigned from the primary membership of the party and said the PDP has failed to live up to the expectations of people and has betrayed the public mandate brazenly. "After going through a deep thought process and consensus evolved among my electorate, I have reached to this conclusion that I should part ways from this party which has been unable to mitigate the sufferings of the people," Mirchal has said in his resignation letter. The former PDP leader said that the present socio-economic and political situation demands a vibrant leadership which is not only known for its integrity but performance on the ground. The PDP expelled eight of its leaders after they met the Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday and had submitted a memorandum for taking certain measures to revive political activity in Jammu and Kashmir. Some of the expelled members also met the delegation of foreign envoys on Thursday. The PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti along with many other political leaders continue to be in detention after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. Mehbooba faced a major jolt recently when the PDP patron and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussian Baig indicted Mehbooba Mufti for making provocative statements, which led to the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. With the observed supersaturation rates, the capacity of water to escape would greatly increase during certain seasons, the researchers said. (Photo Credit: NASA) London: Mars is losing water more quickly than what theory as well as past observations would suggest, according to a study that used data from the ExoMars Mission. The gradual disappearance of water (H2O) occurs in the upper atmosphere of the Red Planet, researchers from French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) said. Sunlight and chemistry disassociate water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen atoms that the weak gravity of Mars cannot prevent from escaping into space, they said. The study, published in the journal Science, revealed that water vapour is accumulating in large quantities and unexpected proportions at an altitude of over 80 kilometres in the Martian atmosphere. Measurements showed that large atmospheric pockets are even in a state of supersaturation, with the atmosphere containing 10 to 100 times more water vapour than its temperature should theoretically allow, according to the study. With the observed supersaturation rates, the capacity of water to escape would greatly increase during certain seasons, the researchers said. These results were were obtained thanks to the Trace Gas Orbiter probe from the ExoMars mission, financed by the European Space Agency and the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Meanwhile, the Mars 2020 rover, which sets off for the Red Planet next year, will not only search for traces of ancient life, but pave the way for future human missions, NASA scientists said Friday as they unveiled the vehicle. The rover has been constructed in a large, sterile room at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, near Los Angeles, where its driving equipment was given its first successful test last week. Shown to invited journalists on Friday, it is scheduled to leave Earth in July 2020 from Florida's Cape Canaveral, becoming the fifth US rover to land on Mars seven months later in February. "It's designed to seek the signs of life, so we're carrying a number of different instruments that will help us understand the geological and chemical context on the surface of Mars," deputy mission leader Matt Wallace told AFP. Among the devices on board the rover are 23 cameras, two "ears" that will allow it to listen to Martian winds, and lasers used for chemical analysis. Approximately the size of a car, the rover is equipped with six wheels like its predecessor Curiosity, allowing it to traverse rocky terrain. Speed is not a priority for the vehicle, which only has to cover around 200 yards per Martian day -- approximately the same as a day on Earth. Fuelled by a miniature nuclear reactor, Mars 2020 has seven-foot-long articulated arms and a drill to crack open rock samples in locations scientists identify as potentially suitable for life. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Making their vehicles safer against thieves will help policyholders save car insurance money, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents various methods that help policyholders to keep their cars safe against thieves and save car insurance money at the same time. For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/6-steps-to-lowering-your-risk-of-car-theft/ Policyholders that own a vehicle are facing numerous responsibilities. 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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. KHARTOUM, Sudan - Two Eritrean asylum-seekers were shot dead in the Libyan capital, just days after the U.N. refugee agency pressed them to leave its facility citing overcrowding. The UNHCR confirmed the deaths in a statement Friday saying its deeply saddened by the killings a day earlier in Tripoli. Three refugees told The Associated Press that the men were among dozens forced out of the UNHCR-run Gathering and Departure Facility at the beginning of January. The three spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. The facility was promoted as an alternative to detention but when the numbers of refugees increased, the U.N. offered money and pressed new arrivals to leave. The slain refugees were among those who accepted the money and left. They were among thousands held in Libyas detention centres where abuses are rampant. The country is a major waypoint for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East to Europe. 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 has been trying to capture the capital since April. An AP investigation has found that in a country without a functioning government, huge sums of European money have been diverted to intertwined networks of militiamen, traffickers and coast guard members who exploit migrants. The militias torture, extort and otherwise abuse migrants for ransoms in detention centres under the nose of the U.N., often in compounds that receive millions in European money, the AP investigation showed. Many migrants also simply disappear from detention centres, sold to traffickers or to other centres. The U.N. has said the situation in Libya is highly complex, and it has to work with whoever runs the detention centres to preserve access to vulnerable migrants. Rouhani says those responsible will be identified and prosecuted. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the accidental downing of a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing flight PS752 was a "disastrous" and "unforgivable" mistake. "Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake," Rouhani tweeted. Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences," he wrote in a separate tweet. Read alsoCCTV camera catches moment PS752 hits ground (Video) "The tragedy of the stampede at Gen. Soleimani's funeral in Kerman and the crash of a Ukrainian passenger plane in Tehran that killed numerous Iranians, including a group of students, as well as other nationalities, deeply saddens all Iranians. May they rest in peace," he added. As UNIAN reported earlier, Iran admitted that it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner that it mistook for a threat during hostilities with the U.S., marking a dramatic reversal after insisting that the deadly crash was caused by mechanical failure. Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was flying close to a sensitive Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military site when it was downed because of "human error," the army said after conducting its own investigation, Bloomberg reported. UNIAN memo: Kyiv-bound UIA flight PS752 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport in the early hours of Wednesday, January 8. It was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members on board. Two passengers and the crew members were Ukrainians. There were also 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and the United Kingdom each. There were no survivors. Rolls back changes to the so-called Kiddie Tax made in 2017 that affected the taxable portion of college scholarships and grants. Yes, those financial aid benefits are taxed by the federal government. Under the old laws, those scholarships and grants were taxed at the same rates as estates and trusts. The new law reverts to the rules that were in place before 2018, taxing those college funds at the parents rate. Kantrowitz said taxpayers can choose to have the change apply retroactively to the 2018 and/or the 2019 tax years. He said taxpayers will likely have to file amended federal returns to claim a refund of the excess tax. The legislation also includes provisions that improves data sharing between the U.S. Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service, which observers think will help simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and streamline authorization for income-driven student loan repayment plans. An earlier version of the SECURE Act included additional savings provisions with 529 plans, but those were later dropped last year. For example, those items would have allowed 529s to pay for homeschooling or educational therapy for students with disabilities. Questions, comments, column ideas? Send an email to sbrosen1030@gmail.com A Hong Kong murder suspects plan to return to Taiwan and hand himself in would not change after President Tsai Ing-wens re-election, a priest who has been helping him said on Saturday. Reverend Canon Peter Koon Ho-ming also revealed that more information about Chan Tong-kais plans could be released soon. The 20-year-old is wanted on the self-governing island for killing his pregnant girlfriend, Poon Hiu-wing, in Taipei in February 2018. Chan returned to Hong Kong after her death, and served time on related money-laundering charges. He could not be sent back to face murder charges, for lack of an extradition deal between the two jurisdictions. Asked before election results came in if the suspect would change his mind if Tsai kept her job, Koon said: Since his release, Chan has never left Hong Kong or changed his mind about returning to Taiwan to turn himself in. This would not be affected by whoever wins the election. We hope to disclose more information soon, he added. Chans case helped spark Hong Kongs current political crisis, when the local government proposed an extradition bill to allow fugitive transfers to jurisdictions with which the city lacks a formal agreement, including Taiwan. The legislation triggered mass protests which are still ongoing, after seven months and has since been withdrawn. President Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, has played up the Hong Kong protests as a cautionary tale of Beijings encroachment. She was re-elected on Saturday, seeing off the challenges of Han Kuo-yu of the mainland-friendly Kuomintang and James Soong Chu-yu, from the People First Party. Shortly before Chan was released from Pik Uk Correctional Institution on October 23, after 19 months in custody, Koon revealed that the suspect, whom he had been visiting for months, had offered to turn himself in. But the revelation sparked another political storm, by setting Hong Kong and Taipei at loggerheads over how Chan should face justice. The citys government has accused Taiwan of politicising the case. Story continues Days after the release, Koon said Chan would consider postponing his voluntary surrender until after the presidential election, citing fears that he would not be treated fairly. Chan, now a free man, has been living in a local safe house provided by police. Last month, Taiwan authorities hit out at their Hong Kong counterparts again for rejecting their request for legal help in a separate case, after the islands police arrested a man in connection with a robbery in Hong Kong. Taiwanese law allows suspects in robberies committed in Hong Kong and Macau to be tried in the islands courts. The Hong Kong government said it resented what it said were irresponsible statements, noting that there was no law permitting judicial assistance and transfers of criminals between the two sides. This article Wanted Hongkonger Chan Tong-kais Taiwan surrender plan unaffected by Tsai Ing-wen election win, says Reverend Canon Peter Koon first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Danielle Staub has announced she is leaving "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" again. ADVERTISEMENT The 57-year-old said on Wednesday's episode of "Watch What Happens Live" that she's moving on from the show after five seasons on the Bravo series. "I have, over the past 12 years and 10 seasons, been a part of this whole franchise," Staub said. "I've been very happy to rally and stand on the platform and be here with all of you, but it is time for me to leave and do something that I want to do that makes my heart happy every day." Staub said she won't return to "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" but is open to appearing on other shows in the franchise. "I will never be returning as a housewife again ... with the Jersey girls," she said. Staub said she plans to start her own cooking channel. "Cooking is therapy to me, so I'm basically calling it cooking therapy," she said. "I find my peace in the kitchen." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Staub starred in Seasons 1 and 2 of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" and has appeared as a friend in Seasons 8, 9 and 10. Season 10 premiered in November and will conclude in the spring. During the "WWHL" after-show, Staub weighed in on her rumored feud with former co-star Caroline Manzo. "I've always tried to just dignify people or treat people the way they treat me. I don't have a problem with her, unless she wants to make one with me," she said. Staub thanked "WWHL" host and "The Real Housewives producer Andy Cohen in an Instagram post Wednesday. "I want to thank @bravoandy and all @bravowwhl for your support and giving me a launching pad for my cooking channel," she said. Giudice split from her husband, Joe Giudice, in December after 20 years of marriage. Saturday, January 11th, 2020 (7:35 am) - Score 3,227 The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has given its approval to the selection of a preferred bidder (due to be named within the next few weeks) to deliver on their Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) project, which originally aimed to deploy a 450km long Gigabit speed fibre network to serve 1,300 public sector sites. The new wholesale Dark Fibre network, which is supported by 23.7m from the UK Governments Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) fund, eventually hopes to encourage further private sector investment of up to 250m (e.g. broadband ISPs could use it to help extend their own fibre FTTP networks). Some of the funding (c.2.5m) would also help to support the existing Cooperative Network Infrastructure (CNI) scheme in Tameside, which is already being harnessed by some ISPs (e.g. Virgin Media). The procurement process for all this began in spring last year (here) and the GMCA has now chosen a preferred supplier to deliver the new network (theyll be named soon but Cityfibre, Virgin Media and others are a fair bet). However there have been a few changes since the tender went out, which were covered in this weeks meeting document. One key point concerns the fact that Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband coverage in Salford has risen significantly (from 10% to 45%) since the procurement process began largely due to Openreachs (BT) Fibre First build and that resulted in some overbuild concerns. As a result it was agreed that Salford City Council would be removed from the Anchor Tenancy procurement and a smaller number of eligible sites will now be delivered through the Public Sector Buildings Upgrade (PSBU) model. Other key points from the tender process Public sector partners will get 30 years connectivity instead of 20 years for the same cost 50% longer Indefeasible Rights of Use (IRU) is being offered This means that whilst partners investment was calculated based on a proportion of connectivity spend over 20 years LAs, GMCA/F&RS and GMCA/TfGM will benefit from 30 years access to full fibre. In excess of 200 additional public sector sites will be connected at no additional cost to local authority partners and GMCA/FRS and TfGM. The majority of local authorities will benefit from having at least 40% more sites connected. Partner contributions will not exceed the capped upfront capital contributions agreed in March 2019. Will deliver up to 2,717Km of new full fibre across GM with 97% provided via existing ducting which will minimise disruption which will be supported by the adoption and implementation of the GM Prospectus aimed at simplifying administrative processes and providing a consistent public sector approach to the roll out of full fibre broadband in GM. Whilst work to recondition ducting will be needed, the total length of new dig is estimated at only 9km and is largely in short segments to connect individual sites. Residential and business premises passed will be up to 45% of GM rather than the 25% originally forecast, significantly increasing the potential reach for wider roll out, and offering future opportunities for smart city development. Better service options: Local public sector services will be free to procure services from any provider across the open access network. Social value: This includes planned apprentice appointments, working to increase digital skills in Greater Manchester and reducing homelessness. The grant offer from DCMS (Government) requires Greater Manchester to defray all LFFN funding by the end of March 2021, which doesnt allow much time for building. As such the preferred bidder is expected to sign their contract in early February at the latest and then works will commence on site from Spring 2020. T he UK's ambassador to Tehran has been arrested during protests outside a university, according to local reports. Rob Macaire was detained for more than an hour before being released, the Iranian Tasnim news agency reported. He was said to have been one of a number of individuals held on suspicion of organising, provoking and directing radical actions. Mr Macaire was said to be "safe and well" in the UK embassy on Saturday night following a detention of more than an hour in custody. And on Sunday morning UK time the diplomat sent a series of tweets to say he was not involved in a protest and was just wanting to "pay respects" to those who died when the Ukrainian International Airline plane was shot down. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned the arrest of Mr Macaire as a flagrant violation of international law. Mr Raab said in a statement: The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law. The Iranian government is at a crossroads moment." Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (right) condemned the arrest of Mr Macaire / AFP via Getty Images Mr Raab added: "It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards. Mr Macaire was said to be "safe and well" in the British embassy after he was eventually released after more than an hour in custody. His arrest came as a wave of anti-government demonstrations broke out across the country following the admission Iranian forces had accidentally brought down a Ukrainian airliner killing all 176 people on board. It is understood that the ambassador had been attending what had been billed as a vigil for the victims of the crash at the Amir Kabir University. However the event quickly turned into an anti-government protest at which point he was said to have left. It was as he was trying to make his way back to the embassy that he was picked up - although it is not clear by whom. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: After Delhi Police on Friday named nine suspects involved in the JNU violence, claiming that seven of them belong to Left-leaning student organizations, Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Smriti Irani slammed the Left for instigating the January 5 attack. Javadekar, who is BJPs in-charge for the upcoming Delhi polls, attacked the CPI, CPI(M) along with Congress and AAP, saying these parties were using students for their interests as they were frustrated after their defeat in the Lok Sabha polls. He said the revelation by the police was very important as a malafide campaign was being run to malign the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). ALSO READ | JNU violence: Delhi police name Aishe Ghosh, eight others as suspects in hostel attack Women and child development minister Smriti Irani said that the Left design that turned the campus into a political battleground has been unmasked. The former HRD minister in a tweet said, They led mobs of mayhem, destroyed public property paid for by taxpayers, disallowed new students from being enrolled, used the campus as a political battleground, Left leaders, on the other hand, accused the Delhi Police of being a government stooge. WATCH CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat said, It is sad that Delhi Police has become the stooge of Home Minister Amit Shah. Delhi Police now has zero credibility, CPI general secretary D Raja said that the Delhi Polices revelation was an attempt by the government to hurt the ongoing protests against the amended citizenship law being led by Left-leaning student bodies. They have charged the victims. While the Delhi Police have identified Left leaning students, TV channels have these goons confessing to attacking students. Why is Delhi Police not investigating this? he said. With agency inputs Detectives in south Dublin were lucky to escape serious injury after confronting a drug dealer armed with a large hunting knife. The knife, three imitation firearms and drugs were seized in Drimnagh following a crackdown on mid-level criminals. Gardai are also carrying out ballistic tests on one of the guns, which is believed to have been decommissioned but may still be in working order. The seizures were made after unarmed gardai confronted a young man armed with a knife in Dublin 12 on Wednesday. A chase ensued and sources said officers were threatened with the weapon before managing to apprehend the suspect. One garda suffered minor injuries during the chase, while cannabis valued at several thousand euro was also recovered from the suspected drug dealer. In a follow-up operation, detectives raided a property in the area during which drugs and three weapons were recovered. Two of the guns were imitation weapons but another is being tested to determine if it is capable of being fired. "There have been raids targeting street dealers previously but now there is an emphasis on the mid-level or mid-tier criminals," a source said. Cocaine "Gardai were lucky to avoid injury after managing to detain the suspect with the knife and it shows the risks gardai go through on a daily basis." It is the latest success by officers based in Crumlin and Sundrive Road garda stations after 60,000 of cocaine was recovered last week. Detectives believe close associates of the Kinahan cartel currently control a lucrative drugs patch in the Crumlin and Drimnagh area. A young man in his early 20s is suspected of organising the group of criminals on behalf of the cartel's Dublin members. While the crime group is still highly active in the area, a number of successful operations by garda units have hampered the sale and supply of drugs. Washington has repeatedly said that the elimination of Qassem Soleimani was an act of self-defense to prevent what it has described as an "imminent threat" against U.S. interests and troops. U.S. President Donald Trump says that the imminent threat from Iran that provoked the United States to kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani involved planned attacks on four U.S. embassies. Asked by Fox News specifically what was targeted, Trump revealed: "We will tell you that probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad." Pressed on whether large-scale attacks were planned for other embassies, the president said: "I can reveal that I believe it probably wouldve been four embassies." The American embassy in Baghdad had already been attacked on New Year's Eve when demonstrators stormed the compound to protest American airstrikes against Iran-backed militia members. But there has been confusion over whether additional attacks were being planned at the embassy after Trump told reporters Thursday that the U.S. killed Soleimani because "they were looking to blow up our embassy." Read alsoTrump: U.S. will impose 'additional punishing economic sanctions' on Iran The U.S. administration has repeatedly said that that strike was an act of self-defense to prevent what it has described as an "imminent threat" against U.S. interests and troops. Earlier Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was grilled on the specifics of that threat as reporters quizzed him on what "imminent" meant. "We had specific information on an imminent threat and that threat stream included attacks on U.S. embassies. Period. Full stop," he said. When later asked what he meant by imminent, he responded: "It was going to happen." After the U.S. strike that killed Soleimani near the Baghdad airport, Tehran went for a retaliation move, launching nearly a dozen missiles at two U.S. military bases located in Iraq. Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, said Tehran has completed its revenge for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani and will not take any new military steps if there is no U.S. aggression, On January 11, Iran admitted that it accidentally shot down a Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet flight PS752 that it mistook for a threat during hostilities with the U.S., marking a dramatic reversal after insisting that the deadly crash was caused by mechanical failure. Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was flying close to a sensitive Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military site when it was downed because of "human error," the army said after conducting its own investigation, according to Bloomberg. (@FahadShabbir) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that he agreed with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the joint work on deciphering two flight recorders. KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th January, 2020) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that he agreed with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the joint work on deciphering two flight recorders. "We agreed [with Rouhani] about the beginning of joint work on decoding two flight recorders," Zelenskyy said on his official Facebook account. On Wednesday, a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crashed in the vicinity of Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport shortly after takeoff. All 176 people on board were killed, including 11 Ukrainians. A 26-year-old west Alabama man is charged with capital murder in the 2016 disappearance of an acquaintance whose body has never been found. Termaine Senteria Nickerson, of Pine Hill in Wilcox county, was formally charged Friday with capital murder in the slaying of HyShawn Curry, who vanished almost four years ago. Wilcox County District Attorney Michael Jackson said the 28-year-old Curry, who lived in Thomasville, disappeared Jan. 2016 and has long been presumed dead. The warrant against Nickerson said the victim was shot to death during the theft of his vehicle. Hy'Shawn Curry disappeared in January 2016 and has never been found. An acquaintance is now charged with capital murder. (Facebook) Currys missing BMW was found in Wilcox County about a week after he disappeared. Jackson said Nickerson had been driving Currys vehicle around with blood inside the BMW. The investigation, led by the Clarke Countys Sheriffs Office, spanned three counties Clarke, Wilcox and Margengo. Jackson said the investigation is ongoing. Nickerson is being held without bond in the Wilcox County Jail. Kolkata, Jan 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in the city on Saturday, spent the night at Belur Math - global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission - in neighbouring Howrah district. The Prime Minister, who had in his youth wanted to become an ascetic of the Ramakrishna Mission, but was asked by its former President Swami Atwasthananda to concentrate on jana seva (public service) instead, himself expressed a desire to spend the night at Belur Math. He has been put up in the international guest house ar Belur Math, which was turned into a fortress with SPG and state police personnel swarming over the area. He was served prasad (food offered to god) comprising five fried dishes, luchi, rice pudding, sweets and fruits after he arrived there riding a launch on the river Ganges.. This is Modi's second visit to Belur Math after becoming prime minister. On May 10, 2015, a "deeply emotional" Modi had spent a few morning hours at the Math, praying and meditating. He had then meditated at ascetic-philosopher Swami Vivekananda's bedroom, which was specially opened at his request. On Saturday morning, Modi tweeted: "I am excited to be in West Bengal today and tomorrow. I am delighted to be spending time at the Ramakrishna Mission and that too when we mark Swami Vivekananda's Jayanti. There is something special about that place." According to RKM sources, he met the order's president Swami Sharananada. On Sunday morning, Modi will participate in the brahmaarti and spent time with the seers before going to Netaji Indoor stadium for attending the sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust. He will return to Delhi after the programme. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Deputy Inspector General DK Tripathi, who was accused of throwing hot water on Jawan, has been transferred from Bihar to Manipur on Saturday. The purported incident had taken place in Bihar's Rajgir district on January 2, and the victim who suffered severe burn injuries to his face and body has been discharged from the hospital. "The DIG, who was on a recruitment drive, asked the mess staff for hot water to drink. The mess staff Anmol Kharat allegedly brought boiling water and the DIG could not drink it," a senior CRPF official told ANI. According to sources, "The DIG scolded Anmol for giving him hot water and threw the hot water on him." CRPF had asked an IG-rank officer to investigate the matter and submit a report by January 10. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce held a roundtable with Khaitan & Co-hosting 30 of the top CEOs and Chairmen on the subject. The Indo American Chamber of Commerce plays a pivotal role in promoting and assisting companies with an interest in doing in both countries. Right from creating the need, providing research, assisting in setting up and thereafter also being their voice in conveying the pain points to both governments. Today's deliberation was one of the first in a series of listening to the pain points of companies operating in Maharashtra (which contributes 20% of India's GDP) noting the suggestions for improvement and quantifying the impact of the same. Maharashtra has an ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy by itself and will play a crucial role in India reaching its target of becoming a $5 trillion economy. Naushad Panjwani, President (West), Indo American Chamber of Commerce, opened the roundtable with the following statement: "The present government has done well to introduce structural reforms be it in the segment of labour laws, banking, bankruptcy, digitization and GST amongst others. These reforms were long overdue and the intent of introducing them was right, but these could have been executed better." Saurabh Shah, VP (West) - Indo American Chamber of Commerce, said, "It is heartening to see the Prime Minister personally meeting the industry leaders, taking a cue from that we are meeting leaders of the next rung of companies and going to 10 cities (Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Goa) to get a very wide perspective of their challenges. A detailed white paper on the same will be presented to the state chief Ministers, relevant union ministers and respective American Consulates along with engaging with them on the subject." Ease of Doing in India Roundtable - Key Takeaways: -Digitization is a key - Be it in compliances, stamp duty, court records or land records. While we are on track, the process needs to be accelerated, integrated and simplified. -Key to have clear rules - This is necessary to avoid any issues in interpretation or delay in implementation. Further, the punishment/ penalty should be clear, severe and uniform. -Facilitation - Focus should be on facilitation rather than on regulation. -Pendency of courts - This area needs a lot of work. Some thoughts include increased use of digitization, artificial intelligence, etc. Another suggestion is to have 'mediation' or 'conciliation' as pre-requisite before approaching any judicial authorities - this will reduce the number of cases being filed. -Capacity building - More focus on capacity building by all Governmental/judicial authorities. Forums like AICC can play a big role in this area. -Easy access - Automated process to access government facilities. Say, access to ESI hospitals, PF withdrawals, etc. -Ease of doing - Time taken to set up and close business needs improvement. We need to provide incentives and handholding to set-up businesses and documents/ compliances required - while some states are performing well in this area, as a country we are far behind our developed counterparts. -Performance review - To incentivize better performance, accountability, a clear performance evaluation system needs to be implemented at the governmental authority level. 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.) Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. 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The demand for chicken is escalating every day and meeting the requirements, and the poultry farming industry has to accept the creative and innovative ideas. Here are some of the top three innovative ideas that the poultry farm or factory can use. 1. Augmented Reality (AR) The technology of augmented reality can be used in poultry processing in several procedures. In recent times, Georgia tech is researching with two systems at their processing plant. The first plant is a location-tracked, head-mounted unit guides trimmers, and it shows where and how the user can prepare a bird on their screen. The second technology uses laser-scanner in a fixed area but near the line to the project to delivers instructions directly on the project. Furthermore, consumers can also use AR for collecting information regarding the source and their food procedures. 2. Virtual Reality (VR) Virtual Reality can be utilized for training the line works about the process in which they can trim meat, check the animals, and even walk a horse without disturbing the birds. It also offers consumers a virtual tour of the facility or a line and promotes transparency. Interestingly there are also VR headsets that can be placed on the chicken with which they can enjoy a free-range life. 3. Egg sexing The farmers need to incubate and hatch some of the eggs so that laying hens can be replaced. However, it is not practically possible to sex the eggs before hatching, but due to the usage of this procedure, the male egg is incubated and hatched. To overcome the issue, a new technology known as SELEGGT has been formed. The technique analyzes a tiny drop of fluid from the egg to verify the sex of the chick that will develop from the egg. The male eggs are separated and used as a resource for feed. See Also: Top Food Tech Startups A house divided against itself, cannot stand. The words of Abraham Lincoln in 1858 drawn from the Bible might have been written for the House of Windsor as it stumbles into 2020. We could be allowed a wry smile at the historic coincidence that has placed Lincolns fellow American, HRH The Duchess of Sussex, at the centre of the British monarchys current travails. It doesnt take a behavioural psychologist to review the timeline of Prince Harrys life and notice that it takes a sharp turn in 2018 when he marries Meghan Markle of Los Angeles, California. Perhaps it is a sharp turn for the better; most men will gladly agree that marriage was a happy turning point in their lives, marking the transition from foolish youth to responsible parenthood. Many would agree that such a transition was long overdue in the Party Prince including, perhaps, himself. For all the overheated talk of fury and punishment, we can be sure that the officials now wrestling to resolve the current crisis have been directed to minimise grounds for long-term resentment. Thats how it was when we negotiated the original separation agreement between Charles and Diana, writes PATRICK JEPHSON (Diana and Charles together in Canada in 1991) Fun-loving Harrys sense of humour, like his charm, runs deep. As does his frequent disregard for consequences. I remember him as a three-year-old riding his tricycle at top speed along a corridor in Kensington Palace. At the far end he spotted the tall figure of a splendidly accoutered senior cavalry officer who was making an official call on Princess Diana, Colonel-in-Chief of his regiment. Little Harry accelerated to full ramming speed and caught the officer a cracker, full on the shins. Being a man of steel, the colonel barely winced before bowing formally to the delighted Prince, whom he addressed with a twinkle in his eye as Your Royal Highness. After a thorough scolding from his embarrassed mother, the Prince pedalled away, visibly uncontrite. Of course, Diana gave him extra cuddles later. Fun-loving Harrys sense of humour, like his charm, runs deep. As does his frequent disregard for consequences. I remember him as a three-year-old riding his tricycle at top speed along a corridor in Kensington Palace, writes PATRICK JEPHSON (Prince Harry in 1989) The image of Harrys bull-headed charge at the colonel (an unmistakable figure of establishment authority) hovers in my minds eye alongside that of the forlorn small boy following his mothers coffin. Together they may give us an idea of the forces driving him to the current headlong rush to another painful collision. For all the overheated talk of fury and punishment, we can be sure that the officials now wrestling to resolve the current crisis have been directed to minimise grounds for long-term resentment. Thats how it was when we negotiated the original separation agreement between Charles and Diana. The difference is that then, in our unhappy task, we discovered a sense of shared purpose. That seems absent in what we know of the current tense exchanges. The lurking presence of the Sussexes American publicists and lawyers must chill the chances of compromise and only widen the canyon now running through the House of Windsor. There comes a point when attempts to build bridges must give way to the over-riding need to safeguard whats left. To borrow an apt American sporting term, this is no time for Buckingham Palace to play softball. I hope Harry and Meghan have taken the trouble to study the full panorama of Dianas tragically short life. Its a kings ransom of examples to follow and warnings to heed. Perhaps the most relevant lesson in their current situation concerns the false promises and real hazards of being a half-in, half-out member of the Royal Family promises made on the basis of what you were, hazards heightened by doubtful status and security. To take just two obvious examples: what instructions are handed to British Embassies about assistance to be given and who pays? And what about relations with law enforcement and intelligence agencies what level of co-operation is appropriate and, again, who pays? Price tags were conspicuously absent when the UKs most popular Prince and his beautiful, celebrity bride declared their love in the Windsor sunshine less than two years ago. Wasnt this just what the dowdy old House of Windsor needed a breath of fresh air straight from the Golden State? And not just fresh air. A host of American virtues seemed embodied in the slender new addition to the Royal line-up: diversity, spontaneity, informality, a dazzling white smile and dont forget the generosity and thoughtfulness behind her gift to her office staff of an ice-cream machine. Those of us who worked in palaces in the 1990s, with our chipped coffee mugs and Duchy Originals, could only gawk in envy. I hope Harry and Meghan have taken the trouble to study the full panorama of Dianas tragically short life. Its a kings ransom of examples to follow and warnings to heed, writes PATRICK JEPHSON Another of Meghans American virtues was so obvious we might have missed it: Americans take very seriously their belief that their country is the land of opportunity, in which theres a constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You can become whoever and whatever you want, if you just put your mind to it. Its a myth, perhaps, but still a powerful one. Its certainly an apt description for Meghans life so far and shes clearly determined that it has a lot further to go yet, especially with the right husband. Fun-loving Harrys sense of humour, like his charm, runs deep, writes PATRICK JEPHSON Equally obvious, with hindsight, is that the American dream of happiness-by-right and the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha cult of duty were never going to make easy bedfellows. What seems to have made the situation worse is that, while Prince Alberts 19th Century iron Royal code has softened into divorced Prince Charless vague idealism, the opposite has happened to American liberty. A new puritanism watches over much public thought identity politics and the language of social justice have created a new moral order in which duty to your feelings is held more sacred than duty to remoter, loftier obligations. Pre-Royal Meghan was an enthusiastic member of this new world. Her mantra could well be: I dont sit around thinking about my titles and roles, I just do what feels right. The trauma she and her husband are inflicting on his family and country is, presumably in their eyes, a price worth paying in pursuit of what feels right to them. Its probably too late to mention that actually doing whats right for a Prince and Princess of the United Kingdom can be pretty accurately summed up as just shut up and do your job. And, while were on the subject, which American law-school genius dreamed up the hilarious wording on the new SussexRoyal website that refers to the couple collaborating with the Queen, as if she were no more than just another co-worker? In case Harry and Meghan have forgotten, you serve the Sovereign mainly because she has devoted her whole life to serving us. Price tags were conspicuously absent when the UKs most popular Prince and his beautiful, celebrity bride declared their love in the Windsor sunshine less than two years ago, writes PATRICK JEPHSON But already, the Sussexes adherence to fashionable progressive ideology is drawing praise from a swathe of American opinion. And that folks is what power looks like, tweets Meghans actress friend Jameela Jamil, while the headline Meghan Markle Defeated The British Monarchy appears in Zora magazine. The New York Times gets in on the action with writer Afua Hirschs piece headlined Black Britons Know Why Meghan Markle Wants Out. It may blur a complex reality, but the image of a gutsy woman of colour exercising her sense of her own value is irresistibly attractive, and not just to woke zealots. Such feelings blend easily with a more traditional revolutionary reflex that, in its bones, cherishes the plucky colonists who gave the finger to the English King. Many Brits are hurrying to lay blame on the Duchesss shoulders. Its a very dangerous game. By doing so, they stoke a perception that it is the mixed-race girl from blue-collar California who is the real victim here, not her officially disappointed elderly grandmother-in-law and her scarily incandescent heirs. The trauma she and her husband are inflicting on his family and country is, presumably in their eyes, a price worth paying in pursuit of what feels right to them, writes PATRICK JEPHSON Also shovelling fuel on the fire are those on the opposite side of the ideological divide who want to cast poor Meghan as an innocent idealist driven into exile a helpless victim of racism, misogyny, class prejudice and a litany of related offences. Much more of this and we may be yearning for the good old days when all we worried about was the cost of the Sussexes organic paint for the nursery. Such a narrative ensures a warm welcome for Harry and Meghan when they reach their rosy Shangri-La of life in North America. The exact temperature of that welcome will be dictated by whether they arrive with full Royal status and titles thus with unbeatable snob advantage or as just plain old Mountbatten-Windsors. While some Royal advisers are understandably nervous of appearing vengeful by requiring the couple to leave their coronets at checkout, the arguments for insisting on removal of both HRH and title boil down to one practical issue: money. A real Royal title (the HRH is irrelevant in most of the world) gives the transplanted couple a powerful commercial advantage when as they show every sign of doing they activate plans to monetise their unique Royal brand. Many Brits are hurrying to lay blame on the Duchesss shoulders. Its a very dangerous game, writes PATRICK JEPHSON (Meghan during her and Harry's secret visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in west London) TV, books, charity events and (inevitably) progressive political fundraisers will fall at their feet while their shrewdly trademarked SussexRoyal merchandise reliably floods their bank accounts. Its hapless Fergie, Duchess of York all over again, but this time with kick-ass Hollywood publicists, lawyers and agents. And dont forget business managers to handle all those luxury product endorsements (His Royal Highness is graciously pleased to model your swimwear our invoice is attached). No wonder the couples confidant, ITV newsman Tom Bradby, says: Their attitude is, we want our freedom if you want to take everything away thats OK, well live with it. The message is Mother Teresa the reality is Kardashian. A clear majority in recent UK polls have no problem with Harry and Meghan taking all the freedom they can get their hands on. This translates as: if you cant thrive with all the opportunities weve given you, youd better go try somewhere else. Please. But an overwhelming majority say not at our expense. The strength of feeling probably owes much to the dawning realisation that the Sussexes could very soon be very rich indeed, mostly through trading on commercial advantages willingly given to them by the benign British taxpayer. The use of public office to make private wealth is called corruption, and the Queen expects members of her family to abide by the rules of ethical standards in public life. So the Sussexes should really welcome the opportunity to renounce their titles and thus remove temptation from unscrupulous foreign hustlers, angling to exploit their former Royal status. Its not a question of vengeance or punishment, its just reality. So the Sussexes should really welcome the opportunity to renounce their titles and thus remove temptation from unscrupulous foreign hustlers, angling to exploit their former Royal status, writes PATRICK JEPHSON (Meghan and Harry during their secret visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in west London) As is the justified public belief (not only in Sussex) that, in the 21st Century, Royal titles are held on loan from the people and that loan can be called in. Failure to heed the public mood, as we saw following the death of Harrys mother, is the greatest threat to the future of the monarchy, not the transitory delusions of the sixth in line. That public is watching the House of Windsor very closely as it digs its way out of a hole of arguably its own making. At a time when the UK is taking such a bold risk to reclaim its distinct identity, there will be little patience and only dwindling trust in a ruling family that fumbles such a clear-cut test of its own resolve and self-belief. So as we wave them goodbye, we should be grateful to Meghan and Harry for bringing to a head the rumbling ambivalence that has beset the 1,000-year-old dynasty for too long. Once the Sussex theatrics are history (which they will be soon enough), the Royal Family will be left with the real challenge of the new decade. Its not a question of a slimmed-down monarchy, a multicultural, multi-faith coronation or even a cunning Royal plan to save the planet. Its much simpler: do they believe in themselves because if they dont, why should we? If SussexRoyal yoga mats are all the rage in Malibu next summer, well have our answer. The example may be trivial, but for those who care about the monarchy, the message is deadly serious. I turn to Lincoln again: You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. - One Siskiyou County Deputy was awarded a Sheriff's Commendation after he solved a November commercial burglary case. The crime happened in Dunsmuir at the Cornerstone Bakery where a large amount of money was stolen. Officials say the suspect was gone before deputies arrived. Deputy Oritz found leads through his investigation that ultimately identified the suspect as Lamont Brown. Brown had previously been involved in a burglary at a local restaurant and had only recently been identified as a suspect in another burglary near Weed. Brown was already in the Siskiyou County Jail for past crimes so Deputy Oritz filed a criminal complaint with the District Attorney's office. Burglary and theft charges were then filed for the Cornerstone Bakery crime. Deputy Ortiz is an exemplary deputy and it is a pleasure serving with co-workers of his caliber and strong work ethic," said Sheriff Jon Lopey. In a ceremony, Deputy Oritz was cited for his outstanding investigative work and praised for amassing a consistent record of professionalism, proactive work productivity, innovation and effectiveness as an officer. Soon after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their step back from the royal family, it has been revealed that Meghan Markle has signed a voiceover deal with Disney in return for a donation to a wildlife charity. However, reports are stating that she had signed the deal even before she, along with Prince Harry, had left the UK for their Christmas break in Canada. According to international media, the Duchess of Sussex will be providing her voice in exchange for a donation to an organization that helps to track and protect animals from poaching - Elephants Without Borders. Reports stated that this news might be the first step towards Markle's return to Hollywood. She was last seen in a TV series - Suits. The Royal Announcement In a big announcement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Wednesday night announced to step back as 'senior members' of the Royal Family. As per a statement released by the royal couple on their official Instagram page, they will be dividing their time between the United Kingdom and North America. The couple also stated that they intend to "work to become financially independent." Read: Oprah Winfrey advises Prince Harry & Meghan on Royal exit? Here's what the TV Queen said Read: Meghan Markle, Camilla and other Royal family members who were mired by controversies Royal couple receives flak The Royal announcement took the internet by storm with people posting their own predictions about the reasons and outcomes of the 'Royal break-up'. Soon after their announcement, the Madame Tussauds museum in London on Wednesday, January 9, removed wax figures of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from its display of the royal family. Queen Elizabeth demands clarity After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's announcement, Queen Elizabeth demanded clarity over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's future roles. She ordered palace authorities to clear the confusion within 72 hours. Meghan Markle on Thursday flew to Canada to be with son Archie, while Prince Harry decided to stay in the United Kingdom due to the uproar over their announcement. Read: Piers Morgan slammed for calling Meghan Markle 'Royal hustler' Read: British woman draws comparison between Meghan Markle and Corbyn, netizens divided Image Source: AP T he wife of a pilot whose passenger jet was accidentally shot down by Iran begged him not to fly. All 176 people on board Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752 from Tehran to Kyiv were killed when the plane was shot down by an Iranian missile defense system moments after take-off. A military statement carried by Iranian state media said the plane was mistaken for a "hostile target", adding that the military was at its "highest level of readiness" amid heightened tensions with the US. Katerina Gaponenko told Sky News that she asked her husband Volodymyr not to fly to Iran amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US. Initially she had expected the return flight from Kyiv to Tehran to be cancelled. When it was not she said she became worried. The mother-of-two recalled their final conversation on the day he left Ukraine to fly to Tehran. She said: "I asked him: 'Do not fly, do not do it.' But he said: 'We can't backtrack, if it is not me, there is no one else. If it flies on schedule, I need to fly.' I asked him to stay." There were no survivors / AFP via Getty Images Mr Gaponenko flew the Boeing 737 from Kyiv to Tehran on January 7. The next day, only minutes after taking off on its return journey, the plane came crashing down again. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that his country expects "assurances" from Iran of a "full and open investigation, bringing the perpetrators to justice". He said Ukraine expected the "paying of compensation" and "official apologies through diplomatic channels". The most recent episode of Vikings has fans still reeling. There were so many epic fight scenes and shocking moments that episode 6 is worth a rewatch. Death and the Serpent held a surprising death that will change the course of the remainder of the show. Read on to find out why fans consider this episode to be the best in years. There are spoilers ahead. Some fans consider episode 6 the best in years Katheryn Winnick | Paul Archuleta/GC Images Numerous fans took to social media to share their thoughts on the surprising episode. Many agree that its an amazing episode and one of the best in years to hear people tell it. Id argue its one of the best episodes in the entire show. Everything was so well done, a Reddit user wrote. Other viewers seem to agree and enjoy the momentum of the final season so far. Totally agree, awesome episode , another user expressed. Best episode I have seen in years, a Reddit user also said. A lot of other people seem to echo the same sentiment about episode 6. I totally agree. The writing and characters were on point, a user revealed. The death of Lagertha The most important event that occurred in episode 6 is the death of Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick). She faces the bandit leader White Hair (Kieran OReilly) and almost loses her life in the process, but somehow she comes out on top. With severe wounds, Lagertha makes it back to Kattegat and encounters Hvitserk (Marco Ils), who hallucinates that she is Ivar. Hvitserk stabs Lagertha to death fulfilling the prophecy that she would die by a son of Ragnar. Obviously, the death of Lagertha makes the episode more than a little epic for fans of the series. Lagertha finally got her chapter ended with the knot tied with the son of Ragnar. Died defending her village, died as a shield-maiden, a Reddit user observed. Even the battle leading up to her death was enough to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Ive never felt so tense watching this show as I did watching Lagertha in that final battle with White Hair, a user explained. King Harald Finehair All of Harald Finehairs (Peter Franzen) scheming has paid off and hes the King of Norway finally just like hes always wanted. He takes the time to invite Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) to a party, where he plans to try and kill him. Bjorn escapes at the last possible moment, leaving fans worried about his future since Harald wants him dead. So why does Harald want to kill Bjorn so badly? It has a lot to do with his fathers legacy. Because Harald sees Bjorn as a real threat for his kingdom of Norway, another user explained. Bjorn is Ragnars eldest son and everyone is respecting Ragnar, Ragnar is like a true legend to everyone in Scandinavia. Bjorn has a legit claim to this throne. People are starting to take more of a liking to Bjorn after this most recent episodes turn of events. Bjorn suddenly feels interesting now he has some purpose and acts this time very down to earth, another Reddit user expressed. He is grateful for the help he got, he offers to row with fellow folks. I really want to see how this King of Norway story ends. Things heat up with Prince Oleg Prince Oleg (Danila Kozlovsky) marries Freydis doppelganger, Princess Katya (Alicia Agneson). While they are at dinner with Ivar (Alex Hgh Andersen), Katya asks to take off her dress because shes feeling overheated. Oleg and Katya have relations right there on the table in front of Ivar who is forced to stay and watch. Ivar is at the mercy of Oleg in a foreign country, a Reddit user explained. Oleg could have Ivar killed anytime he wants to. The only reason why Oleg still wants Ivar alive is to claim Kattegat, nothing more, nothing less. There is definitely a lot going on in season 6 of Vikings. Things seem to be getting better and better in the action-packed final season. CARROLLTON All aldermen present at Thursdays Carrollton City Council meeting voted to end the process of creating a tax increment financing or TIF district in the city amid a threat of legal action from the citys school district. The idea of creating a TIF district had polarized the city. The city was considering implementing a TIF district to facilitate economic growth in downtown Carrollton. The area covered by the suggested TIF has been declining in value for years. But opponents contend the TIF would seal away from other taxing districts such as the school district, library and fired department any added revenue from economic growth in the area. City council approved a 261-parcel TIF district on Aug. 20, only to shrink it on Sept. 12 by around 24% to 192 parcels in a bid to appease the other taxing districts. Debate over the TIF district was carried out over several forums. Discussions about its merits and issues carried into city council meetings, school board meetings and in the meetings of a state-mandated joint review board. In October, the joint review board voted 4-1 against recommending the district, the Greene Prairie Press reported. During a Dec. 12 city council meeting, the council went into an executive session that lasted two hours. When council members returned to open session, Carrollton City Attorney William Strang announced that no action would be taken that night but that the TIF district likely would be voted down at the next meeting, according to the Greene Prairie Press. On Thursday, the council voted 5-0 to discontinue the TIF process. Alderman Shane Carter was not present. After the vote, Strang read a prepared written statement from Carrollton Mayor Joe Montanez and the council to clarify their vote. The statement said the mayor and council undertook establishing the TIF district as a way to benefit all of the citys residents. It said they researched the costs and benefits before undergoing the process and believe TIFs to be one of the best economic tools used by townships and villages desiring to reverse the ravages of time on their crumbling downtown and commercial structures and districts. The statement said the proposed district met all legal requirements to qualify under the Illinois TIF Act. The statement went on to say that the council and the mayor decided to end the TIF process because Carrollton School Districts attorney had prepared a lawsuit and a letter claiming the suit would be filed the day after the city approved the district. Rather than work with the city to arrive at an acceptable plan (the school district) organized opposition, threatened and bullied city council members and turned down multiple overtures from the city to work on a plan to address their concerns for the benefit of the community, the statement read. The city believes the allegations in the lawsuit are not valid and would fail to defeat the district, but the litigation could drag on for months or years and could use up the first seven-to-10 years of money generated by the TIF district. The mayor and city council promised to seek other methods of economic development in the future and are asking for residents support in pursuing incentives programs. Carrollton School District Superintendent Mark Halwachs confirmed that a draft lawsuit was sent. Halwachs said the city never requested a meeting with the school district, but he is glad the city council voted to stop the TIF process. There was no effort on their part to work with us, Halwachs said. But were glad the city did the right thing and voted the TIF down. New Delhi: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. This was his first meeting with PM Modi after taking office in December last year. After meeting with PM Modi, CM Hamant Soren said, "I met PM Modi for the first time after the formation of government. In the coming days, I will once again meet him and put forward state's problems." CM Soren added that PM Modi assured him of the protection of the rights of tribal community in Jharkhand. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren: I met PM Modi for the first time after the formation of govt. In the coming days, I will once again meet him and put forward state's problems. Prime Minister has assured that the rights of tribals will be protected. pic.twitter.com/Ub0M3ZHYkV ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also invited to the oath-taking ceremony of Hemant Soren. However, the PM had expressed his inability to attend the ceremony due to his busy schedule. Moreover, PM Modi had congratulated Hemant Soren on being sworn in as Jharkhand CM. He had assured Soren of all possible support from the centre. Earlier, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance stormed to power in Jharkhand on December 23, ousting the BJP in yet another state in the Hindi heartland after the saffron partys stupendous performance in the Lok Sabha elections. Also Read: Jharkhand Will Not Implement CAA If Even One Person Is Uprooted: JMM Working President Hemant Soren The three-party alliance bagged 47 seats in the 81-member state Assembly. The JMM won 30 seats, Congress 16 and the RJD 1. Four other MLAs - three from the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) and one from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) also extended their support to the three-party coalition. The BJP clinched 25 seats, AJSU got two, while the CPI-ML(Liberation) and the NCP got one each and two seats went to others. JMM working president Hemant Soren was sworn in as the 11th chief minister of Jharkhand. The 44-year-old JMM leader became Jharkhands CM for the second time. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (Newser) The US tried, but failed, to take out another senior Iranian commander on the same day that an American airstrike killed the Revolutionary Guard's top general, US officials said Friday. The officials said a military airstrike by special operations forces targeted Abdul Reza Shahlai, a high-ranking commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, per the AP, but the mission was not successful. The development was first reported by the Washington Post. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss a classified mission. Officials said both Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Shahlai were on approved military targeting lists, which indicates a deliberate effort by the US to cripple the leadership of Iran's Quds force, which has been designated a terror organization by the US. Officials would not say how the mission failed. story continues below The State Department offered a reward of $15 million early last month for information leading to the disruption of IRGC finances, including Shahlai, a key financier in the organization. The State Department said he "has a long history of targeting Americans and US allies globally," and planned multiple assassinations of coalition forces in Iraq. The Pentagon declined to discuss the operation. The operation against Shahlai could mean the targeting of Soleimani was part of a broader operation than the US has said, per the Post. The attempt to kill Shahlai wasn't announced because it failed, a US official said. "If we had killed him, we'd be bragging about it that same night," the official said. (US adds Iranian sanctions.) (Read more Iran stories.) Guest Column For India, There Are Many Reasons to Engage Myanmar Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (right) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk during her ceremonial reception in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in New Delhi on Oct. 18, 2016. / REUTERS As one of only two Southeast Asian countries invited to attend the swearing-in of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he won re-election in May 2019, Myanmars relations with India have been thrust into the spotlight. Heres why Naypyitaw should matter to Delhi in 2020. For a start, Myanmar is an important member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a minilateral subregional organization that is committed to fostering bilateral or regional cooperation among Bay of Bengal countries. As the members of BIMSTEC were invited by Modi to his second inauguration, he will be looking to prioritize this body in his second term, which will include greater engagement with Myanmar. Myanmar is geopolitically significant to India as it stands at the center of the India-Southeast Asia region. Myanmar is the only Southeast Asian country that shares a land border with northeastern India, stretching some 1,624 kilometers. The neighbors also share a 725-km maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal. Being the only country that sits at the intersection of Indias Neighborhood First policy and its Act East policy, Myanmar is an essential element in Indias practice of regional diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific, and serves as a land bridge to connect South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is therefore in Indias geostrategic interest to see Myanmar prevail as a stable and autonomous country, thereby making possible greater bilateral engagement in India-Myanmar relations. The last thing Delhi policymakers would want is a failed Myanmar state at Indias doorstep and a weakened Myanmar falling into the clutches of China as a satellite state, thereby being pressured to do Beijings bidding in regional affairs. Without colliding head-on with China, Delhi scours for ways to outsmart Beijing so that the balance of power in mainland Southeast Asia is tilted in favor of India. This makes Myanmar an inadvertent kingmaker in Sino-Indian relations. It is little surprise then that Myanmar is the only Southeast Asian country that has a separate bureaucratic division (shared with Bangladesh) in Indias External Affairs Ministry, testifying to the continued importance of Myanmar to Indias foreign policy under Modis government. India sees Myanmar as being vital to fulfilling its ambition to become a US$5-trillion (7,353-trillion-kyat) economy by 2024. But with total bilateral trade of $2 billion, Indias economic engagement with Myanmar lags behind China, behoving Modis government to scale up India-Myanmar economic ties. This dovetails with India giving greater weight to bilateral economic engagement with Southeast Asian countries after it withdrew from the multilateral Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Facilitating connectivity is central to improving India-Myanmar economic relations. India regards Myanmar as a gateway to link up to the rest of Southeast Asia, and thus has invested in ASEAN-wide infrastructural projects that are able to boost trade in the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area. Infrastructure projects are underway, such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport (KMMTT), which aims to connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with the Sittwe deep-water port in Rakhine State by sea. It is incumbent on India to bring the projects they front and finance into fruition expeditiously. As part of its policy for the Indian Ocean called Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), central to which is port-led development, India developed the Sittwe port in Rakhine State. This port, which sits on the Bay of Bengal, serves as a critical node of the KMMTT initiative to connect southwestern Myanmar to northeastern India by creating a multi-modal trinary of sea, river and road transport corridor to boost interconnectivity. Indias long-term strategic goal is to create a Special Economic Zone surrounding the Sittwe port, and in so doing, cement Indias footprint in Rakhine and boost its presence in the Bay of Bengal. The Sittwe port is meant to be Indias answer to the Chinese-fronted Kyaukphyu port, which is intended to cement Chinas geostrategic footprint in Rakhine. For economic relations to improve, India and Myanmar must boost their security cooperation at the border. The more secure the border is, the greater the economic activity will be. Part of the reason why the KMMTT has faced delays is that the route of the project traverses a warzone in Rakhine state, where a battle rages on between the Myanmar Army and the Arakan Army rebels on the one hand, and on the other, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. Insurgents from Indias Nagaland have also disrupted the completion of the KMMTT project. The Indian and Myanmar armies have carried out two joint military operations, codenamed Operation Sunshine 1 and 2, to fight militants along the borders of Myanmars Rakhine state, which borders the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram. Greater impetus was given to these operations after Modi visited Myanmar in 2018. Seeing that Myanmar is critical to its national security interests, India provides military training and conducts joint military exercises with the Myanmar Army like the India-Myanmar Bilateral Military Exercise (IMBAX-2017 and IMBEX 2018-19), by which India had trained the Myanmar army to be able to participate in UN peacekeeping operations. To deepen their defense relations, India and Myanmar signed a landmark defense cooperation agreement in July 2019 during the visit to India by Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Realizing the growing importance of the Bay of Bengal, the navies of both India and Myanmar conducted a historic bilateral naval exercise, IMNEX-18, in 2018. India also invited the Myanmar army to participate in the India-led multilateral Milan naval exercise that occurs biennially in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with the next one taking place in March 2020. To elevate its Made in India arms industry, India has identified Myanmar as key to increasing its military exports. Along those lines, Myanmar bought Indias first locally produced anti-submarine torpedo, called TAL Shyena, in 2017, and in 2019, Myanmar acquired a diesel-electric Kilo-class submarine, INS Sindhuvir, which India had modernized after purchasing from Russia in the 1980s. For Naypyitaw, these military purchases are meant to secure and protect Myanmars maritime interests, especially on the back of its neighbors Bangladesh and Thailand acquiring submarines from China. In this submarine procurement race, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Myanmar are competitively hedging their military purchases between India and China. Myanmars geostrategic importance to India has meant that Delhi did not take a hardline approach on Naypyitaw vis-a-vis the Rohingya issue, even keeping its distance when Myanmar was hauled into the International Court of Justice over accusations of Rohingya genocide. That the Indian government is now led by the right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party also meant that the BJP-led government, with their Islamophobic tendencies, is unlikely to be sympathetic to the plight of Muslim Rohingyas. But because of geopolitical considerations and mindful of international public opinion, India, which has a Hindu majority, will need to perform a balancing act between Muslim-majority Bangladesh and Buddhist-majority Myanmar as far as the Rohingya issue is concerned. India has therefore played it safe by providing humanitarian relief even while deporting Rohingya refugees from India for security reasons, provoking the UNs ire. The quicker the Rohingya issue is resolved, the easier it will be for India to manage its relations with Myanmar and Bangladesh, focusing instead more on bilateral and subregional economic cooperation. Not immediately obvious is Myanmars importance to Indias conduct of cultural diplomacy through the lens of Buddhism for tourism purposes. Modis Buddhist Circuit initiative, which seeks to double foreign tourist arrivals and revenue by connecting ancient Buddhist heritage sites across different states in India, should resonate with Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Indias Buddhist diplomacy would not only attract pilgrims from mainland Buddhist Southeast Asia and thereby bolster the countrys tourist industry, but it could also build up Indias diplomatic reservoir of goodwill and trust with Buddhist-majority countries such as Myanmar. India-Myanmar ties are on the cusp of a remarkable transformation. The moment is opportune and the atmosphere is conducive for the governments of India and Myanmar to intensify efforts toward making India-Myanmar relations profoundly significant in each others foreign policy. On the one hand, Myanmar is striving to be stable and autonomous as it continues to manage its difficult democratization, while on the other, Modi is marketing India to the world. While Myanmar is Indias gateway to Southeast Asia, India is Myanmars gateway to South Asia. Looking ahead to the 2020s, the litmus test for the political leaderships of India and Myanmar is whether they are able to work together in taking a perfunctory India-Myanmar bilateral relationship to the next level of deepening engagement on a sustainable basis. Envisioning the potential in India-Myanmar relations has to be prioritized by both countries, and bilateral commitments translated to practical outcomes, lest India and Myanmar end up as one of those bilateral relationships that disappoints or merely flatters to deceive. The onus, however, remains on India as to how far and deep it is prepared to nurture its relations with Myanmar, knowing full well that Naypyitaw will matter much to Delhi in the next decade, not least if India wants to augment its standing as a regional power in the Indo-Pacific. Archana Atmakuri is Research Analyst and Dr. Mustafa Izzuddin is Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. A version of this article was published in The Diplomat. You may also like these stories: Myanmar, China to Sign Agreements on SEZ, Border Economic Cooperation During President Xis Visit Indian PM Defends Citizenship Law After Protests Turn Deadly Indias Supreme Court Halts Tree Felling for New Mumbai Metro Photo: Contributed Tolkos Kelowna sawmill officially closed on Wednesday, but its former workers have been job seeking for months. If forestry workers are searching for the next stop on their career path, there is an opportunity coming to Kelowna and other cities throughout the province, including Vernon and Prince George, from the Canadian Vocational Training Centre. The organization has received a grant from the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training to not only train former forestry workers, but to provide transportation and lodging as well. For more on this story, visit Okanagan Edge. A 24-year-old man has been killed in southern Nepal's Dhanusha district for opposing illegal extraction of construction material. Dilip Kumar Mahato, 24, who had a mechanical engineering degree from Bhopal, was run over by a tipper lorry owned by one Bipin Mahato, police said on Saturday. Other than Bipin, three others have been arrested in connection with the murder. The illegal operation was going on for two years behind Dilip's house on the Aurahi River, police said, adding Mahato had opposed the extraction from the start. Mahato had received death threats and was even offered inducements, but he continued to protest against the illegal operation. On Friday, Dilip heard the clamour of loaders and tippers coming from the river. As he began to quarrel with the extraction crew, a tipper ran him over, dragging him under its carriage, killing him on the spot. Dilip had just returned from Bhopal India after giving final exams of mechanical engineering graduation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CLEVELAND, Ohio Cleveland police found an armed man hiding under a set of stairs as they investigated a burglary at a home in the Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood. Officers arrested Jashaud Anderson, 26, after a neighbor spotted him Wednesday evening in the home on Cullen Drive near East 47th Street, according to court records. He is charged with aggravated burglary in the incident. He is in custody at the Cuyahoga County Jail awaiting his arraignment in Cleveland Municipal Court. Anderson had two handguns when officers found him hiding under a set of stairs to the basement, according to a police report. The homeowner identified one of the guns as his own, and said it was taken during the burglary. Neighbors called 911 just after 7 p.m. Wednesday to report a suspicious man. The man opened a mailbox before he walked up the driveway and disappeared. Neighbors then saw the window shades move. The homeowners sister gave Cleveland police officers a key to get inside. The officers found an empty gun holster on the floor and noticed that someone rummaged through the kitchen cabinets, the police report says. The officers called out to announce their presence, but no one responded. They searched most of the home before they found Anderson. Anderson complied with the officers order to put the guns down, the police report says. He surrendered without incident. Anderson spent six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a series of burglary charges related to 2012 break-ins in Cleveland, according to court records. Details of those convictions were not immediately available Friday afternoon. He was released Aug. 18 from the Lake Erie Correctional Institution, but ordered to remain on probation for five years, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records. To comment on this story, visit Fridays crime and courts comments page. Read more crime stories: Second man charged with dumping Medina womans body after fentanyl overdose in Cleveland Man shot at Cleveland bar after dancing with other mans girlfriend 12-year-old boy is third charged in carjacking outside Cleveland gas station, records say Police: Masked man robs four Cleveland businesses at gunpoint in three days Cleveland man charged in 2017 death of Egyptian immigrant killed during robbery Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll apply a basic P/E ratio analysis to Qingdao Port International Co., Ltd.'s (HKG:6198), to help you decide if the stock is worth further research. Based on the last twelve months, Qingdao Port International's P/E ratio is 8.56. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 11.7%. See our latest analysis for Qingdao Port International How Do You Calculate Qingdao Port International's P/E Ratio? The formula for price to earnings is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share (in the reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Qingdao Port International: P/E of 8.56 = HK$5.06 (Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, CNY ) HK$0.59 (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing 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 Qingdao Port International Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. The image below shows that Qingdao Port International has a P/E ratio that is roughly in line with the infrastructure industry average (8.5). SEHK:6198 Price Estimation Relative to Market, January 11th 2020 Its P/E ratio suggests that Qingdao Port International shareholders think that in the future it will perform about the same as other companies in its industry classification. The company could surprise by performing better than average, in the future. I would further inform my view by checking insider buying and selling., among other things. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings. Story continues Qingdao Port International saw earnings per share improve by -6.8% last year. And it has bolstered its earnings per share by 9.3% per year over the last five years. Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. 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 spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context. How Does Qingdao Port International's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? With net cash of CN9.2b, Qingdao Port International has a very strong balance sheet, which may be important for its business. Having said that, at 22% of its market capitalization the cash hoard would contribute towards a higher P/E ratio. The Bottom Line On Qingdao Port International's P/E Ratio Qingdao Port International trades on a P/E ratio of 8.6, which is below the HK market average of 10.6. EPS was up modestly better over the last twelve months. Also positive, the relatively strong balance sheet will allow for investment in growth. In contrast, the P/E indicates shareholders doubt that will happen! Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If the reality for a company is not as bad as the P/E ratio indicates, then the share price should increase as the market realizes this. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Omans Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Mideasts longest-ruling monarch who seized power in a 1970 palace coup and pulled his Arabian sultanate into modernity while carefully balancing diplomatic ties between adversaries Iran and the U.S., has died. He was 79. The state-run Oman News Agency announced his death late Friday on its official Twitter account. The sultan was believed to have been in poor health in recent months, and traveled to Belgium for a medical checkup last month. The royal court declared three days of mourning. The British-educated, reclusive sultan reformed a nation that was home to only three schools and harsh laws banning electricity, radios, eyeglasses and even umbrellas when he took the throne. Under his reign, Oman became known as a welcoming tourist destination and a key Mideast interlocutor, helping the U.S. free captives in Iran and Yemen and even hosting visits by Israeli officials while pushing back on their occupation of land Palestinians want for a future state. We do not have any conflicts and we do not put fuel on the fire when our opinion does not agree with someone, Sultan Qaboos told a Kuwaiti newspaper in a rare interview in 2008. The sultans death, however, raises the risk of unrest in this country on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. The unmarried Sultan Qaboos had no children and did not publicly name an heir, a tradition among the ruling Al Said dynasty whose history is replete with bloody takeovers. Omans longtime willingness to strike its own path frustrated Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, longtime foes of Iran who now dominate the politics of regional Gulf Arab nations. How Oman will respond to pressures both external and internal in a nation Sultan Qaboos absolutely ruled for decades remains in question. Maintaining this sort of equidistant type of relationship ... is going to be put to the test, said Gary A. Grappo, a former U.S. ambassador to Oman. Whoever that person is is going to have an immensely, immensely difficult job. And overhanging all of that will be the sense that hes not Qaboos because those are impossible shoes to fill. The sultan had been believed to be ill for some time, though authorities never disclosed what malady he faced. A December 2019 report by the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy described the sultan as suffering from diabetes and a history of colon cancer. Sultan Qaboos spent eight months in a hospital in Germany, returning to Oman in 2015, with the royal court only saying that the treatment he received was successful. In December 2019, he traveled to Belgium for a week for what the court described as medical checks. Days of worry about his condition ended Dec. 31, 2019, with the royal court describing him to be in stable condition. Sultan Qaboos cut a fashionable figure in a region whose leaders are known for a more austere attire. His colorful turbans stood out, as did his form-fitting robes with a traditional curved khanjar knife stuck inside, the symbol of Oman. He occasionally wore a white turban out of his belief that he spiritually led Omans Ibadi Muslims, a more liberal offshoot of Islam predating the Sunni-Shiite split. The sultans willingness to stand apart was key to Omans influence in the region. While home only to some 4.6 million people and smaller oil reserves than its neighbors, Oman under Sultan Qaboos routinely influenced the region in ways others couldnt. Omans oil minister routinely criticizes the policies of the Saudi-led OPEC oil cartel with a smile. Muscat hosts meetings of Yemens Houthi rebels, locked in a yearslong bloody war with Saudi Arabia. When Americans or dual nationals with Western ties are detained in Iran or areas under Tehrans influence, communiques that later announce their freedom routinely credit the help of Oman. The sultans greatest diplomatic achievement came as Oman hosted secret talks between Iranian and U.S. diplomats that led to the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers limiting Irans atomic program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Yet even then, the sultan maintained ties to those in the Pahlavi dynasty that Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew. Sultan Qaboos outward-looking worldview could not have contrasted more sharply than that of his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur, under whose rule the sultanate more resembled a medieval state. Slavery was legal, no one could travel abroad and music was banned. At the time, the country, which is nearly the size of Poland, had only 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) of paved roads. Yet Sultan Said let his son Qaboos, born in Salalah on Nov. 18, 1940, travel to study in England. Qaboos time abroad included schooling at Britains Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and training with the Scottish Rifles Regiment in what was then West Germany. Qaboos returned to Salalah in 1964 but found himself instead locked away in a palace. Music cassettes sent to him from friends abroad included secret messages from the British. London was frustrated with Sultan Said, who had grown increasingly eccentric after surviving an assassination attempt and as Communist rebels kept up their offensive in the sultanates Dhofar region. A July 23, 1970 palace coup ended up with Sultan Said shooting himself in the foot before going into exile in London. Qaboos took power. Yesterday, Oman was in darkness, Sultan Qaboos said after the coup. But tomorrow, a new dawn will rise for Oman and its people. Sultan Qaboos quickly moved toward modernizing the country, building the schools, hospitals and roads his father didnt. With the help of Iranian forces under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the British and Jordan, the sultan beat back the Dhofar rebellion. You can see the sultans fingerprints, Grappo said. Theyre just everywhere. Over time, Sultan Qaboos introduced what amounted to a written constitution, created a parliament and granted citizens limited political freedoms. But the sultan always had final say. In a sign of his strong grip, he also served as prime minister and minister of defense, finance and foreign affairs, as well as governor of the sultanates Central Bank. Holding all these positions in government probably sort of constrained his country in the sense of developing senior leadership, Grappo said. That strong grip extended to any sign of dissent. The Royal Oman Police often patrol in riot-ready vehicles with chicken wire covering the windows, something only seen in the island nation of Bahrain which has faced years of low-level unrest. U.S. diplomats routinely describe the Omani press as muzzled and even private outlets self-censor out of fear of running afoul of so-called red lines. All public gatherings require government permission. Small protests broke out as part of the wider Arab Spring unrest in 2011, revealing discontent over corruption, unemployment and rising prices within the sultanate. Oman was one of the few countries in the Arab world to maintain ties with Egypt after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, and acted as a mediator between Iran and Iraq during their ruinous eight-year war. It has also long served as a quiet base for U.S. military operations, including a failed 1980 attempt to free hostages held by Iran after the U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran. As he grew older, Sultan Qaboos also grew increasingly reclusive. He is known to have had three major passions reading, music and yachting. He read voraciously, Grappo said, played the organ and lute. He created a symphony orchestra and opened a royal opera house in Muscat in 2011. His yacht Al Said is among the worlds largest and was frequently seen anchored in Muscats mountain-ringed harbor. Sultan Qaboos was briefly married to a first cousin. They had no children and divorced in 1979. New Delhi: Ahead of the Republic Day, the Delhi Police' Special Cell arrested three men on Thursday, who were inspired by the ISIS and had plans to strike the national capital or Uttar Pradesh, officials said. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police arrested the trio from Wazirabad in the national capital after a brief encounter. Several arms and ammunition were also recovered from them. According to latest reports, the Uttar Pradesh ATS is likely to interrogate the three nabbed terrorists, who have been taken under remand by Special Cell of Delhi Police. During the investigation on Friday, the suspected terrorists said that they were also ordered to target Hindu as well as RSS leaders across the country including the Delhi-NCR region. Further, they were also asked to target Hindu leaders based on posters displayed across several places in the national capital. The terrorists spoke in code words and the Special Cell is trying to decode them. The team is still questioning the suspects. On Thursday (December 9), in a press conference, the Delhi Police said that the three terrorists were radicalised and they were a part of an ISIS-inspired module. They were arrested by a team of the Special Cell after 14 rounds of firing. As per a tip-off, six murder accused in the murder of K P Suresh, leader of Hindu Munnani for Thiruvallur East district, absconded from Tamil Nadu. They went to Nepal and from there they entered India. They had a foreign-based handler who was helping them. They were planning attacks in NCR and Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, sources with the intelligence agencies had warned that at least five ISIS-trained terrorists had entered India through Nepal and were believed to be in Uttar Pradesh. Following which districts close to the Nepal border like Basti, Gorakhpur, Siddharthnagar, Kushinagar and Maharajganj were put on high alert. Basti IG range Ashutosh Kumar had confirmed the report saying that they had received information about two terrorists entering the country and that they were currently in Uttar Pradesh. https://www.aish.com/jw/id/Operation-Good-Neighbor-Syrian-Thanks-Israel-for-Saving-her-Life.html A viral story is drawing attention to Israels heroic efforts that saved thousands of Syrian refugees. Noam Shalev, an Israeli film producer, was recently vacationing in Sweden. While eating in a restaurant in Stockholm, he was served dinner by a young Arab waitress. When it was time to pay his bill, Shalev handed over his Israeli credit card and his waitress went into shock, dropping the card on the floor, trembling and starting to cry. Where are you from? she asked tearfully, looking at the Hebrew writing on the credit card. Afraid that his waitress was anti-Semitic, Mr. Shalev started to put on his coat, ready to exit the restaurant quickly. When he answered that he was from Israel, the waitress composed herself. She was from Syria, she explained, and had never met an Israeli. Yet she owed Israel a huge debt of gratitude and wanted to thank her Israeli customer. Several years ago, back in Syria, the waitress mother was gravely ill and lay on her deathbed. An Israeli humanitarian program, Operation Good Neighbor, brought her mother to Israel for medical treatment; after three weeks in a hospital in the northern Israeli city of Safed, her mother recovered. The mother returned home to Syria, and the entire family eventually fled from Syrias brutal civil war and found asylum in Sweden. The waitress then picked up her cellphone, called her mother, and handed the phone to Mr. Shalev. I find myself speaking in mixed English and German with an excited and crying woman, who asked me for only one thing: give thanks to all your brothers in Israel who gave her daughters the privilege of having a mother. Noam Shalev posted the story on Facebook on January 4, 2020. After it was re-posted in English by Slingshot Israel, a group of former Israeli soldiers who educate the public about Israeli life; within days it had been shared and read tens of thousands of times around the world. Lt. Col. Eyal Dror One of the people who read the post was Lt. Col. (Res.) Eyal Dror, the commanding officer of Israels Operation Good Neighbor, which coordinated the aid that brought the waitress mother and thousands of other Syrian civilians like her to Israel for life-saving medical treatment. In an Aish.com exclusive interview, Lt. Col. Dror explained that when he read the story, he realized it meant that Syrians aided by the Jewish state are not forgetting the State of Israel when we saved their lives. What weve done continues to be important and remembered," shaping perceptions of Israel in parts of the Arab world and beyond. Israel Aid to Syria Israel began aiding Syrian refugees near its border after civil war broke out in that country nearly a decade ago. In 2016, humanitarian efforts gained a huge boost with the establishment of Operation Good Neighbor, a special unit within the Israel Defense Force (IDF) to oversee aid, including sending medical and other supplies over the border to help Syrian civilians, building and staffing a maternal hospital and a day clinic on the border, and facilitating medical treatment inside of Israels world-class hospitals for sick and wounded Syrians. The program brought nearly 5,000 Syrians to Israel for medical treatment, including over 1,300 children. Lt. Col. Dror says that he cannot forget the stories behind each of the Syrians he was able to help. To see little children crossing the border into Israel late at night in the very hard winter, to see them crossing barefoot it can break your heart. I have three little children, and I saw these Syrian civilians like my own children. He remembers watching some little Syrian children whod been brought to Israel for treatment falling down and bumping themselves, yet not crying. Dror couldnt understand their lack of tears. A Syrian mother explained to him: the children didnt cry because theyd learned back in Syria that nobody would help them even if they cried. I couldnt imagine a child not crying, Dror recalls. It reminded me of stories Id heard about the Holocaust a little child knowing that no one would help him even if he cried. Injured and ill Syrians were primarily treated in Israeli hospitals in the northern Israeli cities Nehariya, Tiberias and Safed, though Lt. Col. Dror explains that hospitals all across the country participated too, welcoming Syrian citizens for life-saving care. Because the Syrian regime has long demonized Jews and Israelis, many of these civilians who spent time in Israeli hospitals were forced to lie about where theyd been once they returned to Syria. Medicines and other medical equipment had to be altered so that no Hebrew writing was visible so Syrians would not face deadly reprisals back home. Operation Good Neighbors also helped coordinate humanitarian groups aid efforts, helping disparate Jewish, Christian and Muslim charities cooperate and work together. I dont know how many times in history a Christian and a Muslim and a Jewish organization cooperated together to help Muslims all under the command of an Israeli officer, Dror recalls. As the IDF ramped up its aid to Syrians, individual Israelis increased their giving as well, donating money as well as hundreds of pounds of clothing, toys, medical supplies, blankets, bedding and other items to civilians on the other side of the border. Volunteers went home to home in every village in the Golan Heights, collecting donations of clothes and other vital items to help Syrians survive the fighting. The number of people who took part was very large." Outside of the Golan Heights, other Israeli charities coordinated donations and help across the country. IDF soldiers helped build a clinic in Syria near the border with Israel. Called Mazor Ladach, which means relief for the suffering, over 7,000 Syrians have been treated there. Israel also worked in partnership with Syrian doctors to build and staff a maternal hospital, sending thousands of items of equipment and supplying the hospital with fuel. To date, over a thousand Syrian children have been born in that hospital, kept running in partnership with the Jewish state. Lt. Col. Dror estimates that he oversaw the transfer of equipment worth nearly 500 million shekels to Syrian civilians over $144 million. Operation Good Neighbor even supplied nearly $1 million to help run a Syrian bakery and spent about $5 million on the maternity hospital. We supplied with them with all kinds of help We supported them during those years which were hard for them when fighting raged through Syria. The Israeli Government estimates that Israel has sent 1,700 tons of food, 1.1 million liters of fuel, 26,000 cases of medical supplies, 20 generators, 40 vehicles, 630 tents, 8,200 boxes of diapers, 49,000 cases of baby food, and 700,000 lbs of clothing. Operation Good Neighbor was forced to stop operations in September 13 2018, after Syrian dictator Bashar Assad regained control of Syrian territory near Israels border, where the humanitarian operations had been running. Helping civilians became too dangerous. One of Operation Good Neighbors last acts was the daring rescue of Syrias White Helmets civil defense group on the night of June 21, 2018. The White Helmets consisted of US-trained and Canadian-trained volunteer medical and other emergency personnel and helped evacuate civilians from conflict zones and provide medical treatment. Bashar Assad labeled the White Helmets as traitors and terrorists, and in June 2018 they found themselves under attack, at risk of massacre, until Israel stepped in to save the volunteers and their families. After the White Helmets exposed that the Assad's regime was using poison gas on its people they were targeted for elimination. One night we opened the gate between Israel and Syria, a potential flash point for attacks, for ten hours that was a huge amount of time given the ferociousness of the fighting," Lt. Col. Dror says. White Helmet volunteers and their families poured through the border, finding refuge in Israel. 422 people crossed into Israel that night, including babies and children." The White Helmet volunteers and their families were eventually resettled in Europe, Dror explains, where they continue to tell the story of their dramatic rescue by Israel. For Lt. Col. Dror and many of the people who helped him aid Syrians, Operation Good Neighbor isn't really over. The most important thing in my life was these three years that changed the lives of thousands of Syrians, Lt. Col. Dror explains. He insists that even though today Israel is no longer able to run the programs aiding civilians as openly as it once did, the fact that in Syrians hour of need Israelis came to their help has changed peoples minds about the Jewish state. "Syrians were educated to hate us as propaganda under the Assad regime. Today, they know that the only country that stood with them: Israel." Speaking with Aish.com, Noam Shalev, who wrote the viral Facebook post, echoed this sentiment. I hope that people can learn from this experience that behind the politics and propaganda, its all about people. The only way to make the world a better place is to be better. I think that every Israeli and every Jew should be proud of the way Israel treated the Syrian refugees." The nine-year-old Syrian girl's drawing Lt. Col. Dror keeps a picture in his office that a nine-year-old Syrian girl drew for him. She showed up one day at the border fence with Israel, suffering from diabetes. Israeli soldiers quickly transported her to an Israeli hospital where she received life-saving treatment. The doctor said if shed waited even another 24 hours, she would have died, Dror recalls. When she was well enough to go home, the little girl first made a present: a picture of the Israeli flag, as well as her name in Arabic, then a heart, then Lt. Col. Drors name in Arabic. Can you imagine a Syrian girl that drew a heart to an IDF officer who saved her life? Dror asks; This was when imagination became true reality. "There are many more stories like the Syrian waitress in Stockholm," Lt. Col. Dror notes, "of ordinary Syrians who grew up thinking that Jews and Israelis were monsters, and now are proclaiming to the world the many ways that Israel helped them in their hour of need." A court has issued an arrest warrant for the prime minister's wife after she failed to turn up for questioning over the 2017 murder of his previous wife, police said Saturday. The announcement came just days after senior officials in the ruling party called for Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to resign, accusing him of obstructing the investigation into the killing. Lipolelo Thabane was gunned down by unknown assailants on the outskirts of the capital Maseru in June 2017, two days before her husband's inauguration. In a letter that only became public in court documents this week, Lesotho's police chief Holomo Molibeli asked the prime minister to answer questions regarding his estranged wife's killing. Thabane subsequently tried to suspend him but went back on his decision this week after Molibeli challenged it in court. Thabane's current wife Maesaiah Thabane was summoned for questioning on Friday to "shed some light into the ongoing investigations", deputy police commissioner Paseka Mokete told AFP. But she failed to show up, prompting a court to issue a warrant for her arrest. "We got at the State House at around 12 midday (on Friday) but were denied access by the guards at the gate," Mokete told AFP on Saturday. "When we were allowed entry... she was nowhere to be found," he added. Attorney general Haae Phoofolo later told police that Maesaiah Thabane would be handed over on Monday. Phoofolo did not respond to AFP requests for comment and the prime minister's spokesman Relebohile Moyeye did not answer to calls. Meanwhile, Maesaiah Thabane's whereabouts remain unknown. Lesotho's high court on Saturday rejected her application to suspend the arrest warrant, and the case is scheduled to be heard next week. Mokete added that other "prominent people" would be summoned for questioning over the murder. This is just the latest development in a story that has gripped the tiny poverty-stricken country, which is ringed by South Africa. At the time his first wife was killed Thomas Thabane, now 80 years old, had been embroiled in bitter divorce proceedings with her. Molibeli's allegations only became public this week in legal documents the police commissioner filed challenging the move to suspend him. His letter to the prime minister was dated December 23. Lesotho's ruling party has urged Thabane to resign over the allegations, calling him a "threat to the nation". Senior officials in his own party have called on Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to step down over the affair Ahmedabad, Jan 11 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday unveiled over 5.5 lakh postcards written by Ahmedabad residents to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thanking him for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The postcards were stacked on the dais as Shah addressed a gathering of BJP workers who formed letters `C A A' in front of him. The state BJP claimed that the party's "largest awareness campaign" in support of the CAA had found a place in Limca Book of Records and World Record of India. "It is not just words but a letter of thanks written from the heart. Our public outreach programme is a reply to the lies being spread against the CAA," Shah said addressing BJP workers from his former Assembly constituency Naranpura. The BJP had promised to enact the CAA in its manifesto, he said, asking why the Congress did not oppose it then. Targeting Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Shah said, "Congress has a government in Rajasthan. The Congress party in that state had promised that Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan would be given citizenship. "Why do you oppose it when we fulfill the promise made by you?" the Union home minister asked. "In 2006 and 2009, Ashok Gehlot wrote a letter for the same. We covered Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, all of them under the Act, you had only mentioned Hindus and Sikhs," Shah claimed. Saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by bringing in the CAA, granted "human rights to lakhs of people", he asked why the opposition was against it. He challenged "Rahul Baba" (Congress leader Rahul Gandhi), Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal to show if any provision of the CAA took away the citizenship of Indian Muslims. "There is no such provision. Lakhs and crores of people have come to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh to save their religion, their self-respect, to save themselves. Where else will they go?" he asked. "From the first prime minister of the country Jawaharlal Nehru to the first home minister, the first president of the country, and Mahatma Gandhi himself had said that whoever comes to India from Pakistan will be granted citizenship. Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains coming from Pakistan have nowhere else to go," he said. Ukraine reports thirteen ceasefire violations over the past day. Russian occupation forces in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, continued shelling Ukrainian defense positions on Friday, leaving three Ukrainian soldiers injured. The enemy violated ceasefire 13 times over the past day, Joint Operation Forces press service reported in a morning update on Facebook. Occupation forces engaged Ukrainians with proscribed 122mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars, as well as large-caliber machine guns and other small arms. Read alsoPlane with nine wounded soldiers arrives in Kyiv (Photo, video) In the area of responsibility of the Skhid [East] tactical grouping, Russian occupation forces shelled Ukrainian defense lines six times near Maryinka, Nevelske, Vodiane, and Novotroyitske. In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich [North] grouping, seven enemy attacks were recorded near Orekhove, Luhanske, and Pivdenne. From day-start on Saturday, Russian occupation forces violated the ceasefire twice. When Deborah Mailman was invited by producer Ned Lander to be part of a new animated series, Little J and Big Cuz, it was a no-brainer. A cartoon featuring Indigenous kids learning about culture, country and community that was as cheeky and entertaining as it was educational? Whats not to love? I think its great not just for our Indigenous kids but for kids in general to have this view of Indigenous Australia, Mailman says. These stories are really important for all of us. And even though the world, the environment is different from urban living, what kids go through is the same regardless of where they are. It's about having questions, exploring the world, being curious, problem solving. It doesnt matter where you live theres a universal truth in how kids minds develop. Mailman signed on to voice nine-year-old Big Cuz (Miranda Tapsell voices Little J, and the rest of the cast includes a whos who of Indigenous Australian talent), and has just been back to make season two. The show is part of a larger trend of Indigenous Australians not just being more visible on the small screen, but in more diverse ways, and in stories theyre generating themselves. 'Was he afraid that his answers during cross-examination would land him in trouble under the new ruling dispensation?' Jyoti Punwani reports from the Bhima-Koregaon commission of inquiry. IMAGE: Milind Ekbote, left, in a blue kurta, at the Bhima-Koregaon commission of inquiry. Photographs: Jyoti Punwani The change in government in the state had had an unforeseen fallout. On Friday, January 10, the most eagerly awaited deposition before the Bhima-Koregaon commission of inquiry was to take place. But it didn't. Milind Ekbote, one of the two leaders who were initially booked for the January 1, 2018 violence at Bhima-Koregaon, was to depose, but he submitted an application to the two-member commission expressing his unwillingness to do so. Ekbote, 63, is the founder of the Samast Hindu Aghadi and a former Bharatiya Janata Party corporator from Pune. A first information report was filed against Ekbote and Shiv Jagran Pratishthan leader Sambhaji Bhide on January 2, 2018, based on a complaint by activist Anita Savale, who accused them of having instigated the violence at Bhima-Koregaon on January 1, 2018. Neither Ekbote nor Bhide were arrested by the then BJP government after the FIR was filed. It was only when the Supreme Court rejected any extension of Ekbote's interim bail that the police arrested him on March 14, 2018. He was granted bail on April 20, 2018. Bhide was never arrested; then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis gave him a clean chit in the Maharashtra assembly. Ekbote's application on Friday reveals that the chargesheet in the case has not yet been filed. IMAGE: Ekbote at the Bhima-Koregaon commission of inquiry. Interestingly, the application starts off with Ekbote claiming innocence of the charge of having instigated the violence at Bhima-Koregaon. This act, says the application, was said to have been motivated by 'my alleged hatred against the Dalit community.... It is politically motivated and the police despite my arrest and prolonged interrogation, could not find any iota of evidence against me.' This last claim was denied by Shishir Hiray, counsel for the police before the commission. Asked by Justice J N Patel for his comments on Ekbote's allegation, Hiray said: "We have ample evidence against him." Ekbote's application is a strange mix of victimhood and rants against 'anti-nationals and Naxals'. But the main reason that comes through for not wanting to depose is the change in government in Maharashtra. Blaming the organisers of the Elgar Parishad and Leftist organisations for the violence at Bhima-Koregaon and in the state from January 1-3, 2018, Ekbote's application states: 'These Leftists, pro-Naxals and anti-national forces have cornered me because of my accidental birth in Brahmin community and my personal nationalist political philosophy and opposing any form of Marxism such as hardcore Naxal philosophy, political Communist philosophy or NGOs with socialist hue, providing covert and overt support, to the anti-national Naxal movements, spread over in tribal areas with supporting pocket islands in Urban India.' Ekbote cites Dr Ambedkar to support his opposition to 'Naxals'. 'Even Dr Ambedkar had also opposed the Marxist philosophy and political systems.' Then comes the crux: 'The recent political developments in Maharashtra have indicated, that whatever the honest and impartial investigations carried out between 2017 (sic) and 2019 by police authorities are likely to be obliterated and/or revisited, in order to ensure the safe passage for the different hues of Marxists spread all over the political and social spectrum.' 'In the present scenario, I do not feel desirable to depose before this Honourable Commission, at this stage, to protect my interest in the court of law and in the society at large.' 'I am also of the personal opinion, that my case is likely to be hampered, particularly in view of investigation pending and political spectrum has totally changed, which may go overboard to implicate me falsely.' Ekbote was summoned by the commission because he had filed an affidavit before it on June 9, 2018. His affidavit blamed the violence at Bhima-Koregaon on a Leftist conspiracy, pointing to the fiery speeches made by speakers at the Elgar Parishad held in Pune on December 31, 2017 -- the line of investigation that was later pursued by the Pune police, which resulted in the arrests of nine activists from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Delhi. Ekbote had asked the Pune police not to allow the Elgar Parishad to be held at Shaniwarwada. In his affidavit, he said this was because the preparations and publicity for the Elgar Parishad had created tension in Pune. His affidavit also questioned the celebration of the anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon by the Dalits. His study of Ambedkar's character had convinced him, says his affidavit, that Ambedkar would not have felt proud that his community helped the British fight against their own people. In fact, it was Ambedkar who portrayed the battle of Bhima-Koregaon as a symbol of Mahar pride and valour. He visited the war memorial in 1927, and Dalits have since been visiting the site. Ekbote's affidavit however, claims that it was alleged smuggler Haji Mastan who began this tradition of Dalits visiting Bhima-Koregaon in the 1980s, in order to sow the seeds of division between the Dalits and other Hindus. Dalit leader Jogendra Kawade, who had aligned with Haji Mastan in the 1980s to form the Dalit Muslim Minorities Suraksha Mahasangh, in his deposition before the commission, explained that it was his organisation, the People's Republican Party, that was the first to make the Bhima-Koregaon celebration an organised affair. Haji Mastan had also visited Bhima-Koregaon along with him once. In his affidavit, Ekbote claims he has been working for 30 years for under-privileged scheduled castes and other backward classes, and many members of these two castes have helped him in his work. He professes deep respect for Dr Ambedkar. He has been celebrating the anniversary of Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism as 'Rashtriya Ekatmata Din', he says in the affidavit. He also enumerates his other achievements: Rescuing more than 25,000 cattle from being butchered and being appointed 'honorary animal welfare officer'; by the government; and seeing to it that 'encroachments' around Afzal Khan's grave in Pratapgarh and the Haji Makkesha Masjid, Pune, are removed. This has earned him many enemies, says his affidavit. IMAGE: Ekbote at the Bhima-Koregaon commission of inquiry. Incidentally, of the 12 cases of rioting, trespass, criminal intimidation and attempt to spread enmity between two communities against him, Ekbote has been convicted in five. Now that Ekbote has shied away from deposing on his affidavit, it will no longer be used by thecCommission. Ekbote used to attend the commission's hearings until two witnesses complained that unlike him, they were not allowed to sit inside the room during witness depositions. Having observed the working of the commission, he must have known that he would be cross-examined at length during his deposition. Even under a BJP government and a sympathetic CM, the counsel for the Dalit victims would not have spared Ekbote. He would have been questioned on his ideology. Was he afraid that his answers during cross-examination would land him in trouble under the new ruling dispensation? In 2013, the Supreme Court gutted the VRAs preclearance provision in Shelby County v. Holder. Ignoring repeated congressional reauthorizations, the court effectively ended oversight over potentially racially discriminatory electoral practices by striking down the rules that determined which states were subject to preclearance. In the majority opinion, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote that although there is no doubt that voting discrimination still exists, the times have changed and the previous formula had lost its relevance. Because the court did not eliminate the preclearance requirement itself, it left Congress the opportunity to draft new rules to determine which jurisdictions should be subject to preclearance. Washington, Jan 11 : US State Department said that any US officials going to Iraq would not discuss US forces withdrawal, rejecting the Iraqi government's earlier request that the two sides start to work on such a process. "At this time, any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership -- not to discuss troop withdrawal, but our right, appropriate force posture in the Middle East," State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. US military presence in the country is to continue the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and to protect Americans, Iraqis and coalition partners, the statement said. The statement followed a phone conversation earlier in the day between Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during which the former requested Washington "to send delegates to Iraq to lay down mechanisms for implementing the Iraqi parliament resolution to withdraw (foreign) forces safely from Iraq," according to Iraqi government. The phone call came amid immense tensions between Iran and the United States on Iraqi soil. The Iraqi parliament on Sunday passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq, two days after the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, near Baghdad airport. On Wednesday, Iran retaliated by launching 16 ballistic missiles on two military bases housing US troops in Iraq, which US President Donald Trump said caused no American or Iraqi casualties. Trump threatened to impose harsh sanctions on Iraq if Baghdad and Washington fail to solve the pullout issue on "a very friendly basis." "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. Roughly 5,000 US 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. The purported cult leader is calling on his followers near and far to move to St. Agatha, whose residents aren't happy about the idea.STEVE COLLINSSUN JOURNALJanuary 10, 2020Residents of a small town in northern Maine are worried that a cult plans to swell the towns population and seize control of the government.Man, its like a movie or a Stephen King novel. Really, thats what it is, Gary Blankenship, the purported cult leader, said Friday.He insisted there is no cult and no desire to take over. But he also said he hopes hundreds of his followers will move to the area and create a town of their own, comments that are unlikely to assuage the concern felt by locals.Im doing this out of love, Blankenship said, and love conquers all.With a population of 747, St. Agatha borders Long Lake in the St. John Valley in rural Aroostook County pretty enough to attract tourists who take advantage of both its trails and boating opportunities.Residents are welcoming, hospitable people who would give you the shirt off their back, as Town Manager Aubrie Michaud put it Friday.But Blankenship, an internet guru of sorts who moved there three months ago, isnt feeling the normally friendly vibe.Its like their hearts are as cold as five feet of snow, he said.Blankenship said hes had death threats, beer bottles tossed at his house regularly and a steady stream of abuse from scared locals who have come to fear his plans for a hometown they love.Some of the animosity is connected to a dispute about his right to stay in a house he repaired, but much of it is tied to harsh words Blankenship has had about the town and worries that hes bringing allies to St. Agatha to gain control of the place.Blankenship has more than 800 Facebook followers who appear to pay rapt attention to a steady stream of videos and memes that he churns out with the hashtag #CULTure.Ive got a worldwide network of people, he said, whom hes trying to bring together to survive some unidentified calamity ahead.Hes living in a 16-room, Civil War-era house next to the post office in St. Agatha that he called the jewel of the town. In his videos, he refers to it as a refuge and as his headquarters where, more or less, everything will transpire.Blankenship said in one video that theres plenty of space for anyone who comes.Well never run out of room because well buy other properties, he said.There is some dispute about whether hes allowed to be in the formerly vacant dwelling an eviction proceeding is underway but its clear from his videos he has fixed it up quite a bit since arriving in town.Blankenship appears in his videos to be a middle-age man with long dark hair, a burly beard, a mustache and some tattoos, with kindly eyes and a penchant for repeating himself.He doesnt present himself as a preacher or a prophet. He comes across more like a friend whos perhaps a little off.A North Carolina native, Blankenship has moved around a lot over the years and wound up in northern Maine last summer, where he got to work as a licensed contractor and came to appreciate the vast expanse of thinly populated country.He said he signed a deal to buy a long-abandoned house in the center of St. Agatha and quickly moved to replace its leaky roof and begin tackling a long list of repairs.At first, he said, neighbors loved him, bringing him cakes and pies as they expressed gratitude for his willingness to fix a key piece of property, to invest in the town.But that didnt last.By mid-November, he was posting online memes that raised alarms among locals.One read, What if I said were building a town of like-minded people and youre invited. #CULTure.On Nov. 12, Blankenship posted on one of his Facebook pages that he was picking up a fellow in Bangor who had just flown in from California.To all the other families who are preparing their journey here, he said, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Im looking forward to seeing you all soon.In the same post, he mentioned a brother in Chicago who planned to buy a house in St. Agatha and a woman from North Carolina who was on her way with her family.When people come together, anything is possible, Blankenship wrote.A month later, he posted about a woman who arrived with her seven beautiful children from Alabama this week and mentioned we have three women all working in the school system already spreading our light and love to our future.Questions began to circulate in town about his intentions.Michaud said she cautioned folks not be so skeptical toward people who come from away.It turned ugly in the second week of December, when somebody accused Blankenships teenage daughter of threatening to shoot up a school.It wasnt true, he said, but it led to his wife, mother and a friend losing their school jobs and much of the town turning against him.These people are after me, he said, spreading all these lies and slander.That things were going sour is clear from Blankenships post on Dec. 11 that said his life had been threatened and so was the lives of our family by locals here. Its a dark world we live in. The Love of many has waxed cold.In the same Facebook post, he asked, When your followers outnumber the population of the town thats persecuting you for sharing love to others, what do you do?!Michaud said she went to talk to him.It wasnt until I heard from his own mouth that he believed our town to be a dying wasteland where the residents are ignorant that I began to understand the communitys concerns, she said.It is a dying wasteland, Blankenship insisted Friday. Do the math.Statistically, he said, most of the people who live in St. Agatha are going to be dead within two decades. Its average age is more than 51, records show.I wouldnt want this town if you gave it to me, Blankenship said.He said his call to followers to join him in the town isnt part of a plot to take over the town. Its just a way to gather like-minded people, he said, and perhaps create a brand-new, self-sufficient town once they get 150 or more to the area.Its not a cult, he said. Its our culture.But, he said, he recognized hes outside the norm and that most people would probably think he heads a cult.Im just showing people love, Blankenship said, adding he doesnt deserve the scorn and hate directed at him.He said many are calling him Satan or an heir to cult leaders of the past who led their flocks to destruction.Ive been called Jim Jones. Ive been called David Koresh. Ive been called Charles Manson, Blankenship said. But he considers himself more like Jesus, even in appearance.Jones led 918 of his followers to death in the Guyana jungle in 1978. Koresh died with 80 of his followers after a 1993 government siege in Waco, Texas. Mansons cult committed nine infamous murders in California in 1969.Whatever Blankenship is, the stress of his battle with the community is getting to him.Blankenship said he decided this week to step away from Facebook for a while and decompress. He said he had a mini-stroke Thursday brought on by all the pressure.He said, though, he has no plans to quit St. Agatha or give up his efforts to bring followers to join him.Will I probably go down like one of those cult leaders? he asked. My family fears for their lives.Michaud said that Blankenship asks the community to respect his beliefs and support him through his visions of bringing 150 people and more into this town to take it over and create his own town when he hasnt respected the community or taken a step back to realize that we love this town exactly the way it is.When you love a town as much as the people here love this town, youre going to experience adversity when your intentions are to take it over yourself to create something different, she said.Our beliefs, heritage and morals run deep within every person in this town, Michaud said. Were proud of it.We pass that passion down to new generations, and every year more young families are coming here so that their children may experience the heartbeat of this town as their parents did, she said.All the community wants, Michaud said, is for everyone to live under a simple motto: Do unto others as you want to be done unto you. WASHINGTON - The Trump administration and a coalition of conservative states that have been challenging the Affordable Care Act said Friday there is no reason for the Supreme Court to rush a ruling on the issue this term. They said the court should not grant a motion by the House of Representatives and Democratic-led states to expedite review of a decision by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit last month. The panel struck down the law's mandate that individuals buy health insurance, but sent back to a lower court the question of whether the rest of the statute can stand without it. The House told the Supreme Court last week that the 5th Circuit decision "poses a severe, immediate, and ongoing threat to the orderly operation of health-care markets throughout the country, casts doubt over whether millions of individuals will continue to be able to afford vitally important care, and leaves a critical sector of the nation's economy in unacceptable limbo." But President Donald Trump's Solicitor General Noel Francisco replied that the decision simply preserved the status quo until a lower court looked more closely at which parts of the law should survive. It would be premature to intervene now, he said. "The Fifth Circuit's decision itself does not warrant immediate review because it did not definitively resolve any question of practical consequence," Francisco wrote. In 2018, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor agreed with Texas and other red states that because Congress had reduced to zero the tax penalty for not complying with the ACA's individual mandate to have health insurance, the mandate was unconstitutional. He then ruled that the entire act must fall, although he stayed his decision, and the ACA remains in effect. In December, a divided panel of the 5th Circuit agreed the mandate was unconstitutional, but sent the case back to O'Connor for a more rigorous examination of whether parts of the law should remain in place. Such an examination would likely take months, and push a final Supreme Court decision on the issue far into the future. The Supreme Court this month will select the final cases it will consider in its current term that ends in June. Unless a majority of the court votes to expedite the request from the House and Democratic states, that would mean a final decision on the ACA would not come before next November's election. The Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has carpeted the Federal government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari for promoting grave divisions along Ethno-Religious configurations through cocktails of persistent witchhunting of Chritians in top government positions and for failing abysmally to comply with the Federal Character Principles enshrined in section 14(3) of the Nigerian Constitution in top level federal government appointments. HURIWA has also challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to tell Nigerians how many of the over 500 arrested armed Fulani herdsmen and bandits have been successfully prosecuted by his Government since the last five years for the genocide and killings targeted at Christians in the North Central States and as far as Enugu, KOGI; Delta and Rivers States. The Rights group said the Nigerian police force under the current dispensation has failed to give proper account of the status of those armed mass murderers they arrested and paraded over the past few years of the current administration. The Rights group believe that this systematic impunity encouraged at the highest levels of central government is what motivates armed fundamentalists to kill Christians at will believing that they are above the law since those who hold top security jobs are of their very same Ethno-religious communities. HURIWA has also asked the Federal government and particularly the Minister of Information and Tourism Alhaji Lai Mohammed to show respect to religious icons such as Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah by reflecting deeply and speaking with wisdom whenever such patriotic stakeholders and consummate nationalists and statesmen such as Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah offers his profound message of wisdom to temporally holders of political offices because in the words of the rights group, the likes of Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah means well for Nigerians and the corporate goodness of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whenever he speaks or writes unlike the motley crowds of bigots and politically insensitive and irresponsible clowns masquerading about as officials and supporters of the government in power at the Federal level. "The personality of Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah is rare in any civilizations because here is a Philosopher, Theologian and authoritative source of knowledge who has over the last four decades worked assiduously and vigorously only in the defence of human rights, Rule of law, Constitutional democracy; inter-religious and Inter-tribal dialogues. This is a Preacher of righteousness who loves Nigeria so much that he is prepared to sacrifice his personal and material satisfaction to take up the task of evangelization in the real sense of it. His words of caution to the current holders of political offices is well placed and represent the accurate positions of millions of genuine lovers of a United, strong and viable Nigerian nation. Only rabble rousers and opportunistic political clowns will view these observations of Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah with the binoculars of tainted and disjointed political cum religiously biased prisms. The statement of truth by Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah that the SELECTIVE appointments of only Hausa/Fulani Moslem Northerners into very strategic national offices under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration as the cause of divisions in the society should be viewed as the voice of the people which is the voice of God because the skewed appointments of only MOSLEMS of Hausa/Fulani stock has the real capacity of igniting deep religious conflicts and indeed there are instances as we speak whereby Islamic fundamentalists and armed hoodlums who are invading Churches and Schools owned by Christians to kidnap and kill clerics and Students because at the back of their minds is this mindset that since the Central government give all the most important security positions and other juicy national positions to their fellow MOSLEMS in a nation of over 250 Ethnic nationalities and diverse Range of Religious adherents, they are therefore motivated to unleash violence of unprecedented dimensions on Christians and persons of different Ethno religious Orientations other than theirs and because those who had killed Christians in the immediate past are moving freely and speaking freely to the media as if they are above the laws of Nigeria. These concerns must be addressed by the current President instead of attacking Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah for speaking truth to power." HURIWA stated that: "The Federal Government has no moral right and the officials are nor standing on the moral highgrounds to be qualified, fit and in proper positions to have advised Bishop Matthew Kukah to use his high ecclesiastical office to work for religious harmony in Nigeria, rather than indulge in actions that are capable of dividing the country along religious lines. This is because he who goes to equity must do so with clean hands. The hands of the officials of the current administration are tainted and soaked heavily in moral and Ethical depravity and they are blinded by the allures and deceptions of political power. The holders of federal government jobs at the topmost echelons are so drunk with power to an extent that they have indulged themselves in being drunk with and heavily soaked in the mistaken belief that political power can last forever. The statement from the Information minister speaking indecourously about Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah shows the lack of the virtues of respect for truth on the side of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who erroneously and in his warped thinking had stated that the statement credited to Bishop Kukah, in which he compared the Federal Government with Boko Haram, is not only disingenuous, but also a great disservice to the men and women in uniform who are daily battling the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists to keep all Nigerians safe. Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah spoke about the illegal and unconstitutional modes of appointments made since the last five years by the current President Muhammadu Buhari and also alluded to the killings of Christians by a range of armed fundamentalists emboldened by the Pro-Islamic mode of appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari. Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah did not speak ill of the men and officers of the armed forces who he knows are making sacrifices amidst severe lack of the requisite combat ready equipment to fight armed Islamic Terrorists of the boko haram genre. Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah has on many occasions asked Nigerians to pray for our soldiers and for the lasting victory to be achieved in no distant time. It is rather deceptive and disingenuous that Alhaji Lai Mohammed has in that statement displaced an attitude of being challenged intellectually that he can't decipher the true import of what Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah stated in the widely publicised statements comparing the current government to an Islamic fundamentalist without bombs. Do we need to tell Alhaji Lai Mohammed that it is unconstitutional to allow only Hausa/Fulani Moslem Northerners to hold all the sensitive national security positions including Customs, Immigration; Police and commanding positions in the ground and air forces? Do we also tell Lai Mohammed that for instance in the Aviation sector all the heads of the Federal agencies are Moslems? Do we have to tell Alhaji Lai Mohammed that in the current Promotions in the Nigerian Police Force and even in the recruitment made in the Department of State Services and Police under the current dispensation, that Hausa/Fulani candidates took over 76% of the entire slots against the clear directives of Federal Character Principles enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended) section 14(3)? Do we need to tell Lai Mohammed how President Muhammadu Buhari used subterfuge and illegality of an ex-parte order granted by an ethically challenged and the kangaroo Code of Conduct Tribunal to unseat the then substantive Chief justice of Nigeria Justice Onnoghen only because he is a Christian Southerner and that the Cabal in the Presidency suspected that he may not play game in the event that the All Progressives Congress loses in the last held Presidential election last year? Do we need to tell Alhaji Lai Mohammed that the acting Registrer General of Corporate affairs commission Mrs. Azuka Azinge was removed from office by the same Pro-Islamic code of conduct Tribunal to make way for a Moslem Registrer General based on some unproven, unsubstantiated and indeed tainted frovolous accusations of failure to declare her assets properly? So Alhaji Lai Mohammed left the terrain of sound reasoning to play some Religious cards against the clear positions advanced by Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah. The Minister is completely wrongheaded to have pretended to be reiterating the federal governments position that the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists do not subscribe to any religion, irrespective of their pretense to such, but are driven by their primitive propensity to kill mindlessly and destroy without restrain, irrespective of their victims creed, gender or tribe. By the way, the recent slaughter of 11 Christians by Boko haram terrorists was motivated by the fact that these mass murderers and bunch of terrorists believe that even the current Federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari only favours MOSLEMS in all the strategic appointments and treat Christians holding government positions like second class citizens. This is an open secret which is known to all except to those reactionary forces benefiting from the disjointed political appointments of the current dispensation. WHERE is the only Christian girl left out by the current administration when it negotiated for the release of the hundreds of school girls taken away by Boko haram terrorists from Dapchi in Yobe state? Why was she left out and till date abandoned to a cruel fate only because she refused to convert to Islam? Lai Mohammed should tell his infantile story to his zombies". Dennis A. Muilenburg, who was ousted as Boeings chief executive last month as the company contended with the biggest crisis in its history, will depart with more than $60 million, the company said Friday. Mr. Muilenburg will not receive any additional severance or separation payments in connection with his departure, and Boeing said he had forfeited stock units worth some $14.6 million. But the value of the other stock and pension awards he is contractually entitled to receive is worth $62.2 million, the company said. Mr. Muilenburg also has stock options that could be worth many millions more. We thank Dennis for his nearly 35 years of service to the Boeing Company, the company said in a statement. Upon his departure, Dennis received the benefits to which he was contractually entitled and he did not receive any severance pay or a 2019 annual bonus. Jeremy Corbyns cowardly performance during this weeks Prime Ministers Questions confirms that the outgoing Labour leader offers no principled opposition to the eruption of imperialist violence. The debate was the first time Prime Minister Boris Johnson had appeared in public since the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Suleimani by the United States, after he refused to cut short his luxury holiday on the Caribbean island of Mustique. This was the first opportunity for Labour MPs, led by Corbyn, to oppose a blatant act of war carried out by US imperialism, with Johnsons slavish support, that threatens to set the Middle East aflame. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party speaking at a Labour Roots event in Bolton [Credit: Sophie Brown] Year after year Corbyns numerous political apologists have sought to justify his constant retreats before the warmongers on the Blairite right of his party with the claim that he was seeking to hold the party together so as to form a government that could replace the Tories. Here at last, after losing the December 12 general election by a landslide and with a contest underway to replace him as leader by April, was an opportunity for the real anti-war Corbyn to step forward. Instead, it was business as usual, with Corbyn making a series of ineffectual pleas for a general de-escalation and for Johnson, Trumps partner in crime, to stand by international law, as I am sure the Government do and would want to. His speech was peppered with references to ensuring the safety of United Kingdom troops, putting the interests of this country first and guaranteeing the security of the [Middle East] region and of this country. This followed his request last week for a secret Privy Council meeting to discuss Britains national security in the US-Iran conflict. The former chair of the Stop the War Coalition (STWC) did not condemn American war crimes or the countless lying justifications churned out by the corporate media. Nor did he reference the millions of Iranians who protested Suleimanis murder and the threat of an American war. From discussions with the Confederation of British Industry and City of London, to holding Brexit talks with former Prime Minister Theresa May, offering the same to Johnson, Corbyns guiding principle is safeguarding the national interest, that is, the strategic interests of British imperialism. The independent, diametrically opposed interests of the British and international working class are absolutely excluded. Corbyn articulates the concerns within ruling circles, including Johnsons Tories and the armed forces, that Trumps recklessness can endanger the UKs world position. On this basis alone, he asked in the mildest possible terms, What evidence has the Prime Minister got to suggest that this attack on General Suleimani, and his death, was not an illegal act by the United States? and Can the prime minister confirm that the British Government will respect any decision made by a sovereign Parliament and Government in Iraq that may make such a request in the future and will respect the sovereignty of Iraq as a nation? Johnson responded to Corbyns entreaties with undisguised contempt. I think that most reasonable people would accept that the United States has a right to protect its bases and its personnel. That man [Suleimani] had the blood of British troops on his hands. Twice in the debate, Johnson intimated that Corbyn was a supporter of terrorism for opposing the US murder of Suleimani. He attacked what he described as the baleful role played in the region for a very long time by Qassem Suleimani, going on to say, I have been interested that, in all his [Corbyns] commentary, he has not yet raised that matter. Closing his exchange with Corbyn, Johnson declared, I am very surprised at the end of these exchanges that the Right Hon. Gentleman has yet to condemn the activities of Qassem Suleimani and the revolutionary guard. Suleimani was a military and political leader of a sovereign nation travelling on a diplomatic passport on the invitation of Iraq. The real terrorist is his assassin, President Trump, the commander in chief of US imperialism. It is the US, backed by the UK, which illegally invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, sponsored sectarian militias in Iraq and jihadist militias in Syria, spawned ISIS, established torture camps and death squads and flattened entire citiesat the cost of well over a million lives and the destruction of entire societiesand which illegally stations troops in Syria and Iraq, with a president who regularly threatens Iran, a country of 80 million people, with annihilation Yet on four separate occasions Corbyn offered no reply to Johnson, much to the delight of the Tories and the media. Political capitulation has consequences. Corbyn denies a voice to the anti-war sentiment of millions of workers and provides the Johnson government with a pretextterrorist sympathiesfor massive state attacks on workers and youth opposed to the warmongering of the British elite. These dangers were underscored by the intervention of former British Commander in Afghanistan, Colonel Richard Kemp, who told the Sun last Friday, Corbyn can always be relied on to back our enemies over our allies and that is why he sides with Iran over the US. He was previously a paid mouthpiece of the same regime in Iran as Suleimani served by delivering acts of terrorism around the world. In 2015, a serving British general anonymously threatened mutiny against a Corbyn-led government. Two years later, Kemp publicly stated, alongside similar comments from Former First Sea Lord Alan West and Former chief of defence staff Lord General Richards, Quite literally if Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister enacted the policies he describes, he would have blood on his hands he must never be elected to lead this country. Corbyn ignores these threats not out of some priestly dignity, but out of fear of a genuine mass movement of the working class and youth against British imperialism. He knows that to seriously expose the UKs predatory ambitions abroad and the threats of the military at home would risk unleashing class forces far beyond the control of his own mealy-mouthed appeals for social harmony. The only anti-war movement Corbyn is interested in leading is one which is a pliant tool of the Labour and trade union bureaucracyincluding his own front-bench MPs, who sat silent and arms folded as he was ridiculed by Johnson. It is in this capacity that Corbyn is attending a STWC demonstration in London today. The STWC claimed the mantle of leadership of the anti-war movement in 2003, when it found itself at the head of a million-strong protest against the Iraq war. Intensely hostile to the class struggle, its leaders systematically demobilised that movement with useless appeals to Parliament and capitalist politicians for restraint. Since then it has championed an anti-American, not an anti-imperialist, perspective, functioning as an adjunct to that faction of the ruling class favouring a more independent foreign policy for British capitalism. Corbyn echoed this geostrategic line in Parliament on Wednesday, saying, Is not the truth that this prime minister is unable to stand up to President Trump because he has hitched his wagon to a trade deal with the United States, and that takes priority over everything else that he ought to be considering? Corbyn will mount todays STWC platform as CND [Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament] vice-president, not Leader of the Labour Party. He is happy to fall back into his long-time role as an in-house critic of elements of UK foreign policy, so long as this does not threaten Labours century-old position as a trusted prop of British imperialism. Under the leadership of Corbyn, the former head of the STWC, and now deputy leader of CND, Labour MPs were allowed a free vote to wave through the bombing of Syria in 2015. War criminal Tony Blair remains a Labour member. The party went into the December 2019 election on a manifesto committed to membership of NATO, at least 2 percent of GDP spending on the military and maintaining the UKs Trident nuclear weapons arsenal. The threat of war in Iran poses with renewed urgency the need to build an international anti-imperialist movement against war that is worthy of the name. This can only be done through the fight for socialism in the working class and youth, the only force on the planet capable of overthrowing the capitalist profit system that gives rise to war. Lome, Togo (PANA) - German cement manufacturer Heidelberg Cement, which has a virtual monopoly of cement production in Togo, will inject US$ 30 million to support the extension of its subsidiary Cimtogo in Togo, PANA learnt from informed sources, in Lome on Saturday Sharon Horgan has revealed she doesn't believe her character dies in the famously open-ended final scene of Catastrophe. The finale of the hugely popular sitcom was widely regarded as the greatest TV ending since The Sopranos. In the last moments, Sharon's character - also called Sharon - is seen running into the sea, oblivious to a sign warning of dangerous riptides, before she is joined by her husband Rob, played by American comedian Rob Delaney. The ambiguous last shots prompted major social media speculation that both characters drown. Ambiguous However, the Irish creator of the show gave her own take on the ending on The Graham Norton Show last night when asked if they met a tragic ending. "No. I mean, maybe. It was supposed to be ambiguous," she said. "You could take it as that. Rob always thought there was a slightly dark-ending possibility, but I always thought they made it back to shore. "They'd had a fright, but they made it back. It's supposed to be both, and gives you hope as well as fear for their future." She also said on the show that she loved working on her new film Military Wives with Kristin Scott Thomas. The feel-good comedy centres around the true story of a group of women who form a choir while their husbands are serving in Afghanistan. There were nearly 5,000 patients left on trolleys at Sligo University Hospital in 2019, a situation described as a disgrace by Sinn Fein councillor, Chris MacManus who has called on the Minister for Health, Simon Harris to resign. Cllr MacManus was Speaking after the release by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation INMO Trolley Watch figures for 2019. The figure, he said pushed SUH unenviably into the national top ten of trolley figures for hospitals since the INMO have been gathering the data from 2006. The trolley figure for SUH in 2019 was 4,967, up from 4,183 in 2018. "These figures whilst expected are a disgrace. The Minister for Health and Fine Gael are clearly not fit for the role. "Fine Gael have been in government for almost nine years now, and they have held the health portfolio since then. They have utterly failed the people of Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal. "The figures show a startling increase from a figure of 784 in 2006 when the figures were first collated to an shocking 4,967 in 2019. "This is truly appalling and shows utter contempt from the Government. These are not just figures they are real people, people we know, often family members and many of them elderly often lingering on trollies for hours or days. "Unless the government change tack immediately and listen to the positive proposals from opposition parties, the crisis will continue into the future. Enda Kenny infamously said, 'I'll end the scandal of patients on trolleys.' "In Sligo, nearly 3,500 more had no bed last year in our University hospital since the year Fine Gael came to power in 2011. "After nine very unsuccessful years in government, Fine Gael have managed to escalate the trolley crisis to levels never seen before. "There are many solutions ranging from ensuring increased investment for transitional care beds, adequate step-down facilities, home care packages, and home help hours to ensure that all patients who can be moved home or to a more appropriate care setting all these will help. "Two key issues need to be addressed as a priority. Firstly, to tackle the issue of capacity in SUH we need to start reopening all hospital beds in the region closed during the austerity years. "Secondly, in order to address the recruitment and retention crisis across all grades in the health service, the underlying difficulties causing this crisis have to be tackled. "These issues are working conditions, facilities, supports, training opportunities, promotion opportunities, and pay. I believe that this can be done if we have the political will to fully implement progressive alternatives. The situation cannot continue with these shocking figures. If almost 5,00 people on trolleys in Sligo during 2019 is not a wake-up call for this government one wonders when they will act decisively and intervene. 'We can see from nearly a decade in Government they have failed to deliver. Clearly the Minister isn't up to the job or hasn't the capacity to deliver the necessary resources needed for our hospital. It is time for him to go," said Cllr MacManus. Photo: Facebook Knitted nests for animals rescued in Australia fires. A Canadian Facebook group is on a mission to help animals in Australia. Canadian Animal Rescue Craft Guild was created on Jan. 4 and already has more than 9,000 members, from all over Canada and Australia. The group was created to give members a platform to discuss their plans and ideas to send products to Australia, to help with animal rescue efforts. "I just made up over the past three days a dozen hanging wallaby bags," says Kelowna resident and group member, Evelyn Harding. Since joining the group on Sunday, Harding has reached out to local businesses for help in getting fabrics and resources to make items such as nests, beds and bags for rescued animals. She has also been in contact with local ski resorts in an effort to find Australians who are planning on travelling home, in order to get the products to Australia at a low cost. "What we're doing is trying to collect these crafted items and package them up and somehow get them to Australia," says Harding. Those wanting to donate crafted items can join the Facebook group to view a list of approved materials and to find drop-off locations in their area. In Kelowna, Greenhawk Kelowna Sporting Goods Store at 431 Banks Rd. will be serving as a collection point for items, all weekend. Donations will be accepted there until Monday, ahead of a group member flying to Australia. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) As San Francisco prepares to ring in the Year of the Rat for Chinese New Year, city officials on Friday reminded both residents and visitors to stay safe during the festivities by protecting themselves against scams. Although the actual Chinese New Year isn't until Jan. 25, several events planned in the coming weeks - such as the Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair, the Miss Chinatown USA Pageant and the Chinese New Year Parade -- are expected to bring thousands of celebrants into Chinatown. During a news conference underneath the Chinatown Gate, Mayor London Breed said she wants all who come to feel safe and secure. "As we embark on Lunar New Year in the next two weeks, we will celebrate the year of the rat, we want to take this opportunity to remind everyone, especially here in Chinatown, that we have got to do a good job of looking out for one another, especially our seniors," she said. "As we enjoy this city and this community, let us also be on the lookout for a number of challenges that we know continue to persist, especially around Lunar New Year," she said. "The all-too-popular blessing scam, that is one that we know that has been a problem for our seniors." Blessing scams have been an ongoing issue for San Francisco's Chinese community. The scammers usually target elderly non-English speaking women of Chinese descent by convincing the victims that a loved one, usually a son, is in danger. The scammers then offer to perform a blessing ceremony, which results in victims being swindled of cash and other valuables. According to both Breed and Police Chief William Scott, non-English speaking members of the Chinese community shouldn't be afraid to report crimes to the police. Officers in and around the area will be able to communicate with them via an app that can translate languages. "We all have apps on our phones, so if you have trouble communicating with an officer, we want to make sure that we can get to you and that we can understand, and we can encourage you to report crimes," Scott said. "We hope the year of the rat will be safe and prosperous for everyone." "SF SAFE ((Safety Awareness for Everyone) and the community and police department have made this community much safer. The old extortion scams that we saw 20 years ago are much, much less today," said District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin. "Our district attorney... is absolutely committed to prosecuting blessing scams, as was his predecessor. We will bring an end to that," he 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. The former head of the agency that oversees the Oakland Coliseum complex was arraigned Friday on charges alleging that he violated conflict-of-interest laws by seeking a fee while negotiating the naming rights of the stadium. Alameda County prosecutors filed one felony conflict of interest charge and one misdemeanor conflict of interest count against Scott McKibben, 66, on Nov. 27 for his alleged illegal activity between Nov. 1, 2018, and June 25, 2019. McKibben, the former executive director of the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Authority, sought a $50,000 payment for helping negotiate a settlement for the Coliseum naming rights with RingCentral, according to a probable cause statement by District Attorney Inspector Thomas Cleary. The coliseum authority's board voted unanimously on May 31 to approve and agreement calling the stadium the Ring Central Coliseum in a deal that called for the company to pay $1 million a year for the three years and gave it the option to renew the deal for a fourth year. But the naming rights deal is now being renegotiated in the wake of the allegations against McKibben, who resigned from his post last Aug. 3. At McKibben's brief hearing on Friday Alameda County Superior Court Judge Delia Trevino ordered McKibben, who's out of custody on his own recognizance, to return to court on Feb. 11 to enter a plea and to get booked, fingerprinted and photographed in the meantime. The new BART police chief began his tenure Friday amid an announcement about new strategies to increase police presence on trains and reduce crime on the transit system. Newly appointed Chief Ed Alvarez and BART General Manager Bob Powers joined Board President Lateefah Simon on an introductory train ride from the Powell Street station to Balboa Park Friday morning. They were accompanied by a new police officer "train team," which is part of BART's push to cut down on crime and improve the rider experience, according to BART officials. Alvarez served as interim chief since Chief Carlos Rojas retired last spring. Starting Monday, a new team of 12 police officers will ride trains in pairs and walk station platforms on nights and weekends, according to BART officials. This is in addition to the unarmed "ambassadors" who will begin riding trains on Feb. 10 and whose mission is to "prevent and de-escalate problems" on trains, according to BART. Police in Palo Alto are searching for three men suspected of robbing a Safeway at gunpoint early Friday and making off with prescription drugs from the store's pharmacy. No injuries were reported after the robbery, reported about 12:40 a.m. at the Safeway at 2811 Middlefield Road, in Palo Alto's Midtown neighborhood, according to police When the trio entered the store, one brandished a handgun and a staffer was ordered to the ground near the pharmacy, which was closed at the time. One of the suspects broke the pharmacy's glass door and stole an unknown amount of prescription drugs, police said. After that, the suspects ran from the store and left in a pickup truck that was last seen headed eastbound on Oregon Expressway. The suspects' vehicle was described as a full-size red two-door pickup truck. It appeared to be an early 2000 model Ford or Chevrolet. A 26-year-old man was fatally stabbed early Friday morning at a Watsonville home and authorities have arrested a suspect in the slaying, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. The victim, whose name was not released, was found sometime after 2 a.m. at a house in the 1400 block of Green Valley Road, the sheriff's office said. He died later at an out-of-county hospital. Authorities arrested Joseph Keeler, 28, at the home in connection with the stabbing death. He is being held on a $750,000 bail. No other information was immediately available about what led to the incident. Police in Palo Alto are investigating a burglary that occurred Wednesday at the Bloomingdale's at the Stanford Shopping Center. On Wednesday at 2:12 a.m., officers with the Palo Alto Police Department responded to a report of a commercial burglary that occurred at the Bloomingdale's at the shopping center at 180 El Camino Real. Security personnel at the center saw a person running to a parked vehicle outside the Bloomingdale's and then speeding away with the vehicle's lights off. Surveillance video of the burglary showed a suspect using rocks to smash open the east entrance glass door of the store, police said. At least two suspects entered the store and used rocks to smash numerous display cases. The suspects then stole watches and jewelry from the store before exiting the store. The suspects then sped away in what appeared to be a 1990s white four-door BMW 3 Series. Police said an estimated $83,000 in merchandise was taken during the burglary. Investigators are looking into whether the burglary is related to other similar burglaries that have occurred in surrounding cities. A pedestrian suffered critical injuries Thursday morning in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood after a vehicle struck her, police said. The collision occurred around 5:10 a.m. in the 200 block of Barneveld Avenue, according to police. A vehicle being driven by a 52-year-old man allegedly made contact with the pedestrian, described as 30-year-old woman. The victim was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. The collision remains under investigation. Police in Petaluma are warning residents about a potential scam in which thieves are posing as PG&E employees and are demanding customers give them immediate payment to avoid having their utility service disconnected. The scammers will typically use phone, in-person or online tactics to target customers, according to the Petaluma Police Department. The scammers will also request a prepaid card or other non-traceable method of payment. PG&E does not specify how customers should make a bill payment, police said. Customers with delinquent accounts will receive an advance disconnection notification from PG&E, typically by mail and included with their regular monthly bill. Two people were hospitalized Thursday in a three vehicle collision on Byron Highway and state Highway 4 in Contra Costa County. Emergency crews responded to the collision, which occurred at 2:08 p.m., and found three vehicles had been involved in a collision near the intersection, according to the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. Firefighters said one person suffered traumatic injuries in the collision and was flown to a trauma center. Another person suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. Two additional people involved in the incident refused medical treatment. All three vehicles in the collision sustained major damage, and the incident forced the closure of the eastbound lanes of state Highway 4 as crews worked the scene. Police are investigating a home invasion robbery that occurred Wednesday evening in Fremont. Officers responded at 10:20 p.m. to a residence in the 4700 block of Selkirk Street in the Sundale neighborhood of Fremont on a report of a home invasion robbery. Police said four men entered the home by breaking a sliding glass door. Two elderly residents were inside the home at the time of the robbery, but they did not hear the suspects enter. The suspects confronted the two residents, but the residents were not injured. The suspects ransacked the home for several minutes and stole property and valuables before fleeing, police 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. "This is an opportunity to keep them in the area and is an idea well worth investigating," Mr Strong said. He said recipients of the increased disaster recovery payments could be asked to participate in the clean-up effort in their local area. Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said "all options should be on the table" in responding to the bushfire crisis, which had had "a devastating economic and social impact" that would be felt for years. "Getting cash into hands to stimulate economic activity has to be a priority," he said. Michael and Leanne Nicholas, who survived the deadly firestorm that raged through the NSW South Coast town of Cobargo last weekend, are happy to help with the clean-up. The devastation wrought by the fire has meant work has dried up for the pair, who say the federal government's $40-a-day disaster recovery allowance is not enough to pay their bills. "We still have to pay rent, the electricity is back on now and we still have to pay full price," Mr Nicholas told The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age. "My wife spent some time on the phone to Centrelink trying to get the $1000 one-off payment but they said we are not eligible because our house didn't burn down." Mr Nicholas, a landscaping and national parks contractor who has lived in Cobargo for five years, considers himself lucky his rental property did not burn down and wants to stay and help rebuild the town he loves, saying his skills and local knowledge will be valuable in the recovery effort. But if he and his wife a bookkeeper whose two clients are either fighting fires or operating on a skeleton staff do not get income support, Mr Nicholas said they would have to move interstate to live with family as "fire refugees". "Then when they do need someone to replace me, eventually, they'll have to retrain them," he said. Loading The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said there are a range of packages, including grants and income assistance, which provide for bushfire-affected people on a needs basis. Federal and state governments have been approaching assistance to bushfire impacted Australians based on what they need, where they need it, and how long they need it, rather than any fixed amount such as the minimum wage, ACCI chief executive officer James Pearson said. This is an ongoing emergency situation, in which individual and community needs should remain paramount in determining assistance. The union proposal is for people who worked casual or part-time jobs to receive a pro-rata payment based on the hours they were likely to have worked. The ACTU also called for "a comprehensive plan" to support volunteer firefighters, taking aim at the narrow rules and restrictions governing the scheme that is supposed to deliver up to $6000 to those who have spent weeks fighting the blazes but in reality delivers less. "The proposed one-off payment for firefighters will not provide the financial security that households and communities need given the size and scale of this bushfire crisis," Mr O'Brien said. The federal government and some state governments have said they will provide eligible volunteer firefighters with up to $300 per day capped at a total of $6000 as compensation for time off work to fight bushfires, but firies can only claim from day 11 and the hours spent on patrol must align with their normal working hours. This means if a volunteer firefighter normally works from 9am to 5pm, but is out fighting blazes from midday to midnight, they can only claim five hours' pay. Volunteers who work for companies that turn over more than $50 million a year cannot access the payments, with some but not all large employers extending uncapped paid leave to firefighters, including Ernst and Young, PwC, Telstra and AGL. Loading Mr Strong called on the government to review the restrictions, saying "common sense" should prevail. Mr Morrison defended his handling of the bushfire crisis on Friday, telling reporters in Canberra that his government was "responding to an unprecedented crisis with an unprecedented level of support". "What we have got here is the single-largest federal response to a bushfire disaster nationally that the country has ever seen," he said. Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during take-off just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani in an American air strike in Baghdad. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases. Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five students of the University of Windsor in Canada, who died in the Ukraine International Airlines crash. Credit:The Canadian Press/AP Tehran: Iran announced on Saturday that its military 'unintentionally' shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard. A military statement carried by state media on Saturday said the plane was mistaken for a "hostile target" after it turned toward a "sensitive military centre" of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its "highest level of readiness", it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. People inspect debris from the Ukrainian Airlines plane on the outskirts of Tehran. Credit:AP "In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit," the statement said. It apologised for the disaster and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent such "mistakes" in the future. It also said those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lowered the nation's death toll from 63. Canada has once again become collateral damage for Donald Trumps bull-in-a-china-shop foreign policy, and the pattern is so deeply disturbing as to warrant more than just a sigh from the prime minister. Justin Trudeau was subdued Thursday when he said an Iranian missile probably caused the plane crash that killed 63 Canadians. Sure, he expressed sympathy for the families of the victims, but there was also weariness in his call for Canada to be included in the investigation into how those innocent passengers were killed. Where was the indignation? It was missing no doubt a mindful decision by Trudeaus strategists, who saw no need to add his anger to the irrational directions world affairs seem to be taking. Fire was similarly lacking in Trudeaus response to the Trump-induced NAFTA saga, and the mess the U.S. has dragged us into by going after a powerful Chinese business executive on Canadian soil. In each instance, Canadas response has been calm and industrious. Weve worked behind the scenes in the belief that quiet diplomacy, respect for international law and a pile of facts will rule the day. The approach is not working. Would indignation work any better? Maybe not but at least wed be telling Trump that we see his recklessness for what it is. And this week, it would certainly have reflected the mood of an angry and grieving nation. Sometimes thats a leaders job. Trump was elected in part on his vow to tear up a trade agreement that had become the bedrock of the North American economy. How did Canada respond? OK, lets talk no matter that the clear target of Trumps protectionist rhetoric was Mexico. Three years later, after much angst, brinksmanship and the undermining of investor confidence, we finally have a deal. But its probably not much better than the old NAFTA, and we paid heavily for it along the way, losing significant business confidence and spending precious amounts of political capital in Washington. Canada took another one on the chin just over a year ago when border officials detained Meng Wanzhou, a top executive with Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei, at the request of the U.S. We had no stake in the dispute that led to her arrest, but Canada has paid a steep price nonetheless. In retaliation, China has held two Canadians in detention for more than a year, banned our canola exports and temporarily banned our meat. Trade with China has faltered, and the relationship with our second largest trading partner is now on the rocks. Canadas response has been to patiently and painstakingly explain the facts. Extradition is part of our respect for the courts. Our canola is safe. Our prisoners need due process. Our meat is fine, and well fix any small mistakes. As with the NAFTA renegotiation, Canadas defence of its interests rests more on binders of charts and figures than on showing any spine. Our cautious diplomacy waiting them out, trying to wear them down with endless explanations has yielded little progress. Even if China is listening, it shows no sign of budging until Meng is set free. The lives lost in this weeks plane crash are the most outrageous price weve yet paid for being a bystander in conflicts provoked by the U.S. Is our response simply going to be more of the same? Trudeau says he wants closure, transparency, accountability and justice. Since any country with nationals on the plane has rights to at least observe the investigation, Canada will have some transparency, which Iran has recognized. But we are still not sure our officials and experts can get the required visas into Iran, let alone actually participate in figuring out what happened. Canada does, however, have the worlds sympathy on its side, with widespread recognition that the passengers were random victims of the long-standing tension between Iran and the United States. And Canada is not alone in shouldering the burden of American belligerence, with many a global power feeling the unexpected pain of tariffs, insults and cold shoulders from an erstwhile friend. In the face of a powerful and erratic American president, however, sympathy is just not enough. Read more about: Im all for Congress regaining its constitutional role regarding war and trade. However, the approval by President Donald Trump of the targeted killing of Qasem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Quds Force, isnt an example of presidential usurpation of Congress power to decide when to engage in combat. Instead, it was a tactical battlefield decision in a military engagement clearly authorized by Congress, and it fell fully within the presidents authority as commander in chief. Instead of demonstrating a long overdue reassertion of its constitutional right, and duty, to declare war, the War Powers Resolution passed by the House and being considered by the Senate in response to the Soleimani killing further illustrates the unseriousness of Congress. Its a political exercise, not a true reinvigoration of the separation of powers. Trump didn't need an OK to take out Solemani The United States has an ongoing military mission in Iraq. We continue to engage in combat missions against the Islamic State terrorist group. We are training Iraqi forces. And our military presence is intended to quell the possibility of civil war in Iraq. This military mission has been approved by Congress in various ways. It flows from authorization of force resolutions passed in the aftermath of 9/11 and before launching combat to depose Saddam Hussein. Congress continues to appropriate money for the ongoing military mission in Iraq and has passed no laws to terminate it. As head of the Quds Force, Soleimani was masterminding and leading hostilities against the U.S. military mission in Iraq. That included bombing military facilities and, recently, storming our embassy. Soleimani was engaged on the battlefield in Iraq, where the military mission of the United States has been authorized by Congress. What to do about his attacks on U.S. military and diplomatic facilities and personnel was a tactical battlefield decision, vouchsafed the president by the Constitution. Story continues Soleimani was a combatant against the United States. Taking him out was a legitimate option, not one requiring congressional consultation or approval. If it's serious, overhaul the War Powers Act Now, Trump has threatened, with unproductive bombast, to take military action directly against Iran, in Iran. But only in retaliation for future attacks on U.S. facilities and personnel, which the War Powers Resolution under consideration would permit anyway. Tim Kaines resolution in the Senate is particularly confused. It claims that the Trump administration has already instituted hostilities under the War Powers Act by the maximum pressure campaign it has conducted against Iran. Trump withdrew from the nuclear weapons accord, which was never approved by Congress, and imposed severe sanctions on Iran, pursuant to authority Congress has given him. The goal is to impel Iran to sign a better, more constraining, nuclear deal. If Congress doesnt support Trumps imposition of sanctions, passing a War Powers Resolution does nothing. Take away his authority to impose the sanctions. If Congress were serious about regaining its constitutional role of deciding when the United States engages in military conflict, it would massively overhaul the War Powers Act. The law basically gives the president unilateral authority to engage in military conflict anywhere for any reason for up to 90 days. After that, hes supposed to stop if Congress doesnt pass an authorization to continue. Or stop a military operation if directed to do by a joint resolution of Congress. Such a resolution, however, is subject to a presidential veto. Under the act, rather than requiring a majority of Congress to initiate the use of military force, it takes a two-thirds vote to stop it. Otherwise, this resolution does nothing President Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton engaged in extensive bombing campaigns in Libya and the former Yugoslavia while maintaining that they didnt require congressional approval under the War Powers Act. These were far more serious usurpations of Congress war-declaration authority than Trumps decision to take out Soleimani. If a War Powers Resolution regarding Iran passes both chambers, it will still allow Trump to do anything that he might do anyway. Trump will veto it nevertheless. And the veto will be sustained, as it was with a resolution seeking to terminate U.S. support for the Saudi military campaign in Yemen. So this amounts to a political statement that Congress doesnt trust Trump and doesnt want an all-out war with Iran. Press releases to that effect would be just as consequential. Robert Robb is an editorial columnist for The Arizona Republic, where this column originally appeared. Follow him on Twitter: @RJRobb You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: War Powers Resolution won't stop Trump in Iran. It's an empty gesture. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has secured a second term after sweeping to victory with more than 8 million votes in an election dominated by the island's relationship with China. Tsai secured just over 57 per cent of the ballot well ahead of her rival Han Kuo-yu, who won only 38.5 per cent of the vote, Washington Post reported after quoting the Central Election Commission of the country. Indeed, the election results are a stinging rebuke to the Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping, who has refused to rule out trying to take control of Taiwan by force. Voters, in the presidential elections, rejected the mainland's proposal of living under a Hong Kong-style "one country, two systems" arrangement, returning both the presidency and the legislature to the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party. "The results of this election carry an added significance. They have shown that when our sovereignty is threatened, the Taiwanese people will shout our determination even more loudly back," Tsai told reporters after witnessing a landslide win. "Not only is Taiwan a proxy for much of the world's strategy to deal with the consequences of an increasingly authoritarian China, but also Taiwan has been on the front lines of the Chinese Communist Party's aggression for decades. And while it is trying to safeguard its democratic institutions, it's also trying to manage its economic relations with China," she added. Throughout the campaign, Tsai had upheld the events in Hong Kong as a harbinger of what would happen to Taiwan if it were to agree to such an arrangement, mobilising the electorate with the warning: "Hong Kong today, Taiwan tomorrow." Meanwhile, voter turnout was as high as almost 74 per cent in Saturday's elections. Since Tsai's election in 2016, Beijing has systematically sought to isolate and constrain Taiwan by peeling off its diplomatic partners -- only 15 small countries now recognise Taiwan -- and having it shut out of international institutions like the Health Organisation and climate talks. Taiwanese citizens on vacation in New York cannot even go on tours of the United Nations headquarters because the international body does not recognise their passports. Beijing has also sought to hurt Taiwan economically, most recently banning Chinese tourists from travelling to the island independently, and has punished companies that have suggested Taiwan might be an independent country. In her remarks Saturday night, Tsai repeatedly emphasized her "commitment to peaceful, stable cross-strait relations" based on parity between the two sides and dialogue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Left, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison issues a press statement in Adelaide, Australia, January 6, 2020. Right, a firefighter hoses down trees in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires in the town of Nowra in New South Wales, Australia, December 31, 2019. Rohan Thomson/Saeed Khan/Getty In the last five months, bushfires have razed an estimated 25 million acres in Australia. That's an area larger than South Korea. Prime minister Scott Morrison has said that he doesn't think more aggressive cuts to Australia's carbon emissions would have changed the outcome of this fire season. On Friday, thousands of Australians took to the streets to call for more robust action on climate change. Science shows that the drought conditions and high temperatures caused by climate change lead to larger, more frequent fires. The carbon dioxide that fires send into the atmosphere further contributes to climate change, raising the risk of more intense blazes. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Australia has become an inferno: Since the start of the bushfire season in September, an estimated 25.5 million acres have burned, according to Reuters. At least 27 people have perished, and more than 1 billion animals are feared dead. An estimated 2,000 homes have been destroyed, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to evacuate. On Friday, more than 10,000 Australians took to the streets to protest what they see as prime minister Scott Morrison's inadequate response to the fires. Many demanded more robust action to address climate change, and some even called for Morrison's resignation, chanting "ScoMo has got to go," according to The Washington Post. Australia's bushfires erupted amid exceptionally hot and dry conditions there. The country experienced its driest spring ever in 2019. December 18 was the hottest day in Australian history, with average temperatures there hitting 105.6 degrees Fahrenheit (40.9 degrees Celsius). Eight of Australia's 10 warmest years ever have come in the last 15 years. Meanwhile, winter rains, which can help reduce the intensity of summer fires, have declined significantly, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Protesters march through the streets of Melbourne, Australia on January 10, 2020. Robert Cianflone/Getty Story continues But Morrison has said his government will not consider downsizing Australia's coal industry, despite the known link between fire risk and climate change. Australia is the biggest exporter of coal worldwide; its annual coal exports total to about $47 billion US. "I am not going to write off the jobs of thousands of Australians by walking away from traditional industries," Morrison told Australian broadcaster Channel Seven last month, according to the AP. 'Coal interests and politicians on the one side, and then firefighters and volunteers on the other' In a protest in Melbourne, a speaker named Jerome Small said politicians like Morrison represent a "massive political and economic roadblock" on the path to better climate policies, the Post reported. Gavin Stanbrook, one of the organizer of Friday's protests, told the Post that there's a schism between politicians and the people most impacted by the fires. "We are divided between coal interests and politicians on the one side and then firefighters and volunteers on the other and the rest of us who are either impacted or our friends and family are on the front line, or in cities surrounded by smoke," Stanbrook said. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited a fire damaged property on Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide, Australia, January 8, 2020. David Mariuz-Pool/Getty Morrison's political rivals have also criticized his administration for its approach to climate policy, "His totally inadequate response to these fires and his obstinate refusal to accept what we have known for decades: that burning climate-changing fossil fuels would lead to more frequent and intense bushfires is putting the lives of Australians at risk," Richard Di Natale, leader of Australia's Greens parties, said of Morrison last week. Morrison wants to keep emissions down but does not plan to downsize the coal industry In November, Morrison told the Herald that he doesn't think more aggressive cuts to Australia's carbon emissions would have made a difference in this fire crisis. "To suggest that with just 1.3% of global emissions that Australia doing something differently, more or less, would have changed the fire outcome this season, I don't think that stands up to any credible scientific evidence at all," he said. Angus Taylor, Australia's minister for energy and emissions reduction, told Reuters on Monday that he does not think Australia needs to cut its emissions more aggressively. "When it comes to reducing global emissions, Australia must and is doing its bit," Taylor said. Morrison's administration has not, however, denied the link between global warming and fire risk overall. "There is no dispute in this country about the issue of climate change globally and its effect on global weather patterns, and that includes how it impacts Australia," Morrison said in a press conference over the weekend, according to the Associated Press. He added: "I have seen a number of people suggest that somehow the government does not make this connection. The government has always made this connection and that has never been in dispute." A kangaroo is seen in bushland surrounded by smoke haze early morning in Canberra, Australia, January 5, 2020..JPG AAP Image/Lukas Coch via REUTERS When asked what his government's plans were to mitigate and plan for the long-term impacts of climate change, Morrison said: "Our goal is to meet and beat our emissions reductions." "What we will do is ensure that our policies remain sensible, that they don't move towards either extreme and stay focused on what Australians need for a vibrant and viable economy, as well as a vibrant and sustainable environment," he said. However, Morrison was noticeably absent from the September United Nations climate summit in New York. At the UN's December climate talks in Madrid, meanwhile, world leaders accused Morrison's administration of cheating to meet 2030 emissions targets by using carryover credits the amount of carbon dioxide by which Australia beat previous, less stringent targets set under the Kyoto protocol. 'One of the key drivers of fire intensity is temperature' Climate change increases the likelihood, size, and frequency of wildfires, since warmer air sucks away moisture from trees and soil, leading to dryer land. Rising temperatures also make heat waves and droughts more frequent and severe, which exacerbates wildfire risk, since hot, parched forests are prone to burning. "Climate change is exacerbating every risk factor for more frequent and intense bushfires," Dale Dominey-Howes, an expert on disaster risk at the University of Sydney, told Business Insider Australia. "Widespread drought conditions, higher-than-average temperatures these are all made worse by climate change." A CFA firefighter sprays water after a fire impacted Clovemont Way, Bundoora in Melbourne, Australia, December 30, 2019. AAP Image/Julian Smith via REUTERS On average, Earth has warmed about 1 degree Celsius. July 2019 was the hottest month ever recorded, and 2019 will likely be the third-hottest year on record globally, according to Climate Central. Only 2016, 2015, and 2017 were hotter (in that order). "One of the key drivers of fire intensity, fire spread rates and fire area is temperature. And in Australia we've just experienced record high temperatures," Mark Howden, director of the Climate Change Institute at Australian National University, told Reuters. Climate scientist Michael Mann, who has been on sabbatical in Sydney this winter, put it simply in an article published January 2 in The Guardian: "The brown skies I observed in the Blue Mountains this week are a product of human-caused climate change," Mann wrote. "Take record heat, combine it with unprecedented drought in already dry regions, and you get unprecedented bushfires like the ones engulfing the Blue Mountains and spreading across the continent. It's not complicated." A carbon-dioxide feedback loop Firefighters struggle against strong winds in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales, December 31, 2019. Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Climate activist Greta Thunberg also criticized Morrison's response to the fires on Twitter. "Not even catastrophes like these seem to bring any political action. How is this possible? Because we still fail to make the connection between the climate crisis and increased extreme weather events and nature disasters like the #AustraliaFires," Thunberg tweeted on December 22. Already, this season's fires have released 350 million metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. That's roughly 1% of the total global carbon emissions in 2019, and two-thirds of Australia's carbon emissions from 2018. And there are least two more months of bushfire season to go. Carbon emissions from these and other fires could become part of an ominous feedback loop: The more land burns, the more carbon dioxide gets released into the atmosphere, and the more trees which act as natural carbon sinks disappear. The more CO2 gets released, the warmer our planet gets; that raises the risk of more big and deadly fires. Read the original article on Insider However, violent crime, which includes crimes like armed robbery and assault, increased on the system by 32% to 590 incidents last year from 447, with the biggest increases in July, November and December, according to the Tribune analysis. Violent crime is defined as one that involves violence or a threat of violence. It takes tremendous courage to run for office. Think about it. Running for office means putting ones beliefs, values and vision out there at the risk of ridicule, snark, criticism and rejection. After all, most candidates are aspiring for offices they will not win. And if a candidate wins, well, they may still feel the wrath and disappointment of voters. At least in the abstract, politicians are generally held in low regard, especially members of Congress. But still people seek these jobs and voter affirmation. With the holidays firmly in our rearview mirror, and early voting in Texas on the horizon (Feb. 18), we began meeting with candidates last week in preparation for our forthcoming recommendations. These meetings will continue throughout the month, often twice a day and sometimes on Saturdays. Readers can expect our recommendations to begin rolling out in a few weeks. Were telling you this because its important to signal to readers these recommendations will be coming. Its also an opportunity to explain why the Editorial Board offers candidate recommendations, why this process is important for civic discourse and how we arrive at our conclusions. When we asked for reader feedback last month, a number of readers thought we could do a better job of showing how we arrive at our conclusions. Consider this a first step. Bear in mind, our opinion pages are a unique community and civic space. This is the only section in the newspaper where candidate recommendations are made. And these recommendations are just one view in a larger conversation. Also bear in mind, the Editorial Board is separate from the news-gathering side of the paper. While reporters might attend our meetings to ask questions for objective news stories, they are not involved in our recommendation process or in arriving at conclusions. That falls to Editorial Board members Gloria Padilla, Cary Clack, Josh Brodesky and Publisher Michael Sacks. We often agree, but not always. An editorial is the view of the institution, not a specific individual. The Editorial Board is unique both within the paper and our community in the sense that we have issued invitations to meet in-person this month with more than 110 candidates, Democratic and Republican. We will speak with additional candidates by phone. And we will supplement these phone and in-person interviews with research into the respective backgrounds and histories of candidates. If anything, this is the inherent value of the recommendation process. There are few venues where this type of independent vetting happens with so many candidates. A recommendation is not about picking winners. Polling is not a factor. Neither is fundraising nor name recognition. We base our recommendations on a candidates ideas, understanding of policy and issues, temperament, work history and background. In the case of challengers, we want to hear a compelling argument why they would be an improvement over the incumbent. A recommendation is also not an absolute. There are many instances when we come away impressed with multiple candidates, but like every voter, we can only choose one. There are also instances when none of the candidates impress us, but we make a recommendation because we know voters have to make a choice. In those instances, we feel your pain. Candidate meetings are not debates. We are not jousting with candidates about their policy views, but seeking to understand how and why they see issues and policies the way they do. And while we recognize a recommendation is an opportunity for a candidate to gain votes, especially in lower profile races, thats not really our aim. We know most readers have made up their minds. So, what is a candidate recommendation? Its a starting point and a public service. These meetings generate news stories and create greater attention. Our fundamental hope is these recommendations spark conversation and interest in voting and perhaps compel you to do additional research or challenge our conclusions. To the extent recommendations bring greater awareness to the election, issues and candidates, then they have the potential to elevate our discourse. In this regard, they are a reflection of principles and values about governance that transcend party lines and traditional political divisions. After all, the candidates might be Democrats or Republicans or represent a third party, but the offices they seek belong to you. Agree or disagree with our forthcoming recommendations, but please vote in 2020. In the early 1950s, the Napa Register ran a Sunday features story about a Alex Hischier, a Napa man, who had worked on weekends building a mid-century modern ranch home for his family in the heart of Napa. The centerpiece photograph showed Hischiers two children, Stephen and Shelley, reading a book in their new living room in front of an imposing brick fireplace. The story also included a description of Stephens bedroom, with knotty pine paneling that matched a knotty pine desk with pony shoe drawer pulls. Cowboys, Indians and fishing gear hang on the walls. Seventy years later, Stephen and his wife, Barbara, have retired to this same home or rather to the same footprint of the house, after it was redesigned and recreated into a 21st century home. The knotty pine may be gone, but one remaining link to the past is an oil painting that hangs near the entrance. Stephen Hischiers mother had purchased the work from a young Napa artist named Thomas Bartlett, who would go on to become an internationally known interior designer who kept Napa as his home base. Mrs. Hischier, Stephens mother, so admired the painting, which she saw at one of Napas first harvest festivals, that she had her furniture reupholstered to complement it, and the painting of the young woman in emerald kept a place of honor throughout the years, as the children grew and left home, and then returned on holidays. After Stephen and Barbara Hischier, living in Berkeley, became the sole owners of the house, they kept it for weekend and vacation visits, until, looking ahead to retirement, they decided that Napa would be their permanent home. The man they chose to recreate Stephens childhood home as a fresh, modern home to age in was, fittingly, Thomas Bartlett. The first house According to the Register, in 1947, the Hischiers had bought a lot on Napa Creek, and Mrs. Hischier was reading Good Housekeeping magazine when she found a plan for a home she liked. The paper quoted her husband as saying the best way to build a big house is to first build a little house to keep the tools in. On the property, he built a brick tool house. Next, he went on to the big house, working evenings, weekends and holidays, while still holding down his full-time job as an engineer at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The house boasted a 16 by 30 feet living room, three bedrooms, all opening on to a long hallway and a separate guest powder room, dinette, and kitchen. A breezeway with a ping pong table separated the house from a guest room and bath. Meanwhile Mrs. Hischier had turned painter and paper-hanger and Shelley and Stephen helped clean the old bricks for fireplace. In a year, the family project was finished. The article lavishly described Mrs. Hischiers decorating from 6-year-old Shelleys bedroom with blue and white check wallpaper, furniture made by Daddy, and beloved feminine frills like a organdy skirt on the dressing table and matching ruffle on the mirror. The family bathroom had yellow tiles just like sunshine, according to Shelley; and the guest powder room was papered in huge lavender and purple lilacs. Woodworkin the small room is an unashamed and unexpectedly charming bright lavender. The kitchen got special attention. Mrs. Hischier was praised for her ingenious plans for the sugar pine cabinets that included a ventilated vegetable drawer and a service window from the white tiled kitchen counter to the dining roomall the drawersall the cabinets all the working space any woman could want. The total cost of the family project was $5,000. The house in 2020 Bartlett embarked on a two-year project that would extend from the front curb to the creek-side backyard. He removed the old brick facade, re-using the bricks to create a walkway through easy-care landscaping with olive trees and a box hedge to a newly designed entry. In the backyard, he added a raised patio and outdoor kitchen, planter beds and a studio where Stephen Hischier, a retired stockbroker, paints. A lush, vivid green lawn beyond a deck leads to the creek bank and its a fake. Stephen was skeptical about a fake lawn, Bartlett recalled, but now he is a fan. No watering, no mowing and just picking up leaves. Thomas is usually right, Hischier quipped. But its inside where the changes are most dramatic. Barbara wanted open space, Bartlett said and so, working with an architectural engineer, he opened up the ceiling and removed walls so that now the kitchen, living room and dining room comprise one light-filled space. In line with this, Bartlett and the Hischiers reconsidered how to use the space in the footprint. Bartlett said it was a question of looking at dual uses for what had been essentially four bedrooms. At one end of the house, they made a master suite with a spacious new marble bath. The third bedroom is now a room for Barbara to use for her projects. At the other end, they removed the breezeway and converted it to an office opening to the former guest room, now a den library. Now Bartlett said, You can stand in at one end of the house and see all the way to the other end. Within the rooms are sofa beds that can be used when their children and grandchildren visit. Keeping the house all one color, he added, is another way to add to the sense of space, giving Barbara the light, airy and convenient feeling she wanted. Two major changes reflect the shifts from the 1950s to now. The gleaming white and marble kitchen, entirely open, is a showpiece of the house, as well as an efficient and room place to cook and entertain. One might say the kitchen is now everything anyone might want in a 21st century kitchen. In addition, Bartlett said, one of the first few things he noticed on entering the house was that the back wall of the living room was dominated by the huge fireplace, and only small windows hinted at the view. Now, that wall is mostly floor-to-ceiling doors and the the new gas fireplace is a sleek rectangle on the interior wall. The Hischiers are also ardent collectors of everything from antique weapons to elegantly bound books. Stephen had a lot of fun at auctions, Bartlett said. His solution to artfully displaying the treasures was to group them in different areas: one wall lined with books, another with guns and swords and the head of a water buffalo. It took me a whole day to get them to hang right, Bartlett said. He also found places for Stephen Hischiers own paintings, including a large collection of framed miniature still-life works. Bartlett collected these on one wall of the entrance, across from an armoire and a knights armor. I didnt tell him I was going to do that, Bartlett said. I just put them all together and let him see what he thought. As with the rest of the house, the Hischiers say they are delighted that this will be their place to grow old together. Life is a parabola, Hischier said. Im still growing up here. And also near the entrance hangs the portrait of the woman in green, painted by the young Napa artist. It is titled, Long Time Passing. Reach Sasha Paulsen at spaulsen@napanews.com or 256-2262. Make your house a home For the holidays: Get inspiring home and gift ideas sign up now! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 07:08:20|Editor: ZD Video Player Close ROME, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The latest round of economic indicators are showing positive signs for Italy's slow-growing economy -- but just barely. Italy's National Statistics Institute (ISTAT) on Friday released new data on domestic industrial output for November and the overall economic situation improved in December. A day earlier, the institute reported that the overall employment rate improved to its lowest level since 1977. However, none of the aforementioned figures improved by significant amounts. The institute said that industrial production in November increased 0.1 percent compared to the previous month, reversing a trend that saw small decreases in production the previous three months. It also said the overall economic situation was "leaning toward" the worldwide trend for "moderate" economic growth. The unemployment figure released Thursday told a similar tale: the number of Italians with a job climbed 0.1 percent in November compared to the previous month. Though the overall figure is the best in more than 40 years, the indicator had been hovering around that level for the last several months and economists said the number may have been inflated by some workers dropping out of the workforce. "The latest economic news has mostly been good, but it's not overwhelming," Javier Noriega, chief economist with Hildebrandt and Ferrar in Milan, told Xinhua. "I look at the latest data as what could be the start of a fragile economic recovery." Still, the recent figures are positive news for an economy dogged by slow economic growth, high unemployment levels for young workers, and a lack of investment in research and innovation. Tariffs on European goods entering the United States, and the trade war between some countries are also weighing on the prospects of economic recovery, analysts said. "It's too early to tell if this is the start of something," ABS Securities analyst Oliviero Fiorini said in an interview. "It's obviously better than the contrary, which would be a slightly negative trend in the indicators. But there's no reason to think the underlying situation in Italy has changed. The economy still needs major structural reforms and worries about political instability still cast a shadow over everything. We won't know what these newest indicators mean until we can look back in a few months." According to Noriega, the economy is benefiting from some external factors "like a relatively weak euro that is helping exports and low yields on government debt that help save the government money." "But until there is a government with a solid majority and a desire to push through the right kind of reforms, I worry these small steps are the best the economy can hope for," he said. The consensus estimates are that when the final data for 2019 is tallied that the Italian economy will have grown around 0.1 percent for the year as a whole. But official data from ISTAT said it expects the economic growth rate to increase to around 0.6 percent for 2020. (CNN) Two days before a Ukrainian passenger plane went down over Tehran in the fog of battle this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reminded the world not to forget about something eerily similar the shootdown of an Iran Air jetliner by a US Navy ship in 1988. Iran Air Flight 655, an Airbus A300 with 290 people on board, was blown from the skies by a missile fired from the guided-missile cruiser USS Vincennes as it flew over the Persian Gulf from Iran to Dubai on July 3, 1988. Rouhani used that 290 number in a Twitter post on January 6. "Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655 Never threaten the Iranian nation," he said in a tweet. The number 52 refers to the number of sites US President Donald Trump threatened to target in Iran if Tehran retaliated for the US killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. The general's death in a US drone strike on January 3 has ramped up tensions and rhetoric between Tehran and Washington. In 1988, the atmosphere in the Gulf was no less intense. For more than a year, the US Navy had been committed to protecting commercial shipping moving through the Persian Gulf endangered by the so-called "tanker war," an offshoot of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. Iran had been trying to block resupply of Iraq through the waters of the Persian Gulf, laying mines and firing rockets at ships. The fog of war showed itself in 1987, when an Iraqi warplane mistook the frigate USS Stark for an Iranian tanker and fired two missiles at it. Thirty-seven US sailors were killed. On April 14, 1988, an Iranian mine struck the frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts, almost breaking the ship in half. Four days later, US warships tasked with taking out Iranian oil platforms in retaliation exchanged missile fire with and sank an Iranian ship. The Persian Gulf was no less chaotic on July 3, 1988, when Iran Air Flight 655 took off from Bandar Abbas, a joint military-civilian airport to which the Iranian military had moved some of its F-14 fighter jets, according to a US Navy investigation of the shootdown. The US military believed those Iranian F-14s were equipped with Maverick missiles that could strike US ships within a radius of 10 miles (16 kilometers). A day earlier, one of those F-14s had been warned off by the cruiser USS Halsey when it came too near the US ship. On the morning of July 3, the Vincennes was engaged in combat alongside the frigate USS Montgomery, exchanging fire with Iranian gunboats that were threatening a Pakistani tanker in the Gulf, according to the US Navy report. That incident was ongoing when Iran Air 655 left Bandar Abbas, almost half an hour after its scheduled departure time. Subsequent US Navy investigations of the incident showed the Iranian airliner was in an approved commercial airway and was identifying itself on air traffic control frequencies as a civilian flight. But the Iranian pilot was not warned of the ongoing hostilities in the area, even though the Bandar Abbas tower had issued warnings on similar previous occasions during the war, according to the US report. The reports also note that while the Iranian jetliner did not respond to warnings from US warships, its crew would not have been monitoring the channels those were broadcast on. Aboard the USS Vincennes, the ship's captain was getting information that an unknown aircraft contacted by radar was not responding to calls. He was also told incorrectly that this contact could be an Iranian F-14. If the unknown aircraft was carrying those Maverick missiles, the US captain had less than five minutes to decide if his ship was in danger, according to the US report. Under orders issued after the USS Stark was hit by missiles a year earlier, essentially designed to err on the side of protecting US lives -- and with just minutes to decide if his vessel was within range of missiles carried by an Iranian warplane -- the captain of the Vincennes gave the order to fire. Seven minutes after takeoff, the Iran Air Airbus A300 was struck by surface-to-air missiles fired from the US cruiser. The US military later called it "a tragic and regrettable accident." Iran sued the US government in the International Court of Justice in 1989. In 1996, the US and Iran agreed to settle the suit, with the US paying tens of millions of dollars in compensation to the victims' families. Two days after Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 went down near Tehran on January 8, world leaders were saying it was likely that Iranian anti-aircraft missiles had fired at the jet by mistake. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country lost 63 citizens in the crash, said Canada's intelligence, and intelligence provided by allies, shows that the Boeing 737 was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson echoed Trudeau. The plane went down just minutes after takeoff and within hours of Iran firing ballistic missiles at bases in Iraq housing US troops. At the time, the world was on edge wondering if Trump would order a retaliatory strike on Iran. It was not unlike the environment over the Persian Gulf in 1988. "Somebody could have made a mistake on the other side," Trump said Thursday about the downing of the Ukrainian jet. "I have my suspicions." This story was first published on CNN.com "In 1988, a US Navy warship shot down an Iranian passenger plane in the heat of battle" Trump and others. US president Donald Trump addressed Americans on Wednesday, briefly discussing his decision to kill Iranian major general Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. Last week we took decisive action to stop a ruthless terrorist from threatening American lives, the president said. Yet his decision has been met with mixed reactions. Some call the drone attack on Soleimani an assassinationthat is, a murder, and therefore, a crime. Others say the president acted on an imminent threat, making the killing arguably legal, under US law at least. Many experts hesitate to say either way because there simply isnt enough information to make a determination, which is problematic in and of itself. Georgetown University Law Center professor Martin Lederman told Quartz that it is possible to imagine a set of facts that would make this action legalif not necessarily a good idea. But Lederman says the Trump administration hasnt made that case, at least not publicly, and retroactive justifications are suspect. He worries that there was an insufficient processlegal and policy vetting by experts meant to advise the president, ask difficult questions, and ensure he acts lawfully and responsibly. Based on the information disclosed, he says, Im not sure the legal questions were given the attention they deserved. However, he is sure of the major questions that would have to be addressed to determine legality. The two major questions There are two primary legal questions that have to be answered to decide if the presidents act was lawful in this situation, and the two are connected, Lederman says. The first is whether the US could target Soleimani under international law, based on the United Nations charter. If so, the next question is whether the president can act without congressional authorization, consistent with constitutional law. Both questions turn on whether this particular act was necessary and proportional to stopping Iranian attacks on US nationals and facilities, the professor said. Story continues (Although there has also been much public discussion of the War Powers Act of 1973 constraining the president, Lederman says its not relevant at this juncture because the act required Trump to notify Congress within 48 hours after the attack, which he did, and the principal operating provision of the law requires the president to withdraw within 60 days if hostilities continue, which at this point isnt an issue). The legal questions, thus, must be answered with an examination of the facts. Ordinarily, Lederman says, a proposal to target an individual like Soleimani would be discussed with law and policy experts in the administration. Lawyers would push back and ask questions about the level of threat, alternative nonlethal options, the intelligence the proposed act is based on, objectives of the killing, the extent of Soleimanis involvement in ongoing attacks, and the likely responses that might ensue. Such a process could provide sufficient clarity on the evidence and other considerations to determine that the act is legally justifiableor not. Yet if these exchanges among lawyers, intelligence officials, and others didnt occur, offering a legal justification retrospectively is troublesome, Lederman said. Indeed, after emerging from a briefing on the action late on Wednesday, Republican senator Mike Lee of Utah said he was unsatisfied with the legal, factual and moral justification for the attack. He told reporters: What we were told over and over again is, look this action was necessary, this was a bad guy.' War on terror? Gary Solis, a Marine and retired West Point professor of law, agrees with Lederman that process is extremely important and seems to be insufficiently appreciated in the Trump administration. Process provides predictability. There has to be a means of coordinating effects and issues that may be related, he said. When process is centered on one individual thats a very dangerous situation in a modern world. While Solis isnt mourning Soleimani, he is concerned that Trumps action indicates we are a nation that has to be handled gently and with an awareness that who knows what can happen who knows when. Solis can even appreciate the fact that some Americans view Trumps unpredictability as a plus, though he disagrees. If American leadership seems erratic, and indifferent to its allies concerns, that may endanger US citizens and be detrimental in the long run, Solis says. There are norms of international behavior that allow us to identify, apprehend, and try terrorists, he said. We cant have a civilized world if we dont follow the law. He would support Trumps decision to target Soleimani if the United States was at war with Iran and the president complied with procedure in that context. The administration has suggested the war on terror and the 2002 Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) act passed in light of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks allows for the targeting of Soleimani, but Solis calls this a thin justification. He notes that the war on terror is a never-ending fight but not a technical war as defined by law. To justify the killing under the AUMF then there would have had to be a specific imminent threat rather than a general sense that Soleimani is a bad guy who doesnt like Americans. And, most notably, Soleimani was also a general in the Iranian army, which means he cant necessarily be dealt with like non-state actors. Generals plan attacks on enemies, whether the general is Iranian or American or any other nationality. That is just what generals do. Thus, saying that Soleimani was planning attackswithout moredoesnt justify a killing. To say that someone was making a plan isnt the same as an imminent threat, Solis said. There have to be specific and articulable facts about an imminent threat. While imminent threat isnt strictly defined in US or international law, Solis points out that some international courts have considered imminent to be as long as several months. In other words, the president isnt necessarily constrained by a specific timeline and could well justify the killing, but a general assertion of threat is insufficient, the law professor says. So far, it seems that all the administration is offering is this generality, though. Republican senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said that he didnt hear the specific evidence that would have lent credibility to talk of an imminent threat in the administrations briefing to senators on Wednesday. Paul believes it is absurd and an insult to rely on the AUMF to justify attacks on Iran in 2020. Solis distinguishes former US president Barack Obamas targeting of the al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan from the Soleimani killing because the United States had secret agreements with Pakistan about what actions it could take in that state, which it does not have in Iraq, and bin Laden wasnt part of a legitimate state military force while Soleimani was. Its not a bad thing that Soleimani is dead, Solis said. As the president said yesterday, the man had blood on his hands. But killing a military leader in a foreign nation, and one the United States is not at war with, sets a bad precedent with possibly dangerous consequences. Solis asked, How would we feel if Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was killed on a visit to Canada in a Canadian airport? Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the Centre wants to bring piped natural gas to the city in next one year and sought support from the West Bengal government for the project. The minister said half of the projected expenditure of Rs 102 trillion in infrastructure sector in the next five years will be invested in eastern and northeastern states. "Half of Rs 102 lakh crore infrastructure spending will be invested in eastern states. No Prime Minister prior to Narendra Modi gave such importance to the eastern provinces," Pradhan said while addressing 119th annual general meeting of Bharat Chamber of Commerce (BCC) here. The petroleum and natural gas minister also announced that he wished to "bring piped gas to Kolkata in one year". Asked whether the central government was facing any problem from the state in the project, Pradhan said, "There had been no such issues but we expect continued support." State-run GAIL is executing 2,655 km-long Jagdishpur- Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra pipeline and Barauni-Guwahati pipeline with a length 729 km under Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project to connect Eastern India. The exploration in the Bengal-Purnea basin will be carried out soon as the state-run ONGC won the block in the latest bid round under Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), the minister said. Meanwhile, West Bengal transport minister Suvendu Adhikari had said the state government planned to roll out CNG buses in the city by March this year. The state government had signed an agreement with GAIL to supply the compressed natural gas (CNG) on tankers to feed one of its fuel station in the southern part of the city. CALGARYAfter Harry and Meghan shocked the Royal Family with the bombshell announcement that they are stepping back from their duties and moving part-time to North America, most veteran royal watchers in Canada were sympathetic, but some also offered advice: Be careful how you treat your grandmother, especially if shes the Queen. The couples Instagram announcement Wednesday night was met with a decidedly stiff upper lip in Britain, where tabloids seemed to side with the Crown, bemoaning the fact that the Queen apparently wasnt consulted on the move. Veteran royal watcher Patricia Treble stressed that she has sympathy for both sides in the dispute, but wonders about the public nature of Meghan and Harrys declaration. I mean, if it were my family and my brother and sister in law had done that to Grandma? I would be angry, she said. Prince Harry stayed in England to sort out the details, but Meghan flew back to British Columbia, where the couple spent the holidays on Vancouver Island with baby Archie. Her trip has reignited speculation and excitement that the rebellious royals may choose Canada as their new home. The Star asked six Canadians who love to watch the royals to spill the tea on how they feel about Meghan and Harrys big decision. The questioning columnist Meghan and Harry havent shuffled off the royal coil entirely. Although theyre retreating from the front lines, Treble, who blogs at Write Royalty, said there are endless questions about how theyll balance royal duties with private commitments going forward, and some of the answers may cause headaches for Canada. Are they coming to work? What is going to be their status here?... Are we going to pay for their security? Whats the relationship between them and the governor general? Theres a reason working royals dont have commercial ties on the side, Treble said, lest they tarnish the royal reputation. What happens if you take money for a lecture from a big oil company that has a major environmental catastrophe? Being half in and half out of the Royal Family does not work. It has never worked, she said. Ive got to question what their end result is. Im not sure their advisers deeply understand how the British press feel about the monarchy. Im just not sure. The sympathizer Some fans say shelter from the British press is exactly what Meghan and Harry need. If everything was going along fine, and she was being treated fairly, they probably would still hang in there, but its horrible whats happening to her, said Orangeville resident Suzanne Boileau. She remembers waiting with her family as a child on the streets of Toronto to see Queen Elizabeth II ride by during her coronation tour. When Prince Charles married Diana, she woke up early, donned gowns with her niece and daughter and had tea and crumpets as they watched on television. She couldnt stop crying when Diana died and said she understands Meghan and Harrys decision. They just dont want to be so much in the public life. And its totally understandable why they dont. Boileau said she thinks Meghan tried her best to fit into the Royal Family, but that the press have made it clear that shes not quite welcome and some of their coverage has bordered on racism. The press treated (Diana) very badly, said Boileau. And thats why I am really happy for Meghan and Harry, that they are trying to avoid the publicity and all that goes with that. The loyalist Others say loyalty to the crown should have come first. Crystal Kattenhorn lives in Cambridge, Ont. When the news broke, a few co-workers approached her to ask if she was OK, she said, laughing. A longtime fan of British culture and the monarchy, she said she started drinking tea as a toddler, always has plum pudding at Christmas, and when Harry and Meghan got married, she flew to London to fulfil a lifelong dream of watching a royal wedding from the street. Although Kattenhorn says shell always be Team Harry, she worries what the move could mean for the future of the monarchy. For him to not only disappoint his grandmother, but disappoint his Queen ... can you turn away 30 odd years for your Queen for a person youve known two and a half? The fellow immigrant As someone who also made the decision to move to Canada two decades ago, Farah Attaullah of Toronto said she hopes the couple takes the leap. Canadians accepted us as immigrants. We were brown, we had an accent. There were a lot of culture difference here, but we got accepted, she said. Im really happy I made the decision and I think theyd be happy, too. Growing up in Pakistan, part of India when it was under British rule, Attaullah said she was aware of the royals, but it was Diana who captured her heart. Because they were both young mothers who got married around the same time, then went on to have two kids, Attaullah said she couldnt help but compare herself to Diana but some of it worried her. I would think, oh my God, shes so much prettier than me, shes so nice, she does charity, shes glamorous but shes so unhappy, she said, recalling Dianas very public struggles and eventual split from Prince Charles. I would thank God in my heart because I may not have all that money, but I think Im a princess in my life because Im so happy with what I have. She remembers wishing Diana would leave the Royal Family behind, so it makes her happy to see her son forging his own path: Im glad someone else is doing it. The monarchists Tom Richards and Barry MacKenzie, spokespeople for the Monarchist League of Canada, have been avid monarchists since high school. They said they were surprised by the news, and are waiting to see how the unprecedented situation plays out. MacKenzie, a professor who lives in Nova Scotia and researches royal tours in Canada, said he was shocked by the news, which he said was a drastic decision. He said the difficulties Meghan and Harry have faced with the British media are reminiscent of Dianas struggle with the press, which may have influenced Harrys decision. Im not surprised that they were trying to find a way away from that, he said. But I was not at all prepared for this type of fairly drastic reaction. Richards said hes waiting to see how everything shakes out, but said he has confidence that the family as a whole can come to an agreement. I think that its fair to say that all the parties are going to try to arrive at some kind of workable solution, he said. Read more about: You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Sir Keir Starmer has appealed for a ceasefire between the warring factions of the Labour party in a leadership pitch positioning himself as the unity candidate. The shadow Brexit secretary and current frontrunner tried to sow harmony between supporters of both Jeremy Corbyn and Tony Blair, who are locked in a bitter battle for the direction of the party following its disastrous election drubbing. At his campaign launch in Manchester today, he said: 'We cannot fight the Tories if we are fighting each other. Factionalism has to go. 'We are not going to trash the last Labour government, but nor are we going to trash the last four years.' Although Sir Keir served in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet, he is not a hardline left-winger and is regarded as more pro-EU. However, since announcing his bid for the top job, he has scrambled to burnish his left-wing credentials in an apparent attempt to win favour with the Momentum wing of the party and its powerful union backers. The fallout of Labour's worst election defeat since 1935 has seen moderates attempt to wrestle back control of the leadership from the hard-left by swamping it with new centrist members. Moderates point to Mr Blair's thumping three majorities won in 1997, 2001 and 2005 - where the party re-branded as New Labour and pivoted towards the centre - as a blueprint for success. Sir Keir Starmer has appealed for a ceasefire between the warring factions of the Labour party in a leadership pitch positioning himself as the unity candidate (pictured at his leadership launch in Manchester today) The shadow Brexit secretary and current frontrunner tried to sow harmony between supporters of both Jeremy Corbyn and Tony Blair, who are locked in a bitter battle for the direction of the party following its disastrous election drubbing Although Sir Keir served in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet, he is not a hardline left-winger and is regarded as more pro-EU Moderates point to Mr Blair's (left in December) thumping three majorities won in 1997, 2001 and 2005 - where the party re-branded as New Labour and pivoted towards the centre - as a blueprint for success, rather than Mr Corbyn's (right in London today) rampant left-wing policies But many members - who vote for the leader - loathe the ex-Prime Minister for stripping back the party's left-leaning policies and waging war in Iraq. They are likely to wing behind Rebecca Long Bailey, a chief lieutenant of Mr Corbyn who is seen as continuing his socialist project. In addition for calling for an end to infighting, Sir Keir also vowed to personally to take charge of the fight to stamp out anti-Semitism in the Labour Party if he wins the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn. 'We should have done more on anti-Semitism. If you are anti-Semitic you shouldn't be in the Labour Party,' he told BBC1's Breakfast programme. 'What I would do is lead from the top and say it's my responsibility to deal with it. I wouldn't say it's for somebody else. I want the files, I want to know the numbers on my desk so that I can monitor this. 'Only when people who have left our party because of anti-Semitism feel that they can return will I be truly satisfied that we have dealt with the problem. 'There has to be leadership from the top and a personal involvement in this. I never want our activists, our members, our supporters, ever to knock on a door again and to be met with the response: 'I usually vote Labour but I'm not going to do so because of anti-Semitism.'' Sir Keir said that he had argued within the party for tougher action, with automatic expulsion for anyone found to be anti-Semitic. The shadow Brexit secretary (pictured today), who is launching his campaign in Manchester, said the party had not done enough to tackle the issue Sir Keir said he had argued within the party for tougher action in a thinly-veiled stab at Mr Corbyn (pictured) 'It seemed to me that if you have been chucked out of the Labour Party for supporting another political party, you should be chucked out for being anti-Semitic. I had those conversations around the shadow cabinet table,' he said. Sir Keir has emerged as the clear favourite among Labour MPs and was the first of the six contenders to secure the 22 nominations required to progress to the next stage of the contest. Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, the favourite of the left, and the backbenchers Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips have also passed the threshold. However shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, with 10 nominations, and Clive Lewis, with just four, appear to be struggling. They have until 2.30pm on Monday to get the necessary support or be forced to drop out. Sir Keir would not be drawn into personal criticism of Mr Corbyn, although he said that it was right that he was now stepping down after Labour's 'devastating' general election defeat. Unlike Ms Long-Bailey, who gave Mr Corbyn 10/10 and Ms Thornberry who gave him 0/10, Sir Keir refused to give him marks out 10 for his leadership. Sir Keir has emerged as the clear favourite to win the party leadership race. Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, the favourite of the left, and the backbenchers Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips have also passed the threshold 'Jeremy Corbyn led us through really difficult times as a Labour Party. He positioned us in the right place on anti-austerity but we lost the election and now he is stepping down. That is the right thing to do,' he said. 'I am not going to get into ranking Jeremy Corbyn out of 10. I think it trivialises him. He is a friend and a colleague. I respect him, thank him for what he has done, but we are moving on now.' Ms Long-Bailey, campaigning in Staffordshire, acknowledged the party had lost support among the Jewish community. 'Lifelong Jewish voters in our communities just couldn't support us because we'd lost their trust,' she said. 'We've got to make sure this never happens again and that this trust is rebuilt quickly.' However, in a thinly veiled swipe at Sir Keir, she said it was the party's support for a second EU referendum which had cost it support in its traditional heartlands. 'I was told time and time again on the doorstep by those who voted leave in my constituency and across the Midlands and the North that they just felt we didn't respect the democratic mandate,' she said. 'We've got to remember this, and we can never let that happen ever again.' Sir Keir said he had argued within the party for tougher action. Despite his lead, Sir Keir (pictured hugging UNISON general Secretary Dave Prentis on Thursday) has been keen to emphasise his radical credentials in a pitch to grassroots party members who are thought to be more left-wing than the MPs and whose votes will ultimately determine the outcome 'I argued for automatic expulsion. It seemed to me that if you have been chucked out of the Labour Party for supporting another political party, you should be chucked out for being anti-Semitic.' It comes ahead of Sir Keir's party leadership launch in Manchester this afternoon, where he will vow to keep the Labour Party's radicalism. He will say the party must retain its radicalism while making it relevant to people's everyday lives. In his speech, he will promise to pursue Boris Johnson relentlessly in Parliament if he succeeds in becoming leader when the result is announced in April. Sir Keir has emerged as the clear favourite among Labour MPs and was the first of the six contenders to secure the 22 nominations required to progress to the next stage of the contest. Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, the favourite of the left, and the backbenchers Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips have also passed the threshold. However shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, with 10 nominations, and Clive Lewis, with just four, appear to be struggling. They have until 2.30pm on Monday to get the necessary support or be forced to drop out. Despite his lead, Sir Keir has been keen to emphasise his radical credentials in a pitch to grassroots party members who are thought to be more left-wing than the MPs and whose votes will ultimately determine the outcome. Speaking ahead of the launch, he said: 'The challenge for Labour today is to defend our values, retain our radicalism, and to make that relevant to people's everyday lives. 'People desperately need and want us to win. 'We have to deliver a programme that will tackle low pay and insecure work, rebuild our public services, empower communities and tackle the climate emergency. 'We have to rebuild people's trust in Labour as a force for good and real change.' He said the party needed to set its sights on winning back the support of voters across England, Scotland and Wales who turned away from it at the election in December. 'Boris Johnson said that many voters in the North had lent their votes to the Conservatives. 'We must set ourselves the task of winning those votes back,' he said. 'If elected leader, I will pursue Boris Johnson relentlessly in Parliament. 'We will connect our opposition in Parliament to Labour's mass movement and to the wider forces in our country who do not want five more years of Tory misrule. 'And we will bind that together with an electoral strategy that focuses tirelessly on getting Labour back into government.' Teenage serial rapist admits to charges but may only get 20 years depending on evaluation? Drug addicts neglect toddler to the point of death and sit in jail for 7 months? Murderer gets life in prison? Embezzle $40-plus million from a bank and you get 10 years? If you make the punishments fit the crimes, maybe American tax dollars will be spent on something useful, such as more law enforcement, rather than giving people who deserve nothing the basic necessities of life. Rehabilitation? How many incarcerated individuals are repeat offenders? Why do we have to foot the bill to keep people who could care less about anyone but themselves alive with the rare chance they get released to be a decent human being? How many people have fled the pre-release centers this year? Quit making excuses for these people! Let the victims decide their fate. I'm ashamed to be a human. I don't want my children growing up in this unnecessary chaos. The government battling the human rights activists make the justice system everything but fair. As long as you sleep at night, who cares? Why should "free citizens" have to worry about criminals violating our safety because tax dollars are keeping low life individuals alive instead of paying law enforcement to do their job? The US Customs and Border Patrol is being plagued by a committee of vultures, as hundreds of the scavenger birds have taken over a Texas radio tower, creating a safety hazard and interrupting its communication abilities. The problem is so bad that the agency recently had to submit a Request for Information to find options for a 'Vulture Deterrence System' for the fixed radio tower that it operates in Kingsville, Texas. In the document, the agency says that about 300 vultures 'have built up and are roosting and nesting' on the railings, catwalks, supports and rails of the radio tower. The US Customs and Border Patrol has been plagued by hundreds of vultures nesting on one of its radio towers in Texas (pictured). About 300 vultures are said to be roosting on the tower CBP said the vultures first started roosting on the radio tower (shown) six years ago and won't leave. But they do leave behind droppings and vomit, which is a safety hazard for workers The birds are said be to leaving behind large quantities of feces, mixed with urine, all over the surface and interior of the tower, as well as on the ground below, which workers then come in contact with. 'Since the presence of birds attract more birds this rural tower will be a frequent and constant target for vultures,' the RFI states. Pictures attached to the document paint an eerie scene as a multitude of vultures can be seen perched on almost every rung of the approximately 320-foot-tall radio tower as it soars into the grey sky. A CBP spokesperson told CNN that the vultures began roosting on the tower more than six years ago and just won't leave. The spokesperson said that the vultures 'often defecate and vomit' onto the buildings that house both CBP employees and equipment. 'There are anecdotes about birds dropping prey from a height of three-hundred feet, creating a terrifying and dangerous situation for those concerned,' the spokesperson said. The CBP says that the vultures not only defecate on the radio tower and the structures below, but also vomit onto the ground below while roosting on the tower (file image) The CBP is looking for netting options that would cover the radio tower (pictured) and keep the vultures off of it. The CBP wants the netting installed by August, before roosting period begins Between the droppings, vomit and potential of being hit by falling food, the vultures roosting on the CBP radio tower are 'generally creating a safety hazard,' the spokesperson said. Additionally, Quartz reports that the corrosive vomit that vulture regurgitate as a defense mechanism eats away at the metal used to build the radio towers, making it unsafe for maintenance workers and also reducing its lifespan. The CBP's Request for Information is seeking information about 'viable and proven netting solutions' that would keep the vultures off the towers, without creating too much noise or 'visual deterrents' to the area. The agency wants information about a net that can be attached to the top of the tower and contour all the way down the structure, while providing two points of access for workers via zippers. Before the netting can be installed, though, the radio tower will have to be cleaned, have rust removed and then be repainted. The CBP is looking to have the netting installed in August, 'before the natural heavy vulture roosting period during the fall months.' The Hill reported that CBP is working with Fish and Wildlife, the US Department of Agriculture, environmental experts and the Texas State Historical Preservation Officer on this vulture deterrent endeavor. As vultures are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it's necessary for the birds to be kept off the tower without harming them. Seoul, Jan 11 : Samsung is expected to launch its next-gen Galaxy Fold along with Galaxy S11 or S20 on February 11 at an event in San Francisco and now a new report claims that the next foldable is going to be called Galaxy Bloom. Samsung apparently showcased the device to partners and carriers at a secret meeting held at CES 2020 in Las Vegas. During the meeting, Samsung revealed that its upcoming foldable phone will be called the Galaxy Bloom, news portal androidcentral.com reported recently. The device will be able to record 8K video, and a 5G version will be released in South Korea. Famed leakster Ice Universe had earlier claimed that the upcoming fold may have an "ultra-thin glass display" instead of plastic. The South Korean tech giant had also applied for trademarks in Europe for Samsung Ultra Thin Glass or UTG and according to sources, this will be the material used for its next foldable. The upcoming foldable phone is expected to cost around $1,000. The current Galaxy Fold handset is priced at nearly $2,000 which is not an amount most people are willing to pay and is not accessible to a larger segment of the population. Additionally, tipster Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) recently shared a tweet saying that instead of opting for S11e, S11 and S11+ nomenclature, the company would opt for S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra naming for its flagship series. This means that Galaxy S20 will succeed S10e and S20+ will succeed S10. In terms of specifications, the upcoming smartphones will use an Exynos 990 in some markets and a Snapdragon 865 in the majority of markets. The base variant, that is, Galaxy S20 is expected to feature a 6.2-inch screen, S20+ is expected to sport a 6.7-inch screen. Meanwhile, the top variant Galaxy 20 Ultra is likely to come with a 6.9-inch screen. One reason for that, of course, is that in the patriarchal priority list, womens sexual violation is a blot on the khandan, acid attack not quite. The writers have not so much cast Deepika as Laxmi, but have cast Laxmi, the girl who wanted to compete in Indian Idol, as a Bollywood heroine. Rating: Cast: Deepika Padukone, Vikrant Massey, Madhurjeet Sarghi Director: Meghna Gulzar With a big-ticket commercial star at its centre, Meghna Gulzars Chhapaak carefully walks a razor sharp line to mainstream a brutal crime against women that has been lingering in the margins not just of the criminal justice system, but also of peoples collective rage. Chhapaak tells the real-life story of Laxmi Agarwal who was attacked with acid at the age of 15, by 32-year-old Naeem Khan in 2005 with palpable sensitivity and clarity of purpose. Along with Laxmis story, Chhapaak chronicles this heinous crime against women that is unique to patriarchal, feudal societies, including India, and is particularly grisly in its intent and impact. Yet, it is not talked about with the seethe and tear that accompanies rape. One reason for that, of course, is that in the patriarchal priority list, womens sexual violation is a blot on the khandan, acid attack not quite. But beyond that, perhaps the reason why its not talked about enough is not because people are insensitive to it, but because the sheer barbarity of it, the unimaginable pain inflicted makes people freeze with horror. And words especially of sympathy feel entirely inadequate, rude even. Chhapaak is extraordinary and significant because it gently, and with dignity, breaks the ice. It makes us see the victims of acid attack, and helps begin a dialogue. Meghnas feminism and composure as director, complemented with Deepika Padukones warm performance, and Clover Woottons makeup have forever changed how acid attacks and its victims will be viewed and talked about in this country. Deepika Padukone, a Bollywood A-lister around whose beauty several films have been constructed, deserves a bravery award for taking the risk of playing an acid attack victim. She brings her heart and infectious charm to her character and, in some moments, when she taps inside herself and into Laxmis experience, we see both, vulnerability and quiet determination. There are also moments when her eyes twinkle as she breaks into a life-embracing smile, giving us a glimpse of the adorable and formidable Laxmi. In those moments, Deepika touches you. But those moments are few. Mostly she remains Deepika, despite the incredible prosthetics and makeup. Thats partly the fault of the director, but mostly of the writing (Meghna Gulzar has co-written the film with Atika Chohan). The writers have not so much cast Deepika as Laxmi, but have cast Laxmi, the girl who wanted to compete in Indian Idol, as a Bollywood heroine. And therein lies Chhapaaks flaw. Chhapaak, written in Bollywoods fail-safe template, is too filmy. This story deserved its own narrative tone and style. But Chhapaaks strength is that while it works within that Bollywood song-and-dance template, it is sensitive to what it shows, how it shows it and why. And this balancing act, between commercial compromises and determination to steer clear of demeaning melodrama, is there throughout the film. Chhapaak does not solicit our pity. It does not turn acid attack victims into becharis. It does not goad us to shed tears. Every time there is sanctimonious breathing by an activist, or a patronising comment, or a child screams in shock, or a strangers stare lingers on the face for a second too long, the film flinches with distaste and moves away, never allowing it to turn into self-gratifying pity. But, it does sell acid attack victims a Bollywood dream. While that is cute, it is also cruel. Chhapaak opens in December 2012 Delhi, in the middle of protests against the Nirbhaya rape, and it immediately broaches the topic of acid attacks of the crime and its victims being treated as lesser than rape victims. Amol Dwivedi (Vikrant Massey), who runs an NGO that cares for acid attack victims, is at hand to harangue reporters and remind them of Malti. We meet Malti (Deepika Padukone) and in a quick succession of scenes we see what she is struggling with in her desperate search for a job, some income. Though shes good at her beauty parlour job, she is not a presentable employee. Malti always looks straight at everyone, seeing how she is being seen, and most of the people she approaches for jobs cant get past her face. Shiraz aunty, at whose house her father works, has taken care of her surgeries and helped her with a lawyer, Archana Bajaj (Madhurjeet Sarghi), who is not just fighting her criminal case but has also been pursuing Maltis PIL in the Supreme Court to ban acid. Malti doesnt want to burden Shiraz aunty further and finally lands a job at Amols NGO. Alongside more rounds of plastic surgery, her job, Malti is often in court, not just to prove the accused family friends Bashir Khan and Parveen Sheikh guilty, but also to fight against IPCs Section 326 wherein the maximum jail sentence is just seven years. Running parallel to Maltis attempts to piece together a life for herself are the lives of the culprits proceeding unaffected by the crime they have committed. At the NGO there are often urgent calls to tend to other, new victims of acid attacks, including two sisters who are targeted by upper caste men in their village because they aspired to become software engineers. Amol is forever miffed with the world for not caring enough, not doing enough for acid attack victims. And he is not wrong. But his relentless harangue comes from an egoistic place, he exudes piousness about his cause, and that, in the presence of an acid attack victim, feels obscene. Sometimes Malti tells him off, sometimes she sticks out her tongue at him. Its much later in the film that we see what happened to Malti, in 2005, when she was 19. The flashback is cleverly placed, towards the end, because the film wants us to first meet and see the acid attack victim, and not Deepika. Chhapaak in Hindi means splash, and the films title seeks to convey how, just one splash of acid changes lives forever. But Chhapaak, the poetic, onomatopoeic word, is also a euphemism for a brutal crime, and as is the case with casting Deepika, it seeks to make the unpalatable palatable. Meghna Gulzars Chhapaak shows us the brutality of the assault, but instead of opting for a voyeuristic, invasive gaze, her film opts for heartfelt humanity that sees in the scars and the self-conscious, diffident demeanour of acid attack victims courage, dignity, and a will to live. Chhapaaks greatest feat is that it puts the crime front and centre, making the kyun?, the why, the peering inquiry into the girls, the victims life completely irrelevant. Chhapaak treats acid attacks as violent, criminal acts of men with frail but massive egos, desperate to feel their power by showing a woman her aukat, by punishing her for having dreams and aspirations of her own. With a bottle of acid that costs `30, they try to hold her hostage for life. The film deliberately doesnt pursue the motive of the woman who is a co-accused in Maltis case, suggesting that it is pointless. The evidence of the crime is there for you to see, and that should be enough. While this sensitivity and care burnishes the film, Chhapaaks screenplay is rather sparse and episodic, devoted entirely to its lead star. Whenever Malti is on the screen, the film shines and seems to have a purpose. But when she is not, Chhapaak seems quite uninterested in itself and drags its feet in a half-hearted manner. Luckily, Chhapaak is short and what stays with you after the film is over is Deepikas brave act, Vikrant Masseys stunning ability to be an amalgamation of many characters and emotions at the same time, and the girls acid attack victims who struggle, fail, who dont understand why this happened to them, who seek justice but also a sliver of normal life. And that sliver sometimes comes with the reconstruction of a melted ear on which an earring can dangle, its happy swing lighting up not just their face, but our insides too. Oman Air has taken a major step forward in its growth and service, debuting its first codeshare flights connecting Oman and the US, which streamline travel from Muscat to New York and Miami, via Milan, through its partnership with Air Italy. Additional US destinations, which are expected to be announced in the coming months, are anticipated to be added in time for the summer season. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Oman Air CEO, commented: This is a noteworthy development for Oman Air and an excellent way to start another strong year for the Sultanates airline. These flights make it considerably quicker and easier for our guests to reach these popular U.S. destinations and for people in these cities to visit Oman." We look forward to welcoming more business and leisure travellers to the Sultanate and help our guests rediscover the joys of travelling in style to and from these international centres of trade, tourism and culture," he said. Under the initial agreement, which was established in December 2019, Air Italys IG code was placed on Oman Airs flights between Milan Malpensa and Muscat. At the same time, Oman Air put its WY code on Air Italy flights between Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino, Naples, Cagliari (Sardinia), Palermo and Catania (Sicily) and Lamezia Terme (Calabria). Oman Air operates 10 round-trip flights each week to Milans Malpensa Airport, with daily service to the Italian city. Air Italy offers daily round-trip flights from Milan to New York and six flights per week from Milan to Miami, all using Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft. - TradeArabia News Service SANDY, Utah, Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain America Credit Union, in partnership with Operation Warm, gifted 500 brand-new winter coats to students at Utah Title 1 schools. Today, Mountain America employees distributed coats to 400 students at Newman Elementary in Rose Park, Utah. An additional 100 coats will be distributed to Utah kids in need at other Title 1 schools. In Utah, more than 10% of children are living in poverty. Operation Warm provides warmth, confidence, and hope to children in need through the gift of brand-new winter coats. The gift of a new coat has a multiplier effect, allowing children to get to school on cold days, and in turn, succeed at school. The children we serve rarely are given anything that is brand new, says Michael Andrews, Operation Warm manager of partnerships for Inter-Mountain West. They arent given the opportunity to walk into a store and have someone buy them their favorite brand-new coat. A brand-new coat is important because it is more than just a coat. It not only provides warmth, but it also provides confidence and hope for that child. They deserve to know that feeling. Mountain America is pleased to gift hundreds of new coats to Utah kids this winter through our support of Operation Warm, says Sterling Nielsen, president and chief executive officer at Mountain America Credit Union. A new warm coat boosts self-esteem and helps kids get to school during the cold months, allowing them to succeed academically and socially. Thank you, Operation Warm, for the significant impact you are making in our community. About Mountain America Credit Union With more than 870,000 members and $9 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union assists members on the right path to help them identify and achieve their financial dreams. Mountain America provides consumers and businesses with a variety of convenient, flexible products and services, as well as sound, timely advice. Members enjoy access to secure, cutting-edge mobile banking technology, over 95 branches across five states, thousands of shared-branching locations nationwide and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Mountain Americaguiding you forward. Learn more at macu.com . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d25b93f-d4f6-47cc-a9e1-e0098cf3f176. Bill Clinton has used the reopening of the Northern Ireland assembly to make a thinly-veiled dig at Brexit. The former US President waded into British politics today by telegraphing his concern that the country's divorce from the EU could unravel the peacekeeping efforts of the Good Friday Agreement. During his time in the White House, he was instrumental in brokering talks between the unionist and nationalist sides which eventually led to the 1998 Accords that paved the way for stability after the Troubles. The flagship element of this deal was the creation of the Assembly in Stormont, which sat today for the first time since 2017 following a new power-sharing agreement brought to the table by a British government exasperated with the three-year stalemate between Sinn Fein and the DUP. As the previously warring parties agreed a compromise, President Clinton tweeted: 'I care deeply about the people of Northern Ireland, and I'm thankful their leaders are coming together in the spirit of the Good Friday Accords to stand-up the Executive and restore the government functions that people of all communities require. Bill Clinton has used the reopening of the Northern Ireland assembly to make a thinly-veiled dig at Brexit (pictured speaking in Limerick in 1998) First Minister Arlene Foster and party colleagues are pictured as politicians in Northern Ireland returned to the Stormont Assembly Former US President Bill Clinton, who was a major supporter of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, welcomed today's development, although he urged caution with Brexit claiming it must 'respect the Good Friday Accords and the sacrifice and vision of so many people, more than two decades ago' During his time in the White House, he was instrumental in brokering talks between the unionist and nationalist sides which eventually led to the 1998 Accords that paved the way for stability after the Troubles (pictured with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in the 1990s) 'I remain hopeful that Brexit will respect the Good Friday Accords and the sacrifice and vision of so many people, more than two decades ago.' President Clinton, who served as a Democrat in the Oval Office between 1993 and 2001, worked closely with Prime Minister Tony Blair to bring about the agreement which is widely believed to be one of his greatest foreign policy achievements. Since the 2016 Leave vote, he has warned of the impacts of Brexit, especially on Northern Ireland. Speaking in 2018 he said Brexit could 'consign one of the greatest nations in human history to a smaller role just so the people who have historically been in control can stay there'. Under Boris Johnson's Brexit withdrawal deal, which sailed through the Commons with the backing of his hefty post-election majority, there will be no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic - but this will mean Northern Ireland will remain partially aligned with the EU on certain areas. After Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith guaranteed a new power-sharing agreement called New Decade, New Approach between Sinn Fein and the DUP, the mothballed Stormont Assembly reopened and appointed ministers today. DUP leader Arlene Foster resumes the first minister role she lost when the last coalition executive collapsed in 2017 while Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill has become deputy first minister. Despite the titles, both offices hold equal status in the ministerial executive. Ms Foster said she was 'deeply humbled'. The DUP leader said there was plenty of blame to go around for the three-year powersharing impasse but she insisted it was now time to look to the future. Former Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, left, with current party leader Mary Lou McDonald in Stormont today Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party has been appointed Justice Minister in the reconvened Northern Ireland assembly The Ulster Unionist Party, pictured, has agreed to participate in the devolved government Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster, pictured, is likely to be First Minister Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill, pictured right, will likely be Deputy First Minister Significantly, given one of the key disputes at the heart of political crisis, Ms Foster made reference to an Irish language phrase in a speech that stressed the need to work together going forward. 'When I visited Our Lady's Grammar in Newry, the pupils gave me a lovely picture as a gift,' she said. 'It has hung in my office upstairs ever since, just above my shoulder. In Irish, it states: 'Together, we are strong'. 'We have many differences. Michelle's narrative of the past 40 years could not be more different to mine. 'I'm not sure we will ever agree on much about the past, but we can agree there was too much suffering, and that we cannot allow society to drift backwards and allow division to grow. 'Northern Ireland is succeeding in many ways. It's time for Stormont to move forward and show that 'together we are stronger' for the benefit of everyone.' Ms O'Neill said it was a 'defining moment' for the region. 'After three years without functioning institutions with the five parties forming the new Executive, it is my hope that we do so united in our determination to deliver a stable power-sharing coalition that works on the basis of openness, transparency and accountability, and in good faith and with no surprises,' she said. 'I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of my dear friend and comrade Martin Mc Guinness taking up the position of deputy first minister, and as joint head of Government I too pledge to follow the example of Martin by actively promoting reconciliation, and building bridges we can all cross to end sectarianism and bigotry.' All five of the main parties will form the region's new powersharing executive. Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey, pictured left, has been elected speaker of the new Assembly The UK government has committed to a 'major investment package' to mark the resumption of the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont, pictured Moments before business resumed at Parliament Buildings at lunchtime, the Ulster Unionist Party confirmed it will take up a ministry in the coalition executive while the Alliance Party said it had accepted an invite to fill the justice ministry. They will join the DUP, Sinn Fein and SDLP in the administration. It marks a significant development as the last executive prior to Stormont's collapse in 2017 did not include the three smaller parties. After the landmark deal to restore devolution, the Assembly has returned three years on from the acrimonious collapse of the institutions. Powersharing returned after the DUP and Sinn Fein, the region's two largest parties, agreed to re-enter a mandatory coalition ministerial executive. They have both signed up to a deal, tabled by the UK and Irish governments, that offered compromise resolutions to a range of long-standing disputes on issues such as the Irish language. The endorsement of the two parties was essential for the formation of an executive, as peace process structures mean an administration can only function if it includes the largest unionist party and largest nationalist party. Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey had been elected as the new speaker of the Assembly. The rest of the new ministerial executive will be elected later on Saturday afternoon. The plenary session is scheduled to last for three-and-a-half hours. The 'New Decade, New Approach' deal will also be accompanied by what the UK Government has promised will be a major investment package. Government funding is set to help tackle a host of acute problems facing a public sector that has been floundering amid the governance vacuum. One of the most high-profile of those is an industrial dispute in the health service that has seen nurses take strike action on three occasions in the last month. Under the terms of the deal, the new executive will also take action to reduce spiralling hospital waiting lists; extend mitigation payments for benefit claimants hit by welfare reforms; increase the number of police officers on the beat; and resolve an industrial dispute involving teachers. The last DUP/Sinn Fein-led coalition government collapsed in January 2017 over a row about a botched green energy scheme. That row subsequently widened to take in more traditional wrangles on matters such as the Irish language and the thorny legacy of the Troubles. However, hardline unionist Jim Allister criticised today's developments. His Traditional Unionist Voice party is opposed to the powersharing government. He said: 'I get it that people are desperate to have their health service fixed, but I will not join in the pretence that an Executive, which can only exist by the grace and favour of a party that doesn't want Northern Ireland to exist, will bring them the stability that they crave. 'I also remind the public that the present health crisis was made in Stormont. 'It was the Executive which broke with pay parity for nurses, it was the Executive that reduced the number of beds in our hospitals. 'Of course you're only here today because of a double blackmail. Blackmail of a Secretary of State who says 'I have the money to fix the health service but I won't give it unless there is an Executive'. 'A Secretary of State who shamelessly put the life of an Executive above the life of the sick. 'And of course the blackmail of Sinn Fein that you can only have a government if you pay the ransom that they demand.' Naomi Long of the Alliance Party is the Northern Ireland Assembly's new Justice Minister. Speaking after her nomination she said: 'The deal which the governments have put forward is imperfect, I think all of us recognise that it is a compromise on the positions that each of the parties has taken in the negotiations. 'But we cannot ask others to do what we are not willing to do ourselves and on balance I believe that it is an honourable compromise and that if implemented with good will and if implemented in a spirit of co-operation and inclusion, can form the basis on which we can deliver improved government for the people here in Northern Ireland. 'There is optimism outside this place, it would be perhaps overstating our position as one that is optimistic, we are realistic about the prospects of this agreement. She added: 'There is a lot of work to be done, but we are also determined that it will succeed and we will play whatever role we can in ensuring that it does.' KABUL, AFGHANISTANA roadside bomb attack in Kandahar province has left two American service members dead and two wounded, the U.S. military command in Kabul said in a statement Saturday. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack through a post on Twitter. The attack comes as formal peace talks between U.S. and Taliban negotiators are stalled, with U.S. negotiators demanding a reduction in violence before a deal can be signed. In December, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, announced a brief pause in negotiations after the Taliban launched a complex attack on the highly fortified Bagram air base. Since then formal talks have been on hold, but some negotiations have occurred on the sidelines. Ataullah Ata, a member of the Kandahar provincial council, said the attack occurred in the Dand district and left the American vehicle completely destroyed. Ata said U.S. forces based at Kandahar air base regularly patrol nearby villages, including in the Dand district. He said the scene of Saturdays attack had been cordoned off by American forces, and no more details were available. Kandahar has experienced an overall drop in violence in recent years according to Baher Ahmadi, a spokesman for the governor, but Ata said sporadic clashes occur with the Taliban in six of the provinces 17 districts. Overall in Afghanistan, violence has increased in recent months as both sides attempt to leverage battlefield gains at the negotiating table. On Wednesday, U.S. forces carried out an airstrike in Herat targeting a commander of a Taliban splinter faction that resulted in civilian casualties, according to local media reports. A spokesman for the American military command in Kabul confirmed a U.S. airstrike was conducted in that area on that day and described it as a coordinated defensive airstrike in support of Afghan forces. The spokesman did not provide further details. A peace agreement with the Taliban would pave the way for the withdrawal of thousands of American troops from Afghanistan, a key campaign promise U.S. President Donald Trump wants to keep. But the president and his commanders do not want it to appear as though they were being pushed out of Afghanistan by the Taliban or any other foe following 18 years of war. A draft peace agreement reached in September included a pledge from the Taliban not to harbour terrorist groups, in exchange for the U.S. troop withdrawal. However, Trump scuttled that deal after an American service member was killed in a Taliban attack in Kabul. On Dec. 22, a U.S. Special Forces soldier was killed in Kunduz province also by a roadside bomb. The death brought the number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan in 2019 to 20, more than any other year since 2014. Read more about: Upcoming ARISS contact with Sayama Mizutomi Community Center, Sayama, Japan An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Sayama Mizutomi Community Center, Sayama, Japan on 13 Jan. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:58 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and 8J1SS. The contact should be audible over Japan and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The Mizutomi Community Center is located in the center of the Mizutomi area in the northwestern part of the Sayama city, and is a community center surrounded by greenery where colorful carp swim. This Center has Mizutomi elementary school, Hirose elementary school and Nishi junior high school in area. The center gathers students of those schools and performs various events. Recently, we have held a training course for amateur license. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. How did you feel when you got to space? 2. Do you feel hot or cold in the space station? 3. What is the most beautiful place on Earth that you can see from the space station? 4. How fast are you moving now? 5. Can you see rainbows in space, if so what do they look like? 6. How do astronauts navigate space, find positions and directions? 7. Can you see meteor showers from the i.s.s.? 8. Do you have animals in the ISS now? 9. Do you see morning or night from the space station? 10. When and how do you contact your family? 11. How do you wash yourself in space? 12. Why did you become an astronaut? 13. What is the most crucial thing for astronauts? 14. In space what has been a difficult work for you? 15. What space food do you like the most? 16. Are there any other food but space food. 17. Can you see a super nova from ISS? 18. Do you want your own house in space? 19. What do you want to do first when you return to Earth? 20. In space, what has surprised you the most? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status About ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN A nine-year-old boy who had fled from his home in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur city was rescued from near Clock Tower on Friday. Peeved with his fathers scolding, the boy had boarded a train to Ludhiana and reached the city on Wednesday. On Saturday, the boy was sent to Sri Bala Ji Prem Ashram, Lalton Kalan, in Ludhiana on the instructions of the District Child Welfare Committee. Arshdeep Singh, co-ordinator, Childline, Ludhiana, said on Friday, they received an alert from a city resident on the helpline number 1098 about the boy. During counselling, the boy revealed that his father had scolded him a few days ago. Upset due to this, he boarded a train from Kanpur and reached Ludhiana on Wednesday, Arshdeep said. He said after reaching the Ludhiana railway station, the boy walked out of the station premises and approached some people near Clock Tower for help. As the child was distressed and crying, and unable to share any details, the people he approached took him to their house. Eventually, when he revealed that he had come from Kanpur, they alerted the Childline helpline on Friday, the coordinator said. He said following this, they informed the Division Number 1 station house officer (SHO), who got the boy medically examined and notified the District Child Welfare Committee. He added that the Ludhiana police had notified their counterparts in Kanpur to trace the boys parents. Arshad Khan By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Despite a host of year-end discounts on passenger vehicles (PVs), its sales declined 1.2 per cent to 235,786 units in December, according to the data released by SIAM. Total auto sales during the month declined by over 13 per cent to 1,405,776 units as demand for two-wheelers and commercial vehicles (CVs) remained bleak. Reeling under major slowdown for over a year now, Indias auto industry recorded its worst-ever sales decline in two decades in 2019. According to the data, overall auto sales in 2019 declined by 13.77 per cent at 2,30,73,438 units as against 2,67,58,787 units in 2018. ALSO READ | Passenger vehicle sales decline 1.24 per cent in December The association informed that this is the worst fall in sales since it started recording monthly and yearly sales data in 1997. The previous lowest was recorded in 2007 when overall sales dipped by 1.44 per cent. The year was also unique as all vehicle segments reported de-growth on the back of weak rural demand and slowdown in economic activity. Going forward these factors along with transition to BS-VI emission norms from April 1, 2020 will impact demand for automobiles, said Rajan Wadhera, president, SIAM. While we have seen some recovery, a lot will depend on future GDP growth. If GDP grows at and over 6 per cent from now, there would be some recovery in demand for automobiles, especially for commercial vehicles, Wadhera said. ALSO READ | Tata Nano ends 2019 with zero production, sale of 1 unit He added that prices of BS-VI compliant CVs can go up by 8-10 per cent and prices of BS-VI complaint PVs can go up by 3-7 per cent. Most automakers will be passing this increased cost to consumers. We have seen when prices go up to this extent, demand is impacted. The government should lower Goods and Services Tax so that auto sales do not get affected, Wadhera said. Coming to December figures, car sales fell 8.4 per cent to 1,42,126 units as against 1,55,159 units in December 2018, while two-wheeler sales in declined 16.6 per cent to 10,50,038 units compared to 12,59,007 units in the year-ago month. On Oct. 18, 2019, the honorable Robert Lighthizer turned our small wine importing business upside-down. I recognize that European wines, particularly French wines, are an easy target. And surely there are more pressing matters facing our nation than having choices about which wine to drink at dinner. But the imposition of 25% ad valorem duties on many of the products we import, with threatened increases of up to 100% tariffs looming on the near horizon, has rippled through our industry and presented a highly intimidating and dangerous scenario for American small businesses. Since 1979, our company has been built on the steady and long-standing trade relationship between France and the U.S. These days our team comes to work deeply unsure about how to proceed and where to place our finite and hard-won resources. In the matters of large civil aircraft and Frances digital services tax, President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer have taken fierce aim at the wholly unrelated wine and hospitality industry. In the imposition of tariffs, it is American importers not European producers that pay these sums when the goods arrive at port. These steep price increases would ultimately need to be passed on to consumers if importers continue to bring in the wines at all. In response to these actions, many of the European suppliers that we work with and speak with daily dont plan to lobby their governments to correct inconsistencies in the civil aircraft and digital services spaces. Instead they will simply focus on other European markets and certainly to Asia with its growing demand for these unique and irreplaceable products. France doesnt get punished in this scenario: American companies, American workers and American consumers do. Some have proposed that we just sell American wines instead. Setting aside the distinct variations of wines from every part of the world for which there are simply no substitutes, I can tell you from my experience (as an entrepreneur, as the daughter of entrepreneurs and as the wife of an entrepreneur) that its just not that easy to take a small business thats been operating for 40 years and pivot it overnight. While there are a few large players in the U.S. wine distribution space, the network and related industry is vastly composed of independently owned small- to medium-sized businesses in every state. These businesses are importers, wholesalers, restaurants and retailers whose revenues and margins will be quickly diminished by the continued and potential tariff actions. In addition to potential retaliatory tariffs, American wineries will soon have fewer options for working their products through our tiered distribution system into the hands of consumers. There are surely accomplished sommeliers and wine professionals among our small team, and we are fortunate to have access to wines of great quality. We are also a team of warehouse workers, accountants, parents and grandparents and ex-military alike. We employ staff throughout California, Washington, Georgia, Illinois, New York and New Jersey. In 2019, our company paid over $160,000 in health care expenses and contributed over $70,000 to 401(k) plans for our participating employees. Quite modest numbers compared to many businesses out there, but ones that I share openly as I worry about how the numbers will start to add up. Continued and increased tariffs will undoubtedly bring real economic harm to our community of businesses and workers around our country. If European countries and particularly France are behaving badly, I support the ambassadors efforts to investigate these practices and enforce our rights. But there must be a way to do so that is less terrifying to American small businesses and less antithetical to our American values and the American dream. Kate Laughlin is co-owner of Martines Wines, a national importing and distribution business in Novato. UIA will make all payments in accordance with international rules Open source Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) will provide social benefits and compensation to families of those killed in the Boeing 737 air crash in Tehran. UIA President Evgeny Dykhne stated this during a briefing. All compensations and insurance payments that are defined by law and are in the airlines area of responsibility will be carried out in accordance with all international rules and the insurance contracts that we have, - said Dykhne. He also added that UIA supports the position of Volodymyr Zelensky regarding compensation from Iran. As we reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in a telephone conversation on Saturday agreed to involve French experts in deciphering the "black boxes" of a Ukrainian plane. The U.N. Security Council committee on sanctions against North Korea has approved applications by two aid agencies to commence humanitarian activities in the reclusive state, its website showed Saturday, in the first such approval this year On Tuesday, the committee gave the green light to Doctors Without Borders and the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit that have applied to take items to the North that are required for emergency medical support and repairs to a drinking water supply system, respectively. Under the sanctions exemptions that will remain valid for six months, Doctors Without Borders can take 65 items, including medical microscopes, ambulances and tuberculosis diagnosis kits, to the North. Detailed items the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit are allowed to bring were not made public. (Yonhap) Cambodia awarded the Royal Order of Sahametrei to former Brigadier General Hoang The Thien for his great contributions to the development of the friendship of the two nations, during a solemn ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday. Former Brigadier General Hoang The Thien (1922-1995) was Vietnams former deputy defense minister between 1977 and 1982. Between 1978 and 1982, Thien came to Cambodia for an international mission as head of a delegation of Vietnamese military experts to the neighboring country. The dedication of the Royal Order of Sahametrei to former Brigadier General Hoang The Thien was made at the request of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdec Techo Hun Sen and approved by the Cambodian monarch. Speaking at Fridays ceremony, the Cambodian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Sok Dareth hailed Thien as a hero and a brother of Cambodian people. On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Cambodian Consul General expressed his deep thanks to the Party, the State, the Vietnamese people, and former Brigadier General Hoang The Thien for their contributions to Cambodia's victory over the genocidal regime of Pol Pot, and to Cambodian development. Hoang Anh Thi, a representative of Thien's family who received the Royal Order of Sahametrei on his behalf, said that the late major generals family feel honored and proud that he is remembered with the recognition. The Royal Order of Sahametrei is a chivalric order conferred by the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia. It is conferred primarily on foreigners who have rendered distinguished services to the King and to the people of Cambodia, particularly in the field of external relations and diplomatic services or, as a token of friendship. It is the first time that the Kingdom of Cambodia has awarded such a high honor to a Vietnamese for his great contributions to the country and people of Cambodia. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Yves here. I understand the desire of Americans to be able to re-import drugs from Canada. But this is at best an interim strategy, since meaningful orders from Canada could easily cause problems with supplies for Canadians and could thus lead the Canadian government to restrict or bar shipments to the US. The point would be to pressure the US government to do what every other advanced economy government does: negotiate drug prices. The fact that we dont when the US provides so much R&D support to Big Pharma is, as Lambert would say, wonderfully clarifying. By Thom Hartmann, a talk-show host and the author of The Hidden History of the War on Voting and more than 25 other books in print. His most recent project is a science podcast called The Science Revolution. He is a writing fellow at the Independent Media Institute Produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute. Big Pharma spends a small fortune every year buying politicians to make sure we cant import prescription drugs from Canada, but theyre more than happy to sell us contaminated medications from countries with weak manufacturing controls and exploitable labor that ensure high profit margins. A toxic compound that doesnt belong anywhere near medicine known as NDMA was first discovered in some blood pressure medications in 2018, and the FDA issued an alert and wrote a complaint letter to the raw materials supplier to Big Pharma companies. It turns out the meds follow the very common pattern of being made in India with raw ingredients coming from China. And they are sold by big companies for obscenely high prices to U.S. consumers. More recently, NDMA contamination provoked a nationwide recall of the popular anti-heartburn medication Zantac and all its generic versions. And now the worlds most widely prescribed drug of all, which is used to treat and prevent Type 2 diabetes called metformin, is contaminated with NDMA. NDMA (N-Nitrosodimethylamine) is, according to the World Health Organization, produced by the degradation of dimethylhydrazine (a component of rocket fuel) as well as from several other industrial processes. It is also a contaminant of certain pesticides. And its one of the worlds most potent carcinogens, at least for humans and other mammals. Our livers produce an enzyme that converts it to methyldiazonium that then leads to O6-methylguanine, both of which alter a process at the cellular level called methylation that is a cancer turbocharger. Because its such a potent biological agent, NDMA is also extremely poisonous; a Chinese medical student put a few drops in his roommates water and killed him. Ditto for a Canadian grad student, who injected it into a colleagues apple pie. Its so poisonous that the FDA has set the acceptable amount for human daily intake at 96 nanograms, or 0.000096 of 1 milligram (a single grain of salt is about a milligram). In some of the generic brands of the blood pressure medication, just one tablet was found to have NDMA levels almost 20 times higher than the acceptable 96 nanograms, and nearly all were drugs that are taken daily. Once it gets into groundwater, NDMA is wicked hard to get out, as citizens of numerous California cities found out in the late 1990s. Its miscibility (rapid solubility) with water is extreme, meaning that a few drops of it rapidly spreads through miles of underground aquifers or other water supplies in a matter of hours or days at most. Because of this, its nearly impossible to isolate the contamination once it happens, the only solution then being radical and expensive water treatment everywhere in the aquafer, principally using ultraviolet light. Ever since 1987 when Congress and the Reagan administration cut a corrupt deal with Big Pharma to ban the retail import of pharmaceuticals into the U.S., Democrats have pushed to allow Americans to get their prescription drugs from other countries when theyre too expensive here (which is nearly always the case; we pay about twice as much for drugs as any other country in the world). In 2000, Congress passed a law to allow imported retail drugs, but the Clinton administration, heavily funded by the health care industry, killed it administratively. Nonetheless, progressive Democrats have pushed for years for the elimination of the ban. I first met Bernie Sanders when I lived in Montpelier, Vermont, around the turn of the century and he was organizing busloads of Vermont seniors to travel the two hours to Montreal to fill their prescriptions. And now, in another popular policy position borrowed from progressive Democrats (who have also opposed neoliberal trade deals for decades), the Trump administration is talking about letting American consumers buy drugs from Canada or overseas. The downside of this is that generic drugs sold in Canada are just as likely to be made in India and China, and thus just as contaminated, as drugs sold here. The upside is that because Canadian drugs will be cheaper, some of us can afford to buy the name-brand versions made in Germany, Switzerland or Ireland and sold in Canada, and not worry about getting cancer from NDMA in our generic drugs. (Yes, I mean this sarcastically.) There was a time when virtually all drugs sold in the U.S. were manufactured here, including generics, or in Switzerland and Germany. Congress passed a special tax break for American drug manufacturers whod move their factories to Puerto Rico, and for decades that was the hub of U.S. drug manufacturing. But in past decades neoliberalism has won out, and only a fraction of the pharma facilities in and around San Juan remain in operation. Trump ran on the traditionally Democratic and progressive position of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., a project that progressive senators including Sherrod Brown and Bernie Sanders have worked on their entire modern political careers. Its time to apply it to manufacturing pharmaceuticals or at least insist on global regulations that can protect everyone. New Delhi: Delhi Police Special Cell under Deputy Commissioner Pramod Kumar Singh Kushwaha talks to the media after three ISIS terrorists were arrested following a brief encounter on Wednesday, in New Delhi on Jan 9, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Three ISIS terrorists were arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police after a brief encounter on Wednesday, in New Delhi on Jan 9, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Three ISIS terrorists were arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police after a brief encounter on Wednesday, in New Delhi on Jan 9, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 11 : The three IS militants arrested in the national capital on Thursday have terror links with Syria and Malaysia, police sources said on Saturday. Syria is the stronghold of the ISIS. Zakir Naik, prime accused in carrying out several anti-national activities, has been living in Malaysia for many years after fleeing India. The intentions of the three ISIS-backed terrorists caught by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on Thursday were extremely dangerous. "Police teams of different states including Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana are interrogating the three militants arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police. The interrogation is underway in the presence of officers of R&AW and IB," a team member of Delhi Police Special Cell, who arrested the three terrorists during an encounter in northeast Delhi's Wazirabad, told IANS on Saturday. To nab the militants, five to six teams of Delhi Police Special Cell under Deputy Commissioner Pramod Kumar Singh Kushwaha were formed. The teams had been looking for the terrorists in Tamil Nadu and the Nepal-India border for the last few months. They also traced the calls of these terrorists many times. The well-trained terrorists did not stay in any city for more than two-three days, said sources. Sources said that the conversations about "Zakir Naik" and "Syria" alarmed the Delhi Police Special Cell teams. They arrested the IS terrorists in Wazirabad on Thursday. "Under influence of Zakir Naik, one of the arrested terrorists even shaved off his beard. They were planning a major terror attack in India to impress IS," a member of the police team told IANS on the condition of anonymity on Friday. The three suspects, identified as Khaja Moideen (52), Syed Ali Navas (32), and Abdul Samad (28), are also accused in the murder of KP Suresh Kumar, a Hindu leader. After being released on bail, they had fled in mysterious circumstances and wanted to get in touch with Zakir Naik and IS leaders. 11.01.2020 LISTEN Four Chinese Nationals have been arrested by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) at Nyinahin Kyekyewere in the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region for engaging in illegal mining. This follows a routine intelligence-led operation conducted by the Monitoring and Evaluation Team of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) under the auspices of Staff sergeant Francis Assibi Abu. On Wednesday, January 8, 2020, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) monitoring and evaluation team (GalamSTOP) conducted operation catwalk within the environs of Nyinahin Kyekyewere in Atwima Mponua District. At the end of the operation, the four Chinese illegal miners were arrested for settling in and preparing to perform illegal mining activities. The suspects have been handed over to the Obuasi Central Police Command together with their tools and equipment. After confiscating a scale, carpets, 2 Batteries, 3 handsets and Grease, the police are expected to investigate and prosecute the suspects in their custody. Speaking to the media, Sergeant Francis Assibi Abu who led the operation said the IMCIM is committed to weeding out all illegal operatives from the mining industry to save the country's water bodies from being contaminated. The IMCIM team remains focused in sanitizing the illegal mining sector, he observed. He further indicated that the committee has re-strategized to combat the crime since the miscreants continue to adopt sophisticated methods to outwit them. Sergeant Assibi Abu advised all unseen hands aiding the Chinese to stop in their own interest before the law catches up with them. In six seconds, two skyscrapers were reduced to rubble through controlled implosion in Kochi on Saturday in one of the largest demolition drives in the country for flouting Coastal Zone Regulation norms. The first to knockdown was the H20 Holy Faith complex, a 19-floor building with 91 apartments, and after half an hour Alfa Serene with 67 houses on 17 floors was pulled down. Both flats are situated within a 500-metre radius. Thousands of people assembled in Maradu, in the suburbs of the port city, to witness what they called a jaw-dropping spectacle. Other than a portion of the second complex slipping into flanking backwaters, no other damage was reported, officials said, adding, the successful operation was an engineering prowess. Two more apartment complexes, Jain Coral Cove and Golden Kayaloram, will be demolished in a similar way on Sunday. After a long litigation, the Supreme Court had ordered the demolition of these four flats last May. In September, it gave an ultimatum to the state government after summoning the chief secretary. In all, at least 800,000 square-feet area will be demolished in two days. It was a successful operation. Planned debri was contained in the building complex itself. In the second building (Alpha Serene), a small portion landed in the water body and that was intended to save other houses flanking the apartment, said Ernakulam district collector S Suhas. Everything went according to our plan. It was a foolproof operation, said Utkarsh Mehta, managing director, Edifice Engineering, one of the firms involved in the demolition process. Firemen used water cannons to control dust and fumes that enveloped the whole area of the Maradu complexes after both buildings came down. People were kept at least 200 metres away from the blast locations and Navy helicopters had an aerial view minutes before the blast. Alfa Serene was surrounded by at least 100 houses and saving them was a big task for officials. It was an ear-splitting explosion. In seconds the building came down like a pack of cards.We could not sleep for the last one month or so. We are happy that the blast did not leave any damage to our dwelling, said Sindhu Benny, who owned a house adjacent to Alfa Serene. Explosives were placed in 1,471 holes in the 70-metre high building H2O, officials of Edifice Engineering said. South Africa-based Jet Demolitions is the other big company involved in the demolition process. A special pooja invoking Lord Ganesha to remove all hurdles was held earlier in the morning to ensure smooth operation, said the companies involved in the operation. Authorities had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to control the surge in the number of onlookers. According to green activists, the demolitions will be a lesson for land encroachers who misuse water bodies and other natural resources. However, many fear the latest demolition drive will trigger a series of such actions. According to experts, the last big demolition drive was in Chennai in 2016 when an 11-floor building was pulled down through controlled implosions. This is the first time such skyscrapers were pulled down through controlled implosions. At least 70,000 tonne of rubble will be there and it will take at least one month to clear the same. Some of the local residents will be allowed to return to their houses after the concrete waste was cleared. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON She recently skied into the New Year in Aspen, Colorado, with beau Scott Disick, 36. And Sofia Richie made sure she caught up with her friends as she was spotted grabbing dinner with a blonde pal at sushi restaurant Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills, Los Angles, on Friday night. The model, 21, looked sensational as she cut a racy figure in a chic leather blazer with red wrap heels for her night out. Stylish: Sofia Richie made sure she caught up with her friends as she was spotted grabbing dinner with a blonde pal at sushi restaurant Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills, Los Angles, on Friday Sofia, who spent the day shopping with friends hitting the fancy XIV Karats store, teamed the items of clothing with black leggings and a skintight high-neck top. The daughter of music legend Lionel Richie styled her blonde locks into a curly blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of glamorous make-up. Sofia appeared in good spirits as she walked hand-in-hand with her female companion who also wore leather. Racy: The model, 21, looked sensational as she cut a racy figure in a chic leather blazer with red wrap heels for her night out Gal pal: Sofia, who spent the day shopping with friends hitting the fancy XIV Karats store, teamed the items of clothing with black leggings and a skintight high-neck top After spending precious family time with beau Scott Disick and his children over New Year, the model made sure she caught up with her friends in town. Richie, 21, and Disick, 36, celebrated the New Year in Aspen with two of his three kids: Mason, 10, and Penelope, seven, that he shares with ex Kourtney Kardashian. The couple have now been dating for more than two-and-a-half years. They were first pictured flirting while in Cannes in May 2017, when she was 18-years old. Glamorous: The daughter of music legend Lionel Richie styled her blonde locks into a curly blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of glamorous make-up Scott and Kourtney's breakup in 2015 hasn't stopped them co-parenting their kids together and collaborating on some projects.They finally called it quits in 2015 after nearly 10-years together. Despite her now regular appearances in Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Richie still holds her own among the powerful reality TV family. She has done major campaigns for brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors and Chanel. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 23:53:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A man and his daughter sustained injuries on Saturday when a booby-trapped motorcycle exploded in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, a war monitor reported. The motorcycle went off in the town of Hajin in the countryside of Deir al-Zour, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UK-based watchdog group said the town is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Hajin came under the occupation of the Islamic State (IS) in 2014. In late November 2017, Hajin became IS' de facto capital after they lost key other areas in Syria and Iraq. On December 28, 2017, the SDF reached Hajin and began a campaign to remove IS. Hajin was captured by the SDF in December 2018. 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The share boost - the biggest single-day advance since 2008 - lifted the group's market capitalisation to more than 18bn. The airline now expects to make a profit after tax of between 950m and 1.05bn in the 12 months to the end of next March. That compares with a previous estimate of between 800m and 900m. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary could earn as much as a 100m share bonus if the carrier's share price exceeds 21 for a period of 28 days between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2024, or if the airline's profits exceed 2bn in any one year up to 2024. The shares were hovering around 16.40 by yesterday afternoon. Ryanair said it had benefited in recent weeks from more close-in bookings at better-than-expected ticket prices. It added that forward bookings for January to April travel were also running 1pc ahead of this time last year. However, Ryanair said that its wholly owned Austria-based carrier Lauda had continued to be hit by price competition. It is expected to make a net loss of about 90m in the current financial year, compared with the less than 80m loss that had been anticipated. Ryanair warned that average fares at the Vienna-headquartered unit were lower than expected over Christmas, despite strong traffic growth and high load factors. "This is a direct result of intense price competition with Lufthansa subsidiaries in both Germany and Austria, who are engaged in below-cost selling," the firm insisted. Lauda now expects to carry 6.5 million passengers in the 12 months to the end of next March, but at average fares that are 15 below budget, according to Ryanair. Last August, Lauda warned staff that it may have to cut jobs unless productivity could be improved and it started making a profit. Just days earlier, Ryanair had reported that its net income in the first quarter of its 2020 financial year had tumbled 21pc to 243m. It also warned that as many as 900 jobs were at risk. The airline has also announced plans to close some bases, as its passenger growth is crimped because of the continued Boeing 737 Max grounding. But Davy Stockbrokers - Ryanair's own broker - said momentum for the carrier into next summer in what is a tight market "will be powerful". By PTI WASHINGTON: Hollywood veteran Martin Sheen participated in a climate change protest here and recited Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's famous poem "Where the Mind Is Without Fear" while addressing the gathering. Sheen was part of "Fire Drill Fridays" the weekly protests against climate change, started by veteran actor Jane Fonda. Lauding Fonda for the campaign, Sheen said, "Clearly, the world will be saved by women. Thank God they outnumber us men." 'Where the mind is without fear, And the head is held high.' Martin Sheen reciting Tagore is something to behold!pic.twitter.com/TPgZdOep1r Amit Varma (@amitvarma) January 11, 2020 In the video of his speech, which is doing the rounds on social media, the "Departed" actor then referred to the verse from Tagore's collection of poems, "Gitanjali". This is not the first time that Sheen has invoked "Where the Mind Is Without Fear". ALSO READ: 'Joker' star Joaquin Phoenix arrested in climate change protest He previously recited the poem in 2016, in a video urging Americans to vote, and to take action in favour of the betterment of their country. The poem, titled "Chitto Jetha Bhoyshunno" in Bengali, was originally published in 1910 and represented Tagore's vision of a new and awakened India. Joaquin Phoenix aka joker, Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen joined @Janefonda full speech at The Fire Drill Friday Protest about the beef and dairy industries and how they have an impact on #climatechange.pic.twitter.com/IaT0acWPog#Tiredearth #ClimateCrisis @GretaThunberg Rebecca Herbert (@RebeccaH2020) January 11, 2020 The English version, also penned by Tagore, came out in 1912 as a part of "Gitanjali". During the protest, Sheen along with "Joker" star Joaquin Phoenix, was arrested by the police Actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Susan Sarandon were also present. According to Variety, Capitol Police said it arrested 147 people who were charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding. All the protestors were later released. Tsai Ing-wen wasted no time in warning communist-ruled China, which views Taiwan as a renegade province, not to try to use threats of force against the self-governed island. Taipei, Taiwan: Taiwan's independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen won a second term in a landslide election victory Saturday, signaling strong support for her tough stance against China. Tsai soundly defeated Nationalist Party candidate Han Kuo-yu with 57.2 percent of the vote to Han's 38.6 percent, with 99.75 percent of precincts' votes counted. She wasted no time in warning communist-ruled China, which views Taiwan as a renegade province, not to try to use threats of force against the self-governed island. Today I want to once again remind the Beijing authorities that peace, parity, democracy and dialogue are the keys to stability," Tsai said. I want the Beijing authorities to know that democratic Taiwan and our democratically elected government will never concede to threats." "I hope that Beijing will show its goodwill," she said. Taiwan has developed its own identity since separating from China during civil war in 1949 but has never declared formal independence. Beijing still claims sovereignty over the island of 23 million people and threatens to use force to seize control if necessary. Given China's efforts to isolate Taiwan during Tsai's first term, her victory will likely bring on still more deadlock and pressure from Beijing, she acknowledged. Tsai said the results of the election proved the Taiwan people are committed to defending their democracy and way of life. Her victory will likely deepen that deadlock and ratchet up pressure from Beijing. The mood was jubilant at the headquarters of Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei, the capital, with supporters cheering as the results were announced. At a gathering in Kaohsiung, where Han is mayor, it was much grimmer, with some wiping away tears. Han, 62, told disappointed supporters in the southern port city of Kaohsiung that he had called to congratulate Tsai on her victory. He vowed to return to his job as mayor with renewed vigor. Months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory, have driven home to many in Taiwan the contrast between their democratically governed island and authoritarian, communist-ruled mainland China. While Han and the Nationalist Party have said Taiwan should be more open to negotiations with China, Tsai and the Democratic Progressive Party insisted that the Hong Kong protests showed the one country, two systems approach Beijing has championed for governing both that former British colony and Taiwan is unworkable. Chinese president Xi Jinping has sought to compel Tsai's government to endorse Beijing's insistence that Taiwan is a part of China. Tsai has refused to do so, maintaining that Beijing has no claim over Taiwan while calling for a reopening talks between the sides without preconditions. Since its transition to full democracy beginning in the 1980s, Taiwan has increasingly asserted its independent identity from China even though it is not recognized by the United Nations or any major nation. The island exercises all the roles of a sovereign nation, issuing its own passports, maintaining its own military and legal system and serving as a crucial hub in the global high-tech supply chain. Tsai also faces challenges in trying to reform the government and economy, create jobs and raise wages. We will work even harder to build on our achievements of the past four years," Tsai said late Saturday. We will constantly remind ourselves our administration must be clean, confident and efficient. She added, Of course we will work to keep our country safe and defend our sovereignty." YEREVAN. Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: Mothers who lost their newborns in different years gathered yesterday in front of the RA Prosecutor General's Office. Of course, all complaints by the parents should be investigated, but in this story it is also important why mothers have been silent for years, often decades. At the same time, the RA Investigative Committee is currently investigating another case involving the adoption of more than three dozen Armenian citizen children by Italian citizens. However, according to Zhoghovurd daily, there is no progress in this regard as they cannot prove that this adoption is illegal. Zhoghovurd daily has learned new details in the criminal case on the adoption of numerous children by foreigners in gross violation of RA legislation. In particular, one of the World Bank officials adopted one of the Armenian children. But who he is, Zhoghovurd daily does not publish, considering the confidentiality of the adoption process. Unravelling the economic factors in Sri Lankas 30-year conflict By Madhubhashini Disanayaka Ratnayake View(s): View(s): Assembling Ethnicities in Neoliberal Times: Ethnographic Fictions and Sri Lankas War by Nimanthi Perera- Rajasingham, published by Northwestern University Press, USA, in October 2019, is an important contribution to the discussion of what forces were at work during the 30-year conflict between the Sinhala and Tamil ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. Like the recent work of Rajesh Venugopal, Perera-Rajasingham too locates economic powers at work namely neoliberalism or the free market economy introduced to Sri Lanka in 1977 by the UNP government that can control and even decide the outcome of particular conflicts. Since the economic factor is not discussed much when ethnic formations are arrayed against each other, be it by the government forces or the guerrilla army fighting against it, it seems all the more important that this factor be looked at, especially since Sri Lankan ethnic communities do not seem to have moved much forward in the path of understanding each other. She discusses this intertwining through her analysis of some works of art and literature what she calls ethnographic fictions and her book is a fascinating laying bare of intertwined factors easily overlooked in the heat of passionate ethnic loyalties. Nimanthi Perera-Rajasingham is an Assistant Professor of English at Colgate University. What made you look at the part that economic factors neoliberalism plays in ethnic conflict? My book is an exploration of how racism or ethno-nationalism,on the one hand,and capitalism, or neoliberalism are intertwined. This is what scholars in different contexts refer to as racial capitalism. In mapping their entanglements in one another, I move away from any understanding that one sphere is more important or more real than the other, but rather focus on how each channels the pathways of the others development in Sri Lanka. I think what my book also adds to existing scholarship is an understanding of how cultural forms and texts can deepen our understandings of how racial capitalism works. I do so by thinking of neoliberalism as more than simply a set of economic tools, but also a technology for governing and managing populations, even as I think of racism too as a way of organizing society according to hierarchies. To get people to agree to new forms of hegemony, culture and aesthetics are crucial, and so studying different kinds of fictions can nuance our understandings of power. Your criticism of neoliberal desires applies towards the successive Sri Lankan governments and as seen through the writings of Shobashakthi and the film he acted in, Dheepan to the LTTE as well. Through Dheepan, the economic undercurrents of being an illegal migrant is also discussed, as the context of that film is mainly Paris, France a European metropolis. So this is something global? Well, the dominant way of understanding neoliberalism is as a set of economic principles that were designed in the West, consolidated through the Washington Consensus, and rolled out to the rest of the world. I think this way of understanding neoliberalism can be misleading, and too modular. This is why I use the term assemblage to signal that neoliberalism is also a kind of mobile technology. This is a term that I borrow from Aihwa Ong to discuss how neoliberalism functions in different arrangements. A modular understanding of neoliberalism has led scholars to claim that neoliberalism only enters the north and east after 2009, once the LTTE was defeated. I think what Shobasakthis writing and the film allowed me to explore was the way that neoliberalism functioned in relation to Tamil nationalism and other forms of extra-legal and extra-state forces. I call this neoliberalism in the shadows. So, in his novel Gorilla, for example, he discusses how the Tamil Tigers were involved in gun-running, illegal sand-hauling etc. and functioned as a corporation. This highlights how authoritarian regimes and neoliberalism can co-exist quite comfortably. In terms of the film Dheepan, I think of how undocumented immigrants are pushed to suburban housing projects (Le Pre in the film), where because both they and second or third generation French citizens are disarticulated from society, they are compelled to use extra-legal forms of income earning such as drug selling etc. When Dheepan, played by Shobasakthi, and his family enter Le Pre, they are not leaving the conflict zone of Sri Lanka toward a comfort zone, but rather enter another conflict zone, where like in the case of the north and east of Sri Lanka, neoliberalism functions in the shadows. You discuss the role that literature plays in drawing out to public view things that are not normally discussed in less imaginative documents like traditional ethnography. Would I be right in saying that you seem to place more value on a literary document to reveal particular truths than on any other form? If so, why? I think what the book does is trouble the easy boundary or difference between ethnography and fiction. Ethnography is seen as a science of accurately recording social life, while fiction is seen as made-up or stories that are not founded on documenting. I wanted to highlight how writers, artists, festivals and other fictional forms often are committed to documenting social realities, even as they narrate these events using creative modes of story-telling. An excellent example of this is theatre from the Free Trade Zones. This is mimetic art, or theatre that represents the realities of the workers everyday experiences of exploitation and sexual violence. What my chapter on workers theatre asks is why this theatre and the bodies on stage have disappeared Tamils from the stage and as a topic of critical engagement. I argue that this is because a state at war needed to produce or assemble not just clothes on the factory line, but also workers who were nationalist and empathetic to the war. Hence, the bodies that matter on stage and in these labour zones remain Sinhalese because in the early 1980s Tamils were expelled from these zones. Corporations in the zones never objected to these expulsions because for them profit was the main objective. Similarly, I follow how the Gam Udawa Housing Project and its massive cultural festivals performed a kind of Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism for rural populations, while allowing the state, at that time the UNP, to perform itself as bolstering village self-sufficiency by performing a return to a golden past, when in reality it was deepening the relationship between village life and global markets. In both instances, the cultural forms I use deploy both the ethnographic impulse of representation or mimesis, but also creative telling/invention of truths. The book is available for sale at amazon.com and at http://www.nupress.northwestern.edu/content/assembling-ethnicities- neoliberal-times New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Bangladesh on Saturday rebuffed the "misleading" reports regarding the cancellation of the visit of State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shariar Alam to participate in the Raisina Dialogue to be held here. Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said: "We have noticed few misleading news items published in different media regarding the supposed visit of State Minister for Foreign Affairs to participate in Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi organised by Overseas Research Foundation (ORF)." The Ministry further clarified that Alam's visit coincides with his visit to the UAE to accompany the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. "Ministry would like to convey that State Minister Shahriar Alam was invited as a speaker in Raisina Dialogue, which coincides with his visit to UAE to accompany the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. As such State Minister Alam could not avail the participation," it stated. Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry stated that a regret letter, in this regard, has already been sent to the ORF. "It may be noted that there was no bilateral engagement scheduled during the visit. The inability of his participation has no other connection," it said. Earlier in the day, diplomatic sources had said that Bangladesh Deputy Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam will not take part in the Raisina Dialogue 2020 slated to be held from January 14 to 16 in New Delhi. Sources had said that Alam cancelled his participation in the conference as he would be accompanying Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her visit to Abu Dhabi. The Raisina Dialogue is India's annual flagship platform on the geo-politics and geo-economics. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. Alam is the third Bangladesh leader from Dhaka in recent weeks to cancel a visit to India. Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had cancelled their scheduled visits to India. After Momen cancelled his visit, the MEA had said that any speculation that the development was connected with the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill was "unwarranted." (ANI) Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media In response to a recent article titled, Accused killer allowed to plead guilty in Bethel womans death, I would like to express that the information reported is offensively misleading as well as inaccurate and incomplete. I am Emily Todds mother and would like to highlight the following: No one is angry or unhappy that Judge Alexander is allowing the man who murdered my child to plead guilty. He is guilty and has already confessed to his crime. So I ask you this, for what reason would a family ever want a confessed murderer not to be allowed to plead guilty? Lengthy conversations between the state and my family have taken place over the past 13 months. My family and I have made it clear over and over again that while we do not wish to have this case go to trial, we are willing to do whatever it takes to see that the murderer of our daughter is never set free. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 19:51:28|Editor: zh Video Player Close CAIRO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi mourned on Saturday the death of late Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said who died on Friday evening at the age of 79. "With so much sadness and sorrow, I extend my condolences to the Arab nation and the people of Oman for the death of His Majesty late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who was a constant supporter of Arab and Islamic causes," said the Egyptian president in a statement posted on his official Facebook page. The Egyptian president also announced a three-day mourning nationwide over Qaboos' death. Earlier on Saturday, the Egyptian presidency mourned the death of Qaboos, describing him as "a wise leader" and "a symbol of the strength and unity of Oman" during his rule that continued for almost half a century. Oman's state TV said Qaboos' cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, Oman's culture minister, was named as his successor based on Qaboos' recommendation written in a sealed letter. Two U.S. service members were killed and two others injured when their vehicles struck an improvised explosive device, according to statements provided from the U.S.-led coalition in Kabul. Two other U.S. service members were injured. The incident occurred in the Kandahar province as the soldiers were conducting operations as part of NATOs Resolute Support mission. The four service members have not been identified. According to the Department of Defense, 2,218 service members have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001, including 26 who died in 2019. Fortunately, options for fortifying the F.D.A. abound. For instance, laws that would make it easier for regulators to police the cosmetics industry and to hold medical device companies to account have been floating through Congress for years. A group of former F.D.A. commissioners last year proposed an even bolder fix: Restore the agencys autonomy by extracting it from the Department of Health and Human Services. The F.D.A.s decisions used to be final, but for decades now they have been subject to layers of political interference. Making the agency independent, as the Federal Reserve and the Social Security Administration are, could help reverse that trend. But for these or other worthy ideas to get a fair hearing, Congress will have to step in, and the president and the electorate will need to come to terms with the essential role of regulations in protecting the nations food and drug supply. In the meantime, the challenge of steering the F.D.A. will fall to Dr. Hahn. He will not have nearly enough resources to carry out the agencys stated mission no commissioner ever does. But he will not be completely powerless, either. Here are four things Dr. Hahn would do well to keep in mind as he takes the reins. Stay vocal. Dr. Hahns predecessor, Dr. Gottlieb, managed to keep a spotlight on his chosen priorities namely e-cigarette regulations and generic drug development with a relentless and multifaceted public messaging campaign. He tweeted, he blogged, he gave speeches and he communicated openly and regularly with the press. Dr. Gottlieb did not achieve all of his goals in fact his e-cigarette strategy backfired, badly. But he made the F.D.A. less opaque, and he gave the agency an urgently needed voice. Dr. Hahn will have an easier time defending the agency, and keeping it relevant, if he fosters the same transparency. Slow down on drug and device approvals. The F.D.A. has made several compromises in recent years such as accepting real world or surrogate evidence in lieu of traditional clinical trial data that have enabled increasingly dubious medical products to seep into the marketplace. Dr. Hahn ought to take a fresh look at some of these shifting standards and commit to abandoning the ones that dont work. That will almost certainly mean that the approval process slows down and thats O.K. Stand up for science. As reporting from the medical news website Stat and other outlets suggests, the F.D.A. has become too susceptible to outside pressure. Regulators approved a powerful new opioid at the Department of Defenses urging, fast-tracked a dubious antidepressant after President Trump praised it, and reversed its decision to reject a muscular dystrophy drug after patient groups complained loudly. Such kowtowing hardly inspires confidence. Scientific evidence (or the lack thereof) needs to be the deciding factor in any final regulations from the F.D.A. That means saying no to politicians and drug and device makers as well as patients groups when their demands are not supported by the agencys own findings. It also means holding companies to account when they fail to complete postmarket studies, or when their products prove faulty or dangerous. Follow through on existing commitments. The F.D.A. has yet to issue guidelines for the regulation of increasingly popular CBD products after promising to do so by the end of 2019. E-cigarette makers are supposed to submit their applications for market approval to the agency by May. And a regulatory grace period that the agency granted to so-called stem cell clinics back in 2017 is set to expire this year; when it does, regulators will need to figure out how to police nearly 1,000 businesses selling injections and other treatments that have not proved to work and that have already caused some patients serious harm. Dr. Hahn would build a lot of good will if he showed the F.D.A.s critics and the public at large that he takes all of these deadlines seriously. Advertisement The Queen will host unprecedented crisis talks with Princes Harry, Charles and William at Sandringham on Monday to end the turmoil engulfing the Royal Family in the wake of the Sussexes' bombshell decision to quit. An insider claimed tonight that Harry will come face to face with Her Majesty for the first time since announcing his and Meghan's desire to step back as senior members of the family. Palace and Sussex household courtiers have been racing to find a solution to the Duke and Duchesses' desire to quit their official duties after the Queen yesterday laid down a 72-hour ultimatum for the discussions to be resolved. In spite of Harry digging in his heels to extract the best financial terms possible from this new arrangement, a royal source confirmed to Reuters that roundtable discussions are progressing well in consultation with both British and Canadian governments. Who will be at the crisis summit? The Queen and her private secretary Sir Edward Young The Queen is head of state and head of the royal family, and will ultimately have the final say in the matter. As the nation's longest-reigning monarch, her experience and knowledge on the workings of the institution of the monarchy are unrivalled. Through the decades, the Queen has weathered the Windsors' many storms and is a symbol of stability both for the nation and within the royal family. Although left hurt by Harry and Meghan's actions, the Queen is not given to rash decisions, and will be approaching the problem in a calm and pragmatic way. The Prince of Wales and his principal private secretary Clive Alderton Heir to the throne, Charles is the future king and currently bankrolls Harry and Meghan's public duties through his 21 million-a-year Duchy of Cornwall income. The prince is a caring, sensitive soul, and is said to be furious at how Harry and Meghan have handled the situation. He is committed to his royal duty, but will also want his impetuous youngest son, who endured the loss of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, when he was only 12, and Meghan to be happy. The Duke of Cambridge and his private secretary Simon Case When Harry turned 21, he described William as the one person on the planet to whom he could talk to about everything. But talk of a falling out between the brothers, with William said to have urged his brother to not rush into marrying Meghan, has changed their once-close relationship. William, who was said to be "incandescent with rage" at the Sussexes' actions, is a future king, and his position within the royal family is vastly different from sixth-in-line Harry, who has moved steadily down the line of succession and has to carve out his own role. Mr Case was has been a leading civil servant previously tasked with trying to solve the border issue in Northern Ireland and Ireland during Brexit discussions. The Duke of Sussex and the couple's relatively new private secretary Fiona Mcilwham Harry has always been a favourite with royal fans, who have never forgotten the heart-rending image of the 12-year-old prince walking behind his mother's coffin. In his younger days, he was a royal liability - dabbling with cannabis, dressing up as a Nazi and brawling with a paparazzi photographer - before he pulled off a charm offensive as he carried out overseas tours on behalf of the Queen. Advertisement But this progress has not prevented the monarch from demanding the most senior royals to a crunch summit tomorrow, according to PA. Her Majesty was stony-faced today as she was pictured behind the wheel of her Land Rover in Sandringham, Norfolk. Her public outing displayed her determination to carry on as normal, while behind the scenes officials were working furiously to thrash out a strategy to end the turmoil raging through the Family ranks. Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill has been involved in these 'at pace' negotiations with staff from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace, according to the Observer. Palace aides were also forced to deny Meghan and Harry were being 'driven out' of the royal family, saying the couple would be 'at the centre' of a potentially stream-lined monarchy. The Sussexes left son Archie with their nanny when they came back to London from Canada on Monday, following a six-week Christmas break. Meghan, 38, who left the UK on Thursday, is understood to have not booked a return flight. Sources confirmed to the Mail there are no official engagements in her diary for the 'foreseeable future' as she was understood to have taken a BA flight to a gated waterfront mansion on Vancouver Island. Meanwhile The Duke is at home and seeking to secure his family a 'progressive new role', meaning the couple could be living apart for an extended period of time. The 35-year-old is heavily involved in the negotiations being worked out, as well as all senior members of his team. Royal insiders suggested talks could take far longer than some claimed. 'This is their future and their lives. It's not just going to be quickly signed off,' one source told the Telegraph. Aides suggested the Duke had still not had a meeting with his father or the Queen in person. Her Majesty has reportedly also instructed courtiers to turn the crisis into an opportunity, and to hash out a 'workable solution' to the issue. The Queen has reportedly asked for a blueprint that is workable not just for Harry and Meghan but could also apply to following generations including Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Officials are believed to have spent yesterday tied up in meetings. The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William have held discussions to diffuse the situation and ordered Palace officials to quickly develop a 'workable solution' for Meghan and Harry's future. Behind closed doors, officials are working furiously to draw up a blueprint for Meghan and Harry's future role. Scroll for video Prince Harry (pictured with Meghan on Tuesday) will take his time securing the best financial deal for his family as he prepares for showdown talks with the Queen and Prince Charles Queen is spotted out and about on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk amid the Royal crisis unfolding over her grandson The Queen driving in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Saturday afternoon wearing a headscarf, was seen driving away from the estate in her Land Rover at lunchtime With Charles currently at Birkhall, his Scottish residence, and the Queen at Sandringham, it is not clear where the crunch talks will take place. Pictured: The Sussexes UK residence Frogmore Cottage today Director of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Ms Keshini Navaratnam, Prince Charles and Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation Lord John Browne of Madingley arrive for the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering at Buckingham Palace last month Meghan has fled the fallout and returned to Canada, where she will now be reunited with baby Archie, who she left in the country with a nanny and a friend. Harry has had to postpone plans to join her because of a commitment to host the 2021 Rugby League World Cup draw next Thursday at Buckingham Palace. A source close to the couple claimed Friday night negotiations between the Palace and the Sussex household were 'progressing well', in consultation with both the UK and Canadian government. They said: 'They, like everyone, are hopeful this can all be worked out, sooner rather than later. It is in everyone's interest for this to be figured out, and figured out quickly, but not at the expense of the outcome.' Palace aides were forced to deny the Royal family drove out the Sussexes as the New Year got off to a bad start. ITV News presenter Tom Bradby insisted it was 'certainly not true' to suggest the Royal household was 'blindsided' by their decision to step down from senior roles within the monarchy. Mr Bradby, who has known the Prince for more than 20 years, said it was only the timing of their bombshell announcement on Wednesday that angered Her Majesty. The journalist is considered to be close friends with Harry and Meghan and spoke to the Duke and Duchess during an ITV documentary where they told of their struggles of living in the spotlight. Meghan Markle embracing Ahlam Saeid at the Hubb Community Kitchen in West London on Tuesday, before she and Harry plunged the Royal Family into crisis by announcing they were 'stepping back' from their official duties In the first glimpse of what their 'progressive' new role could look like, the couple met, embraced and laughed with the women who set up the community kitchen in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell tragedy The Queen drives home in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Saturday afternoon after going a couple of miles along the country roads to a shoot in a field, which was attended by a number of guests, including her grandson Peter Philips Palace aides have denied that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are being 'driven out' of the royal family and say the couple would be 'at the centre' of a potentially stream-lined monarchy This comes after the couple's close confidante Tom Bradby claimed the Palace told the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that there were plans for a 'slimmed down monarchy' and they 'weren't really a part of it.' Pictured: The couple on their secret visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in West London The couple's close confidante Tom Bradby claimed the Palace told the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that there were plans for a 'slimmed down monarchy' and they 'weren't really a part of it' The ITN News at 10 host's claims of a 'slimmed down monarchy' - in which Charles is said to want to cut the number of working royals - is said to be one of the key reasons why Harry and Meghan decided to step down. Mr Bradby said: 'It's certainly not true to say the palace were blindsided by this. The couple's view was they came back and wanted to talk to the family about their plans. 'It had been made clear to them in their absence there was going to be a slimmed down monarchy and they weren't really a part of it.' Meghan has fled the fallout of their bombshell announcement and returned to Canada, where she will now be reunited with baby Archie, who she left in the country with a nanny and a friend. Pictured: Meghan with friend Jessica Mulroney who lives in Canada He added that the couple were asked to put down their suggestions on paper - but initially declined to do so for fear of a press leak. But when some details of their decision reached the press, the couple decided to go public without alerting the other Royals. Mr Bradby added: 'Harry has been talking to his family for some weeks at least about all this and certainly my understanding of what happened is he was asked by some members of the family or at least their officials to put some of these ideas in writing. 'He said 'I really don't want to do that because it normally leaks', and they were very insistent in order to go forward and discuss it properly it had to be put in writing. 'He did put it in writing and it did leak. 'So I don't think they got much heads up as to the actual announcement but they certainly knew what was going on.' He continued: 'There needs to be a peace deal really soon, this is so toxic, there is so much anger, it looks like it might get worse not better.' if talks with the Palace tank, some working in PR have suggested the couple could earn millions on the international celebrity circuit with endorsements and sponsorship deals. Six-figure bids have been made for the couple's first TV interview, according to The Telegraph. The publication said ITV's This Morning has put in a bid of 100,000, but an insider told them that is just a starting figure. It was also claimed by Page Six on Thursday that Meghan's close friend Gayle King could secure the couple's first interview on the CBS show This Morning. 'It's hush-hush, but there's no one else they would turn to', a source added. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Wednesday released a statement which detailed their plans to split their time between the UK and North America. Harry and Meghan added they want to become 'financially independent' and will stop receiving money from the Sovereign Grant, which covers around five per cent of the couple's costs. In a statement, they said: 'We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. 'We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. 'This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity'. Buckingham Palace released its own statement shortly after the Instagram post on Wednesday, claiming the 'complicated issues will take time to work through'. It read: 'Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through'. Queen gives courtiers 72 hours to seal deal with 'hopeful' Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: Monarch demands blueprint which can also apply to Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Queen is pictured leaving Sandringham in Norfolk in her Land Rover at lunchtime Friday to go to a shoot She has reportedly ordered the stripped-back roles of Duke and Duchess to be determined within 72 hours Baby Archie was left in Canada with his nanny while Harry and Meghan flew back to the UK on the weekend The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited London on Tuesday before sensationally quitting the royal family Meghan has already flown back to Canada and Prince Harry is expected to follow her within two weeks Meghan spent just three days in the UK, after the couple and Archie had enjoyed a seven-week break abroad The Queen has ordered the new stripped-back roles of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to be determined within the next 72 hours. Her Majesty has reportedly also instructed officials to come up with a blueprint that could potentially apply to younger generations of the Royal Family. It comes as a source revealed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are 'hopeful' crunch talks determining their new stripped-back role in the Royal Family can be thrashed out 'sooner rather than later'. There is speculation the Prince could leave the UK to rejoin his wife and son in Canada by next week. It is thought that he has not yet seen his grandmother in the flesh at her Sandringham estate since he arrived back from a six-week Christmas break. The Duke and Duchess's announcement to 'step back' from their official duties and become 'financially independent' has thrown the Family into crisis, with the public demanding answers as to what their 'progressive' new role would be. The Queen has ordered the new stripped-back roles of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to be resolved within the next 72 hours The Queen is pictured at Sandringham yesterday for the first time since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed they were stepping down as senior royals The Queen wants the crisis to last no longer than the six days that it took for Prince Andrew to announce his stepping back from royal duties after his car crash BBC Newsnight interview, the Telegraph reports. A source told the newspaper: 'Let no one be under any illusions, the Queen is calling the shots on this. 'The Queen is the one making the decisions, aided by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge who have been instructed to enact what she wants to happen. 'The Queen's hand remains firmly on the tiller and the three households are working well together to try to find a solution.' Her Majesty has also reportedly instructed courtiers to turn the crisis into an opportunity, and to hash out a 'workable solution' to the issue. According to the publication, the Queen has asked for a blueprint that is workable not just for Harry and Meghan but could also apply to following generations including Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Officials are believed to have spent yesterday tied up in meetings. The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William have held discussions to diffuse the situation and ordered Palace officials to quickly develop a 'workable solution' for Meghan and Harry's future. The three senior Royals closed ranks following Wednesday night's bombshell Instagram statement, but yesterday a steely-faced Her Majesty broke cover to drive her car through Sandringham - a move choreographed to play down the crisis and show she was continuing her activities as normal. But behind closed doors, officials are working furiously to draw up a blueprint for Meghan and Harry's future role. Meghan has fled the fallout and returned to Canada on Thursday, where she will now be reunited with baby Archie, who she left in the country with a nanny and a friend. Harry has had to postpone plans to join her because of a commitment to host the 2021 Rugby League World Cup draw next Thursday at Buckingham Palace. A source close to the couple claimed Friday night negotiations between the Palace and the Sussex household are 'progressing well', in consultation with both the UK and Canadian government. They said: 'They, like everyone, are hopeful this can all be worked out, sooner rather than later. 'It is in everyone's intere st for this to be figured out, and figured out quickly, but not at the expense of the outcome.' Her Majesty was pictured leaving Sandringham in Norfolk in her Land Rover at lunchtime, before driving along local country roads to a shoot in a field which was attended by guests including her grandson Peter Phillips. The Duke and Duchess have remained silent except for posting pictures on their Instagram of a secret trip to a Grenfell kitchen this week, before Wednesday night's shock statement. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who earlier this week revealed they would be stepping down as senior royals, returned to visit the women of The Hubb Community Kitchen The Queen drives through Sandringham yesterday in the aftermath of the announcement by Prince Harry and Meghan Her Majesty, who was wearing a headscarf, was seen driving away from the Sandringham estate in her Land Rover yesterday The Queen is pictured leaving Sandringham before driving along local country roads to a shoot in a field on Friday afternoon The Queen, pictured, is embroiled in a full-blown crisis as senior royals ordered their teams to find a 'workable solution' The Queen is seen for the first time since the Duke and Duchess revealed they were stepping down as senior royals The shoot in a field in Norfolk on Friday was attended by guests including the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips Charles and William were both said to be left 'incandescent with rage' after learning about the Sussexes' announcement just 10 minutes before it was published on the couple's own Instagram page. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to have left Archie in Canada to be cared for by their nanny and Meghan's best friend, Jessica Mulroney. Ms Mulroney lives in Toronto but it is not known if she was with them in the 10million waterfront mansion in Vancouver they occupied between Thanksgiving and the new year. Harry and Meghan's close confidante Tom Bradby claimed the Palace told the couple that there were plans for a 'slimmed down monarchy' and they 'weren't really a part of it.' The ITV News presenter insisted that it was 'certainly not true' to suggest the royal household was 'blindsided' by their decision to step down from senior roles within the monarchy. But blaming the decision to walk away from royal duties on the issue of a 'slimmed down' royal family may be seen as just a convenient excuse to leave their life behind in the UK and start a new life in North America. Meghan flew from London to Canada in the hours after the Sussexes shocked the world and quit as senior royals, the Daily Mail revealed this week. The couple horrified and shocked Harry's family including the 'hurt and furious' Queen, who had begged them to delay announcing their 'nuclear' plans. Prince Charles and Prince William only got a copy of the statement ten minutes before it went live on their secretly developed website. Her Majesty held a series of calls on Thursday involving herself at Sandringham, Charles at his Scottish home Birkhall, William at Kensington Palace and Harry without Meghan at Frogmore Cottage. But as the abdication crisis rumbled on the Duke of Sussex was also plotting to fly out of Britain, it has emerged, although it is not yet confirmed when he intends to join his wife in Canada. Meghan may stay there for the foreseeable future and Harry will not be apart from his wife and son for long - but he must also be at Buckingham Palace for an engagement next Thursday. Meghan Markle was seen visiting the women of the The Hubb Community Kitchen in London during her three days in the UK The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took to their Instagram page to share a series of pictures of their visit to the Grenfell kitchen The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to visit the women of The Hubb Community Kitchen who continue to work with local organisations to build hope, bring comfort and provide a sense of togetherness Prince Harry smiled as he spoke with the women at the Grenfell kitchen earlier this week. A message on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Instagram page read: 'They were so happy to reconnect with the women and hear about the projects they continue to develop to help those in their community and beyond' The women in the kitchen appeared overjoyed as they greeted the royals during their visit to the London-based kitchen this week The Daily Mail has learnt that Meghan (left on a previous trip) returned to North America, where their eight-month-old son, Archie, had been left with his nanny. The news of her travel plans come as her and Prince Harry (right) announced they would be stepping back from their Royal duties Meghan Markle's mother Doria Ragland was spotted for the first time on Thursday since her daughter and son-in-law Prince Harry dropped the bombshell news that they were quitting their royal duties Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent their first Christmas with baby Archie at this 10million waterfront mansion on Vancouver Island and may be heading back to the west coast of Canada On a day of behind-the-scenes drama, the monarch convened an extraordinary series of calls between herself, the Prince of Wales, Prince William and Harry. She told them to come up with a 'workable solution' to the crisis within days, and tasked aides with presenting a series of options to put to the unhappy couple. Insiders predicted Harry and Meghan would be allowed to keep their royal titles and also enjoy a measure of the independence they have demanded. But they added that the couple's string of demands had sparked a genuine crisis which will not be easy to solve. As a sign of how serious and sensitive the issue has become, Home Secretary Priti Patel has been asked to take part in the negotiations. She will be tasked with ensuring the couple's ongoing security is not compromised, but she also has to monitor the cost to taxpayers if they split their lives between the UK and North America. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said he has confidence in the commitment and quality of Kerry gardai, as Gsoc investigates concerns raised about the implementation of licensing laws in the area. At a meeting of the countys Joint Policing Committee in Tralee, he said that nothing less than the enforcement of all law, including licensing law, is acceptable. The meeting heard of great concern among the public about alleged long-standing Garda failure to implement licensing laws in Killarney. While many publicans in the town abided by the law, others were able to ignore it and serve until the early hours, Mr Harris was told. The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission is now investigating the matter, Mr Harris said, and he appealed directly to members of the public who have information about the issue to approach Gsoc. He said: If people have information, they should take that to Gsoc. They are mandated in law to conduct this investigation and in time we will learn their conclusions. A 2016 investigation, on foot of a separate internal complaint known locally as vouchergate into whether gardai were being offered vouchers by a publican, was mentioned at the meeting and the commissioner said he would check its status and ask if it could be revisited. Kerry Fianna Fail TD John Brassil said the allegations are of great concern in this room and to people outside. Killarney-based Fine Gael senator Paul Coghlan said that, since last weekend, he had been bombarded with the allegations. All anyone could talk about at events he attended was what was written in this blog. Mr Coghlan had been pestered with phonecalls since, one of them nasty. The surprising thing is so many citizens seem to believe there was truth in these allegations, he said. He referred to an allegation that 30 of the towns 130 premises did not have licences in 2012 and said this meant they were operating as shebeens. This is something reminiscent of the wild west, he added. Kerrys most senior garda, Chief Supt Eileen Foster, said she was very aware people are very concerned. She could not comment due to the legalities surrounding the matter. Gold In Rally Mode Suggests Commitment of Traders (COT) Data Many people believe the price of Gold will need to fall to support Institutional short positions. We dont believe this is the case. The Commitment Of Traders (COT) Data suggests Commercial Hedgers have a large and growing shot position that is a very positive sign for a continued rally in Gold and Miners looking forward months from now. Dont think about COT data like everyone else with it comes to gold. Over the past 20+ years, every time the COT Commercial Hedgers position in Gold falls, weakens substantially, or makes new multi-year lows the price of gold rallies. Why record commercial short hedge position is bullish It is my belief that the markets will move in favor of where the big money (commercial/institutions) want it to go in most cases. so if the commercials keep adding a short hedge position that means they are adding to heir long exposure and need to add more of a hedge to help protect their growing LONG position. The weakening COT data from 2001 through 2012 is a perfect example. As Commercial Hedgers moved away from Gold, the price of gold rallied to the all-time highs. Additionally, after the major bottom in Gold in 2016, Commercial traders would have bought and accumulated gold driving the price higher. Now, in late 2018 and throughout all of 2019, the Commercial Hedger COT position in Gold has fallen to the lowest level in the past 20+ years. This suggests the rally in Gold has really just begun to accelerate to the upside and there are more people buying gold than ever before who are buying protection (hedging) The COT data I find very deceiving because its displayed and delayed in a way that makes traders and investors think the opposite. Wall Street is in the business of making a market, and that means they play a game of deception so you do the opposite of what they are doing. Wall Street show As you watch gold moving with your new view on the COT data, you will notice gold will rally and post strong moves, then a couple of weeks later the COT data comes out. With all that said, this is just my view and opinion of how I read the COT data for gold specifically. As with every chart and trader, there are many different ways things can be analyzed and viewed. Since the price just had a strong advance, and you now see the commercials have added to their short position you naturally expect a pullback after a price rally especially when you see the big players adding to their short/hedge position. But what really just happened? the big players bought gold, and they had to hedge some of their new position. Very bullish in my opinion. While I do not use it for trading, it is a good confirming indicator of a trend. Our research team, as well as our proprietary price modeling systems, suggested that Gold may rally to levels above $3700 before reaching an ultimate peak. Currently, our predictive modeling systems are suggesting the next target is well above $1600 and we believe our original target from our October 2018 analysis, of $1700 to $1750, is still very valid. We believe this current upside price rally in Gold will attempt to clear the previous high levels near $1924 from September 2011. We believe moderate resistance/rotation near $1700 to $1750 will be the last level of price resistance before a continued rally will push Gold prices above the $1924 peak possibly stalling just below $2100. Once price breaches the previous high level, we expect a short period of price rotation before another upside price acceleration takes Gold prices above $2400 to $2500. Gold Miners are poised for an incredible upside price rally if our analysis of Gold is accurate. GDXJ is currently trading near $42 showing moderate weakness while Gold has seen some strength this week. We believe Miners will do very well once Gold really breaks out above $1750 and begins to target the previous all-time high level. Much like our expectations for Gold, we believe GDXJ will rally to levels near $60 once this current overbought condition wears off. Then we expect it to head towards $60 and rotate lower for a few weeks before attempting to rally further to levels above $70+. Take a minute to review some of our recent Gold research posts to gain further insight January 2, 2020: ADL GOLD PREDICTION CONFIRMS TARGETS December 30, 2019: METALS & MINERS PREPARE FOR AN EARLY 2020 LIFTOFF December 4, 2019: 7 YEAR CYCLES CAN BE POWERFUL AND GOLD JUST STARTED ONE You wont want to miss this incredible run in Precious Metals and Miners. Follow our research. Learn how we can help you find and execute better trades. Weve been warning all of our followers of this move for months now it is about to get very real. In fact, we are giving away free silver and gold bullion bars to all new subscribers of our trading newsletter! As a technical analysis and trader since 1997 I have been through a few bull/bear market cycles, I have a good pulse on the market and timing key turning points for both short-term swing trading and long-term investment capital. The opportunities are massive/life-changing if handled properly. I urge you visit my Wealth Building Newsletter and if you like what I offer, join me with the 1 or 2-year subscription to lock in the lowest rate possible and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own. Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. This mad, mad world we live in View(s): So how will this world end, with a big bang or a whimper? If we are to believe that Mad Don in the White House it will not end at all unless he nukes the entire planet to the strains of the Stars and Stripes. If this world had one more like Trump who blows his own trumpet at what he calls his military successes incinerating foes and friends from thousands of miles away, then it will ultimately be another big bang that blows us apart. Just last week the Washington Post reported that the White House wants to change the environment rules to speed up highway projects, pipelines and more as though he was in some mighty hurry to get nowhere. Maybe he is in search of another Qassem Soleimani to kill like his Saudi friends did to journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But then the Saudis dismembered the man from an arms length unlike the courageous Trump who let others do it from thousands of miles away. In the same week in the southern hemisphere, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, whose country has been burning as never before, is preparing to dig for more coal so that more carbon emissions could add to the global warming and pollution that is already threatening this world we live in. The environmental degradation that has polluted the seas, destroyed ecosystems that have sustained life in many areas of the world and the melting Arctic ice that any person could clearly see unless he/she was blind as a bat seem to be of little or no concern to the Trumps and Morrisons of this world. International treaties are ignored or discarded as though they were last months hamburgers. World leaders frame their heads in the small screen and make promises and set targets that are never achieved or in fact reversed. World conferences on climate change set out in glorious splendour how to mitigate global warming and halt the depletion of essential resources. At the end they produce nothing but a parody of inaction. But there are other polluters. These are not the only leaders that stoke climate change and destroy nature in the name of economic progress and social wellbeing. Our own friends and neighbours contribute to world ecocide as do inhabitants of the White House. As is known China and India are two of the worst global climate destroyers. For years, if not decades, we had been warned of the dangerous consequences of climate change and global warming. There were many deniers of climate change among some scientists, ecologist and prominent writers. There were those who saw the current changes as recurrent phenomena that happen every century or so and nothing to be feared. One journalist, Simon Winchester was not at all that pessimistic as some scientists and writers. In his book Pacific, Winchester wrote that the vast Pacific Ocean will act as a gigantic safety valve to global warming. Archipelagos may be overwhelmed and coral reefs die, but in the end, Winchester intimates, the Earth will survive because of the dominant entity on the planet all 64 million square miles of it. But such optimism is not widely shared as there are increasing signs of the breakdown of our climate. What might not be widely known publicly is that shrubs and grasses are sprouting around Mt. Everest and across the Himalayas reportedly one of the most rapidly heating regions of the planet. The melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled since the turn of the century with most of the ice lost over the last four decades. The effect of this on water flowing from here which feed the several rivers in the region could be severe particular as the sharing of river waters has been a matter of contention among neighbouring states. In fact, during my journalistic years in Hong Kong I remember writing that a future source of conflict between and among nations would not be over oil as it was then, but water. That was nearly 30 years ago and it certainly is turning out to be a major issue. Attention could well focus on the Rivers Nile and the Ganges, for instance as well as crucial water resources elsewhere. What is so damning of our recent world leaders and the countries they head is that it has taken a 16 year old Swedish girl, a Nobel Prize nominee, to stir the conscience of the world with her clarion call to save the planet from disaster and quite possibly annihilation. Her address to the United Nations might have awakened many to the calamity facing mankind. Whether it had any impact on the leaders of the big powers and small that contribute to climate change is another matter. Judging by the attitudes of marauding politicians and corporate criminals that prosper by thumbing their filthy noses at those who warn against the unimaginable dangers facing mankind, they could not care a jot what happens to the planet for they would not be around when calamity strikes. The leaders elected by democratic nations and others that usurped power by fair means or foul seem more desirous of showing what they believe are their achievements, never mind that these so-called achievements pauperised the nation or pauperised the planet we inhabit. But did the politicians and the corporate world listen? Did some of the scientists in the pay of the corporate world listen? No. The scientists bought over by big business and politicians listen? Of course not! There was still money to be made. Our own leaders paid little heed because there was still money to be made. Coal-fired gas still filled pockets. They are not going to be around when the safes and safety boxes in their banks melt under intense heat with all the loot they did not have time to spend. Sri Lanka might be a small country. But it is one country that is going to suffer badly from global warming. How much of our rain forests and forest cover is now left? Certainly less than 20 percent of what we had say 50 years ago. Our seas are polluted, our rivers are polluted. I read that Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered that Beira Lake be cleared quickly. That is a start. But let it not be the end. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Those responsible for the crash of the Ukrainian passenger plane near the city of Parand in Iran's Tehran province on Jan. 8 should be punished, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a statement, Trend reports with reference to the web portal of the Iranian presidential administration. Investigations into the cause of the tragedy should be continued and the result should be made known to the Iranian people and the families of the victims, Rouhani said. Previously, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran released a statement saying that the Ukrainian aircraft was unintentionally shot down, due to a human error. "Necessary steps should be taken to investigate the shortcomings of Iran's air defense systems so that no such tragedy will be repeated, the Iranian president added. Rouhani has instructed the Iranian Foreign Ministry to fully cooperate to identify the bodies of the victims and return them to their families. The Iranian president offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the tragedy. The Ukrainian Boeing 737 crashed near Imam Khomeini Airport in Iran on Jan. 8. There were 167 passengers and 9 crew members on board. The passengers of the plane were citizens of Iran, Canada, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Afghanistan and Ukraine, while the crew members were all Ukrainians. The plane crashed shortly after taking off. Ukraine must be "less cagey" about Sheremet murder case, RSF says. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is concerned about inconsistencies in the evidence for the Ukrainian authorities' claim to have solved news website editor Pavel Sheremet's 2016 car bomb murder, and urges them to continue the investigation and to be more transparent as they do so. The police earlier announced last month that they had arrested five suspects, all veterans of the war in Donbas, while the case is based on four disputed expert reports and the prosecutor's office is refusing to release all of the evidence in its possession. The leading suspect has lodged a complaint against the president and interior minister, there have been attempts to pressure and blackmail certain witnesses, and now a series of revelations in the past few days has cast further doubt on the investigation, according to RSF. Read alsoInconsistencies found in official version of Sheremet murder probe media In particular, the news website thebabel.net has revealed that, according to the official analysis of CCTV footage, the man who planted the bomb in Sheremet's car was about 170 cm tall and the woman who was his partner in crime was about 165 cm tall, whereas, the lawyer says, the leading male suspect, musician Andrii Antonenko, is 180 cm tall. Slidstvo.info editor Anna Babinets, who participated in the research for the documentary, says "one thing is clear, the evidence produced for charging [persons currently declared as suspects] is not solid enough." Sheremet's former colleagues at Ukrayinska Pravda say they are "shocked" by the prosecutor general's account and, in particular, by the claim that the murder motive was to "destabilize the country." This makes no sense, they say. Until now, the police had worked on the assumption that Sheremet's murder was a reprisal for his journalistic activities. William Taylor, former chief of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, said interior minister Arsen Avakov seemed to doubt the validity of its findings. Reuters The Supreme Court said on Friday that an indefinite shutdown of the internet in Kashmir was illegal, rebuking the government for the communications lockdown imposed after it withdrew the Muslim majority region's autonomy in August. Internet suspensions can be imposed only for "temporary duration" and an indefinite suspension violated India's telecoms rules, the court said in an order published on its website. It also ordered authorities to review all such curbs in Kashmir immediately. Authorities must consider immediately allowing the functioning of essential internet services such as for hospitals and limited e-banking in regions where the internet cannot be restored right away, the court added. "Freedom of Internet access is a fundamental right," Supreme Court Justice N. V. Ramana said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist government has frequently used internet shutdowns as a tool to quell dissent in troubled parts of the country. Last month, authorities imposed an internet clampdown in parts of the capital and in areas of Assam and Uttar Pradesh as protests raged against a new citizenship law that Muslims see as discriminatory. The shutdown in Kashmir, which has been on for more than 150 days, is the longest such outage in any democracy, according to digital rights group Access Now. The government has argued that the blackout in Kashmir was needed to maintain order in a Himalayan region where security forces have been fighting a long-running separatist insurgency encouraged by neighbouring Pakistan. The Supreme Court's decision, which also asks authorities to make public all orders on internet shutdowns, should enable more scrutiny of suspensions, internet freedom activists said. "This sheds light on the rationale behind internet shutdowns which then can be challenged as being constitutional or proportionate or not," said Nikhil Pahwa, digital rights activist and editor of MediaNama, a Delhi-based publication. "So if the state is forced to be transparent, they will be more accountable." In 2019, India's documented internet blackouts lasted for more than 4,000 hours, costing Asia's third-biggest economy $1.3 billion, according to a report by website Top10VPN. India's home ministry and department of telecommunications did not respond to requests for comment. Disrupting life In Kashmir, the blackout has severely disrupted the lives of millions and has had an impact on everything from college admissions to businesses filing tax returns. For Yasin Tuman, who runs a travel agency in Kashmir's main city Srinagar, the loss of internet access has hit his business hard, as tourists stay away. "I've suffered losses of 7 million rupees (nearly $100,000) in the past five months," he told Reuters. The government says it was necessary to block the internet to stop agitators orchestrating mass, potentially violent, protests against its decision to revoke Kashmir's special status. It also ordered a massive deployment of security forces, and after some protests in the initial day's anti-government demonstrations have died down. Gouhar Geelani, a journalist and writer from Kashmir, said Modi's Hindu nationalist party had used the internet clampdown "to control the Kashmir narrative by placing restrictions on mainstream media and social media platforms." Stricter regulations are necessary to safeguard users and the nation's security as the internet has emerged as a "potent tool to cause unimaginable disruption to the democratic polity," India's technology ministry has previously said. India is the biggest market for social media such as Facebook and its WhatsApp messenger, and with 450 million smartphone users it is second only to China. As of now, an uneasy calm prevails in Kashmir. The internet was restored in hospitals last week and some mobile phone connections are working. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling saying although delayed, the order could help them to claim compensation for losses of as much as 180 billion rupees. Separately, the government on Friday revoked detention warrants for 26 men from Kashmir, paving the way for their release. Rail workers have demanded extra resources to combat an epidemic of antisocial behaviour after the number of incidents recorded last year, breaking the 1,000 mark for the first time. The number of reports by the public has more than doubled since 2016. Data issued to the Irish Examiner by Irish Rail illustrated the extent of the issues on some rail lines, with 1,024 incidents reported by concerned members of the public. One third of these related to the consumption of drugs or alcohol. While Irish Rail has taken a series of steps to combat these issues, there has been a sharp increase in the volume of complaints about aggressive and antisocial behaviour, drinking and drug- taking, and a number of other issues. In 2016, there were 492 incidents of antisocial behaviour recorded by Irish Rail, less than half of what has been recorded this year. There has been a steady rise since. In 2017, 680 incidents were recorded, a figure that increased to 789 in 2018. By October 2019, it had reached 971 and before the end of the year, it had climbed to 1,024. A breakdown of the type of issues recorded by Irish Rail shows drug consumption or alcohol accounted for a third of all complaints. The full breakdown is as follows: Anti-social behaviour: 94; Aggressive behaviour: 247; Boisterous behaviour: 77; Consumption of alcohol/Drugs: 338; False activation of passenger alarms on train: 72; Fighting, horseplay orpassenger disturbance: 56; Lewd behaviour: 27; Person(s) under theinfluence of alcohol: 113. Irish Rail also provided a breakdown of the location of these issues, with routes connecting to Heuston seeing the most incidents reported. The Dart and the northern line are the next most frequent. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for Irish Rail said: We work closely with the gardai and our security contractor to reduce the instances of antisocial behaviour on our services and at our stations. We have also recently appointed a senior security advisor to implement anti-social behaviour reduction strategies. Every instance of anti- social behaviour that our customers or staff are victim of or witness to is distressing. Overall, although in an upward trajectory, numbers are still relatively low. Aidan Reid, a former chief superintendent with An Garda Siochana, has been hired by Irish Rail as a senior security consultant. The company has also posted dedicated security teams at certain stations, including several on the northside line of the Dart where issues are frequent, including Clongriffin and Donaghmede. There is also ongoing close co-operation with the gardai and investments in the quality of walkways and public lighting at certain stations. In August, Irish Rail also introduced a text alert system for Dart passengers in real time. The National Bus and Rail Union has repeatedly called for the introduction of dedicated transport police to combat what it has termed an epidemic of antisocial behaviour. The unions general secretary, Dermot OLeary, said the use of private security on public transport will not solve the issues as it is still necessary to hand offenders over to gardai, resulting in red tape and delays in prosecutions. Mr OLeary said that extra resources are essential to reverse the trends. If extra resources were made available to gardai, they could travel in the hotspots and be on the ground when incidents occur rather than trying to investigate after the fact, Mr OLeary said. The union has written to Transport Minister Shane Ross to request his support in its campaign, saying a safe public transport system is something all stakeholders should aspire towards. In the letter, Mr OLeary wrote: Minister, I certainly do not want to have to find myself in a position where a serious incident or worse has me castigating your office and that of government for not acting sooner. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. London: A British employment tribunal on Friday ruled in favour of a 51-year-old Indian-origin journalist who took legal action against the BBC over unequal pay. Samira Ahmed, whose mother hails from India, had claimed that she was being unfairly underpaid by the media organisation for similar work on a news-related television show and was owed 700,000 pounds (USD 9,14,952) in back pay. The presenter of the BBC's audience feedback show called 'Newswatch' said her low pay -- compared to the salary of her fellow presenter Jeremy Vine for a similar show called 'Points of View' was unjustified. Ahmed was paid 440 pounds (USD 575) an episode in comparison with Vine's 3,000 pounds (USD 3,921) per episode. The BBC had countered that the two presenters performed very different roles, an assertion the employment tribunal said had not been satisfactorily established by the corporation. "Her work on 'Newswatch' was like Jeremy Vine's work on 'Points of View' under Section 65(1) of the Equality Act 2010," concluded the judgment by a three-member employment tribunal led by Judge Harjit Grewal. The "unanimous judgment" in what has been described as a landmark case on equal pay notes that the corporation had not shown that the difference in pay was because of a "material factor, which did not involve subjecting the claimant (Ahmed) to sex discrimination". "The terms relating to pay in the claimant's contracts for presenting 'Newswatch' from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2018 should be modified so as not to be less favourable than the terms relating to pay in Jeremy Vine's contracts," it added. Ahmed, who had found the backing of a number of high-profile media personalities including fellow Indian-origin BBC news presenter Naga Munchetty, welcomed a resolution to the affair. "No woman wants to have to take action against their own employer. I love working for the BBC," she said. The BBC responded by describing her as an "excellent journalist and presenter" and regretted that the issue had to be taken to an employment tribunal. "We have always believed that the pay of Samira and Jeremy Vine was not determined by their gender. Presenters - female as well as male - had always been paid more on 'Points of View' than 'Newswatch'," a BBC statement said. "We'll need to consider this judgment carefully. We know tribunals are never a pleasant experience for anyone involved. We want to work together with Samira to move on in a positive way," it noted. Ahmed is the latest female journalist at the BBC to voice concern over pay equality within the news organisation after former China editor Carrie Gracie resigned for equal pay in January 2018. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kilcoole: Community Policing Clinic - Garda Molly Corbett's community policing clinic takes place from 6pm to 8pm every Monday at the community centre. Community Yoga Drop in community yoga at Community Centre with Christina Hanney. Thursdays at 8.15 p.m. Intermediate level. Fridays at 7.30 p.m. Beginners level. 8 drop in. Indoor bowls Bowls takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. in St Patrick's/Forrester's Hall. New members are welcome. Bingo Come join us for Monday Night Bingo in St Patrick's Hall, Kilcoole. First game at 8 p.m. 10 per book (to include loose sheet and jackpot game). Extra loose sheet 1. Raffle Tickets on sale on the night. All welcome to attend. Community Centre The centre is available for bookings (e.g. classes and meetings). Bookings can be made via email kilcoolecc@gmail.com or by phone 01 2872017. The office is open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Parent/Toddler Group All are welcome to come along to the parent and toddler group at the community centre from 10.30 p.m. to midday every Wednesday. 2 per child. Notes If you would like to have a notice included in the Kilcoole Notes please email jenniferwicklow2016@hotmail.com. Kilmacanogue Noel Carey RIP Kilmacanogue lost another of its famous sons on December 30 with the passing of Noel Carey. Noel slipped away peacefully surrounded by his loving family in the care of the staff of St Anne's Ward at St Vincent's University Hospital. He will be sadly missed and remembered with love by his partner Jane, son Graham, daughters Margaret and Avril, daughter-in-law Sharon, grandchildren, brother-in-law Ned, extended family, neighbours and friends. A large crowd attended his funeral Mass to say a final farewell which took place last Thursday in St Mochonog's Church followed by interment in adjoining cemetery. Hollywood have 'The Terminator' but in Kilmacanogue, Noel was 'The Alternator' as he was the man to visit to repair batteries and alternators and in his spare time, he was also some dancer. He fought a brave battle with illness for many years but that did not stop him from living life to the full. Deepest sympathy to all his beloved family, neighbours and friends from us all in the community of Kilmacanogue. Farewell Noel, rest in peace. GAA AGM The annual general meeting of Kilmacanogue GAA Club will take place this Thursday (ninth) at 7.30 p.m. in the clubhouse. All are welcome to attend this very important meeting. 50th birthdays There were great celebrations in Sugarloaf Crescent last weekend as neighbours Keith McDonald and Theresa Griffin celebrated turning 50 years young. Keith was whisked off to the Shelbourne Hotel for a romantic evening with his lovely wife Nuala and a very special birthday wish for a wonderful father comes from son Adam and three daughters Alex, Anna and Chloe and everyone in Kilmacanogue (including the Man United fans Keith). Then on Saturday, Theresa Griffin celebrated her 50th with a surprise party in her house organised by her daughter Casey. She is pictured with her three daughters and some of her nieces and nephews (we would want two pages to get all in) and a great evening was had by all. A special word of congratulations comes from that fantastic husband of yours Damien (well that's what he said anyway), and three lovely daughters Casey, Rachel and Amy, the extended Griffin and Molloy families and us all in the village. Here's to the next 50 Theresa and Keith. Darts competition The annual Kilmac Darts Competition drew to a close over the Christmas and was a great success once again. James McDonald has tried (and failed) over the past few years but finally got victory this year to become the 2019 Champion. It was a fitting end to efforts and he moves to Galway completely in the new year. While great fun in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the competition also raised over 500 for our senior citizens and Breda Connolly is pictured receiving same on behalf of all the Dart players. Well done to James, Arthur Smith, Thorsten Farber, Paddy and Patrick Harvey and everyone involved in this great competition and well done James on your success, you have played the Bridesmaid part long enough, finally became the bride. History Society The members of the Kilmacanogue History Society are eagerly looking forward to their first lecture of 2020 which will take place on Tuesday, January 14, at 8 p.m. in the Glenview Hotel. Marc McMenamin is the guest speaker and the title of his talk is, The Codebreaker. This fascinating story outlines how a gifted polymath and cryptographer, was drafted by Irish intelligence services to track the movements of a prolific Nazi spy, Hermann Gortz. It set in motion one of the most remarkable episodes in Irish history. What followed was a high-stakes game of cat and mouse that would wind its way through the capital and its suburbs, reverberate through the corridors of power, test the sympathies of those in high society, and even expand to jeopardise the Allied war effort. Codebreaker is a riveting and deeply researched account of an extraordinary period of history - when Dublin became a hotbed of Nazi intrigue and the fate of an independent Ireland settled on the shoulders of an unassuming employee of the National Library. The speaker himself, Marc McMenamin is a journalist and documentary maker. A specialist in exploring uncharted corners of Irish history, he is the maker of several acclaimed radio documentaries, including Good Cop/Bad Cop, exploring the life of controversial former NYPD officer Peter Daly, and Richard Hayes, Nazi Codebreaker. This presentation will take you back to the secret world of espionage in Ireland during World War II and is a fascinating opener to our 2020 season. Looking forward to seeing all our members and friends on the night. Notes If you want an item of local interest to appear in the Kilmacanogue notes please email colmulligan@eircom.net by midday on Sunday Glenealy Card Drive 45 card drive will be on this Thursday night, January 9, at 8.30 p.m. Whist partner card drive will be on the following Thursday night, January 16, at 8.30 p.m. New players are always welcome. GAA Bingo The next GAA bingo will be in Glenealy village hall on Sunday, January 19, at 3 p.m. Great cash prizes to be won. Look forward to seeing you all on the day. St Joseph's Church 150th anniversary St Joseph's church Glenealy celebration book is on sale at 5 per copy in Earls Newsagents Wicklow, The Village Store Glenealy and at Glenealy hall. Indoor bowls Indoor bowls is played in Glenealy Village Hall every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Just drop in any Wednesday night if you would like to start playing in door bowls. For more information contact 0404 44040. Foroige Youth Club Glenealy Foroige Youth club meet in Glenealy Village Hall every Friday night from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. for youths aged from 12 years to 18 years. For more information contact the club phone number at 087 0973519. Gymboree Gymboree Play and music classes are on every Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. in Glenealy village hall. Suitable for babies, toddlers and Pre-Schoolers from six months - four years. Teach your child a love of music through songs, dance, movement fun and musical instruments, exploring various different music styles. Booking is essential as places are limited. Contact Rachel at 086 830212 for more information and to book your place. Saturdays Playgroup The Saturdays playgroup is in Glenealy Village Hall every Saturday morning for Pre - School children from 10 a.m. to midday. Cost is just 3 per family. Just drop in any Saturday morning. Pilates classes Pilates classes are on in Glenealy Village Hall on Tuesday evenings from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Beginners/improvers and all ages welcome. seven weeks for 70 or drop-in-rate 12. Pilates strengthens core muscles, improves muscle control, flexibility, co-ordination, strength and tone, as well as alignment and breathing. To book your place contact Zara Elkinson at 087 9367474. For more info and to keep up to date like on Facebook at pilates with Zara. Astro Turf Our state-of-the-art astroturf pitch is available. We are taking bookings for morning, afternoon or evening times at very competitive rates. Please contact us at 0404 44040 for more information. Village Hall Glenealy village hall is now available for corporate and social events, meetings, parties, workshops etc. with great facilities and keen rates. Mornings, afternoons and evening times are now available. For more information contact us at 0404 44040 or email us at glenealyvillagehall@eircom.net. A 27-year-old Iraqi woman got a new lease of life after undergoing a seven-hour surgery here for removal of a "rare recurrent tumour", thereby allowing her to eat food properly after a gap of three years, doctors said on Saturday. The tumour sized 3x3 cm was removed from the lower jawbone of the patient at a city hospital recently, they said. Rasha Mohammad was initially treated in her home country for the tumour, which was resected and a reconstruction plate placed to bridge the gap in the jawline, doctors said. "However, as this rare recurrent tumour -- ameloblastoma -- relapsed, the lower jaw got maligned that proved difficult to bite, chew and eat food properly," Fortis Hospital said in a statement. The relapsed tumour on the right side of her lower jawbone also resulted in physical disfigurement. Consequently, the right side of the face was depressed with deviation of chin. A team of doctors at Fortis Hospital, Vasnt Kunj, performed a surgery to cure her of the rare tumour and help her eat food properly after a gap of more than three years, the statement said. "Once the patient was presented at the hospital, a treatment plan was drawn to urgently remove the tumour and rectify the maligned jaw for necessary cosmetic alterations and dental rehabilitation. Post treatment, she is now cured completely and able to eat easily," it said. The surgery, which took place early December, was led by Dr Mandeep S Malhotra, Head- Breast, Head & Neck Oncology Surgery, Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj. "Rasha Mohammad was taken for surgery where the tumour was removed along with the involved jaw bone and chin with adequate margins making sure nothing is left behind. Bone from the right illiac crest (part of hip bone) was removed, shaped into neo jaw and auto-transplanted to form the right jaw and chin. The blood supply to the new jaw was augmented by bringing in sternocleidomastoid muscle flap to cover the bone," he said. The whole jaw was realigned for the patient to bite correctly and chew properly, the doctor said. "The entire surgery took seven hours. We have been able to achieve more than expected for the patient. The tumour has been removed, the jaw has been reconstructed and the patient's looks are brought back to normal. She can bite properly and eat normal food," Malhotra said. The Iraqi woman has gone back to her home country after the operation, hospital authorities said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The instances of false and frivolous complaints under section 498 A and 406 and sometimes even under section 304 B have become very frequent in the Indian courts. Such complaints often are filed with the aim of harassing the husband and his family to the end of monetary extortion or even extortions in kind. This article unveils the most important judgments wherein, the courts identified and penalized the false complaints and complainants, related to dowry demands. 'State of Haryana Vs. Bhajan Lal' (AIR 1992 SC 604). Hon'ble Apex court devised seven principles when a complaint under section 498 A/406 can be quashed:- Where the allegations made in the First Information Report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused. Where the allegations in the First Information Report and other materials, if any, accompanying the F.I.R. do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers under S.156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within the purview of S.155(2) of the Code. Where the allegations made in the FIR and the evidence collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case against the accused. Where the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only a non-cognizable offence, no investigation is permitted by a police office, unless a Magistrate has issued an order for the same, as contemplated under section 155(2) of the Code. Where the allegations made in the FIR are absurd to the extent that no prudent man can even reach a just conclusion that there is a sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused. Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific provision in the Code or the concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved party. Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge. GeetaMehrotra&Anr. V. State of UP (Criminal Appeal No.1674 of 2012 (Arising out of SLP(Crl) No.10547/2010):- Hon'ble Supreme Court held that wherein the court categorically observed that 'mere casual reference of the names of the family members in a matrimonial dispute without allegation of active involvement in the matter would not justify taking cognizance against them overlooking the fact borne out of experience that there is a tendency to involve the entire family members of the household in the domestic quarrel taking place in a matrimonial dispute specially if it happens soon after the wedding.' Lalit Bhatia Vs State of Uttar Pradesh &Ors:- Hon'ble Allahabad High Court observed that 'having gone through the entire records as well as supplementary affidavit and I feel that this is one of those cases in which the complaint has been filed only with a view to cause harassment to the husband and his family members. In fact it is gross misuse of the provisions of Section 498A I.P.C. which certainly pricks the judicial conscience and cannot be left to stand. In the circumstances, I am in agreement with the argument advanced by counsel for the applicants that the continuation of the proceedings on the basis of complaint impugned in this application is nothing short of an abuse of the process of the court and is liable to be quashed in exercise of inherent powers. I therefore come to a conclusion that the complaint instituted by the opposite party No. 2 is frivolous one and is quashed'. Harsh Vardhan Arora v. SmtKavita Arora, 2002 MLR 528:- Omnibus allegations had been made against all the accused in respect of demand of dowry, harassment, torture and beating given to her during the period she stayed in the matrimonial home. No specific date, month or year had been specified when these incidents had taken place. It cannot be ignored that every member of the family of the complainant's husband has been implicated in this case. The allegations made are vague and general and for that reason no offence under Section 498-A, IPC is made out against the accused. Pareshbhai Pravinbhai Patel & VS State of Gujarat & Others:- Whatever allegations have been leveled are quite vague and general. So far as the husband is concerned, I take notice of the fact that from June 2013 he is in Bahrain. It seems that he has taken up employment in Bahrain. As usual, it appears that the first informant could not adjust herself at her matrimonial home on account of the disputes which could be termed as mundane matters. Razia Khatoon Rizvi &Anr. Vs. The State of Maharashtra & Anr:- Hon'ble Bombay high court quashed a case under section 498A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) of cruelty to wife filed by a woman against her brother-in-law, his wife and her sister-in-law observing that their implication for the offence was "actuated by design to harass and humiliate" them for being related to her husband. The HC bench of Justices Ranjit More and N J Jamadar observed "It is judicially recognized that in the wake of marital discord, the allegations are made thick and fast. There is a tendency to rope in as many persons from the family of the husband as possible, irrespective of their involvement in the band as possible, irrespective of their involvement in the alleged crime.'' It added, 'Allowing the prosecution of the immediate relations of the first informant, when the prosecution case does not indicate their involvement even remotely, would amount to injustice.' Jawant Singh and Others Vs. State of Punjab & Another:- The complaint was filed under section 498A IPC by the wife in India against her husband and mother-in-law. The offence was committed in Kuwait and for this reason, the complaint was quashed. It has also been held therein that in this matter section 4 IPC and section 188 Cr.P.C were not even applicable. The contents of FIR are clear enough to show that there was no matrimonial discord between Yashandeep Kaur and Kanwarjit Singh before she left for Canada on 28.4.2009. The complainant has not even alleged that before leaving for Canada, she had demanded the ornaments or other articles allegedly entrusted to the petitioners at the time of marriage. There is no allegation of any demand of dowry and consequent harassment of the complainant at the hands of the petitioners in India before this date. Since there were no allegation in respect to petitioners of their doing anything in India attracting offence punishable under Section 406 of IPC or any other offence, prosecution in India was not maintainable - Petition allowed and FIR quashed. Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!" Join our Telegram group Join our Whatsapp group "Loved reading this piece by Kapil Chandna Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!" Tags : Criminal Law (Newser) Debtors' prison may sound like a concept from another century. But the Marshall Project asserts that Mississippi is running a court-ordered restitution program that is essentially the same thing. The investigation found that judges sentence hundreds of people a year to one of four "restitution centers" around the state. There they must live while they work off court-ordered debts, including fees, fines, and restitution to victims. One big problem is that most of the workers have low-paying jobs, making their stays at the centers open-ended. And "centers" might be overstating things. One is described as a motel-turned-jail that is surrounded by razor wire. The residents sleep on prison-issued mattresses, eat the same food as inmates, and generally have the same restrictions. story continues below "We dont know of any other states that have a program quite like Mississippi's," says Sharon Brett of Harvards Criminal Justice Policy Program. The story by Anna Wolfe and Michelle Liu also includes this quote from Cliff Johnson of the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi. "Debtors' prisons are an effective way of collecting moneyas is kidnapping. But there are constitutional, public policy and moral barriers to such a regime." The program has its defenders, including a judge who says it's better than sending people to regular prison. One woman who went through it isn't so sure. Annita Husband ended up escaping from her center. When caught, she went to prison for 10 months, about half as long as she would have spent at the center had she stayed and paid off the debt under its system. (Read the full story.) Semarnat clarifies despite recent ruling, Holbox not unprotected Holbox, Q.R. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) clarified that no portion of the Isla Grande de Holbox is unprotected despite a court ruling in favor of hotel developer Peninsula Maya Development for a strip of beach located in the Area de Proteccion of Flora and Fauna Yum Balam. In a press release, Semarnat said that this virgin portion of the island is under the protection of la Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas (Conanp), which is governed by a plan. The Conanp destination agreement remains firm in more than 95 percent of the federal land maritime zone of Holbox (53.8 hectares). Less than 5 percent of the area (2.5 hectares approx.) is under review for overlapping with private land, they explained. La Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) says that with the agreement published on January 2 in el Diario Oficial de la Federacion (DOF), the environmental authority will comply with the determination of the judicial authority and will make new measurements through la Direccion General de Zona Federal Maritimo, Terrestre y Ambientes Costeros. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as Conanp, reiterates its commitment to the observance of applicable legal provisions and the conservation and protection of the environmental heritage of Mexico, they added. In the first week of November, after Chile cancelled the Apec summit and before the BRICS summit took place in Brasilia, there were intense discussions between China and the United States about a potential face-to-face meeting between their two respective leaders. The hope was that after plans of a meeting in Chile's capital of Santiago were wrecked by violent street protests, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump might find a location to finalise a phase one trade deal, according to two separate sources briefed on the matter. Trump's desire for an eye-catching photo opportunity with Xi has always been clear, with the US president looking for a "win" in the trade war to help boost his re-election campaign. For Xi, however, the timing was off. The text of the agreement had not been finalised and the broader US-China bilateral relationship was clouded by protests in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Xi had been willing to meet Trump in Chile, in similar fashion to their meeting at the G20 in Osaka, where they talked broadly about bilateral issues " including trade. But it was not certain that the deal would be signed in Chile. Before leaving for a state visit to Greece and an annual meeting with the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa " the BRICS " Xi turned down proposals of a bilateral summit on his way to or from Brazil, according to one of the sources, who wished not to be identified. The state-owned Xinhua news agency later reported that on his way back to Beijing from Brazil on November 14, Xi made a "technical" stopover in Tenerife, one of Spain's Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa. This term generally denotes aircraft maintenance and refuelling, without any official activities. This is just one of the many twists between a preliminary agreement reached mid-October and Beijing's confirmation on Thursday that Vice-Premier Liu He will lead a delegation to sign the deal in Washington next week. Story continues Minor as some of the details may be, they reflect subtle but important discrepancies between Beijing and Washington's differing perceptions of the deal, which could herald years of disputes down the road. Even after the phase one deal is signed, few expect the US-China relationship to significantly improve. Before the cancellation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, however, things were looking slightly rosier. In fact, the second half of October offered a rare sense of stability and predictability in the dynamic. After a negotiating round in Washington on October 10 and 11, Liu, who has led the negotiations, said that there was a foundation to sign a "phased" deal. Negotiators maintained "close communication" and made "smooth progress" in the following days, China's Ministry of Commerce said. A trade deal was within reach after the sides agreed to take the difficult parts out. Xi agreed to meet with Trump on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Santiago, scheduled for November 17, the Post reported at the time. A phone call between Liu and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on October 25 confirmed "the basic completion of technical negotiations over parts of the text". Trump, meanwhile, told reporters on October 28 that he would sign a phase one deal "ahead of schedule". Two days later, however, things started to go wrong. Increasingly violent protests in the capital city forced Chile, to cancel the summit, undoing preliminary preparations by Beijing and Washington for a Trump-Xi summit, and throwing everything up in the air. On November 1, Liu, Lighthizer and Mnuchin, had a call to discuss "future negotiation arrangements", but "there was really no Plan B", said a source on the cancellation of the meeting in Chile, adding that an immediate option was to try finding a stopover on Xi's Brazil trip. "I heard Chinese officials were gazing at a world map for hours, trying to locate an ideal stopover point," the source said, adding that Xi's scheduled trip to Greece on the way to Brazil meant planners were looking for a potential meeting on his way back to China. Speculation was rife as to where the two could meet. Alaska, Hawaii and Macau were mentioned, but Trump's reluctance to commit to rolling back existing tariffs made the deal "unbalanced" for Beijing, making it hard for Xi to sign, the Post quoted a source saying at the time. The Chinese economy struggled throughout 2019 under pressure from the trade war with the US. However, Xi was still reluctant to sign a trade deal with Trump. Photo: AP alt=The Chinese economy struggled throughout 2019 under pressure from the trade war with the US. However, Xi was still reluctant to sign a trade deal with Trump. Photo: AP Xi's decision not to meet Trump, meanwhile, was a hammer blow to prospects of a swift signing ceremony. The goodwill quickly dissipated, but talks continued. Top negotiators had two phone calls in November, one on November 16 when it was clear that Trump and Xi would not meet any time soon, and another on November 26. After the second call, a Chinese government statement did not include a phrase which had popped up in a succession of trade war dispatches from Beijing: "At request of the United States". This fanned speculation that Liu was reaching out to Washington in an effort to avoid another collapse in talks. The critical date of December 15 was approaching " tariff day, when new duties would hit Chinese goods such as laptops, toys and electronics. As it grew nearer, there were doubts over whether a deal could concluded on time. These were tariffs that would, it was acknowledged by former Trump White House officials, hurt both sides. Trump, meanwhile, angered Beijing by signing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act into law on November 28. On December 3, he told reporters that it might be "better to wait until after the election" to strike a deal with China, adding that there is "no deadline" to sign it. In reality, however, it was over the days following this that the two sides managed to nail down a final agreement. On December 12, The Wall Street Journal reported that the US offered to halve the tariff rate on US$360 billion of Chinese goods. Trump denied this, in typical style. "The Wall Street Journal story on the China Deal is completely wrong, especially their statement on Tariffs," he wrote on Twitter. "Fake News. They should find a better leaker!" But hours later, a deal was announced. " Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2019 In Beijing, reporters were given last minute notice of a press conference on December 13, which finally started at 11pm, after repeated delays while Chinese officials frantically checked the wording of the deal. Both sides agreed that China would buy more American goods and the US would postpone planned tariffs and scale back others. However, China has been more guarded in releasing the contents of the deal, including the value of purchase commitments, and the signing date. Lighthizer said mid-December that the deal was expected to be signed in the first week of January. the Post reported at the end of December that Liu would lead a delegation to Washington on January 4 to for the signing. At this point, Trump caught the Chinese side by surprise, deciding to sign the deal himself, even though his counterpart, Liu He, is at vice-premier level " an unusual imbalance in presidential history. The trade war has ebbed away at bilateral trade between the world's two largest economies, leaving many to speculate that decoupling may be underway. Photo: AP alt=The trade war has ebbed away at bilateral trade between the world's two largest economies, leaving many to speculate that decoupling may be underway. Photo: AP In fact, there was never any suggestion that Xi would travel to Washington to meet with Trump and sign the deal, even though Trump said on Christmas Eve that the two would hold a signing ceremony "when we get together". "It's too risky for Xi to travel to the US and put his own name to the trade deal, when it has the potential to be thrown out at the last minute by Trump," said Eleanor Olcott, China policy analyst at TS Lombard, a research firm. Trump also decided to change a signing date that had been previously agreed, but China decided to indulge his requests. He also said that he planned to visit China at a later date, but this eagerness is not shared by authorities in Beijing. The last time Xi was actively involved in the phase one deal was on a call with Trump on December 20. Xi told Trump that the deal is good for China, the US and the world, Xinhua reported, but that message could be construed to stretch to warmer US-China relations, rather than just a temporary trade truce. This roller coaster period has led us to the scheduled signing of a deal on January 15. However, few have much hope for progress to a more substantial agreement, with many also sceptical as to whether China can meet US' demands from the phase one deal. "Do the two sides have a realistic plan to achieve these targets?" asked Andy Rothman, a strategist for investment fund Matthews Asia and former US State Department official in China, of the US' lofty import demands of Beijing. "Or is it set up to fail?" Sign up now for our 50% early bird offer from SCMP Research: China AI Report. The all new SCMP China AI Report gives you exclusive first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments, and actionable and objective intelligence about China AI that you should be equipped with. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Iran admits of unintentionally hitting Ukrainian plane TEHRAN: The armed forces joint staff in a statement said human error caused the disaster and promised to bring those who made the mistake to justice and make reforms to its air defence system. President Hassan Rouhani, wrote on Saturday: The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. The Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, wrote: A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by armed forces: human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. In a social media post, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to the disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims and to other affected nations. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, when it was shot down. This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission, said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan found a photo of a long haired mustachioed Peart for Instagram and provided a lengthy commentary: On the passing of Neil Peart, please let me add my voice to the chorus in praising this incredible musician and poet. His influence on the Smashing Pumpkins is indelible: giving us wings to soar with and a road map to ultimately find our own way. There isnt a modern rock drummer alive who hasnt heard him, and spoken his name with a reverence thats reserved for the very few. And as a lyricist, Mr. Peart is without compare. I am forever in his debt, and humbled to say that though I never met him, I feel I knew him as a friend. Which brings to mind his great line, I cant pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend...May God embrace you, Neil, as His own. Dismount And just like that, thirteen years of community policing goes out the window. Kansas City's Mounted Patrol Unit has officially been disbanded and the officers in that unit will be re-deployed into the various patrol zones filling vacant positions, ostensibly to address the ever-escalating homicide rate in the city. On Jan. postscript on the end of an era and a local law enforcement tradition that has been concluded given shrinking budgets and rising violent crime.writing from the publisher at Northeast News: More than 100 employees of Synchrony, a Stamford-based consumer financial services company, participated in the fifth annual Doubles Dive by plunging into the chilly waters at Compo Beach on Friday to raise money for charity. The event, an idea conceived by Synchrony president Brian Doubles, raises funds for the SeriousFun Childrens Network, a group offering camps and programs for children living with serious illnesses. Final results show Tsai returned for second term with 57.1 percent of the votes ahead of Han who got 38.6 percent. Taipei, Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen has secured a second term in office in Taiwan after winning the presidential election with 57.1 per cent of the votes on Saturday, final results showed. The electoral commission said Tsai won 8.17 million votes, ahead of her main rival Han Kuo-yu who bagged 5.52 million votes (38.6 percent) and James Soong of the conservative People First Party with 600,000 votes (4.26 percent). Tsai had already declared victory in the election after Han conceded following a fiercely fought campaign. Tsai, in her victory speech, said: I would like to thank everyone who voted today regardless of how you voted. With each presidential election I want to show the world how much we value our democratic way of life and how much we value our nation, the democratic republic of Taiwan. Earlier, Tsai had assumed a strong lead over Kuomintang (KMT) rival Han, the populist mayor of Kaohsiung, an important industrial city, according to unoffficial television results. A little more than a year ago, the prospect of Tsais re-election seemed unlikely after her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) performed badly in the November 2018 mid-term election. The result forced Tsai to resign as party chair as the DPP lost control of a number of key cities and districts. Tsais popularity, however, began to rise in mid-June, according to opinion polls, around the time that nearby Hong Kong began to descend into political chaos amid mass anti-government protests against Beijings perceived growing influence over the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Officially known as the Republic of China, Taiwans political status is ambiguous and the island has previously been offered a similar one country, two systems arrangement to Hong Kong, a former British colony, from Chinas Communist Party. A woman casts her vote in the presidential election in Taipei, Taiwan [Carl Court/Getty Images] Hong Kong, however, has shown many young Taiwanese that Beijing, courted by the KMT, is an untrustworthy partner. Tsai also remains popular with young people for pushing a bill through parliament to legalise same-sex marriage, which came into effect in May 2019 in a landmark moment for Asia. Ming Chung, 24, who voted around mid-morning with his 22-year-old sister at a polling station at Fuxing Elementary School in Taipei, said they had both chosen Tsai for a second time. I dont want to become Hong Kong, Ming said, adding that he and his sister both thought a vote for the KMT would bring Taiwan closer to China something they did not wish to see happen. I hope young teenagers and young people can vote today, Ming said, as many identify as Taiwanese rather than Chinese, a feeling shared by many people who were born after martial law ended in 1987 and lack strong ties to China. Other voters, however, were less sure about their choice. Groly, a married mother in her 30s who asked to only be identified by her English nickname, said she had woken up feeling nervous on Saturday because she was still undecided but also worried about the future. Im not sure who to vote for if the [candidates] are really great, she said. Even if my husband asks me I will not tell him. Chinese influence But while Tsai has polled well with young people, Han and the KMT are favoured by older Taiwanese and those who are concerned about the economy. Wages in Taiwan have largely remained stagnant for some 20 years, and many Taiwanese would like the island to become closer with economic powerhouse China. The election season has seen its fair share of fake news and misinformation campaigns on Facebook and LINE, according to the Taiwan FactCheck Center, leading the DPP-led parliament to controversially push through an anti-infiltration law on December 31. Tsais first term in office also saw Taiwan become even more diplomatically isolated as the democracy lost several of its last remaining diplomatic allies, mostly small Pacific nations, to Chinese pressure. Chinas Communist Party claims sovereignty over Taiwan although it has never ruled the island, a one-time Japanese colony taken over by the Republic of Chinas KMT-led government in 1945 amid the Chinese civil war. People queue to vote in the presidential election in Taipei, Taiwan [Carl Court/Getty Images] The fate of Taiwan led many of the nations 18.8 million eligible voters to travel great distances to vote on Saturday as Taiwanese can only vote near their official address or hukou often a family or parents home. Travel, however, did not stop music teacher Anita Chen, whose parents drove her from Taipei to nearby Taoyuan city early on Saturday, from voting. She did not have to travel as far as some friends who flew back from Japan and Australia to vote for Tsai or deeper into Taiwans rural provinces, like her boyfriend. I am very excited about this vote. Its our right, said the 30-year-old. I think the same-sex marriage [policy] is the main point why we decided to vote, she also said of Taiwanese young people. [Tsai] supports a lot of young people, especially in my field, the arts. Chen said while the economy may improve under Han, if he opened the door wider to China, it would also lead to more Chinese influence something she said she did not want for Taiwan. Tsai was first voted into office in 2016 following on the heels of the Sunflower Movement two years earlier, when a trade deal between China and a KMT-led parliament unleashed a wave of protests that saw students take over Taiwans parliament and government headquarters. Tsai is the first female leader of Taiwan and unique in Asia for running in her own right and not as the relative of a previous male leader, such as South Koreas Park Geun-hye, Thailands Yingluck Shinawatra, Myanmars Aung San Suu Kyi and Indias Indira Gandhi. Taiwanese have only directly voted for president since 1996 following the end of martial law nearly a decade before. While the KMT ruled the island under one-party rule for more for decades, the party has nevertheless remained popular in the post-democratic era. Tsai is only the second DPP president to serve in office. Her DPP predecessor Chen Shui-bian served two terms in office although he later was found guilty of corruption following the end of his tenure. China on Saturday reported the first known death from a new virus which has infected dozens in a central Chinese province, sparking concern as hundreds of millions of Chinese get ready to travel for the Chinese New Year (CNY). The death of a patient coincided with the beginning of Chinas annual travel rush on Friday for the CNY holidays comprising some 3 billion trips in 2020. Over the next 40 days, more than half-billion people will pack into trains, buses and passenger aircraft to travel home and elsewhere amid the lurking fear of the pneumonia outbreak and whether the passengers will become vectors for the disease. Chinese state media on Saturday said a 61-year-old man was the first person to die from viral pneumonia in Wuhan, the capital of central Chinas Hubei Province, and seven others were in critical condition. There is no evidence yet to suggest the virus can spread between humans but the first death has sparked concerns among Chinese citizens getting ready to travel for the CNY, also known as the Spring Festival, the biggest festival in China, and in the east and southeast Asia. As many 3 billion trips are expected in the travel rush the largest temporary migration of people worldwide annually in the 40-day period between Jan 10 and Feb 18 for family reunions and travel. China is yet to announce any travel restriction as the mass movement of people picks up pace. Scientists and doctors are continuing research on the virus. Tentative diagnoses showed 41 cases suffer from pneumonia caused by a preliminarily determined new type of coronavirus by Friday, the Wuhan municipal health commission said. A total of 739 close contacts, 419 of which are medical staff, have been placed under medical observation and no related cases were found, the commission said. The episode has caused alarm in light of public memories of Sars, or Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which in 2002-03 killed 349 people in mainland China and another 299 in Hong Kong, whose economy was hit hard by the epidemics devastating impact on tourism, news agency, AFP reported. Hong Kong authorities have said 48 people have been admitted to hospital in recent days after returning from Wuhan and displaying flu-like illnesses, but none have yet been confirmed to have contracted the new coronavirus. Preliminary lab results showed a new-type coronavirus had caused the viral pneumonia in central Chinas Wuhan, Xu Jianguo, a Chinese expert who led a team to evaluate the pathogen test results told state media. The newly detected coronavirus is different from known human coronavirus species, including the viruses that had caused SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), Xu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) One Purdue graduate is headed on a mission many want to take but few actually get to experience. Loral O'Hara is going to space. I wasn't sure that it would ever happen, I just figured I would keep on applying and either I would get here or I would not, said OHara. It's that passion and perseverance in O'Hara that her Purdue University advisor knew would get her far. From the minute I met her she was clearly a real special person, said Bill Anderson, professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue. She was such a genuine forthright person, she really made a great impression on all of us from the very start. O'Hara joins 11 other graduates in the first class to graduate from the NASA Artemis Program. She graduated from Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2009. Professor Anderson said many students come in wanting to be astronauts but to actually become one through the NASA program is tough. It's rare, it's very rare, said Anderson. There were 18,000 applicants, she had to go through five rounds to finally be selected so it's, it's a really incredible achievement for her. I got interested in becoming an astronaut when I was pretty young, said OHara. I really dreamed of being an explorer and I wanted to go explore the oceans or the far corners of the earth, and then human spaceflight became what I decided that I really wanted to explore. And it's a bonus she grew up just an hour away from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Her first mission could include going up to space to be a communicator between the astronauts in orbit and the ones on earth. She has a message for everyone working toward a dream. Figure out what you really love and pursue that and be the best you can at that, said OHara.If you want to be an astronaut or if you have another big goal, just kind of being the best you can be in your area, I think it is the best way to go. O'Hara is set to start her mission in February. The grave of Auburn Police Officer William Buechner, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in May, has been disturbed, according to a report released Friday. Flowers were ripped apart and American flags at Buechners grave at Town Creek Cemetery were pulled out of the ground on Monday by apparent vandals, Auburn police confirmed to WRBL. Buechner, a 13-year veteran of the department, was allegedly killed May 19 by 29-year-old Grady Wayne Wilkes, who was wearing body armor and a helmet when he opened fire on Buechner and two other officers. The other two officers, Webb Sistrunk and Evan Elliott, were injured during the incident. Wilkes was charged with capital murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count of second degree domestic abuse. The French Prime Minister has offered to temporarily withdraw plans for controversial pension reforms following weeks of protest action in towns and cities across the country. In a letter to union chiefs, Edouard Philippe said he would be willing to pull back plans to raise the age at which citizens would receive full pension benefits. It comes as strikes against the changes to the law roll into their 38th day, with protestors including CGT union members and Gilets Jaunes activists taking to the streets of Paris to air their grievances with the policy introduced by Emmanuel Macron. The proposal to extend the age at which workers would be eligible to full state pension benefits to 64 from 62 was considered to be among the most controversial elements of the reforms that made up a key election pledge for Mr Macron in 2017. Initially the French government had proposed increasing the pension age to 62 years and four months in 2022 - gradually increasing the boundary until it was set at 64-years in 2027. 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 his letter Mr Philippe said that he was "prepared to withdraw from the bill the short-term measure which I had proposed, consisting in gradually converging from 2022 towards an equilibrium age of 64 years in 2027'". It is unclear if the change will be enough to simmer tensions that have led to protest action the length and breadth of the country since December. At the time the letter was announced activists amassed at the Place de la Republique in Paris remained sceptical urging for action to carry on until the withdrawal of the policy takes place while singing "and we will go until we withdraw, and we will go until we withdraw". However union the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT) welcomed the move, saying it marked "the government's will to compromise" and will help to "continue discussions" on the policy. Colombo-gate tapes reveal backroom goings on Govt. MPs want Duminda Silva pardoned Parliamentary group discusses Ramanayake and his tapes The United National Partys actor turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake shook Sri Lanka this week in what could be called the Colombo-gate tapes some 127,000 recordings of telephone calls he made to CID top brass, members of the judiciary and even actresses over his sexual preferences. About 100 of the choicest tapes are known to be in the public domain through the social media, a source familiar with the case said. More are due for posting in the days and weeks to come. The revelations have shown that the UNP parliamentarian, through the illegal task of recording telephone conversations, bared convincing evidence of brazen direct interference in investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and over judgments by select members of the judiciary. Ramanayake or Sadda Vidda Rajapakse Palanga Pathira Ambakumarage Ranjan Leo Sylvester Alphonsu, the celluloid hero, projected himself as a larger than life figure with close connections to leaders of the previous coalition government. Most of his conversations, revealed so far, have been with the former CID Director, Senior Superintendent of Police, Shani Abeysekera. Soon after the presidential election, he was transferred as Personal Assistant to the DIG in charge of the southern range located in Galle. He is contesting this demotion through a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, after the Colombo-gate tapes revelations exploded, he was interdicted. He now faces arrest. In one tape, Ramanayake is heard talking to a judge who was among those who heard the murder case (at the High Court) against onetime parliamentarian Duminda Silva. Whilst one judge dissented, two other judges convicted him for murder and imposed death sentence. This was over the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, a former UPFA MP and later Advisor to the President. Thereafter, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court upheld the judgment. The judge in question appeals on the telephone to Ramanayake for help for promotion to a higher court. The judge is also critical of a senior colleague. Five persons including Premachandra were killed in a shooting incident, which took place in Mulleriyawa in October 2011, on the day of the Local Council elections. Silva sustained injuries and received treatment in Singapore. He and four others were found guilty. The Supreme Court in October 2018 dismissed the appeals filed by Silva and two others against their death penalties. Even before the Duminda Silva matter surfaced in tape recordings, there were efforts under way to secure his release from prison. Last week, a group of government MPs signed a petition that he be granted a presidential pardon. It was handed over to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa so he may take it up with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Sunday Times learnt that the matter came up for discussion at the highest levels. Some of those related to such a pardon including top members of the clergy were consulted for their views. They were not in favour. They opined that Duminda Silvas lawyers should seek legal recourse. This is particularly in the light of suggestions (in the tapes) of moves to manipulate the judiciary. The discussion also focused on public anger generated by former President Maithripala Sirisena granting a pardon to Jude Shramantha Jayamaha, the brutal killer of Yvonne Johnson in 2005 at the Royal Park apartments. Government leaders also urged Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya to initiate action against the judges whose names have transpired. He is the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). On Thursday, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) joined the cry with an appeal to Chief Justice Jayasuriya. Acting on this, the JSC will call for explanations from the judges concerned before initiating further action. In another conversation, former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera is heard appealing to Ramanayake not to speak to the judge in question over the Premachandra murder case. He says that the matter has been taken care of and pleads with Ramanayake Budu Sir, katha keranna epa or Budu Sir, do not talk. To show his anxiety over the matter, he also says that he would even come over to his house and wash plates for six months but not to say anything to the judge in question. The appeal is repeated when Ramanayake declares he was meeting President Sirisena that evening (the day of the conversation) by bemoaning Vandinnam Sir or will worship you, Sir! The Colombo-gate tapes have more than a few shades of the Watergate scandal which ousted US President Richard Nixon from office in 1974. It stemmed from the break-in of rival Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate Office Building in Washington, D.C., by five men and the Nixon administrations subsequent attempts to cover up its involvement in the crime. One, later known as the smoking gun tape, documented the initial stages of the Watergate coverup. On it, Nixon and H. R. Haldeman, then White House Chief of Staff, are heard formulating a plan to block investigations by having the CIA falsely claim to the FBI that national security was involved. Pressure on CID Here, over a period Ramanayake has been putting pressure on the CID to arrest persons he identified and remand them. He is also urging members of the judiciary to convict some persons including then opposition politicians. Conversations reveal that former CID Director Shani Abeysekera has not only been briefing him on matters related to investigations but ignoring rules and handing over to him packages of documents including statements. In one instance he tells Ramanayake that a key stalwart of the government had made vast amounts of money and names a local businessman who is keeping them safe. How such an officer, a Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the CID, once the most coveted unit of the Police Department, could violate departmental norms, secrecy and accepted procedures is deeply disturbing. This is when CID officers expected to be impartial in their investigations. Therefore, the Sunday Times (political commentary) has regularly pointed out the deteriorating standards in the CID. Facsimile on this page shows a few of the instances. How did the Colombo-gate scandal, which is the talking point among Sri Lankans countrywide, come about? On Saturday January 3, Nugegoda Additional Magistrate U.K.H. Pelpola issued a warrant to search the apartment of Ranjan Ramanayake at the MPs hostel in Madiwela. It was issued on an application made by the Officer-in-Charge of the Western Province Crime Division, Inspector Nimal Priyantha. Some 25 Police officers were deployed. They conducted a room-to-room search. Video footage showed one of the files seized was one from the CID dealing with the alleged murder of rugger player Wasim Thajudeen. Conversations revealed that SSP Abeysekera periodically packaged CID documents and handed them over to the driver of Ramanayakes vehicle. So did Chief Inspector Nishantha de Silva who fled to Switzerland and won asylum there. This was after he was sent by the MP to collect documents from pre-identified locations. On one occasion, a CID constable (name revealed in the conversation) is tasked to a location to hand over documents. After the search ended, the Police arrested Ramanayake. All the productions that were seized from his house were packed, sealed and his thumb imprint placed. Ramanayake acknowledged that the CDs, files and documents belonged to him. SSP Absesekera also acknowledged his voice in the tapes but told the Sunday Times, I am now interdicted. I cannot make a comment. His boss until a week earlier, Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne, under whose tenure the department transformed largely into a political tool, also declined to comment. He told the Sunday Times, I am now retired and do not wish to make any comment. Both were reminded that this was an opportunity to respond to very serious accusations against the CID. They were also told of the public anger the tapes have generated. This is where things have taken different turns. Ramanayake, backed by some of his UNP colleagues, claimed that the material that is surfacing in the social media, and later in the national media, was from the sealed package and accused the Police. Police Headquarters, however, denied the claim. Ramanayake filed an application to the Nugegoda Magistrates Court to seek a prohibition on further publication of contents of the Colombo-gate tapes. Additional Magistrate U.K. Pelpola issued notice on the OIC of the Crimes Unit to appear on January 17. One is not sure what the Magistrates Court order will be. However, it would be enormously difficult to ask hundreds if not thousands of social media outlets to keep mum. Those have already brought to the public domain some of the contents triggering countrywide reaction. Speaking to the media from outside the courts premises, Ramanayake said it was not relevant whether his actions were ethical or otherwise. He claimed he was doing it in the public interest to deliver justice. That could be said of even the legendary Robinhood of British folklore. He robbed the rich to give the poor. In the civilised world today, robbery is a crime. It is also an offence to record a conversation without the other persons consent in terms of the Telecommunications Ordinance. However, the day after the search of Ramanayakes house, Venerable Sudaththa Thera, General Secretary of the Sihala Ravaya, chaired a news conference. He made public the contents of many significant conversations. In a brief tape-recorded interview with the Sunday Times he was asked from where the CDs containing the conversations were received. We learnt of it from the internet. Its not important how I got them. We should look into what it contains, he exhorted. He said, We have reason to believe the recordings are true and we have identified the persons. He added, We hear him (Ramanayake) talking repeatedly to former CID Director Shani Abeysekera. He is also in conversation with Chief Inspector Nishantha de Silva who fled the country and has got asylum in Switzerland. He speaks to members of the judiciary about cases before them. The recordings show that during the so-called yahapalana (good governance) government, there was injustice. Ramanayake has influenced the CID to hunt then MPs of the joint opposition and those supportive of them. An actor is always an actor. They cant be politicians, said Ven. Sudaththa Thera. He warned that Ramanayake could retaliate against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Police Chief or commanders of the armed forces. He is keeping the recordings with the motive of attacking someone. On Thursday, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, during a Temple Trees meeting of newspaper editors and heads of news divisions of electronic media, commented on the same issue. He said, The exposure in the voice recordings is a revelation about the influence of the previous government on the judiciary. Under these circumstances, the people question us about verdicts given by the judiciary. The consequences on the judiciary are serious. It is our duty to restore the independence of the judiciary and public faith in it. When that is destroyed, a hopeless situation arises. All judgments will now be viewed with suspicion. During the previous government some cases have been filed against people on flimsy charges of granting permission to use a vehicle. According to what has been revealed, some in the judiciary, the Attorney Generals Department and the Police have been involved in exerting influence on the judiciary. It is the Chief Justice who should investigate this and take action to ensure the independence of the judiciary. The Chief Justice has a clear responsibility. It is from the judicial side itself a decision should be taken. Some persons are of the opinion that a Commission should be appointed to investigate these issues. However, it is a matter for the Chief Justice. Govt. Parliamentary group takes up Ranjan tapes The Colombo-gate tapes also figured at a meeting of the government parliamentary group at Temple Trees on Tuesday. It was chaired by Premier Rajapaksa. Speakers said that the public turned to the CID because it conducted independent investigations in the past and it had a reputation of being trustworthy. The people said similarly they turned to the judiciary for fair play and justice. The contents of the tapes had revealed that these beliefs were myths. Some called for a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to probe the matter. There were others who opined that an independent commission would have to undertake it. However, government leaders ruled out a PSC since they do not have a majority in Parliament. Moreover, they also noted that a Commission of Inquiry would involve time, besides the CID, now under a heavy cloud of doubt, having to position some of its staff to assist the Commission. It would be unwise for the government to go for a Parliamentary Select Committee or a Commission of Inquiry. Such moves could isolate both the Police and the Judiciary and could amount to an act of no confidence. For the fault of a handful, the two institutions cannot be blamed. There are more people with high integrity and character. What would be required is a full but less time-consuming probe and to deal with those responsible. It is they, both those within and outside, who should be exposed so such things do not recur. To give an idea of the enormity of the issues involved, here are edited transcripts of different conversations Ranjan Ramanayake had with former CID Director Shani Abeysekera and Chief Inspector, Nishantha Silva of the CID. The latter has now received asylum in Switzerland. Ranjan Ramanayaka: Has Gamini Senaraths (former Chief of Staff of President Rajapaksa) passport been taken. Shani Abeysekara: They have taken a travel ban. Ranjan: I am told that he is hiding in (a Cabinet Minister from the south is named) house. Shani: He is involved in all games. Ranjan: He is a shameless person. Shani: He is from our village, from our school. Ranjan: He is the person who built a three storied house whilst being in the Opposition. Shani: Yes, shameless people. Ranjan: Is he greedy for money Shani: Yes, involved in games (game karaya) Ranjan: From those days it has been the same Shani: His parents were honourable people. Ranjan: He took big contracts in the Southern Expressway construction. Shani: Yes. (Names a businessman in the marine and security sector) spent for him. Ranjan: We are the ones who fall in trouble. Shani: We are ready to get buried. Ranjan: We will not allow that to happen. Ranjan: Is he going to ask for anticipatory bail tomorrow. Shani: Yes. Ranjan: Lawyers are a dirty group what they say is he is my client and I need to protect him. Shani: They say it is within the frame of law, but they do all dirty work. I need not tell you what (names a lawyer who was a Minister in the last government) has done. Ranjan: He came from (refers to a village in the South). Shani: There was one person who helped him a lot. He was one (names a businessman) who owns fuel outlets. Ranjan: I know him. He owns one near a Colombo shopping centre too. Shani: He wanted to buy a land in the Kotte area about one and half acre. He handed the documents to (lawyer politician is named). He told him he will look at that within two weeks. Later he said the deeds were not clear. He said it was first on deed of gift and wanted to give it up. One and a half years later the same land was available. On checking he (Shani) found that the owner is the lawyer cum former Minister. (He names him) Ranjan: Is that so? This is the calibre of persons we have. When journalists want to interview him, he never gives appointments to come home. He tells them to come to the Ministry or his office. Shani: He cant show the house. The kitchen faces one road and the front of the house another road. Ranjan: It is supposed be a palace. Shani: This is the house we know- What about those abroad. Ranjan: (Names the security and marine businessman and says) he may have brought him a house in the United States. Shani: Otherwise why should he back them so much. Ranjan: He made a statement when he was the (names the portfolio) Minister that Gotabaya Rajapaksa cannot be arrested. Shani: He destroyed the image of the Attorney General. Ranjan: Responding to that I came out of Sri Kotha and said that he is fit to be given the Womens Affairs Ministry. It is after that he got hold of one (name mentioned) and filed action against me for contempt of court. Shani: So far nothing in that case. Ranjan: We went to courts the other day though notice had not been issued. We said we saw it in the media and went to courts. Our lawyer Sumanthiran said what I have mentioned has been reported in Victor Ivans book. Shani: What he reported was the truth. Ranjan: Our point is that even summons cannot be issued. Even the judges are giving information. I have also mentioned that there are judges who can be worshipped. I have told their names. I mentioned the names you gave. I thought you watched TV. Shani: I am in office till about 10 or 11 in the night and I am unable to watch.. Ranjan: I cant tell your name. Shani: Dont tell my name. Ranjan: Is it ok to tell your name. Shani: Not an issue to mention the name. Ranjan: In general, you can mention. Shani: Now take the former Navy spokesman (name is mentioned). He got himself admitted to the Navy Hospital at Welisara and remained there. He was (allegedly) involved in abduction of students. (Names a former Navy Commander) is also there, but the President (Sirisena) did not allow him to be taken in. Ranjan: Is it out of fear that he was not allowed to be taken. Shani: There are certain things done through the armed forces. Now see the IGP, the work what he does is not fit for the IGP post. Not even a PC will be kept in his post. There is also a picture with his hands around Karaoke Wasantha (an alleged drug baron). (Names the spokesman) was arrested in the Navy hospital and until today he never got into the dock. He comes in an ambulance and the Magistrate has to go to the Ambulance. Under the Prisons Ordinance the Navy hospital is not identified as a place for detention. Ranjan: Is he so unfit. Shani: They are still holding him at the Navy Hospital. Ranjan: On whose order? Shani: May be our bigshots. If he is a normal person action will be taken. Ranjan: Who is hearing the case? Shani: Names a lady Magistrate Ranjan: Madam is usually good. Shani: May be some unknown influence. I cant understand. Ranjan: I mentioned her name among the good judges. Shani: She is good. This is because of the pressure. Ranjan: Is she married? Shani: No, not married she is a tough judge Ranjan: Nobody can influence her. Shani: No Ranjan: Thats how it should be Shani: That should be the case. Ranjan: How is (names two Supreme Court judges) Shani: Names one and says he is straight forward. Ranjan: Anything more? Shani: I will speak to you later. Another conversation between Ramanayake and Shani Abeysekera, lasting just over one hour cannot be published due to serious legal implications. In that Abeysekera gives advice to Ramanayake on the impending contempt case in the Supreme Court against Ramanayake. He cites precedents. Then he goes on to criticise some judges and praise a handful. He blames then Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva for a ruling which allowed then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to govern for a long time. In another conversation with a film actress, Ramanayake engages in a lewd exchange of words about his personal sexual preferences. The actress offers to send a girl to him and says, you will have to work out the rest. Both Ramanayake and Shani Abyesekera are also involved in criticising the former head of Military Intelligence (MI), Brigaider Suresh Sallay (now Director of the State Intelligence Service). In another conversation, Abeysekera also pooh poohs the Police raid on the MI Safe House in Athurugiriya in 2003. He says that such safe houses are found only in war areas, a fact which is furthest from the truth. The safe house was used by the Armys Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP) which successfully attacked several Tiger guerrilla targets. So much so, it was one of the factors for prompting them to come for peace talks. Here is the transcript of a conversation Ramanayake had with Chief Inspector Nishantha de Silva: Ranjan: You must be busy. Nishantha: No, I attended a conference with the Director. The goods are ready for delivery, what should I do? Ranjan: Shall I send someone? Nishantha: Yes, send him. Ranjan: Can you give me another telephone number in case one didnt work. Nishantha: Okay wait. Shouts to a PC (who is named). Could you please tell me your mobile number? The number is given. Nishantha: Please write down my land number as well. Ranjan: Okay. Nishantha: 011- 2393621. Sir, you can call (the name of the PC is mentioned) that is his number and also, he is in charge if the land number as well. The package is already sealed. You send the vehicle. Ill hand over. Ranjan: My driver will come. So, whats in it? Nishantha: It has the case of the chopping a person into 62 pieces incident with the B report. Recommendation of the IGP regarding to me the Police Commission. Nishantha: You mean his recommendation? Nishantha: Yes, his one. They accused me of being an LTTE supporter. The investigations I did against LTTE all are in it. My family background too. Ranjan: Thats where I fought for you. Nobody told you that. Nishantha: No sir! Ranjan: Shani thanked me for that. Nishantha: Is it so. I will look into that. Ranjan: You are doing the 11 persons abduction case. Nishantha: Yes, the case of abduction of 11 youth and the incident of chopping a person into 62 pieces incident. Ranjan: Are you doing the (names a former Navy Commander) case? Nishantha: Yes. Ranjan: Did Felix Perera (a former Minister) give a letter to (names the former Navy Commander). Nishantha: Yes, he did. Ranjan: Do you have a copy of that? Nishantha: If you want, I can send a copy of that. Ranjan: Names former Navy Commander mentioning about his assistance and about his Gym Instructor going missing. Nishantha: Okay I will send them. Ranjan: What else do you have to telecast? Nishantha: I will send the rest to another programme. Ranjan: Send all the details. Nishantha: I will give. Dont worry. Ranjan: Now its 1.30 p.m. The driver will arrive by 2.00 p. m. Nishantha: Okay I will send them. Ranjan: Shall I give the mobile to talk to him? Nishantha: Yeah, sure! Driver: Tell me sir! Nishantha: You come to the CID. Call any of the numbers. There is a police officer called (name given) and he will assist you. You collect a sealed document from him and hand it over to the MP. Driver: Okay Sir, Ill come. Disastrous blow to UNP An important question that begs answer is how much the former President Maithripala Sirisena knew about the goings on. He was in charge of the Police Department for most of the time when these conversations have been tape recorded by Ramanayake. The UNP parliamentarian has revealed that he was taking up issues with then President Sirisena. If by any means, he was kept in the dark altogether, the issue becomes much more serious. Here is a case where an MP from outside is manipulating the CID and sections of the judiciary thus subverting the criminal justice system and the judiciary. The national security implications of such a move are deadly serious. Another important question is whether the Senior DIG then in charge of the CID, Ravi Seneviratne, knew what was going on. If he did, he has not been able to rectify the serious damage done to the CID and consequently to the country. If indeed he was unaware, it raises many issues over his service as the head of the CID. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led alliance is literally sitting on a volcano. With only a few weeks to go for the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions, the news that all is not well with the countrys judiciary is in the public domain. The US-backed resolution on Sri Lanka has a major component with references to the Sri Lankan judiciary and a call for foreign judges to try alleged war crimes. The Colombo-gate tapes will be grist to the mill for Sri Lanka bashers to argue their case. In this regard, by not giving the public a steady flow of information over what it is doing, the government has also continued to shoot itself in the foot. Spokespersons are oblivious to what has been going on. Some are ignorant about the finer intricacies of the issues involved in the Colombo-gate scandal. For some, the showman and egoist that is Ramanayake may be a hero like in the films that he acts. True but by his unethical and illegal acts, he has brought to light realities Sri Lankans were unaware of. Yet, he has done the country great harm and even greater harm to his United National Party (UNP). With an ever-growing crisis within the party, it is no secret that the party is set to lose the upcoming parliamentary elections. Ramanayake has made sure it would be an ignominious one. That is how a hefty hero in films has turned into a vulgar villain in politics. More and more will unfold in the weeks to come. That is no doubt yearend bonus to the SLPP-led alliance from an unexpected quarter. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 00:38:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- German energy company RWE could receive up to 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) from the government to compensate for the accelerated coal phase-out, the newspaper Rheinische Post reported on Friday. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier (CDU) was in "broad agreement" with the country's second largest electricity producer RWE in the negotiations on compensation for lignite companies, the report said. In addition to the compensation, RWE would also receive 700 million euros for the estimated 300 RWE workers who could lose their job because of the coal phase-out, Rheinische Post reported. One year ago, the German government agreed on a national plan for its coal phase-out by 2038 at the latest, based on the findings of an official coal commission consisting of politicians, industry figures, economic experts as well as environmental associations and regional representatives. By 2020 already, the German government is seeking to reduce the output of lignite plants by 12.5 gigawatt by 2022. Before the complete phase-out of coal by 2038, a maximum output for lignite plants of 17 gigawatts would still be on the German electricity market until 2030. Following the report by Rheinische Post, shares of the Essen-based energy company RWE jumped by around five percent to the highest rating since September last year and traded at around 28.87 euros on Friday. Enditem Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Doctors of Mumbai's Nair Hospital on Saturday staged a protest after two doctors were allegedly attacked by the relatives of a patient, who died today. In a press release, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) severely condemned the back to back assaults in the hospital. According to MARD President Dr Kalyani Dongre, the patient, a 13-year-old boy, had been admitted to the hospital for the past one month. His condition worsened today, following which the doctor wanted to put him on a ventilator. The relatives allegedly refused permission to do so, and the patient died in the early hours of Saturday. This led to an attack on the doctors, identified as Dr Prajwal Chandra and Dr Kartik Asutkar, who received some injuries. Following the incident, the doctors staged a protest, demanding action against the attackers, and better security measures for the doctors. They also demanded adequate security for the wards, an increase in manpower, fixed visiting hours, and counsellors for relatives of patients. The OPD services from the residents' side of the hospital were also stopped following the attack. Ramesh Bharwal, Dean of the hospital, stated that the hospital has lodged an FIR with the police. The police have registered a case under Sections 353, 332, 323 of IPC and the Medical Practitioners' Act against the patient's father. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that Texas will no longer consent to resettling refugees, making it the only state so far to opt out of the federal program that for years has sent the most refugees in the country here. The decision puts Abbott in the minority, even within his own party: 42 states, including 17 led by Republican governors, have agreed to continue resettling refugees as part of a new Trump administration requirement that state and local authorities opt into the federal program. The new veto power is unprecedented in decades of U.S. resettlement and comes as the White House has slashed the number of refugees allowed into the country to a record low of 18,000 for 2020 down from 30,000 in 2019 and an average of 102,000 annually during the programs peak in the 1980s. In his letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Abbott wrote that since 2010, more refugees have been sent to Texas than any other state and about 1 in 10 are resettled here. At the same time, the governor wrote, the state has been the focus of immigrants crossing the southern border. At its peak last May, more than 144,000 people mostly Central American families and children were apprehended or turned themselves into Customs and Border Protection agents to ask for asylum across the southern border. But that number has since dropped every month to just 40,600 in December after the Trump administration implemented a new policy requiring migrants to wait in Mexican border cities for their U.S. court proceedings. In addition to accepting refugees all these years, Texas has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system, Abbott wrote. At this time, the state and non-profit organizations have a responsibility to dedicate available resources to those who are already here, including refugees, migrants, and the homeless indeed, all Texans. Resettlement organizations said they were devastated by the Friday afternoon announcement. Its gut wrenching, said Jen Smyers, director of policy for Church World Service, one of nine national resettlement agencies in the country. Its an abdication of everything Texans claim to stand for: freedom of opportunity, freedom of religion, pulling yourself up by your boot straps. They said Abbotts suggestion that the state had been exhausted by a refugee influx makes no sense when the number of those allowed to come here has plummeted to the lowest in history. About 2,500 refugees were resettled in Texas in fiscal year 2019, a 70 percent decrease from the 7,800 admitted during 2016, the last year of President Barack Obamas administration. Fewer still were expected this year even before Abbott pulled out of the program. Since the beginning of the fiscal year in October, 259 refugees have come to Texas, more than half from Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its a political gesture that is going to backfire, said Mark Hetfield, chief executive of the HIAS, a Jewish nonprofit refugee assistance organization. Now Abbott is going to be known as the governor who has slammed the door in the face of refugees when there are governors clamoring to admit more. Among them is Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican who supports President Donald Trump on most issues. But Herbert said Utah, founded by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fleeing persecution, is seeking to resettle more refugees. We empathize deeply with individuals and groups who have been forced from their homes, and we love giving them a new home and a new life, he said. They become productive employees and responsible citizens. Abbott cites public safety, security Other Republican governors of conservative states including Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, Arkansas and Idaho have also consented to continue admitting refugees. Even Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, whose state has litigation pending against the federal government over forcing it to resettle refugees, overrode disapproval from his state legislative leaders to permit more this year. In a statement, Lee, a Republican, said Tennessee and the U.S. have always been a shining beacon of freedom and opportunity for the persecuted and oppressed, particularly those suffering religious persecution. He said his commitment is based on his Christian faith. Pastor Tim Moore, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Leander who is on the Evangelical Immigration Table, a national Christian group, said he was disappointed that Abbott is wrongly conflating the issues of border security, illegal immigration and refugee resettlement. When you tie the recent history of immigration and illegal or undocumented people coming into the country primarily from our southern border and refugee resettlement as one issue they are not at all related, he said. He noted that refugees are the most stringently vetted entrants to the United States, going through extensive security screenings and multiple interviews in a process that can take up to three years. It is possible to articulate a generous position towards the worlds most vulnerable people while at the very same time remaining committed to our national security and our upholding of laws, Moore said. Abbott did not comment Friday on his decision. But in 2015 when he led opposition to allowing Syrians into Texas, the governor, a devout Roman Catholic, explained his stand. If you want to just be pure biblical about this, it is the role and I respect the role of individuals to treat their fellow men with the charity that the Bible speaks of, Abbott told the San Antonio Express-News. Similarly, the Bible speaks of the role of government, which is among other things focused on protecting the safety and security of its people. My hope is that people understand that I am thinking solely about doing everything I can to keep them as safe and secure as I can by making the decisions that I do. Experts predict political fallout In 2016, Abbott said Texas would accept only refugees who security agencies could certify to Congress do not pose threats, but the Obama administration argued it is impossible to guarantee none could ever be a problem. Only a handful of the 31 states, including Texas and Kansas, ultimately pulled out of the resettlement program that year. Practically, it made no difference because the federal government instead contracted with local resettlement groups to disburse funding for refugees, rather than going through the state government as a middle man. The state has no direct expenditures on refugees; the program relies entirely on federal money. Abbotts decision does not prevent refugees from moving here on their own. Now, however, they would do so without the services resettlement agencies provide to help them integrate. Krish Vignarajah, president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a national resettlement agency, said some refugees will now be forced to choose between receiving the aid they qualify for and moving where their families already live. Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, said Abbott may be calculating that not accepting refugees will curry favor with voters who want resources spent on Texans and fear immigrants from different cultures and religions. But Jones thinks it will backfire. It is far more likely the main impact will be to further erode support for Republican candidates within immigrant communities and among Latinos and Asian Americans, he said. Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, said the move could fuel a perception of intolerance within the Republican Party, which could turn off independent voters in the 2020 election. But immigration and border security remain top issues for GOP voters. Firing up the base ahead of the next election could draw them as Republicans face competitive races in Texas. Democrats are seeking to flip at least nine seats in the Texas House to seize control of the chamber for the first time in two decades, and there are several competitive state and congressional races in San Antonio and Houston, especially in Fort Bend County, one of the most ethnically diverse in the nation. If the governor can connect this issue to concerns about legal and illegal immigration, then he may keep the issue juiced up for conservatives, Rottinghaus said. No Republican has ever lost political support from Republicans by being too tough on border security issues. Turner asks Abbott to reconsider Abbotts decision will have tremendous consequences not only on the national resettlement program, but on organizations working with refugees in the state many of which could be dismantled after losing funding. Several have sued the federal government over the Trump administrations requirement for state and local consent, arguing that it violates a federal statute giving the executive branch near unilateral power over immigration. If the judge halts the consent requirement, it could make Abbotts decision moot for now. Mayors and county leaders of all Texas biggest cities including Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin sent letters opting in to resettling refugees, but Abbotts decision supersedes their wishes. In a statement, Mayor Sylvester Turner cited Exodus 22:21: Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner. I deeply regret Gov. Abbotts opposite decision and would respectfully ask him to reconsider, he said. Ali Al Sudani, who came here as a refugee from Iraq a decade ago and is now senior vice president for programs at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, remained stunned late Friday. I honestly need to process this, he said. This is about who we are as Texans, and this is not the Texas that I know which welcomed me as a refugee. Allie Morris contributed reporting from Austin. lomi.kriel@chron.com Amit Shah also dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Communists to show him any provision in the CAA which would take away the citizenship of Muslims in the country. Gandhinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday alleged that falsehoods being spread by the Opposition parties against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) have created anarchy in the country. Shah also dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Communists to show him any provision in the CAA which would take away the citizenship of Muslims in the country. "The Opposition does not have any other issue, so they are spreading misinformation and falsehood on CAA. This has resulted in anarchy in the entire country," Shah said. His statements comes in the wake of violent protests in parts of India over the CAA, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). Shah was speaking at the inauguration of various projects of the Gujarat Police here. "Persecuted minorities have to come to India to save themselves. However, the previous governments did not give any facilities to these migrants thinking that it would make others unhappy," he said. "Rahulbaba, Mamata, Kejriwal and Communists are spreading lies that CAA will take away the citizenship of Muslims. I challenge them to show me any such provision in the Act," said Shah. "I urge the BJP workers to visit every household and bust the lies and misinformation being spread against the CAA. Since there is no option to Modiji in politics at present, the Opposition is resorting to falsehood," he said. "We have the power to make people understand the truth. After our campaign is over, people of the country will understand the importance of the CAA," Shah said. He also said that there was no violence in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and not a single person has died there due to it. "Some leaders from the Opposition had claimed in the Parliament that there will be bloodbath (if special status of Kashmir is revoked). Such statements are on record. But people gave a befitting reply to such leaders. Not a single person has died there ever since Article 370 was abrogated," the BJP chief said. Praising the Gujarat Home Department and the state police force for effectively tackling crime, he said maximum use of technology can be made by the governments to curb crime. Shah had earlier served as the minister of state for home in Gujarat when present Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister of the state. January 11 : Director Kabir Khan who is all geared up for his upcoming web series The Forgotten Army, says that Shahrukh Khan did voiceover in the web series without charging any money. He further added that usually the process to discuss on any project with Shahrukh is too lengthy. But when he called Shahrukh for the same, he instantly agreed. Shahrukh the very next day came to the studio and did voiceover in the series. Kabir Khan was seen interacting with the media on Friday in Mumbai. Talking more on this, Kabir said, Shahrukh has graciously given the voiceover for the introduction part (montages) of the series. The introduction includes the real footage of the army. Its not that I had approach Shahrukh for the series. Earlier too, I had approached Shahrukh when the series was actually a film script. I wanted to make a film with him, but little we had in our conversation so the idea got dropped. Finally, when I was making the original series, I thought to approach Shahrukh to do voiceover. Shahrukh immediately agreed to do this, because, due to his father he was attached with the army. His father during the reign was involved with Azad Hind Sena and general Shahnawaz Khan (the head of the army). I think, due to this reflection of emotion Shahrukh agreed and didnt charge any money from us, he added. The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye is a mini web television series which will release of Amazon Prime Video on 24 January 2020, two days before Republic Day in India (26 January). Directed by Kabir Khan, the series is based on true events about the men and women in the Indian National Army led by Subhash Chandra Bose. Free health screenings, a teddy bear clinic, free food and about 100 UTHealth students will be on hand on Saturday, Jan. 25, to point members of Houstons Jensen community toward healthier lives. The UTHealthCares Third Annual Community Health Fair is slated for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at UT Physicians Multispecialty-Jensen at 2620 East Crosstimbers St., Suite 100. Last years student-run health fair brought out about 100 families, so UTHealth is hoping to see more than that this year. I think it gives them an opportunity to think about taking care of their health. You know, so many people tend to neglect their own health. We want to make sure they know about services that are offered at our UT Physicians clinics, said LaTanya Love, MD, faculty adviser for the event and the associate dean for admissions and student affairs at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. The health fair will provide free screenings like dental, glucose, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) as preventative care and also educate about ways to stay healthy like exercising or building better eating habits. Mary Esmeralda Fuentes is a student at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She said since usually she is in a lab doing research, she is looking forward to getting out into the real world and serving some of its residents. However, helping others, Fuentes said, goes both ways. You know, you go out into the community to help out the people that are there, but at the same time, they are asking you questions about what you do and what youre studying, said Fuentes. And they kind of tell you to keep going and to stay motivated. So its a really great time to for us as students to get out of our classrooms or get out of our lab benches and form a bond with the community and talk about health and give them a little bit of advice. And we have some good advice from them. Children are encouraged to come to the health fair with their parents. Since some are apprehensive about seeing doctors, the bear clinic is there to help. For a few minutes, children will pick out a bear, put on a white lab coat and examine their new friend using a stethoscope, a light in the ears and other medical procedures. Fuentes said it gets them more used to having someone listen to their heart or getting a flu shot and helps calms their fears. Love said the fair reminds people to try to live with their health in mind as the new year rolls along. Its a really great way to kind of jump-start the new year with kind of taking care of yourself and having the opportunity to interact with our students from all six of our professional schools, she said. So interacting with nursing students, dental students, medical students, graduate students, school of public health students, biomedical informatics students, as well as faculty, you know, to answer questions and just to see how we can meet your needs. Each attendee will have one-on-one interaction with healthcare providers. Love said they seem to appreciate that. There will also be 150 free boxes of food through a partnership with the Houston Food Bank for families or individuals to take home with them if they need it. For Love, watching the students volunteer to serve in communities is very gratifying. Its really nice that they want to go back to underserved areas because thats one of the things that we want to do as a medical school is always expose our students to a diverse group of patients because we know Houston is the most diverse city in the country. For questions about the free health fair, email UTHealthCares@gmail.com. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com In the aftermath of the killing of Irans top military commander by a U.S. airstrike, Iranians poured into the streets in mourning. This display of public support for a military official was one of the largest the country had ever seen. Qassim Suleimani was a controversial figure. He was heralded as a war hero but also stood as a symbol of Irans powerful and repressive security apparatus. Outside the country, hes blamed for the deaths of over 600 U.S. soldiers. We wanted to see what Suleimanis death means for people inside Iran. Some people we spoke to asked to remain anonymous, for fear of speaking out against the government. Even as some people spoke out against Suleimani, there was a unifying factor: anti-American furor. Tensions between Iran and the United States are nothing new. But the U.S. killing of Suleimani is an unprecedented chapter. Many Iranians are concerned that they will be the ones stuck in the middle of this conflict. michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. [music] Today: The trial was poised to be the most closely-watched in Japanese history a case involving claims of corporate greed, wounded national pride, and a rigged legal system, until the defendant pulled off an unimaginable escape. Ben Dooley with the latest in the saga of Carlos Ghosn. Its Tuesday, January 14. Ben, set the scene for us. Its just before New Years in Tokyo. What are you doing? ben dooley So Im fast asleep. Its about 7:30 in the morning. Im expecting to have a very easy holiday. The government offices are all closed for a week. Nothings happening in Japan. And all of a sudden my phone starts ringing. And it rings and rings and rings, and finally I decide I better answer it. When I pick it up, its New York. michael barbaro And then when you say New York, you mean the feared editors of The New York Times. ben dooley Yes, the feared editors. You never want to get an early morning phone call from New York. Its never good news. It means either something bad has happened because someone else did something that you need to be worried about, or youve made some terrible mistake. And what they tell me is that Carlos Ghosn, the most famous criminal defendant in Japan, has just mysteriously disappeared and reappeared in Lebanon. archived recording 1 Well, its a story were all talking about, the escape straight out of the movies. archived recording 2 Juiciest story of the new year, at least so far. archived recording 3 An international cloak and dagger escape. archived recording 4 Dramatic and mysterious escape of Carlos Ghosn. archived recording 5 Former Nissan C.E.O. and chairman, Carlos Ghosn has left Japan. archived recording 6 Hes now in Lebanon. archived recording 7 Yes. archived recording 8 Just by magic? archived recording 9 Extraordinary. archived recording 10 Once a C.E.O., now an international fugitive. ben dooley And you know, my first reaction is, how could he possibly have done this? You know, it seems like something out of a movie impossible. michael barbaro And then remind us who Carlos Ghosn is. ben dooley So Carlos Ghosn is this legendary C.E.O. who made his name by reviving Nissan, this Japanese company, one of the countrys largest automakers. He took the company from essentially what he has recently called it a dead company and brought it back to life. And it was this miracle of turnaround that made him famous in Japan and throughout the world. archived recording 1 Carlos Ghosn is regarded as one of the most dazzling managers in the automotive business. archived recording 2 Hes a huge figure, not just in Japan, not just for Nissan, but in the car industry. ben dooley And he went on to become the C.E.O. of Nissan, and also the French automaker Renault. archived recording He turned things around at Renault, and then Nissan where, in 2005, Carlos Ghosn became the first person to run two Fortune 500 global companies at the same time. ben dooley And those two companies formed an alliance and became one of the worlds largest automakers. archived recording Its sort of hard to overstate the significance of going to Nissan and to Renault in this alliance. ben dooley Hes just living high this incredible celebrity in the business world. And then all of a sudden, out of the blue, November 2018, he lands at an airport in Tokyo and is arrested. archived recording Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn has been arrested for allegedly under-reporting his income. ben dooley And over the following several months, he is charged with four counts of financial wrongdoing. archived recording The internal probe by the Japanese automaker found multiple violations, including salary fraud and personal use of company assets. ben dooley Essentially, prosecutors say that he was trying to enrich himself to the company. So thats the situation he finds himself in. He is facing trial on these four charges when he flees from Japan to Lebanon. michael barbaro And whats the answer to that question you have of how this happened? Whats the story? ben dooley Well, first, its important to understand that hes under house arrest, but its not super strict. I mean, he goes out to dinners, he travels to Kyoto. So hes been able to move around fairly easily. But as best as we can tell from our reporting and from local media and government statements is basically this. On December 29, he walks out of his home in Tokyo. This is a two-story, fairly large home in central Tokyo in a swanky neighborhood. And there are three cameras above the door that were installed by the prosecutors to keep a watch on him. And he just strolls out. Hes got a face mask on, like a surgical mask, the kind of thing that people typically wear here to stop themselves from getting sick, or stop other people from getting sick. Hes got on a hat, black clothes, and he walks out to a nearby hotel. He meets two men there, and they get on a bullet train to Osaka, which is a city to the southwest of Tokyo. Theyre on the train for about two hours. They get off the train. They walk into a hotel. And then the two men walk out without Carlos Ghosn, but what they have is these two boxes, two large boxes. And the boxes have been described as sort of boxes for holding audio equipment, maybe like speakers or kinds of things you might see roadies carrying at a concert. And these two men take these boxes to the Kansai International Airport to the private jet terminal. And the boxes are too big to go through the luggage screening. So theyre not screened. Keep in mind, its almost New Years. People are off their guard. Theyre not really that interested in checking to see whats in these boxes. Theyre just kind of relaxing, looking forward to their holiday. And these man just wheel these boxes right onto the plane, a private jet thats waiting there. And the plane takes off, and in one of those boxes we believe is Carlos Ghosn. michael barbaro Wow. So Japans most famous criminal defendant flees the country in an audio box. ben dooley Thats what we think happened. michael barbaro I mean, what youre describing feels both very simple and extremely elaborate. ben dooley Yeah. Well, this was not something that he did by himself with two friends. This is something that took a lot of resources, a lot of planning, and its something that hes famous for being this detail-oriented planner and someone who likes to manage lots of people, like big teams of people. So you can imagine this was a pretty complex operation even if the execution was simple. michael barbaro Ben, after all of that detailed planning and this escape, why is he going to Lebanon of all places? ben dooley Well, he had three passports. He is a citizen of Brazil, France and Lebanon. And Lebanon was the closest. It doesnt have an extradition treaty with Japan, which means that the Lebanese government will never send him back to Japan to face a trial. And hes something of a national hero in Lebanon. So he could expect a heros welcome. michael barbaro So whats the reaction back in Tokyo once word trickles back that he has pulled this off? ben dooley Silence. Absolute silence. Theyre caught completely off-guard. But behind that silence, theres sort of an embarrassment that the prosecutors have allowed the countrys most famous criminal defendant to slip through their fingers, and some outrage. Even among people who supported him, there was a sense that hed gone too far, and that he should have stayed in Japan to defend himself. That would have been the most appropriate thing for him to do. michael barbaro And then what are you doing at this point? Because a story that I assume you are very much responsible for has literally just up and left the country that you cover. ben dooley Yeah. Well, suddenly this story that I was hugely responsible for, when I was supposed to be taking a vacation, just appears in my lap. And Im just frantically calling as many people as I can, getting in touch with his PR team, his lawyers, various people that Ive spoken to over the previous year about his case, pretty much anyone I can think of. And the big question I have is, now that hes free, is he going to talk? And if so, will he talk to us? And then I get a phone call. And someone asks me, if Carlos Ghosn is willing to talk to you, would you be able to get on a plane to Lebanon? michael barbaro Wow. ben dooley And I said, of course. [music] michael barbaro Well be right back. O.K. So Ben, Carlos Ghosn is willing to talk to you. What happens next? ben dooley So I go online and I buy a last-minute ticket to Beirut. And Im frantically packing, get all my stuff in order, run to Haneda Airport, jump on the plane. And 23 hours later, I touch down in Lebanon. michael barbaro Wow. Thats a long flight. ben dooley Yeah. There was a layover in Paris. So that wasnt so bad. I had a croissant and some coffee. So Im in Lebanon and Im preparing to talk to Carlos Ghosn. But before I get to sit down with him, first theres this news conference that hes scheduled. ben dooley So were in an Uber heading towards Press Club where were going to see Carlos Ghosn give his first press conference since he was arrested in November of 2018. Its a rainy day today. Traffic is pretty intense. ben dooley So I and one of my colleagues from the Beirut bureau go to a Press Club, where the conference is going to be held. ben dooley All right. Weve just arrived at the venue. ben dooley And we get there, and its just chaos. archived recording [CHATTER] ben dooley I mean, there are hundreds of reporters. Theyre all clamoring to get in. People are screaming, shouting, pushing. ben dooley Great. Were heading through security to the venue. Weve got some guy with a guard dog here. Tensions running a little bit high here. ben dooley There are armed guards with dogs and TV trucks everywhere. ben dooley Sorry. Were on the list. New York Times. ben dooley And we get inside. And we go upstairs and we walk into this big, empty white room with chairs lined up. There are about 100 reporters there from all over the world. ben dooley This is whats usually referred to as a media circus. archived recording 1 Please be seated. Please be seated. archived recording 2 Sit down! Sit down! ben dooley And theyre all waiting to hear what Carlos Ghosn has to say. ben dooley So hes about to walk in. Weve just heard Yeah, hes walking in. Hes with his wife Carol. ben dooley And when he comes in, people just swarm him. Its a crush of reporters. ben dooley All of the cameramen and photographers are pushing up trying to get a good shot of him as he walks into the room. ben dooley Flashbulbs are going off and everyones just crowded around him. ben dooley This is pretty exciting. Ive been writing about this guy for almost a year now. Its the first time Ive actually seen him in the flesh. ben dooley He looks healthy. Hes got a nice black suit on, red tie. I mean, hes the picture of a C.E.O. michael barbaro So no worse for the wear? ben dooley You wouldnt know it. And he walks up to the lectern, and the show starts. archived recording (carlos ghosn) Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you for taking the time to be here. ben dooley Its everything that hes been saving up for the last year. archived recording (carlos ghosn) As you can imagine, today is a very important day for me. One, that I have looked forward to every single day for more than 400 days. ben dooley He just is taking the opportunity to explain himself, what happened to him, his whole story. archived recording (carlos ghosn) Since I was brutally taken from my world as I knew it, ripped from my family, my friends, my communities, from Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, and the 450,000 women and men who comprise those companies. ben dooley And he starts walking us through his history with Nissan. archived recording (carlos ghosn) And Renault, which was nowhere in 1999, which became one of the top 60 brands in the world ben dooley and how he turned it around, and the amazing success that the company had while he was C.E.O. archived recording (carlos ghosn) You know, a C.E.O. is here as long as he performs. I didnt stay 17 years head of Nissan because I was Carlos Ghosn. I was there only because I was performing. I was delivering growth. I was delivering profit. I was delivering cash flow. I was delivering business. ben dooley And then he starts to talk about the arrest. archived recording (carlos ghosn) I was arrested on November 19, 2018. ben dooley And how it happened. archived recording (carlos ghosn) I didnt suspect anything. ben dooley And how he was completely caught off guard. archived recording (carlos ghosn) Some people asked me, oh my god, you didnt look at this? You didnt mention this? You didnt suspect this? And I say, you know what happened in Pearl Harbor? Did you see Pearl Harbor happen? ben dooley He says it was like Pearl Harbor. archived recording (carlos ghosn) Did you see Pearl Harbor happen? Did you notice what happened in Pearl Harbor? michael barbaro Huh. He says his arrest was like the sneak attack from Japan that led the United States into World War II? ben dooley Yeah, exactly. He said he had no idea it was coming. archived recording (carlos ghosn) And I didnt notice it, because its true that when its planned and its confidential and its secret, well, it happens. And youd be surprised, and I was surprised. ben dooley And then he starts to go through all of the charges against him. archived recording (carlos ghosn) The first accusation is the under-reporting. This is the main accusation for which I was arrested. ben dooley And hes got slides. Hes projecting documents on the wall. archived recording (carlos ghosn) I think we have the list. Yeah, we have here the list. ben dooley You know, getting way into the weeds of these issues, frankly trying to litigate them in front of this audience. archived recording (carlos ghosn) We continue. This is another one. ben dooley And people, at this point, are starting to get a little antsy. Theyre starting to have conversations behind me, because you cant read the documents. And even if you could, theres no way that we were in a position to judge what they actually said about the charges against him. But the larger point hes trying to make is that this is a stitch up. archived recording (carlos ghosn) But obviously, I didnt know that Nissan was behind it. And it was all staged way before between the prosecutor and the public. ben dooley That all the charges against him are completely political. Theyre made up. And hes saying that the reason why the Japanese government brought these charges against them is basically because he wounded their national pride. michael barbaro And whats his argument for how he did that? ben dooley So basically, it comes down to the idea that, as the head of Renault, he had been tasked by the French government to make the alliance between Renault and Nissan stronger, to make the alliance so strong that the two companies would never be able to be separated. And this was seen in Japan, he argues, as essentially an attempt to take one of the crown jewels of Japans auto industry and turn it into a French company. And if this were to have gone through, the argument was then France would be in control of one of Japans biggest and most important companies. archived recording (carlos ghosn) Unfortunately, there was no trust. ben dooley And that was something that the Japanese government and certain people at Nissan were just unwilling to allow to happen. archived recording (carlos ghosn) And some of our Japanese friends thought the only way to get rid of the influence of Renault on Nissan is to get rid of him. michael barbaro So he says that the crime he committed which it sounds like he doesnt think is a crime at all is taking a Japanese brand and making it less Japanese, and offending the people and the government of Japan in the process. ben dooley Right. And he says that was not at all his plan, but that was the fear, and thats what led to his downfall. michael barbaro According to Carlos Ghosn? ben dooley Yes. archived recording (carlos ghosn) Let me continue. 130 days in prison, solitary confinement, tiny cell without windows. ben dooley And he also went into detail about his experience in the Japanese justice system. archived recording (carlos ghosn) Showered twice a week. Tried to ask to have more. They said no. Prescribed medication is forbidden. You can get only the medicine from the prison. ben dooley How he had spent more than 130 days in a Japanese jail waiting to get on bail. During that time, he had been interrogated by prosecutors without his lawyer from 7 to 11 hours a day. And even once he got out of jail, there were these restrictions put on his daily life. And the most egregious one for him, he said, was that he wasnt allowed to meet his wife. archived recording (carlos ghosn) And the question was very interesting. He was saying, why do they want to meet? Id say, O.K., how about a Zoom, a conference. He said, what do they want to talk about? ben dooley And Japanese prosecutors had essentially said that they believed that if he were allowed to speak to her, might tamper with evidence, might try to get to witnesses in the case. And his argument is, well, thats ridiculous, because if I wanted to do that, I could have done that through anyone. I didnt have to use my wife. So the only reason why they were forbidding me from seeing her was because they were punishing me. archived recording (carlos ghosn) Because they knew that by not allowing me to have a normal life, they were breaking me. ben dooley Theyre trying to squeeze a confession out of him. And when he refused to confess to the crimes they had charged him with, they threatened to make his life a living hell. archived recording (carlos ghosn) I felt like I was not a human anymore. ben dooley So he said that all these elements add up to create a system of justice that was rigged against him, and that he had no chance of ever getting a fair trial in Japan, and thats why he felt he had to escape. michael barbaro And Ben, as youre sitting there hearing Carlos Ghosn make these arguments, what are you thinking? And do they sound accurate and truthful, or do they sound highly disputable? ben dooley Its impossible to say at this point. We havent seen any of the evidence. And I think if you were to ask the prosecutors, they would say, this is a man who lied to Nissans shareholders. This is a man who enriched himself at the companys expense. And its just impossible to know what the truth is at this point. michael barbaro Right, because he fled the country before the trial. ben dooley Right, exactly. archived recording (carlos ghosn) I left Japan because I wanted justice. Thats why I left Japan. I didnt run from justice. I want justice, because justice is the only way Ill re-establish my reputation, and the only way what Ive done during my life is going to be recognized to its value. And if I dont get it in Japan, Im going to get it somewhere else. Thank you for your attention. ben dooley And so Carlos Ghosn finishes up his presentation, and he moves into the question and answer section. archived recording (carlos ghosn) O.K., what were going to try to do is go by region. ben dooley And he starts answering questions in four different languages. archived recording (carlos ghosn) [SPEAKING ARABIC] ben dooley Hes speaking Arabic, which is the language he spoke at home with his parents. archived recording (carlos ghosn) [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] ben dooley Hes speaking Portuguese, which is the language of the country he was born Brazil. archived recording (carlos ghosn) [SPEAKING FRENCH] ben dooley Hes speaking in French, the language of the country he was educated. And, of course, in English. archived recording (carlos ghosn) Well, as you know ben dooley Im just watching him flawlessly move from language to language answering these questions for reporters around the world. And it occurs to me as Im watching, its an incredible performance, and it says a lot about this guys identity. Hes this transnational business person who essentially doesnt belong to any one nation. He lives in this almost kind of like gray area between nation states. And theres something about it that it seems is really essential to the case against him and how hes responded to it. michael barbaro What do you mean? ben dooley Well, he believes that the charges against him were brought by the Japanese because he is not Japanese. So theres that on one hand. But on the other hand, also, he feels like hes not beholden to Japanese justice. As this person with passports from Brazil and France and Lebanon, and houses around the world, and connections, and networks that span the globe, he doesnt feel like he has to subject himself to Japanese justice. He believes that he can make the choice to just get up and leave, to disappear. michael barbaro Right. So whether or not this tactic can ever seem justified or not justified, the message that Carlos Ghosn is sending by fleeing his trial in Japan is that if youre a global C.E.O. and you are well-connected and you have resources, you get to choose which countrys legal system you can abide by, which ones youre willing to participate in, and which ones you plan an elaborate escape from, which basically boils down to not really feeling accountable to any one country. ben dooley Right. And it was a question that was bothering me, and I really wanted to ask him about it. And I finally got the chance after the press conference ended and I got to sit down with him one-on-one. We went upstairs, and I tried to set up the fancy recorder you guys made me buy, and I messed it up. So we didnt get the whole interview, unfortunately. [LAUGHTER] michael barbaro We forgive you. It had been a long week. ben dooley It had been a long week. And I sat down with him and I asked him that question. ben dooley We probably will have people listening or reading who are thinking to themselves, O.K., maybe the Japanese justice system is rigged, but the only reason why you could do this is because youre a person of wealth. You have power connections, and thats what allowed you to escape Japan. I mean, is that fair? carlos ghosn That you put the other way. That you put the other way. ben dooley And he kind of danced around the question, but he came down basically on the idea that the Japanese system is rigged. carlos ghosn So back to your question, yes. At the end of the day, I fell in a trap, found the way out, which requires resources and contacts, no doubt about it. But the protection is not to have money. The protection is avoid going in places, or you can fall into a trap like this. And I think its my responsibility today that all the foreigners who are in Japan be careful. ben dooley That was the message that he wanted to convey to the world. [music] ben dooley And the great irony here is that he says hes searching for justice, but because of a decision that he made he may never find it, because theres always going to be an asterisk next to this case. Hes not going to be able to make his case fully, and the Japanese prosecutors are never going to be able to make it either. So theres not going to be a real test of his innocence. But what he has done is, he has let C.E.O.s around the world know that this is an option, that if they dont like the justice in the country where they are, they can just get up and leave. michael barbaro Thank you, Ben. ben dooley Thank you, Michael. michael barbaro Last week, I pledged Id write more about art shows outside New York. Im making progress and at least moving west. This week, I saw three shows in Chelsea, in the West 20s, signaling my aspirations to highlight the art of our great country between the coasts. Im getting there, in baby steps. Poster House, a new museum; the FLAG Foundation, an art space; and the Fashion Institute of Technologys museum comprise not the Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue but an idiosyncratic, deeply satisfying museum quarter. They promise great art, highly personal approaches, and no crowds. Each show explores a narrow, distinct, and usually sidelined medium: pastels, textiles, and posters. I was going to cover all three spaces in one story, but I got so absorbed in Poster House for better or worse that Ill focus on this new museum on 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue only. It opened last fall and is the only museum in America devoted to poster art. Early next week, Ill write about the FIT show, Power Mode: The Force of Fashion, on Seventh Avenue and 27th Street, and FLAGs show, Nicolas Party: Pastels, on 25th Street near Tenth Avenue. I love posters not posters that reproduce paintings in museums for dorm-room decoration, but posters that combine words and images to promote a cause or sell a product. They could be the best art Toulouse-Lautrecs Montmartre dance-hall posters are an example but they could also be straightforward advertising, with rudimentary design and production values, conveying a trite message and meant as ephemera. Most billboards fall on that end of the spectrum. These are less art than artifacts, mostly the province of low-end commerce and usually trashed and forgotten. The curator at Poster House defines a poster as a temporary promotion of an idea, product, or event put up in a space for mass consumption. Fair enough. Posters have some design sense, theyre ephemeral, theyre mass-produced, and theyre promotional. Story continues Design, ephemerality, mass production, an alliance of word and image, and calls to action govern the aesthetic. Posters are usually one-idea propositions as well. Theyre meant for fast digestion, and thats the quality of a billboard, though posters are human-scale. Think Uncle Sam Wants You, James Montgomery Flaggs classic poster promoting enlistment in the military during World War I. Authority, command, the weight of history, and the demands of manliness rush at us like a mighty river. Theres no sfumato veiling its meaning. Its not cryptic. Theres no squish. It cant be parsed ad infinitum in the faculty lounge. Mass production molds the aesthetic. Technology tells us the possibilities. Advances in commercial lithography and printing presses in the 1850s allowed a more complex palette. Posters are among the flattest of flat art. Depth and subtlety are distractions. Words and image are mutually supportive. With the right typeface, and they come in a million styles, images soar higher. Posters dont draw you in with nuance. They slap you in the face, or at least pinch hard. Poster Houses new space is well designed. There are two spacious galleries for exhibitions, a nice shop, a comfortable, cheerful cafe, classrooms, and a party space. I think its inviting and welcoming. I look forward to many visits, and Im thrilled its there. The museum collects but also gets loans. Though posters over the past 200 years were usually discarded, hundreds of thousands survive, most in so-so condition, given the low-grade paper and ink. I think whats missing is an introductory art space defining what is a poster, specifically the mediums trajectory from handbills with text only to circus posters in the 1850s, the distinctly different American and French poster movements, and the dynamic genre of movie posters, to today, when posters can be made and gussied up by individuals using canned graphics on the Internet. Thus, the basic messaging of posters today can be mass-produced but tailored to suit its individual producer. This dilutes the wide, promotional aspect of the poster. Its a medium suited for mass communication, where everyone gets the same message. Individual tweaking can shade the storyline. Its premiere show, Alphonse Mucha: Art Nouveau / Nouvelle Femme, was more disjointed than outright bad. You cant go wrong with Mucha (18601939), one of the most creative and distinctive image-makers of the fin de siecle. His beautiful women are less flesh and blood than a waltz of curlicues conveyed in a palette of greens, peach, and ocher natures colors. High society and cultivated beauty, what my grandfather called supreme flowers of female pulchritude, seem to grow from the earth and ripen in hothouses but stay abstract at the same time. The show had passages of incoherence. Was it a retrospective? Sometimes. Mostly, and circuitously, it was a show about Mucha and Sarah Bernhardt, the actress and his mentor and patron. Haphazardly tackling the relationship between the two giants, the show lacked focus and seemed mismarketed. There also was plenty of extraneous and redundant art taking space that could have been better used. The exhibition pushed a storyline linking Mucha to a view of women as more assertive and autonomous, but I thought that was contrived. Muchas women are tantalizing but sedentary. Tendrils and swags lock them in space. Their lusciousness becomes a pretty prison. I didnt review the show because it was the museums first. Why knock the place out of the gate? Besides, the museum serves an essential purpose as the only art space in the country exploring this narrow medium. The staff cant be nicer or more welcoming to visitors. Production-wise, its top quality. Posters are meant to have broad appeal. Theyre neither pretentious nor august. That helps fashion a friendly atmosphere, a place for serious yet relaxed inquiry and pleasure. I saw two shows there this week, one I loved and another I loathed. Posters from Baptized by Beefcake: The Golden Age of Hand-Painted Movie Posters from Ghana. Left: Freejack, 1992, by Alex Boateng. Right: Kick Boxer, 1994, by Muslim. Baptized by Beefcake: The Golden Age of Hand-Painted Movie Posters from Ghana is great fun. Ghana was the first African colony to win its independence from Britain. It was freshly liberated and unusually prosperous 10 percent of the worlds gold was mined there but its aesthetic was fledgling, part indigenous and part English. Amid ethnic and political divisions, American adventure and action-hero movies provided a unified national vernacular. The Ghanaian movie business thrived. The posters in the show, big and brassy, are spinoffs of American mass-produced posters but theyre individually hand-painted, a striking mix of Hollywood tinsel and folk art. Movie promoters really, traveling salesmen would go to small towns that had cinemas or even spaces such as churches that could be converted to pop-up theaters. Theyd hawk upcoming features, using the posters as marketing material or, in the 1970s and 1980s, market films at video stores. These spinoffs of Hollywood studio posters have a local touch. Figures, whether theyre Rambo, the Terminator, King Kong, or Dracula, are huge and muscular. Id diagnose the native aesthetic as having a surfeit of testosterone. Painted in lurid colors, they hold the eye for their extreme quality. Ghanaian taste demanded that no surface, in a home, a building facade, a sidewalk, or a bus, go undecorated. No white space allowed. Christianity in Ghana veered toward Pentecostal and Charismatic movements whose church art emphasized the big, in-your-face icon, whether of Jesus or the saints. Ghanaian divinities dont sit still. Theyre on the move, saving lives and besting Satan. Were they mass-produced? Yes and no. In the absence of advanced printing presses, advertising in Ghana was often handmade, but in workshops, using templates for assembly-line production in the case of movie posters, the poster from Hollywood made by the producers for nationwide distribution. Each poster is different, but mostly around the edges. The Ghanaian posters were painted on cheap canvas. They focus on the main characters and the stars, dropping extraneous names like those of the back of house people and omitting sex and romance. I think the exhibition is great and immensely enjoyable, however quirky. The arts dynamic, the interpretation to the point, and it looks fantastic. I learned a lot about Ghana and its postcolonial culture. The classic 98-pound weakling, I now also realize Ill need to bulk up if I want a movie career in Ghana. Posters from 20/20 Insight: Posters from the 2017 Womens March. Designers Unknown, 2017. 20/20 Insight: Posters from the 2017 Womens March put me in a questioning state of mind. At least its upfront in its interpretation. No incoherence here. The January 21, 2017, marches across the country brought together people of all types for a demonstration in response to the election of a President Trump. Its an explicitly anti-Trump show that also pushes abortion rights, Black Lives Matter, climate alarmism, gay rights, and the open-borders movement. The shows brochure tells visitors how to register to vote. I wonder whether the museum just barely skirts the federal governments 501(c)(3) ban on direct political activity by not-for-profits. The art, inasmuch as I can call it art, is unusually bad. Each object is designed, to be sure. Its designed to look handmade but in the most charmless, simple-minded, one-dimensional way. Theres a difference between from the heart and from the HP inkjet printer, even though many of the basic graphics were designed by Shepard Fairey, who did the 2008 Obama Hope poster. Faireys designs could be and were printed at home moments before pussy-hatted protesters headed off to the festivities. Imagination and creativity were less than low-octane; they sputtered on fumes. Hence the deeply uninteresting art. Theres a difference between art thats hard hitting and art that merely screams in your ears. What I saw was witless, lowbrow, predictable, and altogether lame. The posters in the show are word-heavy, which makes them seem bossy. They nag. Words can be noisy, too, and noise is too annoying to truly bore. Rather, the uncleverness of it all made me want to press the off switch. I dont mind disputation, and wheres the zip in civil strife if theres no barricade-storming? Still, a little flair and style are always nice to see. Im talking about protesting with panache. What happened to Make Love, Not War, I Am a Man, Gay Sex Is Sinsational, or even Jesus Had Two Dads and He Turned Out Fine? Instead, we get insipid fare such as Pussy Power, Dont Grab My Pussy, The Future Is Female, which is a hoot since without men and women occasionally acting in amorous concert, theres no future, and, of course, Im With Her, a proven anticlimax. There were indeed some good posters for the Womens March, but theyre not in the show. The objects list is drawn from a gift the museum received, mostly of dregs, it seems. The lesson for Poster House: If youre going to do a show, any show, use the best of its kind. Personally, my favorites from watching part of the 2017 march were Keep Your Paws Off My Silky Drawers framing a photo of Stockard Channing playing Betty Rizzo in Grease, and Grandmas Finally Pissed Off, showing an elderly matron in glorious indignation. Both were clever and spunky. Phallic images are standard in Western art. The best Womens March posters broke new ground in what I call vaginal iconography, but these arent in the show, either. There are-gay rights, Black Lives Matter, and global-warming posters squeezed in the show. These are irrelevant and took space from what might have been some art that was actually topical and actually good. After a few minutes, though, I understood that the show celebrated the intersectional privileged few, cahooting movements that toe the line. The museums brochure conveniently gives the contact information for Planned Parenthood, Black Lives Matter, and the scandal-fraught Southern Poverty Law Center. This was a bad idea, if for no other reason than that these groups clutter the theme, which is advocacy for women, not sideshows like glaciers that are supposed to be melting but never do, or Trayvon Martin. I also think any show on the Womens March needs to address, somewhere, the anti-Semitic views of some of its founders, who were forced to resign, and the deep involvement of the Nation of Islam. The 2017 march was hardly inclusive. Pro-life womens groups, Republican womens groups, and Evangelical Christian groups were emphatically barred. This made for a dodgy, warped event. An anti-Trump rally, with most of the art Trump-themed, it obscured and cheapened the movement for womens rights, which isnt a one-candidate or one-election proposition. A more incisive show would have reached to the womens-suffrage movement (timely since the right to vote is 100 years old this year), the Rosie the Riveter genre, Womens Lib posters from the 1960s and 1970s, the annual pro-life march in Washington, held annually for nearly 50 years and spawning powerful posters, and the 2017 Womens March. A show with this breadth and depth, intellectually and aesthetically, would have been a winner rather than the irritating, blinkered rant we got. I like the museums mission, space, and commitment to variety. Since poster art is tied to promotion and selling, it has plenty of sweep. Poster House is showing Chinese posters from the Maoist era starting in February. Im skeptical but will visit the show. The teaser on the museums website suggests well see Socialist Realism visualized via posters of smiling Chinese men, women, and children waving Maos Little Red Book. Posters sell products and ideas, the best posters deploying art with great efficacy. Some of the ideas are good and some very bad. In Maoist China, state-sponsored posters marketed the annihilation of freedom and the individual. Posters can be frothy and fun, but its the art of manipulation and deceit, too. Another show is on the revolutionary 1960s Swiss Grid movement, which gave advertising a sleek, ordered look. I think this will be a great exhibition. Im high on Poster House. It needs some intellectual push-ups, and it shouldnt be a space where staff or trustees indulge personal political views. The arts too good, and the endeavor of this poster museum too overdue and too promising. Im in Montreal this weekend to visit a new show on Egyptian mummies at the always smart and intriguing Museum of Fine Arts. More from National Review Thousands of years ago, ancestors of the modern gray wolf inhabited Europe, crossing the Bering Strait into America around the same time that early humans made the journey. These ancient wolves are thought to be the common primogenitor to all American dog breeds. There is evidence that several Native American tribes domesticated these wild animals, possibly after the two groups learned they could share a mutually beneficial relationship: The wolves could get an easy meal while the natives gained protectors, hunting companions, and pack animals. Many of these Native American dog breeds are now extinct, but they certainly played a huge role in the development of modern home-grown breeds. Another major influence on modern American dog breeds were the pets and working dogs brought over by early explorers and colonists. For centuries, dogs had been bred for work and sport in places like Britain, France, and Spain. When early settlers brought these canines over they bred with existing American dogs, creating entirely new animals that could be bred for specialized purposes and further domesticated. John Bruton says a new book challenges much of the recent historical assessment of the 1910-14 crisis and draws analogies to the recent politics of Brexit Anyone who has been following the politics of Brexit in Westminster, and in Northern Ireland, for the last three years will find much that is familiar in this book. As I read it, I kept seeing analogies with events of the last six months. The author, who is American, minutely analyses how the UK political system coped with similarly intractable difficulties more than 100 years ago. In doing so, he draws on his recent doctoral thesis on relations between the Herbert Asquith-led Liberal government and the Irish Party. He contends that Lloyd George, and some in the Liberal leadership, were surreptitiously contemplating doing business with the Tories as early as 1910, specifically to avoid having to rely on the Irish Party and to introduce Home Rule. He says Irish Party leader John Redmond successfully thwarted this possibility because of the influence he had built up with Liberal and Labour backbenchers. He had won their support because he was able to identify the cause of Home Rule for Ireland, with the wider cause of British democracy. He insisted on the supremacy of the elected House of Commons over the unelected House of Lords. Keir Hardie, the veteran Labour leader, said Redmond was "fighting the battle of British Radicalism as well as of Irish Nationalism". Home Rule for Ireland had only been forced on to the Westminster agenda in 1910 because there was a hung parliament, in which the Liberal Party could not pass their radical redistributive budget without the support of the Irish MPs. The Irish Party insisted, in return for its support, on the abolition of the House of Lords veto on legislation. It knew the Tory majority in the House of Lords would veto Home Rule. As with Brexit in 2019, packing the Lords with newly appointed peers, and the prorogation of parliament, were both contemplated in the 1911/ 1914 period. Doherty shows that removing the House of Lords veto cleared the way for other democratic reforms, like the granting of votes to all men without property qualification, votes to women over 30, and the abolition of "plural voting", whereby property owners could vote in several constituencies in the same election. The latter was worth 15 to 20 extra seats to the Tories. In pressing for parliamentary reform, the Irish Party was following the path of Daniel O'Connell, who had been a major protagonist in the Reform of the House of Commons in the 1830s. Doherty also contends that the permanent partition of Ireland was not inevitable. He shows that Irish Unionist leader Edward Carson himself did not believe in partition, and would have preferred Irish unity on a basis that protected Irish unionists, north and south. Video of the Day Doherty argues that more assertive policing could have contained Ulster Unionist resistance. The Larne gun running in 1914 and the threat by Carson and James Craig to set up a provisional government in Belfast to resist Home Rule, was not met with resolution by the authorities. This Ulster resistance could have run out of steam. A collapse of credit in Ulster was already in prospect because of political uncertainty and there were real doubts about whether an illegal provisional "Ulster" government would have had the administrative capacity to erect barriers against the rest of Ireland. But all this is impossible to prove. In any event, Redmond wanted consent, not coercion. And getting Home Rule into operation first, even with limitations, was his overriding priority. In his endeavour to win consent, he was prepared to accept the initial exclusion of some parts of Ulster from Home Rule, but on a temporary basis, and with plebiscites in each county. In county plebiscites, it was assumed that Catholic majority counties of Tyrone and Fermanagh would have opted into Home Rule immediately. That would have left only four counties temporarily excluded. Four counties might not have made a viable unit, and their accession to Home Rule might have come about gradually. While Redmond did not properly prepare public opinion in the rest of Ireland for the compromises he needed to make with Ulster Unionism, his successors ignored the problem altogether. In his reaction to the political emergency created by the unexpected outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Redmond's priority was to get Home Rule on to the statute book and leave the exclusion of possibly four or six counties to be dealt with later. That is why he agreed to the operation of Home Rule being suspended for a short year or more because he wanted more time and space to persuade Ulster Unionists to accept and opt into it. That is also why he publicly called on Irish Volunteers to join the British army. Carson had already called for it on September 3, 1914. Redmond did so on September 20 in his speech at Woodenbridge. The author shows that this speech was a carefully planned move, not something spontaneous. It was designed to persuade Ulster Unionists that Nationalist Ireland was not their antagonist, and could be trusted. The prolongation of the war, the refusal of Redmond's request for a distinct Irish Division in the British army, the 1916 Rebellion, and the rise in support for Sinn Fein and for outright separatism, all combined to destroy the sort of compromise Redmond had in mind. This is a rewarding book and is full of new material. The material is assembled around different themes rather than chronologically. It challenges much of the recent historical assessments of the 1910 to 1914 period. It deserves to be read widely and argued over because many of the issues with which it deals remain unresolved to this day. Chick-fil-A inadvertently discredited Salvation Army, Christian orgs in defunding, Dan Cathy says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Chick-fil-A chairman and CEO Dan T. Cathy has admitted that the company inadvertently discredited several outstanding organizations when it announced last November that it would no longer donate to certain Christian organizations, including the Salvation Army, which have been criticized as anti-LGBT for holding biblical views on sexuality. Cathys admission comes in response to a petition signed by 116,000 people submitted by the American Family Association and American Family Radio President Tim Wildmon. The petition asked the company for clarification on the rationale behind the companys decision to stop donating to the Salvation Army, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Paul Anderson Youth Home. Wildmon asked in the letter if Chick-fil-A would publicly state that it does not believe the Salvation Army and FCA are hate groups because of the ministries' beliefs about sexuality, marriage, and family. He also asked whether the company would state they will not hesitate to fund the ministries again, should the opportunity arise in the future. Much of the evangelical community raised concerns that the fast food chains philanthropic restructuring was caving to the LGBT lobby in pursuit of higher profits and abandoning its Corporate Purpose To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A. In his Dec. 5 letter to Wildmon, Cathy insisted Chick-fil-A is committed to being a faithful steward. As you have seen, recently we announced changes to our giving strategy at the Chick-fil-A Foundation, Cathy wrote. These changes were made to better focus on hunger, homelessness and education. We understand how some thought we were abandoning our long-standing support of faith-based organizations. We inadvertently discredited several outstanding organizations that have effectively served communities for years. Some also questioned if our commitment to our Corporate Purpose was waning. Let me state unequivocally: It is not. Chick-fil-A announced in a statement to The Christian Post last year that: Beginning in 2020 the Chick-fil-A Foundation will introduce a more focused giving approach, donating to a smaller number of organizations working exclusively in the areas of hunger, homelessness and education. The Salvation Army said they were saddened by Chick-fil-As announcement, especially since the organization is a leading provider of social services to the homeless, including the LGBT community. "We're saddened to learn that a corporate partner has felt it necessary to divert funding to other hunger, education and homelessness organizations areas in which The Salvation Army, as the largest social services provider in the world, is already fully committed," The Salvation Army said. "We serve more than 23 million individuals a year, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, we believe we are the largest provider of poverty relief to the LGBTQ+ population, the group continued. "When misinformation is perpetuated without fact, our ability to serve those in need, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or any other factor is at risk," they added. Wildmon called Cathys latest response a welcomed clarification. It appears that Mr. Cathy understands how many evangelicals perceived the company's decision, as he stated that these Christian groups were inadvertently discredited. The fact that Dan Cathy called these two Christian groups outstanding organizations will mean a lot to evangelicals, Wildmon wrote. He noted, however, that he still has concerns about the companys giving. I also mentioned in my initial letter that Chick-fil-A stated that the company would support Covenant House, a ministry to homeless youth, including homosexual young people. "While it is admirable to help hurting youth in desperate circumstances including those who are LGBTQ Covenant House also openly promotes homosexuality as normal, natural, and healthy. This was evident in Covenant House's participation in the NYC gay pride parade and a number of other efforts that make it clear the ministry does not hold to a biblical view of human sexuality, Wildmon said. As a result, AFA will continue to monitor Chick-fil-A's corporate giving, at least for the foreseeable future. We believe our supporters rely on us to do so. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Sunny. High 63F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 32F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Zelensky, Macron agree on trilateral call in Ukraine-France-Germany format to discuss Donbas situation, Macron's arrival in Kyiv President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in a telephone conversation on Saturday discussed further steps to implement the agreements reached at the Normandy format summit on December 9, 2019 in Paris. "Volodymyr Zelensky informed the French president about the current security situation in Donbas. The heads of state agreed to continue the bilateral dialogue. In addition, the parties agreed on a trilateral call in the Ukraine - France Germany format in the near future," the presidential press service reported. Macron also agreed to visit Kyiv at the invitation of Zelensky. January 11 : Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone's film 'Chhapaak' has been declared tax-free in Rajasthan. The film has been facing the wrath of a certain section of people after Deepika visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a masked mob on January 5. The decision to declare the film tax-free in Rajasthan was taken on Friday night. The movie is also tax-free in Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. It is based on the real-life of acid attack survivor Laxmi, who at the age of 15, was attacked allegedly by a spurned lover in 2005. Ever since Padukone decided to show her solidarity for protesting Jawaharlal Nehru University students following an attack by masked goons inside the campus, the Bollywood actor has been hit with a storm of trolling and criticism. And while the incident has divided opinions within the film fraternity as well with her fans on social media, some of the most stinging comments have come from politicians, many of whom belong to the ruling dispensation. Union minister Smriti Irani attacking Bollywood star Deepika Padukone for her visit to JNU, said the actor chose to stand next to people who wanted the "destruction of India". Senior BJP leader of Madhya Pradesh Gopal Bhargav on Thursday created a flutter when he advised Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone to dance in Mumbai, instead of visiting students in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). 'Chhapaak' is helmed by director Meghna Gulzar who is known for her outstanding work in blockbuster hit 'Raazi'. It is being co-produced by Deepika and Fox Star Studios. The film marks Deepika's production debut in Bollywood. The movie is set to hit theatres on January 10, 2020. Union home minister Amit Shah said on Saturday the BJP can make the people understand the truth behind the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) as he accused the opposition of creating anarchy in the country through falsehood. The act, which was passed by Parliament in December last year, came into effect yesterday. The ministry of home affairs, however, is yet to frame rules. Shah also dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Left leaders to show him any provision in the act, which would take away the citizenship of Muslims in the country. The opposition does not have any other issue, so they are spreading misinformation and falsehood on CAA. This has resulted in anarchy in the entire country, Shah said while speaking at the inauguration of various projects of Gujarat police in Gandhinagar. The Union minister also urged the workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to visit every household and bust the lies and misinformation being spread against CAA. Since there is no option to Modiji in politics at present, the opposition is resorting to falsehood We have the power to make people understand the truth. After our campaign is over, people of the country will understand the importance of the CAA, Shah said. Protests have snowballed across India over the citizenship act pushed through by the central government in December last year. More than 20 people have been killed and hundreds injured in violence during the protests against the citizenship act, which critics say is against the countrys Muslims and erodes Indias secular foundations. Facing such protests across the country, the BJP is pulling out all stops to dispel doubts about the provisions of CAA and has started a door-to-door campaign that will reach out to three crore families to clear perceptions about the act. Rahul baba, Mamata, Kejriwal and Communists are spreading lies that CAA will take away the citizenship of Muslims. I challenge them to show me any such provision in the Act, Amit Shah said. The Union home minister also attacked the opposition over Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, saying there was no violence in the region after its abrogation. Some leaders from the opposition had claimed in Parliament that there will be a bloodbath (if special status of Kashmir is revoked). Such statements are on record. But people gave a befitting reply to such leaders. Not a single person has died there ever since Article 370 was abrogated, the BJP chief said. Shah had earlier served as the minister of state for home in Gujarat when Modi was chief minister of the state. New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which prohibits assembly of four or more people, enables the state to take preventive measures to deal with imminent threats to public peace. This section is also imposed to clamp down on protests in highly sensitive areas, especially in the area around Parliament when it is in session. The Section was extensively used in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir after the revocation of the provisions of Article 370, which gave special status to the state. A bench headed Justice N.V. Ramana noted this power (Section 144) should be used responsibly, only as a measure to preserve law and order, and with a strong reason supporting its implementation. "The order is open to judicial review, so that any person aggrieved by such an action can always approach the appropriate forum and challenge it. But, the aforesaid means of judicial review will stand crippled if the order itself is unreasoned or un-notified," the bench said, citing orders passed under the section directly impact the fundamental rights of the people. "Repetitive orders under Section 144 would be an abuse of power", added the court. The court observed that the order passed under the Section should be indicative of proper application of mind, which should be based on the material facts and the remedy directed. "Proper reasoning links the application of mind of the officer concerned, to the controversy involved and the conclusion reached. Orders passed mechanically or in a cryptic manner cannot be said to be orders passed in accordance with law," said the court. The court said this Section cannot be used to crush a grievance and gag legitimate expression of opinion, which is integral to the exercise of democratic rights. "An order passed under Section 144, CrPC should state the material facts to enable judicial review of the same. The power should be exercised in a bona fide and reasonable manner, and the same should be passed by relying on the material facts, indicative of application of mind. This will enable judicial scrutiny of the aforesaid order", observed the court. The apex court has also cautioned the magistrate on the exercise of this section. "The Magistrate is duty bound to balance the rights and restrictions based on the principles of proportionality and thereafter, apply the least intrusive measure." The apex court observed the order enforcing restriction on the region failed to explain the anticipated threat to law and order, to prevent any loss of life, limb and property, as argued by the Jammu and Kashmir administration. ss/prs On September 22 in 1920, the Irish Independent reported in harrowing detail about the "scenes of blood and ruin" on the streets of Balbriggan in North County Dublin. With the apparent co-operation of their fellow Irish police officers in the Royal Irish Constabulary, a gang of Black and Tans had gone on the rampage and set fire to the town. The events were immediately described by the paper as the 'Sack of Balbriggan' and were a reprisal for the killing of District Inspector Burke and his brother Sergeant Burke who were shot dead while in Smyth's pub in the town earlier that day. The attack began around 11pm as lorries loaded with Black and Tans arrived in the town from the barracks at Gormanston and directly proceeded to shoot, burn and loot the town in a systematic spree of horrific violence. In Clonard Street, 20 houses were destroyed leaving helpless and terrified inhabitants to flee into the fields surrounding the town. Several pubs were looted and burned. John Gibbons and James Lawless were taken to Quay Street where they were beaten to death, their bodies found the next morning as the smoke from the burned-out town rose in an eerie silence. An Irish Independent reporter gave an account from the scene: "The lorries pulled up close to the police barracks and their occupants dismounted and proceeded through the streets, firing shots, shouting, smashing windows and setting fire to houses. "A regular reign of terror, lasting for some hours, followed, and numbers of unfortunate people had to fly for safety from their homes in their night attire. Many terrified women and children sought refuge in the fields." By the end of this week, Leo Varadkar and his Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan must have wondered what they had unleashed with their decision to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary, the rural police force of 10,000 men from a century ago. They reawakened ghosts of an acrimonious past: a version of the rabble-rousing ballad, 'Come Out Ye Black and Tans' even soared to the top of iTunes pop chart. Read More Early in the week, Flanagan was at pains to point out that his now deferred event was in no sense planned as a commemoration of the Black and Tans or the Auxiliaries, two forces drafted in by the British to reinforce the Royal Irish Constabulary. But the problem for Flanagan was that the RIC, the Black and Tans, and the Auxiliaries were inextricably linked. The new recruits, the vast majority of whom came from Britain, had been invited to join the RIC, billed as the "finest Constabulary force in the world". A shortage of uniforms led many of them to be equipped with a motley mixture of uniforms, often khaki trousers and tunics, together with the RIC's bottle green cap and belt - and this quickly gave them the nickname Black and Tan. There is no doubt that the regular RIC were part of the fabric of rural Ireland, and tens of thousands of families count the police recruits among their ancestors. As the historian Elizabeth Malcolm put it: "Throughout most of its existence, the Irish constabulary found most of its rank-and-file recruits among the sons, and especially the younger sons, of small farming families in the south, west and midlands of Ireland." The rank and file have been characterised as young, Catholic, unmarried and physically imposing. The officer ranks were more likely to be middle class, from the east of the country and Protestant. Dr Vicky Conway, a DCU Law Lecturer and author of Policing Twentieth Century Ireland: A History of An Garda Siochana, says the RIC was no ordinary civilian force, like the police in Britain. And it was unaccountable to the local population. A complex relationship It was an armed colonial force and its relationship with local communities ebbed and flowed, depending on the political atmosphere of the time. According to Dr Conway, its relationship with the community was complex. In the Famine, the police helped with evictions, but they also ran food distribution points and soup kitchens. It was given its royal title because of its role in suppressing a Fenian uprising in 1867. There has been a tendency to characterise the old established RIC as good cops, while the largely British Black and Tans of the War of Independence have been seen as the bad cops, who ran amok across the countryside. But the regular Irish RIC were also involved in some of the notorious reprisals that took place in 1920. In his book The Black and Tans, the historian David Leeson quotes the account of a Munster RIC officer John Regan who said many reprisals were the work of Irish constables. "Black and Tans, having drink taken, might fire out of lorries indiscriminately, loot public houses, or terrorise a village, but the Irishman would avenge his comrade when absolutely stone cold sober and on the right person." According to Leeson, Irish policemen were implicated in burnings, punishment beatings and extrajudicial killings as well. Historians have differed in their accounts of whether Irish officers were involved in the sack of Balbriggan. Leeson implicates them in his history of the Tans: "The sack of Balbriggan, for example, was 'organised and countenanced' by the Black and Tans' Irish officers, and led by their non-commissioned officers - Irishmen all." It is hardly surprising that the plan to commemorate the RIC has a particular resonance in Cork, scene of many of the most violent incidents. Lord Mayor of Cork John Sheehan was among the first to decline an official invitation to attend the official commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary that was due to take place on January 17, before it was eventually deferred. The mayor said he could not attend the ceremony while wearing the same mayoral chain that was once worn by Tomas Mac Curtain, the republican Cork mayor who was dragged from his home and assassinated in March 1920. The police did not investigate the killing of Mac Curtain, but a coroner's jury delivered a verdict of murder against various named individuals including Prime Minister Lloyd George as well as "unknown members of the RIC". The RIC were left in the frontline when the War of Independence broke out, and initially were poorly prepared to tackle the IRA. Although they were armed, they often did not carry their guns until this troubled period. Constable Daniel Galvin, who quit in 1920 after service in Tipperary and Galway, said he never carried weapons on duty. "We had the arms, but they were simply for show purposes," he recalled. But during the War of Independence, the RIC came under enormous pressure as attacks on police barracks became regular occurrences, and the force had to withdraw from many stations. Among those who were caught up in the fighting, up to 24pc were killed and 42pc wounded, according to the historian Charles Townshend. As well as facing the physical threat, the constables and their families were boycotted and ostracised in their communities. Dr Conway said the Republican women's organisation Cumann na mBan was involved in turning the police into social outcasts in many areas. "They were not to be served in shops, if they sat near you on a train you moved away, and if they sat near you in a church, you moved. It made it exceptionally difficult for them to live in communities." As one county inspector put it in the summer of 1920, "they are shunned and boycotted held up and shot at every opportunity intimidation broods everywhere and the dark hours are dreaded in many places". The Inspector General acknowledged that they were under a strain "which, very few bodies of men, however highly disciplined, could be expected to bear". He said they were forced to commandeer their food as shops refused to serve them, "crowded into cramped quarters without light or air, every man's hand against them, and in danger of their lives". In some areas, anyone who associated with the police was punished, according to Townshend. When a Cork undertaker assisted at a funeral of an RIC man, the hearse was set alight on the way back from the cemetery. In Kerry, two sisters had their hair unceremoniously cropped for being friendly to the police and an RIC man's sister was attacked. A woman who had been accused of supplying the police in Roscommon had three pig rings clamped to her buttocks. Under this kind of pressure, it was hardly surprising that so many RIC men quit. In other cases, they took to heavy drinking, or became involved in reprisals. The mass resignations of regular RIC men led to the increasing recruitment of Black and Tans, and these were supplemented by the Auxiliaries from July onwards. While the Black and Tans were recruited as regular constables, the Auxiliary Division of the RIC formed a distinct paramilitary force. The presence of these forces, which are frequently referred to interchangeably, was quickly etched in folk memory to an extent that may not have been realised by some senior ministers in recent days. Read More The Government might have picked a better time to commemorate the RIC than January 2020. January 1920 marked the beginning of the recruitment of Black and Tans by the RIC. Although she supports some kind of nuanced commemoration, Dr Vicky Conway says January of this year was an odd time to choose. It may also have been a mistake to plan a commemoration in 2020, the centenary of many of the most cataclysmic events of the Decade of Centenaries, including Bloody Sunday in Croke Park and the burning of Cork. In both of these disasters, the Auxiliary Division of the RIC were heavily involved. After 14 IRA killings on the morning of November 21, troops with armoured cars, Auxiliaries and regular police arrived at Croke Park in the afternoon for a Dublin-Tipperary match. The Auxiliaries opened fire on the crowd. Twelve people died, either shot or crushed in the panic. The Irish Independent editorial on the following day said: "The past weekend has, unfortunately, been the most tragic that Ireland has experienced since the melancholy chapter of her present troubles opened." But the Auxiliary Division of the RIC did not end their campaign of coercion there and only a few weeks later, after another spate of IRA killings, they set fire to the city centre of Cork. Leo Varadkar and his Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan may not have understood why the original plan for a commemoration and its timing caused such offence. But with a succession of highly sensitive anniversaries coming up over the next three years, including the centenary of the Civil War, whoever forms the next government will perhaps tread more carefully as they mark the milestones of the past. 1920: a year of terror January The RIC starts recruiting constables in Britain. Police riot in Thurles after a constable is shot. William Redmond, Assistant Commissioner G Division of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, is assassinated. March Police are suspected of the assassination of the Lord Mayor of Cork Tomas Mac Curtain after three constables are killed. July The Auxiliary Division of the RIC is set up. It operates as a paramilitary force. September Black and Tans go on the rampage in Balbriggan, burning down part of the town. Six RIC men are killed by the IRA in an ambush at Rineen, Clare. November In total, 27 are killed on the day on Bloody Sunday, November 21. After a morning of IRA killings, the Auxiliary Division of the RIC opens fire on the crowd at GAA match at Croke Park. A week later, 17 Auxiliaries and three IRA men are killed in an ambush at Kilmichael, Co Cork December Auxiliaries from the RIC set fire to the centre of Cork after an ambush by the IRA. While it may not be enough for some shareholders, we think it is good to see the Metallica Minerals Limited (ASX:MLM) share price up 17% in a single quarter. But only the myopic could ignore the astounding decline over three years. To wit, the share price sky-dived 73% in that time. So it sure is nice to see a big of an improvement. The thing to think about is whether the business has really turned around. View our latest analysis for Metallica Minerals Metallica Minerals recorded just AU$121,696 in revenue over the last twelve months, which isn't really enough for us to consider it to have a proven product. We can't help wondering why it's publicly listed so early in its journey. Are venture capitalists not interested? So it seems that the investors focused more on what could be, than paying attention to the current revenues (or lack thereof). For example, investors may be hoping that Metallica Minerals finds some valuable resources, before it runs out of money. As a general rule, if a company doesn't have much revenue, and it loses money, then it is a high risk investment. There is almost always a chance they will need to raise more capital, and their progress - and share price - will dictate how dilutive that is to current holders. While some such companies go on to make revenue, profits, and generate value, others get hyped up by hopeful naifs before eventually going bankrupt. Metallica Minerals has already given some investors a taste of the bitter losses that high risk investing can cause. When it reported in June 2019 Metallica Minerals had minimal cash in excess of all liabilities consider its expenditure: just AU$2.6m to be specific. So if it hasn't remedied the situation already, it will almost certainly have to raise more capital soon. That probably explains why the share price is down 35% per year, over 3 years . The image below shows how Metallica Minerals's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image. The image below shows how Metallica Minerals's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image. Story continues ASX:MLM Historical Debt, January 10th 2020 It can be extremely risky to invest in a company that doesn't even have revenue. There's no way to know its value easily. Given that situation, would you be concerned if it turned out insiders were relentlessly selling stock? It would bother me, that's for sure. It only takes a moment for you to check whether we have identified any insider sales recently. A Different Perspective Investors in Metallica Minerals had a tough year, with a total loss of 46%, against a market gain of about 24%. 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 21% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality businesses. If you would like to research Metallica Minerals in more detail then you might want to take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in the company. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). 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. By PTI MUMBAI: At least six persons were killed in a huge explosion at a chemical factory at Boisar in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Saturday evening, police officials said. Boisar is over 100 km away from Mumbai. The under-construction plant of Ank Pharma, where the explosion took place, is located in a Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area at Kolwade village, officials said. According to Palghar Additional Superintendent of Police Vikrant Deshmukh, six persons died while seven were injured in the incident. Earlier, a local police officer had put the death toll at 8. The blast, which took place during the testing of some chemicals around 7:20 pm, was so huge that it was heard within a 15-km radius, and windowpanes of some houses in the surrounding area shattered, officials said. The under-construction plant building collapsed after the explosion. The rescue operation was underway till late at night. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased, a statement from his office said. The chief minister was monitoring the relief and rescue operation himself, it added. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team had been called for rescue operations, officials said. A 28-year-old man is in critical condition after a shooting on Dorris Street in Alton Park. At approximately 2:45 a.m., Chattanooga Police were called to a local hospital after a person arrived with injuries from gunshot wounds. Police were informed by medical staff that the victim's injuries were considered life-threatening. The victim arrived at the hospital via personal vehicle. The person who drove the victim to the hospital told police that the victim was shot as he was getting in the vehicle. Police located a possible crime scene in the vicinity of 4380 Dorris St. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/11/2020 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So are Anny and Robert still together? Did the couple get married? Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Robert and Anny have been shown continuing to bicker on Season 7 of the TLC reality series as they adjust to life together in the United States, so did the couple end up getting married or splitting up, and are they still together?Robert, a 41-year-old from Winter Park, FL, and Anny, a 30-year-old from Santiago, Dominican Republic, are one of the couples starring on , which premiered in early November 2019.After talking and video chatting over the phone, Robert visited Anny in the Dominican Republic when he had a stop there on a cruise. The pair claimed to have fallen in love in just one day, and then Robert proposed marriage.Anny was shown traveling to the United States on her K-1 visa on the new season of , and Robert was hoping to get to know her better and get married within their short time together.Robert hoped Anny would help him take care of his son Bryson since he worked often and she wouldn't be able to get a job upon her entry into America."My biggest fear when Anny gets here is that she's all about money and doesn't care about me and Bryson," Robert said in premiere.Anny did, in fact, express a lot of concern and disappointment over Robert's financial position.After spending their first night together following Anny's arrival in America, Anny asked Robert to take her shopping for new clothing the next day.Anny's shopping experience with Robert did not meet her expectations as, unbeknownst to Anny, he took her to a second-hand clothing store.Anny complained there were "a lot of ugly rags" in the store and she had envisioned Robert buying her fashionable clothes in America from iconic designers like Chanel and Versace."That's f-cked up," Anny said about the clothing in the store Robert had brought her to. "Rubbish."Robert told the cameras Anny was "very selfish" because money doesn't grow on trees. He wasn't happy with her and couldn't believe she had acted out in the store."I never buy used clothes in my country. All the clothes I buy are expensive. I am poor but I don't use f-cked up clothes," Anny told Robert.After getting over their argument, the pair enjoyed an expensive seafood dinner that night, and Anny commented how she'd love to have a similar menu at their wedding.Robert, however, said there was no way he'd be able to afford that -- and he wasn't okay with the idea of people eating and drinking on his bill.Anny was surprised to hear Robert didn't want a big wedding.The couple's tension then escalated further when Anny said she'd like to have a ceremony and reception in Miami Beach, FL, to which Robert replied, "Do you think I'm made of money?! Courthouse and boom. That's it."Anny didn't want to get married at a courthouse, and she said Robert had promised her they'd have the wedding of her dreams. Anny also implied Robert was not living up to his promises and her expectations, and she said she'd like to move to Miami, FL."I don't want to hear about Miami. Just appreciate where we live," Robert vented to the cameras.Anny then asked Robert to apologize for his behavior -- which included swearing -- and he said, "I'm sorry you are inconsiderate and a big-ass crybaby. How about that?"Robert called his first full day with Anny "a disaster" and said she was "ungrateful and selfish" and everything he did for her didn't seem to be enough.Anny told Robert not to marry her if he was so unhappy, and she reminded Robert he had promised her an iPhone10 and expensive clothing.Anny called Robert "a liar" and insisted he had done nothing for her.The couple eventually grew tired of fighting and made love, but the peace didn't last long.Since Bryson's mother was not in the picture, he's apparently close to his grandparents on his mother's side, Ben and Stephanie.Anny was a bit standoffish when she met Ben and Stephanie, who couldn't believe Robert was in love with this woman they had just heard about two days prior.Robert felt his dating life, however, was his own business, and so he didn't think he had done anything wrong or needed to explain himself.Stephanie then warned Anny that she'd always be in the picture considering she loves Bryson very much but she's "an adult film actress."Anny called Stephanie "disgusting" and seemingly wanted nothing to do with her. Stephanie felt protective of Bryson, but Anny insisted she shouldn't worry and everything was going to be fine.Stephanie's personal questions turned Anny off, but Stephanie said she was just trying to be cordial and spark conversation.Anny called Stephanie "rude" and "bad," adding, "I don't like her." Anny was particularly annoyed when Stephanie asked her if she was on birth control."She totally shut me down pretty quick. I don't feel like she's here for the right reasons. I don't feel like she's here for love," Stephanie told the cameras in a confessional.Robert could tell Stephanie had pissed off Anny, and he immediately took Anny's side. Robert defended his fiancee and did not want Anny to feel disrespected.Anny wanted to feel like she was the only girl in Robert's life, and so she also didn't like how Robert kept old photos with women on his phone and social media pages.Anny, for example, found a picture of Robert kissing a girl and told her fiance, "Enjoy your life with them."Robert said he wasn't hiding anything from Anny and he has "five beautiful children by four different women." Robert revealed he doesn't get to see his other children often and he used to be a player."But now, I'm a different guy... I grew up and my priorities changed -- a lot," Robert told the cameras.When she first found out Robert welcomed five children with four different women, she said, "What the f-ck?!"Anny basically told Robert to delete the old women from his life or go back to them.But Robert refused to delete pictures of his son's mother since Bryson may want those photos when he's older.In addition, Anny expressed how Robert didn't give her enough love and affection, but he said she complained too much."He's going to have to delete those photos if he [wants] to get married to me," Anny said in a confessional, before admitting to Robert, "I don't know if I can marry you."Finally, Robert decided to compromise by keeping the old photos that included his children but erasing the ones of just himself with ex-girlfriends.Robert later met with Ben and Stephanie himself to clear up any issues between them and Anny."My concern is, it seems like every time you talk, you talk about how [Anny] benefits you and you have someone to take care of your kid and you can work more. I kind of get the feeling you're just looking for a maid," Ben told Robert."I just don't want it to be a mail-order-bride type of [situation] just so you can have somebody take care of Bryson. Is this really about love?"Robert was shocked to hear that question, and he said if he didn't love Anny, he never would have brought her to America. Stephanie also asked Robert if Anny was using him for a Green Card, but he said his mind and heart were in it for the right reasons.Robert said he wasn't going to invite Stephanie and Ben to his wedding unless they could squash their beef with Anny, but Bryson's grandparents clearly feared Robert was making rash decisions out of convenience.Robert and Anny were then shown going apartment hunting together because they were both tired of sharing a bed with Bryson, who kicked and punched in the night, in their one-bedroom apartment."I don't have sex with him for more than seven days," Anny admitted to the cameras because of their living situation.Robert said it was time to move into a two-bedroom place so Bryson would have his own bed and he and Anny could have some privacy, but little did Anny know, he had just renewed his old lease for another year.Robert found a beautiful place for Anny on a lake that boasted two bedrooms and two bathrooms and came at a cost of $1,750 per month.Anny didn't want to wait a year to move, and she didn't understand why Robert had renewed his lease considering he knew she was coming to the United StatesAnny thought it was "f-cked up," but Robert said he needed a place to live before she arrived.Robert wasn't willing to throw money away on two apartments, and he also pointed out Anny expected a nice wedding too. Anny was tired of having to wait for everything that Robert had promised her, but Robert insisted she wanted too much too soon and they were just checking out their options.The pair argued in front of the realtor, who noted Anny seemed very feisty. Robert told Anny she was "ungrateful," "selfish" and "inconsiderate," especially because she had argued with him in front of a person they didn't even know.Robert wanted to know whether Anny loved him or the apartment more, but she didn't answer -- she just "pouted like a little baby," according to Robert. Anny was waiting for Robert to step up to the plate and do things for her.Later on, Robert celebrated Anny's birthday by making her a birthday cake, and she felt appreciated and loved.Anny, who said she's a sexy girl who likes to show off her curvy body and dance moves, asked Robert to take her to stripclub to see what it's like in America. Robert told the cameras he was "just trying to chill and have a family" and he was over the stripclub scene."You should be happy I'm focusing on you. That part of my past is over with," Robert said.Anny called Robert "boring" and said she'd just enjoy the stripclub by herself on her birthday. Robert finally agreed to go for a little while, but he admitted he was a homebody and just liked spending time with his son.Anny didn't want to marry "an old man" who likes to stay home all the time, so Robert obliged to make her happy.At the club, Anny received a lap dance and was apparently touchy-feely with the dancers."Seeing Anny react like that in the stripclub threw some major red flags to me. I don't know if Anny is into girls or she just wanted to hang out. I don't know," Robert told the cameras.Robert therefore asked Anny if she had stripped in her country, and Anny said that was a stupid question with an obvious answer.But Robert felt Anny was hiding something from him, and so he flat out asked whether she had "ever been with a woman before." Anny suggested they could have a threesome with another woman for his birthday, but Robert didn't like hearing that."That's not something that I want. That's not something I want in my household. That's not something I want around my kid," Robert told Anny."I feel disrespected because you think it's a joke and obviously this relationship to you is a joke. What I want is a good woman -- a woman who just wants her husband... And right now, what you're showing me, you are not what I want."Robert wanted a loving, caring and classy woman who could set a great example for his son. Robert needed to find out whether Anny was with him for the wrong reasons.Anny said she had fantasies she'd like to explore with Robert and he was no fun."If he loves me, he has to accept me for who I am," Anny told the cameras.Robert was later shown picking up his little sister Robin at the airport. Robin was excited to meet her future sister-in-law for the first time, but Robert made it known he was having doubts about marrying Anny as they got to know each other better.Robin admitted Robert tended to pick the wrong girls, but she thought it was normal for there to be bumps in the road since her brother and Anny has only spent one day together before getting engaged."To be honest, I don't know if I'm ready to get married yet. It's still up in the air. I don't know what to do," Robert said in a confessional.Anny, who really liked and felt comfortable around Robin, vented about how Robert had promised her nice clothes and a two-bedroom apartment, but Robin told Anny that Robert was "poor" -- a statement which Robert disagreed with.Robin said Anny's expectations were too high, especially since Robert was raising a son by himself."He have to give me more sex because I don't come here to play games only," Anny added."He's only sleeping and sleeping and sleeping. I don't want that. I want to have sex every day -- sometimes three times a day."Robin told Robert to compromise and try to sleep with his girl more, but Robert said he woke up at 5AM every day and came home late after working all day. Robert thought Anny was demanding because she wanted to be intimate three or four times a day."I'm not a machine," Robert complained.Robin realized her brother's relationship wasn't great and he and Anny needed to find some common ground or at least agree to disagree in order to avoid further conflict.Anny was later shown shopping for a sexy, mermaid wedding dress with a train. She wanted to look sexy and elegant, and Robin helped her to pick something out.Robert was willing to give Anny $400 for a dress, and although Anny wasn't happy with her budget, she found the perfect form-fitting dress.A copy of Robert and Anny's marriage license has leaked out on the Internet after it was obtained by Soap Dirt.According to the couple's marriage license, Anny and Robert filed the paperwork in Orange County, FL, on August 12, 2019.Soap Dirt reported Robert and Anny tied the knot by traveling to Eustis, FL, which is just about 35 miles north of Orlando. The couple reportedly exchanged vows there on September 21, 2019!The couple tied the knot at The Little Wedding Chapel, according to Soap Dirt, which noted the venue offers very budget-friendly wedding packages that only cost a few hundred dollars (less than the iPhone Anny wanted Robert to buy her).The venue has seating for up to 50 guests and supplies a minister, decorations, a coordinator, bouquets of flowers, a photographer, music and more.It's clear Anny didn't have the beach wedding of her dreams, but it seemed Robert splurged a bit from what he had been hoping to spend.It's also possible Robert and Anny opted to upgrade to The Little Wedding Chapel's "Elope With Elvis" package, which costs an additional $350-$450 dollars depending on what options you want.This was both Robert and Anny's first marriage, reportedly.Want spoilers? Click here to visit our Spoilers webpage! Confronted by persistent questions about his military action in West Asia, President Donald Trump and his top officials offered a string of fresh explanations Friday, with Trump now contending Iranian militants had planned major attacks on four US embassies Washington: Confronted by persistent questions about his military action in West Asia, President Donald Trump and his top officials offered a string of fresh explanations Friday, with Trump now contending Iranian militants had planned major attacks on four US embassies. Just hours earlier, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said the US didnt know when or where attacks might occur. Trump and other officials insisted anew that Iranian General Qassem Soleimani had posed an imminent threat to the US, but they rebuffed repeated attempts to explain what they meant by imminent." Trump, meanwhile, announced additional sanctions against Iran, which he had promised after a barrage of missiles fired by the Islamic State against American bases in Iraq earlier this week. Those Iranian missiles, which caused no casualties, were prompted by the US drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani last week in Baghdad. That US assault set off a chain of events that may have included the downing of a Ukrainian jetliner, possibly by an Iranian missile, and calls by the Iraqi government to expel US troops from their country. At the White House, Trump issued an executive order adding additional US sanctions to the already long list his administration had imposed in an effort to force Iran to accept a new agreement that would curb its nuclear program and to halt support for militant groups throughout West Asia. Trump declared the US was holding Iran responsible for attacks against the United States as well as a threat to US service members, diplomats and civilians an apparent reference to the justification for killing Soleimani. The United States will continue to counter the Iranian regimes destructive and destabilizing behaviour, he said. But Trump and others faced continuing questions over their claims of an imminent threat. Members of Congress said Pompeo and other officials did not provide sufficient detail or justification in briefings this week. Define what you mean by imminent, Pompeo was asked Friday at a White House news conference. I dont know exactly which minute," Pompeo said. "We dont know exactly which day it would have been executed, but it was very clear. Qassem Soleimani himself was plotting a broad, large-scale attack against American interests and those attacks were imminent. Both Pompeo and Trump had said US embassies were threatened. The secretary of state broadened it to include American facilities, including military bases throughout the region. This was going to happen, and American lives were at risk," he said. Trump gave a more worrisome number but still no specifics in a later comment. I can reveal that I believe it probably wouldve been four embassies, he told Fox News in an interview taped Friday. He spoke amid revelations by US officials that the American military had tried, but failed, to kill another senior Iranian commander on the same day that Soleimani was killed. The targeting of Abdul Reza Shahlai was apparently part of an effort to cripple the leadership of Irans Quds Force, which the US has designated a terror organization along with the larger Islamic Revolutionary Guard Force. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the killing of Soleimani provocative and disproportionate," and other members said they were unconvinced after a closed-door briefing on the intelligence. President Trump recklessly assassinated Qasem Soleimani," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Washington state Democrat. "He had no evidence of an imminent threat or attack. The new sanctions were in immediate response to Iran's firing of a barrage of missiles at American bases in neighbouring Iraq this week after the killing of Soleimani. No one was injured. The larger US goal is to force Iran to negotiate a new agreement on limiting its nuclear program. In 2018, Trump withdrew from the nuclear agreement signed under President Barack Obama that traded curbs on the program for the easing of sanctions. Since then, the administration has added additional economic measures that have created hardship in Iran and brought its oil revenue to historic lows but have failed to bring the Iranian government to the negotiating table. The sanctions added Friday include measures aimed at eight senior Iranian officials involved in what Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called destabilizing activities throughoutWest Asia as well as Tuesday's missile barrage. Those measures, which would freeze any assets the officials have in US jurisdiction and prohibit financial transactions with them, are largely symbolic since such senior figures are unlikely to have assets under American control after decades of hostility between the two nations. But other measures announced Friday could have a significant effect on strategically important sectors of the Iranian economy, said Ben Davis, chief research officer at research and data analytics firm Kharon. The executive order grants the administration power to place anyone involved, even indirectly, in the construction, manufacturing, textile or mining sector on a global financial blacklist. It also targets 17 of the largest steel and iron manufacturers one of the few growth spots in the hobbled Iranian economy along with three foreign companies, including two based in China, under secondary sanctions. It sends a signal to other foreign firms that continue to do business with Iranian steel producers that this is off-limits, said Davis, a former Treasury Department official. Adnan Mazarei, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the sanctions will hurt an Iranian economy that was forced to cut fuel subsidies earlier this year, triggering nationwide protests, but they also will make it harder for government to negotiate with the US "This will be seen as another sign that the US government cannot be taken at its word when it says it wants to negotiate, Mazarei said. Mnuchin insisted the sanctions are working and have deprived Iran of tens of billions of dollars. They would be using that for terrorist activities throughout the region and to enable them to do more bad things, he said. And there's no question, by cutting off the economics to the region, we are having an impact. Thats what he said as thousands of troops are readying to deploy to the Middle East to a hotbed of anger, where wearing an American flag on your shoulder gets more dangerous by the day. Thats what he said as our nation seemed to be careening toward a reckless, unauthorized war of his own making, borne out of his illiteracy in matters ranging from foreign policy to common sense. Less than 24 hours after a helicopter crashed into a residential neighborhood in Cumberland County, the National Transportation Safety Board is on scene, with other federal agencies, to determine the cause. With that said, it is still too early to give concrete information on the crash, without speculation, NTSB Senir Air Safety Inspector Tim Monville said during a late Friday afternoon press conference. The crash was reported around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, with neighbors calling police after hearing a loud noise that shook houses in the area of Irongate Court and Surrey Lane. Pieces of the helicopters were found across several yards, with the main portion of the helicopter falling squarely in one yard. The two people in the helicopter, pilot Mark Croce, 58, and Michael Capriotto, 63, both of Orchard Park, New York, were killed in the crash. Monville said the helicopter was a Robinson R66 but was unable to provide registration at the scene, though he said he had seen it. NTSB arrived at the crash scene on Friday afternoon, along with the Federal Aviation Authority, and worked alongside local law enforcement to examine the crash scene. Several parts of the helicopter, including a 5-foot section of the main rotor blade, were documented, Monville said. Because the helicopter was insured, the NTSB and other authorities will work with the insurance company in the coming days to figure out how to transport the helicopter to a secure facility where they will do an extensive examination. When asked about the distances between the pieces of the helicopter, Monville said he couldnt speculate on what that meant but that it was a part of the investigation. As of Friday, investigators did not have traffic control data, any pertinent audio or radar information available but Monville said it has been requested. The FAA did report to Monville that there was no distress call made. A look out the window at what the neighborhood looked like Thursday night as police and firefighters responded to reports of a downed copter. There also are also areas of the neighborhood near the main crash site that smell heavily of fuel. Monville said the insurance company will assess and handle. The weather and Croces pilot history will also be a part of the investigation, along with the helicopters history and maintenance. Some preliminary information may be released in about seven days, Monville said, but the final report may take 18 months. Were just beginning. We have a long way to go to understand what occurred," Monville said. 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.\ Tehran, Jan 11 : Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the aerospace commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), on Saturday said that the IRGC accepts responsibility for the crash of an Ukrainian plane over Iran's airspace. "We accept full responsibility for this act (shooting down the plane), and we will obey and carry out what decisions the authorities will make," Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency, reports Xinhua. The Iranian commander said that since Iran was on "high alert" on Wednesday because of the US threats of possibly hitting 52 spots in the country, the operator of the missile launch site was concerned about a possible "US cruise missile". The passenger plane was mistaken for a "US cruise missile", Hajizadeh said, adding that the missile operator also encountered some communication problems and "he made a bad decision, triggered the missile and hit the plane." Hajizadeh denied that some authorities, including those in the Iranian Aviation Organization, attempted to "hide" the truth. "They made comments based on their own knowledge," he said. Hajizadeh added that "the Iranian armed forces and the IRGC did not want to hide the truth either." Soon after Iran's armed forces confirmed that an "unintentional" missile launch by the country's military was the cause of the plane crash, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the relevant authorities to conduct investigations into the "possible shortcomings" leading to the crash. "I emphatically urge the Iranian armed forces to carry out probes into possible shortcomings and liability over this painful incident," Khamenei said in a statement carried by the state IRIB TV, while expressing his "heartfelt sympathy" to the families of the victims, Xinhua reported. The Iranian leader asked the authorities to "avoid repetition of such incidents." Reacting to the development, Iran President Hassan Rouhani in a tweet said: "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences." Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also offered "profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations". "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster," he tweeted. Saturday's confirmation comes after the Iranian military had been denying that one of their missiles brought down the Kiev-bound Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS75. The victims comprised 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, four Britons and three Germans. A day after the crash on Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US media reports, citing American and Iraqi intelligence officials, said that the airliner was shot down by an Iranian missile. Trudeau said that his government had "evidence" indicating that the aircraft "was shot down by an Iranian surface to air missile", although he added that it might have been unintentional. These claims were rejected by Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei on Friday, saying that "these reports are a psychological warfare against Iran". "All those countries whose citizens were aboard the plane can send representatives and we urge Boeing to send its representative to join the process of investigating the black box." Wednesday's crash occurred on the same day Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two US military bases in Iraq, in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in an American drone attack in Baghdad on January 3. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-12 03:08:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The UN-backed government of Libya on Saturday deplored threat by the rival eastern-based army to attack the ports of the cities of Khoms and Misurata, as the armed conflict between the two rivals continues. On Friday, the eastern-based army threatened to attack the ports of Misurata and Khoms in case they are not closed. "The Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord confirms holding responsible any party that threatens those ports or any other ports," the UN-backed government said in a statement. It said that the ports are functioning normally "under supervision of all concerned international agencies." The eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli since early April 2019, 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. Follow the Money Michigan Medicine alone raised $1.5 billion in the U-M's Victors for Michigan fundraising campaign. by Patrick Dunn From the January, 2020 issue It's not surprising that the hospital and medical school collected more than a quarter of the $5.28 billion brought in during the drive, which closed at the end of 2018. Michigan Medicine attracted 21,944 alumni donors--the third highest among the university's thirty-six "fundraising units"--who contributed $656 million. But they were vastly surpassed in numbers and dollars by 84,927 non-alumni donors, contributing a total of $841 million. Campaign director Todd Baily notes that compared to academic units, Michigan Medicine draws support from "a much broader spectrum of society who are primarily grateful patients." Victors for Michigan launched publicly in 2013 after the U had already raised $1.7 billion in what Baily describes as a two-year "quiet phase." The fundraising units included nineteen schools and colleges in Ann Arbor, the satellite campuses in Dearborn and Flint, and nonacademic units like the University Musical Society and Nichols Arboretum. No other unit could hold a candle to Michigan Medicine's non-alumni contributions and donor count. The next most successful in dollar terms was the College of Engineering, which raised $183 million of its $455 million total from non-alumni, and Michigan Radio, whose wide reach connected it to 64,351 non-alumni supporters. Unsurprisingly, given the lion's share of the U-M student body that it represents, the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) drew topflight alumni dollars. It came in second to Medicine for alumni contributions ($425 million out of $559 million) and second to the Alumni Association for number of alumni donors (25,905). But Conor Neville, assistant director of campaign strategy and initiatives for the Office of University Development, notes that, even so, alumni made up just two thirds of LSA donors. "Particularly parents is where they're going to get a significant [non-alumni] boost, because they have so many undergrads compared to everybody else," Neville says. A "parents and family" campaign that debuted with Victors for Michigan helped draw $108 million in contributions from 22,712 non-alumni relatives. Alumni donors represented a far greater ...continued below... piece of the pie at the law and business schools, Rackham, and the schools of education, environment, and social work--at least 80 percent of their donors were alumni. Neville says students are "very in touch" with those schools and don't take a lot of classes outside them, encouraging "kind of a high loyalty rate" once they graduate. Other units drew most of their support from non-alumni--although, in the most notable cases, those funds came primarily from philanthropic foundations. Professional foundations (distinguished from family foundations, which the campaign counted as individuals) represented just 384 of the campaign's 398,399 donors but contributed 12 percent of the funds raised.It's no surprise that a whopping 97 percent of the Institute for Social Research's $74 million total came from non-alumni, since the research center doesn't grant degrees. What's striking is that the gifts came largely from philanthropic donors. The university counts foundation grants as gifts if the grant is awarded in response to a staff proposal, with no deliverables required other than a final report (as opposed to a foundation approaching the university to perform prescribed work by contract).ISR director David Lam says federal grants aren't counted as gifts--if they were, ISR's total would be much higher. But he says foundations are quite similar to top-dollar individual donors in the way the university's development staff must communicate about which units are appealing to which foundations, making sure people aren't "stepping on each other's toes." Lam credits ISR's success to its "socially relevant, policy-relevant work," which is well aligned with many foundations' goals, and to the fact that some of ISR's researchers "are 100 percent dependent on external grants to pay their salaries."Similarly to ISR, the School of Public Health logged 78 percent of its $114 million total from non-alumni. Baily says that was raised from "a number of foundations making sizeable but not outlier gifts, not in the eight-figure range or anything like that." Eight-figure gifts did go to U-M Flint ($57 million total) and Clements Library ($30 million), which logged high percentages of non-alumni funds, thanks to a large single contribution from the C.S. Mott Foundation and two anonymous gifts, respectively.Victors for Michigan was a resounding success, far exceeding its original $400 million goal. But it also brought to the surface challenges that will persist into the university's next big campaign.Pam Stout, senior director of executive and internal communications for the Office of University Development, says that despite the 392,547 individuals who contributed to Victors for Michigan, individual donors are becoming the U's "weak spot."That's due to the rise of social-media-savvy, highly specific, cause-based fundraising--like the "ice bucket challenge," which went viral in 2014 in the midst of the Victors campaign. Participants posted videos of themselves dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads as a way to raise awareness and encourage donations for ALS research."Everybody wanted to do the next ice bucket challenge," Stout says. "When that got big, everybody thought, 'Oh, we'll just do this, and everyone will start giving.' But it's hard to be original in that space and kick off the way something like that does."Though it didn't come up with an ice bucket challenge, the U found some success with what Stout describes as "targeted campaigns for small, niche things," like a social-media-based campaign for Medicine's Paws4Patients therapy dog program. "It was a small effort but an easy way to catch people's attention and see if they might support an area that isn't covered by insurance or patient funds," she says.Neville says that's a challenging direction to take because the university is "not one cause" but "thousands and thousands of causes, aggregated under the U of M umbrella." But Stout says the "changing landscape of fundraising" makes some changes inevitable.[Originally published in January, 2020.] The Royals and outfielder Jorge Soler avoided arbitration Friday, agreeing to a $7.3MM salary for 2020. That doesnt preclude the club from signing Soler to a contract extension, though, and general manager Dayton Moore suggested theres interest in locking up the soon-to-be 28-year-old slugger for the foreseeable future (via Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com). Just because we exchange numbers doesnt mean we cant eventually do a multiyear deal, Moore told Flanagan. Theres no deadline on that. Moore added that new owner John Sherman has been extremely supportive in our vision to sign our young players to long-term deals. Soler, a much-ballyhooed prospect when he signed with the Cubs out of Cuba in 2012, truly came into his own last season during a 48-home run campaign. And the Royals have Solers rights through 2021, so theres still plenty of time for the two sides to work out a long-term arrangement. MLBTRs Steve Adams explored a potential extension for Soler back in September. Heres more from around the majors London, Jan 11 (IANS) The UK's Prince Harry will join his wife Meghan Marklr in Canada as early as next weekend,giving rise to fears that they may never return to live in the UK following their explosive statement that they were stepping back as senior royals and would work towards becoming financially independent, a report said. Informed sources told The Daily Mail on Friday that the Duke of Sussex has a "packed" diary of meetings at the beginning of next week and an official engagement at the Buckingham Palace on January 16. It could be his last as a working royal, depending on how negotiations with the rest of the royal family go. After that he was expected to fly back to Canada, where his wife is with their eight-month-old son, Archie, and their two dogs. This could come as early as next weekend, and will certainly be within two weeks, added the sources. It was understood that Meghan, who left the country on Thursday, does not have a return flight booked back to London. Sources confirmed to The Daily Mail there were no official engagements in her diary for the "foreseeable future". The couple have been living in a luxury property on Vancouver Island. Archie was left there with his nanny and Meghan's best friend, Toronto-based stylist Jessica Mulroney, and her family while the Sussexes flew back to London together on Monday. On Wednesday night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that they would be "stepping back" as senior royals, adding that they wanted to become financially independent and would divide their time between the UK and North America. But the Queen and other members of the family were said to be "hurt" by their decision, said metro.co.uk. It was also reported that Harry and Meghan reportedly ignored instructions from the Queen not to go public with their announcement. According to the Evening Standard, Harry's father Prince Charles and the his brother William, the Duke of Cambridge only received the statement 10 minutes before it was released. ksk/ SoftBank-backed Oyo Hotels is in the process of handing out pink slips to thousands of employees in India and China. The homegrown firm is in the process of restructuring and trimming redundancy. According to a report in Bloomberg, Oyo has let go of 5 per cent of its 12,000 employees in China due to non-performance. This amounts to around 600 employees in the Chinese unit. Meanwhile, in India, Oyo is dismissing 12 per cent of its 10,000 employees, which is around 1,200 workers. The company plans to shed another 1,200 employees in India over the next three to four months, stated the Bloomberg report. In a statement, the Ritesh Agarwal-founded firm said, "We continue to be one of the best places to work for and one of the key reasons for this has been our ability to consistently evaluate, reward and recognize the performance of individuals in a meritocratic manner, and enable them to improve their performance." Masayoshi Son's SoftBank has been struggling with the aftermath of the WeWork debacle and the slumping share prices at Slack and Uber. The investors have called for greater financial discipline in its portfolio companies. This has, the report adds, spurred job cuts in smaller outfits as well as restructuring in the bigger firms. Hotel owners in China have been protesting outside its offices accusing the firm of violating contractual agreements. Oyo had said that it would enhance communications with hotel owners and develop owner loyalty this year. The company said that it would ensure that the interests and needs of the hotels as well as of the company are equally taken into account. SoftBank's Vision Fund has invested around $1.5 billion in Oyo, taking its valuation to $10 billion. Airbnb, Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners are some of the company's investors. While Oyo has grown at a fast pace, its reputation has taken a beating due to customer complaints and hotel owners' allegations of poor and unfair treatment by the company. Also read: I-T Dept 'action' at OYO's India headquarters; company calls it routine TDS survey Also read: OYO may lay off 2,000 employees in India by January-end: report Tehran, Jan 12 : Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned new US sanctions on some Iranian industrial companies and Iranian officials. On Friday, the United States imposed more sanctions on Iran in retaliation for its missile attack on US forces in Iraq. The sanctions targeted Iran's manufacturing, mining and textile sectors as well as senior Iranian officials who Washington said were involved in the January 8 attack on US military bases in Iraq, Xinhua news agency reported/ "Unfortunately, the Americans have adopted unilateral, illegal and fruitless behaviour, and are insisting on that," the Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, said. "The Americans have sanctioned those industry sectors which are directly related to the daily life of millions of people," said Mousavi. These sanctions further reveal US "hostile" policies towards Iran, he said, adding that however, they are doomed to failure. Findings from a recent study provide evidence that children raised in an environment of neglect and deprivation grow up with smaller brains. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was conducted by researchers at Kings College London. The researchers investigated the impact of early-life neglect and institutional deprivation on brain structure. In particular, they looked at orphanages in Romania following the end of Nicolae Ceausescus era in 1989, where many children were adopted into these institutions that the studys lead, Professor Edmund Sonuga-Barke at Kings College London, described as hellholes. 67 Romanian adoptees who experienced neglect in these institutions between 3 and 41 months were compared to 21 adoptees who didnt suffer from neglect in the early stages of their lives. The study found that neglected childrens brain size was 8.6% smaller on average compared to children who grew up in healthy environments. Researchers also found that the former showed signs of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as a lack of fear of strangers in their adulthood. Professor Mitul Mehta, one of the researchers on the study, told the BBC, 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. The researchers suggest that these findings provide a causal link between neglect during childhood and lower IQ and higher rates of ADHD in adults. 5 tips to create a loving and compassionate environment for children Looking after a child full-time can be exhausting, with many parents wishing for more me-time. And while having time for yourself is definitely advised, it shouldnt come at the cost of your childs wellbeing. Leaving your little one for extended periods of time can be detrimental to your childs development. It can lead to lower self-esteem, unable to express emotions confidently, and unsure of fulfilling their potential. Story continues Taking the time to show your care and appreciation to your kids can easily remedy the effects of neglect on child development. Here are five simple tips to create a loving environment where your children are never neglected. 1. Tell your child you love them effects of neglect on child development Image source: iStock Make sure to let your kids know you love them the old-fashioned wayby telling them. The best thing about this is you dont need any context to say it. When you drop them off at school, while youre making dinner, or tucking them into bed, its fair game to drop a little I love you! 2. Acknowledge their feelings effects of neglect on child development Image source: iStock Its hard for your children to open up about their feelings. So when one of your kids tells you how he/she feels, take a deep breath before you respond. Its okay to acknowledge his/her feelings. Many of us would instinctively dismiss them since were grown-ups who have a lot more life experience. But you want to teach your child that its okay to share his/her feelings. Avoid shutting him/her down before he/she gets a chance to tell you whats going on. Itll teach your little one how to better cope with these emotions in the future. 3. Teach them to love themselves Image source: iStock Loving yourself has gotten a bad rep over the years. We dont mean you should teach your children to be narcissistic. However, your little ones look to you for approval in all things. Including your love. This might involve engaging in risky behaviours in order to earn your praise. Instead, guide your child to accept himself/herself for who he/she is. Every child is unique and different and these differences should be celebrated, not shunned. If your child received lower test scores than a friend, use that as a learning opportunity to praise him/her for the effort and think about how to improve. Your child will gain an understanding that its okay to not be all things to everyone, which in turn allows your little one to work on his/her strengths in the future. 4. Put down devices effects of neglect on child development Image source: iStock There are a lot of studies looking at the effects of screen time on our little ones, such as underdeveloped language skills and addiction. However, adults have just as much of a problem! In fact, they spend nearly as much time staring at their phones as they spend time with their kids! If youre talking to your children or spending time with them, resist the temptation to split your focus by putting down your phone and giving your whole attention. Your child will notice and appreciate that youre fully there with him/her at that moment and strengthen your relationship. 5. Set time apart as a family (dinner time, reading time, fun nights) effects of neglect on child development Image source: iStock Many Singaporeans feel they dont spend enough time with their families but are willing to give up watching the latest series on Netflix to make up for it. Start scheduling a specific time where you are doing something together as a family. This might mean dinner time or board game nights. Just make sure you have specific time together so it doesnt feel like youre all strangers living in a house together! Sources: BBC The post Neglected Children At Risk of ADHD, Lower IQ Says Study appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids. Sri Lankas Oldest and Largest High Quality Laboratory Technicians Producer Inauguration Ceremony 2020 View(s): Diploma in Laboratory Technology (DLT) is the prestigious course in Sri Lanka, which produces the largest number of Laboratory Technicians annually. The huge success of this course is obvious, as we are enrolling our 47th batch for the year 2020. The inauguration ceremony of this programme for the year 2020 was held on 3rd of January. Dr. P R K Suraweera, Managing Director Wayamba diagnostics (Pvt) Ltd and Chairman Sethsevana Hospital Kurunegala was the chief guest for this occasion, delivered some very valuable information and advises for the newly enrolled budding Technicians. This occasion was graced by the presence of, the President of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Prof. Priyani Paranagama, the Dean of the College of Chemical Sciences Prof. Sagarika Ekanayake, the Registrar Mr. N. I. N. S. Nadarasa, the Director DLT program Mr. E. G. Somapala, Academic and Non Academic Staff of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Parents and Newly enrolled students. The President and the Dean addressed the gathering about the progression of the programme and the advances incorporated especially with the establishment of the new Microbiology and Biochemistry Laboratories. Currently more than 1500 students who have successfully completed the DLT course conducted by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon are currently employed in many well-known industrial and medical laboratories in Sri Lanka as well as worldwide. Laboratories of Most of the well-known private hospitals are providing opportunities in employing our students at an increasing rate. This is a two-year course, which includes both theory and practical sessions. The first year covers basic chemistry subjects as well as Basic Biological Chemistry, Information Technology, Management, Mathematics, Statistics, Electronics and in the second year, students can specialize either in Food and Material Technology or Clinical Laboratory Technology according to their preference. Due to the high demand, the deadline to accept applications for the academic year of 2020/2021 has been extended until 31st of January 2020. Students who have passes in English, Mathematics and Science for GCE ordinary level as well as students with a pass for chemistry in the GCE advance level are eligible to apply for this course. Students who successfully complete this course will be eligible to work as laboratory technicians in laboratories and will be eligible to register to follow the Graduateship in Chemistry course conducted by the Institute of Chemistry itself. All the lectures and practical sessions are conducted in English medium, therefore having a sound knowledge in English is compulsory. Organisations which provide opportunities to enroll more than 10 applicants will be offered with special discounted rate. For further details log on to our website or call / visit us on all seven days from 9.00 am 5.00 pm Telephone : 011-2861231 / 2861653 Web Site : www.ichemc.edu.lk Email : ichemc@sltnet.lk " " 'Corpse Hotels' in Japan Carousel: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images; Video: Reuters How's this for a dilemma? Someone close to you is dead. (It's OK. They lived a long, happy life.) That person wanted to be cremated. But the crematorium is jam-packed, and you have a waiting period maybe even of a few weeks before your loved one can be attended to. So now you have a rapidly decaying dead body that needs a place to (literally) chill. What to do? Advertisement In the United States, this probably wouldn't be a huge issue. For one, only about half the country's dead bodies are cremated, so there isn't a huge backlog due to demand. (And although there's a waiting time required in some states between death and cremation, bodies are generally going to be housed in funeral homes or the crematorium during that time.) Japan is a different story. Nearly every person who dies in Japan is cremated; one 2012 survey reported that 99.9 percent of Japanese bodies were cremated. But here's the thing: Lots of people are dying in Japan these days due to its aging population. Those deaths mean an extremely busy death industry. Crematoriums are so overworked that it might be days or weeks before a cremation can take place, leaving loved ones with no funeral homes to accommodate the dead bodies. Enter the corpse hotel. For a fee (a Reuters article quoted a price of $82 per day), you can rent a room for your loved one to temporarily stay before his or her cremation destination. The rooms are refrigerated or air-conditioned, and there might even be a place for loved ones to sleep nearby. The larger point is that family members or friends can come and view or visit the deceased while they're waiting for a crematorium spot. Caitlin Doughty, mortician and author of the book "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons From the Crematory," says she initially approached the idea of corpse hotels with skepticism, but was swayed by a recent research visit to one. "I was expecting to find the corpse hotels ridiculous and unnecessary, but I came out wanting to open one in LA," she says in an email. "In Japan, it's important for families to have time to spend with the dead body at home, but many of the apartments in Tokyo are simply too small. So a home (including beds, kitchens, living area, etc.) is replicated in the corpse hotel, allowing the family to have that time together with the dead. It fills a need. I think funeral homes in America should encourage families to come in and take part in the preparation of the body, wake the body, take private time to mourn." It certainly fills a niche in Japan, but it also presents another problem that the nation is confronting. The Japanese industry surrounding death has become extremely expensive; one estimate has Japanese funerals, on average, costing more than $20,000. While some corpse hotels provide cheaper, more simplified funerals as an alternative, a lot of them do present an additional cost to an already exorbitantly expensive process. NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Japanese families used to buy a plot and bury urns together, but there are now options for cremated remains to be stored in high-tech lockers, where swipe cards allow you access to visit the ashes of your deceased. Iran has admitted publicly that its military "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, culminating days of intense back-and-forth between the U.S. and Iran as the two nations volley threats and accusations at one another. The statement came Saturday morning and blamed human error for the shootdown on Wednesday that killed 176 people. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukraine International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq. A military statement carried by Iranian state media said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned toward a sensitive military center of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its highest level of readiness, it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit, the statement said. It apologized for the disaster and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies. It also said those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. In an address broadcast by state TV on Saturday, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander, said his unit accepts "full responsibility" and that when he learned about the downing of the plane, "I wished I were dead." Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday expressed his "deep sympathy" to the families of the victims, and called on the armed forces to "pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident." Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a statement Saturday that Ukraine expected from Iran "assurances" of a "full and open investigation, bringing the perpetrators to justice." He added that Ukraine expected the "paying of compensation" and "official apologies through diplomatic channels." Story continues He also expressed hope for the continuation of the crash investigation without delay. A team of Ukrainian investigators is in Iran. "Our 45 specialists should get full access and cooperation to establish justice," he said. The head of the Ukrainian airline whose jetliner was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile in Iran says he was sure all along that that the company was not at fault. "We did not for a second doubt that our crew and our plane could not have been the cause of this terrible, awful air catastrophe, Ukraine International airline president Evgeniy Dikhne said on Facebook. "They were our best guys and girls. The best." The plane crashed Wednesday just hours after Iran fired ballistic missiles at two U.S. military bases in Iraq. That assault came in retaliation for the Pentagon's killing in a drone strike of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran's most senior and revered military commanders. The Trump administration said Soleimani had been planning an "imminent" attack against U.S. citizens. Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft. People walk near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility, and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission, said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face. On Friday, the Trump administration had said it suspected an Iranian missile caused the crash of the passenger jet. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a news conference that the missile strike was the most likely scenario and probably involved some type of mistake on Iran's part. Also on Friday, Ukrainian officials gained access to the plane's "black box" recorder, according to Iulia Mendel, spokeswoman for Ukraine's president. Recovery of the black box, which records data from the flight and voices from the cockpit, is considered a key step in reconstructing the final moments of any air crash. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that the box, made of hardened material capable of withstanding intense flame, explosions and impact, would be opened Friday. But the process of downloading the information could take up to two months. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. If evidence shows that the Iranian missile did, in fact, take down the plane, then the U.S. "and the world will take appropriate actions in response," Pompeo said. "We do believe that it is likely that that plane was shot down by an Iranian missile. Were going to let that investigation play out," Pompeo said. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, speaking at the news conference, announced an array of new sanctions on Iran, including measures against eight senior administration officials. He also said the department will waive the sanctions for anyone who can help with the plane crash investigation, allowing investigators to participate in accordance with U.S. sanctions law. Until Saturday, Iran had vehemently rejected any suggestion that the plane was brought down by one of its own missiles. The nation urged American and Canadian investigators Friday to share any information they have on the plane crash. "What is obvious for us, and what we can say with certainty, is that no missile hit the plane," Ali Abedzadeh, head of Irans national aviation department, told a press conference in Tehran on Friday. Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran admits to shooting down jetliner with missile The crate containing purportedly the two black boxes recovered from the crashed Ukrainian airliner, Boeing 737-800, is seen in this still image taken from a video, in Teheran, Iran, on Jan. 10, 2020. (IRIB VIA WANA/Handout via Reuters) Ukraine Gets Access to Black Boxes From Iran Plane Crash Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Jan. 10 that his countrys investigators have been given access to the flight data recorders that were recovered from the wreckage of a Ukrainian plane that went down in Iran, killing all 176 people on board. Our team has gained access to the black boxes, we plan to begin reconstruction of the conversations in the near future, Prystaiko said. Prystaikos comments came as allegations grow that an Iranian anti-aircraft missile shot down the plane. The crate containing purportedly the two black boxes recovered from the crashed Ukrainian airliner, Boeing 737-800, is seen in this still image taken from a video, in Teheran, Iran, on Jan. 10, 2020. (IRIB VIA WANA/Handout via Reuters) Prystaiko said investigators also have been given access to the recordings of air-traffic controllers at the Tehran airport. Although investigators have been to the crash site, he said there are certain pieces that up until this time have not been found or gathered. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko gives a joint press conference with his German counterpart in Berlin, on Dec. 20, 2019. (Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images) Ukraines national security service said it is now considering two possible causes of the plane crasheither terrorism or an anti-aircraft missile hit. Service director Ivan Bakanov said that although Western claims of a missile are attracting the most attention, there are still questions to be answered, including the flight range of the presumed missile and the nuances of operating the launch mechanism. He said the possibility of a terrorist attack is being carefully studied. Rescue workers carry the body of a victim of a Ukrainian plane crash in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran on Jan. 8, 2020. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo became the highest-level U.S. official to directly pin the blame on Iran, after Canadian, Australian, and British leaders announced similar intelligence conclusions Thursday. We do believe it is likely that that plane was shot down by an Iranian missile, Pompeo said on Friday. Pompeo said an investigation would continue into the incident and that once it was complete he was confident that we and the world will take appropriate action as a response. Leaders said the plane appeared to have been unintentionally hit by a surface-to-air missile. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announce new sanctions on Iran, at the White House in Washington, on Jan. 10, 2020. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) The Trump administration on the same day announced a new wave of sanctions on Iran following this weeks missile strikes by the Islamic Republic on U.S. bases in Iraq. Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the new sanctions will target eight senior Iranian officials involved in destabilizing activities in the Middle East as well as Tuesdays missile strike. The strike by Iran came in retaliation for the U.S. killing of a senior Iranian general in a drone strike. Mnuchin said President Donald Trump will issue an executive order imposing sanctions on anyone involved in the Iranian textile, construction, manufacturing or mining sectors. They will also impose separate sanctions against the steel and iron sectors. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin brief reporters about additional sanctions placed on Iran, at the White House in Washington on Jan. 10, 2019. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Houston-based Talos Energy completed its independent resource evaluation of a giant find of 670 million barrels which could boost Mexicos dwindling oil production statisticsbut its undecided who gets the best pick. Talos President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy S. Duncan said in a press release, It was important to have Netherland Sewell (or NSAI, the commissioner of the resources evaluation) conclude their independent contingent resource report by year-end 2019, and we are happy to see that the results of their evaluation exceed our previously guided resource range. With this step completed, we will continue to advance the project engineering and design work while also finalizing unitization procedures. As we complete these activities in the coming months, we look forward to another year of progress for Zama in 2020. Mexico nationalized its oil production industry completely in 1938. However, since 2014, the market has been opening up to foreign investors who have been developing its rich natural resources and increasing its meager output numbers. The oil field was discovered in 2017 in the Zama region, shallow waters in the Gulf of Mexico, and was the first oil discovery in Mexico by a U.S. company in nearly eighty years, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Zama complex is divided into two blocks of crude oil reserves. Pemex, a state-run company, owns the right to one block, while a consortium of foreign drilling companies led by Houston-based Talos owns the right to the other. Both blocks will need to be jointly operated under one leading operator. The Zama field could be in operation as soon as 2023, but all parties will have to come to an agreement on how the pie is going to be divided. Meanwhile, foreign investors accuse the Mexicans of stalling negotiations in an attempt to get the best deal. They also contend that the state-run company will not work as efficiently as a consortium of private investors would do. We believe it is in everyones best interests to maintain the urgency in bringing this project forward, and ensuring that it is done so in an efficient way that draws from international best practices is critical to achieve these objectives, said Talos Chief Executive Tim Duncan, according to The Wall Street Journal. Zama is a world-class asset. Any company in the world would want to have it in their portfolio. At the end of the day, Pemex wanting to operate Zama is pure ego. A private operator would be way more efficient, said Pablo Medina, vice president of Houston-based consulting firm Welligence Energy Analytics, the Journal reported. Mexicos Energy Ministry, however, expressed it wants Pemex to take the lead in exploiting the Zama field. James Durbin/Midland Reporter-Telegram The U.S., Texas and Permian rig counts posted sharp declines this week, according to oil field services company Baker Hughes. The Permian Basin rig count fell below 400, dropping six to 397. Texas also fell below 400 rigs, falling seven, to 396. The U.S. rig count remained below 800, sinking 15 to 781 and remains at its lowest level since March 2017. ABC NewsTyler Perry is taking time to pay it forward. During a recent event at Tyler Perry Studios, attended by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, to celebrate District Attorney Paul Howard's new Conviction Integrity Unit, Howard revealed that Perry had decided to give a great opportunity to a newly released prisoner. Howard started off by explaining that Darrell Hall, 52, who was sent to prison in 1991 for life for having two grams of cocaine, was having trouble finding a job. That's when Howard said he reached out to Perry for help. Mr. Perry says you can start to work on Monday, Howard told Hall at the event. Hall, apparently stunned by the news simply said, Its a blessing." Aimee Maxwell, the director of the Conviction Integrity Unit, made note that the DAs office plans to help a lot of people like Hall. According to the AJC, there are still many people in Georgia prisons for crimes that today, wouldve led to much lighter sentences and -- even probation. How many innocent people could be in prison? said Maxwell, who is also former executive director of the Georgia Innocence Project. Prison is bad when you did something to be there. Imagine you are trapped in this prisonand you know youve done nothing wrong." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Balmoral Rural Fire Service captain Brendan OConnor believes an over-reliance on computer modelling and a failure by the RFS to take on local knowledge allowed the Green Wattle Creek fire to decimate the Southern Highlands hamlet. The RFS abandoned our village, Mr OConnor told The Sun-Herald from the Balmoral RFS shed, three weeks after the fire burnt through the 450-strong town south of Picton. Balmoral village RFS Captain Brendan O'Connor at the volunteers' fire shed. "It was a time bomb waiting to go off. Credit:Wolter Peeters A 20-year veteran of the brigade, Mr OConnor said he told the RFS that hazard reduction burns were necessary in certain areas, but the RFS computer modelling said they were not required. The only thing I was told was the hazard reduction at Centre Ridge in the National Park would be enough to slow it down, so we could stop it. The mother of a young woman fighting for her life in hospital after the horrific White Island volcano eruption refuses to leave her bedside after losing her other daughter in the blast. Marie Browitt had stayed onboard the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship on December 9 as the rest of her family - husband Paul and daughters Krystal and Stephanie - took a tour of the volcanic island. Krystal Browitt, 21, was tragically killed in the eruption while her older sister Stephanie and Paul were severely injured. Friends of the Melbourne family said Marie is now keeping a vigil at the hospital by the bedsides of Stephanie, 23, and Paul as they fight for survival. Marie Browitt stayed onboard the ship on December 9 as the rest of her family - husband Paul and daughters Krystal (left) and Stephanie (right) - took a tour of the volcanic island Krystal Browitt, 21, a veterinary nursing student from Melbourne was tragically killed in the eruption Family friend Steven Galea, who helped raise more than $100,000 for the Browitts posted an update to a GoFundMe page earlier this month. He said Marie wanted to express her gratitude for the support the family has received. 'Marie would like to express her appreciation for all the love and support offered to her and her family during these past few weeks,' Mr Galea wrote. 'Overwhelmed and with heartfelt gratitude, she wishes to pass on a big THANK YOU for all the offers of support, donations and warm wishes which have been lovingly provided.' 'Unfortunately, she is still unable to personally reach out to anyone at the moment, as her focus remains with her family in the hospital.' Krystal was one of the first confirmed fatalities from the White Island tragedy. She had been studying veterinary nursing at university and had been celebrating her 21st birthday by taking the cruise with her family. Stephanie Browitt, 23, remains in hospital in a critical condition along with her father Paul Krystal had been celebrating her 21st birthday by going on the cruise with her family It is understood a funeral for Krystal is yet to be held. Stephanie and Paul are being treated at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne where they are both receiving specialist burns care. Stephanie is reportedly communicating with hospital staff and her mother by arm and toe movements. The GoFundMe page, along with a fundraiser at a local Craigeburn sporting club, has raised $106,000 to support the family with bills and expenses. Seventeen people have been confirmed killed as a result of the White Island eruption with two more missing. In total 47 people were on the island when the volcano erupted with most on day tours from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship. The island is known for its frequent volcanic activity. There are 25 seriously injured survivors from the blast and three who suffered minor injuries. White Island, an active volcano, erupted on December 9 with 47 people on the island Textile plant in Eravur to attract $40m investment By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): Sri Lankas apparel industry expects the fabric manufacturing plant, to be established in eastern Eravur, to commence construction in six months time with the likelihood of attracting an investment of US$40 million towards the project. Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) Rehan Lakhany told the Business Times that within about six months the plant would be ready for construction. He noted that since this has been part of the new Presidents election manifesto the industry is convinced that the project would receive the backing from the government in this regard. Environmental agency officials are expected to visit the identified 200-acre land in Eravur within the next two weeks but the process in allocating the land is still underway. The fabric manufacturing facility will ensure speed to market and shorter lead times once the foreign textile manufacturers set up, it was noted. The apparel industry has been unofficially obtaining assurances from investors in China and India to engage in the manufacturing facility once it is established. Due to the trade war between the US and China there has been increased investments moving out from these markets and moving into countries like Bangladesh, Africa among others but unfortunately Sri Lanka had not been on their radar since this kind of facility is not available, Mr. Lakhany explained. The industry has been assured of the possibility of Indian and Chinese investors investing $40 million into the project. The facility is expected to attract a minimum of five investors to set up their production plants initially as weaving is not available in Sri Lanka and it is a requirement in the manufacture of garments. In this respect they have been in talks with investors who have already expressed interest in setting up shop in the East once the facility is up and running. The textile plant in the East is expected to produce about 35 tonnes of fabric per day and is said to meet the local requirements. Currently, Sri Lanka imports about $2.5 million worth of fabric per annum for both manufacturing and domestic purposes. Sri Lanka has just a few large manufacturers involved in knitting but at least 70-80 per cent of the fabric continues to remain an imported product. Professor Jim Dornan is a former consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with the Belfast trust (1986 to 2012), Professor of Foetal Medicine at Queen's University Belfast (1995 to 2012) and senior vice-president of the Royal College of Gynaecologists (2004 to 2006). He is currently chair of Health and Life Sciences at Ulster University and head of department with Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain. Q Can you tell us something about yourself? A I am the only son and the middle child of Clare and Jim Dornan. They provided us with a happy, albeit fairly strict, home and environment in Bangor, which was near the, in retrospect unfortunately named, Cripples Institutes (CI), where dad was the general manager. The institutes have now been renamed Harmoni. Q What did you learn from your parents? A Dad was a very comprehensively certified and decorated accountant, who, driven by a Methodist Christian belief structure, used his professional skills in the charitable sector, rather than the commercial one. Mum was an innovative, self-taught occupational therapist in the same environment. They devoted their working lives to doing good and giving Carole, Debbie and myself whatever time and materials they could muster. Dad loved his involvement with the Methodist laymen, a huge collection of earnest, kind, intelligent, caring men who met at regular intervals, talked, sang and prayed together for the common good. I was often brought along, and their meetings gave me some of the best spiritual times I ever experienced. Methodists did - and I am sure still do - practise good, honest, no-strings-attached, living Christianity. But where did those laymen go? Did they dissolve around the same time the British Labour Party fatefully withdrew from our country? There could be a link. Q Did those experiences have a lasting effect? A Yes, the experiences I gained from being in and out of the various residential homes and workshops on the CI campus coloured my first two decades and left me with very warm feelings about the work of which people of good intent are capable. The work of the Lord was there for all to see at every turn. I had the classical happy childhood, had amazingly influential teachers and made lifelong friends through Bangor Grammar School and Queen's University, where I studied medicine. Having observed my first birth, I fell in love with that world while still a medical student and then regularly remembered the words of one of my consultants, Mr John O'Sullivan: "Jim, change direction every decade, or you'll get stale." I have done just that, concentrating at different times on academic, private, international and political aspects of my chosen speciality. It was a great time. The NHS was getting on its feet and all those clinically involved, including the doctors and nurses and ancillary staff, thought of the NHS as 'ours'. With the perhaps inevitable changes in emphasis to the role of management, many of us now see it as 'theirs'. Not necessarily a criticism, but factual. Q What about your personal life? A Fate blessed me with two fantastic wives. Lorna, a fabulously beautiful nurse, and I were married for 28 years and had, eventually, three great children, Liesa, Jessica and Jamie, who have, so far, provided seven totally perfect grandchildren who are now an intricate part of my spiritual baggage. Lorna tragically died of pancreatic cancer aged 50, gone too soon by far, but had written on her headstone: "A full life, well lived". I hope to write the same on my own. After her death, I was very fortunate to be introduced to Samina, a beautiful doctor with a Persian/Afghan Muslim background. We have been married 18 years and she is driven to make sure that all on this planet have their rights respected. I think we've both influenced each other and continue to do so. Q How have your faith views developed? A My spiritual outlook was heavily influenced earlier (in life) by the Crusaders Bible Class and the Plymouth Brethren. The latter, no doubt with the best of possible intentions, centred around Christianity's value as the ultimate afterlife insurance policy and, as such, it certainly provided me with loads of guilt options. By the time I entered Queen's to study medicine, in 1967, on reflection, I think I certainly had fully studied the syllabus of the Christian faith but was still confused by the visible general lack of widespread faith in action apparent in Northern Ireland. Fifty years later, strangely, I do see faith in action in many areas in this country, but not necessarily where one would expect. Read into that what you will. I certainly can't provide a better label for my belief system today than 'spiritual'. I don't want to be labelled otherwise. My professional work has enabled me to travel far and wide. I've been fortunate to meet people of all religions and of none, and their goodness and kindness is 100% not determined by their faith label. It suits some people to regularly attend the same church every Sunday, and they get huge comfort from that. Great. When I do find myself in any place of worship - a church, a chapel, a temple, a mosque, a living room or a clearing in a forest - I can feel a connection with something greater than myself. Perhaps it's even my inner self? Who cares? It's a good, empowering and calming feeling. Q What has influenced you most? A Two influences in adulthood have been very important to me. Firstly, my work internationally as an obstetrician and gynaecologist has clearly shown me a very, very unequal world when it comes to women's health and welfare. And that's not just in Africa and Asia but also exactly where you are reading this right now. Sadly, I must report that my conclusion is not that religion is to blame but that 100% it is the men who mostly control religions and make the rules and have done from the beginning until right now and have a vested interest in keeping the reins of power. It's not a pretty sight. Q Is there one person who has influenced you particularly? A The second big influence was Derick Bingham, a highly educated Belfast Bible teacher who sadly passed away almost 10 years ago. He was hugely helpful in helping my wife Lorna in her 18-month final battle. He, along with Fr Paul, the Royal Victoria Hospital chaplain around 1998, were spirituality in action for Lorna, in particular, and for us as a family. Lorna's parents were Plymouth Brethren and she was, therefore, not baptised as a baby. Fr Paul administered baptism into the Christian faith and wrote her name into the cradle roll of St Peter's on the Falls Road. Derick was a simple giant of a man who guided her through the final steps of life's journey. Q What happened subsequently? A Ten years later, in 2009, Derick developed leukaemia. He had heard that I, too, had developed the same thing in 2005 and, knowing I was having great results from the treatment provided, he made contact with me. This led to the two of us meeting regularly for the last 12 months of his life. Derick's amazing wife, Margaret, says he enjoyed our chats as much as I did. I was able to share all my anger with the established Churches with him, and their treatment of women, and I relished sharing my reflections on the alternative faiths that I'd encountered along my international journey. Derick did two things for me. He confirmed that Christ himself was a huge supporter of women and their rights, while informing me that men had airbrushed them out of the story of the early Church for their own selfish reasons. Secondly, he taught me to pray. Amazing. Yes, there is a system that doesn't involve 'crying in the wind'. There will be those reading this asking, "Okay, but praying to whom?" Well, those who want me to describe that, in earthly terms, are going to be disappointed. I have a problem with demands that any deity is worshipped, and I just can't accept that a living being has to be sacrificed before its time in order to display a greater love. I know that may hurt. Let's say that my prayer attempts certainly fit in under the umbrella of exercising mindfulness. Q What about death? Are you afraid of it? A I don't want to die, but not because I fear a Dante hellfire-and-damnation scenario, but because I enjoy life far too much. Q Where do you feel closest to God? A When I am with those I love and when I am close to the natural world. Q What is your favourite film and music? A My favourite film is The Shawshank Redemption. Also, a hymn, which I will explain. I met with Margaret Bingham before Christmas. We reflected and reminisced together. We agreed that the sentiments of a deep south spiritual hymn, sung so perfectly by Mahalia Jackson, which was much loved and gave strength to my dad and to her husband and to us both, brought us all huge strength and belief. It went: "If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living has not been in vain." This helped them and us to do the work of the Lord. Think about it. The factors that led to a fatal helicopter crash off the Mayo coast in 2017 which claimed the life of local Coastguard winchman, Ciaran Smith, still exist, an organisation representing pilots in Ireland has claimed. The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association said it is concerned an accident could happen again if the causes contributing to the crash are not comprehensively addressed. Four members of the Irish Coast Guard air crew died in the Rescue 116 crash in March 2017. Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, 45, Captain Mark Duffy, 51, and winchmen Paul Ormsby, 53, and Ciaran Smith, 38, all died when their Sikorsky S-92 helicopter crashed into Blackrock island off the coast of Mayo. It is understood that inaccurate charts and risk of fatigue were among some of the contributing factors in the tragic crash. The Air Accident Investigation Unit is due to publish a report in the coming months. The pilot union Irish Air Line Pilots' Association has urged the Irish Government to make changes to the state regulator, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). Irish Air Line Pilots' Association president Captain Evan Cullen claimed there are serious issues with the corporate structure of the IAA. 'The IAA is an outlier in terms of its corporate structure,' he said. 'One of the things that makes it unique is that it has the safety regulatory function. But it also has a commercial agenda under its air navigation service provider function. 'In all other western jurisdictions those two are absolutely separate. 'In Ireland we've combined the two, so therefore the organisation has its safety mandate as a regulatory oversight and it also makes money out of the same entities that it tries to regulate. 'Certainly there's a paradox and that's not sustainable.' He said that the IAA is not subject to any ombudsman, nor the Auditor General and the group is not subject to respond to requests under the Freedom of Information Act. He added that the reasons behind the crash 'are still out there'. Capt Cullen said the organisation has raised concerns about the regulator on many occasions since 2003. 'Everything from flight time limitations to tiredness, and obviously the navigational inaccuracies, and security issues which are separate to safety,' he added. 'The issues raised are quite diverse and what's been obvious over the years is that the IAA are judging the concerns raised by the source, rather than the actual subject,' Capt Cullen added. The Irish Aviation Authority and Department of Transport have yet to respond to the comments from IALPA on the issue. On Saturday, the Delhi High Court restrained the makers of the Deepika Padukone starer Chhapaak, from releasing the film without giving credit to the victims lawyer, Aparna Bhat, who represented real-life acid attack survivor Lakshmi Agarwal in her legal battle. BCCL Justice Pratibha M. Singh directed that the restraint will be effective from January 15 for multiplexes and live streaming apps, while for other platforms it would be effective from January 17. The Fox Star Studios had approached the high court against the trial court order directing them to give credits to the contributions of Advocate Aparna Bhat as the lawyer of the real-life acid attack survivor. The makers during the hearing on Friday told the high court that Bhat had no legal right, statutory or contractual, to seek acknowledgement for her contribution in the film in the form of consultation, inputs, and documents. AFP Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar appeared for Fox Star Studios, while Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi appeared for Meghna Gulzar Opposing the claims made by the counsel for the filmmakers, senior advocate Sanjay Parikh said that the conduct of the filmmakers amounted to breach of trust and her claim seeking acknowledgment in the film was not only based on promissory estoppel but something higher. Parikh went on to add that Bhat offered her assistance to the making of the film pro bono, pursuant to which substantial changes were made to the film. AFP A Delhi court had on Thursday directed the makers of Chhapaak to give due credits to advocate Aparna Bhat for her contribution in the making of the film. Additional Senior Civil Judge Dr. Pankaj Sharma directed director Meghna Gulzar and the makers of the film to mention the advocates name in the credit roll. This court is of the considered view that facts are indicative that the pique of the plaintiff for an interim injunction is well-founded and it is necessary that her contribution is acknowledged by providing the actual footage and the images. Briefing the media after the 15-minute meeting, Banerjee said that she also sought Rs 38,000 crore in dues for the state from the Centre. Modi said that he would look into the papers and asked her to meet him in Delhi over the financial demands. Kolkata, Jan 11 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan here and urged him to reconsider and withdraw the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act along with any proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC). Amid sharp attacks from the Left parties and the Congress over her meeting the Prime Minister at a time when the state is witnessing widespread protests against CAA, Banerjee handed over a shawl, 'dhuti panjabi', flowers and sweets to Modi. On a day protesters virtually laid siege on the city against the Prime Minister's visit, Banerjee said that it was just a courtesy call and a constitutional duty for her to meet dignitaries like Prime Minister and President -- whenever they visit the state. "I met him here because my state has pending dues of Rs 28,000 crore from the Central government. We also have pending dues of Rs 7,000 crore from the Centre on account of cyclone Bulbul. This is a demand of my state and it is our rightful claim. I told him that we want this money. "I also spoke to him about our opposition to the CAA, NPR and NRC. There have been widespread protests against all these three. I told him we don't want any discrimination between people. Nobody should have to leave the country. I asked him to ensure nobody is tortured. As regards CAA and NRC, I asked him to have a rethink. We want it to be withdrawn. I have told him that," Banerjee said. "About the state's pending dues, he said he would look into the papers first. He said he has come only to attend a few programmes. If there is scope, we will talk in Delhi," she added. Later, Banerjee shared the stage with the Prime Minister at the Millennium Park, where Modi inaugurated an interactive light and sound show at the iconic Howrah Bridge, christened Rabindra Setu. This was Banerjee's second meeting with the Prime Minister after the Lok Sabha polls. She had called on Modi in New Delhi on September 18, a meeting that had also generated much controversy as it came against the backdrop of then Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Additional Director General Rajeev Kumar fighting court cases against the Central Bureau of Investigation which was seeking his custodial interrogation in connection with the probe into multi-billion ponzi scam cases. The state BJP, as also the Left Front and the Congress, had then claimed that Banerjee had rushed to Delhi to plead with the Prime Minister so as to save Kumar, considered her blue-eyed boy. The Trinamool, however, had strongly refuted the allegations. This time, Banerjee has emerged as one of the first and strident voices of protest against CAA and a proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC). Last month, the Prime Minister had hit out at Banerjee, accusing her of changing her earlier stand on infiltrators due to "vote-bank" politics. The opposition parties have lashed out at Banerjee for her decision to boycott Monday's opposition meeting in Delhi called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to chalk out a joint strategy against the new citizenship law and the police brutality against students. "Whatever Banerjee is saying after meeting Modi is nothing but folk drama. Had she wanted to discuss the financial demands, she would have gone with her finance secretary. Add to this her refusal to attend the opposition meeting in Delhi, and you will have no doubt that it was her attempt to come close to the Prime Minister," said CPI-M politburo member Mohammad Salim. State Congress President Somen Mitra said that there are serious questions about the genuineness of Banerjee's movement against CAA and NRC. "There is a setting between Banerjee and Modi. She is not going to Delhi on Monday to show Modi that she has not joined hands with the Congress, and instead broken opposition unity on the issue," Mitra said. Meanwhile, the state BJP leadership saw nothing wrong in the meeting, saying such talks are expected in a federal structure. ssp/arm More than 300 people attended a tearful community vigil at McMaster University to remember the two engineering students and former postdoctoral fellow who died in the fatal Iran plane crash Wednesday. Mourners wept openly as the families of Iman Aghabali and Mehdi Eshaghian called in from Iran via video chat to speak to visitors in Farsi. Zahra Ranjbar and Javad Aghabali, mother and father of Iman, struggled to hold back tears, asking everyone to keep their son in their "thoughts and prayers." Bobby Hristova/CBC Bobby Hristova/CBC Pain suffocated Maryam Eshaghia, Mehdi's older sister, who choked and broke down while speaking. Both thanked everyone for making their kin feel "welcome" and for attending the ceremony to remember their lives. Banafsheh Rafeh, the translator at the event, was also emotional, but told the audience both sets of family members were "grief-stricken and heart broken." Visitors, mostly dressed in black and grey, passed boxes of tissues to one another, as faculty, family and friends all spoke to remember Aghabali, Eshaghian and Siavash Maghsoudlou Estarabadi. About 300 seats were occupied and at least 100 other people stood in a horseshoe all staring at the table lit by candles on CIBC Hall on the third floor of the campus student centre. The university had support workers for students waiting at the back of the hall, ready to console visitors too overcome by emotion. Before the speeches, mourners muffled cries and sniffles during a moment of silence to remember the three victims. Maghsoudlou Estarabadi, spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow in the Faculty of Health Sciences, focusing on the causes of preterm birth, before leaving the university in 2018. Bobby Hristova/CBC Aghabali and Eshaghian were both PhD students studying engineering. Aghabali's work focused on hybrid vehicles while Eshaghian focused on mechanical engineering with interests in robotics. Dr. Ali Emadi, who supervised their projects was closer to them than most. Story continues Students told CBC he set-up his own memorial in his engineering lab the day the school learned Aghabali and Eshaghian were on Flight PS752. He was overwhelmed with emotion, sobbing in his seat before and after speaking in front of the crowd. "These are the worst three days of my time at McMaster in the nine years I've been here," he said to the crowd. "They were two of our very best PhD students." It just doesn't matter when you lose a piece of yourself - Dr. Ali Emadi, Aghabali and Eshaghian's PhD supervisor. While both students were destined for success and would only bolster by the reputation of a department already known for its innovation, Emadi said it's all overshadowed by their shattered dreams. "It just doesn't matter when you lose a piece of yourself," he said. Vahid Mohsenzadeh, a PhD student studying civil engineering, also spoke. He knew both students and said he can't focus on anything but their deaths. "I keep walking in my house, talking to myself murmuring, 'why did this happen,' " he said. Bobby Hristova/CBC Mohsenzadeh added some levity, remembering Iman's humour, citing his love for GIFS. "He was like a younger brother to me," Mohsenzadeh said. "I joined groups for more animations to send him, but I can't now." He said Aghabali went back to Iran on his birthday to see his brother's newborn baby. "I told him not to go, but he said it was his duty to go back," Mohsenzadeh told the audience. "I wish I could try to bring them back and change their mind to go home." Facebook Diego Fernando Valencia Garcia, a PhD student at McMaster called Aghabali the "best person I ever met" and also spoke of Eshaghiani's kindness. Being sad together is better than being sad alone. - Sania Sehatkar, student "Mehdi was shy at first but he was the first to say hello to me," he told the audience, adding that Eshaghiani taught him how to dance. "He would always come by and say hi and I always said 'Why are you here?' Now I wish I said 'stay.'" 'Confusion' taking toll on students After the ceremony, visitors formed long lines for the chance to write in memorial books and look at the photos. Students consoled each other with stiff hugs. And some relived the night of the crash. Paria Samani, 26, an Iranian grad student studying electrical engineering, told CBC she knew at least seven of the 176 victims on the plane. Samani and most others in the school's Iranian community were already watching the news closely after Iran fired missiles at Iraq bases housing U.S. troops. That night on Wednesday, Aghabali and Eshaghian sent a picture together shortly after passing the gates before boarding Ukrainian International Airlines Flight PS752. The plane crashed minutes after takeoff from Iran to Ukraine. "It was their last photo together," she said. Facebook Samani and others stayed up all night frantically refreshing webpages until more details came out. "It was three in the morning when we saw the list of passengers come out and that's when we knew," she said. Officials are working through the aftermath a scorched scene of debris and death but say all 176 on board the plane died. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday intelligence now indicates the aircraft was shot down by an Iranian missile, possibly by mistake. Iran, however, denies the accusations. "The confusion makes everything harder," said Sania Sehatkar, 27, a PhD business student from Iran. 'Fear in their hearts' Sania Sehatkar and Sanaz Khanali, both 27-year-old graduate students from Iran, told CBC they didn't know any of the victims, but say the Iranian community on campus is tight-knit. "It's like losing family," Sehatkar said. "But maybe being sad together is better than being sad alone." Khanali broke down, because she, Sehatkar and other international students could have been on that plane. Submitted by Reza Safari "We all have the same pain we're all international students. We miss our families, they just wanted to see them and it was their right to I wish we lived in a better world," Khanali said. "We're all going to go back and now we have fear in our hearts because anything can happen," Sehatkar added. McMaster University is said to be holding a vigil in its Convocation Hall on Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for Hamilton's broader Iranian and Persian community. The school is providing resources to anyone affected by the tragic flight. Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday blamed the ruling-Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh over the death of passengers in a road accident in Kannuaj district and that the incident shows 'shortcomings of BJP' and demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation for the kin of the deceased. "Soon after the bus caught fire, we sent our party workers there to provide aid. Under BJP's tenure, the bus was built in the wrong way as its size was over-exceeded, a wrong permit was given and the bus was overloaded. The bus was driven at a higher speed. This shows the shortcomings of the BJP government," Yadav said while speaking to reporters. Expressing profound grief over the loss of lives in Kannauj accident, Akhilesh demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation for the kin of the deceased. Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that he is "deeply saddened by the mishap" and wished for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident. Adityanath had announced Rs 2 lakh each compensation for the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those grievously injured in the incident. He also sought a report of the incident from the District Magistrate. The accident took place after a double-decker bus carrying at least 45 passengers collided with a truck at Dewar Marg in Kannauj district here late on Friday and subsequently went up in flames. As many as 20 passengers are feared dead in the accident. Inspector General of Police, Kanpur, Mohit Agarwal said that 25 passengers were safely rescued from the bus and are either receiving treatment at local hospitals or have been discharged. (ANI) (CNN) On the same night the US military killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, they unsuccessfully targeted another senior Iranian military official in Yemen, according to a US official with knowledge of the events and another source familiar. The sources would not give any details about the mission or how the US had attempted to carry it out. The US official said to the best of their knowledge there is no broader operation to decapitate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds force leadership at this time. In a statement to CNN, Pentagon spokeswoman Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich acknowledged seeing the report but declined to offer any additional information. "We have seen the report of a January 2 airstrike in Yemen, which is long-understood as a safe space for terrorists and other adversaries to the United States. The Department of Defense does not discuss alleged operations in the region," said Pentagon spokeswoman Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich in a statement. Despite the Pentagon's assertion, the Department of Defense and US Central Command have routinely issued on-the-record statements about US strikes in Yemen. The Washington Post was first to report the operation took place. According to the Post, the Iranian target was Abdul Reza Shahlai, a financier and key commander of Iran's Quds Force which is an elite wing of the Iranian military operating throughout the Middle East. In December, State Department Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook announced the administration was offering "up to $15 million for information on the financial activities, networks, and associates of Abdul Reza Shahlai." News of an additional operation comes as top US national security officials continue to defend the Trump administration's claim that it killed Soleimani in response to an impending threat to American lives, but the lack of evidence provided to lawmakers and the public has fueled lingering skepticism about whether the strike was justified. Lawmakers demand answers The new development is already raising more questions about the administration's explanation for killing Soleimani. "Congress needs answers. What was the full extent of the Trump administration's plans to kill Iranian officials? How does the attempted killing in Yemen have anything to do with an imminent threat?" Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna of California tweeted Friday reacting to the news. The Pentagon has blamed Soleimani and the Quds Force for attacks on coalition bases in Iraq in recent months, including the December 27 strike that killed an American contractor and Iraqi personnel. Soleimani was also blamed for the December 31 US Embassy attack in Baghdad, and the US military said he was responsible for killing hundreds in his time as a commander and wounding thousands more. "We caught a total monster. We took them out. And that should have happened a long time ago. We did it because they were looking to blow up our embassy," President Donald Trump told reporters Thursday. "We also did it for other reasons that were very obvious. Somebody died ... people were badly wounded just a week before. And we did it. We had a shot at it ... that was the end of a monster," Trump added, referring to a recent rocket attack by an Iranian-backed militia group in Iraq, Khatib Hezbollah, that killed an American contractor and wounded several US military personnel. Trump claimed in an interview with Fox News Friday that Soleimani was targeting four embassies before he was killed. The President's comments came after two prominent Senate Republicans and congressional Democrats on Wednesday slammed the administration's briefing on the reasoning for the strike following briefings by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. Multiple lawmakers said they saw no specific intelligence that pointed to an imminent threat from Soleimani that justified the strike. Conflict in Yemen The US military has conducted airstrikes targeting the Yemen based affiliates of al Qaeda and ISIS and has also at times deployed small counterterrorism teams on the ground to target those terrorist groups. The US also provides very limited, non-combat support to the Saudi-led coalition that is supporting the Yemeni government in its fight with the Houthis, who receive assistance from Iran. While the US ended its practice of aerial refueling of Saudi and Emirati jets last year, it continues to share intelligence focused on countering Houthi missile and drone attacks, as well as providing advice on processes and procedures aimed at helping to avoid civilian casualties. The US has long accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with missiles and other sophisticated weapons that they have used in those attacks. The conflict in Yemen began in early 2015 when Houthi rebels -- a minority Shia group from the north of the country -- drove out the US-backed government and took over the capital, Sanaa. The crisis quickly escalated into a multi-sided war, with neighboring Saudi Arabia leading a coalition of Gulf states against the Houthi rebels. A report from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project last June found that more than 91,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 2015. It also found that the Saudi-led coalition and its allies had been responsible for more than 8,000 of the approximately 11,700 deaths connected to the direct targeting of civilians in the conflict. Last year, in a rare moment of bipartisanship, both the House and Senate passed a resolution (SR7) that called on the Trump administration to end all hostilities in Yemen that weren't expressly authorized by the Congress. President Donald Trump vetoed the resolution in April and the support of the Saudi-led effort in Yemen continues. The Trump administration has been insistent that is the President's job to enact US foreign policy and that any attempt to limit his authority is inappropriate. In his veto message in response to SR7, Trump argued that Congress was the one overstepping its bounds. "This resolution is an unnecessary, dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities, endangering the lives of American citizens and brave service members, both today and in the future," Trump wrote. This story was first published on CNN.com "US unsuccessfully targeted another Iranian military official on same day as Soleimani" - The Agriculture CS made a request to Kenyans to assist the government in identifying areas infested with locusts - Mwangi Kiujuri asked that anyone who spots a locust should take a photo and share the same on social media for the government to take action - Kenyans savagely posted images of different animals asking the CS if they were locusts While holding a presser, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri, asked Kenyans to report any presence of locusts around their areas to their local chief. He also urged Kenyans to share the photos on social media in a move to help the government identify areas infested by the stubborn insects. READ ALSO: Legendary rapper Prezzo celebrates turning 40 in style READ ALSO: Diana Marua offers support to 100-year-old plus granny taking care of her two great-grandchildren Heeding the call, netizens went on social media to 'alert' the government of the presence of locusts in their areas. But in this case, the responses were the exact opposite of what the Cabinet Secretary intended to see, as netizens saw a great opportunity to showcase their savage side. READ ALSO: Isaac Mwaura's wife encourages Raburu's wife to cry, question God as part of grieving days after losing baby READ ALSO: Thika: Wasichana 2 watoweka baada ya kuwacha bastola na risasi katika duka la jumla Kenyans shared different images from flies to dinosaurs as they played around with the idea that they believed was ridiculous. Here are some of the reactions shared by social media users: The insects have invaded northeastern region from Somalia and are wrecking havoc by decimating vegetation. The government had began spraying them with chemicals using aircraft. 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. Please give me a job - Stephen Kinyanjui | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke MERIDEN The owner of Tacos Mi Nacho wants to offer an expanded menu and better sit-down dining at the new, larger location he is proposing to build along Broad Street. I have to offer more of a nice place to the people, because this place, it wasnt meant to be a restaurant, said Luis Lemus, who opened the popular Mexican eatery 13 years ago in a small plaza at 550 Broad St. Its (about) taking care of the customer to make them feel better, too. And if they feel better, I feel better, too, (from) giving something to the customer. Lemus has submitted plans to build a new 3,500-square-foot restaurant on a vacant lot at 562 Broad St., right next to his current 1,800-square-foot space. This place is too small now for us. We only have six tables, and most of the day theyre full, so we need to grow, Lemus said of his current location, which can seat about 30 people. The new location will be able to seat between 80 and 100 people and is expected to include a bar, outdoor seating area, and larger dining area. With more kitchen and storage space, Lemus says he will be able to expand his menu to include traditional Mexican plates, including fajitas and enchiladas, in addition to his current quick-eat staples like tacos and burritos. Were going to offer the same thing we do here but were also going to offer plates, Lemus said. We cannot offer that here because we dont have enough space. Lemus intends to continue charging the same prices for current items because he doesnt want to price-out loyal customers who he says have relied on him for affordable food over the years. I never planned it Lemus was a construction worker with no culinary background or experience running a business prior to opening Tacos Mi Nacho, and said he got into the restaurant business by luck. After being laid off from his construction job, Lemus was washing his clothes at the laundromat next door when he noticed the restaurant space, previously occupied by a pizzeria, was empty. Luis Lemus, owner of Tacos Mi Nacho, talks about expanding the business to an adjacent property on Broad Street in Meriden, Fri., Jan. 10, 2020. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Luis Lemus, owner of Tacos Mi Nacho, talks about expanding the business to an adjacent property on Broad Street in Meriden, Fri., Jan. 10, 2020. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal I never planned it, but it came out this way, said Lemus, whose family works at the restaurant and lives a short drive away, on Collins Avenue. Over the years, Lemus has developed a loyal customer base, but he said it wasnt easy introducing Meriden to authentic Mexican food 13 years ago. "This place is too small now for us. We only have six tables, and most of the day theyre full, so we need to grow." -Owner Luis Lemus Most people in Meriden at that time didnt know what a taco was. They only knew Taco Bell, so when they tried this, it was so much different than Taco Bell ... and after a while they tried it and they liked it and now were busy all the time, he said. The growth of the business is a very encouraging sign for the city, City Planner Renata Bertotti said. It will be a welcome addition to that part to part of Broad Street, she said about the new restaurant. Expansion efforts Lemus began looking for locations to expand years back, but ran into various hurdles before settling on the vacant Broad Street lot. In 2018, he struck a deal with the city to purchase a city-owned lot at 69 E. Main St., however, an environmental cleanup of the site found contaminated soil, so the project fell through. Lemus at one point looked into opening a new location on the first floor of the newly-constructed Meriden Commons I mixed-use apartment building downtown, however, he learned that wasnt possible due to a lack of parking spaces. He began considering building a new location next to his current site a few years back after the owner of a nearby multi-unit residential home, located in between the restaurants current and future site, reached out to Lemus offering the property to him for an expansion. A house at 554-556 Broad St. in Meriden, Fri., Jan. 10, 2020. The house will be razed to become a parking lot for the new location of Tacos Mi Nacho in the vacant lot next door. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal A house at 554-556 Broad St. in Meriden, Fri., Jan. 10, 2020. The house will be razed to become a parking lot for the new location of Tacos Mi Nacho in the vacant lot next door. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Lemus purchased the home, which he plans to raze to make room for parking, and also purchased the adjacent empty lot from the city. Lemus is now in the process of receiving necessary approvals from the city and hopes to soon begin construction. He expects it to take nine months. At a meeting this week, the Planning Commission gave Lemus feedback on his site plan, however, the commission did not take any action because staff determined Lemus would need to first obtain variances from the citys Zoning Board of Appeals. Bertotti said Lemus will need two variances: one to reduce the number of parking spaces he is required to have based on the footprint of his restaurant and another to reduce the size of the landscape buffer Lemus will need to put in between his restaurant and residential property behind it. mzabierek@record-journal.com 203-317-2279 Twitter: @MatthewZabierek She said an earlier technology, computer-aided detection, or CAD, provided a cautionary tale. Approved in 1998 by the Food and Drug Administration to help radiologists read mammograms, it came into widespread use. Some hospital administrators pressured radiologists to use it whether they liked it or not because patients could be charged extra for it, increasing profits, Lehman said. Later, several studies, including one that Lehman was part of, found that CAD did not improve the doctors accuracy, and even made them worse. donald trump mitch mcconnell Associated Press/Alex Brandon President Donald Trump told associates that he assassinated Iran's top military leader last week in part to appease Republican senators who will play a crucial role in his Senate impeachment trial, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. In a lengthy piece detailing how the president's top advisers coalesced behind the strike on Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, The Journal reported that Trump had told associates he felt pressure from the senators. One of Trump's most outspoken supporters, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, appears to be the only congressional lawmaker Trump briefed about his plan to assassinate Soleimani in the days leading up to the strike. Graham has criticized the president's foreign-policy choices in the past most notably Trump's withdrawal of troops from northern Syria and his handling of Saudi Arabia. Publicly, Trump has said he approved the strike on Soleimani because the general was plotting to bomb the US Embassy in Iraq. The administration has not provided evidence to support this claim. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. President Donald Trump told associates that he assassinated Iran's top military leader last week in part to appease Republican senators who'll play a crucial role in his Senate impeachment trial, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. In a lengthy piece detailing how the president's top advisers coalesced behind the strike on Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, The Journal reported that Trump had told associates he felt pressured to satisfy senators who were pushing for stronger US action against Soleimani and who will run defense for him on impeachment. One of Trump's most outspoken supporters, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, appears to be the only congressional lawmaker Trump briefed about his plan to assassinate Soleimani in the days leading up to the strike. "I was briefed about the potential operation when I was down in Florida," Graham told Fox News. "I appreciate being brought into the orbit." Story continues The South Carolina Republican, an Iran hawk, celebrated the controversial strike, which the administration did not seek congressional authorization to carry out. After Iran retaliated by hitting US-occupied Iraqi bases on Tuesday, Graham called the move "an act of war." Graham has criticized the president's foreign-policy choices in the past most notably Trump's withdrawal of troops from northern Syria and his handling of Saudi Arabia following the country's murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a US resident. Trump said on Thursday that he approved the strike on Soleimani because the general was plotting to bomb the US Embassy in Iraq. But the administration hasn't released any evidence to support the claim that Iran was planning such an attack on the embassy, or any other imminent attack. During an interview with Fox News on Thursday night, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the Trump administration didn't know "precisely when" or "precisely where" an attack would have targeted. Democratic lawmakers and a few Republicans were infuriated by a classified briefing they received from the Trump administration on Wednesday concerning the US strike that killed Soleimani and a top Iraqi militant leader. The lawmakers said they weren't provided any evidence of an imminent and specific threat posed by Soleimani evidence of which is required to legally launch an attack without congressional authorization. Republican Sen. Mike Lee called the briefing, which Pompeo helped lead, "probably the worst briefing, at least on a military issue, I've seen in nine years I've been here." Read the original article on Business Insider Photo: Del Frisco's Grille/Yelp Wondering where to find the best restaurant/bars near you? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top such spots in Irvine, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list. Read on for a rundown. Winter is the top season of the year for consumer spending at bars and lounges across the Irvine area, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a software provider that helps small business owners build an email marketing strategy. The average amount spent per customer transaction at Irvine-area bars and lounges rose to $36 for the metro area in the winter of last year, 3% higher than the average for the rest of the year. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1. EMC Seafood & Raw Bar photo: nadine c./yelp Topping the list is a city outpost of the California chain EMC Seafood & Raw Bar. Located at 14346 Culver Drive in El Camino Real, it's the most popular restaurant/bar in Irvine, boasting four stars out of 1,845 reviews on Yelp. 2. Del Frisco's Grille photo: del frisco's grille/yelp Next up is the Irvine Health and Science Complex's location of the Del Frisco's Grille chain, at 772 Spectrum Center Drive. With four stars out of 860 reviews on Yelp, the bar, steakhouse and breakfast/brunch spot has proven to be a local favorite. 3. EATS Kitchen & Bar photo: jane r./yelp The Business District's EATS Kitchen & Bar, at 17900 Jamboree Road (in the Hotel Irvine), is another top choice. Yelpers give the bar and New American spot four stars out of 718 reviews. 4. Phans 55 Photo: indira c./Yelp Phans 55, a bar and Vietnamese/Asian fusion spot in the Business District, is another go-to, with four stars out of 621 Yelp reviews. Head over to 6000 Scholarship Drive to see for yourself. (The chain has another location in Irvine, in Los Olivos, and in Huntington Beach.) 5. Anthill Pub & Grille Photo: Elizabeth M./Yelp Finally, in UC Irvine, check out Anthill Pub & Grille, which has earned four stars out of 385 reviews on Yelp. You can find the bar and traditional American spot at 4200 Campus Drive, C215, the Student Center. 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. Victorian political figures, traditionally a fixture at Lorne's Pier to Pub swim, were conspicuously absent as the bushfire crisis lingered on Saturday. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, former premier Steve Bracks and former PM Tony Abbott have been among the politicians to swim in years past, but this year only former premier Ted Baillieu was seen testing the waters. The race is on: competitors in Lorne's 40th annual Pier to pub race. Credit:Mark Dadswell Mr Baillieu and an estimated 5000 other eager swimmers plunged into the 18-degree water on Saturday for the 40th annual Pier to Pub. Unobscured by the bushfire smoke that hangs over much of the state, about 20,000 spectators packed against the barriers to watch Olympians Mack Horton and David McKeon battle it out through the surf. Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaido, has accused the government of Nicolas Maduro of trying to bribe lawmakers to vote against his re-election as National Assembly president in an effort to put Maduro loyalists in the parliament Guaido made the comments in an exclusive interview with VOA. Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar, Cabinet Minister Firhad Hakim and state BJP President Dilip Ghosh, on his arrival in Kolkata on Jan 11, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar, Cabinet Minister Firhad Hakim and state BJP President Dilip Ghosh, on his arrival in Kolkata on Jan 11, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, Jan 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kolkata on Saturday on a two-day trip during which he would take part in a number of public programmes in the city and also visit the Belur Math in the neighbouring Howrah district. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, city Mayor and state minister Firhad Hakim, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sinha, Home Secretary Aalapan Bandopadhyay, Director General of Police Virendra were among those who welcomed the Prime Minister at the NSCBI airport. Dhankhar greeted Modi with flowers, while Hakim draped him with a shawl. State BJP President and Lok Sabha MP Dilip Ghosh also presented a scarf to the Prime Minister who shook hands with all the dignitaries. BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha, party's national executive member Mukul Roy and MP Arjun Singh were also present at the airport from where Modi took a chopper ride into the city. New York, Jan 11 : An Indian-American will be among astronauts who may get a chance to go to the moon or Mars following his graduation from NASA's programme to train astronauts for those missions and the International Space Station. Raja Chari was among the 11 astronauts who received silver pins on Friday marking their graduation at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston after two years of gruelling training. After they go into space they will exchange their silver pins for gold in a NASA tradition. He is the third Indian-American astronaut. Explaining the Artemis programme in which he will participate, Chari said in an interview to IANS: "We're trying to get to the moon to stay by 2024, and we have the technology to do that. We're working on getting the resources to do that, and it's gonna take a lot of work, it's not going to be easy." The Artemis programme aims to put a man and a woman on the moon in 2024, establish sustainable moon missions by 2028 and ultimately send astronauts to Mars. About his next step, Chari said: "We won't be assigned missions for a while but in the meantime we'll be helping all around Johnson Space Centre with different offices that are working on getting us to the moon." He said that his guiding principle is asking each day the question, "What did I do to help us get to the moon today?" and being able to answer it. He inherited the value of education from his father Sreenivas V. Chari who immigrated from Hyderabad, he said. He said: "One thing from India that he brought with him was that school and education is a privilege, it's not a right. And that was something that was very, very much enforced in our house and we never took for granted the fact we got to go to school." He added: "I know the sacrifices it took for him to be able to afford to help us with schooling. And I think that's probably the biggest difference that he made." Chari graduated from the US Air Force Academy with bachelor's degrees in astronautical engineering and engineering science and went on to earn a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also graduated from the Navy's Test Pilot School. An accomplished test pilot, he is a colonel in the US Air Force and served as the commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and as the director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force. Asked what it takes to become an astronaut, Chari said: "Technical competence, loving what you do and (liking) being around with others." It was not a matter of checking boxes of qualifications but of being experts in one's field, being "really passionate about" it, he said. Another quality was being "a good team player, adding something really to the missions we're going to be on, where it's going to involve being in a small, small space for a longer time", he said. Therefore, one of the things that selectors looked for, he said, was whether "I would like to spend six months within a confined space and would that work okay. And so that was also a big, big piece of this so I'd say." The two Indian-American astronauts before him are both women, Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams. Space scientist Chawla, who was born in Karnal, Haryana, and immigrated to the US, was tragically killed on her second space mission when Space Shuttle Columbia broke up in 2003. She had participated in another mission on the same shuttle in 1987. Williams, a navy officer, has served as the commander of a International Space Shuttle expedition in 2012. She had been on three other missions, in one of them as flight engineer. Canada's focus remains closure, accountability, transparency, and justice, Trudeau says. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government expects the "full cooperation" of Iranian authorities in investigating the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. "Tonight, Iran acknowledged that Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by its own armed forces," Trudeau said in a statement, according to CNN. "Our focus remains closure, accountability, transparency, and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims," the Canadian prime minister said. Read also"We insist on full admission of guilt": Zelensky reacts to Iran's PS752 downing statement He assured that Canada "will continue working with our partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation, and the Canadian government expects full cooperation from Iranian authorities." As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine "will insist on full admission of guilt." "We expect from Iran assurances of readiness for a full and open investigation, bringing perpetrators to justice, the return of the bodies of the victims, compensation payments, and official apologies via diplomatic channels," Zelensky said in a statement released shortly after Iran took blame for the PS752 downing. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Co has released hundreds of internal messages that contained harshly critical comments about the development of the 737 MAX, including one that said the plane was 'designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys'. The messages, disclosed on Thursday, show attempts to duck regulatory scrutiny with employees disparaging the plane, the company, the Federal Aviation Administration and foreign aviation regulators. In an instant messaging exchange on Feb. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Co has released hundreds of internal messages that contained harshly critical comments about the development of the 737 MAX, including one that said the plane was "designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys". The messages, disclosed on Thursday, show attempts to duck regulatory scrutiny with employees disparaging the plane, the company, the Federal Aviation Administration and foreign aviation regulators. In an instant messaging exchange on Feb. 8, 2018 - when the plane was in the air and eight months before the first of two fatal crashes, an employee asks another: "Would you put your family on a MAX simulator trained aircraft? I wouldn't". The second employee responds: "No". The 737 MAX has been grounded since March after an Ethiopian Airlines flight nose-dived, just five months after similar Lion Air crash. The two disasters killed 346. In particular, some of the communications reveal efforts by Boeing to avoid making pilot simulator training - an expensive and time-consuming process - a requirement for the 737 MAX. The plane maker just this week changed tack, saying it would recommend pilots do simulator training before they resume flying the 737 MAX - a major shift from its longheld position that computer-based training was sufficient as the plane was similar to its predecessor, the 737 NG. The release of the messages, which highlight an aggressive cost-cutting culture and disrespect towards the FAA, is set to deepen the crisis at Boeing which is struggling to get its best-selling plane back in the air and restore public confidence. The FAA said, however, that the messages do not raise new safety concerns although "the tone and content of some of the language contained in the documents is disappointing". Boeing said the communications "do not reflect the company we are and need to be, and they are completely unacceptable". For a factbox on excerpts from employees' messages, click on PEARLY GATES CLOSED The disclosure, which Boeing said was in the interest of transparency with the FAA, prompted renewed outrage from U.S. lawmakers and puts more pressure on Boeing's new CEO David Calhoun to overhaul the company's culture when he takes the reins on Monday. House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, who has been investigating the MAX, said the messages "paint a deeply disturbing picture of the lengths Boeing was apparently willing to go to in order to evade scrutiny from regulators, flight crews, and the flying public, even as its own employees were sounding alarms internally." Senator Roger Wicker, who chairs the commerce committee leading the senate's probe into Boeing, also said the latest documents "raise questions about the efficacy of FAA's oversight of the certification process." The U.S. Justice Department has an active criminal investigation underway into matters related to the 737 MAX plane. Some of the messages pointed to problems with the simulators. Boeing said on Thursday it is confident "all of Boeing's MAX simulators are functioning effectively" after repeated testing since the messages were written. The messages, however, show Boeing in the past was doing all it could to lobby aviation regulators to avoid the need for airlines to train pilots in a simulator on the differences between the 737 MAX and the 737 NG. "I want to stress the importance of holding firm that there will not be any type of simulator training required to transition from NG to MAX," Boeing's 737 chief technical pilot said in a March 2017 email. "Boeing will not allow that to happen. We'll go face to face with any regulator who tries to make that a requirement." Before the grounding, pilot training on the differences consisted of a one-hour lesson on an iPad and no time in the simulator, according to the union representing pilots at American Airlines. Shukor Yusof, the head of Malaysia-based aviation consultancy Endau Analytics, said Boeing should get credit for disclosing the "destructive diatribes". "Initially the flying public will understandably have reservations but the aircraft - having been completely and responsibly resurrected - will likely be one of the safest planes around," he said. In other emails and instant messages, employees spoke of their frustration with the company's culture, complaining about the drive to find the cheapest suppliers and "impossible schedules". "I don't know how to fix these things...it's systemic. It's culture. It's the fact we have a senior leadership team that understand very little about the business and yet are driving us to certain objectives," said an employee in an email dated June 2018. And in a May 2018 message, an unnamed Boeing employee said: "I still haven't been forgiven by god for the covering up I did last year." Without referencing what was covered up, the employee added: "Cant do it one more time. the Pearly gates will be closed..." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney, Tim Hepher in Paris, Chris Sanders in Washington and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A group of Swedish students on an Erasmus exchange to Enniscorthy showcased a bit of their own culture in St John's Hospital where they performed their 'Lucia' ceremony. The students, from Carlforsska gymnasiet school, in Vasteras, Sweden, were involved in an exchange that has taken place for the last 12 years. Speaking to this newspaper one of the teachers who accompanied the students, Anne Kamarainen, said everyone loves coming to Enniscorthy because the people here 'are very friendly and welcoming'. Carlforsska gymnasiet is an upper secondary school and Ms Kamarainen said: 'We have had an Erasmus+ EU exchange with Enniscorthy Vocational College for 12 years.' The students involved in the Lucia celebration [which celebrates St Lucy's Day] were participating in three weeks work practice in Enniscorthy - similar to what Transition Year students here get involved in. The students who travelled this year were Health Care and Business students. 'Lucia is celebrated all over Sweden in most of the schools and many other places in [the country],' Ms Kamarainen told this newspaper. 'Many towns have their own Lucia and Sweden has its own every year from different cities,' she added. The ceremony which involves singing and performing while holding symbolic candles is televised nationally in Sweden each year. 'The Swedish old calender said that December 13 was the darkest day of the year so Lucia brings light that day,' said Ms Kamarainen. In addition to St John's the students also visited St Senan's school and St Patrick's special school during their time in Enniscorthy. Although now retired, Bengt Goran Alleson was involved in the exchange from the very beginning and he also accompanied the students on their recent visit. 'It began when a Principal in Sweden made contact with [Dr] Iain Wickham and Sean Murphy from the Vocational College,' said Mr Alleson. 'We came here because we wanted an exchange with an English speaking country as we teach English from fourth grade,' he said. 'The Principal of the school met Sean Murphy at an event and from there the relationship between the two schools grew.' Ms Kamarainen said the exchange was beneficial for all of the students concerned while Mr Alleson commented: 'There are fantastic teachers in the Vocational College and Anne is the coordinator now.' Ms Kamarainen then said: 'We leave the students here for 10 days and then we come and collect them.' 'We always stay here with Colm and Anne,' she added, referring to the owners of Blackstoops Lodge guesthouse, whom she described as being 'incredibly welcoming and friendly hosts'. While we met Anne and Bengt at their accommodation the students performed their Lucia ceremony for the guesthouse owners and their family. The group was composed of: Kevin Bang, Rahma Hussen, Tora Jarn, Sina Mohammadi, Ida Jonsson, Nilla Muco, and Moa Dimberg. YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has said the state will not accept new refugees under the US government's resettlement program, BBC reported. Last year US President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing states to opt out of the programme. On January 10, governor Abbott said Texas had done more than its share in assisting the refugee resettlement process. Refugee agencies have criticised the move, with one calling it deeply disappointing. Texas has large refugee populations in several of its major cities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed excitement over his two-day visit to West Bengal where he will spend time at the Ramakrishna Mission to mark Swami Vivekananda's Jayanti. "I am excited to be in West Bengal today and tomorrow. I am delighted to be spending time at the Ramakrishna Mission and that too when we mark Swami Vivekananda's Jayanti. There is something special about that place," Modi tweeted. Atmasthananda, who took his last breath in 2017, was president of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. "The person who taught me the noble principle of 'Jan Seva Hi Prabhu Seva', the venerable Swami Atmasthananda Ji will not be there. It is unimaginable to be at the Ramakrishna Mission and not have his august presence!" Modi stated. Prime Minister Modi, who will be on a two-day visit to Kolkata, will launch schemes and take part in various programmes, including the grand Sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. Modi will also inaugurate the upgraded Ship Repair Facility of Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock. "The Mechanisation of Berth No 3 at Haldia Dock Complex of KoPT and a proposed riverfront development scheme will also be launched by PM Narendra Modi," the Office of the Prime Minister of India (PMO) stated in a tweet. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Full Rake Handling Facility while dedicating the upgraded Railway Infrastructure of Kolkata Dock System of KoPT for smooth cargo movement and improving turnaround time. He will also inaugurate Kaushal Vikas Kendra and Pritilata Chhatri Avas for 200 Tribal girl students of Sunderbans, a project undertaken by KoPT with Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram, Gosaba, Sunderbans affiliated to Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army plans to deploy two specialized task forces to the Pacific capable of conducting information, electronic, cyber and missile operations against Beijing, a Pentagon official said on Friday. The task forces were slated to deploy over the next two years, U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said at an event https://brook.gs/39VM3fS in Washington. "The Army is reinvigorating our presence and disposition in the Pacific," McCarty said, because "China will emerge as America's strategic threat." The units, called Multi-Domain Task Forces, would help neutralize some capabilities China and Russia already possess. The units would potentially be equipped with long range precision weapons, hypersonic missiles, precision strike missiles, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities, McCarthy said, without citing any locations. Having "the U.S. Army, with modernized weaponry" in the region "changes the calculus and creates dilemmas for potential adversaries," McCarthy said. "China has been miniaturizing the global commons," he said, referring to China's fortification of small islands in the South China Sea. "Nothing comes close to the effects of boots on the ground, standing shoulder to shoulder with our counterparts, huddled over plans, or walking through jungles together," he added. (Reporting by Rama Venkat in Bengaluru and Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Richard Chang) The Citizenship Amendment Act has been notified and has become effective. The protests against it around the country have made no difference to the strong posture of the government in favour of it. The fact that it may be seen as a law that is internationally indefensible and that Indias foreign minister ran away from a meeting with a US Congresswoman who would grill him on it also has made no difference to the government. Yes, the law has been challenged in the Supreme Court but unfortunately the experience of the Emergency, the Ayodhya judgment and the Kashmir issue shows us that it is easy for our judges to be aligned with the government. In the matter of Jawaharlal Nehru University, what the nation saw was visuals of an assault on young women, particularly the leader of the students association. Justice was being demanded for them. What has happened instead is that the police has named her as the culprit while more or less giving a clean chit to the assailants. The police is theoretically independent of the administration, but this is not true even in theory any longer. The police will do what the government tells them to do and since Delhi police is controlled not by the local government of Arvind Kejriwal but the Union government of Narendra Modi, it is home minister Amit Shah who has approved this reversal of justice. When Jammu and Kashmir was dismembered and there was (as there remains) an even greater presence of Indias security forces on the city streets, I had asked a local journalist what the strategy from New Delhi was. He said that there did not appear to be anything new, but the instruction for the administration from National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was to be strict, be very strict with locals. This is indeed what has come to be. The states leadership is in jail without charge or without a crime, the citizens are pretty much in jail to, with restricted movement, no right to peaceful assembly, no access to communications and, as has been the case for many decades in that state, armed forces outside their door constantly. All this has not been accompanied by any words or actions that provide reassurance that the future will look any different for Kashmiris. What we can understand from the above is that there is a pattern to the way in which the issues of greatest concern to Indians and the world watching India are being managed by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. And that pattern is that they will not back down from pushing ahead with their ideology. If we notice what has been said by Mr Modi and Mr Shah on the issue of citizenship, it is quite revealing. When it became clear that the protests were not going away, Mr Modi tried to put a pause on them by saying that a nationwide NRC had not been discussed. He chose not to say that it would not happen. This did not bring comfort to those who were worried over a nationwide action similar to that of Assam. However, the Prime Minister is not going to let it go because it is coming from an ideological belief and not any sense of political strategy or specific policy. He appears willing to absorb some damage in Indias international reputation (I am quite sure that foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar would not have run away from that meeting without the specific approval of the Prime Minister) in order to further the ideology. This puts us in dangerous territory for the rest of the year. From the first of April, the Narendra Modi government will send officials to all homes seeking details under the National Population Register, the first step of the National Register of Citizens. When the threat of being robbed of their citizenship and freedom comes to the doors of millions of already persecuted individuals, the reaction will be even stronger than the one we are currently seeing on the streets. And as their trauma becomes clear and is made visible, which it will, the world will not stand aside. It is possible and perhaps likely that Donald Trump will not win re-election and it will be a Democrat who will win Americas presidency later this year. If you look at the list of their candidates, it is hard to find even one who will be friendly to Mr Modi or an India that is brutalising its own minorities. What happens then? At the moment, the government thinks it has control over what is going on. In UP, the police have murdered over a dozen Muslim protesters while the Supreme Court is concerned about damage to public property. From JNU to Kashmir and elsewhere, Mr Modi is insisting on the rights of his government over the rights of Indian citizens. And he is doing so out of a sense of anger and vengeance, which is not only not in keeping with leadership, particularly of a large democracy, but also dangerous. The good thing is that he has absolutely no opposition inside his government to be concerned about. All 300-plus Lok Sabha MPs line up and applaud anything he says and does. The Supreme Court, as we have seen, need not be worried about. It is going to be a rough and brutal 2020 for India as its government pushes on with its ideological agenda, and the citizens do whatever they can to protect themselves. Fire jihad in Australia? The unconventional and lethal weapon of the Islamic State India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 11: Could there be a Jihadi link to the wildfires that have been ravaging Australia? Fire Jihad is not a new concept and has been a threat for several years now. An Al-Qaeda magazine had in an article titled 'Unleash Hell,' had described in detail how to start a huge forest fire across the United States. Last year, an ISIS-linked media had termed the California fires as retribution for Syria. Now the Australian police have accused Fadi and Abraham Zreika of starting a grassfire. The police said that the two had sparked a grass fire at Bright Park, Guildford on December 22. The two were charged with negligent handling of explosives, refusing to disclose identity and custody of a knife in a public place. Amid bushfire crisis, Australia to kill 10,000 camels because they drink too much water Tehran plane crash: Iran admits it hit civilian aircraft by mistake | OneIndia news Thousands of animals have lost their lives in these fires. What worse was that when the accused were produced before the court, there was not a sign of remorse and they were seen laughing. Fire Jihad: In 2012, the Al-Qaeda in its magazine, 'Inspire' had spoken about the concept of Fire Jihad. It said in America there are more houses built in the countryside than in the cities. It is difficult to choose a better place in the valleys of Montana. It also goes on to give advice on how to start huge forest fires in America. The article says, "it is your freedom to ignite an ember bomb in a US forest. It recommends Montana because of the fast-growing population in the wooded areas." In 2018, one media outlet that supports the Islamic State suggested that the wildfires in California were the handiwork of the Jihadi group. The Al-Ansar Media said, 'O America, this is the punishment of bombing Muslims in Syria. This is Allah's punishment for you and inshallah you will see more fires." The Australian police are still investigating the forest fires. The ISIS and the Al-Qaeda are known to have used unconventional methods to carry out strikes. Australia: Bushfire catastrophe in pictures Unconventional Jihad: The Islamic State has been using odd weapons to carry out strikes. In the Nice attack at France, the weapon was a truck. Even the Al-Qaeda has on several occasions asked its terrorists to use vehicles as weapons. The concept of vehicle ramming was however started by the terrorists at Palestine. The Al-Qaeda had termed the truck as the ultimate mowing machine. Pick up the truck, not to mow grass, but to mow the enemies, the terror group had also said. Islamic State leader, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani had said if you are unable to find an IED or a bullet, run your enemy with a car. There are cars available and targets ready to kill. Kill them, spit on their faces and run them over with your cars, Adnani also said. He further said that rocks, poison and knives can be weapons of choice. It is also alright to push your enemy down from a high place, he also says. In case you are unable to find an IED or bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him. The use of these unconventional weapons or starting a forest fire is easier for terrorists. These are weapons that do not come under the radar of the agencies like a gun or IED would. Balbriggan independent councillor, Cllr Tony Murphy has asked the council to consider an 'entrance stone to identify the formal entrance to Barons Hall'. Cllr Murphy asked the question at a recent meeting of the local Area Committee. In response, the council reported: 'The Operations Department will facilitate the installation of an entrance stone at the entrance to Barons Hall Estate. 'The Resident's Association should liaise with the Community Department who may be in a position to provide financial assistance towards this project.' You are here: Business China's privately offered funds managed 13.74 trillion yuan (about 1.98 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of 2019, industry association data showed. The figure was up 960.4 billion yuan, or 7.52 percent from the end of a previous year, according to the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC). By the end of December, the number of registered privately offered funds reached 81,739, rising 9.51 percent from the end of 2018, according to the AMAC. Some 24,471 securities, futures trading and venture capital institutions managed these funds as of the end of 2019, AMAC data showed. Established in 2012, AMAC is a self-regulatory organization that represents the mutual fund industry of China. - Police officers arrested illegal immigrants in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal - Of the six men arrested, two were found to have explosives on them - The explosives were confiscated and they were charged for possession of explosives PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Police officers in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal arrested 6 suspects who they suspected to be in South Africa illegally. According to SowetanLIVE, two of the suspects were found to be carrying explosives on them. Members of the Pongola crime prevention unit were responsible for the arrests on Friday, 10 January. READ ALSO: Inside the ANC celebrations: Top dogs converge for birthday bash The suspects were apprehended in Klipwal close to the Swaziland border and according to Captain Nqobile Gwala, the suspects are between the ages of 20 and 40. The suspects who were found with the explosives were given additional charges. "They were charged for contravening the Immigration Act. Two of them were found with explosives in their possession and were further charged for possession of explosives as well as contravening the Explosives Act." Briefly.co.za gathered that an explosives unit were called in to act and they removed the explosives. The men will be appearing in court soon, according to Gwala. 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 Curious just how far your dollar goes in San Antonio? We've rounded up the latest places for rent via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to locating affordable apartments in San Antonio if you've got a budget of up to $1,400/month. Take a look at the listings, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Newell Avenue (Tobin Hill) Listed at $1,302/month, this 715-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located on Newell Avenue. The apartment has a walk-in closet, carpeted floors and a dishwasher. The building has garage parking. Pet lovers are in luck: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. Per Walk Score ratings, this location is quite walkable, is quite bikeable and has good transit options. (Check out the complete listing here.) 20659 Stone Oak Parkway Next, there's this two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment located at 20659 Stone Oak Parkway. It's listed for $1,304/month for its 1,095 square feet. Amenities offered in the building include secured entry, a gym and garage parking. In the unit, expect to find a dishwasher. Good news for animal lovers: The property is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. The listing specifies a $400 pet deposit. Per Walk Score ratings, the area around this address isn't very walkable, is somewhat bikeable and has some transit options. (See the complete listing here.) 10014 Broadway St. Located at 10014 Broadway St., here's a 1,344-square-foot three-bedroom, two-bathroom spot that's listed for $1,345/month. In the unit, you can expect a dishwasher. The building boasts garage parking and a swimming pool. Pet owners, take heed: The property is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. Walk Score indicates that this location is car-dependent, has some bike infrastructure and has a few nearby public transportation options. (See the complete listing here.) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in San Antonio. This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, get free local real estate marketing ideas and tools for agents, brokers and more. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday (January 10) framed notice against Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra in connection with a criminal defamation case filed against her by Zee Media Corporation Ltd. The order was issued by the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Delhis Rouse Avenue Court Complex. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vishal Pahuja also dismissed Moitra's plea seeking discharge in the case before framing of notice against her. The court held that an accused cannot be heard at the stage of framing of notice u/s 251 CrPC as a matter of right. Live TV It may be recalled that Zee News had filed a criminal defamation case against the TMC lawmaker after she allegedly called Zee News chor (thief) and ''paid news''. Moitra, who was earlier granted bail in the case, had contended that there was no prima facie case of defamation in the present matter and thus the court should discharge her before framing of notice in terms of Section 251 CrPC. Zee Media counsel Advocate Vijay Aggarwal opposed the discharge of Moitra at this stage on the ground that no specific provisions of law provided for the same. The court posted the case for next hearing on February 18. [January 10, 2020] Alison Gleeson Elected to Elastic's Board of Directors Elastic N.V. (NYSE: ESTC), the company behind Elasticsearch and the Elastic Stack, announced that its shareholders elected Alison Gleeson to the company's board of directors at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders that took place earlier today. The term of office for Ms. Gleeson will expire at the end of the 2023 annual general meeting of shareholders. Gleeson is a globally recognized executive who was previously Senior Vice President of Cisco's (News - Alert) Americas organization, where she was responsible for nearly 9,000 employees across 35 countries. In more than 20 years at Cisco, Ms. Gleeson focused on a customer-first mentality, building go-to-market and data-driven initiatives, and strengthening Cisco's relationships with its top partners. This includes managing the sales efforts in Canada and Latin America, as well as segments such as US Commercial, US Public Sector, and the Global Enterprise Segment, which included Cisco's top 28 customers. She is also a highly-regarded international speaker on the drivers for digital disruption across industries, the role of technology in enabling business transformation, and empowering women in technology. Gleeson maintains a commitment to professional development and inclusion and diversity in the workplace. In 2018, she received the Connected World's "Woman of IoT" award for her role in advancing the field. In 2017, she received the Diversity Best Practice's "Above and Beyond Legacy Award" and the Michigan Council for Women in Technology's "Woman of the Year Award" for her work in advancing women in IT roles. She was previously the Global Executive Sponsor and Board President for Cisco's Connected Women's Network, an organization with 7,000 members worldwide. Gleeson currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Ei Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, her alma mater. Holders of approximately 79.96% of the company's ordinary shares were represented at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders. About Elastic Elastic is a search company. As the creators of the Elastic Stack (Elasticsearch, Kibana, Beats, and Logstash), Elastic builds self-managed and SaaS offerings that make data usable in real time and at scale for use cases like application search, site search, enterprise search, logging, APM (News - Alert) , metrics, security, business analytics, and many more. Founded in 2012, Elastic is a distributed company with Elasticians working in countries around the world. Learn more at elastic.co. Elastic and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Elastic N.V. and its subsidiaries. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements herein are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties related to: Elastic's ability to successfully develop an effective go-to-market strategy; Elastic's ability to improve its customer and partner relationships; the future conduct and growth of Elastic's business and the markets in which Elastic operates. Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) "), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2019 and any subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed with the SEC. SEC filings are available on the Investor Relations section of Elastic's website at ir (News - Alert) .elastic.co and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Elastic assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by law. Source (News - Alert) : Elastic N.V. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200110005538/en/ [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] Reuters Alphabet's new Chief Executive Sundar Pichai on Friday gained the opportunity to reshape the leadership of Google's parent with the exit of Chief Legal Officer David Drummond, whose outsized strategic role was overshadowed by employee concerns about his personal relationship with a subordinate. Drummond, also senior vice president of corporate development, had been with Google since its start in 1998. He incorporated the company as outside counsel, winning the business of co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. He later spent nearly 18 years as the company's top lawyer and one of its few black executives. Scrutiny centred on Drummond as the board last year investigated the company's handling of sexual misconduct complaints throughout its workforce, and he became a lightning rod for criticism about what some employees viewed as tolerance for poor behaviour. Pichai now has his first big chance to make his mark on Alphabet leadership since Page and Brin left him day-to-day reins of the company last month. Drummond's last day is Jan. 31, and a replacement has not been decided yet, Alphabet said. "With Larry and Sergey now leaving their executive roles at Alphabet, the company is entering an exciting new phase, and I believe that its also the right time for me to make way for the next generation of leaders," Drummond said in an email to employees shared by Google. Some employees had questioned Drummond's role at the company after the New York Times in 2018 reported on an extramarital affair he had with a subordinate, Jennifer Blakely, starting in 2004. She told the paper that she was effectively forced to transfer teams to comply with Google's workplace dating policy. Blakely had a son with Drummond, but in August 2019 she publicly criticized him for not providing support. Drummond responded in a statement calling himself "far from perfect." Blakely did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Some shareholders have urged Alphabet to make changes that had been within Drummond's purview, including greater financial transparency, bigger share buybacks and a management shakeup. Alphabet shares have risen 6.5% this month as analysts expressed optimism about possible changes. In a departure from company norm, Drummond is not receiving an exit pay package. In recent weeks, Drummond sold more than $200 million worth of his Alphabet shares, leaving him with about $90 million in company stock. He remains a defendant, alongside other executives, in a lawsuit shareholder brought last year accusing Alphabet leadership of covering up sexual harassment scandals within the company including by awarding lavish exit packages to two top executives found responsible for misconduct. The board completed an internal investigation last month but has not publicized findings. Attorneys for shareholders and the board are in mediation to resolve the lawsuit, and the board's findings and resulting actions may become known as the case goes on. Pichai in 2018 said Google made mistakes in some cases and introduced new procedures aimed at creating equity and transparency in harassment investigations. "I am fully committed to making progress on an issue that has persisted for far too long in our society and, yes, here at Google, too," said Pichai, who at the time was Google CEO and had not yet gained the additional title of Alphabet CEO. The #MeToo movement has forced major shake-ups in management and harassment policy across corporate America. Through blog posts, congressional appearances and media interviews, Drummond's presence was felt in nearly every public battle the company fought as it crippled traditional businesses in media and telecoms on its way to online dominance. Drummond has described himself as a diversity advocate, telling Fortune in 2017 that he "pushed" the company to do more on the issue. He encouraged Google to publish data about the demographics of its workforce, and in 2014 he marched into a companywide meeting and spoke alongside colleagues frustrated by police violence against young black men. Bigger role When Google re-organised under the Alphabet umbrella in 2015, Page elevated Drummond's role beyond managing the company's legal and regulatory problems in overseeing its investment funds and far-off ventures. Earlier in his tenure, he beat a lawsuit lodged by insurer Geico that would have undermined the company's now-massive search ads business. He settled with Viacom a copyright infringement lawsuit that could have crushed YouTube on its way to becoming the top online video destination. And he fended off five major book publishers to enable Google to make their copyrighted works searchable online. Drummond tussled on behalf of Google with rival Microsoft Corp for a decade on executive poaching, anticompetitive conduct and patents, with each company taking its share of licks. As Google's lead dealmaker, Drummond oversaw billions of dollars' worth of acquisitions including YouTube, DoubleClick and Motorola. Drummond for a time served as the public face of strong stands against governments around the world. He has regularly advocated for freedoms of speech, and in 2010, he called for trade sanctions on countries that censor the internet, such as China and Turkey. A rather ugly war has broken out in the higher echelons of the UP police. Senior IPS officer and Noida police chief Vaibhav Krishna has alleged murky dealings in the transfer and posting of police officers in the state. In a written complaint to the director-general of police and state home secretary, Mr Krishna claimed that huge sums of money exchanged hands in the transfer and postings of SHOs and district police chiefs in the state. Expectedly, this has set off a furore among the cops. A few months back, the Noida police had arrested three journalists and some others who, it was alleged, used to facilitate transfers and postings in exchange for huge sums of money. It was also alleged that these journos were conduits for some senior police officers. Curiously, Mr Krishna himself has been controversial for some alleged sex chat videos that went viral. He has accused IPS officers who bore a grudge against him for trying to tarnish his image. Now the cry has gone out that the Yogi Adityanath government should institute a CBI probe into the transfer-posting racket. Air India blues The recent roadshows held in Singapore and London to gauge investor interest in the debt-ridden national carrier Air India have received a lukewarm response. But it is unlikely to change the governments plan to privatise the airline. Union minister for civil aviation Hardeep Puri remains optimistic even though similar efforts in 2018, when the government offered to sell a 76 per cent stake in the airline, met with a similar fate. In the meantime, Air India chairman and managing director, Ashwini Lohani, surprisingly, took to Facebook to remind us that the airline needs to survive until it is sold. Mr Lohani is a trusted public servant who has been working on initiatives to narrow down the carriers staggering debt. A former railway board chairman and now in his second stint as Air India chief, Mr Lohani has often used social media platforms to connect with employees as well as the public. In the post, Mr Lohani said that expecting a radical turnaround would be impractical. But the message is clear: Selling the carrier is the only way it can survive. MEA movements The appointment of Harsh Vardhan Shringla as Indias new foreign secretary precedes other changes in the ministry of external affairs (MEA). There are many vacancies in Indias foreign missions and some key ones that will be up for grabs in 2020. These appointments were on hold while the government took its time to announce Mr Shringlas name. Now, sources, say, the decks have been cleared for other appointments. In the coming months, top positions in London, Washington, Kathmandu, Colombo, Ankara and the permanent mission of India in New York will become vacant due to the respective envoys completing their tenures or retiring from service. Both Pakistan and Canada are without envoys; Ajay Bisaria was sent back by Islamabad and Vikas Swarup is back in the MEA. Interestingly, Mr Shringla caps a sterling career and will be superseding three foreign service officers: Ruchi Ghanashyam (1982), who is currently the Indian high commissioner to the UK, Rajeev Chander (1983), the Indian envoy to the permanent mission of India to the UN in Geneva, and Amita Nair (1983), who is Indias ambassador to Chile. Mr Shringla will take over for his fixed two-year tenure after Vijay Gokhale retires next month and has a big job cut out for him. The owner of a Monmouth County T-shirt shop was sentenced Friday for sexually touching six people, including a juvenile, who were either customers or employees of the store, authorities said. Brian Young, 53, the owner of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More in the Howell Center Shopping Plaza was sentenced to three years in state prison after he pleaded guilty in October to endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact, according to a statement from the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office. Young will have to register as a sex offender under Megans Law and will be on parole supervision for life once hes released from prison. The Howell Township Police investigated Young after a report to the department that Young inappropriately touched a juvenile inside the store, prosecutors said. Young was arrested on Nov. 9, 2018, and five other adult, who were customers and employees, later told investigators that he had also touched them at the store, officials said. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. New Delhi, Jan 11 : A section of Twitterati on Saturday hailed the construction of a rail bridge on Chenab river -- the highest in the world -- that will connect the Kashmir Valley with Udhampur, following a tweet by Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. The minister posted pictures of the ongoing construction and wrote on @PiyushGoyal: "All weather rail connectivity -- Embarking on a dream project, Indian Railways is building world's highest Rail bridge on Chenab connecting the Kashmir Valley. An engineering marvel, it will facilitate trade & be a strategic asset for the Indian armed forces." It got 928 retweets and 4.6K likes. One user commented: "If Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set his eyes on Kashmir, it means an increase in development in the valley... no more would it be called a terror factory... Time has come to make it the Asian Switzerland again... kudos to you Piyush ji." "Fantastic sir, in the same way please start #SouthCoastRailway operations from @VisakhapatnamJn as promised by you to make the new zone operational within 11 months, which is a dream of north Andhra Pradesh that you granted. Start the operations, sir," pleaded one user. "Work is going on at double the speed. For this, thanks to Modi ji and thanks to Piyush Goyal ji," read one post. "Wow! This is huge Kashmir's dream of development to be fulfilled by @narendramodi government. Kudos to you, sir," read another tweet. One user commented: "Sir, I have only one request. Train should be run on schedule... Late arrival and departure of trains has bad effect on our image." "I'm very happy with this project will finally see more trains in the valley and also be beneficial for armed forces to report for duty without harassment," said one user. USA: Terry Wade Named Executive Assistant Director of the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch Director Christopher Wray has named Special Agent Terry Wade as the executive assistant director of the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch at FBI Headquarters in Washington. Mr. Wade will oversee all criminal and cyber investigations worldwide, as well as international operations, critical incident responses, and victims assistance. Most recently, Mr. Wade was the assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division. Mr. Wade joined the FBI as a special agent in 1996 and was assigned to the Helena Resident Agency in Montana, under the Salt Lake City Field Office. He later transferred to the Oklahoma City Field Office, working violent crime, drugs cases, and white-collar crime. In 2001, Mr. Wade was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington. In 2003, he was named supervisory special agent of the Flagstaff Resident Agency of the Phoenix Field Office. Mr. Wade was promoted in 2007 to assistant special agent in charge of counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cyber, and intelligence programs at the Albuquerque Field Office in New Mexico. He was also responsible for Albuquerques crisis management program and SWAT team. During his tenure as assistant special agent in charge of Albuquerque, Mr. Wade also served as the deputy on-scene commander in Baghdad from late 2008 until the spring of 2009. Mr. Wade was promoted to section chief of the Employee Development and Selection Program in the Human Resources Division at FBI Headquarters in 2013. In 2014, he was named the special agent in charge of the Criminal Division of the Los Angeles Field Office. In 2015, Mr. Wade returned to Albuquerque as the special agent in charge. He led the office for about three years before being named the assistant director of the Inspection Division at Headquarters in 2018. He was appointed assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division in 2019. Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Wade was an agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. He earned a bachelors degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. This story has been published on: 2020-01-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Shahin Moghaddam says he wants the world to know how amazing his wife, Shekiba Feghahati, was an "angel," he called her. His son, 10-year-old Rosstin, was "a wonderful treasure." Both their lives were cut short when a Ukrainian passenger plane crashed near Tehran Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board, 138 of which were connecting to Canada. "I lost almost [my whole] life," Moghaddam said. "No more future, no more family." "God took them from me." Submitted by Jalal Mortazavi Moghaddam's wife and son were two of more than 60 victims with ties to Toronto. Like Moghaddam, many family members and friends have been speaking to CBC News since the tragedy, sharing both facts and memories of their loved ones. "I want [people] to know how amazing they were," Moghaddam said in a tearful interview with CBC Toronto on Friday evening. "I am just talking for their honour." Married for 14 years Born in March, 1980, Feghahati was 39 years old when she died. The pair had been married for 14 years and moved to Canada seven years ago. Feghahati had a bachelor's degree in economics. When she came to Canada, she enrolled at York University to get a certificate in public administration. I don't know what to do, how to start again. - Shahin Moghaddam "My wife always laughed, always smiled, was always supportive for me," he said. "How precious they were for me." Rosstin was in Grade 4 at Beynon Fields Public School in Richmond Hill. Submitted by Jalal Mortazavi Moghaddam says his son spoke four languages, loved swimming, playing the piano, and was a "taekwondo champion." "Our amazing, wonderful son, intelligent, super smart," Moghaddam said during Friday's interview, before taking a moment to gather his composure. The trio were living in Nobleton, Ont., just outside of King City. Submitted by Jalal Mortazavi Family phone call right before flight Submitted by Jalal Mortazavi The last time Moghaddam saw his son was Dec. 10 a day after his 10th birthday when Rosstin and Feghahati left for Iran. Story continues It was a trip Moghaddam could have been on. In fact, Feghahati wanted him to come with them to visit family for the holidays. Moghaddam, however, wanted to stay home and take care of the house and the bills while they were away. Moghaddam says he spoke to his wife and son just before they boarded the plane what would turn out to be their last conversation. "Life for me is done; I have no hope, no wishes, nothing left to live for," he said. It was the first and last trip Feghahati had taken since moving to Canada. Moghaddam said he's holding a gathering at his house on Sunday, and expects about 300 people to be there. After the gathering, he will head on a flight back to Iran to retrieve their bodies to bring his beloveds "back to their home." Submitted by Jalal Mortazavi "I [will] always blame myself, I couldn't be [there] for my son, for his future," Moghaddam said. Trudeau visited Moghaddam to pay respects Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited him Friday afternoon for a private meeting to pay his respects. Moghaddam said he and Trudeau cried together during their hour-long visit. CBC "Such a great honour, Shekiba and Rosstin are going to be proud of that." A day after speaking to Moghaddam, Trudeau addressed the public on Saturday following the Iranian government's announcement that it "unintentionally" shot down the jetliner. Trudeau said he is both "outraged" and "furious" over the incident and expects full co-operation from Iranian authorities in investigating the circumstances that led to the crash. "We need full clarity on how such a horrific tragedy could have occurred," Trudeau said at a press conference on Saturday. "Families are seeking justice and accountability and they deserve closure." Submitted by Jalal Mortazavi 'I don't know how to thank them' Meanwhile, Moghaddam is still coping with the immense adjustment of having to live without his wife and son. Despite his loss, Moghaddam says he's thankful for the friends and family that haven't let him be alone. Submitted by Jalal Mortazavi "I don't know how to thank them," he said, adding that he hopes he never has to return the same favour. "I don't want to do the same thing for them, I wish them to be with their family always." But he says the overwhelming support he has received is thanks to his wife, who "gave her love to everyone." Submitted by Jalal Mortazavi His tragedy, he says, is something he wouldn't wish upon anyone. "I don't know what to do, how to start again." At first, Kari and Dustin Drees thought their home had been invaded by a peculiarly destructive thief. The first-time homeowners, who had lived in their new suburban Atlanta home for only a week, returned from a holiday vacation late last month. When they opened the door they found a house in shambles. Wood chippings littered the foyer like confetti. Soot soiled the living room and the couch. The wooden window frames had been gnawed. They heard the faucet running in the kitchen and feared a burglar was hiding somewhere in the house. They called the police. Kari stayed outside with their baby, and Dustin went in to investigate. He followed the trail of soot until it dawned on him: It was a trail of not footprints but little paw prints, starting from the chimney and leading to nearly every room in the house. The destruction, the couple soon learned, was the work of a wayward squirrel. He ran across the couch, ran through the dining room. It even went in the bathroom, somehow got in the toilet, and then went in our daughters room, Dustin, 30, an employee of a venture capital company, told the Washington Post on Tuesday night. He was just trying to figure out a way out of the house. The couple believes the squirrel must have fallen through the chimney before frantically trying to escape their home. It turns out that a fleeing squirrel can do a lot of damage. They will have to replace almost every window in their house after the squirrel, in his desperate escape attempts, chewed away the panelling and in some cases poked tiny holes in the glass. He pooped on their beds and on the couch and on the counters and floors. He gnawed off the wood on the door and window frames and indoor shutters. And somehow, the couple thinks, he flicked on the kitchen faucet while apparently trying to leap for the window above the sink. The squirrel was soon captured by animal control. But then they had to contend with their insurance company. When they called to report the freak incident, their insurance adjuster had some very bad news: The company did not cover damage inflicted by rodents. Now, the young couple says they are left to pay out of pocket an estimated $15,000 (U.S.) in damages caused by a single rogue squirrel. Kari, 27, said that the experience has left her wondering the purpose of homeowners insurance, if not to protect against a disaster like this. Ive had moments of wondering why we purchased this house in the first place, she said. Youre supposed to have a sense of security and be protected in these types of situations, and I just feel like insurance companies find loopholes to get out of paying for things. Were supposed to have someone on our side, and at this point, we feel like the insurance company is not on our side. The couples insurance company, Mercury Insurance, could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night. But the company said in a statement to Georgia news outlets that the rodent caveat is clearly described in the insurance policy, adding that its a standard homeowners policy for most insurance companies. When Mercury Insurance received the claim on January 1st (last Wednesday), we sent an adjuster to the property and learned that in fact a squirrel had found its way into their home, the company said in the statement, according to WSB-TV. This was confirmed by the critter catcher company that removed the squirrel. Unfortunately, damage done to a property by birds, vermin, rodents and insects is not covered, the statement continued. This is explicitly stated in the contract and all insurance companies we know of have similar exclusions. Mercury said in its statement that it would offer to pay for up to two weeks of temporary housing for the Drees family. But the couple told the Post they were unaware of the offer to pay for housing for two weeks until the companys media statement, and are currently staying with a friend. Kari and Dustin had moved into the cottage-style home in Buckhead, a northern suburb of Atlanta, on Dec. 16. After living in Georgia for four years, they decided to buy their first home together to put down roots, they said, especially after the birth of their daughter last year. Just a week after moving in, they left for San Diego to spend the holidays with family. But almost immediately, the couple suspected something was wrong back home. Somehow, the squirrel tripped the home burglary alarm. ADT Security Systems went out to the couples home to investigate. The security company found no signs of forced entry, and a friend checked on the home too, finding that the doors and windows were still locked. We just thought it had to be a software issue, Dustin said. Upon realizing the intruder was an animal the droppings made that crystal clear the couple called a critter control company. The serviceman found the squirrel quivering behind a couch pillow, before it freaked out and went rogue again, the couple said. He made a little bed in there its a comfy couch, Dustin said. They arent sure whether theyll be able to keep it. The couple said that phase one of the cleaning ended Tuesday after workers wearing hazmat suits swarmed the house and threw sanitation bombs everywhere. It cost $2,000, Kari said. Dustin said the hardest part has been understanding why the insurance company views this squirrel fiasco as being in the same boat as a rodent infestation. He said he understands why insurance may not cover typical mice or insect problems. But this seemed wildly different. You see the commercials of the crazy things that happen, or the Allstate mayhem guy, Dustin said. You think these things would be covered. He said he wishes a raccoon had fallen down the chimney instead. Latest survey conducted by Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa poll puts bernie sanders at the top of the table of four followed by Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, and Joe Biden in that order. They want to deny a second term to Donald Trump. The support base of these contenders among likely Democratic caucus-goers are 20, 17, 16 and 15 respectively. It is a great comeback for Sanders after his health disorder in October. The other three are Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Pete Buttigieg former South Bend Mayor, and Joe Biden former Vice President. While Bernie Sanders has a narrow lead in Iowa, Joe Biden appears to be losing steam even though he leads in most national polls. Elizabeth Warren continues to remain the only woman in the race and she could spring a surprise. With Marianne Williamson out, there are now 13 Democrats running for their party's presidential nomination. Here's a guide the candidates who are still in the race: https://t.co/SwOlmP8RcP The New York Times (@nytimes) January 10, 2020 NBC News says they are the four Democratic Party candidates who are at the top of the pack. However, the margins are less and there can be upsets. Hence, what happens in the final reckoning is anybodys guess. J. Ann Selzer, an experienced pollster, says There's no denying that this is a good poll for Bernie Sanders. He leads, but it's not an uncontested lead." Some people have not yet made up their minds There is a rise in the number of people who have made up their minds. However, many have yet to decide. Other Democratic Party candidates are unable to make any impression because there is no appreciable increase in their support base. Obviously, there is suspense and Selzer reminds - "The caucus process is an invitation to keep an open mind." Iowa's likely caucusgoers are closely divided between 4 top candidates just weeks out from the Democratic caucuses, a new CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll shows Bernie Sanders: 20% Elizabeth Warren: 17% Pete Buttigieg: 16% Joe Biden: 15%https://t.co/7r6kLzqzaa CNN (@CNN) January 10, 2020 NBC News explains about certain criterion for moving up the ladder. Discuss this news on Eunomia As per the Caucus rules, candidates must reach a threshold of a minimum percentage support in each of the state's nearly 2,000 precinct caucuses. Then only are they considered "viable." Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg are the top second choice for likely caucus-goers. Bernie Sanders leads the race in Iowa According to CBS News, the latest poll indicates Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is in the lead in Iowa. It seems his grip on his supporters is stronger compared to others in the fray. Behind him are Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden in that order. The support of both Sanders and Warren have improved over their November figures but Buttigieg's plummeted and Bidens did not change. The timing of the latest survey is significant. It began on the day the United States killed an Iranian military general Qassem Soleimani. The survey revealed around 57% of likely Democratic caucus-goers indicated the importance of foreign policy. They identified it as an "extremely important issue for them." Other issues that mattered were healthcare (68%), climate change (68%) and the gap between the rich and poor (59%). International awarding-winning Artistic Director Donnaray Roc says Stonebwoy is a better dancehall act than Shattawale. I n an interview on Joy Primes Prime Morning show, the Jamaica Culture ambassador explained that it is because Stonebwoy speaks better patois in real life and in his music than Shatta Wale does. Patois is a native language spoken by the majority of Jamaicans and very popular in their Reggae music. Afro-pop songs have been heavily influenced by Reggae/Dancehall music which includes the Patois language. According to Donnaray, Stonebwoy has a better tonation and control over the Patois language than Shattawale does, which inevitably leads to him producing superior dancehall music to his competitor. There have been debates and controversies about who is the better of the two in the past and it would seem Donnaray is however convinced in her mind on who the better is. Fans of Shattawale will definitely not be pleased with this statement since he and his fans have referred to him as the African Dancehall king. ---Myjoyonline Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 10) A Quezon City court has ordered a temporary stop to the rider limit for motorcycle taxis for another 20 days. An order from the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 223 dated January 9, granted the petition of DBDOYC Inc. the company behind motorcycle ride-hailing app Angkas for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the decision of transport officials to limit the number of motorcycle taxi riders to 30,000 in Metro Manila and 9,000 in Cebu. The technical working group under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it imposed the cap since two new apps JoyRide and Move It also sought to provide motorcycle ride-hailing services. The limit would mean that each ride-hailing app would only have 10,000 riders in Metro Manila and 3,000 in Cebu. Angkas contested the cap, saying 17,000 of its riders may lose their jobs if they do not transfer to their competitors. The court order heard Angkas's plea, saying the cap would result in "irreparable injury" to its riders. The TRO takes effect after transportation officials receive the order. Angkas was also told to pay a bond of 1,000,000, 24 hours after receiving the court order, to cover damages the DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board may suffer. On January 6, a Mandaluyong Court issued a similar TRO on the rider limit for 72 hours. Angkas also asked the Quezon City court to exclude JoyRide and Move It from rendering motorcycle taxi services under the TWG's pilot implementation program. The court noted, however, that the providers are already operating. It cited a previous Supreme Court ruling that stated "consummated acts can no longer be restrained by injunction." In Tehran, Britains ambassador to Iran, Robert Macaire, was detained by Iranian security forces after attending what was planned as a vigil for those who died in the crash. Macaire left when protests broke out, according to an official familiar with the incident who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive diplomatic matter. Irans Tasnim news agency reported that Macaire was held for more than an hour before being released. Taking a quick break from the action at Ballyheigue Races, jockeys Sean Bohan from Clonmel (right) and Tom OConnor from Dingle. Both riders had winners on the day. Sean rode a double on Crystal Lady and Bouce, while Tom gave a very impressive ride on Shannon Breeze, trained by his father, Brendan. (Pictures by Domnick Walsh) Turning for home at the bend. Horses and jockeys brace themselves ahead of another close finish during Wednesdays Ballyheigue Races It was always going to take more than a storm at sea to stop Ballyheigue Races from taking centre stage at Christmas time. And even though the 2019 renewal took place on the first day of 2020, it didn't matter a jot as some fantastic horse and pony racing was enjoyed by the large crowd that packed the beach car park and tapered along the busy promenade. Wednesday's weather was the kind that people pray for in winter, with glorious sunshine covering the scene and a fresh Atlantic breeze scattering the last of the New Year's Eve cobwebs. The familiar voice of Tom Lawlor PC ringing out over a tide dependant race track is as much a feature of the occasion as the horses themselves. Wednesday's meeting was Tom's 51st as emcee. "It was one of our biggest gates ever taken and one of the biggest crowds we've had," said Tom. "The races is one of the great meet and greet days of the year in Ballyheigue and this is very gratifying for all the race committee, who spare no effort in making the races possible," he added. The action started 45mins later than scheduled but once underway the races came thick and fast. Tail to Tail - the oldest pony in training in Ireland - won the opener with the star jockeys of the horse and pony circuit starting off 2020 in bold fashion. It was a day of doubles for riders Sam Ewing, Dylan O'Connor, and Sean Bohan, while Galway jockey Danny Gilligan won 'The Noreen & Donal B. Leane Memorial Cup' on Not Being Smart. But Dingle jockey Tom O'Connor produced one of the day's finest pieces of riding aboard Shannon Breeze - trained by Tom's father, Brendan. Tom's horsemanship negotiating the sharp bends was wonderful to watch as he and Shannon Breeze never lost a yard. Tom also left just enough rein out in the back straight to make the most of his horse's galloping action. Fianna Fail Deputy John Brassil even addressed the crowd, welcoming them to Ballyheigue and praising the race committee for pulling off another memorable meeting. Lastly, Tom Lawlor thanked the race sponsors calling it a 'special thing' that a tradition of horse racing is still strong in Ballyheigue. "I also must thank Dr Roland Flynn and our local Vet John Barry. Without them we couldn't run our race meeting." MBABANE A corporate governance expert has weighed in on the appointment of Sandile Chief Dlamini as CEO of Lidwala Insurance; his opinion is not a rosy one. Hardly a month after retiring as Registrar of Insurance and Retirement Funds, Dlamini was announced as Chief Executive Officer of Lidwala a major player in the industry he had just been regulating. Dlaminis other title was that of CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), which incorporated the insurance and retirement funds. The Times SUNDAY approached the corporate governance guru to find out how he viewed Dlaminis appointment. He did not mince any words: The appointment is certainly not the best practice in governance. Its unfair to the other insurance industry players and compromises the integrity of FSRA. It raises questions on when did Sandile become interested in Lidwala and how did this influence his interaction with Lidwalas competitors whom he was at liberty to investigate. When he was registrar, Dlaminis functions included supervising and exercising control over the activities of insurers and retirement funds in terms of the Insurance Act and any other law of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Dlamini had access to privileged and confidential information of all insurance companies but was compelled by the Act not to divulge same in public. He even had the powers to, any time without launching an investigation, order persons to appear before him at a stated time and place to answer questions on any matter pertaining to their businesses that he was empowered to supervise in terms of the Insurance Act or any other Act. intricate information It is therefore, feared that Dlamini knows intricate information about all insurance companies in the country, which he would now consider to be his competitors. There are suggestions that in the spirit of good corporate governance, he should have observed a cooling off period before assuming the Lidwala CEO position. A paper written by two Germans; Patrick Velte and Markus Stiglbauer, addressed the question of whether a cooling off period was necessary, especially when switching from a managing to a monitoring position. It concluded that a cooling-off period may help to reduce the problem that is encountered when a person monitors processes and strategies which he himself has formerly developed and implemented. In Nigeria, there is the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance, which discourages the transition of managing directors, chief executive officers and executive directors to the role of chairman and mandates a three-year cooling off period where this is the case. This will assist to minimise potential conflicts of interests. During the cooling off period, it is advisable that such directors continuously update their skills, knowledge and experience, remain informed on key changes in their industry and regulatory landscape to ensure that they remain relevant, reads the code. conditions of employment Last year in neighbouring South Africa, a similar situation unfolded when former Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Daniel Mminele was appointed CEO of Absa Group Ltd. Having left the Reserve Bank in June 2019, Mminele will only join Absa on January 15 after a six-month cooling period. A high-ranking government official who is conversant with Dlaminis role at FSRA said there was no cooling-off period in his terms and conditions of employment. He said Dlamini was therefore definitely within his right to look for employment immediately after leaving his position as registrar. Government doesnt have any kind of restraint of trade or a cooling off period in the contracts it enters into with these people, said the official. He said with the former Reserve Bank Deputy Governor, you might find that there was such a clause in the contract yet we dont have the same at FSRA nor in government. May be we now need to get there. He said in Sandiles case, one needed to look at the fact that he was 60 years old and out of a job yet very able and smart and, therefore, if he can find a job then good for him. Meanwhile, the corporate affairs expert opined that Sandile still has influence at FSRA and will certainly capitalise on this. I could say more but emaSwati dont seem to care much about good governance. Instead of focusing on governance violation, they will say we are a jealous lot. On the other hand, the senior government official somehow concurred with the expert. Obviously, there is a point here because government hasnt been looking at such possibilities. Sandile was a very prominent figure at FSRA, not only as a CEO. Now being the CEO of one of the biggest insurance companies does give that insurance company somehow an upper hand on the one side, he said. But he also said there was another side of the coin: On the other side, you might find that other FSRA employees are not going to give him the respect as their former boss but will turn to say we are now your bosses. The advantage is somehow neutralised by the disadvantage of now having to go ask from your previous juniors for something at FSRA. I am not sure if Lidwala as an institution is better off with or without him. The official added that this case was an eye opener. When Dlamini was contacted, he said he was in South Africa and could not respond but told the Times SUNDAY to ask from his former employers if he had a cooling-off period in his contract. But for now I ask not to say anything until my return to the country next week, he said. refrain from commenting Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg said he preferred to refrain from commenting on the issue. A questionnaire was sent to Lidwala Insurance companys founding CEO Isheunesu Makuzwa but he had not responded to it by the time of going to put the paper to bed yesterday. On Thursday, Makuzwa announced during a press briefing that Dlamini had been given a five-year contract. He said Dlamini brought with him a wealth of experience in the industry and was definitely a man who understood security of an insurance company. His acceptance of this appointment tells a big story about the state of the company. With him at the helm, our clients can derive further confidence that Lidwala is a secure insurer and under his stewardship, it can only get better, Makuzwa was quoted saying. Dlamini told the media that Lidwala was giving him an opportunity to implement what he had all along been encouraging financial institution supervised by FSRA to consider doing. When stepping down from FSRA, Dlamini exited with a bang when he said a simple solution to combat corruption in the country would be to get rid of Dlaminism. He said this during his farewell function that was held at Royal Villas. He said if combating corruption could start with Dlaminis, the rest of the citizens could shape up with little effort. By Yimou Lee and Meg Shen TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwanese re-elected President Tsai Ing-wen by a landslide on Saturday in a stern rebuke that could fuel further tension with China, which has tried military threats and economic inducements to get the island to accept its rule. Anti-government unrest in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong took centre stage during a campaign in which Tsai held up Taiwan as a beacon of hope for protesters in the former British colony and rejected Beijing's offer of a "one country, two systems" model. China claims Taiwan as its sacred territory, to be taken by force if needed, a threat President Xi Jinping reiterated a year ago while saying he preferred a peaceful solution. "One country, two systems," which gives a high degree of autonomy, much as Beijing uses in Hong Kong, has never been popular in Taiwan and is even less so after months of protests in Hong Kong. China made itself even more unpopular in Taiwan in the run-up to the election by twice sailing its newest aircraft carrier through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, denounced by Taipei as an effort at military intimidation. "We hope that the Beijing authorities can understand that a democratic Taiwan with a government chosen by the people will not give in to threats and intimidation," Tsai told reporters. Beijing needs to understand the will of Taiwan's people, and that only Taiwan's people can decide its future, she added, repeating her firm opposition to "one country, two systems". China's Taiwan Affairs Office, in a statement carried by state media, reaffirmed its commitment to this approach and its opposition to any form of independence. Tsai beat her main opponent Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang party, which favours close ties with China, by more than 2.6 million votes. Underscoring the scale of her victory, Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party also won a majority in parliament. The United States, Taiwan's strongest international backer and main arms supplier, congratulated Tsai. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Taiwan a "force for good in the world". Story continues "The United States thanks President Tsai for her leadership in developing a strong partnership with the United States and applauds her commitment to maintaining cross-Strait stability in the face of unrelenting pressure," Pompeo said in a statement. LANDSLIDE WIN Tsai won almost 8.2 million votes in total, more than any Taiwan president since the island held its first direct presidential election in 1996. Speaking in the southern city of Kaoshiung where he is mayor, Han, who had to fend off allegations from Tsai on the campaign trail that he and his party were puppets of Beijing, said he had called to congratulate Tsai. "I still hope to see a united Taiwan after we wake up," Han said, accompanied by a swell of mournful music on stage. "I urge President Tsai Ing-wen to focus on giving people a life where they can live safely and happily." Han said Taiwan could only be safe and prosperous if it had good relations with Beijing. "People have been stirred up by the Hong Kong situation and that deceived many people into voting for Tsai," said Huang Lu-lu, 38, at what was supposed to be a victory rally for Han. After his brief speech, the glum crowds dispersed, some crying. NOT GOOD FOR CHINA China cut off a dialogue mechanism when Tsai took office in 2016 and has regularly flown bombers near the island since. China believes Tsai wants to push for a Republic of Taiwan, a red line for Beijing. Tsai says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China. Tsai's win is all the more embarrassing for China because it follows another landslide victory, in November, for pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong in district council elections after residents turned out in record numbers. "I believe friends in Hong Kong will be happy about our collective decision tonight," Tsai said. Prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong tweeted that Tsai's victory was a "precious moment" for the people of Hong Kong. "Today is the day for the majority of Taiwanese to choose their fate, to safeguard their democracy and freedoms, and most importantly, to say no to CCP's authoritarian invasion," he wrote in English, referring to China's Communist Party. Taiwanese are broadly sympathetic to the protesters in Hong Kong, an Asian financial hub. "I saw what's happening in Hong Kong and it's horrible," said first-time voter Stacey Lin, 20, in the capital Taipei. "I just want to make sure I have the freedom to vote in the future." (Reporting by Yimou Lee and Meg Shen; Additional reporting by Felice Wu, and by James Pomfret in Kaohsiung; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Shri Navaratnam, Frances Kerry and Alexander Smith) The government is waiting for Indonesia to relax norms for importing sugar from India, which is being discussed for more than a year now. There was a discussion for a two-way deal under which India will give priority to import palm oil from Indonesia against which the latter was offering to buy raw sugar from here. The discussions started when import duty for palm oil from Malaysia was lower than import from Indonesia during Modi government's first term. Since the issue has now been settled, India has been expecting the latter to act on sugar front. That relaxation has been ... FILE PHOTO: Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al-Said at the Beit Al Baraka Royal Palace in Muscat By Lisa Barrington and Nayera Abdallah DUBAI (Reuters) - Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East's longest- serving rulers who maintained the country's neutrality in a turbulent region, died on Friday and his cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was named as his successor in a smooth transition. With his death, the region loses a leader seen as the father of modern Oman, who balanced ties between two neighbors locked in a regional struggle, Saudi Arabia to the west and Iran to the north, as well as the United States. In a televised speech, Haitham promised to uphold Muscat's policy of peaceful coexistence with all nations while further developing Oman. "We will continue to assist in resolving disputes peacefully," he said. Oman and other Gulf states declared three days of official mourning with flags at half-mast for the Western-backed Qaboos, 79, who ruled since taking over in a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of former colonial power Britain. His funeral procession passed along Muscat's main road amid tight security as Omanis thronged the palm tree-lined route, some reaching out their hands and others taking pictures. The casket, draped in the Omani flag, was carried into Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque where hundreds joined prayers inside. Haitham stood facing the casket, with the traditional curved dagger, or khanjar, strapped to his waist. Qaboos was later buried in a family cemetery. Omanis took to social media to mourn the death of a ruler who had made regular tours of the country to speak to citizens, often driving his own vehicle in the convoys. "The first words I heard from my weeping mother after news of the great Sultan Qaboos' death was: The father of orphans, of the poor, of the downtrodden, of all of us, has died," Twitter user Abdullah bin Hamad al-Harthi wrote. State media did not give a cause of death. Qaboos had been unwell for years and underwent treatment in Belgium last month. Story continues SECRET LETTER OPENED Qaboos had no children and had not publicly appointed a successor. A 1996 statute says the ruling family must choose a successor within three days of the throne becoming vacant. A family council on Saturday chose Haitham after opening a sealed envelop in which Qaboos had secretly written his recommendation in case the family could not agree, opting to follow his "wise" guidance, state media said. Born in 1954, Haitham, who studied at Oxford, had served as minister of culture and as foreign ministry undersecretary. He was appointed in 2013 to chair Oman's development committee. "The swift appointment of a successor is positive as the lack of clarity was a key economic uncertainty, said Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank chief economist Monica Malik. He takes power as domestic challenges loom large, from strained state finances to high unemployment in the indebted oil producer, and at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the United States and U.S. ally Saudi Arabia. "The wild card is whether any of Oman's neighbors might try to pressure the new sultan as he settles into power," said Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of Texas-based Rice University's Baker Institute. DIPLOMACY Condolences poured in for the white-bearded Qaboos with Arab and Western leaders praising what they described as his wise rule. Former U.S. President George W. Bush said Qaboos had been a stable force in the Middle East. "He leaves a profound legacy, not only in Oman but across the region," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu, who met Qaboos in Muscat in 2018, lauded him for working to promote regional peace and stability. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, voiced hope the new leadership would take "inspiration from the past". Oman has friendly ties with Washington and Tehran and helped mediate secret U.S.-Iran talks in 2013 that led two years later to the international nuclear pact which Washington quit in 2018. Muscat did not take sides in a Gulf dispute that saw Riyadh and its allies impose a boycott on Qatar, or join a Saudi-led military coalition that intervened in Yemen. "It is hard to see how Oman can involve itself in the Yemen, Iran and Qatar issues until a new leader has established himself - which means for the foreseeable future," said Simon Henderson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington, Alexander Cornwell, Davide Barbuscia and Tuqa Khalid in Dubai, Nayera Abdallah and Omar Fahmy in Cairo, Steve Holland in Washington, Estelle Shirbon in London and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; Writing Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Shri Navaratnam, Jane Merriman and Giles Elgood) Like Belotti, Ortiz also denied access to the mens restroom contracted urinary tract infections in high school. He, too, lost control of his bladder, and today he must set notifications on his iPhone to remind himself to use the restroom. His arms bear thin white lines from when he tried to cut his veins open. In a protest that occurred in New York City in November 2019, a black Chilean Dog wearing a red bandana made another historic appearance. The November 2019 Rally in New York was inspired by the videos containing police violence towards the youths of color in its subways. In one of the videos, a police officer was recorded to have pushed a Black and unarmed youngster. Multiple stickers were placed on the walls of the subway and trains. Multiple social media platforms contained the announcement that the iconic Chilean dog will be going to New York. The name of the dog is Negro Matapacos. It became famous for joining protests in Chile for their fight for change in their country's system for education. The iconic dog-faced police officers in support of Chilean students. The iconic black dog from Chile had made headlines when it protected the students who were protesting. They were protected by Negro Matapacos from the violence of the Chilean police force of Santiago, Chile in the year 2011. The iconic dog had been known to walk through the different campuses of a university in a neighborhood in Campos. It was friends with a good number of stray dogs in the area. It also befriended a majority of the students. It had lived in the streets of Santiago for the majority of his life. In 2009, Maria Campos, a resident in the area where the university is situated, had accepted Negros Matapacos in her home. She took care of it. Since then, the dog lived with her. She respected the independent character of the dog. At night, it slept in her house. In the day, she allowed it to roam in the streets of Santiago. In 2011, students had arranged a protest to demand the Chilean government to offer free and good quality education for its Chilean students. Police forces used violent tools such as water cannons and tear gas to suppress them. According to Campos, Matapacos would wait every morning for her to let it out of the house. After praying for the dog and other gestures commonly given by an owner to its pets, Matapacos would run towards the direction of the protests. Negro Matapacos translated to English is Black Cop Killer. It is common in Latin America to use the color of a dog in naming it. The meaning of Matapacos in the region refers to the violence of the police force of Chile. The Black Chilean dog never ended anyone's life. Instead, it barked and lounged when police officers attacked and endangered the lives of the students. Matapacos passed away in 2017. It died from natural causes while in the hands of caregivers. Despite his death, his legacy lives on by being used as a symbol for many protests in Chile and now, in New York. The protest in New York was for the case of fare evasion in the subway. The protest includes artwork of the iconic Chilean dog jumping over the word evade. JNU violence: Aishe Ghosh hits back after Delhi Police identify her as suspect Aishe Ghosh, the JNU students' union president was named by Delhi Police as one of the nine suspects identified by them in connection with three criminal cases registered by the police. Ghosh, the student leader who was allegedly thrashed by masked hooligans on Sunday evening, was part of one of the groups that attacked students at Periyar hostel at about 3.45 pm, the police said. Ghosh promptly hit back at Delhi Police, describing the police attempt to pin the blame on them as an effort to build a false narrative for the ruling party. We are not afraid and we will not budge. False narrative being created, she told reporters. ...read more Former Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president and royal scion, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Deb Burman, who has recently floated an apolitical organisation, TIPRA, on Saturday said, the illegal immigrants, who would be legitimised after implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would not be allowed to stay in the state. The founder of Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) said this while addressing a large gathering at Khumulwng, the headquarters of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), 20 km from here. "Our state has accommodated a large number of migrants from the then East Pakistan after the partition of the country and has no space to accommodate anymore," Deb Barman said. "After implementation of CAA, a sizeable number of people coming from foreign countries would get citizenship, but none of them could be resettled in our state," he said. He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take all the foreigners, who would get citizenship after the implementation of CAA, to Gujarat Tamil Nadu or in other states except Tripura or any part of the Northeastern region. "We are proud Indians and we oppose this bill (sic) because it would harm the prospect the indigenous people of the state and the existence of our community would be at stake," he said. Before joining Indian union in 1949, Tripura was a princely state and ruled by tribal king, and due to influx of people from East Pakistan the majority tribals were reduced to minority. He has also appealed to people to reject all political parties, adding, they divided people for their interests and to increase their vote banks. "We should reject all the political parties and the politicians, because they divided people for their party interest and to swell their vote banks", he said. Without naming any political party, Deb Barman said, some quarters also tried to create a communal conflict between the indigenous people and the Bengalis of the state. "We are the indigenous people of the state, but we are not against Bengalis. After the rally, you people have to promise me that you are not going to attack Bengalis because they are not our enemies, the main enemies are the politicians who have sold us," he said. Deb Barman's grandfather Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur was the last king of Tripura. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lincoln Project, a group featuring prominent Republicans like George Conway and Rick Wilson, released a video blasting President Trump on Thursday. The clip is aimed at the presidents Evangelical supporters and features footage of him saying some unsavory things. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves, opens the video, taking a verse from the Biblical book of Matthew to make the point. The video, called The MAGA Church, shows Trump repeatedly asking why he needs to repent to the Christian God or explaining why that God is not involved in his decision-making processes. Along with clips of Trump cursing, the group made sure to add some of the presidents viral hits. The clip of him saying he could shoot someone in New York City and not lose voters made the cut, as did the infamous Access Hollywood tape. Also Read: Editor at Pro-Trump Evangelical Publication Resigns After a soundbite of Trump declaring himself the chosen one plays, a graphic appears: If this is the best American Christians can do, then God help us all. The video was shared far and wide, notably getting a tweet from the late Billy Grahams granddaughter Jerushah Duford, who wrote, Thank you @ProjectLincoln for this well done but heart breaking & scary video. Church -lets do a better job representing Jesus. Whos in? Following Evangelical magazine Christianity Todays viral editorial titled Trump Should Be Removed From Office, the late founders son tweeted in December that Graham would be disappointed to know about it. He said Graham even voted for Trump in 2016. Read original story Republican Group Featuring George Conway and More Blasts Trump in New Video At TheWrap January 11 : Veteran actor Kabir Bedi defends Deepika Padukone over her visit to JNU post Union Minister Smriti Irani lashed out at Chhapaak actress recently. Union minister Smriti Irani has lashed out at actor Deepika Padukone for visiting Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi in solidarity with students and teachers who were attacked by a masked mob on the evening of January 5. Padukone visited JNU on the evening of January 7 to attend a protest meeting. She stood by as former JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar raised azaadi slogans, and also met current President Aishe Ghosh, who got injured during the mob attack. .#smritiirani ji, I dont believe Deepika was siding with any ideology, left or right, by visiting the #JNU. Outside goons beat up students, dozens hospitalised. It was an act of solidarity with those who suffered the most. What you said re @deepikapadukone was not in good taste. KABIR BEDI (@iKabirBedi) January 10, 2020 Kabir Bedi took to his social media profile and wrote, #Smritiirani ji, I dont believe Deepika was siding with any ideology, left or right, by visiting the #JNU. Outside goons beat up students, dozens hospitalised. It was an act of solidarity with those who suffered the most. What you said re @deepikapadukone was not in good taste. Smriti Irani is the first top BJP leader to hit out at Ms Padukone for her JNU visit. The minister for textiles, and women and child development claimed it was not unexpected to the Bharatiya Janata Party that Padukone would stand with people who want Indias destruction. Deepika's surprise move in solidarity with students injured in the mob attack caused a firestorm and sharply divided social media. Her silent participation in the protest has been praised as well as criticised. Support for the actor pushed back against calls for boycotting her new movie. One BJP leader, Tajinder Bagga, even urged people to boycott the film. Dr K Srinath Reddy By Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises to uplift our ability to profile, predict, promote and protect human health in many exciting ways. But eagerness in the health system to ardently embrace AI should not blind us to potential pitfalls. Lest we lament, as Othello did about Desdemona, that we loved too well but not wisely. Human health is configured by intricate interactions between several complex systemsbiological, physical and social environments being the foremost. Alongside is the layered labyrinth of the health system that serves our health needs. Each of these has a universe of complex subsystems. Doctors base diagnostic and therapeutic decisions on only a few variables identified from this multiverse. While many decisions appear to be informed by sound scientific evidence, diagnostic dark alleys, therapeutic trapdoors and prognostic potholes waylay us when only limited knowledge is utilised. Why do some patients not benefit from a drug shown in a large group trial to be highly beneficial? Why do some react adversely to certain food items that others can devour with impunity? What predicts a robust recovery in a seriously ill patient while another with a similar clinical profile slides downhill? Should medicine become highly personalised as genetic profilers espouse? Should such genetic mapping be limited to the human genome or extend to the trillions of microbes that cohabit and co-regulate our bodies? What about the many external influences that alter gene expression? Will holistic healing, the philosophical underpinning of several traditional systems of medicine, come to life in the rigidly reductionist mould of modern medicine through AI that captures and collates multiple data sets, from cellular biology to social circumstances? Can the varying standards of clinical care, resulting from differing knowledge levels of physicians, be overcome by AI-guided therapy and monitoring? Can the much faster analytic speed of AI eliminate delays in diagnosis and treatment? Can medical errors be substantially reduced to enhance patient safety? The response to these questions is cautiously affirmative, as evidence accumulates of AIs broad spectrum of applications for healthcare delivery, patient engagement and behavioural modification, population health, research and development, and health administration (Future Agenda, Accenture, 2018). From detailed patient profiling to diagnostic and management algorithms, individual healthcare can be improved in timeliness and quality. At the population level, infectious disease outbreaks (such as dengue) can be more accurately predicted, tracked and quelled. For non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes), clusters of risk factors that pose heightened threat to different population groups can be better identified for tailored policy and programmatic response. Doctors can provide more humane care, with empathetic communication, when AI frees them from the drudgery of collating and analysing data (Eric Topol, Deep Medicine, 2019). AI is exciting and alarming. It has been defined as software writing software, with increasing levels of autonomy accompanying the computers rapidly rising appetite for data acquisition and accelerating speed of data analysis. Big data, with huge volumes of multiple data sets on a vast array of variables, can be assimilated and analysed with amazing speed. As machine learning, extensively used by AI to write algorithms, moves to deep learning, self-learning and reinforced learning, AIs rapidly growing power has triggered debates on promise versus perils of its dominance over human deliberation and discretion. A major concern is over privacy. Who will be the custodians of the extensive and incisive personal data? Another concern is about the generalisability of the developed algorithms to specific individuals and populations. Even when vast data are analysed, there may be missing elements of an individual patients profile that can be gleaned from elicitation of detailed medical history and careful clinical examination. AI-driven algorithms are presently developed from extensive but selective data sets from Western populations. Predictive algorithms depend on Bayesian principles, wherein the pre-test probability and the likelihood ratio of the observed test result yield an estimate of the post-test probability. While the likelihood ratio is usually stable across populations, pre-test probability differs widely among different population groups. Predictive accuracy of Western algorithms may not apply to Indian population groups. We need to develop algorithms based on large data sets from our own population. It is difficult to predict whether AI will lead healthcare to a utopian or dystopian future. As French poet Valery observed we enter the future backwards. We need to carefully control the course of AI in health to maximise benefits and minimise risks. While scientific advances will help resolve many of the technical issues, concerns of data misuse and unbridled technological tyranny subverting a humane profession will remain. The responsibility for defining boundaries cannot be left only to scientists who revel in their creativity, health professionals who develop dependence on new technologies and business investors who push for greater profits. It needs a broader societal engagement, with additional involvement of community representatives, patient groups and ethicists. To those who doubt the ability of laypersons to comprehend AIs intricacies and contribute to collective societal control, the response comes from Thomas Jeffersons wise words: I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise that control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion. DR K Srinath Reddy President, Public Health Foundation of India, and author of Make in India: Reaching a Billion Plus. Views expressed are personal Email: ksrinath.reddy@phfi.org W hile Iranians see Britain as a "small Satan" to America's Great Satan the UK should not worry about an attack, an expert has said. Sadeq Saba was the head of BBC's Persian service for eight years, and is now a presenter on Iran International, an Iranian news channel based in West London. The 24 hour news channel claims to reach 20 million people in Iran, where citizens are keen to receive international broadcasts, even though owning a rooftop dish is illegal. Iran is ranked 170 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. At least 860 journalist or citizen journalist have been imprisoned or executed since the Shah was overthrown in 1979. The three-year-old station broadcasts under OFCOM rules, and has been subject to two complaints by the Iranian ambassador, one of which was dismissed by the regulator, while the other remains under investigation. Sadeq Saba is a presenter on Iran International / Iran International Mr Saba said that the UK "has nothing to worry about" in terms of an attack by Iran, and although Iranians do not trust the British due to their colonial history, the UK could still play a role in achieving peace in the region. His comments come amid mounting tensions between Iran and the US following the assassination of Iranian general Qaem Soleimani by a US drone strike in Baghdad. Iran responded by launching missile strikes on two US bases, and retired British general Sir Richard Barrons warned that UK forces could be a "soft target" for the regime. Iran International is Iran's first 24 hour news channel / Iran International Mr Saba told the Standard: "The Iranians don't trust the British, they see America as a great Satan and Britain as a small Satan. With the history of Britain and Iran going back to almost a century, there have been so many things happening in that period. "Iran is probably the only country in the world that still sees Britain as a superpower, and they treat it like that." That said, Mr Saba believes that the UK could still help. Iran video appears to show missile striking Ukrainian plane He said: "The UK has an embassy in Iran, Iran has an ambassador here. Of course there is dialogue between the two countries, and Britain can play some role, but I don't see any danger for Britain at the moment to be attacked. And as a matter of fact I don't think even Americans are under any threat directly by the Iranian government." He said the "big worry" now was not escalation between Iran and the west, but an internal implosion inside the Iranian state. "The big worry probably for the west is Iran disintegrating, the corruption in the regime, and the economic problems making the regime weaker and weaker, people taking to the streets and no viable opposition as an alternative to the current regime. "That is the danger, and implosion is more dangerous I think than the regime making a bomb." He added: "Tomorrow millions of people could take to the streets against the regime, and when there is no alternative, anything could happen." Iranian Missile Attack - In pictures 1 /16 Iranian Missile Attack - In pictures Pieces of missiles are seen at the rural area of Al-Baghdadi town after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq Anadolu Agency via Getty Images An explosion is seen following missiles landing at what is believed to be Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq Iraqi security forces find and collect the pieces of missiles as they gather to inspect the site after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A protester waves the Iraq flag while demonstrators set fire to close streets near Tahrir Square during a demonstration to protest against the Iranian missile strike, in Baghdad, Iraq AP Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him addressing a meeting in Teharn Getty Images An explosion is seen following missiles landing at what is believed to be Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq via Reuters Iraqi security forces and soldiers gather to inspect the site after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq, a facility jointly operated by U.S. and Iraqi forces, at Bardarash district of Erbil in Iraq Anadolu Agency via Getty Images An explosion is seen following missiles landing at what is believed to be Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq IRIB/AFP via Getty Images Multiple rockets are launched at Al-Asad airbase Multiple rockets are launched at Al-Asad airbase A protester sets fires to close streets near Tahrir Square during a demonstration to protest against the Iranian missile strike AP A man holds shrapnel from a missile launched by Iran on U.S.-led coalition forces on the outskirts of Duhok ,Iraq Reuters Indeed, last November Iran was racked by anti-government protests over an increase in the price of fuel. The demonstrations were brutally suppressed by the government, with hundreds of protesters reportedly shot dead. Iran International covered the protests from their studios and Mr Saba claims this led to reprisals against many of the employees' family members still living in Iran. The channel broadcast state shootings on a 24-hour news cycle to millions of viewers. This challenged state media, which Mr Saba referred to as '"the mouthpiece of the regime". "We were giving them an alternative and independent perspective about Iran about those events," he said. "Immediately after they suppressed the protests, they started harassing families of my colleagues in Iran. "Iran's intelligence ministry in Iran and other cities summoned elderly parents, brothers, sisters to their headquarters, putting pressure on them to ask us to immediately resign from Iran international, and also telling them, the families in Iran, if they don't resign from Iran International they have the capability of bringing us back to Iran by force. "You can imagine how heartbreaking that could be for people, for parents, when they see such threats." Mr Saba said the Iranian government also went after the pockets of Iran International's employees, freezing their Iranian assets He said: "And then they started a campaign of intimidation against us in Britain, by freezing assets by declaring ourselves as enemies of the state, as supporting terrorism, and all this nonsense in my opinion. "This is the most inhuman, and I would even say illegal, policy a regime can take to harass innocent people for the deeds of other people. "We would like the international community to put pressure on Iran to stop this campaign of harassing families." Mr Saba described Iran International as an "independently funded TV organisation". The Guardian has reported that the station is funded by a Saudi billionaire with ties to the country's royal family. A Ghaziabad resident killed a local grocery store owner after he got agitated when he was being repeatedly reminded of Rs 250 arrears. A grocery trader named Arun was allegedly shot dead by Jitendra. Jitendra, who is known to shop owner, came along with another man named Akash on December 18 last year and killed Arun, informed Neeraj Kumar Jadoun, Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Ghaziabad. The police have so far detained Jitendra and are looking for Akash who has been missing since the crime took place. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Christmas of 2019 completed and a staggering amount of delectable new toys around for the kids to fight over, Ive had to repeat a long-standing parental axiom with renewed vigor: dont take other peoples stuff without permission. Its a good lesson for governments and businesses as well. A case in point is that of the yet to be scheduled Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc, which the Supreme Court recently agreed to hear. The history is long and complicated and involves a near ten-year-old battle over whether one could (and should) copyright computer code, here Application Programming Interfaces or APIs. APIs are the ubiquitous sets of software languages that facilitate interoperability between computer programs. This all started in 2010 when Oracle filed suit against Google for copyright infringement on their in-house Java-related APIs, which Google used in part to create the Android operating system. Google lost this first round. That decision was later overturned and at the subsequent jury trial, Google won successfully, arguing their acquisition was one of fair use, the legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Oracle then appealed that ruling, winning in turn in 2016. With a score tied up at two to two, a circuit split, the Supreme Court has agreed to settle the matter decisively. Neither of the tech giants involved here has entirely clean reputations on any number of issues. But in this case, only Google is credibly accused of stealing intellectual property actively under the protection of copyright, a fact they hardly dispute. Instead, the search engine company argues that the APIs they copied shouldnt be copyrightable in the first place, making their apparent theft of the code legal by default. But this claim is too overbroad and would devastate copyright protections within the digital sphere if enacted. APIs not only form the fundamental building blocks of workable software, but they are crafted with substantial creativity and finesse. Simply put, they are essential to software innovation and must be protected by copyright. Googles argument, and the clear disregard for private property protections it implies, shouldnt be too surprising coming from Google, a company that consistently embraces the collectivist left. The political left has long admired the work of thinkers like Marx, who stresses not only the value of collectivism, but also the abolition of private property in its entirety. Indeed, Googles lax approach to copyright mirrors the disdain for private ownership that so many on the left hold. Given Googles left-wing proclivities, a case certainly can be made that this has inevitably translated into a corporate policy that is hostile to political conservatives. For example, researchers at Columbia and Northwestern University found that Google results pointed to right-leaning organizations only 11% of the time compared to their left-leaning competitors. In another study analyzing 2000 search results, around 40% steered viewers toward far-left sites like MSNBC and Salon. As a matter of history, far-left collectivists have rarely respected the fundamental right to private property -- and Google, it would seem, is no different. Whats more, its not just tech firms Google has stolen from -- complaints have also been filed by authors, publishers, software providers, newspapers and others. Indeed, their recent legal history has been very troubling, and they have found themselves in a host of legal troubles, both here and abroad, regarding intellectual property theft and piracy. Antitrust lawsuits and investigations have been routine and are accelerating with the recent news in September that almost fifty state attorneys general have launched a nationwide investigation on antitrust concerns over Googles dominance in online advertising. All of this has fueled bipartisan efforts to severely curtail the companys power and influence. With a leftward bias, coupled with a blossoming legacy of divisive and anticompetitive practices, Googles reputation has been perhaps irrevocably tarnished for many Americans. Its no wonder that a recent Axios/Harris Poll notes Googles corporate reputation has experienced a 13-slot decline from #28 down to #41. It is hard not to recognize the parallels between Google corporate policy and the redistributive economic policies and practices embraced by many figures on the left whose values they also embody. They even come with the usual arguments that the results of these transgressions actually benefit the greater good. After all, theft is advantageous to everyone who succeeds at it. True enough. How this case pans out next year is anyones guess, but it seems that what has emerged here is a story of a once-promising company who has let unscrupulous business practices taint its innovative and beneficent free and open reputation, a story of how Googles persistent attempts to undermine private property protections by aggressively challenging fair-use doctrines have merged with a political tradition mired in disdain for property rights, especially when it is to their own benefit to do so. The perception that much of Googles success has required the illicit use of the uncompensated work of others should be troubling to all. A rumor is circling that the Xbox Series X may feature a "Windows mode" startup option, effectively giving gamers access to a full-fat version of Windows on Microsoft's new gaming console. Will Windows mode really happen? Will you be able to run Steam on your Xbox Series X? Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here A remarkable rumor, covered by Spanish outlet Generacion Xbox, purports that the Xbox Series X features a unique "Windows Mode" startup option. This option might allow users to boot into Windows 10 and run apps such as Steam and the Epic Games Store, potentially allowing Xbox gamers to play PC titles. If a full-fledged Windows mode exists, it would open the door to a whole host of new possibilities in terms of productivity and cross-plat experiences. Over the past few years, Microsoft has been increasingly keen on blurring the boundaries of its Xbox brand. Today, Xbox doesn't just mean Microsoft's home console box. It refers to the entire Microsoft gaming ecosystem across platforms, and including PC. "Windows Mode" on Xbox Series X could just be the next logical step. Keep in mind, though, that these rumors are unconfirmed. We see reasons both for and against Microsoft bringing full-fledged Windows (or a derivative thereof) to the Xbox Series X. Why would Microsoft want to do this? An obvious answer would be to broaden the user base of the Series X. Series X hardware is very similar to PC hardware as it stands. And, moreover, the Xbox operating system is based on Windows. Offering a full-fat Windows experience would give buyers more reasons to get an Xbox Series X apart from gaming. This does come uncomfortably close, however, to how Microsoft tried (and failed) to position the Xbox One as jack-of-all-trades. Why wouldn't they want to incorporate a Windows mode? The big no factor here is that Windows mode would force Microsoft to relinquish control over its gaming ecosystem. The Xbox Series X will likely be sold either at a loss or at a razor-thin margin. Microsoft needs software sales to drive profitability. Giving Series X gamers access to alternative storefronts like Steam and Epic would mean giving up Microsoft's cut on software sales, something that doesn't make sound financial sense. Is Microsoft going to implement Windows mode? Will you be able to run Steam games on your Xbox Series X? The rumor mill says it's possible, but we think this one could go either way. We'll update you as soon as we hear something new. Ashwini M Sripad By Express News Service BENGALURU: For almost 15 years, he was away from the spotlight. But when he returned, Raghavendra Rajkumar did it with aplomb. The 55-year-old actor, who was out of the movie scene after a life-threatening stroke, was declared best actor for his role in Ammana Mane in the State Film Awards which were announced by the government on Friday. The second son of late Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, a career in movies was the first choice for Raghavendra, who is fondly called Raghanna. Starting off as a child actor in 1974, he featured in lead roles in 1988 and acted in 19 movies till 2004. He later moved to producing movies.In a cruel twist of fate, Raghavendra suffered a stroke while working out on a treadmill in 2013. He was diagnosed with a blood clot in the brain and underwent surgery. The actor was unable to walk or speak properly and kept away from Sandalwood. He later went to Singapore for further treatment. The recovery took six long years, but he was unable to work like earlier. Even as he was fighting his own handicaps, his mother Paravathamma Rajkumar, who was his pillar of strength, died in 2017. A few months later, when we were still coping with the loss, Nikhil Manju, the director of Ammana Mane came to me with the story, urging me to play the lead role, but I hesitated. In fact, I told him not to waste money on me. But he insisted and had a lot of hope on me. I am so grateful to him for bringing me back to the movies after 15 years. I got the first ever award of my life in my second innings, he said. My confidence was broken before this movie happened: Raghavendra I was in a bad shape and my health was poor. I was not able to stand on my own and my confidence was broken. But then this movie happened, he said. In the movie, he plays the role of a partially paralysed boy whose life revolves round three women his mother, wife and daughter. It was shot mostly in Bengaluru.Almost everyone in the Rajkumar family have won national awards, except for Raghavendra, though he had started acting since the age of nine. His father Rajkumar won 11 State awards which is a record, his brothers Shivarajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar too have won many awards. His sister Poornima too has won the best child actor award while his own son Vinay Raghavendra Rajkumar won the South Indian International Movie Awards in 2016. I have attended many award functions, including the one where my father was conferred the Dada Saheb Phalke award. This award, which came after my battle with heath issues, is really special for me, he told The New Indian Express.Raghavendra says he is more confident now. He has three more movies lined up for release this year Pogaru with Dhruva Sarja, Ward Number 11 and Shree. And his message to those coping with health issues Do not lose hope, work till you can. And The Awards Go To... First Best Film: Aa Karaala Ratri Second Best Film: Ramana Third Best Film: Ondalla Eradalla Best Actor: Raghavendra Rajkumar (Ammana Mane) Best Actress: Meghana Raj (Iruvudellava Bittu) An Oakville family doctor showed a callous disregard for some of his female patients dignity with his careless physical exams, a discipline panel found Friday. The five-member panel at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario suspended Dr. Clarence Clotteys licence for one year and banned him from doing breast, pelvic and rectal exams on any patient. Clottey pleaded no contest to a charge of professional misconduct with regards to his physical exams of five female patients, meaning he does not contest the facts but also does not admit guilt. At the same time, the college withdrew the allegation that the 59-year-old physician sexually abused the patients. We are dismayed, distressed and disappointed in your callous disregard for your patients dignity and comfort, panel chair Dr. Carole Clapperton told Clottey in a public reprimand at the college. It is clear that the long term effects of your misconduct have been significant with some of your patients. They no longer trust male physicians. Your actions besmirch the reputation of the whole profession and that affects us all. Clottey failed to have a chaperone present when conducting a physical exam on the five patients who formed part of the colleges case, as well as failed to explain the rationale for the exam and obtain the patients informed consent, according to a statement of uncontested facts filed at the discipline hearing. Clottey applied pressure on their nipples and/or touched their clitoris during physical exams without a proper explanation, making them feel uncomfortable and distressed, according to the statement. I have flashbacks and nightmares. I fear male doctors and older men, one patient said in a victim impact statement that was read by college prosecutor Simmy Dhamrait. My hopelessness prevented me from doing my work and in turn caused me to be more hopeless, said another patient in a statement. The patients were the same complainants in Clotteys criminal sexual assault case, in which they all testified in court as did Clottey. He was acquitted by a judge of the sexual assault charges in 2018. He was arrested on a new sexual assault charge last year by Halton regional police, according to his profile on the colleges public register. The alleged offence took place in 2014. The college said in a statement that it is aware of the recent charge and will monitor the criminal proceedings. Under Ontario law, a physician found guilty in criminal court of sexual assault must have their licence revoked. His lawyer, Jennifer McKendry, told the discipline panel that Clottey accepts the penalty imposed on him, but said the process had taken its toll on the doctor. Dr. Clottey appears before you today truly and sincerely humbled and frankly exhausted by a process that has taken four years to unfold, she said, going on to say the process has caused him much stress and financial difficulties. It would be an understatement to say this process has deeply, deeply affected Dr. Clottey and his family. New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar on Saturday appealed to all university students to return to the campus and resume academic activities. The V-C also made an appeal to all those students who had left for their homes after violence inside the campus to come back and get themselves registered for the winter semester. He asserted that most of the reasonable demands of the agitating students have accepted and normalcy has been restored in the varsity campus. "We have strengthened the security on campus and I appeal all students who have gone home to come back. Academic activities have been resumed and JNU is back on its foot," Jagadesh Kumar said. "I request all students to return to campus and get their registration for the winter semester done as classes will be starting from January 13," he added. "Our internal security is manned by ex-servicemen and I have also requested police to be at gates and come inside if any law and order situation arises," he added. Kumar also interacted with students on Saturday during which he said that some ''activist students'' backed by a group of teachers are the trouble brewers who have created an atmosphere of terror forcing students to vacate the hostel. Live TV ''The terror created by some of the activist students went to such an extent that many of our students had to leave the hostels. Our campus is known as a peaceful campus," the V-C said. Kumar claimed that many illegal persons are staying in hostels who are outsiders and fan violence."The problem is that many illegal students are staying in hostels, they could be outsiders, they may be participating in any possible violence because they have nothing to do with the university," he added. The JNU V-C also slammed the group of teachers backing the "activist students" alleging that they are responsible for disturbing the environment of the campus. "I would like to ask these teachers, who are standing with the activist students and disturbing the environment of the campus, that what are they doing with the future of these students?" asked VC. "They must see the kind of damage they are doing to the university by standing with the activist`s students, instead of standing with the thousands of innocent students who like to pursue their academic activities," he said. He also informed media that the University administration has taken adequate steps to ensure the safety and security of the students residing on the campus. Kumar had on Friday met Human Resource Development (MHRD) Secretary Amit Khare to discuss the existing situation. On Thursday, Khare met with a delegation of JNU comprising members of the students` union (JNUSU) led by president Aishe Ghosh and teachers association (JNUTA) led by Prof D K Lobiyal and faculty members. On January 5, 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. (With Agency inputs) Reports coming from Iran via social media indicate protests that began earlier in the afternoon in the capital Tehran spread to several other cities. Around 5:00 pm local time hundreds of students and others gathered in front of Tehran's Amir Kabir and Sharif universities this January 11 to protest against the regime's deception of the public about the Ukrainian airliner that the Revolutionary Guard shot down on Wednesday. The rallies were called by students yesterday who said in their statements they were going to mourn the victims of the plane crash and light candles for them. Among the victims of the plane crash there were 26 alumni of various Iranian universities. Reports received around midnight local time indicated noisy protests continuing on Tehran University campus, with students chanting "Down with the dictator". Videos posted on the social media showed protesters chanting slogans such as "Liers, liers", "So many years of crime, down with Supreme Leader, "Shame on Revolutionary Guard, Leave the country alone" and "Down with dictator". There are reports of tear gas being fired and security forces firing in the air. The state broadcaster reported protesters in Tehran tore up pictures of Qassem Soleimani who was killed January 3 by a U.S. drone in Iraq. Later reports coming from the cities of Isfahan, Hamadan, Sari and Rasht indicated there were also local protests against the conduct of the government regarding the downing of the airliner and hiding facts from the public for three days. The videos received from Tehran showed a number of security forces on motorcycles among the protesters who were angrily shouting "scoundrel" at them. Another video showed protesters in front of Sharif Technical University demanding Khamenei step down as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The Iranian regime for three days kept the public in the dark about the real reason for the crash of a Ukrainian airliner that killed all 167 onboard, claiming "technical failure" was responsible for the tragedy. Earlier this morning the Armed Forces General Headquarters issued a statement and accepted that as suspected by many the plane had been targeted by an Iranian missile. A student activist in a tweet from the scene said tear gas has been fired at the crowd who were chanting: "Don't call me a seditionist, you are the sedition itself, the tyrant". The protests that had started at around 17:00 local time continued for several hours before security forces broke them up with tear gas. According to some unconfirmed reports on social media tens of protesters were arrested. HOUSTON Severe storms sweeping across southern portions of the U.S. and up into the Midwest were blamed Saturday in the deaths of at least 11 people, including two first responders, as high winds, tornadoes and unrelenting rains battered large swaths of the country. Storm-related fatalities were reported in Texas because of icy weather, in Alabama from a deadly tornado, and in Louisiana, where winds were so strong that a trailer home was lifted off its foundation and carried several hundred feet. A man drowned in Oklahoma, and the storms touched the Midwest with at least one death on an icy highway in Iowa. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power from Texas to Ohio, parts of highways were closed in Oklahoma and Arkansas because of flooding and hundreds of flights were canceled at Chicagos international airports. Two first responders were killed, and another was critically injured in Lubbock, Texas, Saturday morning after they were hit by a vehicle while working the scene of a traffic accident in icy conditions, officials said. Police Officer Nicholas Reyna, 27, died at the scene. Firefighter Lt. David Hill, 39, was taken to a local hospital where he later died. Another person had died in Texas Friday night when a car flipped into a creek in Dallas as severe thunderstorms passed through. A man drowned near Kiowa, Okla., after he was swept away in floodwaters, the state Highway Patrol said Saturday. Randall Hyatt, 58, of Wardville, was overwhelmed by rushing water while getting out of his stalled truck. The Iowa State Patrol said roads were caked with ice early Saturday when a semitrailer on Interstate 80 overturned, killing a passenger in the truck east of Iowa City. In Alabama, three people were confirmed killed near Carrollton, the National Weather Service said. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said the deaths were caused by an embedded tornado within a long line of intense thunderstorms. Earlier Saturday, in northwestern Louisiana, firefighters found the bodies of an elderly couple near their demolished trailer in Benton, the Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office said. The winds were so strong the home of the couple, who were the in-laws of a parish deputy, was shoved 200 feet from its foundation. The National Weather Service said a tornado with winds of around 135 mph had touched down in the area. Also in Louisiana, Raymond Holden, 75, was killed in his bed when a tree fell on his home in Oil City, officials said. Juan A. Lozano is an Associated Press writer. Sultan Qaboos Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East's longest-serving rulers who maintained the country's neutrality in regional struggles, died on January 10. State media said his cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was named as his successor. Two local newspapers, Al Watan and Al Roya, reported that Haitham bin Tariq al-Said is taking the oath of allegiance as sultan on January 11, Reuters reported. There was no official Omani government confirmation of the reports posted by the newspapers on their Twitter accounts. Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV earlier reported that Haitham bin Tariq had succeeded Qaboos. Oman declared three days of official mourning with flags to be flown at half-mast for 40 days for the Western-backed Qaboos, 79, who ruled since taking over in a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of former colonial power Britain. State television broadcast images of the funeral procession driving down a road lined with palm trees. The casket, draped in the Omani flag, was then carried into Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the capital Muscat, where prayers were being held. State news agency ONA did not give a cause of death, but Qaboos had been unwell for years and spent a week in Belgium for treatment last month. Qaboos had no children and had not publicly appointed a successor. A 1996 statute says the ruling family will choose a successor within three days of the throne becoming vacant. Haitham bin Tariq was appointed on January 11 after the high military council called on the ruling family council to convene and choose a successor. He had served as minister of national heritage and culture and had been appointed in 2013 by Qaboos to chair the main committee responsible for Oman's development. He takes power as domestic challenges loom large, from strained state finances to high unemployment in the indebted oil producer, and at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the United States and US ally Saudi Arabia. A smooth succession was expected, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of Texas-based Rice University's Baker Institute told Reuters. "The wildcard is whether any of Oman's neighbours might try to pressure the new sultan as he settles into power - just as the Saudis and Emiratis tried to pressure Emir Tamim in the weeks and months after he assumed power in Qatar in 2013." Diplomacy Condolences started pouring in for the white-bearded Qaboos. Former US President George W Bush said in a statement that Qaboos had been a stable force in the Middle East. Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum in a Twitter post described him as the sultan of honour, affection and wisdom. Oman has long been to the Middle East what neutral Switzerland is to global diplomacy, balancing ties between two vast neighbours locked in a regional struggle, Saudi Arabia to the west and Iran to the north. Oman maintains friendly ties with Washington and Tehran and helped mediate secret US-Iran talks in 2013 that led two years later to the international nuclear pact which Washington quit in 2018. Muscat did not take sides in a Gulf dispute that saw Riyadh and its allies impose a boycott on Qatar in mid-2017 and did not join a Saudi-led military coalition that intervened in Yemen against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Oman's diplomatic centrality has been a factor of Qaboos' personality, said Simon Henderson, director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "It is hard to see how Oman can involve itself in the Yemen, Iran and Qatar issues until a new leader has established himself - which means for the foreseeable future." Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum alongside Senators Kashim Shettima and Abubakar Kyari on Saturday joined dignitaries from all over Nigeria for the investiture of a new President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE. Engineer Babagana Mohammed, a citizen of Borno state, took over affairs as 32nd President of the umbrella body of engineers in Nigeria for a tenure of two years. He became President in January 1, 2020. Until his new office, he was deputy president of the NSE. The new President had in the last 13 years held 22 special positions in the course of his services for the NSE. He succeeded Engr Adekunle Mokuolu who was the 31st President from 2018 to 2020. Mokuola was at the event to hand over the reigns of leadership to his successor. The well attended event, with the theme, Engineering infrastructure for unity and progress in Nigeria, is holding at the Africa hall of the international conference centre in Abuja. High point of the event was the swearing in of the new President and ceremonial transfer of the symbol of authority from the immediate past President to his successor, Engr Babagana Mohammed. In his remarks, Governor Zulum who is a fellow and high member of the Nigerian society of engineers thanked executives and members of the NSE for electing a Borno son to lead them for the next two years. The Governor suggested the need for the country to diversify its means of income in order to strengthen the national economy and to create job opportunities for unemployed citizens. Many sons and daughters of Borno, including former minister of the FCT, Engr Abba Gana, chief executives of numerous public and private organizations, engineers from all the 36 states and the FCT and many others were in attendance. BAGHDAD Blood is still on the streets near the Ahrar Bridge in Baghdad. A Red Crescent worker explained that just two days before, Iraqi security forces shot a teen, just 16 or 17 years old, who was participating in the protests. Further down the street, a group of men said that the teen's death had been the first in several weeks since the protests began. Protesters on social media aimed to get 1 million Iraqis to take to the streets Jan. 10, in a bid to prevent their demands from being forgotten. Slogans such as the parliament does not represent us and take your wars out of Iraq have largely supplanted earlier ones against corruption. The daytime atmosphere in Tahrir Square was festive, as it has been for months, with free food and the mingling of the sexes, along with dancing, music and chants of "no to Iran, no to the US." Nights have been freezing cold in recent weeks, and protesters spending the night were fewer on this night than in previous months. Ten minutes down the road, dozens of teenage males, mostly from Sadr City, climbed blast walls blocking a street near the Ahrar Bridge, still occupied by armed forces. The teens broke rocks and threw them at the forces in the early afternoon. Nearby, a Red Crescent ambulance waited. After dark it will leave to prevent any damage, a member of the medical staff told Al-Monitor. At that point, the ubiquitous tuk-tuks will be used to transport any injured to medical stations farther down the road. Middle-aged men watched, warily, from a safer location down the street. A gangly 17-year-old said he had stopped going to school over two months ago after a friend of his was killed in the protests. We want justice and jobs, a life, he said. A friend of his approached and anxiously asked in the teen who was shot two days prior had survived. He said he had been a few yards away when the guy was shot, and that he didn't know whether he had survived. Over 500 have been killed and thousands injured in the protests since Oct.1, according to official counts by human rights organizations. The vast majority were young men. Yet many claim these figures are far too low. This past week, attention has shifted from the protests after the United States assassinated Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis Jan. 3 in a drone strike. Many saw the two towering pro-Iran figures as heroes, yet others feared and loathed them. Iran responded to the killing by launching 22 missiles at military bases in the Sunni province of Anbar and the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil, where support for US involvement in Iraq is stronger. No casualties were reported. Iraqis decried the US drone strike as a violation of their sovereignty, but there was no outcry about the Iranian bombing of the bases, even though the bases were Iraqi and the foreign troops there at the government's request. The Iraqi parliament passed a resolution to require the government to ask foreign troops to leave. Yet a parliamentary quorum was barely reached, and even then by almost exclusively Shiite parliamentarians. Leaders of armed groups threatened that anyone not attending the parliamentary session would be considered a traitor. At the beginning of the protests in October, when security forces and other armed groups killed many protesters, the Iraqi government had imposed a near-total internet blackout for weeks. Now that the internet is back on, both sides have decried biased media coverage. Various factions of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), which were incorporated into the Iraqi government, vowed revenge for their "martyrs," meaning Soleimani and Muhandis. Several of these PMU have been accused of killing protesters. The PMU accuse the United States and Israel of being the puppet masters of the Iraqi protests, stating that they are trying to destroy the Shiite community and the country. The night before the nationwide million-man protest, which fell short of those numbers, a statement issued by your brothers in Tahrir Square said the goal of the protests still remained early elections, a new prime minister, a departure from divisive political debates and an overhaul of what has been sabotaged by corrupt parties. The Jan. 9 statement accused media outlets of engaging in propaganda for foreign governments. Videos circulating on pro-Iranian social media insinuated that the US government was paying certain Iraqi media figures, like Steven Nabil from al-Hurra and TV satire star Ahmad al-Basheer, who have openly supported the protests, to achieve its ends in Iraq. A statement from Muqtada al-Sadr, meanwhile, warned against chants, banners and leaflets that call for an end to political parties, religious leaders and militias. Sadrs statement said that would be the "beginning of the end to the revolution" and a departure from the "right path." In poverty-stricken Sadr City in early October, Al-Monitor found that protesters had initially focused on employment, an end to poverty, "justice for our martyrs" and "a future." Many of those killed in the early days of the protests were from the area. Those within the more educated classes have since taken the lead in drawing up protesters demands, but all seem fed up with the political class, and most want foreign interference to end. In the southern provinces, Al-Monitor found that protesters were terrified of what they called "the parties." They said these parties, which controlled parts of the security forces, had assassinated activists. They said that security forces "answer to [the parties] and not to the government. Some later identified these parties as Asaib Ahl al-Haq, led by Qais al-Khazali, who was recently put on the US terrorist list, and the Badr Organization, led by Hadi al-Amiri, whom many believe will soon take control of the PMU. Armed groups in recent years have often been linked to Iraqi political parties. One parliamentarian told Al-Monitor last month that incorporating armed groups into politics is "necessary to get them to stop using their guns and keep them busy." There is no other way, he said. Many Iraqis now seem to have no conception of political parties that are not linked to armed groups. It's unclear whether fresh elections and the protesters' other demands will reduce corruption, unemployment and poverty. Many taking part in Fridays demonstrations seem to have shifted their attention, for the moment, to declaring no to both the United States and Iran. Texas is to become the first US state to stop accepting refugees, using an executive order signed by Donald Trump. Republican governor Greg Abbott sparked fierce criticism as he announced the state would opt out of the US governments resettlement programme, as per Mr Trumps new order allowing states to do so. In a letter to secretary of state Mike Pompeo, he described Texas as one of the most welcoming states for refugees but argued it had carried out more than its share in resettling refugees. Texas took in 1,697 refugees in the 2018 fiscal year more than any other state, but a huge drop from the 4,768 resettled in the previous year. Since 2002, Texas has resettled an estimated 88,300 refugees, second only to California, according to the Pew Research Centre. Mr Trumps executive order in September decreed that state officials must give written consent for agencies to resettle refugees beyond June 2020. Governors in 42 states have since done so. 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 Mr Abbott argued Texas instead had a responsibility to dedicate available resources to those who are already here, including refugees, migrants, and the homeless indeed, all Texans. But this justification saw him accused of playing politics with vulnerable peoples lives by American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU) legal director for Texas, who denounced the decision as shameful. Playing politics with the lives of vulnerable people, and scapegoating those seeking asylum on our southern border to cover for his own dishonest and reprehensible decision to end Texass tradition of welcoming refugees, said ACLUs Andre Segura. What a disgrace to our state. Dallas county judge Clay Jenkins the countys chief official said he had met refugees in Dallas who had previously served as interpreters or aides for US soldiers, adding: You have people who are fleeing violence, people who are assisting us in the war on terror, who are having the door slammed in their faces. A former immigration policy official at the Department for Homeland Security, Amanda Baran, said: From a brown, Syrian girl who immigrated to Texas in 1987, to refugees: apologies for his abhorrent behaviour, but Greg Abbott is a hatemonger who does not represent Texas values. But Mr Abbott complained Texas had been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system, saying some 100,000 migrants had been apprehended along the states southern border in May 2019 alone. The mayors of major Texan metropolitan areas in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston asked Mr Abbott to reconsider, and sent the federal government letters making clear they are still willing to welcome refugees. Regardless of where someone is from, who they are or what they believe, there is a home for them in Houston, said Houston's mayor Sylvester Turner. Our welcoming spirit has led to our city becoming the national leader in refugee resettlement. Mr Trump has introduced a number of punitive immigration policies, including heavily-maligned family separations, and has been accused of trying to backhandedly dismantle the asylum system by signing deportation deals resembling "safe third country agreements" with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, where many people are already fleeing north as a result of violence or poor economic conditions. Stephen Colbert jokingly gives Donald Trump idea of having crocodiles at Mexico border in 2015 interview He has slashed the number of refugees allowed into the country for the 2020 fiscal year to a historic low of 18,000. Some 30,000 refugees were resettled the previous year. With Texas the first state to make use of his executive order, it wasnt immediately clear how Mr Abbotts decision might affect any currently pending refugee cases. The governors of states yet to agree to take in more refugees are all Republicans and are from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Wyoming. In response to Mr Abbott's letter, Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar shared a line from The New Colossus Emma Lazarus 1883 sonnet, which is displayed on the Statue of Libertys pedestal. With silent lips. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Ms Omar quoted. She added: These are the words that welcomed me and millions of refugees. I still believe in those values. We shall overcome. Additional reporting by AP Human rights activists have given the Malawi Police Service five days to arrest police officers implicated in the sexual assault of 17 women and girls during post-election protests on the outskirts of the capital on Oct. 8. The activists gave the ultimatum Thursday, during a protest march to police headquarters in Lilongwe where they questioned the police inspector. Police say they are investigating the allegations. Human Rights Defenders Coalition organized the demonstration, which attracted thousands of protesters, following the expiration of another five-day ultimatum that rights groups gave police in December to arrest the suspects. Barbra Banda, chairperson of the NGO Gender Coordination Network, presented the petition to police. "There are demands that we have made in the petition that the perpetrators should be immediately arrested and that the course of justice should take its place," Banda said. The NGO Gender Coordination Network says it has recorded evidence from several victims, including three girls who said police raped them in their homes. Malawi's Human Rights Commission also has released its findings that police raped at least eight women and sexually violated several others, including girls, during October's post-election unrest. During Thursday's demonstration, protesters said they did not want police to provide protection, but instead asked the military to provide security during the march. "You can see this is really a show of anger from the women that they dont want the people who are being alleged to have committed rape to be the people who also give protection, so there is conflict there," Banda said. "And we are saying police have got a lot of work to do to restore the trust with the public." Malawi Police Deputy Inspector General John Nyondo received the petition. He said police launched a fresh investigation into the matter on Dec. 31, and it would be complete in a few days. "As we are talking now, they (investigators) are on the ground," Nyondo said. "They must identify and make sure that all those who were involved and who reasonably think that they did it, must be arrested and the law will take its course and will be prosecuted. Nineteen-year-old Agnes, who is not using her real name, is one of the alleged victims. She told VOA that what victims need now is compensation. "We already have statements recorded by the police preparing for the court case where we will provide evidence and identify those who sexually harassed us so that we should be compensated for what they did to us," she said. The Women Lawyers Association, which has been offering free legal assistance to the victims, has volunteered to represent the women in court. LAS VEGAS - Democratic presidential candidates descended on Nevada on Saturday in an attempt to build relationships with Latino voters and win the coveted endorsement of the powerful casino workers Culinary Union. Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, both running as Midwestern moderates whove warned against liberal plans to move the U.S. to a government-run health insurance system, pitched themselves Saturday morning to Culinary Union workers, who prize their robust health plans. Klobuchar, a Minnesota senator, said the Medicare for All proposals like those put out by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren might sound really good on a bumper sticker but would cause millions of Americans to lose their current health insurance, including the plans the casino workers bargained hard for. All of that work, I dont want it to go down the drain, Klobuchar said during her appearance at the workers union hall just off the Las Vegas Strip. Buttigieg, who took the stage after Klobuchar left, made a similar point as he pushed his plan to offer government-run Medicare insurance to those who want it. I believe that if its the best answer for everybody, well, then everybody will choose it anyway, said the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Visits from Klobuchar, Buttigieg and former Vice-President Joe Biden came a little more than a month before early caucus voting starts in Nevada, the third state to weigh in on the primary race. Biden has maintained a top spot in Nevada polls. In the most recent poll of the state, released Thursday by Fox News, he has a slight lead over Bernie Sanders, followed by Elizabeth Warren and Tom Steyer, with Buttigieg trailing slightly. Klobuchar, who has only recently established her campaign in Nevada, has been polling in low single digits. Biden held a town hall-style meeting at a high school in north Las Vegas with Latino and immigrant advocacy group Mi Familia Vota. Nevada, considered the first state to test a candidates appeal before a diverse population, is a minority-majority state thats about 29% Latino. Hispanic voters are a key constituency for Democrats in the state, along with labour unions. Biden spoke to an audience of about 200, mostly people of colour, packed into chairs and on stairways to listen. The former vice-president said he has no Hispanic heritage but that he understands what its like to be a second-class citizen, growing up Irish Catholic in his Scranton, Pennsylvania, neighbourhood. We were considered sort of the bottom of the rung, he said. Mi Familia Vota leader Hector Sanchez Barba asked Biden if hed commit to having four Latinos in his Cabinet. Biden wouldnt commit to any specific number but said he would have a significant number of Latinos in his Cabinet, along with Latinos serving as core members of his senior White House team. Latinos make up 25% of every single solitary person in school in America today. The idea that we are not going to have overwhelming representation of Latinos in my Cabinet says were not going to move forward as a country, he said. You are the future. The biggest immigrant organization in Nevada is the Culinary Union, 60,000 strong, mostly women and mostly Latinos, and one of the most important endorsements in Nevada Democratic politics. The Culinary Unions leaders have not yet said if they will endorse in the primary. The unions parent organization, Unite Here, will decide at the end of the month whether to endorse. If it doesnt, Culinary may endorse on its own, according to Culinary spokeswoman Bethany Khan. Biden, Warren and Sanders all made their pitch to the union in December. While Warren sidestepped discussion of her Medicare for All plan to move the country away from private insurance, Sanders took on the issue directly and was heckled by some in the audience. But all three of those candidates, who are much better known, received more enthusiastic receptions at their earlier visits than Klobuchar and Buttigeg did Saturday. Klobuchar told jokes and touted her familys long union membership as she warmed up the crowd. Buttigieg drew whoops and claps as he broke into Spanish several times during his speech. Biden, while answering a question about Latino representation at his event, apologized that he couldnt speak Spanish. He said he took five years of French in high school and college and was still made fun of when he tried to speak that language. Later Saturday afternoon, Buttigieg held a town hall at a high school across town, where he drew an enthusiastic audience that appeared to be at least 700 people. Sharon Sampsel, 61, said she would like to see a woman in the White House but that shes going to caucus for Buttigieg, saying he has the most winnable, stable, middle-of-the-road, commonsense platform thats out there. CHICAGO -- O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport have installed boxes for travelers to dispose of recreational marijuana before they get on the plane. The cannabis amnesty boxes, as they're called, are stationed just past each Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, said Maggie Huynh, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Police Department. The police aren't targeting travelers with cannabis, and it's not illegal to have it at the airport, Huynh said. But possessing marijuana is still illegal under federal law, and air space is regulated by the federal government. The boxes give people an opportunity to ensure they're not breaking federal law and won't run into an issue when they land at their destination, Huynh said. "We're 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." ADVERTISEMENT TSA doesn't search for weed at security checkpoints, according to its website. But its agents are obligated to report any violations of federal law to local police, TSA spokeswoman Sari Koshetz said. TSA agents will not weigh the amount in someone's possession before turning them over to police, Koshetz said. "In the event a substance that appears illegal is discovered during security screening, our officers will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer, who then follow their own procedures," Koshetz said. Illinois residents can legally possess up to 30 grams of marijuana, or about an ounce, in Illinois and out-of-state residents can have half that. The boxes are owned by the Department of Aviation and serviced by the police. Police officers will regularly empty the boxes, file a report for the items inside and dispose of any surrendered marijuana like they would narcotics, Huynh said. The boxes were installed at each airport last week, just as legal weed sales began in Illinois. Chicago airports weren't the first to install marijuana disposal boxes. McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas has amnesty boxes outside of the terminals where passengers can surrender marijuana or anything else they don't want to take through security. Airports in other states that allow recreational marijuana give travelers additional options. In Juneau, Alaska, police give passengers stopped with legally purchased marijuana a chance to leave it somewhere for safekeeping, like in their car or with a friend. ADVERTISEMENT Illinois' first day of recreational marijuana sales on Jan. 1 marked one of the strongest showings of any state in the history of pot legalization. Shops sold more than $10.8 million worth of recreational weed in the first five days of sales. A handful of shops - including one near Midway Airport - had to halt recreational weed sales as they deal with product shortages. Some dispensaries don't expect recreational sales to start again until later this week. (CNN) Thousands of activists marched in several major cities across Australia on Friday, calling on the government to act on the climate crisis and do more to stop the bushfires that continue to ravage large swathes of the country. The protests, organized by national student organization Uni Students for Climate Justice, were set to take place in nine cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, indicating widespread public discontent after months of increasingly deadly fires. New South Wales police told CNN more than 30,000 people attended the climate change protest in Sydney. Organizers put the number between 50,000 and 60,000 people. "The bushfires are devastating communities and our government is not doing enough to stop it," Ambrose Hayes, 14, told CNN at a rally in Sydney. "The Morrison government needs to act before it's too late, before we reach a tipping point, before these impacts get worse than they already are." Protesters carried signs that read "Koalas Not Coal," "Change the System, Not the Climate" and "Sack ScoMo," with many directing their anger at Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has faced heavy criticism for what they see as a lackluster response to the fires and for his climate policies, as well as support for coal mines. "We've had decades to deal with it and successive governments have done nothing. The Earth is a finite resource. You can't have an economy on a dead planet," said Kris Stevens, who traveled to Sydney from the city of Dubbo in New South Wales (NSW). Friday's protests pushed for five main demands: funding for firefighters, relief and aid for affected communities, land and water sovereignty for indigenous communities, an immediate transition toward renewable energy, and a "just transition" for workers in the fossil fuel industry. A total of 27 people have died this fire season, around 2,000 homes have been destroyed and an estimated billion animals have been affected. State and federal authorities have been scrambling to respond, with thousands of firefighters on the ground and billions of dollars allocated in federal aid. But climate activists say it's not enough. "We're protesting this Friday because we're outraged about our government's criminal negligence about the bushfire crisis, exacerbated by climate change," said Uni Students for Climate Justice on its Facebook page. "We are protesting to give a voice to the tens of thousands of people who want real action on climate change and real funding for relief services." Authorities had urged protesters to postpone the marches due to dangerous fire conditions and limited resources. Victoria Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Tim Hansen said on Wednesday that the police force was already stretched thin and fatigued, and the protests would be a "distraction" and a "resource drain" on a day forecast to be hot and dangerous. The organizers pushed back, posting on Facebook that the police, the media and the state government were "trying to paint ordinary people who are fed up with their lies, theft and criminal negligence as being a drain on emergency services." Pressure on Morrison Morrison has faced growing anger and frustration from the public as the fires continue to spiral out of control. He was widely criticized for taking a vacation to Hawaii as fires raged in NSW last month. During a visit last week to the fire-ravaged town of Cobargo, the Prime Minister was heckled by furious residents who had lost their homes. "You're an idiot," one resident shouted at him. He has also been accused of initially playing down the severity of the fires. "The strategy up until Christmas was to downplay importance of the emergency, to make it seem like another episode of fires ... nothing to see here, move on," said Frank Jotzo, Director of the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy at Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy. "That really jarred with the very obvious never before seen dimensions of this disaster and it would really grate with anyone who had a direct experience of these fires." "The government has simply looked uncaring, and it looked like the political position of the government, including with regards to its position on climate change, seemed to be more important than even the acknowledgment of the magnitude of the disaster," said Jotzo. Morrison has defended his government's response to the fires and set up a National Bushfire Recovery Agency to coordinate the response to rebuilding communities. His administration has allocated 2 billion Australian dollars ($1.4 billion) in federal aid, to help rebuild vital infrastructure like schools and health facilities struck by fire. The Prime Minister earlier said up to US$4,200 will go to each of the volunteer firefighters battling blazes for more than 10 days. Other relief measures include compensated pay and extra leave for volunteer firefighters. Cash payments of 1,000 Australian dollars ($690) are also available to those who have lost homes or loved ones in the fires. The federal government has also sent in military assistance like army personnel, air force aircraft and navy cruisers for firefighting, evacuation, search and rescue, and clean-up efforts. "The tone and nature has really changed over the last week or so. There is now a clear acknowledgment that it is the absolute top priority for the federal government in Australia," said Jotzo. Activists on Friday, however, said the recovery fund was "totally inadequate" and called for the fire service to be fully funded. "It's scandalous that we have to rely so heavily on volunteers and charity to stop whole towns from being wiped out! We demand full funding for our fire services," Uni Students for Climate Justice said on Facebook. Climate policies under scrutiny Morrison has also been accused of not doing enough to address the climate crisis, which experts say is making natural disasters like fires go from bad to worse. Summers in Australia are always hot and dry -- but fire seasons have been arriving earlier and spreading with greater intensity. "The science is telling us ... these extreme heat conditions we've seen this year might occur naturally once every 350 years," said climate scientist and former federal climate commissioner Tim Flannery. "But once you add in the influence of the human-emitted greenhouse gases, we're likely to see those conditions once every eight years." Flannery added that coal was "a national addiction," and the link between government and the fossil fuel industry was "almost complete." Critics of the Morrison administration have pointed to his history of climate skepticism and support for coal mines. In 2017, Morrison then treasurer made his position clear when he brought a lump of coal into Parliament. "This is coal. Don't be afraid, don't be scared," he said, to jeers from the opposition. "It's coal that has ensured for over 100 years that Australia has enjoyed an energy-competitive advantage that has delivered prosperity to Australian businesses." Since then, his climate rhetoric has softened a little he has acknowledged the link between climate change and extreme weather, and asserted his commitment to reduce emissions. But he also said the government would only pursue "sensible" policies, and that there wasn't "a single policy, whether it be climate or otherwise," that can fully protect Australia against the fires. Jotzo said climate change has been a "really poisonous issue politically for about a decade in Australia." "Morrison took a very decisive stance against climate change policy in the election campaign in 2019," he said. "He was subsequently locked into a position by his government of not doing much on climate change." That policy of inaction is threatening to divide Australian society, said Flannery, "because people are deeply angered by the betrayal of one government after the other on this issue." "We have a significant minority of Australian parliamentarians who are welded-on climate skeptics. And even if the seas were lapping at their chins and their hair was on fire as a result of climate change, I don't think they would change their mind," he continued. Anger over government inaction on the climate crisis was evident at the march in Sydney. "This is unacceptable, we want our Prime Minister to listen to the youth. He hasn't been listening to his voters. This is not what a Prime Minister should be doing," said 14-year-old Hayes, who spoke at the rally. Scientists have been warning for years that a disaster of this magnitude could happen, but government agencies failed to take heed and prepare, Jotzo said, adding that there is now enormous domestic and international pressure on the Australian government to make meaningful climate change policies. "The fires are a wake up call to that, and I am optimistic that it will result in a real shake up in how we think about these extreme weather events," he added. Extreme weather returns The protests come as wildfires across Australia's southern states were expected to worsen on Friday, as hot, dry winds gust into the area, New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said in a press conference. There were 137 fires burning in New South Wales as around 3,300 firefighters battled conditions that the fire service described as "difficult and erratic." On the border between Victoria and NSW, two fires the Green Valley fire and Dunns Road fire have connected, making a combined fire covering 545,785 hectares (1.3 million acres). In Victoria, emergency fire warnings were in place for several areas, telling people to evacuate. The Victorian Country Fire Authority warned residents still in Combienbar town, "You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave." Strong winds southwesterly winds of 70 to 100 kilometers per hour (43-62 miles per hour) were expected to hit the region overnight, complicating firefighting efforts. "These next few hours are going to be very, very challenging," Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said, according to CNN affiliate Nine News. This story was first published on CNN.com "Tens of thousands protest Australian PM's climate policies amid bushfire crisis" This is an historic red letter day for the Irish language, Sinn Feins president has declared. Mary Lou McDonald said the decision to bestow official recognition was only the start and the language would evolve and deepen. She added it was about marking a standard for inclusivity right across society. This is not about winners or losers, this is about a society that makes room for everyone. She said it was an important day for recognition of Irish identity. The Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle has met today and decided to re-enter the power sharing institutions and nominate ministers to the Executive - @MaryLouMcDonald pic.twitter.com/9uckmurFeP Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) January 10, 2020 She added: I would say to Irish language activists take heart from the fact that this is now an historic moment because for the first time we have official recognition. She said everyone who embraced diversity and respect across the island of Ireland should regard that as a positive thing. Activists who have campaigned to strengthen the place of Irish have given a guarded welcome to the deal. They said the plan drafted by the British and Irish Governments following three years of talks with the Stormont parties fell far short of their key demand of a stand-alone Irish language act. A commissioner would help protect the language while a translation hub would provide services across the devolved Government at Stormont. We have delivered Acht Gaeilge. We have an Irish language commissioner to develop language standards, official status and increased funding for the language. I want to commend the activism of @dreamdearg over the course of the last three years. pic.twitter.com/LpNjyYcU3T Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) January 10, 2020 The Sinn Fein leader dismissed suggestions the DUP could have a veto on the commissioners work due to its links to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. There would also be additional support for Ulster Scots, including in education. Ms McDonald said: There is a lot more work to do and I fully expect that Irish language activists will continue to press for progress, I encourage them to do that. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, meeting EU counterparts for crisis talks, urged that "nothing must be swept under the table" as that "would be the breeding ground for new mistrust" towards Iran. (Photo: AFP/John Thys) Europe has led efforts to save the 2015 accord, gravely undermined by Trump's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and Iran's subsequent winding down of its compliance, but to little effect. After an afternoon of talks with ministers, Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, reiterated Europe's continuing support for the deal but warned it may be doomed. "We want to save this deal if it's possible," he said, warning that negotiating a new pact would be a "very complex, highly technical process" that would take a long time. Friday's meeting did not discuss triggering the deal's dispute resolution mechanism, which could ultimately lead to the UN Security Council reimposing sanctions on Iran. "Maybe we cannot avoid that the JCPOA finally is being cancelled because the dispute mechanism can be triggered and I cannot exclude that this happens," Borrell said, using an abbreviation for the deal's formal name. The three European parties to the pact - Britain, France and Germany - have all stressed their commitment to saving it, in defiance of a call by Trump this week to join him in walking away. France and Germany have warned for some time that unless Iran returns to full compliance with the terms of the deal, they may trigger the dispute mechanism. But the Europeans are expected to wait for UN inspectors to report on what Iran is doing on the ground following its latest announcement. Earlier Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned that without action, Iran could soon be in a position to develop the bomb. "If they continue to unravel the Vienna accord then yes in quite a short period, between one and two years, they could have a nuclear weapon, which is unimaginable," he told France's RTL radio. Several other ministers at the talks restated the EU's continuing determination to preserve the deal, which they say is vital for non-proliferation and regional security. But Lithuania's Linas Linkevicius said that without some substantial change, "it will be difficult to believe that this agreement could be alive". CALL FOR CRASH PROBE Friday's highly unusual emergency meeting was called in response to soaring Middle East tensions following the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in an American drone strike. Fears of all-out war have subsided since US President Donald Trump made a statement on Wednesday saying Tehran appeared to be "standing down" after firing missiles - without causing casualties - at US troops based in Iraq. But the fatal crash of a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran in the midst of the crisis was on ministers' minds, with several urging Tehran to carry out a transparent inquiry. Reports from several Western capitals indicated that the crash of the Boeing 737 - which killed 176 people - appeared to have been caused by an Iranian air defence missile. "This is more than tragic ... the important thing now is that everything is completely investigated," said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas as he arrived for the talks. "Nothing must be swept under the table, because if that were the case, it would be the breeding ground for new mistrust." His Dutch counterpart Stef Blok echoed his call, saying it was "very likely" an Iranian missile brought the plane down. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg added his voice to the calls for transparency and said he had "no reason to not believe" alliance members Britain and Canada when they blamed a missile for the crash. Also Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaik told a Kiev briefing that a team of his country's experts had been given access to the plane's black box flight recorders and were receiving "full cooperation" from the Iranian authorities. LIBYA WORRIES Also on the ministers' agenda was the crisis in Libya, where the UN-backed government is under threat from rival strongman Khalifa Haftar. European powers fear the ongoing chaos in Libya could lead to a fresh wave of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean, or allow the Islamic State group to gain a foothold to launch attacks. Borrell warned that the crisis could "spiral out of control" and called for a ceasefire. An EU diplomat said the ministers gave unanimous backing to a planned international conference in Berlin, with Germany delegated to represent the bloc as a whole. Kabul, Jan 11 : Afghan forces, during a cleanup operation, have killed at least 18 Taliban militants in the country's Takhar province, officials said on Saturday. The operation, backed by military planes, was conducted over the last two days in the troubled Darqad district of the province, resulting in the death of at least 18 Taliban fighters and injury of 11 others, Xinhua reported citing an Army statement. The government forces also cleared Norkhil village of the insurgents and destroyed three of their hideouts, during the mop-up, the statement said. Taliban militants who are in control of parts of the restive Darqad district have not commented yet. The Arch-eparchy of Asmara recently conducted a workshop on the meaning and celebration of what are referred to as Sacraments of Christian Initiation, namely Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Fr Teame Ghebrehohanes, -Asmara, Eritrea. The workshop was attended by all parish priests of the Eparchy of Asmara. Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam presented a brief historical background of the three Sacraments during which he stressed the origin, background and how to celebrate them. He gave detailed information about the past, present and future style of celebration and the meaning of Sacraments of Christian Initiation. In the Eastern Catholic rite, the three Sacraments are conferred at the same time Archbishop Tesfamariam explained that initially, the Church in the Latin Rite tied the three Sacraments together but later for pastoral and other reasons, they came to be celebrated separately. However, in the majority of Eastern Catholic Churches, all three Sacraments are administered at the same time. After listening to the presentation, the priests resolved to similarly provide these three Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the same time. Overcoming pastoral challenges Participants then extensively discussed practical and pastoral challenges that may occur in providing the three Sacraments together and how to handle them. Among other topics discussed during this meeting were Rubrics in the Ge-ez Rite celebration of the Eucharist. An evaluation of the implementation of directives and ordinances given by the Holy See in 1996 was also made. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), has appointed Raj Mohan Srinivasan as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the network. Prior to joining the network, Raj Mohan was in an entrepreneurial role. With over three decades of global experience across organizations such as IBM, Oracle and an entrepreneurial venture, Raj Mohans expertise lies in Business and IT Strategy, leading business transformation, strategic execution with a deep market focus and financial acumen. He has advised clients across industries in their business strategies, market & product positioning, whilst defining the roadmap for their digital businesses, multi-media and IT platforms. He has hands-on experience in providing solutions on cognitive, Big Data and Analytics on Enterprise Tech Platforms. He holds a Post Graduate degree in Operations Research & Computer Applications from NIT Trichy and is certified as a Global Transformation consultant by Booz Allen and Boston Consulting Group. He is also a certified Corporate Director, from the Institute of Directors, India. A winner of the Malcom Baldrige Award in 1993, he has authored publications on Artificial Intelligence and has two patents in the Knowledge Management Domain. N.P. Singh, Managing Director & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), SPN welcomes Raj Mohan Srinivasan as Chief Information Officer (CIO). With over 30 years of varied industry experience, Raj will be a key contributor for the companys technology and IT strategy. I am confident that his varied work experience will be instrumental in shaping the business roadmap for the network. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Kazakhstan and Malaysia expressed mutual interest in the further deepening of the bilateral political cooperation, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The interest was expressed during bilateral meeting between Kazakhstans Ambassador to Malaysia Bolat Imanbayev and Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Saifuddin Abdullah, held in Malaysia. During the meeting, the diplomats discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation on topical issues of bilateral cooperation. Imanbayev noted that Nur-Sultan attaches great importance to the promotion of bilateral relations with Kuala Lumpur to the level of comprehensive partnership. In turn, Abdullah noted that during the period since establishment of the diplomatic relations between Nur-Sultan and Kuala Lumpur, a strong and trusting cooperation has been set. Diplomats also expressed mutual interest to further deepen the bilateral political cooperation and maintaining the regular political contacts at the higher and highest levels. Talking about economic relations, diplomats noted the desire of the two countries to deepen bilateral cooperation with an emphasis on trade, economy and investment. The parties also expressed satisfaction with the annual growth of mutual trade, which, increased five times during nine months of 2019 compared to the same period of 2018 year and exceeded $600 million. The diplomats also discussed main issues on international agenda, prospects for cooperation in international and regional organizations, including United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh UAE, Abu Dhabi (PANA) - Inaction when it comes to fighting back against damaging climate change is not an option, the President of the UN General Assembly, Tijani Muhammad-Bande, told a major energy conference in Abu Dhabi on Friday The images of cars, motorbikes and trucks careering through the sands of the Saudi desert are wonderfully dramatic but the shadow of climate change is lengthening across the Dakar Rally. For 42 years this convoy of gas-guzzling vehicles has billowed exhaust fumes across the sands of Africa, South America and now Saudi Arabia, incurring the wrath of the environmentalists. In response, the rally is taking its first baby steps towards a more climate friendly race. For Anne Lassman-Trappier, mobility manager of the France nature environment association (FNE), the Dakar is "way off beam". "It still interests some people but it's no longer in step with history," she says. The penny appears to have dropped with the rally organisers who are displaying their desire to go green. "When you have a motor sport, you know very well that you are not in tune with the times," admits David Castera, the new boss of the Dakar. "We have 350 vehicles that drive every day which obviously says something but we are working on it," he said. - Electric SUV - For several years, the race has implemented a carbon offset programme in the Amazon. The rally also serves as a laboratory for the development of new vehicles. In 2017, a 100 percent electric car managed to finish the race after two failures in previous years. The car sponsored by Acciona, the Spanish renewable energy and construction giant, completed the rally in 52nd place, 82 hours 31 minutes 48seconds behind the winner, Stephane Peterhansel. It was not an ideal advertisement for electric racing but it was a good start. This year, a hybrid truck is making its competitive debut. After five stages, the crew of team Riwald were second to last. Again, it is at least an indication that hybrids can survive the conditions. "The electric system is only charged while driving, so there is no need for a generator or charger," says Dutch driver Gert Huzink. The vehicle "is simply refuelled by the internal process of the truck". On the sidelines, an electric SUV is also carrying out tests, with experienced nine-time Dakar driver Guerlain Chicherit at the wheel. "Today, we are facing certain realities and motor sport must evolve," said the Frenchman. "You have to accept that things change and live with the times." With a 60 kWh battery and two electric motors, the Odyssey 21 can reach a top speed of 200kph and go from 0 to 100 in 4.5 seconds with very little noise. - Silence is golden - "It's very surprising," admits Chicherit. "In motorsport, there is a bit of a fantasy around noise. But after driving a week in the desert in a car that makes no noise, I can tell you that it is much better." The team overseeing the experiment aims to enter competition next year. Their big problem in a race where stages are often 600 kilometres or more is that a battery will only run for 50km before it needs recharging. "The ambition is to be successful in 2023 or 2024," says Chicherit. "We are realistic. But we have to start by doing it in 2021. We are going to be the guinea pig, I am aware of that and I am ready to do it. It makes the project more exciting." One day the Dakar Rally might have to go 100 per cent electric. "It's going to happen, I am sure of it", says Theophile Cousin, the engineer behind the electric SUV. For Lassman-Trappier, this reshaping of the machines could give new meaning to the race. "If we change the type of race completely to one which favours vehicles without fossil fuel and run in the desert, that makes a lot more sense," she said. The call certainly appears to have been heard in the organisers' office where plans are afoot to stage "within two years" a new truck category which would be 100 percent hybrid. The whispers across the sands also suggest that there may be a new category for electric cars. The Dakar Rally has come under fire from environmentalists Dakar Rally director David Castera says the organisers are looking to make the race more environmentally friendly Organisers say there will be a hybrid truck category "within two years" Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jon Afrizal and Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jambi and Jakarta Sat, January 11, 2020 After a shock revelation that Reynhard Sinaga, an Indonesian student who was studying for a Ph.D in Manchester, was found guilty of sexually assaulting scores of men, and named the most prolific rapist in British criminal history, friends have come forward to reveal his difficult childhood in Jambi. Born in 1983 as the first son of Saibun Sinaga, a businessman in the plantation and property sectors, he went to a popular Catholic elementary school that was attended by affluent families in Jambi city, the capital of the province of the same name. He studied from 1989 to 1998 before the family moved to Depok, West Java. Lidya, a friend who went to the same private elementary school with him, remembered him as a smart student who loved reading books. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Union minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday asked the Congress and those opposing the CAA whether Rohingyas and Pakistani infiltrators should get Indian citizenship and not the Hindu and Sikh refugees from the neighbouring country. Anybody staying in India should chant "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", the minister for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries said here at a meeting to aware people about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. "I would like to ask the Congress and the tukde tukde gang whether Rohingyas, Pakistani infiltrators should be given citizenship? And should Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan be denied citizenship? If they have courage, they should answer in yes or no," Singh said. Members of the minority community are being attacked in Pakistan and many temples there have been demolished, he said. Singh said the 'tukde tukde gang' is active in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, which witnessed violence last week, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is trying to do politics there. 'Tukde-Tukde gang' is a term often used by right-wing parties to attack the opposition, particularly Left and Left- backed outfits as well as those who support them. He said Muslims in India need not panic as the CAA will not snatch away anyone's citizenship, but those infiltrating into the country would not get it. "The new law simply aims at according citizenship to religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Some parties like the Congress are trying to spread false information about CAA and create disturbance in the country," Singh said. The minister asserted that anyone staying in India should chant "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". Had all the Muslims shifted to Pakistan and Hindus stayed in India during and after partition, there would not have been any necessity of the CAA, the BJP leader said. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is not being implemented in the country now and so, there is no need for discussion on the NRC at present, Singh said. "The National Population Register (NPR) is linked to the Census process and needs to be updated. However, some people are trying to spread rumours about the NPR for no reason," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) QUETTA: The death toll from a suicide bombing at a mosque in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta rose to 15 on Saturday, officials said.The blast during Friday evening prayers wounded at least 20 other people, police said. "Two of the wounded people died overnight in the hospital," said provincial home minister Zia Langove, adding that six people were still in a critical condition. Islamic State claimed its suicide bomber carried out the attack to target an Afghan Taliban seminary. "The US condemns this heinous terrorist attack in a place of worship," Paul Jones, the US ambassador to Pakistan, said in a statement. "I extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives." Live TV Mineral and gas-rich Baluchistan, of which Quetta is the capital, is at the centre of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of China`s Belt and Road project. But violence in the province has fuelled concerns about the security of projects such as a planned energy link from western China to Pakistan`s southern port of Gwadar. The attack was the second in the city this week, while police said they had foiled another by killing a suicide attacker in Rawalpindi city near Islamabad after he shot and killed two policemen. The Taliban denied in a statement that some of its members, including a senior commander, were killed. Local officials in Quetta`s police and district administration would not confirm whether the Dar-ul-Aloom Shariah seminary belonged to the Afghan Taliban under a state policy which denies the presence of the group on its soil. However, two officials said on condition of anonymity that the seminary was part of the Afghan Taliban. Baluchistan has faced an insurgency by separatist and nationalist groups who want a greater share in revenues earned from the local resources. Islamist militants, including Islamic State which consists of splinters from local Taliban and sectarian groups, also have a strong presence in the region. Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., speaks during the unveiling of the Surface Pro 3 at an event in New York on May 20, 2014. At Microsoft's annual hardware event in October, product chief Panos Panay wanted to show the audience just how easy it is to repair the company's new laptop. Pacing the stage while holding a Surface Laptop 3, Panay lifted the keyboard case right off the device, revealing removable storage and internal parts held together with simple magnets instead of unwieldy adhesive. The audience cheered. It was a big moment for Microsoft, whose Surface devices have been panned for years for being difficult for consumers and service providers to fix, relative to rival devices from Dell and HP. "Being able to repair and service a product without at all impacting any of the beauty of that, and the elegance, is critical," Panay told the crowd of Microsoft enthusiasts and employees. Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker and second-most valuable publicly traded U.S. company, only gets 5% of revenue from devices. But the company has been busy reinvigorating the line with new chip options and new devices, like the two-screened Surface Neo that will run a forthcoming variant of Windows. When people spend $1,000 on a laptop, the price of a Surface Laptop 3, they'd generally prefer to keep their maintenance costs down. That's been a weakness for Microsoft, whose two prior Surface laptops both received "repairability scores" of zero out of 10 from iFixit, a company that sells repair equipment and rips apart gadgets to reveal their guts. The Surface Pro detachable tablets were given scores of one and two over the years by iFixit, and the Surface Pro 7 tablet, announced in October, received a one. Weeks after the October unveiling of the Laptop Surface 3, iFixit recognized what Panay was showing off, coming out with a score of five. A month later, iFixit gave the Surface Pro X tablet, featuring a Qualcomm chip, a six and said it was "cautiously optimistic" about the device "since ripping into the Surface Laptop 3." It was the highest score yet for a Microsoft-branded desktop, laptop or tablet. While all Lily Kings novels have won prizes and attention, her fourth novel, Euphoria (2014), a historical about anthropologist Margaret Mead, was her breakout (although she hit my radar with 2010s Father of the Rain). Now shes back with a new stunner: Writers & Lovers, Groves lead spring title, publishing March 3. Writers & Lovers centers on a young woman struggling to have a creative life. Casey Peabody is 31, in the sixth year of writing her novel, waitressing, living in a rented room, ignoring her health and debts, and, most sadly, mourning her mothers sudden death. And theres the love triangle: Caseys conflicted involvement with two completely different men. King says Writers & Lovers was her third attempt at a novel after Euphoria. But when my mother died unexpectedly, I was unable to write for months except for journaling. Then this book came as though it were there all along. I had always wanted to write about trying to writeto write what it felt like. I wanted to write about my late 20s and early 30s. That period of my life was so intense. I was looking at a dead end, hanging on to a dream and wondering how to connect that dream to the other things I wanted. There are times in your life that are indelible, and this was a time that I could relive. Expanding on this idea, King refers to Faulkner, who said, The past is never dead. Its not even past. The first paragraph of Writers & Lovers was a road map for the book, King says. She started with a situation and had to follow it with no clear idea of how it would end. After talking with King, I went back to the book and saw that I had highlighted that first paragraph: I have a pact with myself not to think about money in the morning. Im like a teenager trying not to think about sex. But Im also trying not to think about sex. Or Luke. Or death. Which means not thinking about my mother, who died on vacation last winter. There are so many things I cant think about in order to write in the morning. King tells me that she only sends off complete manuscripts (after many drafts, she adds). Her agent, Julie Barer of the Book Group, says, When I finished reading Writers & Lovers, I was glad I hadnt seen it before. I was so overcome with emotion and awe. Lily writes about being a womanthe feelings of wanting, of rejection. Can you dare to dream? The surprise of it was wonderful. King feels most anxious when she sends in the manuscript. Im not very confident at this pointits scary she says. So when Julie called me up after reading it and was crying, it was one of the best moments of my life. Kings first agent, Wendy Weil, died in 2012 after the publication of her third book, Father of the Rain. Afterward, King says, she courted Barer: Shed never heard of me. She had no idea who I was after three books. I told her my idea for Euphoria thinking she must be saying to herself, Oh, no, Margaret Mead? Anthropologists? But I went to her office for a 10-minute meeting and stayed for hours. Barer laughs when I recount this story. She said that? Of course I knew who she was. I loved all her books and said I would represent her without seeing a word. I didnt care what she was writing. My mother used to say, Shed look good in a paper bag. Well, Lily could write the copy on the back of a cereal box and it would be great. I took her on in October of 2012. She delivered Euphoria in April 2013. I knew that Lily could write about Margaret Mead, but the book wouldnt be about Margaret Mead. Lily is fascinated by love, by that space within us that craves to be connected. For Barer, Euphoria and Writers & Lovers are both about women trying to carve out a path, making choices and sacrifices to reach a goal. At Grove, Elisabeth Schmitz has been Kings editor for 20 years, starting with her debut, The Pleasing Hour, which she won at auction and published in 1999. King spoke to the final editors back then and settled on Grove. Elisabeth had such good ideas Ive been with them ever since, she says. Every book Lily writes has its own world, Schmitz says. In Writers & Lovers, shes looking at that leap from youth to adulthood when youre at the edge of a cliff. The book is about awakening, sex, professional choices and wanting everything at once: a creative life, health, love. Schmitz saw the manuscript for Writers & Lovers in November 2018. She and King worked on it, but with no major changes; it was finished in June 2019. Early readers have been enthusiastic. King has been on three prepub tours, attended regional shows, and will do a 15-city tour when the book is out. This is one of Groves biggest deals, according to Schmitzin the high six figures. The publisher has world rights for Writers & Lovers and for Kings other books, and foreign rights have sold in Canada, England, and Germany. There was also a substantial audio deal. At the end of our interview, King wants to emphasize that a big impetus in writing this book was to encourage young women writers. There are so many books about men becoming writers, I wanted to write one about women becoming writers. I needed this when I was startingthe encouragement to stay with the dream. Rep. Anthony Brown of Maryland has endorsed Pete Buttigieg for president. Who is Anthony Brown? His biggest claim to fame is that he managed to lose a race for governor of Maryland to a Republican, something many of us thought was nearly impossible to do. Brown is important for Buttigiegs purposes, though, because he is African-American and member of the congressional black caucus. Buttigieg is desperately seeking African-American support, of which, if the polls are correct, he has virtually none. However, I want to focus not on the politics of Browns endorsement but rather on his rationale. Brown stated, in part: Our country needs a president who can heal our divides and restore decency to our nations highest office. Ironically, this claim came the day after Buttigieg blamed Trump, along with Iran, for the accidental shooting down by the Iranians of a Ukrainian passenger jet. This is the guy who is going to heal our divides? Buttigiegs charge is execrable. Whatever the foreseeable consequences of our killing Irans head terrorist, Gen. Soleimani, might have been, they certainly did not include Iran accidentally attacking a civilian aircraft with no Americans aboard. Does anyone imagine that Buttigieg would have said such a thing if, after Bill Clinton ordered those cruise missile strikes against Afghanistan and Sudan in 1998, the Afghans or the Sudanese had accidentally shot down a passenger jet? Does anyone imagine that, in similar circumstances, Buttigieg would have made this allegation against President Obama? Of course he wouldnt have. Pete Buttigieg has taken the blame America first mindset to a level even Jeanne Kirkpatrick might have had trouble imagining when she gave her famous speech about it. He has done so out of sheer political opportunism. This slimy politician isnt going to heal America. Indeed, if Buttigieg becomes president, he will be fair game for just the kind of cheap shot he has taken at Trump. His attempt to blame Trump for the downing of the Ukrainian plane should be held against him by all Trump supporters, however lukewarm, for the duration of his presidency (if America is saddled with it). Ukraine on Saturday demanded that Iran punish those guilty for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner and compensate victims while praising Tehran for cooperating with an "objective" investigation. Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky was due to discuss the incident with his Iranian counterpart President Hassan Rouhani at 5:00 pm local time (1500 GMT), his press office said. "We expect Iran... to bring the guilty to the courts," the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling also for the "payment of compensation" and the return of remains. Tehran admitted Saturday that it accidentally downed the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane, killing all 176 people on board on Wednesday, shortly after launching missiles at bases hosting US forces in Iraq. Rouhani said Tehran "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake". Tehran has invited the United States, Ukraine, Canada and others to join the crash investigation. Kiev said that Iran had cooperated with its experts and it expects an objective probe. Tehran has handed Ukrainian experts enough data including "all the photos, videos and other materials" to show the investigation "will be carried out objectively and promptly," Zelensky's office said. "The political part of the work is finished," it added. It published photos of experts examining the scene and close-ups of holes in the fuselage and shrapnel damage. Ukraine said Friday its experts dispatched to Iran had been granted access to the flight's black boxes, debris from the plane, the crash site and to recordings of conversations between the pilot and the airport control tower. Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's national security and defence council which is coordinating the probe, told AFP Kiev did not yet have evidence on where the missile was produced, only that it was "launched from Iranian soil." Zelensky said earlier that Ukraine hoped the inquiry would be pursued "without deliberate delay and without obstruction." He urged "total access" for the 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an "official apology". - 'Absolutely irresponsible' - UIA vice president Igor Sosnovsky told a news conference in Kiev on Saturday that Tehran should have closed the airport due to the escalation of regional tensions following the US assassination of a top Iranian general. "It's absolutely irresponsible," Sosnovsky said, accusing Iran of failing to protect ordinary citizens while "playing at war." "They were obliged to close the airport. Obliged! Then shoot as much as you like." Iran said a missile operator shot down the Boeing 737 after mistaking it for a cruise missile at a time when threats were at the highest level. The majority of passengers on UIA Flight PS752 from Tehran to Kiev were Iranian-Canadian dual nationals but also included Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes Many in Kiev have compared the crash to the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 killing 298 people over eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists are fighting government forces. Moscow has denied the findings of international investigators that a Russian BUK misile hit the Malaysian flight. "Iran has shown itself to be more civilised than Russia," pro-western Ukraine MP Volodymyr Ariev wrote on Facebook. "Tehran has admitted its guilt in three days while Russia continues to try to get out of it." The Mountain Top attorney charged criminally last year for fatally shooting an injured raccoon has filed federal lawsuits alleging the arresting officer harassed him after he beat the charges and that Luzerne County officials wrongfully stripped him of his license to carry a firearm. Larry Kansky, 62, of Wright Twp., drew controversy in May when he used his .38 Special to shoot the raccoon he found injured along the side of the road on West North Street. Prior to shooting the animal, Kansky repeatedly called 911 over an eight-hour span but received no response from city police or the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Police Officer Richard Harding charged Kansky with reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct, alleging he put passers-by in danger by firing his revolver in the city. But Magisterial District Judge Michael G. Dotzel dismissed the case in September, finding police failed to demonstrate Kanskys actions placed the public in danger. A complaint filed Thursday by Pittston attorney Cynthia L. Pollick alleges that on the morning of Dec. 31, Harding pulled up behind Kansky and began yelling and screaming that hed been looking for him. Harding, who was in full uniform, told Kansky he was a liar, no hero, and got lucky, the complaint alleges. (Kansky) attempted to get away from defendant police officer Richard Harding to no avail since he was frightened of him and had no firearm in his possession, but defendant police officer Richard Harding continued to come after (Kansky), the complaint said. The suit, which targets Harding, the City of Wilkes-Barre and Police Chief Joseph Coffay, alleges the city failed to train its officials on how to properly assess a probable cause, not to retaliate against a citizen who engaged in free speech, and not intimidate a citizen after successfully defending a criminal action. A second complaint filed against Luzerne County alleges the Luzerne County Sheriffs Office violated Kanskys due process rights when Sheriff Brian Szumski revoked his license to carry a firearm. The lawsuit alleges that on the day The Citizens Voice first reported on the case, Szumski revoked Kanskys license without any opportunity for Kansky to challenge the decision, threatening to pursue criminal charges if Kansky did not surrender his license within five days. The suit notes that in addition to being cleared of criminal wrongdoing, Kansky received Traceys Hope Hospice and Animal Rescues Animal Rights Award for going above and beyond the call of duty by euthanizing the raccoon. (The county was) aware of (Kanskys) protected activities and retaliated against him, causing him mental anxiety, stress and sleeplessness, and a continued campaign of harassment for having exercised his constitutional right to bear arms and exercise free speech, the lawsuit alleges. The complaints are seeking unspecified damages to be determined at trial. Coffay and County Manager Dave Pedri declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. By James Halpin, The Citizens Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (TNS) DETROIT Dylan Larkin scored a highlight-reel goal in regulation and the lone goal in the shootout Friday, lifting the Detroit Red Wings past the Ottawa Senators 3-2 at Little Caesars Arena. Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves in regulation and overtime for the Red Wings (12-30-3), who have won consecutive games for only the fourth time this season. The Senators have dropped six in a row (0-4-2). The Red Wings had an excellent opportunity to end it late in regulation or early in overtime on the power play but didnt generate much pressure. They nearly ended it midway through OT when Senators goaltender Marcus Hogberg made two saves on Valtteri Filppula and Mike Green hit the goal post. The Red Wings needed to kill a tripping penalty on Filppula late in OT to send it to a shootout, where Detroit is 1-1 this season. Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist and Filip Hronek recorded a pair of assists for the Red Wings. Bertuzzi opened the scoring at 14:55 of the first with his team-leading 16th goal. He redirected a long pass from Hronek past Hogberg. Larkin made it 2-0 at 5:32 of the second on a terrific individual effort, weaving his way through the offensive zone and cutting in front of the net to whip in a shot past Hogberg. It was his 11th goal and came on the power play. The Senators quickly got one back at 5:54, when Brady Tkachuks wraparound attempt deflected in off Detroit defenseman Patrik Nemeth. Colin White tied it at 2-2 on the power play at 10:42 with a net-front tip of a shot by Mike Reilly. SEATTLEOn the lumbering journey through squally seas off the Alaska Peninsula, most of the seven crab fishermen aboard the Scandies Rose were resting in bunks on New Years Eve when the boat suddenly began listing to the starboard side. The crew rushed to the cramped wheelhouse and quickly began distributing survival suits, but before they could fully get them on, the boat pitched over so far that they were sliding along the floor. Then the power went out. Two of the crewmen, Dean Gribble Jr. and Jon Lawler, managed to pull themselves out onto the tilted deck, where, through the murk of a North Pacific night, the reality of their situation became clear. The boat was being tossed in every direction by 20-foot swells and was sinking fast. Gale-force winds were crusting the ships surfaces with ice. Any chance of rescue was 275 storm-churned kilometres away. Gribble could see that he and his shipmate did not have long to live. He shouted to Lawler over the din of wind and groaning steel, I wonder what everyone else is doing for New Years Eve. The waters off Alaska and its chain of Aleutian Islands are home to some of the most productive fisheries in the world and have long drawn fishermen willing to brave the unforgiving seas to capture the bounty below. The daredevil days of the 1970s, when the race to catch seafood could leave dozens of fishermen dead each year, have given way to a culture that increasingly emphasizes safety, with catch limits, stability checks and survival gear. Yet fishing remains the nations second most dangerous profession, next to logging. The ocean off Alaska brings stories, as it always has, of horrendous tragedy and harrowing survival. And sometimes, like the agonizing tale of the Scandies Rose, it brings both at the same time. The crew had departed from Kodiak the day before, snacking on take-and-bake pizza and resting for the gruelling hours of work ahead. A 130-foot boat based in Seattle, the Scandies Rose was a seasoned ship backed by an experienced crew. It was loaded with stacks of pots to catch cod before moving on to the more lucrative target: 600,000 pounds of snow crab. As the boat headed into stormy weather, the conditions were nothing the Scandies Rose could not handle or had not handled before. The captain was Gary Cobban Jr., from a well-known fishing family in Kodiak. His son, David Cobban, was also in the crew. The other men who signed up to go Brock Rainey, Seth Rousseau-Gano, Arthur Ganacias and Lawler were also experienced fishermen. Looking for a final crew member in the days before departure, Lawler had called Gribble, who travelled up from the Seattle area to join them. Gribble had also grown up in the world of fishing. Like the others, he knew the risks. During one of his first seasons, he and his father helped find the body of a fisherman who died in the Bering Sea in 2005 in the sinking of the Big Valley a tragedy immortalized in the reality television series Deadliest Catch. The efforts to make the industry safer, and to help preserve threatened fisheries in the Bering Sea, have included an overhaul of how many boats are licensed to fish. That has meant that there are now fewer ships at sea at any one time, leaving those who fish in the Alaska winter much more alone. As the Scandies Rose sank, its life rafts were unreachable, stowed in containers at the top of the wheelhouse, which was already dipping toward the water line. Gribble and Lawler, standing by now on the upturned side of the boat, finished donning their orange survival suits and braced themselves as the waves sloshed higher. OK, here it comes. Here it is. Were going in, Gribble shouted. Were staying together, bro. A large wave smashed across the boat and cast them into the water, ending any hope of staying together. Alone in the roiling water, Gribble gasped for air and expected that death was imminent. Water had seeped into his immersion suit. He wondered what the best course was when all hope seemed lost. Do you suck in seawater to try and meet fate sooner? Do you wait for hypothermia to overtake you? He watched the bow of the Scandies Rose, now sticking straight up in the air, go under. Then, perhaps 10 minutes later, he saw a light in the distance: One of the life rafts had come loose from the boat and emerged from the sea. He swam to it, pushed along by the swells, and pulled himself in. Once aboard, he tried to make his voice heard above the crashing waves and finally heard a voice in return. It was Lawler, who managed to work his way to the raft. The centre of the raft, which was designed to hold eight people under an orange canopy with reflector strips, was filled with 4 feet of water. Soon after the men had pulled themselves in, the rafts lights went out. They fired off a couple of flares, though they had little hope that anyone would see them. There was no beacon to broadcast their location. The most immediate challenge was bracing the raft through the tumultuous waves that kept coming, so they leaned outward onto the octagonal sides. Off in the distance, they occasionally caught a glimpse of what appeared to be the lights of the Scandies Roses other life raft. In the frigid air 10 degrees Fahrenheit, with strong winds Gribble began dunking himself in the pool of water in the raft, which felt warmer. Presently, though, ice began forming on their suits and on the raft. The men distracted each other by making plans for the future: Gribble was getting ready for marriage, Lawler was preparing for the birth of his first child. God cant take me now, he thought as he stuck his head out of the raft looking for signs of rescue. Were not dying were not dying, they told each other. But, as minutes on the boat turned to hours, they didnt really believe it. Some 275 kilometres away in Kodiak, Coast Guard rescue crews had received the mayday call from the Scandies Rose. But though the fishing boat was equipped with an emergency beacon to broadcast a more precise location, it had not done so, perhaps because it was caught on the sinking vessel. A Coast Guard crew gathered to set up a rescue plan and then, half an hour before midnight 90 minutes after the mayday call the four-member crew set off in an MH-60 helicopter. Worried that fuel might be a problem, with so far to fly against a strong headwind, they limited their use of heat in the cabin. It took 2 1/2 hours to reach the scene, according to the Coast Guards timeline, and when they arrived, the conditions were formidable: minimal visibility, gusts of wind approaching 100 kph, seas as high as 30 feet. Soon after arriving, the pilots spotted some faint lights and a raft among the waves. Petty Officer 3rd Class Evan Grills, a 24-year-old aviation survival technician, prepared to drop down into the darkness. As he got to the door of the helicopter, the wind hit him, as did the rotor wash, as did his nerves. This was his first rescue mission. Much of his training as a rescue swimmer had been in swimming pools. A Florida native, he had come to Alaska last year for more training, but none of it came close to the conditions he was now looking at. This is happening, he thought. Ive got to go down there. Hitting the water, he swam to the raft and climbed in. It was empty. He climbed out of the raft and swam around the sides, then went back aboard one more time to make sure. Still nothing. Light in the Distance Disappointed, Grills returned to the helicopter and sat in shock. Then he got a tap on the shoulder. The pilots had spotted another raft. The two fishermen had seen the light of the helicopter approaching in the distance. To them, it had appeared to be a ship, so they groped around for the last flare that had been floating in their raft, diving into the pool of water to feel for it to no avail. They grabbed a flashlight and a light on one of the survival suits, hoping to signal the ship. Then, as its light grew closer, the men realized it was a helicopter. As the Coast Guard crew approached the second raft, the pilots warned that they had no more than 20 to 30 minutes left on scene before dwindling fuel would force them to head back to base. Grills dropped once again, but winds jostled the helicopter. The steel rescue cable, with Grills at the end of it, began swinging. Using hand signals, he worked with the flight mechanic to move up and down, timing the moves with the surging seas, at times getting dunked in seawater. After several attempts, he was able to drop right next to the raft. Lawler jumped in the water to begin the hoist. As Gribble took his turn, he looked over to his rescuer and offered a grateful half-joke: What took you guys so long? Searching for Others, and for Answers By the time both survivors had been retrieved, the helicopter had to rush back to Kodiak. As the Coast Guard shuttled Gribble and Lawler to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia, officers dispatched a steady rotation of aircraft to look for any more survivors. They searched over a span of 20 hours, covering 3,600 square kilometres, before suspending the operation. After Gribble and Lawler arrived at the hospital, the Cobbans family gathered there. The captains sister, Gerry Cobban Knagin, went in to meet the men who returned, resolving to hug both of them before asking about the rest of the crew. The family knew then that Cobban, his son and the others had not made it. Their job now was to help those who had survived. They made sure the two men had food, clothing and phones to reach their loved ones. Another sister, Deanna Cobban, said her brother had done his job as skipper, getting out a mayday call that gave the crew a chance at survival. It was up to the community on land to care for those who returned. Thats the job of the shore-based people you do whatever that crew needs, Deanna Cobban said. We took care of them until we got them on the plane to go home. New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Saturday restrained from releasing Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Chhapaak' movie without due credits to the lawyer who represented the acid attack survivor, Lakshmi Agarwal, in her legal battle. The restraint will be effective from January 15 in multiplexes and live streaming and for others from January 17. The court directed filmmaker Meghna Gulzar to give due credit to lawyer Aparna Bhat who fought the criminal case for the acid survivor on whose life the movie is based. It passed the order on a petition filed by Fox Studio challenging a trial court order which had directed the filmmakers to give credit to Bhat. Delhi's Patiala House Court had earlier this week passed an order granting an ex-parte interim mandatory injunction directed that the filmmaker has to carry a line "Aparna Bhat continues to fight cases of sexual and physical violence against women" during the screening of the film. Fox Studios then requested the Delhi High Court to set aside the trial court order. The petitioner submitted that if the order passed in a suit filed just one day before the release of the film, is not vacated, varied or modified, then the petitioner will suffer grave injustice and irreparable harm and injury. The movie, which hit the cinemas yesterday, is based on Laxmi's life. In 2005, at the age of 15, she was allegedly attacked by a spurned lover. Laxmi had to undergo several surgeries. Later, she started helping other acid attack survivors and promoted campaigns to stop such gruesome attacks. (ANI) Benton, La. Authorities say at least seven people have died as severe storms sweep across parts of the U.S. South, bringing high winds and unrelenting rain. The National Weather Service in Birmingham, Ala., said Saturday via Twitter that three people have been confirmed killed near Carrollton in Pickens County. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said that an "embedded tornado within a long line of intense thunderstorms" caused the deaths. Earlier Saturday, firefighters found the bodies of an elderly couple near their demolished trailer, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office said via Facebook. The winds were so strong that the home was moved 200 feet from its foundation. The deaths of the victims, who were the in-laws of a parish deputy, brings the storm-related toll in the state to three after a 75-year-old man was killed in Oil City, according to the Caddo Parish Coroner's Office. Raymond Holden was in bed when the tree fell on his home, crushing him. Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington said that a truck driver and a Benton police officer had a close call after being shocked by a downed power line. "A power line was hanging across the road and a eighteen wheeler truck ran into it and got hung up in it and the Benton officer got there to help him," Whittington said. Both were expected to survive. The National Weather Service in Shreveport estimated that a tornado, with about around 135 mph winds, touched down in Bossier Parish. Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas on Saturday morning were clear of the severe thunderstorms that had passed through the night before. One person died Friday night in Texas when a car flipped into a creek in Dallas. Additionally, lightning from Friday's stormy weather is suspected of causing two house fires in the North Texas cities of Burleson and Mansfield. Officials said no one was injured. Homes were damaged or destroyed in Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas on Friday, but no injuries were reported. Downed trees and power lines were widespread. More than 85,000 people without power in Alabama, according to Alabama Power. According to PowerOutage.us, Mississippi had more than 61,0000 power outages midday Saturday. About 35,000 customers were without power in Louisiana. Outages were reported from Texas to Michigan. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In Tennessee, Memphis Light, Gas and Water said about 23,000 customers were without power Saturday morning. Damage was widespread throughout Shelby County, Tennessee's most populous county that includes Memphis, including downed trees and power poles, some of which will need to be replaced, according to the utility. Entergy Arkansas reported nearly 42,000 power outages Saturday morning, mostly in the southeastern part of the state. Southwestern Electric Power Co. reported nearly 5,000 customers in East Texas were without power Saturday morning. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reported Saturday morning that portions of several highways in the southeastern part of the state were closed due to flooding. The Arkansas Department of Transportation reported that portions of several state highways across the state, particularly in the southeastern portion of Arkansas were closed because of downed trees and power lines and to flooding. On Alabama's Gulf Coast, Baldwin County canceled school activities including sporting events for Saturday. The National Weather Service warned of high winds and flooding and the potential for 10-foot-high waves on beaches, where northern visitors escaping the cold are a common sight during the winter. Many streams already are at or near flood levels because of earlier storms, and heavy rains could lead to flash flooding across the region, forecasters said. There is a special case to be made for extended generosity when it comes to compensating the front-line firefighters and victims of the summer bushfire crisis. The Morrison governments $2 billion Disaster Recovery Allowance pays bushfire victims 13 weeks of income support equivalent to the modest Newstart allowance. Unions and some business groups want that allowance to more than double, from $279.50 for a single adult with no children to the $740.80 per week minimum wage. Small-business owners support the ACTU proposal, saying a bigger cash injection is worth considering to help revive bushfire-ravaged towns. However, business groups have cast a sceptical eye over the idea. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is opposed to a fixed amount of compensation, saying it should be based on individual or community need. The discussion resurrects a debate about welfare payments and where governments should set the safety net for those reliant on assistance. The Business Council of Australia, former prime minister John Howard and welfare groups including the Australian Council of Social Service are united in their agreement that the Newstart allowance is too low to get disadvantaged people back on their feet. When it comes to helping bushfire victims in battered economies, it is equally important that the benchmark to stimulate recovery is not set too low. Republicans line up behind Ives as she looks to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten: Former U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, who lost his west suburban 6th District seat to Democrat Sean Casten in the 2018 midterms, already has endorsed Republican challenger Jeanne Ives, a former state representative, in this years election. But Ives says shes racking up more high-profile GOP endorsements including: Republican National Committeewoman Demetra Demonte; the Lake County Republican Party; Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison; the conservative Club for Growth PAC; FreedomWorks, a group closely tied to the tea party movement; the House Freedom Caucus, a GOP caucus in the U.S. House; and the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List. Historians, while writing Indias history before and after Independence, had ignored several important events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while invoking Tagore during a programme in Kolkata to dedicate four renovated heritage buildings to the nation on Saturday. It is very unfortunate that several important events were ignored when the countrys history was being written both during the British rule and after the Independence, he said while speaking at the Old Currency Building in Kolkata. The Prime Minister dedicated four refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata - Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall - to the nation on the first day of his two-day city visit. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore had written in 1903 that Indias history is not what we study before examinations. Some people came from outside. Sons killed their fathers. Brothers were killed by brothers. This is not Indias history, Tagore wrote, Modi said. He did not say, but it appeared that the Prime Minister was referring to the Mughal empire. Modi said the Centre was planning to develop the mint in Kolkata into a museum of coins and commerce. Out of the five galleries in Victoria Memorial, two are closed for a long period. This is not right. Efforts are going on to open them. The revolutionary contribution of Bengal during the freedom struggle should be showcased in the third gallery. Leaders including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Aurobindo Ghose and Khudiram Bose should find space, he added. Modi landed at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International airport in Kolkata in an Indian Air Force plane around 3:30 pm and was received by West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, Mayor of Kolkata Firhad Hakim and senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Modi was then flown to the Race Course in the heart of the city by an MI-17 chopper from where his convoy reached Raj Bhavan around 3:55 pm. At Raj Bhavan, he met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and also some industrialists. In the evening, Modi shared the dais with Banerjee when he unveiled the dynamic illumination with synchronised light and sound system of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge). Dhankhar, with whom Banerjee shares an acrimonious relation, was also present. The Prime Minister took a boat ride to reach Belur Math where he will spend the night. On Sunday, Modi is scheduled to take part in events marking the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. After that, he will then attend the 150th-anniversary celebration of the Kolkata Port Trust before flying back to Delhi. BENGALURU, India, Jan. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "Q3 results further underscore that we remain steadfast in our journey of sustained client relevance and deepening engagement with them, as they partner with us in navigating their next in the digital transformation era", said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD. "For us, this has translated into double digit growth year-to-date, leading to an increase in revenue guidance, accompanied by expanding operating margins." 40.8% YoY 9.5% YoY 1% QoQ 21.9% $1.8 bn Digital CC growth Cc growth CC growth Operating Margin Large deal signings Q3 20 revenues grew year-on-year by 8.6% in USD; 9.5% in constant currency Q3 20 revenues grew sequentially by 1.0% in USD and in constant currency Q3 20 Digital revenues at $1,318 million (40.6% of total revenues), year-on-year growth of 40.8% and sequential growth of 6.8% in constant currency (40.6% of total revenues), year-on-year growth of 40.8% and sequential growth of 6.8% in constant currency Q3 20 operating margin at 21.9%, 0.2% improvement over Q2 20 Year-to-date revenues grew by 11.1% in constant currency Year-to-date operating margin at 21.4%, within the margin guidance for the year Increased FY 20 revenue guidance; revised guidance is 10.0%-10.5% in constant currency Maintained FY 20 operating margin guidance range of 21%-23% 1. Financial Highlights Consolidated results under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) For the quarter ended December 31, 2019 Revenues were $3,243 million , growth of 8.6% YoY and 1% QoQ , growth of 8.6% YoY and 1% QoQ Operating profit was $711million , increase of 5.4% YoY and 2.2% QoQ. Operating margin was 21.9%. , increase of 5.4% YoY and 2.2% QoQ. Operating margin was 21.9%. Basic EPS was $0.15 , growth of 27.7% YoY and 10.2% QoQ , growth of 27.7% YoY and 10.2% QoQ For nine months ended December 31, 2019 Revenues were $9,583 million , growth of 9.7% YoY , growth of 9.7% YoY Operating profit was $2,049 million , growth of 0.6% YoY. Operating margin was 21.4%. , growth of 0.6% YoY. Operating margin was 21.4%. Basic EPS was $0.41 , growth of 9.7% YoY "Overall performance during the quarter was satisfactory on multiple counts broad-based growth, steady increase in client metrics and healthy large deal wins", said Pravin Rao, COO. "Large deal wins continue to be robust with growth of 56% so far this year. We had a further reduction in attrition, demonstrating the results of our continued efforts towards strengthening employee engagement and value proposition." "Operating margins improved further during the quarter driven by relentless cost optimization and operating leverage", said Nilanjan Roy, CFO. "Cash generation was extremely strong with cumulative free cash flow crossing $ 1.5 bn. Return on Equity increased further to 25.9% driven by margin expansion and increased shareholder payouts." 2. Update on Whistleblower Matters The company has issued a separate press release announcing conclusion of the independent investigation into allegations contained in the anonymous whistleblower complaints disclosed earlier. 3. Client wins & Testimonials We were selected by Telenet , a Belgian telecommunication provider as its preferred IT partner to deliver several digital and data initiatives for the next five years. Telenet plans to leverage Infosys' ecosystem to drive simplification of its existing landscape, build new digital and data capabilities, extract relevant insights from data and leverage existing talent more effectively. , a Belgian telecommunication provider as its preferred IT partner to deliver several digital and data initiatives for the next five years. Telenet plans to leverage Infosys' ecosystem to drive simplification of its existing landscape, build new digital and data capabilities, extract relevant insights from data and leverage existing talent more effectively. We entered a strategic long-term partnership with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) to support its digital transformation journey. Infosys will provide end-to-end IT infrastructure transformation of SGRE, including hybrid cloud transformation, roll-out of a software defined network, set-up of an intelligent service desk and digital workplace services. (SGRE) to support its digital transformation journey. Infosys will provide end-to-end IT infrastructure transformation of SGRE, including hybrid cloud transformation, roll-out of a software defined network, set-up of an intelligent service desk and digital workplace services. We were selected as the main supplier to deliver Volvo Cars ' digital transformation services for its Enterprise Digital Commercial Operations Applications and Products. As part of this engagement, Infosys will offer next generation application services leveraging its Global Delivery Model (GDM), agile delivery, automation and other service optimization levers to deliver effective service operations. ' digital transformation services for its Enterprise Digital Commercial Operations Applications and Products. As part of this engagement, Infosys will offer next generation application services leveraging its Global Delivery Model (GDM), agile delivery, automation and other service optimization levers to deliver effective service operations. Infosys entered an agreement with the Australian Federal Government's Services Australia to transform the entitlement calculation engine for the nation's welfare system. The project will enable Services Australia to more quickly implement policy changes for the benefit of Australians without disrupting services and deliver operational cost savings. The Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation (WPIT) programme will replace a significant portion of Centrelink's 30-year-old platform, modernizing the way Services Australia calculates entitlements for Australians needing government support. to transform the entitlement calculation engine for the nation's welfare system. The project will enable Services Australia to more quickly implement policy changes for the benefit of Australians without disrupting services and deliver operational cost savings. The Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation (WPIT) programme will replace a significant portion of Centrelink's 30-year-old platform, modernizing the way Services Australia calculates entitlements for Australians needing government support. Benjamin Kreider , Global Traceability Director, Mars Global Services , said, "At Mars, we are delighted to enter into a partnership with Infosys for our Digital Supply Chain initiative focused on improving the ongoing market traceability of all of our products, across all business segments, by using Infosys' Traceability Solution for the Food, Beverage, and CPG Industry on their TradeEdge Market Connect Platform. The efficiency and agility of this platform make it strongly suited to meet the unique needs of our industry, across a variety of ERP and warehouse management systems in our factories and third party manufacturers who service our global markets." , said, "At Mars, we are delighted to enter into a partnership with Infosys for our Digital Supply Chain initiative focused on improving the ongoing market traceability of all of our products, across all business segments, by using Infosys' Traceability Solution for the Food, Beverage, and CPG Industry on their TradeEdge Market Connect Platform. The efficiency and agility of this platform make it strongly suited to meet the unique needs of our industry, across a variety of ERP and warehouse management systems in our factories and third party manufacturers who service our global markets." Christian Bornfeld , Chief Innovation & Technology Officer (Group COO) and Executive Board Member at ABN AMRO Bank , said, "At ABN AMRO Bank, we're excited to be working with Infosys and accomplish our strategic goals and deliver this very key IT transformation in the coming years. Infosys' strategic investment in Cloud, Digital and DevOps has helped create best in class solutions and we are confident that this partnership will help us transform our IT environment in a timely and cost-effective way." , said, "At ABN AMRO Bank, we're excited to be working with Infosys and accomplish our strategic goals and deliver this very key IT transformation in the coming years. Infosys' strategic investment in Cloud, Digital and DevOps has helped create best in class solutions and we are confident that this partnership will help us transform our IT environment in a timely and cost-effective way." Jean-Luc Galzi, CIO, GEFCO, said: "We are pleased to begin our digital transformation journey with Infosys. Digital innovation in the supply chain sector is key and our new partnership will help strengthen GEFCO's expertise and bring value to our customers." 4. Recognitions Infosys was recognized as a 2020 Top Employer in Australia , Singapore and Japan , and Our flagship global internship program, Infosys InStep, has been ranked number one in the Best Overall Internship category in 2020 Internship Rankings by Vault.com, a career intelligence organization Recognized as a leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Application Testing Services, Worldwide Ranked as a leader in IDC MarketScape: Asia/Pacific (Excluding Japan) Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation Services 2019 Vendor Assessment (Excluding Japan) Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation Services 2019 Vendor Assessment Rated as a leader by ARC Advisory for Engineering Services by Global Service Providers in India Global Market 2018-2023 Global Market 2018-2023 Recognized in HFS Top 10: IOT Service Providers 2019 Recognized in HFS Top 10: ServiceNow Services 2019 Recognized in HFS Top 10: Retail and CPG Services 2019 Recognized in HFS Top 10: Insurance Services Providers 2019 Recognized in HFS Top 10: Life Science Services 2019 Recognized in HFS Top 10: Industry 4.0 Services Recognized as a leader in NelsonHall's Agile & DevOps Services NEAT Analysis Recognized as a leader in Enterprise Blockchain Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2020 by Everest Group Recognized as a leader in Application and Digital Banking PEAK Matrix Vendor Assessment 2020 by Everest Group Recognized as a leader in Healthcare Payer Digital Services PEAK Matrix 2020 by Everest Group Recognized as a leader in Application and Digital Services Capital Markets Peak Matrix Vendor Assessment 2020 by Everest Group Recognized as leader in Insurance Application and Digital Services Life Insurance Peak Matrix 2020 by Everest Group Awarded the Excellent Partner Award by Mazda Infosys Finacle won the Juniper Research Future Digital Awards in the category Banking Innovation for Best Banking Platform 2019 Infosys Finacle awarded the Banking Technology Awards for Best Use of Emerging or Innovative Technology Infosys Finacle won the IBS Global FinTech Innovation Awards 2019 for Best Payments System implementation Conferred with the 2019 Asia IP Elite award excellence in developing innovative Intellectual Property (IP) functions and creating IP value Compass The career enablement platform at Infosys won the international Association for Talent Development (ATD) Excellence in Practice Award Awarded the IT Ratna of Karnataka for 2018-19 for outstanding performance in IT Exports and being the biggest exporter and employer in the state of Karnataka Awarded the NASSCOM Corporate Award for Excellence (2019) for the Inclusion of Persons with Disability About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients to navigate their digital transformation, leveraging our teams from over 46 countries. With over three decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements mentioned in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Infosys Limited and subsidiaries Audited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as at: (Dollars in millions except equity share data) December 31, 2019 March 31, 2019 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 2,422 2,829 Current investments 431 958 Trade receivables 2,529 2,144 Unbilled revenue 914 777 Prepayments and other current assets 820 827 Income tax assets 1 61 Derivative financial instruments 5 48 Total current assets 7,122 7,644 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 1,896 1,931 Right-of-use assets(B4) 540 - Goodwill 584 512 Intangible assets 185 100 Non-current investments 594 670 Deferred income tax assets 195 199 Income tax assets 739 914 Other non-current assets 255 282 Total non-current assets 4,988 4,608 Total assets 12,110 12,252 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Trade payables 263 239 Lease liabilities(B4) 79 - Derivative financial instruments 13 2 Current income tax liabilities 216 227 Client deposits 2 4 Unearned revenue 438 406 Employee benefit obligations 268 234 Provisions 85 83 Other current liabilities 1,438 1,498 Total current liabilities 2,802 2,693 Non-current liabilities Lease liabilities(B4) 501 - Deferred income tax liabilities 88 98 Employee benefit obligations 6 6 Other non-current liabilities 136 55 Total liabilities 3,533 2,852 Equity Share capital- 5 ($0.16) par value 4,800,000,000 (4,800,000,000) equity shares authorized, issued and outstanding 4,239,766,436 (4,335,954,462) equity shares fully paid up, net of 18,781,564 (20,324,982) treasury shares as at December 31, 2019 (March 31, 2019) 332 339 Share premium 300 277 Retained earnings 10,458 11,248 Cash flow hedge reserve (2) 3 Other reserves 560 384 Capital redemption reserve 17 10 Other components of equity (3,141) (2,870) Total equity attributable to equity holders of the company 8,524 9,391 Non-controlling interests 53 9 Total equity 8,577 9,400 Total liabilities and equity 12,110 12,252 Infosys Limited and subsidiaries Audited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the period: (Dollars in millions except equity share and per equity share data) Three months ended December 31, 2019 Three months ended December 31, 2018 Nine months ended December 31, 2019 Nine months ended December 31, 2018 Revenues 3,243 2,987 9,583 8,740 Cost of sales 2,159 1,956 6,420 5,660 Gross profit 1,084 1,031 3,163 3,080 Operating expenses Selling and marketing expenses 169 161 502 464 Administrative expenses 204 195 612 578 Total operating expenses 373 356 1,114 1,042 Operating profit 711 675 2,049 2,038 Other income, net(A3) (B2) 116 105 312 317 Finance cost(B4) (6) - (18) - Reduction in the fair value of Disposal Group held for sale(A1) - - - (39) Adjustment in respect of excess of carrying amount over recoverable amount on reclassification from "Held for Sale" (A2) - (65) - (65) Profit before income taxes 821 715 2,343 2,251 Income tax expense 194 213 597 633 Net profit 627 502 1,746 1,618 Other comprehensive income Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: Re-measurements of the net defined benefit liability/asset, net (16) (4) (22) (3) Equity instrument through other comprehensive income, net (6) 8 (5) 10 (22) 4 (27) 7 Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: Fair valuation of investments, net (1) 6 1 (3) Fair value changes on derivatives designated as cash flow hedge, net (4) 8 (5) 5 Foreign currency translation (40) 295 (247) (634) (45) 309 (251) (632) Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax (67) 313 (278) (625) Total comprehensive income 560 815 1,468 993 Profit attributable to: Owners of the Company 626 502 1,741 1,618 Non-controlling interests 1 - 5 - 627 502 1,746 1,618 Total comprehensive income attributable to: Owners of the Company 559 815 1,465 993 Non-controlling interests 1 - 3 - 560 815 1,468 993 Earnings per equity share Basic ($) 0.15 0.12 0.41 0.37 Diluted ($) 0.15 0.12 0.41 0.37 Weighted average equity shares used in computing earnings per equity share Basic 4,239,607,543 4,347,673,466 4,263,569,478 4,347,130,342 Diluted 4,245,716,437 4,352,731,387 4,270,509,294 4,352,705,150 NOTES: A. Notes pertaining to previous quarters / periods In the quarter ended June 30, 2018 , the Company had recorded a reduction in the fair value amounting to $39 million in respect of its subsidiary Panaya. In the quarter ended December 31, 2018 , the Company had recorded an adjustment in respect of excess of carrying amount over recoverable amount of $65 million in respect of its subsidiary Skava Other income includes interest on income tax refunds amounting to $7 million for the three and nine month ended Dec 31, 2018 . B. Notes pertaining to the current quarter The audited interim condensed consolidated Balance sheet and Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three months and nine months ended December 31, 2019 have been taken on record at the Board meeting held on January 10, 2020 Other income includes interest on income tax refunds amounting to $34 million for the three month ended Dec 31, 2019 and $35 million for the nine month ended Dec 31, 2019 . A Fact Sheet providing the operating metrics of the Company can be downloaded from www.infosys.com. On account of adoption of IFRS 16- Leases effective April 1, 2019 . INR: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2019-2020/q3/documents/ifrs-inr-press-release.pdf Factsheet: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2019-2020/q3/documents/fact-sheet.pdf Contact Investor Relations Sandeep Mahindroo +91-80-3980-1018 [email protected] Media Relations Mehak Chawla +91-80-4156-3998 [email protected] Chiku Somaiya +1-71367-06752 [email protected] SOURCE Infosys One of Americas most conservative senators has teamed up with the Senates only socialist to try to limit Donald Trumps ability to send US forces to war in the Middle East. Utah Republican Mike Lee said he would co-sponsor Bernie Sanders No War With Iran Act, which would prevent federal funds being used for military action against Iran without Congresss express approval. In a joint statement to The Independent, Mr Lee and Mr Sanders a political independent who calls himself a democratic socialist and is running for the Democratic partys presidential nomination said that while they disagree on many issues, standing up for the Constitution is not about partisanship. The Founding Fathers were absolutely clear. They wanted to ensure that our country avoided needless conflict and they understood that presidential war-making would be harmful to our democracy, they said. That is why Article I of the Constitution vests Congressand only Congresswith the power to declare war and to direct government spending. The American peoples elected representatives have a duty to publicly debate and vote on military action before we send our brave service members into harms way or spend a penny on military hostilities. 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 While it might appear unusual for a self-proclaimed socialist such as Mr Sanders to find common cause with a Republican who came to the Senate in the 2010 Tea Party wave, this senatorial odd couple has worked together to stop a US war in the Middle East before. Last year, Mr Lee signed on to a Sanders-authoured bill to force an end to US involvement in Saudi Arabias war against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen. That effort passed both the House and Senate, but was vetoed by Mr Trump. An override attempt did not garner the two-thirds majority to force the bill into law over the presidents objections. Opposition to American intervention in foreign wars has long been a pet cause for the Utah Republican, who on Wednesday erupted in anger after Trump administration officials failed to explain the nature of the imminent threat Mr Trump cited to justify his decision to kill Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj Gen Qassem Soleimani with a drone strike. Speaking to reporters immediately after the briefings conclusion, Mr Lee called it "insulting, "demeaning" and "the worst briefing Ive seen, at least on a military issue during his Senate tenure. Mr Lee is not the only high-profile Republican to break with the president over the possibility of military action against Iran. When the House passed a resolution declaring that Mr Trump did not have congressional approval to conduct any new military actions against Iran, one of the 3 Republicans voting for the legislation was Florida Representative Matt Gaetz. Mr Gaetz has long been one of Mr Trumps staunchest defenders, but on Thursday told Fox News Tucker Carlson that the Democrat-backed bill was worthy of support because it said Mr Trump or any president needs congressional approval to drag our nation into another forever Middle East war. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the city on Saturday evening on a two-day visit amidst protests against the contentious CAA and "Go back" slogans. Modi on his arrival was greeted at the NSC Bose International Airport by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, city Mayor and state Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and other senior BJP leaders. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not present at the airport. The PM's visit comes at a time when West Bengal has been witnessing widespread protests against the contentious Act. Hundreds of protesters holding black flags demonstrated outside Kolkata airport gate number one crossing. The police had put up a barricade to prevent them from crossing over to the airport side. From the airport he took a chopper to the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) and from there left for the Raj Bhavan. As his convoy emerged outside the sprawling RCTC, protesters stood at the AJC Bose Road flyover flank and waved national flags and black flags and shouted slogans against CAA. During his visit, Modi held a one-on-one meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday evening. The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail and the BJP is pressing for its implementation. SFI activists assembled near Jadavpur University, Golpark, College Street, Hatibagan and Esplanade areas of the city with placards which read 'Students Against Fascism.' They burnt effigies of PM Modi and union home minister Amit Shah protesting against the "divisive Act". The Left Front activists staged protests on Saturday against the new citizenship law in various parts of North 24 Parganas district. The prime minister will dedicate to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata -- the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall. The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic buildings and put up new exhibits, while curating the old galleries. Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Saturday and Sunday. The prime minister and the chief minister will share the dais at programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present. Modi is likely to spend the night at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, on Saturday night. The West Bengal administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the visit. Heavy deployment of police personnel was made in different crucial points of the city namely Dharmatala, College Street, Golpark, Hatibagan, Jadavpur, Central Avenue owing to planned protests by several organisations affiliated to the Congress and Left Front parties against the CAA and the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Extinction Rebellion have accused police of a "deliberate attempt to silence" them after the climate protest group was included on a list of extremist organisations in a counter-terrorism report. Guidance issued by Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) as part of its anti-radicalisation training warned vulnerable young people and adults might be encouraged by climate activists to perform acts of violence by climate activists. Extinction Rebellion was included in the list alongside banned far-right and Islamist terror groups. The group, which uses peaceful protest and non-violent disruption to campaign for urgent action to address the climate emergency, called their inclusion astonishing and a "terrorism slur". It added in a statement: "How dare they? Children up and down the country are desperately fighting for a future. "Teachers, grandparents, nurses have been trying their best with loving nonviolence to get politicians and big business to do something about the dire state of our planet. And this is how the establishment responds." Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Show all 59 1 /59 Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads London, UK Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Trafalgar Square Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down London roads Angela Christofilou CTPSE, which co-ordinates police forces' counter-terrorism strategies in the South East, described the inclusion of Extinction Rebellion in the report as an "error of judgement" and said it would be reviewing the material. The document, first reported on by The Guardian, warns those influenced by the groups ideology may begin speaking in strong or emotive terms about environmental issues like climate change, ecology, species extinction, fracking, airport expansion or pollution. It adds students may neglect to attend school in order to attend protests, as well as taking part in planned school walk outs the latter a style of protest popularised by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg. In a section headed Why are they a threat? the guidance says an anti-establishment philosophy that seeks system change underlies its activism, adding that while non-violent against persons, the campaign encourages other law breaking activities. It also says police forces should watch out for the groups logo and associated slogans. The same pamphlet includes advice on spotting signs of radicalisation from neo-nazi group National Action and Al Muhajiroun an Islamist terror group with links to attacks including the 2019 London Bridge stabbing, the 2017 London Bridge attack and the 2013 murder of Lee Rigby. The guidance makes up part of the Prevent programme which trains and facilitates teachers, youth workers and others who work with young and vulnerable people in spotting and flagging up radicalisation. Critics have long held that the programme has a chilling effect on free speech and education. Paul Stephens, an Extinction Rebellion activist who was previously at Metropolitan Police detective sergeant, said: When are the police going to wake up? The climate and ecological emergency is the most serious threat to public safety in history and the longer this government fails to address it and continues to invest in fossil fuels, the greater the problem will be for the police. Who hasnt criticised our system of government in recent years? Are we all extremists? I have never seen anyone in Extinction Rebellion encourage violence in any way to anyone. Quite the reverse. As a former police officer of 34 years experience, I seriously doubt the political independence of those who published this nonsense. According to The Guardian, the group featured in a version of the document that was issued in November. It has since been recalled and the group is not classed as extremist. Detective Chief Superintendent Kath Barnes, head of CTPSE, said: I would like to make it quite clear that we do not classify Extinction Rebellion as an extremist organisation. The inclusion of Extinction Rebellion in this document was an error of judgement and we will now be reviewing all of the contents as a result. It was produced by CTPSE to assist our statutory partners including police forces and government organisations in identifying people who may be vulnerable as a result of their links to some organisations. The document was designed for a very specific audience who understand the complexities of the safeguarding environment we work within and who have statutory duties under Prevent. We are in the process of confirming who it has been shared with and recalling it. We as Counter Terrorism Policing, along with our partners, have a responsibility to protect vulnerable people. Officers are trained to spot those who may be vulnerable, and the membership of an organisation that supports environmental or animal welfare issues alone would not be a trigger. Coleg Cambria and Tata Steel join forces to train apprentices of the future This article is old - Published: Saturday, Jan 11th, 2020 The first learners to graduate from an innovative partnership between Coleg Cambria and an international steel giant have been celebrated at an awards presentation. The north east Wales college and Tata Steel have joined forces to deliver an NVQ Foundation Apprenticeship programme in Manufacturing. Thirty-one members of the inaugural cohort have successfully completed the NVQ level 2 diploma in Performing Manufacturing Operations and received their certificates at the steelmaking companys Flintshire-based operation. The group includes new and existing employees at Tata Steels Colorcoat production facility in Shotton. We have been working with the college for two years now and have never done anything like this before, so its a first for our Shotton site, said Paul Roberts, Training Facilitator at Tata Steel in Shotton. The qualification has taken up to 18 months to complete and I am delighted to see this recognition of the learners hard work. We are now moving into the next phase of academic learning and have interest from almost 50 people within the manufacturing team to take on NVQ Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications, so our partnership is growing stronger all the time. Peter Jones, Deputy Director of Work-based Engineering at Cambria, presented the certificates. He was joined by NVQ assessors Richard Turner, Carol Noble, Kris Jones and Graham Randles. Mr Jones said: The qualification has supported Tata Steels requirement to ensure all staff gain the appropriate training and competencies to work efficiently, effectively and safely in their roles. The Tata Steel operation in Shotton has really pushed forward in competency qualifications, with other team members completing NVQ Level 3 in Processing Industry Operations, and management completing Level 4 and Level 5 programmes. Congratulations to everyone who completed the course; we look forward to working together to help further develop and educate the workforce in the years ahead. For more on the wide range of courses and qualifications available at Coleg Cambria, visit the website: www.cambria.ac.uk Visit https://www.tatasteeleurope.com for more information on Tata Steel in Europe. Update 13 Jan, 7.30am: Chloe Clarke has been located safe and well. Gardai in Dublin are appealing for the public's help to find a missing teenager. 15-year-old Chloe Clarke was last seen in the Blanchardstown area last Wednesday, January 8. She is described as being 5'5", with brown hair and is of slim build - when she was last seen she was wearing a red jacket. Chloe is known to visit the Dublin 8 area. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the gardai in Blanchardstown on 01 666 7000. People oftentimes equate customer service with frustration and vice versa. These face-to-face and on the phone interactions are frequently stressful for both parties. The customer service representative generally is doing the best he or she can, but the people on the other end dont always feel like they are being adequately served. To help business leaders and employees develop better customer service skills and tactics, Central Community College-Columbus, in collaboration with Nebraska Extension and the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, is soon hosting a Reviving Customer Service seminar. The event is being held from 8:30 a.m. through noon on Wednesday at the Chamber, 753 33rd Ave. The event costs $65 per person. We will just be talking about things that people deal with in customer service and their forward-facing roles, said Elizabeth Smith, who serves as the leadership development trainer and coordinator for Central Community College. ... Its about teaching people about how to make those transactions more valuable for their customers, for them, to ensure that they are using proper word choice and communicating properly in all situations, including the more difficult ones." Through her role, Smith said she hosts various presentations throughout Central Community Colleges 25-county service area. This can be in the form of a setup much like people will see attending the Columbus event, or, it can be very personalized to meet a companys needs. We host soft-skill training throughout that 25-county service area, she said. I do public offerings like what we are doing up there at the Chamber in Columbus, and I do customized training where I would work with a specific business or industry to provide it for their employees directly. Smith noted how some of the course offerings will focus around adjusting peoples daily interactions with their work colleagues. While on its face these interactions are really about interpersonal skills, Smith noted how face-to-face interactions with co-workers are one form of customer service. I think people discount the fact that their co-workers are their customers as well, she said. So, internal customer service people may think that they dont have customers, but everybody does Your co-workers are your internal customers and oftentimes we take them for granted or dont think about how we interact with them because we think that weve built a relationship, or think we are afforded (something) to act a certain way. Our internal customers, potentially even more so than our external customers, deserve our respect and (good) treatment because they dont get a choice on whether they get to work with us. Your external customer has a choice, your internal one doesnt. Chamber President Jeanne Schieffer said that this is the perfect type of event to host on-site locally. "The Chamber is always looking for opportunities to meet the needs of its business members," Schieffer said. "And if you are in the service industry and you want to enhance the customer service you provide, we want to provide some training to help (your business) be the best it can be." If people are able to attend the seminar and take away just a few pointers that improve their customer service abilities it will be considered a victory, Smith said. If I can help them potentially interact with others in a more positive way then that is a win for me because that rolls down the hill to everybody, Smith said. Whether its a leadership role, whether its a co-worker-to-co-worker role, business-to-customer role, all of those things kind of come full circle." For more information regarding the seminar, those with questions are encouraged to contact Sue Mahlin at smahlin@cccneb.edu, or by calling 562-1409. Sam Pimper is the news editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at sam.pimper@lee.net Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New Ross character Richie Roche lived an alternative lifestyle and did it his own way DEAL OF THE WEEK Chans Mother Joins 37 Ink Family For her 37 Ink imprint, Dawn Davis nabbed North American rights to Jessamine Chans debut novel, The School for Good Mothers. Chan, a former reviews editor at PW, was represented by Meredith Kaffel Simonoff at DeFiore and Company. The book, 37 Ink said, is a literary, speculative novel about an anxiety-prone, 39-year-old Chinese-American single mom who, after leaving her infant daughter alone for an extended stretch, finds herself under the scrutiny of Child Protective Services. Forced to complete a yearlong parenting course to be reunited with her daughter, the heroine finds herself paired with a helper whom she must learn to love, like a child, in order to successfully graduate. The publisher said the book explores whether a bad mother can ever be redeemed while providing a biting evisceration of ideal upper-middle-class American parenting. Chan has an MFA from Columbia and has published short fiction in Epoch and Tin House. FROM THE U.S. Mandanna Builds Kingdom at Viking After an auction, Jenny Bak at Viking Childrens won world rights, for six figures, to Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom. The novel is the middle grade debut of Sangu Mandanna (author of the YA Celestial Trilogy) and, Viking said, was pitched as Inkheart meets Aru Shah and the End of Time. In it, the publisher elaborated, an 11-year-old girl who uses art to cope with her anxiety steps into the Indian-mythology-inspired world in her sketchbook to stop a demon king trying to escape into the real world. Aevitas Creative Managements Penny Moore negotiated the two-book deal on behalf of Mandanna, and the title is slated for a fall 2021 release. Nicieza Goes Suburban at Putnam Fabian Nicieza, a Marvel writer and cocreator of the character Deadpool, sold his debut novel to Putnam. Mark Tavani took North American rights at auction to Suburban Dicks, along with a second book, in a deal brokered by Albert Lee at UTA. Dicks, Tavani said, is fueled by spirited dialogue and spot-on suburban observations and follows the investigation of a small-town murder in New Jersey, conducted by two amateur sleuths: a former FBI profiler who is now pregnant and a Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist who now works for a local paper. Comparing the book to Lisa Lutzs The Spellman Files, Putnam said it features two characters who wind up revealing their communitys darkest secret while trying to reclaim their own identities in the process. Suburban Dicks is slated for publication in 2021. Belden Crosses Beattys Cuyahoga In a North American rights agreement, Kathy Belden at Scribner bought Pete Beattys debut novel, Cuyahoga. In the 1837-set picaresque, the publisher explained, a frontier hero named Big Son goes looking for paid work in two cities that are battling each other for the mantle of premiere metropolis of the West: Ohio City and Cleveland. Their rivalry has come to a boil over the building of a bridge across the Cuyahoga River, Scribner elaborated, and Big stumbles right into the kettle. The publisher said the book, set for fall 2020, nods to Looney Tunes and Flannery OConnor and that it elevates a slapstick frontier tale into a screwball origin myth for the Rust Belt. Jim Rutman at Sterling Lord represented Beatty, who has worked at a number of publishing houses and is currently an acquisitions editor and rights manager at the University of Alabama Press. Blackstone Grabs Nochers Hand In her first deal since joining Nancy Yost Literary Agency, Cheryl Pientka sold Shawn Nochers debut novel to Blackstone. Haila Williams took world rights to A Hand to Hold in Deep Water, which is scheduled for summer 2021. The novel by the Johns Hopkins Graduate School of Writing student is, Pientka said, an exquisite and deeply felt narrative that follows a teen mother in the 1970s who is separated from her five-year-old daughter by circumstances out of her control, and the daughter who returns to the family farm 30 years later as her own young child battles a devastating illness. With the United States and China still locked in a trade battle, non-Chinese tech companies in Asia are looking to seize on the opportunity and expand their influence in the tech industry. That maneuvering was on display at the Consumer Electronics Show this past week, one of the world's largest consumer technology trade shows where more than 4,500 companies put their latest innovations on display to impress the more than 175,000 attendees and to land deals with major retailers such as Walmart. Participation by Chinese companies was down slightly, while Taiwan's presence grew significantly according to the Consumer Technology Association, the group behind CES. Participation by companies from Taiwan, South Korea and Japan was up 23%, 20% and 11% respectively. Thailand sent its first ever delegation, which consisted of seven start-ups. Taiwan, a leader in the semiconductor and computer chip business, is already seeing some benefits from the U.S.-China trade dispute according to Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Yu-chin Hsu. Increased costs due to tariffs have pushed some Taiwanese companies to move manufacturing back to Taiwan from mainland China. "So the companies when they're moving back, now there is more manufacturing in Taiwan," Dr. Hsu said while attending CES. "You know, when you have more manufacturers in Taiwan, you look in the future, the start-up, the A.I., IoT industry, it's much, much easier to do the whole integration by integrating the applications, the software and hardware together." Like those from Taiwan, South Korean firms also turned out to CES in larger numbers, up 20% from last year with 294 total companies. Seoul Mayor Won-soon Park, a keynote speaker at CES 2020, pointed to Seoul's central location in Asia as a driver for interest from American firms. "Seoul has more than 30 cities with more than 5 million population within two hours, so that is the reason why there are so many U.S. or Western companies coming to Seoul," said Mayor Park. While participation from its neighbors was up, the total size of exhibit space occupied by Chinese companies was down almost 6% year over year. The CTA declined to provide numbers on how many Chinese companies participated in either 2019 or 2020. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presents China's top science award to Huang Xuhua (R) and Zeng Qingcun (L) during an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. Huang Xuhua is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering who worked at a research institute of the former China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and Zeng Qingcun is a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping presented China's top science award to Huang Xuhua and Zeng Qingcun on Friday for their outstanding contributions to scientific and technological innovation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, granted award medals and certificates to them at an annual ceremony held in Beijing to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements. Xi shook hands with them and expressed congratulations. Other leaders, including Li Keqiang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng, were also present. Huang Xuhua, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is the chief designer of the country's first-generation nuclear submarines. Born in Guangdong Province in 1926, Huang later joined a research institute of the former China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and has been engaged in the research and development of nuclear submarines for about 30 years. He won the Medal of the Republic in 2019 for his outstanding contributions to the nation. Zeng Qingcun, 85, is a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). His theory of numerical weather prediction solved the problems of timeliness and stability in calculating multi-scale weather change processes and is the basis of the global numerical weather prediction technology. Zeng's visionary study on global climate change has brought him a host of accolades and international acclaim, including the world's top prize for meteorological work. Friday's ceremony also honored 296 projects, with 46 winning the State Natural Science Award, 65 the State Technological Invention Award, and 185 the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Ten foreign experts won the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. SCI-TECH PUSH On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Premier Li Keqiang extended congratulations to award winners and thanked foreign experts for their support of China's science and technology development. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has made brilliant achievements in scientific and technological development, with the past year witnessing a number of internationally leading advances. Li noted that China is striving to achieve the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2020. The premier stressed the importance of following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, further implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and accelerating the in-depth integration of science and technology with the economy, in a bid to maintain the economic growth within a reasonable range and promote the high-quality development. He called for the strengthening of basic research as the foundation of sci-tech innovation. "We will increase financial support and guide social forces including enterprises to increase investment," Li said, adding that the mechanisms for ensuring funds, evaluating achievements and rewarding talent shall all be optimized. China will support researchers in concentrating on their work without distractions and create more original achievements by respecting rules and tolerating failures, Li said. Those who dedicated themselves to the scientific work despite decades of obscurity shall be commended and awarded, he said. The premier also stressed that sci-tech innovation shall address the urgent needs of economic development and people's livelihood. China will accelerate the development of key technologies and transforming research achievements to products to help speed up industrial upgrading, he said. Research and development shall be intensified in major disease prevention and control as well as environmental management so that more people will directly benefit from technology and innovation, he said. The premier emphasized the role of enterprises in technological innovation and called for efforts to improve their ability and willingness to invest more in innovation by implementing tax and fee deduction policies as well as respecting and protecting their intellectual property rights. To expand international cooperation in innovation, Li pledged to facilitate scientists and technicians as well as enterprises from various countries to come to China for exchanges and development. Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the ceremony, with about 3,300 people attending. Before the ceremony, Xi and other leaders met representatives of the award winners. DIVERSE ACHIEVEMENTS This year's ceremony highlighted major breakthroughs in basic research. Chemist Zhou Qilin, 63, and his team won the first-place prize of the State Natural Science Award for inventing a highly effective catalyst that has been widely used by giant pharmaceutical companies in drug production. Other research programs that were presented with the State Natural Science Award included studies on topological quantum materials, iron-based superconductors as well as the controllable growth and performance regulation of graphene. "Many perplexing problems look like technological ones. In fact, they are not backed by solid basic research. With no clear understanding of basic science problems, you cannot get original results," said Zhou. A batch of key technologies for industrial applications, such as the jetliner ARJ21 project, were also honored. Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the ARJ21 is China's first domestically developed turbo-fan regional passenger jetliner. Other awarded technologies applied in industries and large engineering projects included those for building large-scale tunnels and ensuring highway safety in geographically complicated and dangerous mountain areas, as well as for the automatic transmission hybrid power system for commercial vehicles. Awards were also given to animal studies, medical breakthroughs and agricultural technologies. Wei Fuwen, a CAS academician, and his colleagues won the second-place prize of the State Natural Science Award, for their research on giant pandas. They focused on the evolution of the ancient species and contributed to endangered species conservation. The team led by Sun Lingyun, a doctor at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in east China, won the State Technological Invention Award, for developing a stem cell treatment for lupus erythematosus. Other award winners related to diseases included studies on cross-species infection of the animal influenza virus in humans as well as the new pathogenesis and treatment of depression. Research programs associated with safe food and stable grain output, such as technologies for accurately detecting pollutants in agricultural products and cultivating new high-yield wheat varieties, also received awards. ARLINGTON, Texas The U.S. Army has decided to field an Israeli-made, long-range precision munition on attack helicopters as an interim solution to get after greater stand-off and long-range engagements. An Army Requirements Oversight Council decision has authorized the service to field a certain number of Rafaels Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) missiles ahead of a bigger decision on a plan for acquiring long-range precision munitions for the services current and future aviation fleets, Brig. Gen. Wally Rugen, who is in charge of Army aviation modernization, said at a Bell demonstration of its V-280 Valor tiltrotor helicopter on Jan. 8. That bigger decision has yet to go before the AROC, Rugen said, but after successful tests of the Spike system in 2019, the Army is moving forward to address a much-desired capability, particularly when considering how the service will fight in the future where greater stand-off to go up against enemy targets is paramount to successful operations. The service fired the Spike NLOS missile from AH-64 Apache attack helicopters both in Israel and at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, last year. Defense News was present for one of six multidomain operations-relevant shots fired from an E-model Apache at Yuma in August 2019. Multidomain operations is the Armys future warfighting concept that addresses the expectation that the service will be fighting not only on land but also in the maritime, air, space and cyber domains. And the Army wont be fighting alone, as the concept is focused on integration of the joint force and with allies and partners. The test shots were performed in challenging terrain. The AH-64 hid behind 1,600 feet of craggy mountain and took take aim at a target representing a Russian Pantsir medium-range, surface-to-air missile system on the opposite slope. In the shot witnessed by Defense News, the Apache flew just a couple of hundred feet above the highest obstacle in the desert when the missiles were fired. Story continues The missiles hit every target across nine total shots used to evaluate the system. The last missile firing resulted in the weapon hitting a moving target in the dark. While the evaluation of the Spike missile led to the Armys decision to acquire some of them for an interim system, it also helped the service define requirements for long-range precision munitions in terms of what it buys and how many it might need. Rugen would not detail how many Spike missiles the service will buy or when it plans to field those systems because briefings on Capitol Hill regarding its plans are ongoing. Lithuanias new Boxer combat vehicle packs a punch The one-star general told Defense News in a previous interview, When we look at what our critical path is, right now weve focused our critical path on the penetration phase of multidomain operations, he said, referring to the Armys war-fighting concept designed to go up against adversaries with strong defenses. We think that the quantities of these capabilities to conduct a penetration are going to be lower than, lets say, our munitions requirement for Hellfire or Joint Air-to-Ground Munitions, Rugen said. That latter weapon, JAGM, is the replacement for the Hellfire missile currently fired from manned and unmanned platforms in the Armys fleet. At the end of the day, once we penetrate and start dis-integrating, we can bring forth those current capabilities to conduct more dis-integration and exploitation, he said. There is a layered aspect to this, and when we look at our munitions strategy, where we do need some great sophistication, greater capability, we dont think we need the quantities like Hellfire, JAGM or rockets. The Columbus City Council has approved a beefed-up plan for dealing with the emerald ash borer beetle, which has already affected ash trees in Omaha and Lincoln. The city enhanced its policy regarding ash trees to include recommendations about the purchase of tree stock and their usage in existing landscapes. The city already has adopted policies to shy away from planting ash trees on city property, but now it is taking a few extra steps in order to help with the application for a grant for replacing the ash trees. One of the specifications for the grant is that theres a criteria that you have to follow, said Doug Moore, public property director for the City of Columbus. One of them is that you have to have an emerald ash policy in place. Weve had one in place, just not in writing. The emerald ash borer is an invasive species first found in the United States in 2002, specifically in Michigan. From there, it steadily spread throughout the Midwest. In recent years, it made its way to Omaha and Lincoln and it is currently eating away at those two cities ash tree supply. Ash trees only make up around 5-10 percent of Columbus tree supply. The emerald ash borer, if it does come to Columbus, would almost certainly eliminate those trees completely. It devastated all of the ash trees in Michigan and it has moved its way west (since then), Moore said. Once the ash borer is found in your community, it usually takes up to 10 years and it will take all your ash trees, whether theyre healthy or weak. The new policy recommends that people stop using the tree in landscapes and that businesses not sell the trees to people. Ash trees will continue to be removed and the city is promising to replace any ash trees that are removed with trees from the states desirable tree list. Moore said that the City has been proactive in trying to remove the trees and will continue to do so now that an official policy is in place. When we had ash trees on our property that were in decline, even if we knew it didnt have emerald ash borer, we were still removing them, Moore said. We dont have a high population of ash trees because we havent been planting them. Private property is exempt from this policy and the city will not force people to remove ash trees as a preventative measure. They will, though, be encouraged to remove them by their own means. Were not going to tell a citizen, We dont want you planting that, Moore said. We recommend that youre not going to plant them because eventually, youre going to lose some. If someone suspects that they have found emerald ash borer in their tree, they are encouraged to call their local Nebraska Extension office. Kelly Feehan, the local Extension educator for community environment, said that due to the number of ash borers that exist, people should get an accurate identification before they decide to get rid of their trees. There are different types of ash borers, Feehan said. The main thing is to have it positively identified. If they have concerns with an ash tree, they can call the extension office and we can come out and take a look at it. If they want to treat their tree to keep it alive at least a little bit longer, Feehan wants people to make absolutely sure that it is emerald ash borer before they make that decision. Now is when were telling people to be making that decision whether thats something that you want to do or not, Feehan said. You have to treat the tree every other year for the rest of its life. You will eventually lose the tree even if you treat it. Zach Roth is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at zachary.roth@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Have Sheriff Offices in North Carolina, possibly even Beaufort County's Sheriff Office, become too political in the discharging of their sworn constitutional duties? No, the sheriff is a constitutional officer. Yes, the Sheriff Office, on strong occasion, often reverts back to political patronage in the dispensation of their sworn constitutional duties. Malta's Labour Party was voting Saturday to elect its leader and the country's new premier after Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's downfall over the murder of an investigative journalist. Activist groups cast doubts however that his successor would bring about real change in the Mediterranean country, which they say has been taken over by "criminals". Dubbed the "one woman WikiLeaks", Daphne Caruana Galizia exposed corruption at the highest levels. She was killed in a car bomb on October 16, 2017 in an attack that made world headlines. Less than an hour before her death, she wrote on her blog: "There are crooks everywhere you look. The situation is desperate." Muscat, 45, had said in December he would quit following widespread anger over his perceived efforts to protect friends and allies from a probe into the murder. Some 17,500 Labour voters are expected to vote for the party's first mid-term prime minister in history. Muscat was set to resign Sunday once the results of the election were in. Two candidates are vying to take over as Labour leader and prime minister: deputy prime minister and health minister Chris Fearne, a 56-year old surgeon, and 42-year-old lawyer Robert Abela. Fearne has the backing of most cabinet members but Abela had been closing the gap in polls in the final week of the campaign, the Times of Malta said. Neither has criticised Muscat or referred to the Caruana Galizia killing in the run-up to the election. Both have insisted they represent continuity, highlighting their determination to keep the economy on its stellar trajectory. 'Reputation as pirates' "We have the reputation (in Malta) of being pirates. The reason is that a group of criminals have taken over our government," Manuel Delia, a member of the activist group Repubblika, told AFP. "We need change," she said. Martina Darmanin, a 24-year old academic, said the reporter's killing had been "a shock", and she had taken part in the regular demonstrations denouncing "the mafia in power". Story continues "As a member of the EU we want and we deserve better than this: good governance, rule of law," she said, adding that she was "fed up of hearing that I'm from a tax haven country". Repubblika plans to deliver a manifesto to the new prime minister calling for a clean up of politics and the economy as well as a revamp of the constitution to guarantee a genuine separation of powers. In an emotional farewell address Friday, Muscat said he was "sorry" for the killing, the investigation into which he has been accused of hampering. "I paid the highest price for this case to be solved under my watch," he said. The opposition Nationalist Party slammed Muscat's "surreal" speech, pointing out that it was Caruana Galiza who had paid that price. 'Indelible stain' Muscat's fall from power followed daily protests led by supporters of the Caruana Galizia family, who accuse him among other things of shielding his chief of staff and childhood friend Keith Schembri, who has been implicated in the murder. The journalist's family had called for Muscat to step down immediately, but support from his party and his own popularity -- linked to Malta's booming economy -- bought him time until the party election. Three men are on trial for allegedly detonating the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia, while a fourth -- powerful businessman Jorgen Fenech -- was charged as an accomplice after being detained as he tried to leave the country on his yacht.Fenech's arrest in November sparked the resignation of tourism minister Konrad Mizzi, who formerly served as energy minister, and Schembri. The murder and probe "cast an indelible stain on Muscat and his administration", Malta Today wrote on Saturday. (AFP) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday demanded an immediate report on the Quetta mosque blast during Friday prayers that killed at least 15 people and left 20 others injured in the restive Balochistan province, terming the incident as a condemnable "cowardly terrorist attack". The deadly blast came three days after a bomb explosion claimed two lives in Quetta. Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Khan condemned the explosion and demanded a report. "I have demanded an immediate report on the condemnable cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta targeting a mosque & people at prayers. Have asked prov govt to ensure all medical facilities are provided to the injured. Martyred DSP Haji Amanullah was a brave & exemplary officer," he said on Twitter. Khan said the best possible treatment would be given to the injured. The nature of the explosion, which occurred inside the mosque during Maghrib prayers in Ghousabad neighbourhood, was not known. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amanullah was among the 15 people killed in the incident, Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema said. According to some media reports, the slain police officer was the likely target. Last month, unidentified gunmen killed the DSP's son in Quetta, The Express Tribune reported. Twenty others were also injured in the blast, the report said. Law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area to investigate the incident. The mosque, which is located in a densely-populated Pashtun-majority area, was being searched by the bomb disposal squad and security personnel. TV footage showed debris and shattered glass spread on the floor of the mosque. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast. Pakistan military's media wing ISPR said that troops of the Frontier Corp (FC) Balochistan have reached the site and were carrying out joint search operation with the police. "Every possible assistance be given to police & civil administration. Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim," the ISPR quoted army chief General Qamar Bajwa as saying. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan condemned the incident and expressed grief at the loss of lives. Reacting to the incident, Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove condemned it, saying "terrorists were scared of Pakistan's development". "Internal and external enemies are making failed efforts to create panic and unrest in the country," he said in a statement. He said that "defeated terrorists will never be allowed to succeed". Talking about the casualties in the incident, Langove said the death toll might rise as condition of some of the injured was critical after they were shifted to the Civil Hospital for treatment. The blast occurred three days after two men were killed and over a dozen injured in a blast near a vehicle of the security forces in Quetta. In May last year, a bomb blast at a mosque in the provincial capital Quetta killed two people, including a prayer leader and injured 28 others. In August, an explosion took place inside a mosque during Friday prayers in the city. Bangladesh's Deputy Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam has cancelled his visit to India to speak at an event in New Delhi as it coincided with the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's UAE trip, the foreign office in Dhaka said on Saturday, rejecting as "misleading" some media reports citing other reasons for cancellation of the visit. Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Alam was invited to speak at the Indian External Affairs Ministry-backed Raisina Dialogue to be held from January 14-16. The annual dialogue offers a platform for discussion on global issues and is attended by foreign ministers, diplomats and experts. "The (Bangladesh foreign) Ministry would like to convey that State Minister Md Shahriar Alam was invited as a speaker at the Raisina Dialogue which coincides with his visit to UAE to accompany the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina," the foreign ministry said "As such State Minister Alam could not avail the participation," it said in a statement. Dhaka has sent a regret letter to Overseas Research Foundation (ORF), the organiser of the event in collaboration with India's Ministry of External Affairs, it said. "It may be noted that there was no bilateral engagement scheduled during the (Delhi) visit. The inability of his participation has no other connection," the statement said. The foreign ministry described as "misleading" some media reports in India citing other reasons for Alam's non-participation. READ | Pakistan's ISI And JMB Train 40 Rohingya In Bangladesh For Anti-India Activities The cancellation of Alam's visit comes just a month after two Bangladeshi ministers - Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan - cancelled their scheduled trips to India. Momen was scheduled to join the ministerial keynote session of Delhi Dialogue and Indian Ocean Dialogue in December and was to meet his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar. The cancellation came a day after Momen termed as "untrue" Home Minister Amit Shah's comments on persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Both Bangladesh and India at that time, however, maintained that the visit was called off as Momen had to take part in two important national events. Home Minister Khan also cancelled his private visit to Meghalaya reportedly due to disturbances over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). 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. Bangladesh was also learnt to have been upset following roll out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam around four months ago even though India conveyed to it that the issue was an internal matter of the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had taken up the issue of NRC with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral meeting in New York in September. READ | India Only Shelter For Persecuted Minorities From Pak, Bangladesh & Afghanistan: Union Min READ | 'From Bottomless Basket To Vibrant Economy': Bangladesh's Growth Story #BOEING_737 Le president iranien Hassan Rohani a admis la responsabilite de son pays. "L'enquete interne des forces armees a conclu que de maniere regrettable des missiles lances par erreur ont provoque l'ecrasement de l'avion ukrainien et la mort de 176 innocents", ecrit-il sur Twitter. Il ajoute : l'Iran regrette "profondement" ce crash, "une grande tragedie et une erreur impardonnable". 1. The stalemate over President Trumps impeachment trial may be over. Speaker Nancy Pelosi alerted lawmakers that she would move next week to send two articles of impeachment to the Senate, ending a weekslong impasse over the impeachment process that had left the presidents fate in limbo. Above, protesters earlier this week in Washington. Once sent, the articles of impeachment will prompt a historic trial over charges that the president abused his office and obstructed Congress. That could happen as soon as Wednesday, based on Ms. Pelosis timeline. Actor Justin Chambers is leaving Shonda Rhimes' "Grey's Anatomy" after 15 years. Chambers, who played fan-favourite Alex Karev in the ABC network medical drama, will depart the show in the 16th season, reported Deadline. "There's no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that's defined so much of my life for the past 15 years. For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time," the actor said in a statement. Chambers is currently one of only four original "Grey's Anatomy" stars to remain with the series from the pilot. His departure leaves leading star Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr. (Richard) and Chandra Wilson (Bailey). The actor also thanked ABC Studios, Rhimes and the remaining three original stars. "As I move on from Grey's Anatomy, I want to thank the ABC family, Shonda Rimes, original cast members Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens, and the rest of the amazing cast and crew, both past and present, and, of course, the fans for an extraordinary ride," he said. Alex was last seen in the November 14 episode of the show, in which he left the hospital to take care of his sick mother. The character was also absent from the finale. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trade unionists took to the streets of France Saturday for more protests against a controversial pension reform, just hours before the country's premier was due to unveil new proposals to end the standoff. Yellow Vests also joined the action. Marches were held across several French cities Saturday on the 38th consecutive day of nationwide multi-sector strikes, with protesters continuing to denounce government plans to overhaul the pension system. In the French capital, a procession got underway shortly after 14H00 local time at place de la Nation in eastern Paris and headed towards place de la Republique. Demonstrators were joined by Yellow Vests, who came out to express their own grievances with the government's policies on Act 61 of their movement. Demonstrators waved banners reading "All of us losers under a pension points system! Retire at 60, all of us winners!" A general strike on Thursday mobilised hundreds of thousands--1.7 million according to organisers but just 450,000 according to the government--across the country with rallies held in most major cities. All eyes on retirement age Saturday's demonstrations came as Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was due to present new proposals to try and end the impasse that has seen France's longest rail strike in decades. Observers are watching closely to see what Philippe will say about the retirement age, an issue that has soured negotiations even with moderate unions like the CFDT. Hard-left unions reject anything that doesn't do away with the plan to raise the full pension eligibility age from 62 to 64. After meeting with unions on Friday, the Prime Minister said that "good progress" had been made and that he was "searching for a compromise", before presenting "concrete proposals" on Saturday. Slim hopes for compromise However, a compromise deal for now appears unlikely. "After five weeks of strike action, we still haven't changed our minds," Philippe Martinez, head of the hard-left CGT union told AFP, denouncing a pension plan that "no one understands." Story continues The CGT, the largest among public sector workers, said it had extended until 16 January a blockade of refineries and fuel depots, which has already caused fuel shortages. Despite his efforts to compromise, Philippe has insisted the government will not back down on the pension overhaul. The plan is due to be presented to the cabinet by 24 January and the National Assembly by 17 February. On top of Saturday's planned rallies, more protests have been called for three days starting next Tuesday. Bengaluru-headquartered Infosys, which earlier on Friday raised its revenue forecasts due to upbeat demand from Western clients. Bengaluru: Indias second-biggest IT company, Infosys Ltd, said it found no evidence of financial misconduct by its executives following a investigation into whistleblower complaints. Bengaluru-headquartered Infosys, which earlier on Friday raised its revenue forecasts due to upbeat demand from Western clients, said an audit committee report exonerated Chief Executive Officer Salil Parekh and Chief Financial Officer Nilanjan Roy of all allegations, including accusations that the duo prevented employees from presenting data on large deals. Im very happy that CEO Salil Parekh and CFO Nilanjan Roy have emerged from this stronger, Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani told reporters. The last two years since Salil has been here the company has changed dramatically for the better. Parekh took over as Infosys CEO in January 2018, after his predecessor Vishal Sikka quit following a public row with the companys founder executives amid whistleblower allegations of wrongdoing. The company earlier said it expected revenue to grow between 10 per cent and 10.5 per cent on a constant currency basis in the year ending March 2020, compared with its previous forecast of between 9 per cent and 10 per cent. We continue to see momentum in the market and we have an extremely robust pipeline driven by segment leaders, CEO Parekh told a news conference. With the strength of large deal wins and digital momentum, we were able to clearly see that we have support to raise our guidance. One of Colorado Colleges and Colorado Springs most treasured thinkers, Dennis Showalter, passed away this week in the midst of writing his 28th book. Showalter has been called the dean of military history, a perfect specialty for a town of four military bases, the Air Force Academy and 80,000 military retirees. Former students of his tell me he was one of their most inspiring teachers, that he made the past come to life, turning history haters into history buffs, as our education reporter Debbie Kelley, a Colorado College grad, wrote. In his 47 years at CC, he drew many former soldiers into the profession of teaching and writing history themselves. Showalter briefed the Joint Chiefs of Staff on military doctrine in 2018 at the Pentagon and served as a consultant to the Japanese Ministry of Defense in Tokyo. Over his career, he also taught at the Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and the Marine Corps University. He was an eminent scholar in our field and an old-school gentleman who respected all students and colleagues and treated everybody equally, Mike Neiberg, a professor of history at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., told Kelley. He was a mentor and role model to an entire generation of military historians. Reading back through Showalters mind-boggling number of military history titles this week as we all worried World War III was about to break out, I wondered why there are no renowned historians of peace as there are of war. Isnt the art of avoiding war at least as worthy a subject as the art of war itself? Ask any soldier in town, and they will be the first ones to tell you that their most fervent wish is avoiding combat when and where they can, because they know the deadly, real-life consequences of war better than anyone. War is hell, Civil War Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman famously said. Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, wrote, The side that knows when to fight and when not will take the victory. There are roadways not to be traveled, armies not to be attacked, walled cities not to be assaulted. When soldiers like Dwight Eisenhower came home from World War II, many of them, with great reluctance, entered the political arena with the singular purpose of building a world that wouldnt go to war again. Columnist Thomas Friedman has a Golden Arches theory of conflict prevention. He has noted that no two countries that have McDonalds have gone to war against each other, perhaps because their economies are too intertwined and the advantages of cooperation in the global economy outweigh the risks of war. There are many great and stirring stories of moments when countries could have gone to war, but didnt. The Cuban Missile Crisis might be the greatest of these, a tense, 13-day face-off that truly could have led to nuclear annihilation. War was avoided when the United States agreed to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchevs offer to remove the Cuban missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba. President John F. Kennedy also secretly agreed to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey as part of the deal that deescalated the standoff. Teddy Roosevelt helped end a war between Japan and Russia at the beginning of the 20th century by inviting Japan and Russia to send delegates to the United States, where he successfully mediated between the two as a neutral third party. As a result, he was the first American to win the Noble Peace Prize. Thirty years ago, the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia resulted in the nonviolent end of Communism in that country. If Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev had clamped down like his predecessors and rolled tanks into the country, the Cold War could have gotten hot in a hurry. But sometimes, as Victor Hugo once wrote, no one, not all the armies in the world, can stop an idea whose time has come. A nuclear war was avoided in 1983 thanks to a lieutenant colonel of the Soviet Air Defense Forces who disobeyed an order. Three weeks after the Soviet military had shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov was on duty at the command center when the Oko nuclear early-warning system reported that a missile had been launched from the United States, followed by five more. Petrov believed the reports to be a false alarm, and his decision to violate Soviet protocol and do nothing in response is credited with avoiding a retaliatory strike on the U.S. and its allies. A later investigation showed that the system had malfunctioned. Avoiding nuclear war could go down in history, really, as one of our greatest triumphs, as great as winning any war. Its been 74 years since nuclear weapons were invented, and 74 years since they were last used. So lets mark this week that we avoided war as no less momentous than if we had gone to war. An attack on an American embassy, and the killing of a countrys top military officer, are more than enough reason for countries to go to war. After all, it was the assassination of an archduke that triggered the first World War. Yet, thankfully, we find ourselves not at war at the end of this tense week when #worldwarthree was a trending hashtag nationwide. The Trump administration sent a back-channel message to Iran through Swiss intermediaries urging Iran not to escalate hostilities after the U.S. killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, according to the Wall Street Journal. A flurry of back and forth messages ensued, and Irans consequent retaliation was carefully calibrated to save face within the country, but not raise the stakes of this standoff. Iran appears to be standing down, President Donald Trump said in a news conference after. Sometimes the rattling of sabers is noise enough. Surely this conflict isnt over, but this was a week when we could all breathe a sigh of relief that all-out war was avoided. Such moments are every bit as historic and worth commemorating, studying and learning from as the wars we do fight. Im quite sure Dennis Showalter, who knew more about war than almost anyone, would be the first to agree with that. Ben Miller is the associate editor of data and business for Government Technology. His reporting experience includes breaking news, business, community features and technical subjects. He holds a Bachelors degree in journalism from the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, and lives in Sacramento, Calif. KABUL, AfghanistanTwo U.S. service members were killed and two others injured when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said in a statement on Saturday. In keeping with defense department rules, the U.S. military did not identify the service members. The Taliban immediately took responsibility for the attack. A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, said it occurred in the southern Kandahar province. More than 2,400 U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Last year was one of the deadliest for the United States, with 23 American troops killed, even as Washington engaged in peace talks with the Taliban. The latest attack seemed certain to stall fresh efforts to restart the on-again, off-again peace talks between Washington and the Taliban. U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been pressing the extremists to declare a cease-fire or at least reduce violent attacks. That would give a window in which the United States and the Taliban could forge an agreement to withdraw all of Americas troops. That agreement would also set out a road map for direct Afghan-to-Afghan talks, mapping out the countrys post-war future. The Taliban leadership decided at the end of December to support a temporary cease-fire to allow for a peace deal to be signed, but they never said when it would go into effect. The final approval required from their leader, Maulvi Hibatullah Akhundzada, was never announced. Earlier Saturday, both NATO and Afghan officials had confirmed a roadside bomb hit a U.S. army vehicle, without mentioning casualties. In a short statement, a NATO spokesman said that officials were still assessing the situation and will provide more information as it became available. An Afghan official said the attack had taken place in the Dand district of Kandahar province. The official was not authorized to speak with media and requested anonymity. The Taliban now control or hold sway over roughly half of Afghanistan. The extremists continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, even as they hold peace talks with the U.S. Scores of Afghan civilians are also killed in the crossfire or by roadside bombs planted by militants. In November, two U.S. service members were killed when their helicopter crashed in eastern Logar province. The U.S. military at the time said preliminary reports did not indicate it was caused by enemy fire, although the Taliban claimed to have shot down the helicoptera claim the U.S military dismissed as false. The U.S. currently has about 13,000 troops in Afghanistan. About 5,000 of them are doing counterterrorism missions. The remainder are part of a broader NATO mission to train, advise, and assist the Afghan security forces. U.S. Ambassador John Bass left Kabul last week, ending his two-year tenure as Americas top diplomat. By Rahim Faiez Highly placed sources in the corporation said that the financial crunch at both the Centre and the state has put potential beneficiaries on tenterhooks. Hyderabad: The tussle between the Centre and the state government has left the double bedroom (2BHK) housing project for urban poor in the lurch. The ministry of housing and urban affairs has asked the government to submit utilisation certificates (UCs) for the project for the release of Centres share. The delay in submission of UCs has left the project hanging midway even as 55,000 beneficiaries in Greater Hyderabad region wait for sanction from eight months. That apart, the Centre has also asked the state government to identify the list of beneficiaries in such a way that they would be fixed parameters to release Rs 1.5 crore for each dwelling unit. This has led to piling up of bills worth Rs 996.79 crore in the city and private agencies have set their deadline for clearance of pending bills. The GHMC would require `9964.59 crore to construct about one lakh 2BHKs in 117 locations. Out of which, the civic body has already received `4,500 crore from the state housing department but is yet to receive `746.79 crore. Bills worth `250 crore have been freshly generated during the current month. The delay in fund sanction has left 46,279 double bedroom houses in the lurch. Incidentally, all of them are in the final stages of completion since a year. Though the corporation has managed to construct as many as 8,796 2BHK houses in four years, it could not come up with the list of beneficiaries to hand them over. Highly placed sources in the corporation said that the financial crunch at both the Centre and the state has put potential beneficiaries on tenterhooks. Lack of co-ordination between the two governments has been leading to the delay in the construction since two years. Sources said that private agencies have been mounting pressure on the corporation over settlements of outstanding bills and also warned that they would walk out of the project if there was any further delay. They hinted that the state government is delaying the housing project till municipal polls to lure beneficiaries. However, officials said that they have been trying their best to convince the contractors but could they not do it for long. They claimed that the project would go ahead only if the differences between the Centre and the State government are cleared. This is an excerpt from episode 185 of The Editors. Rich: MBD, the slow holiday news cycle ended emphatically about a week ago when news came in, on I think Friday evening it was, that we had taken out Qasem Soleimani in a precision drone strike, and there immediately were war fears and worries about the downsides. Worries about the downsides were legitimate enough. The trends about the onset of World War III were kind of ridiculous, but everyone was on pins and needles waiting to see how Iran would respond. Then we got, the other night, a response that was deliberately calibrated not to provoke a further reaction from the United States. In his White House speech yesterday, Donald Trump kind of pocketed what he had gained and an increased deterrent effect from this attack and said the Iranians are standing down or basically back to the status quo. Its ongoing low-level warfare and a major contention over their nuclear program. What do you make of it? Michael: Wow. Theres a lot to say about this. I am, like I think actually most people on the right these days, extremely skeptical or outright opposed to a full-on war with Iran. I support, though, what the president did, with a couple of caveats, just that I am paying attention to the senators who are complaining that the briefings have been really shoddy and bad. We dont know if Iran might respond more with a proxy attack thats a little bit more deniable in the future. Having said that, I think the presidents thinking was exactly right. About a year ago, as Iran started stepping up these provocative acts through its proxies against American allies or American forces after we pulled out of the Iran deal, the Washington Post reported that through diplomatic channels, the president and Mike Pompeo had said, If any of these result in the death of even a single American, you can expect a vigorous response. Then, a few weeks ago, Iran kills an American contractor and wounds three servicemen, and this is the response. Story continues The reason you have a military is to punish people that hurt your people and to deter others from hurting your people. Trump took a limited, targeted action against a responsible military target in Iraq who had commanded and shaped proxy forces in Iraq who had killed Americans, was a just target, a proportionate response, as in proportionate to the end he sought with it, and it looks like the early returns are he got exactly what he want, which is establishing escalation dominance and deterrence. This is exactly what a military is for. This is exactly what a Jacksonian foreign policy would look like. If it is true that . . . The Intercept published a leak of Iranian cables in which senior government officials were saying that some of them thought Soleimani was out of control and too aggressive, and that, in fact, his actions were keeping America in Iraq longer than they wanted us to be, and also happens to be longer than I want us to be, if Soleimanis removal from the scene makes it easier for America to have a dignified exit from the Middle East that Donald Trump keeps talking about, I think this is a huge win for the president. Id like to see the exit in the exit strategy, but overall, I thought the attack was justifiable. I thought his statement at the White House was great. Everything in between that, all the tweeting, was horrible. Going after Iranian cultural sites and all that stuff is actually a war crime, and its a crime against human history. We want to see those cultural sites have a better custodian in the future than the Iranian government as it exists now. It undermines what hes doing. It makes it hard for Boris Johnson and others to support him, which they did very cringingly. Id like none of the tweeting, but just exactly what that was, a deliberate, limited, well-targeted, well-chosen strike against someone who deserved to be hurt, both for strategic reasons and for Americas honor, for the honor and morale of our troops that are in the Middle East. Its important to do that work, and it should be done. Some people are going to say, Oh, well, they just killed one of our contractors, and we killed this really important general. Well, that inequality of station should not matter to Americans at all. Rich: Jim, I think Michael is right, that this was a limited, very deliberate attack with a very specific purpose. It was still stunning. Weve all absorbed it now almost a week later, but when I first saw the chyron, I literally could not believe it. It was just beyond my imagining that anyone would target this guy because he had been considered off-limits for so long, and he was so central to the regime. Also, to Michaels point, there was increasingly a brazenness to his behavior, not just fomenting all these civil wars and proxy wars around the Middle East, but just showing up on the ground like hes going to stay at the Holiday Inn Express at Baghdad and plan this attack on U.S. forces and then pick up his briefcase and fly off to Damascus again. The point, and I think you have to give Trump credit for a lizard intelligence to understanding the dynamic of the conflict at this level, this was such a staggering blow that it apparently, as far as we can tell right now, sent the message that it was intended to get across, which is Dont kill Americans, and if you do, theres going to be a serious price. Jim: Absolutely, Rich. In fact, as of this recording, you have to say things are going about as well as we could reasonably hope for, considering the audacity of this action. Theres no getting around the fact that Soleimani probably was the second most important figure in the entire Iranian regime, next to the Ayatollah. He had been responsible for all kinds of aggression against U.S. troops in Iraq. He, undoubtedly, had a demons resume that made this easily justifiable. Again, there was this sense that striking back directly against the Iranian regime was thinkable, was off-limits, would just be too darn provocative. When we saw that news, there was that sense of Oh, long term, this probably makes the world a safer place. Youre taking a very bad actor off the stage, but also the sense that the Iranians were not going to take this lying down and they were going to respond in some way.] Now I think you can safely say, or at least as of this recording, that not only did this send a strong signal to Iran by killing Soleimani; everybody up and down the chain of command in the Iranian military now knows the Americans can probably hit whoever they want to hit. We must have pretty decent penetration of their intelligence. Our intelligence community must know . . . We knew where Soleimani was going to be, exactly when, exactly where. This may have been helped by the Iraqis. You figure they may be helping us with some of that. Also, the response to the Iranian rocket attack a couple nights ago. According to the New York Times today, we had three hours warning, and everybody was able to get into the bomb shelters and all the necessary steps that were taken. The really intriguing comment is that Gina Haspel, the director of the CIA, actually had said this was probably the most likely response that the Iranians were going to generate. Now, maybe thats spin or maybe thats after the fact or something like that, but so far you would look at this and you would say, Wow, America really knows what Iran is going to do, and we also know how to hit them in a way that really hits them hard. Sanctions against Iran are great, but that makes it tough for the average Iranian on the street. This basically goes right up to the regime and says, No, you at the top, youre going to pay the price for these actions. Its not going to be minimal; you will be a smear on the side of the road on the way to Baghdad International Airport. Right now, Im marveling. This is going really, really well. I concur with everything Michael Brendan Dougherty just said about the presidents statements. The actions are terrific. The rhetoric is not. But that having been said, I think the presidents address the other morning was probably about as good as it got from Trump. So far, knocking on wood, crossing our fingers, saying prayers and all that, this went about as well as we possibly couldve hoped. Rich: Charlie, react to anything youve heard. Also, whats your view of the legal status of this operation? Theres been a debate over whether it was a legitimate killing under the rules of war and effectively authorized through an attenuated train of reasoning, but a train of reasoning, by Congress, or whether it was an illicit assassination. Charlie: Yes. I am convinced mostly by David Frenchs view that this was legal because the AUMF is still in force in Iraq, but I think that raises a number of important questions even if David is correct. Lets leave aside for a moment whether this was a good idea or not. Theres certainly a case here that Trump got this right on the merits. But if we are relying on an instrument that was passed by Congress in 2002, 03, that was used to justify an invasion and subsequent war that has largely been written off as a mistake, isnt that a problem? Doesnt that say something about Congress? It was interesting watching the reaction to this. Some people said were about to see World War III. Some people said Trump wants a full-scale war, perhaps to distract from impeachment. Some people said this is Jacksonian in nature, Michael Brendan Dougherty among them. Some people said this is a continuation of Americas role as the global policeman. Whichever one of those is true, we have not debated it as a country. We dont know what to make of this. We dont know how it fits in with our strategy because we dont have a strategy. Were not sure whether we want to be assassinating people or killing them in self-defense, however you see it, and were not sure what price we would be prepared to pay if those actions escalated into something else. Congress has no idea. The American public has no idea. This is just not a conversation that we have, and I think thats an enormous problem. Even if this was legal, and Im open to the idea that, for once, it was, its not good enough, is it, to say, Well, if you squint, the law we passed 17 years ago covers it? I think we have to go back to the drawing board and look at what we want to achieve in Iraq as regards Iran and the Middle East in general, rather than rely on enabling acts from almost two decades ago. In this case, I think the more important question than whether it was legal is why was it legal. Do we want it to be legal? Do we wish to hand over to the executive branch, not just Donald Trump, this cannot be a question that is only asked when a Donald Trump is president or when a person from a particular movement or party is president, do we want to hand over to the executive branch a blank check to take these sorts of decisions which could then escalate? Is that what America and Americas Congress wants? I dont think we know the answer to that. Thats what scared me far more than the idea that this would devolve into World War III, which I dont think was ever going to happen. Rich: I think that a train left the station, though, a very long time ago, as soon as Congress basically gave the president a standing military. Given the free rein the president has as commander in chief Charlie: Well, I dont Rich: . . . you would see these sorts of operations. Going back, George Washington, as soon as he had troops, he fights an unauthorized war against Indian tribes. Thomas Jefferson, as soon as he has a navy, sends them to the Barbary pirates Charlie: No, no, no, no Rich: He subsequently goes back and gets authorization. Weve, what, declared war five times in our history? And have had many, many more conflicts than that. Congress does have power in these sort of cases. We saw it in Vietnam. We saw it in the Mexican-American War towards the end. We even saw it in Iraq somewhat. Congress can cut off the funding. Charlie: Sure, but Congress can also repeal the AUMF, or next time it passes an AUMF, it can write in a sunset clause so that its forced to debate it again. I think the point I am making is that if one argues that the legal basis for this attack was that the United States military has the right to defend itself, it was in a country that Congress had authorized it to be in. It was being threatened by a force within that country; therefore, it took preventative or retaliatory action. Thats fine, but it doesnt answer the question of whether the United States should still be in that country in the first place, which is a debate we simply havent had. We wont get bogged down in this, but the Barbary pirates affair I read very differently than you, just for what its worth. I think that the real break in Congresss use of its power to declare and control warfare came after the Second World War, not in the early days of the republic. Rich: MBD, Charlie mentioned your argument that this was a Jacksonian action, which I wholly endorse. This was why I think both sides that were freaked out about this were wrong, because the left was all of a sudden acting as though it was George W. Bush circa 2003 again, and Tucker Carlson is arguing that Trump had been taken over by the neocons, whereas Trump never pledged: Im not going to kill bloody-minded terrorists with American blood on their hands. In fact, during the campaign in 2016 when he made some of his most fulsome statements against our various commitments and alliances around the world, he also said, Im going to bomb the s out of ISIS, which you cant do without having some presence in the Middle East. I see this very much in keeping with that kind of thinking and that sort of attitude rather than a departure from it. Michael: Yeah. Listen, Im sure listeners have figured it out. Im a dove. Im a bit of an isolationist at heart. But first of all, the argument that World War III was imminent is ludicrous. Iran has no friends. It has no fair-weather friends. It gets limited support from Russia when Russia can get more out of it than it loses, but beyond that its a pretty friendless country, even in the Middle East. Its most important ally is Bashar al-Assad, who is busy. So that is ridiculous. Two, what I liked about this was its limited, targeted nature at a responsible agent who has authored the deaths of American troops in Iraq, and it was done in Iraq under the AUMF. This is a very different approach than saying were going to respond to terrorism by utterly transforming the political and social culture and structure of the society that generated the terrorists. This is a much more limited, realistic mission. Deterrence is a part of keeping the peace. There is peace through strength. Ive found myself in disagreement with friends and colleagues in the cause of peace over this now. I can see a little bit where theyre coming from, where they would say that this skirmish began, really, when the United States withdrew from the Iran deal, then Iran stepped up its provocations, and now weve had to respond, and that American foreign policy has been subject to drift since we pulled out of the Iran deal and its drifting toward greater and greater conflict. I see that. I do see that as a danger, but this is another way of ending it, which is just reminding the Iranian regime, which I take to be a rational one despite its revolutionary origins, I take it to be a rational one interested in its own survival, and one that needed to be reminded that Americans are willing to respond in defense of their interests and are willing to keep their word. Yeah, I thought this is exactly what a Jacksonian foreign policy looks like. This is the best of what you couldve expected from Trump, and particularly the pivot at the White House remarks to saying, We want a better future for Iran as well. Thats exactly right. Rich: Jim, do you think this moves the needle politically one way or the other, or like everything else, itll be kind of absorbed and forgotten a month from now? Jim: Itll probably be absorbed a month from now, but having said that, youll probably see some aspect of the Trump campaign focus on four years ago, he said he would destroy ISIS, and ISIS is largely gone. al-Baghdadi is gone. Soleimani is gone. This will be a part of the presidents argument. Theres two other thoughts that came to mind as I was listening to you guys. First of all, maybe this is a bit on the premature side, but that Ukrainian airliner that went down outside Tehran the night of the Iranian rocket response, nobody knows exactly why it is, but a lot of folks who study aviation are saying the most likely scenario, experienced pilot, well-maintained jet, is that this was some sort of anti-aircraft attack from the Iranians, believing they were detecting some American incursion and they couldnt differentiate between the passenger jet and a foreign fighter jet, and thats what caused the plane to go down. Theres video floating around of the plane appearing to be in flames before it went down. Youre not going to get that from a routine engine failure or something like that. This would be the second time in a couple years weve seen a passenger jetliner go down because of Russian air-defense systems. I think probably anybody whos bought a Russian air-defense system in the last couple years is probably wondering if these things are worth it. The second thing is that our big fear now, next month, the month after that, is going to be some sort of Iranian response through a proxy group, but I wonder if now, after this, Irans traditionally deniable attacks probably arent that deniable anymore. If, God forbid, a truck bomb goes off outside some U.S. embassy somewhere in the Middle East, or really anywhere in the world, a lot of people are going to say, Yep, thats probably Iran. Now, could it be somebody else? Could it be what remains of al-Qaeda? Yeah, it could be. But Iran has got to let some time go by because, if not, God forbid theres another attack on Americans, everybody is going to say, Okay, thats Irans response. Time to go after these guys. It will end up being that escalation that they seem to think they didnt want to generate from the rocket attack the other night. Rich: Charlie Cooke, exit question to you. The Soleimani killing was the first step towards a peace deal, a negotiation with Iran, the first step towards a more intense conflict, a first step towards the same old confrontation with Iran? Charlie: I think it was probably the lattermost, the same old confrontation with Iran. I think it fits neatly within Trumps wheelhouse, given that he simultaneously, when running for president, said that he didnt want to get involved in foreign wars and criticized the Iraq War, but sounded hawkish at times, said he was going to bomb the out of people and so forth. This is on-brand. Hes not well set up to change our relationship with Iran as a result. Rich: MBD? Michael: I tend to think its the same old confrontation. Maybe itll go through a cooling period after this. I want to raise the very faint possibility that the Iran deal is revived in the mode of NAFTA, slight amendments, reinstated, and Trump claims to have made a much, much better deal. I just want to put that out there as a longer-shot possibility. We wont get all the demands Pompeo made when we left, but maybe Trump is going to try to push this one pretty far. Rich: Jim Geraghty? Jim: After the 2020 elections, whoever is president will extend another feeler to Iran about coming back to the negotiating table, either Trump or a Democratic replacement. Whether that actually leads to something dramatically different than the old Iran deal is another story, but eventually you will see . . . The number of people on both sides who dont want to see this escalate and would like to get towards something that is less confrontational will push it in this direction, but not until after 2021. Rich: I think its the third option. Its basically the status quo. But I will say I think eventually a negotiated outcome with Iran is more likely than all-out war with Iran. More from National Review Videos verified by The Associated Press show the final seconds of the Ukrainian International airliner and what likely brought it down, killing all 176 people on board. Brubaker said the department fulfills thousands of FOIA requests each year and encourages anyone interested to make requests at FOIA@dmv.virginia.gov. Still, Stafford had one final act planned. After collecting the hundreds of rolls of pennies he needed, he hired 11 people to help him break open the paper rolls with hammers Tuesday night. It took four hours and he paid each person $10 per hour, costing him $440. Stafford also purchased five wheelbarrows to deliver the pennies. The wheelbarrows cost $400, and he wasnt going to dump the coins on the DMVs floor, so he left the wheelbarrows there, bringing his expenses to $840. He also paid $165 for the three lawsuits, which means he spent $1,005 to get 10 phone numbers and the satisfaction of delivering 300,000 pennies. Not to mention the nearly $3,000 he paid the DMV for the cars. One might feel bad for the Lebanon DMV employees, who chose to count the coins by hand. But Stafford is within his legal right. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, "United States coins and currency are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes and dues under the Coinage Act of 1965. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 18:38:19|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close A plane of Zhejiang Loongair receives a water salute for its maiden flight at the airport in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Jan. 10, 2020. A new direct flight was launched Friday between Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua) TASHKENT, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A new direct flight was launched Friday between Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The air route is run by China's Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co. Ltd, with three round trips scheduled every week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. President of the airline Liu Yi said during a ceremony at Tashkent International Airport "The (first) plane landed at Tashkent airport earlier than the planned time. This is a good sign that our further bilateral cooperation will be ahead of time and (be) fruitful." In September last year, the country issued a decree to allow Chinese nationals to visit the country for seven days visa-free starting from 2020, becoming the first Central Asian country to grant a visa exemption to Chinese citizens. Ulugbek Azamov, deputy chairman of the Uzbek State Committee for Tourism Development, noted that the seven-day visa-free regime for Chinese citizens will help sharply increase the number of tourists from China. It will also provide an opportunity to learn more about the history, culture, and customs of the Uzbek people, added Azamov, noting that the friendship between Uzbekistan and China will be strengthened as a result. Meanwhile, China has introduced multiple measures to simplify visa procedures for Uzbek tourists. China is Uzbekistan's largest trading partner, largest source of imports and largest destination of exports. In 2018, their two-way trade increased by 48.4 percent year-on-year to 6.26 billion U.S. dollars. BURRAGATE, Australia Two wildfires have merged to form a 2,300-square-mile inferno in southeast Australia during a night of extraordinarily treacherous conditions as the nation's unprecedented fire crisis continues. Thousands of people fled their homes and helicopters dropped supplies to towns at risk of nearby wildfires as hot, windy conditions threatened already fire-ravaged southeastern Australian communities. The danger is centered on New South Wales and Victoria, Australias most populous states, where temperatures and winds spiked after a few days of relatively benign conditions. Authorities were assessing the damage after firefighters battled flames fanned by strong winds through the night and lightning strikes sparked new blazes in New South Wales and Victoria. Conditions were milder on Saturday and forecast to remain relatively benign for the next week. "In the scheme of things, we did OK last night," Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp told Nine Network television on Saturday. New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters "we're extremely relieved" the fires were not been more destructive overnight. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there had been a "serious injury of somebody protecting their property." She said that person had been taken to a Sydney hospital, but gave no other details. With no heavy rain forecast, the giant fire in southern New South Wales near the Victorian border is expected to burn for weeks, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said. The fire crisis in southeast Australia has claimed at least 26 lives, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland since September. It has also brought accusations that Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative government needs to take more action to counter climate change. Thousands of protesters rallied late Friday in Sydney and Melbourne, the respective capitals of New South Wales and Victoria, calling for Morrison to be fired and for Australia to take tougher action on global warming. On Friday, thousands of people in the path of fires fled to evacuation centers, while some chose to ignore evacuation orders and stayed to defend their homes. Evan Harris, who lives in the New South Wales rural village of Burragate, said police and fire crews told him he should leave his cottage because of the threat, but he told them he wasn't going anywhere. Burragate was choked with smoke for several hours on Friday and was directly in a fire's path. ____ Associated Presser reporter Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 0 Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 12:23:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Hau Do Suan said Friday that the world needs a stronger UN more than ever. "At this critical time, the world needs a stronger UN more than ever to harmonize our collective efforts to strengthening multilateralism and maintenance of international peace and security," the Myanmar UN ambassador told a Security Council open debate on upholding the UN Charter. "The strict observance of the principles of international law and adherence to the obligations under the Charter of the UN by all member states are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security," he said. "Every state has the responsibility to abide by the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, political independence and non-interference in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of states," said the ambassador. "All disputes and conflicts must be resolved by peaceful means through political dialogue and negotiations in accordance with the UN Charter and international law," he added. "Threat or use of force and unilateral coercive measures against other states are against the principles of the UN Charter and international law," said the ambassador. "In this regard, it is most important that the UN and the international community should support the chosen ways and initiatives of the countries concerned in settling their disputes or conflicts." Briefing the council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lamented that this year began with fresh turmoil and long-standing suffering and geopolitical tensions reached "dangerous levels," most recently in the Gulf. He said the Security Council under the UN Charter has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and that the UN Charter remains the world's shared framework of international cooperation for common good. Recalling the content of the charter, the secretary-general called for peaceful settlement of disputes, equal rights of men and women, non-intervention, self-determination and sovereign equality of member states. Guterres also spoke of the clear rules governing the use of force as set in the charter. In addition, he highlighted the prevention of conflicts and outlined many available tools in the charter, including negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement. The open debate was organized ahead of the 75th anniversary of the UN Charter in June 2020, "as an opportunity for member states to reflect on and reaffirm their commitment to upholding Charter principles, particularly in the context of international peace and security," according to the Security Council Report, whose mission is to advance the transparency and effectiveness of the Security Council. The condition of three contract workers, who were admitted to hospitals in Delhi after they were injured in a minor fire at the Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh, are improving, an official said. The workers suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out in a sump when they were working on an effluent treatment plant on Tuesday, the official said, adding that a probe was on to find out the cause of the blaze. Pop Singh, Giriraj and Geetam were admitted to two hospitals in Delhi, while a fourth person was discharged from a Mathura hospital on Thursday, said Renu Pathak, the assistant manager of corporate communications at the refinery. The condition of the three workers are improving, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyderabad: Acknowledging that police in charge of the case are doing what they can to trace his missing sister, 31-year-old Rohitha Kuthuru, her brother Parikshit Katur said the problem is that there is no coordination among the police personnel. Rohitha was seen on January 6 boarding a bus on Route No. 8C at the Secun-derabad station. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Katur, a lawyer, said, On January 6, during our search in the Secunderabad area we met a bus conductor, Dharmendra, who recognised my sister and informed me that she had boarded the bus at Secunderabad and alighted at Chandra-yangutta. Mr Katur went to Chandrayangutta and started scouting the area with his sisters picture in hand. He met a police officer who recognised the woman in the picture and informed him that he had seen her at the bus stand. Mr Katur made enquiries with the patrolling staff and one of them on checking his mobile found that Rohithas picture had been circulating in closed social media groups as a missing person they should be looking out for, but he had not even downloaded the picture, claimed Mr Katur. An autorickshaw driver told Mr Katur that he had seen the missing woman boarding an auto but couldnt remember the registration number or the driver. When this reporter asked Mr Katur about CCTV footage which could have picked up something, Mr Katur replied that most of the CCTV cameras are under maintenance. He said there is a lack of coordination between the cops on the ground level. Due to their lethargic behaviour my sister is still missing. I have lost faith in the system. Mr Katur added, Investigation officer Surender Reddy, SI, Gachibowli police along with another constable are working without any rest to trace my sister. But, overall, the police lacks coordination. What if my sister met with an incident? For Gods sake I hope my sister wont be another Disha. Rohitha went missing on December 26. Police confirm that CCTV footage revie-wed by the Gachi-bowli police places the last sighting of her at 3.15 pm, boarding an autorickshaw. They have not been able to find the auto. Iran said Saturday it had unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian airliner that crashed this week outside Tehran killing 176 people, calling it an "unforgivable mistake". The statement sparked some relief that at least the immediate cause of the disaster would not be concealed amid international calls for a full accounting and compensation for the victims. Iran has invited the United States, Ukraine, Canada and others to join the crash investigation. Herewith are some of the remarks made by top leaders in response to Iran's statement on its responsibility for the crash. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that Iran punish those responsible, pay compensation and apologise. "We expect Iran... to bring the guilty to the courts," the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling for the "payment of compensation" and the return of remains. "We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction," Zelensky added He also urged "total access" to the full inquiry for 45 Ukrainian experts and in a tweet also sought an "official apology". Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with the country mourning the loss of many of its nationals, said closure and accountability were needed after Iran's announcement. He demanded "transparency, and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims. "This is a national tragedy, and all Canadians are mourning together," Trudeau's office said in a statement. Iran must "learn lessons" from the disaster, the chairman of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee said. "If decryption of the black boxes and the work of the investigation do not prove that the Iranian army did this intentionally, and there are no logical reasons for this, the incident must be closed. "Hoping that lessons will be learned and action taken by all parties," Konstantin Kosachev was quoted as saying by the Interfax agency. French Defence Minister Florence Parly said it was "important to seize this moment to give space to discussions and negotiations" on the Iran nuclear deal. "The lessons that we should learn from the dramatic sequence of events that we have experienced... is that we must put an end to this escalation," Parly told France Inter radio. She reiterated the French position that everything must be done to salvage the landmark 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, which US President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018. Minister Heiko Maas said "it was important that Iran brought clarity to this issue. "Now Tehran needs to draw the right consequences in the continued appraisal of this dreadful catastrophe, and take measures to ensure that something like this cannot happen again," Mass told Funke media. Stefan Lofven said the "act should be condemned and Iran should assume all responsibility, including for the all persons affected. "Iran said the plane was shot down in error. This declaration constitutes the basis for a complete and transparent investigation which should shed light on all the circumstances surrounding the incident," a statement said. "We demand that Iran cooperates freely in the investigation and that the countries affected are allowed to participate using their national competencies and are fully informed about the investigation," he said. Foreign Minister Ann Linde tweeted that "the downing of a civilian plane even if it's not intentional must be condemned. We want Iran to fully cooperate in the investigation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iranian state TV, citing a military statement, says the country unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard, after mistaking the aircraft for a hostile, enemy target. The statement came Saturday morning, and blamed human error for shooting down the plane on Tuesday. Specifically, Iranian officials says the aircraft took the flying posture and altitude of an enemy target as it neared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps base and attending personal didnt recognize it as a passenger plane. Under these circumstances, because of human error, [the plane] came under fire, the statement read, according to the New York Times. Following the grave mistake, Irans government have offered an apology to families. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. forces. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The US had also alleged that the duties imposed by India appears to be inconsistent with two norms of GATT. (Photo Credit: File Photo) New Delhi: The World Trade Organisation's (WTO) dispute settlement body has set up a panel to examine the US complaint against India which had increased customs duties on 28 American goods last year. The US in July had dragged India to the WTO by filing a complaint against New Delhi's move to increase customs duties, alleging the decision as inconsistent with the global trade norms. According to a communication of the Geneva-based WTO, the dispute settlement body has established a panel "to examine the matter referred by the US". The US had alleged that the additional duties imposed by India "appears to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to the US directly or indirectly" under the GATT 1994. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is a WTO pact, signed by all member countries of the multi-lateral body, aims to promote trade by reducing or eliminating trade barriers like customs duties. The US had also alleged that the duties imposed by India appears to be inconsistent with two norms of GATT. It had stated that India does not impose these duties on products originating in the territory of any other WTO member nation. As per the WTO's dispute settlement process, the request for consultations is the first step in a dispute. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations fail to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel. The US has rolled back export incentives from India under its GSP programme and New Delhi has imposed higher customs duties on 28 American products including almond, pulses, walnut, chickpeas, boric acid and binders for foundry moulds. The other products on which duties were hiked include certain kind of nuts, iron and steel products, apples, pears, flat rolled products of stainless steel, other alloy steel, tube and pipe fittings, and screws, bolts and rivets. The duties were hiked as retaliation to the US move to impose the highest customs duties on certain steel and aluminium goods. India's exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at USD 47.9 billion, while imports were at USD 26.7 billion. The trade balance is in favour of India. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. GREAT FALLS The only two homeless shelters on the Fort Peck reservation have been closed for months under order of Tribal Chairman Floyd Azure, who said they were contaminated with methamphetamine. Azure said that a general lack of supervision and stolen items were also factors in his decision to shut the shelters down. The shelter in Wolf Point shut its doors last spring, and the New Life Mission in Poplar closed a few months later, according to community members. Though there is no official number, they estimate around 100 people experiencing homelessness regularly used the shelters. Temperatures on the Fort Peck reservation have dropped well below zero degrees during winter months, and in years past, people experiencing homelessness have frozen to death. The Fort Peck reservation is home to two Native American tribes, the Nakoda, or Assiniboine, and the Dakota, or Sioux. According to the governor's website, about 6,800 tribal members live on the Fort Peck reservation, which spans more than two million acres in eastern Montana. In his inauguration in October, Azure stressed the importance of reopening the shelters. "We need to open (the shelters) up before it gets cold. Traditionally, we took care of each other. We have to get back to that," he said. Despite Azure's call to action, the shelters have been closed for months. Meanwhile, people experiencing homelessness have been sleeping in vacant buildings, some without heat or running water. As the threat of another cold winter approaches, Fort Peck residents are eager to reopen the shelters but their actions are limited. 'Extremely difficult to remove' Meth contamination can be harmful to everyone, but children under 8 years old and animals are especially vulnerable to chronic and acute health issues, resulting from exposure. Joe Mazzuca is operation manager for Meth Lab Cleanup, a company that provides drug lab testing, training and decontamination services nationwide. "Meth is extremely difficult to remove," Mazzuca said, adding that people must be certified to decontaminate a property. "It's almost indestructible. It's very small from a molecular standpoint. You can't neutralize it, you have to physically remove it." The Fort Peck Housing Authority, which has certified meth cleaners, is tasked with decontaminating both shelters. Azure said Friday the Wolf Point shelter has been cleaned, is awaiting inspection and could open soon. Housing Authority Director Robin Bighorn said crews had not started decontaminating the Poplar shelter as of last month. Despite Bighorn's timeline, multiple people said they have not heard when the cleaning process will be complete. Though states are subject to decontamination regulations, sovereign nations are not under state jurisdiction and must determine their own regulations. Mazzuca said that his organization visits Native American reservations, where they teach people how to decontaminate a property, protect themselves from exposure, test contamination levels and determine and enforce their own regulations. Though it depends on the level of contamination and size of a given building, Mazzuca said it generally takes about 10 days to decontaminate and clear an average three-bedroom, two-bathroom household. According to Lee Yelin, a meth cleanup contractor who is based in Missoula, smooth, hard surfaces are easier to clean than porous ones. He recommends people incorporate linoleum flooring, high-quality oil-based primers and paints and vinyl cabinets. He also recommends boilers instead of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. "That way, if one room is contaminated, (the meth) doesn't go into the ventilation system and contaminate the whole building," he said. Though Yelin's recommendations could be costly, he said they will help save money in the cleanup process, particularly for shelters that support people struggling with addiction and may consequently need to be cleaned more often than other properties. "It's much easier than having to demo everything every time because that just gets too costly," he said. Why did the shelters close? For Tina Speed, resident of Wolf Point, homeless shelter closures in Fort Peck are a familiar story. According to her, the shelter in Wolf Point used to have paid employees. But about two years ago, when the shelter ran out of money, the employees shut its doors. Speed said it was left in bad condition. Dead flies collected on the floors, papers were left on desks and food rotted in the refrigerator. But that didn't stop Speed and others from "rolling up their sleeves" and cleaning the shelter. "Everybody pitched in to keep people warm," she said. Someone set up a plumbing system, another donated a refrigerator, someone else donated a washer and dryer and others donated furniture. Soon, the shelter reopened, serving as a symbol of pride in the community, according to Speed. Speed said that when it reopened, the shelter did not pay employees. Instead, a deal was made. A man would act as a volunteer caretaker, ensuring that the shelter's residents left when they were supposed to during the day, cleaned up after themselves and were respectful of each other and the property. In exchange, the man lived at the shelter and was not required to leave during the day. Speed said this system worked for a while. But soon, shelter residents grew frustrated with the caretaker's rules. "The caretaker was just catching all the flak for trying to remind people of the rules. They acted like he was some kind of tyrant," said Speed. Responding to the criticism, the caretaker stopped enforcing the rules. Consequently, people started stealing from the shelter. The previously donated refrigerator, washing machine and dryer were all stolen. Speed said she heard that even some of the copper piping was stolen. Chaos ensued. Speed said people started claiming rooms in the shelter and refusing to leave during the day. People also said that a family moved into the shelter when they were not supposed to. People experiencing homelessness who struggle with addiction were also said to have been using meth in the shelter. As someone who pitches in herself, Speed said most people in the community have heard her speech about helping others. "I encourage people (in the shelter) to be adults, look out for each other, step up and say, 'Hey, that's not right.' They can all pitch in and be good guests because they're each other's guests. So, they could help with the housework, the cleaning and cooking," she said, though she also acknowledged that it's nearly impossible to enforce these actions without a caretaker in charge. Additionally, experts say it can be especially difficult for people struggling with addiction to hold themselves accountable. "People will often try to tackle (substance abuse) with their logic, and substance abuse defies traditional logic," said Justin Evans, a therapist who runs a private practice in Helena and has experience as a clinical director for three different drug rehabilitation centers in Arizona. According to Evans, it is especially important for people struggling with addiction to understand why they should do certain tasks, like pitching in to help a shelter function. "You can't just tell them, 'You need to make your bed every day. Just do it.' It (should be) explained as part of a whole process and why accountability is important, why these little things are important. An addict is going to be pretty focused on the here and now, and they don't typically get the bigger picture all by themselves," he said. Edward Dunbar, assistant professor of counseling at Montana State University and counselor in Manhattan, said that addiction is a medical issue, specifically a brain disorder, and requires professional support. "It's not something you can just stop, and it goes away," Dunbar said. "One of the things that counseling and medical providers do is educate people and make them aware of what recovery is going to look like. So, letting them know that they're going to have cravings, they're going to have some mood swings, they're going to have some mental health stuff that might start to flare up. If you can get ahead of that, your odds of recovery are better than if you just say, 'stop.'" 'Back to square one' Because only certified people can decontaminate the shelters, Speed and others are unable to help clean them, as they did before. "I'm sure we could go in and get money from the community and do a fundraiser and get another washer and dryer, get more towels, get more bedding, whatever we needed donated. We could do it all again. But if the tribe doesn't want anyone in there because of the meth contamination, we can't really do anything about that," Speed said. "It's disappointing." Azure doesn't just want to decontaminate the shelters. He wants to support people experiencing homelessness in new ways and ensure the shelters to stay open longer than a few months. "We want to make sure that they're well taken care of and that their health is OK," Azure said. "We want to be able to detect any issues with them before they get too bad." When the shelters reopen, Azure plans to work with Health Promotion Disease Prevention (HPDP), an organization that is funded through Medicare and Medicaid and works to improve the overall health of tribal members. With support from HPDP, Azure said he plans to incorporate therapists, nutritionists and addiction counselors in the shelters. "I should have done this two years ago, but I never thought about going this route," Azure said. "But when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, I guess you go back to square one." Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Tsai Ing-Wen (C) waves as she addresses supporters following her re-election as President of Taiwan on January 11, 2020 in Taipei, Taiwan. Taiwanese re-elected President Tsai Ing-wen by a landslide on Saturday in a stern rebuke that could fuel further tension with China, which has tried military threats and economic inducements to get the island to accept its rule. Anti-government unrest in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong took center stage during a campaign in which Tsai held up Taiwan as a beacon of hope for protesters in the former British colony and rejected Beijing's offer of a "one country, two systems" model. China claims Taiwan as its sacred territory, to be taken by force if needed, a threat President Xi Jinping reiterated a year ago while saying he preferred a peaceful solution. "One country, two systems," which gives a high degree of autonomy, much as Beijing uses in Hong Kong, has never been popular in Taiwan and is even less so after months of protests in Hong Kong. China made itself even more unpopular in Taiwan in the run-up to the election by twice sailing its newest aircraft carrier through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, denounced by Taipei as an effort at military intimidation. "We hope that the Beijing authorities can understand that a democratic Taiwan with a government chosen by the people will not give in to threats and intimidation," Tsai told reporters. Beijing needs to understand the will of Taiwan's people, and that only Taiwan's people can decide its future, she added, repeating her firm opposition to "one country, two systems". China's Taiwan Affairs Office, in a statement carried by state media, reaffirmed its commitment to this approach and its opposition to any form of independence. Tsai beat her main opponent Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang party, which favors close ties with China, by more than 2.6 million votes. Underscoring the scale of her victory, Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party also won a majority in parliament. The United States, Taiwan's strongest international backer and main arms supplier, congratulated Tsai. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Taiwan a "force for good in the world." "The United States thanks President Tsai for her leadership in developing a strong partnership with the United States and applauds her commitment to maintaining cross-Strait stability in the face of unrelenting pressure," Pompeo said in a statement. The Rajasthan government has reversed its decision granting temporary bar licenses to hotels and restaurants along major roads in the state. A notification of changes in bar license rules was issued was last week which paved way for hotels and restaurants located in 30-feet-wide roads getting temporary bar licenses. The decision was opposed by several organisations and activists who alleged that it will encourage liquor consumption. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held a meeting with officials on Friday and directed them to withdraw the notification. He also asked the officials to prepare a plan for effective reforms and transparency in the excise system, according to a release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United Kingdom has sent to the United States an extradition request of Anne Sacoolas, the wife of an American diplomat involved in a crash that killed a 19-year old teenager. Harry Dunn was riding a motorcycle in August last year outside a military base in Central England used by The US Air Force and died in a crash. Sacoolas was charged in December with causing Dunn's death by dangerous driving. "I hope that Anne Sacoolas will now realise the right thing to do is to come back to the UK and cooperate with the criminal justice process", UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said. Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity and left the country in the aftermath of the incident. The US State Department on Friday called the UK request for extradition "highly inappropriate." In a statement, a State Department spokesperson said, "the use of an extradition treaty to attempt to return the spouse of a former diplomat by force would establish an extraordinarily troubling precedent." The final decision on extradition is made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tim Fox is running in the Republican primary for governor. I ran against Fox for attorney general in 2012 and lost, but I support him for governor. Born, raised and educated in Montana, Fox has proven he understands the needs of Montanans at every level. Living his whole life in Montana he understands the Montana economy, all that it has to offer, and where it could use improvements. The conventional belief regarding Nancy Pelosi's holding of the impeachment articles is that, as someone put it, she'd pulled the pin on the grenade and then didn't know what to do. Yet even if she has bumbled into her current predicament, which seems likely, is there now some method to her madness? Has she found a way to turn lemons into at least a thimble of lemonade by using the situation to damage the presidential candidate she doesn't want to see capture the Democratic nomination burgeoning Bernie Sanders and help the establishment choice, Joe Biden? During her weekly news press conference, Speaker Pelosi announced she will deliver the articles of impeachment "soon." YouTube screen grab (cropped). It's now being pointed out that if Pelosi releases the impeachment articles next week, as is rumored, it will hurt the campaigns of the five senators seeking the Democratic nomination, as they'll have to leave the campaign trail to be present for the trial. This is at just the time when one of those senators, Sanders, is surging in the polls; is leading in the first contest, Iowa, which is just weeks away; and now, many Democratic observers say (and often fear), may very well be the nominee. In reference to this forced campaign-trail absence, "'Of course it matters,' [Sen. Elizabeth] Warren said in an interview this week," reports Politico. "'We just did a 3-hour selfie line. Don't tell me it doesn't matter to do face to face.'" Yet the Massachusetts politician and the three other senators who aren't Bernie are expendable. Warren's star has been fading; her lies and fanciful policy proposals having caught up to her. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) has risen a bit of late, but no one really believes she'll be the nominee. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) now just serves as a token allowing the Democrats to say, "Look, our field isn't entirely white!" (an unpardonable sin in their now "woke" party). As for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), well, few people will notice his absence because few even notice his presence. But Bernie matters. With him hitting his stride and the first contest (on Feb. 3) being significant because it can establish or kill momentum and with the polls close his absence is significant. This has to please the Democrat establishment. Its power brokers hobbled Bernie in 2016, and they surely don't want him now, either. First, he's not actually a Democrat, but an independent; he's also anti-establishment, and the Democrat machine wants in the White House a Democrat, and one who'll play ball. It's also likely that insiders consider the white and wizened socialist septuagenarian unelectable. Evidencing this establishment antipathy was a November report stating that Barack Obama had actually vowed to intervene if Sanders seemed poised to be the nominee. In fact, one could just imagine the ex-president on the phone with Pelosi strategizing on how to bury Bernie. But Pelosi wouldn't need any prodding. Not only is she a major head on the Democratic-machine hydra who has assuredly pondered how the impeachment articles' release will affect the primary contest, but there's another factor: it's quite likely that to Pelosi, this is not just professional, but personal. Remember that Bernie is the candidate of Pelosi's nemesis, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In fact, the New York socialist upstart has been campaigning by his side, helping to rally younger voters, and is a major factor in his post-heart-attack campaign's resuscitation. Also note that it's Ocasio-Cortez and her radical crew who pushed Pelosi into going forward with impeachment in the first place, an action the House speaker apparently opposed and which has been disastrous for her party. So she certainly must find the prospect of using Ocasio-Cortez's tactic of choice (impeachment) to damage her candidate of choice quite poetic and delicious. Add to this that Ocasio-Cortez is now refusing to pay her Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dues and has been working to primary establishment Democrats thus challenging Pelosi's power and one can only imagine how much the speaker despises the congresswoman. Remember, too, that Pelosi is a political operator who'll "cut your head off and you won't even know you're bleeding," as her daughter Alexandra put it last year. I suspect that the speaker may believe that releasing the impeachment articles next week sticks a shiv in Bernie's back and by proxy in Ocasio-Cortez's and will relish every minute of it. Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on Gab (preferably) or Twitter, or log on to SelwynDuke.com. The meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel was useful and meaningful, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after the negotiations with the German leader. "During the substantive and useful negotiations that took place today, we discussed the key issues of bilateral relations in politics, economy, cultural and humanitarian sphere," Putin said. We spoke, of course, about the Nord Stream project. It is legitimized in the new European legislation, we need to finish it. Germany and other European countries benefit from the Nord Stream. Everyone is interested in diversifying their gas supplies, but this a very important project, Merkel said. "This is primarily an economic project, we believe it is necessary ... I believe that after the discussion that Nord Stream-2 can still be completed despite the sanctions, the Russian president called the deadlines, there is some delay, but its really possible to complete the project. I want to repeat that despite all political contradictions with the United States, we do not consider extraterritorial sanctions to be correct, and therefore we support this project as before, in fact, it is an economic project, Merkel noted. Russia appreciates Germanys responsible position in supporting the Nord Stream-2 project, Vladimir Putin said. Russia and Germany implement a number of large joint projects in the energy field, he stressed. Russia will be able to complete the pipelines construction without attracting foreign partners, the only question is the timing, the President of the Russian Federation said. "Yes, we will certainly be able to complete it without attracting foreign partners. The question is the timing. This is the only question that arises in this regard," Putin said, answering a question about the prospects for completing the project. Small printing companies have demanded compensation after a government decision to change a bank holiday date cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds. Last year the Government said that the early May bank holiday would be moved from Monday May 4 to Friday May 8 in order to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The announcement was made on June 7 after lots of companies had already printed their calendars and diaries for 2020. Small printing companies have demanded compensation after a government decision to change a bank holiday date cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds (file image) Last time the holiday was moved in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of VE Day, companies were old 18 months beforehand. Stuart Bennett, the director of A M Print Finishers in Hertfordshire told The Telegraph the change had been 'close to catastrophic'. He said it had cost the firm 200,000 to reprint materials and complained that there has been no offer of compensation from the government. For other companies it would have been too expensive to reprint stock, meaning some calendars and diaries will be sold with the wrong date for the holiday. Last year the Government said that the early May bank holiday would be moved from Monday May 4 to Friday May 8. Pictured: families enjoy the beach in Exmouth on May bank holiday last year One business manager from The Stamford Notebook said their diaries for 2020 were already on the shelves by June 2019. One seller even had to remove the page from 300,000 calendars and produce sticker packs for many of the others. Mike Cherry, the national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses said that while the commemoration was a hugely significant event, the Government should give businesses as much notice as possible. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said the announcement was made as soon as it was practical. They added that there were no current plans for compensation. Kiev: Ukraine International Airlines said on Saturday that the plane that crashed after being shot down by an Iranian missile received no warning before the attack. At a briefing by its president and vice-president, the airline also denied suggestions that the passenger plane had veered off its normal course, and said that the Iranian authorities should have closed the airport. The airline's vice-president said the plane had stuck strictly to its course and that the carrier had received no indication it faced a threat. Instead, he said, it had been permitted to take off. The airline called on Iran to take full responsibility for the crash, which killed all 176 aboard. On this day, we will celebrate our firefighters. These are our new national heroes who truly embody the often talked about, but rarely defined, Australian spirit. And in a time when it is so easy to be divided, I feel we must find common ground where possible. When the flames finally subside, we must set aside a day where we commemorate what has happened these past few months. In the midst of all the loss and destruction, I find it hard to see this day as a celebration, but there are things that have given me hope and make me feel proud to be Australian. All that we can hope to be has been on display by our firefighters throughout this crisis. Forgoing sleep, pay and time with their loved ones over the festive season, these men and women have put themselves in danger day after day to protect the lives of others. Some have sadly paid the ultimate price for their service, and we should never forget the sacrifice they have made. Loading On this day, we will celebrate mateship. It can be used glibly, that word, mateship. Some Australians carry on as if we invented the concept. We didn't. Plenty of other nations cherish it, if by another name. But Australians do value mateship and the fire crisis has reminded us of its true value. Cutting through the political debate surrounding climate change and in the void left by so many of our leaders, we have seen a force of collective action emerge. There are businesses donating profits, athletes auctioning of their most prized possessions and musicians holding benefit concerts. The generosity of Australians to give whatever they can to those who have had their lives upended has provided a light during these dark times. In so many ways, we are not the same Australia as we were before the flames. In our anthem we sing of a land with golden soil that abounds in natures gifts of beauty rich and rare. Yet now these words come on a land of blackened ash and the rich beauty is increasingly rare because so much of it has been stripped bare. New Delhi, Jan 11 : To mark the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir, the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) will lead a worldwide commemoration on January 19 with a series of events in India, the US, the UK, Canada and several other countries. On January 19, 1990, over five lakh Kashmiri Pandits were forced almost overnight to leave the valley through a genocidal campaign unleashed by the militants. 'The circumstances that forced out the entire minority of Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus from their homeland are akin to genocide' as has been reported by the National Human rights Commission India, and now being recognised world over. To commemorate this sad day, the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) in association with its partners and affiliated organisations across the globe are organising a series of events to remind the world that 30 years later justice is still awaited. Events are being held at the Jagati camp in Jammu, where thousands of Kashmiri Pandits live continue to live after being fleeing persecution in the valley. The focus of events here also includes increasing the awareness among the children about the Kashmiri Pandit exodus, according to a statement. In Mumbai, a seminar is being organised at Navi Mumbai and eminent speakers have been invited. In Delhi, a book reading on genocide literature by an eminent Kashmiri Pandit author has been organised at the Vasant Vihar club, and in Kolkata a similar event has been organised at the Kashmir Sabha. In the US, events are being held in collaboration with the Indian Americans for Kashmir (IAFK). The key event is in New Jersey where a seminar is being organised with keynote speakers from various political organisations and media houses. The focus is on the 'Kashmiri Pandit genocide'. The event is being supported by hundreds of community volunteers. In Illinois a candlelight vigil will be held at the city hall in Naperville as a tribute to the innocent Kashmiri Hindus killed in 1989, 1990 and later years. In Canada, a symposium is being organised in Toronto in collaboration with the Indo-Canadian Kashmir forum on 'Global terrorism and its impact on the social, cultural and economic well being of minorities focusing on the return of indigenous Kashmiris to the land of their ancestors and restoration of their political rights'. The event will have eminent speakers of Indo-American and Canadian origin presenting their views on genocide, its implications and the way forward. In the UK events are being held across London, Nuneaton, Manchester, Oxford, Walsall and Glasgow. British members of Parliament, heads of major UK sociopolitical organisations and political analysts from India will be the keynote speakers. The events are being organised by the Kashmiri Pandits cultural society (KPCS-UK) and Indo- European Kashmir forum (IEKF) both are European affiliates of the GKPD. In addition, a seminar is being organised in Berlin. In Australia, events are being held across Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne. In Brisbane, Queensland hawan and prayers for world peace is being organised by the Kashmiri Pandits Australia, affiliated to the GKPD. In Perth, Western Australia, a commemorative meeting is being held at the war memorial at Kings Park. In New Zealand, seminars are being organised at Auckland and Wellington. In Auckland the seminar will commemorate 30 years of Kashmiri Pandits' life in exile along with a show of support for the Government of India policies, e.g. abrogation of Article 370, etc. The events will be covered by national and international media houses and the GKPD will release a summary of the proceedings in the form of a press release after the events, the statement said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Iran has admitted it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian aircraft which crashed on January 8 near Tehran. In a statement read on state TV on January 11, the Iranian military said the aircraft had flown down close to a sensitive military site belonging to the elite Revolutionary Guards and was shot down "unintentionally due to human error". "The responsible parties would be referred to a judicial department within the military and held accountable," it added. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also tweeted on January 11 and expressed "deep regrets" over the accidental shooting. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences," Rouhani tweeted. Rouhani in a separate tweet said the Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. "Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake," he wrote. All 176 people on board were killed in the crash. The Iranian military statement expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The crash on January 8 heightened international pressure on Iran after months of friction with the United States and tit-for-tat military strikes. Washington killed an Iranian general last week in Iraq, prompting Tehran to fire at US targets. The United States and Canada had said that the plane was shot down, a claim Iran had initially denied. The countries had 57 citizens on board and Ottawa had told Iran that "the world is watching". On Twitter, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the armed forces' investigation showed the downing of the Boeing 737-800 was the result of "human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism (that) led to disaster." With air pollution worsening around the world, and estimates that air pollution can be up to five times higher indoors, air purifiers are emerging as a big wellness trend for 2020. According to MarketWatch, global demand for the products is growing at a rate of nearly 10 per cent a year with the global market expected to reach $33 billion by 2023. Air purifiers manage the problem, but don't treat it and they cannot remove all pollutants. Credit:Getty As distinct from air conditioners, which regulate the air temperature but do not necessarily filter the air, purifiers are designed to capture pollutants and particles while pushing clean, filtered air back out into single rooms. Priced between roughly $100 and $2000 with some even pitching themselves as the best for bushfire smoke the question is: are air purifiers worth it? Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 21:21:24|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Dai Jing, a teacher from a Tantou-style New Year picture workshop, introduces this traditional art to students in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 11, 2020. It is a tradition for Chinese people to paste the New Year pictures to celebrate the Spring Festival. The Tantou-style New Year picture is a national intangible cultural heritage. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge) Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Raising taxes on the rich isnt just the wild fantasy of a few fringe politicians on the left. A growing share of the American population supports higher taxes on the net worth of the wealthy, explicitly as a form of redistribution. According to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday, 64 percent strongly or somewhat agreed that the very rich should contribute an extra share of their total wealth each year to support public programs the essence of a wealth tax. Fifty-four percent disagreed with the idea that the very rich should be allowed to keep the money they have, even if that means increasing inequality. Reuters did detect some partisan disagreement on the notion of a wealth tax, though obviously not enough to dent overall support for it. Seventy-seven percent of Democrats back the idea; 53 percent of Republicans agree. And the two groups have very different ideas about how the government ought to spend the revenue it raised. Rich people have a right to blow their money on Lamborghinis and world-wide cruises or whatever, one Republican, Esin Zimmerman, told Reuters. But that money could be used in other ways that help people. It could put the border wall up, she added. A border wall is not what Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez typically propose when they talk about raising taxes on wealth. For left-wing candidates, a wealth tax is a way to fund Medicare for All, or cover the costs of free public college tuition causes that most conservative Americans still dont support. About 40 percent, for example, said theyd support proposals to make public college tuition-free and to forgive student debt, according to a Hill/HarrisX poll published last year. But Reuters findings of broad overall support for what amounts to the redistribution of wealth isnt an outlier. An earlier poll by the New York Times and SurveyMonkey found that 55 percent of Republicans supported a 2 percent tax on those with a net worth of over $50 million a sign, perhaps, that candidates can run on raising taxes for the rich without worrying that being perceived as socialist will doom their campaigns. In fact, a wealth tax might even be attractive. The enduring popularity of politicians like Sanders seems to suggest as much. Reuters also suggests that support for a wealth tax has increased over recent years, and cites polling from Gallup that indicate such a trend. Its not particularly difficult to understand why that shift in public opinion may have occurred. Life in the U.S. might be delightful for everyone at the top of the heap, but for millions of other people its a struggle. The lopsided quality of the American experience isnt a recent development, and neither are proposals to reduce the nations tremendous wealth gap. But inequality is getting worse, and the language of class and redistribution is in vogue in ways it hasnt been for decades. Public opinion is shifting, and the nations richest households might not be able to fend it off much longer. DETROIT, MI -- State environmental inspectors are investigating potentially hazardous liquids found at a Detroit property owned by the same person connected to green ooze that breached an I-696 barrier in Madison Heights. Officials with the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy on Friday, Jan. 10 said they were investigating a site at 5900 Commonwealth Street after Detroit Fire Department inspectors discovered liquids earlier in the day. The property already had been looked at in December as part of a review of all properties controlled by Gary Sayers, the man who once owned Electro-Plating Services tied to the green ooze. At that time, no potentially hazardous substances were discovered. EGLE officials said they were headed to the Commonwealth property late Friday to assess the situation, determine next steps, and ensure the site is properly secured. The closed Electro-Plating Services property has been the site of two decades of contamination concerns, including a state-ordered shutdown in 2016. The most recent issue stems from an active investigation along I-696, where hexavalent chromium leaked from the buildings basement pit to the roadway through an underground utility line. Sayers was sentenced to federal prison in 2019 for his role in the contamination at the property. He also was ordered to pay the emergency cleanup costs, once estimated at $2 million. After a distinguished 36-year career, President and CEO Dennis Hanson has announced his retirement from the Dow Chemical Employees' Credit Union. The board of directors has appointed current CFO Michael Goad as its new chief executive to lead the credit union, effective April 1. Hanson has announced he will step into the role of CEO emeritus on April 1, before officially retiring on March 1, 2021, from the Midland-based credit union. He will leave DCECU as its longest-serving chief executive, after spending more than three decades growing and strengthening the cooperative, not-for-profit financial institution. In his new role, Hanson will serve as an ambassador for the credit union, assisting with business development and supporting strategic initiatives. Goad will be named president and CEO on April 1, when he will be responsible for refining and executing DCECU's strategy while maintaining oversight of the day-to-day operations. He will work closely with Hanson to ensure a smooth transition. "Under Dennis' leadership, we have grown and prospered tremendously by nearly every measurable metric," said Mark Fenske, DCECU's chair of the board of directors. "His leadership and commitment to the organization have helped us become a nationally recognized credit union known for superb service and a focus on members first. We so appreciate his many contributions over the years. He has given Michael a solid foundation on which to continue building. We are exceptionally pleased to welcome Michael as our new CEO and look forward to a seamless handoff so Dennis can enjoy a well-deserved retirement." Hanson began his career with DCECU in 1984 as a mortgage loan officer and worked his way up through the credit union before becoming president and CEO in April 1993. Under his tenure, DCECU has: More than doubled its total number of members. Grown the total amount of assets by more than 453%. Increased total loans by more than 559%. Improved member convenience and accessibility through greater use of technology, including text message banking, eAlerts, eTax forms, health savings accounts and the DCECU Mobile Banking App. Developed the "Once a member, always a member" policy that allows those who leave Dow Chemical to keep their accounts without penalty. Given back to member-owners by returning more than $200 million during his 27 years as CEO in the form of loan interest rebates, member saver rewards and other rebates. Strengthened community ties through volunteer opportunities allowing employees to contribute to local nonprofits. Goad steps into the new role of president and CEO after serving as CFO for two years, where he was responsible for assessing and evaluating financial performance, economic forecasting, modeling and operational planning. During his time at DCECU, Goad has overseen improved financial results and internal audit and compliance functions. He has upgraded investment and loan policies to enhance profitability and member satisfaction. He also developed the long-term vision and strategy for member rewards, which have been well-received. "In accordance with our succession plan, we are very fortunate to have someone of Michael's caliber and talent ready to take DCECU to the next level," Fenske said. "Michael possesses a strong track record in financial growth, customer satisfaction and organizational direction that will help continue our success. We look forward to continuing to provide our members with the highest level of customer service and the widest breadth of products under Michael's leadership." Goad brings 31 years of experience at financial and higher education institutions in Michigan and Indiana to his new role at DCECU. Prior to joining the credit union, he served as CFO of the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union where he worked with the team to increase profitability, capital strength and employee and member strength and satisfaction. Goad also served as CFO for Lake Michigan Credit Union in Grand Rapids, The Bank of Holland/ Northern Michigan and Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids. He began his career with SunTrust Bank in Miami before moving to Grand Rapids, where he held positions of increasing responsibility at Old Kent Bank, which later became Fifth Third Bank. Goad resides in Midland with his wife, Claudia. He serves on the Symphony Council for the Midland Center for the Arts. They have three adult children, George (and Donielle, Montreal, Canada), Katina (Tennessee) and Giselle (Indiana). The family of an Aboriginal woman who died in custody two days into the new year is pleading for answers about why she died alone in a maximum-security jail cell after being refused bail for alleged shoplifting. Collingwood woman Veronica Marie Nelson Walker was charged with crimes including shoplifting - which led to an alleged breach of an earlier community corrections order - and refused bail on New Years Eve. Veronica Marie Nelson Walker. The 37-year-old Yorta Yorta woman was remanded in custody at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre before being found dead in her cell early on January 2. Cousin Shaurntae Lyons said her family had since been told that Ms Nelson Walker had been placed in an observation room, where she died. By Express News Service "The living environment in Qatar is really friendly and nice, I love the culture and art of the place and the outskirts landscapes and deserts too," says Indian photographer Ajeesh Puthiyadath, whose photographs are part of the exhibition, 'Where Cultures Meet: A Photographic Encounter between Qatar and India.' The show brings photographers from Qatar together with their Indian counterparts. The Qatari photographers, Hamad Al Shamari and Aisha Al Sadah, who travelled to the Himalayan region of Ladakh, India, collaborated with Indian photographers Salim Abdul and Puthiyadath, who are based in Doha and have been documenting life in Qatar. Photographer Ajeesh Puthiyadath As a street photographer, Puthiyadath has visited many places in Qatar, which are famous across the world. Among these Souq Waqif, a marketplace (souq) in Doha, Qatar. One gets a lot of street portraits and we can feel the past living atmosphere. Most of my favourite pictures were taken from Souq Waqif. Puthiyadaths top picks, among the many photos he has clicked, are of a man in a blue dress, and of a lady with bird in the frame. According to him, The man in the blue dress, is actually a turning point in my photography life; that one picture gave me a better confidence to fix my mind in street photography. About the lady and the bird, if the bird hadnt appeared in the frame its just a normal photo, so for me its really a special and a lucky shot. In his college days, before smartphones, the photographer took pictures on regular mobile phones. He says, Im a person who loves memories, so these old memories give me a feel-good factor. Photography is nothing but making good memories for the future. Aisha Ghanem Al Attiya, Head of Year of Culture at Qatar Museums, says that this particular exhibition is an important milestone of the Year of Culture programme, launched by Qatar Museums in 2012 to present the emirate to international audiences, whilst introducing the local community to the diverse cultures of partner countries. Al Attiya says, In 2019, we partnered with the Republic of India to host a year-long specially designed programme of exhibitions and events to promote mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation between both our nations. The exhibition sought to create an inspiring portfolio that invites audiences to discover the similarities and differences between both cultures, through the eyes of the photographers. The exhibition, which showcases various themes such as architecture, landscape, and street life both in Ladakh and in Doha, displays 80 pictures. According to Attiya, This was an artist-led exhibition whereby each photographer was given the freedom to showcase their interpretation of the countrys culture. Venue: India Habitat Centre, central atrium (outdoor), New Delhi Till: January 12 Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 20:01:24|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Passenger Ba Lanru (R) and her grandson take the train No. 7505 in northwest China's Gansu Province on Jan. 10, 2020. The train No. 7505, which travels from Lanzhou to Wuwei, is a four-carriage ordinary train. The train, which links more than a dozen small stations between Lanzhou and Wuwei, runs 290 kilometers in 5 hours and 27 minutes. The full fare is 18.5 yuan (about 2.7 U.S. dollars), with the lowest fare being 1 yuan. It has been running for nearly 40 years since the 1980s, carrying nearly 10 million passengers. During the Spring Festival travel season, the ordinary train offers passengers an alternative choice to go home at a cheap fare. (Xinhua/Ma Ning) Jagadesh Kumar's comments come a day after Delhi Police said nine students were behind the violence (Photo Credit: ANI) New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Saturday blamed outsiders for the violence that took place inside the campus. A masked mob assaulted and injured many students and teachers on January 5 evening. Jagadesh Kumar's comments come a day after Delhi Police said nine students, including JNU students union president Aishe Ghosh, were behind the violence. "This is a problem that many illegal students are staying in hostels. They could be outsiders. They may be participating in any possible violence because they have nothing to do with the university," Jagadesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. "The terror created by some of the activist students went to such an extent that many of our students had to leave the hostels. From the past several days, we have enhanced security in the campus to make sure that innocent students are not hurt," he said while interacting with students. Earlier, after meeting HRD ministry officials, Jagadesh Kumar had said all decisions taken earlier at the Ministry about the hostel fee are being implemented "in totality" and regular classes at the varsity will start from January 13. The Delhi Police on Friday claimed that nine students were identified as suspects in the violence in the varsity campus but did not name any group yet for the brutal attack by masked goons on students and teachers that left 36 injured. It means question still remained on the identity of the masked people photographed at Sabarmati hostel at the Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU) on Sunday and terrorising the campus for three hours with sticks, rods and sledgehammers. The police also claimed that the January 5 violence was a fallout of the online registration process and that tension was brewing in the university since January 1. The officer said Ghosh and eight others were involved in an attack at the Periyar hostel on January 5. Those identified are Dolan Samanta, Priya Ranjan, Sucheta Talukdar, Aishe Ghosh, Bhaskar Vijay Mech, Chunchun Kumar (an alumni) and Pankaj Mishra. The other two suspects named by police are Vikas Patel and Yogendra Bharadwaj. Police sources said the two are from the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). In a tweet, the premier hailed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Haji Amanullah as a "brave and exemplary officer", adding that he had asked the Balochistan government to ensure the injured victims were provided with medical facilities, reports Dawn news. Islamabad, Jan 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that he had directed authorities to submit an "immediate report on the condemnable, cowardly terrorist attack" inside a mosque in Quetta, which killed 15 people, including a senior police official. "I have demanded an immediate report on the condemnable cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta targeting a mosque and people at prayers. Have asked provincial government to ensure all medical facilities are provided to the injured..." Khan tweeted. A deadly blast had ripped through a mosque during evening prayers on Friday night in Quetta, killing 15 people, including DSP Amanullah. At least 19 people were reported to be injured in the attack, which authorities said was a suicide blast. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The mosque is located in a densely populated Pashtun-majority neighbourhood. ksk/ Marco Santarelli/EIB EUR 68m loan to Ente Autonomo Volturno (wholly owned by the Campania Region) to purchase 40 new electric trains Significant impact in terms of cutting CO2 emissions and combating climate change Will relieve traffic congestion for commuters and tourists in one of the most densely populated areas in Europe A new fleet of 40 electric trains for the railway network serving Naples and the province of Naples, the so-called Circumvesuviana, to help significantly relieve traffic congestion and considerably reduce pollution in the entire area. That is the aim of the five-year investment plan of Ente Autonomo Volturno (EAV), the Campania Region's railway management authority, supported by the European Investment Bank via a EUR 68m loan. The EIB loan is guaranteed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), one of the pillars of the Investment Plan for Europe, also known as the Juncker Plan. EAV's total investment of around EUR 220m will be used to replace 40 trains that have reached the end of their useful life. The new trains will be deployed on the six lines of the Circumvesuviana, which serve one of the most densely populated areas in Europe: 47 municipalities with around 2.5 million inhabitants. The busiest line is the Naples-Sorrento line which, besides being a commuter line, also serves a large number of tourist destinations and cultural heritage sites such as Herculaneum and Pompeii. For EAV, a company wholly owned by the Campania Region, investing in new mobility programmes aimed at protecting the environment is a priority to preserve the fragile and already congested transport network in the metropolitan area of Naples which, besides the huge numbers of commuters it carries, is impacted by the increase in traffic caused by the growing influx of tourists. The project will enable the EAV fleet to fulfil the latest requirements in terms of safety, operational and energy efficiency. As regards the aims of the EU bank, the operation will serve to significantly cut CO2 emissions and enable the EIB to subsequently step up its own commitment to meeting climate action targets. In terms of employment, during the construction phase 1 347 jobs will be generated while 46 new permanent jobs will be created in the management phase. EIB Vice-President Dario Scannapieco stated: In the metropolitan area of Naples, the Circumvesuviana railway lines are strategically important for commuters and tourists. I am proud therefore that the EIB is supporting this project in view of its social impact and because the move to new electric trains will have a considerable impact on reducing pollution, thus helping to meet the ambitious but achievable goals set by the European Union and the EIB. This EUR 68m loan for the purchase of 40 new trains for the Circumvesuviana network will help meet the daily needs of the people of Naples and promote the cultural life and economic development of the Naples region. The European Union supports its regions and through the Juncker Plan continues to deliver tangible benefits for its citizens. We are now working to step up and expand these kinds of operations, which skilfully marry our development goals with climate action, said European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni. President of the Campania Region Vincenzo De Luca remarked: The revival of EAV continues. We are proud that, following its historic financial recovery, our company is the first public transport company in southern Italy to sign an agreement with the EIB under the Juncker Plan. Thanks to regional funds EAV has already started acquiring more rolling stock, and this loan will give it the impetus to continue doing so in order to provide our fellow citizens with an even better, more modern service. Chairman of EAV Umberto De Gregorio said: Over the past three years we have managed a bad company within EAV, completing some 800 transactions and paying debts of around EUR 700m. Over the period 2016-18, we generated operating profits of EUR 90m (compared to losses of EUR 330m for the period 2012-15) and net equity increased from EUR 10m to EUR 152m. EAV is now a sound company that is investing and recruiting. This is the start of a new era. The loan granted by the EIB is evidence of that work. Contributed Photo / Getty Image NEW HAVEN A Massachusetts resident arrested in 2018 en route to New Haven was sentenced in federal court Friday to serve a year and three months in prison on cocaine trafficking charges, according to officials. Latoya McKreith, 37, of Chicopee, Mass., was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a news release from U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham said. Puerto Rico has been hit by a magnitude 6.0 earthquake, the latest in a series of tremors that have brought down homes and schools on the southern coast of the US territory. The quake happened eight miles south of Indios at a depth of six miles at 8.54am local time, the US Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of injuries, although power outages were reported across much of the south and possible damage was being assessed at power plants. Barbara Cruz, a prosecutor who was in the southern coastal city of Ponce when the latest earthquake hit, said concrete debris hit pavements as buildings crumbled. She said: "Everyone is out on the street." 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 latest tremor is the strongest since a magnitude 6.4 quake the biggest to hit the island in a century struck before dawn on Tuesday, leaving thousands of people without power or water. Recommended One dead after second earthquake in two days hits Puerto Rico Victor Huerfano, director of Puerto Rico's Seismic Network, told the Associated Press that he expects more aftershocks. He said: "It's going to re-energise an unstable situation. It's a complex zone." Hundreds of tremors, most of them minor, have struck Puerto Rico since the start of the year. Tuesday's earthquake left at least one person dead and injured nine, triggering a tsunami alert and damaging or destroying thousands of buildings. AP contributed to this report Fritz Stern in Laphams Quarterly: The great French historian and resistance martyr, Marc Bloch, is supposed to have said that history was like a knife: You can cut bread with it, but you could also kill. This is even more true of historical derivatives like analogies; they can provide either illumination or poisonous polemic. The first requirement for an acceptable historical analogy is plausibility; the two situations compared must have striking similarities, and the image of the historic antecedent must be as clearly understood as possible. This becomes an unlikely presupposition when the analogy is proposed by partisans working in an age of stunning historical ignorance. Nowadays, politicians and partisans use analogies instead of arguments, convenient shorthand for their defenses of dubious policies. It was beneficial that President Kennedy was conscious of historical analogies. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, he remembered how easily nations had slipped into World War I in 1914, and how important it was to give an adversary a chance to back down while saving face. More here. Cronkite News PHOENIX Some Arizona schools are working to preserve Native American culture by spending classroom time on disappearing languages and cultural traditions. At Salt River Schools, the Oodham language is being taught to seventh graders as a requirement, even though its not widely spoken in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Salt River elementary and high schools are committed to honoring and integrating Oodham and Piipaash language and culture in all facets of education, according to their website. It helps build their sense of identity, because most of our students have been told Language is important, you need to know it, said Kino Reed, who teaches Native studies. But the reality of it is that they dont always have the outlets to learn from. Headed by a language and culture team, the schools hope to have every student know a couple hundred Oodham words by the end of their high school years. But the effort goes beyond language. Salt River students also are weaving baskets, using a textile loom, making sashes and copying petroglyphs just like their ancestors. Were weaving like them, were building like them, said Kira Zotigh, a student. Were basically learning how their life was, but doing it (in the) present. The students want to pass on these traditions to future generations. Something that I feel would be nice for other people in the future to learn, so our tribe really doesnt go extinct or just disappear, Zotigh said. Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News and is published via a Creative Commons license . Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University Join the Conversation A deal by British wealth management company St Jamess Place to acquire Dublin-based financial advisory firm Harvest Financial Services has fallen through. In a statement to Independent.ie, St Jamess Place (SJP) confirmed it was not going ahead with a deal announced last February. Following careful consideration, St Jamess Place has decided not to proceed with the acquisition of Harvest Financial Services Limited, said a spokesman. This reflects a strategic decision regarding this opportunity by St Jamess Place and does not reflect in any way upon Harvest Financial Services. St Jamess Place looks forward to maintaining the good relationships it has established with Harvest. The deal was subject to approval by the Central Bank and it is not clear if this had been granted. SJP declined to elaborate or answer specific queries, while Harvest did not respond to queries. The two parties had been in talks for around two years before announcing the acquisition, which was valued at under 10m (11.7m). At the time of the announcement, Jonathan McMahon, executive director at SJP, said the acquisition supports St Jamess Place Groups strategic growth plans of continuing to invest and extend Rowan Dartingtons (a wealth manager owned by St Jamess Place) proven discretionary fund management capabilities. As a marketplace, Ireland shares many of the same characteristics as the UK, while Harvest has an established track record of providing high-quality financial and investment advice and pension services to clients there, added the 2019 statement. The firm shares many of our values and we look forward to working closely together to provide leading investment management services to Irish clients, helping them to achieve their financial objectives. At the time of the deal, Harvest executive, Gerry Devitt, said the company was extremely excited at bringing SJPs products to the market. The company was founded in 1993. Last October, when announcing that McMahon was leaving the business, the company said he would continue to support the integration of Dublin-based financial advice firm Harvest Financial Services as chairman, following its acquisition by SJP in February. However, as confirmed on Friday to Independent.ie, the deal unravelled. Prior to beginning talks with SJP in 2017, Harvest had been in advanced talks with Cantor Fitzgerald, while Davy and Investec are also believed to have looked at the boutique firm. Someday, specialized systems could barrage cancer patients with particles to deliver a full course of radiation therapy in mere microseconds, new research suggests. Using an emerging technique known as flash radiotherapy, doctors could eradicate tumors in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost of traditional radiation therapy at least in theory. As of yet, the lightning-fast technique has not faced formal clinical trials in human patients, although one man received the experimental treatment, researchers reported in October 2019 in the journal Radiotherapy and Oncology. Now, a new mouse study, published Jan. 9 in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, has further demonstrated the promise of this cancer therapy. "It has the same tumor-control rate [as conventional radiation] but significantly less effect on normal tissue," said study co-author Dr. Keith Cengel, an associate professor of radiation oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In other words, the flash technique appears to kill off tumor cells while sparing healthy tissues. The technique works by bombarding the tumor site with a steady stream of particles, usually light particles, called photons, or negatively charged electrons. Now, Cengel and his colleagues have thrown another particle into the mix: the positively charged proton. Related: 10 Do's and Don'ts to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer "It is unique in the sense that it has never been done," said Marie-Catherine Vozenin, head of the radiation-oncology lab at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland, who was not involved in the study. That's not to say that deploying protons to fight cancer cells is necessarily a better strategy than using photons or electrons, she added. "All of these different strategies have some pros and cons." That said, each particle may be uniquely suited to target certain tumor types in specific spots in the body, meaning protons may offer the best treatment option for some patients, Cengel said. Timing is key The name "flash" simply refers to the ultrafast rate at which the technique delivers radiation to target tissues. Flash pummels cells with the same total amount of radiation as existing therapies do, but rather than administering the dose over multiple weeks in minutes-long sessions, the entire treatment lasts just tenths of a second, Vozenin said. "If we can go to hundredths of a second, that's even better," she added. The speed makes all the difference. In conventional radiation therapy, a patient may undergo dozens of treatment sessions, during which time healthy tissues may become damaged long before the tumor cells perish. But when the same dose of radiation is delivered at a faster rate, as with flash, healthy tissues remain unscathed. Exactly why that happens remains a mystery. "That's the million dollar question we are working hard to try to understand that," Vozenin said. Research suggests that the fleeting burst of radiation may cause a dip in levels of oxygen in the healthy tissues, which typically contain far more oxygen than cancerous cells. Tumors resist traditional radiation therapy thanks in part to their lack of oxygen, so the temporary effect prompted by flash might bolster healthy cells against damage, as well as reduce the production of harmful free radicals, according to a 2019 report in the journal Clinical Oncology. But this evidence doesn't explain why cancer cells react differently than healthy cells to the treatment; more mechanisms are likely at play, Vozenin said. Related: 5 Things Women Should Know About Ovarian Cancer Regardless of why it works, flash radiation seems promising in preliminary studies, though the technique does have limitations. Photons can be used to target tumors throughout the body, but the machines that shoot the particles cannot yet fire fast enough to achieve the needed dose-rate. High-energy electrons can penetrate tissues to reach deep-seated tumors but are technologically difficult to generate. Low-energy electrons offer another option, but these can pierce through only about 2 inches (5 to 6 centimeters) of flesh, Cengel said. While low-energy electrons can take care of superficial tumors, Cengel and his colleagues theorized that protons may be better suited for targeting cancer cells located deeper in the body. To test their idea, they had to build the right tools for the job. Put to the test The team used an existing proton accelerator, known as a cyclotron, to run the experiments, but made a number of modifications. The trick was to ramp up the rate at which the protons could be fired from the machine while also developing strategies to monitor where the protons landed and in what quantity. With this infrastructure in place, the team could better control the current of protons flowing from the cyclotron, "sort of like a faucet that you can turn on full blast or drip," Cengel said. The team then aimed its cyclotron at model mice. Induced tumors grew in the animals' pancreases and along their upper intestines, so the researchers sent a single pulse of radiation through the rodents' abdominal cavities. The flash lasted between 100 and 200 milliseconds, and by lining up many proton beams alongside each other, like uncooked spaghetti in a tight tube, the team struck the entire abdominal cavity in one shot. As expected, the treatment stymied tumor growth and the tissue scarring that typically results from cancer, while leaving nearby healthy tissue unharmed. "This is the first irrefutable evidence of a 'flash' effect in vivo with the small intestine as a target using protons instead of photons or electrons," Vincent Favaudon, a research director at the Institut Curie in Paris who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email. While successful, the study was conducted in mice, "and in small volumes, which is not the case in patients," Vozenin said. In other words, in its current form, the proton flash technique can only treat a small area of tissue at one time. The technique will have to be scaled up significantly before it's ready to be tested in larger animals, and eventually humans, she said. "The main limitation lies in the dose rate," Favaudon added. Research suggests that healthy tissues begin to incur damage if exposed to flash radiation for more than 100 milliseconds, he said. "Delivering the dose in a single-microsecond pulse is always better. So, the challenge is to increase the dose rate by a factor of two to five or even more." Related: 7 Cancers You Can Ward Off with Exercise Cengel and his colleagues plan to continue optimizing their tools and techniques while working to determine what dose rate delivers the most therapeutic benefit. In this way, the team would run a clinical trial of sorts but with animals as the initial subjects. Meanwhile, Vozenin and her colleagues will soon launch the first clinical trials in human patients in order to test their own flash techniques. Using low-energy electrons, they aim to treat superficial tumors, such as those seen in skin cancers. "If we can validate the flash concept in large volume and in clinical applications, then it will probably change all radiation therapy," Vozenin said. She said she expects that some version of flash radiation might be widely available to cancer patients within the next 10 years. Favaudon said that treatments targeting surface tumors, as well as those exposed through surgery, could be ready within two years. Techniques using high-energy electrons and proton beams could be ready within five to 10 years, he said. Assuming flash weathers the road to real human patients, the technique could allow doctors to target tumors that once defied treatment with radiation, Cengel said. "We could literally treat things that are not [currently] possible to treat and cure people who are not possible to cure," he said. "Obviously, big grain of salt on all that." Wacky Physics: The Coolest Little Particles in Nature 7 Odd Things That Raise Your Risk of Cancer (and 1 That Doesn't) 6 Foods That May Affect Breast Cancer Risk Originally published on Live Science. The US State Department on Saturday expressed concern over the continued detention of political leaders and restrictions on internet in Jammu and Kashmir. The restrictions were imposed on August 5 last year when India's central government had announced the abrogation of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under the Article 370 and its bifurcation into two Union Territories. The twitter handle of US State Department's bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) said that it was closely following the visit of US Ambassador to India Keneth Juster and other foreign envoys' visit to Jammu and Kashmir. The bureau, on behalf of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells, who will be travelling to South Asia next week, expressed hope for return of normalcy. "Closely following USAmbIndia and other foreign diplomats' recent trip to Jammu and Kashmir. Important step," the bureau of SCA said in a tweet. "We remain concerned by detention of political leaders and residents, and Internet restrictions. We look forward to a return to normalcy. AGW," it said in the tweet. In first such trip by foreign diplomats post August 5, envoys of 15 countries, including the US, visited the Kashmir valley on Thursday where they interacted with select political representatives, civil society members as well as military top brass with the Indian government rejecting criticism that it was a "guided tour". Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India for withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5 and bifurcating it into two union territories. Reacting sharply to India's decision, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled India's high commissioner. India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two-month-old twins living in a homeless shelter in New York died on Friday, police said. Fire Department officials said they received a call about a cardiac arrest at the city-funded shelter, the Landing in East Elmhurst, shortly after 3pm and took two patients to Elmhurst Hospital Centre in Queens. The children were found unconscious in the buildings lobby, police said. The patients, identified by police as a boy and a girl, were pronounced dead at the hospital, officials said. The cause of death was not immediately known. The childrens father told investigators that they were in a crib while he was taking a nap, police said. When he woke up, he said he found them unresponsive. Investigators were interviewing him and the childrens mother on Friday night. On its website, the Landing, a former motel near La Guardia Airport, describes itself as a temporary homeless shelter with a capacity for 169 families that is financed by the citys Department of Homeless Services. New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity Show all 8 1 /8 New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity Nearly 1,000 people slept in Times Square on Saturday night. The demonstrators were part of the World Sleep Out, which saw events in 52 cities over the weekend. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity The World Sleep Out raises funds for charity. As demonstrators slept in sleeping bags around the world, the charity group worked to raise its goal of $50m (38m) in funds to combat homelessness. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity Participants sprawled out on cardboard and yoga mats. Im nervous about the rats, Jeanette Guzman, who came to the sleep out from Queens with her entire family, told The Independent. But we want to feel what its like, and what homeless people go through sleeping on the streets and also to raise funds. Getty Images for The World's Big New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity Will Smith met with participants and performed in Times Square. The actor spoke about his film, The Pursuit of Happiness, and performed the hit theme song from his TV series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams also attended the sleep out. Ill tell you what: if you look around New York City, there are loads and loads of vacant luxury apartments that we didnt need while there are 60,000 people homeless, said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who was in attendance at the event and spoke to the crowd about housing being a human right. Getty Images for The World's Big New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity Josh Littlejohn said the city's "can do" spirit helped the event come to life. To my great surprise and real delight, they signed off on us closing down the entire stretch of Times Square, he said. Its kind of one of those things thats been happening a lot with this campaign, very serendipitous. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity Participants came from all over to help raise funds. Joshua Mazediak-Amey, who was from the UK and with a group of interns at the United Nations attending the Times Square event, told The Independent: I believe its important that those who work for the UN show the fact that were committed to actually getting on the ground and being with people that we are willing to come and be a part of things when theyre sort of on-the-ground movements like this opportunity tonight. Getty Images for The World's Big New Yorkers sleep in Times Square to raise money for homeless charity The group told The Independent nearly 1,000 people slept in Times Square on Saturday night. The World Sleep Out aims to raise $50m (38m) in donations for charities including the Malala Fund, the Institute of Global Homelessness and more. Mr Littlejohn has also established a new charity called the Worlds Big Sleep Out Trust. All of the donations raised in the US as part of the trust would be managed by UNICEF USA. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A spokeswoman for Camba, the nonprofit organisation that operates the Landing and other city-financed shelters, declined to comment. Isaac McGinn, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services, which includes the homeless services agency, described the deaths as a heartbreaking tragedy. We offer our condolences to the family and will provide them with any and all support that we can, Mr McGinn said. The Administration for Childrens Services, the citys child welfare agency, said in a statement that it was investigating the matter along with the police. Our top priority is protecting the safety and well-being of all children in New York City, the agency said in its statement. The homeless services agency requires that all family shelters provide parents with materials about safe sleeping for infants. Flyers with advice about safe sleeping are posted prominently in families rooms, Mr McGinn said. In addition to regular cribs, he said, all families with infants are supposed to receive a portable crib, fitted sheets and a so-called sleep sack, a type of wearable blanket that is considered a safe alternative for children under 1, who are at risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In recent years, more than 1,000 children annually have been born to parents living in the citys main shelter system. Although pregnancy is not officially listed as a reason someone would be eligible for shelter, social services officials have said that it is often intertwined with factors like overcrowding, family discord and domestic violence that do qualify. Recommended Pitch your business plan to an Apprentice star in our charity auction Orland Smith, a Landing resident, was returning to the shelter from work on Friday when he heard about the deaths. Mr Smith, who was pushing his young daughter in a stroller, said that he lived next door to the twins family, but that he did not know them. Im sad to hear this has happened, he said. He described conditions at the shelter as good. No problems, he said. Other residents who were coming in and out of the shelter in a steady trickle were reluctant to speak. Whatever other people here are doing, I dont pay it any mind, said a man who declined to give his name as he stood at the end of the buildings driveway, his hand on his young sons shoulder. This is my responsibility right here. The New York Times On Tuesday evening, Community Board 3s transportation committee will consider an application from an additional bus operator seeking to use a curbside location at 59 Canal St., between Allen and Orchard streets. If approved, the company, LX Transportation LLC, will be the third bus operator utilizing the makeshift depot on the Chinatown/Lower East Side border. Z&D Tour, one of the existing permit holders at 59 Canal, is dealing with the aftermath of a terrible bus crash in Pennsylvania last week, which left five people dead. According to a notice from the Department of Transportation, LX Transportation wants to use the Canal Street location to pick up customers one day a week (Thursdays at 11 p.m.) for a New York City-Columbus, Ohio route. The city notes that the application is feasible because the pickup time does not conflict with the current schedules from the existing operators, Z&D Tour and Virginia Seagull Travel Bus, Inc. While community board consultation is required under the states ineffectual intercity bus regulation law, community boards have no authority over permit approval. The decision is solely up to New York City DOT. The community board meeting takes place Tuesday, Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m. at University Settlement, 273 Bowery. A bus operated by Z&D Tour crashed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike last weekend, killing the driver and four other people, including two men in a UPS truck and a 9-year-old child from Brooklyn. That bus originated in Flushing, but made stops on the Lower East Side and New Jersey before continuing on to Pennsylvania. The NTSB is continuing its investigation, and has not determined whether the driver was speeding. Z & D Tour had not reported any crashes in the past two years. The biggest question looming since Boeing ousted CEO Dennis Muilenburgtwo days before Christmas was whether the longtime executive would receive severance. The Chicago-based plane maker answered that question late Friday: No. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Boeing said Muilenburg, whose departure from the company took effect Dec. 22 and was announced Dec. 23, is not entitled to any severance or separation payments in connection with his "retirement'' after more than 30 years with Boeing. Executive employment agreements are usually generous, with few reasons where severance isn't warranted. Former McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook, for example, received 26 weeks of pay after he was fired for violating company policy by having a consensual relationship with an employee. He did forfeit millions in stock options. Boeing Company President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg appears before a Senate Transportation Committee hearing on 'Aviation Safety and the Future of Boeing's 737 MAX' on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 29, 2019. Boeing said Muilenburg, who joined Boeing as an intern in 1985, will not receive any payment under the company's 2019 incentive plan, usually a key component of compensation. He forfeited stock awards valued at $14.6 million. 'Jedi mind tricks': Boeing 737 Max emails show attempts to manipulate airlines, FAA He will, however, receive long-term incentive compensation and retirement benefits covered by his contract. The value, according to Boeing: $62.2 million. Muilenburg also retains options to purchase nearly 73,000 shares of Boeing stock at $75.97, which vested in 2013. Boeing's stock closed Friday at $329.92. The stock was as high as $446 before the Max crisis. Boeing reveals new 'very disturbing' documents on 737 Max jetliner to FAA, Congress Boeing said incoming CEO David Calhoun, a Boeing board member who begins his new role Monday, will be paid a salary of $1.4 million and was issued $10 million in restricted stock units for money he gave up when he agreed to join Boeing. He will also be eligible for bonuses and other incentive awards, includng a $7 million long-term incentive award if Boeing meets certain key business milestones, including the "full safe return to serve of the 737 Max.'' 'These memos definitely don't help': Damning Boeing 737 Max emails add to safety anxiety This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boeing 737 Max fallout: Ousted CEO will not receive severance pay Anirban Lahiri birdied the final hole of his second round but still missed the cut by one shot at the Sony Open here. The Indian star, who shot two-over 72 on the first day, ended with an even 70 for a two-over total as the cut fell at one-over on Friday evening. The cut fell at one-over 141 and 66 players made it. Brendan Steele and Cameron Davis shot 66 each to share the lead at the top. Lahiri had a disappointing start as he incurred a penalty, missed a eight-foot par and took a double bogey on Par-3 11th. He dropped another shot on 13th when he went into the rough. On the second nine, he birdied the third but missed a 12-footer for another birdie on fifth. He missed a 13 footer for par on seventh and despite a birdie on ninth he came up short. Davis is ranked 310 and Steele is 403rd. Davis, 24, who like Lahiri needed to retain his card via the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, shot 68-66 to take a share of the lead with Steele, a three-time Tour winner and 12 years older than Davis. Steele has fallen from being inside the top 50 in the world just two years ago. A week after battling it out in a play-off for the title at Sentry Tournament of Champions Justin Thomas (71) and Patrick Reed (74) missed the cut as both finished at three-over. Also missing out was the defending champion Matt Kuchar missed the halfway cut. After some great ball-striking on the first day for a 65, Colin Morikawa carded three bogeys in his second round of 70. Steele totalled six birdies and an eagle, closing his round with five birdies and a double bogey in his final six holes. Davis made five birdies, including two in his last two holes. Rory Sabbatini joined the 5-under group thanks to an incredible second shot into the 18th green. From 232 yards, Sabbatini hit it to 21 inches to set up the tap-in eagle. There were nine players tied for third. The weather was once windy with gusts of up to 40 miles per hour at times. It was partly cloudy and there were showers throughout the day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tom Steyers campaign has long had the look of a colossal waste: Mind-boggling sums of cash dropped on a campaign that won him nothing more than a few appearances in Democratic debates. For Mike Bloomberg, who entered the race in November, the risk was the same. But all of the sudden, their millions are getting them somewhere. Steyers $106 million in advertising has lifted him to new and surprising heights in Nevada and South Carolina states in which hes swamped competitors who are focused primarily on Iowa and New Hampshire. His showings were enough to land him on the January debate stage next week in Iowa. Bloomberg, meanwhile, has plowed a record $211 million into states like California, Texas and Florida, springing the former New York Mayor into fifth place in national surveys, just behind Pete Buttigieg. Aside from ensuring another spot on the debate stage, Steyers success could scramble the early-state calendar if he keeps it up. And Bloombergs novel strategy to storm the primary starting on Super Tuesday though still in the very early stages and very much a long shot has made enough headway to keep the intrigue alive. Their formula is pretty simple: Spend where the others cant. Theres no question that both Steyer and Bloomberg have shown growth with it, said Diane Feldman, a longtime Democratic pollster and consultant. In places where they are advertising, theyre rising. Their improved standing holds no guarantee of meaningful delegate hauls either in the early states where Steyer is competing or starting just days later for Bloomberg. But the activity is shattering records on a gargantuan scale and rebalancing a contest where small-dollar giving was the early benchmark of success. Democratic presidential candidate businessman Tom Steyer waves before a Democratic presidential primary debate Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif. Altogether, presidential candidates spent nearly $150 million in December alone, roughly $100 million more than was spent that month in 2015, according to data compiled and released by Advertising Analytics. The total was also more than any month in the 2016 cycle except for October 2016, when the candidates combined to spend $160 million, the records show. Story continues The surge in big money not just from Steyer and Bloomberg, but by smaller super PACs supporting Joe Biden, Deval Patrick and Andrew Yang represents a remarkable reversal from the early days of the 2020 primary. Candidates jockeyed to be the champions of small-dollar donors, swearing off money from Big Oil and lobbyists in an attempt to win support from the grassroots. Bloomberg, by contrast, is not only refusing small checks not even $1 donations that could land him in debates hes dropped more than $41 million in TV ads this week alone. The rise of the two billionaires in polls reflects not only a greater awareness of their candidacies, but also a lingering dissatisfaction with what other Democratic contenders are offering, added Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic operative from New York. People are paying attention to the big spenders because theyre outsiders, and to presume otherwise is to think the public is stupid and theyre not. The public is very, very smart, Sheinkopf said of the big-money renaissance. Critics say, Theyre buying their way in. What are they buying? Theyre filling a vacuum that the non-self-funders havent been able to fill. In a pair of Fox News polls released Thursday, Steyer surged into double-digits in South Carolina and Nevada, past some top tier rivals on his way to qualifying for the next debate. Biden held his wide lead in South Carolina, at 36 percent, but Steyer leaped into second with 15 percent, right ahead of Bernie Sanders (14 percent) and Warren (10 percent). Steyer has also climbed into contention in Nevada. Bloomberg has reached 7 percent in several national polls and reached 11 in one. His national polling average hovers just below 6 percent, less than 2 points behind Buttigieg, but more than 2 points ahead of Yang and 3 points in front of Amy Klobuchar all rivals who, unlike Bloomberg, are contesting the first four states where they are hoping for momentum to carry them onward. Despite the polling upticks, progressives argue the money theyve poured into their primaries will, in the end, amount to little more than vanity projects. I am hopeful enough in voters to believe that when candidates who have to actually work for it have a crescendo of winning in the early states, that momentum will supersede big money spending by a couple billionaires when it comes time to vote in later states, said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which backs Elizabeth Warren. Forgoing small-dollar donors could also translate to a lack of committed grassroots supporters, argued Patrick Burgwinkle of End Citizens United, which aims to get money out of politics. If people are coming in with self-funding and not doing as much on the grassroots fundraising side, that could be a challenge when youre going up against the president in 2020, he said. Weve been in favor of making sure the campaigns are as grassroots-funded as possible, not just because it curbs the influence of big money but because it puts the eventually nominee in the best position as possible to defeat the president. The immediate effect of such spending, however, has been undeniably positive for both billionaires. Steyer has poured more than $22 million into TV and radio ads in South Carolina and Nevada markets, making him responsible for three-quarters of the combined spending in both states. His ads in Nevada and South Carolina have been running five months longer than those aired by other candidates. With the exception of a small, $13,000 ad flight in South Carolina by the former vice president, Biden and Warren wont air their first ads in South Carolina or Nevada until mid-January. Steyers ad messaging is also uniquely tailored to voter demographics in the early primary states. One, released in Nevada markets Wednesday, drills into Trumps immigration policy, calling it racist in an appeal to the states large Latino population. Another Nevada ad is entirely in Spanish. His ads in South Carolina feature mostly black voters lauding Steyers success as a businessman and ability to beat Trump. Bloombergs TV ads, which similarly batter Trump, span the map: He is running commercials in more than two dozen states where no one else is on TV, including Steyer. So far, Bloomberg has spent more than $21 million in California, $17.7 million in Texas, $16 million in Florida and $9 million each in New York and Pennsylvania. Bloombergs spending is backed up by a later-state ground blitz: This week, he hit Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennesse and Virginia. He is the only candidate running a national campaign and building a robust infrastructure to beat Donald Trump. It's clear that voters across the country not just in a handful of states are taking notice that Mike will get it done, spokeswoman Galia Slayen said. Florida is among the very expensive states that Bloomberg has to himself and his team sees potential there for the former New York mayor. Though Bloomberg needs to continue airing ads to raise his name ID in the state, You do hear support for Bloomberg from transplanted New Yorkers, said Joe Falk, a South Florida donor who is supporting Joe Biden in the race. People who respected him in his prior positions. No cause for panic, new media rules will benefit all: Javadekar Will raise our climate ambitions but not under pressure: Javadekar Now Ferraris and Lamborghinis can test in India: India gets Asias longest high speed track Rejected in polls, Left now uses students: Javadekar India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 11: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Delhi Police's ongoing probe into the January 5 violence in JNU has made it clear that students affiliated to left-wing bodies were involved in the incident. Attacking the opposition, he said CPI, CPI(M) and AAP have been rejected in the Lok Sabha polls and "they are now using students for their vested interests". He also appealed to the agitating students of the university to end the stir and allow the academic session to commence. Tehran plane crash: Iran admits it hit civilian aircraft by mistake | OneIndia news Masked men involved in JNU attack will be exposed soon: Prakash Javadekar "Police has brought reality in light. It is clear that left-wing students' outfits were involved in the attack," Javadekar said. The West Bengal government has decided pay a compensation of Rs 4.12 lakh to the family of a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly gangraped and then burnt alive in South Dinajpur district earlier this week, a well- placed source at the state secretariat said on Saturday. The charred body of the teenager was recovered under a culvert at Kumarganj on January 5 and three persons were arrested following a complaint lodged by her family members who were not found at home since Saturday morning. The police lodged a missing diary in this connection. "The state government will pay a compensation of Rs 4.12 lakh to the family members of the girl from South Dinajpur who was allegedly gangraped and then burnt alive," the source told PTI. The opposition BJP has demonstrated and brought out a rally in Kolkata on Friday protesting against the incident and demanded protection for women of the state. BJP MP Locket Chatterjee visited the house of the girl on Saturday morning but did not find her family members. She sniffed a political conspiracy of the ruling Trinamool Congress in the disapperance of the family. "The TMC took them away. The police helped the party in the act," Chatterjee alleged. A suo motu missing diary was lodged by the police at the insistence of the BJP leader. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Most of us remember reading about presidential farewell speeches in our U.S. history class. I remember my high school U.S. history teacher discussing President Washington's farewell address and the line about staying out of "foreign entanglements." The other memorable one is President Eisenhower and the reference to "the military-industrial complex." By the way, that speech is often misunderstood. President Eisenhower was warning us about corruption, not having a strong military. I do recall watching President Reagan's speech. It was probably more emotional than political for those of us who got involved in politics because of the Reagan candidacy. (I still have Reagan '76 bumper stickers!) He did say something that night that we should think about, as Steven F. Hayward reminded us: "Reagan bestowed full credit on the American people rather than himself." Frankly, that's the lesson future presidents could learn from President Reagan's speech. Accept responsibility for your mistakes, but give the people all of the credit. Here is the entire speech: Photo credit: YouTube screen grab PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. If youre looking for a way to get extra cash to pay off your holiday bills or save up money for down the road, the 2020 census could be your answer. The United States Census Bureau is currently recruiting employees for temporary and part-time work related to collecting data. If hired, employees can expect to make between $20-22 an hour, and training is paid. Field and office, and supervisor positions are available. For New Jersey, the bureau is expecting to recruit for 64,000 people, with an estimated 500,000 to be hired across the county to help in the effort to collect statistical data on the entire county, which happens every 10 years. Its a chance to support your community, and be a part of history, as it is the largest peacetime mobilization in the U.S. since 1790, said Jeff Behler, Director for the New York Region of the Census. In order to qualify to work, applicants must be at least 18 years old have a valid Social Security number, and be a U.S. citizen. We are really looking at this is as gig job, Behler said. You can set your own availability for hours, so if you have a part-time or a full-time job this can work around that. The bureaus new interactive map can help job seekers see how many openings are left in their area. Those interested can complete an online application at 2020census.gov/jobs. Aside from Puerto Rico, that has already received enough applicants to fill all jobs in the Commonwealth, every other area throughout the nation needs more applicants right now, said Timothy Olson, Census Bureau associate director for Field Operations in a statement. With low unemployment, the Census Bureau is taking extraordinary efforts to attract enough applicants to fill nearly 500,000 positions this spring. Those who are hired can expect to receive work for six to twelve weeks. The application period is expected to close in late March. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Saturday appealed to the central government for the release of its top leadership to pave the way for resumption of political activities. Rejecting reports appearing in a section of the media, the NC said that no deal was being worked out with the Centre to secure release of its leadership. Terming the reports "baseless", the NC said in a statement that both its patron Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah as well as other detained leadership would never leave Kashmir. "The party would like to place on record that no such deal has been offered nor would any deal ever be acceptable," the statement said It said that there was no question of any of the party's leaders "going into exile or leaving the country". "All those detained in the first week of August 2019 should be released unconditionally and allowed to resume normal activities," the statement said. The Abdullahs were among a host of politicians detained on August 5 last year when the Centre announced abrogation of the state's special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and its bifurcation into union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The senior Abdullah was later slapped with the stringent Public Safety Act on September 17. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The event took place on the third working day of a series of meetings within the framework of the ASEAN economic cooperation in 2020. Chaired by ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Aladdin Rillo, it saw the presence of senior officials in the three pillars (politics security, economy, and culture society) of the ASEAN Community; chairpersons of the ASEAN Economic Communitys specialised groups; and representatives of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. According to the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the CoW 10 focused on coordinating ASEANs activities relevant to the pillar of economy. The meeting discussed the blocs main economic priorities for 2020 proposed by Vietnam, priorities in the two other pillars and their relations with the proposed priorities in the pillar of economy. Participants also looked into the enhancement of the intra-ASEAN connectivity; the fourth industrial revolution and the digitalisation of economy in the ASEAN Economic Community; along with the priorities in certain fields in 2020 such as trade, investment, services, trade facilitation, consumer protection, intellectual property, the ASEAN single window, and quality standards. Besides, they deliberated the building of a platform for coordinating activities of the ASEAN Economic Community and settling related issues, which requires coordination among the committees and working groups in charge of different fields so as to promote the groupings economic integration in a more effective manner. At the meeting, Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair in 2020, introduced and chaired talks on the initiatives for the pillar of economy this year. These initiatives focus on promoting the intra-ASEAN connectivity, enhancing the partnership for peace and sustainable development, and improving ASEANs adaptability and operational efficiency in the time ahead. With 14 draft initiatives proposed right from the years beginning, Vietnam hopes to ensure that its 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship will push ahead with the formation of an economy community that plays the central role in regional and global cooperation frameworks. Outcomes of the CoW 10 will be reported to the ASEAN senior officials meeting on January 12. The United Nations Security Council agrees to extend its Syria aid programme but with big cuts. The UN Security Council has voted to renew an operation to deliver aid to Syria. But the number of border crossings involved has been halved, from four to two, to avoid a veto by Russia. Al Jazeeras James Bays reports from the United Nations. The former culture minister has been named as successor to late Sultan Qaboos. Oman has named Haitham bin Tariq Al Said as the countrys new ruler following the death of his cousin Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, state television announced. The former culture minister was sworn in before the ruling family council on Saturday morning, just hours after the announcement of Sultan Qaboos death. State television said authorities had opened a letter by Sultan Qaboos naming his successor, without elaborating, before announcing Haitham bin Tariq as the new ruler. Haitham bin Tariq was sworn in as the new sultan of the country after a meeting of the family which decided to appoint the one who was chosen by the sultan, the government said in a Twitter post. In his first address to the nation, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq pledged to maintain the Gulf states foreign policy, which he said was built on peaceful coexistence and maintaining friendly ties with all nations. We will continue to follow in the same course the late sultan adopted embracing foreign policies based on peaceful coexistence among peoples and countries without any interference in the domestic affairs of other states, he said in a speech broadcast on state television. We will continue as always contributing and calling for peaceful and amicable solutions for all disputes, he added, paying tribute to the late sultan. The least we hope for is to follow in his [Qaboos] footsteps and remain guided by his wisdom into the future, and preserve the achievements he made, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq said. Omans newly sworn-in Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said receives condolences during the funeral of his cousin, the late Sultan Qaboos, in Muscat [Sultan Al Hasani/Reuters] Sultan Haitham bin Tariq also called for efforts to develop the relatively small oil producing country and pledged to continue working towards raising the Omani peoples standard of living. Mature state The sultan is Omans paramount decision maker, and also holds the positions of prime minister, supreme commander of the armed forces, minister of defence, finance and foreign affairs. The Omani constitution stipulates that a successor must be named by the royal family within three days of the throne falling vacant. The sultan must be a member of the royal family as well as Muslim, mature, rational and the legitimate son of Omani Muslim parents. Sultan Qaboos, one of the Middle Easts longest-serving rulers who maintained the countrys neutrality in the region, had been ill for some time and was believed to have been suffering from colon cancer. The 79-year-old ruled Oman since overthrowing his father in a bloodless coup in 1970. He had no children and had not publicly appointed a successor to rule the nations 4.5 million people. Oman observers had said the sultans three cousins including Haitham bin Tariq stood the best chance. Mahjoob Zweiri, a professor at Qatar Universitys Gulf Studies Centre, said maintaining Omans status as a mature state will be an important task at a time the country faced a number of challenges including unemployment. In regional matters the role Oman has played so far is significant. It confirmed the importance of Oman regionally and internationally, he said. I think this is likely to continue. Commenting on Omans mediating role regionally and internationally, Zweiri said the new sultan was very close to the decision-making process and aware of what was needed when it came to such efforts. I dont expect really any major shift in all of that, he said. I think Oman will continue to play that positive role, cooling down a lot of conflicts, because they seek stability and security for the region. Haitham bin Tariqs appointment as sultan comes at a time when the Gulf Cooperation Council has become deeply divided following the Saudi Arabia-led blockade against Qatar. It also comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. In 2015, Oman played a crucial role in secret negotiations leading to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which has been unravelling following Washingtons 2018 decision to withdraw from it and reimpose strangling economic sanctions against Tehran. Texas will no longer accept the resettlement of new refugees, becoming the first state known to do so under a recent Trump administration order, Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday. Abbotts announcement could have major implications for refugees coming to the United States. Texas has large refugee populations in several of its cities and has long been a leader in settling refugees, taking in more than any other state during the 2018 governmental fiscal year, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Since the 2002 fiscal year, Texas has resettled an estimated 88,300 refugees, second only to California, according to the Pew Research Center. In a letter released Friday, Abbott wrote that Texas has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system. He added that Texas has done more than its share. Abbott argued that the state and its non-profit organizations should instead focus on those who are already here, including refugees, migrants, and the homeless indeed, all Texans. It wasnt clear how Abbotts letter might affect any currently pending refugee cases. Refugee groups sharply criticized the Republican governor. Ali Al Sudani, chief programs officer of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, predicted that some refugees with longstanding plans to come to Texas would have flights rescheduled or delayed. Al Sudani settled in Houston from Iraq in 2009 and now works to resettle other refugees. You can imagine the message that this decision will send to them and to their families, Al Sudani said. Its very disappointing and very sad news, and honestly, this is not the Texas that I know. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said he had met refugees in Dallas who had previously served as interpreters or aides for U.S. soldiers. You have people who are fleeing violence, people who are assisting us in the war on terror, who are having the door slammed in their faces, said Jenkins, a Democrat who is the countys chief administrative official. President Donald Trump announced in September that resettlement agencies must get written consent from state and local officials in any jurisdiction where they want to help resettle refugees beyond June 2020. Trump has already slashed the number of refugees allowed into the country for the 2020 fiscal year to a historic low of 18,000. About 30,000 refugees were resettled in the U.S. during the previous fiscal year. Governors in 42 other states have said they will consent to allowing in more refugees, according to the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, which works with local agencies throughout the U.S. to resettle refugees. The governors who havent chimed in are all Republicans and are from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Wyoming. Fierce debates have occurred in several parts of the country, including North Dakota and Tennessee, over whether to opt into refugee resettlement under the executive order. Many Republican governors have been caught between immigration hardliners and some Christian evangelicals who believe helping refugees is a moral obligation. LIRS is also part of a lawsuit challenging the order. A federal judge on Wednesday heard arguments on a request by resettlement agencies to prevent the Trump administration from enforcing it. Krish OMara Vignarajah, LIRS CEO, called Abbotts decision a devastating blow to a longstanding legacy of refugee resettlement in the state. Local officials in Houston, Dallas, and other cities will not be able to take in refugees over the governors objection, she said. There are some refugee families who have waited years in desperation to reunite with their family who will no longer be able to do so in the state of Texas, she said. Abbott has tried to stop refugees before, declaring in 2015 that Texas would not welcome people from Syria following the deadly Paris attacks that November. At the time, the administration of former President Barack Obama continued to send refugees to Texas and other states led by Republican governors who were opposed to it. Al Sudani, of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, pointed out that even if refugees are resettled in a different state, they can travel freely within the U.S. and move wherever they choose. Literally you can take the bus the next day and come to Texas, he said. ___ This version corrects the month that President Donald Trump issued his executive order to September. MONTREAL - Former SNC-Lavalin executive Sami Bebawi was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison Friday, wrapping up the last of the criminal cases brought against the engineering giant and its former employees involved in fraud and corruption in Libya. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONTREAL - Former SNC-Lavalin executive Sami Bebawi was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison Friday, wrapping up the last of the criminal cases brought against the engineering giant and its former employees involved in fraud and corruption in Libya. Bebawi was impassive as he was sentenced by Superior Court Justice Guy Cournoyer, who explained he was opting for a penalty closer to the top of the scale because of a number of aggravating factors in the case. Former SNC-Lavalin executive Sami Bebawi, right, arrives for sentencing at the courthouse in Montreal on Friday, January 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes "Although bribery of foreign public officials is sometimes seen as a necessary step in obtaining contracts in some countries," Cournoyer said, that does not justify Bebawi's conduct. "All Canadian companies and their executives are required to comply with Canadian laws prohibiting the fraud and corruption of public officials," he continued. "Canada is a state of law. Its laws must be respected." The 73-year-old Bebawi had been defiant as he entered the courtroom for sentencing while pulling a carry-on suitcase. When a reporter yelled out whether other ex-managers from the engineering firm should be held to account and "fall on their swords," he replied "definitely." A jury last month found the former head of SNC-Lavalin's construction division guilty of paying kickbacks to foreign officials and pocketing millions as he worked to secure contracts for the company beginning in the late 1990s. The case centred on several major infrastructure projects and dealings with Saadi Gadhafi, a son of late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The jury also heard Bebawi tried to pay off a subordinate to change his testimony so he could avoid prosecution himself. Cournoyer pointed to several factors, including the sophisticated nature of the fraud, the degree of planning and premeditation, and Bebawi's behaviour after the infractions had been committed. The federal prosecutors who brought the case to trial were satisfied with the sentence, saying it brought a message of deterrence and denunciation. Crown prosecutor Anne-Marie Manoukian called it an "embarrassment for Canadian companies to act in that kind of behaviour." "Our Canadian obligations with regards to our treaties and with regards to what is an infraction in Canada, that is not the way that business should be done," she said. The Crown had sought nine years behind bars after a jury convicted Bebawi last month of five charges including fraud, corruption of foreign officials and laundering proceeds of crime. "It is in fact very close to what we asked the court to impose," Manoukian said. "There were very many aggravating circumstances in this case and very few mitigating circumstances, as the judge stated." Bebawi's defence lawyers who did not address reporters after sentencing had countered with a suggestion of a six-year prison sentence, citing age and health as factors. Handcuffed and sitting in the prisoners' box after sentencing, Bebawi motioned reassuringly to family members in the courtroom. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The case returns to the court on Jan. 28 to discuss what to do with the proceeds of crime. The sentence brings to an end a lengthy, federally led investigation and prosecution of the engineering firm and some of its employees. In the days following the Bebawi verdict, the Montreal engineering giant also settled criminal charges on its business dealings in Libya, with its construction division pleading guilty to a single count of fraud and agreeing to a $280-million fine to be paid over five years and a three-year probation order. The resolution brings the company closer to ending a long-standing scandal that tarnished its reputation and ensnared the highest office of the Canadian government in scandal for months. "It's nice to be able to close the chapter on a case that's been going on since 2011," Manoukian said. "To date, all the charges we have laid are all completed." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 10, 2020. Muscat (AFP) - Sultan Qaboos, the longest-reigning leader of the modern Arab world, has died at the age of 79, the royal court said Saturday. "With great sorrow and deep sadness... the royal court mourns His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who passed away on Friday," the court said in a statement. Qaboos, who has ruled since 1970 when he deposed his father in a palace coup, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. He left no apparent heir. He was unmarried and had no children or brothers. It is not clear who will succeed Qaboos, whose country has a distinct method of choosing the next ruler. According to the Omani constitution, the royal family shall, within three days of the throne falling vacant, determine the successor. If the family does not agree on a name, the person chosen by Qaboos in a letter addressed to the royal family will be the successor. The sultan should be a member of the royal family, as well as "Muslim, mature, rational and the legitimate son of Omani Muslim parents". Local experts say that more than 80 men meet the criteria, but one name stands: Asad bin Tariq. Tariq, 65, had been appointed deputy prime minister for international relations and cooperation affairs in 2017. The move was seen as a clear message of support to the sultan's cousin and "special representative" since 2002. Qaboos transformed the Arabian Peninsula nation from a backwater into a modern state while pursuing a moderate but active foreign policy. Having played a role in Iran's nuclear deal with world powers while preserving its membership in the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council, Oman has emerged as the Gulf's discreet mediator. It remains to be seen whether the next ruler will take the same moderate approach in a region often in turmoil. (Newser) Two new stars have joined the likes of Sally Field, Sam Waterston, Rosanna Arquette, and Ted Danson, among others, in being detained by police for attending Jane Fonda's climate change protests in Washington, DC. Deadline reports Martin Sheen and Joker star Joaquin Phoenix were among the nearly 150 activists arrested Friday on Capitol Hill as part of Fonda's Fire Drill Fridays, although Fonda herself didn't take to the Capitol's steps (TMZ notes Fonda has already been arrested four times, and that a fifth arrest could lead to substantial jail time). story continues below "Even the Joker believes in climate change!" Fire Drill Fridays tweeted. "Joaquin Phoenix calls out the meat and dairy industry for being the 3rd leading cause of the climate crisis." The group also posted a video of Sheen speaking to the crowd. "Clearly, the world will be saved by women," Sheen said to cheers. "Thank God they outnumber us men." TMZ and Deadline both note that a change of scene is in the works for the protests: Fire Drill Fridays will be leaving DC and heading to California next, with the first demonstration planned for Los Angeles on Feb. 7. This next round of protests will be organized by Greenpeace USA. (Read more Joaquin Phoenix stories.) ALTON Alton Main Street presented seven 2019 Service Awards to local businesses, organizations and Alton Main Street affiliates during its annual appreciation party Thursday at The Lovejoy in Alton. Held each January, the annual event is the organizations effort to give back to members of the community who have shared in its mission for the renewal of the citys historic downtown district. It was an incredible feeling to have a couple hundred of our organizations biggest supporters in the same room celebrating the successes of last year and getting excited for whats to come in 2020, said Alton Main Street Executive Director Sara McGibany. Our community is full of hard working people who are very generous with their time and talent, and its great to see so many people with a shared passion for downtown getting to know one another better and making new friendships, she said. Joshua Grassle of Jacoby Arts Center, which was awarded Organization of the Year for its efforts during the annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival in August, received the award along with board members Molly Vellikis and Christine Ilewski-Huelsmann and former board member Roger Lewis. We are so thankful to be a part of a growing supportive community, said Grassle. To be recognized for being a part of that is really an honor. Alton Main Street has been a great partner through the years. The way they care for the people and community is an inspiration. Pastor Mike Adams and his wife, Tammy, accepted the Extra Mile Award for Lifehouse Community Church. Were incredibly honored to be recognized for doing something we really feel everybody should do, thats to serve each other and serve the city, he said. Its a great place to live and great organization that we have here, Alton Main Street. Being a part of it and joining forces with them is really a blessing to us. Other awards went to Laura Blair for Volunteer of the Year, Country Meadows Antiques for Business of the Year, Morrisons Irish Pub for Restaurant of the Year and Sierra Club Piasa Palisades Group for Partnership of the Year. Sasha Bassett was also honored for her service as an Alton Main Street board member and outgoing board president. The organizations new board president, Antione Williams, spoke about his plans and commitment to the position. To Alton Main Street as a whole, although youre losing the beauty of your past president, just know youll still have the ambition, drive and commitment from your new president in 2020, said Williams. Alton Main Street, the winner of the RiverBend Growth Associations 2019 Captain of the Riverbend award, logged more than 250 hours of free community events last year, including the Alton Farmers & Artisans Market, the Night Market on Broadway, the Green Gift Bazaar, Whats Up Downtown, the Alton Car Show, the Mississippi Earthtones Festival and the Annual Community Tree Lighting at Lincoln-Douglas Square. The organization saw a 51% increase in visits to its redesigned website optimized for mobile devices in 2019. Spending 95% of its budget at locally-owned businesses and to hire area residents, artists and performers, the organization also partnered with the City Treasurers office, the RiverBend Growth Association, the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau and Washington University for several events and campaigns. Aesthetic improvements efforts include the coordinating of 1,200 hours of volunteer litter removal and 400 hours of volunteer landscape maintenance in 2019, along with funds raised for new holiday decor along West 3rd Street. For more information on Alton Main Street and upcoming events, visit dowtownalton.com. The UKs most senior judge has condemned law firms that demand female lawyers wear high heels, as she lamented the lack of progress on sex discrimination in the legal profession. Baroness Hale, who is about to retire as president of the Supreme Court, said in an interview said she was also shocked some women barristers were paid less money than their male counterparts for similar work. Ive heard some shocking stories about women barristers being charged out at lower rates for the equivalent work and theyre not realising because they dont know what their clerks are asking for their male counterparts, she told the Evening Standard. Women advocates were also not being given the opportunity to tackle the biggest and most significant cases, including those argued before the Supreme Court, Lady Hale said. This could not be put down a lack of capable barristers because some firms have consciously tried to instruct equal numbers of men and women and it works perfectly well, she added. Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Show all 16 1 /16 Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful The Supreme Court has ruled against Boris Johnson by declaring his government unlawfully shut down parliament for five weeks EPA Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Lady Hale handed down the historic verdict, hailed by opposition MPs and anti-Brexit campaigners. She said all 11 judges were unanimous in deciding that the case is justiciable, so the government loses that part of the argument. The court is bound to conclude therefore that the decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions. EPA/Supreme Court Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Gina Miller and her team react outside the Supreme Court are the verdict. She said: Today is not a win for any individual or cause. It is a win for Parliamentary sovereignty, the separation of powers and independence of our British courts. Crucially, todays ruling confirms that we are a nation governed by the rule of law, laws that everyone, even the Prime Minister, are subject to." PA Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful A person dressed as a caricature of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a prison uniform stands outside the Supreme Court AP Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Mr Johnson to consider his position following the landmark decision, while Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said he was not fit to be prime minister Getty Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Scottish National Party (SNP) Westminster leader Ian Blackford raises his arms as he comes outside. He said: "This is an absolutely stunning judgement by the Supreme Court today." He went on to say, "we all want to get back to work, and quite frankly, on the back of this, Boris Johnson must resign immediately." AFP/Getty Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Crowds outside celebrated the verdict AP Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Delegates at the Labour party conference applaud after hearing the news AFP/Getty Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Speaker John Bercow said MPs must now convene without delay and confirmed the Commons would return at 11.30am on Wednesday AFP/Getty Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Gina Miller said: "As a result of this judgment, Parliament is open, it was never prorogued. I urge MPs to get back to work immediately. AP Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful MPs Anna Soubry, Liz Saville Roberts and Caroline Lucas, together with SNP leader Ian Blackford, react. Green MP Caroline Lucas has said the Supreme Courts decision is just the start Reuters Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful The UK deserves a Prime Minister and a Government who act with honesty, integrity and in a manner consistent with our constitution, at all times." AFP/Getty Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful AP Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful The SNPs Joanna Cherry QC says: Boris Johnsons position is untenable and he should have the guts to resign. PA Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful EPA Supreme Court verdict: Boris Johnson prorogation unlawful Tom Tugendhat MP returned to the chamber in the House of Commons within minutes of the Supreme Court ruling PA The judge warned that women in law were still being held back by antiquated notions of smart dress. Yet one does again hear stories of women being required to wear high heels by employers," she added. Requiring neatness, tidiness, cleanliness is one thing, requiring a particular image is another. Recommended Lady Hale warns PM against political appointees to Supreme Court Baroness Hale has been a member of the Supreme Court since its inception in 2009 and its president since 2017. During that time she has presided over a string of politically weighty cases, including the Miller judgments over whether the government could trigger Article 50 and kickstart the Brexit process, and more recently the case which saw Boris Johnsons effort to prorogue parliament deemed unlawful. When asked what her proudest achievements on the UKs highest court she cited both those cases. She also revealed she hopes to use her retirement from the Supreme Court to write a memoir. Baroness Hale will also take up an honorary position as a professor of law at University College London. Beyond the legal profession, the 74-year-old said she expected the courts would push ahead on entrenching greater equality in the law. Lady Hale at her own valedictory ceremony in the Supreme Court (PA) Many issues such as non-discrimination, workplace harassment and equal pay have been on the statute book for a while but were yet to be put into practice, she suggested. Theres still a lot more progress to be made," she said. The balance between rewarding seniority and experience when people are doing basically the same job is a really difficult one but needs to be thought about and tackled. In a statement issued by Naik's team on Saturday, the Islamic preacher said that he was approached by a representative of the Indian government who offered him the deal, which he claims to have refused. New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) Vitriolic Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is living in exile in Malaysia, has claimed that the NDA government at the Centre offered to shelve money laundering charges against him and give him safe passage in return for his support to abrogate Article 370. Naik has been in exile in Malaysia since 2016. Naik made the claim in a video, in which he said that three-and-a-half months ago, "some Indian officials approached me for a private meeting with a representative from the Indian government." Naik claimed the representative said that he was following "direct instructions" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Naik said the person claimed that he wanted to remove "misconceptions and miscommunication" between him and the Indian government and he wanted to "provide me safe passage to India". Naik said the representative wanted him to support the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir to which he "flatly refused". Naik claimed the liaison also told him not to make statements against the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Naik has also referred to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and criticised "many Muslim leaders" for supporting the National Register of Citizens. He alleged that these Muslim leaders may have been "blackmailed, pressurised and forced to support the unjust BJP government or face dire consequences". san/arm Flash A blast hit a mosque in capital city Quetta of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Friday night, killing at least 14 people and injuring 20 others, a senior police officer said. The victims, including the deputy superintendent police of Quetta, were offering prayers inside the mosque when they were targeted by the explosion, Inspector General of Quetta police Abdul Razzaq Cheema told Xinhua. Sharing initial investigation reports with media, provincial Home Minister Zia Ullah Langau said that the blast was suspected to be carried out by a suicide bomber, adding that the security of mosques and other religious places have been beefed up in the province. The injured people have been shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta and several of them are in critical condition, the hospital's spokesman said. No group or individual has claimed the attack yet. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the blast and directed hospital authorities to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people. He also sought a report of the incident from the relevant authorities, the Prime Minister's House said in a statement. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet that military troops have also joined the police in the search and rescue operation. "Every possible assistance be given to police and civil administration. Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim," the official quoted the country's army chief as saying. This was the second blast that hit the city in less than a week. Earlier on Tuesday, two people were killed and 18 others injured when an improvised explosive device was detonated near a security forces' vehicle in Quetta. New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall is critical of a Trump administration proposal that would ease regulations put into place by the half-century-old National Environmental Policy Act. This move to gut NEPA is one of the worst decisions made by the worst environmental administration in history, Udall said. The Trump administrations attempt to gut the only law that requires federal agencies to consider the environmental and climate-related consequences of federal actions is an affront to all of our communities who deserve a voice in projects that affect their health, safety and economic well-being. President Trumps proposal calls for narrowing the scope of the act, which was signed by President Richard Nixon in 1970. Udalls office said the proposal would limit the consideration of climate change effects of new federal projects and eliminate NEPA reviews entirely for projects with major environmental impacts, such as mining, pipelines and logging. Since 1970, the National Environmental Protection Act has ensured the federal actions are fully evaluated before decisions are made, protecting public health and including the public input necessary in a healthy democracy, the senator said. The president said enforcement of the law had slowed federal approval of projects. The proposal is consistent with previous actions easing environmental restrictions put into place by the Obama administration on public lands, measures that were praised by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt during a visit with Vice President Mike Pence in Artesia, which they said were necessary for economic development. Udall said taking climate change out of consideration shows willful blindness and gross negligence in the face of the climate crisis, by both making the problem worse and wasting taxpayer dollars when federal infrastructure is inevitably damaged by worsening floods and fires. While there may be ways to improve the process to both better protect the environment and provide more certainty to industry, this is simply another give-away to corporate polluters who will put profit before clean air and clean water, and the health of our communities, he said. Moscow, Jan 11 : Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the situation in the Middle East with US Defence Secretary Mark Esper during a phone conversation, the Russian Defence Ministry said. "The situation in the Middle East region was discussed," the ministry said in a statement on Friday, Xinhua news agency. Tensions soared in the Middle East after a US airstrike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3 killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. Iran fired missiles on Wednesday in retaliation, striking military bases which house US troops in Iraq's western province of Anbar. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted afterwards that "we do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression." US President Donald Trump said that no US casualties resulted from Iran's missile attack, adding that the United States would impose additional sanctions against Tehran. Michael Roskos admits that the first time he and his wife got a call asking for money for their local police, they gave it to them. It would take a few more calls and a little detective work before he found out that the company making those calls on behalf of law enforcement was actually keeping about 80 percent of what donors were coughing up. Wisconsin has about a dozen professional organizations and unions representing public safety workers some of which are organized as charities or have charitable affiliates. And documents filed with the state show that a handful of those charitable groups use third-party fundraisers that pocket the vast majority of the money they raise on behalf of the groups firefighter and law enforcement members. I just feel like its shady in the sense that its really easy for the police organizations to raise money (with the help of the fundraisers), said Roskos, who lives in La Crosse. The public doesnt realize where the funds go to. Some of the police and fire groups that hire fundraisers, though, say they wouldnt be able to raise money without their help. Typical of the arrangements is the contract signed in January 2019 by the state firefighters union, Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, and Charitable Resource Foundation, of CRF Inc., of Greenwood, Indiana. The three-year deal gives CRF responsibility for making telephone, direct mail and digital fundraising pleas and, in return, allows it to keep 85 percent of what it takes in. Theres little to ensure donors know that, though. Nothing in the contract spells out exactly what CRF employees must tell potential donors about who they are raising money for and how much of it goes to the union, and theres nothing in state law that requires fundraisers to make those disclosures without being asked. Although if fundraisers lie to potential donors, they could be subject to sanctions under the states deceptive trade practices law. The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has long warned residents to beware of solicitations on behalf of public safety groups, noting on its website that most citizens hold law enforcement and public safety personnel in high regard and this sense of loyalty may lead you to donate to groups which align themselves with causes related to police or fire fighters. It advises those who get fundraising calls on behalf of public safety groups to ask where the group is located, whether the caller is being paid, what percentage of donations actually go to the group, and what the group will do with the money donated. Tight-lipped Roskos said the solicitations he received came from a Manitowoc-based company called Encore Music Productions, which was raising money for the La Crosse Police Departments K-9 unit and the Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association, or WSDSA. He said he found out about the companys generous take when he followed up with its clients because Encore itself wasnt saying much. He said that when hes asked the company how much of his donation goes to law enforcement, their first line is we dont know or it varies. He said hes also been told that the law enforcement groups are guaranteed a specific amount, but that when he asks for documentation explaining those arrangements, theres nothing they can point me to that validates what theyre saying. The state Department of Financial Institutions lists Encore Music Productions registered agent as John Tobin, of Manitowoc. Its business registration is up to date, but its state fundraising license expired at the end of August. A manager at Encores office who would only identify himself as John declined to comment. WSDSAs business manager, Sandy Schueller, said the group typically gets 20 percent of what Encore raises, but is guaranteed a minimum of $60,000 a year. She said she didnt know what Encore tells potential donors about how much of the money it raises goes to her organization, but I obviously tell anyone who reaches out to us. The La Crosse police union, the La Crosse Professional Police Nonsupervisory Association, has been an Encore client for many years, its vice president, Dale Gerbig, said Friday, although it hasnt raised money for the departments K-9 unit. He did not have access to how much of what the company raises goes to the union but said the union is very satisfied with its work, which includes not only telemarketing but event management. He said he could understand that somebody could perceive it as shady, but that the 60-member union wouldnt be able to do its own fundraising and that some of the money Encore raises for the union allows the union in turn to donate to worthy causes, such as the Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Club. Big piece of the action WSDSA is one of two public safety groups the State Journal reviewed that appear from financial information filed with the state to spend the bulk of their money on fundraising. The 75-year-old organization says on its website that it exists to create a community between the Sheriffs, Deputy Sheriffs and Jail Officers in Wisconsin with the shared goal of promoting better public welfare. It said it lobbies the state Legislature on law enforcement-related matters, holds conferences, publishes an annual magazine and offers seven $500 scholarships every year. But reports the association has filed with DFI over the years consistently show the biggest parts of its budget is for fundraising. In 2017, the most recent year for which records are available, the WSDSA reported collecting $295,947 in contributions, but spending $218,306 on fundraising. The second group, Delavan-based Wisconsin County Police Association, spent between 85% and 96% of its reported contributions on fundraising from 2003 to 2017 meaning its third-party fundraiser is keeping most of what it raises for the group for itself. In 2017, the most recent year for which financial reports are available, the group, which is also known as the County Law Enforcement Professionals of Wisconsin, took in $139,859 in contributions and spent $131,356 on fundraising. Its fundraising contract with New Jersey-based Community Cares United provides it with 18% of what the company raises on its behalf. A separate contract with Public Safety Programs and subcontractor Fund America Inc., both located outside Chicago, provide the group with 17% of the funds they raise for shows, events and an advertising book,with the police group guaranteed a minimum of $5,000 annually. Wisconsin County Police Association executive director Robert Wierenga said the 71-year-old group is primarily a lobbying organization with 3,600 members from county sheriffs offices across the state. It also awards scholarships and some grants. Our members do not pay dues, and the only source of income we have is through telemarketing fundraising, he said. Wierenga said that his organization is getting more from its fundraiser than many other groups do from theirs, but the split appears to be disproportionately unfair to those not involved in it. The Mosinee-based Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officers Association which publishes a journal, offers scholarships and has its own members-only campground in Waupaca also solicits sponsorships with the help of fundraiser United Partners Outreach of Brainerd, Minnesota. Its contract allows United Partners Outreach to keep 85% of what it raises on behalf of the association. Officials with the police group did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Needing the help DATCP says that even with fundraisers keeping the bulk of the money they raise for themselves, theyre often still providing more money to their clients than their clients would be able to raise on their own. Mike Woodzicka, vice president of the state firefighters union, declined to go into detail about the unions work with CRF but said it employs a third-party fundraiser because it wouldnt have the ability to raise money by itself. PFFW is largely engaged in lobbying state lawmakers on its members behalf, but its charitable foundation also reported spending money in 2017 the most recent year for which a federal tax filing was available on treatment for burn survivors, fire prevention education and initiatives that honor and memorialize firefighters. Its contract with CRF obliges it to spend 40% of its 15% split with CRF on unnamed programs. We dont have the resources internally to do it, Woodzicka said of fundraising, and if the union didnt hire an outside fundraiser, wed get nothing. Reports filed with DFI suggest WSDSA also would be bringing in less without the services of Encore Music Productions. It only collected about $23,000 in contributions in 2015, when it reported spending nothing on fundraising. In the two years after and two years before, when it reported big fundraising expenditures, it netted from $76,000 to $92,000 in contributions. Most state firefighter and law enforcement groups contacted by the State Journal said they either did no fundraising or do not use an outside company for fundraising. The states police union, for example, made a conscious decision more than a decade ago to focus on the services that we provide and to fund those services from dues alone, according to Jim Palmer, executive director for the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. We recognize that many public safety groups throughout the state and nation utilize third-party fundraisers, Palmer said, but since the WPPA stopped fundraising, we have expanded our programs, our membership has consistently grown, and weve had little or no annual dues increases as a result. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The ruling students wing as well Left Front activists have begun their protest separately against the amended Citizenship Act in various parts of West Bengal ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the state starting on Saturday. students' wing, TMCP, began their 'dharna' against CAA, and Population Register (NPR) on Friday at Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata. supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to spend an hour with the TMCP agitators during the day. She is scheduled to meet the PM in the evening. The Left Front activists staged protests on Saturday against the new citizenship law in various parts of North 24 Parganas district. The PM's visit comes at a time when West Bengal has been witnessing widespread protests against the contentious Citizenship Act. Left Front activists, carrying placards with 'Go Back Modi' written on it, took out rallies at Dum Dum area - which is just 1.5 kilometres from the airport, where the PM will land upon his arrival in the city. "We will continue our protest unless and until the Act is withdrawn. We don't want Narendra Modi to come to Kolkata as it will vitiate the atmosphere of our state," a protester said. Several organisations, both political and civil, have planned protest rallies across the city against the Citizensip Amendment Act (CAA) and the Register of Citizens (NRC). During his visit, Modi will attend sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust and hold a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Apart from attending scheduled programmes, the prime minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with Banerjee at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday evening. The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with Banerjee's opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation. The prime minister will dedicate to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata -- the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall. The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic galleries and refurbished them with new exhibitions, while curating the old galleries. Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Saturday and Sunday. The prime minister and the chief minister will share dais at the programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present. The prime minister is likely stay at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, on Saturday night. The West Bengal administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the visit. Congress workers and some students organisations are also scheduled to hold protests across the city against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed countrywide Register of Citizens. Hundreds of disgruntled depositors of the failed, 80 year-old The Finance Company (TFC) staged a protest on Wednesday in Colombo urging the government to resolve the crisis. Pic by Amila Gamage. Lucero said his agency no longer has access to databases in Illinois that officers previously used to track noncitizens, and local jails have denied the more than 1,000 detainers the agency issued during the fiscal year 2019. He argued this could be costing residents, because local law enforcement agencies will use more resources if this person were to get arrested again. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are taking their lives back. They are officially done living under the giant microscope that the British media has thrust upon them. On Wednesday, the couple announced that they would be stepping back from their positions as senior royals. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex | Chris Jackson/Getty Images There had been rumors going around for months that this was something that the couple was thinking of doing, especially after how poorly Markle was treated in the media. But no one thought that Prince Harry would actually step back from his life as a royal. Now that he has, fans are going absolutely nuts over how much the royal has put his wife first. Markles trouble with the media From the moment that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got engaged, she began receiving bad press in the media. People accused her of being a crown chaser and just wanting to get with Harry for his notoriety and title. The media continued to scrutinize Markle all throughout her pregnancy. Eventually, Harry had enough and decided to sue the parent company of Mail on Sunday for publishing one of her private letters. There is a human cost to this relentless propaganda, specifically when it is knowingly false and malicious, and though we have continued to put on a brave face as so many of you can relate to I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been, Harry wrote in a statement of why he was moving forward with the lawsuit. Because in todays digital age, press fabrications are repurposed as truth across the globe. One days coverage is no longer tomorrows chip-paper. Prince Harry and Megan Markle step down from royal duties On Jan. 8, the Sussexes announced that they were officially stepping back from their royal duties. After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution, they wrote on their Instagram. We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. And they will now be spending a lot of time outside of the UK. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages, the statement continued. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. The internet reacts Ultimately, people believed that Markle was a large reason that Prince Harry decided to step back from his position and most people agree that its for the best. Prince Harry has his mothers spirit by heart, one person tweeted. The royal family has treated Meghan just as bad as they treated his mother, Princess Diana. Yall bullied her, including the UK media, until it was no longer tenable to stay. I dont blame them for stepping away. Ill be blunt about this: #PrinceHarry and #MeghanMarkle have done the right thing for themselves and their child, another person wrote. I dont blame them, frankly. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are a true representation of when a man loves a you he will follow you anywhere, another person said. Prince Harry leaving royalty for Meghans well-being is KING behaviour, no way hes doing a Princess Diana repeat, a fan said. We love to see it! Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The Civil Amendment has been facing opposition since the law came into force. But BJP-ruled states have got the support of the law. CM Vijay Rupani's government has passed a resolution in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act of the Center. Home Minister Pradeep Singh Jadeja told the House that Mahatma Gandhi in 1947 and before 2014, Congress itself had supported such legislation. MP Govt to honour Deepika Padukone for Chhapaak According to the media report, while protests are being organized in the country to the city villages in the country on the basis of the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Gujarat government passed a resolution calling for a special session of the Legislative Assembly to legally implement the CAA in the state. Amid heavy opposition and uproar from the Congress, the BJP MLAs passed the proposal in support of the CAA with a majority. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the CAA provides for citizenship of minority Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Christian and Jain communities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan on the basis of religion. The people of the Muslim community settled in India have nothing to do with CAA. Mehbooba Mufti's troubles increases, these leaders will leave party In his statement, Minister of State for Planets Pradeepsinh Jadeja said that there were 428 temples in Pakistan at the time of Partition which has now reduced to 20. There has also been a steady decrease in the number of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Christians. Hindu youths are forcibly converted, young girls are forced to marry Muslims. In Pakistan, kidnapping, rape, and conversion of minorities are common. Sindh's Sapna Gyanchand was abducted and forcibly molested when he was brought by the High Court, a group of fundamentalists gathered in large numbers in the court premises and surrounded and threatened him. Delhi Assembly Election status of regional parties of Bihar declined day by day Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a sound and light show at the iconic Howrah Bridge from the Millenium Park on the banks of the Ganga here. The 2.5 minute show and sound system is installed at the Millenium Park and is part of a project of the KoPT's 150th anniversary celebrations. The show will replace the existing decorative lighting with 650 power-efficient LED and spotlightfittings for a programmable multi-colour lighting, including a show that will sync with music. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Minister of Shipping (independent charge) Mansukh Mandaviya were also present at the glittering programme organised by the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) at the park, which is situated about 2 km from the bridge. After inaugurating the sound and light show, Modi left for Belur Math, the global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission by the river route. The cantilever bridge was built by the British and opened to the people in 1943 in the midst of World War II replacing a pontoon bridge at the same location and linking Kolkata and Howrah. The bridge, considered to be the busiest cantilever bridge in the world, was renamed as Rabindra Setu in 1965. More than 1.15 lakh vehicles from both Kolkata and Howrah ply on it day, besides over five lakh pedestrians from both sides. In 2012 Yinheng Wen was appointed CEO of Guangdong Investment Limited (HKG:270). This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at other big companies. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid. Check out our latest analysis for Guangdong Investment How Does Yinheng Wen's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? At the time of writing, our data says that Guangdong Investment Limited has a market cap of HK$105b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of HK$3.5m for the year to December 2018. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at HK$1.1m. Importantly, there may be performance hurdles relating to the non-salary component of the total compensation. When we examined a group of companies with market caps over HK$62b, we found that their median CEO total compensation was HK$7.7m. There aren't very many mega-cap companies, so we had to take a wide range to get a meaningful comparison figure. Most shareholders would consider it a positive that Yinheng Wen takes less in total compensation than the CEOs of most other large companies, leaving more for shareholders. While this is a good thing, you'll need to understand the business better before you can form an opinion. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Guangdong Investment has changed over time. SEHK:270 CEO Compensation, January 11th 2020 Is Guangdong Investment Limited Growing? On average over the last three years, Guangdong Investment Limited has shrunk earnings per share by 1.3% each year (measured with a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 13%. Unfortunately there is a complete lack of earnings per share improvement, over three years. And while it's good to see some good revenue growth recently, the growth isn't really fast enough for me to put aside my concerns around earnings. These factors suggest that the business performance wouldn't really justify a high pay packet for the CEO. You might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for future earnings. Story continues Has Guangdong Investment Limited Been A Good Investment? Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Guangdong Investment Limited for providing a total return of 70% 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. In Summary... It looks like Guangdong Investment Limited pays its CEO less than the average at large companies. Yinheng Wen is paid less than CEOs of other large companies. While the company isn't growing on our analysis, shareholder returns have been good in recent years. We would like to see EPS growth, but in our view it seems the CEO is remunerated reasonably. So you may want to check if insiders are buying Guangdong Investment shares with their own money (free access). Important note: Guangdong Investment 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. Babulal Marandi on visit to Mauritius, buzz grows of his 'Ghar Wapasi' to BJP Ranchi, Jan 11 (UNI) Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JVM-P supremo who celebrated his 62nd birthday today have currently gone abroad after the end of the inaugural session of the Jharkhand Assembly. Mr Marandi has gone to Mauritius from where he is expected to be back in Ranchi in next 3-4 days via Delhi during which he is likely to meet the BJP leaders and finalise the roadmap of his home-coming. However, all the senior party functionaries have said that they do not have much information regarding the vacation of Mr Marandi. As the speculations regarding his joining the BJP grew loud the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha put out an official statement through which former central general secretary of the party Abhay Singh said whatever decision Mr Marandi will take in the interest of the state and the nation the entire central committee will stand with him. outcomes in state-run schools can be better than the private ones, Nobel laureate said on Saturday as he lauded for "outperforming" their private peers. He said state agencies have been "generous" with resource allocation for education, which is visible in aspects like teacher salaries and the system, and the focus needs to shift to making them perform better. The comments from the MIT professor, whose work on poverty alleviation won him the coveted Nobel Prize recently, come weeks ahead of the Delhi polls. "Do I think that you can aspire to doing better in the government system relative to the average private school? Yes. The Delhi public schools have done it actually. Results in the Delhi public school system, the government school system like the municipal schools are better than the average private school in Delhi, he told reporters in Mumbai. Speaking ahead of delivering a lecture at education-focused NGO Pratham's 25th anniversary celebrations, Banerjee said the have "outperformed" the private ones. He said private schools are "terrible" from an outcome perspective. is largely a state subject under the federal structure of India, but stretched fiscal situations are generally "bad news" for the sector as lesser resources will be allocated, he said, answering a specific question on a Rs 3,000 crore reduction in the Central government's allocations. However, he said rather than financial resources, the Centre's focus should be on reforms in human resource development, University Grants Commission and syllabus setting. He pitched strongly for leaving syllabus setting to the individual institutions, rather than making it centralised where boards set the syllabi. There is a need for greater flexibility in the education sector across all aspects, he said, calling the system "very rigid". "I think the real issue is not money... the education system is very rigid, too rigid. There's almost no flexibility. Pensions, salaries eat up most of the budget. So it's not that you can change very much. You are always committed to paying those things. It's a rather inflexible system," he said. The economist, who has been a notary of stimulating demand to boost growth, also said that the budget deficit numbers are "a little bit imaginary" and one should not be very concerned about breaching the fiscal gap. "Budget deficit numbers are a little bit imaginary. So in that sense, I don't think it is a big deal to breach it and certainly I wouldn't be supporting fiscal tightening right now," he said. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen declared a landslide victory in Saturday's election as voters delivered a stunning rebuke of Beijing's campaign to isolate the self-ruled island and handed its first female leader a second term. Tsai, 63, announced her victory as thousands of jubilant supporters cheered and waved flags outside her party headquarters with the ongoing vote count revealing an all but unassailable lead. "Taiwan is showing the world how much we cherish our free, democratic way of life and how much we cherish our nation," she told reporters. Her main rival, Han Kuo-yu of the China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) party, had conceded defeat shortly beforehand. Official results showed Tsai was romping ahead with 57 per cent -- more than eight million votes -- on Saturday evening. Han trailed behind with 38 per cent. The Central Election Commission was still counting votes when Tsai declared, but Han knew he could not close the gap. The result is a huge blow for Beijing, which has made no secret of wanting to see Tsai turfed out and the KMT take her place. Over the last four years it ramped up economic and diplomatic pressure on the self-ruled island, hoping it would encourage voters to support Tsai's opposition. But the strong arm tactics backfired and voters flocked to her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), fuelled in part by China's hardline response to months of huge and violent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Tsai pitched herself as a defender of liberal democratic values against the increasingly authoritarian shadow cast by China under President Xi Jinping. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to retake the island one day, by force if necessary. Her campaign frequently invoked Hong Kong's protests as a warning of what might lie ahead should China one day take control of Taiwan. During her victory speech on Saturday night Tsai said she was committed to dialogue with China's leaders and wanted peace. But she called on Beijing to halt its sabre rattling towards Taiwan and respect the idea that only the island's 23 million inhabitants can decide its future. "I also hope that the Beijing authorities understand that democratic Taiwan, and our democratically elected government, will not concede to threats and intimidation," she said. Tsai is loathed by Beijing because she refuses to acknowledge the idea that Taiwan is part of "one China". But China is also Taiwan's largest trade partner, leaving the island in a precariously dependent relationship. Han, the 62-year-old mayor of the southern city of Kaohsiung, favoured much warmer ties with China -- saying it would boost Taiwan's fortunes -- and accused the current administration of needlessly antagonising Beijing. But his campaign struggled to gain momentum or escape the perception that he was too cosy with Taiwan's giant neighbour. "The citizens of the Republic of China have already made their decision and as a candidate I obey the outcome of the election," he said in his concession speech, using Taiwan's official name. Tsai's victory is the second major electoral setback for Beijing in recent weeks. In November, Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp scored a landslide win over pro-Beijing parties in district elections as the city convulses with months of anti-government protests. "Tsai's landslide victory is like a slap in the face to Beijing as Taiwanese voters say no to its intimidation," Hung Chin-fu, a political analyst at Taiwan's National Cheng Kung University, told AFP. Joshua Eisenman, a foreign affairs expert the University of Notre Dame, said all eyes will be watching China's response. "Will the hardline position towards Tsai... be continued or will Beijing adopt a more 'soft sell' approach that is more carrot and less stick?" he said. Taiwanese voters have watched events in Hong Kong closely because the financial hub is run on Beijing's "one country, two systems" model. China has suggested the same model could one day be applied to Taiwan if the island ever came to be controlled by Beijing. But an increasing number of Taiwanese voters are spooked by that proposal. "I don't want Taiwan's democracy to turn into how Hong Kong is now," Dennis Wu, a doctor, told AFP as he cast a vote for Tsai in the capital Taipei. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kochi, Jan 11 : R. Venugopal, the top explosion expert soon after three blocks of flats of two builders here were razed to dust on Saturday, told the media that everything went off according to the plan. The three block of flats came down at 11.17 a.m, 11.42 and 11.43 a.m. Venugopal who coordinated the entire blasts said that everything went off as planned. "We even were able to bring down the intensity of the implosion and everything went off well," said Venugopal, adding that more details about it would be revealed in the afternoon. "Everything is fine and there has been no damage at all in the nearby areas. We were confident that things would be fine," said an official attached to the Mumbai-based company that did the blast. The demolition of these flats took place following the Supreme Court order after it was found to be violating the Coastal Regulation Zone directives. Two more flats in the locality will be knocked down again on Sunday. Local residents who returned to their homes expressed happiness. "We were very concerned about the safety of our home and honestly we were scared. But after returning to our homes, we find that nothing has happened to our homes," said an elderly lady. The experts who planned the implosion are now going around the places where the flats were razed down. Fire tenders are now spraying water on the dust generated after the blast. Concrete rubble has collected at the site where the three blocks stood till Saturday morning. All the traffic curbs also have been lifted. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The United States is curbing public charter flights to Cuba in a further effort to squeeze the Cuban government's income, the U.S. State Department said on Friday, prompting an outcry from officials in Havana. The Trump administration, in its latest effort to roll back warmer U.S-Cuba ties established by the Obama administration, said it would only let some charters into Havana's Jose Marti International Airport but did not say how many. U.S. officials, in October, banned regularly scheduled flights to all Cuban cities except Havana. 'Today's action will further restrict the Cuban regime's ability to obtain revenue, which it uses to finance its ongoing repression of the Cuban people and its unconscionable support for dictator Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela,' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeop said the move to curb public charter flights would 'urther restrict the Cuban regime's ability to obtain revenue, which it uses to finance its ongoing repression of the Cuban people and its unconscionable support for dictator Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela' The Trump administration, in its latest effort to roll back warmer U.S-Cuba ties established by the Obama administration, said it would only let some charters into Havana's Jose Marti International Airport but did not say how many. In November 2016, an American Airlines flight to Havana was the first Miami-Havana commercial flight in 50 years Republican U.S. President Donald Trump has clamped down on Havana following the historic move by his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama to reopen U.S.-Cuba ties Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and other Cuban officials blasted the move, calling it a violation of human rights that would hinder family reunification. The flight caps would punish Cubans 'on both sides of the Florida Strait,' the foreign ministry's General Director for U.S. Affairs Carlos Fernandez de Cossio tweeted. Republican U.S. President Donald Trump has clamped down on Havana following the historic move by his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama to reopen U.S.-Cuba ties. His administration has imposed sanctions over Cuba's support for Maduro. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, in an address to parliament last month, said new U.S. sanctions were being imposed on average every week on top of the decades-old embargo and the country should expect more of the same in 2020. 'That is a turn of the screw every seven days to suffocate our economy,' he said. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and other Cuban officials blasted the move, calling it a violation of human rights that would hinder family reunification (Pictured in 2015) The Trump administration has imposed sanctions over Cuba's support for dictator Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela Havana's ambassador in Washington, on Twitter, wrote that the restrictions would push more visitors to 'use Cubana Airlines domestic flights or other Cuban companies for local transportation' The State Department said public charter flight operators would have 60 days to wind down their Cuba operations. The U.S. Department of Transportation will set an 'appropriate cap' of flights allowed to Jose Marti airport and will release more details 'in the near future,' Pompeo said. Havana's ambassador in Washington, on Twitter, wrote that the restrictions would push more visitors to 'use Cubana Airlines domestic flights or other Cuban companies for local transportation.' He also the United States was seeking to 'limit the amount of people that see CUBA reality by themselves.' Nearly 624,000 Cubans living abroad visited their homeland in 2019, of which a record 552,800 were from the United States, Cuba has said. Chinese gov't does not require Huawei to collect foreign data: ambassador to Germany Chinese Ambassador to Germany Wu Ken said on Thursday night that the Chinese government does not require companies to collect foreign data, including the telecom giant Huawei. "There are no laws in China requiring companies to collect foreign data and information, and Chinese companies are never required to use 'back doors' or other methods to collect or store data abroad for Chinese intelligence services," said Wu at an event in Berlin. Wu added that Huawei is a completely private company in which the Chinese government does not invest a single cent. Its relationship with the Chinese government is no different from that between private companies and governments in other countries. "The claim that Huawei has close ties to the Chinese government has no basis," said Wu. "I just hope that the German side can create a fair, just, open and transparent market environment for Chinese companies in Germany," said Wu. Ivanka Trump, daughter and advisor to US President Donald Trump, commended again Moroccos commitment to advancing women rights through improving their access to land ownership. On my last #WGDP trip, Morocco committed to changing laws to advance land rights for women and have now legally formalized these major reforms! Congratulations to the Moroccan government and its citizens!, Ivanka said in a tweet on Friday. Ivanka Trump visited Morocco last November to promote the Womens Global Development and Prosperity Initiative launched early last year by the White House to help women in the developing world. The visit was a chance to reiterate the US appreciation to the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI on critical issues such as peace and security in the Middle East, as well as to ensure peace, stability and development for Africa, Ivanka had said while in Morocco. Ivankas first visit to Morocco echoed positively in the media. Elegantly dressed in a Moroccan traditional attire, Ivanka was welcomed by housewives, widows and other women who are benefiting from new laws that allow them to own land. Ivanka Trump is a senior White House adviser who works on womens issues and has sought through the WGDP initiative to encourage developing countries to help women build wealth and financial independence by owning land or other property. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkeys export of cars to Azerbaijan increased by 119.6 percent in 2019 compared with the results of 2018, amounting to $137.5 million, Turkeys Ministry of trade told Trend. In December 2019, Turkeys export of cars to Azerbaijan increased by 44.6 percent compared with December 2018, amounting to $11 million, the ministry said. Turkeys export of cars dropped by 3.1 percent in 2019 compared to the previous year, amounting to $30.5 billion or 17 percent of Turkey's total exports in 2019. In December 2019, export of cars from Turkey increased by 2.9 percent compared with the same month of 2018, amounting to $2.5 billion or 16.5 of total Turkeys total export. Turkeys foreign trade amounted to $33.2 billion in November 2019. In this period Turkeys export increased by 0.1 percent compared with November 2019, amounting to $15.5 billion. At this time, import to Turkey increased by 9.7 percent compared with November 2018 and reached $17.7 billion. Turkeys foreign trade amounted to $340.5 billion in the first 11 months of 2019. Turkey ranks sixth in Europe on car production. Ford, Fiat, Renault, Toyota, Honda, Opel, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and MAN are assembled in Turkey. Turkey also manufactures local brands of buses such as BMC, Temsa and Otokar. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu In his speech this week after the Iranian missile strikes against U.S. targets in Iraq, President Donald Trump offered his version of the adage that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The Islamic State "is a natural enemy of Iran," the president said Wednesday at the White House. "The destruction of ISIS is good for Iran. And we should work together on this and other shared priorities." Trump's remarks appeared to help tamp down tensions that had skyrocketed after the U.S. strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, last week in Baghdad. But security officials and analysts say Trump may have sent a mixed message: In the same speech, the president spoke about Iran's "destructive and destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and beyond," calling the country "the leading sponsor of terrorism." "We don't understand what President Trump really wants," said a European official, who like others interviewed for this report spoke on the condition of anonymity due to persistent sensitivities over the United States' handling of the Iran crisis. "Is he going to confront Iran's meddling in the Middle East and push back on the al-Quds Force's power? Does he want to prevent that the U.S. would have to carry a larger burden in the Middle East again? Is he offering Iran and the militias a partnership?" A Middle East intelligence official said Trump's statement might be perceived by some in Iran as a weakness, projecting apprehension about the U.S.-led coalition's ability to prevent the Islamic State from gathering more power. "The problem with his message is that he is telling the Iranians he is worried about the caliphate as well," the official said. "This is how the radical elements in Iran will interpret it." Iran and the militias it controls have played a key role in the fight against the Islamic State. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi killed alongside Soleimani, was the deputy leader of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces, one of the most powerful forces fighting ISIS in Iraq. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed in a tweet the importance of Soleimani in the fighting against the Islamic State and other extremist groups, saying that killing the "most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al - is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation." Hassan Hassan, an analyst at the Center for Global Policy, said Trump's remarks about cooperating against ISIS showed that the United States has limited options against Iran and that he ultimately wants a deal despite his "maximum pressure" campaign. "It just smacked of weakness, especially in response to what Iran publicized as retaliation for the killing of Soleimani," Hassan said. "There was a way to let Iran have its symbolic revenge without giving it a political victory by presenting it as a force against extremism." In his address, Trump also declared that the Islamic State has been "100 percent" defeated, even as he appealed to Iran to work with the United States in the battle against the group. It is an assertion that he has made previously and that international security officials have widely refuted. The Islamic State has been largely pushed out of Iraq and Syria but maintains a presence in both countries. The group has carried out attacks in Egypt, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen and beyond. Its recent activities include a deadly raid on a military base in Niger, a suicide bombing on a military base in Burkina Faso and the killing of French and Malian soldiers in Mali. "In the last two weeks alone, ISIS has carried out horrible atrocities in West Africa, including the grisly executions of Christians in Nigeria," said Rita Katz, executive director of the SITE Intelligence Group. Extremists inspired by the Islamic State also remain capable of attacking the American homeland, as well as U.S. allies and interests in Europe. Reached via a communications app, an Islamic State member who goes by the nom de guerre Abu Musab said that Trump's remarks that the group has been defeated were "wishful thinking" and that the activities of Shiite militias and their behavior toward Sunnis in Iraq were what allowed to caliphate to rise in the first place. "Trump did us a big favor with mentioning a cooperation with Iran against us in his speech," he said. "So many Sunnis are worried about the Shia and the militias that they might now see us as the only group that can protect them." Voters in Taiwan are lining up outside polling stations to elect next president and parliament members of the nation whose is dominated by its relationship with China. Polling stations opened at 8 am and will close at 4 pm (08:00 GMT). Results are likely to be declared about four hours after the polls close. President Tsai Ing-wen is seeking her second term. During her campaign, she has portrayed herself as a champion of democracy. Tsai's running mate is former Premier William Lai, who once described himself as a "Taiwan independence worker", Al Jazeera reported. Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu of the pro-China Kuomintang (KMT), is Tsai's main challenger. He has pledged to improve cross-strait relations with Beijing. Taiwan lies off the southeast coast of China and was a Japanese colony from the late 19th century until the end of War II in 1945. It is claimed by China which considers it as part of its territory. According to Taiwan's Central Election Commission, there are 19.3 million eligible voters. Citizens are eligible to vote starting at the age of 20. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Alas, politics got in the way. For everyone who saw new possibilities in Obamas themes of hope and change, there were other people who saw the dangerous possibilities of their opportunities closing. A lot of us who cheered Obamas victory as a new day for peace and brotherhood got a wake-up call when Donald Trump, whose campaign leaned on those same fears of immigrants and job-threatening automation and trade policies, pulled off a surprising victory in the Electoral College. Senior BJP leader Vijay Goel on Saturday accused the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress of being hand-in-glove and said the two parties may forge an alliance for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. Addressing a press conference here, Goel said the AAP and the Congress are on the same page on issues like corruption, protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizen. In the run up to the 2013 assembly elections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had claimed he had 375-page evidence against then Congress government, but all know what action he took after coming to power, Goel, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said. In Delhi, the Congress and the AAP "instigated riots" on the issue of CAA, Goel said, adding that both parties are misleading the people of Delhi. Congress's Delhi unit chief Subhash Chopra has dismissed any possibility of an alliance with the AAP for the assembly polls, asserting his party will win a "clear majority" on its own and form the next government in the city. The Delhi Assembly elections will be held on February 8 and results declared on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Melha Shriners installed its 2020 Potentate or president, and a new board of directors, known as the Divan, at ceremonies Saturday. Twenty-two-year member Leo Plourde of Ludlow was elected the organizations 110th Potentate. This is a huge honor, he said after the installation. When I joined I had no expectation this could happen. I thought we would do a few parades and have fun. Plourde has served on the Divan for eight years and sits on the board of the Shriners Center. The ten members of the Divan, or the organizations board of directors, accepted their ceremonial fezes of office from their wives, according to Shriners protocol, at ceremonies at the Castle of Knights function facility in Chicopee. The group has been without a temple since it sold its former home last spring. It is in the market for a smaller facility, member Robert Aubin said. Four of the Divan are appointed to serve while the remaining six are elected from the membership. Members of the 2020 Divan installed Saturday are Matthew Herman - Second Ceremonial Master, Chris Parker First Ceremonial Master, Richard Fulkerson - Treasurer, Russ Mitchell - Recorder, Robert Aubin - Marshal, David Wolanin Captain of the Guard, Michael Cote Oriental Guide, Jeffrey Hastings Assistant Rabban, Garth Parker - Chief Rabban and Randy Wessels High Priest and Prophet. The Melha Shriners are part of Shriners International, dedicated to supporting a network of 22 hospitals and medical facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The facilities provide pediatric medical care, health research and education for medical professionals. One of the organizations premier facilities in the Shriners Hospital in Springfield. Care for all children treated at Shriners facilities is provided without regard for the familys ability to pay. South African consumers and businesses must take control of their own energy future as they cannot rely on the government and Eskom. This is the view of energy expert and EE Business Intelligence managing director Chris Yelland, who spoke to CNBC Africa about South Africas energy crisis. Over the past year, South Africans had to deal with regular power blackouts, with load-shedding hitting a historic high of stage 6 at the end of 2019. Unfortunately, Yelland said, things will have to get a lot worse before the bureaucrats realise they have a problem. He said the trouble is that the ministers concerned Finance minister Tito Mboweni, Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, and Energy minister Gwede Mantashe seem to be living in a different world. There is a cognitive dissonance between their world and the reality of a failing Eskom. They still talk about Medupi and Kusile as magnificent plants, said Yelland. The reality is that these two mega-projects brought Eskom to its knees and they are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Yelland said politicians like Mboweni, Gordhan, and Mantashe are not facing the reality that Eskom is not too big to fail it has already failed. The question is what are we going to do about it, he said. Customers need to provide their own electricity Yelland said the solution to South Africas electricity crisis is not going to come from the government, as it cannot deliver projects that can provide new electricity within the next one to two years. That kind of electricity capacity has to come from the customers of electricity, taking responsibility for their own energy future, said Yelland. He said South African electricity users need to realise they cannot rely on the government and Eskom for their future energy needs. South African businesses and households have to take control of their own energy future, said Yelland. He said the government needs to allow energy users to install their own electricity capacity and allow municipalities to generate electricity themselves. At this stage, the government seems to think it is the only solution and it is showing every day that it is not, said Yelland. The government needs to allow energy users to install their own electricity capacity and allow municipalities to generate electricity themselves. He added that municipalities must also be allowed to procure electricity from IPPs and that everyone should be allowed to install solar generation units to suit their needs. Now read: Get ready for regular stage 6 blackouts in South Africa Fonterra empowers smallholder dairy farming families to increase milk quality, production View(s): Sri Lankas smallholder dairy farmers are at the heart of the local dairy industry, which has always been a part of the nations rural economy, according to Fonterra. It said in a media release that Shantha Kallora is a successful 44-year old dairy entrepreneur from Doluwa and father of two daughters and a son. Shantha and his wife Anulawathi have been supporting each other over the years to build their livelihood, going beyond dairy farming in cultivating their tea plantation, vegetables and fruits. His passion for eco-friendly sustainable production has always motivated him to undertake smart innovations. Commenting on his journey, Shantha said, When I started dairy farming in 2014, I felt that I had a lot to learn about professional dairy farming practices. I joined Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka as a milk supplier in 2017. I received valuable advice and information on technical methods of dairy farming from a Supplier Relationship Officer (SRO) whom I met at the companys Collection Centre in Doluwa. Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka, the company behind the Anchor brand, has worked closely with a network of Sri Lankan dairy farmer families for over 20 years, to uplift their milk productivity and quality. In addition to extensive training on dairy farming management, Fonterra also provides new farmers with direct access to milk collection and chilling facilities, invests in local dairy processing and storage facilities and supports the wider community with social sustainability projects, all supporting the growth of the local value chain. These initiatives have enabled the company to offer a range of local dairy nutrition, made and sourced to international food quality standards. For Shantha, the optimisation of his dairy farming practices has resulted in tangible results. Growing and investing in the right things will yield a return. By improving my cows daily nutritional intake, adopting open grazing and making improvements in the milking process, I was able to increase the quality and value of the milk, which increased my monthly income. My daily per cow productivity increased from 7 litres to around 12 litres, he added. While Fonterras SROs support farmers like Shantha to grow their income and support their families, they also actively seek to empower entrepreneurial farmers. As a result of his work with Fonterra, Shantha was introduced to the Rehabilitation of Degraded Agricultural Lands in Kandy, Badulla and Nuwara Eliya Districts in the Central Highlands (CH) project, conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Global Environment Facility (GEF). This project provided additional funding for the development of his farm Rs. 70,000 for construction of the cattle shed and Rs. 35,000 to set up a compost production unit for solid waste. Following the renovation of his shed, Shantha developed an effluent management process based on the circular economy concept for his farm. Guided by the SRO team, his new system was developed to manage effluent and waste water resources in a more efficient and sustainable manner. The waste from his dairy farm was re-purposed as organic fertilizer for his vegetables and fruits cultivation, as well as his tea plantation. I believe that dairy farming is also providing a valuable service to the country and is a dignified profession that needs proper management and care. By contributing to this, I am making my contribution to my motherland, he added. Now an established and successful dairy entrepreneur, Shantha offers advice to prospective dairy farmers in his village and plays a supportive role among the farmer community. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday renewed a six-year-long cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries mechanism into Syria. According to Sputnik, the Security Council voted in favour of a resolution on Friday that allows cross border deliveries to be conducted via Turkey, preserving two checkpoints and excluding the Al-Yarubiyah border crossing with Iraq and the Al-Ramtha crossing with Jordan, until July 10, 2020. Russia proposed to amend the adopted resolution by replacing a part of the draft which stipulates that humanitarian assistance into Syria should be delivered based on the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence by the phrase that such aid should be provided "in accordance with the guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance, as contained in UNGA resolution 46/182." The agreement was reached after Belgium and Germany decided to amend the original version of their joint resolution, which proposed keeping three points for cross-border deliveries into the Arab republic. In December last year, the United Nations had said that over 235,000 people fled the Idlib region in the last two weeks after Russia and Syria launched airstrikes in a bid to take over the last major opposition bastion. Russia backed Syria government launched a fresh assault to capture the province.Syrian Bashar al-Assad regime, backed by Iran, has reportedly promised to take back the rebel-controlled area and broke a ceasefire that was announced in August. They have since December 19 seized dozens of towns and villages from armed fighters amid clashes that have killed hundreds on both sides. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A prominent pro-Iran militia commander has been killed by unidentified gunmen in Iraq. High-level Popular Mobilization Forces leader Taleb Abbas Ali al-Saedi was shot dead late on Saturday in Karbala, a city about 62 miles southwest of Baghdad. Local media reported that al-Saedi was 'assassinated' by unknown gunmen, but no further details about the shooters were immediately available. Al-Saedi was the commander of the Karbala Brigades, a unit within the Iran-backed Shiite PMF umbrella group. Karbala Brigades commander Taleb Abbas Ali al-Saedi's government ID is seen. He was shot dead on Saturday in Karbala U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military activity in the Middle East, did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com about the shooting. It follows the January 3 U.S. drone strike that killed another PMF leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, alongside Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani's funeral procession made its way through last week through Karbala, a Shiite holy city where mourners raised the red flags of revenge upon his death. The aftermath Soleimani's death took a twist on Saturday, when Iran admitted that it had accidentally shot down a civilian passenger plane full of its own citizens amid a 'revenge' strike on U.S. forces that produced no casualties. Iranians gathered in the streets of Tehran to demand the resignation of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei after the regime admitted it had mistakenly shot down the plane. Karbala is a Shiite hotbed. Last week, the funeral procession (above) for Qassem Soleimani passed through the city, and red flags of revenge were raised in anger at his death Mourners escort the coffins of Iran's top general Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, during their funeral in Karbala, Iraq last Saturday Angry crowds gathered on Saturday night in at least four locations in Tehran, chanting 'death to liars' and calling for the country's supreme leader to step down over the tragic military blunder, video from the scene shows. What began as mournful vigils for Iranian lives lost on the flight soon turned to outrage and protest against the regime, and riot police quickly cracked down, firing tear gas into the crowd. 'Death to the Islamic Republic' protesters chanted, as the regime's security forces allegedly used ambulances to sneak heavily armed paramilitary police into the middle of crowds to disperse the demonstration. Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 was carrying 176 people, at least 130 of them Iranian citizens, when it was shot down by hapless Iranian Revolutionary Guard air defense forces shortly after taking off from Tehran on January 8. DUBAI (Reuters) - A Ukrainian aircraft which crashed earlier this week in Iran had flown close to a sensitive military site belonging to the elite Revolutionary Guards and was shot down unintentionally due to human error, the Iranian military said in a statement read on state TV on Saturday. The responsible parties would be referred to a judicial department within the military and held accountable, the statement said. All 176 people on board were killed in the crash. The Iranian military statement expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The United States and Canada had said that the plane was shot down, a claim Iran had initially denied. (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) SSB jawan goes berserk at Indo-Nepal border in Bihar; fires more than 200 shots India oi-PTI Kishanganj, Jan 12: A jawan of the Sashastra Seema Bal posted at an outpost here along the Indo- Nepal border went berserk on Saturday and fired more than 200 gunshots in the air, triggering panic in the area, a police official said. The incident took place inside the SSB camp at Piltola border outpost, under the jurisdiction of Dighalbank police station of the district, where the sounds of gunshots were heard at around 3 pm and the fusillade rent the air for about 45 minutes. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police of Kishanganj, Ajay Kumar Jha, the jawan Abhay Kumar - who hails from Rajasthan - took out INSAS rifles from the warehouse inside the camp and began shooting in the air. SSB officials led by commandant Subhash Chand Negi rushed to the spot and overpowered the jawan - said to be mentally unstable - upon being informed by Abhay Kumar's colleagues, Jha said. About 240 fired cartridges were later collected from the spot, he said, adding that a large number of curious and frightened villagers had gathered outside the camp upon hearing the gunshots, who were persuaded to go back to their homes. Home Ministry withdraws 72 companies of CAPF from J&K The police and the SSB were jointly investigating the matter and officials of the paramilitary force have said on condition of anonymity that the erring jawan would face departmental action and may end up facing dismissal from service. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, January 12, 2020, 0:43 [IST] OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that Iran must take "full responsibility" for shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 people on board, including 57 Canadians. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (730 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 file photo, debris at the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. Iran announced Saturday, Jan. 11, that its military unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File) OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that Iran must take "full responsibility" for shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 people on board, including 57 Canadians. He also called for an immediate effort to de-escalate the regional tensions that he says contributed to the "great loss of innocent life." "This is a tragedy that should not have happened," the prime minister said at a news conference in Ottawa. Trudeau said he was "outraged and furious" that so many Canadians are grieving because of Iran's actions. "Shooting down a civilian aircraft is horrific," he said. "Iran must take full responsibility." This satellite photo provided by Maxar Technologies on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, shows the site where a Ukrainian jetliner crashed late Tuesday near the town of Shahedshahr, Iran, southwest of the capital Tehran. (Satellite image 2020 Maxar Technologies via AP) Trudeau's news conference came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani acknowledged Saturday that an Iranian missile took down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 minutes after it took off from Tehran's airport Wednesday morning. Iranian military said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target. In addition to the 57 Canadian citizens on the plane, dozens more were bound for Canada, many of them students and professors returning after spending the December break visiting relatives in Iran. Rouhani, who spoke with Trudeau over the phone Saturday, posted on Twitter that an Iranian military investigation concluded "missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash." Rouhani said investigations will continue to "identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake." "My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families," he said. "I offer my sincerest condolences." The admission came a day after Iran denied claims being made by Canada, Britain and the United States that the plane was shot down by Iran. Trudeau would not say Saturday if he accepted Iran's claim that the missile was fired accidentally, saying only an open and transparent investigation will show what really happened. Several hundred people gather around the Centennial flame for a candle light vigil to remember those killed on Ukraine International Airlines Flight on Thursday January 9, 2020 in Ottawa. Among the many painful details that have emerged about the downed airliner in Iran is the preponderance of young victims, and their deaths have sent waves of grief through schools and university campuses across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Trudeau said he told Rouhani in their conversation he expected Canada to be fully involved in the investigation including gaining access to the airplane's black boxes, and being allowed to participate in DNA identification of the victims. He also demanded consular access for Canadian officials to work with grieving families of Canadian victims in Iran. Three officials from Global Affairs Canada landed in Tehran later Saturday to set up the first Canadian consular presence on the ground since the crash happened. Seven more diplomats and two investigators from the Transportation Safety Board were also waiting for visas to travel to Iran to help. Canada severed diplomatic ties with Iran in September 2012, closing its embassy and recalling all diplomats. With no diplomatic presence, Italy and Turkey have been aiding Canadians in Tehran. Trudeau said the admission of guilt is a positive sign Iran will "fully allow a credible, independent international investigation." Elahe Machouf lost her longtime friend of Niloufar Sadr, 61, in the crash. Sadr was returning to Toronto after a visit with family. Machouf called the missile attack "shameful" and "irresponsible," noting Iranians back home are "furious" with the government. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a press conference in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. Trudeau says Iran must take full responsibility for mistakenly shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 civilians on board, including 57 Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang "It was awful," she said. "We were very, very shocked." On Saturday night, hundreds gathered at universities in Tehran to protest the Iranian government's late acknowledgment of the plane being shot down. They demanded officials involved in the missile attack be removed from their positions and tried. Police broke up the demonstrations. "We're very scared as well about what will happen to people who are protesting and demonstrating," Machouf said. "Will they also be shot down?" The plane's downing came hours after Iran launched missile attacks at two military bases hosting U.S. troops in Iraq. Those attacks were retaliation for the U.S. killing of Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, in an American airstrike in Baghdad on Jan. 3. A military statement delivered on Iranian state television said the civilian airliner was mistaken for a "hostile target" when it turned toward a sensitive military site belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, an elite unit of the country's military. Canadian Conservative MPs said Saturday Trudeau needs to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, and be prepared to impose sanctions on Iran if it fails to allow for a full international investigation. Trudeau wasn't prepared to go down the sanctions road yet. "I think there are going to be many conversations and reflections on consequences over the coming days and weeks," said Trudeau. While admitting responsibility for its role in the plane crash, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif still pointed some blame towards the Americans, saying on Twitter "U.S. adventurism led to disaster." Trudeau would not say whether he blames the U.S. at all. "The reality is there have been significant tensions in that region for a long time and what we are calling for now is a de-escalation to ensure that there are no more tragic accidents," he said. Trudeau has spoken with a number of world leaders in the days since the crash but U.S. President Donald Trump has not been among them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Iran must issue an official apology and also called for compensation for the disaster. Trudeau also said compensation could be expected, noting families are facing financial hardship as a result of the deaths of their loved ones. With files from Christopher Reynolds in Montreal and The Associated Press. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2020. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 17:55:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday urged relevant authorities to conduct investigations over "possible shortcomings" leading to the recent crash of Ukrainian plane over Iran's airspace. Khamenei's remarks followed the acknowledgement of "unintentional" missile launch at the plane by the Iranian armed forces on Saturday. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has come out against the CPI(M)-led LDF government's anti-CAA advertisements in the front page of national dailies and said spending public money for political campaigning was "thoroughly undesirable." The state sponsored advertisement, published on Friday, claimed that "the state was leading the efforts to protect constitutional values" and its assembly was the first to pass an unanimous resolution against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Khan, who was in Delhi, told television channels that spending public money for a political campaign was "thoroughly undesirable." "..public money is being used to campaign against a law which has been passed by Parliament. Sounds bit strange to me..," Khan said. The governor said it would not have been a problem if the advertisement was given by a political party. The Kerala government had published in three national dailies that the state had taken "bold initiatives to address the apprehensions of the public" and had stayed the National Population Register drive that could lead to the NRC (National Register of Citizens). The state, which also leads in the Human Development index, is ranked first among states in poverty eradication, health standards, education, gender equality and realising novel ideas, the advertisement claimed. The Pinarayi Vijayan government had on August 7, 2017, published an advertisement in the national capital that the state had one of the lowest crime rates in the country, to counter a campaign by the BJP and the RSS against the CPI (M) in Kerala over political killings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hungary in a bid to give a boost to its declining population has decided to fund fertility treatment to childless couples. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Viktor Orban earlier this week stating that his government has taken over six fertility clinics for the treatment. In a bid to fight a declining population The free IVF treatments for couples will begin from February 1 onwards. Couples with four or more children already receive tax exemptions and Orban is considering to extend that to families that have 3 or more children. Hungary's population has been declining for close to four decades now and it is estimated that its population will decrease from 9.8 million to 8 million by 2050. Right-wing leader Orban has advocated procreation instead of immigration as a possible solution. He wishes to rely on ways closer to home rather than asking for immigrants to settle in the country. He hopes that the fertility drive will add 4,000 births to Hungary's population in the next two years. In addition to the obvious cause of the declining population, which is fewer people being born than dying, is because large numbers of Hungarians are also leaving the country. It is estimated that almost eight per cent of Hungarian graduates are living and working abroad. Read: Selena Gomez Reveals How Her Mother Struggled With IVF After Amy Schumer's Emotional Post Read: Hungary Says Huawei To Help Build Its 5G Wireless Network In related news, the French Parliament has permitted single women and lesbians to have babies with medical help. France's lower house of Parliament passed the bioethics bill on October 15, 2019, which will let lesbians and single women utilise fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization. The opponents, however, did not support the decision. Read: Hungary Tourism And The Must-visit Places In This Architectural Treasure-trove Read: 'Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Gave Birth To Me Via IVF Technique In London', Claims Youth From Andhra Pradesh The provision of medically assisted reproduction was only available for heterosexual couples. The critics, however, will take the bill forward and fight for its implementation as it moves to the Senate. The bill received a majority with 114 votes in favour out of 359 votes in the national assembly and 72 abstentions. This is considered as the first major social reform of Emmanuel Macrons government. However, the bill needs approval from the upper house before it can be turned into law. Turkey completes anti-terror Operation Kran Turkey launched Operation Kiran in the country's southeast against YPG/PKK terrorists in the Van, Hakkari and Sirnak provinces. Turkeys anti-terror Operation Kran in the countrys southeast, which neutralized a total of 144 PKK terrorists, has completed "successfully", the Interior Ministry said on Saturday. TERROR FORCES' AMMUNITION WERE SEIZED In a statement, the ministry said since the operations start last August, four terrorists surrendered and scores of caves, shelters and warehouses were destroyed, and large amounts of weapons and ammunition seized. Turkey completes anti-terror Operation Kran WATCH Meanwhile, with Turkey ramping up its fight against terrorists, Mardin gendarmerie command have launched Operation KAPAN to eliminate terrorists in the countrys southeast. A total of 975 security personnel, including gendarmerie and police forces as well as village guards, are taking part in the operation. Several improvised explosive device, ammunition, medical equipment, and organizational documents were seized during its course. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed profound grief over the loss of lives in the tragic accident that took place in the Uttar Pradesh Kannauj late on Friday. The accident took place after a double-decker bus carrying at least 45 passengers collided with a truck at Dewar Marg in Kannauj district here late on Friday and subsequently went up in flames. As many as 20 passengers are feared dead in the accident. "The Kannauj accident is very sad. I pray to God to give strength to the bereaved families. The state president of Uttar Pradesh Congress @AjayLallu has reached the accident site and is helping those in need. The victim families and passengers should get all kind of help," tweeted Priyanka Gandhi. As many as 25 passengers have been safely rescued from the bus and are either receiving treatment at local hospitals or have been discharged. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced Rs 2 lakh compensation each for the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those grievously injured in the incident. He also sought a report of the incident from the District Magistrate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dispatch from Crame No. 699: Sen. Leila M. de Lima's statement on the US Senate's approval of Res. No. 142 which, among others, calls for the imposition of the Global Magnitsky Sanctions on EJK perpetrators, and her persecutors The approval, in unanimous consent, of US Senate Resolution 142 is a watershed in the history of keeping democracy and human rights accountability in the country and the role the US play in ensuring it. The case against me, apart from being fake and invented, has no internal legal consistency or integrity altogether and has been fueled by tyrannical powers and alignment of greed and political opportunism in the Philippine politics. That is clear since day 1. I sincerely thank the granite resolve of Senators Durbin, Markey, Rubio, Blackburn, Coons, Leahy and Cardin, and the rest of the US Senate for standing strong and firm for the larger truths behind my persecution. Owner Humphrey Smith, 74, spotted in the rival Wetherspoons in Heywood, near Manchester using his phone He is the ultra-traditional indeed some would say Victorian brewery boss who has notoriously banned mobiles at his pubs. But it seems Samuel Smiths owner Humphrey Smith has found a cunning way to get around his own rules by popping into a Wetherspoons to check his phone. The seldom-photographed brewer was spotted in the rival chain in Heywood, near Manchester. Samuel Smiths owner Humphrey Smith has found a cunning way to get around his own rule of no phones in the pub by popping into a Wetherspoons to check his The seldom-photographed brewer was spotted in the rival chain watering hole in Heywood, near Manchester Famously eccentric and secretive Mr Smith is renowned for turning up at his pubs unannounced in a chauffeur-driven car to check managers are maintaining standards. So the picture of him apparently glued to a mobile phone has understandably riled those who have felt his wrath. It looks like its one rule for him and one rule for his customers, said a former Samuel Smiths pub manager who didnt want to be named. Mr Smiths strict rules are said to be a defence of the art of genial pub conversation. It looks like its one rule for him and one rule for his customers, said a former Samuel Smiths pub manager who didnt want to be named The 74-year-old began enforcing the rule across its establishments in March 2019, and insisted that pub-goers will have to leave its premises to take a call The 74-year-old began enforcing the rule across its establishments in March 2019, and insisted that pub-goers will have to leave its premises to take a call. In a memo sent out to his managers, Mr Smith described how the 'brewery's policy is not to allow customers mobile phones, laptops or similar inside out pubs'. The memo, first reported by the Manchester Evening News, read: 'The brewery's policy is not to allow customers to use mobile phones, laptops or similar inside our pubs. 'If a customer receives a call then he or she should go outside to take it in the same way as is required with smoking. Famously eccentric and secretive Mr Smith is renowned for turning up at his pubs unannounced in a chauffeur-driven car to check managers are maintaining standards 'Whether outside or inside, tablets and iPads must be prohibited. Customers must not be allowed to receive transmitted pictures of sport or downloads music apps on the brewery's premises either inside or outside. 'The brewery's policy is that out pubs are for social conversation person to person.' In another crackdown at the chain which has 200 pubs targeted swearing. TVs and jukeboxes are also outlawed at most locations. And even motorcyclists were reportedly dismissed as undesirable at one pub. The businessmans ancestor Samuel Smith founded the brewery in Tadcaster, Yorkshire, in 1758. Calls for comment from the chain received no response. Temptation Island stars Morgan Lolar and Evan Smith have dated since the show wrapped filming in October 2018. Around March 2019, he proposed, and the couple seemed very happy together. However, fans noticed trouble in paradise when Lolar wiped all the pictures, including her fiance from her Instagram. She then took to Twitter to accuse Smith of cheating and playing her. Morgan Lolar, Evan Smith | Mario Perez Morgan Lolar and Evan Smith met on Temptation Island Evan Smith and his long-term girlfriend, Kaci Campbell, came to the island to figure out their relationship as Campbell desperately wanted a ring. Even though Smith claimed he wanted to prove to his then-girlfriend that he could resist temptation, he almost immediately fell for Morgan Lolar. The two got off on the wrong foot, so Smith took her on a date to apologize, and the two formed an undeniable connection. He also chose not to send Campbell a 30-second video and made Lolar his girlfriend on the island, before he ended his ten-year relationship. morgan removed Evan from her insta bio and all the pics of him have been archived like WHYYYY GOD. WHY DO YOU HATE LOVE?!?!?! i hope she keeps the ring lol #temptationisland Ah bey (@facegrace62) January 4, 2020 Smith left the island with Lolar, and he proposed to her six months after the show. They then moved to her apartment in Virginia, where they seemingly led a happy life until the beginning of 2020. Morgan Lolar and Evan Smith seemingly broke up Only a day after the new year, fans noticed that Lolar wiped all her pictures with Smith from her Instagram account, and removed his name from her bio. She also deleted her Twitter banner image, which included both Temptation Island stars. Additionally, Lolar uploaded a clip from Friends to her Instagram story of a scene showing Ross and Rachel making up after an argument. She then captioned it, Too bad real fights dont end like this. Lolar also began communicating with Campbell on Twitter, which their followers believe is a classic sign that Smith and Lolar are no longer together. Absolutely nothing that I am going through has anything to do with a show. If you follow me or my relationship, you know Im always extremely transparent. This is my life and I will speak on everything when Im ready. Thank you Morgan Lolar (@morganlolar) January 9, 2020 Additionally, Smith has been staying in California while Lolar is still living in Arlington. However, fans were confused because Smith still has pictures with his fiance visible on his Instagram profile, even though he also removed her from his bio, and Lolar recently posted a photo of her engagement ring. She also responded to people on Twitter and said she is moving to the West Coast with Smith. But, only a few days later, Lolar took to social media to accuse Smith of playing her. Morgan Lolar accused Evan Smith of cheating on her On January 11, 2020, Lolar tweeted, Is it ever okay for an ENGAGED man to leave his fiance across the country to work but actually has nightly sleepovers with 21 yo Instagram models? Oh, and his phone happens to die every night at the same time. I know, Im a dumb ass, and everyone saw it coming, but me #played. Is it ever okay for an ENGAGED man to leave his fiance across the country to work but actually has nightly sleepovers with 21yo Instagram models? Oh, and his phone happens to die every night at the same time. I know, Im a dumb ass and everyone saw it coming, but me #played Morgan Lolar (@morganlolar) January 11, 2020 Smiths ex, Kaci Campbell, replied to her post, writing, Youre not dumb. You were in love and wanted to believe in him. Lolar responded, You already know how I feel about believing him over you from the beginning. You already know how I feel about believing him over you from the beginning https://t.co/2SXyh6GgGG Morgan Lolar (@morganlolar) January 11, 2020 While some fans felt bad for Lolar and thought she got blindsided, others blamed her for believing Smith would change. Even though Lolar did not officially announce their engagement is over, it can be assumed at this point. Three youths have been arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district, police said on Saturday. The girl, who was on a visit to her maternal grandparents' house, had gone out to attend to nature's call on Thursday when the accused allegedly raped her, police said. An FIR has been lodged against Shrawan Rajbhar, Santosh Rajbhar and Shamsher Rajbhar, and the three have been arrested, Assistant Superintendent of Police Sanjay Yadav said. The girl has been sent for medical examination, the officer added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The parents of Nora Quoirin have vowed to keep on fighting for an inquest into their daughter's death saying it is "a fundamental right of any citizen". It comes after it was ruled an inquest would not be held into her death. The teenager was found dead after 10 days missing in the Malaysian jungle while on a family holiday. The 15-year-olds French-Irish parents Sebastien and Meabh Quoirin have been pleading for answers ever since her body was discovered 1.6 miles (2.5km) from a holiday resort where the family had been staying in Dusun in August last year. However, Malaysian authorities classified Noras death as no further action (NFA), according to charity the Lucie Blackman Trust, a decision which shocked the Quoirin family.` They believe there are many unanswered questions around how the vulnerable teenager born with the brain defect holoprosencephaly came to leave her room and venture into the jungle, and whether she was alone at the time. Nora Quoirin Meabh Quoirin told HuffPost UK: We wish we werent having to call out in public for what we think is a fundamental basic human right for Nora but unfortunately its come to that. We understand that an inquest demands resource its not a benign request on our part but we truly believe its a fundamental right of any citizen, in particular of a vulnerable citizen, to have that quest for the truth. We would expect that a modern country, a fully-fledged democracy such as Malaysia, would really want to show full transparency and their deputy prime minister in person gave us that promise. But unfortunately, thats just not what weve experienced, hence the need for an inquest and hence the need for full diplomatic support from our governments. thats critical at this stage. The Quoirins said an initial post-mortem examination found Nora died from gastro-intestinal bleeding and an ulcer, likely brought on by starvation and/or stress, but that the full findings had yet to be presented. Ms Quoirin said: Its going to be very difficult to explain everything but Nora deserves the truth and we deserve to know as much as we can possibly find out and were determined to stand up for justice in her name. Noras family last month asked the Department of Foreign Affairs for assistance in their quest for answers over the teenagers death. Nora Quoirin. A spokesman said: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to provide ongoing consular assistance in this case. In line with department policy, we will not be commenting further. Her funeral service was held at St Brigids church in south Belfast in September, the church where she was baptised. WASHINGTON The Pentagon launched a separate attack on a key Iranian military leader in Yemen the same day it killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, according to a U.S. official. The airstrike on Jan. 2 targeted Abdul Reza Shahlai, a commander of the Quds Force, according to the official who was not authorized to comment publicly. The mission was first reported by the Washington Post. Shahlai was not killed. "We have seen the report of a January 2 airstrike in Yemen, which is long-understood as a safe space for terrorists and other adversaries to the United States," Navy Cdr. Rebecca Rebarich, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said in a statement. "The Department of Defense does not discuss alleged operations in the region." Navy Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, declined to comment. 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, Jan. 3, 2020. The Pentagon said Thursday that the U.S. military has killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of President Donald Trump. The attempt to kill Shahlai on the same day a drone targeted Soleimani would have decapitated key leadership for the Quds Force, an elite wing of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. That organization oversees Iran's ties to armed proxy groups in the region such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, militias with whom Soleimani was holding meetings when he was killed in a U.S. strike near Baghdad's main airport. In a strike that Tehran said was in retaliation for killing Soleimani, Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. U.S. officials said there were no casualties and only minimal damage. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran: US targeted second Iranian militant on day of Soleimani killing Wi-fi services in flight may not be cheap, could cost upto 30% of fare PM, President to get their own planes by early 2020 'Boeing staff called Indian regulator even stupider, fools' India oi-PTI New Delhi, Jan 11: During the approval process for Boeing's 737 MAX planes in India in 2017, company executives used words such as "fools" and "stupid" for the Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), according to internal documents released by the company. In early 2019, regulators across the world banned 737 MAX planes after two fatal crashes killed 346 people. The DGCA had also ordered grounding of these planes in March last year. The latest batch of internal Boeing documents were provided to the US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the US Congress last month and released on Thursday. In one of the conversations from 2017, a Boeing executive is recorded as saying: "The DCGA in India is apparently even stupider, if that's a word. I am drinking obviously." In another conversation, a Boeing executive says the following about the DGCA: "I just Jedi mind-tricked this (these) fools." SpiceJet is the only Indian carrier with 737 MAX aircraft in its fleet, and it grounded 13 of these planes in March last year after the crashes. Tehran plane crash: Iran admits it hit civilian aircraft by mistake | OneIndia news Boeing conducts final test flight of 737 MAX with MCAS software fix A senior DGCA official said, "On the specific issue of simulator training, we have made our stand clear and shall have it and that too in India under our eyes." On the discussions among Boeing executives, the official said, "We respect his views and shall improve to come up to expectations." According to the documents accessed by PTI, on December 12, 2017, two Boeing executives had a discussion around 8:35 pm using text messages regarding the approvals of 737 MAX planes by the DGCA. In one of the conversations, the first executive says how officials of a particular regulator (not the DGCA) are "idiots". He then adds: "The DCGA in India is apparently even stupider, if that's a word. I am drinking obviously." The second executive responds: "Sounds about right!" An hour later, two executives were recorded discussing the 737 MAX approvals - using text messages - by the DGCA. However, it is not clear if these two were the same people who were talking about the matter earlier. In this second conversation, the two Boeing executives are discussing a call that one of them had with the DGCA. The first executive is recorded to have said: "I just Jedi mind tricked this (these) fools. I should be given $1000 every time I take one of these calls. I save this company a sick amount of $$$$." The second executive then asked what did the first executive convince the DGCA of. He responded: "To simply produce an email from me to the DGCA that states all the airlines and regulators... accept only the Max CBT (computer based training)." The first executive added: "To make them feel stupid about trying to require any additional training requirements." In 2017, the DGCA was investigating if it was necessary to have a mandatory simulator-based training for pilots that will fly 737 MAX planes in Indian airspace. Since the ban in March 2019, the regulator has made it clear to Boeing that simulator-based training must be conducted for all pilots of 737 MAX planes and only then a green light would be given. Following the release of these conversations, Boeing India said, "These communications do not reflect the company we are and need to be, and they are completely unacceptable." "We regret the content of these communications, and apologise to the DGCA, SpiceJet, and to the flying public for them," it added. The company said the language used in these communications, and some of the sentiments they express, are inconsistent with Boeing values, and the company is taking appropriate action in response. "This will ultimately include disciplinary or other personnel action, once the necessary reviews are completed," it added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 11, 2020, 10:39 [IST] A top official at the beleaguered police watchdog behind a whitewash report into the Nick VIP sex ring inquiry has been sacked over an affair with a junior colleague. Married Jonathan Green, 50, embarked on a relationship with an investigator 20 years his junior who was a key figure in the highly-criticised Nick probe which cleared five Scotland Yard officers. Mr Green was the 140,000-a-year interim deputy director-general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Jonathan Green, 50, embarked on a relationship with an investigator 20 years his junior who was a key figure in the highly-criticised Nick probe which cleared five Scotland Yard officers He was in overall charge of the IOPC investigation into the Metropolitan Polices 2.5million Operation Midland probe into false claims made by Nick real name Carl Beech of sexual abuse against Establishment grandees. The Met raided the homes of former home secretary Lord Brittan, former head of the Armed Forces Lord Bramall and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor. Beech was unmasked last summer as a fantasist and paedophile and jailed for 18 years. Five officers were referred for alleged misconduct, but the IOPC ruled that not one should face proceedings. Mr Green, who formerly worked at the General Dental Council and the Royal College of Nursing, was romantically involved with Kimberley Williams, 30. He was in overall charge of the IOPC investigation into the Metropolitan Polices 2.5million Operation Midland probe into false claims made by Nick real name Carl Beech of sexual abuse against Establishment grandees She was lead investigator of the IOPCs probe of Operation Midland. Questions were raised as to why she was given the weighty role just a few years after graduating. However, she has a degree in international political studies and a masters degree in intelligence and international security. Mr Green was first confronted about his relationship with her in October. He was suspended on November 6 for failing to declare a conflict of interest. Then, a spokesman said relationships between staff were not a breach of policy, but must be declared at senior level. Last night the IOPC said: We can confirm Jonathan Green has ceased employment with the IOPC, however a right of appeal remains. Meanwhile, the office remains under intense pressure after it was criticised by retired high court judge Sir Richard Henriques, who carried out an independent review into Midland, identifying no fewer than 43 separate mistakes. Writing in the Daily Mail in October, Sir Richard described the IOPC investigation as minimal and unprofessional, adding that the decision-making was flawed. He pointed out that two of the most senior officers facing misconduct allegations Dept Supt Kenny McDonald and former Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse were cleared within four months without ever being interviewed. The Met raided the homes of former home secretary Lord Brittan, former head of the Armed Forces Lord Bramall (pictured above) and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor. Beech was unmasked last summer as a fantasist and paedophile and jailed for 18 years In a statement, Mr Green said he was taking legal advice, adding: I am saddened that the Independent Office for Police Conduct has chosen to dismiss me despite there being no question of my professional abilities or a finding of dishonesty. I did not act inappropriately in having a short-lived, close personal relationship with a colleague. 'While I accept and apologise that that it was not declared as internal policies require, there was no abuse of power and no conflict of interest affecting any advice given by me or operational decisions I made, whatsoever. The sound of people chanting filled the air as supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement expressed their anger toward the United States during a speech given by Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah gave his first speech of the year following the deaths of Qasem Soleimani, head of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unit called the Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Units in Iraq, by a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport Jan. 3. For supporters of the group, Nasrallahs speech was a way of giving them hope that Soleimani would be avenged. Mariam, a supporter of Hezbollah who doesnt want to reveal her full name, told Al-Monitor the speech gave the groups followers "some strength that they will take revenge. For Nour (also refusing to give out her full name), who supports Hezbollah as a resistance movement but opposes their politics, the speech was what she expected but was also a way for the group to differentiate themselves from US President Donald Trump when it comes to retaliation. It personally met my expectation and reinforced the principles that Hezbollah abides by in war: targeting military bases and not civilians, said Nour, adding, His speech was evidently drafted as a way to contrast Trump's, to show that Trump is unethical in his strategies compared to Iran's and its allies' [strategies]. However, for others this seemed just like any speech Nasrallah has given in the past, with the only difference being it was taking place following the death of Soleimani. I didnt see it different from his other speeches, since he always challenges Israel and the US, Marwa Harb, a former supporter of Lebanons Sunni Future Movement, told Al-Monitor. And in this case, the challenge was on a higher level. What I mean, if you checked what happened in summer regarding the Israeli drones [that entered Lebanons airspace], in his speech he was threatening Israel; so in this case, like what happened in Iraq, his speech will definitely be aggressive toward the US and setting further actions. Independent journalist and editor for Beirut Report Habib Battah agreed with Harbs reaction, adding the reason for such speeches is often used to have an effect on those listening rather than to actually declare anything. I think weve seen speeches like this before in times of confrontation where Nasrallah wants to position himself from a place of strength, Battah told Al-Monitor. Its very psychological, these speeches. Theyre often more about the psychology of those listening to them than they are about things that actually happen on the ground. Battah also pointed out that chants attacking the United States have decreased over recent years and only tend to appear during times of heightened tensions. They dont come out with every speech, he said. They had really died down over the years the Death to America chants and rhetoric has really died down. But occasionally it does kind of pop up again. And this time it shouldnt be that surprising when the US is directly involved in attacking, in some ways, the hand that feeds them (Hezbollah). In his speech, Nasrallah called for retaliation against US forces in Iraq in order to force troops out of the country. It is the US military that killed Hajj Qasem, and they must pay the price, Nasrallah commanded. The true, just retribution for those who conducted this assassination is an institution, which is the US military, the Shiite groups leader later added. We will launch a battle against those killers, those criminals. These comments made by Nasrallah were what Battah found the most interesting about the entire speech, as it contrasted with Trumps tweets where he said that the United States will target Iranian cultural sites in the event of an Iranian response. In some ways, Battah said, its a much more moderate position than most militant movements or militant Islamist movements who dont really come out and say that Were not attacking Americans. Were only targeting soldiers. And Iran as well only targeted military targets. Iran and Hezbollah have made it clear they are only going after military targets. It kind of makes Trump look like more of an extremist than any movement in the Middle East because he is actually specifically saying that he wants to target cultural sites. Its kind of ironic that we tend to consider these groups terrorists when the rhetoric coming out of the US administration is far more about targeting average people and nonmilitary targets. However, supporters of the group differed in opinion when it came to whether or not Hezbollah should play a role in the retaliation. For Mariam, Soleimani was a symbol and leader for all resistance movements, citing the war between the group and Israel in 2006 as an example of how he was part of Hezbollah. Soleimani is a leader for all the resistance, she said, and he is considered as a leader for Hezbollah also since he helped in the war committed by Israel in July 2006. For Nour, Hezbollahs role remains solely as a force meant to protect Lebanon, and they should remain within the countrys borders and not go beyond that. Despite the outrage from Lebanons Shiite community following Soleimanis death, Battah argued that the majority of Lebanese Shiites did not know who he was before his death. I think its a stereotype to say that all Shiites in Lebanon know the ins and outs of Iranian politics and the entire power structure, he argued. I think that a lot of people got to know Qasem Soleimani, even the Shiite community, much more because of his death than in his life where he was a figure who was not very public. He was not a figure like Nasrallah. I think more Lebanese Shiites would be more familiar with their local members of parliament and local leaders of Hezbollah than they would be with the Iranian leaders other than the actual presidency. There mightve been a lot of mourning and a lot of commemoration. And I think, in a way, hes been propped up with the events that happened, and people discovered a lot more about him in his death. While there was no agreement on what role Hezbollah should play exactly, the belief that US troops should leave Iraq transcended sectarian borders. I think this is the only thing that Iran should do to bring justice to Soleimani, Nour said. I'm not with a one-for-one killing, I'm with kicking out all US military forces from the [Middle East North Africa] region. They interfered as a way to enforce democracy and peace, but US intervention in Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Somalia and even Lebanon begs to differ. Even though Harb believes US forces should leave, she acknowledged they were there for a reason and expressed concern that something bad could happen in the event of their withdrawal. Edgar Maalouf, a member of Lebanons parliament for the Free Patriotic Movement, told Al-Monitor the killing of Soleimani was a massive and unexpected occurrence, but since Lebanon has no US soldiers based in the country, it would allow for the Mediterranean country to stay out of any possible future conflict. The death of Soleimani is a big thing, Maalouf explained. He used to come and go without any special or secret methods. He came from Syria on a plane. In Lebanon, most of the parties dont want Lebanon to be in this storm. Even in Sayyed Hassans speech, he was clear that maybe Lebanon will not be a real part of whats going to happen. Especially since we dont have American soldiers. When the target is to remove the American soldiers from the Middle East, automatically, were going to be on the side of the action. For Maalouf, Lebanons ongoing economic crisis is what should take precedence over regional conflicts. With the huge economic problems that we have, having another military problem would be disastrous, he said. The banking system needs to see how it is going to change. We cannot continue with the same habit that we have had for the last 30 years. Several days after Nasrallahs speech, in the early morning hours of Jan. 8, missiles fired from Iran struck two military bases in Iraq that housed US troops but resulted in no US or Iraqi casualties. According to Mariam, this is enough of a response to Soleimanis death. Hezbollah wont give a response because Iran is taking revenge, she explained. So Hezbollah only gave Iran moral support. Hezbollah is a resistance made by Iran, so if Iran will respond, then thats enough. However, Nour believes there is more to come. It depends on the US to be honest, she said. I dont think there will be World War III. People dont believe in wars for self-protection like before. The following day, Trump held a press conference where he said the United States would be implementing further sanctions against the Islamic Republic and that Iran appeared to be standing down. Maalouf hopes that following this press conference, there will be calm in the region and a good economic future for Lebanon and a new government. However, Battah believes there are no guarantees that things will de-escalate or escalate. It could go either way, he explained. A lot of this is psychological. We have to take these fiery speeches with a grain of salt. This is psychological posturing. You want your enemies to imagine the worst possible scenario. Whether youre actually going to act on that or not, theres a strategic value in maintaining a sense of fear among the enemy. By Jamie Freed and Tracy Rucinski , (Reuters) - Boeing Co has released hundreds of internal messages that show attempts to duck regulatory scrutiny in the development of the 737 MAX, as well as employees disparaging the plane, the company and aviation regulators. The 737 MAX has been grounded since March when one of the jets nose-dived in Ethiopia, just five months after a similar crash in Indonesia. The two crashes killed 346 people By Jamie Freed and Tracy Rucinski , (Reuters) - Boeing Co has released hundreds of internal messages that show attempts to duck regulatory scrutiny in the development of the 737 MAX, as well as employees disparaging the plane, the company and aviation regulators. The 737 MAX has been grounded since March when one of the jets nose-dived in Ethiopia, just five months after a similar crash in Indonesia. The two crashes killed 346 people. Following are excerpts from more than 100 pages of documents, dated between 2013 and 2018, including conversations among Boeing pilots and among other employees. ON THE 737 MAX * In an April 2017 message exchange between two unnamed employees, one said: "this airplane is designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys" following references to issues with the plane's flight management computer. * In a instant messaging exchange on Feb. 8, 2018 - when the plane was in the air and eight months before the first crash, an employee asks another: "Would you put your family on a MAX simulator trained aircraft? I wouldn't". The second employee responds: "No". ON REGULATORS AND THE REGULATORY PROCESS * In a February 2017 email an unnamed Boeing employee said the FAA was "neither thorough nor demanding and failed to write up many issues" on problems with the 737 MAX simulator. * "I'll be shocked if the FAA passes this turd," an unnamed employee says in a May 2018 instant message conversation. It was not immediately clear what the employee was referring to. * In a March 2017 email, one Boeing employee said "FAA is pretty powerful and most countries defer to what the FAA does (except for National Authorities that are stuck in the Stone Ages. Eg. JCAB, ANAC)" in reference to the aviation regulators of Japan and Brazil. ON TRAINING * "I want to stress the importance of holding firm that there will not be any type of simulator training required to transition from NG to MAX," Boeing's 737 chief technical pilot said in a March 2017 email. The name of the pilot was redacted. "Boeing will not allow that to happen. We'll go face to face with any regulator who tries to make that a requirement," the email said. * An email between unnamed Boeing employees in June 2013 listed meeting minutes that said the MCAS anti-stall system, which has since been tied to the crashes, had been treated as a function analogous to a speed trim function. "If we emphasize MCAS is a new function there may be a greater certification and training impact. Treat as addition to Speed Trim." ON COMPANY CULTURE * "We put ourselves in an impossible position by picking the lowest cost supplier and signing up to impossible schedules," an unnamed employee said in a June 2018 email with reference to the 737 MAX simulator supplied by TRU Simulation+Training. In the same email, the employee also said: "I don't know how to fix these things...it's systemic. It's culture. It's the fact we have a senior leadership team that understand very little about the business and yet are driving us to certain objectives". * "I still haven't been forgiven by god for the covering up I did last year," an unnamed Boeing employee said in a May 2018 message without referencing what was covered up. "Cant do it one more time. the Pearly gates will be closed..." (Reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Additional reporting by David Shepardson and Chris Sanders in Washington and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. George W. Bush had an abundance of bravado but little patience for details, which is how he bumbled us into a war that wasnt justified by the data. Conversely, Bill Clintons disinterest in foreign policy, and Barack Obamas innate cautiousness, led to tragic failures of inaction in, respectively, Rwanda and Syria. With Trump, though, whats at play isnt just a personality but, arguably, a personality disorder. Whether Trump technically qualifies as a clinical narcissist or even a sociopath is a question for the mental health professionals. But some of his most dangerous personality traits are beyond debate. Trumps impulsiveness has already affected U.S. global standing as when he suddenly announced in late 2018 he was withdrawing from Syria, shocking military leaders here and abroad and prompting Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to resign. Trump prefers chaos over cooperation, which has damaged our standing among our NATO allies, with whom he cant seem to quit squabbling. His susceptibility to personal flattery is the least-sinister explanation for his bizarre, repeated acquiescence to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. (CNN) From the moment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their relationship known to the public in 2016, the message many Britons sent to her was clear: You aren't one of us, and you aren't welcome. Meghan, a biracial, divorced American actress, was far from what many envisioned as a fairy-tale match for a beloved member of the British royal family. While many in the UK welcomed her, the British tabloid media and a large swath of the Twitterverse were not kind. It became so bad that Kensington Palace released a statement scolding the press about its treatment of her. Now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as Harry and Meghan are formally known, are drawing fire again. The couple's announcement that they're distancing themselves from the royal family has been met with shock and anger by many in England and beyond. Suddenly, the message for Meghan has changed from "Why are you here?" to "Where do you think you're going?" And again, some observers think racism is partly to blame. "It was never going to end well," said Kehinde Andrews, an associate professor of sociology at Birmingham City University who launched the first black-studies degree in Europe. "The British royal family is one of the premiere symbols of whiteness in the world. She was never going to be fully accepted." Markle's 'audacity' is threatening to some people While Meghan identifies as biracial, she is being treated as a black woman. Every black woman, including myself, knows what that means. As far as the world is concerned, your entire being is filtered through the color of your skin. We've all heard the comments. "You are pretty for a black girl." "You speak so well." And if you dare to reach beyond some imaginary line of demarcation, you're seen as "uppity." The reaction to Meghan trying to carve out a new life with her husband "reinforces the stereotype of black women being destructive, divisive and unsatisfied," says Nsenga Burton, a professor at Emory University in Atlanta who specializes in the intersection of race, class, gender and the media. Burton told CNN it's easy to see why black women have rallied around Meghan, because they see themselves in how she's being treated. "People are cool with black women as long as we go along to get along," she said. "As soon as we start standing up for ourselves and saying, 'This is not working for me,' we become the problem." Natasha Eubanks, founder and editor of TheYBF.com, a black celebrity site that has covered the royal couple, agrees. "Having the audacity -- because that's what it is -- to exhibit self-sovereignty has always been a privilege reserved for men, especially white men," she told CNN. "Yet here is Meghan exhibiting this 'audacity' and it's being ... pushed forward by a white man who happens to be her husband." Eubanks argues that Prince Harry presenting a united front with his spouse "triggers people" because it places "a white Prince of royal blood and a black American woman commoner" on equal footing. "That sight doesn't sit well with everyone due to how they've been conditioned to view women and people of color, whether they realize it or not." Critics are blaming her for the couple's decision As a black woman, it's been infuriating to watch how Meghan has been treated. Not just because racism hurts, but also because there was the sense that we weren't allowed to even enjoy the fairytale. The prince in this story didn't slay dragons, he instead had to take on British tabloids and a society where class supposedly trumps race even as racism clearly remains an issue. Andrews says British press coverage of Meghan has been "horrible," and he's not surprised that she's being blamed for what is being viewed by many as a schism in the royal family. From the memes that say, "Prince Harry married a black woman and she made him move out of his mama's house," to journalist Piers Morgan tweeting that Meghan "ditched her family, ditched her Dad, ditched most of her old friends, split Harry from William & has now split him from the Royal Family," a narrative has formed that the duchess was the driving force in the decision. That's unfair, says Andrews, who believes people are forgetting that Prince Harry has been outspoken about his desire to not be a traditional royal. "He's always wanted to do his own thing," Andrews told CNN. "Even his insistence on marrying a black woman, he knew what he was doing. This has given him a good out." Some observers believe Prince Harry is extra protective of Meghan because of how his mother, the late Princess Diana, was treated by the media towards the end of her life. "He seemingly never recovered from the anguish he saw her go through at the hands of the British press and the critics," said Eubanks. "He seems to have pledged to never let that happen to his wife and children. " In October of last year Harry complained publicly about the British tabloids' treatment of Meghan, who gave birth in May to the couple's son, Archie. "Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences -- a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son," he said. When Harry and Meghan announced their engagement, many in the UK heralded the news -- a biracial woman joining the royal family -- as a welcome step towards racial harmony. But Andrews said he was not among them. Like Barack Obama, he said, the duchess is "someone who looks like progress but really isn't progress." As Duchess she hasn't made race an issue. Others have The couple's 2018 royal wedding featured a black minister and music by a black cellist and a gospel choir. But aside from some symbolic touches, Meghan the Duchess hasn't given much reason to be linked with racial issues. "She's not even been outspoken about race," Andrews said. "She's proof that you don't have to do or say anything to be targeted." For Meghan this must be all the more discouraging given that -- according to her -- for years many people had no idea she was a woman of color. In a 2012 video for the charity Erase The Hate, the then-actress said "so much of my life has felt like being a fly on the wall" because people were unaware that she was biracial. "I am really proud of my heritage on both sides. I'm really proud of where I've come from and where I'm going," she said. "But yeah, I hope by the time I have children that people are even more open-minded to how things are changing and that having a mixed world is what it's all about. Certainly it makes it a lot more beautiful and a lot more interesting." Sadly, for some people that is still not the case. This story was first published on CNN.com "Coming or going, Meghan gets the blame -- and it's because of her race" Kansas City Christmas Past Murder Aftermath Charges filed in Christmas Eve homicide KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Charges in the Christmas Eve murder of a Kansas City man were filed Thursday, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. Joseph A. Kane, 36, was charged with second degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action in the fatal shooting of Carter McCollum. Tribute In The Dotte Family upset after acquittal, questions Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A man charged with double murder of a Wyandotte County woman and her unborn baby was acquitted Wednesday by a jury, but the family of the victims is now raising questions about how the case of Jocelyn Ibarra's murder was handled. https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/family-upset-after-acquittal-questions-wyandotte-county-district-attorneys-office Up In Flames Landlord, neighbors worried after suspicious fire occurs at Kansas City home where man was just killed KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Police are investigating a suspicious fire that happened Friday at the same house where someone shot and killed a teen on Wednesday. This is the latest incident near 69th Street and Monroe Avenue in what appears to be a series of connected crimes. Northland Creeper Sentenced Platte County man receives 30-year sentence for child abuse PLATTE CITY, MO (KCTV) - A Platte County judge sentenced a Platte City man to 30 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually molesting a girl when she was just two years old. Prosecutors said 31-year-old Brandon S. Witness To Tragedy KC woman says she tried to save 21-year-old man shot to death near 23rd and Wheeling KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Kansas City woman is sharing her story after attempting to save the life of a man shot and killed Wednesday afternoon. The shooting happened at Blue Valley Court Townhomes near 23rd and Wheeling Avenue. A child under the age of one was also injured, but is expected to be OK. Domestic Case Reported Former JoCo deputy pleads guilty in domestic violence case KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A former Johnson County Sheriff's Office deputy pleaded guilty on Wednesday in a domestic violence case. Eric Walker, 38, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery causing bodily harm, a felony. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the other two original charges of aggravated domestic battery and criminal restraint. NextGen JoCo Tragedy Olathe teen sentenced in drug deal that led to 17-year-old's shooting death OLATHE, Kan. - A Kansas teenager has been sentenced to more than four years in juvenile corrections for his part in an $8 Xanax deal that led to another teen's shooting death. Seventeen-year-old Rolland Kobelo was sentenced Thursday. He faces 10 years in adult prison if he doesn't successfully complete his time in the juvenile system. Fighting Web Of Lies Hacking of Ring systems leads Stueve Siegel to file suit - Kansas City Business Journal Kansas City-based Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP teamed up with Washington-based Tycko & Zavareei LLP to file a class-action lawsuit against Ring LLC, a home security provider with products targeted by hackers who spied on and harassed its customers. Quick collection of local police action, mugshots and all manner ofmisdeeds:And this is thefor tonight . . . US House passes resolution to rein in Trump's war power against Iran US House of Representatives on Thursday approved a resolution aimed at restraining President Donald Trump's power to take military actions against Iran without congressional approval. The House voted 224 to 194 to pass the resolution, roughly along the party line. The resolution directs the president to terminate the use of US military to engage in hostilities in or against Iran, unless the president gets authorization from Congress or the use of force is necessary. The vote came days after a US strike on Trump's order killed Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, which has raised fears of an uncontrolled conflict between the United States and Iran. Democratic Representative Elissa Slotkin, the lead sponsor of the resolution, said that "this resolution is intended to make clear that, if the President wants to take us to war, he must get authorization from Congress." Slotkin, who previously worked for the Central Intelligence Agency and the US Department of Defense, noted that the behavior of Soleimani did not mean that the Trump administration "can disregard the Constitution by engaging in a wider war, without consulting first with Congress." Earlier in the day, Trump called on all Republican congressmen to vote against the resolution. "Hope that all House Republicans will vote against Crazy Nancy Pelosi's War Powers Resolution," Trump tweeted, calling the vote "Presidential Harassment." Most Republicans argued in the floor debate that the resolution was a show vote intended to undermine Trump. The vote came one day after Democratic lawmakers, joined by several Republicans, voiced frustrations about the lack of information at a closed-door briefing on Iran from the administration officials. "I find this (the briefing) insulting and demeaning, not personally, but to the office that each of the 100 senators in this building happens to hold," Republican Senator Mike Lee said after the briefing. Kiev, Jan 11 : Following Iran's admission that it brought down the Kiev-bound airliner earlier this week unintentionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday laid down several demands from Tehran, including compensation for the victim's families and official apologies for its mistake. In a Facebook post, Zelensky said: "This morning was not good, but it brought the truth. Even before the end of the International Commission, Iran had pleaded guilty to crashing the Ukrainian plane. But we insist on full admission of guilt. "We expect from Iran assurances of a willingness to fully and openly investigate, bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies of the dead, pay compensation, and make official apologies through diplomatic channels," Xinhua news agency reported. Zelensky said he hoped the investigation would continue without obstruction, adding that the actions of the personnel responsible for the downing should be investigated. Earlier on Saturday, Iran admitted that its armed forces had downed the Kiev-bound Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS75 near Tehran killing all 176 people on board, adding that it was an "involuntary human error" and those responsible would "immediately" be held accountable. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that the mistake was made in the context of a "very delicate crisis situation", claiming that the US-made Boeing 737-800 had flown close to a sensitive IRGC military centre with the "altitude and flight position of an enemy target". The victims comprised 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, four Britons and three Germans. Wednesday's crash occurred on the same day after Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two US military bases in Iraq, in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in an American drone attack in Baghdad on January 3. The Sydney Opera House has illuminated its sails on Saturday night in a show of support for fire-hit communities around Australia and the firefighters defending them. The display began about 8.30pm and saw scenes of hope from the last three months of the fire crisis projected onto the buildings famous sails, remaining lit until about 11pm. Opera House honours the hard work of firefighters during the current bushfire season. Credit:Wolter Peeters "We are lighting the Opera House sails to show our collective support for everyone affected by these devastating fires and to express our deepest gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers for their incredible efforts and courage," Opera House chief executive Louise Herron said. "As difficult circumstances continue, we want to send a message of hope and strength to the people of Australia." The spring semester for many colleges and universities is still not in session, but you may already want to consider your spring break plans. South Padre Island has already announced some of its spring break concert line-up for 2020, including big-name artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Nas X and DaBaby. The Tunisian parliament on Friday rejected the government of Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli after months of negotiations between political parties to fill positions. Jemli, an independent, was nominated by the Islamist inspired Ennahdha party after it came out top in legislative polls in October but failed to win enough seats to form a majority in the 217-seat chamber. Deputies voted 134 to 72 against the Jemli's proposed government of independent figures due to "frictions" between the parties over political appointments. President Kais Saied now has ten days to choose a new prime minister-designate who will attempt to put together a government acceptable to the assembly. An agricultural engineer by training, Jemli served as secretary of state at the agriculture ministry from 2011 to 2014 under Ennahdha prime ministers Hamadi Jebali and Ali Larayedh. Ennahdha said its choice was "based on a person known for his competence, integrity and experience in administration". The constitution stipulates that if the prime minister-designate fails to receive parliamentary assent for his government, the president will launch talks with political parties and parliamentary blocs to mandate someone else to form an administration. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday slammed Congress for protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and said it is playing with the interest. "India is moving ahead with self-respect and dignity. This law (CAA) is not against any caste or religion. Congress is playing with the interest," he said while addressing a public gathering during 'Hunar Haat inauguration' in Lucknow. "Congress is doing appeasement politics. Those who are talking about saving the constitution are strangulating it," he added. Talking about the Liaquat-Nehru Pact, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister claimed, "It was clear from the 1950 Liaquat-Nehru agreement that minorities will be taken care of by both the countries (India and Pakistan). This is the reason, the population of Muslims have increased by six to seven times in India while in Pakistan it has decreased." Protests had erupted in different parts of the country including Uttar Pradesh over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coca-Cola Vietnam has paid VND471 billion (US$20.3 million) of the VND821 billion ($35.4 million) in fines and tax arrears it is asked to settle by Vietnamese tax authorities due to incorrect tax declaration, both sides confirmed on Friday. Vu Thanh Truc, public relations and sustainability manager at Coca-Cola Vietnam, said on Friday afternoon that the beverage company had made the VND471 billion payment within ten days of the request by the General Department of Taxation (GDT) although it does not agree with most of the conclusions of the tax governing body. According to the tax departments conclusions, Coca-Cola Vietnam owed more than VND471 billion in tax arrears, including over VND60 billion ($2.6 million) in value added tax (VAT), over VND359 billion ($15.5 million) in corporate income tax, and nearly VND52 billion ($2.25 million) in taxes levied on foreign contractors. In addition, Coca-Cola Vietnam is fined more than VND288.6 billion ($12.5 million) for the late tax payment, overdue since December 16, 2019. The beverage company is also subject to a fine of more than VND61.6 billion ($2.7 million) for administrative violations. In Fridays statement, Truc said the firm had only made some small mistakes and is always committed to ensuring full compliance with all local tax requirements and obligations, echoing words said a day earlier by Coca-Cola Vietnam CEO Peeyush Sharma. GDT deputy general director Dang Ngoc Minh confirmed Coca-Cola Vietnams payment on Friday. The VND471 billion payment made by Coca-Cola Vietnam covers its tax arrears, while the company still owes more than VND288.6 billion in late tax payment fines and over VND61.6 billion in fines for administrative violations. Minh said the outstanding fines must be paid off within ten days or "Coca-Cola Vietnam will have to pay additional fines for any late payment." The tax official added the company reserves the right to appeal against the tax departments conclusions if it believes they are incorrect. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! It's known to all that a couple of days ago, Deepika Padukone had visited JNU to show her solidarity with the students, who were attacked by the masked goons inside the campus on the last Sunday (January 5, 2020). However, ever since Deepika has made her political stand loud and clear, many people have shared their opinion over her JNU visit. While some are proud of her, some are disappointed with her. Amidst all the mixed reactions, many decided to boycott her latest release, Chhapaak. In fact, a section of BJP leaders, including South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri, have given a call to boycott the movie after her JNU visit. Seeing the negativity around Chhapaak, Delhi Congress leaders decided to support Deepika and arranged a special screening of the movie for students in Daryaganj area in New Delhi on Friday. Speaking about the same, Congress leader Alka Lamba said, "We bought all the 920 tickets of the 2-pm show. Around 800 students watched the film. Deepika stood with our students. Now it is our turn to support her." Bigg Boss 13: Deepika Padukone Goes For A Joy Ride With Contestants Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also backed his party colleagues offering free movie tickets of Chhapaak and said, "So, we are showing solidarity to her by giving tickets to college students. We do not want anyone to be boycotted because of showing courage to stand with the students." For the unversed, directed by Meghna Gulzar, Chhapaak has been declared tax-free in Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Vietnam is earmarking environmentally friendly, high tech investment to best serve the sustainable growth of the country. Saddles made at Taiwanese firm Pro Active Global Vietnam, located in Dai Nang Industrial Park in the southern province of Binh Duong. Disbursed capital of FDI projects reached US$20.4 billion in 2019. The message was delivered by Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung at the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) in Ha Noi on Friday. Appreciating the contributions made by foreign direct investment (FDI), he said: FDI is again a bright spot. For the first time, disbursed capital of FDI projects reached US$20.4 billion in 2019. He added last year the total registered capital reached more than $38 billion, the highest in the last 10 years. Dung told the forum: Viet Nam will continue to select quality FDI projects with high value-added content, high technology and innovation to help the country enter the global value chain faster. Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and co-chairman of the VBF Consortium, Vu Tien Loc said that local enterprises should work more closely with FDI to make good use of market expansion opportunities and reform. He added: It is also a way to facilitate FDI businesses to take deeper roots in Viet Nams economy, through the value chains established with domestic businesses. Regarding public-private partnerships (PPP), Loc said: Viet Nam needs up to $25 billion for infrastructure development projects each year. He suggested foreign investors should join PPPs to finance the countrys development in the future. Telling Viet Nam to prioritise a sustainable economy, Virginia Foote, co-chair, Vietnam Business Forum Consortium thought innovation could be the next chapter of Viet Nams success. She told the forum: Viet Nam is well known for its talents in science, internet. Foote said she believed the country could benefit further from the digital economy with innovations of IT and Fintech, IoT and other smart industries. But Fred Burke, head of BVFs investment and trade working group said: Viet Nam still confronts serious obstacles to maximise its tremendous potential. He raised concerns of the foreign investors in the capital limit in the local fintech, saying: Non-cash payments are critical to innovation, smart cities, and Industry 4.0 but the current draft decree amending Decree No. 101/2012 / ND-CP that imposes a foreign-ownership cap may affect some foreign fintech companies in the country. Burke thought the limit could drive out current innovation and prevent other foreign investment while most of the local fintech start-ups raised institutional capital from foreign investors. As the result, it would restrict the ability of the local fintech firms and make them less competitive with others in the region, said Burke. Seck Yee Chung, Vice President, Singapore Business Group in Viet Nam said: "The Government should continue efforts to streamline the foreign investment licensing and approval process. This can be achieved with the use of emails of courier between licensing authorities and regulators. " Chung also asked the Government to develop the use of online applications for foreign investment and M&A approvals. VBF is organised twice a year, providing regular policy dialogues between the Government and business community aiming at a favourable business environment and sustainable economic development in Viet Nam. VNS Real estate retains second position in FDI attraction Real estate remained the second biggest magnet for FDI in 2019, following processing manufacturing, as it attracted $3.88 billion FDI, equivalent to 10.2 percent of the total registered. Protests for retaining Amaravati as the state capital continued on Saturday in parts of Andhra Pradesh even as a ruling YSR Congress MLA allegedly abused leader of the opposition Chandrababu Naidu while a BJP Rajya Sabha member said it was better to live as a refugee in another country than in a state "beset with crime." The Amaravati Parirakshana Samiti, which is fighting for retaining Amaravati as the state capital, held protests in various towns. The ruling YSRC too organised counter rallies at various locations, supporting Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddys "three capitals" idea, mooted by him in December 2019,one each for the executive, judiciary and legislature, across the three regions. It was at one such rally in coastal Kakinada that local MLA D Chandrasekhar Reddy allegedly abused Chandrababu Naidu in the presence of local MP Vanga Geeta. Reddy also lashed out at Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan. BJP MP Y Satyanarayana Chowdary, while expressing serious concern over 'police high-handedness' on peacefully protesting women in favour of Amaravati, said going to some other country as a refugee could be an option as there was no point living in such a state beset with crime and atrocities. YSRC MLA G Amarnath filed a police complaint against the MP for his remarks, while Agriculture Minister K Kanna Babu termed the MPs comments shameful. The BJP, which held its state executive meeting in Guntur, passed a resolution, demanding that Amaravati be retained as the state capital. Even as the protests went on, pictures of alleged police high handedness going viral on social media platforms. Opposition MPs expressed outrage over "police excesses" even as state Director General of Police met Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on the happenings, particularly in the last two-three days. Tension continued in villages in Amaravati region as police went to farmers' houses in search of suspects who allegedly created trouble in the name of the ongoing agitation. The alleged police excesses saw Guntur MP Galla Jayadev demanding stern action against the guilty. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas wrote to the National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma, alleging that police heckled the women protestors and noted down the caste particulars of each of them. "The detained women were held in custody even after 6 PM, which is a clear violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Please take cognizance of this and initiate appropriate action, the MP said. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu extended his fight for Amaravati to temple-town Tirupati and organized a Save Amaravati rally. Meanwhile, Municipal Minister Botsa Satyanarayana and Information Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) separately met 'farmers' of Amaravati and promised them a fair deal from the government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde on Saturday saidthere is the possibility of developing a system of for the courts with the purpose of ensuring that undue delay is prevented in delivery of justice. Justice Bobde also pitched for pre-litigation mediation against the backdrop of large number of pending cases in courts, observing that it is the need of the hour. It was important for courts to ensure that there is no undue delay in delivery of justice, the CJI said, addressing the 19thbiennial state level conference of judicial officers, after inaugurating it here. "We must employ every talent we have, every skill we possess to ensure that the justice is received within reasonable time. Delay in justice cannot be a reason for anybody to take law into their own hands. We have the possibility of developing for the court system, only for the purpose of ensuring that undue delay is prevented in the delivery of justice," he said. However, the CJI made it clear that AI would never replace the judges. "I must make it clear at the outset, as there are times when even judges have asked this question. The AI is not going to replace human judges. It is not going to replace human discretion. It is only the repetitive, mathematical and mechanical parts of the judgments for which help can be taken from the system...we are exploring the possibility of implementing it." The conference on 'Judicial Process Re-engineering and Judicial Skill Building' was attended by by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Supreme Court judges Mohan M Shantanagoudar, S Abdul Nazeer and Ajjikuttira Somaiah Bopanna, and Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, among others. Pointing out that Karnataka has produced many fine legal minds, the CJI said some of the best judgments in civil law have come from Karnataka, not only from the High Court but also district courts. "If you keep aside territorial jurisdictions of various courts at various levels, there is to my mind absolutely no difference in the task which is performed by civil judges in the district court,judges in the High Court and Supreme Court. The task is one and the task is to decide cases to deliver justice," he said. The CJI asserted that the foundation of civilization rests on law and pursuit of justice is the dharma of all judges and must at all times be guided by what the constitution dictates, He pointed out that judicial officers have to deal with a variety of problems. "One of the striking things about judges is that they do not have an easy job, they repeatedly do what the rest of us seem to avoid, and that is to make decision." The CJI said the ever increasing diversity and complexity of matters on which the judiciary is called upon to adjudicate was "mind boggling." The judiciary is being called upon to decide on matters that requires knowledge of constitutional law, technology, among other things, he said. Pointing out that judges without adequate knowledge, skill and experience may cause distortion, delay and miscarriage of justice, Justice Bobde said improvement of judicial officers will have a direct and tangible impact on the judicial process on the whole. "The key question is how we can improve the quality of judges and the significant part of the answer lies in the nature and type of the judicial education received by judicial officers. Judicial education secures judicial independence..it is important to realize that judicial education in India is often equated to judicial training, but education is a much larger concept than training," he said. He pointed out that powers under Section 89ofthe Civil Procedure Code(Settlement of disputes outside the Court) were not utilized sufficiently. "Many times it has not elicited sufficient success.. the Ayodhya disputes case, we thought that the things will be solved by mediation, there was some problem. But this is something very important, mediation is something that must be brought into the system. It does not affect the earning prospects of the bar, with trained lawyers in mediation." According to the CJI, pre-litigation mediation is the need of the hour in the backdrop of significant pendency confronting the courts. The Delhi Police on Saturday said to have arrested a 33-year-old Nigerian for allegedly involved in the supply of cocaine. Police said Constable Ashok Kumar of Narcotics Squad, South Delhi, on Friday received specific information regarding the movement of a Nigerian involved in the supply of narcotic drugs. Following this, a trap was laid at about 4.50 pm near Chirag Delhi flyover, Slip Road Masjid Moth. The team apprehended one Nigerian while he was carrying 'cocaine' drug. The accused, originally a resident of Lotey State, Nigeria, has been identified as Locky Ferosin Ovnawa. On further search, the police team recovered the 500 grams of cocaine worth Rs 40,00,000. An FIR has been registered under Section 21 of the NDPS Act at CR Park police station. Further investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two New Jersey men have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to file false tax returns from their Upper Darby tax preparation business. Omar Faruq, 37, and Omar Ali, 36, both of Pennsauken, were sentenced to 24 months and 18 months in prison, respectively, by U.S. District Court Judge Nitza I. Quinones Wednesday. Faruq was also ordered to pay $688,362 and Ali was ordered to pay $573,322 in restitution to the United States Department of Treasury. Both also received three years of supervised release. Faruq and Ali pleaded guilty in June 2019 to filing false tax returns on behalf of their clients at Omar Consultancy Inc., which had offices in Upper Darby and New Jersey. According to the plea memorandum, the defendants artificially increased refunds on their clients returns without their knowledge between 2013 and 2015 by falsifying and inflating deductions and credits to which the clients were not entitled, then pocketed a portion of the fraudulent refunds for themselves. Faruq and Ali also both pleaded guilty to filing a false income tax return for themselves and their respective spouses for the 2014 tax year. Faruq and Ali omitted gross receipts from their tax preparation business on the 2014 returns and failed to report diverted funds from their clients as income on their personal returns. These defendants professional tax preparers committed fraud and stole from the United States government while duping their clients, said U.S. Attorney William McSwain in a release. The defendants also stole from the pockets of all taxpayers who do the right thing every April and pay their fair share of taxes. With tax season approaching, these sentencings serve as a warning for anyone considering this type of fraud. Web Toolbar by Wibiya Once again, all eyes will be on Toronto as preparations are in top gear for the Book Expo 2020. Many authors are eagerly looking forward to the maiden event for a number of reasons. A major centre of arts and culture, Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities on the planet. If there is any place an author can get maximum exposure, then Toronto is it. Exposure to a vast and appreciative audience is the first reason why any author or even publisher will be excited. The potential for media coverage at such an event in Toronto is so huge that no one can ignore it. For any author who wants maximum exposure, Toronto Book Expo 2020 is an ideal platform for that. Anytime there are events where local and foreign authors gather, national and international media outlets pay attention. Any prominent media agency within and outside Toronto will focus on the event and give it proper coverage. When this is done, the books written by the authors are also given prominence and that is a major plus for the authors and publishing firms. Considering the importance of the literary arts and appreciation from the audience, media agencies are always more than willing to do the coverage. Journalists and reporters are often present at literary events and the Toronto Book Expo 2020 will not be an exception. However, exposure is not the only reason the authors are looking forward to the event. The ability to meet and network with other authors is another reason. As authors from within and outside Toronto will be attending the event, it is the perfect place for literary colleagues from all over Canada and different countries to meet. Such meetings are ideal for comparing works, sharing ideas, planning for future collaborations or even joint literary promotions. An important observation is that an expo is the only opportunity for some authors to get to meet their colleagues from far and wide. In addition to exposure, the ability to get inspired is also an extra cause for excitement. For those who have attended book expos before in the past, merely staying in the community of authors alone is enough motivation and a trigger for inspiration. Seeing different writers and learning from different literary styles often spark ideas in the minds of other authors. This is one major reason professional, amateur and aspiring writers are looking forward to the event. Apart from the reasons outlined above, there is one very crucial reason authors cannot wait to be at the event. This is nothing other than the chance of a very good income. With the promotion of books at any literary expo comes the opportunity to also sell them. There are actually many attendees who visit expos with the sole aim of checking out good books they want to buy. For this reason, authors are advised to always have an enchanting table display. They will be able to sell their books at the expo and make immediate financial gains which are not bad at all. A special court has dismissed the application filed by AgustaWestland alleged 'middleman' Christian Michel seeking an inquiry into the visit of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials in Tihar jail to meet him without court's permission. Judge Arvind Kumar while dismissing the plea, observed that "I do not find any illegality on the part of ED and CBI officials who visited Tihar Jail. The application filed by accused Christian James Michel is without any merit and is thus dismissed". Christian Michel is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail in connection with Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. While the CBI is probing his alleged role as a 'middleman' in the deal, the ED is investigating money laundering charges against him. Michel had moved the court seeking inquiry to be conducted into the entry of agency officials into the jail without seeking prior permission from the court. He alleged that the agency officials searched his belongings during the visit of a British counsellor in Tihar on October 22. On the contentions, the court had earlier directed the jail authorities to submit a report regarding their visit. Christian Michel's counsel, advocate Aljo K Joseph, had earlier stated that "as per Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963, as and when consular access is requested and consular officers shall be free to communicate with nationals of the sending State and to have access to them." "It is informed by the family of Christian James Michel that during the visit by consular, the ED and CBI officials tried to interfere with the process and checked article and books send by the family," he asserted. The counsels appearing for the agencies, however, submitted that the officials went there on the Ministry of External Affairs' direction. Christian Michel was extradited from Dubai in 2018 and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with alleged irregularities in the chopper deal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 224-to-194 vote, which came a day after the administrations senior national security officials briefed lawmakers about the strike that killed a top Iranian commander, fell largely along party lines, with three Republicans and a Republican-turned-independent endorsing the resolution. Eight Democrats opposed the measure, which instructs Trump to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government or military unless Congress declares war or there is an imminent armed attack upon the United States. Gaetz was one of the three Republicans to support the measure. The Russian Defence Ministry has dismissed reports that one of its ships "aggressively approached" the USS Farragut in the North Arabian Sea on 10 January as untrue, Sputnik reports. The ministry explained that the US vessel crossed the Russian ship's set course, acting in an "unprofessional manner", and the Russian crew was therefore forced to make an evasive manoeuvre to avoid a collision. "It was the US destroyer that blatantly violated international rules for preventing collisions at sea on 9 January 2020 by making a manoeuvre to cross the Russian ship's course, while being positioned to the left of the forward-moving Russian military vessel", the ministry's statement reads. The statement called the actions of the crew of the USS Farragut a "deliberate violation of maritime safety rules". At the same time, the Defence Ministry praised the professionalism of the crew of the Russian ship, which remained unnamed in the statements issued by both countries' militaries. Previously, US 5th Fleet claimed in a statement on 10 January that a Russian vessel had "aggressively approached" the USS Farragut destroyer in the North Arabian Sea as the latter was conducting "routine operations" there. The US warship signalled to the Russian vessel, which eventually changed course, according to the US Navy. "Farragut sounded five short blasts, the international maritime signal for danger of a collision, and requested the Russian ship alter course in accordance with international rules of the road", the statement said. The international rules for preventing collisions at sea, which were established in 1972, stipulate that out of two ships with mechanical engines that are on a collision course, the one that has the other ship to its right must make way for it to pass freely. If Harry and Meghan show that royals can survive without public money, then what happens to the other royals? Financial independence might not seem like a lofty goal for a couple in their late 30s. But this is the United Kingdoms Duke and Duchess of Sussex, better known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, that were talking about. The couples announcement this week that theyre stepping back from being senior members of the royal family, and planning to rely on themselves financially, is a move away from British royal tradition. In what Harry and Meghan have called a new working model, they say theyre going to stop receiving government funding from the Sovereign Grant, which primarily pays for their official duties and the expenses of running their household. Harry, Queen Elizabeths grandson, and his wife Meghan, a former actress, have had an increasingly difficult relationship with the British press ever since their marriage in May 2018. Theyve complained about invasions of privacy, and the perception that media coverage of Meghan has been unfair. In a statement on their website, Harry and Meghan said that they were carving out a progressive new role. The Sovereign Grant, however, only accounts for five percent of their income; the rest comes from Harrys father, the British heir, Prince Charles. His money comes from the Duchy of Cornwall, a property and investment portfolio that generated 21.6 million pounds ($28.2m) in 2019, and that has been in royal hands for more than 700 years. Harry and his elder brother William received around 5 million pounds ($6.53m) from their father last year. Harry and Meghan made no mention of foregoing income from the Duchy of Cornwall in their statement, but after their announcement, a YouGov poll showed that 63 percent of people surveyed were against them receiving that income. The couple also has significant wealth of their own. In Harrys case, the majority of it is inherited, while Meghan earned $50,000 an episode during her role in the United States television series Suits. Therefore, their decision might not appear to be much of a financial sacrifice. So, is it going to resonate with the British public? Or is this simply going to raise more questions about the vast hereditary privilege that the royal family has? Paying their own way Its still unclear how much money Harry and Meghan stand to lose as a result of their announcement. The wider royal family appears not to have known that this proclamation was about to take place, and officials have not clarified whether the couple will be able to continue living rent-free in their Frogmore Cottage residence, despite Harry and Meghan saying that they were planning to live there. British taxpayers contributed 2.4 million pounds ($3.13m) to the cost of renovating the residence before Harry and Meghan moved in last year. The couple will also continue to cost British taxpayers millions in security costs. Harry and Meghan opting out helps move Britain towards the normal model of a small royal family of less importance. Danny Dorling, co-author of Rule Britannia In a 2015 poll, almost half of the Britons surveyed thought that Harry should stop receiving government funding. The results were even more damning for other royals outside the of the core family, with majorities indicating that they want figures such as Prince Charless siblings Anne, Andrew, and Edward to stop getting funding. Professor Danny Dorling, the co-author of Rule Britannia, told Al Jazeera that Harry and Meghans decision was a sign of things to come for the royal family. Harry and Meghan opting out helps move Britain towards the normal model of a small royal family of less importance, said Dorling. And it helps us move closer to questioning the legitimacy of consigning any child to a particular future based purely on to whom they were born. For Graham Smith, the CEO of Republic, a group that campaigns to end the British monarchy, theres no justification for allowing the royal family to continue their privileged lifestyle at the expense of the state. We dont owe them a living, we dont owe them anything, Smith said. Theres no reason why the rest of them should be provided with a multi-million-pound lifestyle on the back of the taxpayer. And if Harry and Meghan show that royals can survive without the Sovereign Grant, then that sentiment might extend to the more senior royals, too. The counterargument is that the royals do pay their own way. Brand Finance, a brand valuation and strategy company, valued the total worth of the UK monarchy at 67.5 billion pounds ($88.2bn) in 2017. Its calculations also stated that the monarchy generated a gross uplift of 1.77 billion pounds ($2.31bn) to the UK economy in the same year, through tourism and trade, among other streams of revenue. The monarchy is Britains national treasure, both symbolically and economically, said David Haigh, Brand Finances CEO. Especially in the age of Brexit, Britain can rely on royal diplomacy to facilitate trade relations with the Commonwealth and the rest of the world. The value of the monarchy to the UK economy will continue to grow and captivate royal fans far and wide, Haigh added. People will continue to follow the brands that are endorsed by the young royals. Entrenched inequality Critics argue that these economic benefits are still relatively minor. The UKs revenue from tourism in 2016 was 22.5 billion pounds ($29.38bn), while exports stood at 543 billion pounds ($708.98bn). The amount the royal family brings in is only a fraction of that. And the wider issue is whether the existence of the royal family solidifies the British class system and whether that, in turn, is an economic hindrance to the UK. According to a UK government commission, inequality in the country is now entrenched from birth to work, and being born privileged still means you usually remain privileged. Critics point to the royal family as a prime example of that and the negative impact it can have on the economy. While Dorling believes that the British royal family has less of an impact on the class system than it did in the past, he points out in one of his books, Inequality and the 1%, that the richest one percent of the population in the UK took 15 percent of national income a rate much higher than it is in countries such as Switzerland and the Netherlands, and more comparable to the rate in Russia, a country famous for its oligarchs. Dorling has calculated that the poorest British couple could double their annual income and the median households could be 10 percent better off if the richest one percent took just five times the average income rather than 15 times. The anti-monarchist Smith is even more damning. The monarchy normalises and helps justify inequality and instances of extreme wealth, Smith said. Getting rid of the monarchy isnt going to solve that, but it would make the solution easier. Ordering the second cheapest bottle on a wine list is a time-honoured way of avoiding looking cheap. But, according to one expert, restaurants cash in on this tactic by inflating their mark-up. Russell Norman, founder of the Polpo restaurant chain, said the house wine was often a better option. Expert Russell Norman said good restaurateurs were adept at playing to natural human psychology. He says that house wine is 'always very carefully sourced' Ordering the second cheapest bottle on a wine list is a time-honoured way of avoiding looking cheap. But, according to one expert, restaurants cash in on this tactic by inflating their mark-up Writing in the Oldie magazine, he said good restaurateurs were adept at playing to natural human psychology. He added: We instinctively dont want to appear cheap, so we often skip the house wine and opt for the second cheapest. The margins on this wine will be particularly good for the restaurant but not so great for you in terms of value. It makes much more sense to go further up the list and choose a wine above 35 ... The margins will be smaller and the wine will be much better in quality and value. Or, stick to the house wine always very carefully sourced by the restaurateur or sommelier. Wine critic Jilly Goolden told the Mail that house wine was usually a good choice but another option would be to experiment with an unfamiliar style or region. She added: With a wine list dominated by French wine, skip through to the Rhone the wines are really delicious and often also very competitively priced. The sleazy antics of a politician and a judiciary in disrepute View(s): Handwringing by Government politicians over leaked tape recordings of phone conversations between prosecutors, judicial officers and a United National Party politician known more for his brawn than his brain, (this worthys cerebral power appears to be even less than commonly perceived), is hypocritical in the extreme. Historic undermining of the judicial institution Even as they badly hide their grins, it is evident that the leaked tape recordings are a political blessing for Pohottuwa politicians as they launch an all-out attack on the judicial institution and independent commissions. It is almost as if these tape recordings, maintained by an undoubtedly asinine politician cum actor (Ranjan Ramanayake), now acting out the role of his life and his even more asinine conversationalists, have destroyed the judiciary in Sri Lanka in one fell stroke. The same impression is given by citizens who tut-tut over the excruciatingly sordid tapes in dismay. But the fact of the matter is that these conversations only expose the ugliness of a long prevalent lived-reality which is neither shocking or surprising. So let us not be coy on this matter. The deterioration of the Sri Lankan judicial institution did not come about because of conversations taped by Ramanayake as much as bare bodied ruffians dancing in front of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayakes house under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidency did not suddenly materialise out of thin air. These ugly occurrences are the outward manifestations of a rot that had set in some time ago. And to be clear, in both instances, judicial officers are as equally to blame as politicians for inviting the public degradation of the judicial institution. The Bandaranayake impeachment was not a case of pitting white against black. Indeed, there were several shades of grey, not the least of which was the fact that the former Chief Justice had been herself embroiled in controversies. The fact that none of the judges or prosecutors who played ball with the Rajapaksas at the time was so stupid enough to get themselves recorded doing so, is besides the point. The point here is very different. It goes to judicial rectitude, pure and simple. These are two words that many do not recognise today. Poisonous thread of profit for gain A few decades ago, a judicial officer would not attend the same function as a politician, let alone entertain phone calls from a politician on any pending matter in court. But these traits soon became quaint eccentricities. Instead, judges courted politicians for promotions, political boasts were made from the apex court, Chief Justices became advisors to politicians after retirement and openly appeared on political stages. At one time, it was astoundingly alleged that a murder suspect was entrusted with the caretaking of the Chief Justices official bungalow. From the Chief Justices name being seldom ventilated in public, excepting at the hand of a judgment or delivering a keynote address, this became the stuff for rude banter and wayside gossip. All this was to take its inevitable toll. Soon, the poisonous thread of profit for political gain ran through the judicial process, corrupting the rich weave of the thousand-year fabric which had once been the cherished normative value of the Sri Lankan Court. What was earlier, the singular evil of one man or one woman became replicated many times over. And for those who proceed on the flawed basis that such sins stemmed from the Rajapaksas and the Rajapaksas alone, it is advisable to remind that this is assuredly not the case. The Presidencies of Jayawardene, Kumaratunga, Rajapaksa inter alia all reflected these failings, each becoming more aggravated than the previous administration. In fact, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) itself became a centre of controversy. In its trenchant report, Justice in Retreat (May 2009), the International Bar Association (IBA) warned following a fact finding mission to Sri Lanka, that current procedures for disciplining and removing judgesare in urgent need of review in order to rebuild both the morale of the judiciary and public confidence in it. The requirement for parliamentary approval for impeachment of senior judiciary by a simple majority makes it vulnerable to politicisation. The Judicial Service Commission does not have adequate safeguards to ensure the transparency and independence of its decision-making process and is not able to guarantee a fair hearing for judges and judicial officers under investigation. Yahapalanaya crucified by its own failures In this deadly guttering of the judicial institution, it is true that individual judges, elevated the Bench to barely tolerable levels at rare points, through their integrity and rectitude in handing down decisions free of political bias. One such example was the 2018 decision of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court reprimanding then President Maithripala Sirisena for unconstitutionally dissolving Parliament. Other examples include brave Magistrates and High Court judges who defied intense public pressure to hand down orders putting murderous politicians and corrupt public officers in jail. But that was not enough. In fact, the refusal to recognise systemic problems in the judicial institution was a major failing of yahapalanaya. Safeguards to stem the institutional rot were not pressed for by the Bar or by civil society actors. Instead laudatory and highly misleading reviews were written by the yahapalanaya establishment about how the independence of the court has become restored once the Rajapaksas were booted out in 2015, notwithstanding the awfully illogical fallacy in predicating the restored integrity of the Court on one or two isolated judgements, regardless of how estimable these may have been. It is now, itself crucified, by that failure as the Pohottuwa roars that judgements convicting murderers, drug dealers etc were fixed or influenced, quoting recorded phone conversations where the minimum semblance of propriety appears to have bene discarded. This is, of course, a prelude to a frontal assault on the judiciary. It is not coincidental that we have a private Members Bill currently gazetted which proposes that judicial officers of the superior courts are appointed at political will. The argument will be devastatingly simple. A Judicial Service Commission appointed by the Constitutional Council has not been successful in bringing about an untainted judicial process. Therefore a strong (presidential) hand is needed. This is an argument that must be resisted with all strength. Regardless of contempt of court, the Sri Lankan judiciary is now deluged by a storm of consternation in some quarters and ridicule in others. Judges themselves have become the primary reason why the judicial institution has been dragged into public dissaray. For the question is not Ramanayake per se or his sleazy antics but as to how serving judicial officers (or, for that matter, prosecutors) could have been so senseless enough as to engage in these conversations in the first place. But even so, to use this as a tactic to further erode the fragile state of the Sri Lankan judiciary in this country must be deplored. That is assuredly not the answer to the Ramanayake saga, however tasteless and incredible the scandal may seem. An investigation is under way after a Co Tyrone man died following a fall from a roof. Michael Hamill, who is understood to have been aged in his 60s, was from the Dungannon area. It is understood that Mr Hamill, who was a joiner by trade, was working on the roof of a building on Sessiagh Scott Road near The Rock on the outskirts of Dungannon when the tragedy happened on Thursday. Local independent councillor Barry Monteith said news of Mr Hamill's death had shocked people in Dungannon. He said: "I have known Mickey Hamill all my life and I was deeply saddened to hear he has passed away in such tragic circumstances. "Mickey was a hard-working man who was dedicated to his wife and family. "He was a very well-known figure in Dungannon and highly-regarded by all of us who knew him. "He was a very friendly man who always had a smile on his face and would never pass you if he met you in the street. "His death has shocked everyone in Dungannon and I, like everyone who knew him, offer my sincere condolences to his wife and family." Denise Mullen, an Aontu councillor for Dungannon, also offered her sympathies to Mr Hamill's family circle. She said: "Michael Hamill's tragic and sudden death has shocked everyone in the town. I know how well-known he and his wife are and how highly regarded he was. I offer my deepest sympathy to his wife and family. "I know the people of the town will do whatever they can to support them in these coming days." Fermanagh-South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew also spoke of the community's grief. She said: "There is shock and sadness in the local community following the death of a popular Dungannon man in a tragic accident in The Rock, Tyrone. "It is understood the man was working on a roof when the accident occurred. "My thoughts go to the family and friends of this man at this sad and tragic time." Police attended the scene on Thursday and informed the Northern Ireland Heath and Safety Executive, which has launched an investigation. Funeral arrangements for Mr Hamill are to be announced later. New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): The Delhi Police on Saturday said to have arrested a 33-year-old Nigerian national for allegedly involved in the supply of cocaine. Police said Constable Ashok Kumar of Narcotics Squad, South Delhi, on Friday received specific information regarding the movement of a Nigerian national involved in the supply of narcotic drugs. Following this, a trap was laid at about 4.50 pm near Chirag Delhi flyover, Slip Road Masjid Moth. The team apprehended one Nigerian national while he was carrying 'cocaine' drug. The accused, originally a resident of Lotey State, Nigeria, has been identified as Locky Ferosin Ovnawa. On further search, the police team recovered the 500 grams of cocaine worth Rs 40,00,000. An FIR has been registered under Section 21 of the NDPS Act at CR Park police station. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 05:47:13|Editor: zyl Video Player Close MOSCOW, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the situation in the Middle East with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper during a phone conversation, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday. "The situation in the Middle East region was discussed," the ministry said in a statement. Tensions soared in the Middle East after a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 3 killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. Iran fired missiles on Wednesday in retaliation, striking military bases which house U.S. troops in Iraq's western province of Anbar. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted afterwards that "we do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression." U.S. President Donald Trump said that no U.S. casualties resulted from Iran's missile attack, adding that the United States would impose additional sanctions against Tehran. A month after swarms of drones began appearing over Colorado and Nebraska, their provenance remains a mystery. How to even start? Authorities have admonished that its illegal to shoot them down, and no ones managed to intercept a tell-tale electronic signal. No ones even managed to take a clear picture of one. But there might be another way. The scope and persistence of the operation implies that some significant entity is behind them someone, most likely, with too much to lose to risk operating without the necessary paperwork from the Federal Aviation Administration. Could the answer to the riddle lie within an FAA database? There are two sets of records youd want to explore because there are two processes under which the FAA permits commercial drone flight. The first is called Part 107. To operate under these guidelines, an operator gets a Remote Pilot Certificate and registers a drone with the FAA. They can then fly pretty much anywhere, so long as they follow certain restrictions: They cant operate at night, or fly over people, or operate from a moving vehicle, for instance. If they want to do any of these things they need to apply for a waiver. The second form of permission is called a Certificate of Authorization, or COA. In the past these have tended to be used by public agencies like the Department of the Interior and the branches of the military. These are fairly cumbersome to obtain, but once in hand allow an operator a good deal of freedom within a defined area. Theyve fallen out of favor in recent years, however, and a search of the FAAs database suggests that the most recent ones expired in 2015. Many agencies are choosing to operate under Part 107, FAA spokesperson Ian Gregor explained via email. So we can forget about these. Back to Part 107. Based on published accounts, the Colorado drones always fly at night, sometimes fly in coordinated swarms, and fly significant distances. To do all of these things, an operator would need waivers 107.29 (flying at night), 107.31 (flying beyond visual range of the operator), and 107.35 (multiple drones flown by one operator). Out of the thousands of waivers issued, only five companies were issued a waiver valid for all three. One of those has since gone out of business. That leaves four. To tighten the search, we can compare the companies drones to the ones described in accounts of the Colorado swarms. According to the Times, the craft have wingspans of up to 6 feet. Only two of the four companies operate drones that have wings; the others, such as the Flirtey Eagle, are copters. The first of the winged drones is flown by a company called Zipline, which builds and operates UAVs to deliver blood-transfusion supplies to medical facilities in remote Rwanda and Ghana. I sent an email to their PR department and within minutes got a reply from their communications director, Justin Hamilton: Is this about Colorado UFOs? I replied that it was, and asked if Zipline was behind them. He wrote: It is not. But I would love to know who it is! Over the phone he told me that Zipline had carried out test flights in the past but is not doing so anymore, since its UAVs are operational and already carrying out their missions in the field. Weve made tens of thousands of deliveries, and we make more every day, he said. That leaves No. 2, an outfit called Wing Aviation, of Mountain View California. Wing began life within the secretive confines of Googles Project X, then later got spun off as a separate entity and now operates under the umbrella of Googles parent company, Alphabet. Last year, as part of an FAA initiative, Wing launched what it called the first commercial air delivery service via drone directly to homes in the United States. In collaboration with FedEx and Walgreens, the companys white-and-yellow winged drones began delivering small packages to homes around Christiansburg, Virginia. Arriving at its destination, each drone hovers as it lowers its cargo on a long string to the ground. Interestingly, the drones spotted over Colorado and Nebraska also hover. As the Lincoln Journal Star reported, Some were flying formations in small groups, others were hovering. One floated above the town for more than an hour. Wings drones reportedly have a wingspan of about three feet. They have 12 small rotors arranged along two longitudinal beams that it uses to hover and two larger propellers for forward flight. In the prototype stage they could make round trips of about nine miles. Unsurprisingly, given its roots in Googles Moonshot Factory, Wing has ambitions beyond mere package delivery. This past June it took part in an FAA pilot program called Unmanned Traffic Management that allows robot planes to communicate with one another to safely navigate shared airspace. As Wing later stated in an article on Medium, the project directed Wing and other participants to execute a series of exercises involving multiple aircraft in low-altitude airspace. Hmmm Allison Sylte, a reporter with 9News.com in Denver, wrote an article that went through a comprehensive list of who might be the culprit. When she called a PR rep at Google, he told her, Its not Wing. When she followed up by phone, he emphasized that it was not Google, Sylte told me via email, adding that he did acknowledge Wing has done some testing up there since its a pretty sparsely populated area. He emphasized though that it wasnt them and they arent in Colorado or Nebraska right now. That only piqued my curiosity. In the past Google has been very tight-lipped, even secretive, in its dealings with the press most memorably in 2013, when mysterious barges appeared at Treasure Island in San Francisco. After CNET found that the barges were linked to Google, the company refused to comment until two weeks later, when it fessed up in a public statement that claimed, Were exploring using the barge as an interactive space where people can learn about new technology. The vessels were scrapped without further comment soon after. Was it possible that Google was being less than forthcoming about the drone swarms? Was it possible that a Google spokesperson might not be fully informed about the doings of a sister company? I cadged contact information from Sylte and fired off an email of my own to Google. The reply came directly from Wing spokesperson Alexa Dennett. This is not Wing we dont fly in Colorado, she wrote. Later, over the phone, she told me that Wing only currently flies in two places in the United States, one in California and the other in Virginia. As for Colorado? Its got nothing to do with us, at all, she said, emphatically. We always engage the community before we fly in an area. That would seem to be the end of the road but theres one more possibility. An idea that has gained a foothold on the internet is that the U.S. military is carrying out the nighttime maneuvers. The Colorado Springs Gazette has pointed out that Air Force Global Strike Command has been conducting counter-drone exercises at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The command oversees Minuteman silos in northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska, the general region where the drone swarms have been reported. Maybe the mysterious craft are involved with defending nuclear missiles? There are a couple of problems with this theory, however. One is that the Air Force would need to have a COA or Part 107 waivers to operate in the area, and it has neither. Another is that the base denies it. When Sylte contacted them, she says, their people vehemently said it is not them. All in all, it would seem that either someone is operating a drone swarm without authorization, or else someone is lying. The FAAs investigation is ongoing. A lifetime making deadlines is how one might describe Siobhan Murphy's time at The Kerryman newspaper. Since 1979 Siobhan has put The Kerryman front and centre of her day to day work and she recently celebrated the milestone with family and work colleagues. Siobhan's earliest memories of the life that would become hers is sitting at the kitchen table as a child helping her father with his sales and advertising work. The late Sean Colgan was The Kerryman's Advertising Manager and he would be proud of the fact his daughter has added her own story to The Kerryman. "Growing up I always assumed everyone was working in The Kerryman," she says. "Several people where I lived in St Brendan's Park worked there and I knew so many of them. At 16 I was probably one of the youngest working there. I think everything I did in those early years was a challenge but it was a steep learning curve and that probably stood to me." Siobhan describes herself as someone who works hard without ever missing an opportunity to learn new things. Her timeline started in the printing room serving as a 'bindery aid'. She flew the flag for women in business long before it became popular and progressed to 'newspaper circulation', dealing with newsagents around the county. In 2009 she became Sales & Marketing Manager - a role she stayed in until February 2019 before being appointed General Manager. "It wasn't until the weeks after becoming General Manager when the cards, text messages and letters of good wishes starting arriving that I realised this is something big. Not just the appointment, but the honour of being the first female manager of the paper since 1904," she says. "Every job I had I recall putting systems in place and organising things. No matter what role I had it was always busy and challenging. In the early years I had to find my own feet as there was no one working ahead of me to learn from or guide me. I always kept my father's words in my head whenever I faced new challenges: 'what are you afraid of?' he would say. This made me break down what I needed to do." To describe Siobhan's 40 years at The Kerryman as 'a job' is to miss half the story. It's personal and she laughs when thinking back to a time when she, her husband PJ, their three children - and even their children's friends! - hand-delivered copies of The Kerryman into letter-boxes throughout the Tralee area to help promote the town's new Tralee edition. "What I've achieved in my 40 years could never have been done without the support of my family. Their patience and support has been a huge help to me." Siobhan has seen a fair share of change in 40 years, including moving the printing press out of Tralee. However, change produces progress in Siobhan's eyes. "Much of the change has been very positive. It took a hell of a lot of work to get a paper out in those days but modern technology has helped enormously. What I love most about the people who work in The Kerryman is how each of them take pride in what they do. In continuing to produce three successful editions every week is something I'm proud of and we remain the leading selling regional newspaper in Ireland." Lastly, how does it feel to reach this milestone? "I feel very honoured. This might be my 40th year working in The Kerryman, but each day is still the start of something different." The Advertising Club India hosted the latest edition of EFFIE Awards India 2020 presented by Colors. Announced at a celebratory event at Taj Lands End, Mumbai, the awards that have become a benchmark of effectiveness and breakthrough brand and media strategies saw the entire media and advertising fraternity be a part of the event. Hindustan Unilever and Star India were adjudged joint winners as EFFIE Client of the Year, while McCann Worldgroup India and Ogilvy Group were jointly named EFFIE India Agency of the Year. The coveted Grand EFFIE was won by the 82.5 Communications for the Bisleri Packaged Drinking Water campaign Samajhdar Jante hai. Speaking about winning at the coveted EFFIEs, Partho Dasgupta, President, The Advertising Club, said, I would first like to congratulate all the winners of the awards. Winning an EFFIE has always been a matter of great pride for every marketer and each of the winners are truly deserving of this recognition. EFFIE India Awards 2020 continues to be the highest honor in innovation and effectiveness and with this award we continue to be committed towards recognising and rewarding thought leadership showcased by brands and advertisers. Elaborating on the awards, Mitrajit Bhattacharya, Chairperson, EFFIEs, said, Like every year, this year to we saw some of the best and game changing work being entered for the awards. The superior quality of work has led to the marquee award categories like Client of the Year and the Agency of the Year for the first time in the history of the EFFIEs being won by not one by two winners each. He further added, We are sure that the continuous evolution of the awards to reflect the changing media landscape by adding new and relevant categories will ensure that the awards continue to stay relevant and highly coveted. Analysis banner Business Insider Trump rally AP Photo/ Jacquelyn Martin President Donald Trump's decision to kill Iran's top general was primarily about optics and looking tough to his base, even at the expense of placing US troops and interests in danger, experts and former officials believe. "He strikes me as someone who makes decisions based entirely on how he thinks something is going to look to his base on a 12-hour news cycle, if not less," Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, told Insider. "This operation wasn't a strategic or even a tactical maneuver; it was in large part a political act disguised as a military operation," Ned Price, a former National Security Council official under the Obama administration, told Insider. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Less than a week into 2020, President Donald Trump's desire to look tough pushed the US and Iran to the brink of war and placed US service members in danger, top experts and former US officials say. Early on January 3 Iraqi time, Trump ordered the drone strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, widely considered the second most important figure in Iran after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Soleimani strike raised fears of a new war in the Middle East and was the most stunning use of a decapitation strike of a senior foreign military leader by the US military since World War II. It sparked the only direct attack on US forces or allies that Iran has openly claimed since the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979. "For Trump, everything is political even this profoundly dangerous escalation," Ned Price, a former National Security Council official under the Obama administration, told Insider. It's an election year and Trump, a former reality TV star who's perpetually conscious of his public image, has already sought to use the deadly strike to raise money for his 2020 reelection campaign via Facebook ads, emails, and text messages. "ANOTHER dead terrorist," the subject line of one such email to supporters said, per ABC News. Story continues "This operation wasn't a strategic or even a tactical maneuver; it was in large part a political act disguised as a military operation," Price said. "That's why it's not at all surprising that the Trump campaign has fundraised off the strike." Echoing this perception, Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, told Insider, "Trump is a unique president insofar as he only does politics, and never policy ... He strikes me as someone who makes decisions based entirely on how he thinks something is going to look to his base on a 12-hour news cycle, if not less. So it's all, always politics, to the exclusion of policy altogether." Less than 24 hours after Soleimani was killed, Trump was touting the drone strike at an "Evangelicals for Trump" rally in Florida. AFP news agency (@AFP) January 4, 2020 "Qassem Soleimani has been killed and his bloody rampage is now forever gone," Trump said to an audience at a Miami megachurch. Former Secretary of State John Kerry has apparently not been impressed with Trump's handling of this, telling CNN on Friday that Trump has been "reckless" and "impulsive." Kerry added that Trump "likes to think it makes him look tough," but said his approach to Iran has actually shut the door to any chance at diplomacy. 'Despite the attack on Soleimani, he likely would prefer to avoid escalation that led to a general war' After a week of tensions and threats following the strike, the US and Iran backed off from entering a wider conflict. "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," Trump said in a speech on Thursday. "The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it." Experts say Trump's asserted desire to avoid war is genuine. "Trump has made clear his interest in reducing the US military footprint in the Middle East. Thus, despite the attack on Soleimani, he likely would prefer to avoid escalation that led to a general war between the United States and Iran," Michael Horowitz, professor of political science and the interim director of Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania, told Insider. Horowitz added, "Similarly, Iran's leaders, while wanting to look tough in responding to the American attack on Soleimani, likely want to avoid a general war that would threaten the future of their regime, given American military power." But, even after this week's deescalation, the parameters that nearly pushed the two countries over the edge are still in place. They may not be at war, but this historic standoff is far from over. And though he moved away from conflict, Trump was still boasting about the Soleimani strike at a 2020 campaign rally on Thursday night. 'This is entirely about domestic politics and how things look on TV to Trump's base' Trump and his advisers have said that the strike was meant to thwart an "imminent" threat, but have offered few details and inconsistent explanations as to what that means. The wishy-washy response has raised many questions about the overall rationale behind pulling the trigger on a senior foreign military leader, particularly given it prompted a retaliatory missile attack from Iran at US and coalition forces. There were no US casualties, but it was an unsettling moment for the region and the wider world. Rep. Justin Amash, a former Republican who became an independent in July, excoriated the administration over its conflicting messages on the strike in a tweet on Friday. "When President Trump lies or embellishes on a topic this sensitive, and administration officials then parrot his claims to avoid drawing his ire, the situation becomes extremely dangerous for our troops and the American people," Amash said. The series of events leading up to the strike can be traced back to a late December rocket attack from an Iran-backed Shia militia, Kataib Hezbollah, that killed an American contractor and injured several US service members in Kirkuk, Iraq. Trump responded by ordering airstrikes against the militia, killing dozens. The airstrikes prompted a violent protest at the US Embassy in Baghdad. The optics of this were seemingly the last straw for Trump, who has made it clear he did not want to see an incident similar to the fatal attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012. The president did not want to look weak by not offering a response, officials told The Washington Post, and was partly motivated by lingering consternation over negative coverage of his decision to not hit back at Iran when it downed a US drone in June. "At the core of this strike was Trump's desire to appear tough, especially as the attack against the US Embassy in Baghdad had elicited comparisons to Benghazi," Price said. Similarly, Ibish said, "This decision had a great deal to do with the images of the US Embassy in Baghdad being besieged by supporters of Kataib Hezbollah, set on fire and so forth ... Trump wanted to be absolutely sure that no one could accuse him of having a 'Benghazi' of his own. So he chose a rather extreme reaction." "This is entirely about domestic politics and how things look on TV to Trump's base and other Americans given the various muscle memory echoes it provokes," Ibish added 'The cost to the US is potentially very high' During his 2016 campaign, Trump bashed the foreign policy decisions of previous administrations, lambasting his predecessors for getting the US bogged down in lengthy, costly conflicts in the Middle East. He promised things would be different with him in the White House and has continued to make such pledges. "Fighting between various groups that has been going on for hundreds of years. USA should never have been in Middle East," Trump said in a series of tweets in October. "The stupid endless wars, for us, are ending!" Roughly three months later, Trump gave the order for a drone strike that took out Iran's most important military leader. The US considered Soleimani to be a terrorist and the group he led, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite and secretive Quds force, to be a terrorist organization. Soleimani, widely described as one of the most charismatic figures in the region, built a network of Shia militias that have caused problems for the US for years. He's linked to the deaths of least 608 US service members in Iraq. There is widespread consensus among Iran watchers that Soleimani was a malign actor who posed a consistent threat. But many have also said that Trump did not think through the consequences of taking out a senior military leader of another country, and that he could've established deterrence or a red line without taking such an extreme action. "Deterrence is restored," Ibish said, but added that the "the cost to the US is potentially very high." FILE PHOTO: Demonstrators hold placards depicting Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, during a protest against killing of Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who died in an air strike at Baghdad airport, outside U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Murad Sezer Reuters Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a powerful Iraqi militia leader and close ally of Iran, was killed alongside Soleimani in the January 3 strike. Ibish said their deaths "will be tactically extremely effective" for the US, but the "strategic value" of their killings "is very much in doubt." "I would be a lot less skeptical if I believed the president and even the administration in general had anything like a clear strategy, or even a well-defined goal, regarding Iran policy," Ibish added. "I have no confidence the president and the administration have a clear sense of what they're going to do next. And that makes me very nervous." Meanwhile, Price also said that Trump's approach to Iran more generally is linked to his desire to undermine former President Barack Obama particularly via dismantling the Iran nuclear deal. "What set off this cycle of escalation was Trump's decision against the advice of his national security team to abandon the Iran deal," Price said. "He did so not because it made us any safer, far from it. He did so because he desperately wanted to be able to trash another legacy achievement of his predecessor notwithstanding the costs to our national security." Read the original article on Business Insider Former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith, who was arrested last year for allegedly assisting North Korea to evade international monetary sanctions, has now been formally indicted by Southern District of New York (SDNY) judge Kevin Castel. The formal indictment, which is the fifteenth criminal case for the SDNY court so far this year, has been brought against Griffith for conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Griffith, 36, who was granted bail at $1 million on December 30, has yet to be released following his arrest last year upon his return from a cryptocurrency conference in North Korea. If Griffith is convicted, he faces a maximum jail term of 20 years. The US Attorneys press office informed independent journalist Inner City Press on January 2: He has not satisfied his bail conditions yet. Still awaiting the approval of his co-signers and the posting of properties as collateral. Aiding North Korea While Griffith claims he was in North Korea to deliver a conference speech, FBI investigators have accused the 36-year-old developer of helping North Korea to learn technical aspects of blockchain technology. The US Attorneys Office for the SDNY gave a statement in December 2019 claiming Griffith had been formally warned on more than one occasion not to travel to the secretive Asian state, which officials described as one of the United States foremost adversaries. Nevertheless, Griffith, who was seemingly obsessed with North Korea, traveled there regardless of the warnings. Prosecutors say that the conference, and Griffiths prepared materials, was solely for the benefit of Kim Jong Uns regime. The US Defense Council is now set to meet with the government to discuss the recovery of Griffiths hard drives, which are stored at his apartment in Singapore. Its believed that the hard drives contain critical information for the case as well as stored cryptocurrency funds. Griffith has been ordered to tell all parties with access to his apartment that the drives must not be tampered with ahead of their recovery. Story continues Other conditions of Griffiths trial include treatment at a mental health center and also testing and treatment for any drug dependencies although the details of this are unclear. You can read more about Griffiths trial, and Vitalik Buterins outspoken defence of his fellow developer, here on Coin Rivet. The post Virgil Griffith formally indicted for aiding North Korea appeared first on Coin Rivet. In this photo taken on January 8, 2020 rescue teams are seen at the scene of a Ukrainian airliner that was shot down by an Iran missile. (AFP) Tehran: Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Saturday acknowledged that it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guard's aerospace division, said his unit accepts full responsibility for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, I wished I were dead.'' The commander said a missile fired at a Ukrainian passenger jet exploded next to the plane before it went down. "It was a short-range missile that exploded next to the plane. That's why the plane was able" to continue flying for a while, Gen. Hajizadeh said. "It exploded when it hit the ground." The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target" and the Iranian military was at its highest level of readiness. In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit,'' the military said. It apologized and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies. Those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted, the statement added. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed his deep sympathy'' to the families of the victims and called on the armed forces to pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a statement saying the crash investigation should continue and the perpetrators'' should be brought to justice. He said Iran should compensate victims' families, and he requested official apologies through diplomatic channels.'' The majority of the plane crash victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians. Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): After attending the unveiling of Dynamic Architectural Illumination of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came back to participate at the demonstration being held by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) and stated that she attended the event "due to Constitutional obligation." "I was invited to several programmes but I went only for one event at the Millennium Park, due to Constitutional obligation. I met the Prime Minister and said to him that we are against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Population Register," Banerjee said while addressing the protesting Jadavpur University students and TMCP members. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Dynamic Architectural Illumination with synchronised light and sound system of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge), as a part of the 150th-anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was also present on the occasion. The Prime Minister is on a two-day visit to West Bengal. (ANI) Health official: 'Regardless of variant, the protective measures are the same' local Sometimes, the stars align, and the two perfect guests with very busy schedules are able to be in the same place and the same time. Larry David visited the Today show on Friday, and as it happened, the politician and presidential hopeful he's been playing for years on Saturday Night Live Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was there too. Hoda Kotb, who interviewed Larry, insisted that it was purely a 'coincidence' that the two were booked on the same day. Magic: Larry David visited the Today Show on Friday, and as it happened, the politician and presidential hopeful he's been playing for years on Saturday Night Live Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was there too On Instagram, the Today Show account posted several fun pictures from the day in the studio, including when co-host and resident weatherman Al Roker had the pleasure of welcoming both David, 72, and Sanders, 78, in front of the camera. 'You could say #LarryDavid and #BernieSanders went a little off script this morning!' one of the captions read. In another snap, the two men who are in fact second or third cousins, as Larry reiterated on the show were seen drawn close to one another in a brotherly embrace. And true to form, David also took some time to joke around, making humorous light of Roker's weatherman duties. They're family: In one Instagram snap, the two men who are in fact second or third cousins, as Larry reiterated on the show were seen drawn close in a brotherly embrace Double vision: The Today Show account posted several fun pictures from the day, including when Al Roker had the pleasure of welcoming both David and Sanders in front of the camera 'I mean come on, you go into all these details!' Larry exclaimed in one snippet posted to the Today Show's Instagram Story. 'All you have to say is, it's cold, it's warm, it's raining, it's snowing. That's it!!' '@alroker had a little help with the weather today, thanks to #LarryDavid!' a caption to a suite of pictures from the moment read. True to form: David also took some time to joke around, making humorous light of Roker's weatherman duties Just so happened: Hoda Kotb, left, interviewed Larry, and insisted that it was purely a 'coincidence' that the two were booked on the same day David, who's been making the publicity rounds in support of season ten of his series Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO, stopped by the Today Show to discuss that, what it's like to portray Sanders and more. He also revealed that both Hoda and co-anchor Savannah Guthrie will be guesting on the new season of Curb, which premieres on HBO on January 19th. Bernie, meanwhile, made a stop on the program in support of his presidential campaign, just before the race heats up in earnest next month with the Iowa caucuses. You can't make it up: New weekend co-anchor Kristen Welker posted a snap of her encounter with the pair to the Today Show's IG Story Fun moment: Larry clearly enjoyed entertaining the Today Show crew There are reports that some of the $1.7 billion that Obama gave to Iran as part of the Iran deal or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has been traced to Iran-backed terror groups, including Qassem Soleimanis Quds Force, Irans principal foreign intelligence and covert action arm and part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. What is not discussed is that the money could not have been funneled to Iran without active support from actors within the Treasury Department. As a former Treasury Special Agent, the suspect actions of some of my ex-colleagues saddens and dismays me. Their actions also hypocritically counter both our anti-money laundering/counter-terrorist finance programs and the international financial systems and safeguards that Treasury worked hard to implement and protect. Since 1979 Iran has conducted virtual acts of war and terror against the United States and our allies. The State Department designated Iran as the worlds worst state sponsor of terrorism. Iran is also one of the most corrupt regimes in the world. So why did some Treasury officials move to obfuscate, if not launder, the money that Obama wanted delivered to the mullahs in Iran? Why did Treasury participate in a quid pro quo or act of bribery? Why would they engage in subsequent deception and cover-up? The short answer is Treasury willfully became blind and politicized. It wasnt just the Department of Justice and John Brennans CIA that were sullied during the Obama administration. In 2018, columnist Mark Theissen discussed some of Treasurys suspicious activities in his article, Obama took Lying to New Heights with the Iran Deal. Obama failed to disclose to Congress secret side deals on inspections when he transmitted the nuclear accord to Capitol Hill. Treasury secretly tried to help Iran use U.S. banks to convert $5.7 billion in Iranian assets, after promising Congress that Iran would not get access to the U.S. financial system. Treasury officials then apparently lied to Congress about what the administration had done. Senate investigators found that the Treasury Department granted a specific license that authorized a conversion of Iranian assets worth billions of U.S. dollars using the U.S. financial system including unlimited future Iranian deposits at Bank Muscat in Oman until the license expired. After issuing the license, Treasury explicitly denied to Congress that it had done so. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) "encouraged two U.S. correspondent banks to convert the funds." Senate investigators found "both banks declined to complete the transaction due to compliance, reputational, and legal risks associated with doing business with Iran." In response to Congressional inquiries, Treasury officials declared "The U.S. Department of Treasury is not working on behalf of Iran to enable Iranian access to U.S. dollars elsewhere in the international financial system, nor are we assisting Iran in gaining access to dollar payment systems outside the U.S. financial system. The Administration has not been and is not planning to grant Iran access to the U.S. financial system." The facts contradict Treasurys statement. Treasury participated in approximately 200 international "roadshows" where it encouraged foreign financial institutions to do business with Iran "as long as the rest of the world left the United States out of it." The Obama administration also signed a secret document lifting sanctions on two Iranian state banks that were previously blacklisted for their involvement in financing Iran's ballistic missile program. This occurred the same day Tehran released four American prisoners. In prior years, Treasury was vehemently opposed to the same banks for their alleged role in financially backing Iran's missile program. President Obama had the right to conduct and implement his foreign policy. Certainly, politically attuned attorneys in Treasury and elsewhere provided rulings and legal cover for the JCPOA. President Trump exercised the same right to rescind the JCPOA, an agreement he called one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. There is conflicting information about the specifics of the $1.7 billion sent to Iran. There has never been a full and transparent accounting showing how Treasury effected payment (e.g., manner of wire transfers, use of foreign banks, foreign currencies, flights of pallets of cash to Iran?). The U.S. military and intelligence community has been able to follow some of the money as it was routed to Iranian-backed terror groups but we lack details. How did they track it? Were the money transfers hidden, disguised or laundered? Were additional parties or conduits involved? Were waivers or exemptions granted to skirt sanctions? Was the U.S. government subsequently able to follow the money trail to corrupt Iranian officials? The money has certainly not been used to better the lives of the Iranian people. There are also charges and counter-charges about Irans right to compensation. Before the 1979 Islamic revolution, Irans government put $400 million for military equipment into the Pentagons Foreign Military Sales (FMS) account. In 1981, Iran filed a claim at The Hague to have that money returned. The Obama administration contended that the $1.7 billion sent to Iran represented the $400 million plus $1.3 billion in interest and that the money legally belonged to Iran. Thats simplistic and doesnt tell the whole story. In 1981, the US filed an $817 million counterclaim alleging that Iran violated its obligations under the FMS program. Some observers feel that it is Iran that owes the U.S., as the list of sponsored attacks, victims, and damages against Americans is long, bloody, and costly. In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed a law stipulating that Irans FMS account could not be refunded until court judgments against Iran for damages from terrorist acts against American citizens were resolved to Americas satisfaction. Obama ignored the law. To date, U.S. courts have ruled Iran owes nearly $55.6 billion to American victims of its terror. There are also still questions about the JCPOA agreements promises to lift sanctions on Irans economy in exchange of Iran scaling back its nuclear program. It is estimated the JCPOA resulted in the release of between $50 - $150 billion in frozen Iranian assets in the international financial system. Commentator Mark Levin looked at the numbers and said, Obama is the biggest funder of terrorism the world has ever seen. Treasury is justifiably proud of innovative tools such as sanctions and designations it developed to fight the War on Terror. It is sad and ironic that the same Department of Treasure facilitated some of Irans terror. The Treasurys Office of Inspector General should conduct an internal review of Obamas Treasury regarding the above. Judicial Watch, a nonprofit group promoting government transparency, could get involved. The best course of action would be for President Trump -- while his impeachment plays out for his alleged abuse of power and obstruction of Congress -- to order the Departments of Treasury, Justice, and State, the National Security Council, and elsewhere to release all documents, including emails, touching upon the Obama administrations deliberations on paying Irans claim, any linkage to the JCPOA, and possible side deals. President Trump should also order a full accounting of the form and method of the $1.7 billion payment to Iran. Americans deserve full transparency and accountability about the Obama Treasury Departments role in providing money to the Iranian terror regime. John A. Cassara is a former U.S. intelligence officer and Treasury special agent, author, and consultant. He has written numerous books and articles on money laundering and terror finance. Additional information is available at www.JohnCassara.com. Queen Elizabeth II will host a showdown meeting with Prince Harry on Monday in an attempt to solve the crisis triggered by his bombshell announcement that he and wife Meghan were stepping back from the royal frontline. Other senior royals including Harry's father Prince Charles and brother Prince William, with whom he has strained relations, will join the monarch at her private Sandringham estate in eastern England, according to British media. Meghan will join the meeting via conference call from Canada as they attempt to work out the "next steps" towards a compromise and nip the growing crisis in the bud. Issues up for debate include how much money the couple will still receive from Charles's estate, their HRH titles and what commercial deals they can strike, according to the Sunday Times. Harry, Meghan and son Archie spent Christmas in Canada, with the American former actress returning there this week. The Queen on Thursday demanded that staff work with the couple to urgently find a "workable solution" that would take into account their demands for more freedom. Several Canadian media reported Meghan had returned to Vancouver island off the country's Pacific coast, where the family spent the year-end holidays and where baby Archie had remained with his nanny. Senior royals were caught off guard by Wednesday's announcement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted to seek a "progressive new role" and divide their time between Britain and North America. The Queen's office issued a terse statement the same evening, saying there were "complicated issues that will take time to work through". Harry and Meghan said they intended to continue to "fully support" the queen and "collaborate" with senior royals. They also want to keep their home on the queen's Windsor Castle estate as their British base, while aiming to become financially independent. But their desire to live as both members of the monarchy and private individuals making a living was described as a "toxic mix" by David McClure, an investigator into royal finances. "The history of senior royals making money -- the two is a toxic mix. It hasn't worked well in the past," he told the Press Association. "How can you be half-in, half-out -- half the week perform public duties and the other half earn your own income with TV, lectures, books? It is fraught with dangers." The younger prince, who has struggled with his role, last year revealed he has been growing apart from his brother, who as second in line to the throne is increasingly pursuing a different path. Harry has been open about his mental health issues and he and Meghan last year admitted to struggling with the spotlight following their wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018 and Archie's birth a year later. The couple have also lashed out at negative news coverage, some of which Harry says was racist -- in light of Meghan's biracial heritage. The Queen has demanded that staff work with Harry and Meghan to urgently find a "workable solution" that would take into account their demands for more freedom KIRKLAND, Wash., Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alliance Memory today announced the company has moved its headquarters and USA warehouse facility from California to Kirkland, Washington, near Seattle. The companys new address and phone/fax numbers are: Alliance Memory Inc. 12815 NE 124th St., Suite D Kirkland, WA 98034, USA Tel: +1 (425) 898-4456 Fax: +1 (425) 896-8628 With this move, we have expanded our warehouse capacity and introduced a more streamlined and efficient logistics center, said David Bagby, Alliance Memory president and CEO. 2019 was actually a great year for Alliance Memory, as we continued to broaden our offering of well-designed and competitively priced products and to grow our organization in ways that will directly benefit our customers. Were bringing that positive outlook to our planning for 2020, during which we plan to introduce some new categories of products while extending the product lines that are already coming to the rescue for so many customers. The company invites any questions about the move to be directed to Sue Macedo, sue@alliancememory.com . About Alliance Memory Inc. Alliance Memory is a worldwide provider of critical and hard-to-find DRAM and SRAM memory ICs for the communications, computing, consumer electronics, embedded, IoT, medical, automotive, and industrial markets. The companys product range includes NOR Flash, DRAM, and SRAM memory ICs with commercial, industrial, and automotive operating temperature ranges and densities from 64Kb to 8Gb. Privately held, Alliance Memory maintains headquarters in Kirkland, Washington, and regional offices in Europe, Asia, Canada, and South America. More information about Alliance Memory is available online at www.alliancememory.com . Agency Contact: Bob Decker Redpines +1 (415) 409-0233 bob.decker@redpinesgroup.com Bengaluru, Jan 11 : A Canara Bank automated teller machine (ATM) served Rs 500 notes when customers wanted to withdraw Rs 100 notes in Karnataka on Wednesday, sparking a public rush to withdraw Rs 1.7 lakh rupees,an official said on Saturday. "The ATM cash handling agency made a goof up. Instead of loading the Rs 100 notes, they filled that tray with Rs 500 notes, leading to Rs 1.7 lakh being withdrawn," Kodagu superintendent of police Suman D. Pennekar told IANS. Pennekar said whenever a customer tried to withdraw Rs 100, the ATM served a Rs 500 note for some time when the ATM malfunctioned in Madikeri town of Kodagu district. Madikeri is 268 km southwest of Bengaluru. "Somebody brought it to the notice of Canara Bank. The bank did not approach the police about the development but tried its own ways to recover the money," said Pennekar. The bank identified the people who withdrew the Rs 500 notes and managed to recover the money but found two persons holding on to Rs 65,000. "A couple of the customers were reluctant to return the money back saying it was the bank's mistake, those two fellows were reported to the police by the ATM cash handling agency," said Pennekar. After some word play and a little convincing by the police, Pennekar said those two persons let go of the Rs 65,000, resulting in the bank recovering all the money. No first information report was reported but only the petition from the ATM cash handling agency, said Pennekar. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu was held at the Renigunta airport as several TDP members were detained here on Saturday after section 144 was imposed at the airport ahead of Naidu's arrival. TDP members who gathered at the airport to welcome Chandrababu Naidu, were detained by the police as a preventive security measure. Earlier, Naidu had called for a rally in Tirupati, near Renigunta, against three capital proposal by the Andhra government. However, Tirupati police officials have stated that no permission was granted for any rally in the city. On Thursday, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Naidu carried out a rally in Krishna district's Machilipatnam to seek people's support for his demand to retain the state capital in Amaravati. Tension has been rising in Andhra's capital region since Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy mooted the idea of three capitals, Vishakhapatnam and Kurnool along with Amaravati for the purpose of 'decentralised development. The protests against the three capital proposal for the Andhra Pradesh has entered the 25th day. Protests are happening all across the state including at Mandadam, Tulluru, Velagapudi village. Police forces have been deployed in these areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Directed by Jay Roach; written by Charles Randolph Bombshell tells the story of the sexual harassment accusations that led to Roger Ailess resignation as CEO of Fox News in 2016. Ailes began his lengthy, filthy career as a media adviser for Richard Nixon in the 1960s and subsequently served as a media consultant for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Charlize Theron and John Lithgow in Bombshell Directed by Jay Roach (Trumbo), Bombshell seeks to offer its audience both sensation and empowerment. It shows the sexist, locker room atmosphere prevalent at Fox, and one remarkable scene powerfully conveys the trauma of sexual harassment. We see the efforts of anchor Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) and other women to speak out against the poisonous atmosphere. The high-profile cast also includes Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, Connie Britton and Allison Janney. Yet the movie minimizes the reactionary, warmongering politics of Fox News (and of its main characters) and fails to examine how these politics enable the disgusting behavior of Ailes and others. Bombshell obscures the class-based politics of its characters and promotes the politics of gender. The films depiction of Kelly as a champion of womens rights rings false. In the films opening, Kelly (Theron) introduces herself and describes the origin and operations of Fox News, as well as the roles of Ailes and Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch. But she fails to explain how Murdoch has used his stable of newspapers and television networks to support right-wing governments in the US and the UK, along with bloody neo-colonial wars in the Middle East and Central Asia. We hear nothing about Ailess role as a consultant to Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie in Bombshell Bombshell treats the ultra-right views and activities of its main characters, and that of Fox News as a whole, as a mere joke. One character defines a Fox News story as whatever scares your grandmother and pisses off your grandfather, but this quip is not explored or substantiated. Furthermore, Bombshell mentions only in passing that Ailes and Murdoch ultimately decide to support Trump. The moral and political implications of this decision, as well as its logical continuity with Ailess and Murdochs orientation, are left unexplored. The films action begins with the first Republican debate during the presidential campaign of 2016. Kelly is quickly presented as a fighter for justice when she asks the loutish Trump whether his demeaning comments about women sound presidential. Kellys question is apt, but probably a better example of responsible journalism than of heroism. Although Trump sidesteps the question, Kelly praises his response in a subsequent scene. Furthermore, Bombshell refers only fleetingly and sparingly to Kellys own repugnant comments, such as her consistent promotion of racist stereotypes on air. She defended, for example, the use of blackface and regularly invited racist ex-policeman Mark Fuhrman to discuss racial issues. Rather than addressing Kellys backwardness, Bombshell offers occasional unfortunate utterances (e.g., Im not a feminist.) and quickly moves on. Margot Robbie in Bombshell Kellys question at the debate prompts Trump to attack her on Twitter for being unfair. When she betrays anxiety about the episode in a conversation with Ailes, he assures her that it was good TV. But Kelly soon is receiving threats and being confronted by Trump supporters. She and her family even catch a photographer taking pictures of their house. To end her persecution, Kelly does a softball interview with Trump and, as her husband puts it, lets him get off with an Oops! Kelly angrily responds to this criticism that she wants to keep her job and continue paying the bills. Bombshell offers a fragmentary portrayal of Ailes. He runs the newsroom like a tyrant, and his employees live in fear of his wrath. He surveils the offices with cameras, and sometimes exhibits paranoia. He asserts, for example, that the Obama administration is plotting to kill him. He makes sexist remarks and harasses his female employees. But in general, Ailes is portrayed as a cranky, yet likable businessman with good sense and shrewd instincts. Kelly expresses her affection and respect for Ailes several times, even though she admits that he made unwanted advances toward her early in her career. The various sides of Ailess personality seem like dots that are left unconnected. Part of the reason for this jumble is the films refusal to examine Ailess politics, the patronage of Murdoch, and the effects of these factors on Ailess behavior. Although morning show hostess Gretchen Carlson filed the lawsuit that led to Ailess downfall, she is a secondary character in Bombshell. In Kidmans portrayal, Carlson is wholesome and prim, yet sometimes steely-eyed. In flashbacks, we see Carlsons male co-hosts making endless on-air comments about her looks and her clothing. To encourage girls to be themselves on International Day of the Girl, Carlson appears on air without makeup. Ailes is irate. Makeup stops the audience from seeing someone sweat, he yells. Nobody wants to see a middle-aged woman sweat her way through menopause! Robbie plays Kayla Pospisil, a character that was invented for the movie. Pospisil is a sheltered young evangelical who lands a low-level job at Fox News. Her ambition to appear on air ultimately gets her a private meeting in Ailess office. When Ailes asks her to explain Fox Newss fair and balanced motto, Pospisil characterizes the networks news coverage as fair and its editorials as providing balance to a supposedly liberal media landscape. The movie never challenges Pospisils description of its reporting as fair. Nor does it give any indication that the network actively misinforms viewers and spreads government propaganda. But what follows this conversation is the most effective scene of the movie. After having Pospisil stand up and spin around, Ailes asks her to hike up her skirt. She is startled, but complies by raising it slightly. Ailes continues goading her until Pospisil has raised her skirt enough to reveal her underwear. Robbies facial expression in this moment viscerally conveys the embarrassment, shame, and belittlement that victims of sexual harassment experience. This powerful scene, however, contrasts starkly with the rest of the movie, which is far more superficial and less believable. Several characters, such as Kelly and Susan Estrich (Ailess lawyer, played by Allison Janney), speak in a mannered way that is distracting and grating. Geraldo Rivera, Sean Hannity, Bill OReilly, and Rudy Giuliani are portrayed briefly in clownish caricatures. Pospisil has an improbable tryst with the lone lesbian liberal employee of Fox News in an episode that strains credulity. Bombshell also undercuts its own goal of presenting Kelly as a heroine. Kelly often shows cowardice or callousness instead of heroism. After Carlsons lawsuit becomes public, Kelly hesitates to defend her or denounce Ailes until she knows that other women are willing to speak out, too. Kelly is unwilling to risk her career, even though she herself is one of Ailess victims. In one scene, Pospisil pointedly asks Kelly why she did not warn her about Ailes. Kelly snaps, Its not my job to protect you. In Kelly, the movie offers a one-dimensional heroine whose only stated principle is self-interest, much like the ruling class for which she speaks. A deeper, less ideological examination of the characters, as well as a fuller depiction of the cesspool of reaction that is Fox News, would have produced a richer, truer and more insightful movie. Flights between Croatia and Greece will see significant growth over the coming summer season with more destinations, greater capacity and three airlines maintaining services between the two countries. It comes after Greeces Aegean Airlines submitted a nonbinding bid for the acquisition of Croatia Airlines. This summer, Aegean will increase capacity on all of its routes to Croatia. The airline will maintain three weekly services between the capital cities of both countries, with the Airbus A319 to be deployed twice per week and the A320 once per week. Last year, the carrier operated four weekly rotations on the route, however, all were run with the 78-seat Bombardier Dash 8 turboprop. Furthermore, Aegean will exclusively utilise the A320 on its five weekly flights to Dubrovnik, instead of the Dash, while services to Split will be maintained four times per week with the A319 instead of five weekly with the turboprop aircraft. In addition, Aegean has expanded its codeshare partnership with Air Serbia to include all of latters destinations to Croatia - Dubrovnik, Pula, Rijeka, Split, Zadar and Zagreb. Next summer, Croatia Airlines will continue to run six weekly services from Zagreb to Athens via Dubrovnik. Flights will operate with a mix of Dash 8s and wet-leased Bombardier CRJ1000 jets from Air Nostrum. Currently, the Croatian carrier has no codeshare agreement in place with its Star Alliance partner Aegean. Low cost airline Volotea will resume three weekly flights between Athens and Dubrovnik this summer. It will be complemented with the introduction of a new two weekly service between Athens and Split starting April 19, as well as a new route from the island of Mykonos to Dubrovnik, commencing May 30. It marks the first time Croatia will be linked with a scheduled air service to any city in Greece other than Athens. These are very attractive additions for a very dynamic market in which we believe there is still good room for growth, Carlos Munoz, the CEO and Founder of Volotea said. A total of 33 288 Greek tourists visited Croatia in 2018. Participants in this years GOAL Mile in Tinahely prepare to head off on New Years Day Tinahely got 2020 off to a running start with its sixth annual GOAL Mile. Around 60 people of all ages took part in the fundraising event, walking or running the one-mile route that started from Murphy's Hotel and raising over 500 for the work of the aid agency. After completing the Tinahely GOAL Mile, attendees enjoyed refreshments in Murphy's Hotel and music from the Tinahely Ceili Band. Organisers of the Tinahely GOAL Mile thanked Murphy's Hotel for their support. A special thanks was also extended to the marshalls on the day, Derek Beatty, George Stacey and Warren Furlong and to local parishes. It is one of the five GOAL Miles that took place in County Wicklow over the festive period. On Christmas Day, walkers laced up their runners to take part for the Blessington and Ashford events. The Askanagap GOAL Mile took place on St Stephen's Day, while St Coen's NS in Rathnew hosted its own GOAL Mile on December 16. Taking part in the GOAL Mile is part of the Christmas tradition for hundreds throughout Wicklow, with the event now in its 38th year. GOAL CEO Siobhan Walsh said: 'A huge thanks to GOAL Mile organisers in Wicklow and around Ireland for their support this year. Millions of euros have been raised to support GOAL's work in the developing world since the first GOAL Mile was staged in 1982.The widespread support of the people of Ireland for the GOAL Mile embodies the true spirit of Christmas. I would like to thank the thousands of people who started their Christmas day taking action to support others.' A traffic police constable in Nagpur was suspended on Friday for sending lewd messages to a married woman colleague, an official said. Constable Nandkishore Tayde was suspended after Indore police inspector sent a report to DCP (Traffic) Chinmay Pandit, he said. "Tayde was sending objectionable messages to the woman constable. Her husband, also a policeman, picked up a fight with Tayde on January 6. Both sustained injuries in the fight. After an inquiry, Tayde was placed under suspension," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The recent revelation of the British-based Guardian that Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) commanders advocated the use of deadly force and live ammunition against indigenous pipeline protesters must be taken as a serious warning by the entire working class. The incident underscores that Canadas ruling elite will stop at nothing to enforce its insatiable drive for profit, including through the imposition of environmentally and socially destructive pipeline projects, and that opposition will be ruthlessly suppressed. The documents uncovered by the Guardian and reported by the newspaper on December 20 reveal that the RCMP was prepared to shoot to kill during a militarized police raid on Indigenous protestors who had blockaded construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern British Columbia. According to the Guardian article, leaked internal notes from a strategy session that referred to a raid that took place on January 7, 2019, reveal that RCMP officials argued for lethal overwatch, a term used for deploying officers or snipers prepared to shoot to kill. Officials at the session also urged officers to use as much violence toward the gate as you want in order to remove the roadblock. Other documents disclose that the RCMP was prepared to use militarized equipment against peaceful unarmed protestors including heavily armed police patrols with carbine rifles (which are capable of firing bullets at a speed of 895 meters per second), a jet boat, helicopter, drone technology, and heat-sensing cameras and to carry out high tech surveillance of leaders of the protest movement, who call themselves land defenders. The disputed pipeline development cuts across Wetsuweten territory, where Indigenous protestors had been peacefully occupying an encampment known as Unistoten Camp for almost a decade. In November 2018, when TransCanada filed for, and was granted, an interim injunction by the provincial Supreme Court for the forceful removal of the occupation, protesters responded by erecting a gate at the Gitimden checkpoint, blocking the companys access. Early in January 2019, armed police raided the camp and arrested 14 demonstrators. One document referred to by the Guardian states that without exception everyone will be arrested in the injunction area, including children and grandparents. Another makes reference to possible child apprehension by social services, and that arrests would be necessary for sterilizing the site. A further document reveals that the RCMP, concerned about optics, had established a media exclusion zone blocking reporters from accessing the area, and were careful to hide their weapons from public view. Two private security firms were also retained to track Indigenous peoples movements. Additionally, the Guardian article discloses details of the close collaboration between the RCMP and the pipeline company prior to the raid. RCMP officers were regularly in attendance at company planning sessions and daily tailgate meetings. An RCMP detachment, euphemistically labelled the Community-Industry Response Group (CIRG), have been routinely harassing and terrorizing the Wetsuweten for the past decade. It has maintained a presence at the Unistoten Camp since the raid last January and will remain there as long as deemed necessary. According to Indigenous protestors, the CIRG has explicitly stated that it will not assist the Wetsuweten if their safety is threatened. Officers told them that even in the event of a serious threat, such as an armed attack by racists against the Unistoten, any action to control road access could result in arrests. The RCMPs brutality towards indigenous protesters in British Columbia is not new. In 1995, at Gustafson Lake, where indigenous warriors were seeking to reclaim an ancestral burial ground, the RCMP, joined by Canadian military Special Armed Forces personnel supplied with armoured personnel carriers, set up land mines (it called them early warning devices) around the protest site and shot at demonstrators. The pipeline at the heart of the latest protest will be owned and operated by Coastal GasLink (CGL), a subsidiary of Alberta-based energy company TC Energy (formerly TransCanada). The nearly 670-kilometre long natural gas line will stretch from the Dawson Creek area located in northeast British Columbia to a processing facility to be built near the coastal city of Kitimat, where the gas will be converted to a liquid form for export to Asian markets. Responding to the Guardian expose, Tlingit activist Anne Spice wrote that The police are here to support the invasion of Indigenous territories...They harass us and profile us under the guise of public safety. Molly Wickham, a spokesperson for the protesters who was arrested at the site last January, said that "The state has always removed our people from our lands to ensure control over the resources...[The] RCMP are acting as mercenaries for industry. Ron Mitchell, known as Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief Hagwilnegh, who also participated in the protests, posed the question, Who are the RCMP working for?" The answer is that, as always, the police and political parties are working on behalf of the most powerful sections of Canadas corporate elite. The $6.6 billion project is part of a massive $40 billion investment by LNG Canada, a consortium of multinational energy giants, including Royal Dutch Shell, Mitsubishi Corp., Petronas., PetroChina Co. and Korean Gas Corp., that would bring Canadas liquid natural gas to foreign markets. In October 2018, the federal Liberal and provincial NDP governments gave their approval for LNG Canada to proceed with construction immediately on what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the single largest private sector investment in Canadian history. Provincially, both the Coastal TransLink pipeline and the LNG export facility in Kitimat have the backing of the minority NDP government, which is propped up by the Green Party. Following the approval of the Kitimat facility, BC Premier John Horgan enthused, It's certainly a great day for northern British Columbia. The Canadian ruling class views the development and expansion of energy pipelines as an essential element in realizing its ambitions for Canada to become an energy superpower. The ruthless treatment meted out to anti-pipeline protesters therefore enjoys the backing of the highest levels of the capitalist state. In 2016, then Liberal Minister of Natural Resources, Jim Carr, made statements making clear that discussions had taken place within the government about deploying the military to suppress public opposition to the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which will carry tar sands bitumen from Alberta to Burnaby, British Columbia, for export. Trans Mountain was given the greenlight by the federal Liberal government after it purchased the pipeline from energy giant Kinder Morgan last May for $4.4 billion. If the RCMP and federal government are willing to sanction brutal force against indigenous protesters, they will be no less willing to use the full force of the capitalist state against workers entering into struggle across the country. Just as the courts were prepared in the Wet'suwet'en case to give legal sanction to a violent police raid, they have proven more than willing to impose no less draconian restrictions and bans on strikes and protests across the country. In the latest case, a court in Saskatchewan ruled that picketing oil refinery workers locked out at the Cooperative Refinery Complex in Regina have no right to block scabs, fuel delivery trucks, and equipment shipments from entering the premises during the strike. In Ontario, the government of Doug Ford, who is in the midst of imposing a vicious austerity drive targeting public services and workers rights, described a protest by a few hundred activists at which a mock guillotine was carried early last year as a credible threat that had been referred to the Ontario Provincial Police. Moreover, on the spurious grounds of fighting terrorism, the federal government has handed vast powers to the national security apparatus. These include the ability to actively disrupt and spy on protesters deemed to be endangering Canadas economic security and territorial integrity, and carry out preventive arrests. The Guardian report comes as governments of all political stripes around the world are stepping up repression against social opposition. When Frances Yellow Vest protests erupted in late 2018, President Emmanuel Macron responded by calling out the army and authorizing them to shoot. Hundreds of protesters were seriously injured, including several who lost their eyes. In Chile, where mass mobilizations broke out last November over mounting social inequality, the government called military personnel onto the streets of Santiago for the first time since the downfall of the fascistic Pinochet dictatorship. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size As fires razed homes and people lost their lives, the federal government responded to repeated calls for firefighting heroes to receive some compensation for volunteering their time and risking their lives. States including NSW, Queensland and South Australia have so far asked to partner with the Commonwealth to help deliver the compensation package in response to the unprecedented bushfire emergency. Victoria, its hands full responding to the crisis, is expected to follow. In return for taking time off work to help save lives and homes across many communities, bushfire volunteers have been offered up to $6000 to help pay for their living expenses in lieu of forfeited wages. How does the scheme work and who is eligible and who's not? Volunteers work through the night to prevent a flare-up from crossing the Kings Highway between Nelligen and Batemans Bay. Credit:Kate Geraghty Advertisement What is the scheme? The federal government and some state governments have said they will provide eligible volunteer firefighters with up to $300 a day capped at a total of $6000 as compensation for time off work to fight bushfires. What does it cover? Reimbursements are for lost wages and income. This means people who volunteer on their days off will not receive any compensation as they have not lost wages and income. People will receive the equivalent of their actual daily net income up to $300. This means if your daily net income is $100, that is the amount you will be reimbursed. The payments are tax-free and not means tested. Who is eligible? People who have been on the front lines of bushfires Participating states so far include NSW, South Australia and Queensland, with Victoria expected to follow People who have been firefighting for more than 10 days; payments start from day 11 People who have lost wages or income as a result of taking time out to fight fires People who are self-employed or employees of businesses with revenue of less than $50 million (in the 2018-19 tax year) Advertisement Why aren't employees of bigger businesses covered? Service NSW says larger businesses have more capacity to support their staff to help their community. Businesses are being encouraged to do what they can to support staff who take time off to volunteer. Fire crews carrying out controlled burning near Corryong on January 7 ahead of the expected return of fires. Credit:Jason Edwards Can previous years now be claimed? No. The 2019-20 season can only be claimed due to its severity. Volunteers cannot claim for income lost fighting fires before July 2019. If you have income protection insurance will you be included? If a volunteer firefighter has been injured while fighting bushfires or even lost their life they or their loved ones can claim on their life insurance/income protection/TPD/trauma cover. Advertisement If the compensation offered under the government scheme is more than they could get from their insurance cover, they can opt to claim it instead. However, they cannot make a claim for lost income if they have already made an insurance claim. Double dipping is not allowed. If a person isnt sure if they have a life insurance policy, or dont know who their policy is with, they can use the template in this link to have it found. Who is not eligible? Employees of bigger businesses that turn over more than $50 million a year Retirees or pensioners who have not lost income People with paid leave available from their employer People volunteering in roles that are not on a firefront including catering, administration, logistics etc People involved in training or non-emergency operations such as hazard reduction burns (this does not include emergency back-burning) What do you have to prove and how? You have to prove you have lost wages or income during the time you were volunteering. You need to keep evidence such as timesheets, pay slips, group certificates and BAS statements to show your loss of income and keep this evidence for five years in case you are audited in the future. Advertisement What if you are part-time, casual, retiree or pensioner? If you were paid for your normal shift and did any volunteering work outside of that shift, you will receive no compensation. If you did not lose any income, you will receive no compensation. Any volunteering you did on a day off or during hours outside your working time will not be compensated. What if you are a drought-stricken farmer? Drought-affected primary producers in NSW will be able to claim a payment of $200 per day without evidence of income loss. Payments are tax-free and are not means-tested. Advertisement At least eight persons were killed in a huge explosion at a chemical factory at Boisar in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Saturday evening, a police official said. Boisar is over 100 km away from Mumbai. The under-construction plant of Ank Pharma, where the explosion took place, is located in a Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area at Kolwade village, the official said. The blast, which took place during the testing of some chemicals around 7.20 pm, was so huge that it was heard within a 15-km radius, and window panes of some houses in the surrounding area shattered, he said. The under-construction plant building collapsed after the explosion. While eight persons were killed, the injured were being extricated from debris, the official said. A fire started after the blast but it was put down, he added. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased, a statement from his office said. The chief minister was monitoring the relief and rescue operation himself, it added. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team had been called for rescue operations, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The (CWC) met here on Saturday to deliberate on issues such as the amended citizenship law, the proposed nationwide implementation of the NRC and violence in university campuses, including JNU. The Congress top brass meeting, chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi, will also deliberate on the state of the economy at the meet at the party's Akbar Road headquarters. Apart from Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, top party leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, A K Antony, K C Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jyotiraditya Scindia were among those present. The CWC, the party's highest decision-making body, is likely to come out with a resolution highlighting its future strategies on these issues, sources said. The leadership will give shape to the Congress's strategy in the wake of widespread student protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Population Register (NPR), sources had said earlier. The Congress has come out against the amended citizenship law and supported students' agitations in various campuses in the country. Iran said yesterday it wanted to download black box recordings itself from a Ukrainian airliner that crashed, killing all 176 people aboard, after Canada and others said the plane was brought down by an Iranian missile, probably by mistake. Iran, which has denied the Boeing 737-800 was downed by a missile, said it could take one or two months to extract information from the voice and flight data recorders. It said it could ask Russia, Canada, France or Ukraine if it needed help. Tehran also said the probe might take one or two years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he could not rule out a missile strike, but this had not been confirmed. Kiev has said its investigators wanted to search the crash site for any debris of a Russian-made missile used by Iran. The incident adds to international pressure on Iran, after months of tension with the United States and tit-for-tat military strikes. Washington killed an Iranian general last week in a drone attack in Iraq, prompting Tehran's missile launches. On social media, many Iranians expressed anger that the plane was allowed to take off and voiced worries as images, which could not be independently verified, circulated on Twitter suggesting the crash site had been cleared by bulldozers. Iran's ambassador to Britain denied that debris had been bulldozed from the crash site. "We prefer to download the black boxes in Iran. Expand Close Claim: Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President, could not rule out a missile strike. Photo: Saul Loeb/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Claim: Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President, could not rule out a missile strike. Photo: Saul Loeb/Getty Images "But if we see that we can't do that because the boxes are damaged, then we will seek help," Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, told a news conference in Tehran. State television earlier showed the battered black boxes, saying their information could be downloaded and analysed. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, citing intelligence from Canada and other sources, has blamed an Iranian missile for bringing down the plane that had 63 Canadians on board, although he said it "may well have been unintentional". "The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile," he said. Ukraine's general prosecutor asked Canada "to provide information available to the Canadian side that may facilitate criminal investigations" into the crash. Russia's deputy foreign minister said Moscow saw no grounds to blame Iran for the crash, Tass news agency reported. France's BEA air accident agency said it would be involved in the investigation. BEA helped analyse data from the flight recorder of a Boeing that crashed in Ethiopia last year. A US official, citing satellite data, said Washington had concluded with a high degree of certainty that anti-aircraft missiles brought down the plane in error. The official said the data showed the plane airborne for two minutes after departing Tehran when heat signatures of two surface-to-air missiles were detected. There was an explosion in the vicinity and heat data showed the plane on fire as it fell. US military satellites detect infrared emissions from heat. US President Donald Trump said he believed "somebody could have made a mistake". A defence expert said the plane's radar signature would have been similar to a US military transport plane. The 'New York Times' said it had obtained a video appearing to show an Iranian missile hitting a plane near Tehran airport. Iran denied the airliner had been hit by a missile, saying such reports were "psychological warfare against Iran". "All those countries whose citizens were aboard the plane can send representatives and we urge Boeing to send its representative to join the process of investigating the black box," government spokesman Ali Rabiei said. US, Canadian and French representatives were to travel to Tehran to attend meetings for the Iranian-led crash investigation, Iranian state media reported. Washington and Ottawa do not have diplomatic relations with Tehran. Iran's civil aviation organization said in an initial report less than 24 hours after the incident that the three-year-old airliner, which had its last scheduled maintenance on Monday, encountered a technical problem after take-off and was heading to a nearby airport before it crashed. (CNN) Drones used by UK police forces are falling out of the sky when it rains, a report by the country's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has found. Last year, 16 "Matrice 200" series drones produced by Chinese manufacturer DJI crashed due to "technical failures," the report, released Thursday, found. It notes that in some instances the drones were being used by UK police forces and emergency services at the time of the crashes. On its website, DJI describes the drones, which weigh 8 pounds and measure just under 28 inches, as "built to endure" strong winds and sub-zero temperatures. "The new dual-battery power system automatically heats batteries when flying in sub-zero temperatures, while an enclosed design ensures weather and water resistance, so you can fly in a wide range of environments," DJI says on its website. However, according to the AAIB, "the DJI Matrice 200 series aircraft crashed whilst operating in rain." "Failures of the Matrice 200 series aircraft resulted in a loss of power and control, with the aircraft typically falling vertically to the ground," the AAIB found. "This poses a risk of injury to people on the ground which is not mitigated by the current UK regulations or published guidance material applicable to operating an unmanned aircraft system," it added. In one incident, a DJI Matrice 210 drone being operated by police in Leicester, England "started to spin rapidly and fell to the ground" after earlier ascending 90 meters (295 feet) in the air during a spell of rain, the report noted. In the report, the AAIB has recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority -- the UK's aviation regulator -- notify users of Matrice 200 series drones of "the possibility of moisture entering the aircraft when operating in rain and that this could result in a sudden loss of control of the aircraft." In a statement issued to CNN, DJI said safety was its priority and it took "events regarding failures" seriously. "The DJI Matrice 200 Series has been independently certified by a third party that it has an IP43 rating," it said. "This certifies that 'water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60 from the vertical shall have no harmful effect'. However, the M200 is not suitable, and should not, be operated in conditions or precipitation greater than those stated by the certification. "All users of M200 series drones should refer to our current maintenance guidelines and safety information here to help manage their aircraft and maximise flight safety." According to its website, DJI supplies drones to several policing divisions in the UK and elsewhere. Drones are used by law enforcement all over the world, and can be used in emergency response and firefighting. This story was first published on CNN.com "Police drones are falling from the sky when it rains, report finds" OTTAWAIrans surprise admission that it shot down a Ukrainian jet is an important first step in providing answers to the families of the 176 people killed in the devastating crash but more action is needed to deliver justice, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. In a Saturday news conference, Trudeau pressed Iran to take full responsibility for shooting down the civilian jet, calling for measures that include an open investigation and compensation to the families. Shooting down a civilian aircraft is horrific. Iran must take full responsibility. Canada will not rest until we get the accountability, justice and closure that the families deserve, he said. The prime minister said he had spoken with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who said on social media that his country deeply regrets this disastrous mistake that caused the crash of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 on Wednesday, minutes after it departed Tehrans airport bound for Kyiv. Among the passengers were 57 Canadians, revised down from earlier reports of 63. In all, 138 passengers were due to take connecting flights to Canada. I told him that Irans admission that its own armed forces unintentionally shot down Flight 752 is an important step towards providing answers for families, but I noted that many more steps must be taken, Trudeau said. A full and complete investigation must be conducted. he said. This is a tragedy that should not have happened. Rouhani committed to collaborating on giving victims closure and to de-escalating tensions in the region, Trudeau said. With confirmation that a missile brought down the jet an assertion that Trudeau made on Thursday the prime minister revealed anger over the senseless loss of life. Im furious that there are Canadian families that have lost their parents, their children, their spouses. Its a huge tragedy for the entire country, not just for the Iranian-Canadian community, he said. The prime minister appeared moved while reflecting on the outpouring of grief and sorrow he saw on his Friday visit with families of the victims in Toronto. They are hurt, angry and grieving. They want answers. They want justice, he said. And, he said, that visit underscored the need for compensation to the family members, saying that is certainly something that is going to need to be part of the mix. I sat down with a number of families who are absolutely devastated with the loss of loved ones. They are facing financial challenges on top of the extraordinary grief they are feeling right now. We need to make sure they get the justice they deserve, Trudeau said. As he spoke, three officials from Global Affairs Canada were headed to Tehran from Turkey after getting the necessary visas. Canada soon hopes to have another nine personnel, including two investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, in Iran once travel documents have been arranged. Irans swift denials that the jet was shot down had fuelled international concerns that the country was rushing to cover up evidence of its own deadly mistake. But Trudeau said Saturdays acknowledgment from Tehran was a hopeful sign that the countrys leadership is prepared to ensure a full and open investigation. We need to make sure its a credible investigation with independent, international investigators involved, he said. Even Irans claim that the missile launch was accidental is an issue we certainly need better answers to, he said. Trudeau deflected a question about consequences for Iran, saying his governments focus now is on supporting the families and getting a full understanding of what caused the disaster. I think there are going to be many conversations and reflections on consequences over the coming days and weeks. Right now were focusing on what the families most need answers and access. The crash came just hours after Iran had launched a missile attack against two Iraqi military bases housing U.S. and coalition forces, its retaliation against the United States for the targeted killing of a prominent Iranian general days earlier. After taking responsibility, Iran claimed that the U.S. was to blame for escalating tensions in the first place. Trudeau would say only that times of conflict are precisely when innocent lives are lost. Obviously in this context, in the Middle East these days, that contributed to this tragedy, he said. Roland Paris, a professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa and former adviser to Trudeau, said he was surprised and encouraged that Iran decided to admit its mistake after initially denying the crash was caused by a missile strike. It may well be that the decision of Canada and other countries to hold off assigning guilt and to keep open the possibility that this was a mistake created space and time for the Iranians to make the right decision, instead of triggering a more defensive response, Paris said. This may help avoid a prolonged period of increased tension, he said, at a time when politics in the region are in flux, with the international mission against the Islamic State group and the NATO training mission in Iraq on hold, and with lingering questions about American strategy under President Donald Trump. But he cautioned against assuming Iran will continue to co-operate and allow Canadian investigators to participate in the crash probe, even if it acknowledged that its military mistakenly shot down the plane. To the extent that Canada and Iran are talking to each other that is a good thing, Paris said, noting that Canada cut formal diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2012. But who knows how far this goes. There are some pretty tricky issues to do with questions of responsibility and chains of command, the question of punishment, compensation and prevention, he said. The admission by Iranian officials ended days of denial. A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations, he said. Also in a social media post, Rouhani said an internal investigation by Irans armed forces concluded that more than one missile was fired at the commercial jet due to human error. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake, he said. That revelation sparked protests by Iranians, who took to the streets Saturday with angry chants seeking the removal and prosecution of officials involved in the missile attack, The Associated Press reported. Just days earlier, Irans top civil aviation official had rejected announcements from Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. that a surface-to-air missile was the cause of the crash. Trudeau on Thursday made the stunning announcement that a missile had downed the jet, an assertion he said was based on multiple sources of evidence. In admitting a missile was to blame, the general staff of Irans Armed Forces said that the countrys military had been on alert for any American retaliatory strikes after their own attack on the Iraqi bases. U.S. planes had been observed in the airspace surrounding Iran, the statement said. In a sensitive and critical situation, the Ukrainian airlines plane flew close to a sensitive military spot belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the statement said. The altitude and the direction of the flights movement were like an enemy target, so the aircraft was targeted unintentionally due to human error which unfortunately caused the martyrdom of a number of Iranian nationals together with a number of foreigners, read the statement, carried by the Islamic Republic News Agency. Still, the flight likely would have been on radar and in contact with Iranian air traffic controllers. The statement promised fundamental reforms to avoid such mistakes and suggested that those guilty of the missile launch would face criminal prosecution. At a news conference Saturday, officials with Ukraine International Airlines questioned why the airport wasnt closed given the heightened alerts and certain risks to commercial flights. They said the pilots had received no warnings about possible risks. They rejected Iranian claims that the flight turned toward a sensitive military site, saying it had followed a routing used by previous flights from the airport. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-12 03:35:12|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Protestors shout slogans during a demonstration in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 11, 2020. Thousands of protesters marched in the center of Athens and Thessaloniki in northern Greece on Saturday, chanting slogans against the U.S. airstrike in Iraq which killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of protesters marched in the centre of Athens and Thessaloniki in northern Greece on Saturday, chanting slogans against the U.S. airstrike in Iraq which killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. "Get your hands off Tehran", screamed banners held by demonstrators outside the U.S. embassy in Athens. The peaceful rallies were organized by leftist groups and the Movement United Against Racism and the Fascist Threat (KEERFA), which condemned the U.S. policy in the region and urged Athens not to get involved in any "imperialist military operations," according to their press releases. Speaking to Xinhua during the Athens demonstration, Petros Constantinou, coordinator for the local KEERFA, said Greeks and migrants and refugees living in Greece are raising their voices against any more blood shedding, joining the anti-war movement across the world. "We say no to Trump's war...The anti-war movement is here demanding peace, condemning the American imperialism," he added. Grigoris Adamopoulos, another protestor, told Xinhua: "This is a region which has already paid a big price with blood shedding, with people as victims for the U.S. strategy, and the competition among big powers seeking to promote their interests in the area." "We are here to condemn this attack and American policy. This policy is a threat also to our nation, our country, which is so close to the Middle East," he added. Christina S. also condemned the "bullying" in international politics and expressed concern over the possible repercussions throughout the region and the world. "We are here to resist the U.S. imperialist policy and their bullying, particularly in the Middle East. No more wars. Societies are progressing and we should learn from our mistakes. What is happening in a neighboring country affects us all. The value of human life is the same, beyond borders," she stressed. By PTI CHENNAI: The total business volume of gems and jewellery industry has posted a 30 per cent decline in terms of demand over the last six months, a top industry official said on Friday. All India Gems and Jewellery Domestic Council Chairman Anantha Padmanabhan said business has come down by 30 per cent volume-wise in last six months and workshops were not engaged while some were shutting down operations. "We have already approached the Prime Minister's Office, Home Minister (Amit Shah) and Finance Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) to reduce imports duty and goods and service tax business has come down by 30 per cent volume-wise in last six months," he told reporters. Padmanabhan claimed that due to the increase in customs duty, goods and services tax there was an increase in gold smuggling besides customers were also opting to purchase gold from countries like Dubai, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore. He suggested that the government during the budget for 2020 may consider reducing the import duty from the current 12.5 per cent to six per cent. Padmanabhan appealed to the government to constitute a 'steering committee' before coming out a notification making hallmarking of gold mandatory across the country from January 15, 2021. The hallmarking of jewellery is to ensure purity of precious metal. Through the steering committee the government may seek industry's views before issuing the notification on hallmarking, he said. To a query, he said various issues led to the fall of gold imports in 2019 to 710 tonnes as compared to 766 tonnes in 2018. To a question if rising tensions between the United States and Iran and its impact on the jewellery industry, he said it may lead to volatility in gold prices in 2020. "Prices are going to be fluctuating till US elections," he said. He was hopeful that the industry would post a 10 per cent increase in business volume in 2020 despite a 30 per cent drop in 2019. Cannabis nutrient formula Harvest Miracle increases cannabinoid & terpenoid content VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2020 / Harvest Miracle Biolabs announced new research that identifies ionic copper as boosting cannabis yields up to 25%, while increasing terpenoid and cannabinoid content. Harvest Miracle Biolabs CEO, Peter Nieforth, revealed the news today at Lift&Co Cannabis Expo 2020, taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia. "Harvest Miracle is a real game changer," notes Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. "By boosting nutrient absorption, it primes the plant for enhanced growth and decreasing overall microbial counts compared to a control group," said the researcher who added, "by fighting off stressors that can drain energy from the plant, it amplifies that growth even further. The overall result is remarkable: a healthy plant with a yield that is up to 25% higher, with enhanced qualities." "You can imagine, we're delighted with the outcome of this research," said Nieforth at his Company's booth inside the Green Planet Grow Zone, booth 730, at Lift&Co Cannabis Expo. Nieforth said, "As the only producer of an ionic copper solution aimed at supporting the cannabis industry, we're extremely well placed." This research confirms Harvest Miracle will become part of the standard operating procedures for cannabis producers. In a veritable sea of exhibitors at Lift&Co, Nieforth explains how Harvest Miracle distinguishes itself, "I tell cultivators, do not change any of your growing practices, just add Harvest Miracle to your grow and once any copper deficiency is met, enzymes are naturally released for the rapid uptake of all other nutrients including iron, calcium and manganese. Harvest Miracle is a catalysis to get the most out of all the nutrients cultivators already feed their plants." "Harvest Miracle embodies years of hard scientific work, research and testing," Nieforth continues. "We've consulted closely with cultivators along the way, and we are confident Harvest Miracle will become an indispensable tool for cultivators and producers of every size." Nieforth explains that the Company's confidence in its product derived from solid scientific testing that has shown a dramatic increase in yields. "Not only do crops using Harvest Miracle deliver greater yields than identical crops grown without Harvest Miracle, but the likelihood that crops will be partially or entirely lost to such threats as mites, mold and powdery mildew are considerably diminished," said Nieforth. In addition, Harvest Miracle also boosts terpenoid and cannabinoid content compared to a control crop, and, unlike other formulas that increase yield, it does so without compromising taste, smell, appearance or overall benefits of the final product. For more information: Peter Nieforth President and CEO Cell: 778-688-8111 email: peter@coterralabs.com www.harvestmiracle.com About Harvest Miracle Harvest Miracle is a patent-pending, all-natural formula that promotes cannabis plant growth through two avenues. As a biostimulant, it radically improves the uptake of nutrients that are key to photosynthesis-the process that plants use to harness light and convert it into the energy needed for growth. And as a natural biocide, it provides a vigorous defense of plants against such stressors as pests, fungi and bacteria. Harvest Miracle is available in concentrated bottles ranging from 1 to 20 litres and today the Company has launched a new, ready to use 946 ml spray bottle. Cultivators now can buy and spray without any additional mixing. Harvest Miracle is available across Canada through Green Planet Wholesale stores, and online for the Canadian market through the Green Planet website at www.mygreenplanet.com. Harvest Miracle Biolabs is an independent scientific research and product manufacturing company based in Vancouver, BC. Dedicated to advancing agricultural science, it is a socially responsible company that believes in improving the health, yield and quality of plant products in a way that is ethical and environmentally sustainable. The naval version of aircraft on Saturday made its first landing on the deck of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, in a major milestone in the development of the aircraft. Military officials involved in the "arrested landing" of the aircraft said the successful test has put India among a select group of nations having the capability to design a jet which can land on an aircraft carrier. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a tweet, said the successful landing of the aircraft on INS Vikramaditya is a "great event" in the history of Indian fighter aircraft development programme. He congratulated the DRDO and the for the successful test. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is involved in development of the naval variant of along with Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and CSIR among others. "After completing extensive trials on the shore based test facility, DRDO, ADA developed LCA Navy did an arrested landing on INS Vikramaditya successfully today at 10:02 AM," said a DRDO spokesperson. A similar test was carried out at a shore-based test facility in Goa in September last year. The naval version of light combat aircraft is in development stage. Officials said the successful "arrested landing" of the prototype of the naval version of Tejas on the deck of INS Vikramaditya is expected to speed up development of the jet for the The Indian Air Force has already inducted a batch of Tejas aircraft. Initially, the IAF had placed an order with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 40 Tejas aircraft. In 2018, the IAF issued the request for proposal (RFP) to HAL for the procurement of another batch of 83 Tejas at a cost of over Rs 50,000 crore. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Atlanta and Charlotte, Greenville County was the heart of textile country in South Carolina for much of the 20th century. Many of the spinning rooms in the area are now gone, replaced by advanced manufacturing ranging from power-generating turbines for General Electric to sport utility vehicles (SUVs) for German carmaker BMW in neighbouring Spartanburg County. The transformation and health of the local economy is a testament to the efforts state and local officials have made in the past quarter-century to attract international investment and diversify South Carolinas manufacturing base. Unemployment is at a record low and per capita income has steadily risen statewide since the global financial crisis a decade ago. Not all is rosy, however. South Carolina, in the southeastern US, has found itself caught in the cross hairs of the trade war that has raged between the country and China for the past 18 months. The dispute has cast a pall over recruitment efforts, with international companies hesitant to make long-term investments, as uncertainty over the trade war outcome lingers, state and local officials said. It also has pressured the trading relationship with South Carolinas largest export market: China. As the two countries prepare to sign a phase one agreement on Wednesday, South Carolina officials are hopeful the truce will give companies more certainty about the future and help prolong what has been a period of unprecedented growth in the state. It takes a long time to establish those relationships, Knox White, the mayor of Greenville, said. The disruption of those relationships and how far-reaching that will be, whether they can be repaired and how long it would take to repair them, those are consequences we will be living with no matter if everything was over with tomorrow, he said. People move on. Story continues More than 400 companies from 34 countries call Greenville, Spartanburg and the eight surrounding counties that make up South Carolinas upstate region home, including Chinese-owned Volvo Cars, BMW, French tyre manufacturer Michelin and Japanese electronics manufacturer Kyocera Mita. With a population of 5.15 million people, making it smaller than Hong Kong, South Carolina has an economy that is one of the most reliant on exports in the US. The state shipped US$34.6 billion of goods overseas in 2018, or the equivalent of 15 per cent of its gross domestic product, according to data from the Office of the US Trade Representative. Only the states of Louisiana, Texas and Kentucky were more dependent on exports that year. An employee works on a S60 on the assembly line at the Chinese-owned Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina. Photo: Handout BMW exports 70 per cent of the cars it produces at its plant in Spartanburg, while Volvo Cars, owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding of China, ships about half of its S60 cars from its plant in Ridgeville. Boeing assembles and delivers its 787 Dreamliner worldwide from Charleston. The South Carolina Ports Authority handled a record 2.39 million twenty-foot equivalent container units and shipped 195,000 vehicles in financial year 2019, which ended in June. That represented an 8.8 per cent increase in container volume. China also has become the largest export destination for South Carolina-made goods, outpacing Germany and Canada since 2013, according to US Census Bureau data. The state was the fourth biggest exporter in the US to China in 2018 and shipped some US$5.8 billion of goods to the mainland in the first 10 months of 2019. Despite the states reliance on international trade, President Donald Trump and his protectionist trade policies remain incredibly popular in South Carolina, where he took nearly 55 per cent of the popular vote in the 2016 general election. Most companies that I talk to, they understand we need to address the issue with China, whether its around intellectual property or whether its around subsidisation of industries like steel, said Ted Pitts, president and chief executive of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. A lot of South Carolina companies are supportive of the administrations effort to try to get a level playing field with our Chinese partners. That does not mean those efforts arent painful for companies that manufacture here in the States, he added. Theyre hopeful that the two countries will come together and can work on an agreement thats fair. Since July 2018, Trump has placed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese-made goods as he tries to force Beijing to change decades of industrial and trade policy. China has responded in kind with its own retaliatory tariffs. On the surface, the trade dispute does not appear to have dramatically hurt South Carolinas economy. Unemployment was at 2.4 per cent in November, its lowest level since state-by-state record-keeping by the US Department of Labor began in 1976. Per capita income rose to US$45,414 at the end of the third quarter of last year, representing a 43 per cent gain since wages last fell a decade ago, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Housing starts rose 2.7 per cent year on year in November and South Carolina was on pace to easily surpass the value of its 2018 exports at the end of October. Joseph Von Nessen, a research economist at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, said growth softened somewhat in 2019, much like the US as a whole, but the states economy has proven to be very resilient to shocks from the trade dispute, so far. However, they have been more apparent in areas like manufacturing exports. The growth rate of export activity dropped off significantly in 2018, primarily as a result of a 40 per cent tariff on US autos that was put in place by China in the summer of 2018 and that was rolled back in early 2019, Von Nessen said. Since then, export activity has slowly been working its way back in terms of the overall rate of growth. It has not yet hit that pre-July 2018 level. So far in the 2020 financial year, the cargo volume growth at the state ports authority has slowed to 5 per cent. The number of empty containers it ships overseas after unloading, primarily back to Asia, has grown exponentially, according to Jim Newsome, its president and CEO. The volume it moved out of Charleston and its inland ports rose 32 per cent in financial year 2019 as the trade war intensified. There are very few foreign direct investment projects right now. So, and you say, well, why?, Newsome said. I just think uncertainty is kind of the enemy of a big investment basically. If you look back in five years and you say what is the impact of this trade war, I would say the answer to that for me will be what happened to foreign direct investment in manufacturing. Companies are taking longer to decide whether to expand production or make future investments against the backdrop of the trade war, officials said. The main difference is that companies decision-making process is lengthened they are looking but waiting to make a final decision, Alex Clark, a spokeswoman for the South Carolina Department of Commerce, said. Frank T. Davis III, a lawyer at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd in Greenville, said it is not just Chinese companies that are rethinking whether to locate in the US, but European companies as well. The trade issues make it very difficult to plan for investment in long-term capital expenditures because you had what was already in a global, very competitive economy; you had some fairly nuanced economic decisions that are now being clouded by the trade uncertainty, said Davis. If you had a clearer idea of underlying policies, it would be easier to plan for that. This one is just particularly hard because it sort of depends sometimes on what side of the bed somebody has gotten up on. In light of the trade dispute, some companies have shifted part of their production out of South Carolina, while others have sought new suppliers or borne the higher costs of raw materials and components. Volvo, which opened a US$1.1 billion plant in Ridgeville in 2018, was forced to shift its S60 exports slated for China to Europe, the Middle East and Africa when tariffs went into place, a spokesman said. It now produces S60s for the Chinese market in Daqing. Aside from China, the trade tensions have not impacted exports to other countries, the spokesman added. Volvo plans to produce its XC90 in South Carolina beginning in 2022 and double its 1,500-person workforce when the new model production comes online. BMWs manufacturing plant in South Carolina where it produces the X3 and X6 SUVs among other models. Photo: Handout BMW produces five models and their variants in Spartanburg, its largest global manufacturing facility employing more than 11,000 people. It continues to make the X3 SUVs there, even though BMW has started rolling out the same model in China 18 months ago for the mainland market, spokesman Phil Dilanni said. As such, no production was moved from the South Carolina plant and China remains its biggest export market, he added. BMW has always made clear that we believe in free trade, Dilanni said. It is free trade that had made the billions of dollars that weve already invested in US manufacturing and jobs possible. John Ling, who formerly headed South Carolinas economic development office in Shanghai and now works as a consultant in the US, said the trade dispute has been unchartered territory for many companies. He has received inquiries from both Chinese and US firms trying to navigate the uncertainty. This past year has probably been my busiest, said Ling, a native of Chongqing who now lives in Greenville. If you are a Chinese company owner, unless you are willing to give up this market, they are being forced to find a way to address this uncertainty. That doesnt necessarily mean they will come to this country to build a facility, but its forcing some of the companies and exporters to find alternatives. More from South China Morning Post: This article Trade War: Export-dependent South Carolina finds itself caught between its No 1 sales market and White House policies first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. New Orleans Police Officer Bryan Jones was working at the Walmart on Press Drive when someone shot London McKnight Monday night. The next morning, police officers captured a couple of young men who had been burglarizing several cars along Louis XIV Street. With quick actions and calls, police likely stopped bad situations from getting worse, and Im thankful. Thats my Walmart, right on Press Drive, at Chef Menteur Highway. Lakeview is a nearby neighborhood I frequent. We might find things happening there curious, interesting or even troubling. But its totally different when the places in the news are close to home. Theyre always close to someones home. About 6:30 p.m. Monday, the Walmart shooter killed McKnight, 28, an assistant manager, in the aisle near the check-out registers at the front of the store. In 11 seconds, Jones left his assigned post, rushed to the scene and disarmed the shooter. On Tuesday morning, Lakeview residents called police when they saw something that didnt look right. A police officer arrived on the scene quickly, just in time to witness a young man breaking into a car, one of several cars. Thank goodness. The Walmart is the place where I go in with a list to get a handful of items and I come out with more. Its the place where I park in Aisle 2 or Aisle 3, just beyond the handicapped parking spots, when a spot is available. Its the store where friendly staffers greet me at the door and store workers say "Hi," "Hello" and How are you doing? as I walk aisle to aisle. McKnight, from Kenner, went to Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School. He didnt make it. A woman, 25, was shot in the foot. Fortunately, she was treated and released. Jones arrested Kentrell Banks, or Kentrell Baham, another name police said he uses. He is charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder. New Orleans Police Chief Shaun Ferguson said police didnt know why Banks might have shot McKnight. What Ferguson knows is that its officers like Jones that help make the city safer. Thanks to his quick reaction ... he was able to save others, Ferguson said in an interview. Our chief police officer believes the New Orleans Police Department has the best police academy training in the nation. In part, its that training, and day-to-day police experience, that makes his officers valuable for businesses to hire as professional security detail officers. Had it been a private security guard rather than Jones positioned inside the store, it likely would've taken longer for disarming, stopping the crime and getting other police involved. But because Jones is a part of the police force, he knew what to do and communicated effectively. The Lakeview situation is an ongoing investigation, just like the Walmart matter. Two suspects were apprehended and charged, thanks to quick-thinking citizens who saw some teenagers pulling on car-door handles. They heeded Fergusons regular advice and request: If you see something, say something. As a result, police quickly apprehended a couple of teens, both 17, both with a history of criminal activity. If it hadnt been for citizens bringing the suspicious activity to the attention of police, that situation mightve involved more than the cars being checked out, and it couldve included injuries. Usually it wouldve taken some more follow up investigation, said Ferguson. The chief said the best policing is community partnership policing. That includes community engagement and citizens taking a defensive approach. Be attentive. Lock vehicles. Dont leave property in plain view. And definitely dont have guns visible, he added. Light up areas where you live, and use camera systems to help as deterrents." Ferguson described the Walmart and Lakeview arrests as wins, for the neighborhoods, the New Orleans Police Department and the City of New Orleans. Thank you, Officer Jones. Thank you, Lakeview citizens for calling. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 13:01:49|Editor: ZD Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- "Assassin in Red," a Chinese fantasy thriller film adapted from a novel of the same name, is set for release in China on Feb. 12, 2021, the Spring Festival, according to the film's official Weibo account. The storyline revolves around a father who is desperate to find his missing daughter and agrees to help a mysterious woman assassinate a novelist. Directed by Lu Yang, the film has a cast led by actor Lei Jiayin and popular actress Yang Mi. A trailer has been released for "Assassin in Red." CORVALLIS, Ore. -- A young girl was who was hit and critically injured by a car in Corvallis on Jan. 8 has died, police said. Rhiana Daniel, 11, was using a crosswalk in the 1000 block of SW 3rd Street at about 6:45 p.m. when she was hit by a car heading south. RELATED: 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL HIT BY CAR IN CORVALLIS Daniel, who was a student at Linus Pauling Middle School, died late Thursday due to her injuries. Police said the 45-year-old driver, who is from Corvallis, is cooperating with the investigation. If you have any information, contact detectives at 541-766-6924. Neighbors said the intersection is known to be dangerous. Dan Rockwell lives nearby and said that the blinkers pedestrians can activate when crossing the road are operational on either side of the street. The blinkers that were in the median of the road have been out of order for months. Rockwell took part in his own sort of protest Friday evening by crossing the crosswalk repeatedly while holding a sign bringing attention to what he said is danger on the road. "I can't believe a family is in that pain right now. And I couldn't do anything, so I decided I'd come out and try to be courteous with walking across the road over and over again. But not courteous enough that I wouldn't delay some people getting home this Friday," he said. Thursday the Corvallis School District crisis team was at the middle school to provide support to students and staff. They set up a care room in the school library conference rooms for students and staff. Officials say the crisis team may return next week if the need arises. Amy Ridling's two students were in the same school as Daniel. She said the news has been difficult for her children to understand. "My son told me yesterday they told his class. He's in fourth grade. And they talked with his class about this whole thing and he told me he's glad he doesn't live in the city because he doesn't want to get hit by a car," she said. Students at Linus Pauling Middle School were told about the accident Thursday morning by their first-period teachers. Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on Jan. 9.BOISE The fight over Teton High Schools Redskins mascot could spill over to the Statehouse if one Eastern Idaho lawmaker has his way. Rep. Chad Christensen is floating the idea of a bill that would require school boards to get voter approval to change a mascot. Jennette Boner of the Teton Valley News reported on the idea Wednesday. There is an agenda to destroy local heritage, so longtime residents no longer have an identity and so generational traditions become extinct, Christensen, R-Ammon, wrote on his Facebook page. I would like this authority to remain local, but require a vote amongst the citizens. Its not clear whether Christensen will actually present a bill. The idea appears on his Facebook post under the heading of possible legislation I may bring. In July, Teton trustees voted 4-1 to drop the Redskins mascot, which had been in place for 90 years. Christensens legislative district includes Teton County, and he has argued against changing the mascot. In August, Boise School District trustees voted unanimously to change Boise High Schools mascot from Braves to Brave. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 3 Flag carrier Air India on Saturday cancelled four of its flights to Dubai following the waterlogging at Dubai airport in the wake of heavy rains. Besides, the airline's Calicult-Dubai flight was diverted to Al-Makhtoum airport as it could not land in Dubai, an Air India spokesperson said. "Due to heavy rains in Dubai and water logging at Dubai airport Air India has cancelled four of its flights to the city on Saturday," the spokesperson said in a statement. The four flights which stand cancelled are AI 995/996- Delhi-Dubai-Delhi, AI 983/984- BOM-Dubai-BOM, AI 951/952 - Hyderabad-BOM-Hyderabad and AI 905/906- Chennai-Dubai-Chennai, he said. The spokesperson also said that its flight AI 905 Chennai-Dubai took nearly five hours to reach the parking bay after landing at Dubai airport due to the waterlogging. Also, flight AI 937 (Calicut-Dubai) diverted to Al-Makhtoum International Airport as it could not at Dubai due to heavy waterlogging and is grounded there. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) International crime fighting agency Interpol has taken action to stem a plague of cryptocurrency mining malware afflicting computer routers across Asia. According to a Wednesday blog post from TrendMicro, which assisted the operation, Interpols Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore led a five-month effort to tackle the epidemic of the Coinhive cryptojacker that was installed by cybercriminals exploiting a vulnerability in MicroTik routers. Dubbed Operation Goldfish Alpha, the action saw Interpol work with experts from national Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and police across 10 nations across Asia to identify infected routers and help victims remove the malware. Related: Cryptojacking Malware Devs Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison A release from Interpol identifies the countries as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. TrendMicro said it had prepared a guidance document that was used to guide victims in patching the vulnerability and uninstalling the miner. At least 20,000 infected routers were found, a number that was reduced by at least 78 percent by the collaborative action when it ceased in November. Efforts are still continuing to remove the malware. Private entity Cyber Defense Institute also assisted the operation, said Interpol. When faced with emerging cybercrimes like cryptojacking, the importance of strong partnerships between police and the cybersecurity industry cannot be overstated, said Interpol director of cybercrime Craig Jones. By combining the expertise and data on cyberthreats held by the private sector with the investigative capabilities of law enforcement, we can best protect our communities from all forms of cybercrime. Related Stories Suzi Taylor tied her 'honeypot' victim to the bed and beat him until he handed over his bank details after he refused to pay her for sex, police allege. The off-the-rails reality TV star is accused of luring a 33-year-old Tinder date to her flash Brisbane apartment and extorting money from him. Court documents allege the midnight liaison on October 29 went very wrong minutes after the unsuspecting man walked in the door. The Block star Suzi Taylor (pictured) has been accused of 'honey trapping' a Tinder date after she allegedly held him against his will Taylor, 49, had invited him for a drink via a message on another dating app, Plenty of Fish, and soon said they should 'take this into the bedroom'. As they lay on her bed kissing, the former star of The Block, who the man knew as 'Katie', whipped off her top to expose her breasts - then allegedly made her demand. 'If you want to go any further you need to cough up some money... This is what I do for a living and my time is my money,' she allegedly said, the Courier Mail reported. The man said in his statement filed with the court he was blindsided by this demand because he thought the encounter was a hookup not him hiring a prostitute. 'I believe by this comment Katie was implying that I needed to pay her for sex. This comment completely shocked me, and I have then said "I am not paying for anything",' he told police. Queensland Police alleged the former reality star (pictured) and nude model then allegedly demanded money from the man but he refused to give anything to her Police in other court documents allege Taylor, who was in 2003 fined $600 for prostitution, is earning money 'by illegal means'. The mother-of-three in her statement said she didn't believe she was a drug addict, and didn't know what police meant in their allegation. The Tinder date said after he refused to pay $500 he 'owed' her, she yelled that he was a pr**k, an a**ehole, and a thief, the man's statement alleged. He told police she then called out to her flatmate and co-accused Ali Ebrahimi, 22, 'this guy has no money', who then came in the room. Ebrahimi allegedly tied him to the bed with a phone charger before he and Taylor beat him while demanding the PIN to his phone to transfer themselves money. Taylor allegedly told Ebrahimi: 'No, he isn't going anywhere, he has been here hours now. I have bills to pay, I have Rebels and bikies coming to my house chasing me for money, so I am not letting him go until I get my money.' Taylor starred alongside best friend Yvonne 'Voni' Cosier (pictured together) in the 2015 season of Channel Nine's The Block Prior to starring on The Block, Suzi posed nude for Penthouse magazine in the early 90s and once dated INXS star Michael Hutchence The former Penthouse Pet and nude model in her statement denies having any affiliations with bikie gangs or owing them money. The man alleged that after being beaten for some time, he gave up his PIN and Ebrahimi walked to an ATM at the New Farm IGA supermarket and stole $950. 'You better make sure this number is correct. If I come back here and it's not the right number you're dead,' Ebrahimi allegedly said before he left the flat. Court documents state the alleged victim picked Taylor and Ebrahimi out of a photo board and posed for photographs of his bruises. Taylor is charged with deprivation of liberty, unlawful detention, assault occasioning bodily harm in company, extortion, and drug possession. Her lawyers told the court she denies the charges and intends to dispute the man's version of events at trial. She previously claimed in court that she wasn't even on either of the dating apps she allegedly met and contacted the man on. Taylor was released on bail on December 16 under strict conditions, including not going to New Farm where the flat is located, or talking to Ebrahimi. She also has to report to police three days a week, not possess drugs or drink to excess, live at her cousin's Gold Coast home, and has an 8pm curfew. Taylor was also pictured partying with troubled ex-NRL star Greg Inglis (pictured together) during a three-day bender in May However, she was thrown back in jail on Friday after breaching her bail after an argument at her cousin's house over a pair of jeans. Southport Magistrates Court on Saturday heard she left the house on Christmas Day saying she was visiting her children, and stayed in a halfway house. Her cousin told police Taylor wasn't at the house at all from New Year's Eve until January 8 and she no longer wanted her living there. Taylor's lawyer told the court the cousin had 'ratted' on her to police because she was jealous about who looked better in a pair of jeans. Magistrate Pamela Dowse fined Taylor $300 after she pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching bail, but did not record a conviction. Taylor told waiting media she 'lost a little bit of weight in prison so I needed a new pair of jeans' as she walked free on Saturday morning. She next faces Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 3. Reynhard Sinaga was convicted this week of dozens of rapes (handout/PA) The mother of Britains most prolific rapist has said she still sees him as my baby and she did not know her son was gay. Reynhard Sinaga was financed throughout his UK studies since 2007 by his wealthy Indonesian family and his mother desperately wanted him to return to help run their palm oil plantation and refinery. But the 36-year-old student refused, and he instead pursued his perverted desires and sexually violated 48 men at his flat in Manchester city centre. Police believe he may have abused at least 195 males in total. Expand Close Sinaga lured men back to his flat, where he drugged and raped them (CPS/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinaga lured men back to his flat, where he drugged and raped them (CPS/PA) Speaking to The Sunday Times newspaper, his mother Normawati described how she flew over to visit her son in hospital following his arrest in 2017 after his final victim regained consciousness during his ordeal and beat up Sinaga. She said: Imagine a small Indonesian man being beaten up by a big, tall westerner. I wondered if the other person had made up the story. Mrs Sinaga said her son was a quiet boy who went to church in Indonesia every Sunday morning where she encouraged him to play the piano. She said she begged him to return to his home country but he told her he wanted to follow his ambition of becoming a lecturer. She said: He said Indonesia was not a good place to live for him and he felt comfortable living in Manchester. Expand Close The serial rapist was caught on CCTV has he went in hunt of his victims (CPS/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The serial rapist was caught on CCTV has he went in hunt of his victims (CPS/PA) The newspaper reported Mrs Sinaga struggles to believe her son was capable of his crimes, and she did not even know he was gay. She said: We are a good Christian family who do not believe in homosexuality. He is my baby. Sinaga went out in the early hours of the morning, hunting for lone, drunk young men around nightclubs near his flat. He posed as a Good Samaritan who offered them a floor to sleep on or promised them more drink. His victims who were mainly heterosexual had little or no memory of the hours that followed as Sinaga repeatedly raped many of them. It is thought he laced alcoholic drinks with a drug such as GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy. Sinaga was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years after he was found guilty of a total of 159 offences committed between January 2015 and May 2017 136 counts of rape, 13 counts of sexual assault, eight counts of attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration. WASHINGTON - Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has been called "the Trumpiest Congressman in Trump's Washington," a judgment from GQ magazine that he features proudly and prominently on his campaign homepage, along with quotes depicting him as "Trump's Best Buddy," "Trump's Ultimate Defender" and "Rising star of the Trumpian right." Gaetz wants so much to impress President Donald Trump that he sometimes wakes up around 5 a.m. so he can be on "Fox & Friends" as early as possible. That's when "the president is watching," he told The Washington Post's Dan Zak. He strives to please Trump in every way, every day. Every day except Thursday, that is. Gaetz was one of three Republicans who voted for a House resolution to prevent Trump from taking additional military action against Iran unless Congress declares war or in the event of "an imminent armed attack upon the United States." The president and the Republican leadership vigorously opposed it. He spent the rest of the day explaining himself, assuring the MAGA faithful that his vote wasn't aimed at Trump. It was instead a matter of principle. The need for Congress to approve or disapprove of war, he said, is "something I deeply believe." And that left House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs shaking their heads in disbelief. The "surprise there was Congressman Matt Gaetz," Dobbs said. "Stunning . . . I was just shocked." Not just "shocked," agreed McCarthy, but "very shocked." It was another telling snapshot of Washington in 2020. An otherwise hyper-loyal and sometimes boisterous defender of Trump, particularly during the impeachment proceedings in the House Judiciary Committee last month, casts a vote with the other side on a nonbinding, purely symbolic resolution, citing his principles - and the leadership is shocked. "I've got to ask him" why he did it, McCarthy told Dobbs. Gaetz had answered that question repeatedly Thursday on the House floor and on Fox News. "This resolution offers no criticism of the president, no critique," he said on the floor. "It doesn't criticize the president's attack on [Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem] Soleimani. I take a back seat to no member of this body when it comes to defending the president," he said. Yet, "it also articulates our non-delegable duty as members of Congress to speak to matters of war and peace. I represent more troops than any other member of this body," he said. "I buried one of them early today at Arlington, and that sergeant died a patriot and a hero. "If the members of our armed services have the courage to go and fight and die in these wars," he continued, "as Congress, we ought to have the courage to vote for them or against them." Gaetz, a lawyer whose district in the Florida Panhandle includes thousands of military and ex-military constituents in and around major military bases, is serving his second term in the House. For those who might not immediately identify Gaetz, he was the member who criticized Hunter Biden for his problems with drug addiction during the impeachment proceedings. "I don't want to make light of anybody's substance abuse issues," Gaetz said, "but it's a little hard to believe that Burisma hired Hunter Biden to resolve their international disputes when he could not resolve his own dispute with Hertz rental car leaving cocaine and a crack pipe in the car." For this he was called out by Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., who reminded Gaetz of his 2008 arrest for driving under the influence. "I would say that the pot calling the kettle black is not something we should do," said Johnson. Gaetz does fawn over Trump, and he escalated the fawning Thursday. "I spoke to the president today," he told Tucker Carlson on Fox News. "He's more antiwar than I am, and I love the president for that." He was sure, Gaetz said, that it wasn't Trump but "a few of the advisers of the president" who "are trying to slow-walk the president into a war." In fact, Gaetz's position on war powers should have come as no shock. In July, he joined Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and other Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in sponsoring an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to bar expenditures on military action against Iran without congressional authorization. The amendment did not survive. Thursday's House resolution, which does not require a presidential signature, has no legal force. While taking care to condemn Iran as a "leading state sponsor of terrorism," and to blast Soleimani, who was killed Jan. 3 in a Trump-ordered drone strike, it was meant by Democrats, if not by Gaetz, not only as a rebuke of Trump. It was also a symbolic effort to reclaim Congress's constitutional war-related authority. The three Republican "aye" votes, cast by Gaetz and Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Francis Rooney of Florida made no practical difference. The Democratic-controlled House passed the resolution by a 224-to-194 margin. But they allow Democrats to tout the resolution as "bipartisan." That, in turn, may help parry Republican smears, that supporters of the resolution are somehow "in love with terrorists" or are Soleimani sympathizers or are "emboldening the enemy," as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said this week in response to Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rand Paul, R-Ky. They have said they will vote for a Democratic-sponsored Senate measure to constrain Trump's authority to launch future military actions without authorization. Debates over congressional versus presidential war powers have historically produced splits in both parties, as well as between parties, with fault-lines reflecting partisan, institutional and constitutional interests. Most modern presidents have jealously guarded their "commander in chief" roles, resisting most efforts by Congress to involve itself as unconstitutional, despite the fact that the Constitution gives the legislative branch numerous war-related powers. President Barack Obama faced criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike for not seeking congressional authorization before deploying U.S. air power in Libya in 2011. The fault lines were visible on Fox News's website as well as on-air. During an interview with Tucker Carlson on Thursday, Gaetz said it thought it "ludicrous to suggest that we are impairing the troops from doing their job by not doing our job articulated in the Constitution to speak to these matters of war and peace." "I think the Constitution requires that," said Carlson. "I think it's pretty obvious that it does." Judge Andrew Napolitano, in his own opinion piece, agreed. Dobbs, meanwhile, along with National Review contributing editor Andrew McCarthy, flayed those who question presidential authority to wage war. As the night wore on, Gaetz's fate preoccupied a segment of Twitter. But he also had his fans. "You're doing the right thing here," one person said in a tweet. "And it's pretty clear . . . that a large share of your followers have never read the Constitution." Entering the food and beverage sector in 2012 and opening a series of cafes, Phuc Long once caught the special attention when stating that it would compete with Starbucks, which set foot in Vietnam in 2013. And it once again drew the publics attention in mid-2019 when it gave back the retail premises at the Phu Dong roundabout to the landlord and shut down another shop in HCM City. Not only Phuc Long, but many other coffee brands have had to scale down their business. Gloria Jeans Coffee, New York Dessert Coffee and Coffee Bar left the market. South Korean Bene, which made a noisy debut in Vietnam, had to leave also. Other coffee chains such as Highlands Coffee, The Coffee House, Starbucks, Trung Nguyen and Cong Ca Phe still exist. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has closed some shops, but still has several that are open. Entering the food and beverage sector in 2012 and opening a series of cafes, Phuc Long once caught the special attention when stating that it would compete with Starbucks, which set foot in Vietnam in 2013. Highlands Coffee has just opened its 300th shop. Starbucks has 49 shops after six years of presence in Vietnam. The Coffee House, with 145 shops, is marching towards the central and northern regions. Meanwhile, Trung Nguyen had 66 Trung Nguyen Legend shops and 36 E-Coffee shops by June 2019. According to Virac, a market analysis firm, the revenue of Highlands Coffee increased by 31 percent in 2018 and the chain is No 1 in the market with the revenue of VND1.6 trillion. The second position in 2018 belonged to The Coffee House with revenue of VND669 billion. Starbucks fell to the third position with revenue of VND600 billion. Meanwhile, Phuc Long, despite the great efforts to compete with Starbucks, was inthe fourth position with VND473 billion. Trung Nguyen, after a lot of changes in business strategy, had turnover of VND350 billion. The competition in the market is getting fierce. To stand firmly in the No 1 position, Highlands Coffee accepted to take a loss for a long time and only began making a profit in 2017 with VND132 billion. The profit reduced slightly in 2018 with VND129 billion. One of the biggest problems coffee chains face is the high rent. According to Savills, the retail premises rent on Nguyen Hue, Ngo Duc Ke and Phan Xich Long streets are between $6,000 and $20,000 a month. The rent keeps increasing because the brands with powerful financial capability are willing to spend big money to obtain advantageous sites. Mai Lan Coffee chains move to streets to sell their products Highlands Coffee, Vinacafe and Passio all have been selling coffee in vending machines and at new coffee stalls in places with heavy traffic. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step back as senior members of the royal family shook the world and led to some more surprising repercussions. After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their bombshell announcement, reacts of racism sparked once again -- with a lot of people pouring on the hate on Meghan. However, it is no longer new and just proved that the Duchess is being unfairly criticized because of her race. From the moment the Sussexes made their relationship official to the public in 2016, the message many Brits sent to her was clear: She was not one of them, therefore, she's not welcome. Markle is a biracial woman and a divorced American former actress. She was far from what many see as a fairytale match for a beloved and respected member of the British royal family. While there were some Brits that welcomed her, the tabloid media and a large portion of social media were not kind to the former "Suits" actress. The treatment became so bad and hard to endure that even Kensington Palace released a statement scolding the press on how they all treated her. After distancing themselves from the royal family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are starting to receive anger by a lot in the U.K. and even in other places. To Meghan Markle, the message switched from "Why are you even here?" to "Where the hell are you going?" Some observers think that racism is to blame. According to Kehinde Andrews, associate professor of sociology at Birmingham City University, he believes that the Sussexes' relationship was not going to end well since the British royal family is one of the main representations of "whiteness" in the world. "She was never going to be fully accepted," Andrews emphasized. However, the Daily Mail US editor-at-large said it was "ridiculous" for black comedian Gina Yashere to tweet that Markle faced "constant racist vitriolic abuse disguised as criticism." Pierce Morgan replied and disagreed that Markle received it because she was mixed race, adding that the condemnation instead had everything to do with her being a "shameless piece of work doing huge damage to our royal family." According to Natalie Morris of Metro, "Their unceremonious ditching of the royal family is a reminder that we don't just have to sit there and take racism. The critics are, of course, outraged, but walking away can be the most powerful weapon against racial abuse." If the British mantra is "keep calm and carry on," Markle whirled in with her American assertiveness and said "NO!" The reaction to Markle trying to create a new life with her husband supports the stereotype of black women being vicious, disruptive, and unfulfilled. Nsenga Burton, a professor at Emory University in Atlanta, said that it is easy to see why black women have rallied around Markle because they see themselves in how she was being treated. Carrying on, keeping a stiff upper lip, and not rocking the boat only serves to help the people who are executing the racism and not the people affected by it. Natasha Eubanks, the founder and editor the TheYBF.com said that to exhibit self-sovereignty has always been a privilege reserved for men, largely white men. However, Markle is here and exhibiting this "audacity" and is also being pushed by her husband, a man, who is also white. Eubanks said that Prince Harry presenting a united front with Markle triggers people because it places "a white Prince of royal blood and a black American woman commoner" on equal foot. It does not sit well with everyone due to how they have been conditioned to view women and people of color, whether or not they realize it. The LifeCouple application, which enables individuals to monitor how they are doing in relationships with their partners, is currently available through the Apple App Store. Courtesy A Carmel Valley resident is spearheading the development of an online application that encourages its users to get along better with their significant others. Entrepreneur Sean Rones said he has been working over the last year with a group of other Carmel Valley men on bringing the app LifeCouple to life. LifeCouple is an interactive platform that can be loaded at no cost to participants on their iPhones through lifecouple.net or the Apple App Store. The product is in its exploratory beta phase launched in early December. We have over 200 (users) without even mentioning it to anybody just on the teams Facebook pages, Rones said in a recent interview at a Carmel Valley coffee shop. This is a plan to get a few thousand local San Diego users, and communicate with them, if possible, on a one-on-one basis on what they like, what they need and what we could do better, so we can iterate and make modifications of the current app as well as add the features and tools ... that could best create positive empowerment results, Rones said. He calls LifeCouples approach MMA mixed marital arts. The app tracks and measures users interactions with their partners in four areas trust, communication, intimacy and conflict resolution. Ultimately, the goal is to keep couples together for life, rather than split up and divorce. We (as a society) track and monitor all different aspects and important things in ones life, Rones said. What we do not track ... is the health of our relationship. ... What LifeCouple is about is tracking and keeping you accountable for aspects that might be going a little bit in the wrong direction, or you might want to consider having the relationship going in a positive direction. ... Its a fit-bit for your relationship. Carmel Valley resident Sean Rones founded the concept of the LifeCouple app. Courtesy Still, Rones said, the app is not intended to be a substitute for professional counseling and therapy, but rather as a method to complement such assistance or prevent the need for it. LifeCouple has attracted interest and support from relationship professionals, including one of the companys advisory board members, Dr. Chris Fariello. He is founder and director of the Philadelphia Institute for Individual, Relational & Sex Therapy. LifeCouple is a revolutionary, new idea, Fariello said in an email. Many people are unwilling or unable to do the work they need to do for their relationship. LifeCouple offers a simple-to-use app that gets people thinking and working on their relationships immediately. He believes LifeCouple is a system that counselors and therapists can use to assist their clients. In addition to being able to work on these issues on their own, couples who are working on their relationships with a licensed therapist can use the LifeCouple app for homework assignments (as assigned by the therapist) ... or in-between sessions on their own to enhance the therapeutic process. Rones emphasized that while LifeCouple is applicable to all ages, it is designed to appeal especially to millennials accustomed to using Internet-linked phones, watches and other devices to manage their lives. Also, Rones says, the program was crafted with sensitivity to males because of their specific issues in relationships. Yet, LifeCouple works just was well for women and is LGBT-friendly, he stressed. Its not focused on men; its not focused on women. But its developed in a way that makes men want to work on a relationship, Rones said. Its developed to solve some of the challenges and that is men are normally not as proactive as women or are less apt to look at or work on a relationship. A San Diego native, Rones said he came up with the underlying concept of LifeCouple by reflecting on his own as well as others experiences in relationships. He then began discussing the fundamental concept of tracking interactions in relationships with the other Carmel Valley collaborators with expertise in technology and other areas Rones said he founded the LifeCouple corporation and serves as its CEO. The firm is looking to complete the beta phase and begin commercially marketing the app by Valentines Day in February. We are reaching out to (the public) ... to not just help yourself, but to help pioneer and take part in building something that could change the dynamics of relationships on a global front, not just in the United States, Rones said. Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday reportedly took a few ministers and MLAs, MLCs and constituency-in-charges to task for failing to prevent ticket aspirants from filing nominations independently. Mr Rama Rao called them to Telangana Bha-van and discussed the possibilities of several aspirants remaining in the fray after the withdrawal of nominations on January 14. Party sources disclosed that the working president made it clear that all the aspirants who have filed nominations should withdraw if they did not get B-forms before the withdrawal date. Mr Rama Rao also took up the issue of rebels who were given B-forms. Keeping in view the allegations that former minister and senior TRS leader from Mahabubnagar, Jupally Krishna Rao, has been encouraging rebels by issuing B-forms to 20 of his followers in Kollapur municipality from the All India Forward Bloc, Mr Rama Rao had a one-on-one meeting with Mr Krishna Rao. Agriculture minister S. Niranjan Reddy and Alampur MLA Abraham are said to have complained against Krishna Rao for encouraging dissidents. After the meeting Mr Krishna Rao claimed to have nothing to do with those candidates who filed as members of the All India Forward Bloc. He affirmed Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao as his leader. Small disputes were common in a family and there were rebels in last municipal polls as well. Mr Rama Rao enquired with labour minister Ch Malla Reddy about the mayor aspirant in the Peerzadiguda Municipal Corporation, D. Dayakar Reddy, who quit the TRS on Friday morning but returned at night. Mr Malla Reddy told the media that he explained that Congress leaders forcibly offered a party shawl to Mr Dayakar Reddy. Mr Dayakar Reddy was with the TRS and was a good worker but the party has not given him any assurance. Tandul MLA Rohit Reddy met the working president and reportedly complained against MLC. P. Mahender Reddy, whose followers filed nominations in Tandur municipality despite a compromise brokered by minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav. Mr Rama Rao called Kalwakurthy MLA Jaipal Yadav and MLC K. Narayana Reddy to sort out their differences regarding the Amangal municipality. Still, while exiting Telangana Bhavan, Mr Jaipal Yadav said: Municipal polls will prove who had his grip on the constituency, either Kasireddy Narayan Reddy or me. Lets wait. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met on Saturday at Raj Bhawan, amidst ongoing protests across the city against the amended Citizenship Act. The agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed. The politically significant meeting between the two leaders took place a short time after the PM arrived in the city on a two-day visit. The meeting comes at a time when new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with Banerjee's Trinamool Congress opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation. PM Modi, who will be in Kolkata on Saturday and Sunday, is scheduled to attend the function marking the 150th anniversary of Kolkata Port Trust on January 12 and other programmes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Recently, the Louisiana Bankers Association decried "unfair" advantages they believe credit unions have. I'm a customer of both a credit union Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday met Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Aishe Ghosh and said the whole country was with them in their protest against the fee hike in the institution and Citizenship Amendment Act. Vijayan met Ghosh at Kerala House in New Delhi, expressed solidarity with their protest and also gifted her a book, 'Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi' by Sudhanva Deshpande. Ghosh had suffered head injuries during the January 5 attack on JNU students in the campus by a group of masked assailants. "The whole country is with the JNUSU in their fight for justice. Everyone knows about your protest and also about what has happened to you in the fight for justice," Vijayan told Ghosh after enquiring about her health and that of other students, who were injured. In a Facebook Post, the CPI(M) veteran wrote that the JNU students were fighting an "epic battle" against the Sangh Parivar. "Sangh Parivar was hoping to overcome the dissenting voices from JNU using muscle power. However, the JNU has put up an uncompromising fight against them. Aishe Ghosh has been leading this battle with her injured head," Vijayan said. Ghosh, after meeting Vijayan, thanked the people of Kerala for standing with JNU when the campus was under attack. "Comrade Pinarayi has said go ahead and that is the inspiration I take and we will take this fight ahead. Whether it is the fight for rolling back the fee hike or against the CAA, I would like to thank, again and again, the people of Kerala who stood by us during all these attacks that we are continuously facing," Ghosh told the media. Ghosh reached Kerala House after her daily check up at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Violence had broken out at the JNU on January 5 night as a group of masked people, allegedly belonging to the ABVP, the students wing of the BJP, armed with sticks attacked students and teachers besides damaging property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukraine demands payment of compensation from Iran Irans General Staff of the Armed Forces said Saturday that a Ukrainian aircraft was accidentally hit by an Iranian missile earlier this week. Ukraine has demanded an official apology from Iran after Tehran admitted earlier on Saturday that it unintentionally downed a Ukrainian aircraft killing all passengers on board. "BRING THOSE RESPONSIBLE TO JUSTICE" President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook post: "This morning was not good, but it brought the truth. Even before the end of the work of the international investigative commission, Iran admitted its guilt. But we insist on a full admission. We expect from Iran's assurances to readiness for a full and open investigation, bring those responsible to justice, the return of the bodies of the victims, payment of compensation, an official apology through diplomatic channels." "We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction," Zelensky added The Boeing 737-800 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport just hours after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles targeting U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for last weeks killing of Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian general. Kevin Nguyen Crash Override Say what you will about New York Citys oft-delayed transit system, but the subway helped Kevin Nguyen write his first novel, New Waves (One World, Mar.). Riding the train, Nguyen jotted down sci-fi stories, dialogue, and apercus about technology on his phone. I wrote all of this in one note, and then one day the note got so long that the app crashed, he says. Pasting the nearly 20,000-word note into a document, Nguyen, 33, thought, Just as an exercise, maybe I should try to connect these dots through fiction. Nguyens agent, Sarah Bowlin, says, When he mentioned shyly over drinks a couple years ago that he had been writing a novelon the subway! on his phone!I was certain that whatever he was working on would be urgent and alive. The resulting novel is about mourning and the moral abdication of technology companies. It tells the story of Lucas, an Asian-American content moderator at a messaging app startup, who is grieving his deceased coworker, Margo, an African-American server engineer. It has a lot of ideas in it, but its not an ideas book, Nguyen says. Originally envisioned as a secure communication tool for dissidents and reporters, the fictional app explodes among teenagers using it to lob vicious messages. Its really easy when youre on the inside of a tech company to not grapple with or take responsibility for the implications of what youre doing, says Nguyen, who, after graduating from the University of Puget Sound in 2009, worked various start-up-adjacent jobs before landing at Amazons books division in New York City. He then pivoted to journalism, first at GQ and now at the Verge. At the novels core is the relationship between Lucas and Margo, who leaves behind a trove of speculative fiction she has written. Theres this wealth of her that he never saw and is still able to explore, Nguyen says. But with grief, the sad part isnt that the person is gone. Its that theyll never do anything new or surprise you again. Mary South All Too Human For Mary South, who worked as an ad writer for Google, composing SEO copy was instructive for how not to write fiction: SEO writing is the opposite way of how I work with textjust optimizing for an algorithm, not even necessarily for a reader. I naturally didnt like it very much. Souths debut collection, You Will Never Be Forgotten (FSG Originals, Mar.), offers piercing explorations of technologys impact on humanity. Even though we have access to more information than ever before in history, were still dealing with the same trauma, she says. Souths agent, Cynthia Cannell, says she was in thrall to her uncanny humor and lively voice, and her editor, Julia Ringo, praises the delightfully alien curiosity about and insight into human behavior. The collection ventures into the internets collective id, most notably in a story about a camp for recovering internet trolls. A lot of these characters are repressing their feelings, so its interesting to me fictionally how those feelings eventually come out, South says. Raised in Minnesota, South attended Northwestern and later Columbias MFA program. She then became an assistant at Noon, a literary journal run by Diane Williams. Seeing her edit was incredible for me, because every sentence has to be perfect, South says. Once you observe someone doing that, it rubs off on you. Or so Id like to hope. The stories offer frank portrayals of human desires. In one, stunted man-children clamor for breast-feeding privileges, and in another, elderly patients call phone-sex hotlines from their assisted living facility. That story is about very overt, sometimes raw, comic sexuality, as well as the need for connection and solace and companionship, South says. Its very valid that they have those needs, and they deserve them. Marcial Gala A Monumental Novel The Black Cathedral (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Jan.), the first of Marcial Galas novels to be translated into English, is a choral tale of architectural folly and serial violence in Cienfuegos, Cuba. I was drawn to the possibility of a different kind of storytelling, of giving a voice to those who generally dont have one, and of being able to narrate the plurality of the Cuban national being, says Gala, 56. That delirious style intrigued Galas translator, Anna Kushner. The process of translating this novel was a bit like trying to take apart and reassemble something in order to determine what it is that makes it work so well, she notes. Gala was born in Havana, in the same old palace on the Prado where the great Cuban poet Julian del Casal died in the 19th century, he says. Sometimes, I think that that coincidence marked my fate forever. At the age of 10, Gala moved to Cienfuegos, where he still lives part-time. He began studying architecture in Santa Clara when he discovered Borges. His stories seemed so good to me that they may have even driven me a bit mad, to the point that I was putting aside my work as an architecture student in order to go write, Gala remembers. The cathedral of the title is a messianic project conceived and undertaken by a town newcomer, the zealous father of a strange family. Gala describes the ambitious endeavor as an architectural object imprisoned in the most disparate and exaggerated interpretation, one that is emblematic of the tendency toward exaggeration and the Pantagruelian that characterizes the Cuban people. Meng Jin Cosmic Characters Im a fiction writer so Im not as comfortable talking about my own life, says Meng Jin, whose debut novel, Little Gods (Custom House, Jan.), revolves around a similarly reticent character: Su Lan, a physicist who emigrates to the United States with her toddler daughter who was born on the night of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. With Su Lan, Jin wanted to portray someone from the huge waves of scientists and engineers coming from China to the Statesa character Jin says she hadnt really seen represented in Chinese American literature. After Su Lans death, her teenage daughter travels to Shanghai and Beijing to learn about her inscrutable mothers past and the two men once infatuated with her. The story would be told by people orbiting Su Lan, and she would be like a black hole at the center of it, Jin says she realized early on. It is deceptively distanced and cool, when in fact, it feels increasingly emotional as the reader moves further along in the novel, says Jins agent, Jin Auh. Born in Shanghai and currently living in San Francisco, Jin, 30, moved to the U.S. when she was five. She adjuncted in New York City after receiving an MFA from Hunter College, then secured a writing fellowship at the University of East Anglia, in Great Britain. Jin examines historical events on an individual scale. I spent a lot of time in my childhood listening to my Chinese grandparents stories, she says. In the American classroom and in the media, I would encounter the history of China with a capital H. It took me a long time to understand that actually those two stories were overlapping. The novel draws on scientific metaphors to illuminate human mysteries. Jin recalls the impact of reading the Italian theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli. Hes standing at science and looking at art, she says. I want to be standing at art and looking at science. Hilary Leichter Going Steady I let the language of the gig economy take me to the most fantastical places I could imagine, says Hilary Leichter of the absurdist exploration of the working world in her debut novel, Temporary (Coffee House, Mar.). Perhaps no place is as fantastical as the adventure capital pirate ship to which the heroine, a temporary worker desperately seeking the steadiness of permanent work, is assigned. [Leichter] takes on expected tropes and themes and makes them unexpected, and to me, there is nothing harder to do as a writer, says her agent, Monika Woods. Ruth Curry, Leichters editor, recalls her delight at receiving the witty, honed manuscript, which emerged from Hilarys gigantic brain fully formed, painted, wallpapered, and in move-in condition. Interspersed among the heroines picaresque adventures is a tale of how the gods, when exhausted, farmed out their labors to temporary workers. We use mythology to understand love, to understand politics, to understand war, Leichter, 34, says. Why not work? After graduating from Haverford College, Leichter says she worked for seven years on and off as a personal assistant to a very funny, wise, elderly New Yorker. The job planted the seed for Temporary. I started thinking about work as this thing that has emotions connected to it that were not necessarily allowed to express. Along with the humor and wordplay, the novel examines the moral and emotional costs of work. I always find myself caught between these two ideas of having to survive in terms of actual survival and also of preserving yourself, Leichter says. The novel builds toward a future in which the distinction between temporary and permanent workers blurs. Because the temp is such an expert at replacing people, Leichter says, the question of what will replace us after we are all gone is interesting to me. Megha Majumdar Heated Rhetoric Megha Majumdar conceived of A Burning (Knopf, June), about a persecuted young Muslim woman in India, as a response to the very dangerous turn to right-wing politics throughout the world, she says. I wanted to write a book about how individuals with loves and ambitions survive that turn. Majumdar, 32, grew up in Kolkata. She studied social anthropology at Harvard and then Johns Hopkins at the gradual level, doing fieldwork in Senegal. She is now an acquiring editor at Catapult, though she still draws on her anthropological training. Those experiences of listening to other peoples stories and trying to understand their perspectives has informed my work, she says. According to Majumdars editor, Jordan Pavlin, A Burning has the force of an epic tragedy and the economy and restraint of a poem. Majumdars agent, Eric Simonoff, praises her mixture of the propulsive and the poetic: She is that rare writer who shines on a virtuosic line-by-line level and also as a compulsively readable storyteller. The novel follows a Muslim woman accused of aiding a terrorist attack and two characters called to testify at her trial. I wanted to create the sense that this is not just a story of three people but the story of a whole nation, she says. Apart from Jivan, theres a gym teacher ascending the ranks of a populist political party and a hijra, or intersex person, who dreams of becoming an actor. The hijra are marginalized in so many ways, and I wanted to see how someone who is oppressed at the intersection of all these kinds of marginalization never surrenders her humor and her intelligence and her big, big dreams, Majumdar says. C Pam Zhang All That Glitters C Pam Zhang heartily defends writing fan fiction. I stand by that as the best teacher for learning how to write, because you have this world you dont have to build up, she says. In her debut novel, How Much of These Hills Is Gold (Riverhead, Apr.), Zhang conjures the rough terrain of gold rushera California, in which two Asian-American orphans struggle to survive. Her editor, Sarah McGrath, says, I saw not only a ferocious new voice and a vivid, propulsive plot, but also a storytelling approach that offered me a fuller understanding of America, past and present. The novel sifts through a tragic family history marked by ambition and dissimulation. Its almost what defines a family are the secrets that divide and bind them, says Zhang, 30. I think this comes from being born into an immigrant family myself. Zhang was born in Beijing and immigrated to the United States when she was a child. Her father died when she was 22a loss that still affects her writing. I felt like the fiction I was writing after my fathers death was richer, more honest, raw, she says. After being laid off from a copywriting job in San Francisco, Zhang moved to Bangkok, the first place in Asia shed lived. There was something wonderful about being able to be anonymous and blend into the crowd, she recalls. A rough draft soon poured out of her. I write a first draft with the goal that it will be a raging tire fire, Zhang jokes. She eventually refined the work into a vivid portrait of a family and the unforgiving landscape they inhabit. I have a great fear and respect of the outdoors, Zhang says. I navigate that fear by imagining it in excruciating detail. I dont know if thats healthy. Fernanda Melchor Bewitching Prose Fernanda Melchor, a 37-year-old Mexican author and journalist, has a predilection for American writers including Dennis Cooper, Bret Easton Ellis, and Cormac McCarthy. Ive always been drawn to dark stories where violence plays a strong part, she says. Hurricane Season (New Directions, Mar.) is Melchors first novel to be translated into English, and it chronicles the brutal murder of a recluse named the Witch in a small Mexican town. You can find crazy violence everywhere, she says. Its just that Mexicos violence has this carnivalesque, burlesque, or grotesque side. Stylistically, Hurricane Season, represents a break from Melchors previous work, which includes a novel and a forthcoming English translation of essays. The events in this novel are so crude and difficult that I needed this strong style to hold it together, like the centrifugal force of the hurricane, she says. Melchor tells horror and violence with grace and purpose, never arbitrarily and always cleverly interwoven within complex psychologies, says Sophie Hughes, her translator. The chapters are told in a torrential narration that flits in and out of various characters minds. The first two chapters came out like this, Melchor says, and then it was a technical challenge to see if I could keep on doing that. As a result, the reader feels immersed and implicated in the depraved and superstitious community of a destitute Mexican coastal village, she adds. I was in a very pessimistic place when I wrote it a few years ago, recalls Melchor, who despaired over solutions to the regions violence, femicide, homophobia, and misogyny. More broadly, though, the novel is about being young and having no futureand feeling this incredible urge to escape through any means possible. Ho Sok Fong Narrative Buffet Our multiculturalism is like a sampler platter, from which you can pick and choose, but its not a melting pot, says Ho Sok Fong of Malaysias religious and linguistic divisions. The flavors have not assimilated. The Chinese-Malaysian author of the story collection Lake Like a Mirror (Two Lines, Mar.), Ho, 49, was born in Kedah, Malaysia, and trained as an engineer. She left her electrical engineering job at age 30, first for a career in journalism and then to pursue graduate degrees in Chinese literature. Ho had long immersed herself in Mahua (sinophone Malaysian) literary journals, which generally avoid addressing the repressive policies of the ruling regime toward its Chinese population. The impression I took away from those journals was that politics could not be literary, Ho says. So it was hard to conceive of fiction as a means to express the limitations imposed by the regime. In Hos collection, by contrast, there are several stories whose protagonists butt up against the states repressive apparatuses. As a writer, Im reaching inside myself for something that will resonate, she says. Even if this means touching on politics. The stories feature spectral characters disassociated from the waking world. I think a lot about the incompatibilities between humans and the world around us, Ho notes. There are things we cannot explain or point to that we are forced to experience in invisible, illegible ways, perhaps as traumas or psychological wounds. Like translating underwater: thats how Natascha Bruce describes the experience of rendering Hos distinctive style in English. Theres a visceral quality to the ambiguity running through the stories, which means they often hit me first as intense, wordless feeling. Ambiguity is a structuring principle of these dreamlike tales. The things that entice us to read, and to write, are not the things we already know but the things we cannot yet identifythe strange questions it takes time to explore, Ho says. Sue Rainsford Healing Touch Ill start writing a very naturalist piece, and then something strange will come through to inflect it, says Sue Rainsford, whose debut novel Follow Me to Ground (Scribner, Jan.) thrums with the uncanny. While in a visual arts practice masters program in Dublin, Rainsford became interested in the language of female experience as expressed by writers like Simone de Beauvoir and Julia Kristeva. The novels fantastical elements came out of trying to put all of this strange imagery that gets ascribed to the female body through psychoanalysis or horror film and make those things live in the world, she says. The novels heroine is Ada, a glacially aging supernatural healer who springs from a mysterious patch of earth called the Ground. I love how Sue has created a world that operates completely according to its own rules, but that she has the confidence and stylistic verve not to overexplain, says her agent, Amelia Atlas. Ada lives apart from the human population, or Cures, and enters into a secret affair with one. Sue has a very distinct voice, says Rainsfords editor, Sally Howe, and she writes about desire, transgression, and the body with insight and nuance. Rainsford, 31, grew up in Dublin. When I was in my teens, it felt by turns comfortingly and asphyxiatingly small, she recalls. She completed an MFA at Bennington College and is currently a writer-in-residence at Maynooth University in Ireland. Walking through the woods and coming out at Shirley Jacksons house in North Bennington was something that got under my skin, she says. Though its central theme is healing, Follow Me to Ground also portrays harmful familial bonds. Im really interested in how a relationship becomes toxic, Rainsford says. Families are fascinating because people try so hard to make these relationships work, often to their detriment, over a lifetime. Matt Seidel lives in Durham, N.C., and is a staff writer for The Millions. Barb Elliott stood at her front door and watched Lake Michigan waves crash into her neighbors yard and onto the street. This is the worst Ive seen it in 25 years, Elliott said, her husband remarking that they could feel the rumble of the waves inside their house. But the couple, who live on 71st Street just west of First Avenue in Allendale in Kenosha, werent complaining. Its a free show, and its an exciting show. Saturdays winter storm combined with historically high lake levels to create an unusual scene on Lake Michigan, with giant waves rolling over breakwaters, covering beaches and sending a storm surge across streets. Its kind of spectacular, Lt. Joe Riesselman of the Kenosha Police Department said. The waves have been crashing up onto a lot of the streets all morning. The National Weather Service issued a lakefront flooding warning from Sheboygan south into Illinois, with 10 to 13 foot waves expected. With a quarter century living near the lake, Elliott said there have been plenty of times that waves have come over the huge rocks lining the shore along First Avenue to prevent erosion. But Ive never seen it so high in my neighbors yard, she said. Eichelman breakwater under water, beach At Eichelman Park, the normally placid beach, which is protected by a breakwater, giant waves crashed onto the shore and across a sidewalk. The breakwater was invisible under the waves, the beach largely underwater. Greg Marston brought his 7-year-old son Greyson to see the waves. He said they live nearby and swim at the beach every chance they get during the summer. Not today, Greyson said. Ive never seen the water come up this far, Marston said, pointing out to his son where they would normally be on the beach. I was reminding him that this summer we would be right out there. Streets closed due to flooding Dennis Schmunk, superintendent of the Kenosha Street Department, said several streets near the lake were closed due to flooding from the storm surge, including First Avenue between 71st and 75th streets, 50th Street at Simmons Island, Fourth Avenue at 51st Place and 45th Street near the harbor boat ramp. A lot of people are saying theyve never seen the water this high, he said. Lakeshore Drive in Pleasant Prairies Carol Beach neighborhood was also flooded by the storm surge and closed. Lake Michigan is at near record high levels according to the National Weather Service, with unusually wet weather over the last 18 months contributing to the rise. According to the agency, the lake level has climbed by six feet since 2013, when water levels were unusually low. The high water has contributed to erosion problems along the lakefront. In the most serious case, a Somers home was torn down in November after erosion on the shore left the house dangling precariously on the bluff. Wind gusts to 58 mph Denny VanCleve, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Saturdays storm produced wind gusts of up to 58 mph. It really piles up the water between the wind and the lake levels, he said. Away from the lake, Kenosha County missed the worst of the predicted winter storm. Rain and sleet mixed with snow overnight Friday and throughout the day Saturday. VanCleve said sleet will turn to snow and continue until until about midnight, predicting as much as five inches of snow could fall in the area before Sunday morning. City and county street departments began salting roads at about 3 to 4 a.m. Saturday, and police and sheriff department spokesmen reported that roads were in fairly good condition throughout the day, with few serious weather-related crashes. Drivers should be careful, Schmunk said, saying it was likely to get icy as temperatures dropped overnight. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 8 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Drummer Neil Peart of the band Rush died at age 67, a family spokesperson confirmed on Friday. Peart was born in Canada, but was living in Santa Monica, California in recent years, where he died after fighting brain cancer for three years. He, along with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, formed the iconic rock band Rush and toured with the band until he retired in 2015 for health reasons. While Peart wasn't Rush's original drummer, he joined the band just ahead of its first U.S. tour in 1974 and helped lead its eventual rise to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame status. "Along with penning impressive lyrics," wrote CBC News, "Peart was renowned for his proficiency on drums and expertly weaving together techniques from different musical genres, blending jazz and big band with hard rock." Lee and Lifeson released a statement Friday afternoon remembering Peart as their "friend, soul brother and bandmate over 45 years." He had been "incredibly brave" in his fight with glioblastoma, they said, and went on to "ask that friends, fans, and media alike understandably respect the family's need for privacy and peace at this extremely painful and difficult time." More stories from theweek.com The death of rock's master craftsman Cardi B might run for Congress Sen. Susan Collins and a 'fairly small group' of GOP colleagues could open the door to impeachment witnesses Agra With the Aligarh Muslim University scheduled to open on Monday, vice chancellor Prof Tariq Mansoor has written a letter to the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Aligarh to ensure security for him and his family in view of threats issued by anti-social and lumpen elements. The SSP has not only assured security but also clarified that force will be at deputed at the VC Lodge and administrative block of AMU. The vice chancellor, however, made it clear that the threat was not from students of the varsity. The students are like children and I have full faith in them, he said. There are anti-social elements, including those rusticated and others on bail for criminal charges who are instigating students to attack me by labelling me as an RSS/BJP member and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) supporter. There are social media posts that call me traitor and ask for my social boycott, the VC said in his letter. With the university opening on January 13, these anti-social elements might harm me and my family, said the VC in his letter, copies of which have been sent to chief secretary, UP DGP, personal secretary to home minister and HRD minister besides commissioner and DM. They have put a post on social media that the funeral of the vice chancellor will be held on opening of the university. If the anti -social elements are not checked and any untoward incident happens, it will have a cascading effect nationally, AMU being a sensitive institution, he said. The vice chancellor also clarified that the university administration was not competent to discuss CAA and the incident on the night of December 15 was being investigated by NHRC in compliance with the directive from Allahabad high court The letter placed the district administration in an awkward position and initially it was in denial mode about it, till SSP Aligarh Aakash Kulhari on Saturday admitted to the media that such a letter had been received from AMU VC. We have received a letter from AMU VC and also because posters have been pasted against the VC and Registrar, we have sought report from SP (Crime) and CO (LIU) and extra security is being provided to both AMU officials. We are doing an audit of AMUs internal security and will submit a report to the varsity administration, Kulhari said. Most of the anti-social and rusticated students are those against whom we have initiated Goonda Act proceedings. The district magistrate and I will meet the AMU administration to decide a strategy with the university opening on Monday. If any specific complaint is given to us, we will ensure action, he said. The SSP confirmed that police force would be deployed inside AMU at VC Lodge, Registrar office and administrative block when the university opened on Monday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON She's preparing to make her presenting debut on Love Island after replacing Caroline Flack for the winter season. And Laura Whitmore, 34, proved she has been taking her responsibilities very seriously as she practised her slow walk in an Instagram video shared on Saturday. The blonde beauty looked sensational as she strutted her stuff - and even managed to keep her cool after whacking her leg on a white wire chair by the villa pool. Scroll down for video Ouch! Laura Whitmore, 34, proved she was ever the professional after she worked on her slow walk by the South African villa's pool and hit her ankle on a white wire chair Work to do: She joked that she stilled needed to 'work on her walk' with just one day to go until the show returns to TV Laura exuded confidence as she made her way down the decking and towards the camera while wearing nude high heels. As she got closer to the white wire chair Laura swung her arms and kept a smile on her face, just as her predecessor Caroline used to power walk into the villa. However Laura misjudged the distance between her toned pins and the seat as she knocked the side of her ankle into it. Obviously hurting, professional Laura managed to shake off her minor injury and pulled a hilarious face as she shouted. Working it! Caroline Flack, 40, was famous for her strut into the Mallorcan villa, with the cameras often slowing down her walk to add extra drama to the upcoming dumping scenes Going well: The beauty started off with lots of confidence and swung her arms from side to side (left) but ended up knocking her leg (right) after misjudging the space Caroline was famous for her strut into the villa, with the cameras often slowing down her walk to add extra drama to the upcoming dumping scenes. It comes after Laura admitted her dream role as Love Island's new presenter was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Caroline's recent arrest. Caroline, 40, was taken into custody after police were called to her Islington home in December after an alleged physical assault against boyfriend Lewis Burton. The presenter relinquished her role as the show's host ahead of a March trial date and her temporary replacement admitted the context surrounding her appointment has made the experience bittersweet. New role: Laura previosuly said her presenting role on Love Island has been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Caroline Flack's recent arrest 'It's not a great situation at all,' she said. 'It's not ideal and Caroline has been incredible. She messaged me before ITV contacted me and said that she really hoped I got the role. 'She said, "I know how much of a fan you are of the show". I just thought that was so lovely. I'm so happy to do the show, but I just wish it was in a different situation.' Laura reflected on her role after flying to South Africa's Cape Town where she will introduce 12 new contestants from a sprawling new villa. And she admits her first priority was to contact Caroline personally after being approached for the coveted presenting job. Almost time: The new host revealed that her predecessor was 'incredible' and contacted her before ITV got in touch offering the gig She recalled: 'I think when they first had that conversation, I said, 'If I do get offered this, can I talk to Caroline before it goes to the press or anything like that?' Of the initial approach, Laura admits she was shellshocked after her agent called her as she prepared to fly home for her mother's birthday. 'It was just before Christmas and I was going to go back to Ireland up to Edinburgh for work up there, then back to London and back to Ireland again,' she said. 'I was flying to Dublin and my agent called and said that ITV would like to with me in the next few hours. I was like, 'Oh, I'm at the airport'. What a call: Laura, pictured in a stunning embroidered pink shirt, first found out about her new role while she was waiting at the airport to go home to Ireland 'He was like, 'What are you doing at the airport?' I was like 'Err, it's my mum's birthday'. And then I said, 'Let me just ring my mum first', so I did and she was like, 'I can see you at Christmas, don't worry about it!' While Caroline epitomised Love Island prior to her abrupt departure, Laura believes boyfriend and show narrator Iain Stirling's off-beat, irreverent humour is what sustains it as she prepares to work with him for the very first time. 'Iain is the heart of this show, his humour and what he does with it is basically what the general public are like watching the show,' she explained. Love Island launches on ITV2, Sunday January 12th, at 9pm. As women's access to reproductive care is dwindling across areas of the US, a group of A-list artists is joining forces to combat the increasingly restrictive legislation surrounding abortion. According to Artnet News , Rebecca Pauline Jampol, co-director of the Newark-based arts nonprofit Project for Empty Space , began to conceptualize the show when the state of Alabama released a bill to ban abortions in 2019. Jampol and her colleague Jasmine Wahi then tapped Marilyn Minter, Gina Nanni, Laurie Simmons, and Sandy Tait to co-organize the multi-part exhibition, "Abortion Is Normal." The exhibition's title comes from the urgent need to dismantle the stigmas surrounding abortion. The timing is pivotal just last week, more than 200 members of Congress urged the Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey , according to Gothamist . As many anti-choice politicians continue to attempt to reverse these laws, "Abortion Is Normal" aims to " create an inclusive and empathetic entry point to this conversation ." The first "Abortion Is Normal" show opened last year at Project for Empty Space . It returns again this year in two-parts in Manhattan: on view at Eva Presenhuber , 39 Great Jones Street, New York, January 9-18, 2020; and Arsenal Contemporary , 214 Bowery, New York, January 21-February 1, 2020. All proceeds from "Abortion Is Normal" will benefit Planned Parenthood and Downtown for Democracy . Inside Saint Barnabas Medical Center, a line of patients had formed at the triage nurses station. Dr. Christopher Freer noticed the 10 or so people Tuesday morning, standing near the entrance of the emergency room in Livingston. They hadnt been examined yet. But it was already clear to Freer and the nurse why some had come. Flu season has arrived in New Jersey. The volume of patients is high, said Freer, chairman of emergency medicine for Saint Barnabas and system director of RWJBarnabas Health Emergency Services. He added: The goal is to move these patients away from the rest of the patients coming through." The number of flu cases is ramping up, and emergency rooms around New Jersey are beginning to feel the strain as patient volume rises. There have been 2,119 cases of influenza B reported statewide, according to the New Jersey Department of Healths latest flu surveillance report, a rise from the 1,455 cases reported last week. There have also been two flu-related pediatric deaths so far this season. Emergency room visits and admissions statewide are climbing at an alarming rate. They are outpacing the three highest flu seasons ever recorded at this point in the year, according to the state Health Departments latest flu surveillance report. Were starting to feel it, said Dr. Catherine McGinty, medical director of the emergency department at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. New Jersey hospitals are bracing for a surge in patients in the coming weeks, as this flu season is on track to be one of the worst in years. It also could be one of the worst across the country, according to a recent report by CNN.com, citing the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The situation remains under control, but experts and doctors around the state are preparing for what is expected to be a trying few months. Dr. David Cennimo, an infectious disease expert at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, believes the number of flu cases this season will very likely be higher than average. The state is seeing more cases each day than in past seasons with high flu activity, he noted. I think its safe to say this year could be one (of) the worst by the end," Cennimo said via text message. Identify and isolate The next few weeks will be the test for hospitals as the state approaches peak flu season. They are ramping up their protocols in preparation. Identifying and isolating flu patients might sound simple. But a surge in cases can overrun emergency rooms, as it did both statewide and nationally during the record-breaking flu outbreak two years ago. There were more than 22,000 flu cases and five flu-related pediatric deaths in New Jersey that season, making it one of the worst in decades. Patients flooded emergency rooms, stretching many facilities to full capacity. Hospitals began urging patients to visit only if extremely ill. Such a surge can happen suddenly. Just a few weeks ago, only 422 New Jersey cases were reported. They have increased by 500% in less than a month. And flu activity continues to escalate. Were just starting to see an uptick, but were not in the thick of it, said Dr. Matt Warner, chair of emergency medicine for Inspira Medical Center Vineland and Elmer and Inspira Health Center Bridgeton. Emergency rooms prepare for the annual rise in patient volume by implementing simple but important protocols: masking patients, segregating them into separate areas of the hospital, ensuring there are plenty of hand sanitizer dispensers. But the most important factor is getting patients in and out as quickly as possible. However, emergency rooms are naturally crowded. Treating each patient, from admission to discharge, takes time often hours. So we have to figure out how to see all the other patients weve been seeing all year, Freer said. It strains resources and taxes medical personnel, especially when theres little they can do to help in many cases. Most people who visit the hospital with the flu are only slightly sick, doctors say. They can prescribe Tamiflu, give a rapid flu test and provide some peace of mind but all of that can be done by a primary care physician or at an urgent care center. Multiply this scenario over and over again each day and week during flu season, and it adds up to overstretched medical facilities, especially in abnormally busy periods such as two years ago. New Jersey flu season 2019-2020 With the flu, you have a high fever. You have a cough. All sorts of symptoms that you have when you have sepsis, and patients get freaked out, said Dr. Robert Sweeney, chair of the department of emergency medicine at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. For the patient, the attitude for them is to be safe than sorry. "They rather go in and get checked and told that its just a virus. So its very, very hard to keep people from coming to the hospital. Sweeney said these are the situations in which urgent care centers, in particular, can play a pivotal role in reducing patient volume in emergency rooms. Its very difficult to isolate patients in a crowded emergency department, he said. But urgent care centers in the state are also feeling the impact of flu season. Summit Medical Group Urgent Care said it has seen a 40% rise in flu-related cases. Theres definitely been an uptick in flu patients in the last couple of weeks, said Carlos Tronza, regional director of urgent care for MedExcel, which operates four locations in New Jersey. "The percentages of flu cases are higher than past years. Its definitely across all centers, not just us," he said. And the worst is yet to come, Tronza warned. Were not expecting it to die down, he said. Overcrowding a concern Complicating matters is the flu, while usually not serious, can be deadly in rare cases, especially for young children, older adults and the immunocompromised. This is why each emergency room case must be thoroughly assessed. But overcrowding from flu patients stretches resources and poses the risk of exposure to staff and others. Slightly sick flu patients present a serious threat to those with severe chronic illnesses who are already in a hospital. Some hospitals dont have separate areas for flu patients. Those patients can mix with others in waiting rooms until they are moved to an examination room. This year, hospitals throughout the state have already imposed visitor restrictions, a preemptive move to reduce the volume and risk of exposure. Saint Barnabas Medical Center, for example, has requested that people who feel ill or have been near someone sick refrain from coming to the facility. When flu season ramps up, hospitals often take such measures. Two years ago, flu patients flooded New Jersey emergency rooms. Some hospitals around the country went as far as setting up military-style hospital tents, or surge tents, to triage the massive influx of flu patients. Despite the forecasts, its unclear how bad this season will eventually unfold. There have been at least 9.7 million cases, 87,000 hospitalizations and 4,800 deaths nationwide from flu so far this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are four different types of flu viruses: A, B, C and D. Each season, one strain ends up causing the bulk of illnesses. The predominant flu strain this year is influenza B, which presents some good news. Cennimo said illnesses from influenza B are typically less severe than influenza A strains like H1N1 (swine flu) and H3N2. Those are the only viruses known to cause flu pandemics. So even if the number of cases this year is high, the CDC said there will likely be fewer flu-related deaths and hospitalizations than in past seasons. This doesnt mean emergency rooms wont experience a surge in patients. Hospitalizations and deaths from the flu usually occur among people 65 and older. Influenza B mostly affects children and younger adults. Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The Middle Easts longest-serving leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman, has died. Qaboos, who had been unwell in recent years and often travelled outside Oman for treatment, seized power in a palace coup from his father in 1970. The widely respected although authoritarian monarch then ruled the small Gulf nation for almost 50 years, leading his country into modernity and developing a reputation for nimble independence among the heavyweight powers in the region. Aged 79, Qaboos had no children and did not publicly name a successor, but state TV reported the culture minister Haitham bin Tariq Al Said a cousin of Qaboos had been chosen as the new sultan. Qaboos reportedly had left a letter suggesting who could take over to be read after he died, should Omans ruling authorities be unable to agree on a successor. 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 ruler has long had close links with Britain, where he studied at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst. Upon his return to Oman, the UK quietly helped Qaboos overthrow his father and then trained up the countrys armed forces so they could finally put down an armed communist insurgency in the Dhofar region. A statement from Boris Johnson said the prime minister was deeply saddened by the sultans death. He was an exceptionally wise and respected leader who will be missed enormously. He will be remembered for his devotion to the development of Oman into a stable and prosperous nation, and as the father of the nation who sought to improve the lives of the Omani people. Recommended Oman will find itself in troubled waters if it keeps playing two sides He leaves a profound legacy, not only in Oman but across the region too. The foreign secretary Dominic Raab also tweeted: Saddened to hear of the death of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was widely respected and worked hard to promote peace and stability in Oman and the wider region. Upon taking the throne in 1970, Qaboos ruled over what was then an almost entirely undeveloped desert nation. His father had become increasingly erratic and despised modernity, leaving Oman with only 10km (6 miles) of paved roads and three schools. Slavery was legal and music, glasses, electricity and even umbrellas were banned. But Qaboos enacted a speedy programme of modernisation, spending the countrys oil wealth on roads, schools, airports and hospitals and began building relationships with neighbours. Omans new sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said (centre, in black and white robes), attends the prayer ceremony over Qaboos coffin at Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat (AP) He was able to stay on friendly terms with warring rivals, including Irans Islamic regime and the Shah they overthrew, and Oman often acted as an impartial intermediary during middle eastern conflicts. As well as hosting negotiations which freed western hostages held in Iran and Yemen, Qaboos also welcomed Israeli officials without sabotaging their relationships with the Palestinian movement. Recommended How Oman is trying to become the Middle East mediator again We do not have any conflicts and we do not put fuel on the fire when our opinion does not agree with someone, he told a Kuwaiti newspaper in a rare interview in 2008. The nuclear deal between Iran and western powers, which is on the brink of collapse, was also the fruit of secret talks between Iranian and US officials in Oman. However, while Qaboos was widely loved by Omanis, he concentrated power in himself and rarely brooked dissent. When he died he was simultaneously holding the roles of prime minister, finance minister, defence minister and foreign affairs minister. While he did create a written constitution and held elections for an advisory council, there is little freedom of the press while anti-government activists are harassed. Soldiers guard the route of Qabooss coffin as it processes through the streets of Muscat, the capital of Oman (AP) When protests did erupt in 2011 during the Arab Spring, he sacked a third of his cabinet, created thousands of public sector jobs and initiated payments for the unemployed. Commentators said Oman would struggle to replace the dynamic and all-powerful sultan. Sultan Qaboos had such charismatic authority and became so synonymous with Oman as a modern nation-state that it will naturally be difficult for any successor to replicate that, at least at the beginning, said Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a Middle East expert at the Baker Institute think tank. Gary Grappo, a former US ambassador to Oman, said: Whoever that person is, is going to have an immensely, immensely difficult job. And overhanging all of that will be the sense that hes not Qaboos because those are impossible shoes to fill. Samuel Beckett, when asked one beautiful spring morning whether such a day did not make him glad to be alive, responded, I wouldnt go as far as that. Life is a predicament, death the elephant at the horizon that looms larger as the years pass. Still, life is what we have. To give less than everything to it is dereliction. In the end its wonder is unimaginable without the presence of death. As the dew dispels, the mist dissolves, and the sap rises on a morning such as the one that did not quite win over Beckett, the force of life is unmistakable. That is what put us here in the first place. Great souls resemble the elements in their immensity. They absorb everything pain, injustice, insult, folly and give back decency and kindness. They are not born of a piece. They come into being through unflinching confrontation with lifes spears. They reach quiet. Discipline is the backbone of graciousness. Stoicism is the other face of wounds. In the most beautiful smile, painful knowledge hovers. Midwinter is not what prompted these reflections, although when a freezing wind whips off the East River all thoughts turn to refuge. No, the death in quick succession of two friends was the catalyst. They were older than me. But they were not old enough and not so distant in age that their memento mori feel less than urgent. same. she seemed to not gaf about backlash to her giving a platform to wade and the other MJ accuser after finding neverland came out. she also is bff with gayle who was verbally assaulted by rkelly. so it's not like she is known for not believing victims. and in signing up w/ those directors, it seems like she at least had faith in it at the beginning Reply Parent Thread Link She thinks the film is incomplete and they are insisting on premiering it at Sundance next week. Reply Parent Thread Link im curious if there is a difference between support and believe for oprah. does the believe the assaults happened and she wants to further investigate, or what? Also, I love kirby dick and amy ziering. Ive only watched invisible war and twist of faith. was the bleeding edge any good? Reply Thread Link She says believe and support but yeah it makes you wonder what happened Reply Parent Thread Link #ontddoesntread and yeah, this doesnt bode well for the doc. however I am so fucking ready for it. had no idea it was in the works and yeah, this doesnt bode well for the doc. however I am so fucking ready for it. had no idea it was in the works Reply Parent Thread Link it sounds like she thinks the doc is incomplete and poorly made. and if they premier it like that, i think it could do more harm than good if it doesn't do a good job of showing the evidence. may give cause for people to just say the accusers are lying. just my 2 cents. Reply Parent Thread Link sorry, but shit like this makes me believe the old rumor about her (initially wanting to give Nate Parker a platform to defend himself) :X Reply Thread Link Oprah says she's leaving because she doesn't believe the film is complete but they are premiering it at Sundance anyway. Reply Thread Link Thank you. I really didn't want to think bad of Oprah (other than being a part of the 1%, but eh) for this. Reply Parent Thread Link Hmreh on their part. Reply Parent Thread Link Whew the amount of black people coming for Oprah about this is just a mess. Reply Thread Link Those MJ nutjobs are celebrating. Reply Parent Thread Link It's so stupid. Reply Parent Thread Link In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision. Hmm. That makes it sound like she maybe doesn't think they're including enough material about the victims period, not just that it's not finished right now/in time for Sundance...? I can't tell. Reply Thread Link I think if the film isnt complete it could do damage to the victims in the public eye, so hopefully thats her concern. Reply Thread Link oprah is literally the devil. a multimillionaire and out of touch fuck who only cares about herself and her brand. and people here defending her and ~wondering~ what happened as if oprah hasn't shown her sellout ass time and time again. aren't there pics of her on a yacht with with super shady and dubious people? foh oprah Reply Thread Link when it was announced that this project was going after the music industry and oprah was involved, i thought it shouldve been about yacht man. but, of course, nope. yacht man always gets away. Reply Parent Thread Link yacht man? Reply Parent Thread Link i wonder how much oprah knew about weinstein Reply Thread Link Idk but I feel like most big people in the industry must've known or at least heard something. Like if us non-famous people could find out bits of his notoriety you're gonna me tell people in the industry didn't hear anything. Yeah okay. Reply Parent Thread Link i had heard about casting couches but i never heard about it about weinstein? was it in the blinds for years? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Quentin Tarantino straight up knew Harvey assaulted and harassed women. Tarantino is guilty moreso than other Hollywood people and should be considered a pariah too. I still can't believe everyone's watching Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and he's winning awards. He's such scum. Reply Parent Thread Link I hope this brings Russell down. His response to Oprah initially being a part of the documentary was so damn condescending and arrogant. I believe he did the things he is accused of and is trying to hide behind that I'm a peaceful man persona. This also makes me wonder about the Kimora Lee story about one of her bridesmaid going after Russell on their wedding day. Reply Thread Link what's the bridesmaid story? Reply Parent Thread Link She told it a couple of times, but I first heard it on America's Next Top Model. Basically she says she caught one of her bridesmaid trying to go after Russell on their wedding day. She doesn't elaborate on the exact circumstances, so don't know if she walked in on them or what. And she went on to say that is how she knew Tyra was a true friend because she didn't go after Russell. So now I'm curious if the bridesmaid was really after Russell or if it was the other way around. Plus he was 35 and she (Kimora) was 17 when they started dating. Edited at 2020-01-11 05:30 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Eddie Hughes is MP for Walsall North. Last months produced the largest Conservative majority since 1987, ended the Brexit impasse and saw the emergence of Blue Collar Conservatism now the true voice of hard working people up and down this country. Its vital that we demonstrate that we are worthy of the trust that these voters have placed in us. With this in mind, one proposal being considered is the idea of slimming down the Conservative Partys Central Office (CCHQ) in London and moving its resources to the regions. But this must go beyond mere symbolism. If we are going to set up a CCHQ in the regions we must do so in a manner that does not patronise nor condescend to those we are seeking to serve. We can learn a number of lessons from the BBCs decision to relocate large parts of its operation from London to Salford in 2011, in an attempt to create more specialised content and to boost their approval ratings in the North. The BBCs plans to better serve its audience in the North, by having northern people creating television shows that would appeal to a northern audience, appear not to have been realised. The 2017 National Audit Office report found that a total of 894 members of the existing London staff had been paid relocation allowances worth a total of 16 million with just 39 people from Salford having been recruited to work at the new Salford based HQ. Whats the point of re-locating if youre still almost exclusively employing people from London and not the area youre moving to? Dominic Cummings is thinking along the right lines. His blog proposed an unorthodox approach to the recruitment of new staff for Number Ten. Im not suggesting that we adopt the same approach for the regional CCHQ office, but it would be appropriate to experiment with new ways of identifying talented people who may not naturally apply for such roles. A similarly unorthodox approach has been adopted by a number of leading organisations, keen to move away from restricted talent pools, often exclusively made up of students at Russell Group universities with at least a 2:1 degree. Instead, they are choosing to focus on school leavers and unearthing the hidden talent that already exists in the labour market. The publisher Penguin Random House, for example, has removed the degree filter from its recruitment process, so that academic qualifications no longer act as a barrier to talented people entering the industry. Job applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their potential, creativity, strengths and ideas. The advertising firm J Walter Thompson (JWT) has enacted an innovative recruitment process, moving away from its reliance on university leavers as its default source of talent. JWT has adopted a blind CV recruitment, which will no longer be looked at until the candidates are whittled down to a much later stage. Instead, applicants are now asked to answer six questions which demonstrate their skills and suitability for the job, and their answers are used to assess them for interview selection. This has led to JWT focusing on candidates skills and talents rather than academic opportunity and achievement. What surprised me most of all is how forward-looking our Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) has become. The Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) recently ranked MI6 in the top 75 UK employers who have taken the most action on social mobility. In a bid to attract talented individuals who might not otherwise consider themselves to be suitable candidates, MI6 has launched a new recruitment programme aimed at increasing the number of female, ethnic minority and working class recruits. Rather than focusing on academic credentials, candidates are being judged on the suitability of their skills to the role with job adverts focusing particularly on their problem-solving abilities, enthusiasm, team spirit and their determination to make a positive impact. MI6 continues to work hard to broaden its appeal and has committed to create a workplace that is representative of the country it serves. The Conservative Party would do well to follow its lead. If we really are becoming the Party of Blue Collar Conservatives, capable of representing and reflecting the voices of hard working people up and down this country, our Party must be the change that we want to see. The Prime Minister gets it. He has said many times that former Labour voters have lent us their votes for this election. So if we are to deserve their continued support, we need a wholesale upheaval of CCHQ, not just short-term, virtue-signalling tampering. In December 2019, the Conservative Party took down the so-called Labour red wall across North Wales, the Midlands and Northern England. If we get this right, we have a once in a generation chance to obliterate it forever, to put the Labour Party into the dusty history books and to put in its place a Party that truly cares, understands and is equipped to improve the lives of so many people. Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East's longest serving rulers who maintained the country's neutrality in regional struggles, died on Friday and his cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was named as his successor in a smooth transition. With his death, the region loses a trusted and seasoned leader, seen as the father of modern Oman, who balanced ties between two neighbours locked in a regional struggle, Saudi Arabia to the west and Iran to the north, as well as the United States. In a televised speech, Haitham promised to uphold Muscat's policy of ... Houston, Jan 11 : Greg Abbott, the Republican Governor of Texas, has said that the state would not accept new refugees under President Donald Trump's resettlement programme. a media report said on Saturday. In a letter to the State Department on Friday, Abbott said that Texas had done "more than its share in assisting the refugee resettlement process", and argued that the state should be focused on "those who are already here, including refugees, migrants, and the homeless", the BBC report said. On that basis, Abbott said he "cannot consent to initial refugee resettlement" in 2020, but added that the decision "does not deny any refugee access" to the US. Refugees who are already settled in other states, Abbott said, would be allowed to move to Texas if they choose. Texas has large refugee populations in several of its major cities. In the 2018 fiscal year, Texas took in 1,697 refugees - more than any other state, but a large drop from 4,768 in the previous fiscal year. Abbott's decision means Texas will become the first US state known to do so, the BBC report added. In September 2019, President Trump announced that states must actively consent to any resettlement of refugees after June 2020. So far, the Governors of more than 40 other states have said they would opt in to the government programme. Trump has made reducing immigration a key aim of his administration. He has slashed the number of refugees allowed into the country for the 2020 fiscal year to 18,000 - a record low. About 30,000 refugees were resettled in the US during the previous fiscal year. The previous lowest admissions figure was in 2002, after the 9/11 attacks, when about 27,000 refugees were allowed into the US. Vanessa Paz, who joined KGW-TV as a member of the traffic and weather team, is leaving the Portland NBC affiliate for a new job in San Diego. A San Diego native, Paz recently wrote on her Twitter account that, after 8 years savoring every moment, friendship and experience in the Pacific Northwest, we are finally packing up and heading home, to San Diego! Paz will be a morning traffic anchor for Channel 10 (KGTV-TV), the ABC affiliate in San Diego. She wrote on Twitter, I am incredibly thankful for the viewers who watched me grow, individuals in the community whose paths crossed mine both professionally and personally, and for my family, friends and husband who supported me from the VERY beginning. Im excited to share some big news from my little family and I... after 8 years savoring every moment, friendship and experience in the Pacific Northwest, we are finally packing up and heading home, to San Diego! pic.twitter.com/COpsmilRsQ Vanessa Paz (@VanessaPazSD) January 8, 2020 Her Twitter thread also included a joking reference to the Will Ferrell movie, Anchorman, in which the pompous California TV newsmans catchphrase is, You stay classy, San Diego. As Paz wrote, Oregon will forever have my love but San Diego has always had my heart. See you weekday mornings on Channel 10 ABC news -- I think its stay classy or something like that. A bittersweet goodbye. Im so very happy for my Saturday partner in crime @VanessaPazSD, but also super sad that she is leaving. Today was her final show on @KGWNews. Shes headed to San Diego for a new gig. Join me in wishing her the best of luck! Were going to miss you, lady! pic.twitter.com/shu936wvCT Brittany Falkers (@BrittanyFalkers) January 11, 2020 Brittany Falkers, with whom Paz has worked during weekend morning news broadcasts on KGW, also posted on Twitter, calling Pazs departure, A bittersweet goodbye. Im so very happy for my Saturday partner in crime @VanessaPazSD, but also super sad that she is leaving...Join me in wishing her the best of luck! Were going to miss you, lady! As the KGW website says, Paz earned a bachelors degree in broadcast journalism from California State University, Los Angeles. Her credits include reporting for KVAL/KMTR in Eugene, where she also worked as a weather anchor. Paz moved to Portland in 2015, where she worked as a reporter for KPTV-TV, the Fox affiliate. Not fair to call SD home since OR Has truly felt like home these past 7+ years. Going to miss my @BrittanyFalkers & dream team behind scenes who make it all happen at crack of dawn weekends. Never goodbye but see you later.. Of course yall will visit me in sunny SD! (cont) pic.twitter.com/C1khrmryzN Vanessa Paz (@VanessaPazSD) January 11, 2020 -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on the demise of the Oman Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. In his tweet, PM described the late Oman monarch as a visionary leader and a beacon of peace for the region as well as the world. Apart from describing Qaboos as a visionary leader, PM Modi also stated that the late Oman monarch played a significant role in emboldening the strategic ties between India and Oman. I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary leader and statesman who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation. He was a beacon of peace for our region and the world. pic.twitter.com/7QnGhM5lNA a Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2020 The late Oman monarch had been ill since some time and it was believed that he suffered from colon cancer. It is not clear as to who will step into Qaboos' shoes as Oman has a very different style of choosing its ruler. The Constitution of Oman states very categorically that within three days of the throne getting vacant the royal family has to choose the next Sultan. The chosen successor has to be a member of the Omani royal family and must be a "Muslim, mature, rational and the son of Omani Muslim parents". According to local analysts, among the 80 men who match the criteria, there is one name that stands out -Asad bin Tariq. Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said's political career Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said had a political career spanning 50 years. Qaboos ruled Oman since the year 1970 after overthrowing his father, Said bin Taimur. He was seen as a charismatic leader and was very averse to dissent. This was evident in the way he handled protests across Oman during the Arab Spring and also removed ministers who were seen as self-serving and corrupt. He also played a role in Iran's nuclear deal with the world powers whilst preserving their membership in the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Due to this strategic move by Qaboos, Oman emerged as a mediator in the Gulf region. Also read: US-Iran tensions: 'World cannot afford another war,' warns UN chief Also read: 80 'American terrorists' killed in missile strikes in Iraq: Iran state media Mitsotakis held a round of separate talks with the opposition party leaders on Friday to brief them on the results of his recent visit to Washington and exchange views on "issues of national significance," according to an e-mailed press statement issued by his office, Xinhua news agency reported. Athens, Jan 11 (IANS) Greek political party leaders expressed concern over tensions in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East and opposed the upgrading of Greece's defence cooperation with the US during a series of meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "I do not think that we will have substantial diverging views," said Mitsotakis before the camera of Greek national broadcaster ERT during his meeting with the center-Left Movement For Change (KINAL-Kinima Allagis) leader Fofi Gennimata. Based on the remarks political leaders made on ERT's camera after the meetings, intra-party consensus is still sought regarding Athens' cooperation with the U.S., in particular in a period of increased frictions in the region after the new U.S-Iran crisis and the recent developments on Iraqi soil. "I expressed our concern over the growing tension in the region. I asked the Prime Minister for the suspension of the vote on the bill regarding the upgrading of Greece's defence cooperation with the United States. We should not repeat the reckless overspending in defence now that we have exited the crisis," said Alexis Tsipras, leader of main opposition Radical Left SYRIZA party. "We are talking, while the Mediterranean is on fire. Dependence only on the USA is a mistake. The world, the planet is multi-polar and we should advance our relations with other countries as well. There is China, there is Russia, there is Germany, others will note, as well as India which is an emerging power," said Kyriakos Velopoulos, leader of the right-wing Greek Solution (Elliniki Lysi). "Greece should not be considered a given ally by anyone. Trump as President does not respect the international law; we have witnessed what he has done in Iraq," Velopoulos said. The prime minister's talks with political party leaders will close on Monday. rt/ Iffath Fathima By Express News Service BENGALURU: In his quest to find an eco-friendly alternative to plastic straws, a professor of English of Christ University has developed straws from coconut leaflets and sent the samples to 10 countries. Now he received orders for 10 million straws to be sent abroad by January end. In 2018, when Prof Saji Varghese noticed a coconut tree drop its leaves on the college campus, he thought of their use. Each year a coconut tree naturally loses an average of six leaves. I carried out a study and found out that coconut leaves are just burnt unused in rural areas. Then I decided to come out with an eco- friendly product from it, Prof Varghese said. He said coconut leaflets can be rolled into straws and they retain their shape. From one coconut frond, 600 straws can be made and they can be used for six months. The straws of 3-13mm diameter are priced at Rs 3-10, he said. The college funded the project and low-tech rolling machines were brought in to make the straws. Some of the straw samples were sent to countries like Malaysia, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Spain and Germany where the authorities approved the product and also placed orders for a total 18 million straws, he said. He set up three units in villages of Madurai, Kasargod and Tuticorin and employed women who collect dry fronds and make the straws with machines. The aim is to employ 500 women in the next three years, he added. How straws are made Straws are four or eight inches in length. The eight-inch products are without the midrib of the leaflet, while four inch ones have the midrib. The dry leaflets are cut out and then rolled to form narrow cylindrical bodies along the length using a water-resistant food grade adhesive. The tube is then dipped in wax to retain the moisture and increase the shelf life. The youthful transitions of 'The Irishman' are the work of Pablo Helman With Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman' expected to battle 'Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood' and '1917' for the best picture Oscar in February, all eyes are on the special effects team that made the sprawling crime epic possible. 'The Irishman' unfolds over decades, with the 76-year-old Robert De Niro and his co-stars playing their characters from their 30s into retirement age, a feat thats made the film one of 2019s most acclaimed movies. It's all possible through new digital de-aging techniques that in the past year in cinemas have shaved decades from Samuel L. Jackson's face and turned back the clock to the 1990s for Will Smith. When Monday's Academy Award nominations are announced, 'Captain Marvel' and 'Gemini Man' could see their names called along with 'The Irishman' in the visual effects category. Each film has arrived at its reverse aging trick through a different technique, leading some to call 2019 a monumental year for de-aging in film. To many, 'The Irishman' stands out from the field, thanks to its complete avoidance of 'tracking markers' - dots painted onto actors faces which allow computers to mathematically replicate facial movements and manipulate them as the director sees fit. The youthful transitions of 'The Irishman' are the work of Pablo Helman, visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light and Magic, who's an Oscar nominee for his work on 'Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones' and 'War of the Worlds.' Robert De Niro, left, during the filming of 'The Irishman' and the younger version of De Niro created by Pablo Helman, visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light and Magic Samuel L. Jackson as a younger Nick Fury in a scene from 'Captain Marvel'. New digital de-aging techniques have shaved decades from Jackson's face Samuel L. Jackson as a younger Nick Fury in a scene from 'Captain Marvel.' New digital de-aging techniques have shaved decades from Jackson's face Helman says the decision to forgo tracking markers came directly from Scorsese and De Niro. 'He's not going to wear a helmet with little cameras in there,' says Helman. 'He's going to want to be in the moment with Joe Pesci and Al Pacino on set, with no markers on him. So, if you're going to capture the performance, how are you going to do that?' Enter the 'three-headed monster,' a unique camera rig that has a director camera in the center and two 'witness' cameras on either side shooting infrared footage. That allowed Helman to eliminate shadows created by on-set lighting. The shadows could potentially interfere with the geometric facial shapes constructed by de-aging software. 'You're not interrupting the director's thread of thinking,' explains Helman. 'You're not changing the light on set, but the computer can see in a different spectrum.' While the team at Industrial Light and Magic was working on 'The Irishman,' another group of technical wizards were experimenting with de-aging at director Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop in New Zealand, creating an entirely digital, 23-year-old version of Smith for the action movie 'Gemini Man.' 'Since I started visual FX 25 years ago it's been the Holy Grail,' says Bill Westenhofer, one of the film's VFX supervisors. 'You have that many years of expertise of looking at a human face and knowing what's wrong. So, to try and get all the different things together and get it to pull off right, that's been the challenge.' Joe Pesci, left, and Robert De Niro in a scene from 'The Irishman' Samuel L. Jackson as a younger Nick Fury, left, and Brie Larson in a scene from 'Captain Marvel' To create the character of Junior - a younger clone of Smiths assassin Henry Brogan - the superstar wore the traditional grey tracksuit, complimented by a head rig with two cameras capturing his facial expressions via tracking markers. 'We decided (on) a ground up approach to build everything from scratch - from the skull all the way to the skin pores, all the way to the animation and the final kind of oil in the eyes was really the best approach we could take,' says Stu Adcock, head of facial motion at Weta. Before filming commenced on both 'Gemini Man' and 'The Irishman,' the teams at ILM and Weta drew up test footage to show the films directors that what they were suggesting was possible. For 'Gemini Man' it was a clip from the 1995 movie 'Bad Boys' into which they inserted two shots of their new, digital Will Smith and asked Ang Lee to spot the 'fake.' For 'The Irishman,' De Niro also returned to the 1990s, performing the Pink Cadillac scene from 'Goodfellas' before being de-aged in post-production - convincing an initially skeptical Scorsese that he could bring the long-gestating project to life. Helman and his team then spent two years looking through old movies and cataloging the targeted ages that De Niro, Pacino and Pesci would appear in 'The Irishman.' They created a program - similar to that used to create online 'deepfake' videos where one actors face is swapped for anothers - which would check their work on the movie was heading in the right direction, with the system 'spewing out' hundreds of images for cross-referencing. Samuel L. Jackson with Brie Larson on the set of 'Captain Marvel' Will Smith as Junior in a scene from 'Gemini Man' Will Smith, left, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead on the set of 'Gemini Man.' To create the character of Junior - a younger clone of Will Smith's assassin Henry Brogan - Smith wore a head rig with two cameras capturing his facial expressions via tracking markers Creating Junior required Smith to spend time in a photogrammetry booth where multiple cameras captured his likeness as numerous lights fired in different sequences, giving a base scan of the actor and analyzing the structure of his face from a skin pore level. Ironically, considering Scorseses vocal criticism of Marvel movies as 'not cinema,' a similar system was used to de-age Jackson in 'Captain Marvel.' A young Nick Fury was created by comparing footage from old Jackson movies with the work the actor did on set - again, using tracking markers. 'I looked at that face as, you know, maybe 'The Negotiator' face,' says Jackson, referring to his 1998 movie of the same name, 'Fortunately for them and for me, I had enough stuff from that period in my life that they could use a bunch of different facial expressions and films to put that face together that made sense to people who knew me from that time.' Joe Pesci, left, during the filming of 'The Irishman' and the younger version of Pesci created by Pablo Helman, visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light and Magic Darren Hendler, director of the Digital Human Group at Digital Domain and the man responsible for turning Josh Brolin into 'Avengers' supervillain Thanos, was impressed by Jacksons appearance in the movie. 'Thats more of a 2D-image based approach where they're taking the actor's performance and then they're painting and tracking certain frames. Theyre still using some of the actors performance directly, but theyre modifying it. It was very believable. It may not have been exactly what the young Samuel Jackson looked like, but it definitely looked de-aged.' 'The de-aging of Samuel L. Jackson is absolutely fantastic,' agrees Wetas Guy Williams, adding, 'different approaches suit different requirements. It's not a one size fits all kind of situation.' Thats a sentiment echoed by Helman, who believes that 2019 was a watershed year for VFX. 'It's not by chance that we have several movies that have motion capture performance, facial performance, in three or four different ways. That shows that we're all thinking about digital humans. 'I mean, we all stand on each other's shoulders,' Helman says. 'I can't wait for somebody to pick this up and do something else with it, you know?' Don Bryden of KCJ Training and Employment Solutions in Stratton, Wiltshire noticed employees who smoked took up to 10 minutes for each cigarette. Some of whom took ten breaks a day. A training company boss has given smokers an incentive to try and kick the habit - by rewarding non-smokers with an extra four days of annual leave. Managing director Don Bryden said that he noticed his employees who smoke can spend up to an hour each day taking cigarette breaks. Meanwhile, the non-smokers in the office remained at their desks, continuing with their work. Mr Bryden, who runs logistics firm KCJ Training and Employment Solutions in Stratton, near Swindon, Wiltshire, decided to start the new year with a radical new policy. He said: 'I was watching the employees that smoke. They have four, five or even 10 cigarettes a day and take around 10 minutes outside each time. 'I looked at the other guys during these breaks and they're always on the phones, typing away and trying to do their work, so I thought they should be compensated. 'Last year, I saw something on social media suggesting that workers who don't smoke should have an extra four days off. 'Everyone was saying it was a great idea but nobody said they would actually do it, so I came into work at the start of January feeling generous and told everyone we would kick it off. 'I haven't seen any other business in Swindon do this so let's start something, it's only right and well overdue and hopefully it will encourage other companies to do the same.' Mr Bryden added: 'Funnily enough, when I made the announcement some of the workers said they weren't going to smoke any more, but it doesn't work like that. 'If they can give up smoking for 12 months, I'll give them the extra four days.' Employees looking for the extra holiday will have to have ceased smoking for more than a year Krzystof Krzywozeka, has worked at KCJ for just over six months and does not smoke, said he was 'quite surprised' by the new policy. He said: 'Don had mentioned it a few weeks ago but I thought he was just suggesting it and nothing would happen, but then he decided to actually do it.. 'It's absolutely amazing, I think it's a great idea and it could motivate people to quit smoking.' Mr Bryden added: 'I've worked for recruitment for national and private businesses for 20 years and, a lot of the time, you get used and abused and you just become a number. 'I'm trying to give something back to the staff, little incentives to encourage them. 'We took all our staff and their partners to Spain for a long weekend, quad biking and whitewater rafting, and we had an awards ceremony for them later that year. 'It may not make the business more profitable but it has created loyalty and a positive mindset and the feeling of being a family. The team is very motivated,' he said. Fans have been going crazy these past few days after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their resignation from the royal family. The news came after the couple went through a rough year full of negative press and various scandals that affected their image. This move seems like a good thing for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have been struggling under constant media scrutiny. But royal experts are saying that it is actually very unhelpful for the royal family as a whole. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are stepping down as senior members of the royal family Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Dominic Lipinski/PA Images via Getty Images On January 8, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan posted an announcement on their Instagram page that nearly crashed social media. After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution, the statement read. We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. The pair went on to share that they will still take on charity work in the United Kingdom. However, they intend on splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America, saying: This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. On the Sussexes website, there is also a detailed FAQ page that explains more about their decision to become financially independent and no longer receive funding from the Sovereign Grant. The website shares that Prince Harry and Markle have only ever used money from the grant to fund the work of their office staff. Their travel expenses and home renovations have all been paid for by their own money, and the website states that with their transition to becoming members of the Royal Family with financial independence this will continue to be the case. Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markles move is unhelpful for the royal family Prince Harry and Duchess Meghans announcement has been met with mixed reactions. Some fans support the couple given how much public scrutiny they had endured for taking money from taxpayers. On the other hand, some royal experts look at it negatively since the royal family is going through a lot at the moment. You have to put this in the context, royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said. This has been a very difficult year for the Queen. Only at the end of last year we had Prince Andrew stepping back from public duty. It does feel like the Royal Family are in turmoil at the moment. This is not helpful. It looks like theyre very unsettled. Not only has their resignation fueled speculation and added more drama into the mix, it also leaves the question open of a workflow gap. Will the other senior royals be impacted with the departure of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan? Other royals were reportedly not told about the announcement Many fans did not see Prince Harry and Markles announcement coming, and there are now reports that the other royals did not know much about it either. Royal expert Jonny Dymond told the BBC that Prince Charles and Prince William allegedly felt hurt and blind-sided. Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace posted a statement regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs decision. The palace did not offer a word of support for the couple. Instead, their statement said that these are complicated issues that will take time to work through. However, not everyone believes that Prince Harry and Markle acted all on their own without consulting anyone. Royal commentator Penny Junor called these rumors beyond bizarre, especially since the couple works a firm run by their family members. DUP and Sinn Fein return to Stormont Northern Irelands power-sharing government is expected to be restored within days after Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party signed up to a draft deal brokered by the British and Irish governments. Three years after Sinn Fein walked out of the executive, causing the collapse of the Stormont assembly, the party announced it would return. Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein president, described the moment as historic, adding: Lets get back to work. Earlier, Arlene Foster, the leader of the DUP, indicated that her party was ready to re-enter government with Sinn Fein, following the publication of a draft deal and a promised investment package for Northern Irelands struggling public services thought to be worth billions. The Times Johnson hails great step forward Daily Mail Republicans back power-sharing deal Daily Telegraph Deal offers hope to Northern Irish businesses FT >Today: ToryDiary: Smiths plan for Northern Ireland undercuts the Government on veterans and Brexit Cummings frozen out of hunt for weirdos The prime ministers chief adviser Dominic Cummings has been warned that he can have no personal role in recruiting new civil service weirdos and misfits to shake up Whitehall. This month Mr Cummings used his personal blog to call for people with different skills and backgrounds to apply to work in Downing Street. He asked them to email him directly with CVs, suggesting that while some would be hired as political special advisers, others would be taken on as civil service officials. However, it is understood that Mr Cummings has been told that, while he can have a role in recruiting special advisers, he is banned from selecting or championing any applicants to become civil servants. The Times He has a case for shaking up Whitehall FT Prime Minister accused of reducing Parliament to passive observers Boris Johnson has been accused of trying to reduce Parliament to passive observers during his negotiations with the EU over a trade deal. A House of Lords committee complained that a mechanism for giving MPs and peers a say in approving the negotiating objectives had been taken out of Mr Johnsons version of the deal. The panel said that while the European Parliament would be able to scrutinise the future trade deal, Westminster politicians would have no such role. The Prime Ministers EU Withdrawal Bill was passed unamended by the House of Commons by a majority of 99 earlier this week, and will be debated by the House of Lords next week. Daily Telegraph Public fear that the Lords could delay the Withdrawal Agreement Bill Daily Express France to defy Johnson and take three years to ratify a deal The Sun More: Watchdog bars Hammond discussing Brexit role with employers Daily Telegraph Do we carry on with crash, bang, wallop nationalism? Lunch with Ken Clarke, FT US trade deal would strengthen hand against Brussels, ambassadors claims Daily Telegraph >Yesterday: MPs Etc.: Will Big Ben chime to mark the moment we leave the EU? Matthew Parris: The new Johnson is admirably dull Senior aides and special advisers have apparently been told that if their ministerial bosses want to advance their careers, theyll do it best by focusing on departmental progress rather than media hits. If they have something to say to him they should tell the boss direct, not via the Today programme. According to this account, he hates brown-nosing. He likes meetings to be short, businesslike and to the point. There is no need to tell him what a fine prime minister he is. I watched PMQs on Wednesday after reading that apparently well-informed account of how Johnson wants to run things. The way he handled things in the chamber entirely bore out the report. There was very little of the bluff and bluster weve come to associate with Johnson, no jokes and no showing off. The Times Class war in Cabinet over housing policy Two Cabinet ministers are at loggerheads in a class war over the Governments policy on housing. The row involves multi-millionaire Housing and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick and his deputy Esther McVey, who is from a blue collar background. In recent months there have been heated discussions in the department over how the Government should be spending its housing cash and which voters it should be targeting. It is understood that Cambridge graduate Mr Jenrick, 38, a rising star in Westminster who has been an MP for just six years, wants to prioritise traditional Tory policies of helping voters on to the housing ladder. But he has clashed with Miss McVey, 52, a former Barnardos child from Liverpool who has argued for money to go into more council housing to help the working-class voters who switched from Labour at the last election. Daily Mail Scottish Tories will reward, not penalise blue-collar workers under my leadership Jackson Carlaw MSP, Daily Telegraph >Today: Eddie Hughes MP in Comment: Yes, lets move CCHQ resources to the regions. But do so authentically. Goldsmith calls for changes in aid rules Environment minister Zac Goldsmith has called for international aid rules to allow Britain to help Australia tackle the devastating bushfires, despite the countrys own wealth. He made the call as he revealed he has donated his 9,000 MP winding-up fee, paid on the loss of his seat at the general election, to the Australian wildlife rescue charity WIRES. Baron Goldsmith, who was appointed a life peer and remained Minister for the Environment and International Development after losing Richmond Park to the Lib Dems, demanded an overhaul of overseas aid to allow the UK to donate to any country in crisis. The call appears to put him at odds with the international rules on aid funding followed by his own department. Daily Telegraph Shapps accused of exploiting position to promote private flying The Times Patel sends US extradition notice for woman who killed British motorist Daily Mail >Yesterday: Michael Nazir-Ali in Comment: This new Conservative Government should learn from the wisdom of Burke Bailey launches scathing attack on Khan London Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey has launched a scathing attack on Sadiq Khan over the Capitals shocking murder rate and revealing people are even being stabbed on the way to knife awareness courses. The Tory favourite, who is running against Mr Khan and ex-Cabinet member Rory Stewart for the role, hit out at the Labour politician over Londons out-of-control knife rime epidemic that last year saw a staggering 135 people murdered. The first victim of 2020 was killed on January 3 three days after the New Year began. Mr Bailey told Express.co.uk 2019 will be remembered as a year of crime and fear for Londoners Mr Bailey has also taken aim at Mr Stewarts campaign tactics following the Remainers announcement to leave his seat in Parliament to run in the race for Mayor of London. Daily Express >Yesterday: Shaun Bailey in Local Government: We need tougher sentences to protect the LGBTQ+ community Corbynistas oppose Rayner as Labour deputy Jeremy Corbyns allies have shunned the frontrunner to be deputy leader amid reports of longstanding resentment over her perceived lack of loyalty. John McDonnell and Diane Abbott have overlooked Angela Rayner, the favourite, who has campaigned on a so-called joint ticket with her friend Rebecca Long Bailey. Mr McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, and Ms Abbott, the shadow home secretary, have instead backed the shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, causing consternation in the wider party. In the race for the party leadership, activists from Momentum, the grassroots campaign group, are protesting against the assumption that Ms Long Bailey should be their designated candidate without a vote by members. The Times She asks Long-Bailey to axe Corbyns toxic aides Daily Telegraph Nearly half the public rate Corbyn 0/10 The Sun Lewis calls for referendum on the monarchy Labour leadership candidate Clive Lewis has called for a referendum on booting out the Royal family. Mr Lewis claimed there was support for the monarchy to be scaled down following Prince Harry and Meghan Markles shocking decision to move to Canada. Corbynista Clive Lewis called for the vote earlier today, while trying to boost his fledgling campaign for the Labour leadership. The shadow treasury minister said the public should be allowed to vote on what the future of the monarchy is as he fights to be leader Mr Lewis said being black could be part of the reason he has received so few nominations, saying the Labour Party is not immune to structural racism. The Sun He blames race bias for lack of support The Times Phillips: people would pay more tax for decent care The Guardian Starmer vows to stamp out anti-Semitism Daily Mail Comment: Labours heartlands may be gone for ever, it needs to find new ones Andy Beckett, The Guardian >Yesterday: Iain Dales column: How Harry and Meghan sunk Barry Gardiners Labour leadership bid Cabinet Secretary dragged into royal row The cabinet secretary has been dragged into the row over Prince Harrys future role in the monarchy. The Times understands that Sir Mark Sedwill has been consulted by Buckingham Palace on the implications to the state of the couples desire to step back from royal duties and spend more time abroad. Ultimately Sir Mark and the prime minister will be asked to approve any proposal involving public funds put forward by the palace on behalf of the government. This will include any cost to the taxpayer of additional security required to protect the couple if they go ahead with their plan to spend more time in Canada. While Prince Harry, who served in the army in Afghanistan, remains a high-profile potential terrorist target, such costs could be hard to justify if he steps back from royal duties. The Times Polls show public want them to lose titles and public funding Daily Mail Patel to help decide on funding for Sussexes The Sun and Raab will have to make the call on overseas travel Daily Mail Queen wants rift repaired in 72 hours Daily Telegraph Editorial: Theyre already worth 35 million, they dont need to be bankrolled The Sun Tehran admits to accidentally shooting down passenger jet The Iranian military has admitted it unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed this week, killing all 176 people on board. The announcement, which was made on Iranian state TV, blamed human error for the tragedy and said that the aircraft had flown close to a sensitive military site and had been mistaken for a hostile plane. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake, Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian president, said. Investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake. The general staff of the Iranian armed forces said today that those responsible for the incident will be brought before military justice immediately. The Times Trump administration toughens sanctions on Iran FT Comment: President has created an opportunity but he will waste it Juliet Samuel, Daily Telegraph Impeachment has only made him more popular Thomas Meaney, The Guardian News in Brief: We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 20:40:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is planning to open flights to three new Chinese destinations, an Ethiopian official said on Saturday. Speaking exclusively to Xinhua, Dawit Temsgen, Communications Expert at ET, said Ethiopian Airlines is interested in opening up new routes to the Chinese cities of Chongqing, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou. "ET is interested in expanding its network to Chongqing, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou and has requested permit to launch flights." "Ethiopian and the Chinese government are working in collaboration to expedite the approval process and ET will start operation right away once it secures the permit," Temsgen told Xinhua. Temsgen further said ET plans to expand its current operations to China by increasing its flight frequencies to popular destinations such as Guangzhou to twice daily. ET currently operates daily passenger flights from Addis Ababa to Guangzhou and Beijing, and three-times-a-week passenger flights to Chengdu, as well as daily passenger and cargo flights to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shanghai. ET was among the first African airlines to start flight services to China. Recently, Ethiopian Airlines has unveiled a series of measures to boost its presence in the Chinese market, which is already ET's single largest air market. By AFP KIEV: President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded Saturday that Iran punish those responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner, pay compensation and apologise. "We expect Iran... to bring the guilty to the courts," the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling also for the "payment of compensation" and the return of remains. Tehran admitted Saturday that it accidentally downed the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane, killing all 176 people on board on Wednesday, shortly after launching missiles at bases hosting US forces in Iraq. "We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction," Zelensky added He urged "total access" to the full inquiry for 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an "official apology". Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said earlier Saturday that Tehran "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake". UIA chief Yevhenii Dykhne also posted on Facebook, saying: "We never had any doubt that our crew and our plane could be the cause of this terrible catastrophe. They were the best." Ukraine said Friday its experts dispatched to Iran had been granted access to the flight's black boxes, debris from the plane, the crash site and to recordings of conversations between the pilot and the airport control tower. Iran's official IRNA news agency published a statement from the military saying the Boeing 737 was mistaken for a "hostile plane" at a time when threats were at the highest level. ALSO READ: Mistook Ukrainian jet for hostile target, forces shot it down, confesses Iran Tehran has invited the United States, Ukraine, Canada and others to join the crash investigation. The majority of passengers on UIA Flight PS752 from Tehran to Kiev were Iranian-Canadian dual nationals but also included Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes Many in Kiev have compared the crash to the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 killing 298 people over eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists are fighting government forces. ALSO READ: Trump ups Iran accusations, says four US embassies targeted Moscow has denied the findings of international investigators that a Russian BUK misile hit the Malaysian flight. "Iran has shown itself more civilised than Russia," pro-western Ukraine MP Volodymyr Ariev wrote on Facebook. "Tehran has admitted its guilt in three days while Russia continues to try to get out of it." Int'l travellers who test COVID positive at the airport will not be allowed to go to their destinations Who is Firhad Hakim? Know Kolkata's New Mayor Age, Education, Family and Other Details PM Modi says 'excited' to be in Bengal; may meet Mamata today India oi-Deepika S Kolkata, Jan 11: Amid protest over National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Saturday to attend Kolkata Port Trust's (KPT) event. This will be PM Modi's first visit to West Bengal after BJP's impressive show in the last Lok Sabha election by winning 18 seats (out of 42) in Bengal. "I am excited to be in West Bengal today and tomorrow. I am delighted to be spending time at the Ramakrishna Mission and that too when we mark Swami Vivekananda's Jayanti. There is something special about that place," tweeted PM Modi. Modi-Shah congratulated on passage of new citizenship law by Gujarat Assembly "Yet, there will be a void too! The person who taught me the noble principle of 'Jan Seva Hi Prabhu Seva', the venerable Swami Atmasthananda Ji will not be there. It is unimaginable to be at the Ramakrishna Mission and not have his august presence!" he added. Tehran plane crash: Iran admits it hit civilian aircraft by mistake | OneIndia news PM Modi will unveil Dynamic Architectural Illumination with synchronized light and sound system of Rabindra Setu and is expected to hold a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Ever since the BJP emerged the main contender of the TMC in the state during the recent Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi and Mamta Banerjee have not shared the dais at any government programme. Mamta Banerjee had gone to New Delhi last September and met PM Modi in a "courtesy call" after the Lok Sabha polls. Amid CAA row, Mamata Banerjee likely to share dais with PM Modi in Kolkata on Jan 12 The changes in citizenship law have emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with the TMC opposing the legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation. BOISE In September 2019, the Idaho Lottery, along with the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL), implemented the Bucks for Books initiative to benefit elementary school libraries throughout Idaho. The Lotterys VIP members were invited to donate their points to the program, with 200 points equaling one new library book. Thanks to the generosity of the Idaho Lotterys VIP members, the Idaho Lotterys goal was reached in one day. The Idaho Lottery provided $30,000 in funding to 12 elementary schools, including Harrison Elementary School, in Twin Falls; and Shoshone Elementary, in Shoshone. The funds were awarded through a grant application process, in amounts of between $1,000 and $3,000. In December 2019, the Idaho Lottery and the ICfL presented the 12 school libraries with the funds and a big box of new books, which were purchased with money raised by the Lottery at bookfairs held at Barnes & Noble. We have been extremely fortunate to partner with the Idaho Lottery to provide grants to elementary schools for the improvement of their book collections, said Jeannie Standal, school library consultant for the Idaho Commission for Libraries. The grants are used exclusively for books, which so many of our schools have little or no budget to fund. In Idaho, 28 percent of elementary school libraries have an annual book budget of $100 or less, so the funds from the Idaho Lottery are an amazing gift that will help young students through the Gem State. The Idaho Lottery plans to run the Bucks for Books program again in September 2020. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Leaders of the United Nations and officials of some countries highly valued Vietnams international stature while meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in New York on January 9 10. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) meets with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on January 9 The Vietnamese official chaired a working luncheonof the UN Security Council with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and hadbilateral meetings with the UN Secretary-General, Administrator of the UNDevelopment Programme (UNDP) Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UN WomenPhumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Foreign Minister of Nicaragua Denis Moncada, ForeignMinister of Timor Leste Dionisio Babo Soares, Deputy Foreign Minister ofUkraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson. The meetings took place on the sidelines of anopen debate of the UN Security Council chaired by Vietnam. At these events, officials of the UN andcountries valued Vietnams international stature as it is concurrently servingas a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and ASEAN Chair in 2020. They said the open debate organised by Vietnamwas successful with the participation of many UN member states. They alsohighly regarded the debates focus on the UN Charter, which is highly topicalat present and meet countries attention amidst complex developments in theworld situation. At the working session between the UN SecurityCouncil and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, participants discussed thecooperation between the council and the UN Secretariat, along with some issuesof common concern. Deputy PM Minh affirmed that the maintenance ofcontact and close coordination between the Security Council and the Secretariathas helped the council be updated with information in a timely andcomprehensive manner, thus devising effective measures to ease tensions,prevent conflicts, peacefully resolve disputes, and better contribute to themaintenance of regional and global peace and security. At the bilateral meeting with Minh,Secretary-General Guterres applauded the Vietnam-UN cooperation, as well as thecountrys development achievements and commitments to realising the SustainableDevelopment Goals. He said Vietnam holds a special standing and isan important factor contributing to peace and stability in the ASEAN region. Heaffirmed his support for the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peacefulmeans and in line with international law. Deputy PM Minh appreciated the UNs cooperationand assistance for Vietnams development, underlining the wish to enhance tiesin the time ahead. He asked the UN and the Secretary-General to continue payingattention to the East Sea situation to help promote the peaceful settlement ofdisputes. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner (Photo: VNA) At the meeting with UNDP Administrator AchimSteiner, Minh thanked the UNDP for its support for Vietnam over the last 40years, proposing it provide more counselling for the country, especially ineconomic restructuring, climate change response, realisation of the SustainableDevelopment Goals, and sustainable use and management of the Mekong Riverswater resources. Congratulating Vietnam on its recentattainments, Steiner said the country is a model in economic development, andthe UNDP is ready to give support and policy advice during the new developmentstage of Vietnam. Meanwhile, Executive Director of UN WomenPhumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka hailed the significant outcomes Vietnam has obtained inpromoting gender equality, particularly womens economic empowerment. She affirmed that UN Women will keep workingclosely with and helping Vietnam to organise important events marking the 25thanniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action on gender equality, as well asothers on women, peace and security. For his part, Deputy PM Minh asked UN Women tocontinue support Vietnam to promote the themes on women, peace and securitywithin the UN framework, and to boost gender equality and womens empowermentin the coming time. At another meeting, Foreign Minister of NicaraguaDenis Moncada expressed his belief that the Southeast Asian nation willsuccessfully serve as both a non-permanent member of the UN Security Counciland ASEAN Chair. The Nicaraguan and Vietnamese officials agreedto step up political dialogue in an appropriate point of time and consider thenegotiation on a trade and investment framework agreement to create a legalframework for bilateral cooperation. Minh also took this occasion to convey PartyGeneral Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trongs invitation to visitVietnam to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Foreign Minister of Timor Leste Dionisio Babo Soares (Photo: VNA) Talking to Deputy PM Minh, Foreign Minister ofTimor Leste Dionisio Babo Soares congratulated Vietnam and highly valued itsgrowing international role. He voiced his countrys wish to become a member ofASEAN and increase bilateral collaboration with Vietnam, noting the readinessto support activities of Vietnamese businesses, including Viettel, in TimorLeste. Minh asked Timor Leste to soon ratify the tradeagreement between the two countries so as to create a legal basis for boostingtrade connections. The two sides also agreed to strengthencooperation and share their stances at regional and international forums,including the UN. Meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine SergiyKyslytsya, Deputy PM Minh offered heartfelt condolences to the UkrainianGovernment and people, and the families of the victims in the serious planeincident in Iran on January 8. The officials discussed measures to advancetheir countries cooperation, including organising delegation exchanges at alllevel, holding annual political consultations, and foster economic and tradelinks which are developing well. The Ukrainian side expressed the hope tocoordinate with Vietnam at multilateral forums, particularly the UN, andenhance ties with ASEAN, saying the country wishes to join the Treaty of Amityand Cooperation in Southeast Asia. At another event, former President of IrelandMary Robinson, who chairs of the Elders a group of senior global leaders atthe UN, spoke highly of Vietnams priorities at the UN Security Council such asclimate change, security, and protection of women and children in conflicts.She stressed the importance of multilateralism and learned about Vietnamspriorities during its ASEAN Chairmanship Year. Robinson and Minh also exchanged views on globaland regional matters of common concern like the Middle East issue and thenuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula./.VNA Oman declares a three-day mourning period for ruler known for promoting peace in the region. Omans Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the Arab worlds longest-ruling monarch known for promoting peace, has died, according to an announcement by state media. With sadness the Omani Sultanate court mourns our Sultan Qaboos bin Said who God chose to be by his side on Friday evening, the announcement on Saturday morning said. It added that 79-year-old Qaboos died after a wise and triumphant march rich with generosity that embraced Oman and extended to the Arab, Muslim and entire world, and achieved a balanced policy that the whole world respected. A three-day period of mourning has been declared in Oman and the countrys flag will be flown at half-mast for 40 days. Later on Saturday, Oman named Qabooss cousing Haitham bin Tariq Al Said as the countrys new ruler in a smooth transition. The former culture minister, 65, was sworn in before the ruling family council on Saturday morning. State television said authorities had opened a letter by Qaboos naming his successor, without elaborating, before announcing Haitham bin Tariq as the new ruler. Qabooss funeral procession began in the capital, Muscat, as thousands gathered in the streets leading up to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque where prayers were held before noon, ahead of his burial. Sultan Haitham stood in front facing the casket, with the traditional curved dagger, or khanjar, strapped to his waist. Qaboos was later buried in a family cemetery. In his first address to the nation, Sultan Haitham promised to continue his predecessors foreign policy which made Oman an important regional mediator. Omanis took to social media to mourn the death of a ruler who had made regular tours of the nation to speak to citizens, often driving his own four-wheel drive in the convoys. The first words I heard from my weeping mother after news of the great Sultan Qaboos death was: The father of orphans, of the poor, of the downtrodden, of all of us, has died, Twitter user Abdullah bin Hamad al-Harthi wrote. Our minds cannot comprehend his absence, another Twitter user who gave her name as Sheikha said. Qaboos had been ill for some time and was believed to have been suffering from colon cancer. He had recently returned to Muscat after seeking medical treatment in Germany and Belgium. But his prolonged absences for treatment stirred questions about succession in the country of 4.5 million people. The sultan had ruled Oman since overthrowing his father in a bloodless coup in 1970. Since assuming power, Qaboos transformed Oman from a poverty stricken country, with little or no infrastructure, into a modern state. In October 2011, Qaboos, who has no children or brothers, amended the process of succession. But he had not publicly announced who that successor would be. THREAD ON OMANI SUCCESSION. Sultan Qaboos appointed a Prime Minister in 1970-71 (his uncle, Tariq bin Taimur) and married (briefly) in 1976 but did not have issue. It is the sons of Tariq bin Taimur who are often spoken of as possible successors to Sultan Qaboos. Kristian Ulrichsen (@Dr_Ulrichsen) January 11, 2020 The sultan, whose closest relatives are his cousins, appointed five top officials to a council that would be involved in confirming the new sultan in case of any royal family dispute. Under Omani law, if the royal family failed to agree on a successor, the position would then go to the person whose name is in two sealed letters written by Qaboos. Oman observers had said the sultans three cousins Assad, Shihab and Haitham bin Tariq Al Said stood the best chance. Qaboos, the longest-ruling Arab monarch, was rarely seen in public in recent years due to his illness [File: Hamid al-Qasmi/EPA] Al Jazeeras Diplomatic Editor James Bays, reporting from the United Nations, said the death leaves a political vacuum not just in his country but also in the region. He is a very big loss in the region. Oman played an outsized role in the region, particularly in the Gulf and the wider Middle East, Bays said, pointing out that Qaboos played a crucial role in secret negotiations leading to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. I think people are worried particularly at this time of turbulence, at a time when relations between the US and Iran are so bad, when in recent days the two countries have seen come so close to war. Bays also noted that the death of Qaboos comes at a time when the Gulf Cooperation Council has become deeply divided following the Saudi Arabia-led blockade against Qatar. Thousands of protesters brandished the flag of Scotland as they marched through Glasgow this afternoon to demand Scottish independence. The march began in Kelvingrove Park in the West End at around 11am, with a sea of pro-independence protesters then walking through the city towards Glasgow Green. Some activists held banners reading 'end London rule' and 'Tory scum out' while another wore a T-shirt with 'f*** Boris' printed on the front as demonstrators marched to the sound of drums. Organisers All Under One Banner, who describe themselves as the 'grassroots pressure group for Scottish independence', had planned to gather in the park for a rally after the march but the event was cancelled due to poor weather conditions. A pro-independence protester holds up a placard as she joins a march organised by the grassroots organistaion All Under One Banner calling for Scottish independence in Glasgow Others held a banner reading 'end London rule' as they took to the rain-soaked streets today Protesters held signs reading 'Yes it's time' and 'Back Off ya Roaster we want an Independent Scotland!' But independence supporters from across the country withstood the rain and wind to gather in Glasgow, despite widespread disruption to train and road networks. Glasgow City Council has estimated that around 100,000 people would take part in the event. All Under One Banner later tweeted that approximately 80,000 people had been involved. A much smaller group of unionist counter-demonstrators also took to the streets of Glasgow on Saturday. Police had early warned of 'significant disruption and temporary road closures' as a result of the march. Organisers All Under One Banner had planned to gather in the park for a rally after the march but the event was cancelled due to poor weather conditions Pro-independence protesters march for Scottish independence past a unionist counter-demonstration with Union Flags in Glasgow Glasgow City Council has estimated that around 100,000 people would take part in the event Pro-independence protesters hold up a long banner that reads 'Tory scum out' during a march Demonstrators carried saltires, EU flags and Yes banners as they walked through the city, which appeared to have a heightened police presence due to the march. Ahead of the event, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: 'Good luck to everyone marching for independence in Glasgow today - hope the weather isn't too bad! Sorry I can't be there today, but look forward to seeing you all again soon. In the meantime, sending my support and best wishes.' In December, the First Minister wrote to Boris Johnson calling for a Section 30 order which would grant Holyrood the power to hold a second vote on Scottish independence. Similar marches have been arranged throughout the year, with the next set to take place in Arbroath in April. Demonstrators carried saltires, EU flags and Yes banners as they walked through the city, which appeared to have a heightened police presence due to the march The leaders of Ireland's main Churches have welcomed the agreement reached between Northern Ireland's political parties, the UK and Irish Governments (stock photo) The leaders of Ireland's main Churches have welcomed the agreement reached between Northern Ireland's political parties, the UK and Irish Governments. In a joint statement, leaders of the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church in Ireland, Roman Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Irish Council of Churches said: "We believe the agreement, New Decade, New Approach, is ambitious in its content and reflects a balanced accommodation focused on the common good. "The principles of accountability, transparency and responsibility, identified in the agreement are crucial to underpinning sustainable government and ensuring that the experience of the last three years cannot happen again. "Along with the development of trust and generosity of spirit, these measures offer an opportunity to build a peaceful and just society that is centred around respect and recognition of each other's cultural identity." New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Bangladesh Deputy Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam will not take part in the Raisina Dialogue 2020 slated to be held from January 14 to January 16 in New Delhi, diplomatic sources said on Saturday. Sources added that the Alam cancelled his participation in the conference as he will be accompanying Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her visit to Abu Dhabi. The Raisina Dialogue is India's annual flagship platform on geo-politics and geo-economics. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. Alam is the third Bangladesh leader from Dhaka in recent weeks to cancel a visit to India. Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had cancelled their scheduled visits to India. After Momen had cancelled his visit, the MEA had said that any speculation that the development was connected with the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill was "unwarranted". The Citizenship Amendment Act allows non-Muslim refugees who came to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014 to have Indian citizenship. (ANI) A CANNABIS dealer claimed that weighing scales found in a garda raid on his house were for measuring sugar to put in his tea. Brian Davis (34), who was caught with over 900 worth of the drug, gave an unbelievable explanation that he had the scales because he liked to know exactly how much sugar and salt to put in his tea and on his dinner. He has been given more time to work with the probation service before his case is finalised at Dublin District Court. Davis, of Bunratty Road, Coolock, admitted possession of the cannabis but denied it was for sale or supply. Judge Paula Murphy found him guilty last November and his case was back before the court for a pre-sentence probation report. Judge John Hughes was told there was only a very brief report and there had been issues contacting Davis. He adjourned the case to a date in March for an updated report and told the accused to contact the Probation Service. Davis denied the cash was the proceeds of selling drugs, saying it came from birthday gifts and savings. He said he was on disability allowance of 100 a week and had never worked. He was paying 26 a week rent, was living alone and had a dog to look after. I smoke a lot of weed, he said, insisting the cannabis was for personal use over a month. Of the scales, he said: I weighed my salt and sugar on it. I like to know exactly how much is going into my tea or dinner. Gardai asked him if it would not be of more use in the kitchen. Yeah, he replied, adding that he just left it in the bedroom. He said he paid only 500 for the drugs. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. (TNS) A powerful House Republican on Thursday filed legislation that would ban insurance companies from using people's genetic information to cancel, limit or deny life-insurance policies or long-term care coverage.If incoming House Speaker Chris Sprowls is successful, Florida will be the first state in the nation to prohibit life-insurance and long-term care insurance companies from using the information."I believe there is nothing greater for our privacy than our genetic code," said Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican who is slated to become speaker after the November elections. "Handing that over to large insurance companies is bad public policy."It's unusual for incoming House speakers and Senate presidents to file bills under their names. While bills were filed on the genetic-information issue the past two years, the responsibility of shepherding them through the legislative process was given to other members."It's a badge of honor to take the lead," Sprowls, a cancer survivor, told The News Service of Florida.Federal law already prevents health insurers from using genetic information in underwriting policies and in setting premiums. But the prohibition doesn't apply to life insurance or long-term care coverage, which Sprowls described as a "massive loophole."Sprowls said he discovered the issue in December 2017 when he was applying for life insurance. While he was on hold on the telephone waiting for assistance, he said he was struck by commercials from companies such as 23andMe and AncestryDNA encouraging people to buy genetic tests."And then I wondered, how long is it going to be until the person on the phone is going to ask me for that?" Sprowls recalled.In addition to preventing life insurers and long-term care insurers from using the information in making policy decisions, Sprowls' bill (HB 1189) also would block the companies from requiring or soliciting genetic information from applicants.Florida isn't the only state to look at the issue. According to a Florida legislative staff analysis last year, California, New Jersey, and New York require insurers to get informed consent when requesting genetic testing for life or disability insurance.Also, Massachusetts prohibits unfair discrimination on the basis of genetic information or tests and prevents requiring applicants or existing policyholders to undergo genetic testing. In Arizona, life and disability insurance carriers are prohibited from using genetic information for underwriting or ratemaking unless supported by an applicant's medical condition, medical history and either claims experience or actuarial projections."Other states are privacy light," Sprowls said, noting that the Florida bill, which would preclude the use of any DNA data is "the most aggressive in the country."Sprowls has considerable influence in the House, which passed an identical bill last year. But the proposal, which is adamantly opposed by insurance companies, hit a snag in the Senate.Curt Leonard, regional vice president for state relations for the American Council of Life Insurers, said his association is concerned about how the proposal would disrupt the insurance market and raise prices for consumers."We look forward to an open dialogue and process to make sure we protect consumers as the bill sponsor desires and also keep coverage affordable and accessible," Leonard said in a statement.Insurance lobbyist Mark Delegal said that if people know they are predisposed to diseases or chronic illnesses because of genetic test results, insurance companies also should have access to that information."It's the bilateral nature of the information," said Delegal, who represents New York Life Insurance Co. and State Farm. "If the consumer has it, we need it."Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, told the News Service in December that he supports a compromise proposal similar one that was proposed during the 2019 session.Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, drafted a bill last year that would have allowed the information to be used if genetic tests were ordered by physicians and were part of a patients' medical records."If you take the test for fun, it's totally off limits. Totally off limits," Bean told the News Service. "But if your doctor orders one as part of diagnosis, then that should be fair game and in your health profile. To me, that's the Senate position."But with the 2020 session starting Tuesday, Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, has filed a bill (SB 1564) that is a Senate companion to Sprowls' measure. Stargel in a prepared statement said she is proud to work with Sprowls on the issue and encouraged lawmakers to support the proposal. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andreas Diantoro (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 11, 2020 Indonesia is highly regarded as a decacorn hotbed. But the country has a lot more to offer the world and make its name known, as the small made in Indonesia label often found on the back of exported products can be mightier than it seems much like the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that hold the key to differentiating Indonesia as it becomes one of the worlds largest economies by 2050. Business optimism is on the rise in Indonesia, with 98 percent of companies expecting to grow in the next one to two years, surpassing global sentiment (79 percent) according to HSBCs recent survey of over 2,500 companies worldwide. Whether this is due to the fact that Indonesia has seen the stellar rise of several decacorns in the past three short years or subject to the confidence of its government, the market seems ready to push forward. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Water cannon was used against the Kerala Students Union (KSU) protesters during their march to Raj Bhawan against the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) violence. Earlier today, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) President Aishe Ghosh in Delhi at Kerala House. This comes after violence by a masked mob of miscreants who entered the university campus recently and attacked the students and professors with sticks and rods. More than 30 students, including Ghosh, were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. The Delhi Police Crime Branch investigating the case of violence in JNU had identified and released photographs of nine suspects, including that of Aishe Ghosh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, in his Telegram channel, expressed condolences to the people of Oman, relatives and friends of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who had ruled the country since 1970. By the will of Almighty Allah, the Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said went to the Righteous World. I express my condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Qaboos bin Said and to all people of the Sultanate of Oman! Kadyrov wrote in his Telegram channel, RIA Novosti reports. By Chey Hyoung-kyu Chey Hyoung-kyu A grand Spring Festival gala is going to be staged in Houston, the fourth largest U.S. city, on Saturday. Performed by local artists and art lovers, the gala will feature dancing, Peking Opera, traditional Chinese music and popular Chinese and American songs, said the organizer. It will be the largest of its kind in Houston. Deputy Chinese Consul General in Houston Liu Hongmei said at a briefing earlier that the gala will be "a good way to showcase traditional Chinese culture, as well as to express the thoughts on the beloved hometown and the good wishes to the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year." The show will be presented by the Houston Chinese Civic Center and co-organized by the Chinese Consulate General in Houston and other Chinese communities in Houston. Authorities to submit immediate report on Quetta attack: Imran Khan ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that he had directed authorities to submit an "immediate report on the condemnable, cowardly terrorist attack" in Quetta on Friday, which claimed the lives of 15 people including a senior police official. In a tweet, the premier hailed the martyred deputy superintendent of police (DSP) as a "brave and exemplary officer". He added that he had asked the Balochistan government to ensure the injured victims are provided with medical facilities. "I have demanded an immediate report on the condemnable cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta targeting a mosque and people at prayers. Have asked provincial govt to ensure all medical facilities are provided to the injured. Martyred DSP Haji Amanullah was a brave and exemplary officer," the prime minister tweeted. A deadly blast had ripped through a mosque during evening prayers on Friday night in Quetta, killing 15 people, including DSP Amanullah. At least 19 people were reported to be injured in the attack, which authorities said was a suicide blast. The injured and the deceased were shifted to Quetta's Civil Hospital while an emergency was imposed in all hospitals of the city. The director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, had also tweeted yesterday, announcing that Frontier Corps personnel had reached the blast site and were carrying out a search operation along with police. Every possible assistance be given to police and civil administration, the tweet quoted Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying, adding that those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim. Donald Trump's Doonbeg Hotel and Shannon Airport are not being targeted for revenge attacks, the Iranian ambassador to Ireland has said. Masoud Eslami made the remarks in the wake of the assassination of Iran's Major General Qasem Soleimani by the United States. Mr Eslami said General Soleimani is held in the same esteem in Iran as revolutionary hero Michael Collins is in Ireland. He claimed his assassination in Iraq was "outrageous state-sponsored terrorism". Mr Eslami initially said he would rule out any Iranian retaliation targeting Shannon "for the time being" but later said he could "absolutely" rule it out. He urged the Irish Government to reconsider allowing the US military the use of Shannon Airport. The United States has defended the killing of General Soleimani, insisting he orchestrated terrorism and was responsible for the deaths of more than 600 US soldiers. Mr Eslami said Iran has a right to self-defence and any retaliation "will be proportionate". New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Amid the protests against the CAA and JNU violence in various colleges across the country, Congress leader KC Venugopal on Saturday said that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) stands with the youth and students in their fight for defending the Constitution. "The Congress Working Committee expresses its solidarity with the youth and the students in their fight for defending the Constitution, standing for independent and creative learning and aspiring for employment-linked education at a minimal expense," said Venugopal in a press conference. Citing various protests at various universities like Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia University, the AICC general secretary said, "A concerted attack on Constitution, rampant unemployment, commercialization of education, unprecedented fee hikes and autocratic refusal to listen to voice and concerns of youth-students have led to spontaneous protests across the colleges and university campuses." "BJP government realises that students and the young cannot be divided through its sectarian agenda. Hence, a designed conspiracy has been unleashed to attack the centres of creative and independent thinking -- colleges and universities," he said. Cornering the Centre, he alleged that the Prime Minister and the BJP government have "betrayed the trust of the youth." "Modi government has "unleashed the entire might of the brute state power to suppress, subjugate and stifle the voice of the youth and students across the country," he said. The Congress leader said that the CWC resolves that every worker of the Congress Party will work alongside India's youth and the students in this endeavour. "CWC adopted a resolution relating to the student agitation and atrocities against the students and have adopted a statement relating to the various political subjects," he said. (ANI) The severe weather event that forecasters have been warning about for nearly a week was winding down on Saturday night. At least three were killed in Pickens County Here are live updates from todays storms Most of the state has been given the all clear for severe weather, but a few storms persisted for the southeast corner of the state -- and those were packing some strong winds: 6:05 PM EST Radar Update: A 64 mph wind gust (48 mph sustained) was observed at Dothan Regional Airport at 6:01 PM EST. Strong wind gusts will continue along the main line of thunderstorms as it move east into southwest Georgia. #alwx #gawx pic.twitter.com/r6BEYKQFuI NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) January 11, 2020 Widespread severe weather has been reported today, and the National Weather Service has been getting an incredible number of reports of trees and power lines down as well as structural damage from across the state. The National Weather Service in Birmingham also confirmed earlier today that three people had died in a Pickens County storm near Carrollton. Reports of trees and power lines down continue to pour into the office. Please take shelter if in a warning! Also, if you must travel across western Central AL, please drive carefully as some roads could still be blocked. NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 11, 2020 At one time today Alabama was covered by three tornado watches, but All of those had expired or been canceled. As of 6:15 p.m. no county in Alabama was under a watch. There were multiple severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued on Saturday. The weather service in Birmingham said a confirmed tornado hit in Pickens County earlier this afternoon and that local emergency managers were responding to calls about damage in the Carrollton area. Three people died in that storm. The weather service said that at least two tornado debris signatures were observed on radar today. Storm survey teams will head on Sunday to Pickens near Carrollton, where three deaths were reported, Greene County near Forkland and Barbour County near Baker Hill to asses damage and determine how many tornadoes touched down and how strong they were. The weather service in Huntsville will make the decision later tonight or tomorrow whether it will send out a team in north Alabama. Drier and slightly cooler weather will follow todays storms on Sunday, but temperatures are expected to stay above average for January. However that wont last long: More rain and storms will be possible early next week as well. By John Mair and Lidia Kelly SYDNEY (Reuters) - Bushfire conditions eased in Australia on Saturday after a grueling night for firefighters, with authorities saying they expect at least a week of milder weather in which to step up defenses against the huge blazes still burning. Cooler temperatures and rainfall had eased conditions after Friday's strong southerly wind change that packed gusts of more than 100 kph (60 mph), whipping some fires on the east coast up to the emergency warning level. The much needed respite was an opportunity to consolidate and try and get the upper hand over the fires, said Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service. "It would appear that we have got at least a week," Fitzsimmons told a media briefing. "It will probably be the best seven days we have had without a rise of very dangerous fire ratings." New South Wales police said in a statement that areas not affected by the bushfires of the South Coast, a popular holiday destination, are in a position to reopen for business, although national parks remain close until Feb. 1. Officials have been urging foreign tourists to continue visiting Australia, which depends on income from tourism as the industry accounts for 3.1% of the country's gross domestic product. South Australian fire officials said the situation on Kangaroo Island has stabilized after more than 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres) had burnt in blazes described as "hell on earth", by the island's mayor, Michael Pengill, on Twitter. Since October, 27 people have been killed in Australia and thousands subjected to repeat evacuations as huge and unpredictable fires scorched more than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres), an area roughly the size of South Korea. The Sydney Opera House was expected to illuminate its sails on Saturday evening with a display of images from the last three months of the fire crisis, honoring those affected and those fighting the flames. Story continues Despite Saturday's respite, authorities were clear, however, that the risk was far from over. "It is great to have some respite now, so we can reset and refocus in terms of our operational activities and what we can do to support community, but we will have more hot weather," Andrew Crisp, Victoria's emergency management commissioner, told reporters. Here are key events in the crisis: * Across New South Wales, nearly 140 fires were stillburning by Saturday afternoon, 59 of them not contained, butnone at emergency level. About 2,000 homes have been destroyedin the state. * One New South Wales person was taken to hospital in Sydneyon Friday with serious burns suffered while defending aproperty. * One fire was still burning at emergency level in Victoriaon Saturday from a total of about 20 burning there. * A number of fires burning in the Snowy Mountains region inNew South Wales and across into Victoria have merged across morethan 600,000 hectares (1.5 million acres) of land. They do notpose a threat, authorities say, despite being in an area hard toreach. * Victoria emergency services minister Lisa Neville urgedcommunities affected by the fires to use the expected milderweather conditions to check on each other. * Thousands of Australians took to the streets on Friday toprotest against government inaction on climate change, and weresupported by protesters in London. * Westpac estimated total bushfire losses to date at aboutA$5 billion ($3.4 billion), higher than the 2009 bushfires inVictoria but smaller than the Queensland floods in 2010/11. Itforecast a hit of 0.2% to 0.5% on gross domestic product. * Australia's alpine resorts have dusted off wintersnowmaking machines to blast ice-cold water onto dry ski slopes. * The Insurance Council of Australia increased to more thanA$900 million its estimate of damage claims from the fires, andthey are expected to jump further. * Health officials in New South Wales urged extraprecautions to avoid heat-related illnesses. * Australia's wildfires have dwarfed other recentcatastrophic blazes, with its burnt terrain more than twice theextent of that ravaged by 2019 fires in Brazil, California andIndonesia combined. * Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged A$2 billion($1.4 billion) to a newly created National Bushfire RecoveryAgency. * About 100 firefighters from the United States and Canadaare helping, with another 140 expected in coming weeks. * The fires have emitted 400 megatonnes of carbon dioxideand produced harmful pollutants, the European Union's Copernicusmonitoring program said. * Smoke has drifted across the Pacific, affecting cities inSouth America, and may have reached the Antarctic, the U.N.'sWorld Meteorological Organization said. (Reporting by John Mair and Lidia Kelly; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall, Clarence Fernandez & Shri Navaratnam) Pakistans Border Action Team is suspected to have decapitated a porter, who was among two civilians killed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Friday, officials said. This is the first time that any civilian has been beheaded by BAT, which comprises Pakistani army regulars and terrorists, though similar incidents involving security personnel have taken place in the past, they said. The body of Mohammad Aslam (28) was badly mutilated and his head was missing, a senior police officer said. Asked about the killings by Pakistan, Army chief Gen MM Naravane said on Saturday that professional armies never resort to barbaric acts and they will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner. A defence spokesman had earlier said Aslam and Altaf Hussain (23), both residents of Kassalian village of Gulpur sector, were killed and three others injured after being hit by a mortar shell when Pakistani Army targeted a group of Army porters carrying logistics for troops in a forward area close the LoC on Friday. However, officials said on Saturday that the head of one of the porters was missing and was believed to have been taken away by the BAT. The body of Aslam was headless when handed over to police for completion of legal formalities. The bodies of both porters were handed over to their families and their last rites were conducted in their villages on Friday evening, the police officer said on condition of anonymity. He said the injured porters Mohamamd Saleem (24), Mohammad Showkat (28) and Nawaz Ahmad (35) were undergoing treatment in the hospital and their condition was stable. We will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner, Gen Naravane said when asked about the incident during a press conference in the Capital ahead of the Army Day. He said the Indian Army conducts itself in the most professional and ethical manner including on the LoC. Professional armies never resort to barbaric acts, he said. Opposition Congress strongly condemned the killings and questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Rajnath Singh were silent on the barbarism by Pakistan. Is the news of martyrdom run taking into account the government in power? Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. When will Pakistans cowardly acts be given a befitting reply? 10 heads for 1 when? Surjewala said on Twitter. An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander says his unit accepts full responsibility for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane. Tehran: An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander says his unit accepts full responsibility for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane. In an address broadcast by State TV on Saturday, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh says that when he learned about the downing of the plane, which killed all 176 passengers on board, I wished I were dead. Iran's armed forces say they mistook the passenger plane for a hostile target in the tense aftermath of Iran's ballistic missile attack on two military bases in Iraq housing US troops. That attack was retaliation for the killing of Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, in an American airstrike in Baghdad. The Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT featured in the film Bullitt was sold Friday at a Florida auction house for $3.74 million. The sale at Mecum Kissimmee marks the most expensive Mustang ever sold, surpassing a 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake that sold last year for $2.2million, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Owner Sean Kiernan, with his sister Kelly Cotton riding shotgun, drove the car across the auction block at Silver Spurs Arena and then addressed a crowd of about 25,000 before the bidding started. 'This car had sold twice in its life, it's been in my family for 45 years. Each time it has sold, it was $3,500,' Kiernan said. People surround the 1968 Bullitt Mustang GT car on Friday in Kissimmee, Florida The Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT sold at auction on Friday for a record $3.4million Owner Sean Kiernan, with his sister Kelly Cotton riding shotgun, drove the car across the auction block at Silver Spurs Arena and then addressed a crowd of about 25,000 before the bidding started In the movie, the Mustang was made famous during a ten-minute high-speed car chase. Steve McQueen (above) had raced it through the streets of San Francisco in pursuit of ill-fated characters in a black 1968 Dodge Charger 'So were going to start it off at that price and go from there.' The auction house posted an 11-minute video of the auction on YouTube. Bidding surpassed $3million in the first minute. The top bid went back and forth between someone present and a bidder on the phone for several minutes before the mystery buyer on the phone won, agreeing to pay $3.4million plus a 10 percent buyer's premium. Kiernan's father, Robert, bought the car after seeing an ad in a 1974 issue of Road & Track magazine. The New Jersey family used it as a daily commuter until the clutch gave out in 1980. In the late 1970s, Steve McQueen, who played the title character in Bullitt, tracked down the Kiernans and asked if he could reclaim the muscle car in return for a similar Mustang. In the movie, the Mustang was made famous during a ten minute high-speed car chase. McQueen had raced it through the streets of San Francisco in pursuit of ill-fated characters in a black 1968 Dodge Charger. 'I would like to appeal to you to get back my 68 Mustang,' McQueen wrote to the Kiernans in a 1977 letter. 'I would like very much to keep it in the family, in its original condition as it was used in the film, rather than have it restored; which is simply personal with me.' Kiernan's father, Robert, bought the car after seeing an ad in a 1974 issue of Road & Track magazine Molly McQueen, granddaughter of actor Steve McQueen, is seen above introducing Ford's 2019 Mustang Bullitt at a Detroit autoshow in 2018 The New York Times obtained the letter which Kiernan never responded to, the outlet reported. Robert and Sean Kiernan began working on the Mustang in 2001. After Robert Kiernans death in 2014, Sean Kiernan finished the car and revealed it to the world. Following the car's sale, Sean Kiernan said he doesn't think a more expensive Mustang will ever be sold. 'As far as Mustangs go, this is it. With dad being down in the record books forever, thats what matters to me,' he said. 'I've been at peace with the sale for probably eight months now. Were just having fun with this.' The model is one of Ford's most famous Mustang cars, out of more than 10 million sold since the models debut in 1964. An employee of Hagerty, the classic-car insurer, was called in to inspect and authenticate it, as was a Ford expert. Kiernan said the decision to sell was a difficult one. He chose the auctioneer Mecum, as it had set a record for 2019 for sales of Mustang-based cars when it got $2.2million for a 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake. A Hagerty spokesman, Jonathan Klinger told the New York Times: 'There is still a very active portion of collector-car culture that thinks of Steve McQueen as the ultimate car guy. The King of Cool.' He said he looked up the show, first made popular in a similarly formatted British program, and decided to take a chance on something far beyond his comfort zone. Skup said he had been dating, but in no serious relationships when he first learned of the show. Doing this show was a challenge, Skup said. It gives you so much confidence to do something I never thought I would do. Not much of a dancer professionally, Skup recalls dancing through the years at weddings and sock hops some at his alma mater, Bishop Noll. When he got to the set in November, Skup said rehearsals were intense, likening them to basic training in the military. But, with time, Skup said, he grew more confident in his skill and in dancing with his choreographer. The real challenge, Skup said, would be applying those same steps in a dance with two total strangers. Producers staged the performances on the iconic Queen Mary ship, docked in Long Beach, California. Dance dates First, Skup would meet with 56-year-old dentist Kari Sakurai on the ships deck for an upbeat performance set to The Supremes You Cant Hurry Love. Dear Abby: Parents frequently write to you asking for advice about their children, seemingly asking permission to butt in where they should not. When I was in my 20s, I dated a guy who had just returned from the Navy. I saw him and others while working and going to college. Sometimes Id drive 40 miles to visit him and stay with my mother. At some point, he told me we wouldnt be seeing each other anymore. He doesnt remember the details of the conversation, and neither do I. I liked him very much and may have been in love. I found out years later that my mother had called him to her house and told him to marry me or let me go. We were both young and not ready for marriage. I have no idea what possessed her to do that. Sometimes I wish I had talked with her about it, but it wouldnt have changed anything. He and I have visited a few times during the past few years. We both married wonderful people, had kids, and have had good lives. Yet there has always been the question: What if Mom had not interfered? Abby, please advise parents to mind their own business, especially where adult children are involved. Fifty Years Wondering Dear F.Y.W.: Whether that romance would have led to marriage had your mother stayed out of it, I cant guess and neither can you. Fortunately, you and the young man went on to have happy lives and successful marriages. Some mothers cant resist the temptation to interfere in their adult childrens lives. Today, when it is constant, its called helicopter parenting, and the unfortunate result can be disabling rather than helping because it prevents children from resolving their own issues. Dear Abby: My 30-plus-year-old brother struggles with substance abuse. It has been going on for years. After countless trips to rehab, inpatient, outpatient and all the step programs, he still uses. Periodically hell be sober for a short time, but it never lasts. For a long time, I have been torn between total disassociation or the sporadic run-in at family events. Seven months ago, his baby boy was born with narcotics in his system. Birds of a feather flock together, I guess. Since then, he hasnt been invited to my home or any event I have hosted. My mother and the rest of my siblings still invite him into their homes and act as if his lifestyle choices are OK. Am I supposed to boycott family functions (holiday gatherings, summer BBQs, birthday parties for my kids, nieces and nephews) because they all continue allowing him to attend? I honestly dont know what is right here. Please help. Had Enough in New York Dear Had Enough: Your brother has an addiction he cannot seem to shake. It is a disease that, in spite of treatment, persists. If you prefer not to include him at events you host or invite him into your home, that is your right. But for you to forgo family events in an attempt to punish him is isolating only yourself, and I see nothing positive to be gained by it. Because your feelings about this situation are so strong, the ultimate decision is yours. To receive a collection of Abbys most memorable and most frequently requested poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price. DearAbby.com Dear Abby P.O. Box 69440 Los Angeles, CA 90069. Andrews McMeel Syndication Mumbai, Jan 11 : Actress Amrita Dhanoa, who is said to be the former girlfriend of evicted "Bigg Boss 13" contestant Arhaan Khan, has been arrested for her involvement in a sex racket that was busted in Mumbai. For the uninitiated, Amrita recently came into the spotlight when she accused Arhaan of duping her of Rs 5 lakh. She also claimed that he was cheating her while they were in a relationship. Unconfirmed sources state they were in a relationship from 2006 to 2010. There are several reports claiming that Amrita and a model named Richa Singh were supplying female sex workers to clients. Not much is known about Amrita's Bollywood career either, except that her page on imdb.com credits her as featuring in films titled "Unlimited Nasha", "Parveen Bobby" and "The World Of Fashion". The case that has brought her in the limelight was carried out under the supervision of Joint Commissioner of Police Vinayak Choubey. A Mumbai Police squad lead by Balu Deshmukh raided a four-star hotel at Grant Road. It came to light that a pimp named Sameer, in an online sex racket, was supplying female escorts through web portals and online sites. Two girls were rescued by the team. The hotel confirmed the report. "We are writing this to inform that there was a police raid conducted in our hotel last night dated where they had allegedly laid a trap by sending two men to book rooms. Later it was portrayed that these guest had invited call girls in their room where they were caught. During the investigation, we have given full co operation to the police department," read a statement by the hotel management, through which they requested anonymity. "We would like to highlight that the manage mentor the staff were nowhere involved in this act. The police had laid a trap by sending the guest directly at the hotel reception to book the room," read the statement. Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 13 Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 14 Soleimani plotted 4 attacks on our embassies, Trump says "We caught a total monster. We took them out. And that should have happened a long time ago. We did it because they were looking to blow up our embassy," Trump said on Friday. The former head of Iran's regional operations was plotting attacks on four US embassies when he was killed, President Donald Trump claimed in excerpts of an interview that will air Friday. "QASEM SOLEIMANI HIMSELF WAS PLOTTING A BROAD" Qasem Soleimani was killed Jan. 3 by a US drone strike in Baghdad. US officials claimed if he was not killed, hundreds of American lives would have been lost. Asked about the mysterious large-scale attacks that his administration has so far refused to divulge details on, Trump told Fox News "I can reveal that I believe it probably wouldve been four embassies." Asked about the matter when addressing reporters at the White House earlier Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. had "specific information" that included threats to US facilities including embassies and military installations. "We dont know exactly which day it wouldve been executed. But it was very clear: Qasem Soleimani himself was plotting a broad, large-scale attack against American interests. And those attacks were imminent," he said. Police in South Florida found the body of a Utah woman who went missing while on a business trip. Kelly Glover, 37, of Holladay was last seen at The Westin hotel in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday at around 2am. Glover traveled to Florida with a friend, according to her husband, Adam Bremer. Bremer posted a message on his Facebook page on Saturday which read: 'It is with broken hearts we share that Kelly Glovers body was found around 12pm ET on January 11th. 'Investigation is ongoing. 'Funeral arrangements will be in Salt Lake City and announced when we have details. Kelly Glover is pictured with her husband, Adam Bremer. She had traveled to Florida with a friend for work Bremer flew to South Florida after he was unable to contact his wife. He announced on Facebook on Saturday that his wife's body was found Bremer announced on Saturday that his wife's body was found at around noon 'The family thanks everyone for their support and generosity during this time.' The sad news brings the frantic search for Glover to an end. Bremer flew to South Florida from Utah to aid in the search while asking the public for help in finding his wife. Her friend went to bed early, Bremer told KSL-TV on Friday. My wife was still up and her friend woke up around 4am, and my wife was nowhere to be found and the door was left open. Bremer said his wife was filmed by surveillance cameras heading to exit stairs in the hotel in her pajamas with no shoes on at 2am. She was holding a water bottle. There is no actual footage of her outside of the building, according to KSTU-TV. Bremer told WPLG-TV that his wife left her belongings, including her cell phone and purse, behind in the room, which costs around $200 a night. She left it in the room and thats the last weve seen of her ... We text each other every morning I get up before her, an anguished Bremer said. I hadnt heard from her by 9am I knew something was wrong, sent a few more, the second her friend called me I already knew. When Bremer was told his wife was missing, he hopped on a plane from Salt Lake City and flew to South Florida. The image above is a stock photo of The Westin Fort Lauderdale, where Glover was last seen She was on a business trip when she mysteriously vanished, according to her husband Shes got a sweet spirit and shes a very sweet girl and she has a big heart,' Bremer said of his wife. 'Shes a good person, an amazing wife.' Kelly Glover, 37, of Holladay, Utah, has been missing since she was last seen at a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hotel, on Thursday at 2am Bremer added: Shes got a sweet spirit and shes a very sweet girl and she has a big heart. Shes a good person, an amazing wife. Shes my best friend. According to her LinkedIn page, Glover is a project manager with a focus on strategy, campaign management, and brand alignment. Her most recent employer is CHG Healthcare, a health maintenance organization based in Midvale, Utah. A spokesperson for CHG Healthcare told DailyMail.com that Glover was in Florida with a member of the company's video team to film a project. The company made travel arrangements for Bremer to fly out to Fort Lauderdale to help in the search for Glover. An unspecified number of Glover's colleagues from the company are also assisting in the search. 'She is a great employee, a valued member of our team,' the spokesperson, Spencer Sutherland, told DailyMail.com. 'And shes been with the company for many years, and is a great employee. 'Were all shocked by the news and sending all of our love and our support for Kellys famliy right now and hoping for a quick return.' Fisheries-India-Exploitation Tonnes of fish caught through unsustainable fishing are being used by the fish meal and fish oil (FMFO) industries which 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 (CM) 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 study report, Fishing For Catastrophe. As part of the study, in India, two regions were selectedthe 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 $1.20 billion. Its domestic feed mills (fish feed factories of India) have the capacity to produce 2.88 million metric tonnes (MT), said the study. Vasudev Boloor, who is Karnataka Coastal Fishermens Action Committee general secretary, told us that as the FMFO industries buy waste fish or bycatch (fish or other marine species caught unintentionally while catching certain targeted species) 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. Story continues 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 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 told us. 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, in bottom trawling nets with mesh size more than 35 millimetres should be used and in other methods of fishing nets with mesh size, 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, Mohamed, principal scientist at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), told us. Fishing trawlers at a port in Karnataka. 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 are 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, which is 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, the CM study emphasised. 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 (like oil sardines) has led to overfishing, resulting in reduced stocks of small pelagics in some parts of the country, the policy said. Extinction of fish? Mohamed said that juvenile catch could result in fish extinction as well as restrain fishermen from a better profit. In juvenile catch, we dont allow a fish to grow to its maximum size. With that fishermen will not get a good price, as well as 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. Local 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 these species 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 to be hit? The CM report emphasised that sardine is a staple food in the south of 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. Sooner we will lose other species too, Krishna said. Experts point out that juvenile catch could result in fish extinction and impact profits of fishermen. 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 here (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 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 was 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 among the fishermen community in Mangalore, while seeking anonymity. People living near the plants suffocate with a 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, he alleged. 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 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. Regulating the mesh size of fishing nets is another solution often suggested to control juvenile fish. 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 Council (MSC), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), and IFFO (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 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. This piece first appeared on Mongabay-India. We welcome your comments at ideas.india@qz.com. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 17:02:09|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close A shoe is seen at the air crash site of a Boeing 737 Ukrainian passenger plane in Parand district, southern Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 8, 2020. Iran's state TV on Saturday quoted the Iranian military as saying that it "unintentionally" shot down the Ukrainian jetliner on Wednesday, in which all the 176 passengers and crew members on board were killed. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua) TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's armed forces on Saturday confirmed that an "unintentional" missile launch by the country's military was the cause of the Ukrainian International Airlines passenger plane crash over Tehran airspace on Wednesday. The Ukrainian plane "was mistaken for a hostile target" near an Iranian "sensitive military site of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps" on Wednesday amid rising threats by the United States, a statement by the Iranian armed forces published by the official IRNA news agency read. The incident was due to "human error," the statement was cited as saying. The Iranian armed forces apologized for the disaster, saying that those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. The Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane, with 176 people onboard, crashed on Wednesday near Tehran, leaving no survivors. The chief of Iran's Aviation Organization on Friday had rejected reports that an Iranian missile had hit the Ukranian passenger plane in Tehran's airspace. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday said that an Iranian "Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane and death of 176 innocent people." "Investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake," Rouhani tweeted. The Islamic republic deeply regrets this disastrous mistake, he said, adding that "My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences." Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Saturday also blamed the action of Iranian armed forces on U.S. "adventurism." "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster," Zarif tweeted. "Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations," he said. On Saturday, Iran's Judiciary vowed to prosecute those who committed the catastrophe. Related: Iran's IRGC accepts "responsibility" for crash of Ukrainian plane Photo: Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images Despite what you might have heard, Ian McKellens creative process isnt quite as simple as pretending to be the person hes portraying in the film or play. In case youre still unconvinced, however, the esteemed actor tweeted a link to an online diary he kept while filming Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy, spanning from 1999 to 2001, then again from 2002 to 2003, and invites you to peruse it. 20 years ago, I arrived New Zealand to begin filming The Lord of the Rings, he wrote. I joined the cast on January 10, 2000. During that time, I kept a journal, which today would be called a blog. Perhaps youll enjoy reading about those heady times. 20 years ago, I arrived New Zealand to begin filming "The Lord of the Rings." I joined the cast on January 10, 2000. During that time, I kept a journal, which today would be called a blog Perhaps you'll enjoy reading about those heady times: https://t.co/bJ6Nsqgwi2 Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) January 10, 2020 In his wonderfully late 90s blog (the website might be swamped right now, so if it isnt displaying, just refresh it a few times), Sir Ian ruminates on acting, cinema and the responsibility he feels to fans when crafting his portrayal of author J.R.R. Tolkiens beloved wizard Gandalf the Grey. I take comfort from the general assurance that they approve of the casting (not just of me but of all the other actors so far announced-thrilling news that Cate Blanchette is joining us), he wrote on October 14, 1999, when his cast mates had begun filming ahead of his arrival. Yet how can I satisfy everyones imagined Gandalf? Simply, I cant. It bears repeating that, as with Richard III or James Whale or Magneto, I must discover Gandalf somewhere inside myself - and that process depends on absorbing the words of the script and its story, listening to the reactions of the director and responding to the performances of the rest of the cast, McKellen. So now, still 3 months away from shooting (for me), my Gandalf doesnt exist, not even in my mind. He will only come to life as the camera turns and discoveries are made in the very moment. Even when I am in the thick of it, in costume and make-up and speaking Tolkiens words, Im not sure I will be able to describe the character to you. Actors dont describe - they inhabit. You can read more of his inner musings here. Six workers were killed and several others injured in an explosion at an industrial and medical gas manufacturing factory in Gujarat's Vadodara district on Saturday morning, the police said. The explosion took place around 11 am at Aims Industries near Gavasad village in Padra tehsil. The plant is located off Padra-Jambusar highway, a senior police official said. The injured were taken to a hospital in Atladara near Vadodara. "Six workers were killed and as many were injured," Superintendent of Police (Vadodara Rural) Sudhir Desai told PTI. "Earlier we had learned that eight people were dead, but now it is confirmed that the toll is six," he added. A team of forensic science laboratory officials was on the spot to investigate the cause of the blast which apparently took place when gas was being refilled in cylinders, he said. "We will register a First Information Report based on the evidence the FSL team collects and ensure that those responsible for the explosion get maximum punishment," the SP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Michael Roskos admits that the first time he and his wife got a call asking for money for their local police, they gave it to them. It would take a few more calls and a little detective work before he found out that the company making those calls on behalf of law enforcement was actually keeping about 80 percent of what donors were coughing up. Wisconsin has about a dozen professional organizations and unions representing public safety workers some of which are organized as charities or have charitable affiliates. And documents filed with the state show that a handful of those charitable groups use third-party fundraisers that pocket the vast majority of the money they raise on behalf of the groups firefighter and law enforcement members. I just feel like its shady in the sense that its really easy for the police organizations to raise money (with the help of the fundraisers), said Roskos, who lives in La Crosse. The public doesnt realize where the funds go to. Some of the police and fire groups that hire fundraisers, though, say they wouldnt be able to raise money without their help. Typical of the arrangements is the contract signed in January 2019 by the state firefighters union, Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, and Charitable Resource Foundation, of CRF Inc., of Greenwood, Indiana. The three-year deal gives CRF responsibility for making telephone, direct mail and digital fundraising pleas and, in return, allows it to keep 85 percent of what it takes in. Theres little to ensure donors know that, though. Nothing in the contract spells out exactly what CRF employees must tell potential donors about who they are raising money for and how much of it goes to the union, and theres nothing in state law that requires fundraisers to make those disclosures without being asked. Although if fundraisers lie to potential donors, they could be subject to sanctions under the states deceptive trade practices law. The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has long warned residents to beware of solicitations on behalf of public safety groups, noting on its website that most citizens hold law enforcement and public safety personnel in high regard and this sense of loyalty may lead you to donate to groups which align themselves with causes related to police or fire fighters. It advises those who get fundraising calls on behalf of public safety groups to ask where the group is located, whether the caller is being paid, what percentage of donations actually go to the group, and what the group will do with the money donated. Tight-lipped Roskos said the solicitations he received came from a Manitowoc-based company called Encore Music Productions, which was raising money for the La Crosse Police Departments K-9 unit and the Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association, or WSDSA. He said he found out about the companys generous take when he followed up with its clients because Encore itself wasnt saying much. He said that when hes asked the company how much of his donation goes to law enforcement, their first line is we dont know or it varies. He said hes also been told that the law enforcement groups are guaranteed a specific amount, but that when he asks for documentation explaining those arrangements, theres nothing they can point me to that validates what theyre saying. The state Department of Financial Institutions lists Encore Music Productions registered agent as John Tobin, of Manitowoc. Its business registration is up to date, but its state fundraising license expired at the end of August. A manager at Encores office who would only identify himself as John declined to comment. WSDSAs business manager, Sandy Schueller, said the group typically gets 20 percent of what Encore raises, but is guaranteed a minimum of $60,000 a year. She said she didnt know what Encore tells potential donors about how much of the money it raises goes to her organization, but I obviously tell anyone who reaches out to us. The La Crosse police union, the La Crosse Professional Police Nonsupervisory Association, has been an Encore client for many years, its vice president, Dale Gerbig, said Friday, although it hasnt raised money for the departments K-9 unit. He did not have access to how much of what the company raises goes to the union but said the union is very satisfied with its work, which includes not only telemarketing but event management. He said he could understand that somebody could perceive it as shady, but that the 60-member union wouldnt be able to do its own fundraising and that some of the money Encore raises for the union allows the union in turn to donate to worthy causes, such as the Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Club. Big piece of the action WSDSA is one of two public safety groups the State Journal reviewed that appear from financial information filed with the state to spend the bulk of their money on fundraising. The 75-year-old organization says on its website that it exists to create a community between the Sheriffs, Deputy Sheriffs and Jail Officers in Wisconsin with the shared goal of promoting better public welfare. It said it lobbies the state Legislature on law enforcement-related matters, holds conferences, publishes an annual magazine and offers seven $500 scholarships every year. But reports the association has filed with DFI over the years consistently show the biggest parts of its budget is for fundraising. In 2017, the most recent year for which records are available, the WSDSA reported collecting $295,947 in contributions, but spending $218,306 on fundraising. The second group, Delavan-based Wisconsin County Police Association, spent between 85% and 96% of its reported contributions on fundraising from 2003 to 2017 meaning its third-party fundraiser is keeping most of what it raises for the group for itself. In 2017, the most recent year for which financial reports are available, the group, which is also known as the County Law Enforcement Professionals of Wisconsin, took in $139,859 in contributions and spent $131,356 on fundraising. Its fundraising contract with New Jersey-based Community Cares United provides it with 18% of what the company raises on its behalf. A separate contract with Public Safety Programs and subcontractor Fund America Inc., both located outside Chicago, provide the group with 17% of the funds they raise for shows, events and an advertising book,with the police group guaranteed a minimum of $5,000 annually. Wisconsin County Police Association executive director Robert Wierenga said the 71-year-old group is primarily a lobbying organization with 3,600 members from county sheriffs offices across the state. It also awards scholarships and some grants. Our members do not pay dues, and the only source of income we have is through telemarketing fundraising, he said. Wierenga said that his organization is getting more from its fundraiser than many other groups do from theirs, but the split appears to be disproportionately unfair to those not involved in it. The Mosinee-based Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officers Association which publishes a journal, offers scholarships and has its own members-only campground in Waupaca also solicits sponsorships with the help of fundraiser United Partners Outreach of Brainerd, Minnesota. Its contract allows United Partners Outreach to keep 85% of what it raises on behalf of the association. Officials with the police group did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Needing the help DATCP says that even with fundraisers keeping the bulk of the money they raise for themselves, theyre often still providing more money to their clients than their clients would be able to raise on their own. Mike Woodzicka, vice president of the state firefighters union, declined to go into detail about the unions work with CRF but said it employs a third-party fundraiser because it wouldnt have the ability to raise money by itself. PFFW is largely engaged in lobbying state lawmakers on its members behalf, but its charitable foundation also reported spending money in 2017 the most recent year for which a federal tax filing was available on treatment for burn survivors, fire prevention education and initiatives that honor and memorialize firefighters. Its contract with CRF obliges it to spend 40% of its 15% split with CRF on unnamed programs. We dont have the resources internally to do it, Woodzicka said of fundraising, and if the union didnt hire an outside fundraiser, wed get nothing. Reports filed with DFI suggest WSDSA also would be bringing in less without the services of Encore Music Productions. It only collected about $23,000 in contributions in 2015, when it reported spending nothing on fundraising. In the two years after and two years before, when it reported big fundraising expenditures, it netted from $76,000 to $92,000 in contributions. Most state firefighter and law enforcement groups contacted by the State Journal said they either did no fundraising or do not use an outside company for fundraising. The states police union, for example, made a conscious decision more than a decade ago to focus on the services that we provide and to fund those services from dues alone, according to Jim Palmer, executive director for the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. We recognize that many public safety groups throughout the state and nation utilize third-party fundraisers, Palmer said, but since the WPPA stopped fundraising, we have expanded our programs, our membership has consistently grown, and weve had little or no annual dues increases as a result. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 What has become clear since the protests is that black D.C. natives are not the only ones who feel that way. In the past year, Moten says, residents who are white, black and other races and ethnicities have come together regularly to talk about gentrification and discuss how to preserve what makes the District unique. After all, no one voluntarily moves to a city hoping to scrub it of its identity. No one settles in New Orleans and expects not to hear jazz. BOONVILLE, N.Y. --- It may have looked small from the outside, but the WBRV radio station in Boonville played a crucial role in providing important information to residents after Main Street's devastating block fire. WBRV radio DJ Brian Trainor found himself running back and forth from the station to the fire scene on Main Street Wednesday morning. Brian tells NEWSChannel 2 that the phones at the station were ringing off the hook as school and road closings were being announced. It was then Brian's job to relay that information to his listeners. "A lot of those things were trembling through my head and you have to keep them organized as a broadcaster and stay on top of it," said Trainor. Its a responsibility Brian said he takes pride in. "At the end of the day, our mission is to get the word out as quickly and as accurately as possible and however we are going to do that, we are going to strive to do our best," said Trainor. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Representative Image Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on January 10 moved the Madras High Court to declare as illegal and ultra vires, the action of the administrator of the union territory in differing with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers with regard to the free rice scheme. Justice CV Karthikeyan, before whom the petition filed by Narayanasamy came up for hearing, directed the Registry to number the petition and post it for maintainability. In his petition, Narayanasamy sought a direction for continuation of the policy of the Puducherry government as per its free supply of rice, edible oil and other essential foodgrains every month to all ration cardholder rules in kind. He said immediately after coming to power, the cabinet at its first meeting on June 6, 2016, decided not only to continue the supply of rice in kind, but also to enhance it from 10 kg to 20 kg. From August 2016, the distribution of free rice to all ration cardholders was enhanced to 20 kg. The petitioner further said funds for the implementation of the scheme came from the government of the union territory of Puducherry and not from the union government. While so, in January 2018, under the guise of financial approval, the administrator (Lt Governor Kiran Bedi) arbitrarily interfered in the supply and food security, which was the executive function of the elected government of the day and without any jurisdiction or manner of power, ordered reduction of distribution of free rice from 20 kg to 10 kg for the APL cardholders. Similarly, on her own, she gave a directive that in respect of APL cardholders, only Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) as cash should be done, the petitioner said. In view of the 'authoritative' acts of the administrator, his government took up the issue of continuation of their policy and the matter was placed before the Cabinet for deliberations at the June 7, 2019 meeting, he said. After deliberations and various complaints from women, the cabinet in its June 7 resolution decided to continue the distribution of free rice in kind only under the free rice scheme rather than equal amount of cash in the bank account of the beneficiary concerned, he said. However, by September 5, 2019, the administrator differed with the views of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers and referred the matter to the Union government. She also passed an interim order that the rice would not be supplied in kind but the benefit would only be DBT (cash) mode pending the decision of the government of India. Now, the Union government has passed an order answering the reference by issuing an advisory to the Union Territory of Puducherry to continue with the DBT (cash) scheme in lieu of distribution of free rice, he added. Earlier, Narayanasamy had accused Bedi of functioning in an "atrocious" manner by 'blocking' the free rice scheme and interfering in appointment ofthe state election commissioner. The Chief Minister, who has been at loggerheads with Bedi on various issues, also said he has moved the Madras High Court over the issue. While the government has been insisting on distribution of rice to ration card holders, Bedi has pushed for remittance of cash equivalent to the quantum of rice into bank accounts of beneficiaries, saying the Centre has given such direction. Narayanasamy claimed approval has been obtained from Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan for distributing rice to the cardholders through the PDS instead of cash. But, Bedi had, meanwhile, wrote to the Home Ministry insisting on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), which was accepted by the latter, he said. Narayanasamy said PWD and Local Administration Minister would also soon challenge in the Madras High court, Bedi's current move to appoint State Election Commissioner through a newspaper advertisement. Her earlier 'attempt' to recruit the SEC through an advertisement was thwarted by the territorial assembly and a resolution was adopted appointing retired IAS officer TM Balakrishnan as the SEC to conduct the civic polls, he said. While Balakrishnan, subsequent to his appointment, has started carrying outduties to conduct the civic polls, Bedi got the Home Ministry nodfor recruiting the SEC through a selection committee headed by the Chief Secretary, the Chief Minister said. Reacting to the Chief Minister's remarks, Bedi in a whatsapp message, said he was repeatedly making 'unfounded' statements. She said, "Regrettably, the honourable Chief Minister is repeatedly making very unfounded statements. I leave it to the people to understand. Unfortunately, telling lies is not an offence. It is all about misinforming people all the time." Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference after a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, on Dec. 9, 2019. (Charles Platiau/AFP via Getty Images) Zelensky Demands Justice After Iran Admits to Shooting Down Ukrainian Plane Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that Iran punish those responsible for shooting down a Ukrainian plane that killed all 176 on board after the regime admitted that its armed forces shot down the jetliner. Even before the completion of the work by the international commission, Iran has pleaded guilty to shooting down the Ukrainian plane, Zelensky said in a statement on Saturday. However, we insist on full admission of guilt. We expect Iran to assure of willingness to conduct a full and open investigation, bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies of the deceased, pay compensation, and make an official apology through diplomatic channels. This morning brings the truth. Ukraine insists on a full admission of guilt. We expect Iran to bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies, pay compensation and issue an official apology. The investigation must be full, open & continue without delays or obstacles. (@ZelenskyyUa) January 11, 2020 The crash took place on Wednesday on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran, shortly after it took off from Tehrans Imam Khomeini Airport, and just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. forces. The plane, operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, was en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 63 Canadians, and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. There were no survivors. The Boeing 737 had flown close to a sensitive military site belonging to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was shot down due to human error, the Iranian military said on Saturday morning in a statement read on state TV. In a statement, Iran President Hassan Rouhani expressed condolences to the families of the victims and said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will help to identify and return the bodies, adding that Iran will take all necessary measures to compensate the victims families. He also said an investigation is needed to prosecute the perpetrators. However, Rouhani also blamed the United States for the deaths, saying the Iranian military was on full alert due to the atmosphere of threats and intimidation which led the regime to make a human error and mistaken shooting. Part of the wreckage from Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, a Boeing 737-800 plane that crashed after taking off from Tehrans Imam Khomeini airport on Jan. 8, 2020, is seen in this still image taken from Iran Press footage. (Iran Press/Handout via Reuters) On Friday, Ukraines Minister of Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystaiko said Ukraine got access to the black boxes and recordings of conversations between the dispatchers of the flight control center at the airport in Tehran and the Ukrainian pilots. According to Reuters, Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on Saturday that French specialists would help decode the planes black boxes. An international coordination and response group for the families of victims of flight PS 752formed by Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom on Friday also demanded a full and transparent investigation into the causes of the fatal crash. Today, we convened the first call of the International Coordination and Response Group for families of victims of PS752. We will work closely together as we move forward. @VPrystaiko @AnnLinde @IdreesZaman @DominicRaab pic.twitter.com/NWsswcXDXh Francois-Philippe Champagne (FPC) (@FP_Champagne) January 11, 2020 The plane crash became the most deadly incident amid the heightened tensions with the United States. Irans Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani attends a meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Revolutionary Guard commanders in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 18, 2016. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) The timeline of the major events are recounted below in chronological order. Dec. 27, 2019: Iran-backed terrorist group Kataib Hezbollah attacked an Iraqi military compound where U.S. service members are also based, killing one American contractor and wounding several American and Iraqi personnel. Between Dec. 27 and Dec. 30: U.S. forces conducted airstrikes against five Kataib Hezbollah targets including three in Western Iraq and two in Eastern Syria. Between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 2020: Iran-backed militias stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, breaking through the first layer of the compound before being repelled by Iraqi security forces. The breach was reportedly conducted by the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella body for dozens of Iran-backed militia groups. Jan. 2: A U.S airstrike killed Iranian top general Qassem Soleimani, the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Forcea designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. President Donald Trump and State Secretary Mike Pompeo said Soleimani was killed because he was conspiring to attack American facilities, diplomats, and soldiers in significant numbers. Jan. 7: Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and no causalities were reported. The Ukrainian air plane was shot down hours later. In response, Trump said Iran appeared be standing down and called for additional economic sanctions. He also called on NATO to be more involved in Middle East. The Treasury Department announced additional sanctions targeting Irans metals industry and senior regime officials in accordance with Trumps executive order on Friday. The United States will continue to counter the Iranian regimes destructive and destabilizing behavior. Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. These punishing economic sanctions will remain until the Iranian regime changes its behavior. The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it, Trump said in a statement. Mimi Nguyen contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alice Ritchie (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom Sat, January 11, 2020 13:05 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321c03b4 2 People Britain,royals,Meghan-Markle,Prince-Harry,Duchess-of-Sussex,Canada Free Prince Harry's wife Meghan has returned to Canada following the couple's bombshell announcement that they were quitting their frontline royal duties, it emerged Friday, as the monarch held urgent talks with her family to resolve the crisis. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent an extended Christmas holiday in Canada with their son before returning to break the news this week that they would "step back" from their royal roles. The Daily Mail newspaper reported that Meghan flew back on Thursday, having never intended to be in Britain long, and "may stay there for the foreseeable future." "I can confirm reports that the duchess is in Canada," the couple's spokeswoman told AFP, without confirming the Mail's report that Harry was likely to join his wife and eight-month-old son in Canada shortly. Several Canadian media reported Meghan had returned to Vancouver island off the country's Pacific coast, where the family spent the year-end holidays and where baby Archie had remained with his nanny. Senior royals were caught off guard by Wednesday's announcement that the Sussexes wanted to seek a "progressive new role" and divide their time between Britain and North America. In Washington, President Donald Trump weighed in, telling Fox News that he found the spat "sad." "I just have such respect for the queen. I don't think this should be happening," he said. Queen Elizabeth II's office issued a terse statement the same evening, saying there were "complicated issues that will take time to work through". But a palace source on Thursday said the queen had instructed aides to work "at pace" with Meghan and Harry and the government "to find workable solutions". The process was expected to take "days, not weeks", the source said. Media reports said the queen held a series of calls on Thursday involving Harry, his brother Prince William and their father Prince Charles, the heir to the throne. Harry and Meghan said they intended to continue to "fully support" the queen and "collaborate" with senior royals. They also want to keep their home on the queen's Windsor Castle estate as their British base, while aiming to become financially independent. But questions are being raised about what this means in practice, as their security is paid for by the state and they receive funds from the queen and from Charles. Read also: Madame Tussauds removes waxworks of Harry and Meghan from royal family display Finding a role William and Harry have always held a special place in many Britons' hearts because of their mother, Diana, who was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997. With their wives, Kate and Meghan, they have been viewed as the modern face of the royal family, hailed for bringing fresh energy to the institution. But the younger prince, who has struggled with his role, last year revealed he has been growing apart from his brother, who as second in line to the throne is increasingly pursuing a different path. Harry has been open about his mental health issues and he and Meghan last year admitted to struggling with the spotlight following their wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018 and Archie's birth a year later. The couple have also lashed out at negative news coverage, some of which Harry says was racist -- in light of Meghan's biracial heritage. They have recently taken several newspapers to court -- a highly confrontational approach by royal standards. Royal media expert Peter Hunt, who has interviewed Harry several times, told AFP that he thought the prince feared "the media might play a part in him losing her" through their critical reporting. "Prince Harry's relationship with the media went bad and has got progressively worse ever since his mother died," he added. The decision by the couple, who recently registered the trademark Sussex Royal, to effectively resign their royal roles follows a turbulent year for the Windsors. Harry's uncle Prince Andrew announced he was retiring from public duties after a disastrous TV interview about his friendship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. There was one bright spot for Harry, though: if he ever moved to Canada, a majority of Canadians would welcome him as the country's next governor general, a poll found. Sixty one percent would support Harry replacing the current holder of the post -- who represents Queen Elizabeth II in the former colony -- when her term expires, according to the poll. Manchester city centre as local councils say developers are not building enough affordable homes. Photo: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images The UK government has let developers shirk their responsibility to build thousands of affordable homes by de-regulating housing rules, new figures show. Local councils and a housing charity spoke out as new data suggests England has missed out on more than 13,500 new affordable homes because of a building loophole introduced in 2013. The Conservatives under former prime minister David Cameron tore up decades-old planning rules to let developers turn offices into homes without scrutiny by local councils and communities. The permitted development reforms were designed to address low levels of home construction, with Britains planning system blamed by some as too slow and restrictive. But the reforms allow certain new developments to go ahead without any affordable housing, and without developers contributing towards local infrastructure such as roads or schools. READ MORE: UK household debt hits record high as families borrow to scrape by Developers are usually forced to make between 25% and 40% of homes affordable and meet certain floor space and quality standards, but the scheme lets them avoid such requirements. Figures published by the Local Government Association (LGA) on Saturday showed more than 54,000 homes had been created in former offices. Local areas may have therefore missed out on about 13,540 affordable properties if councils had been able to insist a quarter met the usual affordability rules. Such controversial office conversions now make up around half of all new homes in some parts of the country, including Harlow and Norwich, according to the LGA. READ MORE: Renters forced to borrow for deposits Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, told Yahoo Finance UK some new blocks were often of dreadful quality, and said the changes cannot be right when tens of thousands of families were homeless. Were seeing families forced to live in grim rabbit hutch homes in remote industrial parks, and in some cases with no windows, she said. Story continues One study last year found developments were skewed towards studios and one-bed flats, often aimed at students or providing emergency temporary accommodation rather than housing local families. The research by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) found some studio flats were just 15 square metres, with less than a third meeting space standards recommended by government. With no levies on developers, it also found little evidence of firms voluntarily coughing up to expand local facilities to meet a growing populations needs. The five councils the study analysed alone may have missed out on 10.8m ($14m) in funding from developers, despite an estimated infrastructure burden of 27.5m from such developments. There are 343 councils across England. READ MORE: UK house prices leap at fastest pace in a year on Tory victory David Rennard, the LGAs housing spokesman, said councils had serious concerns over the quality, safety and location of such homes built outside standard planning rules. Permitted development rules are resulting in the alarming potential loss of thousands of desperately-needed affordable homes, he said. Rennard said it was vital local areas and councillors had a say over developments. He denied the planning system was an obstacle, noting nine in 10 applications were approved. But a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said: Since 2010 we have delivered over 464,000 new affordable homes, and we have abolished the council borrowing cap so they can build even more social housing. We are committed to delivering a million new homes by the end of this parliament, and permitted development rights are playing an important part in making our ambitious commitment a reality. A week after Washingtons drone missile assassination of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani at Baghdads international airport, a series of actions by the US and its principal regional ally, Israel, have escalated the drive toward a full-scale war throughout the region. On Thursday, it was reported that a US drone strike killed or wounded more than 60 civilians in Afghanistans western province of Herat, close to the border with Iran. Wakil Ahmad Karkhi, a member of the Herat provincial council, confirmed the mass casualties to TOLO news, saying the civilians were killed and maimed in a US attempt to eliminate the leader of a split-off from the Taliban, known as Mullah Nangyalay. The Pentagon has made increasingly indiscriminate use of air strikes in an attempt to stave off the Taliban, which controls the largest areas of the country since the regime it headed was overthrown by the US invasion more than 18 years ago. US strikes killed 579 civilians in the first 10 months of last year alone, a third more than in 2018. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin brief reporters about additional sanctions placed on Iran, at the White House, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, in Washington. [Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci] Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes struck targets on the Syria-Iraq border early Friday morning, killing eight members of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces, the coalition of predominantly Shia militias that is considered part of the Iraqi armed forces. The air strike took place near the Albu Kamal-Qaim border crossing between Syria and Iraq, the same area that was struck by US F-15E fighter jets on December 29, resulting in the deaths of 25 members of the Kataib Hezbollah Iraqi militia and the wounding of over 50 more. Those bombing raids, carried out on the pretext of retaliating for a missile attack that claimed the life of a US military contractor, provoked angry protests that breached the security walls of the US embassy in Baghdad on December 31. Three days later, the US drone strike killed Suleimani, considered the second most important figure in the Iranian state, along with the top commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and eight other Iranians and Iraqis. This assassination attack amounted to an act of war against Iran and a war crime, punishable under both US and international law. Friday also saw Washington roll out a new round of sanctions against Iran, further escalating the maximum pressure economic blockade, tantamount to a state of war, which has been imposed since the Trump administration unilaterally abrogated the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and the major powers in May of 2018. Announcing the sanctions at a White House briefing, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin claimed that the new measures were being imposed in retaliation for Tuesdays Iranian missile attacks against two US bases in Iraq, which claimed no casualties and did little damage. The United States is targeting senior Iranian officials for their involvement and complicity in Tuesdays ballistic missile strikes, Mnuchin said. These sanctions will continue until the regime stops funding of global terrorism and commits to never having nuclear weapons. As recent events have again demonstrated, the principal purveyor of terrorism in the Middle East is US imperialism. As for nuclear weapons, the government in Tehran has repeatedly disavowed pursuing them, while a rigorous inspection regime imposed under the 2015 agreement has consistently shown its compliance with the accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was ripped up by the Trump White House. In response to US aggression and the refusal of the European signatories to the deal to challenge the US economic sanctions campaign, Tehran has carried out a series of measures reducing its compliance with restraints imposed on its nuclear program. Following the Suleimani assassination, the Iranian government announced that it would observe no more restraints on the capacity of its nuclear operations or their level of uranium enrichment. The fresh sanctions target the construction, manufacturing, textiles, and mining sectors of the Iranian economy, along with several individual Iranian officials. Significantly, among those targeted for secondary sanctions is Pamchel, a Chinese company that imports Iranian steel. In a further indication of US imperialisms aggressive aims in the region, the State Department Friday summarily dismissed a call by Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi for Washington to send a delegation to Baghdad to discuss the withdrawal of US troops from the country. In response to the assassination of Suleimani and al-Muhandis, the Iraqi parliament approved a resolution on January 5 calling on the government to expel all foreign forces. In an initial read-out of a Thursday night telephone conversation between Pompeo and Mahdi, the State Department made no mention of the Iraqi prime ministers demand, stating solely that the US secretary of state had provided assurances that Washington will do whatever it takes to protect the American and Iraqi people and defend our collective interests. Mahdis office, however, released a statement saying he had charged Washington with violating Iraqi sovereignty by bringing troops into the country and carrying out drone operations without the governments permission. He had asked Pompeo to send representatives to put in place a mechanism to implement the resolution of the Iraqi Parliament for a safe withdrawal of [foreign] troops from Iraq. Mahdi has publicly stated that he was given one-half-hour notice before the US missile strikes against the militia members on the Iraqi-Syrian border, which went ahead despite his request that they be halted. He also stated that he had been scheduled to meet with Suleimani on the morning of his assassination. Once Mahdis side of the conversation became known, the State Department responded with a categorical rejection of Iraq having any say over whether US troops stay or go. The statement said: Our military presence in Iraq is to continue the fight against ISIS... At this time, any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how best to recommit to our strategic partnership--not to discuss troop withdrawal, but our appropriate force posture in the Middle East. This force posture has grown dramatically in recent weeks, with 750 more troops sent to Baghdad to guard the US embassy and another 4,000 paratroopers deployed in neighboring Kuwait as a rapid intervention force. The statement went on to proclaim the need for a conversation about our financial, economic, and diplomatic partnership, and to declare Washingtons desire to be a friend and partner to a sovereign, prosperous, and stable Iraq. The reference to a sovereign Iraq is laughable under conditions in which the US insists on its right to militarily occupy the country against the express decision of its government. As for prosperous and stable, the country is still reeling from the devastation wrought by eight years of a US war that claimed over a million lives and demolished Iraqi infrastructure. The country has been rocked since the beginning of October by mass protests by Iraqi workers and youth against social inequality, unemployment, the failure of essential public services and the corruption of the political regime that emerged out of the US occupation. While the Suleimani assassination caused these protests to subside as hundreds of thousands took to the streets in protest against the US war crime, they grew again on Friday in Baghdad and the southern cities of Basra, Najaf and Karbala. The demonstrators chanted slogans against Iraqs ruling elite, as well as against both the US and Iran, demanding that the country not be turned into a staging ground for a new war. Several Iraqi militia groups have called for retaliation against US forces in the country for the murder of Suleimani and al-Muhandis, and two katyusha rockets were fired Wednesday into the Green Zone, the fortified district where the US embassy is located. US forces in the country, reported by the Pentagon to number 5,200, but undoubtedly bolstered by thousands more military contractors and troops rotated in and out of Iraq, have halted their training of Iraqi security forces for fear of insider attacks, and are concentrating entirely on their own self-defense. If Washington imposes a continued occupation against the decision of the Iraqi government, the already unstable regime in Baghdad will be further undermined, while militias such as Muqtada al-Sadrs Mahdi Army will likely resume operations, triggering a new US-Iraq war. Meanwhile, with administration officials providing unconvincing and mutually contradictory claims backed by no evidence that the assassination of Suleimani was carried out in the face of an imminent threat of attack, the Washington Post reported Friday that US security forces had attempted on the same day to assassinate in Yemen another of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force senior commanders. According to US officials who spoke to the Post, the US aimed a strike against Adel Reza Shahlai, who was in charge of organizing the limited assistance that Iran has given to Houthi rebels fighting against the Saudi-led assault on the country that has killed nearly 100,000 people and left more than 8 million on the brink of starvation. The US has provided the arms and logistical support for this slaughter. As the Post reported, the unsuccessful US operation in Yemen raised questions about whether last weeks assassination of Suleimani was part of a broader operation than previously explained, raising questions about whether the mission was designed to cripple the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or solely to prevent an imminent attack on Americans as originally stated. The report quoted an unnamed senior US official as stating, If we had killed him, wed be bragging about it the same night. All the developments since Trumps speech from the White House Wednesday have given the lie to the media claims that the US administration is seeking to de-escalate, or taking an off-ramp from military confrontation. US military provocations are continuing unabated, and the preparations or an all-out war against Iran, threatening to engulf the entire Middle East and the whole planet, are only intensifying. A man has died after an assault in Co. Waterford this morning. Gardai were called to the scene of the serious assault in the Portlaw area of Waterford in the early hours of this morning. Today marks 20 years since the Solway Harvester tragedy. Seven Scottish fishermen who died when their boat sank in Isle of Man waters will be remembered with official commemorations. The crew, including three members of the same family, lost their lives when their scallop dredger from Kirkcudbright sank in heavy storms on 11th January 2000, 11 miles south-east of the Island. The bodies of all seven Galloway men were found inside the sunken wreck. The seven men were: skipper Andrew Mills (known as Craig), 29; his brother Robin Mills, 33; their cousin David Mills, 17; Martin Milligan, 26; John Murphy, 22; David Lyons, 18; and Wesley Jolly, 17. Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK and representatives of the organisations who helped with the rescue attempt and the recovery of the men will lay a wreath at the Solway Harvester memorial on Douglas Head at 11am. Members of the Islands fishing community, the Royal National Lifeboat Association, Coastguard, the Steam Packet Company, and Douglas Borough Council will be in attendance. Mr Quayle, said: On behalf of the people of the Isle of Man, I am grateful for this opportunity to pay tribute to the seven young men who lost their lives so tragically 20 years ago. This terrible accident was a massive loss for their families and their community, a loss that is still being mourned two decades on in Scotland and in the Isle of Man. As a seafaring nation, we understood the heartache of those left behind and this tragedy has led to an enduring bond between the Island and the mens home towns. Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said: All our thoughts are with the family and friends of the seven men who lost their lives in this terrible disaster 20 years ago. There are close links between Scotland and the Isle of Man, particularly between our respective fishing communities, and I know the people of the Isle of Man share our enormous sadness on this anniversary. The tragedy of the Solway Harvester is a reminder of the dangers faced by our fishing fleet, and the courage of those who work in the industry. It was a devastating loss to the Isle of Whithorn, and one that continues to be felt all these years on. Following the accident the Isle of Man Government, led by Donald Gellling CBE, mounted a 1m operation to raise the vessel from the Manx seabed and ensured the bodies were returned to their native Scotland for burial. The Solway Harvester was eventually demolished in Douglas in 2013. Belfast, Jan 11 : The Northern Ireland Assembly will resume function on Saturday after three years of suspension triggered by disagreements between two major political parties. Sinn Fein and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP),the two largest political parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly, in addition to an ally of the former, namely Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), agreed to a deal put forward on Thursday night by the Irish and British governments to restore the function of the assembly and its executive branch, reports Xinhua news agency. Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald announced on Friday that her party had decided to back the deal and would re-enter the assembly and nominate their ministers for the new government. DUP Leader Arlene Foster described the deal as a very fair and balanced one, adding that she believed that on Saturday the Assembly would sit again for the first time in three years. The leader of the SDLP Colum Eastwood confirmed on Friday evening that his party would also back the deal and is ready to join the new government. The Northern Ireland Assembly and its executive branch collapsed after a major fall-out in 2017 between the DUP and Sinn Fein over a botched heating scheme. Sir Keir Starmer will launch his Labour leadership campaign with a pledge to win back former supporters who switched to the Tories at the general election. At a launch event in Manchester on Saturday, the shadow Brexit secretary will say the party must retain its radicalism while making it relevant to peoples everyday lives. He will promise to pursue Boris Johnson relentlessly in Parliament if he succeeds in becoming leader when the result is announced in April. Sir Keir has emerged as the clear favourite among Labour MPs and was the first of the six contenders to secure the 22 nominations required to progress to the next stage of the contest. Expand Close Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry appears to be struggling to make the next stage of the contest (Victoria Jones/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry appears to be struggling to make the next stage of the contest (Victoria Jones/PA) Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, the favourite of the left, and the backbenchers Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips have also passed the threshold. However shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, with 10 nominations, and Clive Lewis, with just four, appear to be struggling. They have until 2.30pm on Monday to get the necessary support or be forced to drop out. Despite his lead, Sir Keir has been keen to emphasise his radical credentials in a pitch to grassroots party members who are thought to be more left-wing than the MPs and whose votes will ultimately determine the outcome. We have to rebuild people's trust in Labour as a force for good and real changeSir Keir Starmer Speaking ahead of the launch, he said: The challenge for Labour today is to defend our values, retain our radicalism, and to make that relevant to peoples everyday lives. People desperately need and want us to win. We have to deliver a programme that will tackle low pay and insecure work, rebuild our public services, empower communities and tackle the climate emergency. We have to rebuild peoples trust in Labour as a force for good and real change. He said the party needed to set its sights on winning back the support of voters across England, Scotland and Wales who turned away from it at the election in December. Boris Johnson said that many voters in the North had lent their votes to the Conservatives. We must set ourselves the task of winning those votes back, he said. If elected leader, I will pursue Boris Johnson relentlessly in Parliament. We will connect our opposition in Parliament to Labours mass movement and to the wider forces in our country who do not want five more years of Tory misrule. And we will bind that together with an electoral strategy that focuses tirelessly on getting Labour back into government. Negotiations between MVHS and four unwilling-to-sell property owners in the downtown Utica hospital parking garage footprint broke down several months ago. Now, it's Oneida County's turn to negotiate. They're currently making moves that will give them what they need to begin those negotiations. "We went out to bid on an appraiser. We have an appraiser under agreement and the appraiser is going to go out and take a look at the properties so we have a basis upon which to commence our own negotiations with existing property owners," says County Attorney, Peter Rayhill. "My guess is we will commence that certainly within the next month, maybe within the next three weeks." If the owners of Citation Services, the property on which Enterprise Rent a Car sits, a home on LaFayette Street and an empty lot near Wilcor, decline the county's offers, the battle moves to State Supreme Court, in Utica, where Rayhill is confident the outcome will be favorable to the county. "The question is do you have the power, are you granted the power by the state to take the property? It's clear under county law the county has that power. And then the question is, does the municipality condemning the property have a need for the property? If you have the power and you can establish the need, the government is allowed to take the property for fair compensation," says Rayhill. If the property owners decline the county's offers, Rayhill says eminent domain proceedings are only a few months away. "I would say late spring, early summer." The most formidable enemy of the American people suffered a grievous and shocking blow a week ago, and the enemy did not react well to the attack. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth, rending of garments, and fanatical chants of death to middle America! There is great fear and panic about potential retaliation. But the outrageous, dangerous and unstable man who launched this reckless and unprovoked attackRicky Gervaisreturned safely to England nonetheless. Britain is threatening to retaliate by sending us one of their neer-do-well princes. Oh, and President Trump also killed a top Iranian general. Headlines of the week: And finally. . . a two-fer of sorts: Bonus video this week! The top diplomat says he is in full contact with counterparts from governments of affected states. Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko says it was close cooperation by the international community that helped reveal truth about the PS752 crash near Tehran Airport. "Close cooperation by the international community has helped to reveal the truth of what happened to flight PS752 in Iran. Ukrainian experts on the ground have also played a key role to determine the real causes and their work continues," Vadym Prystaiko wrote on Twitter. Read alsoBloomberg: Iran admits it shot down Boeing jet, reversing denials "I'm in full contact with foreign ministers of partner countries. To help states that have lost their citizens in this terrible tragedy, we are already meeting with representatives of embassies," Prystaiko wrote in a separate tweet. As UNIAN reported, today, January 11, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially admitted that the Ukrainian airliner was shot down by accident as a result of a "human error." President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv insisted on an official apology from Iran, a transparent investigation, the return of the bodies, and compensation payment. UNIAN memo: Kyiv-bound UIA flight PS752 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport in the early hours of Wednesday, January 8. It was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members on board. Two passengers and the crew members were Ukrainians. There were also 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and the United Kingdom each. There were no survivors. The Commemorative Air Forces Dixie Wing in Peachtree City, Georgia has a sterling reputation for the high quality of their aircraft restorations. The Wing has completed several ambitious projects since their inception in 1987, with the most significant of these, so far, being the former NACA-operated Bell P-63A Kingcobra 42-68941, which Dixie Wing volunteers brought back to flying condition back in February 2017 following an intense, decades-long effort. The team has now turned their eyes to another important, and often under-appreciated WWII type, the Boeing N2S Kaydet. Of course, most of us commonly refer to this biplane trainer and its numerous variants as Stearmans, due to their origins with Stearman Aircraft (before Boeing acquired the company in 1934). More than ten thousand Stearmans rolled off the factorys production line in Wichita, Kansas before wars end. The U.S. Army Air Forces operated them as the PT-13 and PT-17, while the U.S. Navy had their own variants, the NS and N2S. The Royal Canadian Air Force received several hundred examples, and called them Kaydets, a name which seemed to stick to the type as a whole. While a Kaydet might not be as exotic as a P-63, it is an infinitely more important aircraft type in American history the American air war effort was literally built from the wings of these robustly-designed trainers. They were an essential element in the pilot training program for virtually every military airman on the North American continent during the decade straddling WWII and thousands of them continued on with civilian outfits of one variety or another following their military service. Indeed, there are almost a thousand examples currently listed on the U.S. civil registry alone, making the type easily the most numerous surviving WWII-era warbird. However, the vast bulk of these are Army Air Forces PT-13s/PT-17s, with only two dozen or so being former U.S. Navy examples. This makes the Dixie Wings N2S even more special Boeings Wichita division built the Dixie Wings N2S-2 as construction number 75-1308 during 1941 under U.S. Navy contract C 74807. The Navy formally accepted the trainer as Bu.3531 on July 9th, 1941, transferring her the following day to NAS Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas. Here she took up her training duties before moving on to Naval Reserve Air Base Detroit just over a year later on August 9th, 1942. The Navy then moved Bu.3531 back to Corpus Christi on April 1st, 1944, moving her on to one of the Naval Air Stations nearby satellite facilities, NAIT (Naval Air Intermediate Training) Rodd Field that August. The trainer was only at Rodd Field for a couple of months though, before moving on to join the aircraft pool in Dallas that November, but that was only for a brief period as the U.S. Navy struck her from their inventory on November 30th, 1944. From here, the aircrafts history goes a little cold. Online resources seem to indicate that the N2S joined the U.S. civil registry as N50329 but not until February 25th, 1974, which seems a little odd. How did such an airframe vanish for thirty years from the end of its military service and wait so long to re-appear? Well, after the war, the Stearman was a very popular agricultural sprayer, with literally thousands of them being snapped up for such purposes. Many of these aircraft were simply used as spares sources, and not registered for flight following their acquisition. Perhaps this was the case for the Dixie Wings N2S? Interestingly, another online source (with documentary evidence) lists a Stearman, registered as N50329, operating on budworm spraying operations out of Dunphy Airstrip in Blackwell, New Brunswick, Canada during 1957. The aircraft was one of more than a dozen Stearmans belonging to Edwin J. Mac McGlothins Farm-Air Company in West Sacramento, California. Mac and his pilots had flown these biplanes all the way across the USA to eastern Canada to take part in the spray operations. While this reference does not give the aircrafts serial number for conclusive proof, it wouldnt be a stretch to say that it was the Dixie Wings Stearman. Hopefully more details will emerge from a little further digging! Following the issuance of her airworthiness certificate in February, 1974, the records indicate that Bu.3531 became the property of Gerald L. Giroux of Williamson, Georgia in April, 1977. The Delta Airlines pilot owned the aircraft for the next four decades until his death in February, 2015. The aircraft clearly was no longer flying by this point though, as the FAA cancelled its registration in January, 2016. James E. Blanchard of Carrollton, Georgia then acquired the airframe in November, 2017, and from him, the N2S then moved on to the CAF as a restoration project this past summer. Our very own Moreno Aguiari reports on the project in recent issues of the Dixie Wing Dispatch newsletter Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 10, 2020 | MURRAY By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 10, 2020 | 06:38 PM | MURRAY The capture of a man wanted for kidnapping and various other charges has led to the arrest of two more people. According to the Calloway County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, deputies received information on Thursday that a man wanted for kidnapping a five-month-old baby in Marshall County was staying at a home in Murray. Deputies went to the home, where they found 29-year-old Ryan Schoppe hiding in a crawl space in the basement. While at the home, deputies allegedly recovered methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a handgun. Deputies arrested 29-year-old Linzey Banks of Murray and 26-year-old Cameron Ditto of Paducah at the residence. Schoppe faces charges of burglary, assault, kidnapping, theft by unlawful taking, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and firearm-enhanced trafficking in marijuana. Banks and Ditto were charged with trafficking in a controlled substance methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Banks is also charged with hindering prosecution. All three were lodged in the Calloway County Jail. The Tor system is a mobile missile launch system, with eight missiles carried on either a tracked vehicle or a truck. The vehicles can operate without relying on other air defense infrastructure. They carry both a radar to detect targets and a launch system. The low- to medium-altitude missiles were developed by Soviet engineers in the 1970s as a so-called lower-tier air defense weapon. Russia sold the Tor systems to Iran in 2005 as part of a $1 billion arms deal and over the objection of American diplomats. It has also sold the system to more than a dozen other countries. A New York Times analysis of flight path information and video of the missile strike determined that the plane stopped transmitting its signal for between 20 seconds and 30 seconds before it was hit. Civilian airplanes identify themselves with radio signals constantly streaming from a system known as a transponder on the planes, said Ian Petchenik, a spokesman for Flightradar 24, which tracks the signals for flights around the world. The Tor software relied on radar and visual identification of a plane as well as the identification signals from the transponder, John Cox, an accident investigator and former pilot who is the chief executive of Safety Operating Systems, said. If the identification is incorrect or absent from the plane, Mr. Cox said, the system will declare it a threat. From there, he said, the missile navigates via radar, and when it gets in proximity to target it explodes, releasing deadly fragments. A second missile is usually fired immediately after the first. Hearst Connecticut Media / Tara O'Neill EASTON Town police called in the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad after an untimely death in a Redding Road home Friday, officials said. Officers were dispatched to the home around 1 p.m. for a report of an unresponsive person, according to Chief Timothy Shaw. The chief said responding officers found a 63-year-old man dead in the home. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Saturday said he would meet Father Francis Debrito, president of 93rd All India Marathi Literary Meet, to discuss issues he raised on Friday in Osmanabad about the situation prevailing in the country. The noted Marathi writer and environmental activist, while delivering his presidential address on the first day of the meet, had spoken about the January 5 JNU violence, farmer suicides, drought, unemployment, sick industry and declining economy. In a swipe at the powers-that-be, Fr Debrito said "important issues the country is grappling with were being ignored". In a statement here, Deshmukh said Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was an important platform and in his capacity as chairman of the 93rd edition of the event, Father Debrito had made some important observations. "I would like to discuss these issues with him," the minister said. Deshmukh said veteran poet ND Mahanor and others also spoke about growing intolerance and mob lynching incidents in the country at the meet. "The All india Marathi Literary Meet has a tradition of expressing free and frank views. Father Francis put forth an all inclusive thought which should be taken note of nationwide," the statement quoted Deshmukh as saying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar appealed to all students who went home following violence in the varsity, to return to their hostels asserting that normalcy has been restored. "We have strengthened the security on campus and I appeal all students who have gone home to come back. Academic activities have been resumed and JNU is back on its foot," said Jagadesh Kumar while talking to ANI. "I request all students to return to campus and get their registration for the winter semester done as classes will be starting from January 13," he said. "Our internal security is manned by ex-servicemen and I have also requested police to be at gates and come inside if any law and order situation arises," said Kumar. Kumar met Human Resource Development (MHRD) Secretary Amit Khare on Friday to discuss the existing situation. On Thursday, Khare met with a delegation of JNU comprising members of the students' union (JNUSU) led by president Aishe Ghosh and teachers association (JNUTA) led by Prof D K Lobiyal and faculty members. On January 5, 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.) (Newser) The White House is considering dramatically expanding its much-litigated travel ban to additional countries amid a renewed election-year focus on immigration by President Trump, according to six people familiar with the deliberations. A document outlining the plans timed to coincide with the third anniversary of Trump's January 2017 executive order has been circulating the White House. But the countries that would be affected are blacked out, said two people who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the measure isn't final. It's unclear how many countries would be included in the expansion, but two of the people said that seven countries a majority of them Muslim would be added. The most recent ban has restrictions on five majority-Muslim nations: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as well as Venezuela and North Korea. story continues below Another person said the expansion could focus on several countries included in the first iteration of the ban but removed during litigation. Iraq, Sudan and Chad, for instance, had been affected by the order, which the Supreme Court upheld 5-4 after the administration released a watered-down version intended to withstand legal scrutiny. Trump later criticized his Justice Department for the changes. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the new effort. Draft documents show about "2.5% of all immigrant visas issued by the US Department of State" would be affected, per BuzzFeed. Just this week, civil rights organizations urged House leaders to take up legislation to end the travel ban and prevent a new one. (Read more Trump travel ban stories.) A 25-year-old woman was hacked to death by her boyfriend in Telanganas Warangal (Urban) district on Friday evening, police said. The deceased, Munagala Harathi of Lashkar Singaram village of Hanamkonda, was in love with Md. Shahid (26) of Vishnupuri Colony in Kazipet, who surrendered before the judge of a local court after committing the murder. Warangal commissioner of police V Ravinder told reporters that a murder case has been filed against him and he is being questioned. According to the Kazipet police, Shahid and Harathi had been in love with each other since the last three years when they were pursuing their graduation from a private degree college in Hanamkonda. While Harathi completed her Masters in Business Administration, Shahid has been working as a butcher in a local mutton shop. Shahid had been regularly visiting Harathis house and their parents were also aware of their love affair. However, of late, Shahid had been suspecting that she was moving closely with another man and had quarrelled with her several times over the issue, the police said. Shahid called Harathi on Friday evening to his house in Kazipet saying that he wants to put aside all differences between them. When she went to his house, he pulled out a sharp knife and slit her throat. She died on the spot, the police said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are likely to share stage twice during his two-day visit to Kolkata starting today. The PM will visit Bengal on Saturday (January 11) and will attend a series of inaugurations and celebrations. According to sources, Mamata, who has also been invited for two programs, may attend both; however, there has been no word from Trinamool Congress on the same Mamata will call on the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan where PM Modi will be staying overnight. Huge security has been put in place in view of protests threatened by numerous outfits and groups against PM Modi's arrival in the state. On Friday, apparently over security concerns, the authorities advance the arrival of PM Modi to the airport here by an hour on Saturday in order to enable him to take a helicopter ride to the city proper. Modi was earlier scheduled to arrive at 5 pm and go straight to the Old Currency Building in central Kolkata for an official programme. But as per the changed schedule, he will now arrive by an Indian Air Force flight at 4 pm, and then he would be flown in a helicopter to the city`s Race Course. With the early onset of an evening in the ongoing winter season, it wouldn`t have been possible for the helicopter to land in Race Course had the prime minister arrived at 5 pm. Stringent security is being put in place for the Prime Minister's tour, amid security forces' apprehensions that a couple of organisations could try to organise large-scale protests including black flag demonstrations at the NSCBI Airport and on the streets. Also, it has now been decided that the Prime Minister would go to Belur Math - global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission - on a launch over the river Ganga. However, there could be last-minute changes in the Prime Minister's schedule in view of intensifying protests in the city and the rest of Bengal on the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Shimla youth Congress activists on Saturday cleared the roads blocked by snow, alleging that the district administration failed to fulfill its duty. The activists led by youth Congress president Virender Banshtu also held a protest outside Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap's residence on Jakhu road near Takka bench and the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here. Himachal Youth Congress general secretary and Shimla in-charge Nishant Thakur also took part in the protest. The party workers alleged that the district administration failed to remove snow from the city roads even after 72 hours. People are facing a lot of inconvenience, at least one person was killed and several others were injured after skidding off the snow-covered slippery roads in the state capital, they added. If the roads are not cleared in the next two days, the youth Congress said it will gherao the DC and Shimla Municipal Corporation offices. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After lots of denials, Irans military finally backpedaled early Saturday and admitted that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people aboard. Iran blamed human error, saying the plane had taken an unexpectedly sharp turn toward a military base at a time when its military was on high alert hours after Tehran had launched rockets at bases housing American troops in Iraq. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote on Twitter. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. He also vowed that those responsible for the incident would be prosecuted. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took to Twitter to apologize on behalf of the country, blaming the bringing down of the plane on human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. https://t.co/4dkePxupzm Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 It marked a remarkable change of tune for Iran, considering the head of Irans Civil Aviation Organization had said Friday that he was certain Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was not hit by a missile. Amid mounting pressure from Western countries, Iran insisted that the Boeing airliner had been brought down by mechanical issues. But experts said it would have been pretty much impossible for Iran to continue to hide signs of a missile strike as intelligence agencies of several countries said the signs were clear. In addition to pressure from abroad, Iran is also facing criticism and anger domestically considering many of the victims were Iranian with dual nationality. Advertisement Advertisement A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Many Iranians flooded Twitter with angry messages toward the government as they openly wondered why the plane would even be allowed to take off at a time when tensions were so high. Many used the term harshest revenge, which is what officials had vowed to carry out after the U.S. drone strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.* They were supposed to take their harsh revenge against America, not the people, Mojtaba Fathi, a journalist, wrote, according to the New York Times. Irans admission of guilt makes it likely that Iranians will turn against their government at a time when many had united against the countrys leaders after the killing of Soleimani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who heads up the aerospace division of Irans Revolutionary Guard said in an address that was broadcast live on television that his unit accepts full responsibility for bringing the plane down and added that when he heard the news, I wished I was dead. Analysts quickly said that the actions would have long-term consequences for Irans standing in the region and among its allies. The little credibility that the Islamic Republic had among its supporters suffered a major blow tonight, Rouzbeh MirEmbrahim, an independent Iran analyst in New York and a consultant with the United Nations, said. This tragedy undermines the image Iran has cultivated as a military power and weakened it significantly both regionally and internationally. Advertisement Advertisement The Iranian military vowed a major reform to make sure an error of this magnitude would not happen again. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country expects Iran to issue a full admission of guilt, including official apologies through diplomatic channels. He also said the perpetrators should be brought to justice and Iran should compensate the families of the victims. The plane, which was flying to Kyiv, had 167 passengers and nine crew members aboard, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians, and 11 Ukrainians. But the Justice Departments inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, uncovered that the F.B.I. had cherry-picked and misstated evidence about the Trump adviser, Carter Page, when seeking permission to wiretap him in October 2016 and in 2017 renewal applications. At the same time, Mr. Horowitz determined that the opening of the Russia investigation was legal and found no politicized conspiracy against President Trump by high-level F.B.I. officials. The problems included omitting details that made Mr. Page look less suspicious. For example, the court was not told that Mr. Page had said to a confidential informant in August 2016 that he had no interactions with Paul Manafort, Mr. Trumps former campaign manager, even though the F.B.I. suspected Mr. Page might be a conduit between Russia and Mr. Manafort. The court was also not told that Mr. Page had told the C.I.A. about his contacts with Russians over the years, a fact that made that pattern of contacts look less suspicious. The Justice Department, passing on the factual portrait it received from the F.B.I., had pointed the judges to that pattern as a reason to think that he might be a Russian agent. Mr. Horowitz said he did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that the F.B.I. officials responsible for compiling the relevant evidence about Mr. Page for the court were politically biased against Mr. Trump. But he rejected as unsatisfactory their explanations that they were busy on other aspects of the Russia investigation. In a response appended to the inspector general report last month, Mr. Wray had already announced that he would make changes aimed at ensuring that the bureau put forward a more comprehensive portrait of the facts about targets when preparing wiretap applications. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Salvador Ceniceros, a psychiatrist on the front lines of the opioid epidemic, took a break between seeing patients the other day to reflect. While hes treated numerous people in his career, hes had his own health problems. Heart attacks, mainly. At 72, his family wants him to retire. But theres still a lot of work to be done, and he feels like hes finally gaining traction here at Jordan Valley Community Health Center, which gives him a sense of urgency to speak his mind. Ceniceros said Nancy Reagans Just Say No campaign was the worst thing that ever happened to the field of drug treatment. That made it totally moralized, he said. All you have to do is walk away and then you wont have the addiction issue. That doesnt happen. The great majority of patients that we have here have tried walking away multiple times, but they didnt get all the support that they needed to be able to do it. Despite a death toll thats exceeded the 407,000 U.S. deaths in World War II, there isnt a widely adopted standard of care for responding to the rampant misuse of prescription painkillers, heroin and fentanyl. Addicts are generally torn between two camps. One says strength of character is key; the other, which includes Ceniceros, says opioid use disorder can be controlled better by treating it over the long term as a medical condition. Current research says people being treated for opioid addiction are twice as likely to die of an overdose if they arent on medication. Yet the overwhelmed public safety net has historically been rooted in counseling therapies with guidelines that arent always backed by science. There is resistance to change. We have to get people thinking about this in a totally different way, Ceniceros said. Since July 2018, Jordan Valley, which has nine clinics in southwest Missouri that offer medical, dental and other services, has been doing something unheard of in Missouri. It has a walk-in clinic for people addicted to opioids. Even if they have an appointment, its OK to be days late. If you dont find a way to allow people to filter in when they need it, you are going to lose them, Ceniceros said. You are going to lose them to overdose. You are going to lose them to whatever. He said easy access to medication stabilizes patients brain chemistry so their risky behaviors are reined in. Opioid patients coming in off the street are usually prescribed buprenorphine and asked to return within three to seven days for a more in-depth assessment and a longer prescription. Wraparound services are available to help with housing, legal and employment struggles, as well as more medical professionals who can treat other health concerns, be it bronchitis or pregnancy. Many of the walk-in patients end up seeing Ceniceros. He often finds lingering mental illness that plays a role in their addiction. If a patient relapses, he doesnt kick them out of the program. He wants to see the patient more often. He wants to explore why they relapsed. Clinically, I see people getting dramatically better, he said. People are going back to work. Going back to school. In many instances, they have lost their children to temporary foster care, and they are getting their kids back, or at least supervised visits with them. Tired of waiting Jordan Valleys opioid program isnt advertised. Since it started, 1,100 people have shown up, more than expected and most at the downtown Springfield clinic. Some were hardcore addicts. About half of them had insurance. The clinic now has people coming in for the first time who are getting by, as parents, as employees, but are addicted to opioids, similar to functioning alcoholics. Eighty-seven percent of walk-in patients came back within three to seven days. More than half were active in treatment at 90 days. Most of the patients going beyond that said their home lives were stabilized, according to clinic officials. While we agree that its not perfect, it does allow people to live, said Matt Stinson, vice president of medical and behavioral health services at Jordan Valley. Stinson didnt expect to be in this position. When he graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 2001, he thought hed set up a typical family practice and take care of people until retirement. I didnt go into medicine to try to take care of people who are addicted, he said. People dont want to do it. Its not popular. But as a family physician the reason we can be answers to the problems of the community is because our practices have to adapt to whatever the communitys needs are. Stinson described a perfect storm of experiences that led to the walk-in clinic. Jordan Valley first started substance abuse work in pregnancy programs. Pain management patients followed. Then, in 2017, Stinson and representatives from the biggest hospitals in Springfield and other leaders were shamed at a press conference announcing an effort to address major holes in the local health care system. Comments from the mother of a 20-year-old old former high school cheerleader who died of an opioid overdose particularly stung. She said there wasnt a place to get immediate help for her daughter. We didnt ever want to be in that situation again because we werent doing our part to try to meet the need of the patient, said Stinson, adding: We are all smart people. We can get things done if we believe its important. He applied for a Reimagining Approaches to Improve Access to Care grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, which awarded Jordan Valley $1.1 million to spend on the walk-in clinic over a three-year period. This type of treatment is not the status quo because it provides same-day access to the services needed to help the patient, and medicine is provided at no cost, said foundation spokeswoman Courtney Stewart. Theres no delay in treatment with this approach, which is much better for patients. Beating the odds Though Jordan Valley is seeing success, there is only one other true walk-in clinic like it in Missouri, Northwest Health Services in St. Joseph, said Ned Presnall, a clinician and adjunct professor at Washington University. It also is a federally qualified health center that patched its opioid programs together with grant funding. Weve never really integrated the treatment of addiction into the normal health care system, Presnall said. While many addicts with means have found access to medication, and are living promising lives, he said, the uninsured and minority populations have less access to evidence-based practices. He and other researchers wrote in a 2019 Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment study that the most effective way to get Medicaid patients into treatment for opioid addiction, and keep them out of the emergency room, was by treating them with medication in doctors offices, rather than specialty treatment centers. Presnall said in an interview that government spending should be funneled to primary care centers like Jordan Valley and Northwest Health because the safety net of state-funded substance abuse treatment centers historically has been skeptical of medication. The heat isnt just coming from Presnall. The Global Commission on Drug Policy reported in 2017 that there was prejudice in the United States against the most effective medical treatments for opioid addiction. The Missouri Department of Mental Health has been trying to change that legacy in more than 100 state-funded substance abuse treatment centers, which heavily rely on individual counseling and group therapies. Progress, some say, has been slow. Not only are there long waitlists for treatment, but it very often doesnt include medication. Naloxone, known commercially as Narcan, has become more widely available to reverse overdoses, but that and most detox programs arent considered medication-assisted treatment, which should last months, even years, doctors say. Theres a high risk of relapse among opioid patients who come off their medication. Funding, services for opioid addiction increase, but death toll remains high Number of opioid-related deaths has been trending upwards in the city and county since 2007 but may have leveled off in 2019. Many opioid addicts arent chasing the high anymore. Theyve developed a physiological dependence and feel dope sick without opioids in their system. Methadone and buprenorphine, the two main medications, relieve painful withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings by targeting brain receptors with a controlled dose of opioid. Some traditionalists, such as those who successfully work with Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and other abstinence-only programs, say clean means clean, including staying off of methadone and buprenorphine. But studies show that patients on methadone or buprenorphine have fewer relapses and are much more likely to stay in treatment and alive. According to a Journal of Substance Abuse study of more than 50,000 people on Medicaid who received opioid addiction treatment between 2003 and 2010, the relapse rate among patients who had counseling therapies was six times higher than for methadone and four times higher than for buprenorphine. Methadone and buprenorphine, which can be misused, are highly controlled. Methadone tends to have higher retention and also a high barrier to access. Its administered daily in a liquid form at clinics near urban areas. Buprenorphine tends to have a lower success rate than methadone, but its more accessible. Buprenorphine can be taken at home, as a pill or in a film that dissolves in the mouth like a breath mint strip. Its most commonly sold as Suboxone and Subutex. Strip of Suboxone Walk-in patient Rhonda Bielby places a strip of Suboxone, the brand name of a prescription medication used to treat opioid addiction, undernea Some say one of the great ironies of the opioid epidemic is that while theres no cap on prescribing opioid painkillers like hydrocodone and oxycodone, which led thousands of people to addiction, doctors must receive a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. Even then, there is a cap on the number of prescriptions they can write. The number of waivers is growing, but only a small percentage of medical professionals have done the required training to be waivered, including in the publicly funded system. Percy Menzies, president of Assisted Recovery Centers of America, or ARCA, which mainly has substance abuse clients referred by state agencies, wishes he had the funding to hire more doctors to prescribe buprenorphine and other medications. To eliminate wait times, he has a dream to expand his St. Louis location at 1430 Olive Street into a walk-in clinic for opioid addicts. St. Louis has the highest rate of fatal overdoses in the state, followed by many surrounding counties in the area. The only walk-in clinic is the drug dealers because they will go there and get relief right away, Menzies said. They will lie, cheat and steal whatever they can. Thats the cycle you can break. The single biggest failure is the lack of withdrawal treatment on an immediate basis. The best dope Brett Williams of Villa Ridge made the journey to Jordan Valley for the first time on Dec. 31. Not long before, he was headed in the opposite direction on Interstate 44 to get his fix in St. Louis. Turning north onto Kingshighway, hed call his drug dealer to let him know he was close to the rendezvous point a gas station, or one of the fast food parking lots at the intersection of Delmar Boulevard. That is where the best dope is at, said Williams, 24. He is similar to many opioid addicts who got caught up in the epidemic early on. He was prescribed painkillers in his case, for a lower back injury he suffered while wrestling his freshman year at Pacific High School. He eventually started crushing the pills and snorting them to get high. After his doctor cut him off, he bought pills on the street. As his tolerance increased, he needed more pills, which became very expensive. He switched to heroin, which was cheaper, more intense. Thats probably every middle-class white boys version of how they became addicted to heroin, Williams said. Instead of stealing from stores to feed his addiction, like some others do, he stole from his family. I was very privileged, but I abused and used and manipulated every single person on my fathers and my mothers side of the family, he said. I would tell them the most obscure lies that you could possibly think of just to make sure that I didnt have to sleep on the streets. Shock time, a short prison sentence, left an impact on him, but he was still addicted. It wasnt until the third trip to an expensive residential treatment program that he decided he was really ready to try sobriety. Most recently, he ended up at 1 More 24, a faith-based sober living program in Springfield. But hes pushed the limits. He said he relapsed a few weeks ago by shooting up heroin with another resident, who has since moved on. The sober living program gave Williams another chance. They took him to a three-day detox, then to Jordan Valley on New Years Eve. I really didnt need to do anything besides show up, Williams said. He was prescribed a weeks worth of buprenorphine and told to come back for an in-depth assessment. He went to the follow-up. He was prescribed a months worth of medication, told to come back. He said he planned to stick with the program. On Thursday, a manufacturing company hired him to build small, electrical components. He starts Monday. The job pays $11.50 an hour with health insurance. 'It was key' Synthia Nickle has been on opioid medicine for about five years. Even when she was an inmate at the Greene County Jail, correctional officers brought her to Jordan Valley most days so she could take buprenorphine. It was key to me, said Nickle, 31, of Springfield. It saved my life. I dont know if I could even imagine not having this place to come to. She was initially treated for substance abuse at Jordan Valley when she was pregnant. Shes given birth to six children, ages 14 months to 13 years. I am allowed to have my children, she said. I dont have to live the addicted life anymore, where I am begging and borrowing, and, you know, using needles, living in abandoned houses. She said shes had an occasional relapse, but her last overdose was in 2009. James Long III, 36, of Ozark, has heard similar success stories. The former military brat still wants to stay clear of opioid medication. He said hes been sober for more than a year now. He took naltrexone, a medication that any doctor can prescribe, when he decided to get clean on Sept. 24, 2018. But he even gave up on that medication, which has its own challenges, after two months. When I quit, I got off of everything, he said. I just knew I was done. He works the 12 steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous program and comes to Jordan Valley for counseling. Its good to have somebody to talk to, he said. Code blue Ceniceros, the psychiatrist, said Long is one of the few lucky ones who make it so long without medication. There are success stories like that, he said. (But) we measure the outcomes in the wrong way. That the only good outcome is that they find that they are off of everything. Thats like saying, Oh, the best outcome for this diabetic is that hes off insulin. Each time local, state and national mortality numbers come out, Ceniceros tries to focus on offering medication and wraparound services that he and others believe have impact. I just gotta keep doing what I am doing because eventually I am going to make a dent, he said. He cant help but see faces in all the data, though. I have nightmares about those faces, he said. I know what somebody looks like when they have overdosed. They have overdosed right here. The latest one happened Tuesday morning, when an emaciated man dropped in the parking lot. He looked pretty blue, said Ceniceros, who, along with a few others from the clinic, ran out to revive him with Narcan and a resuscitation bag. EMS took the man to a hospital to be stabilized. On Thursday, the man showed up at the clinic again. Hed been a former patient. Ceniceros got into his regular line of questioning. Why did you drop out of the program? What prompted the relapse? The patient, who suffers from depression and anxiety, said he didnt have reliable transportation. He said a blowout with his girlfriend motivated him to shoot up. Ceniceros said the mans girlfriend has now also been prescribed buprenorphine. They are both expected back next week for a fuller assessment, to schedule follow-up visits. But no appointment is necessary. Stay up to date on life and culture in St. Louis. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The MoD order and notes dated 30 December, 2019, reviewed by Firstpost reveals that between 1 April to 31 July, 2019, a total 4,256 complaints were received by the ministry. In the wake of a huge number of complaints, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) wants to have a consistent, accountable and a more extensive mechanisms for swift resolution in all three uniformed services and various other departments, which directly comes under administrative control of the ministry. The MoD order and notes dated 30 December, 2019, reviewed by Firstpost, reveals that between 1 April to 31 July, 2019, a total 4,256 complaints were received by the ministry. It was also the same period when Firstpost published a series of investigative reports exposing alleged irregularities in construction of Air Force's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). Documents revealed that the then defence secretary Sanjay Mitra ordered a detailed analysis in all the complaints including the IACCS project to identify systemic reforms needed to strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism and to address the root cause. After Mitra's direction, 800 complaints were analysed including the ones against Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) which is handling the confidential IACCS project. The defence public sector undertaking is in the dock for allegedly violating rules in selection of project consultant and subsequently awarding contracts to foreign vendors. The BEL has awarded a sub-system contract without floating global tender to a German company Mueller Safe GmbH, which had produced only 75 pieces of valves used for such installation. Another company Pro Hub Hebetechnik GmbH was also selected by BEL for a contract despite submitting technical proposal after closing time of bid. The Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of BEL had recommended blacklisting of design consultant of IACCS and action against 8 BEL officers for allegedly favoring domestic and foreign companies at the cost of tax-payers and national security. As per then defence secretary Mitra's direction, the 800 complaints picked for analysis were categorised in four broad areas: Corruption, land matters, recruitment and service matters. On 30 December, 2019, the MoD after analysis of the complaints suggested a systemic reform in handling the complaints. An action taken report has to be submitted by all three uniformed services and other departments to the MoD by 15 January, 2020. The note reviewed by Firstpost read: All wing heads must carry out a detailed analysis of grievances pertaining to their wings and suggest systemic reforms. Also, the wing heads should hold fortnightly meetings with their division heads to monitor the disposal of grievances. In the corruption category, the MoD had analysed 150 complaints. Of these, 23 complaints were related to fraud in Air Force/BEL, fraud in Military Engineer Services (MES) which is responsible for providing infrastructure to the armed forces, ordinance depot, army public schools, sainik schools, canteens, fraud in Border Road Organization (BRO), corruption in recruitment process in Military Engineer Services, National Cadet Corps, military hospitals and Sena Bhawan. Other corruption complaints related to cantonment boards, irregularities in transfer postings, disproportionate assets cases and fake job rackets. In the recruitment category, 200 complaints were analysed included corruption in recruitment process, request for relaxation in norms for defence jobs, delay in getting joining/result, matter related to medical examination during recruitment and other complaints related to procedural issues. In the service matters category, 250 complaints were analysed, including complaints on promotion issues, complaints against dismissal, medical board, promotion and request for reinstatement in service. 17 complaints of harassment were analysed. In 200 complaints of land matters analyzed by MoD, maximum numbers were related to encroachment and unauthorised construction on defence land by public and corruption by Cantonment Board and officials. There were also complaints related to civic amenities and hygiene in the cantonment areas where army officers and their families resides. The MoD has suggested that in order to avoid encroachment, all land records of cantonment must be digitised. Systemic changes in form of digitization of Cantt records, land matters must be initiated as soon as possible and the same must be uploaded on the net. All results relating to recruitment/admission to be made available online as in case of army public school/ Sainik School/other organization recruiting people. Maximum information related to recruitment to be uploaded online. Proper timeline/ sequence of events relating to recruitment, exams to be displayed on the website as far as possible. Prompt reply to be given if relaxation in respect of procedures, policy is sought. The feasibility of having the exams online could be examined wherever possible, the MoD note said. The ministry, while directing the systemic reforms, however, advised that sub judice cases or any matter concerning judgment given by any court, personal and family disputes and anything that impacts upon territorial integrity of the country or friendly relations with other countries should not be treated as grievances. Also, the grievances of government employees concerning their service matters including disciplinary proceedings will only be considered if the officer has exhausted the prescribed channels of redressal. The 15-member council adopted a resolution on Friday night, prepared by Belgium and Germany, which re-authorized two of the existing four crossings on the Syria-Turkey border under the mechanism for six months, reports Xinhua news agency. The meeting to hold the vote was postponed for about three hours, as "the text might be still being worked on" till the last minute, according to British Permanent Representative to the UN Karen Pierce. Since 2014, the Security Council has authorized the delivery of aid through four border crossings, two in Turkey and the other two in Iraq and Jordan. The exact number of Syrians relying on the mechanism remains unknown. Belgium, Germany and their supporters said over 4 million Syrians get aid from across the border, but Russia contended that there was only about 1 million, citing a Secretary-General's report. Friday's vote came after the council failed to re-authorize the mechanism on December 20, 2019 as a result of division among members. Germany, Belgium as well as Kuwait tabled a draft that would also preserve a third crossing in Iraq and would approve a year-long renewal. Russia tabled a rival text that in essence sought Friday's re-authorization. But neither draft was adopted on December 20. At the insistence of Germany and Belgium, the adopted resolution asked the UN Secretary-General to report by the end of February on the possibility of using alternatives to the Iraqi crossing to ensure that aid reaches the Syrians in need through the most direct routes. Belgium's Permanent Representative to the UN Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve said the Iraqi crossing handles humanitarian aid, in particular medical supplies, for some 1.4 million people in Syria's northeast. But Russia refuted that those people's needs have for long been covered by deliveries from within Syria, which was reflected in the UN secretary-general's report. Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said after the vote that the Jordanian crossing has not been used since July 2018, and the Iraqi crossing stopped operating last year. He said the situation has changed "dramatically" on the ground, and the renewed mechanism should reflect the change. ksk/ An 5.9 magnitude earthquake rattled Puerto Rico on Saturday, fueling anxiety among residents and sending them running in terror. The quake was about 8 miles south of Indios in the Caribbean Sea, the US Geological Survey said, at a depth of 6.2 miles. The USGS first said the preliminary magnitude was 6.0. In photos: Persistent earthquakes put Puerto Rico on edge Puerto Rico has been beset by temblors throughout the week, including a 6.4 magnitude quake Tuesday that killed at least one man, destroyed homes and left most of the island without power. A 5.2 magnitude aftershock struck on Friday afternoon. As of Saturday afternoon, about 59,000 customers remain without power, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority officials said. The earthquake renewed fear and anxiety among residents in the southern towns of the island. As the ground shook on Saturday, people at Mercedita International Airport in Ponce quickly ran outside the terminal, and a few miles away, parts of the roof and facade of a historic building collapsed. Luis Emanuelli, who owns a restaurant in the building, said that while the interior was not damaged, he and his team decided pick up a few documents, some equipment and close indefinitely. 'We don't know what we are exposed to,' he said. The US territory was expecting power to return by Saturday to its 3 million residents, and authorities had tweeted that it was 95% restored a couple of hours before Saturday's quake at about 8 a.m. ET. Parts of Lares, Adjuntas, Ponce and San German lost electrical service after the new quake. After the tremor, power was on to about 93% of the island, PREPA said. Governor estimates $110 million in damages Amid the earthquakes, Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced signed a major disaster declaration on Saturday, asking the federal government for additional federal aid for the southern towns of Guanica, Guayanilla, Penuelas, Ponce and Yauco. The governor told reporters there is an estimated $110 million in damage caused by the quakes. Earlier this week, Vazquez Garced had declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. She warned businesses against price gouging after saying there have been reports of tent prices rising. 'I urge those people to have sensitivity. We want to assure the well-being of people who lost their property, don't have a roof and are choosing to sleep in a park and need at least an awning to cover themselves from the sun and rain,' the governor said in Spanish. People are camping on sidewalks, stadiums and highways Thousands of families have fled their homes, fearing the structures may collapse during an aftershock. They are sleeping in mattresses, tents and tarps set up in stadiums, fields and next to highways. A baseball stadium in Guayanilla as well as public parks and schools across the southern towns have become massive shelters in the past days. Scores of people are sleeping in cots under large white tents and dozens of portable bathroom have been set up. More than 6,000 people were staying in shelters, Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, the territory's nonvoting delegate to Congress, said. Since December 28, about 500 earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or higher have hit Puerto Rico, which is still recovering from Hurricane Maria in 2017. That storm killed almost 3,000 people, and left millions of Americans without power, water or shelter. Recovery has been slow and hard. Airbnb offers free housing on the island Airbnb's Open Homes program is offering free, temporary housing in Puerto Rico, its site says. 'Relief workers, neighbors who've had to evacuate, and others impacted by the event' are eligible to book rooms at no cost, Airbnb says. 'If you've been displaced or are helping with relief efforts, you can book free accommodations between January 9, 2020 and January 31, 2020.' Residents can also donate space for those in need of temporary housing. Various Canadian dollars in gray pants pocket When selecting the companies that will make up your portfolio there are the large blue-chip companies to consider that are always an investor favourite. Companies such as Enbridge and Canadian National Railway Co. are owned by a wide group of investors, and for good reason. These companies are some of the best businesses in the country and they are crucial to the growth and success of the economy. Because these companies are so high quality and therefore investor favorites, they tend to trade for premiums, so even though they are great investments, you cant get them for as cheap as you could a lesser-known stock. While lesser-known stocks may not be as popular, they give you the opportunity to find them undervalued. When you find companies with the same level of quality as a blue chip, you have a clear long-term winner. These three stocks are all high-quality but all lesser known; they are also all included in the Canadian Dividend Aristocrats list, showing that they have a strong track record of growing and maintaining their dividends. The first stock to consider is Exchange Income Corp (TSX:EIF), a diversified company owning a portfolio of businesses in the aviation and manufacturing industries. Its essentially an investment company that acquires small companies that generate quality cash flow and operate niche business or in untapped sectors of the market. Whats immediately noticeable when analyzing EIF is that the company returns more than 10% a year on equity and is very consistent about it. Its also quite clear to see the growth in its business, especially its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). In the last five years alone, the company has increased its EBITDA by more than 80%, and the dividend has increased along with it. Today its dividend yields roughly 5.2%, and its stock trades at a price to earnings ratio of just 17 times. When you consider the growth you can expect to see, it looks very attractive from a long-term perspective. Story continues The next Dividend Aristocrat to consider is North West Company Inc (TSX:NWC) a consumer staple operating in Northern Canada, Western Canada, Alaska and the Caribbean. North West is retailer of food and other everyday services to urban neighbourhoods, but more important, underserved rural communities. Many people living in these communities rely on North West to get their living necessities, making North West an integral part of the economy in these regions and putting it in a strong operating position. The company cant be expected to appreciate quickly, but it can be relied on to return you a steady and growing dividend, which if you buy today would yield you roughly 4.7%. It too is trading at an attractive valuation, and could especially be a strong stock to add to your portfolio if youre are worried about a recession. The third and final company is Keyera Corp (TSX:KEY) a midstream energy company that isnt as popular as some of its peers, but the company is still extremely reliable and running a strong business. The dividend is the highest of the three aristocrats Im recommending today at 5.7%. As with all Dividend Aristocrats, you can expect it to grow the dividend considerably throughout the future. Since Keyeras inception in 2003, the company has increased the dividend at an 8% compounded annual growth rate, a truly impressive feat. It hasnt been able to do that without strong operations that have been highly profitable. As with any company in the Western Canadian energy industry, however, it does come with some risks, albeit theres currently nothing to suggest that Keyera will have any issues, and its positioned well to be around for the long term. Investors should strongly consider adding any or all of these stocks to their portfolios today. Given the stability of each of these companies and the current market conditions, the dividends look to be very attractive, and these companies can all be counted on to execute over the long term. More reading Fool contributor Daniel Da Costa owns shares of THE NORTH WEST COMPANY INC. David Gardner owns shares of Canadian National Railway. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Canadian National Railway and Enbridge. The Motley Fool recommends Canadian National Railway. Enbridge and Canadian National Railway are recommendations 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 A partnership between an agriculture company and a West Texas farm could create a solution to the Permian Basins oil and gas waste water dilemma, and the regions scarce water supplies for farming and ranching. Produced water is brought up to the surface during extraction. Traditionally, that water is pumped back underground via an injection well, and some oil and gas producers found ways to treat the water to a quality that could be reused in hydraulic fracturing. But as fracking and the American oil and gas industry boomed in the desert region of southeast New Mexico and West Texas an area also known for heavy agricultural activity scientists, companies and government agencies began studying how to treat and reuse produced water outside of oil and gas. Wyoming-based Encore Green Environmental and Wilson Farms of Midkiff, Texas, plan to use solar energy to treat the water and use it to grow crops at the cotton farm. The companies announced their own memorandum of understanding on Monday and Encore CEO Marvin Nash said they had a meeting with the New Mexico consortium. Nash said the company has acquired permitting to put the treated produced water on the ground in Wyoming and is hoping to do the same in New Mexico. The technology would be developed at Wilson Farms, and Encore is seeking engineers and technological partners to begin developing the idea. Encores process would see the solar panels heat up produced water, creating steam, which would turn a turbine, creating energy. Then, the condensation left from the steam would be cleaned to a high enough standard to be used to water crops. Any leftover brine would still be disposed for injection. The process could be affordable to farmers as they could accrue solar credit for adding to the electrical grid, while also collecting disposal fees from companys supplying the waste water. Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Saturday said his force can take control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir if it gets orders from political authority, in what is seen as a strong message to Islamabad. In a press conference ahead of the Army Day, Gen Naravane also said that the Army will remain very vigilant at the Siachen glacier as there was a possibility of collusion between China and Pakistan against India in the strategically sensitive area. "As far as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is concerned, many years ago there was a parliamentary resolution on it that entire J and K is part of India. If Parliament wants that area should also belong to us and if we get orders to that effect, then definitely we will take action on it," the Army Chief said. He was replying to a question on whether the Army was ready to reclaim Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). A resolution by Parliament in February 1994 stated that Pakistan must vacate the areas of Jammu and Kashmir, which it has occupied through aggression, and resolved that all attempts made by Islamabad to interfere in India's internal affairs will be dealt with resolutely. After India withdrew special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories, several important functionaries said that the focus now should be on reclaiming PoK. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also said that if talks were to be held with Pakistan, then they will be only on PoK. On Siachen, Gen Naravane said Indian forces should not lose sight as there could be collusion between China and Pakistan. "We must not lose sight from where collusion between China and Pakistan can take place. We need to hold on to it. Though it can take place at any level, Siachen and Shaksgam Valley are the places where territory of these two countries meet. Threat of collusivity is maximum in the important glacier," he said. To a separate question, the Army Chief said the six Apache attack helicopters being procured by the Army would be deployed in formations guarding the border with Pakistan. He said the chopper would be deployed at locations where there is a threat of armoured columns. "Six Apache choppers would be given to an Army unit on the western borders," he said. On the killing of two civilians by Pakistan Army in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Naravane said Indian Army does not resort to such barbaric activities. "We do not resort to such barbaric activities and fight as a very professional force. We will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner," he said. He said the Indian Army conducts itself in the most professional and ethical manner including on the LoC. "Professional armies never resort to barbaric acts," he said. On the Army's role in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Naravane said they have the full support of the people. "Everyone in Jammu and Kashmir is doing a tremendous job day in and day out under very harsh condition, be along the Line of Control or hinterland. "We have the full support of the people. They have been very cooperative. They do not have harsh words to say about the Army," he said. On complaints of misconduct against the Army in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Naravane said investigations concluded that all the allegations were "unfounded". "At times, judgement calls need to be taken in the spur of the moment and calls by commanders on the ground have to be respected. In all the complaints that have been filed, on investigation, have proved to be unfounded," the Army chief said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Washington: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing another set of crippling sanctions against Iran, targeting several of its top leaders, military commanders, and its infrastructure industry, according to a statement from the White House on Friday. Trump said the executive order authorises the imposition of sanctions against any individual or entity operating in the construction, manufacturing, textiles, or mining sectors of the Iranian economy or anyone assisting those who engage in this sanctioned business. The sanctions are the latest in a series of retaliatory measures between the two nations. Iran's powerful military commander Qasem Soleimani was killed last Friday in US drone strikes, ordered by President Trump, bringing the entire Gulf region close to a full-blown conflict. Regional tensions remained high after Iran on Wednesday fired missiles at two bases in Iraq used by US forces. "Today, I am holding the Iranian regime responsible for attacks against United States personnel and interests by denying it substantial revenue that may be used to fund and support its nuclear program, missile development, terrorism and terrorist proxy networks, and malign regional influence," said Trump on Friday, after signing the executive order. "This order will have a major impact on the Iranian economy, authorising powerful secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions. "The Iranian regime has threatened United States military service members, diplomats, and civilians, as well as the citizens and interests of our allies and partners, through military force and proxy groups. The United States will continue to counter the Iranian regime's destructive and destabilising behaviour," the president said. Trump said the economic sanctions will remain till the Iranian regime changes its behaviour. Earlier at a White House news conference, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, along with cabinet colleague Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said the US will continue its economic and diplomatic sanctions on Iran till Tehran announces it will not pursue the nuclear weapons program and stop its destabilising behaviour in the region. The eight senior Iranian regime officials against whom sanctions have been issued include Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the Deputy Chief of Staff of Iranian armed forces, and Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij militia of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The sanction on the Iranian officials would mean denial of visa to the US and seizure of assets, among others. In addition, the treasury designated 17 Iranian metals producers and mining companies, a network of three China-and Seychelles-based entities, and a vessel involved in the purchase, sale, and transfer of Iranian metals products, as well as in the provision of critical metals production components to Iranian metal producers. "The United States is targeting senior Iranian officials for their involvement and complicity in Tuesday's ballistic missile strikes," Mnuchin said. "We are also designating Iran's largest metals manufacturers, and imposing sanctions on new sectors of the Iranian economy including construction, manufacturing, and mining. These sanctions will continue until the regime stops the funding of global terrorism and commits to never having nuclear weapons," he added. Pompeo told reporters that Iran was planning "broad, large-scale attacks" against American interests in the Middle East, including embassies. The latest round of sanctions are aimed at striking at the heart of Iran's internal security apparatus, he said. "The president has been very clear: we will continue to apply economic sanctions until Iran stops its terrorist activities and commits that it will never have nuclear weapons," Mnuchin said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Everyone says Melissa Gonzalez was the perfect daughter. The 22-year-old had recently graduated from Florida International University and was days away from taking the law school entrance exam. She studied every day, had a part-time job as a CVS pharmacy technician and was always with her family. She also had a loving boyfriend. Her future looked bright until someone shot and killed her while she was driving south on Interstate 95 near Northwest 79th Street in Miami last week. She was on her way to Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach to visit her sick grandfather. Im on my way, she had texted her grandmother before getting in the car. She never made it. Melissa Gonzalez, 22, graduated from Florida International University in summer 2019. A week after the shooting, investigators believe they have a new lead. Its a still photo of a dark colored vehicle with dark wheels. Detectives found it while combing through surveillance cameras in the area and theyre hoping the person or people who were inside the car know what happened. Miami-Dade Homicide Detective Juan Segovia holds up a photograph of a car during a press conference at Miami-Dade Police Department on Friday asking the public for help finding the person who killed Melissa Gonzalez. Police said the car was spotted driving within a three-block radius of the shooting. Gonzalezs grieving family is pleading for help. So are her friends. A reward of up to $3,000 is being offered for information that could help find her killer. I dont even know how I have strength to come here, her devastated mother Sheilla Nunez told a crowd of reporters in a small room at Miami-Dade Countys Polices headquarters Friday morning. I cant sleep, I dont have peace. My life and my younger daughters life is ruined... I want to see their face. I want to see their face. Theyve ruined my life. Police say Gonzalez and her boyfriend Julian Veliz, 26, were on their way to the hospital around 8:30 p.m. last Friday when a bullet whizzed in through one of the cars passenger windows and struck Gonzalez, who was behind the wheel. Veliz grabbed the steering wheel and the car eventually came to a stop against the median. Veliz then called for help. Gonzalez later died at Jackson Memorial Hospitals Ryder Trauma Center. Police are asking the community to contact them if they recognize the dark-colored vehicle in this photo. It wasnt road rage, said Det. Juan Segovia. Based on the current investigation, police say its highly unlikely that they were targeted but they arent completely taking it off the table. Story continues Was it a stray bullet? Detectives are still trying to figure it out. Its unclear if it was intentional, Segovia said. Police have no motive and no suspects, but they do have the picture of the car, which they say was found driving within a three-block radius of the shooting. Nunez, with members of her family standing behind her, begged the community to help them find her daughters killer. Veliz, who sat next to her, stayed mostly quiet and often broke down, sometimes translating what she said into English and also asking for help. Sheilla Nunez, right, pleads for help finding the person who killed her daughter Melissa Gonzalez during a press conference Friday at the Miami-Dade Police Department. She is joined by, from left, Michel Nunez, Gonzalezs boyfriend Julian Veliz, Diana Lorenzo and Justo Nunez Jr. Police and the family are urging anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers (305)471-TIPS (8477) or (866) 471-8477 Im scared. Im scared to go out on the street. Im scared for my other daughter to go to school, Nunez said in Spanish at the conference. I will not rest. I want to die but I cant because I have to take care of your sister. Not much else is known about the attack. Detectives wont say how many bullets struck Gonzalez and her car or which direction the bullets came from. Veliz has previously said he saw a dark-colored vehicle. He also said the bullet came from the back of the car, Gonzalezs mother told the Miami Herald during a phone call Thursday. Witnesses who were driving on the interstate or were in the area told police they heard as many as 10 shots. Gonzalezs family hasnt yet set funeral plans yet. Theyre waiting to see if Sen. Marco Rubios office can secure a humanitarian visa for Gonzalezs father, who lives in Cuba, so he can attend. Who was Melissa Gonzalez? Family and friends say Melissa Gonzalez loved to travel. Her saved Instagram Stories recap her travels to places such as Tennessee, Paris and London. Gonzalez, a Miami Beach resident, has lived most of her life in South Florida. She came to Miami from Cuba at age four with her mother. She went to Nautilus Middle School and Miami Beach Senior High. Friends and family say she was hardworking, studious and vibrant. She was like my sister, said Ceylin Arias, Gonzalezs best friend since middle school. She was unica. She was unique. The 22-year-old loved singing, acting and traveling. She auditioned for an America Teve music competition years ago, Nunez said. Most recently, she was waiting to hear back from a Disney casting call. Her dream was to practice family law. She also wanted to be a mother one day. Gonzalez graduated from Florida International University in summer 2019 with a bachelor of arts in psychology and had completed a second major in interdisciplinary studies. She was also a member of FIUs chapter of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. Gonzalez would have taken the LSAT Monday, Jan. 13 Her graduation is still set as her Facebooks profile photo. It shows a smiling Gonzalez in her cap and gown standing next to Veliz, who she had been dating for slightly more than a year. He was the love of her life, Arias said during a phone call Wednesday. The last photos she shared with her more than 5,000 Instagram followers were on Dec. 29 at Mangos Tropical Cafe in Miami Beach. Another batch of pictures posted a week earlier showed Gonzalez, her younger sister and Veliz wearing matching Christmas onesies. Melissa Gonzalez, 22, graduated from Florida International University in summer 2019. Here shes with boyfriend Julian Veliz. The couple was planning to visit New York this month to celebrate Gonzalezs birthday. She would have turned 23 on Jan. 27. Ill spend my whole life crying, her mother said. Arias, Gonzalezs best friend, feels like her other half is missing. Gonzalezs nine-year-old-sister is devastated and has begun imitating her study habits. She gets home, says mom, I have to study, and goes straight to the kitchen counter, Nunez said. Ill spend my whole life crying. Sheilla Nunez pleads for help finding the person who killed her daughter. There is no doubt there are people out there who know what happened, said Segovia, the detective. Be a hero. If youre a human being with a heart... pick up the phone. A GoFundMe page created by the family to help pay for Gonzalezs funeral expenses has raised more than $14,000 since it was created Monday. Those interested in donating can visit www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-melissa?utm_source Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide Detective J. Segovia at 305-471-2400. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477) or visit CrimeStoppers305.com and click Submit a Tip. You may be eligible for a reward if your information helps police make an arrest. Population explosion is root cause of most of the problems plaguing India and a two-child policy should be implemented to address the issue, a plea in Supreme Court by advocate and BJP spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay said. In an appeal against a Delhi high court order dismissing Upadhyays plea, a Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant issued notice to the central government Upadhyay submitted in his petition that two-child norm should be the declared as a criterion for government jobs and subsidies and persons failing to adhere should be stripped of their statutory rights including right to vote and contest elections. Population explosion is root cause of most of our problems including shortage of drinking water, forests, land, food, clothes, house, poverty and unemployment, hunger and malnutrition and air, water, soil and sound pollution, the petition stated. The Delhi high court dismissed the plea in September last year. It's called Italy Plaza, a vast traffic circle in the Chilean capital of Santiago. To the north and east live the country's ultra-wealthy. One way of describing those out of touch with the rest of the country's grim reality is to say they've "never been below Italy Plaza." The spot is ground zero for furious street demonstrations that have turned Chile from Latin America's richest and stablest nation into a test case of profound social unrest. The area, which demonstrators have renamed Dignity Plaza, is coated in layers of graffiti, with most shops looted and shuttered. The case of Chile - $2 billion in property damage, 26 dead - has shocked the investor world because it was supposed to be a regional model. But the virus of discontent was already spreading elsewhere, with streets in Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia turning into scenes of pot-banging fire-setting fury. Numerous factors are at play. Among the most significant are economic inequality, ethnic tensions and police brutality. While the most violent protests have for now dissipated, these forces continue to gnaw away at social cohesion and could once again spark unrest unexpectedly and suddenly. Institutions and the rule of law are fragile and economies are expected to have another tough year. Here are snapshots from Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. - - - Every Friday, after David Vargas completes his shift as a technician at a credit-card company in the upscale Santiago neighborhood of Nueva Las Condes he heads to nearby Italy Plaza to join the protests. Vargas, 38, embodies Chile's socio-economic divide. He comes from a poor family and works among the well-to-do. And while he once watched the gap shrink, lately he's seen it stagnate. He was struck when he saw the difference in how the authorities treated his work neighborhood from the one where he lives. The area around his company "was packed with soldiers," he said. "They were guarding everything when absolutely nothing had happened. But if you went downtown or to other parts of Santiago, it was pure chaos. They just guarded from Italy Plaza to the rich neighborhoods." Vargas' father, a former factory worker, collects a monthly disability pension of just 80,000 pesos, about $100. His mother cleaned houses. "I'm protesting mostly because of the pensions and to show solidarity because right now I have privileges that many don't have," Vargas said. "I know what it is to live in a poor neighborhood, I know what it is to wait for eight hours at public hospitals for service, I know what it means that the elderly receive extremely low pensions and don't have enough to live or to buy food." A few blocks away is where it all began. In early October at a subway station, students plotted ticket evasions sparked by a fare increase of 30 pesos. They coordinated on social networks and dangled their feet over the tracks to force trains to stop. Things got nasty, fast. Police special forces clashed with the protesters, and groups set dozens of stations on fire. Stunned, the government declared a state of emergency and a curfew, sending the army to the streets. Protests morphed into the biggest social unrest since at least the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in the 1970s and 1980s. They were now against every injustice imaginable: low pensions, school debts, health services, public education, police brutality, women's rights, even replacing the Pinochet-era constitution, which President Sebastian Pinera has agreed to in an attempt to calm the situation. The message was clear. The neglected middle class in South America's richest country was very mad. It was a taste of the frustration of similar populations across the region in recent years. Paulina Astroza, professor of political science at Chile's Universidad de Concepcion, said Chile's economic model worked when commodity prices were soaring but has failed since. "The issue is distrust of the political class, of the church, even of union and labor leaders," she said. "There has to be a change in the model for more wealth redistribution or the grotesque inequality and the discontent will continue. If we want to avoid other unrest movements in one, two or even five years, we have to see a redistribution of power." - - - Dilan Cruz wasn't much for politics. An 18-year-old with a broad smile and a big group of friends, Cruz joined Colombia's anti-government demonstrations in late November to protest for more funding for education. "He believed he could get ahead if he could get a chance to study," said Alexa Beltran, a close friend. He was about to graduate high school and planned to study business administration, she said. Cruz was killed by riot-control police at one of the demonstrations. His death was a flash point and an example of aggressive police tactics that have inflamed protests in countries across the Andes. Dozens of demonstrators have been killed and thousands injured by state forces from Bogota to Santiago. The violence has been most prominent in Chile, where thousands have been hurt, including more than 200 who sustained eye injuries from the use of pellet shotguns by authorities, according to human-rights groups. "There are similarities in the way the police units are behaving," said Silvia Otero Bahamon, a professor at Universidad del Rosario in Bogota who studies inequality and political violence. Dictatorship, war and high levels of violence in the past have led to heavily militarized police forces. Abuses are common. Colombians, who lived through decades of armed conflict, have become so accustomed to them that few of the more than 40 killings of demonstrators by anti-riot police in the last two decades have been investigated, Otero Bahamon said. "Repression of protest by police is common in Colombia," she said. "That's why what's happened with Dilan Cruz has been surprising." Cruz's death sparked fresh protests and anger. Marchers carried signs bearing his likeness and broke out into spontaneous chants of "Dilan didn't die, he was murdered." Protest leaders are demanding the government dismantle the national police's Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron, known by its Spanish acronym ESMAD. President Ivan Duque has ruled out such a move. Cruz's death is under investigation by the attorney general's office. 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. Sometimes provoked but other times not, ESMAD agents have been seen clubbing protesters, kicking a woman in the face and casually tossing tear gas into peaceful demonstrations. Cruz came from a broken home; his father died years ago and his mother was in jail. He lived with his older sister in a hardscrabble neighborhood, taking day jobs selling fast food. He'd joined a few peaceful protests in the past, but none of them compared with the demonstrations that shook Colombia starting on Nov. 21, when hundreds of thousands took to the streets in a broad-based rejection of government policies. Two days after the protests began, Cruz was on the street. He picked up a teargas canister, threw it at anti-riot police and ran, video footage from cellphones and street cameras shows. An officer shot a projectile, hitting Cruz in the head. Cruz collapsed in front of an internet cafe on a normally busy commercial street. Two days later, he died in a hospital. His sister Denis attended his graduation ceremony in his place. In a video she posted, she said, "No more violence. Dialogue and love will always be our best weapons." - - - When President Lenin Moreno of Ecuador announced the end of gasoline and diesel subsidies in October to comply with an International Monetary Fund program, the reaction was so violent that he fled the capital, Quito, and moved the government to the coastal business center of Guayaquil. At the heart of the protests were indigenous tribal groups, among the most affected. Round-the-clock roadblocks, achieved by felling trees, burning tires and rolling boulders, paralyzed large areas. Some ransacked flower plantations and farms. Others caused $140 million in damage by sabotaging oil production. Looting and street riots culminated in the arson of the Office of the Comptroller General and several deaths, leading Moreno to repeal his decree. The indigenous umbrella group CONAIE called off the demonstrations. The government is back in Quito. But tension remains high. Jaime Vargas is a 40-year-old indigenous leader who wears a necklace ending in a jaguar's tooth he said he pulled from a live cat himself, along with a brightly feathered crown typical in swathes of the Amazon where he is from. "People have been carrying a heavy load. Of the violence, there are justifications," he said. The indigenous, who make up about 10%-20% of the country's 17 million inhabitants by various estimates, mirror the marginalized poor across South America. Their cultures are as diverse as their homelands, ranging from sweltering rain forests to icy, windswept mountains capped with receding glaciers. Some came into contact with Western civilization only when the oil industry showed up in the 1960s and 1970s, while most descend from people who fought both invading Incas and Spanish conquistadors hundreds of years ago. Many have moved to urban areas for education and jobs, only to find both elusive. They live in marginal areas, exposed to crime, drugs and prostitution. CONAIE leaders, wearing traditional ponchos and felt hats and carrying hardwood spears, have toppled several elected governments in Ecuador in the past. Moreno has responded cautiously while trying to move the economy to more of a market orientation. Luisa Lozano, the 43-year-old head of CONAIE's women's organization - who has already beaten back charges for her role in previous anti-government protests including blocking highways - wears a wide-brimmed black and white hat she says is a symbol of the sun worshiped as a deity before the Spaniards arrived. "The more repression, the greater the adrenaline to resist," she said in reference to the October protests and clashes over fuel prices. "The more blood, the stronger the peoples' reaction. When it comes down to it, people will react because we know everything we've achieved has come through struggle after struggle." The US International Trade Commission has launched an investigation into Fitbit and Garmin. The case revolves around four patents owned by Philips. A Fitbit spokesperson claimed Philip's accusations comes after failing to succeed in the wearables market Fitbit and Garmin are going to be investigated after rival Philips accused the two companies of infringing patents. On Friday, federals regulators in the US announced they are launching an investigation into the two popular wearable companies to see if there is any merit to the accusation. The US International Trade Commission confirmed that two other companies based in China are also being investigated. The case revolves around four patents owned by Philips that covers a range of smartwatch functions that include alarm reporting, motion tracking and activity tracking. However, a Fitbit spokesperson claimed there are no merits to Philips accusations and came as a result of Philips failure to succeed in the wearables market. Philips on the other hand has maintained that the company had attempted to negotiate licensing agreements with both Fitbit and Garmin for three years, but talks broke down ultimately. All three of them compete fiercely in the wearables market involving fitness trackers, smartwatches and health-monitoring units. Fitbit and Garmin are far more successful than Philips. Last year, the Netherlands-based Philips requested regulators to place an import ban on companies found to infringe on their patents or intellectual property. We all know that air pollution is a huge problem in India, with some of the world's worst polluted cities right here within our country. If we aren't moving towards cleaning our city's air fast enough, maybe this will give more momentum to cleaning the air inside your home -- because it can have a beneficial impact on intellectual performance and students' academic scores. reuters Don't just take our word for it: NYUs Michael Gilraine new working paper titled Air Filters, Pollution, and Student Achievement looks at the performance gain inside classrooms after a gas leak forced all schools in Los Angeles to install air purifiers in 2015. The surprising side-effect of this move, he reports in his study, was a remarkable improvement in students' test scores, not just over a short immediate boost but over a sustained period. How did this happen? To learn about this, we'll dial back our clocks to 2015, when Los Angeles faced the Aliso Canyon gas leak -- which was also the largest gas leak in the history of the United States. The gas leak at the facilities of Southern California Gas Company released a ton of toxic methane in the air. In the form of damage control, LA's unified School District (LAUSD) ordered scholl classrooms and offices to be fitted with air-filters with the five-mile radius of the epicentre of the leak. This happened in January of 2016. However, when the air purifiers were installed the affecting gas was already up in the sky -- keeping people from harms way. The air purifiers were, however, clearing contaminants indoor, thus enhancing overall air quality. Reuters Now, Gilraine saw this as a cool opportunity. He looked at the performance between a child studying in school with air filter in his classroom and compared it to one without one, in LA. He noticed a striking difference. Kids studying in an air-filtered classroom showed a 0.18 standard deviation in English scores, 0.20 standard deviation in mathematics. The trend was seen in scores in next year too. This isn't the first study showing an impact on the brain's performance due to indoor air quality, but it is the first one that reveals the benefits of cleaner air for a student's academics. Previous studies have revealed that rising pollution levels could be making us stupid. If similar results can be seen elsewhere, it can be really helpful to help kids schooling in polluted areas. 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. By Express News Service CUTTACK: Culture of prohibited exotic African Catfish species Thai Magur continues unabated in Tangi-Choudwar block despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal. Farming of the Magur variety has been banned from 2000 because of its harmful impact on indigenous varieties of fish and the fact that it was not good for human health. Violating the ban, a racket is active in farming Thai Magur at Anjua village under Kanheipur gram panchayat of Tangi- Choudwar block. A retired employee of Odisha Police Headquarters Sarat Kumar Rout had taken up the project under State Governments Matsya Pokhari Yojana (MPY) about a year back and also availed subsidy as per the scheme at different stages. Instead of cultivating Indian Major Carp (IMC) species as per the yojana, he cultivated Thai Magur or Clarius Geripineus in six ponds along Tangi- Kapilas Road. He also employed nearly 15 men from West Bengal and Bangladesh for farming and has been doing a roaring business. Besides exporting it to different parts of the State, the fish is also transported to West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Bangladesh at regular intervals where the banned fish has a good demand is sold at Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg. Catfish rearing is done in an unprotected manner near our village, and there is a possibility of the fish escaping into the nearby water bodies, causing threat to the existence of indigenous aquatic species, says Rabindra Kumar Mohapatra, secretary of local Village Farmers Association demanding a stop on illegal farming and transportation of the species. Mohapatra also demanded action against the persons engaged in the illegal activity. Acting on repeated complaints about environmental pollution due to illegal fish farming by some locals, the fishery officials had directed to remove all biomass of Clarius Geripineus species from the pond. As no step was taken to clear the biomass, District Fishery Officer on October 29, 2019 had issued notice to Rout to totally remove the fish from the tanks developed through MPY and stock with Indian Major Carp (IMC) species in consultation with AFO for final input subsidy. In response to the notice, on Thursday Rout submitted an undertaking to the Tangi police and Fisheries officials stating that he was unaware of the ban regarding farming of Thai Magur and would vacate the species from the ponds in 15 days. He also said that locals who have been protesting cultivation of the species had filed an FIR against him. Ill effects Its consumption can increase chances of cancer Magur is highly carnivorous and devours fish of every kind in water bodies It is fed with rotten meat with spinach polluting the water body Numbers on the Do Not Call registry do not expire; however, it can take a month before your number has been disseminated to all telemarketers that follow the law. Robocalls Robocalls are illegal unless you have given that company written permission to call you that way. Your pharmacy might get your permission for a robocall to tell you your prescription is ready and you may not even realize you gave such permission. But most other robocalls are illegal. There are legal robocalls. Those are robocalls for purely informational purposes, political calls or charity calls. If they then try to sell you something, they become illegal robocalls. If you get a robocall you believe is illegal, hang up. Do not press a number. Make note of the number and the time and date you received the call and report the call to the FTC. You can also block numbers on your cellphone after youve decided they are spam. Then you wont receive calls from that number. Unfortunately, spammers and scammers use many different numbers, so blocking will be of limited help. Calls from Spoofed numbers An Oregon woman whose husband is in prison for sexually abusing a child is suing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for reporting his confession to state authorities. In the lawsuit, Kristine Johnson said her husband confessed his sexual abuse to clergy as required by church rules. That confession was passed along to state authorities, forming the basis of their investigation, she says. She filed the lawsuit in Marion County Circuit Court last week and seeks $9.5 million for loss of income, emotional distress and her family's loss of her husband's companionship. The lawsuit, which argues the church went against its own policy that considers confessions confidential, also seeks an additional $40,000 for his criminal defense. Couple followed church rules, wife says In 2016, the lawsuit states, plaintiff Kristine Johnson learned that her husband, Timothy Johnson, had engaged in inappropriate conduct with an underage girl. "In response to that, plaintiff Kristine Johnson and Timothy Johnson followed the rules and scriptures of the church, which ... requires and admonish church members to 'confess their sins unto the brethren before the Lord,'" the lawsuit says. But the church failed to advise the couple that if he followed the guidance and confessed his sins, it would report him to state authorities. The church should have warned her husband that his confession would not stay private, the lawsuit says. Timothy Samuel Johnson, 47, was arrested in 2017 and is serving 15 years in prison in Pendleton, Oregon, for abusing an underage girl, according to the state Department of Corrections. Church stands by its decision The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said it considers protecting victims a top priority, and has a 24-hour help line to report abuse. "The church teaches that leaders and members should fulfill all legal obligations to report abuse to civil authorities," church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement. Oregon is one of 28 states that considers clergy among professionals mandated by law to report known or suspected instances of child abuse or neglect. But that law makes some exceptions, and statutes in some states specify circumstances under which a communication is "privileged" or allowed to remain confidential. Christine Bartholomew, an associate professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law, told The Oregonian that the lawsuit could have dire consequences. "If successful, this litigation would push courts and these religious organizations toward less transparency than more," Bartholomew said. "And you have to wonder if that would create the environment where abuse can really fester." Since 1988, the noontime mechanical performance of the Weather Machine has been delighting and confusing visitors to downtown Portlands Pioneer Courthouse Square. Every day, the one-of-a-kind, whimsical creation announces the days weather with a fanfare of trumpets, a spray of mist and a cast of creatures. But most passersby have no idea what it is. Its really fun to go down there and to monitor what people know about it, or which people come to gather to watch it, said Luke Grimm, the self-proclaimed Weather Wizard who maintains the machine. His parents were part of the team of artists who built the sculpture, and for years hes been coming downtown to watch peoples reactions to the performance. It starts with a recording of trumpets blaring from unseen speakers in the square. First, theyre caught off guard, like, What is this? I can see the look of bewilderment in their eyes, he said. And when you see their attention has finally seen the Weather Machine, theyre just captivated by it. Its really fun to watch people discover something that theyve never seen before. Will Martin, standing in what would become Pioneer Courthouse Square, designed the square to hold a "Weather Machine" in the northwest corner.The Oregonian The story of the Weather Machine begins with the story of Pioneer Courthouse Square, which opened in 1984. The square was created by a design team led by Will Martin, an eccentric Portland architect with a sense of flair. A 1985 article in The Oregonian described Pioneer Courthouse Square as the crowning touch of whimsy on Portlands center of whimsy. From the beginning, Martin designed the square with plans to install a Weather Machine on a bronze column in the northwest corner. Martin made his own, highly ambitious (some might say impractical) sketches that featured bursts of fire, falling water and mechanical statues powered by a windmill. His wildest idea was titled Wills Wacky Weather World. But Martin would never live to see his, or any other, Weather Machine built. He was killed, along with his son, in September 1985 when the single-engine plane in which they were flying crashed in Grand Canyon National Park. A year after his death, the city held a design competition for a unique yet practical work of art easily visible from all vantage points and designed to indicate current weather conditions and anticipated changes through the use of a symbol system. Among those asked to judge the Weather Machine entries was Dick Ponzi, best known today as the founder of Ponzi Vineyards and of Portlands first craft brewery, Columbia River Brewing, later renamed BridgePort Brewing. Ponzi came to Oregon in 1969 to grow pinot noir grapes. Before he moved here, hed been a mechanical engineer for Disney, designing some of the original rides for Walt Disney World. If you wanted some mechanical whimsy, Ponzi was your man. But after attending a meeting about the competition, he had a better idea. He wanted to enter. Dick Ponzi, one of the creators of the Weather Machine in Pioneer Courthous Square, holds a cartoon by Jack Ohman depciting the machine. Ponzi approached three of his artist friends Roger Sheppard and husband and wife, Ray and Jere Grimm to put together a proposal. The Grimms had recently returned from a tour through Germany, where they were inspired by the cuckoo clocks in public squares. We did hundreds and hundreds of drawings, Jere Grimm said. The concept arose that maybe we could perch a sphere on top of the column, and that sphere might contain a performance piece that was kind of a surprise. They decided on three creatures that would unfold out of the sphere, to a spray of mist and a burst of music, and forecast the days weather. A dragon, made of hand-pounded copper that aged to a gnarly green, represented nasty weather. A gold-plated sun named Helia meant clear skies. And a blue heron made of aluminum forecast a drizzly, overcast day. They won the competition, and spent the next 11 months fabricating and assembling the Weather Machine at Ponzi Vineyards. The piece cost an estimated $60,000 to complete. My job was to get all these creatures into a big sphere and have one of them come up depicting the weather, Ponzi said. Theres technical necessity, but whether its beer, wine or a piece of sculpture, theres a little aesthetics involved also. The Weather Machine also includes a column of lights that tells the temperature. Each red bulb, when lit along the pillar, represents 10 degrees; each white bulb represents two degrees. A plaque at the base of the column explains how to interpret the symbols. A crowd turned out for the Weather Machines dedication in 1988, which included a proclamation by Mayor Bud Clark and a special live broadcast from Today show weatherman Willard Scott. We told them we would guarantee it for, I think, five years, Ponzi said. I didnt think it would last this long, but Im sure pleased. Roger Sheppard and Ray Grimm have since passed away. Luke Grimm is now the protector of his fathers legacy. He regularly checks the air compressor that raises and lowers the creatures, changes light bulbs, and sets the days weather. Sensors automatically detect the temperature and light the bulbs along the side of the sculpture. But the selection of the days creature is still done manually each day, by either Luke Grimm or the maintenance and security staff of Pioneer Courthouse Square. Luke Grimm is teaching his daughter, and when theyre a bit older, Dick Ponzis grandchildren, how to operate the machine and be the next generation of Weather Wizards. After all, its part of their family legacy. I always feel like my dads looking down us out there, watching everybody in the square, he said. -- Samantha Swindler; sswindler@oregonian.com; @editorswindler Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Near the end of every summer, as other students picked out colorful notebooks or first-day outfits, Kayden Satya Ortiz opened his laptop and typed out the same email. He sent the message to each of his teachers at Robinson Secondary School in northern Virginia: I am transgender. I use he/him/his pronouns. Please put this in your records now. It didn't always work. Ortiz, 22, cannot remember how many times educators or classmates addressed him with the old name, the wrong pronouns. He does remember how it felt. "It hits you, every time it happens," Ortiz said. "It's a physical pain in the heart." That pain - coupled with bullying, the inability to use the men's restroom and what Ortiz described as insufficient support from administrators - led him to try to kill himself a dozen times in high school, he said. Hoping to prevent students from suffering what Ortiz experienced, Virginia lawmakers are considering legislation that would direct the state's Department of Education to publish guidelines on appropriate treatment of transgender students. The regulations would span topics including bullying, dress codes and student privacy, and they must be published by the end of this year. Two Democrats, Del. Marcus Simon of Fairfax and Del. Joshua Cole of Fredericksburg, co-sponsored the measure in the House, while state Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Simon and Boysko said they are optimistic about passage, pointing in part to the new Democratic majority in the Virginia General Assembly. But they're preparing for Republican resistance - and even some Democrats may be lukewarm, Simon conceded. "If it was purely political considerations, would this be something you want to come right out of the box with as a defining issue for the Democratic majority?" Simon said. "Maybe not. But these are human lives, kids who've been suffering for a long time in Virginia." "Students deserve dignity," Boysko said. "We owe this to our children." Research suggests that there are about 4,000 transgender teens in Virginia - and that transgender youth are far more likely to attempt suicide. Given the lack of state guidance, the treatment of those students varies significantly, experts said, and can shift in a second with the arrival of a new principal. If the law passes, Virginia will become the 15th state to adopt regulations outlining the proper treatment of transgender students in schools, according to Eliza Byard, executive director of LGBTQ education organization GLSEN. She praised the proposed guidelines for going beyond the hot-button issue of bathroom usage to address more mundane items such as record-keeping, which can decide names and pronouns in classrooms. "It's these kinds of things, ostensibly the little things, that can be either incredibly affirming or deeply damaging and dangerous for transgender students," Byard said. It's not the first time Virginia finds itself in the spotlight on transgender issues: The case of transgender student Gavin Grimm - who was barred from using the boys' restroom in his high school - ascended to the Supreme Court. A lower court judge ruled in August that Grimm's rights had been violated. From across the country in California - where he attends college - Ortiz is tracking the bill's progress. He said he worries about other transgender students at Robinson, which declined to comment on his account of his time at the Fairfax school. A Fairfax County Public Schools spokeswoman noted that the district forbids discrimination based on gender identity. Ortiz said he wishes he could tell every struggling transgender teen what he tells himself when he thinks about ending his life - which still happens, often when someone identifies him by the wrong gender. "I say to myself: There's so many people who have been influenced by me to be more accepting," Ortiz said. "I say: God made me trans so I could speak out and have a voice." - - - The challenges confronting transgender students in Virginia are faced by students nationwide, experts said. Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, an advocacy group, said U.S. schools fall into three broad types. First, there are "good schools," which allow transgender children to use facilities matching their gender identity, permit students to switch their names and pronouns at will and aggressively discourage bullying of LGBTQ children. If the Virginia bill passes, the guidance would probably resemble these regulations, proponents said. Then, there are the "bad schools, which don't want to modernize or see change," Keisling said. "But the vast number of schools are in the middle: They just want to do the right thing, but they don't really understand what the right thing is." Knowing what to do became more difficult after the Trump administration in 2017 rescinded Obama-era guidance on treatment of transgender students, Keisling said. Those rules specified that children should use restrooms that match their gender identity. Before Trump's election, Byard said, many schools had worked to protect their LGBTQ students - developing ways to accommodate transgender children even in the years before the formal classification existed. "Now, we're in a different phase," Byard said, "because we face a deeply hostile national government." Liz Matthews, mother to a transgender fourth-grader in Virginia, noticed the partisan flavor of the debate two years ago, when she began advocating for increased protections for transgender children in Arlington Public Schools. "Kids were having very different experiences depending on the high school, the principal, the teacher," Matthews said. Soon, a handful of parents formed an opposition group and showed up to school board meetings, Matthews said. They claimed that pro-transgender policies would "somehow harm girls in locker rooms," she said. Despite the opposition, Arlington Public Schools adopted rules in June allowing students to use facilities fitting their gender identity, and to select their preferred names and pronouns. That policy switch put Arlington in a small minority: Between 15 and 20 Virginia school systems - out of more than 130 - have passed regulations to protect transgender students, according to James Parrish, former executive director of Equality Virginia, the LGBTQ advocacy group that asked Simon and Boysko to introduce the measure before the General Assembly. But in at least two school systems, rules stipulate that students must use the bathrooms matching their biological gender. And two recent court cases in Virginia have dealt with discrimination - the one brought by Gavin Grimm and another centering on a teacher who refused to use a transgender student's preferred pronouns. Robert Norris Rigby, a high school teacher and president of Fairfax County Public Schools Pride, said he receives several emails every month from concerned parents of transgender children. They complain their kids have been called the wrong name by teachers or told they cannot participate in extracurricular activities. Because Fairfax Schools has a robust anti-discrimination policy, Rigby said, he is usually able to work with administrators to fix the problem. He knows that is not true everywhere in Virginia. "Kids are at enormous risk," Rigby said. "It keeps me up at night." - - - Anthony Belotti wishes people would fixate less on bathrooms. It's not that they are not important, he said. After coming out as transgender, Belotti was barred from using the men's restroom at Colonial Forge High School in Stafford his senior year. He started to wait until he got home. Often, that meant eight hours. Once, 16 hours. "I developed chronic [urinary tract] and kidney infections, and I now have bladder pain syndrome," Belotti said. "I have to do special training, because I no longer know when I have to go." But Belotti, now a 19-year-old college student in Richmond, said many other moments from high school remain with him: When the school refused to switch the gender on his student ID. When he was told not to wear a suit to prom. When he threatened a lawsuit to convince school officials to use his chosen name at graduation. And there was every time a teacher referred to him by the wrong gender - "like being punched in the stomach," Belotti said. A Stafford County Public Schools spokeswoman said the school does not comment on individual students, but she noted that the district prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Alison Sullivan, a social worker in Fredericksburg who has advised LGBTQ students, said transgender children operate in survival mode at school. They go through the day unable to be who they are, she said - much less learn anything. "That kind of fear can have and does have a lifelong impact on health and wellness," Sullivan said. Like Belotti, Ortiz - also denied access to the men's restroom - contracted urinary tract infections in high school. He, too, lost control of his bladder, and today he must set notifications on his iPhone to remind himself to use the restroom. His arms bear thin white lines from when he tried to cut his veins open. Other scars are less obvious. "I had to block people my own age on social media because of threats of death and rape in high school," Ortiz said. "So now I've always got this fear that someone is going to come up and murder or rape me." Whenever he leaves work after dark, he slips his keys between his knuckles. Sharp tips outward. The highest number of elephant deaths in Sri Lanka's history occurred in 2019, when 361 deaths were recorded, the local media quoted the Center for Environment and Nature Studies as saying Trend reports citing Xinhua. Media reports said on Saturday, that over 100 people were killed in the human-elephant conflict in the same period. Killing wild elephants is an offence punishable by death in Sri Lanka, but there have been regular reports of angry villagers poisoning or shooting dead marauding jumbos. According to official records the current population of wild elephants in Sri Lanka is about 7,500. The area where the elephant deaths occurred is part of the proposed "Elephant Corridor" in the Elephant Management Plan of the DWC, officials told The Sunday Observer in October 2019. The Elephant Corridor ranges from Kalawewa to Habarana in North Central Sri Lanka. Villagers use electric fences to contain intruding elephants, and according to DWC Director General M.G.C. Sooriyabandara, they might also be poisoning the elephants. Oman's ailing Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East's longest serving rulers who maintained the country's neutrality in regional struggles, died on Friday and the Gulf state's high military council began the process to choose his successor. (Photo: ANI) Dubai: Oman's ailing Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East's longest serving rulers who maintained the country's neutrality in regional struggles, died on Friday and the Gulf state's high military council began the process to choose his successor. Three days of official mourning have been declared with flags flown at half-mast for 40 days, for the Western-backed Qaboos, 79, who had ruled since taking over in a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of former colonial power Britain. State news agency ONA did not give a cause of death, but Qaboos had been unwell for years and spent a week in Belgium undergoing medical treatment in early December. Qaboos had no children and had not publicly appointed a successor. A 1996 statute says the ruling family will choose a successor within three days of the throne becoming vacant. The high military council, in a statement carried on state media on Saturday, called on Oman's ruling family council to convene to choose a new ruler. If the council fails to agree, a council of military and security officials, supreme court chiefs and heads of the two consultative assemblies will put in power the person whose name has been secretly written by the sultan in a sealed letter. There has been wide speculation over the succession as domestic challenges loom large, from strained state finances to high unemployment in the relatively small oil producer, and at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the United States and U.S. ally Saudi Arabia. Oman observers say the sultan's three cousins - Assad, Shihab and Haitham bin Tariq al-Said - stand the best chance. "I imagine that the succession itself will be a smooth process within Oman," Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of the Texas-based Rice University's Baker Institute told Reuters. "But the wildcard is whether any of Oman's neighbours might try to pressure the new sultan as he settles into power - just as the Saudis and Emiratis tried to pressure Emir Tamim in the weeks and months after he assumed power in Qatar in 2013." Condolences started pouring in for the white-bearded Qaboos. Former US President George W Bush said in a statement that Qaboos had been a stable force in the Middle East. Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum in a Twitter post described him as the sultan of honour, affection and wisdom. Oman has long been to the Middle East what neutral Switzerland is to global diplomacy, balancing ties between two vast neighbours locked in a regional struggle, Saudi Arabia to the west and Iran to the north. Oman maintains friendly ties with Washington and Tehran and helped mediate secret US-Iran talks in 2013 that led two years later to the international nuclear pact which Washington quit in 2018. Muscat did not take sides in a Gulf dispute that saw Riyadh and its allies impose a boycott on Qatar in mid-2017 and did not join a Saudi-led military coalition that intervened in Yemen against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Oman's diplomatic centrality has been a factor of Qaboos' personality, said Simon Henderson, director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "It is hard to see how Oman can involve itself in the Yemen, Iran and Qatar issues until a new leader has established himself - which means for the foreseeable future." Last autumn, Harry was guest of honour at a large private dinner party in London. The evening was intended to boost support for one of his favourite charities but the Prince was apparently in a foul mood. He was annoyed by other guests asking where his wife was and snapped back that she was at home with Archie which was where he should be. Guests came away thinking that this was a young man who was unhappy and angry and didnt mind letting everyone know. Shortly afterwards, the Sussexes decamped to North America to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with Meghans mother, Doria Ragland. They stayed there until last week when they returned to drop their bombshell announcement. For those who were at that dinner, it was startlingly obvious that something serious was up. Either Prince Harry was going to have to find a way to come to terms with his life, whatever that meant, or he was going to have to make a dramatic change. The truth is that what we dont know far outweighs what we do about why the Royal couple have made a decision that on the surface is fraught with so many seemingly incompatible and frankly naive expectations, writes ALEXANDRA SHULMAN There were rumblings that the relationship with Meghan wasnt going well, but then there often are when you get a group of old pals together discussing the addition of a new bride to the group. The more charitable guests put his dour behaviour down to parental sleep deprivation. Well now we know. Or more accurately we know something. Because the truth is that what we dont know far outweighs what we do about why the Royal couple have made a decision that on the surface is fraught with so many seemingly incompatible and frankly naive expectations. There is no doubt that the main force behind the change will have been Meghan. She is a driven American woman who comes from a can-do, kick-ass culture. Harry was brought up in a world where there is always a Tommy Lascelles-like figure (for those not watching The Crown, he is the slightly sinister courtier wheeled in to tell everyone what they arent allowed to do) hovering in the wings. The couple now wish to exchange their life as senior Royals with all the privilege, financial security, respect and, in the main, adoration that brings for the less certain limbo of a halfway house with one foot in Windsor and the other in the smoke and mirrors world of international celebrity, writes ALEXANDRA SHULMAN That things must remain the same will have been the default position throughout Harrys life. Meghan will have found that kind of reverence for the status quo (a status quo that has generally served the Royal Family well) deeply frustrating. The result is that the couple now wish to exchange their life as senior Royals with all the privilege, financial security, respect and, in the main, adoration that brings for the less certain limbo of a halfway house with one foot in Windsor and the other in the smoke and mirrors world of international celebrity. What is baffling to me is why they are choosing to swap the unique and deeply rooted status they currently enjoy for the capricious and transient position of celebrities on the open market. The greatest aspiration of many of the worlds best-known and wealthiest stars is precisely for the life Harry and Meghan already have the palaces, the jewels and gowns, the holidays, the staff, the deference and, crucially, the unassailability of their position in the pecking order of fame. What wouldnt David and Victoria Beckham give to be a royal duke and duchess? Private secretaries will be working overtime to come up with what will amount to a contract that will tell Meghan and Harry what they can and cant do in their new world, and what they will receive in exchange The Queen has ordered the many different Royal households to get this chaos sorted pronto. To find a way that her grandson and his bride can assume some of the independence they crave while minimising any reputational damage it might cause The Firm. Private secretaries will be working overtime to come up with what will amount to a contract that will tell Meghan and Harry what they can and cant do in their new world, and what they will receive in exchange. Details such as whether they keep their HRH status, when and how they can use it and how much they will receive from Prince Charles. That contract is going to have as rocky a ride as the Brexit withdrawal treaty. The Sussexes arent going to want to be told anything, and probably wont like what they are told. We saw, in the brusque way they ignored both Prince Charless and the Queens requests to delay the announcement until more details had been smoothed out, that they can be stubborn as mules. But negotiate they will have to because royalty isnt and absolutely can never be for sale. The Queen has ordered the many different Royal households to get this chaos sorted pronto, writes ALEXANDRA SHULMAN If their intention was simply to disappear for half the year and live in a Vancouver wood, showing Archie the native chipmunks on pre-breakfast hikes, that would perhaps be disappointing for their family, but not any kind of serious problem. However, disappearing is not what they are intending. Not at all. They, or more particularly Meghan, will want to be out there. One of the aspects of Royal life she will have found most difficult is not being allowed to voice an opinion. She has forged an identity as somebody who wants to make a difference in the areas that she chooses female empowerment, under-privileged communities, racial diversity and she wants her voice to be heard. She is sincere. She is very good at it. Everyone involved with her initiative at Smart Works, a small charity that helps disadvantaged women get into the workplace, was immensely impressed by her input. Her contribution went well beyond making a token appearance and showing an interest. She came up with the idea of designing and selling product to raise funds and profile and gave an inspiring speech without notes at the launch. This is a woman who knows what she can achieve and what she is worth. As Meghan Markle, B-list actress in a successful TV series, that calculation was relatively straightforward. One of the aspects of Royal life Meghan will have found most difficult is not being allowed to voice an opinion, writes ALEXANDRA SHULMAN (Meghan during her and Harry's secret visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in west London) For Harry, as Duke of Sussex and sixth in line to the British throne, there was similar clarity. But as second-tier Royals roaming the world on the speaker circuit, making red-carpet appearances, endorsing products and occasionally appearing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, the rules of engagement become very murky. Right now the Sussexes are hot. Meghan is beautiful and impassioned. Harry still dashing and a frontline Royal. Things change. In the world of celebrity, you are always having to watch out for the new kid on the block. Fame is a greedy beast that has to be continually fed. Until now, their working life of Royal tours, walkabouts, visiting disaster zones and being guests of honour at charity events has automatically fuelled and burnished their profile. But without the very special imprimatur of first-tier Royalty, the kind of power and influence they currently enjoy may not survive in the long term especially if they are cashing them in to gain financial independence. The celebrity circuit is complex and quite brutal. If you become known as an easy gun for hire to the highest bidder, in a short time your currency drops. You can spend a few years giving hugely lucrative speeches for international hedge-fund dinners, and being on the advisory board of a biodiversity start-up in Qatar, but to give this existence longevity you have to keep replenishing your worth whether that is in the degree of your fame or in exceptional talent or knowledge. Meghan is beautiful and impassioned. Harry still dashing and a frontline Royal, writes ALEXANDRA SHULMAN (Meghan and Harry during their secret visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in west London) Unanchored celebrity has a built-in obsolescence. Its hard to understand why they are swapping a profile that confers automatic and eternal worldwide fame for one where your worth will be in part measured by your number of Instagram followers and dependent on the skill of your marketing team. This kind of celebrity is also reliant on exposure, and not simply the exposure that you selectively chose to put out on your own social media sites. The relentless commentary of media of every kind is part of the deal and, if anything, the Sussexes may well be less protected in this new world than they felt in their old. Every move they make will be analysed and scrutinised and if they are being paid handsomely for it, they will no doubt be regarded as fair game. This weekend Meghan is back in Canada with her son while Harry is at home hammering out the details of their future. I hope he has some time out and manages to catch up with old friends. The couple are no doubt exhilarated by having made the decision to cut loose and get their plans out in the open. Almost certainly, they will be looking at the future and see it glittering with opportunity. Which it could be. If they dont take their position for granted. But if they are hoping to build a new life that trades on royalty without fulfilling the more difficult obligations that come with it, which is reliant on the toxic mirage of fame without worth, not that many years down the line they could be looking at a very different picture. Beautiful Yoruba actress, Yetunde Aderibigbe has encouraged women not to jump into bed almost immediately with men. According to the actress, nobody is nicer than a man who hasnt gone to bed with you. She made the claim on her Instagram page and some of her followers agreed with her, lol. Nobody is nicer than a guy who hasnt had sex with you yet, she wrote. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates JD-U meet today, to take call on number of candidates to be fielded. Earlier, the JD(U), which is an ally of the BJP in Bihar, had also announced its decision to contest the Delhi Assembly polls on its own. (Photo: ANI) Patna: With less than a month for the Assembly elections, the RJD is eyeing Purvanchal votes in Delhi. On Friday, the RJD said that the party is planning to contest the Delhi Assembly elections on at least five to six seats. Its the people who have been urging our leaders to contest in areas where most of the Purvanchalis stay. The party is discussing the issue and will take a final decision soon, RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha told this newspaper. Delhi has 70 Assembly seats and the RJD, which has been trying to expand its wings outside Bihar, hopes to give a tough fight to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP. Political analysts said that the party has been eyeing sizeable Bihari voters in order to expand its base in the national capital. Earlier, the JD(U), which is an ally of the BJP in Bihar, had also announced its decision to contest the Delhi Assembly polls on its own. However, the party has not been able to finalise the number of seats it would contest during the polls. Speaking to this newspaper, Delhi JD(U) president Dayanand Rai said, A meeting regarding the issue has been called on Saturday. Our party is prepared to field candidates on all 70 seats, but the final decision is to be taken by our top leadership. He added that the partys agenda during the Delhi polls would be the law and order scenario and unauthorised colonies. Our party can provide an alternative based on the Nitish model of development and good governance. Public safety and the issue of unauthorised colonies in Delhi would be core agenda during polls, Dayanand Rai said. When told that the Opposition RJD was also planning to contest the Assembly elections in Delhi this year, the JD(U) state president said, Development will be the agenda during elections and they (RJD) have nothing to show to the people of Delhi. They can announce anything, but they will not be able to win even a single seat here. Assembly elections in Delhi will be held on February 8 and counting of votes will take place on February 11. The key contenders in the upcoming polls are Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), BJP and Congress. In the 2015 Assembly polls, the AAP won 67 of the 70 seats, while the BJP won only three. Targetting the Central government over the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday questioned why the BJP has taken to the streets to make people aware about the new law if there is nothing wrong with it. "The CAA is wrong. If the CAA is not wrong, then why is the BJP coming on to the roads and streets to make people understand about the new citizenship law. They are on roads after this law has been passed by parliament and some Vidhan Sabhas as well," said Yadav while speaking to media persons. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that an Aadhaar card holds every detail about an individual. "When the people have an Aadhaar card, then what other document is needed? There is no need to fill the form for NPR or CAA. This law is going to divide the society. There is opposition to the citizenship law in the whole country. Even in colleges and universities, there is opposition," he said. The Samajwadi Party president also met the family members of the people killed in violence during the anti-CA protest here on December 20 and demanded that the matter should be investigated by the Supreme Court or the sitting judge of the High Court. "Police themselves are guilty...how can they investigate the matter," asked Yadav. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cardinal Oswald Gracias (2nd from left) at the inauguration of the new CCBI secretariat extention. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), expressed the Churchs concern over a new citizenship law that is polarizing the people. He called for promoting solidarity and secularism in the country. Vatican News Indias Catholic Church is calling for the promotion of solidarity and secularism amid social tensions and protests in the aftermath of a new citizenship law. The new legislation allows certain minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who settled in India prior to 2015 to obtain Indian citizenship but excludes Muslims who make up some 14% of India's population. More than 20 people have been killed in protests across the country since the law, seen by critics as discriminatory towards Muslims and against the constitutions secular character, was adopted on Dec. 11. Solidarity and respect for all The Citizenship Amendment Act is a cause of great anxiety for all citizens and there is a danger that there could be a polarization of our peoples along religious lines, which is very harmful for the country, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), said on Wednesday. The cardinal, who is Archbishop of Bombay, made the call in Benaulim, Goa state, on the occasion of the inauguration of a new secretariat building of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), which brings together the countrys Latin-rite bishops. His remarks came in the wake of serious incidents, including the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi by young Hindu radicals affiliated to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It is the responsibility of all to promote solidarity and respect for all in our country, he said and requested all Christians to pray continuously that peace and harmony may prevail in the country. The cardinal reiterated what he had said earlier in a statement on December 27. The ongoing controversy and demonstrations and counter demonstrations concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act," he had said, "is a cause of great anxiety for all citizens and could harm the country. There is a danger that there could be a polarization of our peoples along religious lines, which is very harmful for the country. Cardinal Gracias suggested the government dialogue with those opposing the law and find a way forward with justice, equity and fairness. He said that there was no harm in backtracking or changing course if was necessary for the good of the country and the people. CCBI Secretariat The new CCBI Secretariat Extension in Benaulim, called Shanti Sadan (House of Peace), was inaugurated by Cardinal Gracias in the presence of 12 Bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful. CCBI president, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa, unveiled the plaque and blessed the ground floor. The three-story building has 25 rooms, a chapel and conference and dining halls. The CCBI, which has its headquarters in Bangalore, Karnataka state, has five secretariat centres in different parts of India. The Deputy Secretary General and four other Commission Secretaries operate from Bangalore. Indias Catholic Church is made up of 3 ritual Churches the Latin, the Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara that together make up the CBCI, the apex body of the Catholic Church in India. The apex body of the Catholic Church in India is the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), that brings together the Latin-rite (CCBI) and two eastern rites the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches that claim their origin from St. Thomas the Apostle. With 192 bishops from 132 dioceses, the CCBI is the largest bishops conference in Asia and the fourth largest in the world. Kolkata, Jan 11 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan here and urged him to reconsider the enforcement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and explained her opposition to the new legislation, as well as to the proposed NPR and NRC. Briefing the media barely 15 minutes after the meeting, Banerjee said that she also sought Rs 38,000 crore in dues for the state from the Centre. With her meeting causing raised eyebrows, Banerjee started off by saying that it was just a courtesy call and she would do it for both Prime Minister and President whenever they visit her state. "I met him here because my state has pending dues of Rs 28,000 from the central govt. We also have pending dues of Rs 7,000 crore from the Centre on account of severe cyclone Bulbul. This is a demand of my state ...it is our rightful claim. I tolds him that we want this money." "I also spoke to him about our opposition to the CAA, NPR and NRC...There have been widespread protest against all these three." As the opposition criticised her meeting with the PM at a time when there is sutained anti-BJP stir all over Bengal, especially with "Modi go back" being raised, Banerjee said, "It's my constitutional responsibility to meet him. It is a matter of courtesy for me to meet prime minister or president." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Press Release January 10, 2020 I am vulnerable to vile attacks due to my strong stance - De Lima Determined to show a fighter's resolve to the political persecution that she is facing almost every day, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has admitted that her strong stance makes her present predicament more perilous and risky. In her last Sunday's reflections, De Lima, said her decision to continue standing up against her persecutors and detractors and speaking out against human rights abuses makes her situation more dangerous and more vulnerable to attacks. "As someone has postulated, to dare greatly is to be vulnerable," De Lima wrote in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 695. "Yes, I live in the space of vulnerability. I allow myself to be vulnerable to vile attacks and relentless demonization and persecution because I dare my oppressors greatly. I take risks and brassily put myself on the line of fire," she added. De Lima, however, stressed that she refuses to be cowed by her critics because of her firm belief in her innocence and in the causes that she is fighting for, notably for human rights, rule of law and democracy. "(It is) perilous yet liberating. And I don't mind being vulnerable because of my absolute confidence in my innocence and the merit of my causes," the lady Senator from Bicol said. "There's no turning back for me. I'm going to stand in faith even if I have to stand my whole lifetime," she added. Despite being detained for almost three years now due to politically motivated and trumped-up charges based on perjured testimonies of convict-witnesses, De Lima has continued to speak out against Duterte's corrupt and brutal policies. As of this writing, the lady Senator has handwritten 696 Dispatches from Crame, or short statements covering a spectrum of topics, ranging from national issues and the current political climate to personal reflections and observations. Even though deprived of work-related tools and gadgets in detention, De Lima has continued to exercise her mandate by authoring 145 bills and 163 resolutions during the 17th Congress and 55 bills and 27 resolutions, so far, in the current 18th Congress. Armed gardai have carried out a raid in south Dublin today after intercepting a car on the M7 yesterday and arresting four men. So far, they have found a sum of cash and seized a number of electronic devices as they continue the search at a premises in Crumlin. Welcome to 2020 Vision, the Yahoo News column covering the presidential race. Reminder: There are 24 days until the Iowa caucuses and 298 days until the 2020 presidential election. The Iran crisis collided with the Democratic presidential race this week as Sen. Bernie Sanders and President Trump battled over the circumstances of the U.S. strike that killed a prominent Iranian general. Sanders called Trump a pathological liar. The Trump campaign said Sanders cant be trusted to keep Americans safe. In an interview Friday morning with NBC News, Sanders said that he had yet to be presented with evidence that Gen. Qassem Soleimani was planning an imminent attack on the United States when Trump ordered his killing last week. Sanders immediately called the attack an assassination. The difficulty that we have, and I dont mean to be rude here, is that we have a president who is a pathological liar, said Sanders on the Today show discussing the stated reasoning behind the strike on Soleimani at a Baghdad airport. So could it be true? I guess it could be. Is it likely to be true? Probably not. Sen. Bernie Sanders and President Trump. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Jose Luis Magana/AP, AP) I think what happens in our own country and around the world is that people dont believe much of what Trump says, and when you lie all the time, the problem is sometimes maybe youre telling the truth and people are not going to believe you, he added. The White House has yet to provide details of why Soleimani had to be killed, including at a widely criticized Wednesday meeting with Congress that Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah called probably the worst briefing Ive seen, at least on a military issue, in the nine years I've served in the United States Senate. Following Soleimanis death, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the attacks his killing allegedly prevented might still happen. On Wednesday, the Trump campaign sent an email to supporters titled DANGEROUS: Bernie Sanders Can't Be Trusted To Defend American Lives, one of the first times his campaign has directly targeted the Vermont senator, whos had strong poll showings and impressive fundraising to start the year. The email accused Sanders of repeating Iranian and Russian talking points by referring to the death of Soleimani as an assassination. The Trump campaign followed up with an email Thursday with the headline FACT: Bernie Sanders Is A Wealthy, Fossil Fuel-Guzzling Millionaire, which compared Sanders to the wealthy Hollywood elite. Story continues Sanderss Twitter account posted images of the emails and added, Donald Trump is attacking us because he knows we will beat him in the general election. But before a general election, Sanders would have to win the Democratic primary, which former Vice President Joe Biden currently leads. Sanders has also used the tensions with Iran to contrast his vote against the Iraq War with that of Biden, who supported the invasion as a senator. 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, Sanders said in a Monday interview with CNN. Big week for endorsements Julian Castro with Elizabeth Warren at her rally in Brooklyn on Tuesday. (Photo: Carlo Allegri/Reuters) With the Iowa caucuses just over three weeks away, the list of endorsements in the Democratic primary continues to add names, from former candidates to Hollywood B-listers. The most high-profile endorsement of the week came from former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, who exited the race on Jan. 3 and endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren three days later. Theres one candidate I see whos unafraid to fight like hell to make sure Americas promise will be there for everyone, who will make sure that no matter where you live in America or where your family came from in the world, you have a path to opportunity too, said Castro in a video announcement. The pair held an event together in Brooklyn in front of 3,000 people, and the Texan will likely be deployed as a surrogate on the campaign trail as Warren spends time in Washington for the impeachment trial of President Trump in the Senate. Castros announcement and co-branded signage has fed speculation that he could serve as a potential running mate for Warren. Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg picked up support from an African-American member of Congress when Rep. Anthony Brown of Maryland endorsed him on Thursday. Brown was named a national co-chair for the Buttigieg campaign, which has struggled in its efforts to reach out to black voters, including earning criticism for using the names of prominent black South Carolinians as endorsers of his racial justice plan without getting their permission. Former Vice President Joe Biden is still the leader in endorsements, according to FiveThirtyEights tracker. He has the support of nearly three dozen sitting members of Congress and 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry, who served with Biden in the Obama administration and was set to campaign with his former Senate colleague in Iowa this weekend. In November, Biden secured the endorsement of Oliver Davis, the longest-serving African-American on the South Bend Common Council. Entrepreneur Andrew Yangs eclectic list of endorsements continued to grow, coming off news that he raised $16.5 million in the final three months of 2019, more than all but four of his fellow primary candidates. This week, Yang secured the endorsements of James Gunn (director of the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy series) and Teri Hatcher (star of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Desperate Housewives). They join a list that includes musician-actor Donald Glover, Tesla founder Elon Musk, wrestler Chris Jericho and actors Steven Yeun, Ken Jeong and Tommy Chong. The highest-profile endorser of the cycle remains Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who threw her support (and 6 million Twitter followers) behind Bernie Sanders as he was recovering from a heart attack in October. Ocasio-Cortez has helped strengthen the Sanders campaigns outreach to the Hispanic community and, when combined with endorsements from Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, gives the 78-year-old a diverse group of high-profile surrogates after his supporters were maligned by rivals in 2016 as Bernie Bros. This week, Sanders picked up the endorsement of the Sunrise Movement, a collection of young climate activists that will hold an event with him in Iowa on Sunday. Tom Steyer has his moment Tom Steyer at a Democratic fundraiser in Las Vegas in November. (AP Photo/John Locher) Weve had no shortage of surges this election cycle. First it was Pete Buttigieg, who came out of nowhere last April. Then it was Joe Biden, shortly after he announced. Then Kamala Harris, then Elizabeth Warren, then Buttigieg again. Lately Bernie Sanders has been booming. So is it now Tom Steyers turn? That was the chatter in campaign circles Thursday after Fox News released two polls showing the billionaire California businessman in surprisingly strong contention in two key early states: Nevada, where Steyer tied Warren for third with 12 percent, and South Carolina, where he passed Sanders for second with 15 percent. To put those numbers in perspective, no previous poll had found Steyer above 6 percent in the former state or 7 percent in the latter. In fact, the last Fox News surveys pegged Steyers Nevada support at 5 percent (in November) and his South Carolina support at 4 percent (in October). If Foxs latest data is accurate, then Steyer may have doubled or even tripled his support over the past few months, at least in those two states. Any poll can be an outlier, and none of the other campaigns was panicking over Steyers showing. But the immediate effect was to vault him onto the stage for next weeks Democratic debate in Des Moines alongside Biden, Buttigieg, Warren, Sanders and Amy Klobuchar. How to explain the sudden shift in Steyers fortunes? Thats simple enough: his fortune. With a net worth of $1.6 billion, Steyer has been free to spend as much as he wants to on his campaign. So far, thats meant more than $116 million on television ads 10 times as much as Sanders and Buttigieg, the next highest spenders, and second only to the much richer Mike Bloomberg. But unlike Bloomberg, who is skipping the first four primary contests, Steyer is actually competing in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. His spending hasnt made much difference in the first two states, where hes polling at 2 or 3 percent and where the rest of the field is also competing for attention, both on TV and in the flesh. In the less-saturated states of Nevada and South Carolina, however, Steyer has completely dominated the airwaves. According to ad spending data compiled by Kantar/Campaign Media Analysis Group and shared by FiveThirtyEight, he has dropped $8.7 million on ads in Nevada and $8.3 million in South Carolina. Thats 88 percent of the Democratic fields total ad spending in South Carolina and 99.9 percent of its total ad spending in Nevada. Having TV all to himself appears to have paid off for Steyer, exposing how easy it is for a billionaire candidate to spend his way onto the debate stage and how persuadable some Democrats still are, even after a year of primary campaigning. The question now is whether Steyer can somehow replicate the effect in Iowa and New Hampshire, or preserve his newly improved standing in Nevada and South Carolina long enough to actually finish ahead of more traditional rivals on primary day. Either way, a Steyer surge is more likely to cause problems for his competitors than to propel Steyer himself to the nomination. The Fox News polls also showed Biden leading by 6 points in Nevada and 21 points in South Carolina. Unless the rest of the field figures out a way to dethrone the former vice president a task Steyer may only complicate by further splitting the anti-Biden vote he remains the favorite. Bloomberg in it for long haul Mike Bloomberg addresses his supporters at the opening of a Los Angeles field office for his presidential campaign. (Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been criticized for attempting to buy the presidential nomination, having already invested more than $100 million of his $32 billion fortune in advertising and organization building after entering the race late last year. Whether or not he pulls off his unconventional strategy of ignoring the early states to focus on Super Tuesday and running a national race from the beginning, his massive organization will be sticking it out through November. NBC News reported Friday that Bloombergs operation of 500 staffers will work to defeat President Trump even if another candidate wins the nomination, essentially providing a shadow field operation to battle the Republican incumbent. Like a super-PAC, it would be prohibited from directly coordinating with the official campaign, but it would provide the Democratic ticket a ground network in key states. Estimates of how much Bloomberg might eventually invest in the race range up to $1 billion or more. Mike Bloomberg is either going to be the nominee or the most important person supporting the Democratic nominee for president, Kevin Sheekey, Bloombergs campaign manager, told NBC News. He is dedicated to getting Trump out of the White House. The announcement defuses criticism from some in the party that Bloomberg was essentially running a vanity campaign. It also helps him retain some of the top talent he has recruited, with the prospect that their jobs will outlast Bloombergs candidacy if he falls short of the nomination. Bloomberg currently stands at 5.8 percent in the RealClearPolitics national polling average. [Whos running for president? Click here for Yahoo News 2020 tracker] Verbatim I ran for president to help forge another direction for our country. I wanted to discuss things I felt needed to be discussed that otherwise were not. I feel that we have done that. Marianne Williamson, announcing her withdrawal from the presidential race Of course it matters. We just did a three-and-a-half-hour selfie line. Dont tell me it doesnt matter to do face-to-face. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on whether missing the chance to campaign on the ground during a Senate impeachment trial would hurt her chances in early voting states Its, like, my job to try and watch whats the competition, but its like watching death. President Trump, at a rally in Toledo, Ohio, on watching the Democratic primary debates We dont think decisions about political ads should be made by private companies. Rob Leathern, Facebooks director of product management, in a blog post saying the company would not change its policy against policing political ads It will be great for the country great for the country. Terrible for me. Larry David to Stephen Colbert on the possibility of Bernie Sanders winning the presidential election; David flies from Los Angeles to New York City nearly every week to play Sanders on Saturday Night Live I never wash my face. Warren, in an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, on her skin care routine _____ Download the Yahoo News app to customize your experience. Read more 2020 coverage from Yahoo News: Life is full of limitations whether they be food allergies, weight limits or even things we have grown accustomed to such as the speed limits on our roads, but for some limitations are just an obstacle to conquer. Justice Bowman, 13, of Fredericktown, has been facing limitations due to a genetic disorder called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, DMD, which causes muscles to waste away. However, with the help of some very special family members and friends, he still finds a way to do what he loves, hunt. Currently there are no treatments or cures for DMD, Justices mother Missy Bowman said. The first muscles that are affected by this are leg muscles. Due to DMD, Justice has been in a wheelchair for about a year and a half now. He has not let this slow him or his love of hunting down. Justice recently went on a hunting trip to the White Mountains in Arizona where he was able to hunt elk. Justice really enjoys hunting, Missy said. This hunt is the first one that Danny (his dad) has went on with him. Justices normal hunting buddies are his Pa Pa and his Uncle Les. Missy said Justice has been able to go on two disabled youth managed deer hunts at Mingo Wildlife Refuge where he took down a six point buck in 2018 and a 10-point buck in 2019. This year Justice was able to enjoy hunting a little more, because of his all terrain outdoor wheelchair that he received in July, Missy said. The chair has given him the opportunity to be more independent outdoors. As the Bowmans were looking for more resources such as the all terrain outdoor wheelchair, they came across Hunt of a Lifetime, HOAL. HOAL provides hunting dreams for children with terminal illness, Missy said. The process to apply was pretty easy. There was a packet of forms that had to be filled out by parents, doctors and the child. Justice had to pick out an animal that he would like to hunt and write an essay on why this is his dream hunt. Justices pick was elk. He said he wanted to hunt them because they are so big and have a lot of meat. Once Justice picked what he wanted to hunt, a lot of working parts and special people came together to make this once-in-a-lifetime hunt possible for him. In the end, Justice, his uncle Les Provow and his father Danny left Fredericktown on their 20-hour journey to Springerville, Arizona, Oct. 16 to hunt in the White Mountains. They saw several elk throughout the trip, Missy said. They were amazed at how big they were. Missy said, on day five of the hunt, Justice shot a 1-year-old bull calf at 86 yards, weighing about 165 pounds skinned. It felt good, Justice said. I thought I was not going to get one. Pat Beard and the other hunting guides in Arizona planned all the details of the hunt, as well as spent time scouting, before Justice arrived and also spent their week with them during the hunt, Missy said. They treated them like their own family. HOAL provided Justice with a shopping spree to Bass Pro Shop to purchase clothing for the trip, a 7 mm-08 rifle that was modified so Justice could pull the trigger on his own, provided the supplies for the taxidermy and covered all of the travel expenses. Missy said some local businesses came forward to help make the hunt a success. She said Court Square Pawn allowed the firearm to be sent to them, as well as donated hearing protection, and Ozark Mountain Taxidermy donated time and will be mounting the elk. Other businesses who donated to the trip included St. Charles Bass Pro which donated a shooting tripod, Rustys Meat shop in Springerville which processed the meat, and Sprucedale Ranch and Rhode Inn & Suites, which provided lodging in Arizona. We could not thank all of these places enough for making this hunt happen for Justice, Missy said. Justice was excited to get to mark another wish off of his list of things he would like to do. Missy said she was excited for Justice to be able to experience this hunt with his dad and uncle and that it was a huge blessing for him to experience it as well as fill their freezer with meat. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for him, Danny said. We are so grateful he had this chance. We hope to help provide opportunities for other kids to hunt in our area. This hunt was such a blessing to our family that we are looking into the possibility of starting a similar ministry locally if the need and resources are available. In order to do this, we would need access to quality land and volunteers to assist during the hunts. As the elk meat supply begins to diminish, Justice is already looking toward his next adventure saying he would love to hunt a bear or moose someday. Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-783-3366 or at vkemper@democratnewsonline.com Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 One place that was really buzzing by the time I got there on New Year's Eve was the Vinegar Man's which is a hugely popular bar on Park Street strip. I was only in the door when I met up with Oisin Burton from Maple Close and Conor McArdle from Boyle O'Reilly Terrace who said this was a mere stepping stone for their busy night that included the Rum House, Ridleys and only then, a house party. Meanwhile up near the bar I got a word with Kevin and Anita Bolton from Park Villas were having a few to ease the pain of the departure of their son Conor and girlfriend Ciara whom, that day had flown off to Toronto where they will spend the next two years together. Beside them I then got talking to Michelle and Bobby Stafford from Manydown Close who told me it was 'so far, so good' on the celebrations and there was every chance they were going to see in in the Vinegar Man's. After this I caught up with Photo Expresses number one grafter, Eddie Burton from Hughes Park who was out for a major night of fun with sisters Linda and Deborah and Bruce Leathem from South Africa. They were definitely up for making it a real night to remember, but I can't even imagine exactly how much Bruce's cab fare home was going to cost him, specially on New Year's Eve? Finding the best corner seat in the place, I then got a word with Cillian O'Connell from Ard Easmuinn who was with the delightful Megan Whearty from Hyde Park who said the night had started slow but they were going to go mental when the clock struck 12. Not too long later, I managed to get a few words with John Dugdale from Vincent avenue and Emma McCabe from Manydown Close who assured me they were really only out for a few sociables, but I'm sure all that was going to change when the years flipped over. One man I hadn't seen since his dad's 80th a couple of months ago, Paul Gover from De La Salle Terrace who was with his main squeeze Rachel Tinnelly from Mill Road and he told me that the Rum House certainly looked on the cards for them later. After this I headed over for a chat with Stephen Rice from Jonesboro, Shauna Lillywhite from Killeavy and Eugene McKeever from Mullabawn who were enjoying the festivities and just weren't sure how the night was going to pan out and said they'd just have to "play it by ear". Making my way through the crowds I met up with David and Joanne McCoy from Louth Village who were with Grainne Setson also from 'the village' who had been there for a while and were considering a move, but to where, they just weren't sure. Finally, before I departed got a quick word with Dayzer, Katie and Jack McEneaney from Manydown Close who were waiting for daughter Leanne to arrive with James Shields so they could really get the night going. A trip out on New Years Eve wouldn't be the same unless I dropped into the Imperial Hotel, and making sure I kept up the tradition I managed to get into the bar for a while on the night. I wasn't too long in the door when I met up with David and Fiona McEneaney from Knockbridge who were out to celebrate the end of the decade and enjoy the evening. After this I headed over for a chat with Shannon Tuite from Oakland Park, Kirsty Stewart from Ashling Park, Rachael Christmas from Woodview Park and Barry Myers from O'Hanlon Park who were there for the night and were looking forward to a totally insane night. Not too far away I then caught up with Rosealeen Matthews from Doylesfort Road and Rosealeen Larkin from Ashling Park who told me they were "here for a mad one". I then headed for a table where I had the pleasure of meeting up with Jane McKeown and Niamh McGinn both from Knockbridge who were looking exceptionally well and told me this was a mere stepping stone on their journey, the next was The Rum House. Not too long later I met up with Dylan Thornton from Clancullen Park and Kyle Mulligan from Doolargy Avenue who were there for the duration and couldn't wait for the clock to strike 12. Finally, at an adjacent table, I then got a word with Aine Dollard from Tallanstown, Ciara and Shane McElroy from Mullaharlin Road and Maxine Kearney from Lennonstown Manor who had their seats and were going to go mental when the hour changed the decade. Its not every day that the White House press secretary is offered $200,000 to appear on camera and explain the presidents decisions any of them to the public. But as one of the most consequential weeks in President Trumps tenure draws to a close, the world beyond the Beltway is beginning to notice that Stephanie Grisham unlike her predecessors, colleagues and boss does not appear to relish the talking-to-the-public part of her job. In six months as press secretary, Ms. Grisham has held zero briefings for reporters. When she does give interviews, she prefers to leave the West Wing via a side exit and is driven to a studio, rather than walk toward the cameras outside the White House and risk encountering a journalist along the way. Outside of appearances on Fox News, the One America News Network and the Sinclair Broadcast Group, she rarely goes on TV. Throughout her time in the job, Mr. Trump has wondered why she does not appear on television more often, according to two people familiar with his thinking. Kathmandu, Jan 11 : Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has reported facing electricity shortage, with authorities urging all stakeholders to make sure that power being supplied to the airport was utilised in an optimum manner, it was reported. A notice issued by the airport management on Friday said that excessive power consumption at TIA for trivial purposes was directly affecting the communication, navigational aids and surveillance equipment needed for flight operation, reports The Himalayan Times. "It is to notify all offices, government bodies and shops at the airport to reduce daily power consumption. TIA management also requests stakeholders not to use heaters and air-conditioners unnecessarily. Flight operational equipment at the airport are being affected due to power shortage at the airport. TIA urges all to cooperate to save power at the airport," it added. As part of its Visit Nepal 2020 campaign, the government of the Himalayan nation has invested 240 million Nepalese rupees to upgrade TIA to a boutique airport. But lack of adequate electricity supply at TIA may affect the campaign that aims to double the annual tourist arrivals. Tourism contributes to around 3 per cent of total of Nepal's GDP. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 10, 2020 Amazon is urging a federal judge to throw out a privacy lawsuit centered on Alexa's alleged collection of children's voices. The Alexa service works -- and performs the helpful, valuable, and entertaining functions that plaintiffs access and enjoy every day -- because a recording is created that converts voice into digital instructions, Amazon argues in papers filed Thursday with U.S. District Court Judge Richard Jones in Seattle. Plaintiffs cannot be permitted to invite the creation of a recording by using a wake word to invoke the Alexa service, and then sue when a recording is created. The company adds that the basic functional requirements of voice-directed services, and simple common sense, require dismissal of the case. Amazon's papers come in response to a class-action complaint brought last year by a group of parents who allege that Alexa, a natural-language processing service, violates their children's privacy. advertisement advertisement The parents filed suit soon after it came to light that Amazon employees and contractors sometimes listen to audio clips captured by Alexa, in order to improve the service's ability to interpret and respond to speech. When children say a wake word to an Alexa Device, the device records and transmits the childrens communications in the same manner that it handles adults communications. Neither the children nor their parents have consented to the childrens interactions being permanently recorded, the papers said in an amended complaint filed last month. Worse, those recordings are then stored persistently, which enables Amazon to disclose the recordings to thousands of contractors worldwide. The complaint alleges that Amazon violates wiretap laws in nine states -- California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington. Amazon counters in its new papers that the claims should be dismissed, arguing that the allegations don't amount to violations of the states' wiretap laws. While the state statutes vary in their specifics and language ... their consistent interpretation recognizes that mere creation of recordings within a communications service, as intended to provide instructions over the internet, cannot state a claim for illicit interception, eavesdropping, or recording, Amazon writes. Were it otherwise, all voice-activated technology by definition would constitute wiretapping. Amazon previously contended that the case belonged in arbitration because its terms of service required that the parents agreed to arbitrate all claims before using Alexa, or allowing their children to use the service. A federal judge rejected Amazon's argument on that point last year. Amazon and the parents are expected to face off at a hearing in Seattle on January 31. By cooking the mashed grains, the starches are released with enzymes breaking down the starch to make sugar to allow for the fermentation process with yeast for a 3 1/2-day process. A still is then used to separate the water from the alcohol to make the crystal clear 140-proof alcohol base, which is diluted with water to make it 120-proof before it is aged in the charred new oak barrels for at least five years. Ethiopia said Saturday that 21 university students had been freed after gunmen held them captive for weeks -- the latest incident of growing insecurity at college-level schools across the country. The mass abduction occurred in early December, one student told AFP, but officials waited until Saturday to acknowledge it. A spokesman for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told state television that 13 female students and eight males had "been released in a peaceful manner" but that six others were still unaccounted for. "We're working with local elders, religious leaders and security forces to secure the release of the students peacefully," Nigussu Tilahun said. He did not say whether ransoms were paid, nor whom the government believed was responsible. The incident occurred in Ethiopia's restive Oromia region and has focused attention on security challenges facing Abiy as he tries to steer the country toward elections in May. A female student who said she managed to escape the kidnapping told AFP the gunmen identified themselves as members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), which is split between a political wing headquartered in Addis Ababa and a breakaway military wing active in western and southern Oromia. The student said the group was abducted on December 4 when gunmen stopped a bus ferrying them to Addis Ababa from Dembi Dollo University, more than 600 kilometres (370 miles) to the west. The OLF claims to champion the interests of the Oromo ethnic group, Ethiopia's largest, and the student said those who could not speak the Afaan Oromo language were seized and forced to march through the forest. "I was at the back of the group, and when an opportunity came to hide in a hole in the forest I hid there, staying there for three days," she said, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity for reasons of safety. It was not clear why officials waited more than a month to acknowledge the abduction. Unconfirmed reports about it have circulated on social media for several days, some with the hashtag #ReleaseTheStudents. Abiy's government has been criticised for failing to stem rising violence on Ethiopian university campuses that is largely fuelled by disputes between students from different ethnic groups. In remarks on state television Saturday, Nigussu said 35,000 students had fled "disturbances" at 16 universities recently. He said Abiy was trying to address the issue following discussions with university and other officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Lynda Ibrahim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 11 2020 Some of you are probably rolling your eyes now and calling me a pathological cynic. To those of you who are still reading, let us count the awfulness. Jan. 1: Massive rainfall led to worse-than-usual flooding around Greater Jakarta, killing dozens and affecting tens of thousands including residents whose homes had never been flooded before. For days, the capital and adjacent parts of West Java were practically paralyzed. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Family members and friends of 230 New York-based soldiers said good-bye to their loved ones during an emotional event Saturday, as a New York division of the National Guard departed for training in advance of Middle East deployment. The deployment ceremony took place at the College of Staten Island, Willowbrook. Today is the day to say goodbye. Today is the day for our family members to give one last look at their soldiers and wish them well," said Richard Goldenberg, public affairs officer for the New York National Guard. "Today is the day that you start to miss your loved one. The soldiers who took part in Saturdays ceremony belong to the 42nd Infantry Division located in Troy, N.Y., but they all hail from the five boroughs, and a large number are Staten Island residents. It could be a full year before the soldiers see their loved ones. Shortly after the ceremony, they departed for Fort Indiantown Gap, PA for further training. They will then move to Fort Hood, TX for their pre-deployment training, and in early spring will leave for the Middle East, Goldenberg said. The 42nd Infantry Division has deployed its soldiers three times before in its 100-year history: during World War I, World War II and in 2004 to serve in Iraq. Goldenberg said that this years deployment is not related to the recent tensions in Iran. Obviously tensions in the Middle East are a little bit higher now than they were maybe a week and a half ago, but regardless of that the mission and focus of our soldiers is rock steady, said Goldenberg. We are prepared to do whatever the army asks of us. Willy Short, 50, of Brooklyn, said this is his fourth deployment after serving in Iraq and Kuwait. Short leaves in New York his wife, his daughter, 29, and son, 30. Its never easy for them to see me deployed and it never should be, said Short. On the other hand, this will be the first deployment for Natasha Gibson, of Jamaica, Queens, who will leave a 4-year-old son at home. I dont think he fully understands, Gibson said. He knows that I am going to be away but he doesnt understand for how long yet. Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn), a speaker at the event, said he was among familiar faces, since he served with some of the people being deployed. The mission is so incredibly vital, said Rose while addressing the audience. This nation is depending on you, especially in these incredibly turbulent times when we do not know what will happen tomorrow. Robert and Linda Ollis were also recognized with a plaque; the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation provided funding for the ceremony. Major General Steven Ferrari, the divisions commander, thanked all the family members who have a much harder job than the soldiers. You cant get to the finish line without crossing the start line, said Ferrari. Today we cross the start line. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sourabh Gupta (The Jakarta Post) Washington, DC Sat, January 11 2020 In a replay of their face-off dating back to March 2016, Indonesia-China maritime ties are once again embroiled in rising tensions over Chinese traditional fishing practices in the exclusive economic zone adjacent to Indonesias Natuna regency. Just this time around, instead of two trespassing Chinese vessels, as many as 63 trespassing vessels have been spotted across 30 locations within Indonesias waters, backed by the presence of Chinese coast guard ships. This encroachment is not a matter that can or should be taken lightly. Beijing claims that these South China Sea waters are its traditional fishing grounds and that the vessels are exercising their legal and legitimate rights. Jakarta insists contrarily that it enjoys exclusive and untrammeled sovereign rights and jurisdiction over these North Natuna Sea waters and that the Chinese vessels are engaged in illegal poaching. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login WASHINGTON If you asked us why a dozen people sat on the floor next to the A.T.M. in a Chase Bank branch on Friday, waiting for the police to arrest us for this small act of civil disobedience, we would come up with the same answer as the famous robber Willie Sutton: Because thats where the money is. We dont want to empty the vaults. Instead, we want people to understand that the money inside the vaults of banks like Chase is driving the climate crisis. Cutting off that flow of cash may be the single quickest step we can take to rein in the fossil fuel industry and slow the rapid warming of the earth. JPMorgan Chase isnt the only offender, but it is among the worst. In the last three years, according to data compiled in a recently released fossil fuel finance report card by a group of environmental organizations, JPMorgan Chase lent over $195 billion to gas and oil companies. For comparison, Wells Fargo lent over $151 billion, Citibank lent over $129 billion and Bank of America lent over $106 billion. Since the Paris climate accord, which 195 countries agreed to in 2015, JPMorgan Chase has been the worlds largest investor in fossil fuels by a 29 percent margin. India is likely to start surveillance at major airports to track in-bound international passengers, especially those travelling from China, for symptoms of a new strain of pneumonia following an outbreak in the countrys Wuhan city. On Saturday, China reported the first death from the outbreak. Tentative diagnosis showed 41 people suffering from the new strain of pneumonia, news agency PTI quoted the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission as saying in a statement. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a new type of coronavirus is the cause of the outbreak in China. The symptoms include with fever, cough and chest congestion and can lead to lung collapse and multi-organ failure in severe cases. The Union health ministry met representatives from the WHO on Wednesday to monitor the situation. There was a meeting with officials from the WHO on the issue and the final details are being worked out on the kind of measures needed at this point in time, a health ministry official said on condition of anonymity. As a precautionary measure the airport authorities are being briefed currently to step up vigil, the official said. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses like SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). These viruses are also known to cause mild illnesses like the common cold. Coronaviruses are highly infectious and very prone to mutation. Its difficult to predict their behavior. Since it is an acute respiratory tract infection, its spread is easy and fast. However, India doesnt need to panic as of now, said Dr Ekta Gupta, senior microbiologist at a Delhi government-run hospital. According to the outbreak protocol, all major international airports are directed to keep track of in-bound passengers suspected to have symptoms of the disease, especially flying in from the region of outbreak. The details are yet to be finalized but airports are vulnerable because of the huge movement of international passengers on a daily basis, which is why airport authorities are being briefed, the official said. An official from the Indian Council of Medical Research said, There are no new cases in China. There is no evidence of human to human transmission. It appears to be a new zoonotic Corona virus. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to withdraw contentious new Citizenship Act, prompting Left students activists to protest against her and demand an explanation for diluting the fight against CAA. Banerjee on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Raj Bhawan and requested him to rethink on the issue of amended Citizenship Act and urged him to withdraw CAA, NRC and NPR. Modi told her to come to New Delhi and discuss the matter, she told reporters after a meeting with the PM at Raj Bhawan. Just after the meeting, Banerjee went straight to TMC students wing sit-in demonstration in the city against CAA, where she reiterated her stand that the new Citizenship law would never be implemented in Bengal. Later, in the late evening Banerjee went to the demonstration, when Left students activists reached the spot and shouted slogans seeking an explanation from her over the meeting with Modi and diluting the fight against amended Citizenship Act. Banerjee termed her meeting with PM Modi as a "courtesy visit" and said she has raised issues regarding the due financial assitance that the state is yet to receive from the Centre. "It was a courtesy meeting. I told him about Rs 28,000 crore that the state is yet to receive from the Centre. Including Rs 7000 crore, we are supposed to get for the cyclone Fani. "I acquainted him that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC . I also told him that protest is going on across the country against CAA, NRC and NPR. "I told him that there should not be any discrimination among masses and no citizens should be left out or tortured. I asked him that the Centre should rethink on the issues and withdraw CAA," she said. When asked what PM Modi said in reply, the TMC supremo said, "regarding the matter related to states, he said he will look into the documents and about these issues (CAA, NRC and NPR), he said he has come for a few government programmes. So if there is an opportunity he would speak on the subjects in New Delhi". The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail and the BJP is pressing for its implementation. The meeting between the two leaders comes just two days after Banerjee had on Thursday said in the state Assembly that she would boycott an opposition meeting called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on January 13 over the JNU violence, the Citizenship Amendment Act and other "anti- people" policies of the Centre. Later while addressing party's anti-CAA rally at Rani Rashmoni Road, Banerjee referring to the gazette notification by the Union Home ministry regarding CAA, said the notification will be only on paper, it will never be implemented either in the country or in Bengal. "The CAA notification will only remain on paper but will never be implemented. We will not implement the CAA...This is unconstitutional, illegal and wrong," Banerjee said while addressing the rally. The Centre on Friday, in a gazette notification, announced that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will come into force from January 10. She said those who are in power at the centre should not do whatever they feel like just because they have the majority (in Parliament). "Those who are yet to understand the situation must wake up now. There is no point in sleeping while keeping your eyes open," she said at the rally. In a dig at Modi, who is slated to visit Belur Math and pay respect to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary, Banerjee said "there are some people who come all the way from Delhi for paying respect to Vivekananda for a day, while we observe his ideals of humanism throughout the year." Later, after attending a sound and light show at Millenium Park here with PM Modi, Banerjee returned to the anti-CAA rally venue. A group of student activists affiliated to Left parties reached the venue and shouted slogans 'Azadi' 'Chi Chi' and 'shame shame' against Banerjee. The students demanded an explanation from Banerjee for diluting the nationwide fight against amended Citizenship Act. Banerjee rushed to the stage and tried to pacify the protesting students. "I as a Chief Minister had gone there to meet the Prime Minister. Just show one leader who has the guts to say it on the face of Narendra Modi that we are opposing CAA. "We have been protesting from the day one against CAA. The issue of both of us is same so please don't deviate from it. I would request you all to protest in a democratic way," she said while trying to pacify the agitating students. The student activists questioned her on the need to meet Modi at this juncture, when the entire state is protesting against the "Modi's draconian law". The Left students group organised a counter sit-in just opposite the TMC's dharna venue, even as chief minister was sitting on the dais. The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Banerjee drew sharp reactions from Congress and CPI(M), which said Trinamool Congress' "double standard" is now exposed. The Trinamool Congress leadership refuted claims of "political match-fixing" and said the meeting between the two leaders was just a government-to-government meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Fay Ripley's teenage daughter Parker revealed that she wanted to follow in her parents' footsteps and become an actor, her mother was a little on the dismissive side. 'I told her it's a silly job. It's hugely enjoyable and we're lucky to do it, but it's not important,' recalls Fay, who has a son, Sonny, 13, as well as Parker, 17, with her Australian actor husband Daniel Lapaine. 'It's what I've been saying my whole working life "I'm just an actor, I'm not saving lives." But I won't be saying that any more...' That's because Fay's latest storyline in ITV's much-loved comedy-drama Cold Feet, in which she plays mum-of-two Jen Gifford, has literally saved lives. Cold Feets Robert Bathurst, James Nesbitt, Hermione Norris, John Thomson and Fay Ripley Jen was diagnosed with breast cancer in episode two of the previous series a year ago, leading to a spike in the number of women going to get themselves checked out. 'I've met people in the street who've told me that they had never checked themselves before, but because of that storyline they did and they discovered a lump, which had since been taken out,' says Fay. 'If they hadn't found it, or gone for that check-up, they couldn't imagine what might have happened. I can't quite take that in, if I'm honest it's mind-blowing.' As the new six-part series begins, Jen has completed her treatment and is hopefully now free of the disease. But of course there are consequences to what she's been through. In one moving scene in the first episode, we see Jen in her bedroom, staring into the mirror as she takes off her make-up to reveal the ravaging effects the cancer has had on her body, and perhaps on her state of mind too. 'Although there is hope, that's the nature of our show,' says Fay. 'What came out of the reaction to the previous series was that people wanted hope, and that really comes through in this new series.' Jenny (Fay Ripley) and Pete (John Tompson) with Roberts boss Mary (Michelle Holmes) Fay admits the storyline has weighed heavily on her shoulders over the past year. 'I feel a huge responsibility to get it right, not only for the people who have contacted me about their own cancer but for everyone else affected by it. 'And there's been one element of the story I won't reveal the details in this new series that has been especially hard to get right.' The ninth series sees Pete (John Thomson) still fretting over Jen's health, while former high-flyer David (Robert Bathurst) continues to rebuild his life after losing everything in the last series and ending up sleeping rough. 'He's now living above the cafe where he works [owned by Mary, with whom he has a growing friendship], and is living off cake,' says Robert. 'He's still very possessive towards his ex-wife Karen. I feel for him. Karen's gone off with Adam, one of his best friends, so I can understand why he finds that hard to cope with.' Fay (pictured) admits the breast cancer storyline has weighed heavily on her shoulders over the past year The romance between Karen (Hermione Norris) and Adam (James Nesbitt) continues to gather pace in the very first scene of the new series we see them kissing outside Pete and Jen's house and tensions rise between Adam and David as the series goes on. But David isn't the only person to be upset by the relationship. 'I think both Jimmy and I were sceptical about it when we were first told it was going to happen,' admits Hermione. 'When they first got together in the last series we both felt we didn't want to mess with the dynamic of Cold Feet, that it might not work.' 'I was shocked by the storyline,' adds James. 'I thought it wouldn't work at all, and that it might tarnish the memory of Adam's ex Rachel, who died in a road accident. 'But actually, Karen and Adam bring out good things in each other, there's a natural attraction between them. It makes sense.' The reaction to the relationship, admits Hermione, was decidedly mixed. 'It was like Marmite some viewers liked it, some hated it. But, personally, like Jimmy, I think it works now. They share a mutual love of Rachel and there's clearly chemistry between them.' The relationship faces its challenges as the series progresses. Adam must deal with an inquiry into his behaviour at work and two potentially disruptive characters re-enter their lives, beginning with the child Adam and Rachel wanted to adopt in series four back in 2001. 'Adam's son Matt didn't know that they had tried to adopt her, so her arrival comes as quite a shock,' says James. Then there's Karen's mother, played by Mel Martin in a couple of episodes of series three, who's back on the scene too. 'She's an expat lush and hasn't been the best parent to Karen,' says Robert Bathurst. 'She arrives on Karen's doorstep unannounced and it's soon clear that she and her daughter have a complicated relationship,' adds Hermione. 'But at least she's played by Gemma Jones. I worked with her on Spooks and grew up watching her in The Duchess Of Duke Street back in the 70s. If I'd known then that I was going to be working with her I'd have thought all my Christmases had come at once!' Cold Feet returns on Monday at 9pm on ITV. An authentic and educative coming together Ken Done's call for the Indigenous historical narrative to be acknowledged (Sunday Age, 5/1) is admirable. He says the date, January 26, should not be moved but "there should be another day set aside to celebrate Aboriginal history". Why can't Australia Day as it stands be reconfigured? Beyond being a warranted celebration of this nation's multicultural achievements, January 26 would be enhanced immeasurably through the gravitas of confronting the collective amnesia around the Aboriginal massacres since 1788. In the 21stcentury, non-Indigenous Australians are surely mature enough to confront the fact that more than 150 historic, brutal injustices were committed up until as late as 1928. All are documented by the University of Newcastle's remarkable online digital map and still resonate in the lives of our Indigenous people. Australia Day could become an authentic and educative coming together of all Australians. Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza THE FORUM Cut off from warnings Those of us who have experienced poor mobile reception and the inability to have that remedied were not surprised to read that telecommunications were down in fire areas (The Age, 11/1). We are 60 kilometres from Melbourne in a fire area and have no reliable mobile reception. This has been exacerbated by the installation of NBN because our landline now relies on electricity or mobile reception. I cannot rely upon my phones (mobile or landline) to deliver me a warning of fires. No amount of pleading with Telstra has helped us. There are a small number of people affected, therefore we are ignored. My one bar of reception up at the clothes line is not useful on fire days. Sue Anson, Mount Macedon Hope for our future With the federal government continuing to peddle the same, tired lie that we are taking action in line with our international responsibilities, it is welcome news that the Victorian government will commit to ambitious emissions reductions targets (The Age, 10/1). In light of the vacuum of ethical and political leadership at a federal level, I hope the Premier and Energy Minister will heed community concern surrounding climate change and the growing risk of related disasters. Victoria should lead the way with ambitious and considered leadership to provide hope for our shared future. Nikkola Mikocki-Bleeker, Coburg Showing the way The science is clearly telling us that Australia is getting hotter and drier, and that we must stop pouring carbon into the atmosphere if we are to prevent those conditions getting worse. We need a prime minister who can show us how to face this ever growing climate reality rather than join with those who deny and minimise it. Even in the midst of catastrophic fires, it is far from clear where he stands on the need or urgency to decarbonise, let alone how it will be done. Thank you to Daniel Andrews and his government for showing the way in Victoria. Victoria Brack, Surrey Hills Too young or not? I was somewhat confused by your reports on the Mallacoota evacuation (Sunday Age, 5/11). On page 3 you stated that children under school age could not be evacuated by navy ships. Then, on page 4, your main photo showed a woman disembarking from HMAS Choules with a very young child who obviously was not of school age. So which report was correct? David Baggallay, Meniyan Cost of not listening The size of the payouts now needed to repair and restore the land and all that was once on it must blow the locks off the government's regrettable economic policies. Scott Morrison's obstinate refusal to listen to scientists, who are expensively trained, only to be ignored in crises too, is regrettable. Joan Woods, Wonthaggi A lack of planning As Jon Faine warns us (Sunday Age, 5/1), "too many of the lessons of Black Saturday and of climate change are being ignored". On Black Saturday friends and neighbours died around me, trapped by trees that had fallen across roads before the fire arrived, or due to winds created by the fire or as the trees burnt. The current fires remind us that rural roads are the "fire escapes" and access roads for emergency services and the vital supply routes for rural communities. They should not be lined and overhung with combustible, collapsible materials such as trees. We do not line city buildings' fire escapes with wood for obvious reasons. No trees should be allowed to grow beside vital access roads such that they will impinge on the carriageway when they fall. A 10-year program (2009 to 2019) of tree removal and multiple tree replacement in paddocks and appropriate locations, through an organisation such as Landcare, would have made a huge difference to many fire-ravaged communities. And our program for the next 10years is? Bruce Newport, Diamond Creek PM's empathy deficit Thank you, Jacqueline Maley ("What would the MP for Warringah have done", Sunday Age, 5/1), for explaining so clearly the Prime Minister's style and lack of both empathy and policy in the face of the bushfire crisis. Lynda Court, Glen Iris How times change Could Andrew Forrest, the $70million donor to fight the ravages of the bushfires, be "Twiggy" Forrest, the person who stood on the back of a truck with Gina Rinehart, warning of the disasters that would follow Julia Gillard's impost on carbon polluters (a new federal mining tax)? Surely not. Or is he a wiser man now? Patrick Edgeworth, Elwood Mastering the media The climate protests went ahead on Friday, despite requests from authorities and politicians that they not be held, because there is such low regard for these "leaders", especially federal politicians. People no longer trust them to act on emissions. The protesters basically did what politicians do: used the media attention raised by the fires to highlight the connection to the climate emergency and, hence, create pressure on politicians to commit to action based on the science. Roger East, Balwyn North Remember the animals My demand is that the climate protesters do more good by volunteering to care for the animals that have been injured by the fires. Mel Green, Tecoma We owe them so much Perhaps as a gesture of goodwill and appreciation, the Australian government might offer those courageous, selfless volunteer firefighters a lifetime of health care both physical and emotional. They are, after all, putting their lives and good health on the line to try to save our burning land. We are indebted to them. Rosie Elsass, East Brighton A lack of foresight The United States is not at war with Iran, but this did not stop Donald Trump from ordering the assassination of its most important general. A more thoughtful leader might have recalled the lines in Shakespeare's Macbeth that speak of teaching "bloody instructions that, being taught, return to plague the inventor" and decided it was not such a good idea, the US being a pretty rough neighbourhood, too. Claude Miller, Hawthorn Tragic consequences It is so sad that one secondary effect of Donald Trump's murder of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Iraq appears to be the loss of the lives of 176 innocent air travellers. Unintended consequences indeed. Peter Barry, Melbourne What the Donald said Donald Trump said "Soleimani's hands were drenched in both American and Iranian blood. He should have been terminated long ago". As the leader of the so-called free world and a champion of the rule of law, I am guessing this is a mistranslation and that the President actually said: "He should have been arrested, fairly tried and, if found guilty, given the appropriate sentence under international law." Angus McLeod, Cremorne A community loss Yarraville Village is a collection of small businesses, including a store that provides a fabulous range of groceries, delicatessen products and wine. The staff are friendly, and there are no pre-packaged fruit or vegetables or self-serve checkouts. To my horror, I have learnt that Woolworths has bought it. Coles operates a supermarket just a couple of kilometres away. My concern is the market dominance of this duopoly, which, it seems, is OK with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The loss of the store is another example of the "must have growth" mentality for shareholders but not for small, family-run enterprises. If it is happening in this small community, you can bet it is happening Australia-wide. Kiss goodbye to small operators. Peter Gell, Yarraville The importance of ... Danny Katz (The Age, 11/1), try reading your own column to combat bad news and put a smile on your face. It works for me. Brenda Todd, East Brighton ... having a good laugh Congrats, Leon Zembekis (Letters 11/1). Your selfless offer to step in and help the royals has great merit. It had me giggling all morning. Good luck and please keep us posted re a reply from Buck House. Pauline Driscoll, Burwood Halley Bondy loves being a freelance writer. And the 35-year-old journalist, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, earns more working for herself than she did as a full-time employee. Now, a proposal in New York state that could require companies to classify more of their freelancers as employees is spreading panic among people like Bondy. "All of my employers would probably just ditch me," Bondy said. "I don't think any one of them would take me on full-time." More from Personal Finance: Not all agree buying steady retirement income is a good idea More people may soon have annuities in their 401(k) plans RMD changes may affect retirement accounts Several states are moving to reshape their labor laws so that more independent contractors are turned into employees. Proponents of the efforts say companies misclassify their workers as independent contractors to save money. Unlike contractors, employees have to be given a minimum wage and are eligible for overtime pay and unemployment insurance. Half of their Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes are also covered by the company. Employers might be saving as much as 30% of employee-related taxes by hiring more people as contractors, according to the National Employment Law Project. "There's been this crisis of misclassification and employers are gaming the system," said Cynthia Estlund, a professor at the New York University School of Law. Tweet Yet the state efforts have sparked a backlash among freelance writers, artists, translators, cooks and other freelancers who say they're happy with their work arrangement and fear their livelihoods could now be in peril. "Caught in the middle are people who are and who want to be independent contractors," Estlund said. Many freelancers in California say they're already paying a price, after Assembly Bill 5 went into effect on Jan. 1. To classify a person as an independent contractor rather than an employee, companies in the state now have to prove the person is free from their control and is performing different work than what the company specializes in. Although, there are a number of carve-outs. From the Iran plane crash to a city frozen in time, weve selected some of the best long reads of the week from across the Stars newsrooms. Want to dive into more long features? Sign up for the Weekend Long Reads newsletter to get them delivered straight to your inbox every Saturday morning. 1. Newlyweds, university students and families from across Canada among Iran plane crash victims The Ukraine-bound plane crashed minutes after leaving the airport in Tehran, killing 176 people on board, including 63 Canadians and dozens more people with connections to Canada. 2. It makes the situation worse: Iran missile accusations turn grief to anger for some plane crash victims loved ones The development added an additional layer of anguish to an already tragic situation for those stunned by the loss of loved ones. Theres anger and frustration that innocent people are victims of dirty politicians, from either side, said one woman who lost two firends in the crash. 3. 24 hours. 12,000 photos. A city frozen in time. What Toronto looked like in January 1986 On Jan. 7, 1986, the Star decided to take a typical Toronto day and freeze it in time. Twenty-six photographers and five reporters spread out around the Metro Toronto area and captured vignettes of the ordinary people and places that made the downtown core sparkle. These are some of their photos including some never-before published. 4. She lost 100 pounds and became an Instagram sensation. Then she realized how diet culture was affecting her kids It bothered me when my daughter, Jemma, was speaking about me and said to me something like People love you for your weight loss, said Sarah Landry. 5. How do you build an island in Toronto? Its one of the largest non-transit infrastructure projects currently underway in North America. And the $1.25 billion Port Lands Flood Protection Project will result in the creation of Villiers Island and feature parklands, walking and biking trails, and residential and commercial real estate (not to mention great views of the city skyline). 6. This 37-year-old professor makes $120,000 and hopes to buy land in the Caribbean. But will going through a divorce force her to delay her dreams? I make more money now than I ever have, 37-year-old researcher and university lecturer Linda says. With an annual income of $120,000 a year which includes her side-hustles for teaching and speaking engagements shes thriving. But her biggest challenge right now is that shes a millennial going through a divorce. 7. Why Ontario courts are using GPS ankle bracelets to keep more people out of jail (if they can afford $610 a month) Electronic monitoring saves hundreds of thousands of remand custody days, which, in turn, saves taxpayers the cost of housing inmates, transporting prisoners to court, inducing guilty pleas and the impact of incarceration on families. 8. These residents took our community back from gun violence. Now grades are up, crime is down and police services are taking note When Angela Brackett convinced her Mornelle Court neighbours to support her idea of beefing up security for schoolchildren after a spate of gun violence in their Scarborough neighbourhood, she didnt envision it growing into a program hailed as a model for citizen-led initiatives. Since 2008 there has not been a shooting in Mornelle Court, and I believe its because we stood up for our community, Brackett said. 9. Schitts Creek stars find surprising meaning in underdog Canadian sitcoms success The end is near for the Canadian comedy that became an American media darling and an Emmy nominee in 2019 thanks in part to the so-called Netflix effect. But make no mistake, all the binging in the world wouldnt have brought Schitts Creek the acclaim it did if the show hadnt grown through its five seasons. The wall of student debt is an obstacle to opportunity for thousands of Pennsylvanias young citizens. In fact, the commonwealth has the unfortunate distinction of having the highest average debt among the 50 states and Washington, DC., according to a Petersons Data survey. As of 2017, that average was $36,193 and climbing. The result is that college graduates find themselves held back from buying homes, getting married, starting families and taking jobs that create future opportunities but dont pay enough now to cover loan payments. The stereotyped living in their parents basement is a direct result of student debt. Why are Pennsylvania college students graduating with more debt than in other states? One major factor is college costs. The average annual in-state college tuition in Pennsylvania was $22,794 for the 2018-2019 academic year, $8,387 higher than the U.S. average, reports CollegeCalc.org. Pennsylvania is the 5th most expensive and one of the least affordable states (48th of 50) to attend college. Those dire numbers and the effect on the future of Pennsylvanias workforce are getting some attention in Harrisburg. Two lawmakers new to the Legislature this year, from Bucks and Delaware counties, have formed a Student Debt Caucus to examine the problem, according to a recent report in The Morning Call. Rep. Jennifer OMara, D-Delaware County, and Rep. Meghan Schroeder, D-Bucks, both of whom are in their 30s, understand the problem firsthand. They told the Call that their approach is a deep dive that will result in a package of legislation. Thirty-two other lawmakers have joined them in the effort. Alongside that effort is a task force examining state funding of higher education. A Higher Education Funding Commission formed last August held a session last week at West Chester University coordinated by state Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-Chester County. OMara was among the legislators who attended. The commission is tasked with developing a higher education funding formula and identifying factors that may be used to determine the distribution of funding, according to a release from Dinnimans office. The hearing examined the cost-effectiveness of what colleges are providing in Pennsylvania, noting that oftentimes graduates have the degree and the debt to go with it but lack the workforce skills to meet employers needs. We have to be a lot more data-driven in looking at how we deliver higher education and how it fits into job creation, Dinniman said. We are living in the greatest era of change in human history that means what we prepare for today could change tomorrow. At the same time, our systems of education and higher education must adapt to meet the needs and develops the skills of a growing variety of individuals. The hearing included speakers who stressed the need for middle skills that require some college training but also rely on technical or community college specialty training, particularly in the health care field. Much of the discussion focused on whether colleges are preparing young people for the needs of the workforce. Whether or not they can pay for that training is the focus of several other legislative efforts, as well as legal actions to ferret out unfair loan practices. Some of the ideas are increased loan forgiveness incentive programs for firefighters and others who give back to their communities. But there is widespread belief that the states underfunding of higher education and the resulting tuition increases among state schools is at the root of the problem. We urge the Higher Education Funding Commission to examine the costs side of the coin as well as the workforce side. The next generation of Pennsylvania citizens need to be prepared not only with necessary skills but also financially solvent to be consumers, home buyers and contributing citizens. College in Pennsylvania has become out of reach for the middle class without taking on debt. Failure to address this problem not only crushes the opportunity for young people but also tramples economic growth. We urge the legislature to make it a priority in 2020 to bring down college costs and give the next generation the opportunities they deserve and that our commonwealth needs. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-12 05:42:21|Editor: ZX Video Player Close United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Lisbon European Green Capital 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal, on Jan. 11, 2020. After receiving 2020's European Green Capital Award in June 2018, the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon on Saturday officially launched its transition towards a sustainable future program funded by the award granted by the European Union (EU). (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua) LISBON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- After receiving 2020's European Green Capital Award in June 2018, the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon on Saturday officially launched its transition towards a sustainable future program funded by the award granted by the European Union (EU). In his opening speech, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa praised Portuguese government's action for a sustainable environment and the role of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in combating climate change. "Lisbon opens the way, Portugal follows the way, Europe supports the way, Antonio Guterres takes the universal witness further along the way. We are together and we will win," exclaimed Rebelo de Sousa. The UN chief and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa also attended the opening ceremony. According to the European Commission, the European Green Capital Award is given annually with the aim of recognizing the efforts of cities with a plan to become environmentally friendly and involving their people in environmental, social and economic sustainability. For the second time in about two months, San Antonios USAA has won a nine-figure patent infringement case against Wells Fargo Bank. A federal jury in East Texas awarded USAA $102.8 million in damages Friday after finding Wells Fargo willfully infringed on two USAA patents relating to technology that allows users to deposit checks using mobile devices. That follows a $200 million verdict delivered by a different jury in USAAs favor in November in another case against Wells Fargo. Nathan McKinley, USAAs vice president of corporate development, said the latest verdict validates the companys position that it created mobile deposit capture technology. Wells Fargo, and the rest of the banking industry, has benefited from our technology and we look forward to working with banks to create reasonable and mutually beneficial license agreements, McKinley said in a statement. Our goal has always been to be reasonably compensated for the investment in mobile-banking innovation we have made on behalf of our members and the military community. Wells Fargo spokeswoman Beth Richek said the bank does not believe it infringed on USAAs patents and strongly disagrees with the verdict. We believe this is an industry issue involving numerous other banks that license remote remote mobile deposit technology from the same vendor, not USAA, she said in an email. We are considering our options based on the verdict and trial. Regarding the $200 million verdict, she said, Wells Fargo has filed post-trial motions contesting the verdict. Each of the trials involved different patents relating to the remote-deposit technology. USAA sued San Francisco-based Wells Fargo in June 2018 and again in August of that year. It was the first time USAA had filed lawsuits after warning in 2017 that it would reach out to banks and credit unions to pay their fair share by licensing its patented check-deposit technology. Nearly every U.S. bank and credit union uses the technology, which USAA says has benefited some 87 million consumers. Wells Fargo has been and continues to be a leader in enabling seamless payments and mobile banking experiences, and this ruling has no impact on our customers ability to remotely deposit checks or the companys work to provide innovative tools and technologies to our customers, Richek said. The $102.8 million verdict represented the full amount USAA asked the jurors to award. In the November case, USAA asked for $300 million in damages. The U.S. District Court in Marshall has a reputation for its friendliness to plaintiff filing patent lawsuits, the New York Times reported in 2017. More than 40 percent of patent lawsuits are filed in the court. USAA has about 13 million members, comprising current and former members of the military. Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD Yes, the optics will be off-putting to some observers a bad thing for a party that will need the enthusiastic support of all sectors of its coalition, said Randall Kennedy, a Harvard Law professor who has written extensively on race. But it is mistaken to suggest that the racial cast of the lineup means that the Democratic Party is hostile or indifferent to people of color. We need to look beneath and beyond looks. Omans Sultan Qaboos bin Said, West Asia's longest-ruling monarch who seized power in a 1970 palace coup and pulled his Arabian sultanate into modernity while carefully balancing diplomatic ties between adversaries Iran and the US, has died. He was 79 Dubai: Omans Sultan Qaboos bin Said, West Asia's longest-ruling monarch who seized power in a 1970 palace coup and pulled his Arabian sultanate into modernity while carefully balancing diplomatic ties between adversaries Iran and the US, has died. He was 79. The state-run Oman News Agency announced his death late Friday on its official Twitter account. The sultan was believed to have been in poor health in recent months and travelled to Belgium for a medical checkup last month. The royal court declared three days of mourning. The British-educated, reclusive sultan reformed a nation that was home to only three schools and harsh laws banning electricity, radios, eyeglasses and even umbrellas when he took the throne. Under his reign, Oman became known as a welcoming tourist destination and a key West Asia interlocutor, helping the US free captives in Iran and Yemen and even hosting visits by Israeli officials while pushing back on their occupation of land Palestinians want for a future state. We do not have any conflicts and we do not put fuel on the fire when our opinion does not agree with someone, Sultan Qaboos told a Kuwaiti newspaper in a rare interview in 2008. The sultans death, however, raises the risk of unrest in this country on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. The unmarried Sultan Qaboos had no children and did not publicly name an heir, a tradition among the ruling Al Said dynasty whose history is replete with bloody takeovers. Omans longtime willingness to strike its own path frustrated Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, longtime foes of Iran who now dominate the politics of regional Gulf Arab nations. How Oman will respond to pressures both external and internal in a nation Sultan Qaboos absolutely ruled for decades remains in question. Maintaining this sort of equidistant type of relationship ... is going to be put to the test," said Gary A Grappo, a former US ambassador to Oman. "Whoever that person is is going to have an immensely, immensely difficult job. And overhanging all of that will be the sense that he's not Qaboos because those are impossible shoes to fill. The sultan had been believed to be ill for some time, though authorities never disclosed what malady he faced. A December 2019 report by the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy described the sultan as suffering from diabetes and a history of colon cancer. Sultan Qaboos spent eight months in a hospital in Germany, returning to Oman in 2015, with the royal court only saying that the treatment he received was successful. In December 2019, he travelled to Belgium for a week for what the court described as medical checks. Days of worry about his condition ended 31 December 2019, with the royal court describing him to be in stable condition. Sultan Qaboos cut a fashionable figure in a region whose leaders are known for a more austere attire. His colourful turbans stood out, as did his form-fitting robes with a traditional curved khanjar knife stuck inside, the symbol of Oman. He occasionally wore a white turban out of his belief that he spiritually led Omans Ibadi Muslims, a more liberal offshoot of Islam predating the Sunni-Shiite split. The sultan's willingness to stand apart was key to Oman's influence in the region. While home only to some 4.6 million people and smaller oil reserves than its neighbours, Oman under Sultan Qaboos routinely influenced the region in ways others couldn't. Oman's oil minister routinely criticizes the policies of the Saudi-led OPEC oil cartel with a smile. Muscat hosts meetings of Yemen's Houthi rebels, locked in a yearslong bloody war with Saudi Arabia. When Americans or dual nationals with Western ties are detained in Iran or areas under Tehran's influence, communique that later announces their freedom routinely credit the help of Oman. The sultan's greatest diplomatic achievement came as Oman hosted secret talks between Iranian and US diplomats that led to the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers limiting Iran's atomic program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Yet even then, the sultan maintained ties to those in the Pahlavi dynasty that Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew. Sultan Qaboos' outward-looking worldview could not have contrasted more sharply than that of his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur, under whose rule the sultanate more resembled a medieval state. Slavery was legal, no one could travel abroad and music was banned. At the time, the country, which is nearly the size of Poland, had only 10 kilometres of paved roads. Yet Sultan Said let his son Qaboos, born in Salalah on 18 November 1940, travel to study in England. Qaboos time abroad included schooling at Britains Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and training with the Scottish Rifles Regiment in what was then West Germany. Qaboos returned to Salalah in 1964 but found himself instead locked away in a palace. Music cassettes sent to him from friends abroad included secret messages from the British. London was frustrated with Sultan Said, who had grown increasingly eccentric after surviving an assassination attempt and as Communist rebels kept up their offensive in the sultanate's Dhofar region. A July 23, 1970 palace coup ended up with Sultan Said shooting himself in the foot before going into exile in London. Qaboos took power. Yesterday, Oman was in darkness, Sultan Qaboos said after the coup. But tomorrow, a new dawn will rise for Oman and its people. Sultan Qaboos quickly moved toward modernizing the country, building the schools, hospitals and roads his father didn't. With the help of Iranian forces under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the British and Jordan, the sultan beat back the Dhofar rebellion. You can see the sultan's fingerprints," Grappo said. "They're just everywhere. Over time, Sultan Qaboos introduced what amounted to a written constitution, created a parliament and granted citizens limited political freedoms. But the sultan always had the final say. In a sign of his strong grip, he also served as prime minister and minister of defence, finance and foreign affairs, as well as the governor of the sultanates Central Bank. Holding all these positions in government probably sort of constrained his country in the sense of developing senior leadership, Grappo said. That strong grip extended to any sign of dissent. The Royal Oman Police often patrol in riot-ready vehicles with chicken wire covering the windows, something is only seen in the island nation of Bahrain which has faced years of low-level unrest. US diplomats routinely describe the Omani press as muzzled" and even private outlets self-censor out of fear of running afoul of so-called red lines. All public gatherings require government permission. Small protests broke out as part of the wider Arab Spring unrest in 2011, revealing discontent over corruption, unemployment and rising prices within the sultanate. Oman was one of the few countries in the Arab world to maintain ties with Egypt after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, and acted as a mediator between Iran and Iraq during their ruinous eight-year war. It has also long served as a quiet base for US military operations, including a failed 1980 attempt to free hostages held by Iran after the US Embassy takeover in Tehran. As he grew older, Sultan Qaboos also grew increasingly reclusive. He is known to have had three major passions reading, music and yachting. He read voraciously, Grappo said, played the organ and lute. He created a symphony orchestra and opened a royal opera house in Muscat in 2011. His yacht Al Said is among the worlds largest and was frequently seen anchored in Muscats mountain-ringed harbour. Sultan Qaboos was briefly married to a first cousin. They had no children and divorced in 1979. The EFCC has reacted to a claim by an ex-senator, Shehu Sani, that he is being unjustly detained. The EFCC, in a statement on Friday signed by its acting spokesperson, Tony Orilade, said Mr Sani has a case to answer for allegedly extorting a car dealer. The agency also dismissed claims by the former senator that he is being victimised for consistently criticising President Muhammadu Buhari. The commission said Mr Sani is being detained in a very conducive environment based on a valid court order. The ex-senator who represented Kaduna Central in the last Senate was arrested by officials of the commission in December for allegedly collecting $25,000 in the name of the EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu. The commission on January 2 obtained a court order to detain him. Also, the operatives of the EFCC, on Wednesday, searched Mr Sanis Abuja residences and office. In reaction to his detention, Mr Shehu, on Friday said his detention was unfair, unjust, prearranged and politically motivated. He also termed the allegations levelled against him as baseless, factless, unfounded, hollow and unsubstantial. The former head of Nigerias human rights commission, Chidi Odinkalu, had condemned the detention order secured by the EFCC. He said the EFCC cannot arrest a person on allegations of extortion and afterward get a 14-day detention order to investigate. Read the full statement by the EFCC: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has taken note of insinuations and phantom claims that the Commission is prosecuting Senator Shehu Sani, because he is a known critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The Commission wishes to state that Senator Shehu Sani is currently facing criminal investigation, and he is being detained by the EFCC in very conducive environment, based on a valid court order. Invariably, claims in some quarters of the breach of his fundamental human rights, is merely in the imagination of the purveyors of such claims. Let it be stated clearly, that Senator Shehu Sani has questions to answer as regards the alleged involvement in name-dropping, and particularly that he obtained $25,000 from Alhaji Sani Dauda, the ASD Motors boss, in order to help shield him from investigations being carried out by the EFCC. For certain people to brazenly come out to defend a suspect, who is being probed for a serious offence as the one committed by Sani shows that they are not really conversant with his offence. It is unfortunate that certain people are ready to do anything to support evil for pecuniary gains. This is quite unfortunate! Winter blues got you down? Cant afford an international vacation? If you werent aware already, we Bay Area-dwellers basically have Ireland in our backyard. Just over an hour drive from San Francisco is the picturesque wonderland of Point Reyes National Seashore, and, in my humble opinion, winter is the best season to visit. January and February bring with them breeding and pupping season for the gurgling, screeching, enormous creatures known as northern elephant seals. This means they show up on Point Reyes beaches to give birth, nurse their pups and fight to defend their harems. On a recent weekend getaway to Point Reyes, I found myself face to face with a family of them on a beach, just a few feet away, separated by just a short fence. Each seal made a more monstrous and disturbing sound than the last. I loved them. President Donald Trump on Friday called Prince Harry and his wife Meghan's decision to quit their roles in the British royal family "sad" and said he felt sorry for the queen. (Photo: File) Washington: President Donald Trump on Friday called Prince Harry and his wife Meghan's decision to quit their roles in the British royal family "sad" and said he felt sorry for the queen. "I think it's sad, I do," Trump said in an excerpt of an interview to air later on Fox News. "I don't want to get into the whole thing," he said. "I just have such respect for the queen. I don't think this should be happening." Speaking of Queen Elizabeth II, the grandmother of Harry, he said: "She's a great woman. She's never made a mistake, if you look. I mean she's had like a flawless time." Natasha Oakley has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for bushfire relief and donated $5,000, saying her 'home country' was 'crying' out for help. The Bikini A Day CEO, 29, took to her Instagram Story on Saturday to share her sadness over the Australian crisis and urged her followers to contribute what they can to the effort. The Sydney-born model also revealed that she and her Bikini A Day co-founder, Devin Brugman, first donated proceeds to relief efforts from their Monday Swimwear line back in October, before the fires got worse. 'Australia is crying out for our help!' Natasha Oakley, 29, (pictured) launched a GoFundMe page on Saturday for bushfire relief and donated $5,000 'Since then the fires have gotten increasingly worse,' she said in the social media post. Natasha said that she and Devin joined forces once again, this time to setting up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the Australian Red Cross and Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES), with a goal of $20,000. On the donation page, she wrote that the fires were 'one of the most catastrophic and devastating natural disasters my country has experienced.' 'Being born and raised in Sydney, Australia, this relief effort is very dear to my heart,' she added. For a good cause: The Sydney-born model and her Bikini A Day co-founder Devin Brugman (right) joined forces to set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for the Australian Red Cross and Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES) Raising funds: Natasha and Devin are hoping to raise $20,000 for the chosen charities Doing her part: Natasha started the donations for her GoFundMe page by generously pledging $5,000 Natasha started the donations by generously pledging $5,000, writing the comments section: 'My home country, Australia, is crying for our help.' Meanwhile on her Instagram Story posts, the blonde beauty shared several photos of the fires and the destruction left by the blazes. She made an impassioned plea, writing in the post: 'Australia's bushfires are getting larger and more dangerous and this disaster won't end when the fires go out.' Impassioned appeal: She wrote on the post, 'Australia's bushfires are getting larger and more dangerous and this disaster won't end when the fires go out' 'The extreme stress of losing homes, livelihood, pets and property will be something difficult to cope with.' 'As with any natural disasters, mental health is a concern with survivors. There will be a lot of rebuilding to do,' she added. A total of 26 people have died, an estimated one billion animals killed and thousands of homes destroyed as a result of the blazes burning across Australia. Health unions have vowed to continue strike action until their demands to ensure the future of the NHS are met. While the political parties pored over the details of the draft agreement on Friday, thousands of NHS staff took to picket lines across Northern Ireland. The New Decade, New Approach document contains a range of commitments for any new Executive to sign up to, including immediately settling the NHS pay dispute and the creation of 900 nursing and midwifery training places over three years. Read More The director of the Royal College of Nursing Pat Cullen welcomed the development but said the proposals do not go far enough to address staffing levels. "Our members believe that in order to address the 2,800 vacant nursing posts, we need an additional 500 training places every year for the next five years," she said. "However, we are willing to sit down with the new Health Minister as soon as they are in post, whether that is tonight or over the weekend, and indeed we will be seeking an urgent meeting with them to discuss the issues that nurses have in relation to this dispute." Ms Cullen was speaking as nurses voiced their support for her after former MP Emma Little-Pengelly criticised the nursing chief for her behaviour on the picket line outside the Royal Victoria Hospital. The ex-DUP MP, wife of the Department of Health's permanent secretary, tweeted footage of Ms Cullen laughing and said: "Gosh, hardly a laughing matter." However, her post received an angry response. Expand Close Healthcare workers protesting outside BelfastOs City Hospital / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Healthcare workers protesting outside BelfastOs City Hospital One nurse wrote: "Not only should nurses and the people of Northern Ireland endure the lack of safe staffing legislation alongside the lack of pay parity, but we should also not give a true leader the greeting she deserves on the picket line we have been forced to occupy to protect our patients?" Patricia McKeown, regional secretary of Unison, which also staged strike action on Friday, also raised concerns that the Secretary of State has said additional cash to address the health service crisis will only be made available in the event of a deal at Stormont. Describing Julian Smith's position as "a cynical abuse", Ms McKeown said: "To use the distress of the people in Northern Ireland to secure wider political aims is something we will robustly challenge." The New Decade, New Approach document was made public late on Thursday night. In addition to addressing the pay demands of unions and increasing nursing training numbers, it also calls on politicians to introduce a plan to address waiting lists. Specifically, it says that no one who was on a waiting list at the end of last September for more than a year will still be waiting for their appointment by March next year. It also calls for an overhaul of the way waiting times are measured, so that the whole patient journey is captured. Under the draft deal, the new Health Minister would also be expected to press ahead with the recommendations made by the Bengoa Report, which would result in the rationalisation of services. This would include changes to the way that stroke services are provided. Read More It also calls for strategies in relation to mental health, cancer and addiction services, and increased investment in end of life care. The proposed medical school at the University of Ulster's Magee site would also go ahead. People experiencing fertility problems have also received a boost, with the promise that the executive will provide three funded cycles of IVF treatment. Currently, only one round is paid for by the NHS in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, Dr Tom Black from the British Medical Association has welcomed the proposals in the document. Latest updates as Tehran acknowledges it accidentally shot down Ukrainian passenger plane that had 176 people on board. After initially denying reports suggesting it had caused the crash of a Ukrainian airliner, Iran has acknowledged that it unintentionally shot down the plane. The announcement on Saturday came a day after officials from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom said they believed the plane was accidentally brought down by an Iranian missile. The Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 bound for Kyiv, Ukraine crashed minutes after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board. The crash happened hours after Iran launched missile attacks on US forces in Iraq in retaliation for the US assassination of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. Here are all of the latest updates as of Saturday, January 11: Truth about Iran crash could not be hidden: Ukraines Zelenskyy The findings by Ukrainian experts in Iran meant that the truth about the crash could not be concealed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a televised address. He also said that he had agreed with Irans President Hassan Rouhani on the beginning of joint work to decode the black boxes of the Ukrainian plane that was shot down this week. He also urged Ukraines international partners to be united and persistent until the investigation was complete. Read the full story here. Trudeau: Canada needs full clarity on crash Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani that Canada wants full clarity on the plane crash, Trudeau said in a televised speech. He added that Iran did the right thing by taking responsibility for downing the plane, calling it an important first step and that it was necessary for Iran to compensate families of the victims. Irans Rouhani speaks to Canadian PM, promises further investigation President Rouhani, during a telephone conversation with Trudeau, promised further investigation into the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported. Iran welcomes any international cooperation in the framework of international relations to shed more light on the incident, Rouhani said, promising further investigation into the crash that Tehran said was caused by its air defences unintentionally. EASA: European airlines should avoid Iranian airspace The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has urged all European airlines to avoid Iranian airspace until further notice in an expanded recommendation. The advice expands on an earlier EASA recommendation that national authorities bar airlines from overflying Iran below 25,000 feet. It was issued in light of the statement from Iran that its armed forces accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger aircraft, EASA said. Ukrainian president calls for perpetrators to be held accountable Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Irans acknowledgement that it shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane was a step in the right direction but wanted those responsible to be held to account. I insist on immediately completing identification of the bodies and their return to Ukraine, Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter after speaking to Iranian President Rouhani. Talked to @HassanRouhani. Acknowledging plane shot down is a step in the right direction. I insist on immediately completing identification of the bodies & their return to Ukraine. The perpetrators must be held accountable. We look forward to further legal & technical cooperation (@ZelenskyyUa) January 11, 2020 Protests in Tehran after Irans admission Crowds of students in central Tehran protested after the governments response to the downing of the Ukrainian airliner, calling for those responsible to be held accountable. Some of the protesters demanded that Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei step down. Commander-in-chief [Khamenei] resign, resign, videos posted on Twitter showed hundreds of people chanting in front of Tehrans Amir Kabir university. Speaking from Tehran, Al Jazeera Dorsa Jibbari said: Theres a lot of anger. Iranians are demanding justice and accountability. Many people, including families of the victims, do not understand why their government would have lied to them for this long. Read the full story here. Iran jet admission important first step: UK Prime Minister UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called Irans admission an important first step. We will do everything we can to support the families of the four British victims and ensure they get the answers and the closure they deserve, he said in a statement issued by his Downing Street office. Johnson added that the UK would work closely with Canada, Ukraine and other international partners to ensure a comprehensive, transparent and independent international investigation and repatriation of those who died. This tragic accident only reinforces the importance of de-escalating tensions in the region, he said. It is vital that all leaders now pursue a diplomatic way forward. US official calls Iran jet downing reckless Irans downing of the plane was a terrible tragedy, a senior Trump administration official told Reuters News Agency. Ultimately, Iran made an awful mistake, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Irans reckless actions have again had devastating consequences. French specialists to decode black box Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on Saturday that French specialists would help decode the black boxes of the Ukrainian plane that crashed in Iran, according to Zelenskyys office. Macron told Zelenskyy in a telephone call that France had started a formal procedure to launch an international investigation into the crash, Zelenskyys office said in a statement, adding that Macron had agreed to visit Kyiv. Irans ambassador the UK retracts statement regarding plane crash Hamid Baeidinejad, Irans ambassador to the UK, issued an apology after denying reports that his country might have been behind the passenger jets downing. In my statement yesterday to the UK media, I conveyed the official findings of responsible authorities in my country that missile could not be fired and hit the Ukrainian plane at that period of time. I appologise and regret for conveying such wrong findings. Hamid Baeidinejad (@baeidinejad) January 11, 2020 In my statement yesterday to the UK media, I conveyed the official findings of responsible authorities in my country that missile could not be fired and hit the Ukrainian plane at that period of time, Baeidinejad said in a tweet. I appologise and regret for conveying such wrong findings. Ukraine airline says plane had no warning of threat before Iran crash Ukraine International Airlines said its plane had received no warning from Tehran airport about a possible threat before it took off. At a briefing by its president and vice president, the airline also denied suggestions that the passenger plane had veered off its normal course, and said the Iranian authorities should have closed the airport. Plane mistook for missile: Revolutionary Guard Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said the Iranian missile operator who shot down the passenger jet opened fire independently because of communications jamming. The operator had mistaken the Boeing 737 for a cruise missile and only had 10 seconds to decide whether or not to open fire, said Hajizadeh, the Guards aerospace commander, in televised remarks. Ukraine believes Iran plane probe will be objective and prompt Ukraine said Iran had provided enough data including videos and photographs to show the investigation into Tehrans downing of the passenger jet will be objective and prompt. President Zelenskyys office said Tehran provided Ukrainian experts in Iran with all the photos, videos and other materials linked to the investigation, enough data to see that the investigation will be carried out objectively and promptly. IRGC commander accepts responsibility A senior commander of Irans elite IRGC said he accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner. I take full responsibility and I will obey whatever decision is taken, Brigadier General Hajizadeh said in remarks broadcast on state television. I would prefer to die rather than witness such an incident. Canadian PM says he wants full investigation into crash Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government sought a full investigation and full cooperation from the Iranian authorities. In a statement issued by his office, Trudeau said Iran had now acknowledged that the plane was brought down by its own armed forces. Our focus remains closure, accountability, transparency, and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims. This is a national tragedy, and all Canadians are mourning together, he said. We will continue working with our partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation, and the Canadian government expects full cooperation from Iranian authorities. Iran must apologise, compensate victims: Ukraines Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said in a statement that Ukraine expected from Iran assurances of a full and open investigation, bringing the perpetrators to justice. He added that Ukraine expected the paying of compensation and official apologies through diplomatic channels. He also expressed hope for the continuation of the crash investigation without delay. A team of Ukrainian investigators is in Iran. Our 45 specialists should get full access and cooperation to establish justice, he said. The Ukrainian leader said he is due to hold a telephone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani later in the day. Read the full story here. Click here to read earlier updates Initial reports of the tragic loss of Ukraine Airlines Boeing 737-800 with 176 passengers soon after takeoff from Tehran indicated some sort of failure. However, new theories are emerging that suggest it could have been a missile strike. This is the view of Canada and the UK. The speculation by the US media appears to be no different. Their logic is Iran might have mistaken the civil aircraft as an American warplane. Because Iran had carried out a missile strike on US bases in Iraq they could have presumed the Ukraine aircraft was a retaliatory action by the Americans. Hence, it was shot it down due to an error of judgment. Iran says no missile hit downed Ukrainian Boeing; may request help to download data from damaged black boxes https://t.co/Ma22QyStZB TRT World (@trtworld) January 10, 2020 The BBC says Iran's civil aviation chief insists a missile did not hit the plane. The timing of the crash was after the missile strike by Iran on two US airbases in Iraq. Victims included people from different countries. There were 63 Canadians and that could have prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to mention a possible missile strike. He talked about receiving intelligence from multiple sources on the subject and added it could have been unintentional. Black box recovered, joint investigation on the cards One media report says a satellite is believed to have detected infrared "blips" of missile launches. There were two of them followed by another blip of an explosion. Another media report quotes official US outlets as saying the Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 went down after a Russian-made Tor missile hit the aircraft. Discuss this news on Eunomia US President Donald Trump also harbored doubts about what actually happened. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited Western countries to share their information about the crash. US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be a part of the investigation. JUST IN: Ukraine says its examining scenarios including a missile strike and terrorism after the crash of Flight 752 near Tehran https://t.co/vfK8Woxqpe Bloomberg (@business) January 9, 2020 The BBC goes on to add that there were many Canadians on the flight and they were to fly on to Toronto from Kyiv. Justin Trudeau said, "This reinforces the need for a thorough investigation. Canadians have questions and they deserve answers." An official of Ukraine clarified that a Tor missile strike was one of four possible causes being considered. Doubts on whether it was a mechanical issue According to Euronews, the Ukraine Airlines flight crashed after Iran launched a missile attack against US bases in Iraq because of the US drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani. President Donald Trump dropped hints that it could have been an issue other than mechanical. An investigation will be conducted with Boeing and the preliminary Iranian report confirmed that both black boxes were recovered but they have sustained damage and some parts of their memory were lost. Oleksiy Danilov, an official of Ukraine's Security Council, indicated a missile strike was just one of the theories. In 2014, a missile attack brought down a Malaysian Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine killing all 298 people aboard. By Associated Press TEHRAN: An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander says his unit accepts 'full responsibility' for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane. In an address broadcast by state TV on Saturday, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh says that when he learned about the downing of the plane, which killed all 176 passengers on board, 'I wished I were dead.' ALSO READ | 'Punish the guilty, pay and apologise': Ukraine reacts after Iran's admission on plane crash Iran's armed forces say they mistook the passenger plane for a hostile target in the tense aftermath of Iran's ballistic missile attack on two military bases in Iraq housing US troops. That attack was retaliation for the killing of Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, in an American airstrike in Baghdad. Prime Minister and West Bengal Chief Minister will hold a meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Saturday evening, a state secretariat official confirmed on Friday. According to the highly-placed official, the meeting between the two leaders will be held here soon after the prime minister arrives in the city on Saturday at around 4 pm as per the schedule. "The PM and the chief minister will be meeting at the Raj Bhavan tomorrow (Saturday) soon after he reaches the city," the official told PTI. However, the agenda of the meeting was not disclosed by the official. Modi will be in the West Bengal capital on Saturday and Sunday to participate in sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust and dedication of heritage buildings to the nation. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 22:50:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Saturday called for efforts to make the Spring Festival travel rush more comfortable and safer. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in Beijing while examining the supporting work for the travel rush, which is known as "chunyun" in Chinese. He highlighted the importance of support for chunyun, security supervision and service quality for the travel rush, as the country will face strong traveling demand from migrant workers, students, tourists and other groups. The connection of different means of transportation should be strengthened, and advanced technology should be applied in areas such as selling tickets, station management and customized services, he said. The upcoming holiday for the Spring Festival will run from Jan. 24 to 30, while the travel rush will last 40 days from Jan. 10 to Feb. 18. TROY Detective Capt. Joseph L. Centanni retired Friday just hours after the final of three arrests was made in a 2019 murder that was considered among the toughest city detectives ever had to solve. The only love I have that comes close to the family to my right is the family that stands before me here in the Troy Police Department, the 50-year-old Centanni said as his concluded his nearly 25-year career in a walkout ceremony. The departments three chiefs will have to weigh which sergeant will be promoted to fill Centannis vacant captains post. At the top of the promotional list is Sgt. Randall French, who fatally shot DWI suspect Edson Thevenin in 2016 and was recommended to be disciplined in a 2018 report written by Centanni when he was the departments internal affairs captain. People do the best job with the information they have, Centanni said about the reports conclusions, noting that he couldnt comment further due to the pending federal lawsuit filed by Thevenins family against French and the city. Centannis report concluded that French was not in imminent danger when he fired the first two rounds through Thevenin's windshield. The report became public due to the federal lawsuit. The report cited a crash reconstruction expert in determining that French had sideswiped Thevenin's Honda sedan and forced it into a concrete barrier -- in violation of departmental policies. The city commissioned a review that refuted the disciplinary report, but has refused to release it. The internal affairs post is considered to be the least desirable posting for a captain. Centanni moved from there to the detective bureau. My proudest accomplishment came at the end of my career where I had the opportunity to lead the departments detective bureau, Centanni said. Centannis career commanding the citys detectives was capped when he received his final late-night phone call. That was when he was told that the New York City Police Department had arrested Isaiah Benzo Williams, 21, for allegedly killing Beyonce Wint, 19, on Sept. 17 in Lansingburgh. Antwaun Twitty, 30, Idelisse N. Armstead, 24, and Williams have each been indicted for second-degree murder in the case. It was a criminal investigation that had to deal with the victim and the suspects having no known ties to Troy. To say its been a wild ride would be an understatement, Centanni said. I know I am going to miss the friendships, the memories, the camaraderie of the Troy Police Department. Without question it "has been the experience of a lifetime. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. While Centanni moves into a private sector job, the department must contend with promoting its next captain. Capt. Adam Mason has taken command of the departments detectives, moving from internal affairs. Due to seniority rules, its anticipated the next captain to be appointed will takeover internal affairs. The top three sergeants on the promotion list are French, Sgt. Stephen Seney and Sgt. Salvatore Sam Carello. The Troy Police Benevolent Association sued the city for back pay when the city failed to promote one of the three for the last captains opening. Instead the city opted to wait for a new promotional list last year and promoted Capt. Steven Barker, who was second on the list. Officer Nick Laviano said the PBA will have to wait and see what the city does with the next promotion. The current promotional list expires in 2023. Chief Brian Owens said the 30-day countdown for a promotion is under way. He said he and Deputy Chief Dan DeWolf and Assistant Chief Chris Kehn will review the candidates. Mayor Patrick Madden said he will wait for the chiefs recommendation on filling the job. GLENS FALLS Running on a platform focusing on her courtroom experience, Glens Falls City Court Judge Nikki Moreschi, a Democrat, announced Friday that she will seek the Warren County judgeship. While she said she had been considering running for a long time, it was when fellow Glens Falls City Court Judge Gary Hobbs, a Republican, did not get the Warren County GOP endorsement this week that Moreschi made her decision. With no one with judicial experience running, it was a joint decision for me to run, said Moreschi, 48, on Friday, referring to discussions with Hobbs. With the vacancy created by Judge (John) Hall, that opportunity doesnt come along often, and with no other candidate with courtroom experience this is a good time. Joining Democrat Greg Canale, a Queesnbury trial attorney, in seeking the Warren County Court judge and surrogate judge position, Moreschi said, It is not a position that should be based on partisan politics. On Friday afternoon, Moreschi said she and Hobbs made a decision that they would work together while serving as city court judges, despite their different party affiliations, in the interest of the people. While working as co-judges in City Court, Moreschi said they have worked on several successful programs, including the misdemeanor countywide opioid treatment court, which has an 87 percent success rate of participants being drug-free for a period of 12 months or more. First and foremost is the courts work, Moreschi said. No other candidate has both presided over a jury trial and presented a case to a jury as an attorney. Moreschi talks about her experience as a judge. No other candidate has looked an alleged first-degree murderer in the eye at arraignment to advise them of their constitutional rights and met with the family of a victim of a murder in their own private practice, she stated in a news release issued Friday. No other candidate has reviewed applications for search warrants in the middle of the night or opened a dark courthouse to members of the press and news stations late at night to permit public access to a sensationalized arraignment. In 2014, Moreschi was appointed as a City Court judge by then-Mayor Jack Diamond and was elected to the bench the following year. I bring to the table the rare combination of both judicial and law practice experience that no other candidate can match, she said. Former Essex District Attorney Julie Garcia, a Democrat, has expressed interest in running for the Warren County judge position, though she has not formally declared her candidacy, Warren County Democratic Chairwoman Lynn Boecher said. Republican Rob Smith received the Warren County Republican Committee endorsement over City Court Judge Hobbs earlier this week. Smith is the principal court attorney for Judge Hall in Warren County Court. All Democratic candidates will begin getting petitions signed on Feb. 25. Boecher said she anticipates a Democratic primary. We Democrats let the people decide, she said. Kathleen Phalen-Tomaselli is a reporter and photographer covering Washington County, arts and life, features and breaking news. Love 9 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Earlier this week Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, dealt the greatest blow to the British crown since George Washington. In fact, she may have implemented an even better plan of attack than he did. Washington lost more battles than he won, costing Americans a great deal of time, money, and livesand he waged his war of independence on American soil. Meghan launched her surprise attack on British rule abroad without a single loss of life. Frankly, Im impressed, and I suspect Washington would be too. He loved an inside job. As I learned writing my Washington biography, You Never Forget Your First, he made up for his losses on the battlefield by embracing espionage and winning in the court of public opinion. It was frustrating to see the connection go unnoticed in the hours after the announcement, when those in search of historical echoes focused on Prince Harry and his great-great-uncle Edward VIII, who famously abdicated the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, another American divorcee. But those throne watchers would do well to remember that Harry now ranks sixth in the line of successionmuch farther from the seat of power than Edward was. Plus, the royal family rejected Simpson in 1936. Some of them seem to have since learned their lesson, publicly embracing Meghan in 2017. Prince Harry might have been just another royal stifled under the weight of his familys expectations. But Meghan? Shes a revolutionary for the modern age. A mixed-race American actress, Meghan was an unlikely candidate to instigate this unprecedented break with the royal family, just as Washington was once a reluctant rebel. At first, both tried hard to make it work with the royal family under rather unfavorable conditions, hoping their loyalty and obedience would lead to greater compromise and parity. The duchess embraced her new country and met many of its expectations. Meghanwho majored in theater and international relations at Northwestern Universitygave up her career, had a publicly televised wedding, and paraded her newborn baby in front of cameras when she probably wished she was still in her bathrobe. Perhaps in exchange she thought she could make a few stipulations of her own. But the Crown doesnt bargain, and neither does the British press. They demand. I never thought it would be easy, Meghan said in the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, but I thought it would be fair. Story continues Back in the 1700s, so did Washington. As a young man raised in colonial Virginia, he fought for the British military and became their most famous colonist, but that didnt mean he was paid as much as the British-born soldiers or given the same rank. And yet he kept at it, believing that his superiors would surely see the error of their ways and recognize that colonists didnt deserve to be second-class subjects. It never happened. Eventually a case of dysentery took him to Alexandria, Virginia, and a great match was made; Washington traded in the military for a rich bride and tried to live a relatively quiet life, but the British continued to thwart him at every turn. They often gave him privileges like elected office, land, and the ability to farm it, only to take them away. For a while he sent humble and dutiful letters to the Crown, but after a couple of decades Washington was done waiting for his pleas to be heard. He lasted a lot longer than Meghanbut he wasnt a black woman living in Britain. When the time came, the Crown was not prepared for the Declaration of Independence. Over two centuries later, this insubordination came as no less of a surpriseand this time via social media. In both instances the impulse was to get a handle on the crisis. In 1776 the Royal Navy sailed into to British New York with hundreds of ships to swiftly quell a rebellion of subjects, not to fight a war against a sovereign nation with a general of their very own. Parliament even offered Washington a pardon for his insolence but refused to call him by his military title. In 2020, Buckingham Palace didnt even have to cross an ocean to issue a hastily crafted, infantilizing response to Wednesdays Instagram announcement (which tasted a little undercooked itself): Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through. The Crown, it seems, still believes its calling the shots. While we cant know what the queen is thinking, she knows this break is a bad look. The survival of the monarchynow 1,500 years strongdepends on the public paying for access, and for Meghan, thats meant facing racist, unrelenting criticism. So shes opting out of the institution as if it were just her husbands family business because she believes she can find another way, even if she doesnt know exactly what that way is just yet. Americans tend to do that. Were fairly self-righteous about our liberty and freedom. Youve got to thrive, youve got to feel happy, Meghan said in Harry & Meghan. Washington was all for the pursuit of happiness, but when he waged his war, he did it on behalf of white men. Meghan has done him one better, claiming the right for herselfand claiming a prince as her bounty. All George Washington scored was their shared homeland, which is waiting for Meghan Markleits most successful rebel to datewith open arms. Historian Alexis Coe is the author of the forthcoming You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington. All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Originally Appeared on Glamour Propagation de K7RA 10 January, 2019 A single new Solar Cycle 25 sunspot appeared over the past week,January 1 through January 8. NOAA did not record or number the newspot until January 2, but Spaceweather.com indicated it (sunspotregion 2755) began on January 1. Then another new Solar Cycle 25 spot emerged on Thursday, January 9 with a daily sunspot number of 14. I was excited to see Spaceweather.com post "Solar Cycle 25 Continues to Intensify." Average daily sunspot number rose from 3.1 to 8.4. The solar flux average rose insignificantly from 71.7 to 71.8. Geomagnetic indicators were slightly higher, with average planetary A index increasing from 3.1 to 6.3, and average middle latitude A index rising from 2 to 5.3. Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 74 on January 10-12, 72 on January 13-25, 70 on January 26 through February 7, and 72 on February 8-22 and 70 on February 23. Predicted planetary A index is 8 on January 10, 5 on January 11-12, 8 on January 13, 10 on January 14-15, 8 on January 16, 5 on January 17-31, then 8, 8 and 5 on February 1-3, 10 on February 4-6, 5 on February 7-9, 10 on February 10-11, 5 on February 12-22 and 8 on February 23. Geomagnetic activity forecast for the period January 10 to February 5, 2020 from OK1HH. "Geomagnetic field will be: Quiet on January 12-13, 18-19, 29-30 Quiet to unsettled on January 10-11, 20-21, 24-28, February 5 Quiet to active on (January 14, 16-17, 22-23, 31, February 1-4) Unsettled to active on (January 15) "Solar wind will intensify on: January 14-16, (17, 22-24,) February 4-6. "Parenthesis means lower probability of activity enhancement." Jon Jones, N0JK sent this 6-meter report from Kansas on January 8: "Sporadic-E was scarce in December, 2019 after early openings the first week. 6 meters came back to life the last couple of days. Sporadic-E was reported on January 6, 7, 8 and 9. The most widespread Es was on the 8th with most of the eastern half of North America taking part. Stations began making Es contacts around 1800z (Illinois to Texas) and it lasted until 0035z January 9. From eastern Kansas, I worked W1, W2, W3 and W4 around 2200z. Best DX was to WA1EAZ (FN42) and K1SIX (FN42). N0LL (EM09) and N0YO (EM18) made many Es contacts. "Later I set up 'fixed mobile' with 10 watts and 1/4 wave whip south of Manhattan, KS. Worked a very loud KN4NN (EM60) at 0032z January 9 at the opening's end. "The Quadrantids Meteor shower peaked earlier than predicted January 4 at 0500z with a ZHR of 125. At that time the shower radiant was too low to be usable for meteors for North America. Larry, N0LL was operating portable from rare grid EN02 the morning of the 4th. He was on the air about 1200z on 6 meter MSK144 and made over 20 contacts. The ZHR at this time was only around 25, but still higher than normal." Jeff, N8II reported from West Virginia on January 3: "Several long time 160 operators agree with me that during the Stew Perry Top Band DX Challenge on December 28-29 we had some of the best DX conditions ever in a 160 meter event! I was not able to operate full time, but with my 100W and half sloper starting at 80 feet high, I was able to work 34 European stations in just the 05Z hour (total was about 20 higher) which is near sunrise in Central and Eastern EU. Some signals were very strong. I worked multiple stations each in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania. Also worked was D4Z in Cape Verde, LU8DPM in Argentina (best DX), and OH0R in the Aland Islands. "Conditions almost all nights recently have been excellent on 80 and 160 meters. Hannes, DK1NO is routinely S9+20dB on 75 meter phone around 23-24Z. After months of not hearing him, I managed to work Santi, VU2GSM in India on both 40 and 80M CW in the past 2 weeks. He operates nearly every day based on the DX cluster spots. I also heard UA9BA in Asiatic Russia with a good signal on 160M CW January 2nd around 0215Z working a European. I have added many new band slot countries to my log in the past 3 weeks on the low bands. "20 meter conditions virtually every day are excellent to Central and Western Europe on 20 meters. 15M has been nearly closed to EU, but I hear occasional stations in the Mediterranean area around 14-15Z and most days the band is open to Africa well with very sparse activity. "10M has been essentially dead for F2 propagation recently and sporadic-E has been very limited compared to seasonal norms. We did have a good Es opening during the ARRL 10M contest to AL, MS, TX, KS, OK, AR, MO, IA, IL, MN, and WI on the 2nd Saturday morning of December. The primary mode of ionospheric propagation during the contest was meteor scatter enhanced by the Geminids meteor shower. There was an opening to South America Saturday afternoon." N8II reported on January 9: "Propagation has been quite interesting this week with unexpected happenings on 160 through 10 meters. On January 6th there was a good but poorly attended 15M opening to Europe; OK2PAY in the Czech Republic was worked 599 at 1354Z followed by IW5EKR/m on 15 SSB at 1403Z. I also worked VA2RF in Quebec just north of the ME border. I strongly suspect a sporadic-E on the NA end to F2 link for this opening. I then had a big run of about 20 European stations in western EU on 20M SSB 1530-1630Z (1630Z is a bit late for good conditions). The 7th seemed down from normal, but I did work France, Spain, and Daniel ZD7DL on St. Helena Island on 17M around 1600Z. "Last evening, January 8, there was strong sporadic-E on 10 meters SSB from 2200-2225Z logging stations in MS, TX, MO, NE, WI, KS, IL, MN, and IA. After a dinner break at 2322Z, I logged 3D2AG/p on Rotuma Island at 2322Z on 17M CW about 80 minutes past sunset thanks to the Es to F2 link to the west. Starting 2327Z there was a 'best it ever gets' opening to Europe on 160 meters CW. IK5ZUK in Italy averaged S9+20dB and I also worked very loud IK5ZUL and Romania, Spain, England, Denmark, and Sweden. "Today, the 9th, there was another very intense sporadic-E opening on 10 SSB from 2126Z until past 0135Z logging stations in KS, MN, GA, western KY, MO, WI, IL, MI, AL, TN, and two in nearby OH, and AR. At 0117Z, LA5MIA in northern Norway was logged S7 on Auroral Es. There was very little Es from December 16 through January 5, so these openings were quite a pleasant surprise. Many stations with simple antennas were S9 or better!" Mike Schaffer, KA3JAW reported: "Today, January 9th at 3 am local (0800 UTC) a rare winter season sporadic-E event occurred on the 11 meter band in Easton, Pennsylvania (FN20jq). "States heard were toward the south, Florida, Alabama, and as far west as Texas. "The Kp index rose to 4, which aided to produce auroras over the southern Canadian provinces that stretched from coast-to-coast with a solar flux index (SFI) of 74. It seems that Solar Cycle 25 is very slowly intensifying out of its slumber." News article about transition to Solar Cycle 25: https://bit.ly/2QVHqto W1PJE MIT lecture on solar physics and HF propagation: https://bit.ly/35wM9He If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at k7ra@arrl.net. For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service at http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals. For an explanation of numbers used in this bulletin, see http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere. An archive of past propagation bulletins is at http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation. More good information and tutorials on propagation are at http://k9la.us/. Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://arrl.org/propagation. Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of ARRL bulletins are at http://arrl.org/bulletins. Sunspot numbers for January 2 through 8, 2020 were 13, 13, 11, 11, 11, 0, and 0, with a mean of 8.4. 10.7 cm flux was 71.9, 71.2, 72.2, 71.8, 70.5, 71.6, and 73.7, with a mean of 71.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 6, 6, 9, 9, 5, and 6, with a mean of 6.3. Middle latitude A index was 2, 6, 5, 7, 9, 4, and 4, with a mean of 5.3. Untreated sewage is believed to be the cause of oyster gastroenteritis in Brittany, on France's north-western coast, where some 200 shellfish farmers have been banned from selling their oysters. Suspect batches have been withdrawn from sale in the bay around Mont-Saint-Michel and Hirel, as well as in the Morbihan, a picturesque department in southern Brittany famous for its enclosed sea, the Gulf of Morbihan. Any contaminated oysters already sold and distributed have been recalled, while farmers in affected areas are prevented from harvesting, collecting, shipping or marketing their oysters until further notice. The farmers say wastewater is to blame for the outbreak of norovirus, or the winter vomit bug, along the coast accusing authorities of being incapable of protecting the coastline. In a petition, the Morbihan Oyster Alliance is demanding substantial compensation for farmers. It says elected officials are too busy working to attract people to the region, signing building permits with a vengeance, to properly manage human waste. Human sewage outflow should be treated with antivirals and oyster production areas should be kept a sufficient distance from sewage outflows, says Frank Boelaert, a senior scientific officer with the European Food Safety Authority's biological hazards and contaminants unit. Oysters are filter feeders, which means meaning they eat by pumping water through their bodies. As well as food particles, such as plankton and algae, they can also absorb viruses present in the marine environment. The oysters carry it [the virus] in their digestive glands they become contaminated, but they have no symptoms, Boelaert explains, adding that the norovirus is transmitted among humans via the faecal-oral route, which means a lack of hygiene. The South Brittany Regional Shellfish Farming Committee (CRC) estimates that 150 of the Morbihan's oyster businesses have been contaminated by norovirus, affecting thousands of jobs. We have been struggling with gastroenteritis since Christmas, but the discharges aren't always handled correctly, CRC president Philippe Le Gal told French radio. This leads to the virus being spread to the maritime environment. The CRC is calling for an investigation into the origin of the contamination, and into the manner in which sanitation systems are managed. . President Xi Jinping presented China's top science award to Huang Xuhua and Zeng Qingcun on Friday for their outstanding contributions to scientific and technological innovation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, granted award medals and certificates to them at an annual ceremony held in Beijing to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements. Xi shook hands with them and expressed congratulations. Other leaders, including Li Keqiang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng, were also present. Huang Xuhua, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is the chief designer of the country's first-generation nuclear submarines. Born in Guangdong Province in 1926, Huang later joined a research institute of the former China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and has been engaged in the research and development of nuclear submarines for about 30 years. He won the Medal of the Republic in 2019 for his outstanding contributions to the nation. "Nuclear submarines are a lifetime aspiration for me, and I have no regrets," Huang said. Zeng Qingcun, 85, is a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). His theory of numerical weather prediction solved the problems of timeliness and stability in calculating multi-scale weather change processes and is the basis of the global numerical weather prediction technology. Zeng learned to do farm work and was aware of the difficulty in weather prediction when he was young. In college years, he was impressed by a severe frost that froze 40 percent of the wheat in central China's Henan Province. "If we can predict the weather in advance and take precautions, we can certainly reduce losses," he recalled. Zeng's visionary study on global climate change has brought him a host of accolades and international acclaim, including the world's top prize for meteorological work. Friday's ceremony also honored 296 projects, with 46 winning the State Natural Science Award, 65 the State Technological Invention Award, and 185 the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Ten foreign experts won the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. SCI-TECH PUSH On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Premier Li Keqiang extended congratulations to award winners and thanked foreign experts for their support of China's science and technology development. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has made brilliant achievements in scientific and technological development, with the past year witnessing a number of internationally leading advances. Li noted that China is striving to achieve the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2020. The premier stressed the importance of following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, further implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and accelerating the in-depth integration of science and technology with the economy, in a bid to maintain the economic growth within a reasonable range and promote the high-quality development. He called for the strengthening of basic research as the foundation of sci-tech innovation. "We will increase financial support and guide social forces including enterprises to increase investment," Li said, adding that the mechanisms for ensuring funds, evaluating achievements and rewarding talent shall all be optimized. China will support researchers in concentrating on their work without distractions and create more original achievements by respecting rules and tolerating failures, Li said. Those who dedicated themselves to the scientific work despite decades of obscurity shall be commended and awarded, he said. The premier also stressed that sci-tech innovation shall address the urgent needs of economic development and people's livelihood. China will accelerate the development of key technologies and transforming research achievements to products to help speed up industrial upgrading, he said. Research and development shall be intensified in major disease prevention and control as well as environmental management so that more people will directly benefit from technology and innovation, he said. The premier emphasized the role of enterprises in technological innovation and called for efforts to improve their ability and willingness to invest more in innovation by implementing tax and fee deduction policies as well as respecting and protecting their intellectual property rights. To expand international cooperation in innovation, Li pledged to facilitate scientists and technicians as well as enterprises from various countries to come to China for exchanges and development. Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the ceremony, with about 3,300 people attending. Before the ceremony, Xi and other leaders met representatives of the award winners. DIVERSE ACHIEVEMENTS This year's ceremony highlighted major breakthroughs in basic research. Chemist Zhou Qilin, 63, and his team won the first-place prize of the State Natural Science Award for inventing a highly effective catalyst that has been widely used by giant pharmaceutical companies in drug production. Other research programs that were presented with the State Natural Science Award included studies on topological quantum materials, iron-based superconductors as well as the controllable growth and performance regulation of graphene. "Many perplexing problems look like technological ones. In fact, they are not backed by solid basic research. With no clear understanding of basic science problems, you cannot get original results," said Zhou. A batch of key technologies for industrial applications, such as the jetliner ARJ21 project, were also honored. Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the ARJ21 is China's first domestically developed turbo-fan regional passenger jetliner. Other awarded technologies applied in industries and large engineering projects included those for building large-scale tunnels and ensuring highway safety in geographically complicated and dangerous mountain areas, as well as for the automatic transmission hybrid power system for commercial vehicles. Awards were also given to animal studies, medical breakthroughs and agricultural technologies. Wei Fuwen, a CAS academician, and his colleagues won the second-place prize of the State Natural Science Award, for their research on giant pandas. They focused on the evolution of the ancient species and contributed to endangered species conservation. The team led by Sun Lingyun, a doctor at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in east China, won the State Technological Invention Award, for developing a stem cell treatment for lupus erythematosus. Other award winners related to diseases included studies on cross-species infection of the animal influenza virus in humans as well as the new pathogenesis and treatment of depression. Research programs associated with safe food and stable grain output, such as technologies for accurately detecting pollutants in agricultural products and cultivating new high-yield wheat varieties, also received awards. INNOVATION NATION Since the 18th CPC national congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core has decided to take an innovation-driven development strategy, underscoring that scientific and technological innovation provides strategic support for increasing production and boosting overall national strength. As Xi has reiterated, innovation is the primary driving force for development. During the past few years, he has made a number of visits to scientific research institutes, universities, high-tech enterprises as well as high-tech industrial development zones, where innovation elements are the most active. China has spared no efforts in building a domestic innovation environment with systematic resolve. In May 2016, China published a guideline on a national strategy that maps out three major steps to promote the country's innovation-driven development. It pledged to build China into an innovative nation by 2020, an international leader in innovation by 2030, and a world powerhouse of sci-tech innovation by 2050. China's expenditure on research and development (R&D) has seen double-digit growth for three consecutive years, and since 2013, the country has remained in the second place in terms of R&D spending worldwide, according to data given by the National Bureau of Statistics in August. China's spending on R&D hit a record high at 2.19 percent of its GDP in 2018, up 0.04 percentage points compared with 2017. Meanwhile, China has been improving the incentive mechanism and policy environment, issuing a series of reform documents concerning the promotion of sci-tech development, transformation of sci-tech achievements as well as the national science award system. From 2000 to 2018, China awarded 636 projects the State Natural Science Award, 946 projects the State Technological Invention Award and 4,246 projects the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. The awarded projects included high-temperature superconducting materials, the manned space program, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, supercomputers and hybrid rice. US Marines Syria Operation Inherent Resolve Cpl. Gabino Perez/USMC In the aftermath of the US killing of a top Iranian military commander on Iraqi soil, Baghdad has asked the US to start planning to pull its forces out. The US appears to have declined that request, but the US's position in Iraq is already diminished, which could create opportunities for rivals in the region, Brett McGurk, the former US envoy to the anti-ISIS mission, said this week. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Even as tensions between the US and Iran appear to be easing, officials in Iraq angry at being caught between Washington and Tehran are pushing the US to withdraw. Following the January 3 assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad by the US, Iraqi lawmakers on January 5 passed a nonbinding resolution calling for a US exit from the country. The measure, which Sunni and Kurdish legislators opposed, put the onus on the Iraqi government to formally request a withdrawal, and on January 9, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi requested the US begin working on a plan to leave, telling Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to "send delegates to Iraq to prepare a mechanism to carry out the parliament's resolution regarding the withdrawal." But the US appears disinclined to get out. "America is a force for good in the Middle East. Our military presence in Iraq is to continue the fight against ISIS," State Department spokesperson Morgan Outagus said Friday. "At this time, any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership not to discuss troop withdrawal, but our right, appropriate force posture in the Middle East." The Office of the Secretary of Defense and US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, both declined to comment on the Iraqi request, directing questions to the State Department. operation inherent resolve bayonet training US Army photo by Sgt. Kalie Jones/Released Story continues The US had some 5,000 personnel in Iraq in 2019 as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led multinational effort against ISIS. Over the second half of last year, the US also deployed 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East. As tensions between the US and Iran rose in the final days of 2019 and first days of 2020, more than 5,000 more troops were sent to the region, including about 3,500 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division deployed to Kuwait and about 2,200 Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit who are en route. Members the 75th Ranger Regiment are also expected to deploy. About 200 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are on notice to do so as well. Those units, the 82nd Airborne in particular, were deployed on short notice, with some troops alerted just hours before New Year's Eve, and it's not clear when they might return. "They deployed on a contingency basis, so the secretary of defense will work out the duration of the deployment," Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said on Thursday at an event at the Brookings Institution think tank. "We have conversations about this daily, but that's what being the immediate ready force is all about." Operation Inherent Resolve said on January 5 that it paused anti-ISIS operations in Iraq due to repeated rocket attacks on bases there, which killed Iraqi Security Forces members and a US civilian contractor. Local partner forces continued operations against ISIS in the area, according to a release put out by Operation Inherent Resolve on Friday. Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Bram Janssen/AP But pulling the US out entirely would be trouble for the mission against ISIS and for the US's broader strategic position, according to Brett McGurk, who was special presidential envoy for the anti-ISIS coalition during the Trump and Obama administrations. "If we leave entirely, ISIS will reconstitute, and it'll reconstitute quite significantly," McGurk said on a January 8 episode of Pod Save the World. "It wasn't very long ago when ISIS was launching 50 car bombs and suicide bombs a month in Baghdad, which is what just tears the society apart." A total withdrawal would also create a vacuum for Iran to fill "in a major way," McGurk said. "Our presence in Iraq, we're there for ISIS. That's our legal basis. ... But the fact of our being there also helps balance the tremendous influence, and pernicious influence, coming from Iran." "And then watch the Russians, because I know the Russians well enough. They have been dying to get into Iraq and ... are offering to sell S-400 missile systems to the Iraqis," McGurk added, referring to reports that Moscow again offered Iraq the S-400 air defense system. Iraqi lawmakers told The Wall Street Journal that they decided to move forward on talks for the S-400 out of concern the US could pull its support, though they said no contracts have been signed. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Army soldiers from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Task Force-Iraq, man a defensive position at Forward Operating Base Union III in Baghdad, Iraq, December 31, 2019. U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Desmond Cassell/Task Force-Iraq Public Affairs/Handout via REUTERS Reuters Pulling out of Iraq would also further erode the US presence in neighboring Syria, where US special operations forces have been advising local fighters who are still conducting anti-ISIS operations. "Although at this point, Syria given that Trump overnight, a few months ago, gave up basically all of our positions in Syria it's hard to see us remaining there for the foreseeable future anyway," McGurk added. The US position in Iraq and Syria, while not perfect, was "pretty strong," McGurk said, but it has been under increasing strain since Trump reduced the US presence there at the end of 2018, which prompted both McGurk and then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to resign. In addition to the international legitimacy provided by the broad anti-ISIS coalition, that position gave the US diplomatic leverage. "If you shift your focus entirely to Iran, and you do it in a clumsy way, you end up losing all that, and so then you have nothing, and I fear that that's where we're heading now," McGurk added. McGurk said there was no "automatic severance clause" in the 2014 agreement that allowed the US to operate in Iraq under the auspices of the anti-ISIS coalition, meaning there is still time to mend relations. "If, out of this crisis, we are forced out or we decide to leave, it would be an irretrievable strategic moment in the Middle East that we'd be living with for a generation," McGurk said. "It'd be a real disaster on multiple levels, so I hope that they can get beyond this period of heightened passions and intensity ... because I think most Iraqis don't want us to depart." Read the original article on Business Insider Investigators in Southern California have identified the woman whose body was reportedly discovered wrapped in plastic and cardboard in an abandoned U-Haul. The dead woman is Ashley Manning, 29, of Anaheim, whose cause of death has yet to be determined pending toxicology results, the Anaheim Police Department said in a Facebook post on Friday. Fullerton police said Wednesday that Anaheim homicide detectives had responded to a U-Haul outpost in Fullerton because a dead body turned up in a truck there, though police cautioned that the investigation is being handled as a suspicious death and it has not been determined to be a homicide. Sgt. Shane Carringer of the Anaheim Police Department said Mannings body was wrapped in plastic and cardboard when U-Haul employees found it while doing inventory on the truck, which had been rented but then abandoned, KTLA reports. During that inventory search, they discovered what they believed to be human remains, and it has been confirmed that it is human remains, Carringer said, according to CBSLA. Ashley Manning, a 29-year-old woman from Anaheim, California, was identified as the woman whose body was found wrapped in plastic and cardboard in an abandoned U-Haul this week. But Carringer cautioned that the investigation is in its early stages, CBSLA reported, saying that detectives will piece together everybody who was in possession of the truck and the timeline that this truck was out and who had it and where it was. Police said Manning was reported missing out of Los Angeles County in November, according to KTLA. 12 koalas heroically rescued from Australian mega-fire by San Diego team, zoo says Even if we dont have a homicide, we still may have potential crimes here were investigating, Carringer said, according to KABC. Ultimately somebodys family is going to want answers as to why their loved one was found here in this condition. KTLA reported that Mannings family said in a December Facebook post that she last contacted them in November when she was flying from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport in Texas to Los Angeles International Airport. Sandringham House, near the coast in rural Norfolk, is normally a private sanctuary for the Queen and Prince Philip, a place for family gatherings where they can escape the endless formalities of London and Windsor. Since Wednesday, however, this Royal retreat has found itself at the heart of the crisis enveloping the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following their shock decision to step back from their official duties and spend more time in North America. Palace sources say the Queen has demanded a solution be found at pace a sign of real concern in an institution that prefers to operate at glacial speed. But then, as a well-placed source put it: I have never seen the monarchy in such a bad state. Sandringham House has found itself at the heart of the crisis enveloping the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Pictured: The Queen on the Sandringham Estate today Behind closed doors, courtiers are desperately searching for a face-saving measure that will keep the family together and the dignity of the monarchy intact. And not only that, for Her Majesty is said to be increasingly concerned for Prince Harrys mental wellbeing. After days of meetings, The Mail on Sunday understands that senior courtiers are preparing to offer the Sussexes a compromise deal potentially involving a Commonwealth role. This would allow them to both maintain their HRH status and live in Canada. Anxious to avoid exacerbating an already tense situation, the Royal Family is keen to tread carefully. A source said: There is no suggestion that they will be punished or stripped of their Royal titles or HRH status. Everyone wants to find a solution to this as quickly as possible. Palace sources say the Queen has demanded a solution be found at pace. Pictured: Harry and Meghan earlier this week All the same, the Palace let it be known that the 93-year-old Queen was hurt and disappointed by Prince Harry and Meghans decision to make their announcement without consulting senior Royals. Prince Harry had been due to fly back to Canada with wife Meghan on Thursday to be united with their eight-month-old son Archie, but decided to stay on in Britain while a deal is thrashed out. The Queen has a warm relationship with her grandson so it might seem a surprise that the Megxit crisis, as it has been termed, should have been allowed to develop in this way. In truth, however, tensions have been simmering for months. It was back in May that Meghan and Harry first made it clear they would like to break away from what they see as the stifling constraints of life inside The Firm. A source said that Meghan and Harry found the slow pace of Palace life painful and that in another echo of Brexit Meghan wanted to take back control of her work and charitable endeavours. Prince Harry had been due to fly back to Canada with wife Meghan on Thursday to be united with their eight-month-old son Archie, but decided to stay on in Britain while a deal is thrashed out To the couples dismay, senior Royals were reluctant to discuss their plans with them so the pair decided to take time out with a six-week sabbatical to Canada in November and December. This decision, too, came as a surprise: the Queen only found out about the break in November when she telephoned Harry to ask if he would be spending Christmas with the family at Sandringham. The answer was no. Harry asked for a meeting with the Queen at Sandringham when he returned to Britain after Christmas, but it seems aides blocked this until he had ironed out the details of his future plans with his father, Prince Charles. He in turn asked his son to think about it some more and submit a more thorough proposal. Harry tried again a few days later, and again he was told more time was required to consider the implications, particularly over how the funding would work. It was made clear he should not make his proposals public until further discussions had taken place so there was almost no warning at all when the storm broke over Sandringham. The Queen was still hosting the last of the informal gatherings of the festive season, with the decorations still on display (they traditionally remain up until February 6, to mark the anniversary of the death of the Queens father, George VI). Just a few days before, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had joined her for the Sunday morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the estate. Kates parents Carole and Michael Middleton were there too, having recently returned from a winter break in St Barts in the Caribbean. The sermon was given by Rt Rev Vivienne Faull, the Bishop of Bristol, who is believed to have later joined the family for Sunday lunch back in Sandringhams ornate, green-painted dining room. But late on Wednesday afternoon the atmosphere of celebration was shattered. A private secretary at Sandringham broke the news to the Queen just ten minutes before the Sussexes statement was made public. Her Majesty is thought to have been told of the announcement in a wood-panelled sitting room known as the salon a room open to visitors who tour Sandringham when it opens to the public every summer. Despite the traditional setting, the Queen is understood to have read the announcement on an iPad before watching coverage on TV as broadcasters revealed the shock announcement to the country. Her public response, that there was much more to discuss, was delivered swiftly, as were comments from those inside the palace that senior Royals had been left hurt and deeply disappointed. It hardly helped that the following day, Thursday, was the Duchess of Cambridges 38th birthday. Who will be at the crisis summit? The Queen and her private secretary Sir Edward Young The Queen is head of state and head of the royal family, and will ultimately have the final say in the matter. As the nation's longest-reigning monarch, her experience and knowledge on the workings of the institution of the monarchy are unrivalled. Through the decades, the Queen has weathered the Windsors' many storms and is a symbol of stability both for the nation and within the royal family. Although left hurt by Harry and Meghan's actions, the Queen is not given to rash decisions, and will be approaching the problem in a calm and pragmatic way. The Prince of Wales and his principal private secretary Clive Alderton Heir to the throne, Charles is the future king and currently bankrolls Harry and Meghan's public duties through his 21 million-a-year Duchy of Cornwall income. The prince is a caring, sensitive soul, and is said to be furious at how Harry and Meghan have handled the situation. He is committed to his royal duty, but will also want his impetuous youngest son, who endured the loss of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, when he was only 12, and Meghan to be happy. The Duke of Cambridge and his private secretary Simon Case When Harry turned 21, he described William as the one person on the planet to whom he could talk to about everything. But talk of a falling out between the brothers, with William said to have urged his brother to not rush into marrying Meghan, has changed their once-close relationship. William, who was said to be "incandescent with rage" at the Sussexes' actions, is a future king, and his position within the royal family is vastly different from sixth-in-line Harry, who has moved steadily down the line of succession and has to carve out his own role. Mr Case was has been a leading civil servant previously tasked with trying to solve the border issue in Northern Ireland and Ireland during Brexit discussions. The Duke of Sussex and the couple's relatively new private secretary Fiona Mcilwham Harry has always been a favourite with royal fans, who have never forgotten the heart-rending image of the 12-year-old prince walking behind his mother's coffin. In his younger days, he was a royal liability - dabbling with cannabis, dressing up as a Nazi and brawling with a paparazzi photographer - before he pulled off a charm offensive as he carried out overseas tours on behalf of the Queen. Advertisement Not only were courtiers alarmed by the abrupt way in which Harry and Meghan dropped their bombshell, but sources say there is also some bitterness that they were misled for weeks beforehand. When the Palace first became aware that Harry and Meghan were launching a new website, Sussex Royal set up by the team behind Meghans now defunct lifestyle blog The Tig they had been reassured that its purpose was to support their charitable foundation. So when it emerged that it was in fact to be the launch pad for their new independent career, many in the Palace felt that the couple had been disingenuous, or as one source rather more cautiously put it, their behaviour had been suboptimal. The timing, meanwhile, was terrible. Announcing such news ahead of Brexit and with the monarchy still reeling from the Prince Andrew debacle, not to mention the Duke of Edinburghs recent hospital stay, was seen as inconsiderate. The response has been complicated by senior Royals being dispersed across the country Charles is at Birkhall, his Scottish retreat in Aberdeenshire, and William was at his home in Kensington Palace. Meghan has returned to Canada with Harry thought to be staying at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Thankfully for the Queen, she has been able to rely on her 98-year-old husband for support. Prince Philip spends most of his time at Wood Farm, an unassuming cottage on the estate, after retiring from public life in 2017. However, The Mail on Sunday understands he has been staying in the main house since the crisis broke. Sir Edward Young, the Queens private secretary, is overseeing the co-ordination of talks between the different households. Yesterday aides from the four households of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, William and Harry were locked in talks at Buckingham Palace after earlier meetings involving some of Britains most high-ranking civil servants, lawyers and the keeper of the privy purse. The principals, as courtiers refer to members of the Royal Family, held telephone calls to discuss the options. The Mail on Sunday understands that Sir Mark Sedwill, head of the Civil Service, has been drawing up plans to offer Harry and Meghan a high profile Commonwealth role, which would allow them to live in Canada and travel abroad on a certain number of official trips each year. Harry is already the president of The Queens Commonwealth Trust, last year Meghan was made vice-president and it is a cause close to the Queens heart. The arrangement could mean that the Sussexes could adopt a George Clooney or Leonardo DiCaprio role, said one source, allowing their charitable endeavours to co-exist alongside their commercial interests without clashing. But the source also pointed out that: a half-in, half-out scenario will be very difficult to pull off. On the one hand they will have access to public occasions, such as riding in the carriages at Trooping the Colour and standing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, but on the other hand they could be seen to be cashing in on their royal status with a multi-million pound deal for Harry to work with US TV mogul Oprah Winfrey on a series about mental health already announced and an expected book by Meghan sure to be a bestseller. Palace officials are looking at whether the Sussexes should be required to get Palace authorisation for each commercial deal, although this would undermine the freedom they are seeking. An insider said: The difficulty will come if they do a deal with a jewellery brand one day and then, on an official engagement, Harry is seen wearing one of the companys watches. It will be hard to differentiate the two. It is hoped that an agreement can be reached by Wednesday. After days of meetings, The Mail on Sunday understands that senior courtiers are preparing to offer the Sussexes a compromise deal. Pictured: The Queen driving in the Sandringham estate today Perhaps the clues to an imminent crisis were there all along or, at the very least, since Meghan guest-edited the August issue of Vogue. In Meghans Editors letter reached by readers after 80-odd glossy pages of adverts for designer clothing and handbags she quoted a book called The Four-Chambered Heart by Anais Nin, where a character says: I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depth and a great fear of shallow living. So was life in The Firm too shallow for Meghan? Perhaps cutting ribbons at community centres was never going to satisfy the ambitious young actress who had her engagement ring upgraded by adding extra diamonds to the band. It is suspected that she had no wish, either, to play a supporting role to her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge. The Sussexes will look to the example of former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, who, after leaving the White House, launched a lucrative commercial career with multi-million-dollar book deals, a Netflix documentary series and carefully selected public speaking appearances without compromising their brand. But being a member of the Royal Family is different. Its far from clear, for example, exactly what sort of work Harry and Meghan could do without trading on their titles. The Sussex Royal trademark registered with the Intellectual Property Office allows them the right to produce trademarked goods everything from notebooks to pyjamas. A source said: The trouble is that there is no precedent for this. And when it comes to the monarchy, that is quite a problem. Paula Gale/CBC Members of Memorial University's Iranian community gathered Friday afternoon to mourn the victims of Wednesday's plane crash in Iran. Maryam Hajheidari, a grad student at Memorial and an organizer of the vigil, says it's important to remember the victims, many of them university students returning home from visiting family during the holiday season. "The last couple of days have been very tough and rough for all of us," Hajheidari told The St. John's Morning Show. "The plane crash tragedy absolutely broke our hearts and our hearts feel pain and sadness. "Words cannot express how grieved we are feeling right now." Shortly after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crashed. Of the 176 people who died, 63 were Canadian. Alex Kennedy/CBC Hajheidari said she didn't know anyone who died personally, but has learned about some of them through social media. "Some of [the victims] were as young as my son," Hajheidari said. Siamak Khoshrou is completing his PhD at Memorial. His best friend was in the crash. "We always talked to each other about the great times that we [will] have in our future life," Khoshrou said. Alex Kennedy/CBC Khoshrou's friend went to Iran to work on bringing his family to Canada. He was on the doomed flight, with his family set to come to Canada next week. "I talked to his mom last night," Khoshrou said. "She said that it's unbelievable. 'I do not have [my son] anymore.'" Dozens of students came to the vigil to show support for their schoolmates and remember the victims. Hajheidari said the support meant a lot to her, and is sure it means more to those in Newfoundland's Iranian community. Alex Kennedy/CBC Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday said that former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, is not being held because hes President Muhammadu Buharis critic but because he has questions to answer. Sani, former senator representing Kaduna central was arrested by the anti-graft agency for alleged extortion and he has remained in their custody since his arrest. Sani was alleged to have collected money from Sani Dauda, owner of ASD Motors, promising to pass it on to Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the anti-graft agency, to influence an investigation. He was also accused of promising to assist Dauda in influencing a case at the supreme court by bribing Ibrahim Muhammad, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), and some other judges a claim the CJN has denied. Read Also: Alleged Extortion: Frame-Up Cannot Silence Me: Shehu Sani In a statement on Friday, Tony Orilade, EFCC acting spokesman, dismissed assumptions that Sanis rights are being breached, saying there is a valid court order for the anti-graft agency to continue to hold him. Orilade said the former lawmaker is not being investigated because he is a fierce critic of President Muhammadu Buhari. Invariably, claims in some quarters of the breach of his fundamental human rights are merely in the imagination of the purveyors of such claims, the acting EFCC spokesman said. Let it be stated clearly that Senator Shehu Sani has questions to answer as regards his alleged involvement in name-dropping, and particularly that he obtained $25,000 from Alhaji Sani Dauda, the ASD Motors boss, in order to help shield him from investigations being carried out by the EFCC. For certain people to brazenly come out to defend a suspect who is being probed for a serious offence as the one committed by Sani shows that they are not really conversant with his offence. It is unfortunate that certain people are ready to do anything to support evil for pecuniary gains. Nasser Khalil, 49, from Birmingham, has been jailed for having sexual conversations with an undercover police officer he thought was a 12-year-old girl A primary school teacher has been jailed for having sexual conversations with an undercover police officer he thought was a 12-year-old girl. Nasser Khalil, 49, from Birmingham, sent a video of himself working as a teacher and talked about 'what he wanted to do with her sexually', the city's crown court was told. Paul Spratt, prosecuting, said he referred to being naked in bed with the child and sent a 5 voucher so they could text each other. He only discovered the person he was communicating with was not a real person when he was arrested. Khalil, of Stechford, was sentenced to 20 months. He had previously admitted attempting to communicate with a child under 16 and attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child. After the hearing, the Crown Prosecution Service said Khalil had been a supply teacher. The court heard he spoke with the 'girl' on six occasions between November 6 and 13 and, from the beginning, his language was 'highly sexualised.' It was quite clear he knew the 'girl' was 12 and talked about various sexual acts. Mr Spratt said: 'He disclosed he was a primary school teacher. He was plainly excited and aroused and told the girl what he wanted to do with her sexually.' He said Khalil referred to them being naked in the same bed and asked about her underwear and its colour. Khalil, of Stechford, was today sentenced to 20 months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court Mr Spratt said: 'He directed the 12-year-old to YouTube, where there was a very short film of him teaching in class in a primary school. 'He indicated communication could take place on email, social media and by mobile phone.' Mr Spratt said Khalil went on to suggest they could have 'full sexual activity' before the communication eventually ended. Passing sentence, Judge Richard Bond said: 'It is right to say you made immediate sexual references while you made it plain you were prepared to commit sexual acts. 'Rather bizarrely you directed her to a video on YouTube. In my judgement you were trying to put the child at her ease by demonstrating you were a teacher and that you could be trusted. 'The communications you were having with the girl demonstrate you are sexually interested and excited by talking to underage girls. 'You, of all people, would have known the effect upon the child you were communicating with if it had been a real child.' Balbir Singh, defending, said: 'This man has used his teaching skills over the years to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds by tutoring them for no fee. 'Up to November 6 last year he lead a good and productive life and was of positive good character but his home life was falling apart. 'Sometimes, when that happens, people seek solace in companionship elsewhere. 'He was using a chatroom and he came across this profile.' Donald Trump has claimed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani was planning to attack four US embassies when he was killed an American airstrike. Amid continuing controversy over whether or not Soleimani represented an imminent threat to America, and after a shifting narrative from the Trump administration, the president said without providing evidence that among those being targetted was the US embassy in Baghdad. We will tell you that probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad, Mr Trump told Fox News in an interview broadcast a week after Soleimani was killed in a drone strike at Baghdads airport. When pressed on whether attacks were planned for other embassies, the president said: I can reveal that I believe it probably wouldve been four embassies. Just hours earlier, secretary of state Mike Pompeo had said the US did not know when or where such attacks might occur. 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 At a press conference at the White House, Mr Pompeo was asked for specifics. I dont know exactly which minute, Mr Pompeo said. US announces new sanctions against Iran We dont know exactly which day it would have been executed, but it was very clear. Qassem Soleimani himself was plotting a broad, large-scale attack against American interests and those attacks were imminent. The comments of the two men ended a week that saw Iran respond to the killing by firing rockets at two bases in northern Iraq used by US troops. The attacks hurt no Americans but on the same night, a civilian airliner came down near Tehrans airport, killing around 180 people. A series of western countries have accused Iran of shooting the plane down by accident, something Iran has denied. Additional reporting by agencies New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (January 11) condoled the death of over 20 passengers in a bus accident that took place in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj district on Friday night. "It is very saddening to know about the horrific road accident in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh. Many people have lost their lives in this accident. I express my condolences to the kin of the dead, and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," Modi said in a tweet. _____ ______ __ ______ ___ ___ ____ ____ _____ __ ____ ___ _____ ______ ___ ______ ___ __ ________ ___ __ _____ __ ____ ___ ______ ____ ___ ___ ______ __ _______ __ _____ ____ _________ _____ ____ ___, ___ __ ______ __ _____ ______ ____ __ _____ ____ ____ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2020 Rahul expressed his grief on the death of bus passengers and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. In a tweet in Hindi, he said, "I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of 20 people and injuries to many people due to the fire in a bus caused by collision with a truck in Kannauj. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the dead and wish for speedy recovery of the injured." ______ ___ ____ _____ ___ __ __ ____ __ _____ ___ ___ ____ __ __ 20 _____ __ ___ __ ____ _____ __ ____ ____ __ ___ __ ___ ___ _ ______ __ ______ __ _____ ___ ____ ____ _______ ______ ____ ___ __ ______ __ ____ ______ ____ __ _____ ____ ____ Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 11, 2020 Union Home Minister Amit Shah too sent his condolence to the families of those who were killed in the road accident and called it a horrific accident. ______ (_____ ______) ___ ___ ____ ________ __ ______ ____ ____ __ ____ _____ ___ ___ _____ __ ____ _______ _ _______ __ ____ __ ____ __ _______ _____ __ ____ _________ ______ ____ ___ __ ______ __ _____ __ ______ ____ __ _____ ____ ____ Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 11, 2020 On Friday night, a bus carrying as many as 43 passengers, rammed into a truck and caught fire. The incident took place on Friday night at Dewar Marg in Kannauj district while the bus was en-route to Jaipur. According to police, at least 21 people are feared dead in the mishap whereas 25 others had received injuries and were immediately rushed to nearby hospital. The identities of those who lost their lives, are yet to be ascertained. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his gried on the incident and announced an ex-gratia for the families of those killed in the incident. CM Adityanath said that the state government has decided to provide a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each as compensation to the injured. New Delhi: Delhi University students, led by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU), march to protest against "left sponsored" violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and to express support for Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Delhi University students, led by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU), march to protest against "left sponsored" violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and to express support for Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) participate in a march supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 and denouncing JNU violence, at Delhi University on Jan 11, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 11 : Hundreds of Delhi University students, led by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU), marched on Saturday to protest against "left sponsored" violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The protesters also extended their support to the contentious Citizen (Amendment) Act. The march started from the Arts faculty in DU's North Campus and went through the campus Law Centre, Ramjas College, Kirorimal College, Hansraj College and Daulatram College before concluding near the statue of Swami Vivekananda in the Arts faculty. Students participating in the march demanded legal action against those involved in violence on JNU campus and condemned the Left's act of violent opposition to opinions opposed to them. Nidhi Tripathi, National General Secretary, ABVP, said, "Students across numerous educational institutions are coming out in support of the CAA. It needs to be highlighted that the Left and the political parties in opposition have conspired to create a violent atmosphere in the country by spreading lies and misinformation about the CAA." "These parties and the people involved in violence need to understand that democracy requires dialogue and has no space for such violent activities," she added. A joint statement issued by DUSU President Akshit Dahiya and Joint Secretary Shivangi Kharwal said, "Indian universities have always been a space for dissent and discussion, but the Left has always been violent towards people with a different opinion. "The Left and the opposition have been trying to manipulate the students and use them as a weapon in their fight to regain lost political ground." Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday participated in a demonstration being held by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Register of Citizens (NRC) here. It was a sit-in protest against CAA and NRC where TMC Chhatra Parishad members raised slogans against the union government's decision to promulgate CAA. "Students are protesting. They are our country's pride. Students' movements have always shown the way. We, here in Bengal, were the first to start this movement. Yesterday the central government forcibly issued the notification for CAA but it will not work until people accept it. We shall definitely not implement it," Mamata said while addressing the students here. "In a democratic and secular country, any discrimination on religion cannot be allowed. Tomorrow it is Swami Vivekananda's birthday. Some fly down from Delhi to glorify themselves over his name but we work on his ideals all through the year. Remember, inside Belur Math, there is a Dargah too," she added. The West Bengal Chief Minister made it clear that she is not in favour of implementing the CAA. "Prime Minister Modi has come to Kolkata today and I have informed him that we will not implement CAA. We shall fight this along with other regional parties," she said. In a reference to the left parties, she said: "Those that are trying to fish in troubled waters, let me tell them that they are the biggest dalal (brokers) of BJP." Earlier in the day, during a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee demanded that both the CAA and NRC should be withdrawn. "While speaking to Prime Minister, I told him that we are against CAA, Population Register (NPR) and NRC. We want that CAA and NRC should be withdrawn," Banerjee had informed media persons immediately after her meeting with the Prime Minister at the Raj Bhavan. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Most people sit through countless orientations on the first few days of their job, but one US teen discovered a planet on his third day. Wolf Cukier, 17, of Scarsdale, New York, had wrapped up his penultimate year of high school when he headed off to intern in the summer at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, where he discovered a planet orbiting two stars. The planet, now known as TOI 1338b, is nearly seven times larger than Earth and has two stars one that's about 10 per cent more massive than our sun, and another only a third of the sun's mass and less bright, according to Nasa. It was the second time he had interned at the space research laboratory, having spent the summer of 2018 working on a Goldilocks Zone project under the mentorship of Nasa aerospace technology researcher Ravi Kopparapu. Wolf was invited back to intern at the space flight complex, but Mr Kopparapu wasn't available to provide guidance. Wolf was placed under the tutelage of Nasa research scientist Veselin Kostov who never had a high school intern, Mr Kostov told The Washington Post. 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 I gave him a brief outline of what we do, and he learned everything by himself, Mr Kostov said. He learned really quickly. He really developed a very good understanding of the field. The summer was the first time Wolf worked with Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (Tess), he said. Tess monitors the brightness of stars for periodic drops caused by planetary transits, according to Nasa. The teen had a framework of what to look for based on his exploring the Planet Hunters Tess citizen science project, which allows people to comb through Tess data and categorise different star systems, he said. While looking at an image, Wolf thought something looked suspicious, he said, noting that the image had an additional feature that made him alert Mr Kostov. After we saw the original transit, we looked at the full light curve and saw three transits, Wolf said. Wolf and Mr Kostov spent hours verifying that the additional features they were seeing were real by looking through multiple data sets. It was just Wolf and me in the first couple of hours, and when we were 99 per cent certain the two traits we saw were real, we started reaching out to colleagues, Mr Kostov said. It definitely coloured the rest of the internship, Wolf said of his planet discovery. Now, not only was I working on searching for additional planets, I was learning the full verification that goes into verifying a planet when we suspect it to be one. That process included using different data tools and involving researchers from the University of Chicago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and San Diego State. The process was actually much faster than normal, taking about two to three months to confirm Wolf's discovery as a planet, Mr Kostov said. The finding is a positive sign for the Tess' capabilities, Mr Kostov said, adding that he believes there will be more planets to be found. Tess is the only instrument that would allow us to discover this type of planet, Mr Kostov said. Wolf co-wrote a paper about his internship find with scientists from Goddard and other institutions that has been submitted for scientific review. TOI 1338b was also featured in a panel discussion Monday at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu, according to Nasa. Wolf couldn't name the planet, but his brother offered a better sobriquet: Wolftopia. Now a high school senior, Wolf has his sights set on colleges such as Princeton University, Stanford University and MIT, where he can major in either astrophysics or physics. He's still figuring out his summer plans, he said. The Washington Post [ Spoiler (click to open) ] JA thinks the flu has a pr problem. The flu kills people every year. But its looking pretty bad, with deaths increasing. Its not too late. No anti-vaxxer issue. People just take their chances. You *can not* get the flu from the vaccination. Ana wants to know the difference between a cold or flu or something else. Sunny brings up TI daughters virgin test. JA says there is no test to prove being a virgin and it is 2020 so stfu. [Ok that was me ad-libbing but thats her premise]. Sunny wonders if there is a single father who wants to be involved in their daughters maturity. JA says its good when the dad is involved and it can be awkward but encourages it [shes talking in general, not the virginity test]. Talks about her book, a monthly wellness challenge. Making it achievable by thinking about it in smaller timeframes. Ana says she divided her goals to three categories. Lose weight, eat something green thats not an M&M, and VOTE. JA picked how we move, how we eat, and above the neck, eg stress, sleep, meditation. JA has bad posture, so she thought about stretching. If youre thinking, woah is this the new permanent panel, sadly nope ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jen Ashton weighs in on flu myths, the controversial virginity test on T.I.s daughter, and her bookSummary of conversationStill no details on imminent threat. [Sidebar, after show aired, lots of claims for intent to attack embassies which also means, if you're going to lie, lie big. Also, Pompeo doesn't know the definition of ~imminent.]House voted to limit T45 War Powers 224 to 194. 3 GOP signed on, while 8 Dem did not. Pfft. Naturally T45 had a rant at his Klan rally last night. Ana reminds 15K lies, can never believe anything he says. Shame on GOP that is loyal to a person instead of a party. House is supposed to be checks and balance.Sunny is upset that weve abandoned diplomacy, read Kerrys NYT op-ed. Deal was succeeding while diplomacy was in place. Joy names and shames the Dems who voted against it. Yvette says they put politics over people, it shouldnt be about winning the next election. She calls him Tang. Says hes a narcissist. People normally have negative self talk, but he sees who he is deep down, then projects that onto his enemies. Abby says the GOP who are breaking ranks are supporting the military, its not worth getting into another war in the middle east. Ana says Gaetz represents a lot of military families so his voting for it was political for him even though it was the right vote. Joy says whats in our national interest is to get T45 out of office.Loads of posts, check the Royals tagThe saga continues. Ana says the next season ofis gonna be lit! and Meghan can play herself! Abby takes up for Meghan. Sunny and Yvette think she wanted to marry Harry and he just happened to be a prince. Sunny doesnt think the BRF are going anywhere. Brings up excommunicated Andrew. Ana says its not like Edward abdicating. They ponder Harrys actual last name. Yvette thinks all the noise about her, is all racial. Recaps Harrys experience with his mom, now he loves his wife and sees the same thing materializing. They debate about his parentage with a photo. Abby has always loved Harry. Thinks he tries to do things that makes him happy (freedom to do so, because he was never going to be King). Not going to take his title away. Ana thinks its more complicated than we realize. Abby didnt like Meghan being shamed as a mom for leaving Archie behind for a few days [because no working mom has ever done that?!?]. Says its awful, leave her alone. Now QEII is mad. And the BRF live a long time. Joy says theyre comparing them to Edward and Wallis. That is not the same thing, and they were out because they were Nzi sympathizers, not because they were so in love, and he married a non-royal commoner.Today, in dumb news, AZ state-level Senator Sylvia Allen has proposed a bill to prevent any sex education for anyone under age 12. Joy says that age is already a tween. At what age should sex ed start. Yvette said her mom talked to her at age 7. The Swimsuit Talk. Nobody can touch her where the swimsuit touches. When you learn at a young age, you avoid the risk of learning bad info from friends. Sunny just went through this with her 13 and 17 yr olds. Her parents never told her anything, but gave her the Lifecycle series. She figured it out, but late. She was told no sex before marriage, theyre Catholic, but that was it. She tried the same with her kids, and they were like uh, wat. Her kid's school taught it in 4th grade. At first she was horrified, but now she thinks thats the right age. Her son started asking her at age 8. She tried to punt it to the doctor and the doctor sent it back her way. Joy brings up p0rn scene from. They were watching with the kids and scrambled for the remote. Abby also grew up very religious. Her mom gave her the talk while getting an ice cream. She was 10-11 and it was mint chocolate chip. The Birds and the Bees talk. She always thought it was bad. It was uncomfortable (topic), and a tough transition to make with her husband. Ana says kids are exposed to things at a very young age. Abby says p0rn is highest in her state of Utah (lol). When people arent given good info, they search for it themselves. Joy says this AZ Senator also wants the wordremoved. Ana thinks everybody who comes out against homosexuality has something going on. Sunny wonders how removing the word will accomplish things. Abby thinks it hurts people trying to figure out themselves, makes it harder for them and they end up hating themselves thinking something is wrong with them.Congratulations to Yvette. As a writer, for BET movie. The View were nominated for talk show hosts, as well as for the GLAAD awards. Yvette says she wrote it 20 years ago. Never give up on your dreams. Sunny and Abby praise her, for sticking with her dream. Yvette says you have to believe in yourself. Its on DVD now.Can she stay gone please and thanks: the next debate isin Des Moines, Iowa and sponsored by CNN and The Des Moines RegisterSource links are below each video or section Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a sound and light show at the iconic Howrah Bridge from the Millenium Park on the banks of the Ganga here. The 2.5 minute show and sound system is installed at the Millenium Park and is part of a project of the KoPT's 150th anniversary celebrations. The show will replace the existing decorative lighting with 650 power-efficient LED and spotlightfittings for a programmable multi-colour lighting, including a show that will sync with music. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Minister of Shipping (independent charge) Mansukh Mandaviya were also present at the glittering programme organised by the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) at the park, which is situated about 2 km from the bridge. After inaugurating the sound and light show, Modi left for Belur Math, the global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission by the river route. The cantilever bridge was built by the British and opened to the people in 1943 in the midst of World War II replacing a pontoon bridge at the same location and linking Kolkata and Howrah. The bridge, considered to be the busiest cantilever bridge in the world, was renamed as Rabindra Setu in 1965. More than 1.15 lakh vehicles from both Kolkata and Howrah ply on it day, besides over five lakh pedestrians from both sides. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The highly-anticipated winter version of the ITV2 series is set to kick off on Sunday. Yet Love Island bosses have already reportedly landed themselves in 'hot water' over its hot tub usage while filming this year's series. Reports claim that show bosses have been warned by local officials in Cape Town to 'be considerate' as the city is still recovering from a drought crisis. Whoops: Love Island bosses have already reportedly landed themselves in 'hot water' over its hot tub usage while filming this year's series (host Laura Whitmore pictured in 2016) According to The Mirror, the show has been urged to use hot tubs 'sparingly and wisely' during filming, seeing as South Africa is still restoring itself three years after it almost ran dry. Past series of Love Island have seen Islanders flirt up a storm in the hot tub, which is located just outside of the Hideaway bedroom. However, the new South African villa will see two tubs this year, with one also located in the bathroom. Sputnik Ratau, of the Department for Water and Sanitation, told the publication: 'Where there is an overt kind of activity that really almost shows as if there is no consideration for proper water conservation, that would be a concern for us.' Water usage: Reports claim that show bosses have been warned by local officials in Cape Town to 'be considerate' as the city is still recovering from a drought crisis While a Love Island source confirmed to MailOnline: 'We are of course acting in line with local guidelines as responsible producers.' With Councillor Xanthea Limberg adding to The Mirror that while there are no restrictions on hot tubs, 'saving water has become a way of life for us.' It comes after new Love Island host Laura has hinted there could be a 'bombshell' twist in Sunday's launch episode. The presenter, 34, dropped a major teaser while giving Good Morning Britain host Richard Arnold a tour of the stunning 5.3million mansion. Steamy: Past series of Love Island have seen Islanders flirt up a storm in the hot tub, which is located just outside of the Hideaway bedroom Bubbly: However, the new South African villa will see two tubs this year, with one also located in the bathroom As she showed him the communal bedroom, Richard pointed out how there were 14 beds but only 12 contestants announced for the series. Laura smiled as she chatted to Richard and teased him that the numbers not adding up was 'almost like there might be a bombshell happening'. She continued the tour showing him a new space for the boys to get ready with enough space to rival the girls' envy-inducing makeup area. They also looked around the large lounge, with Laura saying there was 'a lot of space for conversations and for relationships to grow'. The blonde beauty cheekily added that the villa also contained lots of 'little nooks and crannies to get away from everyone else'. On Thursday fans got another glimpse inside the South African villa, which is twice the size of Love Island's main villa in Mallorca. Hint: Laura, 34, teased there could be a 'bombshell' on Sunday night's launch episode of Love Island after Richard Arnold pointed out there is 14 beds and 12 contestants This space also boasts new features, including the so-called Doghouse, where Islanders can be sent by their partners if they misbehave. Richard revealed there is 'something for everyone' in the new property, which has been given a Love Island-esque makeover to make it the dream place for this year's Islanders to find Mr or Mrs Right. He told host Kate Garraway: 'Isn't it spectacular, Kate? I have to say this is an extraordinary property. This is my first look as well... There is something for everyone.' Almost time: Twelve Islanders are ready to find love on this year's season of the show including Rochelle Humes' sister Sophie Piper (left) and heir to the Lanhydrock Ollie Williams (right) Teaser: Laura smiled as she chatted to Richard during a tour of the 5.3m villa and teased him that the numbers not adding up was 'almost like there might be a bombshell happening' Listing off some of the new series' prospective contestants, Richard also noted that the Islanders will get stunning views of the famous Table Mountain Among some of the villa's newest features are the brand new Dog House, which is a pull down bed in the atrium, adjacent to the main doors, with Richard saying to Kate there 'won't be any sleeping on the sofa' during the new series. Those who will sleep there will have been kicked out of their own bed because of wandering eyes, betrayals and general misbehaviour. Other key features include two hot tubs and separate dressing rooms for the boys and girls, as well the classic outdoor kitchen and a massive swimming pool. Love Island 2020 begins on Sunday at 9pm on ITV2. Oman's ailing Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East's longest serving rulers, died on Friday and the Gulf state's high military council called on the ruling family to convene to choose a successor, state media said. Three days of official mourning have been declared, with flags flown at half-mast for 40 days for the Western-backed Qaboos, 79, who had ruled since taking over in a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of former colonial power Britain. State news agency ONA did not give a cause of death, but Qaboos had been unwell for years and spent a week in ... Advertisement Hundreds of homes were left without power this morning as Storm Brendan lashed parts of the UK with 80mph gales after coming in from the Atlantic. Scottish Power sent teams to Crewe, Cheshire, to begin the battle to fix the fault as gales also brought down boughs from trees. Northern England and North Wales will also be affected by up to 4in (10cm) of rain predicted to fall. A fallen tree has blocked the A470 between Dolgellau and Ganllwyd in Gwynedd as much of North Wales took a battering. The Irish Epsilon ferry was delayed because of increasingly high seas as it was due to set sail from Holyhead to Dublin at 8.15am but set off at 9am, Irish Ferries said. Storm Brendan was named today by Irish weather service, Met Eireann, who have issued a status orange warning for 11 counties of the republic. The Met Office issued a weather warning for today, running from 3am to 6pm, covering Snowdonia, the Pennines and the North East (left and right, showing where inclement weather will hit) The A55 Britannia Bridge is closed in both directions to high sided vehicles due to strong winds between J9 A487 (Treborth) and J8A A5 Holyhead Road (Llanfair). After a calmer interlude tomorrow, gales will continue to batter the West and Wales, as well as strong winds in the East. The Met Office issued a weather warning for today, running from 3am to 6pm, covering Snowdonia, the Pennines and the North East. Forecasters say the gales could reach speeds of 70mph. The strong winds could lead to potential power cuts and 'delays to road, rail and air transport'. The Met Office issued a weather warning for today, running from 3am to 6pm, covering Snowdonia, the Pennines and the North East (pictured, walkers in The New Forest on Friday) Amazing moment captured near Norwick on Unst, Shetland, where a waterfall appears to flow BACKWARDS during high winds and heavy rain Another warning, for noon to midnight on Monday, could lead to disrupted Channel ferries and other transport, as well as power supplies. Coastal communities could be at risk from large waves. The Met Office warning states: 'An area of very strong winds will move eastwards across the UK through Monday. The strongest are likely on hills in the West. Here, gusts of 60-70mph are likely, with a few sites perhaps seeing 80mph. 'South-eastern areas are likely to see more settled conditions, with some outbreaks of rain still possible.' The treacherous conditions could lead to power blackouts with he only exceptions being areas south of the Thames Valley, the east of East Anglia, northern Cumbria and Northumberland, which are still set to be blustery. As well as potential damage to buildings, forecasters also predict transport disruption due to fallen trees, and restrictions to be placed for high sided vehicles on exposed routes such as bridges. Depending on the level of disruption, the windy spell - caused by a deep area of low pressure - could be the first named storm of the year and the second of the current winter season, after Storm Atiyah at the start of December. The Met Office has warned the gales could hit by this afternoon issuing four weather warnings as well as 45 flood alerts which will remain in place between 3am and 6pm on Saturday (Runners cross the Millennium Bridge on the River Thames, London, on an overcast morning) If deemed a named storm, it would be called Storm Brendan - although the Met Office has so far said it was is early to decide whether the weather system would qualify. Transport delays and damage to property are thought likely. To the south of the gales, it is likely to be very mild but mostly cloudy. The weekend's bad weather comes after flash floods followed the torrential rain that lashed the UK last night. In Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, a taxi was swept away by fast-flowing water brought on by the deluge. The downpour in the area caused authorities to issue a 'red' flood warning on Thursday night - meaning 'danger to life'. United Methodists havent been truly united in decades. Last year, disputes over biblical teaching on human sexuality threatened to blow up Americas second largest Protestant denomination. Now, a diverse group of representatives from the denominations varied factions has come up with a plan to divide the church. The plans warm reception might indicate that the one thing growing numbers of Methodists can agree on are the terms of their divorce. Church representatives will vote on the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation at their May General Conference. Local Methodist leaders embracing various sides of the debate are busy studying and discussing the Protocol and other proposals with their congregations. Many local leaders expressed support for the Protocol, seeing it as a way around an unbridgeable divide. The Rev. Kent Ingram, senior minister of First United Methodist Church, the oldest church in Colorado Springs and the largest Methodist congregation in Colorado, is part of the progressive side of the church, which favors marrying and ordaining gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender members. If the Protocol passes in May, progressives would remain in the United Methodist Church, while more traditionalist congregations would leave to form a new denomination. I feel like right now this proposal has the best chance of passing and moving our denomination past the conflict we have been mired in for almost 50 years, Ingram said. The Rev. Bob Kaylor of Tri-Lakes United Methodist is part of the traditionalist side of the church, which represents a minority of members in the United States, but a majority of the global church. Kaylor supports the Protocol, seeing it as a way for all parts of the church to stop bickering and focus on being a church. I believe that this proposal offers our best way forward, allowing us to part amicably and bless one another into new opportunities for ministry in the 21st century, Kaylor said. Studying the options Methodists have stuck together as they argued about human sexuality, while Presbyterians and Episcopalians split. A Methodist split seemed more likely after a 2019 vote in favor of a Traditional Plan that reaffirmed the denominations 1972 statement that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. The Traditional Plan also added enforcement powers to discipline or dismiss gay and lesbian clergy, including Denver-based Bishop Karen Oliveto, the denominations first openly lesbian bishop, who heads the denominations liberal-leaning Mountain Sky Conference region. Concerned leaders from across the denomination hired all-star mediator Kenneth Feinberg, who handled compensation for victims of the 9/11 attacks, to create a plan that would prevent the churchs implosion. Feinberg and the team hammered out the nine-page Protocol, which allows traditionalist congregations to form a denominational body and keep their local church properties. This new body will receive a going-away gift of $25 million. Not all local pastors will vote at Mays general conference, but many are devoting significant time and energy to helping members understand this major crossroad in the denominations history. First United Methodist has studied various proposals and will study the new Protocol, too. The Rev. Olon Lindemood, senior pastor of Sunrise United Methodist Church in Briargate, is a fifth-generation United Methodist clergyman. Last Sunday, he told members of his congregation that he would be sending them information about the Protocol, and the Church Council will meet this quarter to devise a process for preparing them for upcoming votes. Calvary United Methodist Churchs senior pastor, the Rev. David Amrie, is grateful that the Mountain Sky Conference has actively resisted the 2019 Traditional Plan. And Calvary has been on its nine-month journey of discovery, recently creating its own open-and-affirming document, Calvary Essentials. Calvary is offering members a range of chances to learn about and discuss their traditions historic changes: The church posted the Protocol, FAQs, and informational from United Methodist News Service on the church website Hard copies of the Protocol are available in the church Amrie is also recommending that interested members view a live-stream panel discussion with team members who helped draft the Protocol, and attend a General Conference Focus Group at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church Amrie says the Protocol isnt perfect, but it addresses concerns of traditionalists, centrists, and progressives, giving Methodist churches a way to move forward, even if not together. Nobody got everything they wanted, he said, but I support and advocate for the Protocol, and I look forward to a new season in the United Methodist Church where LGBTQ persons can be fully welcomed and accepted and for an equal season of blessing for the new Traditionalist Methodist church, which is yet to form where folks can live faithfully according to their spiritual conscience. Divorce better than decline The Rev. Dave Hiester of Wilson United Methodist Church on Flying W Ranch Road has been hosting regular informational meetings about denominational issues, and will host another meeting Sunday. This proposal will not settle the dispute, but its the best way forward that I have seen, he said. It seeks to provide opportunity for groups, who very clearly interpret and understand Scripture differently, to bless and encourage one another as they seek to live in mission. I support this proposal, and hope the church seizes the opportunity for a positive witness to the world. How different would it be if we came together to work together on a solution, even if it meant separation, and we did so blessing one another as we went? Kaylor says Tri-Lakes United Methodist has spent time studying how the Bible and Christian theology address human sexuality. And a congregational task force will organize monthly town hall meetings on the Protocol and its potential impact. The denomination has been in decline, and fights over theology and differing visions of ministry havent helped us win more people to Christ, said Kaylor, who sees a silver lining in the split that has been coming for decades. I think that the vast majority of Methodists on all sides of this conflict want to be welcoming to all people and provide a place where they can be transformed by the love of God, he said. We have different visions of how to do that, and now we will get to see how those visions unfold. The proposal offers us a chance to part with grace and bless one another into those new visions. Its a historic opportunity to spark a potential new revival of Methodist Christianity around the world. Army chief of staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane claimed on Saturday that the army has the full support of people in Jammu and Kashmir and they dont have a harsh word against the men in olive green. Everyone in Jammu and Kashmir, be it on LoC or hinterland, is doing a tremendous job. We have full support of people. We are grateful to local police and administration who support us. They dont have a harsh word to say about the army, General Naravane said at a press conference, according to ANI. He defended the conduct of troops in Kashmir Valley and said that complaints against officers were not true. The judgment call of the commander on ground has to be respected. All the complaints that have been filed have proved to be unfounded, he said. Kashmir has been under heavy security since the Centre scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status last August and downgraded the state to two union territories. The government claims that the heavy security deployment has prevented any bloodshed in the valley where many political leaders including three former chief ministers are still under arrest. The government also claims that the situation is in the valley is normal. This week, a group of 15 envoys and diplomats met security officials, politicians and civil society representatives in Srinagar as part of the first such visit organised by the government Parliament revoked J&Ks special status on August 5, 2019, and imposed restrictions on movement and communication. On Friday, the Supreme Court pulled up the J&K government over the telecommunication blackout and said access to the internet is a fundamental right by extension and that the curbs cannot go on indefinitely. ALBANY An intensified debate over New York's bail law continued at the State Capitol on Thursday, with the top Democrat in the State Assembly saying he wants to let the reforms play out without changes. State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie urged people to have patience with the newly implemented bail law, which has received increasing scrutiny over its rules that allow New York courts to release people who would have remained in jail under the old rules. The law, which went into place at the beginning of the year, eliminated cash bail and pretrial detention for a wide majority of low-level cases and nonviolent felonies. The law also allows courts to release a person under certain conditions, such as a travel or firearm restriction. We want safe communities, but it is important to have a criminal justice system that treats everybody fairly, Heastie, a Democrat, told reporters Thursday. Meanwhile, his counterpart in the state Senate, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, said Democrats are monitoring to see if any tweaks are needed to the bail reform law. But, she asserted Democrats don't want to criminalize poverty or continue with a broken system. Bail reform supporters argue the changes help prevent poor people from languishing in jail for low-level crimes. Both Democratic legislative leaders were responding to attacks from Republicans, who have lambasted the reforms and argue the changes have jeopardized public safety. Changing or rolling back the bail reforms has emerged as a top priority for Senate Republicans. We're going to hammer this every single day, said John Flanagan, the Republican minority state Senate leader. The Long Island senator said he believes they will see tragedies if lawmakers don't act immediately. Flanagan said he supports giving more discretion to judges over who can be held in jail before their trial, among other changes. Heastie pushed back at the idea and said allowing a judge's perspective can invite bias into bail decisions. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 January 31st next will be a poignant one for many in the naval service. On that date - 30 years ago - a young man from Drogheda lost his life going to the rescue of a vessel in distress in Bantry Bay. Hopefully - and no doubt something is planned - the name of Michael Quinn will be honoured again at his memorial by the banks of the Boyne at Scotch Hall. It was unveiled by President Higgins in May 2012. At around 9pm on the night of January 30th 1990, a Mayday call was received by Valentia Coast Radio Station and by the Naval Vessel LE Deirdre as she lay at anchor in Lawrence' Cove, Bere Island. A Spanish fishing vessel, Nuestra Senora de Gardtoza, (Our Lady of Gardtoza) with 16 souls onboard had gone aground on rocks near Roancarrigmore Light, north east of Bere Island in Bantry Bay during a severe gale and was sinking. A Mayday call on Marine VHF radio is used when mariners require immediate assistance to prevent loss of life. The Naval Vessel LE Deirdre weighed anchor immediately and headed into the severe gale towards the reported position of the vessel in distress. She also assumed the duties of 'On Scene Commander' for the rescue operation. With no helicopter support available for a minimum of 2 hours and with the LE Deirdre unable to manoeuvre close enough to the Gardtoza, the decision was taken to launch the ships boarding boat, a Gemini craft with a powerful outboard engine. Leading Seaman Michael Quinn, a native of Drogheda, along with Able Seaman Paul Kellett from Dublin volunteered to crew the Gemini. As the regular boarding crew for the Gemini, both men were very experienced in operating the boat. Despite the severe weather, the crew of the Deirdre successfully launched the Gemini craft. Leading Seaman Quinn took charge as boat coxswain, and he and Able Seaman Kellett proceeded towards the Gardtoza. As they manoeuvred close to the fishing vessel, the appalling conditions in the vicinity of the Gardtoza made it apparent that a boarding, and therefore a rescue, by boat would not be possible. Leading Seaman Quinn manoeuvred the Gemini to return to the LE Deirdre, just as a wind and wave combination capsized the Gemini throwing both crewmen into the sea. AB Kellett was washed ashore on rocks near Dereen cove, where patrolling Gardai picked him up. An RAF Sea King Helicopter subsequently rescued the 16-man crew of the Gardtoza. Despite an extensive search by the LE Deirdre assisted by an RAF Sea King helicopter, the merchant vessels Shell Technician, Shell Marketer and the fishing vessel Ben Chourn, there was no sign of Leading Seaman Quinn. The following morning, an Air Corps Dauphin helicopter, based in Shannon, joined the search. At 8am on the 31st, it recovered the body of Leading Seaman Quinn, 3 miles east of the tragic scene. LS Quinn was only 27 at the time of his death and the survivor AB Kellet was 21. In recognition of his unselfish bravery and devotion to duty, The Minister for Defence made a posthumous award of the Distinguished Service Medal to Michael Quinn. The King of Spain also made a posthumous award of the Spanish Cross of Naval Merit in recognition of his brave attempts to rescue the Spanish crew. Somewhere in the middle is where we need to be, he said. Although praising the department for being willing to listen to the groups concerns, commissioner Logan Brower of Scobey said he did not support continuing something that is not working and wants the department to show some initiative in developing alternatives. Commissioner Richard Stuker, of Chinook, expressed concern that in hunting districts where shoulder seasons are abandoned some landowners would protest by restricting hunter access. He also said that the early elk shoulder season, which starts in August, has been popular with some farmers as a way to chase elk out of crops. Yet he also noted, I dont like harvesting elk for six months. Stuker also said that the idea of going to a cow-only elk hunt as a way to depress populations would rile landowners who see it as a punitive measure. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Iran's Air Defense System, located 19 kilometers from where the Ukrainian aircraft was shot down, evaluated the aircraft as a cruise missile, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said, Trend reports via Fars News Agency. After the Iranian attack on the US military base in Iraq, the entire air defense system in Iran was made fully operational, taking into account flights of US military aircraft in Iraqi airspace, Hajizadeh said. In this regard, an air defense system was installed near Bidghana in Tehran's vicinity, the commander said. The operator of the air defense system was informed that cruise missiles were launched at Iran and at that moment, the operator had 10 seconds to verify the data for being true or false, Hajizadeh said, noting that there were communication problems, thus the fire order was given. Following the recent tensions between the US and Iran, and the assassination of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani, the operator repeatedly asked the IRGC to stop flights across the country, Hajizadeh said. Hajizadeh noted that the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization was not informed about the situation. The IRGC Aerospace Force was the party who had shoot the aircraft and had information about what happened, he said. Though the operator of the Air Defense System, located in Tehran's vicinity, repeatedly asked the IRGC to suspend flights in the country's airspace, the relevant IRGC structures did not inform the country's leadership, the CAO and airline companies, the commander said. Hajizadeh noted that he informed officials right after the incident. A Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane with 167 passengers (including Iranian and foreign citizens) and 9 crew members on board crashed Jan. 8, after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. The plane was heading for Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. The plane took off at 06:12 (GMT+3:30), and at 06:18, it lost connection with the dispatcher center. The plane crashed at 6:22. Following the investigation, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran released a statement saying that the Ukrainian aircraft was unintentionally shot down by Iran. Iranian president Hassan Rouhani expressed regret over the tragic incident. "Iran's armed forces were on alert after the assassination of Qassem Soleimani and the US threats, so an unfortunate human error led to huge tragedy and innocent people have died," said Rouhani. Moroccan King Mohammed VI has pardoned 265 prisoners ahead of the Proclamation of Independence Day, Moroccan Ministry of Justice said, Trend reports citing Xinhua. A total of 204 inmates had their prison terms reduced, said the statement, adding that 61 other prisoners were granted freedom. The king's pardons came one day before the 76th anniversary of Moroccan proclamation of independence which will be celebrated on Saturday. The pardons included eight women detainees in terrorism cases who took part in the fifth edition of the Reconciliation Program (Mussalaha), the statement added. Those detainees had expressed their adherence to the sacred values of the nation and national institutions, reviewed their ideological tendencies and rejected extremism and terrorism, according to the statement. The Proclamation of Independence Day is celebrated on Jan. 11 every year to commemorate Morocco's first proclamation of independence on Jan. 11, 1944. Christopher Kochanek awarded 2020 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics Contributions WASHINGTON, January 10, 2020 -- The Heineman Foundation, American Institute of Physics and American Astronomical Society congratulate Christopher Kochanek, professor and Ohio Eminent Scholar at Ohio State University, for winning the 2020 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics. The 2020 Dannie Heineman Prize is awarded to Christopher Kochanek, "who has combined observations and theory to make outstanding contributions to astrophysics in topics ranging from the use of gravitational lenses for studies of dark matter halos and quasar accretion disks, to the lives and deaths of massive stars and the evolution of stellar populations in galaxies and quasars. He has also contributed to a worldwide network of telescopes that monitors transients over the entire sky, opening new avenues for astronomical discovery." "AIP is pleased to congratulate Dr. Kochanek for his contributions and his continued work into revealing the secrets of the night sky," said Michael Moloney, chief executive officer of AIP. "His exploration and search into how large stars die as supernovae and their potential to form black holes could be one of the most exciting challenges of modern astronomy." Kochanek said the search for a failed supernova creating a black hole has been an elusive hunt. He isn't deterred, both continuing the search for new, promising candidates with the Large Binocular Telescope and looking forward to the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope to confirm a current possibility. "Looking forward to the launch of JWST, as mid-infrared observations with JWST will clearly eliminate or establish the possibility that the first candidate survived but is obscured by dust too cold to see with the Spitzer Space Telescope," he said. "We are also really excited by our search for noninteracting, compact object, neutron star or black hole, binaries by combining the All Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) project with spectroscopic surveys like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey - APO Galactic Evolution Experiment." "I am delighted to hear that Chris Kochanek has been named the 2020 Heinemann Prize winner," said Megan Donahue, president of AAS. "He joins a very impressive list of past winners. He is a brilliant and versatile astronomer with accomplishments in theory and observations and in topics ranging from gravitational lensing to supernovae. The ASAS-SN project, led by Chris (and coprincipal investigator Krzysztof Stanek at OSU) and his collaborators, has not only yielded a rich trove of transient science for many of us, but the project has also coined one of the more memorable acronyms in astronomy." Kochanek credits patience and persistence in the development of the ASAS-SN project. The project started small and doubled its efforts as it found success, similar to the development of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment project that was started in 1992 and continues to run a long-term variability sky survey. "If we had started out with the system we have today, it would have been a disaster," Kochanek said. "The transients I have had the most fun with are tidal disruption events. Way back in my thesis, I did the first numerical simulations of a TDE with Chuck Evans, now at the University of North Carolina. Suddenly with ASAS-SN, we were finding more TDEs and collecting better data on them than ever before. A certain symmetry from theory to practice." When asked about his most favorite project or discovery, Kochanek likened the choice to picking a favorite child. But he said he has enjoyed his areas of study to date and looks forward to the future with hopeful eyes. "The great thing about astrophysics is that you can still reach that point (of wanting a change) and just switch to something new." ### ABOUT THE WINNER Christopher Kochanek is a professor in the department of astronomy at Ohio State. He graduated from Cornell University in 1985 with degrees in physics and mathematics and carried out his first research projects with S. Shapiro and S. Teukolsky, then professors at Cornell. Kochanek received a physics doctorate in 1989 from Caltech, under the supervision of previous Heineman Prize winner Roger Blandford. He was a Theoretical Astrophysics Center postdoctoral student at University of California, Berkeley from 1989 to 1991, a professor in the department of astronomy at Harvard University from 1991 to 1999, and an astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory from 1999 to 2003 before moving to Ohio State as an Ohio Eminent Scholar and professor of astronomy. His present focus is on the deaths of massive stars, searching for failed supernovae with the Large Binocular Telescope, and the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN), the first project to search the entire visible sky on a nightly basis for transient phenomena. ABOUT THE HEINEMAN PRIZE The Heineman Prize is named after Dannie N. Heineman, an engineer, business executive, and philanthropic sponsor of the sciences. The prize was established in 1979 by the Heineman Foundation for Research, Education, Charitable and Scientific Purposes, Inc. Awarded annually, the prize consists of $10,000 and a certificate citing the contributions made by the recipient plus travel expenses to attend the meeting at which the prize is bestowed. https:/ / www. aip. org/ aip/ awards-and-prizes/ heineman-astro ABOUT AIP The American Institute of Physics is a federation of scientific societies in the physical sciences, representing scientists, engineers, educators, and students. AIP offers authoritative information, services, and expertise in physics education and student programs, science communication, government relations, career services, statistical research in physics employment and education, industrial outreach, and history of the physical sciences. AIP publishes Physics Today, the most closely followed magazine of the physical sciences community, and is also home to the Society of Physics Students and the Niels Bohr Library and Archives. AIP owns AIP Publishing LLC, a scholarly publisher in the physical and related sciences. https:/ / www. aip. org/ ABOUT AAS The American Astronomical Society (AAS, aas.org), established in 1899 and based in Washington, DC, is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. Its membership (~8,000) also includes physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers, and others whose research and educational interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects comprising contemporary astronomy. The mission of the AAS is to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe, which it achieves through publishing, meeting organization, education and outreach, and training and professional development. This story has been published on: 2020-01-10. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. If you hear about The Beatles final tour, you can see why the Fab Four stopped performing live. During that last pass through America, the Fab Four grappled with a ban of their music in the South (and threats from various groups) on top of the usual security risks. But that was only the half of it. Maybe the biggest problem of all was the sound. With tens of thousands of girls screaming, the band couldnt hear themselves play. Ringo Starr recalled the bands playing as really bad and the shows themselves pretty boring in those days. John Lennon, who described the bands concerts as sort of a freak show, had begun singing whatever joke lyrics popped into his head at these dates. (No one could hear anything, anyhow.) But John recognized the power of some Beatles shows. The bands attendance-record-breaking 65 show at Shea Stadium stood out in particular. It was marvelous, John said in Anthology. It was the biggest crowd we ever played to, anywhere in the world. And John channeled Jerry Lee Lewis on the bands screamer of a track, Im Down. John went for Lewiss wild piano theatrics on Im Down The Beatles perform for an audience of 55,000 people during a concert in Shea Stadium in New York. | Art Zelin/Getty Images During the Beatles performing days, the band was big on rockers that would keep the crowd jumping. That August 15 at Shea, they brought a full-tilt set that included, Ticket to Ride, I Feel Fine, Help!, and A Hard Days Night. Just when fans thought they couldnt scream anymore, the band tore into Im Down, the blistering corker of a song Paul McCartney wrote in the Little Richard style. As on the studio version, John handled the Vox organ part and he made it count. While George Harrison took a guitar solo, the camera flashed to John going wild at the keys. I was doing all Jerry Lee, he later said. I was jumping about and I only played about two bars of it I was putting my foot on it and George couldnt play for laughing. In the footage, you see John also dropping his elbow on the keys for several crazy runs on the keyboard. For Johns own solo, he pulls out more tricks in the Killer handbook, like raising his left hand while playing with his right. John kissed Lewiss feet at a 1970s concert The Beatles started a tour of the U.S. and Canada at Shea Stadium on August 15, 1965.| Bettmann There were few people John held in higher esteem than Jerry Lee, the rock pioneer who shook the world with tracks like Great Balls of Fire. And if you watch vintage footage of Jerry Lee in his prime shows, you see why John felt that way. On a typical run through Whole Lotta Shakin Going On, the Killer would slam the high notes with his foot while playing his songs chords below. (The crowds fevered reaction tells the rest of the story.) There was simply no one like him. When John met Jerry Lee at a 1970s show in Los Angeles, the former Beatle did all he could to pay his respects. That included John getting down on the ground so he could kiss Jerry Lees feet. While its hard to surprise the Killer, he definitely didnt see that coming. I had no idea [Lennon] was going to do that, he told GQ in 2009. [John] said, I just wanted you to know you are the man who made it possible for me to be a star in rock n roll music. I just kind of froze. Nobody has ever done that. Also see: The Beatles Song That Ended Up as a Literally Drunken Mess At the Vietnam Business Forum Speaking on the sidelines of the annual Vietnam Business Forum in Hanoi on January 10, Amanda Rasmussen, Chairwoman of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), said Vietnam has maintained its position as one of the fastest-growing import markets of the US, and vice versa. AmCham members look for a fair playground, the removal of trade barriers and an equal, transparent, stable, effective legal framework, she said, adding that they heed innovation, aiming to help Vietnam with trade development and high-quality investment. AmCham is also seeking stable and equal tax policies in line with global standards to attract and maintain investment, according to the official. Nobufumi Miura, Chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (JCCI), said the chamber is interested in the stabilisation of the legal environment and investment incentives offered by the Vietnamese Government. He suggested the Vietnamese Government build a search system for legal matters to help businesses contact competent agencies, particularly those working in the tax sector, to get answers for their concern. Miura also pointed out that inconsistent policies and localities slow pace in updating policy amendments and supplements have hindered investment attraction. A representative of the Korean Chamber of Commerce (KoCham) said the absence of tax exemption for imported materials in service of the production of exports has also caused difficulties to investors. The Republic of Korea (RoK) is now Vietnams leading investor with total capital amounting to 61.7 billion USD. KoCham hopes that the State Bank of Vietnam will support Korean banks to open branches in the country to grant loans to Korean investors. Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and VBF Co-Chair, emphasised the need to collect feedback on legal documents pragmatically and regularly. He suggested putting forth a master strategy on judicial reform to support the business environment, and further improving transport infrastructure and infrastructure at industrial areas. More efforts are needed to reform business and investment conditions, erase corruption and reduce business costs, he said. Boris Johnson has hailed Iran's admission that it downed a Ukrainian passenger jet an 'important first step' but has called for a 'transparent and independent' investigation. For days, Iran vehemently denied that it was responsible for downing Flight 752 from Tehran to Kyiv on January 8, which killed four Britons, 57 Canadians, and 82 Iranians among others. But yesterday a military statement published by the country's state TV said it mistook the aircraft for an enemy target and 'unintentionally' fired at the plane on Tuesday, killing 176. In a statement Mr Johnson said: 'Iran's admission that Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by mistake by its own armed forces is an important first step. 'This will be an incredibly difficult time for all those families who lost loved ones in such tragic circumstances. 'We will do everything we can to support the families of the four British victims and ensure they get the answers and closure they deserve.' The Queen has also sent a message of condolence to the Governor-General of Canada following the incident. Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 plane wreckage is seen in a picture from investigation team released today Mr Johnson said: 'Iran's admission that Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by mistake by its own armed forces is an important first step' The Queen has also sent a message of condolence to the Governor-General of Canada following the incident which killed 57 of the country's citizens Four British nationals were among the 176 people killed in the crash. 'We now need a comprehensive, transparent and independent international investigation and the repatriation of those who died. 'The UK will work closely with Canada, Ukraine and our other international partners affected by this accident to ensure this happens,' Johnson said. He added: 'We can all see very clearly that further conflict will only lead to more loss and tragedy. It is vital that all leaders now pursue a diplomatic way forward.' People pay tribute near portraits of crew members of the Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday Four British nationals were among the 176 people killed in the crash. Pictured: people attend a vigil in Canada Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said a military probe into the tragedy had found 'missiles fired due to human error' brought down the Boeing 737, calling it an 'unforgivable mistake'. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered his condolences and ordered the armed forces to address 'shortcomings' so that such a disaster does not happen again. Later on Saturday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said the black boxes from the jet that was shot down near Tehran would be investigated by French specialists. Iran had denied for several days that two missiles downed the aircraft. The crash site has since been cleared An official inspects a piece of plane debris in Tehran, Iran, the morning after the Ukrainian passenger plane was 'unintentionally' shot down French president Emmanuel Macron said France would launch an international probe into the crash French president Emmanuel Macron said France would launch an international probe into the crash. The incident occurred hours after Iran launched a wave of missiles at bases hosting American forces in Iraq in response to the killing of Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran's top generals, in a US drone strike. The majority of passengers on the flight PS752 were dual national Iranian-Canadians but also included Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes. Luo Huining, the new head of the Chinese liaison office in Hong Kong, speaks briefly with the media in Hong Kong on January 6, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) New Chinese Official in Charge of Hong Kong Affairs Seeks to Further Integrate City with Mainland: Analysts Beijings new representative in Hong Kong recently met with Carrie Lam, leader of the city government on Jan. 9. The day before, he visited Shenzhen, the southern Chinese city that borders Hong Kong, leading analysts to believe that he has been tasked with promoting the Greater Bay Area (GBA) project in Hong Kong. Launched in July 2017 by the Chinese central government, the GBA project aims to connect the economies of Chinas Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, and Macau. The two former European colonies, along with nine mainland Chinese cities in Guangdong, would become part of a new tech and manufacturing hub akin to San Francisco Bay Area. Luo-Lam Meeting On the afternoon of Jan. 9, Luo Huining, the new head of Hong Kongs Liaison Office, met with Carrie Lam, the Hong Kong chief executive, at her official residence in the Central district. The Liaison Office issued a press release about the meeting. Luo and Lam did not directly speak to media. According to the release, Luo endorsed Lams efforts to maintain social stability during these past few months, adding that the office would lend its support to Lam. That turn of phrase is an oft-use euphemism by the Chinese regime to mean squashing dissent. For over six months, Hongkongers have staged mass protests against Beijings encroachment into city affairs, accusing Beijing of violating its promise to preserve the territorys freedoms and autonomy upon its transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China in 1997. The press release also mentioned that they agreed to restore social order and stop violencea phrase Hong Kong police have used to describe their efforts to quell protestsand develop the GBA. Many protesters are opposed to the GBA, considering it Beijings attempt to integrate Hong Kong with the mainland. That same afternoon, Luo also visited Tung Chee-hwa, the first Hong Kong chief executive after the 1997 handover. He is also one of the 24 vice chairmen of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). According to another official news release from the Liaison Office, Tung spoke to Luo about Hong Kongs current social situation and deep-rooted conflicts. Hong Kongs Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during her weekly press conference in Hong Kong on January 7, 2020. (PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images) Shenzhen Trip Meanwhile, state-run media Shenzhen News reported on Jan. 9 that Luo led five of seven deputy directors of the Liaison Office to visit Shenzhen on Jan. 8. Among the CCP officials who met with the entourage were: Shenzhen city Party boss Wang Weizhong and Shenzhen mayor Chen Rugui. During the meeting, both sides discussed cooperation between the two governments and the GBA project, especially promoting youth to set up businesses in the other city and enhancing trade, according to Shenzhen News. Wang had worked for Luo from June 2016 to February 2017, when Luo was the provincial Party boss in Shanxi. Main Task Tang Jingyuan, U.S.-based China affairs commentator, believes Luos visit to Shenzhen suggests that Luos main task should be the GBA project, in a Jan. 9 interview. In the past, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has praised Macau as a paragon of a region where one country, two systems has succeeded. Tang pointed out that while Beijings investments in Macau yielded more wealth for the territory, its freedoms have been increasingly eroded. The CCPs theory is guiding people to pursuit for money, then people wont have political ambitions, Tang said. According to Macau government figures published on Macauhub, Macaus GDP was $55 billion in 2018, with per capita GDP at $81,600the fourth richest region in the world and 8.5 times that of Chinas per capita GDP, $9,633, according to the IMF (International Monetary Fund). Meanwhile, the last time human rights group Freedom House has ranked Macaus freedom separately from mainland China was in 2004, when it was rated partly free due to the lack of political rights and press freedom. The Chinese regime hopes the GBA project can similarly benefit Hong Kong financially, said Tang, thinking that Hongkongers wont pursue universal suffrage if they have more money. Among Hong Kong protesters demands are for universal suffrage in elections for the chief executive and for representatives to the city legislature. The chief executive is currently voted in by an electoral committee comprised of mostly pro-Beijing elites. Judging from Luos first public speech on Jan. 6, which struck a more conciliatory tone similar to Xis New Years speech, Tang predicted that Luo would not clamp down on protests at the moment. Protests have simmered down after pro-democracy political candidates won a landslide victory in district council elections in late November. Around the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump also signed into law two human rights bills in support of protesters. If the CCP wants to develop Hong Kongs economy, it cannot continue the suppression [of protests], Tang predicted. But Shi Shi, another U.S.-based China commentator, told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that Luos embrace of the GBA project means that Beijing has not changed its repressive policies in Hong Kong and will want to eventually convert Hong Kong into a mainland city, Shi said. Over the past several years, there has been a shift among distributors and wholesalers of books in Spanish in the U.S. Distributors such as Baker & Taylor no longer purchase inventory from publishers outside of the U.S. due to the expense of returning unsold titles. Other distributors/wholesalers have become much more selective in what they offer, again due to returns, as shipping books back and forth is a significant cost. One company that has been successfully supplying Spanish-language books to the U.S. for 17 years is Spanish Publishers. The company has its roots in a failed effort by Ediciones Urano, a mid-size publisher in Spain that tried to run an office in the U.S. at the end of the 1990s to distribute its books here. But the costs of a warehouse, personnel, and other expenses became too great, and the management team looked for a different way to reach American readers interested in Spanish-language books. Recognizing that other independent Spanish-language publishers were also looking for a model that would allow them to enter the U.S. market, Ediciones Urano joined in 2002 with three other Spanish publishers to create Spanish Publishers. Based in Miami and now run by Lucia Laratelli, the consortium distributes more than 6,000 Spanish-language titles to the U.S. and adds about 100 new releases a month. In addition to Ediciones Urano, the other founding partners of Spanish Publishers are Ediciones Obelisco, Editorial Sirio, and Roca Editorial. The business created by the group allows publishers to enter the U.S. market with their entire catalogue and not a handful of titles selected by a distributor. To this partnership, 11 more publishers, mostly from Spain but with a few from Mexico, have become members, but not owners, of Spanish Publishers. In total, Spanish Publishers offers the entire front and backlist titles from 15 publishers across a wide number of categories. PW spoke with Laratelli, who explained how the Spanish Publishers model works. There is a set of fixed costs that each publisher shares according to their percentage of sales throughout the year. If a publishers sales fall in one year, the company will pay less and be able to survive a difficult year. In addition, publishers pay for their own expenses, mostly marketing and import costs. Each company keeps the profit produced by the sales of their titles, minus their own expenses and shared expenses. Spanish Publishers operates as an LLC in order to facilitate the way it distributes the companys profits, Laratelli says. Our combined sales shows growth year over year and does not match the chart of the individual publishers as they might have ups and downs depending on titles published that year, she says. This model gives libraries, bookstores, and other book buyers access to the entire catalogue of 15 different publishers from one seller, one sales rep, and through one combined catalogue. According to Laratelli, Spanish Publishers has been able to garner a decent share of the Spanish-language book market in the U.S. for its participating companies, which lets it compete with the larger players when it comes to negotiating terms with distributors and booksellers. At present, Laratelli is happy with the size of Spanish Publishers. While publishers are constantly reaching out to join the group, Laratelli is careful in expanding so as not to dilute the service publishers receive. The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court has a new chief judge: 12-year veteran Karen Herman. On Jan. 1, Herman took over the reins from Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson, who oversaw a period when the courts finances were threatened by lawsuits over conviction and bail costs and sexual harassment claims sidelined one judge. Herman served as Landrum-Johnsons deputy chief, and was often seen by her side at New Orleans City Council meetings fighting for more funding. Now Herman, 50, will be the face of the criminal court as it navigates the continuing fallout from twin federal court rulings on its finances. The criminal justice system will also be under a microscope with elections this fall for judgeships and district attorney. "Criminal District Court plays a vital role in the fabric of the City of New Orleans, and I am honored to have earned the trust and confidence of my colleagues to lead this venerable institution," Herman said in a statement. "My priorities as Chief Judge are to ensure that the Court continues to operate in an efficient, effective and transparent manner, and to be responsive and approachable, so that all members of the community have confidence in the criminal justice system." Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up New Orleans court clerk says he won't furlough employees for at least a week Deputy clerks at Orleans Parish Criminal District Court can breathe a sigh of relief at least for now. The two-year chief judgeship involves a mix of administrative duties, policy decision-making and outreach to other agencies. Chief judges are chosen according to seniority and approved at an en banc meeting of the court's judges. Herman was first elected to the bench in 2008 and re-elected without opposition in 2015. Her duties have included presiding over a special mental health court and a drug court. Prior to her election as a judge, Herman was the executive director of CourtwatchNOLA and a longtime prosecutor in the Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office. She graduated from Emory University and earned her law degree from Tulane University Law School. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 11, 2020 22:36 730 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321c98be 1 City Depok-administration,anti-LGBT,LGBT,LGBT-in-Indonesia,reynhard-sinaga Free In response to reports that the family of Reynhard Sinaga, an Indonesian convicted serial rapist in the United Kingdom, lives in Depok, West Java, the city's mayor has instructed his administration to conduct raids against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Reynhard, a 36-year-old PhD student, was sentenced on Jan. 6 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, with the UK's Crown Prosecution Service calling him "the worst-known sex-offender in the country's history", AFP reports. All of his victims were men. Depok mayor Mohammad Idris said he had requested that the city's Health Agency, Social Affairs Agency and Child Protection and Family Empowerment Agency heighten efforts to prevent the "spread of LGBT" in order to "strengthen families' resilience and especially protect the children." In addition, he said he had also requested that the Depok Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) and the Population and Civil Registration Agency be more active in carrying out raids in rooming houses and apartments. "Concerned officials can also form crisis centers in Depok specifically for LGBT victims, as well as approach related institutions to work together in educating the people, especially the people who are pro-LGBT in the name of human rights," he said at the Depok town hall on Wednesday, as quoted on his official website. Idris said that, in the name of social, moral and religious teachings, he condemned the LGBT community and the acts committed by Reynhard, but referred to the case as a "personal problem" of the man. He also expressed sympathy toward Reynhard's family, who are reportedly Depok residents. The Indonesian public have condemned the crimes committed by Reynhard, and activists have taken to social media to express their concerns as to how the case could affect the members of Indonesia's LGBT community, who have for long faced prejudice and discrimination in the country. They have asked for the public to avoid linking Raynhard's crimes to his sexuality. Among the long list of prejudices and discrimination faced by the local LGBT community are statements containing hate speech by public figures. A 2019 report by LGBT rights organization Arus Pelangi showed that between January and February 2018, 45 statements containing hate speech against the LGBT community were expressed by executive and legislative officials, law enforcers and public figures. Depok Mayor Idris has repeatedly displayed anti-LGBT sentiment, such as when he announced that the administration had established an anti-LGBT team and was planning to create anti-LGBT regulation in 2018. Two days after a federal appeals court in New Orleans allowed President Trump to spend $3.6 billion in military funds on border wall construction in California and three other states, environmental advocates and border residents opposing the wall filed an emergency motion on Friday asking the appeals court in San Francisco to halt the funding. Congress, which has sole constitutional authority over federal government spending, has repeatedly refused to fund the construction at issue here, American Civil Liberties Union attorneys told the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The ACLU represents the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition, which focuses on immigration policies and conditions at the southern U.S. border. The $3.6 billion would pay for 175 miles of wall segments in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam of Oakland ruled Dec. 13 that the Trump administration had no authority to override Congress refusal to approve the funds. But he put his ruling on hold because of the prospect that it would be reversed by the Supreme Court. The court had voted 5-4 in July to allow Trump to redirect a separate cache of $2.5 billion in federal counter-drug funds to wall-building in California, Arizona and New Mexico, despite rulings by Gilliam and other judges that the funding lacked the needed congressional authorization. A federal judge in El Paso, Texas, had also refused to allow the $3.6 billion to be spent on the wall, but that order was stayed Wednesday by a 2-1 decision of the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The brief order said the plaintiff, the El Paso Border Network for Human Rights, was unlikely to show that it would be harmed by construction and thus lacked legal standing to sue. In response, Trump said construction would begin as soon as possible. The Ninth Circuit, meanwhile, had refused on Dec. 30 to issue its own order prohibiting construction, citing both the Supreme Courts previous decision and the El Paso judges order that was still in effect. On Friday, the ACLU and its clients returned to the appeals court, saying the circumstances had changed, and asked for a ruling by Jan. 24. With the White House vowing this week to rush through illegal wall construction, were asking the Ninth Circuit to quickly restore the rule of law and protect border communities from destruction, ACLU attorney Dror Ladin said in a statement. California and eight other states supported the ACLUs request in a separate filing. Diversion of the $3.6 billion would not only defy Congress but would also strip funding from previously scheduled military construction projects that would benefit the states, Attorney General Xavier Becerras office told the court. In Fridays filing, ACLU lawyers said the administrations claim of an urgent need for the funding was transparently false. They noted that after Trump declared a state of emergency in February, the administration waited nearly seven months before seeking to spend the $3.6 billion in military funds on the wall. Trump declared the emergency after shutting down many federal government operations for a record 35 days because of the impasse with Congress over funding the wall. In support of Trumps funding order, the administration cited a federal law allowing the Defense Department to redirect money that Congress had approved for other projects if a national emergency requires new military construction projects to support the armed forces. But Gilliam said in his ruling that the border wall was not a military construction project and there was no evidence that it was necessary for the armed forces. The ACLU made a similar argument Friday. To the extent the border wall would support the operations of any agency, the beneficiary would be the civilian Department of Homeland Security, not the armed forces, ACLU lawyers said in their filing. The Department of Homeland Security oversees federal immigration agencies. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko One of the best and most tax-friendly ways to build a nest egg for retirement is by contributing to an employer-sponsored 401(k) account. If your employer offers this benefit, jump in as soon as you can, because it's never too early to start saving for retirement. >>For more 2020 tax changes, see Tax Changes and Key Amounts for the 2020 Tax Year.<< 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2020 The maximum amount workers can contribute to a 401(k) for 2020 is $500 higher than it was in 2019it's now up to $19,500 if you're younger than age 50. If you're age 50 and older, you can add an extra $6,500 per year in "catch-up" contributions, bringing your total 401(k) contributions for 2020 to $26,000. Contributions to a 401(k) are generally due by the end of the calendar year. A traditional 401(k) is an employer-based retirement savings account that you fund through payroll deductions before taxes have been taken out. Those contributions lower your taxable income and help cut your tax bill. For example, if your monthly income is $5,000 and you contribute $1,000 of that to your 401(k), only $4,000 of your paycheck will be subject to tax. While the money is in your account, it is sheltered from taxes as it grows. The money can usually be invested in a variety of stock funds and bond funds. The average 401(k) plan offers 19 funds, and typically nearly half of plan assets are invested in U.S. stock funds and target-date funds, the latter of which can change their asset allocation to become more conservative over time. (See the best funds in 401(k)s for more on where to invest your retirement savings.) Many employers also match their employees' contributions up to a certain percentage of salary. Some companies even contribute to workers' accounts regardless of whether the employees contribute their own money. On average, companies contributed 5.2% of an employee's pay to the employee's 401(k) account, according to the Plan Sponsor Council of America. How Much Should You Save for Retirement in a 401(k)? Stuart Ritter, a certified financial planner with T. Rowe Price, recommends that workers save at least 15% of their income for retirement, including any employer match. If your employer contributes 3%, for example, then you would need to save an additional 12%. "For people who aren't at 15%, one of the best ways to get there is to increase the amount you are saving by 2% each year until you reach the 15% level," Ritter says. So if you're saving 3% now, bump that up to 5% next year, 7% the year after and so on. When You Can Withdraw Money From a 401(k)? You generally must be at least 59 1/2 to withdraw money from your 401(k) without owing a 10% penalty. The early-withdrawal penalty doesn't apply, though, if you are age 55 or older in the year you leave your employer. Global oil markets will remain well supplied this year, with a possible overhang of some 1 million bpd, the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Bitol, told Reuters. Non-OPEC production is very strong. We still expect production coming from, not just United States, but also Norway, Canada, Guyana, among other countries, Birol said, adding Therefore, I can tell you that the markets are, in my view, very well supplied with oil, and as a result of that, we see prices remain at $65 a barrel. Norway is about to experience a sharp jump in oil production in the next four years, a new forecast from its Petroleum Directorate has shown. After a steady decline over several years, production is set for a 43-percent increase between 2019 and 2024, the NPD said, reaching 2.02 million bpd in 2024. This will be thanks to the start of production at the Johan Sverdrup offshore field along with several smaller fields. In Guyana, Exxon has just begun production from the Liza-1 well. Daily output from the deepwater field should reach 120,000 bpd before the end of 2020. Exxon is also building a second production vessel that should raise the total to 220,000 bpd. In Canada, meanwhile, oil production is also set to grow despite a government-imposed curtailment aimed at supporting prices. The curtailment was relaxed twice in 2019 and it only concerns large producers, allowing smaller ones to pump as much as they can sell. Based on this, the Canadian Conference Board recently forecast oil production in the country will be growing at 4.2 percent annually between this year and 2024. Related: Mormon Church Accused Of Building $100 Billion Portfolio Using Charity Funds Demand growth, however, will be slow, according to Birol. We are expecting a demand growth of slightly higher than 1 million barrels per day, the top IEA man told Reuters. This means that except sudden spikes in prices due to geopolitical factors or possible production outages in a major producer, oil prices this year will remain largely range-bound. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: The wife of an Argyle woman who died in a crash with a police vehicle last summer has filed a notice of claim against Washington County, alleging that the officer involved in the collision was negligent and careless in causing the crash. Joyce J. Paul of Argyle filed the notice against the county as the first step of potential litigation over the death of 72-year-old Susan J. Harrington. Those who seek to sue a municipality are generally required to file a notice of claim first. Harrington died Aug. 19 when the Honda sport-utility vehicle she was driving on Route 40 in Argyle was hit by a Ford police SUV driven by Washington County sheriffs Deputy Cori Winch. State Police investigated, and preliminarily determined that Winch, who was headed north, veered out of his lane and hit Harringtons vehicle. The agencys final report has not been completed, as the state Attorney Generals Office is overseeing the investigation because of a police-involved death. Harrington was well-known to visitors to local farmers markets, where she and Paul sold baked goods under the name Effies Baked Goods. Paul was the executrix of Harringtons estate. A lawyer she retained, Pamela Nichols, served the county with a notice of claim that seeks substantial compensation because of the death that resulted from the deputys actions. An exact figure was not included in the claim. Should a settlement not be reached on the claim, a lawsuit could be filed in state Supreme Court. Winch suffered serious lower body injuries, and has not returned to work. Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy said he has not been medically cleared to return to duty, and it was unclear when or whether he would. Murphy said he could not comment on the crash and potential litigation. Winch told investigators that he did not remember what happened as he headed south for a shift change shortly before 7 a.m. Winch was completing an overnight shift as he was driving to the Sheriffs Office station on Route 22 in Salem when the collision happened near the Sweet Road intersection. Authorities said he was not operating with lights or siren on, having just finished investigating a minor accident minutes earlier. There did not appear to be significant skid marks left by either vehicle at the crash scene, and the impact appeared to have occurred in the northbound lane. State Police looked into whether poisonous carbon monoxide could have played a part in Winch losing control of the vehicle, and a blood test was done on him after the crash, officials said. Ford Explorer police patrol vehicles such as the one Winch drove were found to have issues where exhaust leaked into the vehicle cabin, exposing occupants to carbon monoxide. A class action lawsuit was filed in Washington state last summer over the problems. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is investigating. No elevated carbon monoxide levels were found in Winch, though that was not considered unusual if he had been exposed because the gas dissipates quickly when a person is exposed to oxygenated air after taking in carbon monoxide. The Washington County Sheriffs Office equipped its Ford SUV patrol vehicles with carbon monoxide detectors, but after the crash one could not be found in the heavily damaged vehicle Winch drove. 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 New Delhi: Aishe Ghosh, president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union, met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Delhi's Kerala House on Saturday. Vijayan talked to Ghosh and gift her a book called 'Halla Bol'- a biography of activist, actor and director Safdar Hashmi. Ghosh's meeting with Vijayan comes a day after she was named as one of the suspects in the JNU violence case that left 35 people injured. Ghosh, who was injured during the violence that took place in the campus on January 5, has denied any role in the violence. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) on Friday accused the Delhi Police of speaking the language of the varsity's vice-chancellor and said those who were assaulted have been "implicated as suspects". The JNUSU alleged that the "whole point of this exercise is to save the ABVP and deflect attention from the spine chilling horrors perpetrated by right-wing hooligans", particularly on January 5. The union's statement comes after the police on Friday released pictures of nine suspects in the JNU violence case and claimed JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh was one of them, five days after a masked mob assaulted students on the varsity's campus, leaving 35 injured, including her. The Delhi Police on Friday released pictures of nine suspects in the JNU violence case and claimed JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, a member Students' Federation of India, was one of them. Of the nine, seven belong to left-leaning student organisations while two are affiliated to a "right-wing students'' body, police said. On Friday, members of the Left leaning students' outfits and the ABVP held protests at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Friday against the January 5 violence on the campus. While the RSS-affiliated ABVP took out a silent protest march inside the university premises, students belonging to the Left-leaning outfits organsied a poster making event and formed a human chain. While the protests were silent with no sloganeering, there was heavy deployment of police personnel in plain clothes to prevent any untoward incident. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. California is fortunate to be home to nine national parks (yes, nine!), more than any other state. With such a plethora of natural and national treasures, it may not come as a surprise that two of the state's most spectacular parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, are often overlooked. While typically referred to together, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are actually two distinct but contiguous parks located in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Kings Canyon lies to the north and Sequoia to the south. Other than iconic giant sequoia trees that inhabit both parks, many of the highlights of Sequoia and Kings Canyon tend to be less known precisely because they are located within the rugged parks' backcountry and are inaccessible by road. Having world-famous Yosemite lying to the north doesn't necessarily help in winning the popularity contest either. If you're ready to hit the road to discover these hidden natural gems, use this sample itinerary, heading north to south, that packs in some of these west slope wonders. Happy trails! *Note that reservations for campgrounds are required in 2021; no first-come first-served sites will be available.* Day 1: Enter Kings Canyon National Park on Highway 180 at the Big Stump entrance, continuing east and dropping into Kings Canyon proper. Sheep Creek Campground is a solid spot to spend the night, but don't forget to make advance reservations online. is a solid spot to spend the night, but don't forget to make advance reservations online. Get your bearings by driving to Road's End, passing through the Cedar Grove area. Explore Muir Rock and relax for a bit on the beach near the emerald waters of the South Fork of the Kings River. Wrap up the day by stretching your legs with a half-day hike around the Kanawyer Loop Trail. Day 2: After enjoying an early morning fire in camp, head east back toward Road's End and soak in the splendors of Zumwalt Meadow . This picture-perfect montane meadow provides unobstructed views of the deep granite walls of Kings Canyon. . This picture-perfect montane meadow provides unobstructed views of the deep granite walls of Kings Canyon. Heading back west, stop at Roaring River Falls , a narrow gorge flowing into scenic pools where the Roaring River drops into the Kings River. For a longer hike option, Roaring River Falls can be combined with a pleasant walk from Zumwalt Meadow along the River Trail . , a narrow gorge flowing into scenic pools where the Roaring River drops into the Kings River. For a longer hike option, Roaring River Falls can be combined with a pleasant walk from Zumwalt Meadow along the . Climb west out of the canyon and head for a campground near Grant Grove . For those anglers out there, consider carving out a couple of hours to fish a stretch of the South Fork of the Kings River before climbing out of the canyon. There are some decent fishing holes upstream from Grizzly Falls . . For those anglers out there, consider carving out a couple of hours to fish a stretch of the South Fork of the Kings River before climbing out of the canyon. There are some decent fishing holes upstream from . Make a reservations at Azalea Campground or Sunset Campground. Day 3: Wake up with the sun and take a morning walk through some of the largest trees in the world in Grant Grove. Continue south along Highway 198 toward the Giant Forest . En route, stop at Lodgepole Campground and set up your campsite (make advanced reservations). However, if staying in a cozy room sounds more like your cup of tea, book a room and reserve a dinner for a night in Wuksachi Lodge , a few miles away. . En route, stop at and set up your campsite (make advanced reservations). However, if staying in a cozy room sounds more like your cup of tea, book a room and reserve a dinner for a night in , a few miles away. With camping or lodging behind you, soak in the wonders of the Giant Forest. Visit the Giant Forest Museum, and of course, no trip through the ancient sequoias is complete without seeing the largest tree (by volume) in the world, the General Sherman Tree. Day 4: If you are camping at Lodgepole, take a nice morning walk straight out of the campground along the Tokopah Valley Trail to get the blood flowing (hint: there's more hiking/climbing in store today). Both the Watchtower and Tokopah Falls, Sequoia National Park's tallest waterfall, are beautiful sights. to get the blood flowing (hint: there's more hiking/climbing in store today). Both the Watchtower and Tokopah Falls, Sequoia National Park's tallest waterfall, are beautiful sights. Head back to into the Giant Forest to climb the granite dome of Moro Rock to catch a glimpse of the Sequoia high country and the peaks of the Great Western Divide, which splits the Kern and Kaweah watersheds. to catch a glimpse of the Sequoia high country and the peaks of the Great Western Divide, which splits the Kern and Kaweah watersheds. Visit Crescent Meadow , known as the "gem of the Sierra," and wander through giant sequoias surrounding a picturesque montane meadow. Keep on the lookout for black bears in this area, as they are frequently spotted around the hillsides between Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow. , known as the "gem of the Sierra," and wander through giant sequoias surrounding a picturesque montane meadow. Keep on the lookout for black bears in this area, as they are frequently spotted around the hillsides between Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow. Head back down 198 toward Visalia and exit Sequoia National Park, or stay in one of the campgrounds near the park entrance: Buckeye Flat or Potwisha. If you have more time, consider heading back up to the trails and peaks of Mineral King Valley, accessed via Mineral King Road in the town of Three Rivers. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Governor Newsom unveiled his new state plan Friday, proposing additional health benefits for some undocumented immigrants. California remains the first state to offer full health benefits to low-income adults 25 and younger in the country illegally. That cost California about $98 million dollars. RELATED: Highlights of California governor's second annual budget This year, the governor is looking to expand eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits to people 65 and older living in California undocumented. That's about 27,000 people, and would cost $100 million dollars for a full year. That's because health care for older people is generally more expensive. Under the governor's proposal, immigrants would have to be Medicaid eligible to receive funding. State lawmakers have until June 15th to vote on the budget proposal and send it to the governor for his approval. A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering an east Belfast grandmother (stock photo) A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering an east Belfast grandmother. Alice Morrow was found dead in the Braniel estate in March last year. William Stephen Hutchinson (43) spoke only once during a short hearing yesterday before Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, to deny her murder, before he was remanded back into custody. Although his trial was fixed for June 1 in Downpatrick, Mr Justice Colton said that it may be necessary to move the case, which is expected to last up to a month, to Belfast. However, no firm decision was made. No details were given concerning the murder of Mrs Morrow, a 53-year-old mother and grandmother of three, who was found dead in her Whincroft Way flat on March 10, 2018. However, it is known that the deceased was last seen alive on CCTV taken shortly before 3am at the Brackenvale Eurospar filling station on Belfast's Saintfield Road. For the Love of Sugar | Photo: Jenny P./Yelp Craving French food? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top French spots around Detroit, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to fill the bill. Winter is the top season of the year for consumer spending at restaurants across the Detroit area, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a software provider that helps small businesses get more customers. The average amount spent per customer transaction at Detroit-area restaurants grew to $25 for the metro area in the winter of last year, 3% higher than the average for the rest of the year. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1. For the Love of Sugar Photo: jeff c./Yelp First on the list is For the Love of Sugar. Located at 100 Erskine St. in Midtown, the patisserie/cake shop, which offers coffee, tea, macarons and more, is the highest-rated French restaurant in Detroit, boasting 4.5 stars out of 278 reviews on Yelp. 2. Gold Cash Gold PHOTO: ANN W./YELP Next up is Millenium Village's Gold Cash Gold, situated at 2100 Michigan Ave. With four stars out of 490 reviews on Yelp, the cocktail bar and French and traditional American spot has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Le Detroit Macaron PHOTO: KRISTIN C./YELP Le Detroit Macaron, located at 2756 Evaline St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the spot to score macarons and more five stars out of 30 reviews. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-12 02:19:05|Editor: ZX Video Player Close PARIS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The French government announced on Saturday that it temporarily removes from its pension reform bill the contested "pivot age" of 64 for full pension, two years longer than in current system, which has been the main source of tension during weeks of union-led strikes. "To demonstrate my confidence in the social partners, and not to prejudge the outcome of their work concerning the measures to be taken to achieve balance in 2027, I am prepared to withdraw from the [pension reform] bill the short-term measure which I had proposed, which consists of gradually converging from 2022 towards an age of equilibrium of 64 in 2027," wrote Prime Minister Edouard Philippe in a letter addressed to union leaders. However, the government maintains the principle of an age of equilibrium, the prime minister added. There would be a conference, as demanded by unions, to study ways of financing the pension system, which must come up with proposals by the end of April, said the letter. The government had previously announced that it would present the pension reform bill to the National Assembly by February and the bill can still be redrafted later. If an agreement is reached within the conference by April, the parliament will take it into account and the government will take an ordinance transcribing this agreement into law, wrote Philippe in the letter. In case of no agreement at the end of the conference, the government "will take necessary measures by order to reach equilibrium by 2027", he added. "I want to be perfectly clear on this point: I will take my responsibilities." France's biggest union CFDT welcomed the withdrawal, saying it "marks the government's willingness to compromise". "We will continue the discussions within the framework proposed to answer the questions which remain on the future universal regime," it said in a statement . The French government's move was seen as a concession aiming at ending five weeks of nation-wide strikes against its plan to bring the country's 42 existing pension schemes into a single, point-based system. The reform plan maintains the legal retirement age of 62, but asks people to work till a "pivotal age" of 64 to be qualified for full pension. Supporters say the pension overhaul aims to restore social justice and plug a pension deficit due to stand between 7.9 billion euros (8.75 billion U.S. dollars) and 17.2 billion euros by 2025 if nothing was done. Critics fear citizens will have to work longer while ultimately earning lower pensions. President Akufo-Addo on Friday called on all stakeholders in the ongoing National Identification exercise to ensure that the integrity, security and confidentiality of the data collected are not compromised. He said it was of utmost essence that information gathered from the exercise be made available only to persons or institutions authorised by law to access the data, and use the record only for the purposes for which it was collected, adding that the marked deadline for the completion of the registration exercise ought to be respected. The President made the call when he addressed the management and staff of the Intelligent Card Production Systems Limited (ICPS), the company collaborating with the National Identification Authority (NIA) to implement the national identification project, after a tour of its facility off the Spintex Road in Accra. ICPS, responsible for the printing the National Identification cards, known as the Ghana Card, is the manufacturing arm of the Margins Group ID Group Company Limited, is an ISO 9001-2015 certified secure documents and card manufacturing facility with a production capacity of over 200 million secure documents and cards per year. The facility is purposely built for international certifications such as ISO, Europay-MasterCard-Visa (EMV), SAS (GSM) and Intergraph, and offers a full range of products, including the manufacture of secure plastic cards (plain, magnetic stripe, smart-contact and contactless, dual interface), milling and embedding of modules on cards, tokens & documents, scratch cards and various labels, as well as fulfilment services. President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that it was gratifying that after years of stagnation, the national identification project was off the ground. The project was launched by Government in September 2017 and commenced in April 2018. He disclosed that as at Wednesday, January 8, 2020, some 6.5 million Ghanaians were registered since the mass registration exercise started last April. The President was the first beneficiary of the Ghana Card. The benefits of having the Ghana card cannot only include the establishment to improve ones own identity or citizenship, but they also aid cardholders in the transaction of a wide range of financial, banking and insurance activities, and facilitate access to social services, communications and education and health care sectors. President Akudo-Addo indicated. He said the national ID would assist in the formalisation of the economy and lead to the acceleration of economic growth, saying, the advantages of the card are thus extensive The future of Ghanas identity management systems is bright. The President commended the ICPS for doing important work for the growth and development of our country. For me, what excites me about ICPS is that it is a company with majority Ghanaian ownership, possessing the ability to produce these cards that would deliver integrated services to all Ghanaians. This is further testimony of the importance of the strong functioning of the private sector, he said, reiterating that government was fully committed to supporting and enhancing the capacity of Ghanaian companies and businesses to become giants in their respective areas of operation. The President continued: We are determined to bring prosperity to our people by working closely with the private sector and indeed companies like ICPSIt is the private sector that can create the needed jobs for the people of our county and I am confident that with the right incentives, the Ghanaian private sector would rise to the challenge as other private sectors in other countries have done. My visit here today has reinforced my conviction that it can be done, you are setting an excellent example of what is possible. I am confident the best days of ICPS and indeed Ghana lies ahead, he stated. Mr Moses Baiden, CEO of the Margins Group assured the President that the integrity of the data being collected in the national identification project cannot be compromised, adding that the project would be delivered on schedule. Sometimes words arent enough. They seem petty against the magnitude of these bushfires; a vain attempt to articulate the indescribable. So, Im not even going to try to do it. The fires have not just rendered me speechless; they have consumed me mentally. Im an emotional mess. Constipated with rage, horrified beyond contemplation and completely overwhelmed with sadness. As someone who suffers depression, I know my tipping point. And Im looking at it. A koala named Pete from Pappinbarra is treated at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital after fires in November. Credit:Getty Images For me, its the animals. This is not to in any way diminish the human, livelihood and property loss, but it is this account that finally broke me this week: a description of beekeepers re-entering ravaged bushland and hearing the constant agonising screams of dying animals that shattered the last of my mental defences. Add to this the sheer numbers lost billions of innocent animal souls incinerated what words can describe this distress? Only tears work for me, endless, wrenching, sorrowful sobs. But I am saying what you already know and feel. We are a nation in pain, united in suffering. We are all emotional messes. And we all need to look after each other. An Australian Psychological Society (APS) report released in the wake of the fires offers practical support to manage emotional stress not just for those who may have been directly affected by the fires but those of us on the fringe looking on helpless with horror too. Aihik Sur By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The Tiranga Rally organised by the United Muslims Action Committee (UMAC) in the city saw over 50,000 people attending it on Friday. The rally that began at Eidgah Mir Alam culminated at Shastripuram grounds.People from various parts of the city thronged the Mir Alam Tank after Jumma prayers carrying national flags and raised slogans against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Several protesters from Rangareddy, Medak and other districts joined the rally, including students from various schools. ALSO READ| Protesters unhappy with poorly-planned anti-CAA march in Hyderabad The protesters took about an hour to cover the three-km rally route given the large number of people who joined the protest. Along the route, the locals distributed water and other refreshments to the protesters, but many left the rally midway as it lacked proper leadership.Once the rally culminated at Shastripuram grounds, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and UMAC members addressed the gathering of around 3,000-odd people. A stampede-like situation was created when Asaduddin Owaisi and police had to intervene to bring the situation under control.Addressing the protesters, Owaisi thanked them for attending the rally in huge numbers making it a success. ALSO READ| AIMIM calls the shots in Hyderabad for law and order issues: Nizamabad MP Arvind Dharmapuri "We request the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw CAA, stay NPR work and make sure that the NRC never gets going," he said. He also took a potshot at the city police whose recent cordon and search operation at a locality in Charminar drew the ire of party MLA Mumtaz Ahmed Khan. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkars burning of Manusmriti speaks volumes on his formulation of the intersectionality of gender and caste. Manusmriti is a document that still wields enormous power over Indian society. It is the primary text that formalised and legitimised patriarchy and caste. The text normalises misogyny with its codes of control on womens mobility and reproduction. According to Manu, women are a sex composed of anger, meanness, treachery, heartlessness and natural disloyalty. Manu says, Women are the edge of a razor, poison, snakes, and fire all rolled into one. Manus law also constructs a shudra man as subhuman and legitimises violence against untouchables (Manu, IX 17). In Indian society, caste and gender are not mutually exclusive constructs. They are intertwined and inseparable, and cannot sustain independent of each other. How does a person in Indian society know their caste identity? They inherit it from the father, or the father figure. Using Friedrich Engels theory of The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, a man can identify his children by marrying a woman and controlling her sexuality by restricting her mobility and ensuring that she is impregnated only by him in order to bequeath his property to them. Similarly, Manu advises upper-caste men to guard their women closely so that no other man plants his seed in their wife/woman in order to ensure purity and continuity of caste. If this control over women is subverted, caste dies a quick death. In order to continue the caste system, women are controlled in the name of sexual purity and wifely devotion or pativrata dharma, to be upheld both before and after marriage. Glorification of motherhood, a concept limited only to the caste-endogamous marriage, is another way. A caste Hindu woman who becomes a mother out of wedlock is not glorified but shunned, even killed. This theorisation of intersections of caste and gender and the caste-endogamous marriage as the central tenet of Hindu sociology is the exceptional and monumental contribution of Ambedkar. Feminism in India cannot be complete without incorporating it. Manu enjoys great influence and respectability in Indian society even today. Concepts of sexual purity, marriage-centered socialisation, monogamy and endogamy, all of which aim to control womens sexuality, have devolved from Manusmriti. Differentiating married women from unmarried, pativrata (devoted wife) from prostitute, brahmin women from dalit, originated from Manus law. The ritual of tying a thread around a womans neck in marriage as a signifier of husbands ownership over wife is akin to mans ownership over livestock. It is only a tiny minority of middle class women who do not follow this ritual. The value of a woman is determined by her caste purity. Dalit women do not have value on a par with brahmin women, and are assaulted by caste Hindus. Yet, theorisation of brahminical patriarchy doesnt necessarily mean absence of dalit patriarchy which, in turn, is nothing but an extension of the brahminical patriarchy. The dalit movements exhortations driven by a position that dalit women face violence from upper castes and not from family are not based on Ambedkars theorisation of caste. Ambedkar never accepted that there has been a radical alternative thought within or among dalits in traditional society. Ambedkar proposed inter-caste marriages and inter-caste dining as antidotes to caste. This particular aspect of his theorisation is the most misunderstood one in the post-Ambedkarite dalit movement. Annihilation of caste through inter-caste marriages is possible when a large number of marriages take place to efface the societal memory of caste identity. That the miniscule number of inter-caste marriages which took place in the framework of romantic love could not solve the caste question is an empirical fact. The children born out of this small number of marriages continued to inherit the caste identity of the father figure uncritically. This happened because the marriages unilaterally subverted caste-endogamy but not the patriarchal nature of the institution of marriage. The dalit movement, meanwhile, has reduced an intellectual giant like Ambedkar to a mantra for inter-caste marriage. By using Ambedkars ideas as formulae and not as an episteme, it has excluded formulations of sexism, patriarchy and heteronormativity. Thus dalit women, dalit gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transwomen and dalit disabled persons are excluded from the movement. Dalit ideologues have distorted Ambedkar by portraying his aim to fight caste only in isolation. In fact, Ambedkar said fighting caste in isolation is impossible. Caste and patriarchy should be annihilated together. The construction of the dalit mans access to a brahmin womans sexuality (inter-caste marriage) as a defeat of brahmins is based on patriarchal ideology. While the dalit mans access to savarna women results in violence, if the dalit movement constructs this as a form of ownership over the savarna womans body, womens autonomy will be a far-fetched dream. Similarly, construction of the dalit woman solely as a victim of rape and sexual violence at the hands of upper-caste men is nothing but a denial of her subjectivity and political agency. The dalit movement has not engaged with questions regarding the position of dalit women in inter-caste marriages. Instead, it has constructed dalit women who marry savarna men as betrayers of the dalit movement and engaged in their character assassination. Setting the brahiminical ideals of glorification of motherhood, brahminical femininity, dress code, moral code (sexual purity) and body image as the norms for dalit women, the dalit movement has been upholding Manu unapologetically. Considering women as a category internal to a community is not based on Ambedkars ideas but on the brahminical framework of Manu. In a brahminical patriarchal family, women are made to sacrifice their rights for the sake of husband and children. The dalit movement demands dalit women sacrifice their rights for the larger cause of fighting caste. It is high time individuals and progressive movements reflect on the Manu inside them and burn him down in order to embrace Ambedkar. Andi Case became the CEO of Clarkson PLC (LON:CKN) in 2008. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. See our latest analysis for Clarkson How Does Andi Case's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, Clarkson PLC has a market capitalization of UK885m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth UK2.8m over the year to December 2018. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at UK550k. We note that more than half of the total compensation is not the salary; and performance requirements may apply to this non-salary portion. When we examined a selection of companies with market caps ranging from UK306m to UK1.2b, we found the median CEO total compensation was UK881k. Thus we can conclude that Andi Case receives more in total compensation than the median of a group of companies in the same market, and of similar size to Clarkson PLC. However, this doesn't necessarily mean the pay is too high. A closer look at the performance of the underlying business will give us a better idea about whether the pay is particularly generous. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Clarkson has changed from year to year. LSE:CKN CEO Compensation, January 11th 2020 Is Clarkson PLC Growing? Clarkson PLC has reduced its earnings per share by an average of 4.5% a year, over the last three years (measured with a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 10% over last year. Sadly for shareholders, earnings per share are actually down, over three years. And while it's good to see some good revenue growth recently, the growth isn't really fast enough for me to put aside my concerns around earnings. These factors suggest that the business performance wouldn't really justify a high pay packet for the CEO. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts. Story continues Has Clarkson PLC Been A Good Investment? Boasting a total shareholder return of 43% over three years, Clarkson PLC has done well by shareholders. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size. In Summary... We compared total CEO remuneration at Clarkson PLC with the amount paid at companies with a similar market capitalization. We found that it pays well over the median amount paid in the benchmark group. We think many shareholders would be underwhelmed with the business growth over the last three years. On the other hand, returns have been good, so the company is doing something right. Given this situation we doubt shareholders are particularly concerned about the CEO compensation. CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting to check if the CEO is buying or selling Clarkson (free visualization of insider trades). If you want to buy a stock that is better than Clarkson, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Bill Maris, president and chief executive officer of Google Ventures, speaks about the future during the Wall Street Journal Digital Live (WSJDLive) conference REUTERS/Mike Blake Google Ventures founder Bill Maris said David Drummond, Alphabet's outgoing chief legal officer, is the reason he left the company. "I simply could not work with him any longer," he told Axios in a statement on Friday. Drummond is leaving Alphabet following a series of scandals involving allegations of sexual misconduct, the company announced today. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Google Ventures founder Bill Maris isn't holding anything back when it comes to his thoughts about his former colleague David Drummond. On Friday, Google-parent company Alphabet announced that Drummond Alphabet's longtime Chief Legal Officer, who has been accused of having multiple relationships with subordinates was leaving the company. The news elicited a string of fiery remarks from Maris, in a remarkable breach of the typical reticence observed among executives at least, publicly during corporate shake ups. Maris told Axios that Drummond was the reason he had left Google several years ago. "I simply could not work with him any longer," Maris said. "We have very, very different ideas about how to treat people, and this was a long time coming," he told Axios. Drummond was one of the most powerful executives at Alphabet, having joined in 2002 when the company was still a privately held search engine by the name of Google. Alphabet announced Friday that Drummond will retire at the end of January following allegations that he had relationships with subordinates at the company and the reported launch of a board investigation into Alphabet's handling of sexual-misconduct claims. Maris, who is now a founding partner at the VC firm Section 32, started Google's in-house venture capital group, initially known as Google Ventures. The group was overseen by Drummond, among his various duties. Maris' comments are a change of tone from when he left GV in 2016. At the time, Maris told Recode he was leaving "because everything is great." Story continues "It's mission accomplished for me," Maris said in a Q&A with the publication. On Friday, Maris turned to "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" to refer to the news of Drummond's departure, in his statement to Axios. "At an end, your rule is. And not short enough, it was," Maris said, taking a line used by Master Yoda as he confronted Darth Sidious, the arch-villain of the movie. Alphabet did not respond to requests for comment about Maris' statements. Maris' full statement to Axios is below: "The news of David Drummond leaving Google today brings to mind a quote from one of my most favorite creatures. 'At an end, your rule is. And not short enough, it was.' I had been asked in the past why I left Google in 2016, and I have never really commented on that. David Drummond is the reason I left Google. I simply could not work with him any longer. It's that simple. We have very, very different ideas about how to treat people, and this was a long time coming." Read the original article on Business Insider If you grew up on Terry McMillans books, you know that shes the doyenne of a particular type of black womens lit. It hinges on sisterhood and love but doesnt shy away from confronting how hard it can be to find happiness. Black Gen Xers immersed in McMillans worlds as they came of age know, so well, the soapy middle-class fantasies she created, and though her characters are representative of a narrow slice of the black middle class, they appeal across racial and gender lines, and have done so for decades. This may be why her audience spans not just her boomer contemporaries but their children and in some cases grandchildren. McMillan, who grew up in Michigan and published her first novel in 1987, is about to release her 12th novel, Its Not All Downhill from Here (Ballantine, Mar.). Her career path has been an unusually direct one for someone in her line of work: she sold her first stories while still an undergrad at the University of California, Berkeley. Shortly after graduating, she got her first book contract. The closest she ever had to a nine to five, in her estimation, is some word processing work she did for other students when she was in college. In McMillans new book, her protagonist, Loretha Curry, is 68the same age as the author. And, like McMillan, Loretha seems to have everything: she runs a successful beauty empire and has a wealth of close friends. She is thrown a curveball, though, when shes unexpectedly widowed. McMillan, who isnt dealing with such upheaval, is nonetheless eager to defy the assumption that, at her age, life is going in the wrong direction. McMillan personifies the idea encapsulated in the title of her new book. On the phone from her home in California, she is funny and charming. Shes also wise enough to know that though she knows a lot, she cant afford to stop learning. Maybe this is due, in some small part, to her beginnings as an author. After initially struggling to find an audience, she became a household name. That feat is thanks largely to her fourth novel, 1992s Waiting to Exhale. The book spent months on bestseller lists, and, according to McMillans agent, Molly Friedrich at the Friedrich Agency, her books have sold, in total, roughly 15 million copies worldwide. Explaining that her books focus not just on relationships but also on life after relationships end, McMillan says that everything she writes is, on some level, about empowerment. There are certain things that you are willing to be patient and a little tolerant about, and there are some things that dont make any sense, she adds. In Its All Downhill from Here, McMillans characters are older than in previous books, but her message is still basically the same. I dont feel like its really all downhill from here, but it comes down to some degree to choices, she says. Being old is a frame of mind. Aging is a beautiful thing, if you do it right and take care of yourself. Im not trying to look 40, but I would prefer to slide into home, if at all possible. I know people think that you stop existing as a sexual being, stop being able to fall in love. But your life is still going on after 60. Though McMillan has been hugely successful, her early days as an author were a grind. She promoted her debut novel, Mama, to indie booksellers largely on her own after the books publisher did little on that front. She says her publishers publicist was displeased at the authors effortsparticularly McMillans decision to write a letter to the president of Barnes & Noble. I wrote everybody, McMillan recalls. They sell toothpaste on TV because you have to advertise to get sales. If no one knows your book exists, how can they buy it? McMillan says the industry has changed over the years, adding that the most dramatic shift is in the role of social media in promoting books. With more than 250,000 followers on Twitter, she thinks social media is a great leveler and, among other things, allows marginalized writers to reach their potential readers and increases their value to publishers. Book tours are expensive, she notes, but Instagram, Twitterthose are things anyone can use. McMillan is forthcoming about commercial success, but does she ever lose sleep over the critics? She has won an NAACP Image Award and an American Book Award, but says, I dont care so much about the awards as I do about the writing. Thats what makes a difference. Im not trying to gussy up the voice of my characters. A good story is a good story. Im interested in people gaining something when they read books that I have written. Im not writing for the award committees; Im writing for the reader. While McMillan has maintained a loyal fan base, shes also paved the way for a whole generation of writers. She helped move into the mainstream the idea that black peoples day-to-day reality isnt about being secondary characters in the stories of white peoples lives. At a time when black characters in fiction were likely to either be suffering or be painted as tropes, McMillans characters were refreshingly focused on their own goals and happiness. For the writers who have come after her in genres ranging from science fiction to romance, McMillan helped create a literary tradition that demands respect for writers of color and for their characters. Ever since I found out we can be anything and do anything, Ive approached life that way, McMillan says. We learn from the things that we go through. In her advice for other writers, McMillan stands firm that the most important thing is self-belief: You should just tell the story that you want to tell. Sometimes a book can change a life. Thats the beauty of a book: you have no idea what impact your words can have. Its an explorationone thats done out of respect and love. Its called Italy Plaza, a vast traffic circle in the Chilean capital of Santiago. To the north and east live the countrys ultra-wealthy. One way of describing those out of touch with the rest of the countrys grim reality is to say theyve never been below Italy Plaza. The spot is ground zero for furious street demonstrations that have turned Chile from Latin Americas richest and stablest nation into a test case of profound social unrest. The area, which demonstrators have renamed Dignity Plaza, is coated in layers of graffiti, with most shops looted and shuttered. The case of Chile $2 billion in property damage, 26 dead has shocked the investor world because it was supposed to be a regional model. But the virus of discontent was already spreading elsewhere, with streets in Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia turning into scenes of pot-banging fire-setting fury. Numerous factors are at play. Among the most significant are economic inequality, ethnic tensions and police brutality. While the most violent protests have for now dissipated, these forces continue to gnaw away at social cohesion and could once again spark unrest unexpectedly and suddenly. Institutions and the rule of law are fragile and economies are expected to have another tough year. Here are snapshots from Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. Every Friday, after David Vargas completes his shift as a technician at a credit-card company in the upscale Santiago neighbourhood of Nueva Las Condes he heads to nearby Italy Plaza to join the protests. Vargas, 38, embodies Chiles socio-economic divide. He comes from a poor family and works among the well-to-do. And while he once watched the gap shrink, lately hes seen it stagnate. He was struck when he saw the difference in how the authorities treated his work neighbourhood from the one where he lives. The area around his company was packed with soldiers, he said. They were guarding everything when absolutely nothing had happened. But if you went downtown or to other parts of Santiago, it was pure chaos. They just guarded from Italy Plaza to the rich neighbourhoods. Vargas father, a former factory worker, collects a monthly disability pension of just 80,000 pesos, about $100 U.S. His mother cleaned houses. Im protesting mostly because of the pensions and to show solidarity because right now I have privileges that many dont have, Vargas said. I know what it is to live in a poor neighbourhood, I know what it is to wait for eight hours at public hospitals for service, I know what it means that the elderly receive extremely low pensions and dont have enough to live or to buy food. A few blocks away is where it all began. In early October at a subway station, students plotted ticket evasions sparked by a fare increase of 30 pesos. They co-ordinated on social networks and dangled their feet over the tracks to force trains to stop. Things got nasty, fast. Police special forces clashed with the protesters, and groups set dozens of stations on fire. Stunned, the government declared a state of emergency and a curfew, sending the army to the streets. Protests morphed into the biggest social unrest since at least the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in the 1970s and 1980s. They were now against every injustice imaginable: low pensions, school debts, health services, public education, police brutality, womens rights, even replacing the Pinochet-era constitution, which President Sebastian Pinera has agreed to in an attempt to calm the situation. The message was clear. The neglected middle class in South Americas richest country was very mad. It was a taste of the frustration of similar populations across the region in recent years. Paulina Astroza, professor of political science at Chiles Universidad de Concepcion, said Chiles economic model worked when commodity prices were soaring but has failed since. The issue is distrust of the political class, of the church, even of union and labour leaders, she said. There has to be a change in the model for more wealth redistribution or the grotesque inequality and the discontent will continue. If we want to avoid other unrest movements in one, two or even five years, we have to see a redistribution of power. Dilan Cruz wasnt much for politics. An 18-year-old with a broad smile and a big group of friends, Cruz joined Colombias anti-government demonstrations in late November to protest for more funding for education. He believed he could get ahead if he could get a chance to study, said Alexa Beltran, a close friend. He was about to graduate high school and planned to study business administration, she said. Cruz was killed by riot-control police at one of the demonstrations. His death was a flash point and an example of aggressive police tactics that have inflamed protests in countries across the Andes. Dozens of demonstrators have been killed and thousands injured by state forces from Bogota to Santiago. The violence has been most prominent in Chile, where thousands have been hurt, including more than 200 who sustained eye injuries from the use of pellet shotguns by authorities, according to human-rights groups. There are similarities in the way the police units are behaving, said Silvia Otero Bahamon, a professor at Universidad del Rosario in Bogota who studies inequality and political violence. Dictatorship, war and high levels of violence in the past have led to heavily militarized police forces. Abuses are common. Colombians, who lived through decades of armed conflict, have become so accustomed to them that few of the more than 40 killings of demonstrators by anti-riot police in the last two decades have been investigated, Otero Bahamon said. Repression of protest by police is common in Colombia, she said. Thats why whats happened with Dilan Cruz has been surprising. Cruzs death sparked fresh protests and anger. Marchers carried signs bearing his likeness and broke out into spontaneous chants of Dilan didnt die, he was murdered. Protest leaders are demanding the government dismantle the national polices Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron, known by its Spanish acronym ESMAD. President Ivan Duque has ruled out such a move. Cruzs death is under investigation by the attorney generals office. Sometimes provoked but other times not, ESMAD agents have been seen clubbing protesters, kicking a woman in the face and casually tossing tear gas into peaceful demonstrations. Cruz came from a broken home; his father died years ago and his mother was in jail. He lived with his older sister in a hardscrabble neighbourhood, taking day jobs selling fast food. Hed joined a few peaceful protests in the past, but none of them compared with the demonstrations that shook Colombia starting on Nov. 21, when hundreds of thousands took to the streets in a broad-based rejection of government policies. Two days after the protests began, Cruz was on the street. He picked up a teargas canister, threw it at anti-riot police and ran, video footage from cellphones and street cameras shows. An officer shot a projectile, hitting Cruz in the head. Cruz collapsed in front of an internet cafe on a normally busy commercial street. Two days later, he died in a hospital. His sister Denis attended his graduation ceremony in his place. In a video she posted, she said, No more violence. Dialogue and love will always be our best weapons. When President Lenin Moreno of Ecuador announced the end of gasoline and diesel subsidies in October to comply with an International Monetary Fund program, the reaction was so violent that he fled the capital, Quito, and moved the government to the coastal business centre of Guayaquil. At the heart of the protests were Indigenous tribal groups, among the most affected. Round-the-clock roadblocks, achieved by felling trees, burning tires and rolling boulders, paralyzed large areas. Some ransacked flower plantations and farms. Others caused $140 million in damage by sabotaging oil production. Looting and street riots culminated in the arson of the Office of the Comptroller General and several deaths, leading Moreno to repeal his decree. The Indigenous umbrella group CONAIE called off the demonstrations. The government is back in Quito. But tension remains high. Jaime Vargas is a 40-year-old Indigenous leader who wears a necklace ending in a jaguars tooth he said he pulled from a live cat himself, along with a brightly feathered crown typical in swathes of the Amazon where he is from. People have been carrying a heavy load. Of the violence, there are justifications, he said. The Indigenous, who make up about 10-20 per cent of the countrys 17 million inhabitants by various estimates, mirror the marginalized poor across South America. Their cultures are as diverse as their homelands, ranging from sweltering rain forests to icy, windswept mountains capped with receding glaciers. Some came into contact with Western civilization only when the oil industry showed up in the 1960s and 1970s, while most descend from people who fought both invading Incas and Spanish conquistadors hundreds of years ago. Many have moved to urban areas for education and jobs, only to find both elusive. They live in marginal areas, exposed to crime, drugs and prostitution. CONAIE leaders, wearing traditional ponchos and felt hats and carrying hardwood spears, have toppled several elected governments in Ecuador in the past. Moreno has responded cautiously while trying to move the economy to more of a market orientation. Luisa Lozano, the 43-year-old head of CONAIEs womens organization who has already beaten back charges for her role in previous anti-government protests including blocking highways wears a wide-brimmed black and white hat she says is a symbol of the sun worshipped as a deity before the Spaniards arrived. The more repression, the greater the adrenaline to resist, she said in reference to the October protests and clashes over fuel prices. The more blood, the stronger the peoples reaction. When it comes down to it, people will react because we know everything weve achieved has come through struggle after struggle. Read more about: It takes a lot of courage to let go your well-paying corporate job and take something up that will not earn you money but respect and satisfaction. We are living in times when we hardly find people whore willing to give up their luxurious life and do something good for the society but people like Richa Prasant think otherwise. Her NGO (Non-governmental organisation) Sunaay helps in working on making education accessible to marginalised children in the urban space, especially children of migrant labourers. In an exclusive conversation with Indiatimes, Founder of Sunaayy Foundation, Richa Prasant shed light on her journey in the upliftment of the underprivileged children. Richa always had a soft spot for the underprivileged children and wanted to bring about a positive change in their lives. She always believed in meliorism - that the world can be a better place with human effort. As a privileged middle class Indian, in my own journey to find purpose in life - beyond arm chair philanthropy, I wanted to focus at the basic of learning and nourishment in a safe place for the out of school children. Charity should start at home but it should not stop there, she said. How Sunaay came to fruition? Working with top corporate houses, Richa always lived a privileged life devoid of any struggles. She could have easily stuck to her high-paying job and continued to live her normal life but she had other plans. It was not some bolt from the blue, where some incident suddenly made me feel that I needed to start a not for profit. I think, somewhere in my upbringing, in the family atmosphere that I grew up in, empathy was a part of my blood, my thinking and the way I looked at the world, she said. It was her stint with Hewlett-Packard that she felt drawn to working on making education accessible to marginalised children in the urban space, especially children of migrant labourers. Hence, Sunaayy Foundation was born in 2009. Started with 6 children and the number continues to multiply until now While she began by teaching 6 children, by May 2019, 500 plus children have successfully transitioned to formal schools, going ahead on a journey of self-development. "We started studying and have come a long way in the last 8 years, learnt a lot" Children like Rachna are thankful to Sunaayy that helped her in realising her dream of studying in school. Rachna is currently studying in Class 8 and she wants to do what Richa ma'am has been doing. "My dream is to start a similar school so that children like me continue to get an opportunity to study and changed their lives. I am extremely grateful for what Sunaayy is to me, Rachna said. Our teachers stay in close connection with the families to update them Sunaayy is a support system for underprivileged children, in order to ensure their enrollment in regular schools, so that the childrens interest in pursuing their education is not hampered by the accompanying costs burdening their parents. While we cannot claim to put each and every child back to mainstream education but we certainly claim that for those 4 hours in a day, the children are safe and looked after, she explains. Started with own funds and family, friends pitched in later People across different strata of society started to chip in with donations and funds. At first, Richa started with her own friends. She then reached out to friends and family. As my work spread and as my intent became clear and strong, more people stepped in, from across geographies. Volunteers and helping hands kept increasing, she said. Moving in the right direction, Sunaayy also has centres in Delhi, Kolkata and Vaishali in Bihar. It has close to 100 volunteers, and in a decade, the organisation has managed to impact thousands of lives. With support from multiple donors, it has employed a multi-intervention strategy to improve its program quality and outreach. Do-gooders are a rarity in our society but NGOs like Sunaayy are a major boon to the downtrodden and deprived. Some of the pupils getting ready to go on stage The pupils in Castledockrell National School are a very talented bunch and that fact was underlined during their recent concert in the local hall. The festive period was a very busy one for the children as they participated in a number of events in addition to going on a trip to the pantomime in Gorey. They also busked outside SuperValu in Bunclody, held their annual carol service and displayed festive art for parents. However, the Christmas concert provided the ideal way for the children to bring 2019 to a close and look forward to even more excitement in 2020. 'This year's concert was a huge success, with a big crowd at the two performances,' a spokesperson for the school told this newspaper. She went on to comment: 'Annie the Musical', was a hit and children from junior infants to 6th class worked together to bring the story of this little orphan girl to life.' In addition to their theatrical and musical talent the children were also actively involved in creating the props, backdrop and costumes. 'They also worked very hard learning their lines, songs and dance moves,' said the spokesperson. 'Thank you to everyone who came along to the shows and congratulations to all who won raffle prizes,' she added. Local businesses were also complimented for sponsoring the raffle prizes including: Steemer's, Loftus Pharmacy, Sugar & Spice, Cahill's Hardware, Sam McCauley and Mrs Foley. The school has reopened for the coming term this week and everyone is looking forward to getting back to work. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 15:40:03|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close A shoe is seen at the air crash site of a Boeing 737 Ukrainian passenger plane in Parand district, southern Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 8, 2020. Iran's state TV on Saturday quoted the Iranian military as saying that it "unintentionally" shot down the Ukrainian jetliner on Wednesday, in which all the 176 passengers and crew members on board were killed. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua) TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's armed forces on Saturday confirmed that an "unintentional" missile launch by the country's military was the cause of the Ukrainian International Airlines passenger plane crash over Tehran airspace on Wednesday. The Ukrainian plane "was mistaken for a hostile target" near an Iranian "sensitive military site of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)" on Wednesday amid rising threats by the United States, a statement by the Iranian armed forces published by the official IRNA news agency read. The incident was due to "human error," the statement was cited as saying. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday said that an Iranian "Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane and death of 176 innocent people." "Investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake," Rouhani tweeted. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Saturday also blamed the action of Iranian armed forces on U.S. "adventurism." "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster," Zarif tweeted. "Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations," he said. The chief of Iran's Aviation Organization on Friday had "vehemently" rejected reports that an Iranian missile had hit the Ukranian passenger plane in Tehran's airspace. The Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane with 176 people on board crashed on Wednesday near Tehran, leaving no survivors. The incident coincided with Iran's missile attack on a U.S. military base in Iraq. Union minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday asked the Congress and those opposing the CAA whether Rohingyas and Pakistani infiltrators should get Indian citizenship and not the Hindu and Sikh refugees from the neighbouring country. READ: 'JNU Attack Part Of BJP's Larger Conspiracy,' Says Yechury After Giriraj Singh Blames Left Anybody staying in India should chant "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", the minister for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries said here at a meeting to aware people about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. "I would like to ask the Congress and the tukde tukde gang whether Rohingyas, Pakistani infiltrators should be given citizenship? And should Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan be denied citizenship? If they have courage, they should answer in yes or no," Singh said. Members of the minority community are being attacked in Pakistan and many temples there have been demolished, he said. Singh said the 'tukde tukde gang' is active in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, which witnessed violence last week, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is trying to do politics there. 'Tukde-Tukde gang' is a term often used by right-wing parties to attack the opposition, particularly Left and Left-backed outfits as well as those who support them. He said Muslims in India need not panic as the CAA will not snatch away anyone's citizenship, but those infiltrating into the country would not get it. "The new law simply aims at according citizenship to religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Some parties like the Congress are trying to spread false information about CAA and create disturbance in the country," Singh said. The minister asserted that anyone staying in India should chant "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". Had all the Muslims shifted to Pakistan and Hindus stayed in India during and after partition, there would not have been any necessity of the CAA, the BJP leader said. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is not being implemented in the country now and so, there is no need for discussion on the NRC at present, Singh said. "The National Population Register (NPR) is linked to the Census process and needs to be updated. However, some people are trying to spread rumours about the NPR for no reason," he said. CLAYTON On the same day that a St. Louis alderman introduced legislation that would bar domestic abusers from carrying concealed weapons in the city, the St. Louis County executive called for a similar measure in the county. Alderman Christine Ingrassia introduced the citys bill at the Board of Aldermen on Friday, saying it would make it easier for city police to take guns away from people convicted in the past of committing domestic violence or who are subjects of abuse-related restraining orders. She said the measure mirrors a federal law that isnt often prosecuted here. In a letter to the County Council on Friday, County Executive Sam Page asked the council to introduce similar legislation. By doing so, it will aid in preventing the proliferation of guns into the hands of people who threaten the safety of others, especially women and children, he said in a statement. Page said the measure was common sense. Lisa Clancy, D-5th District, the council chairwoman, tweeted that the council should get this done. St. Louis bill would bar domestic abusers from carrying guns The measure is the latest in a series of efforts to get around a state law that generally allows people to carry concealed firearms without permits and training. Zelensky and Macron today also agreed to attract French experts to decrypt black boxes French President Emmanuel Macron during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that France has begun an international investigation into the UIA plane crash in Iran. The website of the Presidents Office reports. Macron said France had already begun a formal procedure for a corresponding international investigation at ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). "The support of your state is very important for us at this tragic time. I am grateful for the willingness of France to help us in the investigation," - Zelensky said. The parties noted that such a quick establishment of the truth was the result of the clear work of the Ukrainian expert group in Iran and the consolidated support from international partners. As we reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in a telephone conversation on Saturday agreed to involve French experts in deciphering the "black boxes" of a Ukrainian plane. Macron promised to contribute to a comprehensive investigation of the disaster and bring to justice those responsible for this crime Fishing communities across Co Wexford are in mourning this week following the deaths of two men in a tragic fishing accident off Hook Head on Saturday night. Kilmore Quay man Joe Sinnott's body was recovered at around midnight on Saturday, while a massive recovery operation is continuing off the coast for William (Willie) Whelan, a 41-year-old Saltmills man who was married last year. The emergency services were alerted at 10.45 p.m. on Saturday when the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) from the Wexford fishing vessel, Alize was activated. Dunmore East RNLI spokesman Neville Murphy said two RNLI vessels launched within minutes from Kilmore Quay and Dunmore East. 'The Rescue 117 helicopter and the LE Ciara joined the operation and they are still out searching. The search has now moved on to a search and recovery operation (from a search and rescue one).' The Alize, which is one of a number of vessels owned by a family from South Wexford and is registered as operating out of Duncannon, had been out fishing for scallops for 36 hours and was due to return on Saturday night but failed to do so. The Alize is a 11.7 metre steel-hulled vessel built in the UK and is believed to be more than 20 years old. Mr Murphy, who is a winchman with the Rescue 117 helicopter, said RNLI crews were in the water at 11 p.m. on Saturday, having received the EPIRB at 10.48 p.m. Mr Sinnott, from Kilmore Quay, was discovered at around midnight after his reflective life-jacket was spotted from the helicopter four nautical miles off Duncannon. He was unresponsive when winched onboard the helicopter and was airlifted to Waterford Airport from where he was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford in Ardkeen, where he sadly passed away on Sunday. Meanwhile the crew of the Irish Coastguard Sikorski helicopter, Rescue 117, RNLI Lifeboat crews from Kilmore Quay and Dunmore East assisted by local fishing boats from both ports were searching the water for Mr Whelan. The Irish Coastguard Sikorski helicopter from Dublin, Rescue 116 joined in the search at first light on Sunday and the search is being co-ordinated by the Naval Service's LE Ciara whose crew have been off Hook Head since early on Sunday morning. 'No one has seen the vessel. Joe Sinnott was found near to where the EPIRB indicated. The water depth is 50m which is particularly deep. I have been involved in a lot of operations (in the area) like this over the years including the Pere Charles tragedy in which five men lost their life. That recovery operation went on for weeks and the remains were never found,' Mr Murphy said. The search area is not far from the scene of the sinking of the Dunmore East trawler which went down with the loss of all five crew while returning home from a fishing trip for herring in January 2007. He said: 'They were out until 11 a.m. on Sunday when they returned to refuel and change their oil. Fishermen came out on Sunday morning as did the Fethard Inshore lifeboat crew. Conditions were challenging but workable and the search continued until the fall of darkness at around 4 p.m.' A surface search will continue in the hope that Mr Whelan and the vessel are located. 'We are going to do a surface search until we locate the vessel and can be 100 per cent that it is the right one and then the naval divers can dive in at some stage hopefully. On Sunday afternoon's search we had naval vessel, three RNLI vessels, two helicopters and more than 20 local boats involved. We couldn't do anymore. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with both families. We have recovered Joe Sinnott. It's good to get him back to his family and hopefully a bit of closure will come with that.' He said an extended search is very difficult on a family. Weather conditions on Saturday night were said to be reasonable with Force 4 winds while on Sunday morning winds had risen to Force 5 with two metre swells but worsened to Force 7 later on Sunday night, into Monday morning. After a wild start on Monday, the weather calmed, enabling the search operation to continue in calmer seas. Describing conditions on Monday morning as 'atrocious', Mr Murphy said two privately owned boats joined the LE Ciara, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay RNLI vessels in the search at 9 a.m. in 50 Knot winds. He said: 'The lifeboats are all weather so there is no weather that would stop us. 'The wind is picking up again tonight. It was 50 knots today (Monday) but calmed down a bit. It's due to ease off on Tuesday.' He said local boat owners and people who were thinking of searching on the coastline were advised to keep back on Monday due to the stormy conditions. 'It's a very dangerous area in our seas and we've been actively encouraging people to stay back as the utmost caution is needed.' Cllr Ger Carthy said it remains a mystery what happened. 'Some time after 10.30 p.m. something happened. They were coming in across Hook Head and it went down without even having time to give them an opportunity to send out a mayday call. The EPIRB is activated once a vessel goes underwater. 'The signal goes to the Dublin marine (Rescue Coordination Centre). Fortunately they were able to locate Joe Sinnott and bring him to University Hospital Waterford.' Describing Mr Sinnott's death as a tragedy, Cllr Carthy said something catastrophic must have happened. He said fishing was in the blood of the two men and their families. 'They were both very experienced fishermen. Something very catastrophic happened and both men lost their lives.' January 11 : Actor Sharvari who is making foraying into digital world with The Forgotten Army series, says doing justice and being respectful to real life characters was challenging. Directed by Kabir Khan, the series titled The Forgotten Army is based on true events about the men and women in the Indian National Army led by Subhash Chandra Bose. The series stars Sunny Kaushal and Sharvari. Talking about her role and challenges, Sharvari said, I am playing the role of Maya, she is a soldier in Rani Jhansi regiment, which was and is, the only all women regiment. Female soldiers from the regiment took to battle field with other male regiments. This is an important chapter of our history because we have not seen such a combat regiment till now If we keep the characters, training, series and all the other elements aside, see its a real story based on someone life and of course we have fictionalized it. So thats been the most difficult part of this series, though it is fictional account but its based on someones real life and one needs to be respectful and dignified. Challenge was to do justice to each and everyone, whose stories have culminated into characters added Sharvari. Sharvari is working with Kabir Khan for the first time and newbie actress quips that the filmmaker has taught her the most important lesson in life. She said, Kabir Khan told everyone that journey is most important thing while making a show or film. I am new in the industry, so I was thinking about the release of the series and its response but I realized that working with people (cast and crew) of the project is the most important thing. What happens after release or its response, that depends on the audience, but the co-actors and staff you work with for months at a stretch are the family and enjoy that work and journey The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye is a mini web television series which will release of Amazon Prime Video. Sharvari is also part of Bunty and Babli 2. Over the past two years, his ABC predecessors Jacinta Parsons and Sami Shah bore the brunt of listeners anger over the axing of long-serving breakfast anchor Red Symons. While Parsons has been re-deployed to the afternoon shift, Shah was left without a permanent role. Were hoping a new host will allow us to draw a line under all this and move on, says one ABC staffer. Comedians should be able to say whatever they want but you have to know it will have an effect. Sitting by a window in ABCs Southbank headquarters, Sammy J the stage name of 36-year-old Samuel Jonathan McMillan opens his leather-bound diary. Its pristine pages will soon be filled with a daunting array of jobs: radio five mornings a week , comedic sketches on ABC TV each Thursday and a show at this years Melbourne International Comedy Festival. I had a brief moment of stress until my wife said, You dont have the right to whinge about this, Sammy says, noting that too much work is better than the alternative. Im a huge fan of nuance, says Sammy J, who begins as host of ABC Melbournes breakfast radio slot on January 20. I feel like thats gone missing [from public debate] in the last few years. If in my own little way I can bring that to the show I present, then great. Sammy knows it will take time to win his audiences trust. To prepare, he assigned himself some homework, studying maps of Victoria and memorising local government areas. All the advice Ive been given is that listeners can smell a fake straight away, he says. If I dont know something Ill be honest and that involves a fairly major suppression of my ego. Loading As a comedian, hes accustomed to crafting his stage shows and TV sketches; when he filled in for Parsons and Shah last year, he experienced the terror of live radio. Then my live performance instincts kicked in, he says. Even though I had no idea what a caller was going to say, I enjoyed the banter. As his profile grows, so does the chance a reporter will dig up a problematic utterance from his past, triggering a belated wave of outrage. This is one reason hes stayed off Twitter and while there are some jokes hed no longer make (my early, pathetic attempts at satire would undoubtedly be seen as offensive), he rejects the reductionist mindset that deems entire topics off-limits for humourists. Comedians should be able to say whatever they want, he says. But you have to know it will have an effect and if you care about your audience, you should be mindful of that. Growing up in Mount Eliza, Sammys boyhood shyness gave way to teenaged class clowning. At 15, he mocked his own nerdiness in a Red Faces segment on Hey Hey Its Saturday, earning the respect of fellow students including those who had bullied him. I shed my inhibitions to the point where the school principal wrote me a lovely reference but finished with, Just dont give him a microphone, he says. Obviously, I didnt give that reference to the ABC. But the magnitude and timing of the crash, as well as official dissembling about it, have given it special resonance at a moment when Iranian leaders are rallying the public to endure more hardship in their continuing standoff with Washington. Heading into next months parliamentary elections, the disaster is also almost certain to become a campaign issue. This will be a big test for the government, and if there is a sense of blurring evidence or hiding something, that is going to hurt the legitimacy of the current system for sure, said Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, a scholar of Iran at the Royal United Services Institute. We are talking about a very large number of civilians. The government has struggled in vain to contain the embarrassment. After insisting the day after the crash that mechanical failure was to blame, the Iranian authorities abruptly shifted on Friday to pledging complete openness. Officials promised to invite investigators from several nations, including France, the United States and the home country of the airline, Ukraine. Even while pledging a transparent inquiry, though, government officials were still denying on Friday that Iranian missiles could have played any role. State media outlets said the conclusion of the Western governments was an American lie cooked up to sap Irans resolve, and some nationalists on social media argued the same. One day the story of the Ukrainian airline crash will be taught in schools for lessons in psychological warfare, Mohammad Keshvari, the chief executive of an Iranian information technology company, argued on Twitter. After nearly two months in limbo, the survivors of a cargo ship disaster in the Black Sea 180 sheep out of more than 14,000 that were being transported arrived at a new home in the Romanian countryside on Friday, according to the team involved in their rescue. They were to be slaughtered in Saudi Arabia but have been spared from being butchered, said Kuki Barbuceanu, the president of the animal welfare organization known as ARCA. We didnt save them to be eaten by somebody, Mr. Barbuceanu said on Friday, shortly after dropping them off at a farm in Peris, about 20 miles north of Bucharest. Though they may be referred to as sheep, they are technically rams because they are all males. (Females stay behind to reproduce, Mr. Barbuceanu said; typically only males are shipped away to become meat.) An Oscar statue is seen during a media preview of this year's Academy's Governors Ball in Los Angeles, California, February 15, 2019. Mario Anzuoni | Reuters The Oscar race has only just begun. On Monday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the nominations for its 92nd annual Academy Awards. Front runners for the biggest prizes of the ceremony, which will take place on Feb. 9 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, include "1917," "The Irishman," "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," "Parasite" and "Marriage Story." While Renee Zellweger ("Judy") and Brad Pitt ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood") appear to be shoo-in nominees for best actress and best supporting actor, other categories are more contentious. There's still no clear leader in the best picture race and there's still a chance that several underdogs could find themselves in the directing category. While more than two dozen awards will be presented during the aired awards ceremony in February, we took a look at the top categories to see who is most likely to snag nominations on Monday. Best picture Heading into the 2020 Oscar race there are a few clear front runners "1917," "The Irishman," "Parasite" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." All four films received nominations from the Producers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and are considered the top tier of candidates to be on the best picture ballot come Monday. Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Ray Romano star in Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman." Netflix In 2009, the Academy amended its nomination rules so that up to 10 films could be nominated for the top prize. However, the awards ceremony doesn't always utilize all 10 spots. Since the rule change, each year there have been at least eight nominees in the category. "Jojo Rabbit," "Marriage Story" and "Joker" are strong contenders for the final list, according to industry experts. Underdogs that could slip into the pack are "Little Women," "Ford v. Ferrari," "Knives Out," "Bombshell," "The Two Popes" and "The Farewell." Surprise nominations would include "Uncut Gems" and "Pain and Glory." The shoo-in nominees: "1917" "The Irishman" "Parasite" "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" The wild card nominees: "Marriage Story" "Joker" "Jojo Rabbit" "Little Women" "The Farewell" "Ford v. Ferrari" "Uncut Gems" Still from "1917." Universal Best director It's not surprising that the directors behind the top anticipated best picture nominees would also find themselves at the top of the best director category. Sam Mendes ("1917"), Martin Scorsese ("The Irishman"), Quentine Tarantino ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood") and Bong Joon Ho ("Parasite") are likely to find themselves on the best director ballot. The Directors Guild nominated those four directors alongside Taika Waititi ("Jojo Rabbit") for its award ceremony, but that doesn't mean Waititi is guaranteed the fifth nomination spot at the Academy Awards. After all, The Directors Guild's slate of nominees has only ever matched perfectly with the Academy's five times in 72 years, Ben Zauzmer, author of "Oscarmetrics: The Math Behind the Biggest Night in Hollywood" and a mathematical Oscar predictor, wrote in a piece for the Hollywood Reporter. More often, four of the guild's selections go on to receive Oscar nominations and one gets left off the ballot. Taika Waititi and Roman Griffin Davis star in "Jojo Rabbit." Disney | Fox Searchlight Noah Baumbach ("Marriage Story"), Greta Gerwig ("Little Women") or Todd Phillips ("Joker") are strong contenders should Waititi not be nominated. The shoo-in nominees: Sam Mendes, "1917" Martin Scorcese, "The Irishman" Bong Joon Ho, "Parasite" Quentin Tarantino, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" The wild card nominees: Noah Baumbach, "Marriage Story" Todd Phillips "Joker" Taika Waititi, "Jojo Rabbit" Greta Gerwig, "Little Women" Lulu Wang, "The Farewell" Best actor The majority of industry analysts agree that the Oscar ballot for best actor will include Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") and Adam Driver ("Marriage Story"). That leaves three spots left for nearly a dozen other strong performances. Taron Egerton ("Rocketman") earned the Golden Globe win for best actor in a comedy or musical for his portrayal of Elton John, so many consider him to be poised to take one of the remaining spots on the best actor ballot. Fighting for the other spots are Leonardo DiCaprio ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"), Jonathan Pryce ("The Two Popes"), Antonio Banderas ("Pain and Glory"), Eddie Murphy ("Dolemite is my Name"), Adam Sandler ("Uncut Gems") and Christian Bale ("Ford v. Ferrari"). Robert De Niro ("The Irishman") was left off the ballots at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild awards, so while he is poised as an underdog, it's possible he could score a nomination from The Academy. The shoo-in nominees: Joaquin Phoenix, "Joker" Adam Driver, "Marriage Story" Taron Egerton, "Rocketman" The wild card nominees: Leonardo DiCaprio, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" Jonathan Pryce, "The Two Popes" Adam Sandler, "Uncut Gems" Robert De Niro, "The Irishman" Christian Bale, "Ford v. Ferrari" Best actress The best actress category is going to be a hard one for underdogs to crack into this year. Renee Zellweger ("Judy") is a clear front runner after her Golden Globes win. Charlize Theron ("Bombshell"), Scarlett Johansson ("Marriage Story") and Saoirse Ronan ("Little Women") are expected to round out the top four, leaving only one spot left. Awkwafina accepts the award for BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY for "The Farewell" onstage during the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. Handout Currently, Cynthia Erivo ("Harriet"), Awkwafina ("The Farewell") and Lupita Nyong'o ("Us") are the strongest contenders for the fifth place on the ballot. Notably, Awkwafina won the best actress in a musical or comedy award at the Golden Globes, but that doesn't guarantee her an Oscar nomination. The shoo-in nominees: Renee Zellweger, "Judy" Charlize Theron, "Bombshell" Scarlett Johansson, "Marriage Story" Saoirse Ronan, "Little Women" The wild card nominees: Cynthia Erivo, "Harriet" Awkwafina, "The Farewell" Lupita Nyong'o, "Us" Best animated feature With "Missing Link's" upset win at the Golden Globes, analysts are wondering if the stop motion feature is poised for Oscar glory or if Disney's three nominated films in the category split the vote. Going into the Academy Awards, Disney likely won't have that problem again. While the Golden Globes considered "The Lion King" to be an animated feature, the Academy has a different set of rules which will result in the film being absent from the animated feature category. Still from Laika Entertainment's "Missing Link." Laika Entertainment The current consensus that is that "Toy Story 4," "Frozen II," "How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World" and "Missing Link" will clinch nominations for the Oscar category. "I Lost My Body" is a clear favorite with analysts to take the fifth spot, but "Abominable" and Netflix's "Klaus" could also be in the running. Although unlikely, "The Lion King" could also be considered a wild card in this race. The shoo-in nominees: "Frozen II" "Toy Story 4" "Missing Link" "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" The wild card nominees: "The Lion King" "I Lost My Body" "Abominable" "Klaus" Disney releases Frozen II trailer to hit theaters in Nov. 2019. Source: Disney Best supporting actor Brad Pitt ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood") is all but guaranteed a nomination for best supporting actor at the Oscars. And many see him as poised to win the category. Especially, as Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, both supporting actors in "The Irishman," could split the vote among fans of Scorsese's mobster film. Tom Hanks ("A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood") appears to be a shoo-in for a nomination, but hasn't been nominated for an Academy Award since 2000. Brad Pitt and Leonardo Dicaprio star in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Sony Other contenders include Anthony Hopkins ("The Two Popes"), Willem Dafoe ("The Lighthouse"), Jamie Foxx ("Just Mercy"), Song Kang Ho ("Parasite") and Wesley Snipes ("Dolemite is my Name"). The shoo-in nominees: Brad Pitt, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" Al Pacino, "The Irishman" Joe Pesci, "The Irishman" The wild card nominees: Tom Hanks, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" Willem Dafoe, "The Lighthouse" Jamie Foxx, "Just Mercy" Song Kang-Ho, "Parasite" Best supporting actress Laura Dern ("Marriage Story"), Margot Robbie ("Bombshell") and Jennifer Lopez ("Hustlers") are the current leaders heading into Monday's official nomination announcement for best supporting actress. Scarlett Johansson could also snag a nomination for her role in "Jojo Rabbit," which would make her the first person since Cate Blanchett in 2007 to nab two acting nominations in the same year. Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie star in "Bombshell." Annapurna Pictures By Tom Perry BEIRUT (Reuters) - The powerful Lebanese group Hezbollah is working to remove obstacles to a deal on a new government which must be formed as soon as possible to avoid collapse, one of its top officials said on Thursday. Lebanon has been without a functioning government since Saad al-Hariri quit as prime minister in October after protests against the political elite over corruption, leaving the country without a rescue plan as financial and economic crises deepen. The worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war has led the Lebanese pound to slump amid a dollar shortage and banks to tightly control access to cash and block transfers abroad. Spiraling regional tensions since the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, a close ally of Shi'ite Hezbollah, by the United States last week have added to the risks facing the heavily indebted state. Hezbollah has said Iran's allies in the region should help avenge the killing. But referring to the regional conflict, senior Hezbollah official Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed said nobody including Hezbollah wanted "a government of confrontation" in Lebanon but one that could save the country. "We are carrying a very important and exhausting role to reach an agreement as soon as possible to prevent this collapse," Sayyed said. "We have taken the initiative and continue to do so to remove all obstacles and complications to reach a government." Speaking after a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Sayyid also noted that the regional situation was "another incentive" for concessions. Hezbollah, which is sanctioned as a terrorist group by the United States, has exercised more sway over Lebanese state affairs since it won a parliamentary majority together with its political allies in 2018. Along with allies including President Michel Aoun, Hezbollah last month nominated former government minister Hassan Diab to form the next government after the failure of efforts to make a deal with Hariri, an ally of the West and Gulf Arab states. Story continues Shi'ite Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, said the government formation was facing complications and the situation in Lebanon was going from bad to worse. The pound has weakened again in recent days on the parallel market: dollars were being offered at 2,400 pounds on Thursday - some 60% weaker than its official peg of 1,507.5 pounds, a dealer said. In a rebuke to politicians, Jan Kubis, the senior U.N. official in Lebanon, on Wednesday said it was "increasingly irresponsible" to keep Lebanon without a government. (Additional reporting by Laila Bassam; Editing by William Maclean) Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes: Strictly Necessary Cookies We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. 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Targeting Cookies We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. The first person died in the Chinese city of Wuhan of pneumonia caused by a new type of coronavirus, the city's Healthcare Department said on Saturday (local time). "41 cases of infection with the new type of coronavirus have been revealed. Two people have already been allowed to leave a hospital, seven remain in a critical condition, one died, while others are in a stable condition," the department said in a statement. About 740 people, including 419 doctors, are subject to medical monitoring as they had contacts with the patients. Local authorities in Wuhan confirmed that the city had been dealing with an outbreak of unknown pneumonia. Earlier this week, Chinese media reported that the outbreak was caused by a new type of coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyderabad: Back in the late 1970s and 1980s, when Muhammed Ahmedullah Siddiqui, the founder of Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi), used to give highly motivated speeches to restore the supremacy of Islam in India, it used to have a lasting effect on all those listening to him in rapt attention. So much so, that the followers would be ready to go to any extent to fulfill the aim of their organisation. Years later, firebrand Simi leaders like Dr Shahid Badr Falahi and Safdar Nagori continued this trend of delivering high voltage speeches to take more and more youth into their fold until the Centre banned Simi in 2001. But, for the Popular Front of India (PFI) believed to be an off-shoot of the proscribed Simi, something the outfit vehemently denies it is more of self-radicalisation that has driven their members to fearlessly indulge in a series of heinous offences ranging from political murders, hate campaigns, alleged forced conversions, possession of arms to murderous attacks among others. Now, on the radar of the Centre for its alleged involvement in the violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), especially in Uttar Pradesh and Manguluru of Karnataka, most of the members who joined the PFI in the last several years were reportedly self-radicalised which makes it much easier for the organisation often linked to various Pakistan-based terror groups. PFI watchers told Deccan Chronicle that after its inception in 2006, the organisation initially had quite a few motivational speakers, some of whom had previously held posts in Simi. However, over the years, with the PFI, making the most of social media platforms and with a lot of online content available, the new members came all prepared. When it comes to PFI, most of its members are self-radicalised and this is the sole reason why one finds them fearlessly indulging in a series of serious offences over the last many years. Propaganda material beginning from the Babri masjid demolition to the alleged atrocities on the community, Gujarat riots to the events across the world has resulted in many self-radicalised youths joining the group or at least sympathising with them, they said. Pointing on how self-radicalisation was evident in various offences allegedly committed by the outfit, right from the time the PFI members reportedly chopped off the hands of a Kerala professor to love Jihad, where they are claimed to have forcibly converted women, political murders and their members allegedly joining the Islamic State, sources said that self-radicalisation, which is now an international phenomena, is bound to have disastrous consequences. Each person who is self-radicalised has the potential to inflict harm on others single-handedly. If a group of such individuals joins hands, it will have disastrous consequences and the same can be said about PFI, they said. Sources said that the PFI members were allegedly involved behind every criminal act in the last decade and that self-motivated individuals are alleged to have played a key role in executing them. For instance, in the chopping off the hand of the Kerala professor in 2010, there were two failed attempts and the accused, who were just not willing to give up, could strike in their third attempt. Immediately afterwards, one of the attackers told him, this hand which insults Islam will not be raised in future. In the other offences they are involved in, the determination and planning with which they have executed their operations indicates that most of them are self-motivated. In some offences, planning and strategies were discussed for months before they were finally executed. We have not come across any case where they backtracked or thought twice about the consequences, an official who has interrogated PFI members, disclosed. Ways to make an ever-popular New Year's resolution a reality Getting started on a healthy program can be easy with some professional help. Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State on Friday said the state government and security agencies have arrested the alleged masterminds involved in the trafficking of an indigene of the state. The governor also condemned the rising trend of human trafficking in the country and vowed to deal with anyone caught in Kwara state according to the dictates of the law. The governor made this known in a tweet in reaction to viral footage of an indigene of the state, Ajayi Omolola, allegedly trafficked to Lebanon where she is being maltreated. I am horrified by the video footage of Ajayi Omolola, a resident in Ilorin, who was trafficked to Lebanon where she is reportedly being subjected to inhuman treatment, the governor tweeted. We have since linked up with security agencies who have arrested the alleged perpetrators and will soon hand them over to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). I implore citizens to work with us to put an end to such horrific activity by exposing the perpetrators. Emotional footage A video footage of Ms Omolola, who was allegedly trafficked to Lebanon, went viral earlier in the week, prompting Nigerians to call on the government to come to her aid. The video claimed that Ms Omolola, whose parents live in Ilorin, was tricked into travelling to Lebanon in the guise of engaging her as an English tutor but ended up being used as a slave. A subsequent press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the governor condemned the development in the strongest terms possible and has immediately linked up with the security agencies to get to the root of the matter. We are glad to announce that three suspects, comprising two Nigerians and the Lebanese referred to in the footage, have been arrested in connection with the case and the suspects are being interrogated, the statement said. Apart from Ms Ajayi, discreet investigations by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, in Kwara State have revealed that there are at least 28 other victims of this horrible trafficking gang. The governor is concerned that fellow human beings are engaging in another round of slavery despite the horror and unquantifiable loss of the 20th Century, the statement said. The statement urged residents to report any such activity they might know of in their neighbourhood. In her reaction, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed the arrest of the alleged trafficker. The alleged trafficker has been arrested and will be handed over to NAPTIP.The family of the lady have been traced ..Kwara Gov is personally on the matter. All hands on deck to ensure the trafficked lady returns, she tweeted. Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images While some will always see reggae artist Shaggy as merely the genius insisting it wasnt him having sex butt-naked on the bathroom floor in front of your very eyes (it was some sort of infidelity optical illusion!), the Jamaican musician is, in fact, a critically acclaimed two-time Grammy Award winner for Best Reggae Album, thanks to 1996s Boombastic and 2019s 44/876, which he made with Sting. So, calibrate your shocked gasps accordingly when you read that, yeah, Shaggy went ahead and passed on the chance to collaborate on a song for Rihannas long-awaited ninth album, rumored for a 2020 release. The reason he declined to work on RiRis upcoming project? Apparently, despite his decades of reggae excellence, Shaggy was asked to audition. They approached me for the Rihanna project, yeah, the musician reportedly told Britains Daily Star. Theres a lot of great people involved, but for me, I didnt need to audition to be on the record. Ill leave that to younger guys. But from what I hear, it should be good. And while Shaggy himself didnt feel the need to prove his credentials for Rihannas reportedly Caribbean dancehallinspired album, he was gracious about encouraging her sonic direction. Its healthy competition, he said. Dancehall is in a good place but we need as many people to do this art form as possible. When it crosses over and becomes popular with artists from other genres and other cultures, that can only be good. Truly a boombastic mister, even after all these years. Azerbaijan Sheki is one of the oldest cities in the Caucasus region, believed to date back to the late Bronze Age, circa 700 BC. Charukesi Ramadurai wrote an article for The National, discussing this beautiful city. I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Except, instead of falling into a rabbit hole, I have stepped into a kaleidoscope, where sunlight and coloured glass are playing off each other to create shape-shifting mosaics. I am at the Khans Palace in Sheki, a small town in the northwest of Azerbaijan surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains. A recent addition to the Unesco World Heritage List, Sheki Khans Palace, also known as Sheki Xan Sarayi, was built in the late 1700s by Muhammad Huseyn Khan, and is part of a sprawling fortress complex perched high on one end of this charming town. My first impression of the palace, one of the few restored buildings on the grounds, is of a colourful two-storey mansion set against towering chinar trees. The facade is exquisite a dazzling montage of blue, turquoise and brown tiles in neat geometric and floral patterns, punctuated only by wooden windows. As architecture goes, the mansion is fairly simple two identically laid out levels, with three long rectangular rooms in each. However, I had not anticipated the profusion of colour inside the palace a combination of stained glass and murals. Every inch of wall and ceiling space is covered in lush frescoes in floral motifs, with hunting and battle scenes depicting the might of the ruling Khans. Each of the stained glass windows stands out as a work of art in itself, while the ceiling in the main room on the lower level is entirely set in pieces of cut glass, spreading out like the late evening sky. The windows were created using the traditional art of shebeke, Azerbaijans answer to European stained glass. I learn from my guide that restoration work had been ongoing at the palace since the mid-1950s, finally grinding to a halt in 2002. Not surprisingly, the project was handled not only by a team of architects, but also the best shebeke artists in town. I follow the trail of the shebeke a craft as old as the palace itself down through the fortress complex to the Abad arts and crafts complex. Sheki is also part of the Unesco Creative Cities Network, because of its rich heritage in 18 craft forms, including embroidery, pottery, weaving and music, among other things. Of these, the undisputed star is the shebeke, a sophisticated jigsaw puzzle of wooden lattices of walnut or oak, into which coloured glass pieces in primary colours such as blue, red and yellow are set, without the help of glue or nails. At a shebeke workshop, master craftsman Husein Hajimustafazadeh demonstrates his impressive skill, typically passed on from father to son. A single window pane can involve thousands of pieces, he declares nonchalantly, as his fingers work deftly, as if possessing a life of their own. Sheki is one of the oldest cities in the Caucasus region, believed to date back to the late Bronze Age, circa 700 BC. The town has seen Persians, Romans, Arabs, Mongolians and, most recently, Russians, come and go. Through it all, it seems to have held on to its Caucasian identity, while assimilating the best cultural influences of its international visitors. I had experienced one of these melting-pot moments earlier in the day in the village of Kish, just outside the main town. I made the trip there mainly to visit its recently restored church, again the oldest in the Caucasus, believed to have been established in the first century by St Elysee (locally known as Elishe). In its several centuries of existence, the Church of Kish has served as a Caucasian Albanian Apostolic Church, an Armenian Apostolic Church, the residence of a Georgian Orthodox bishop and now a museum. But Sheki really came into its own as a pit stop on the Silk Road, when it found fame as a centre for silkworm breeding and trade in silk cocoons. The Caucasus region is not generally known as a place of prominence on this famed trade route that connected China with Turkey through the lofty mountains of the Hindu Kush, but there were routes that branched out into Central Asia, including Azerbaijan. Locals bartered Murano glass from Italy and ceramics from the Ottomans in exchange for their own silks and spices. And they put it all to good use in their palaces, I muse, the glittering shebeke still in my mind. In town, the most visible icons of Shekis Silk Road legacy are the two caravanserais early 19th-century inns for travellers and traders to rest for the night that are still standing. I walk into the Yukhari Karvansaray Hotel, an erstwhile caravanserai renovated and repurposed into a guesthouse, to get an idea of how things may have been. An open central courtyard, where I imagine camels were once tethered and fed, is surrounded by arched corridors leading into sparse guest rooms. On one side of this courtyard, I chance upon the cayxana, a teahouse where I am welcomed into one of the cozy stone alcoves along with my friends. A young waiter soon brings in a samovar, while another carries a tray with crockery and small bites. Tea (locally, cay or chai) is not just a beverage, but a ritual in Azerbaijan. It is brewed in the samovar and served in tulip glasses, along with sugar cubes that are to be placed between the teeth, the unsweetened tea sucked through them. And if that sugar quotient is not enough, there is a variety of baklava, Turkish delights, sweetened nuts and murabba (fruit preserves) served along with it. As I lay back on the floor cushions and bite into a sweet white cherry, I do indeed feel like I have been transported back to an earlier time of plenty. By Express News Service BHOPAL: A man faked his already married daughter's wedding to seek temporary bail for jailed son in Madhya Pradesh. The son, Mohd Sajid alias Sheru, is an alleged operative of the banned outfit - Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and was sentenced to life in prison by Bhopal District Court after conviction in a loot-dacoity case in July 2016. He later challenged the Bhopal District Court verdict in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. It was during the course of hearing of his appeal against the 2016 Bhopal District Court order that his father, Abdul Sattar, sought temporary bail for him. In the bail application, Sattar submitted that the temporary bail will enable son Sajid to attend sisters marriage on December 15, 2019. He also submitted a copy of the marriage invitation card of Sajids sister to support the bail application. While hearing the application, the High Court directed the police to verify the facts and submit a report. However, when the police enquired the matter, it was found that the convicts sister was already married. The police then submitted a report on the matter before the High Court, taking note of which the courts double judge bench directed Sattar to personally appear and submit his response in an affidavit. Sattar then filed an affidavit admitting his mistake and apologised. On verification, it is found that the said information is factually incorrect. The marriage has already been solemnized a year ago and therefore, it is prima facie clear that the father of the appellant made an attempt to mislead the court this Court for obtaining temporary bail on the basis of forged document (Invitation Card), the High Courts double bench observed on January 6. The Court further observed, Prima facie it appears that Abdul Sattar has committed contempt by filing a fake application supported by fabricated document. Accordingly we deem it proper to issue contempt notice against Abdul Sattar for his aforesaid act. Madhya Pradesh High Court also asked Shimla Jain, the counsel for the appellant to file a response in three weeks, which has been listed for next hearing on February 10. New Delhi, Jan 11 (UNI) A day after Delhi Police named and released pictures of suspects behind the January 5 Jawaharlal Nehru University campus violence, JNU Students' Union on Saturday claimed that police had information about presence of a mob on campus prior to the incident, but it ignored the messages. "They (police) were apprised at 1500 hrs, but the messages were ignored," the JNUSU said at a press conference here. But what had surprised the JNUSU was that neither the university administration nor the police had named any ABVP students in the January 5 incident in the campus. 'Why is CCTV footage not available,' JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh questioned. "Now that cameras are installed on the campus, why is the University administration not able to show the CCTV footage from the JNU gate?" the JNUSU president asked. The students body further claimed that security guards were not available during the incident. Meanwhile, a five-member committee has been set up to investigate the issue of violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University. The University administration, which gave this information here on Saturday, said this panel will look into all aspects of the Sunday violence. In the ongoing probe into the JNU campus violence, the SIT of Delhi Police on Friday named and released pictures of nine suspects behind the incident. However, the police is yet to come out with details on the masked mob that indulged in violence and beating up of students and teachers. Seeking to clear doubts over misinformation being reportedly spread about the JNU attack and the investigation into the matter so far, the police narrated the sequence of events of violence that preceded the Sunday violence. Beginning with the clashes that took place prior to January 5 violence with the centre point being the hostel fee hike and stalling of the winter semester registration process, Delhi Police has come up with the names of the students mainly associated with the JNU Students' Union including, Students Federation of India (SFI), All India Students Federation (AISF), All India Students Association (AISA) and the Democratic Students Federation (DSF). The students named by the police, include Chunchun Kumar, Pankaj Mishra, JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, Waskar Vijay, Sucheta Talukdar, Priya Ranjan, Dolan Sawant, Yogendra Bhardwaj and Vikas Patel. Of these Yogendra and Vijay are members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The police has so far not detained any of the suspects. Aishe Ghosh along with other members of the Left student groups had allegedly attacked the JNU main server to stop online registrations in view of the protest against the increased fees. UNI NY SD 2000 Juan Herrera, a graduate student from San Diego, was searching the Airbnb booking site for a place to rent in Los Angeles for New Years Eve when he was surprised to see that several extra fees were added to the nightly rate, pushing the total cost of the trip out of his price range. In addition to the nightly rates of $100 to $120 for a private room, nearly every place he considered renting charged a service fee of about 13% of the pretax rate and a one-time cleaning fee of about $45. It prompted him to instead book a comparably priced hotel room. I definitely felt surprised and preferred to book a regular hotel because I do not feel now that Airbnb is transparent with prices, Herrera said. Properties listed for rent on Airbnb routinely charge cleaning and other fees, some substantial, but such extra costs seldom are factored into the nightly rate that turns up in the initial lodging search, according to an analysis of listings by the Los Angeles Times. Now, lawmakers and consumer groups are pressuring Airbnb, Vrbo and other short-term rental platforms as well as conventional hotels to include all mandatory charges such as cleaning and service fees into the advertised nightly rate so that prospective customers can accurately compare prices. The European Commission reached an agreement with Airbnb last year that requires the online booking platform to advertise the total price of booking lodging throughout Europe, which means adding all mandatory fees into the nightly rate. A bill introduced in September in the U.S. House of Representatives would impose similar requirements for all short-term lodging in the United States, including hotels and home-sharing services such as Airbnb. Advertising the full rate shouldnt be hard to do, said Anna Laitin, director of financial policy for Consumer Reports, which endorsed the legislation by Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, and Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb. There are ways to do it and do it well. The bill, titled the Hotel Advertising Transparency Act, is awaiting a vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Hotel Advertising Transparency Act applies to all listings for short-term lodging; this means that short-term rentals like those found on websites like Airbnb and Vrbo are subject to the same provisions in this bill that hotels and motels are, Johnson said. An Airbnb spokeswoman said the booking site shows both the nightly rate, without fees, and the full price, but only after guests plug in the number of days they plan to rent lodging. We are fully committed to price transparency and display both a nightly price and a fee-inclusive total price in our search results, Airbnb spokeswoman Mattie Zazueta said. We are always working to improve our customer experience and welcome the opportunity to work with lawmakers on this important topic. Home sharing gained popularity primarily because such lodging, ranging from a single room to an entire house, was typically offered for a much lower rate than rooms at traditional hotels. But Airbnb customers have begun to complain on social media sites that short-term rental hosts have become increasingly misleading by advertising nightly rates that dont include the extra fees that are added once its time to book the stay. If Im comparing prices of different places in a specific area, its very misleading because you dont see all the extra fees like the cleaning fees until you go to reserve it, said Jonah Lupton, who runs a Boston-based painting company. Dozens of times Ive gone to reserve a place only to see the cleaning fee and get annoyed because its ridiculously high. The cleaning fees are among the highest charges added to most short-term rentals. In some cases the fees can be nearly as much as the daily rate. The Times analyzed more than 40,000 Airbnb listings in Los Angeles provided by Inside Airbnb, a site that collects information from the Airbnb booking site. The Times analysis found that 83% of the short-term rentals charged a cleaning fee, which typically ranged from $5 to $1,500, with one fee at a sky-high $2,500. Among the Airbnb listings that included a cleaning fee, the median nightly rate was $115 and the median one-time cleaning fee was $75. The cleaning fee was as high or higher than the nightly rate in 13% of the listings in Los Angeles, according to the Times analysis. At least a thousand more listings charged a cleaning fee that was only $10 less than the amount of a nights stay. Because cleaning fees are almost always charged only once per stay, the cleaning costs are a bigger hit for customers who book only one night than those who book for several days. Extra fees for short-term rentals have become the norm because they allow hosts to attract customers with what appears to be a low nightly rate, said Linchi Kwok, an associate professor at the Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona. Only after the consumers click on a specific listing, then they can see the price structures that show the breakdown of the total cost, including the expenses for the stay, cleaning fee, service fee and occupancy taxes and fees, he said. As a result, many people may not pay attention to how much they end up paying for the fees. That explains why a penthouse resort in downtown Los Angeles was advertised on Vrbo.com recently for $199 a night but actually costs $369 when the $95 cleaning fee, $34 service fee and $41 lodging tax are added. On Airbnb.com, an oasis in Venice beach was advertised for $99 a night but actually costs $253 when the $125 cleaning fee and $29 service fee are added. According to Airbnb, hosts who advertise a property on the booking service must collect a standard service fee of about 13% of the total pre-taxed price, which pays for the operation of the Airbnb site. The Vrbo.com website says it charges a service fee that may change from time to time. Both platforms also collect a transient occupancy tax from renters in areas where such a tax is required. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes But neither of the two booking services regulates how much property hosts are allowed to charge for other costs or services such as cleaning, parking, hosting a pet or checking in early. If such fee gripes sound familiar, its because airlines faced criticism about a decade ago when many air carriers began to advertise fares that did not include many fees, including to check luggage. The outcry prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2011 to adopt a rule that required all airlines to include in the advertised price any mandatory fees, including taxes. Hotels have also been the target of consumer outrage in recent years for adding resort fees as high as $100 a night. Attorneys general for Nebraska and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits over resort fees, and at least one travel website has begun charging a commission on resort fees charged in Europe to push hotels to be more transparent about their prices. Matthew Kiessling, a spokesman for the Short Term Rental Advocacy Center, a coalition that includes property owners, managers and short-term rental hosts, said he is aware of the proposed legislation in Congress but declined to comment on the bill or to talk in general about transparency in short-term rental rates. Several Airbnb hosts who were contacted by the Times via the booking service declined to comment or requested that their names not be published. The host of a townhouse in San Pedro (Los Angeles County) that rents for $220 a night, plus a $280 cleaning fee, $65 service fee and $70 in occupancy taxes and fees, responded to questions about transparency in rates by saying Airbnb lets people know what the cost will be so I dont really see an issue. Still, online forums for Airbnb hosts show that hosts have vastly different approaches to fees, particularly for cleaning. I used to charge a cleaning fee but have recently changed my rates to price more like a hotel and roll the cleaning fee into the nightly cost, in order to average it out over each night for the month, wrote one Airbnb host. But another host on a similar forum said charging a cleaning fee allows the host to attract renters with what appears to be a low nightly rate. Yes, my daily rate is lower because I charge a cleaning fee and I get lots of hits and bookings, the host wrote. Do not raise the price, lower it and raise the cleaning fee. Hugo Martin is a Los Angeles Times writer. FRONT PAGE An article on Friday about intelligence that says an Iranian missile brought down Flight 752 in Tehran misstated the name of the airline. It was Ukraine International Airlines, not Ukrainian Airlines. BUSINESS An article on Dec. 30 about a California law that requires public companies in the state to include more women on their boards misstated the name of a company that recently added a woman to its board. It is OSI Systems, not OSI Securities. TRAVEL: 52 PLACES TO GO IN 2020 The No. 7 entry on Page 4 about Sicily misspelled the name of a wine family in Sicily. It is the Tasca dAlmerita, not Almitra. The No. 26 entry on Page 12 about Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, misstated the name of a park reserve and heritage site in British Columbia. It is Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, not Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Matt Day (Bloomberg) Sat, January 11, 2020 20:03 730 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321c70a1 2 Science & Tech Amazon,united-states,e-commerce,leaked-information Free Amazon.com Inc. said it had fired employees for leaking customer email addresses and phone numbers to an unspecified third party, the second time this week the technology giant acknowledged some workers had improperly accessed customer data. We are writing to let you know that your email address and phone number were disclosed by an Amazon employee to a third party in violation of our policies, Amazons customer service team said in an email to a customer shared Friday on social media. @amazon ... contacting customer service is it going to change the fact that youve disclosed personal information and yes I have received at least 20 spam spoof phone calls in the last two days what was the purpose of this employees action other than to cause chaos. pic.twitter.com/vloqX40e8Z forrest crunch (@amadahyloves) January 10, 2020 The individuals responsible for this incident have been terminated and we are supporting law enforcement in their prosecution, a spokeswoman for the Seattle-based company said in a statement. She declined to say how many Amazon employees were fired, who received the information or how many customers were involved. Read also: Amazon.com staff warned over criticizing company's climate policy Earlier this week, Amazon-owned video doorbell maker Ring told US senators it had fired at least four employees for improperly seeking to access customer videos during the last four years. TechCrunch reported on the Amazon customer email leak earlier Friday. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- When does an issue capture enough public attention that policymakers act? Has the exponential growth of EdChoice school districts for the 2020-2021 school year created enough concern that Ohios lawmakers will mitigate the damage that school vouchers inflict on public school budgets? As reported by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, legislative leaders have acknowledged the need for some kind of fix before the floodgates open on Feb. 1 for next years vouchers. Is this the moment? When the Ohio Department of Education released the list of EdChoice districts for 2021, it was a victorious moment for education privatizers in the state legislature. They had engineered into law so many changes in the criteria used to dub a school district as EdChoice, the status needed to open the public purse for private school tuition, that next fall more than 400 of Ohios 612 school districts will have to pay for the education of students who do not attend their schools. This includes 18 districts in Cuyahoga County, up from seven two years ago. Susie Kaeser is the education specialist with the League of Women Voters of Ohio. The list of EdChoice districts is reported by county on the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) website. I mapped those districts for 2020 and found EdChoice schools in 86 of Ohios 88 counties. Every state senator will represent some families who will now be able to seek a voucher to attend a willing religious or other private school. This unorthodox use of public funds is now the norm. The legislature, the guardian of the public school system, has forsaken its responsibility for the common good. Vouchers are funded by the deduction method, which means part of the cost is picked up by local districts. Until voucher costs show up on the expense column of a school district budget, it may be hard to see that they threaten education quality and the viability of a community. But that is what is at stake. Voucher access is now on a scale that, if not reined in, will permanently damage public education as a resource for the children of our state. Ohios school funding system is broken. It is underfunded, allows for vast differences in opportunity from district to district, and relies much too heavily on local property taxes. Vouchers exacerbate every weakness of the current system. Diverting public funds from more public school students to pay for private school education will make it nearly impossible to create an affordable funding policy for Ohios public schools. It will cost too much to fill the growing holes in local budgets. Cuyahoga County is hard-hit by vouchers. Data provided by the Legislative Service Commission for the 2018-19 school year shows that 18 Ohio districts lost the equivalent of more than 10 percent of their state aid to pay for vouchers, and 11 were in Cuyahoga County. The hardest-hit is my community, Cleveland Heights. Legislators can no longer write off vouchers as a big-city problem. Starting next fall, rural senators from the northwest, southern, mid-central and eastern parts of Ohio who have voted for vouchers will each represent dozens of newly designated EdChoice districts, as will many who represent suburban districts. The ODE list shows that Sen. Matt Huffman, the architect of privatization, will represent 17 EdChoice school districts in the seven counties in his district. Districts everywhere operate on tight budgets. Every dollar counts. Now that EdChoice will undermine public school budgets statewide, will the legislature stand up for public schools? The public officials who endorse privatization hold the future of our public schools in their hands. Now that vouchers negatively impact their public school constituents, will they care? This is where our voices matter. If you think public schools need adequate funds, that inequality of resources is unacceptable, that increasing reliance on local property taxes is unfair, then let Ohio lawmakers know they need to protect the budgets of public schools. Right now, state legislators can provide financial relief to hard-hit districts where voucher costs have reached a crisis level, especially high-poverty districts. They can pause the growth of EdChoice schools. They can make the income-based vouchers that are already funded the option for new vouchers. These steps would be a good start. Susie Kaeser, a public education advocate and kindergarten volunteer at Boulevard Elementary School in Cleveland Heights, is the education specialist for the League of Women Voters of Ohio. She is active with the Heights Coalition for Public Education, an all-volunteer citizen group that focuses on state education policy, and is retired director of Reaching Heights, a community support organization for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District. ************************************ Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Follow option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. Jacom Stephens / Getty Images WATERBURY Police are awaiting autopsy results to learn the circumstances that led to the death of a man found in a car in a mall parking lot Saturday morning, officials said. Shortly before 9:30 a.m., police and emergency medical service personnel were dispatched to the Brass Mill Center shopping mall at 495 Union St. in Waterbury. Residents of SVR colony of Channagiri Taluq here on Thursday built a temple in the memory of a male monkey, who died here unexpectedly. A group of monkeys entered the SVR colony around three months back. The monkeys have never disturbed anybody in the area and they used to play with children living in the colony. Locals said that the monkeys are very obedient to them. Unfortunately, one of the monkeys died suddenly on Wednesday, causing distress among people who were very fond of him. Showing their love for the deceased monkey, locals performed his final rite according to Hindu tradition. Later, the residents approached the president of the village Panchayat to allot funds to build a temple in the monkeys memory. The construction of the temple has already begun in the area at the same place where the monkeys funeral was conducted. Also Read | Chhattisgarh village collects money to build temple for human-friendly crocodile SEOUL, South Korea North Korea said on Saturday that President Trump had sent birthday greetings to its leader, Kim Jong-un, but added that the rapport between the two leaders would not help resolve their countries nuclear standoff. Ever since his first summit meeting with Mr. Kim, in June 2018, Mr. Trump has repeatedly flaunted his good relationship with the Norths leader, calling Mr. Kim smart and even going so far as to say that he and Mr. Kim fell in love. The two leaders have also exchanged personal letters and dispatched special envoys to each others capitals, but talks on how to denuclearize the North remains deadlocked. On Saturday, Kim Kye-gwan, a senior aide to Mr. Kim, confirmed that Mr. Trump had sent a personal letter to Mr. Kim for his birthday. (Mr. Kim is believed to have turned 36 on Wednesday. ) He also acknowledged that the personal relations between Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump were not bad, but said Mr. Kim would not discuss the state affairs on the basis of such personal feelings. A war of words has broken out between Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath and his predecessor Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Congress-led state government's move to allow the opening of 'sub-liquor shops' in the state Bhopal: A war of words has broken out between Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and his predecessor Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Congress-led state government's move to allow the opening of 'sub-liquor shops' in the state. Chouhan, who was the chief minister of the state for three consecutive terms before his party- BJP- was dislodged from power in December 2018, on Friday wrote a letter to Nath, in which he opposed the idea of allowing 'sub-liquor shops', saying it would create problems for people in general and women in particular. In the letter, he claimed that due to the new policy, 2,000 to 2,500 new liquor shops will be opened in MP, which will ultimately lead to rise in crime. However, Nath shot off a counter-letter to Chouhan on Friday night saying that the "truth" is that maximum number of liquor outlets were opened during the BJP rule. Accusing Chouhan of misleading the people through his "wrong" claims, Nath said in the letter that the former CM has not studied the notified policy regarding the opening of sub-shops. "According to the policy, new shops will not be opened, but the licensee of the original shop can open a sub-shop under certain conditions if he wishes. This will curb crimes committed against the excise department," Nath said. Citing the data from the previous BJP government, Nath said in 2003-04, which was the last financial year of the Congress government in MP before the saffron party's 15 years of uninterrupted rule, there were 2,221 country-made liquor shops, which rose to 2,770 in the year 2010-11 under the BJP rule. "Similarly, the number of foreign liquor shops increased from 581 in 2003-04 to 916 in 2010-11," he said. "This makes it clear that in 2003-04, the number of country and foreign liquor shops was 2,792 in the state, which went up to 3,683 during Chouhan's tenure," Nath said. Nath said that mafia can be checked and controlled by operating statutory and lawful business activities as provided by the government in the new excise policy. Talking to reporters on Saturday over Nath's response, Chouhan said, "If the MP CM believes that mafia can be controlled by making such business activities legal, then he should allow opening of liquor shops in every village and even start a doorstep delivery service." He also opined that opening new liquor shops could prove disastrous for the state and this policy should be withdrawn in the interest of the people. "This decision was not taken by a public welfare government, but by liquor mafia," he alleged. The notification on sub-liquor shops in rural and urban areas was issued on Thursday night, with the government officials claiming that the move was aimed at increasing revenue for the cash-strapped state. As per the order, existing liquor shop owners, after paying the licence fee, can open a sub-shop five kms away in urban areas and 10 kms away in rural areas. - Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri said the funds will be used to mobilise aircraft and pesticides needed to manage the insects that are spreading rapidly across Kenya - He assured the the desert locusts will be eradicated within the next two weeks - The swarms started crossing the border into Kenya through El Wak in December 2019 Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has said the government needs KSh 254 million to contain the locust invasion that has threatened to cause food shortage in the country. The CS said the funds will be used to mobilise aircraft and pesticides needed to manage the insects that are spreading rapidly across Kenya. READ ALSO: Uhuru accepts AU offer to champion for African culture Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri has said the government needs KSh 254M to contain locust invasion in the country. Photo: CS Mwangi Kiunjuri. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Oprah Winfrey denies claims she advised Prince Harry, Meghan Markle on Megxit At a press conference in his office on Friday, January 10, the CS said the desert locusts will be eradicated within the next two weeks. We appeal to members of the public to contact their village elders or chief when they locate the swarms so we can mobilise our teams to spray the insects early morning, he said. "The government has distributed pesticides, vehicle-mounted sprayers, motorised knapsack sprayers, handheld ultra-low volume sprayers and personal protective equipment," he added. The locust swarms started crossing the border into Kenya through El Wak on December 28, 2019, and have since spread across the northeastern counties before spilling over to Meru. On Thursday, January 2, the government deployed police officers who went on a shooting spree to scare away the pests. On Saturday, January 4, government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna , said the State had done a thorough analysis of the situation and deployed ground monitoring teams that will work hand in hand with the aerial spraying squad. "The government has deployed ground monitoring teams in affected counties. The teams will guide aerial spraying teams. A total of 3,000 litres of chemicals, tested and authorised, have been dispersed to affected counties. Spraying will start today," he said. 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. Raila Odinga is behind Miguna miguna's problems - Moses Kuria | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke A giant tortoise, who has been credited for saving his species from reaching extinction, has returned to the wild on the Galapagos Islands. Tortoise named Diego was reportedly among 14 males selected to take part in a breeding programme on Santa Cruz Island and has produced more than 2,000 tortoises since it began in the 1960s. As per international reports, Diego's libido has been one of the main reasons for the programme to be successful. The 100-year-old tortoise has fathered hundreds of progeny. Read - 45-year-old Tortoise Rescued After Starting House Fire On Christmas Day In UK The Galapagos National Parks service (PNG) reportedly said that after the end of the programme, Diego was sent to his native island of Espanola in March. Now, the giant tortoise will join the 1,800-strong population in which 40 per cent has been fathered by him. Jorge Carrion, the park's director told an international agency that Diego has 'contributed a large percentage to the lineage' which is now being returned to Espanola. Carrion further expressed 'feeling of happiness' to have the possibility of returning the tortoise to his 'natural state'. Reportedly, the park believes that Diego was taken from the Galapagos nearly 80 years ago by a scientific expedition. Nearly 50 years ago there were only two males and 12 females of Diego's species alive in Espanola. Read - West Bengal: Two Women Arrested For Tortoise Smuggling Species feared extinct spotted Galapagos Island is a tortoise-rich part of the earth as a species of tortoise which was believed to be extinct was also found in the same area. A living member of the species was not seen alive in more than 110 years and was feared to be extinct has been found in remote areas of the Islands, Fernandina. An adult female, also known as the Fernandina Giant Tortoise, was spotted by a joint expedition of the National Park in the island. Ecuador's Environment Ministry said in a statement that investigators think there is a possibility of more tortoise from the same species. The animal which looked more than a hundred years old was reportedly taken to a breeding centre of giant tortoises. Read - Heartwarming Video Shows Baby Elephant Helping Tortoise Cross The Road Read - Two Arrested In Connection With Illegal Smuggling Of Tortoise (With AP inputs) Triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha: Vijay Goel reaches out to all parties for support AAP-Cong colluding with each other, may forge alliance for Delhi Assembly polls India oi-PTI New Delhi, Jan 11: Senior BJP leader Vijay Goel on Saturday accused the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress of being hand-in-glove and said the two parties may forge an alliance for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. Addressing a press conference here, Goel said the AAP and the Congress are on the same page on issues like corruption, protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizen. In the run up to the 2013 assembly elections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had claimed he had 375-page evidence against then Congress government, but all know what action he took after coming to power, Goel, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said. In Delhi, the Congress and the AAP "instigated riots" on the issue of CAA, Goel said, adding that both parties are misleading the people of Delhi. General Naravane: Army ready to bring PoK into India if Parliament orders| OneIndia news Delhi elections: Kejriwal slammed for inducting Shoaib Iqbal Congress''s Delhi unit chief Subhash Chopra has dismissed any possibility of an alliance with the AAP for the assembly polls, asserting his party will win a "clear majority" on its own and form the next government in the city. The Delhi Assembly elections will be held on February 8 and results declared on February 11. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 11, 2020, 15:16 [IST] As if our eyes werent already working overtime, the 2020 TV year will add to the crush by opening new fronts in the streaming wars. We dont yet know which series may jump to the must-watch list, but there are plenty of promising-sounding projects, in addition to quality shows coming to more traditional TV avenues. In what could be an exciting development, this March will make Hulu the official streaming home of FX, the cable channel thats built a reputation for ambitious, excellent series (The Americans, American Crime Story, Better Things, etc). In an interesting development, some series that were originally scheduled to air on FX will now premiere on the Hulu streaming service. Among them are such instantly intriguing projects as Mrs. America, which comes to FX on Hulu this April. Cate Blanchett plays Phyllis Schlafly, who became a prominent conservative figure in the 1970s, and who made her name by opposing such feminist goals as ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Also due to stream on Hulu this spring is Devs, a drama about a computer engineer who has reason to believe a high-tech company may be involved in her boyfriends disappearance. Sonoya Mizuno and Nick Offerman head the cast. But the biggest noise is likely to be made by HBO Max, a new streaming service scheduled to launch in May. Not only will the library be packed with such series as Friends (which jumped from Netflix), The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Big Bang Theory and The West Wing, the streamer has been greenlighting all sorts of original series. The cost for HBO Max is $14.99 per month, and more details are sure to be heading out way soon. Also trying to lure our subscription dollars away from Netflix, Hulu, Disney +, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime and more is Peacock, a streaming service from NBCUniversal. The launch is scheduled for April, though pricing details havent been announced. We should definitely expect some oldies-but-goodies, such as Parks and Recreation and Cheers. And for the attention span-challenged, Quibi is launching April 6, with content available on the Quibi app. These will be short-form originals, representing comedy, mystery, drama, reality, news and more. Cost will be $4.99 per month with commercials, and $7.99 for the ad-free option. In the meantime, here are some definite highlights from the Midseason 2020 TV schedule: The Outsider: Jason Bateman is an executive producer and also plays a pillar of a small town community who is accused of a shocking crime, in this drama inspired by a Stephen King work. Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo and Mare Winningham also star. (9 p.m. Jan. 12, HBO) Sanditon: A Masterpiece series inspired by Jane Austens final, uncompleted novel. Rose Williams stars as the independent-minded Charlotte Heywood, and Theo James (aka Mr. Pamuk, from Downton Abbey) plays Sidney Parker, who is by turns charming and gruff, and is the guardian of Georgiana Lambe (Crystal Clarke), an heiress from the West Indies. (9 p.m. Jan. 12, PBS) Related: Sanditon: Jane Austens unfinished novel gets lively treatment in Masterpiece series Little America: Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon are among the executive producers of a new anthology series about immigrants in America. The series, whose guest stars include Zachary Quinto, has already been renewed for a second season. (Streaming beginning Jan. 17, Apple TV+) Avenue 5: Armando Ianucci (Veep) created this new space tourism comedy, starring Hugh Laurie as the captain of a space cruise ship called Avenue 5. The cast also includes Josh Gad as the money man behind Avenue 5, and Zach Woods as the head of customer relations. (10 p.m. Jan. 19, HBO) Awkwafina in her new series, "Awkwafina is Nora From Queens." (Photo: Comedy Central) Awkafina is Nora From Queens: Performer and writer Awkafina (The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians) stars in a new comedy thats based on her own experiences growing up in Flushing, Queens. The cast includes BD Wong and Bowen Yang. (10:30 p.m. Jan. 22, Comedy Central) Star Trek: Picard: Anticipation is high for this series, starring Patrick Stewart returning to his famous role as Jean-Luc Picard. About all we know about Star Trek: Picard is what the shows website says, namely that the series will follow this iconic character into the next chapter of his life. (Streaming beginning Jan. 23; streaming via CBS All Access) Shrill: Aidy Bryant returns for a second season of the Portland-set comedy about a writer dealing with her career and her relationships. (Streaming beginning Jan. 24, Hulu) High Fidelity: The Nick Hornby book-turned-movie gets a new angle, thanks to Zoe Kravitz (Big Little Lies) in the lead role as a Brooklyn record store owner processing her relationships with the help of music. (Streaming beginning Feb. 14, Hulu) Hunters: Al Pacino stars as the organizer of a team of Nazi hunters, who set out to deliver justice in New York City in the 1970s. Jordan Peele (Get Out) is an executive producer. (Streaming beginning Feb. 21, Amazon Prime Video) Better Call Saul: After being gone for way too long, Bob Odenkirk and the rest of the outstanding cast return for Season 5 of the Breaking Bad spinoff/prequel. (10 p.m. Feb. 23, AMC) Little Fires Everywhere: Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington star in a series adapted from Celeste Ngs novel about what happens in mid-90s Shaker Heights when Washingtons character, an artist and free-thinker, moves in. (Streaming beginning March 18, Hulu) Top Chef: Season 17, which takes place in Los Angeles, will bring back 15 finalists and fan favorites, including Portland celebrity chef Gregory Gourdet. (10 p.m. March 19, Bravo) Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker: Octavia Spencer seems like inspired casting for this limited series that tells the true story of the self-made millionaire businesswoman Madam C.J. Walker. (Streaming beginning March 20, Netflix) -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. RACINE COUNTY When Stan Olszewski bought his lakefront property in Mount Pleasant in 2012, the lake was the lowest it had been in years. Thats why, he said, he and the sellers hadnt talked much about the risk of erosion. The previous owners told us their parents had dumped a lot of broken concrete back in the 50s and 60s to protect it, said Olszewski. They had a feeling there wouldnt be too much of a problem with (erosion). In 2013, when Olszewski moved into his home, the lake was recorded at its lowest level since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began recording Great Lakes water levels in 1918. A few years later, as water rapidly rose, all 130 feet of Olszewskis shoreline dropped, like a fissure about 1 to 2 feet. He saw several homes, including those of his neighbors, up and down the shoreline losing chunks of property. It was like sheets of land would fall into the lake, he said. So you never knew what was going to happen to yours. After that happened, he decided to invest in reinforcing his shoreline, which was completed last fall. Its cost him six figures, he said, possibly more than $150,000. Now its probably pretty stable, he said. But before we did anything, you didnt know what was going to happen. Erosion along Lake Michigan is not just Olszewskis issue to deal with, nor his neighbors, nor Racine Countys; its a regional issue with regional implications. In nearby Somers, homes have had to be razed after shoreline erosion threatened their integrity. Dealing with the issues has been mostly piecemeal, with municipalities and homeowners having to figure out on their own how to face and plan for a problem that is becoming increasingly more complicated because of climate change. The City of Racine is about halfway through a shoreline study for all of Racine County, funded by grants from a state program taking a regional approach to the issue, with southeastern Wisconsin as one of the focal points. Its a start, but theres still a long ways to go. Deep waters Last summer, only six years after that record low, the lakes water level tied its record high from 1986. Olszewski had to recently reinforce the reinforcements after the high water and storms moved some of the rocks, some weighing as much as 16,000 pounds. Thats kind of a surprise to me, that a storm could take an 8-ton rock and move it, he said. Olszewski isnt the only one seeing his boulders thrown around by high water. At the iconic Wind Point Lighthouse, 4725 Lighthouse Drive, the beach is completely submerged and several of the large rocks installed in the 1980s to fortify its shoreline have tumbled into the lake. Wind Point Village Administrator Casey Griffiths said a project just south of the boulders on the beach, completed in 2017, which installed green infrastructure using dunes and wetlands to preserve the beach has been damaged. When it was built, we didnt anticipate lake levels were going to be this high, said Griffiths. It is a natural area and with these sort of incidents there is a little bit of expectation of weathering associated with it, but its been a little bit more damaged than we anticipated. Given how small the Wind Point community and its resources are, Griffiths is eager to see any kind of regional collaboration to address the issues. Changing climate, changing coastline So far, theres little indication that the lake has peaked and will be going down. The Army Corps of Engineers recorded on Jan. 3 that Lake Michigans water level was, on average, 16 inches higher than it had been on the same date in 2019, about 37 inches higher than long-term average water levels in January. Julie Kinzelman, director of the laboratory division and a research scientist at the Racine Public Health Department, said not only are the extreme highs and lows concerning, but how much more quickly the lake is reaching the two extremes. Theyre going much faster, said Kinzelman. Historically there are times where theres been a rapid decrease followed by a rapid increase, but now its really extreme. Rising temperatures are affecting storm behavior. Instead of dropping some rain and moving on, storms are now moving more slowly and dropping more heavy rain in an area. So before, you would have a rainy day and you would get this gentle all-day rain, so soils can soak in that gentle rain, said Kinzelman. But now we have no rain, its really dry, then you get a ginormous amount of rain all at once. Kinzelman points to Sam Myers Park, 1 11th St., as a good example of how to mitigate these extreme fluctuations in lake levels. The park has earned national and international recognition for its use of wetlands, native plants and trees to engineer a sustainable, usable beach. So what is known, generally, is what to do; the problem is funding it. Myers Park was paid for using grant funds. Kinzelmans current evaluation of Racine Countys shoreline is paid for through two grants, one focused on beaches and another evaluating the entire shoreline. Once the study is complete, the plan is to use that information to draft mitigation plans and apply for funds to get those projects done. Its the first step: you have to know what you have, whats going on, to have some sort of base line information to then be able to influence policy or to generate funding, said Kinzelman. If you dont know what you have, you dont know what the potential loss could be. But drafting plans and getting them approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers is further complicated by how siloed departments are. With the Army Corps, its really interesting that you have to work through the Detroit office if youre talking about anything within Lake Michigan, but right up to the coast is the (purview of the) Wisconsin office and the Minnesota office, said Cara Pratt, Racines sustainability and conservation coordinator. So even that distinction of rocks around the coast or breakwater, thats two different offices. Kinzelman said: (At the Wisconsin DNR), if youre doing coastal resilience, its one office. If youre doing something on the land, like doing something to control the runoff, thats a different person. Theres all these different offices. On their own Until holistic plans and policies are implemented, homeowners and municipalities are on their own. A group of six homeowners on South Main Street in Racine have banded together to fortify their neighboring shorelines. One of the homeowners, Patricia Badger, submitted a statement on behalf of the group, which is comprised of the owners of historic homes, some 150 years or older. As stewards of this land, we are doing our best to find feasible, realistic, and attainable solutions to the current erosion crisis, the statement reads. We have come to recognize that protecting the legacy of our citys coast and lands requires cooperation between the City and its residents. We remain immensely proud to call Racine home and look forward to meeting this challenge together. Olszewski said hes pretty certain his fortifications will hold, for at least as long as he needs them to. Im 73 years old I have a sneaking suspicion in my lifetime Ill be okay, Olszewski said. But beyond that? Who knows? Thats kind of a surprise to me, that a storm could take an 8-ton rock and move it. Stan Olszewski, Mount Pleasant lakefront resident Love 1 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. It was February 16, 2011 when a piece of graffiti appeared on a schoolyard wall in the city of Daraa, south of Damascus, but that incident set Nadia and her family on a journey which led her from her home city to the town of Macroom where she now awaits the result of her application for asylum. Speaking to The Corkman, Nadia told us of her life in the city of Daraa before she had to leave with her family due to bombing by the forces of the country's ruler, Bashar al-Assad. "The trouble began in February 2011 when the Arab Spring was happening in other countries in the Arab world," she recalled. "A piece of graffiti appeared on a schoolyard wall and after that the police came and rounded up and arrested schoolchildren. "They were taken away and tortured - their parents were told never to expect their return and they should 'make new kids'." The slogan painted on the schoolyard wall was in Arabic. It read: "Your turn doctor!" Assad trained as an ophtalmologist in the UK before returning to succeed his father as President of Syria. Two of his Middle Eastern counterparts, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Tunisian strongman Ben Ali, had been forced out of office by massive public protests in the weeks before. NATO had just intervened on behalf of rebels seeking to depose Libyan leader Moammar Ghadafi. And in the words of Omar's friends. The implication was clear-it was now Bashar's turn. The authorities in Daraa saw it like that as well and dealt with those they saw as perpetrators in a very heavy handed way. Subsequent demonstrations by parents and families of those arrested led to further crackdowns. "My husband and I moved our family to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates then - we couldn't live in Daraa anymore, it was too dangerous," said Nadia. "My parents still live there - my brother was helping people who had been wounded in the bombings by carrying them to hopsital but he was arrested four and a half years ago and we don't know where he is. "We looked for him everywhere and we don't know if he's alive or dead - my parents won't leave as they are waiting for information or in case he returns." She described how many of the schoolchildren arrested after the slogan appeared on the schoolyard wall had been tortured while in custody. "Their nails were removed," she said. Other accounts from the time suggest that nails were removed but that, in addition, other extreme torture methods were used. A 14-year-old boy who was among those arrested was completely brutalised by the Syrian authorities. They forced him to sleep naked on a freezing wet mattress, they strung him up on the wall and left him in stress positions for hours, and they electrocuted him with metal prods. Little wonder that Nadia feels she can't go back to her homeland. The current escalation of tension in the Middle East due to the US drone attack which killed the Iranian general, Quassem Suleimani, at the weekend has made going back to Syria even less likely. After Nadia left Daraa, they went to Dubai where her husband is from. While they were able to live and work there, Nadia lost her job and her visa ran out and she was being compelled to leave by the UAE authorities. Her husband also lost his job. They could not go back to Syria so they had to move on. Now Nadia lives with her family in a single room in the Riverside Hotel in Macroom. While they think the town is a great place in which to live, it's frustrating that they don't have space for their children or can't even cook their own food. She has done an interview about her asylum application and is now awaiting the result of that process. "It depends on each case how long it takes," she said. "It could be a month, it could be six months, it could be longer." In the meantime Nadia and her family are making the best of it in Macroom. The children, two teenagers and a ten-year-old, attend local schools and can now avail of a bus to take them to school from the hotel which is located on the outskirts of the town. Nadia, an English literature graduate from the University of Damascus, now teaches English to Arabic speaking women at the NASC centre in Cork. NASC is an advocacy group for migrant and refugee rights. "What I want for my family is to live and work in Ireland, to be part of Ireland," said Nadia. She is anticipating some notification of whether her dream of life in Ireland can be fulfilled in the near future. It's been a long road - but they haven't reached the end of it just yet. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 12:08:44|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close QUITO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The famous gaint tortoise, Diego, will return home in the Galapagos islands after it fathered hundreds of babies in a captive breeding program in the past several decades to save its species from extinction, Ecuadorian Environment Minister Raul Ledesma said on Friday. Diego "will return home, #Espanola Island, 8 decades later. We are preparing his release for March and we are closing the island's breeding program," Ledesma said on Twitter. Diego, which is over 100 years old, joined the program at the San Diego Zoo in the U.S. state of California with 14 other tortoises from the Espanola Island. "It is estimated that approximately 40 percent of tortoises repatriated to the Espanola Island are his descendants," the Galapagos National Park said in a statement. It added that the closure of the captive breeding program comes after an ecological evaluation of the Espanola Island "showed evidence of the recovery of its habitat conditions and the population of tortoises that it shelters." The lastest research conducted at the end of 2019 suggests that the island meets the conditions for maintaining the tortoise population which has risen to 2,000 and is expected to continue to grow normally. The Galapagos islands is a World Heritage Site located around 970 km off the coast of Ecuador. It is home to many unique species, some of which inspired British naturalist Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution. TAIPEI, Taiwan Can China extend its control over Taiwan as it has over Hong Kong? Beijing certainly wants to, judging by its many and varied efforts to influence the course of Taiwans politics, but the people of Taiwan wont let it, apparently. Taiwans presidential election on Saturday, which essentially pits the incumbent Tsai Ing-wen (who has stood up to China) against Han Kuo-yu (who promotes close ties with the mainland), is also a proxy contest about Taiwans identity. The recent assertion of the people of Taiwans sense of being Taiwanese has been spectacular. Liao Mei, an economist at National Sun Yat-sen University, and I analyzed unpublished data from surveys conducted in March and April 2019 by my colleagues at the China Impact Studies group at Academia Sinica, and according to those, more than 73 percent of respondents did not want Taiwan to unify with the mainland China even if it arrives at the same level of economic and political development as Taiwan. Among respondents ages 20 to 34, the figure exceeded 93 percent. Beijing has long tried to win the hearts of the Taiwanese politically thanks to economic incentives. But in doing so it misread their priorities. When the Academia Sinica pollsters asked respondents whether economic interest or national security was, to them, the more important issue in relations across the Taiwan Strait, about 62 percent answered national security and only about 32 percent, economic interest. (The remainder chose both.) Since the outbreak of the Sunflower Movement in 2014 a series of student and civic protests against a proposed free trade deal between Taiwan and the mainland Beijing has spent lavishly on Taiwans young people, offering them scholarships, preferential treatment and the lure of start-up incubators. But these measures have proved ineffective so far: Ms. Tsai appears to have garnered considerable support from young voters in the current presidential race. Amid increased tensions between the United States and Iran, San Antonio elected officials and local law enforcement leaders have a message for the citys Islamic community: we have your back. Public safety officials say they havent detected any threats targeting area Muslims after the U.S. assassinated Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Iraq last week or after Iran retaliated Wednesday with its own strike on bases used by U.S. troops in Iraq. Nonetheless, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Councilman Manny Pelaez, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus took off their shoes and offered words of inclusiveness and unity at the Muslim Children Education and Civic Center on Friday. Where there are threats all across the world, where people are pulling each other apart based on their differences, San Antonio will once again stand as an example of how we live in harmony in a place of diversity, Nirenberg said to the hundreds of friendly congregants gathered for prayer Friday. Pelaez, whose district includes the Northwest Side mosque, echoed that sentiment. Before addressing the group, he knelt among them. Were afraid for a broken world, Pelaez said. And we are afraid that maybe we cant do enough to fix it to un-break it. Im telling you right now that you have leaders up here who believe that we can. Law enforcement leaders took pains to assure those gathered that they, too, are protected. Salazar told congregants that, as the leaders were speaking, his deputies were touring the grounds conducting a security assessment of the campus. After the prayer, McManus told Imam Said Atif, the centers pastor, that no threats against Muslims have been identified in the San Antonio area. Mosque leaders have taken recent steps to increase safety, Atif said. Shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand that left 51 people dead last year were among reminders that violence can strike anywhere, he said. Were not fully immune from it, Atif said. But we take precautions. Its rare that San Antonio Muslims have been violently targeted, McManus said. Every now and then, youll get some graffiti on a place of worship whatever religion that may be, McManus said. But beyond that, we really havent seen anything. Several congregants said they have found safety and welcome in San Antonio. Brothers Hussan Motawea and Rami Motawea said the leaders remarks were reassuring. But their family has faced discrimination in the past, they said. After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, their home on the citys West Side was targeted. Their garage was tagged and their cars egged, Hussan Motawea, 20, said. Their mother often gets dirty looks from strangers while shopping at the grocery store or face different treatment because she wears a hijab, he said, referring to the head covering often worn by Muslim women. Rami Motawea, 25, prefers an optimistic outlook. Our parents told us, Be the example you want to see in the world. If someones a little difficult with you, spread a smile, he said. Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio city government and politics. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports PHILADELPHIA Jennifer Gobrecht always knew she would be a mother someday, but her birth experience was one she couldn't have imagined. She learned as a teen she was born without a uterus. For her body, pregnancy and birth were impossibilities. Now, Jennifer is the mother of the second baby in the United States to ever have been born from the transplanted uterus of a deceased donor. Gobrecht, 33, successfully gave birth via cesarean section to Benjamin Thomas Gobrecht in November as part of an ongoing trial to study uterine transplantation as a treatment option for women facing infertility, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia announced on Thursday. Jennifer and her husband Drew Gobrecht, 32, who live outside of Philadelphia, called Benjamin's birth "a miracle." "Benjamin means so much, not just to Drew and I, but to so many others, and hopefully he'll be able to inspire other couples to try this because it worked and he's here," Jennifer said. 'We always knew that we'd have a family' The uterus, or womb, is the organ where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant, and sometimes certain disorders can affect the development of the organ. For Jennifer, she found out when she was 17 that she was born without a uterus due to a rare condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome, or MRKH. One of the "red flags," she said, was that she never got her period. A couple years later, Jennifer met Drew. "We were friends first, and I'm always transparent with my friends, letting them know, 'Hey, I have this condition, it's something about me but it's not completely defining who I am,' " Jennifer said. "When Drew and I started dating romantically, we always knew that we'd have a family of some sort, whether it be through adoption or surrogacy," she said. "That was always our vision that we had." It's estimated that uterine factor infertility in which abnormalities of the womb, such as MRKH, can hinder a woman's chances of becoming pregnant affect up to 1 in 500 reproductive-age women worldwide. Due to ongoing research, experimental treatment options for the condition now include uterine transplantation. Before learning that uterus transplantation could be an option for them, Jennifer and Drew already knew about previous cases of women with transplanted uteruses giving birth. "Being in a community that is the uterine factor infertility community, anything new and exciting is always interesting just to know about," Jennifer said, adding that she considered applying for the Penn Medicine trial after seeing it mentioned in a Facebook group. Initially, Drew was skeptical about whether his family would be selected to participate in the trial. What encouraged him to remain hopeful was Jennifer. "Jen and I were at home talking about whether or not we wanted to participate in this trial, and I'm thinking, 'There's all these risks involved and there's a really good chance that we don't end up with a child out of this.' I wasn't not interested in the trial, but I wanted to make sure that this was the right decision for us," Drew said. "Then Jen said to me that she didn't want to just participate in this for her and for us as a way to start a family. She wanted the opportunity to potentially help other women who suffer from infertility by being a part of this exploration of the new science," he said. "That was the thing that really sold me." Jennifer applied to participate and was selected as the first patient in Penn Medicine's uterus transplant trial. "It was surreal," Drew said. As part of the trial, the couple then had to wait for a donor uterus. Once a donor became available, Jennifer underwent transplantation surgery to receive the organ. The 10-hour uterus transplant procedure involved placing the organ, shaped like an upside-down pear, correctly in the pelvis and connecting blood vessels from the donor uterus to Jennifer's blood vessels. A successful transplantation even means that the recipient will menstruate. For most recipients, it would be for the first time. Jennifer took medications following the surgery to reduce the risk of her body rejecting the organ. Dr. Paige Porrett, an assistant professor of transplant surgery at Penn Medicine who oversaw Jennifer's transplantation, said that, with uterine transplantation, the organ is typically removed once a baby is delivered, as was the case for Jennifer. Once the uterus is removed, medications are no longer necessary. Six months after Jennifer's transplantation surgery, physicians were able to directly transfer an embryo previously made from Jennifer's egg and Drew's sperm into Jennifer's new uterus. Jennifer then had to wait 10 days before receiving blood test results to confirm that the embryo transfer was successful and she in fact was pregnant. "Those 10 days waiting for that phone call was probably the longest 10 days of our lives," Jennifer said. The call came from Dr. Kathleen O'Neill, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn Medicine, who oversaw Jennifer's gynecologic care. "The second we got the call, Dr. O'Neill wasted no time to tell us we were pregnant," she said. "It's hard to put into words just how much that moment was one of the best moments of my entire life." Jennifer added that both she and Drew "broke down into tears" at the news that she was pregnant. At that moment, their journey to starting a family felt complete. "We never thought it was an option for us," Drew said about the pregnancy. "We just didn't consider uterus transplant as a possibility. It was just, 'Oh this is a cool news story that will probably help women in the future some day.' ... It's still all sinking in," he said. "One of the most primal urges many of us feel is one to start a family, and the more options people have, people who suffer from infertility, the better." Jennifer, Drew and Benjamin are now doing well as a new family. The mother of Jennifer's donor, who wishes to remain unnamed, said in a press release from Penn Medicine that her family is "extremely proud" to be a part of Jennifer's journey. The Gift of Life donor Program coordinated the organ donation. "Our family is extremely proud to support transplantation that will enable more women to experience the joy of childbirth. My daughter was the best mother I ever knew; nothing was more important to her than her children. What a beautiful and fitting legacy for her to help give the gift of motherhood to another woman," said the mother of the donor. "Our hearts and prayers go out to my daughter's recipients and their families." What the future holds Research continues on uterine transplantation as a potential fertility treatment option. "Women can have uterine factor infertility because they were born without a uterus or a large number of women who applied to our trial had their uterus removed for numerous reasons," such as traumatic birth complications, hemorrhage or fibroids, O'Neill said. She added that "women also can have nonfunctional uteri" and be candidates for transplantation surgery. At Penn Medicine, O'Neill said that medical teams and researchers already have completed two successful uterine transplantations, including Jennifer's, and they are planning five in total. "It's still experimental and done under the research trial," O'Neill said, but her hope for the future is for the procedure to be available as a fertility treatment option and possibly even covered by insurance. "Giving an accurate assessment of how much this cost, the range has been all over. In the UK, it was about $60,000. At Baylor, it was about $250,000," she said. "We won't know how much it costs until we do more cases." More cases could help researchers to better understand the intricacies and key biologic questions that persist in organ transplantation, women's reproductive biology and pregnancy. More research also could allow for researchers to pinpoint other potential benefits, outside of birth, that could come with uterine transplantation. To date, there have been only about 70 uterus transplants globally, according to Penn Medicine. In 2017, a baby girl in Brazil became the first baby in the world to be born following a uterus transplantation from a deceased donor. Until then, successful births only had been documented in transplants from living donors. June marked the first time in the United States that a baby was delivered from the transplanted uterus of a deceased donor. The baby girl was born by C-section at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. So far, births from transplanted uteri have only been delivered by C-section. "Based on the success of our trial as well as a few other centers in the US Cleveland Clinic and Baylor University as well as a few other centers in the world, I think that our community has established that this is a safe procedure in trained hands," Porrett said. She added that Penn Medicine is the only clinic in the United States still recruiting and accepting new patients for its uterine transplantation trial. "It doesn't mean it's not without risk, but the outcomes have been good," she said. "We've achieved the objective to deliver babies." The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Analysis banner Business Insider U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters about impeachment and Iran during an event to announce proposed rollbacks to the National Environmental Policy Act regulations in Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 9, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Reuters The Trump administration announced new sanctions against Iran on Friday after a week in which Washington and Tehran were on the brink of war. Both sides have deescalated in the past day or so, but the sanctions are a continuation of a "maximum pressure" campaign that has been failing to quell Iranian aggression. In many ways, Iran has only become emboldened by this strategy, which is designed to squeeze it into negotiating a tougher version of the 2015 nuclear deal. Trump's May 2018 decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal has seen US-Iran relations deteriorate rapidly. Iran withdrew from the deal on Saturday after Trump ordered a drone strike that killed its top military commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories. For roughly a year and a half, the Trump administration has pummeled Iran with increasing economic sanctions with the goal of forcing it into negotiating a more stringent version of the 2015 nuclear deal. This strategy, referred to as the maximum pressure campaign, has crippled Iran's economy. But it's also brought Washington and Tehran to the brink of war on more than one occasion in the past year including in the early days of 2020. President Donald Trump's stated goal is ensuring Iran never gets a nuclear weapon, but everything he's done so far has pushed it in the opposite direction while alienating US allies who have sought a different approach. The maximum pressure campaign has failed to make the Middle East more peaceful, as Iran has effectively stepped away from the nuclear deal entirely in the past week. But the Trump administration is not backing down or shifting its approach, and announced new sanctions against Iran on Friday. The new sanctions are directed at eight senior Iranian officials while targeting Iran's steel industry, as well as its textiles and mining, construction, and manufacturing sectors. Story continues The sanctions add to those already pummeling Iran's economy, and there's also little evidence they will help bring about an improvement in relations between the US and Iran. And they come as polling shows a majority of Americans feel less safe following President Donald Trump's January 3 order to kill Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani. trump soleimani Leah Millis/Reuters; Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP 'The United States' 'maximum pressure' campaign has not led to a change in Iran's behavior' The maximum pressure campaign is already sanctioning top Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, and its oil industry. But they've not succeeded in bringing Iran back to the negotiation table. Instead, they've been met with escalating antagonism between the countries. Last summer, fears that a new conflict was on the horizon were raised amid oil tanker attacks in the Persian Gulf region. Similar anxieties came about following an attack on Saudi oil fields in September. Though Iran denied responsibility for the attacks, the US said the Iranian's fingerprints were all over them. In June, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo specifically cited the maximum pressure campaign as the catalyst for the oil tanker attacks. "Iran is lashing out because the regime wants our successful 'maximum pressure' campaign lifted," Pompeo said at the time, essentially acknowledging that the Trump administration's approach was making Iran more, not less, aggressive. Top regional experts, analysts, and former US diplomats have repeatedly said that the maximum pressure campaign of relentless sanctions is not working. "The maximum pressure campaign has not stopped Hezbollah as a proxy for Iran, it has not stopped the risks to Israel's security and to Middle East security, it has not stopped Iran from taking steps away from JCPOA, and it has certainly pushed away our allies who worked so hard with us to try and ensure Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon," Wendy Sherman, who served as lead negotiator on the deal for the Obama administration, told Insider in September; JCPOA is the acronym for the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump withdrew the US from in 2018. Soleimani was the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' secretive and elite Quds force (IRGC-QF). A recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies CSIS, found that "the number of IRGC-QF-trained fighters in countries like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen increased by nearly 50% from 2016 to 2019." "The United States' 'maximum pressure' campaign has not led to a change in Iran's behaviorat least not yetthough US sanctions have severely damaged Iran's economy," Seth G. Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project at CSIS, said in the report. Jones added that the US "needs to credibly demonstrate that its policy toward Iran is not a blueprint for an endless struggle, but instead an effort to encourage Iran to be more democratic and open, as political and economic change must be driven by Iranians themselves." Iran and the US avoided a wider war this week, but they're not at peace In the midst of the chaos that followed Soleimani's killing, including an Iranian missile attack on US and coalition forces in Iraq early on Wednesday, Iran actually offered Trump a potential path toward diplomacy. As it announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the formal name for the 2015 nuclear deal, on Saturday, Iran signaled it would come back to the pact if sanctions against it were lifted. The 2015 deal offered Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for it taking steps that would ensure it did not obtain a nuclear weapon. Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA in May 2018 and began reimposing sanctions adding more, even as Iran remained in compliance with the pact for roughly a year after the US pulled out. After Iran's missile attack on the US earlier this week, the country paved the way for deescalation. Subsequently, Trump signaled that he would not retaliate, as he simultaneously called for the rest of the signatories to the JCPOA, which includes key US allies, to abandon the deal. In the year and a half since the US withdrew from it, Iran and the US have engaged in indirect and direct skirmishes, and Iran has taken steps that could lead it down a path toward becoming a nuclear power. The two countries have avoided a wider war, but they are hardly at peace and the Trump administration is ramping up the strategy that got them into the recent entanglement in the first place. Read the original article on Business Insider Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 21:57:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TAIPEI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Han Kuo-yu, the Kuomintang (KMT) candidate, on Saturday evening acknowledged his defeat in Taiwan's leadership election. This means the reelection of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan leader, who won the most votes in Saturday's election, followed by Han. Wu Den-yih announced resignation from the post of KMT chairman following Han's defeat. OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that Iran must take "full responsibility" for shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 people on board, including 57 Canadians. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (730 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 file photo, debris at the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. Iran announced Saturday, Jan. 11, that its military unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File) OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that Iran must take "full responsibility" for shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 people on board, including 57 Canadians. He also called for an immediate effort to de-escalate the regional tensions that he says contributed to the "great loss of innocent life." "This is a tragedy that should not have happened," the prime minister said at a news conference in Ottawa. Trudeau said he was "outraged and furious" that so many Canadians are grieving because of Iran's actions. "Shooting down a civilian aircraft is horrific," he said. "Iran must take full responsibility." This satellite photo provided by Maxar Technologies on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, shows the site where a Ukrainian jetliner crashed late Tuesday near the town of Shahedshahr, Iran, southwest of the capital Tehran. (Satellite image 2020 Maxar Technologies via AP) Trudeau's news conference came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani acknowledged Saturday that an Iranian missile took down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 minutes after it took off from Tehran's airport Wednesday morning. Iranian military said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target. In addition to the 57 Canadian citizens on the plane, dozens more were bound for Canada, many of them students and professors returning after spending the December break visiting relatives in Iran. Rouhani, who spoke with Trudeau over the phone Saturday, posted on Twitter that an Iranian military investigation concluded "missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash." Rouhani said investigations will continue to "identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake." "My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families," he said. "I offer my sincerest condolences." The admission came a day after Iran denied claims being made by Canada, Britain and the United States that the plane was shot down by Iran. Trudeau would not say Saturday if he accepted Iran's claim that the missile was fired accidentally, saying only an open and transparent investigation will show what really happened. Several hundred people gather around the Centennial flame for a candle light vigil to remember those killed on Ukraine International Airlines Flight on Thursday January 9, 2020 in Ottawa. Among the many painful details that have emerged about the downed airliner in Iran is the preponderance of young victims, and their deaths have sent waves of grief through schools and university campuses across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Trudeau said he told Rouhani in their conversation he expected Canada to be fully involved in the investigation including gaining access to the airplane's black boxes, and being allowed to participate in DNA identification of the victims. He also demanded consular access for Canadian officials to work with grieving families of Canadian victims in Iran. Three officials from Global Affairs Canada landed in Tehran later Saturday to set up the first Canadian consular presence on the ground since the crash happened. Seven more diplomats and two investigators from the Transportation Safety Board were also waiting for visas to travel to Iran to help. Canada severed diplomatic ties with Iran in September 2012, closing its embassy and recalling all diplomats. With no diplomatic presence, Italy and Turkey have been aiding Canadians in Tehran. Trudeau said the admission of guilt is a positive sign Iran will "fully allow a credible, independent international investigation." Elahe Machouf lost her longtime friend of Niloufar Sadr, 61, in the crash. Sadr was returning to Toronto after a visit with family. Machouf called the missile attack "shameful" and "irresponsible," noting Iranians back home are "furious" with the government. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a press conference in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. Trudeau says Iran must take full responsibility for mistakenly shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 civilians on board, including 57 Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang "It was awful," she said. "We were very, very shocked." On Saturday night, hundreds gathered at universities in Tehran to protest the Iranian government's late acknowledgment of the plane being shot down. They demanded officials involved in the missile attack be removed from their positions and tried. Police broke up the demonstrations. "We're very scared as well about what will happen to people who are protesting and demonstrating," Machouf said. "Will they also be shot down?" The plane's downing came hours after Iran launched missile attacks at two military bases hosting U.S. troops in Iraq. Those attacks were retaliation for the U.S. killing of Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, in an American airstrike in Baghdad on Jan. 3. A military statement delivered on Iranian state television said the civilian airliner was mistaken for a "hostile target" when it turned toward a sensitive military site belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, an elite unit of the country's military. Canadian Conservative MPs said Saturday Trudeau needs to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, and be prepared to impose sanctions on Iran if it fails to allow for a full international investigation. Trudeau wasn't prepared to go down the sanctions road yet. "I think there are going to be many conversations and reflections on consequences over the coming days and weeks," said Trudeau. While admitting responsibility for its role in the plane crash, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif still pointed some blame towards the Americans, saying on Twitter "U.S. adventurism led to disaster." 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. Trudeau would not say whether he blames the U.S. at all. "The reality is there have been significant tensions in that region for a long time and what we are calling for now is a de-escalation to ensure that there are no more tragic accidents," he said. Trudeau has spoken with a number of world leaders in the days since the crash but U.S. President Donald Trump has not been among them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Iran must issue an official apology and also called for compensation for the disaster. Trudeau also said compensation could be expected, noting families are facing financial hardship as a result of the deaths of their loved ones. With files from Christopher Reynolds in Montreal and The Associated Press. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2020. It is no exaggeration to say that the seven days since Donald Trump ordered the assassination of general Qassem Soleimani have shaken the world. Now that the aftershocks seem to have subsided, this past week has also revealed much about the state of the UKs special relationship with the United States. It confirmed that it is, in fact, as asymmetrical as ever. When Americans speak of any special relationship, they are as likely to mean Israel, especially under the present administration. The special relationship always has been something of a British conceit and whatever influence past prime ministers may have enjoyed in Washington DC, Boris Johnson is plainly something of an afterthought. Britain was not consulted before the operation was launched, despite having vital interests in the region, and, of course, supposedly enjoying that special status. The prime minister made sure that he said as little as possible about the operation until he had to turn up to prime ministers questions (PMQs). The first British response from Dominic Raab last Sunday and in a No 10 statement later was measured, and stressed above all the need for de-escalation. Tens of millions of people around the world are fleeing from their homes and giving up their lives, and, in some cases, families, just to have any chance to survive. They didnt choose where they were born or to whom they were born. So why treat these people like criminals when their only crime is living in war-torn areas of the world? We should be helping our fellow humans who cant help themselves. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, January 10, 2020 Even for those covering advanced TV developments, it has been tough to keep up with all of the news this week. Most, but not all, announcements were part of the deluge coming out of CES 2020. So before I get into the news alluded to in the headline, it seems worth briefly mentioning a few of the more notable developments from these past five jam-packed days (and providing links to our coverage of same, in case you missed some of it). The weeks first big ATV news was Tremor Internationals acquisition of programmatic video marketplace Unruly, from News Corp. Video ad-tech company Tremor says the deal will expand its connected TV as well as video and data initiatives, which already reach some 1.2 billion unique monthly users through publisher partnerships across the U.S., Europe and APAC. That was quickly overshadowed by Nielsens announced expansion of its addressable TV platforms beta test to include A+E Networks, AMC Networks, CBS, Discovery, Fox, NBCUniversal and WarnerMedia, among others, with a commercial debut of the platform set for this years second half. advertisement advertisement The platform promises TV networks the ability to review decisions about ad inventory and campaign management, audience targeting, dynamic ad replacement, and C3/C7, as well as gain viewer insights ahead of the coming TV season. Moreover, it will be in position to play a role in this years upfronts, according to the participants. Hours later, we learned more about NBC Universals integrated TV and digital buying platform including its name: One Platform. A first-iteration version of the platform said to be capable of offering ad buys spanning linear and digital inventory across all of NBCUs platforms on local, national and global levels will also be available in time for the upfronts. There was also news of what is said to be the first shoppable integration by a major television maker. Video commerce tech company TheTake revealed that it has partnered with LG Electronics and media players including WarnerMedia, NBC Universal, A+E Networks and Crown Media Family Networks to enable owners of LGs 2020 webOS smart TVs to use their smartphones to buy products featured in shows and movies playing on participating networks. Again, I emphasize that this is just a partial list. Moving on to todays big news: Amazon is pursuing deals to start selling streaming video advertising outside of its own Fire TV ecosystem, on platforms such as Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation and Android TV, according to The Wall Street Journal. Specifically, Amazon Publisher Services is attempting to forge new relationships with TV app owners to integrate technology that would let it sell some of their ad inventory on other streaming services. Content providers including CNN, Discovery and A&E, as well as streamers including Pluto TV and Tubi, are already working with Amazon to sell ads, reports WSJ. While major media companies may not be tempted to give Amazon more of their ad inventories, the proposition might be welcomed by video publishers with fewer resources to maximize their inventory sales, the report points out. Indeed, in addition to extending its powerful ad-targeting capabilities driven by its massive first-party shopping and browser data to other platforms, Amazon is said to be promising prospective partners it can sell ads at substantially higher prices than other third-party platforms (at CPMs of up to $40). Roku has captured some 60% of the frustratingly fragmented CTV programmatic ad business. Thats been due largely to its ability, through a partnership with Innovid, to offer advertisers in-depth campaign performance reports that combine CTV and cable TV viewership data, according to Motley Fools James Brumley. But while Amazon has some catching up to do on the OTT ad-learning curve, Brumley points out that on the OTT devices front, Amazon has already managed to whittle Rokus market share down from nearly 50% in 2016 to 39%, by growing its Fire TV share from 16% to 39%. Amazon brings two other upsides to the table that could eventually prove disruptive, too, he adds. One is that mountain of transactional and other data on Prime members and other Amazon ecommerce customers. The other is deeper pockets to develop or acquire whatever measurement tool advertisers want. Advertisers are already increasingly addicted to Amazons digital advertising DSP, which is making gains on Google and Facebook. And it looks like Amazon wont be satisfied until its the go-to source for OTT/CTV ad buys, as well. Not surprising, given this megalith's genius for attaching itself to money pots, wherever they may appear. eMarketer estimates that CTV ad spending will rise from $6.9 billion in 2019 to $8.9 billion this year. The district administration on Saturday gave conditional approval for the meeting planned for January 12 in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Dussehra Maidan in Indore. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya along with other members of the party and affiliated organisations are scheduled to take part in the meeting organised by 'Bharat Suraksha Manch'. Thousands of people are supposed to take part in the meeting scheduled for tomorrow. However, the administration has denied permission for holding any kind of a rally or usage of objectionable slogans, posters, banners, and songs during the meeting. The use of loudspeakers too has been allowed from 2 to 4 pm only and the organisers have been asked to assign volunteers for maintaining traffic during the meet. The use of slogans that can hurt the sentiments of any caste or religion is also strictly prohibited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the village with the barbed wire, government officials call the children kindness students, referring to the partys supposed generosity in making special arrangements. But the glove bearing this generosity has a fist inside. As Adrian Zenz at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation has documented, in some Uighur-majority regions in southern Xinjiang, preschool enrollment more than quadrupled in recent years, exceeding the average national enrollment growth rate by more than 12 times. Why? Because parents, and in some cases both parents, have disappeared into the camps. China is carrying out cultural genocide and social reengineering on young minds when they are most impressionable. Californias sanctuary law, which prohibits most types of law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration agents, is binding on the states 121 charter cities, including an Orange County community that has refused to enforce it, a state appeals court ruled last week. SB54, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2017, bars state and local police from asking arrestees about their immigration status, notifying federal agents about an immigrants release date from jail, or holding an immigrant beyond the scheduled release date for transfer to immigration officers. It does not apply to immigrants charged with serious crimes. When the Trump administration unsuccessfully sued California in 2018, claiming SB54 conflicted with federal immigration law, some local governments in the state supported the suit, including the Orange County and San Diego County boards of supervisors and many of their cities. But the only city that has challenged the law in court so far is he coastal community of Huntington Beach, with a population of 200,000. City officials said SB54 interfered with local law enforcement by limiting police authority to work cooperatively with immigration officers. An Orange County judge ruled in favor of Huntington Beach in September 2018, saying the law violated the citys authority to regulate municipal affairs under the city charter a ruling, that, if upheld, would allow Californias 121 charter cities, including its largest cities, to exempt themselves from SB54. But the Fourth District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana disagreed Friday and said the law regulates issues of statewide concern that outweigh local interests. Law enforcement agencies throughout the state interact with immigrants, Justice Richard Fybel said in the 3-0 ruling. He said the Legislature, in enacting SB54, had made findings that undocumented immigrants were reluctant to report crimes to police, and sometimes to attend school or seek health care, if they believed local officers were working with immigration agents. The line between local and state interests can be difficult to draw, Fybel said, citing state Supreme Court rulings exempting charter cities from state laws that prohibited public financing of election campaigns and required arbitration in labor disputes involving police and firefighters. But he noted that state courts had required all cities to comply with minimum-wage laws and with a law on police officers employment rights. The fact that California is highly urbanized and integrated makes uniform statewide application of the CVA all the more critical, Fybel said, referring to the California Values Act, the label used by sponsors of SB54. And he said the law also protects immigrants constitutional rights, a matter of paramount statewide concern. 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. Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said he would ask the City Council to authorize an appeal to the state Supreme Court. A decision like this rewrites, if not undermines, portions of the (California) Constitution that provide charter cities like Huntington Beach the authority to govern the police department, Gates said in an interview. The Legislature is getting more and more aggressive over matters of local governance. Jessica Bansal, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney, said the ruling affirms that all Californians including the millions living in charter cities are entitled to the California Values Acts protections. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@BobEgelko New York, Jan 11 : Researchers have found that infants and adults are likely to be on the same wavelength, experiencing similar brain activity in the same brain regions during play. The research team from Princeton University has conducted the study on how baby and adult brains interact during natural play, and they found measurable similarities in their neural activity. "Previous research has shown that adults' brains sync up when they watch movies and listen to stories, but little is known about how this 'neural synchrony' develops in the first years of life," said the study's first author Elise Piazza from Princeton University. According to the findings, published in the journal Psychological Science, the research team has posted that neural synchrony has important implications for social development and language learning. Studying real-life, face-to-face communication between babies and adults is quite difficult. But to study real-time communication, the researchers developed a new dual-brain neuroimaging system that uses functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which is highly safe and records oxygenation in the blood as a proxy for neural activity. The setup allowed the researchers to record the neural coordination between babies and an adult while they played with toys, sang songs and read a book. The same adult interacted with all 42 infants and toddlers who participated in the study. Of those, 21 had to be excluded because they "squirmed excessively," and three others flat-out refused to wear the cap, leaving 18 children, ranging in age from nine months to 15 months. The experiment had two portions. In one, the adult experimenter spent five minutes interacting directly with a child -- playing with toys, singing nursery rhymes or reading Goodnight Moon -- while the child sat on their parent's lap. In the other, the experimenter turned to the side and told a story to another adult while the child played quietly with their parent. The caps collected data from 57 channels of the brain known to be involved in prediction, language processing and understanding other people's perspectives. When they looked at the data, the researchers found that during the face-to-face sessions, the babies' brains were synchronized with the adult's brain in several areas known to be involved in high-level understanding of the world -- perhaps helping the children decode the overall meaning of a story or analyse the motives of the adult reading to them. When the adult and infant were turned away from each other and engaging with other people, the coupling between them disappeared. That fit with researchers' expectations, but the data also had surprises in store. "We were also surprised to find that the infant brain was often 'leading' the adult brain by a few seconds, suggesting that babies do not just passively receive input but may guide adults toward the next thing they're going to focus on: which toy to pick up, which words to say," said study researcher Lew-Williams. Following the latest hostilities between the United States and Iran inside Iraq, Baghdad has reportedly resumed negotiations with Moscow over reinforcing its air defenses. Mohammed Raza, chairman of the Iraqi parliaments Defense and Security Committee, told Russias RIA Novosti news agency that talks to purchase the S-300 missile system are underway. Raza said he wasnt aware of how far along the deal is, but insisted that a possible agreement with Russia is authorized by the Iraqi leadership. This should have been settled long ago. But we are expecting a lot of opposition to the deal from the United States, Raza said. He conceded that earlier attempts to strike an agreement were rolled back over American threats of sanctions. Why it matters: Russia is making tacit moves throughout the Middle East to ensure its status as a deal-maker and a reliable mediator amid a turbulent start to the new year. Last September, Al-Monitor reported on Russian-Iraqi contacts over a potential reinforcement of protection for the Iraqi skies. The contacts followed Israeli strikes on Iran-linked militias. At the time, Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) leader Falih al-Fayadh visited Moscow for talks with the secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, and other officials. Military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iraq has been on the rise since 2014, when the implementation of previously signed contracts reinforced Iraqs security system, facilitating the countrys struggle against the Islamic State. Since then, Baghdads interest in purchasing Russian missile systems has waxed and waned. Whats next: Denis Mirgorod, a senior fellow at the North Caucasus-based Institute for Strategic Studies, said that amid the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, it seems that the countries of the region are beginning to use an increasingly pragmatic approach in shaping their defense policy. In this regard, the latest news about the intensification of Iraqs actions to purchase a Russian air defense system seems logical, he told Al-Monitor, adding that there have been conflicting messages about whether Baghdad is interested in the S-300 or the more modern S-400 system that Russia recently sold to Turkey, sparking a showdown with the United States. Most likely, a more modern S-400 will be acquired, the former head of the Iraqi Security and Defense Council, Hakim al-Zamili, announced this in May 2019, Mirgorod said. We also note that the ongoing protests in this country should determine Iraqs foreign policy priorities for a sufficiently long time. And if pro-Iranian political forces come to power, this move can be considered as an integral part of Tehrans regional policy in the face of increasing pressure. Know more: Make sure to read Russia Mideast Editor Maxim Suchkovs story on how Russia is positioning itself as broker amid Mideast tensions and Ruslan Mamedovs analysis on how Moscow has engaged Iraq on military technical cooperation. Ruslan Mamedov and Anton Mardasov contributed to this story A homeless 81-year-old woman who was wandering the streets of Dublin on Thursday night would have died if she had not been found, a city councillor has claimed. The woman was found in a freezing and very distressed state outside the GPO on O'Connell Street shortly after 9pm by a volunteer who runs a soup kitchen. The Dublin woman, who is believed to be suffering with mental health issues, was found by charity worker Irene Cody Murphy, who immediately alerted the Simon Community. Attempts to contact the emergency services had failed, so Ms Cody Murphy decided to contact Independent councillor Christy Burke. The inner-city councillor revealed he had just returned home after helping on a soup run when he received her call. "I couldn't believe what I was hearing from Irene when she telephoned me. In the more than 20 years I've been volunteering with homeless charities, never have I come across a case like this," he said. "If Irene hadn't found her, I've no doubt this woman would have been found dead as a result of hypothermia. Imagine an elderly woman after just being discharged from an acute hospital roaming our capital streets? Donation "I've dealt with 12 and 13-year-olds who are homeless but never a woman of this age. We managed to confirm what the woman was saying was true and she had indeed been discharged from an acute hospital. "We were about to put her into a hotel thanks to an anonymous donation of 100 on Thursday night. But I managed to get Fran Devereux from Dublin City Council (DCC) and he got to work straight away in trying to help. "She kept saying she didn't want to go to a particular hostel, which led us to believe she has been suffering for some time and has been out on our streets way before being found like this." Mr Burke said the woman has been booked into a hotel for the weekend and is being prioritised for a home by DCC's Housing First Regional Service. "This is a despicable situation that the Government are allowing to happen and are being distracted by issues that have little relevance to this crisis," he added. "Our politicians need to wake up to what is happening on our streets instead of thinking of themselves and wanting to get re-elected now that a general election is imminent". The number of homeless in Ireland has increased to more than 10,500 for the first time. The Department of Housing recently released homelessness figures for last October, showing there were 10,514 individuals homeless, with 4,000 of these being children. That is an increase of 117 on September's numbers, which Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said "was expected following the introduction of new emergency beds in the Dublin region recently". It is an increase of 8.1pc since October 2018 when the numbers stood at 9,724, according to the Simon Communities. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 23:35:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Three humanitarian corridors will open for civilians wishing to leave rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib on Sunday, a military official told Xinhua on Saturday. The corridors are being prepared for the civilians who are willing to leave rebel-held areas to government-controlled ones in Idlib, which is part of implementing a truce in that part of the country, the source said on condition of anonymity. The corridors will be open in the city of Habit, south of Idlib, Abu al-Duhur, east of Idlib and al-Hadir, in the southern countryside of Aleppo province. The move comes as Russia and Turkey have mediated a new cease-fire in Idlib last week, following several attempts to establish a cessation of hostilities for no avail. The Syrian army has made notable progress in recent weeks in the battles against the rebels in Idlib, capturing several areas in the quest to liberate the road linking Hama province with Aleppo in the north. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said recently that the battle against terrorism in Idlib is a priority to the Syrian government. Assad said the aim behind the battle in Idlib is to eliminate terrorism. Idlib has emerged as the main destination of the rebel groups, which have evacuated several positions across Syria after surrendering to the Syrian army. That province is now considered as the last major rebel bastion in Syria. Certain parts of Idlib are covered by a de-escalation zones' deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, which backs the rebels. However, such deals exclude the ultra-radical rebels who are affiliated with the al-Qaida and branded as terrorist groups by the UN. Emma Riley, 47, (pictured) from West Sussex, served from 1990 to 1993 as a naval radio operator but was arrested and discharged for being a lesbian A veteran has revealed the moment she was kicked out of the Navy for being a lesbian after her 'friend' reported her - as the UK marks 20 years since the ban on homosexuality was lifted. Emma Riley, 47, from West Sussex, served from 1990 to 1993 as a naval radio operator but was arrested and discharged for being a lesbian. The ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people serving in the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force was repealed in 2000, but people suspected of being LGB in the armed forces before that time were subject to a dishonourable discharge. Ms Riley, who is a lesbian, said: 'Joining the Navy was what my vocation was and I thought at the time that I could, and should, push down that part of my personality and serve my country instead because I wasn't very accepting of myself.' However, her service came to an end when Ms Riley was reported for being a lesbian by a colleague. She said: 'I thought the person I told was my friend and at the time I told them seemed to be very supportive and OK with it and the next morning I got woken up at 6am and told to 'get up, get dressed and go downstairs, you're under arrest'.' Ms Riley's service came to an end when she was reported for being a lesbian by a colleague (she is pictured during her time in the Navy aged 17) Ms Riley had been reported to the Navy's special investigation branch and had her belongings searched and confiscated, including a video of Julian Clary. She was subjected to a two and a half month 'relentless' investigation where officers tried to find other LGB people in the Navy. 'They couldn't get anyone else from me but they certainly got me,' she said. 'Effectively my entire map of the world had to be rewritten. It was all taken away and there's nothing you can do about it.' Trevor Skingle, 63, (pictured) from Brixton, served in the Army between 1974 and 1979 and hid his sexuality, eventually leaving the force Ms Riley was one of the handful of LGB ex-service people who brought her case against the Ministry of Defence to the European Court of Human Rights. A damning judgment by the European Court of Human Rights in September 1999 said the policy was a 'grave interference' in people's private lives. Trevor Skingle, 63, from Brixton, served in the Army between 1974 and 1979 and hid his sexuality, eventually leaving the force. He said: 'My sexuality was something that I pushed into the background, I was trying to fulfil all the expectations that 'straight society' foisted on me. 'I started to drink really heavily and I think that was to deal with the pain of not having a properly fulfilling relationship with another guy. 'I wasn't dealing with those feelings and eventually I attempted suicide. I knew if I came out I would be kicked out and I could be arrested and go to prison.' Mr Skingle was later transferred to work as a physical trainer within the Army and said his entire life turned around - except for his battle with his sexuality. Explaining why he ultimately left, he said: 'Even though I had invested so much of myself in that job and I loved what I was doing, there was still this underlying sense of unease that I couldn't form a relationship with someone of my own gender and sexuality.' Mr Skingle (pictured aged 17) said: 'My sexuality was something that I pushed into the background' Forces guidelines issued in 1994 said that being gay was 'incompatible with service in the armed forces'. However, both Mr Skingle and Ms Riley said the reality was the complete opposite. Ms Riley said: 'You cannot be effective in any part of your life if you are hiding part of your life.' Mr Skingle added: 'I felt like half a person and felt that half of me was missing - that half of me was missing was being able to fulfil myself as someone who could have a relationship with another human being.' The ban being lifted was a 'bittersweet' moment for Ms Riley, who had wanted to join the Navy since her early teens. 'It was wonderful that finally the UK had been forced to lift that ban to allow thousands of perfectly competent patriotic people to be able to serve their country but bitter because it was too late for me,' she said. On Thursday Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence, People and Veterans, apologised to a group of veterans for the harm caused by the policy. Mr Skingle (pictured) was transferred to work as a physical trainer within the Army and said his entire life turned around - except for his battle with his sexuality The MoD now has an LGBTQ+ group within its rank to support service personnel and the Royal British Legion boasts its own LGBTQ+ & Allies branch, which celebrates its first anniversary on Sunday. 'The camaraderie continues,' Mr Skingle said. 'There's the old saying of you can take the man out of the Army but you can't take the Army out of the man and that's continued for my entire life.' John Crosbie was born a Newfoundlander in 1931, long before his fellow citizens voted to join the country called Canada. At home, he was a towering political figure. A Liberal who stood up to Joey Smallwood and challenged the leadership of his mentor, the legendary premier who had dragged Newfoundland and Labrador into Confederation, Crosbie crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservatives and soon hit the national stage, where he was a politician unafraid of matching action to words. As federal finance minister in Joe Clarks short-lived 1979 minority government, Crosbie brought in what he called the short-term pain for long-term gain budget that would ultimately lead to the Progressive Conservatives defeat. Crosbie was defiant that it was the best for the countrys finances, if not, as it turned out, for the Clark governments fortunes. From St. Johns, I watched Crosbie on television in the 1983 when he ran to replace Clark as the national PC leader. I was reporting that summer for The Evening Telegram, far from Ottawa. I winced at Crosbies French, having taken up Ottawas study grants to immerse students like me in Quebec. I knew Crosbie as a fluent and sharp-witted speaker in his townie English no way could he wrap his tongue around French. But I also remember feeling proud that a Newfoundlander was in the national race. When I came to Ottawa in 1984, Crosbie was an influential minister in the Brian Mulroney government in the departments of justice, transport and international trade as the Canada-U.S. free trade debate was at full roar. He clashed infamously with rookie Liberal MP Sheila Copps, a member of the Liberals pestering rat pack of MPs that dogged the Mulroney government. It was cringeworthy as a young female journalist to hear the lion of Newfoundland and Labrador call a female politician baby and tequila Sheila. He regretted it. The two political rivals later became fast friends, especially after Copps married a Newfoundlander. By 1991, Crosbie was minister of fisheries and oceans, and I was a reporter with CBCs The National in Toronto. In the summer of 1992, CBC assigned me to St. Johns amid the collapse of the northern cod fishery. I arrived home the week Crosbie came to announce the shutdown, which put more than 30,000 industry workers on land and at sea out of work. At a Canada Day event on a wharf in Bay Bulls, he faced angry workers who challenged him. I didnt take the fish from the goddamn water, Crosbie barked back. The next day he formally made the closure announcement and unveiled an interim compensation package as a couple hundred fishery workers were briefed next door. Several tried to barge their way into his news conference. Crosbie continued to take reporters questions as security barred the doors and the protestors tried to beat it down. They dont need to go berserk, he said. Police escorted him out to safety. Crosbie later wrote that shutting down the 500-year-old fishery was the toughest political decision he ever made. But hed had the guts to announce it there, on his home turf. It would later turn out that the fishermens display of anger that week only helped Crosbie make the case to Mulroneys cabinet to enrich the compensation package. Crosbie left federal politics in 1993, just as I moved back to Newfoundland and Labrador to continue covering Canadas biggest single industrial layoff, which had hit my home province like a tsunami and saw societal and economic impacts ripple along the coastline for years. I often had occasion to talk to him, and he wasnt always happy about the topic. Crosbie could be prickly but he never once shied away from speaking to me, whether about politics, the fishery, Hibernia or the news of the day. Long after I returned to Ottawa, prime minister Stephen Harper named Crosbie as lieutenant-governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. Protocol schmotocol. Crosbie greeted the royals the avowed animal-lover Prince Charles and his bride in a sealskin jacket. For all his bravado in public, though, it was crystal clear John Crosbie was basically a shy man. He often didnt look straight at a person but rather upward, talking through his eyelids as they fluttered. But man, what a mind. And saucy? Some saucy. When he delivered what we both knew was a good line or a skewering observation, he always had a twinkle in his eye. I saw him last year at the seniors residence where he and his wife Jane lived. I went over to say hello and reintroduce myself, and to say thank you for always talking frankly to a journalist so many these days dont, I told him. Im glad I had that chance. Crosbie died in St. John's Thursday night, at age 88. His funeral is scheduled for Jan. 16. Read more about: A massive winter storm is grounding flights in Chicago, has whipped up tornadoes and hail across the South and will likely push record January warmth into New York, Washington and the entire East Coast over the weekend. In central Pennsylvania, rain is accompanying springlike temperatures. The eastern U.S. was covered with threats from high winds, flooding rains to snow, ice and even tornadoes from Kentucky to Louisiana, the National Weather Service said. Across the U.S., winds and foul weather had resulted in some 963 canceled flights, the majority of those scrubbed trips into or out of Chicagos OHare International Airport, according to FlightAware, a Houston-based airline tracking service. High winds were delaying inbound flights. "Pick your threat; everything is going on," said Bob Oravec, a senior branch forecaster with the U.S. Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. "You would think there would be a lot of impacts and there are." People clean up the classrooms of Benton Middle School, which lost its roof from Friday's severe weather in in Benton, La, on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. (Henrietta Wildsmith/The Shreveport Times via AP)AP A sharp gradient between cold temperatures in the West and record-warmth in the East has been making Saturdays storms worse, Oravec said. At least seven people have died in the U.S. South. The National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama, said Saturday via Twitter that three people have been confirmed killed near Carrollton in Pickens County. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said that an embedded tornado within a long line of intense thunderstorms caused the deaths. Three others were killed in Louisiana and one in a storm-related crash in Texas, authorities say. Chicago has had mostly rain through early Saturday, but it could pick up about 3 inches of snow later, Oravec said. The heaviest snow and coldest temperatures will be north and west of the city. In the East, there's a chance warm temperature records for the date will fall on Saturday and Sunday throughout Ohio Valley and into the East Coast from Maine to Florida. In New York's Central Park, Saturday's high is forecast to reach 64 degrees, which would break the record for Jan. 11 of 63 set in 1975, according to the weather service. Sunday's high should reach 67, which would top a mark set in 2017. The warmest January temperature recorded in Manhattan was 72, touched in 1950 and 2007. By Brian K. Sullivan, Bloomberg News (TNS) Mamata Banerjee, arguably the most-bitter critic of the prime minister on the CAA, met him at Raj Bhavan, (Photo Credit: Twitter ) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Kolkata on a two-day visit amid black flags and angry chants of "Modi, go back". But Modi was greeted by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who shared dais with him while remaining insistent on annulment of the new citizenship law. Banerjee, arguably the most-bitter critic of the prime minister on the CAA, met him at Raj Bhavan, after deciding not to receive him at the airport, and also shared stage at a colourful programme to celebrate 150 years of the Kolkata Port Trust. "I told him that we are against CAA, NRC and NPR. I told him there should be no discrimination among masses and no citizens are left out and tortured," she told journalists after meeting Modi at Raj Bhavan. Moments later, she was present at an anti-CAA protest nearby. Banerjee, who called her meeting with Modi a "courtesy visit", said the prime minister had asked her to come to New Delhi to discuss the vexatious issues. An hour or so later, Modi and Banerjee were seated on stage at the Millennium Park, savouring a delightful dance performance on the Hooghly river as the iconic Howrah Bridge was aglow in hues of red, purple, yellow and green light. The politically significant meet, which had exposed chinks in the opposition unity, came just two days after the TMC chief had declared to boycott an opposition meeting called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on January 13 over the JNU violence, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and other "anti-people" policies of the Centre. The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Banerjee drew sharp reactions from the Congress and CPI(M), which said Trinamool Congress' "double standard" is now exposed. The Trinamool Congress leadership denies claims of "political match-fixing" and said the meeting between the two leaders was just a government-to-government meet. The brief meeting between the two had kicked off afresh storm as Left students activists protested against her and demanded an explanation from her for diluting the fight against the CAA. Banerjee tried to clarify by saying the decision to meet the PM was her "constitutional obligation" and tried to pacify the protesting students. "We have been protesting from the day one against CAA. The issue of both of us is the same. So please don't deviate from it. I would request you all to protest in a democratic way," she said while trying to pacify the protesting students. Modi arrived here amidst protests across the city against CAA. The protesters burnt effigies of the PM and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for bringing in a "divisive law". Several organisations, both political and civil, staged protests at every nook and corner of the state. Hundreds of protesters holding black flags demonstrated outside the Kolkata airport gate number one crossing. The police had put up a barricade to prevent them from crossing over to the airport side. #WATCH West Bengal: Students in Kolkata, including those from Jadavpur University and TMCP members, staged a protest near Raj Bhavan earlier today, opposing #CitizenshipAmendmentAct and National Register of Citizens (NRC). CM Mamata Banerjee was also present there. pic.twitter.com/mhPJ4Bg0oO ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 Modi was greeted by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, state Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and other party leaders at the airport. He took a helicopter to the Royal Calcutta Turf Club and from there went to the Raj Bhawan, as protesters had blocked several major crossings with an intention to show him black flags. Later at Raj Bhawan, Modi met a delegation of state BJP leadership. In the evening, Modi dedicated to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings of the city - the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe Hall and the Victoria Memorial Hall. After inaugurating a sound and light show at the iconic Howrah Bridge from the Millenium Park on the banks of the Hooghly, Modi took a boat ride to the Belur Math, where he met monks and interacted with Ramakrishna Mission president Swami Smaranananda and retired for the day. On Sunday, the PM is scheduled to attend a prayer meeting at Belur Math on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, founder of the Ramakrishna Mission. Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Sunday. The prime minister and the chief minister will share dais at the programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Baroness Hale has blasted sexist law firms that force women to wear high heels as she prepares to step down as President of Supreme Court. The 74-year-old, who is the country's most senior judge, made her comments as part of a renewed call for greater equality in the legal profession. She warned that outdated and sexist practices of prohibiting women from wearing flat shoes in the workplace is lingering while men are not subjected to any similar regulations. Baroness Hale (pictured in court alongside Lord Reed) has blasted law firms that insist women wear high heels to work as she prepares to step down from her role as President of the Supreme Court Speaking to the Evening Standard, she said: 'One does again hear stories of women being required to wear high heels by employers. 'Why should they have to wear high heels? 'Requiring neatness, tidiness, cleanliness is one thing, requiring a particular image is another.' In 2017 a petition calling for it to be made illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels was signed by 152,000 people. The appeal was then submitted to and debated in parliament. The government response said: 'Company dress codes must be reasonable and must make equivalent requirements for men and women. 'This is the law and employers must abide by it.' The 74-year-old, who is the country's most senior judge, made her comments as part of a renewed call for greater equality in the legal profession The President of the Supreme Court is currently preparing for her mandatory retirement when she reaches 75 later this month. But she will take up a new position as an honorary professor of law at University College London. She said that she had already seen some progress being made, particularly in terms of judicial appointments, but that much more work needed to be done to achieve gender equality in the profession. The outgoing judge added that equal pay was a troubling concern. She said that it was 'shocking' that female barristers were 'being charged out at lower rates' than their male counterparts and that too few women were being instructed to appear before the highest courts. The President of the Supreme Court is currently preparing for her mandatory retirement when she reaches 75 later this month. But she will take up a new position as an honorary professor of law at University College London Baroness Hale became the first female member of the Supreme Court when she was appointed as a Lord of Appeal to the House of Lords in 2004. It was not until 2017 that she was appointed to the role of court president. Most recently, she caused a stir in both the legal and political worlds after her brutal slapdown of Boris Johnson's bid to suspend Parliament for five weeks which rendered the prorogation granted to him by the Queen illegal. She was accused of revealing her 'anti-Boris bias' but insisted that she was above politics and only focused on the law. A Katy man who claims he was pushed to the limit by his wifes affair was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the 2015 shooting death of her lover during a penalty hearing Thursday. Dennis Patrick Gibson pleaded guilty to murdering his long-time friend, 66-year-old Vernon Burger, who hed recently discovered was having an affair with his wife. Gibson also received an additional 10-year prison sentence for shooting his wife of 23 years in the back of the head. She survived. On HoustonChronicle.com: Fort Bend County DA Brian Middleton brings change to diverse county in first year During his closing argument, defense attorney David Ryan argued Gibsons now ex-wife, Jacqueline, set the stage by rubbing her husbands nose in the affair and bringing the two men to face one another. There are no angels in this case. But, there certainly is one demon and she still thinks shes the victim. She had multiple affairs during her marriage, and it wasnt about being in love, Ryan said. Ryan said he thought the sentence was fair but maintained Gibson was also a victim in the passion-fueled crime brought on when his wifes lover came to the couples home to pick her up for a weekend tryst to celebrate his birthday at a Louisiana casino. I had no problem with him getting prison time for his actions. He could have gotten a divorce lawyer. He could have stayed away, and the solution was not to grab a gun and shoot people. But, the lack of responsibility for everybody else involved in this was stunning. She really doesnt believe she did anything wrong, he said. During the trial, Jacqueline Gibson recounted that the day of the shooting started with an argument with her husband over her ongoing affair, the truth of which he discovered several weeks earlier when she went to her high school reunion in Pennsylvania with her boyfriend. Related: Ex-Katy football coach David Temple found guilty in murder retrial The couple agreed to continue living together for the sake of their two grandchildren, a 4-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, who had been adopted by the couple. On the day of the shooting, his simmering anger erupted, and violence ensued. After walking the lovers to Burgers truck, Gibson took out a gun and shot his wife in the back of the head at point-blank range and then again in the arm. He then turned the gun on Burger, shooting him twice. The couples next-door-neighbor intervened, demanding Gibson give her the gun and go back to his home. You dont want to do this, Dennis, neighbor Sherry Rosso said and reminded Gibson of the couples two grandchildren who were home at the time. A video of Gibson sitting in the back of a Fort Bend County sheriff deputys patrol car shortly after the shooting was played during the hearing. In the roughly 30-minute recording, Gibson appeared to be without remorse, alternatively screaming obscenities out the window of the patrol car, calling Burger a slimy snake in the grass and yelling to his grandchildren that he loved them. It was not the defendants life to take. Engaging in an extra-marital affair is not justification for the defendant taking the law into his own hands and shooting his victims. The remedy for infidelity is divorce, not death. The defendant made a choice and must suffer the consequences of his actions, Chief Domestic Violence Prosecutor Chad Bridges said during his closing statement. After the ruling was announced, Jacqueline Gibson took the stand to face her former husband and testified how the shooting had caused her physical and emotional suffering, including severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, I have many bad memories and scars that will last forever. But you didnt kill me; you didnt break my spirit. You didnt take my will to live, she testified, The past does not define my future and I want you to spend the rest of your life in prison. Gibson must serve half of his sentence before he can be considered for parole. PHOENIX, Jan. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Paradigm Diagnostics, Inc. announced that Palmetto GBA, the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for the Molecular Diagnostics MolDX program, has reviewed the technical dossier and broadly approved the Paradigm Cancer Diagnostic (PCDx) assay under the Local Coverage Determination for next-generation sequencing for solid tumors. The PCDx test provides physicians and their patients with a blueprint of the underlying mechanisms of a patient's disease, potential treatment approaches, and inventory of relevant clinical trials. The test gets results back to physicians in three to five business days, rather than weeks. The PCDx assay detects substitutions, insertion and deletion alterations (indels), and copy number alterations in 234 genes and select gene rearrangements. PCDx also detects genomic signatures, including micro satellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) using DNA isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue specimens in addition to select immunohistochemistry tests. "After an extensive technical review, the expanded Medicare coverage significantly enhances Paradigm's ability to enable broader and earlier access to biomarker-driven treatments that may improve survival for cancer patients," said David Mallery, CEO. About Paradigm Diagnostics and Paradigm Cancer Diagnostic (PCDx) Paradigm is an innovative precision medicine company that leverages technology, bioinformatics and proprietary sequencing to perform the PCDx test that identifies the evidence-based treatments that may improve a cancer patient's progression-free survival. Paradigm delivers results in 3-5 business days and is able to provide comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) results including mutational load off of a single slide. In an independent prospective study, using PCDx to help guide treatment decisions has been clinically proven to significantly increase progression-free survival. The company and its laboratory are based in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, please visit www.paradigmdx.com. Paradigm Cancer Diagnostics (PCDx) is the trademark of Paradigm Diagnostics, Inc. SOURCE Paradigm Diagnostics Related Links https://www.paradigmdx.com Private Health Care Providers on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Upper East Region have threatened to revert to the 'cash and carry' on January 18, if the government refuses to address their reimbursement concerns. President Nana Akufo-Addo during a press encounter in 2019 said the government has paid NHIS claims up to May 2019 but members of the Health Insurance Service Providers Association (HISPA) said none of their members has been paid up to three months. The situation, according to the Association is having a negative impact on health care delivery and operations of their health facilities. Speaking at a press conference in Bolgatanga, the Associations President, Dr. Francis Asaana said HISPA has given the government a one-week ultimatum to settle its indebtedness to their members or risk having NHIS subscribers seeking health care pay for full services. There has been serious delay in reimbursing us. Our members have only received payment of claims for only January or February of 2019 and this is causing serious financial burden on us. It is affecting drug procurement as well as the paymet of utility services and SSNIT contributions of our employees. It is making it difficult to pay salaries and most of us owe between four and six months arrears. We have engaged with the NHIS up to the highest authority and each time we are assured that payment will be made and up to now, no payment has been done. We are giving the NHIS a one-week ultimatum and by 17th January 2020 if no payment is made, we will be forced to go cash and carry pending when payment will be made because we will not be able to continue to provide services, he said. Dr. Asaana entreated government to urgently resolve their concerns so that innocent patients do not suffer the misery of the 'cash and carry' system. He opined that the Association's decision is not borne out of malice or politically motivated but rather in the interest of the scheme and its subscribers. We are pleading with the NHIS to listen to our plea and make payments so that the NHIS intervention will continue to provide the best social service to the people of Ghana. ---citinewsroom Claudia Winkleman joins Patron of Centrepoint, HRH The Duke of Cambridge at The Roundhouse on November 13, 2019 in London, England. Duran Duran, Rita Ora and Hussain Manawer all performed at the gala. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Centrepoint) Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman has divulged that her friend and noted child psychologist Tanya Byron "saved" her after her young daughter suffered serious burns when a costume she was wearing went up in flames. The incident, which occurred on Halloween 2014, saw Winkleman's then eight-year-old daughter Matilda set on fire when her flammable witch's outfit was ignited by a candle she had brushed past. It had a serious affect on Winkleman, who turned to Byron for help. Read more: Claudia Winkleman is 'still haunted' by daughter's terrifying Halloween accident "Its my daughters story. But I just knew I would need Tanya. I did [need her] and she put me back together again, lets just say that," Winkleman told The Times in a joint interview with Byron. Dr Tanya Byron attends British Academy Children's Awards at London Hilton on November 27, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage) I am incredibly lucky that I happen to have an incredible friend who happens to be in my eyes the worlds best clinical psychologist and I was facing something that felt um difficult. She went on: I dont want to use big words because I have to be respectful to [my daughter] and the rest of the family, but Tanya genuinely, well, she saved me." Winkleman added that Byron had been there to help when her family were blindsided by the ordeal. The accident saw Matilda suffer bad burns as the outfit could not be extinguished with ease, with Winkleman describing it "like those horrific birthday candles that you blow out and they come back". The mother-of-three subsequently campaigned against highly flammable Halloween costumes and warned other parents about the dangers they pose. Winkleman's revelation comes a she and Byron are set to release a 12-episode podcast, How Did We Get Here, which looks at the trials and tribulations faced by real people. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 23:40:54|Editor: ZX Video Player Close KABUL, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. service members were killed and two other U.S. service members wounded in an explosion in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province on Saturday, the coalition forces confirmed. "Two U.S. service members were killed and two U.S. service members were wounded in action today when their vehicle struck an IED in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan," the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission forces said in a statement. Taliban militants have been using home-made improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to make roadside bombs and landmines for targeting security forces. The service members were conducting operations as part of Resolute Support mission, the brief statement added. The statement did not provide details only saying "in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the names of the service members killed in action will be withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete." Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for the attack. Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, wrote on Twitter that insurgents conducted a roadside bombing against foreign forces near an airbase on the outskirts of provincial capital Kandahar city. Security situation has been improving in Kandahar, the former stronghold of Taliban, over the past months, as security forces have conducted search and cordon operations across the province. But the militants attack government interests in the province from time to time. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Those who shoot the Ukrainian passenger plane near the city of Parand in Iran's Tehran province on Jan. 8 must be identified, Iran's Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said in a letter to Tehran's military prosecutor, Trend reports with reference to the Prosecutor General's Office of Iran. All the causes of the incident should be fully investigated, based on the statement by the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff regarding the shooting of the Ukrainian passenger aircraft by Iran's Air Defense System, Montazeri said, noting that the results of the investigations must be reported to the prosecutor general. Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri offered condolences to the families of those killed in the crash. The Iranian president also offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the tragedy. The Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) flight crashed just minutes after takeoff from Tehran on Jan.8, killing all 176 people on board. The Boeing 737-800 was headed for Kyiv, where 138 passengers were expected to take a connecting flight to Canada. Iran's Armed Forces General Staff issued a statement on Jan. 11 saying that the aircraft was shot down by the Iranian Air Defense System. Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC) has faulted the comment made by Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), regarding the newly launched Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Operation Amotekun by the governors of the six states of the South West. The northern group, in a statement by its National President, Alhaji Isah Abubakar, kicked against the security outfit, describing it as a military wing of the OPC. Swiftly responding to the attack, the Lagos state coordinator of OPC, Alhaji Mutairu Adesina, described the groups comment as inciting and capable of causing unnecessary tension in the country. He said, it is sad that such inciting comments could come from a leader of a group in the North and this uncomplimentary statement is capable of causing unnecessary tension in the country. It shows that the group is one of the sponsors of these suspected herdsmen who killed our people and destroyed our farms. Where was Alhaji Isah Abubakar of NYCN when gunmen and suspected herdsmen invaded our farms and communities, kidnapped and killed our people in the southwest? Since its inception in1994, OPC has never been found wanting, none of our members has been caught or arrested for kidnapping, destroying or killing other people. Read Also: Northern Youths Oppose Newly Formed Amotekun In Southwest The records are there for everybody to see. OPC has always been complementing the efforts of the Nigerian police on safety and security issues. We are not criminals, marauders or kidnappers. We have been carrying out our duties as a purely socio-cultural group with Olokun Festival Foundation, promoting our cultural heritage and traditions. We have a structure in 30 states of the country, and our members are scattered across the state doing their legitimate businesses. So, why is Abubakar referring to us as militants? However, I am happy that we are beginning to see them, the enemies of our nation, and the region. It only shows that the northern groups are afraid of us because they know that OPC is the only group that can curtail their nefarious activities The issue of security is sensitive because it is between life and death and now that our governors had risen to the occasion with the launch of Amotekun, why is this group crying over a spilled milk? Adesina said though, the inauguration of Amotekun was long overdue, it was a timely response to the myriads of security challenges that have been threatening the peace and tranquility of the region For instance, there is Hisbah in Kano, and Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) that complements the efforts of the police and military in Borno, eight states in Middle Belt formed the G8, so why is NYCN raising issues where there was none. In the last four years, we have a record of over 200 people across the southwest that have been killed by these criminal herdsmen. Over 400 people have also been kidnapped and released after paying the ransom. So, why is this unnecessary brouhaha over operation Amotekun? This group should be warned because from what transpired between yesterday and today, there are indications that some elements from the North are feeling uncomfortable with whatever progress we are making in the west and that is too dangerous for our polity. Three days ago, there were reports of attacks in some parts of Ondo. Stories of attacks have been unprecedented in the southwest and nobody cares. A situation whereby an unknown group in the north described operation Amotekun, a new initiative and structure from western Nigeria as a military wing of the OPC is not only inciting, but it is also sad The victim of Rochester's first suspected homicide of 2020 is a 24-year-old Rochester man. Rochester police are still investigating the shooting that occurred Friday afternoon in the 800-block of 21st Avenue Southeast, at The Quarters Apartment Complex, Lt. Craig Anderson said in a press release. Rochester police responded to a call concerning several shots being fired at the address at about 2:03 p.m., and a subject lying in the parking lot and not moving. Reports also indicated another subject seen running from the scene. When officers arrived, they found in the parking lot a deceased white male, Capt. Casey Moilanen said in a press release. The person appeared to had been shot. Officers attempted lifesaving efforts, but the man was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene. On Saturday, police identified the victim as Trevor Michael Boysen, 24, of Rochester, Anderson said. ADVERTISEMENT At the scene Friday, officers from the police department, Olmsted County Sheriffs Office and the Minnesota State Patrol joined in a search for the suspected shooter, Moilanen said. "We believed that we had at least a possible suspect that fled on foot, and we proceeded to search the area, bring in dogs. We eventually ended up catching up with somebody that we believe is a person of interest and they are in custody," Anderson said. At approximately 2:51 p.m., officers located and arrested the suspect in the 1600-block of Marion Road Southeast, at the Oak Terrace Mobile Home Park. When the suspect was arrested, the handgun suspected of being used in the shooting was recovered, Moilanen said. Robert Bryant Salley Jr., 18, of Rochester, is being held in lieu of charges of second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Moilanen said. The shooting caught the attention of Rochester Community and Technical College officials. The college, which is located less than a mile east of the scene of the shooting, sent a notice on Twitter at 3:05 p.m. "This afternoon (approximately 2 p.m.) Rochester Police responded to a report of shots fired at an apartment complex near campus. We have word from RPD that the suspect is in custody and there is no danger to campus," the tweet read. At 3:55 p.m., the college tweeted again about the incident. "RPD confirmed with the College there was a fatality in the shooting incident which occurred at an off-campus apartment complex. Again, a suspect was taken into custody and there is no danger to campus," the tweet read. ADVERTISEMENT Rochester Public Schools sent a similar message at about 3:20 p.m. Friday. That message read: "This afternoon there was an isolated incident that did not involve the Rochester Public School District, but is directly impacting the Districts busing schedule. There was an incident in SE Rochester that required a large police presence. We worked with the individual schools that needed to delay busing because of the area the buses were supposed to travel to. This is due to the safety of our students. As a result, we may have several late buses this afternoon (high, middle, elementary, and preschools) based on our tiered busing system. None of our students and staff were in danger during this time. We appreciate your patience with the busing this afternoon." A university researcher developing a deeper understanding of a deadly microscopic parasite that causes a disease affecting millions. A graduate student researching how climate change affects lake systems in southern Ontario. And a college teacher who worked tirelessly to improve electrical engineering tech courses for students, whom he always welcomed to his office with a warm smile. They are among 50 members of university and college communities across the country whose lives were cut short Wednesday when a jetliner crashed in Iran. All 176 people on board were killed, among them 138 who were en route to Canada. Just think of the potential that was on board that plane and its been extinguished, said Paul Davidson, president of Universities Canada, which is the voice of universities nationwide. We will never get that back. Its estimated that 46 students, researchers and faculty from 19 universities, and four from three colleges, perished when the Ukraine International Airlines jet exploded. According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Flight 752 was likely downed by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. This is a national tragedy for Canada, Davidson told the Star. Were hearing stories in the biggest universities and the smallest universities, in the sciences, social sciences and humanities and that adds to the sense of loss. Its devastating in labs because these were some of the brightest, most tenacious researchers in the country, working in a wide range of fields, from advanced computer engineering to Indigenous conservation strategies. His comments were echoed by David Lindsay, president of the Council of Ontario Universities, which represents universities provincewide. It is difficult to fully comprehend the scale of this loss, he said. The lost research, teaching, friendship and contributions to university and student life are irreplaceable (It) will be deeply felt by our communities for years to come. Linda Franklin, president of Colleges Ontario, noted the deep ties of the provinces colleges to their diverse communities. They are close-knit and the devastating loss of faculty and students due to the airplane crash in Iran is felt deeply. The Star asked members of the academic community to offer insight into some of the work pursued by their colleagues who were lost on Flight 752. These are their responses, which have been edited and condensed. Ghanimat Azhdari, PhD student at the University of Guelph Ghanimat had been in Iran over the December holiday break to visit family and was returning to the University of Guelph, where she was a student in my lab at the department of geography, environment and geomatics. Ghanimat was an Indigenous person who was born into the nomadic Qashqai tribe in southwestern Iran. Like Indigenous peoples across the planet, including many First Nations, Metis and Inuit in Canada, Ghanimat had a very strong personal relationship to her ancestral territories in Iran, consisting of vast arid grasslands, rangelands and deserts. Scientists now believe that over 80 per cent of the worlds biodiversity is found in Indigenous and tribal lands. She had dedicated her life to protecting these places, which she would often describe to me as territories of life, as they are not just the habitat of endangered plants and animals, but are also the ancient landscapes that have sustained Indigenous peoples, like her own community, for thousands of years. Ghanimats PhD thesis was devoted to exploring the biocultural richness of Indigenous lands, such as sacred mountains and rivers, berry picking areas and places where medicinal plants are harvested. Using participatory community mapping methods, Ghanimat had become an expert in working with local tribespeople to collect and map these critical areas of both ecological and cultural significance. She was particularly well suited for this type of research as she could easily slip between two worlds: the Indigenous world in which sophisticated ecological knowledge about plants and animals is captured within songs, language and cultural traditions and the western science world of data, satellite images and statistical analyses. For her PhD dissertation, Ghanimat had hoped to partner with First Nations in Canada to begin mapping the biocultural richness of the boreal forest, using participatory mapping methods as well as remote sensing and geographic information systems analysis. Her first meeting with the Miawpukek First Nation in Newfoundland was scheduled for next month. In an email that she sent to me from Iran a few days ago, she described her excitement about meeting the community and her worry that her winter boots and jacket might not be warm enough for the notoriously biting Newfoundland winter. The loss of Ghanimat Azhdari, as well as so many other similarly talented students in the Tehran air disaster, is devastating particularly for university communities across the country. The one thing that brings me a little comfort in coping with Ghanimats death is the knowledge that my dear student was a powerful and passionate young leader in defence of Indigenous peoples and their territories, and that her lifes work will continue. Faisal Moola, Azhdaris supervisor, is an associate professor in the department of geography, environment and geomatics, University of Guelph. Forough Khadem, recent PhD in immunology from the University of Manitoba Dr. Khadems research focused on understanding how the immune system protects us against a deadly microscopic parasite called Leishmania. Leishmaniasis, which is the disease caused by this parasite, is prevalent in more than 70 countries. An estimated 10 to 15 million cases occur worldwide and about 500,000 new cases occur annually. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a form of the disease that affects the liver and spleen, is the most dangerous and if untreated leads to death. Dr. Khadem observed that Leishmania parasites hijack a host enzyme to increase the number and function of a certain type of immune cells that dampen immune response. She disrupted this enzyme and infected animals became able to clear parasites. She found that the parasites infect a special type of liver cells. Removal of these liver cells during infection or blocking the activity of this enzyme was very effective in curing leishmaniasis. Her work provided novel understandings into immunity against VL and has implications for antimicrobial immunotherapy and drug/vaccine development against leishmaniasis. These findings were published in high-impact journals. She won several prestigious research awards and was among six individuals selected across Canada to participate in the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in 2018. She was a great mentor and role model to young women in science. With her passing, humanity has lost a rising star in science. Jude Uzonna, the supervisor of Khadems doctoral research, is associate dean (research) and professor of immunology and medical microbiology at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. Mari Foroutan, PhD student at the University of Waterloo Mari was a student in the faculty of environment and her climate change research looked at how small lake systems in southern Ontario respond to a changing climate and increasing extreme weather. Her specific expertise was on water temperature and water quality. Mari, whose work was widely published, had established a lake observatory for this work and was developing state-of-the-art methods using field sensors, high-resolution remote sensing from drones, and numerical models to measure, monitor and predict surface temperature, thermal structure, ice cover and water quality of the lake with climate warming. View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/could-we-actually-live-on-mars-mari-foroutan#watch In addition to her PhD work she was also conducting projects with international collaborators looking at Earth analogues for similar features on planet Mars, such as aeolian ridges and megaripples found in deserts of Iran and Libya. Claude Duguay is a professor of geography and environmental management at the University of Waterloo. Hadis Hayatdavoudi, PhD student at Western University Hadis Hayatdavoudi earned B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrochemistry and corrosion engineering in Shiraz, Iran, before beginning her PhD program in chemistry at Western University in 2018. Her PhD research goal was to determine whether hydrogen atoms, a byproduct of corrosion reactions, would have an influence on the longevity of copper-coated steel containers for disposal of used nuclear fuel. The work is of interest to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (Toronto), who are charged with ensuring the safe, permanent disposal of Canadas used nuclear reactor fuel. Her research results are thoroughly documented and stored according to the strict quality assurance plan under which her work was carried out, and will not be lost. They will be incorporated into papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and Hadis will be fully acknowledged as co-author. We have, however, lost the bright mind behind that research work, and although we have a solid group of talented young researchers carefully studying other aspects of the corrosion performance of used nuclear fuel disposal containers, as of yesterday we have nobody carrying out experiments on the role of hydrogen. Supervisor Jamie Noel is an assistant professor in the department of chemistry at Western University. Saeed K. Kashani, PhD student at the University of Ottawa Saeed was entering the fourth year of his chemistry PhD degree at the University of Ottawa. His focus was on organic synthetic: the branch of chemistry that deals with how to construct complex, valuable molecules from commercially available chemical building blocks. In particular, Saeed was demonstrating how cutting-edge automation technology could allow chemical synthesis to be carried out more efficiently and with reduced waste compared to the current state of the art. By collaborating with pharmaceutical companies and technology experts, Saeed got the chance to achieve many of his goals since moving to Canada. Stephen G. Newman is an associate professor in the department of chemistry and biomolecular sciences, University of Ottawa. Razgar Rahimi, who taught electrical engineering technology at Centennial College and was a sessional lecturer at Ontario Tech University Curriculum development takes an enormous amount of effort to synthesize a body of knowledge into easily digestible lessons. Dr. Rahimi was a very quick learner who exceeded expectations and always met deadlines. Not only did he update our electrical engineering tech courses, he made them better! We worked on a project to modify our courses by introducing low carbon building skills an important objective that the federal government is funding to make our electrical engineering tech graduates more knowledgeable about environmentally sustainable practices. Dr. Rahimi had a positive outlook and never complained about the tasks ahead. He always welcomed and helped students who came to his office, always generous with his time. Our electrical engineering technicians, technologists and apprentices are so much richer for knowing Razgar Rahimi. Jorge Gruszka is a professor in the school of engineering technology and applied science at Centennial College. Mohammad Amin Jebelli, masters student at the University of Toronto Jebelli had practised medicine and served as a medic in Iran, after graduating from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences with a doctorate in medicine. In 2018, he came to Toronto to pursue a master of health science in translational research. This was a young man who was quiet, gentle, soft-spoken. He was bright and clever and asked good questions and was curious about the world. Jebelli was due to graduate from the U of T program later this year, and was studying to do a qualification exam this March so hed have the ability to practise in Canada as a doctor. He also had an interest in entrepreneurship and in helping people in his home country of Iran, and contemplated pursuing a PhD. Joseph Ferenbok is the translational research program director at the University of Torontos faculty of medicine. Mojgan Daneshmand and husband Pedram Mousavi, professors of engineering at the University of Alberta Im by no means an expert in Mojgans research areas (Im a computer engineer), but the two themes in her work were the design of novel microwave sensors for use in a wide variety of industrial and environmental applications, and the design of novel communications devices that operate at microwave and radio frequencies. Conventional cellphones (up to the LTE generation used today) use microwave frequencies; however, the next generation of cellphone technology (5G) will require the use of arrays of antennas that operate at both microwave and radio frequencies. Its clear to me that Mojgans research on novel microwave and radio frequencies devices would likely have contributed to the development of 5G technology in Canada, as well as to the training of students and junior researchers in key technical aspects of 5G. Pedrams research interests focused on what are called wireless sensor networks, where a multitude of physically distributed intelligent sensors use built-in flexibility (provided by flexible antenna designs and by programmable computers) to adapt to their local conditions, make useful measurements (for example, environmental measurements) and then communicate among themselves as a self-organizing network. As an example application, such wireless sensor networks could be used to monitor the environment for, say, signs of pollution. They could also be used to provide communications capabilities in remote areas or in areas affected by natural disasters. Finally, such a network could allow autonomous vehicles to communicate among each other. Pedram, who in his research was a communications engineer, also contributed valuable courses in management and in intellectual property that benefited the education of students in all four of the departments in the faculty of engineering Pedrams teaching benefited numerous students over the years, and he was undoubtedly contributing significantly to the establishment, growth and success of new companies in Alberta and across Canada. The biggest loss is that both Pedram and Mojgan were delightful people, widely liked and respected by their colleagues and the students that they taught and mentored. . Bruce Cockburn is an associate professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering, University of Alberta. Fareed Arasteh, PhD student at Carleton University Fareed had a masters degree in biotechnology from Iran. His dream was to enrol in a PhD program in the field of genetics. It took him two years to get into the molecular genetics lab at Carleton University in Ottawa and enrol in a PhD program. He was working on the identification and characterization of genes that affect quality control of the gene expression process using the model fungal organism, bakers yeast. For genes to function, they need to be activated, or, as scientists like to call it, expressed. The quality of this expression is continuously regulated; mistakes in expression can lead to different conditions including cancer. For this research, the lab has secured more than $200,000 of public funding. It will take at least an additional year and a half to find and recruit another qualified graduate student to continue this work. Ashkan Golshani is a professor of biology and biochemistry, Carleton University. Nasim Rahmanifar, masters student at the University of Alberta Nasim Rahmanifar received her bachelors and masters degrees in biomedical engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology in Iran. She was admitted to a masters program in mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta in 2019, and was offered to transfer to a PhD program in 2020. Nasims research focused on in-field assessment of the risk of pressure injury and repetitive strain injury of the shoulder in wheelchair users. Nasims academic performance throughout her studies in Iran and Canada was exceptional, with a full-mark GPA. She was a talented and hardworking student, and a dedicated and kind team member. Hossein Rouhani, Rahmanifars supervisor, is an assistant professor in the department of mechanical engineering, University of Alberta. Correction Jan. 11, 2020: This article was corrected from a previous version which said Forough Khadem recieved a PhD from the University of Winnipeg. Dr. Khadem received a PhD from the University of Manitoba. With files from Rosa Saba Omar Mosleh is an Edmonton-based reporter covering inner-city issues, affordable housing and reconciliation for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @OmarMosleh TUV leader Jim Allister makes his way through the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings in east Belfast to enter the Assembly chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye UUP leader Steve Aiken leads his party through the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings in east Belfast to enter the Assembly chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Naomi Long, Alliance Party with party colleagues pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leads his party through the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings in east Belfast to enter the Assembly chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Michelle O'Neill from Sinn Fein with party colleagues pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Arlene Foster from DUP with party colleagues pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. The Northern Ireland Assembly has sat for the first time in three years with MLAs nominating a new power sharing Executive including all five main parties. As expected DUP leader Arlene Foster was returned as First Minister with Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill appointed as deputy First Minister. Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey was named as Speaker, while deputy speakers roles were taken by the DUP's Christopher Stalford, SDLP's Patsy McGlone and UUP's Roy Beggs. The junior ministers for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister are the DUP's Gordon Lyons and Sinn Fein's Declan Kearney. Earlier the UUP and Alliance confirmed they were joining the DUP, Sinn Fein and SDLP in the new power sharing administration. Here is the full list of ministers: First Minister: Arlene Foster Deputy First Minister: Michelle O'Neill Justice Minister: Naomi Long Minister for the Economy: Diane Dodds Minister for Finance: Conor Murphy Minister for Education: Peter Weir Minister for Communities: Deirdre Hargey Minister for Infrastructure: Nichola Mallon Minister for Health: Robin Swann Minister for Agriculture: Edwin Poots Follow how the first session of the Assembly unfolded here: New Delhi: Hitting out at the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said that the new citizenship law (CAA) was ''discriminatory and divisive'' and demanded a probe into the police excesses on anti-CAA agitators. ''A comprehensive high-powered commission should be set up to probe into incidents connected with the CAA protests and provide justice to the affected people,'' Sonia Gandhi said after chairing the Congress Working Committee meeting on Saturday. "The sinister purpose of the law is clear to every patriotic, tolerant and secular Indian. It`s to divide the Indians on religious lines. Thousands of young men and women, especially students, have realised the grave harm the CAA will cause,'' she added. A resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee stated that the Narendra Modi Government has unleashed the entire might of the brute State power to suppress, subjugate and stifle the voice of the youth and students across the country. Prime Minister and the BJP Government have betrayed the trust of the youth.'' Live TV ''A concerted attack on the Constitution, rampant unemployment, commercialization of education, unprecedented fee hikes and autocratic refusal to listen to the voice and concerns of youth-students have led to spontaneous protests across the colleges and university campuses. Instead of listening to the students, the only response of BJP Government has been to unleash police lathi charge, tear gas shells, forcible arrests, lodging of FIRs and even planned attacks on the protesting students and the youth.'' ''Almost every institution in the country from Delhi University, JNU, Jamia Millia University, Banaras Hindu University, Allahabad University, AMU, and many others have seen massive protests.'' ''Modi Government is systematically attacking the culture of creative thinking and learning, of questioning the hierarchy and of inculcating the culture of assimilation and cohabitation. BJP government realizes that students and the young cannot be divided through its sectarian agenda. Hence, a designed conspiracy has been unleashed to attack the centres of creative and independent thinking i.e. colleges and universities,'' the CWC statement stated. Praising the anti-CAA protesters, Sonia Gandhi said they had taken to the streets braving the cold as well as the police brutalities. "I salute their courage, abiding faith in values of the Constitution, and determination to defend and protect those values. We are inspired by their struggle," the Congress leader said. Stating that millions of Congress workers will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of India in their struggle for equality, justice and dignity, Sonia said the situation in some states was alarming and they, like UP and Delhi, were being turned into police states. "We are appalled by the police excesses and use of brute force in many towns of UP, in Jamia Millia Islamia, in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Banaras Hindu University, the Allahabad University, the Delhi University, the Gujarat University, the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru," Gandhi said. Baghdad: A Ukrainian aircraft which crashed earlier this week in Iran had flown close to a sensitive military site and was brought down due to human error, Iranian state TV reported on Saturday. The responsible parties would be held accountable, the statement read on state TV said. The statement, released on Saturday morning, said it had done so due to a 'human error'. Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif took to Twitter to express his condolence on the incident as he wrote, "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations." A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020 Iran had previously rejected suggestions that one of its missiles brought down the plane near the capital, Tehran, on Wednesday. But then, the United States and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces. The plane enroute to the Ukraine capital was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from different countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians. US media have speculated that the airliner may have been mistaken for a warplane as Iran prepared for possible US retaliation. Rapid response teams were set up by the state government after Black Saturday to rescue animals in the event of future bushfires, but the scheme was mysteriously shelved, in a move now being slammed by wildlife groups. The department of environment established the strike teams with the hope of setting up a rescue service and a vet triage the same initiatives that senior bureaucrats promised this week as the animal death toll continued to rise. Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk with a koala near Cape Borda, on Kangaroo Island, on Tuesday. Credit:AAP Those involved say they purchased fire gear and were given extensive training to find injured wildlife and bring them into fire safety grounds for treatment and rehabilitation. But as Cienwen Hickey, president of wildlife group Australias Kangaroos told The Age: All the training and cost were to no avail, because we never got called out by DELWP (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning). They shelved the idea. London, Jan 11 : Labour leadership hopeful Clive Lewis has called for a referendum on the future of the British monarchy as part of his pitch to succeed incumbent party Jeremy Corbyn, a media report said. Lewis, the Shadow Minister for Sustainable Economics, told an audience on Friday that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step down as senior royals and work towards becoming financially independent could be a model for the future of the institution, metro.co.uk said in the report. The hopeful said that he respected the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision after "the racism that Meghan has experienced in the British media". "We're a democracy, I'd rather see us a citizens than subjects in the 21st Century. Let's talk about what a modern state looks like and what the role of the royal family would look like," he added. He said Labour should consider offering vote on the future of the royal family as the public should be able to decide "what the future of the monarchy is and what shape it should be". However after his speech, he tweeted that he did not support abolishing the institution but said questions should be raised over its size and money, said the metro.co.uk report. Before Harry and Meghan's shock announcement on Wednesday, Prince Charles was reportedly considering streamlining the monarchy. However their decision was said to upset Charles and the Queen as they were not consulted before it went public. Support for a referendum on the monarchy was unlikely to be popular. According to a 2018 YouGov poll, seven in 10 Britons consider themselves monarchists and support the continuation of the royal family, while 21 per cent oppose it. However, a poll on Thursday said 45 per cent of the public supported Prince Harry and Meghan's decision. Uncertainty looms over execution of the Buddha Nullah rejuvenation project, with the cash-strapped municipal corporation (MC) expected to contribute 110 crore as annual maintenance cost towards the project. Faced with emptying coffers, the general House of the corporation in its December 31 meeting had decided to form a committee to take a final call on the matter. On Saturday, mayor Balkar Sandhu formed the committee, comprising cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Congress MLAs Sanjay Talwar, Surinder Dawar, Rakesh Pandey, senior deputy mayor Sham Sundar Malhotra, Congress councillors Dr Jai Prakash, Kuldeep Janda, Ashwani Sharma and Rashi Aggarwal, among others. But the question remains: How the civic body will muster the funds? Earlier this month, chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh had okayed the 650-crore rejuvenation project, following which the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) floated tenders for it. PMIDC PROPOSAL As per the PMIDC proposal, besides the overall cost of the project, to be funded by the central and state government, MC also needs to contribute around 110 crore as annuity and annual maintenance of the project. For this, PMIDC proposed earmarking 50% of the finance commission grant received by MC (25 crore) and 50% of the electricity tax collected by MC (17 crore). Besides, MC has already allocated 25 crore from its budget towards the annual maintenance head, but was asked to add another 5 crore to it. The remaining amount was proposed be collected by increasing stamp duty on properties by 1%. The PMIDC also recommended revision in the water-sewer user charges. But, the MC House put this on hold, leaving it for the committee to take a decision on. SEVERE FINANCIAL CRUNCH The demand comes when the Ludhiana MC is reeling under severe financial crunch, which had even prompted the local bodies department to restrict it from executing new development projects. An MC official, requesting anonymity, said the civic body was struggling to even pay salaries to its employees. Increasing the stamp duty on properties will only burden city residents more. On the other hand, the municipal tax, collected by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), has not been transferred to MC since September 2018. Around 45 crore were due, the official said. Worse, the official said, PMIDC floated tenders for the nullah project even before the proposal of annual maintenance could be tabled in front of the MC House on December 31. Significantly, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had slapped a fine of 50 crore on the state government last year for failing to curb water pollution. On Friday, PPCB had withdrawn a criminal case against the mayor, MC commissioner and six others after MC submitted its action plan to clean the Buddha Nullah with a March 2021 deadline. COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mayor Balkar Sandhu said all MLAs and councillors whose areas fell in the vicinity of nullah were part of the committee. Apart from the elected representatives, MC officials were also part of the panel, which was expected to hold a meeting next week. Sandhu said the committee will deliberate on arranging the funds and take a final decision. He added that PMIDC officials will also soon meet the councillors and MLAs to explain nuances of the project to them. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen declared victory in Saturday's election as voters delivered a stunning rebuke of Beijing's campaign to isolate the self-ruled island, handing its first female leader a second term. "Taiwan is showing the world how much we cherish our free democratic way of life and how much we cherish our nation," Tsai told reporters as she announced her victory. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dyani Lewis in Nature: Australia is in the grip of its worst wildfire season on record. The human death toll stands at 27, and some 2,000 homes have been destroyed across more than 10 million hectares of land an area larger than Portugal. An estimated 1 billion wild mammals, birds and reptiles have perished. Michael Clarke, an ecologist at La Trobe University in Bundoora, Melbourne, has been studying the effect of fires on native ecosystems and how they recover ever since a fire tore through his field site 15 years ago. Clarke spoke to Nature about how animals fare in the wake of wildfires, and why this seasons fires could prove particularly devastating. What happens in the aftermath of a wildfire? It is deathly silent when you go into a forest after a fire. Apart from the undertakers the carrion eaters like currawongs, ravens and shrike-thrushes picking off the dead bodies, theres nothing much left in the forest. Its a chilling experience. For survivors, its a perilous existence in the months that follow. Any animal that manages to make it through the fire uninjured faces three major challenges. One is finding shelter from climatic extremes places they can hide from bad weather, like a hollow tree or a hole in the ground. The second is the risk of starvation. And third, theyve got to avoid predators like feral cats and foxes. Theyre exposed; theres nowhere to hide in a barren landscape. Even if an animal makes it to an unburnt patch, the density of organisms trying to eke out a living will be way beyond the areas carrying capacity. After fires in 2003, one unburnt patch I visited in the Mallee [a region in the far north of Victoria] was literally crawling with birds, all chasing one another, trying to work out who owned the last little bit of turf. It was clearly insufficient to sustain them all. More here. At least five persons were killed and several injured in a blast at an industrial and medical gas manufacturing company in Padra taluka of Gujarat's Vadodara district on Saturday, police said. The explosion took place at around 11 am at Aims Industries Limited near Gavasad village in Padra, an official from Vadu police station said. While five persons died on the spot, several were reportedly injured and have been rushed to a nearby hospital, he said. The fire brigade has been pressed into service, he said, adding that relief and rescue operations are underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two-month-old twins living in a New York City-financed homeless shelter in Queens died on Friday, the police said. Fire Department officials said they received a call about a cardiac arrest at the shelter, the Landing in East Elmhurst, shortly after 3 p.m. and took two patients to Elmhurst Hospital Center. The children were found unconscious in the buildings lobby, the police said. The patients, identified by the police as a boy and a girl, were pronounced dead at the hospital, officials said. The cause of death was not immediately known. The childrens father told investigators that they were in a crib while he was taking a nap, the police said. When he woke up, he said he found them unresponsive. Investigators were interviewing him and the childrens mother on Friday night. Lucknow: The UP Police's Special Task Force (STF) has arrested 8 members of an international gang trafficking cattle, rescuing 52 animals from their possession. On secret information, the police spokesman said on Saturday that on the basis of secret information, the police stopped 2 trucks leaving from the blockade last night under the four-lane bridge in the Gida area of Gorakhpur district, and 52 bulls were recovered from the truck on search. Bihar: Miscreants loots truck after claiming themselves police, case registered In this connection, 8 smugglers riding in cars in front of the truck also caught hold after brief firing. He has told that gang leader Haji Majid is a resident of Shamli, who lives in Thakurganj area of Lucknow and runs a gang. Apart from this, Mohammad Aslam, Manouvar, Satish Babu, Mo Imran, Ashu Chaudhary, Mo Salman, and Mo Riaz were arrested and arms and ammunition were seized from their possession. Kolkata: Dogs were eating the body of the burnt girl after the gang rape, BJP attacks Mamta Government The arrested accused told the police during interrogation that these cattle were being transported from Haryana to West Bengal from where the banned animals are taken across the border to Bangladesh. The spokesman said that for a long time, there was a large amount of information about the smuggling of cow breeds by international gangs from many districts of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to Bangladesh via West Bengal. 19-year-old boy committed suicide by getting scold by his mother Photo: Nicholas Johansen British Columbia's Appeal Court has reaffirmed a teenager's decision to have gender transition treatment and urged the boy's father to try to understand his son's gender dysphoria. The father, whose identity is under a publication ban along with his son's, went to court when he learned his female-born child was undergoing hormone therapy because he perceived himself to be a male. The B.C. Supreme Court sided with the boy in an earlier decision, saying he didn't need his father's consent for treatment, and an injunction was later issued against the dad ordering that any attempt to persuade the boy to abandon treatment was a form of family violence. In a decision released Friday, the Appeal Court said the father is entitled to his beliefs but his son is a mature 15 year old and has chosen hormone treatment. It overturned parts of the lower court ruling that limited what the father could say about the child's transition, but it still said he must acknowledge and refer to his child as a male and by the name the teen has chosen. In the decision, Chief Justice Robert Bauman and Justice Barbara Fisher wrote that the father's refusal to respect his son's decision has caused the boy "significant pain," resulting in a breach in what was an otherwise loving parent-child relationship. "This rupture is not in (the boy's) best interests. He clearly wants and needs acceptance and support from his father." The judges say the father's attempts to be involved in the process have been by fuelled by positional stances without any direct involvement with the boy's medical team, which has tried to speak to him. They urged the father to engage with the boy's medical team and to listen to the teenager. "If he fails to do these two things, the rupture in his relationship with (his son) will likely not heal, which would not be in (the boy's) best interests." President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the Ukrainian people on Saturday, January 11, due to the situation with the downing of a Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet near Tehran, the Office of the President of Ukraine has reported on Facebook. "The video address will be made after consultations of the head of state with a group of Ukrainian experts working at the site of the tragedy in Iran, international partners and a phone call with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani, which is scheduled for 17:00 on Saturday," the statement said. On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet. In this regard, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter that the crash had been caused by a "human error." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani apologized for the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane by the Iranian military, expressing his condolences to the families of the dead. He called the plane crash a disastrous mistake. A Ukraine International Airlines plane (flight PS752), en route from Tehran to Kyiv, crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport early on January 8. There were 176 people on board the aircraft. All of them died. The crash killed 11 Ukrainians (two passengers and all nine crew), 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, ten Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons. op Alicia Kaplan, a middle aged artist who said she had never earned more than $30,000 in a year, said that Bloomberg's wealth made him unlikely to be "swayed by interests giving him money." Bloomberg has a net worth of about $57 billion, in large part a result of his stake in his flagship financial services and information company, Bloomberg LP. But it was not just financiers who were in attendance. "He's a rich guy, yes. But he made it happen himself," said Will Campbell, a 30-year-old in the financial services industry, waiting in line for the Bloomberg event on Saturday. Bloomberg supporters rejected criticism of Bloomberg's wealth made by his rivals, including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Sanders has said that "multi-billionaires like Mr. Bloomberg are not going to get very far in this election," while Warren has accused Bloomberg of attempting to circumvent democracy by buying an election. "I wish someone would criticize me for spending a million dollars on something. I wish I had a million dollars to spend on anything," Nutter said. Nutter noted that, as mayor, Bloomberg pitched in $30 million of his own money to help fund a jobs program that targeted vulnerable black and Latino men. Some of the loudest cheers came when Michael Nutter, the former mayor of Philadelphia and Bloomberg campaign chairman, told the crowd that he didn't know "when in America we decided that we don't like folks who have money." Supporters at the event cited Bloomberg's finances and his business experience as reasons that they got behind him. The event demonstrated that Bloomberg, even while away, can still draw crowds in the city in which he served three terms as mayor. The campaign said 540 people attended the event. The event, held at the campaign's Harlem field office, was one of more than 150 such events hosted across more than two dozen states that were coordinated to launch "day one" of his presidential bid, which formally began in late November. Bloomberg spent the day in Texas to begin the first bus tour of his campaign. Harlem, N.Y. -- Hundreds of Michael Bloomberg supporters in New York cheered on the former mayor's vast wealth during a kickoff event in Harlem on Saturday, even as his fellow contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination target him and other billionaires as beneficiaries of an unfair economic system. Kaplan, who is white and Hispanic, suggested that Bloomberg's decision not to live the "high life" and instead to pursue public office earned her support. "It just seems like he's more for the people," Kaplan said. "Not rich people or poor people -- the people." To date, the Democratic primary contest has been dominated by a split between the race's front-runner, former Vice President Joe Biden, a moderate, and Sanders and Warren to his left. Bloomberg, who was a Republican and an independent before becoming a Democrat, remains behind those candidates, as well as former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, in national surveys. But he has risen rapidly, surpassing Sen. Amy Klobuchar and entrepreneur Andrew Yang in the weeks since launching, and has threatened to upend the race with hundreds of millions of dollars in more spending, particularly targeted in large states where other Democrats are not even running ads yet. Bloomberg remains in the single digits nationally. Little polling has been conducted among New York Democratic voters. But New York, which hosts its primary in April and awards more delegates than any state besides California, is a central part of Bloomberg's campaign strategy. Bloomberg has been running ads in the states since at least December and plans to open up 20 field offices in the state, The Wall Street Journal has reported. Some of those ads are working, attendees of Saturday's event said. "He got me here because of that first commercial," said Joan Cargill, a 52-year-old black woman who works in publishing. Cargill said she was not yet sold entirely on Bloomberg, but that she wanted to attend the event to see for herself. Cargill brought her 17-year-old son, who said his friends were largely behind Sanders. She said she had been "toying" with the idea of Bloomberg for two months out of frustration with the other candidates. "I think he's smart," she said. She was particularly impressed that the ad that she saw did not mention Trump by name, she said. Bloomberg's national focus is at odds with the strategies of his fellow contenders, who are largely spending time in the four earliest caucus and primary states, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Bloomberg has refused to compete in those states and is instead deploying hundreds of millions of dollars on television and digital advertising on a national scale, in the hopes of gaining steam in March, when the majority of the primary's delegates are awarded. He said Saturday in Texas that he was open to spending $1 billion of his own money on the 2020 race even if he was not the nominee, to help defeat Trump, The New York Times reported. Bridget Wise, a New York Bloomberg supporter from Wisconsin who works in architecture and design, said that she had been "gazing" at some of the other candidates in the running, such as Klobuchar and Buttigieg. "He surpasses them. Put it this way: New Yorkers are a hard crowd. They didn't reelect him for no reason," she said. Bloomberg's record as mayor has come under renewed scrutiny thanks to his presidential bid. In November, he apologized for his support of the controversial "stop-and-frisk" policing strategy that disproportionately affected minority groups. Micah Bernard Glenn, a 29-year-old black entertainer who attended Bloomberg's Saturday event because, he said, he wanted to see what the "ruckus" was about, said he actually disagreed with much of the criticism of stop-and-frisk. But he said he was turned off from the Bloomberg campaign because of how he was treated at the event. Immediately after entering, he said, Bloomberg staffers immediately questioned him on what he was doing. "When I came in the building, I was already targeted, I feel," he said. "It was very intimidating and it hurt my feelings very much." The Bloomberg campaign did not respond to an inquiry seeking to confirm Glenn's account. Glenn said that he voted for Clinton in 2016, but has been gravitating toward Trump in the years since. "I feel like he's relatable nowadays," Glenn said. "I feel like if I sat down with Donald Trump I could get the blunt truth, rather than lullabies." A Maratha organisation has submitted a letter to the district and police authorities in Maharashtra's Nanded, seeking a case against Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar for allegedly hurting the community's sentiments in a washing powder advertisement, an official said on Saturday. Calling the advertisement an "insult" of the Maratha warriors, the Sambhaji Brigade on Thursday submitted the letter to Nanded District Collector and Vazirabad Police, urging them to register a case against the "Padman" actor. In the advertisement, the actor is seen playing the role of a Maratha king, who returns victorious with his army, but is admonished for his dirty clothes. The ad then shows the characters dancing around and washing their own clothes. "We received a letter from the Sambhaji Brigade on Thursday, in which they demanded that a case be filed against Akshay Kumar for hurting the community's sentiments. We have forwarded the letter to the superintendent's office," in- charge of Vazirabad Police Station S S Shivale said. The actor and the detergent brand have also come under flak on social media with the #BoycottNirma hashtag trending on Twitter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Manila (CNN Philippines Life) As one of the largest processions in the country, drawing up to over two million participants in recent years, Traslacion is known to last nearly an entire day starting at about 5:30 a.m. and ending past midnight the following day. The procession follows a six-kilometer route that snakes around the city of Manila, one that is slowed down by devotees clamoring to climb the andas, or the carriage, in the hopes of touching the image of the Black Nazarene or the rope pulling it to receive blessings. For many, participating in the procession is their panata, their personal devotion to the Black Nazarene, whom they believe is capable of granting miracles and bringing good fortune to their lives. To get caught in this sea of passionate devotion is an overwhelming experience, yet at the same time you will notice that a certain rhythm exists, as devotees clamber over each other and back into the crowd, pushing and pulling each other and the carriage. UP Manila professor Bing Bonilla, who did her art history master thesis on the aesthetic experience of the Black Nazarene devotion, says that the ritual has its own dynamics and explains the choreography of the ritual: Pag gusto mo nang umakyat, tapikin mo 'yung nasa taas o 'yung nasa harap mo para iakyat ka nila on the shoulders of people until you reach the andas. Pagkatapos, pag bababa ka na, mag-signal ka lang at saka ka dahan-dahang ibababa ng mga tao. Dapat may tiempo ka. [Dapat] hindi ka mawawala sa tiempo, she adds. Ang nawawala sa tiempo 'yun 'yung nasasagasaan, nahuhulog, kasi maski hindi ka nga tumapak sa ground, umaandar ka eh. This year, though, the dance was erratic, the organized chaos more chaos than anything. And the atmosphere was more tense than euphoric. For many devotees, this is in part due to the changes made to the procession, from the unexpectedly early starting time (the andas left Quirino at 4 a.m. instead of 5:30 a.m., as previously announced) to the new route to the addition of an andas wall composed of some 2,000 policemen guarding the front of the carriage and the sides of the procession. The new rule was that devotees could only climb the carriage from behind to hasten the pace. While Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno says that this years procession went according to plan, some devotees were left feeling dissatisfied, cheated, and even enraged. On the Ayala Bridge, tensions were high. Before the andas made its way up the bridge at 7:30 a.m., the passage was cleared, with devotees relegated to the sides and blocked by military personnel. Kalma lang, kalma lang tayo, urged the policemen leading the procession, as several devotees trying to slip past the barricades to meet the andas head on were met with force. Viva pulis! said some devotees mockingly, complaining that the religious event had become a procession of police. Hindi naman kami nag-ra-rally, nagpapanata lang kami! shouted one, dinaya nila yung mga tao! said another. By 9:50 a.m., the andas arrived in Quezon Blvd. Here, it would make a turn into Arlegui St., where the police announced that they would give the andas to the people following complaints. Meanwhile, dozens of policemen were stationed at Quiapo Church where the procession will end later in the day. Here are some photos of what happened in this years Traslacion from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. Devotees from Tondo, Manila pass by Jones bridge as early as 3 a.m. to join the grand procession. Photo by JILSON TIU Replicas and devotees pass by Manila City hall as early as 3 a.m. to join the grand procession. Photo by JILSON TIU Devotees are rerouted by the military and police due to the early deployment of the andas. Photo by JILSON TIU Devotees are denied entry by the police and military early morning at the Ayala Bridge. Some can be heard shouting, Kami nga deboto dapat nandyan, hindi kayong mga pulis. Photo by JILSON TIU A devotee is detained for forcing his way past the police's rope barrier at the Ayala Bridge. Some policemen are heard shouting, Arestuhin ang mga lulusot. Photo by JILSON TIU Devotees push against the police and military forces for entry to the bridge. Some complain to the police for stepping on their bare feet an act of penitence for devotees of the Black Nazarene with their heavy boots. Photo by JILSON TIU Some devotees hang around a street sign waiting for the Black Nazarene to arrive at Ayala Bridge. Photo by JILSON TIU A military personnel is hurt by a falling barricade pushed by devotees. Photo by JILSON TIU A devotee patiently waits for the Black Nazarene during sunrise at Ayala Bridge. Photo by JILSON TIU Devotees accumulate at Quezon Bridge. Photo by JILSON TIU A young girl clings to her father as dismayed devotees are asked to move to a narrow walkway on Ayala Bridge in anticipation of the andas' passage. Photo by JILSON TIU An armed officer stands atop a van carrying a Long Range Acoustic Device usually used to disperse rioters and protesters. Photo by JILSON TIU Devotees sprinkle water on each other to cool down while several others pull on the rope which supposedly brings blessings to those who touch it. Photo by JILSON TIU The andas passes through the Ayala Bridge at 7:30 a.m. Photo by JILSON TIU Construction workers stop and watch the procession from an unfinished building. Photo by JILSON TIU A collector stands behind the police force assigned to Quiapo Church as she finishes her collection. Photo by JILSON TIU Devotees pray at Quiapo Church during the hourly masses. Photo by JILSON TIU Policemen amass the surroundings of Quiapo Church to guide the andas to the entrance of the basilica. Photo by JILSON TIU Devotees cheer and wave their towels as the Black Nazarene passes Quezon Avenue around 10:50 a.m. Photo by JILSON TIU Preeja Prasad By Express News Service BENGALURU: The management of Jyoti Nivas College in Bengaluru has declared a two-day holiday on Friday and Saturday, following a verbal altercation between its students and BJP workers. Students had been planning to take out an elaborate protest along with other colleges. However, to prevent any untoward incidents, it is said that the management decided to go ahead with the holiday, hoping that the students will keep away from the premises to avoid another protest. SMSs had been sent out to the students parents informing them. On Wednesday, BJP workers had put up a banner supporting CAA and reportedly asked passers-by to sign it. Some of the students of the college protested against the same, which led to an altercation. Following this, additional police personnel were deployed at the college. Interestingly, students have been warned by the college management to not register any police complaint. New York, US (PANA) - The targeting of the Hema community in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with violence, including killings and rape, may amount to crimes against humanity, said the UN on Friday He was accused of running a Las Vegas-based sex trafficking operation, under the guise of an escort service, in 2014. Now rapper and producer Mally Mall, 42, is being sued for sexual battery and false imprisonment, among other charges, by a fitness and clothing model. In court documents, Quashay Davis described a frightening tale where the former Love And Hip Hop star allegedly drugged her and forced her to perform sex acts with him at his home, all during a 'hypersexualized environment' that included several other naked women. Serious accusations: Mally Mall, 42, is being sued for sexual battery and false imprisonment, among other charges, by a fitness and clothing model who alleges she was drugged and raped 'This is a blatant attempt at extortion,' a rep for Mall told TMZ after news broke on the the latest lawsuit. 'There is no factual basis or merit in this case,' he added. The alleged victim said her ordeal began after she flew from Dallas to Los Angeles to meet with Mall (born Jamal Rashid) about her career in the fitness business. Their takes: Model Quashay Davis maintains the former Love And Hip Hop forced her to perform sex acts and threatened to killer her if she fled; the rapper's rep told TMZ 'This is a blatant attempt at extortion. 'There is no factual basis or merit in this case' After being introduced to former porn star Jayla Foxxx at his home, Davis said she blacked out after drinking a mixed cocktail that she believes was spiked with the drug molly, which has been compared to MDMA or ecstasy. The model maintains she repeatedly asked Mall to stop, and that she 'feared for her life and worried that he would crush or choke her to death.' She also alleged that he threatened to kill her if she fled the property, before making her getaway the following day after Mall passed out. In the lawsuit, the rapper is being sued for sexual battery, false imprisonment, gender violence and infliction of emotional and physical distress. Legal woes: This past October, Mall pleaded guilty to one charge of using an interstate facility to aid unlawful activity in a federal criminal case that stemmed from the raid of his Las Vegas home in 2014; He was accused of running the illegal operation from 2002 to 2014 This past October, Mall pleaded guilty to one charge of using an interstate facility to aid unlawful activity in a federal criminal case that became public following an FBI raid at his Las Vegas home in September 2014. He was accused of running the illegal operation from April 2002 to September 2014 in Clark County, Nevada. His home in California's San Fernando Valley was raided in 2014 by the FBI as part of an ongoing investigation into human trafficking charges. His home was also raided this past April as part of a dual investigation for both human trafficking and trafficking of exotic animals, though he was never arrested or taken into custody, according to TMZ. Mall has worked alongside such big name stars as Drake, Snoop Dogg, Tyga, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown and 50 Cent. New Delhi, Jan 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the death of Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said and described him as a "visionary leader and statesman", who transformed Oman into a prosperous nation and called him a "beacon of peace". In a series of tweets, Modi said, "I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary leader and statesman who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation. He was a beacon of peace for our region and the world." The Prime Minister also called Sultan Qaboos as a true friend of India and said, he provided strong leadership for developing a vibrant strategic partnership between India and Oman. "I will always cherish the warmth and affection I received from him. May his soul rest in peace," Modi said. His remarks came after Oman's Sultan, the Arab world's longest-serving ruler died at an age of 79. According to media reports, the Sultan, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, was unmarried and had no heir or had designated successor. A host of London restaurants are teaming up for charitable initiative #AustraliaIsBurning, which aims unite the capitals food and drink scene in supporting relief efforts for those affected by the devastating bushfires in Australia. The appeal is being spearheaded by Australian-born, London-based Instagram food influencer Clerkenwell Boy, who also founded the #CookForSyria campaign to aid those affected by the war in Syria. The anonymous influencer is hoping that between 50 and 100 restaurants will confirm their involvement in the Australia by the weekend. "I was over there during the Christmas and New Year's period and saw first hand how devastating the fires have been, and the impact it has had on the livelihood of farmers, growers, producers and winemakers as well as everyday families and businesses," Clerkenwell Boy told the Standard. "The initiative that we're taking is aimed to build awareness, as well as raise valuable funds that will help towards long-term recovery in these communities." The events and calls for donations highlight in particular the disastrous impact the fires have had on the wine-producing Adelaide Hills region, where an estimated third of vineyards have already been destroyed by the continuing fires. Timmy Green, part of the Antipodean-inspired Daisy Green restaurant group, will host an eight-course, wine-paired Australia Day dinner on January 25 for 95 per head, with all profits going to the Country Fire Associations, Red Cross and Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal charities. Throughout the month, the restaurant group will also be donating 2 from every chicken parmigiana, 1 from every glass of Australian wine, and 50p from every Lamington cake sold across all their restaurants. Queens Park cafe and wine bar Milk Beach will be donating 30p from every flat white sold in January to the Red Cross, along with 1 from every wine, cocktail and dish sold on Australia Day (January 26). Australian winemakers affected by the fires will also feature in its wine tasting night on January 29, with wines available to purchase on the night. Stoke Newington restaurant Wander, which is run by Australian native Alexis Noble, will be showcasing Adelaide Hills wines as part of its Australia Day wine flights. They will also accompany its special menus on January 24 and 25, with all proceeds going to the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal. Noble has also invited people who are unable to get a table for the dinners to donate to a Crowdfunder appeal, with every 10 donation paying for a raffle ticket in a draw. Prizes include wine and gift vouchers, and the link to the appeal can be found here. Crosstown Doughnuts will donate 50p from every doughnut sold from its limited edition Australia Day collection to wildlife rescue organisation WIRES. They will also donate 1.50 from every 6-pack Australia Day box, and 3 from every 12-pack. On Australia Day itself, steak restaurant group Hawksmoor will be collecting voluntary donations from diners to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, and will be matching the figure of donations made. Elsewhere, restaurants including Violet Bakery, 1251, Jidori and Spring will be adding a 1 donation onto every bill in January, while District coffee shop in Nine Elms will be donating 20p from every flat white sold. Elliot's Cafe will also be donating 1 for each bill to the Red Cross, as well as serving wines from affected Australian producers, and donating 1 from each glass, or 6 for each bottle of wine sold to the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal. Bill Grangers Granger & Co. restaurants will donate 1 from every sale of their ricotta hotcakes their most popular dish to the NSW Rural Fire Service, Country Fire Authority, Red Cross and WIRES. They will also offer the option to add a 1 donation to all bills until the end of February. Wine bar and restaurant The Laughing Heart will be donating 1 per glass and 5 per bottle from every Australian wine sold, along with all proceeds from its sausage roll, and 1 for every bill. Hackney restaurant Pidgin will host a dinner showcasing Australian ingredients and food traditions on January 27. The dinner will cost 55 a head, with all profits going to the Red Cross. Just down the road, Bright will also be holding a five-course dinner on February 10, which will include courses cooked by chefs from fellow restaurants P. Franco, Legs, Ottolenghi and Peg. The night will also encompass a raffle and a silent auction, with proceeds from all sales on the night going towards bushfire relief funds. New Delhi: Bringing back the focus to the apolitical nature of the Indian Army, the new Army Chief, Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane, said on Saturday that the Army and the armed forces owe their allegiance to the Constitution of India and its core values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, as enshrined in the Preamble, should guide the forces in all their actions at all times. As the Army, we swear allegiance to the Constitu-tion of India... Justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in the constitution should guide us, he said in his opening rema-rks at his first press conference as Army Chief. Gen. Naravanes unequi-vocal message on the Ar-my being apolitical follows his predecessor General Bipin Rawats criticism of those leading the protests against the citizenship law some weeks ago. Gen. Naravane said that the ABC of the Indian Army was allegiance, belief and consolidation, adding, We swear allegiance to the Constitution of India. Be it officers or jawans, we have taken oath to protect the Consti-tution and that is what should guide us in all time and all our actions. What it translates into is also the core values which are enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution that is, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity and that is what we are fighting for (when) we are deployed in the border safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is to secure for our people these core values, he said. This is what needs to be kept in mind at all the times, he said. Gen. Naravanes comments come in the backdrop of allegations by Opposition parties that the armed forces are being politicised. His predecessor and current Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat was criticised for commenting on political issues, including students protests against the CAA. Gen. Naravane said that the Army upholds the Constitution and what it stands for, including the fundamental rights guaranteed to all citizens. We are an Army of the people and for the people, he said. On whether he would continue to speak strongly on issues, like his predecessor, Gen. Naravane said the Army is not seeking any publicity for doing what is our duty. We will continue in the same way, serving the country to the best of our ability, he said. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriffs office said. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The other driver was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Should we be so harsh in judging people to move from job to job? Illustration: Getty Images At one time, it was common to stay in a job or at a company for years, decades even. Some people remained at one organisation for the entirety of their working lives, leaving only when they retired. Things have changed, however. An increasing number of people are changing jobs every few years or even months, earning the name job hoppers. Millennials in particular, those born between 1980 and 1996, have a reputation for job-hopping - moving freely between different firms. According to a Gallup report, 21% of millennials say they have changed jobs within the past year, which is more than triple the number of non-millennials who report the same. Compared to 60% of non-millennials, half of millennials strongly agree that they plan to be working at their company one year from now. Job-hoppers often get maligned for changing jobs often, with some arguing it reflects lack of commitment, loyalty or passion. But should we be so harsh in judging people to move from job to job and are there any benefits for employers? Perhaps most importantly, its more than possible that many young people dont actually want to change jobs often, but their current employers arent offering them a legitimate reason to stay. Whether its a higher salary, an improved workplace culture or a more fulfilling position, millennials are incentivised to take a better deal when they see one - rather than settling in one place. READ MORE: How sleep deprivation is impacting our work Additionally, some may find themselves forced to find a new job due to a situation outside of their control, such as redundancy. Totaljobs research tells us that 1 in 2 UK workers plan to change jobs over the course of the next year, so we expect to see plenty of talent taking a leap over the course of 2020. You might change jobs because you want to launch a career in another industry, youd like to use your skills in a different role, or it might be a progression opportunity, says Stephen Warnham, jobs expert at Totaljobs. Story continues To some extent, its understandable that job-hopping is frowned upon by employers. Very few bosses want to see their firm used as a stepping stone to a better job offer and in some cases, companies may lose out financially if they invest in an employee who then disappears. Better equipped There are also a number of benefits that come with hiring short-term staff, however. For workers, job-hopping can mean youre adaptable and it gives you more varied experience, says Warnham says. Having an insight into several different organisational structures, company cultures and management styles could mean youre better equipped to try a new challenge or project. Frequent movers likely thrive off new environments, so it may be that they can hit the ground running easier and work with a new team in a relatively smooth transition. Having fresh faces in an organisation can also boost creativity and bring new ideas to a business, particularly if new employees have worked for various other companies. This can be a huge bonus for employers, with research suggesting companies that foster creativity are 3.5 times more likely to outperform their peers in revenue growth. READ MORE: How to resign without burning bridges Job-hopping may also boost soft skills such as communication, relationship management and networking, which are highly valued. If someone has moved from organisation to organisation, they will have also had to build new relationships and work with many different people. With this in mind, they may also have a larger network and more connections too. So if you tend to move from job to job, whats the best way to avoid deterring potential future employers? Whilst changing jobs in a short space of time could put off some employers, this potentially awkward interview question can be navigated, Warnham says. Highlight that you have a good and clear reason for your next move in order to settle any doubts in the minds of potential employers. By explaining what you learned and the skills you gained in each role, and what evidence you have to prove this, you can show youre a strong candidate whether youre a job hopper or not. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to earn a windfall in the coming years. On Wednesday, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed their new financial goals after announcing their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family. Meghan and Harry detailed their current financial situation in a Q&A on their Sussex Royal website, explaining that they will no longer receive funding through the Sovereign Grant, though, there are still many questions surrounding how the couple plans to make a living and how they will finance it. In an interview with PEOPLE, Trish Regan, host of Trish Regan Primetime on Fox Business, elaborates on Meghan and Harrys individual net worths and how the pair will most likely earn their own income to become financially independent in their new life. The possibilities right now are endless for them. They need to think about what it is that they like, what they identify with and whether theres a market for that, Regan, 47, tells PEOPLE. Obvious things might include a book deal if they can really provide insight into what life is like as a royal. I think theres a lot of Americans and people throughout the world that would be very interested in that, so that would be a value. Another obvious thing might be something like a talk show. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex react during their visit to Canada House in London on Jan. 7, 2020. | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Trish Regan on Fox Business Network. RELATED: How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Will Become Financially Independent from the Royal Family According to a May 2019 piece from Money, Meghan, 38, has a net worth was estimated to be around $5 million thanks to her work on Suits and previous acting jobs. Harry, 35, is pegged to have a net worth between $25 and $40 million, a piece of which Forbes reports is the royal familys net worth of $88 billion. Looking to now chart their own destiny, Regan says the world-famous couple can easily grow that wealth by creating their own personal brand. They have a solid brand. Its important that they keep their brand intact, the FOX Business host says of couples beloved wholesome family image she believes they can market. Opportunities that I think would be perhaps more long-lasting for them would be the creation of a brand or endorsing a certain product, or if they license their name to certain products. You can look at the success, for example, of the Kardashians, a different kind of brand, and you can look at the success of a Jessica Alba and the Honest Company. Story continues Baby Archie with his father, Prince Harry, during their Canada vacation. | Sussex Royals Regan continues on to say that Meghan and Harry will without a doubt have the opportunity to make millions and maybe hundreds of millions of dollars depending on the success of the company. There will be people that want to work with [Meghan]. There will be investors that want to work with her that will want to be able to help her cash in on that brand, she explains. Look at even Chelsea Clinton. She just revealed that she made millions of dollars as a board member on a company because she got stock in the company. There will be boards that want [Meghan and Harry] to join and in exchange, they may get equity value stock in a company. RELATED: Queen Summons Royal Family for Emergency Meeting: This Is Happening Very Quickly And with all these opportune ways that the Duke and Duchess can potentially make their own income and no longer be dependent on the royal family, Regan doesnt believe that the former Suits actress needs to look at returning to acting as one of her money-making options. Theres tons of money in businesses that are not acting. And I think that shes smart and savvy enough to be looking around and saying, theres more that I can do. And her husband clearly supports her, she says. [ent-hotlink id= Meghan Markle in Cape Town during the royal tour of South Africa on Sept. 23, 2019. | Chris Jackson/Getty Images Though Meghan and Harry assured that public funding has never been used, nor would it ever be used for their private expenses, nor have they received any tax privileges and stated that they will continue to pay privately for any travel and expenses undertaken in their own time Regan estimates what those personal costs might actually be. I think that it adds up. Just off the top of my head, I would think it would be in the millions. They have a certain lifestyle that theyll want to replicate, she says of the luxe lifestyle the pair are accustomed to, adding that as an American, Meghan will continue to pay her U.S. taxes, which would now be on her new income. Theyre going to need to make somewhere within the vicinity of 10 million a year just knowing that a lot of that is going to go to taxes. Cant get enough of PEOPLEs Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! RELATED: Meghan Markles Pal Jessica Mulroney: A Strong Woman Looks a Challenge Dead in the Eye Despite their step back from the royal family and new financial goals, the Duke and Duchess stressed in their Q&A that they remain dedicated to maximising Her Majestys legacy both in the UK and throughout the Commonwealth, and will continue to support their patronages in addition to expanding their charity work. Harry and Meghan are not the first members of the Royal Family to take on work outside of their royal duties: they acknowledged that there is a precedent for this structure which currently applies to other title-holding members of the Royal Family who also earn an income while supporting the monarchy. Their Royal Highnesses are hopeful that this change is in the best interest for all and look forward to carrying out their duties to the monarch as well as their charitable work with financial autonomy, they wrote. Polls are about to open on the Mediterranean island of Malta as ruling Labour Party members decide on new prime minister. The Mediterranean island nation of Malta is about to get a new prime minister. Joseph Muscat announced his resignation last month over his connection to people accused of killing a journalist, in 2017. Members of the ruling Labour Party will elect a new leader to take over the role. Muscat is accused of being linked to people implicated in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb in 2017. Al Jazeeras Neave Barker reports from the capital, Valletta. As wildfires that have already claimed the lives of at least 26 people and billions more animals continue to rage across Australia, health experts say the toxic smoke is also a big cause for concern. Wildfire smoke poses two major threats to health: lung aggravation and toxicity. When materials such as plastics burn, hard metals such as lead can catch a ride into the body on smoke particles. Due to its tiny particle size, once inhaled smoke can travel throughout the bloodstream and wreak havoc on any area of the body, said Stanford University's Dr. Maria Prunicki, a scientist and physician who studied the health effects of Californians' exposure to wildfires. As Earth's climate heats up, scientists say more wildfires can be expected around the world. Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty The fires in Australia began in September, and the smoke has spread across at least 20 million square kilometres. The air quality rating across Australia is up to 12 times the limit deemed hazardous, and over 20 times higher in certain areas this week. "That's much higher than anything we've seen in California. The damage is going to be much more severe," Prunicki said in an interview with CBC Radio Quirks & Quarks host Bob McDonald. Wildfire smoke can contribute to increases in respiratory disorders like bronchitis and asthma as well as heart diseases in those exposed. It can also have adverse effects in pregnancy through pre-term birth and decrease in birth weight. Prunicki's work looked at the health effects of wildfires in children near Yosemite, a common bushfire site in California. Her research found that after 90 days, those exposed to wildfire smoke had more symptoms of asthma compared with smoke from prescribed burns. It also showed that exposure to wildfires suppressed the regeneration of healthy immune cells. Last week, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) released a statement warning of potential health hazards from the escalating crisis both those near active fire zones and those at a distance. Story continues "With denser smoke haze and longer periods that people endure smoke inhalation, there is a much higher risk that previously healthy people will face developing serious illness," Dr. Tony Bartone, AMA's president, said in the statement. Australian dept. of Defence/The Associated Press The total number of people affected by smoke levels in Australia won't be known for some time. But Dr. Fay Johnston, an associate professor of public health at the University of Tasmania in Australia, said there's a clear, real-time correlation between smoke concentrations and emergency department visits in those regions. "The number of people who've been affected by this smoke it's not an isolated event," said Johnston. "It's every major capital city in the country having severe smoke impacts." Although the long-term health effects of Australia's wildfires are unclear, the public has been urged to limit their exposure and to take extra measures to avoid complications. Angela was at home in Windermere on Friday when the vegetation fire broke out in the nearby reserve. She was one of the first to call emergency services. The fire blew through the Waimapu Estuary like a freight train and was fuelled by the relatively strong wind, says Angela. Birds were flying in all directions. The sky was a dirty yellow brown with ash flying. Back in 2006 on October 6 the estuary burned down. It burned half of my property, so I knew what was coming. She climbed up onto the roof of her house so she could get a better idea of where the fire was heading but found the swirling smoke difficult to see through. The view from Angela's house in College Place The place was being covered in ash. I yelled out to the neighbours to clear the leaves off their roofs. I could tell it was about four houses away, says Angela, who prefers to keep her family name anonymous. She needed to get a better idea of where the fire was heading so jumped down, got on her mountain bike and sped through the estuary. The view from Angela's house in College Place When I got to the front of the fire there were people just standing there and looking. No one was doing anything. At that stage the fire fighters were already at work behind the fire, which Angela says was quickly moving. What helped saved us was that the wind was moving parallel to our houses, through the estuary. I told neighbours to go and get their hoses. I could see that the wind was coming in a direct line through the estuary. I knew that all it was going to take was a wind change and all that ash and embers would have been over our houses and triggering more fires. The fire came close to homes, with residents ready with their hoses Later that day, she says a fire fighter told her she was correct that its the ash and embers that gets picked up in the wind that spreads the fire everywhere and triggers fires - not the fire itself. Its what gets carried in the wind. As soon as she had told everyone near the fire to get their hoses out she went straight back to her own property and started hosing her house down. I looked across and saw that neighbours had also come out with hoses at that point. Photo: Daniel Hines Photo: Daniel Hines Fire fighters were called to the incident behind Windermere Dr at 1.40pm on Friday. Around 40 local fire fighters worked to put out the blaze with two more crews arriving from Okere Falls to assist them. The significant fire spread to about 1 sq km in size, and was seen to be burning through scrub and salt water rushes. A SunLive reporter in Haukore St observed ash falling onto the road. Salt water rushes are tall and stalky and burn extremely fast like hay, says Angela. They go up like Lucifer. Photo: Daniel Hines Photo: Daniel Hines Two helicopters with monsoon buckets also helped to put out the blaze. Police closed the road at the Lagoon Place roundabout and were turning cars away while the fire was being extinguished. Angela watched from her home in College Place as the fire fighters and helicopter pilots continued to work. The view from Angela's house in College Place Ive lived here for almost 26 years, and the fire came very close to where our houses were, says Angela. The helicopters completed their mission just prior to 8pm and the last of the firefighters on the ground dampening down the hot spots concluded as darkness fell - soon after 9pm. They said they would be back at first light to check for remaining hot spots. On Saturday morning Angela was full of praise for the fire fighters. There needs to be a very big thank you for the efforts of the fire brigade and all the fire fighters that fought this fire yesterday. This could have been a very different fire if it was not for the help of the two helicopters. Photo: Cameron Avery Photo: Daniel Hines It is important to note that the next stage of work for the heroes of the day is to clean all their equipment so they are ready for the next emergency. And I could see their equipment was going to take some cleaning. During the blaze, huge clouds of thick smoke were seen billowing into the air, and a reporter at the scene witnessed large pieces of ash falling. Angela also points out that the reserve is home to wildlife. This is a protected wildlife estuary that is home to some endangered birds like the bittern. It is not or shall I say was not scrub as has been reported, says Angela. Australasian bittern, also known as the matuku The matuku or Australasian bittern is a type of heron, and although shy, well-camouflaged and rarely seen, the birds have been found around the Waimapu Estuary. It is a critically threatened species, with a population of less than 1000 in New Zealand. In December 2017, two matuku chicks were brought into ARRC Wildlife Trust for care after being rescued from the Waimapu Estuary. At the time Department of Conservation Ranger Karl McCarthy said they basically just walked off the nest, and were found in properties bordering the Waimapu Estuary. He wasnt sure what had happened to cause them to do this, and thought that possibly the nest got predated on and the chicks had to go out and fend for themselves. Matuku (bittern) chick. Photo: Caitlin Mackey And they end up wandering off to odd places. Or it could be that theres not enough food in the estuary, said Karl after the two chicks had been rescued. Matuku use both wetland and estuary habitats. Oioi rushland habitats within estuaries seem to be a hot spots for nesting. Karl also said that a significant decline in matuku had been documented since the 1970s with loss of habitat being considered a major contributor. In NZ weve drained 90 per cent of our wetlands. Thats the habitat theyre dependent on. Waimapu Estuary after the fire. Photo: Daniel Hines Before yesterdays fire happened, I used to see them put their heads up above the salt water rushes, says Angela. The salt water rushes have all been burned down. Theres probably less than a third of the estuary left that is unburned but 20 per cent of that is mangroves. Theres nothing left of where the fire came through. Its not enough for bird life to survive. Its devastating for the bittern that was in there, if its still there. Matuku are important to Maori. They appear in language as part of legends, stories, early pictures and metaphor and there are numerous place names referring to them. When Europeans arrived they were abundant, but now it is rare to see more than one at a time. The Australasian bittern are also found in Australia and New Caledonia, but populations there have declined dramatically and they are now classed globally as endangered. The Waimapu Estuary is significant to Ngati Ruahine. The reserve links the harbour with the Waimapu Stream and contains a high quality example of a freshwater wetland. It also contains the best example of coprosma propinqua also known as mingimingi - shrub land in the Tauranga harbour. Mingimingi is a small-leaved shrub or tree which grows to three to six metres high. It has divaricating branches, and is common in swampy forest, scrub, along stream banks and in stony places. View of Waimapu Estuary on fire, from Angela's property Ninety percent of what burned was the salt water rushes, says Angela. Some of them will regenerate but unfortunately the ever increasing mangroves are more dominant. She believes the mangroves will now take over. As the high tides fill the burnt estuary the mangrove seeds will sweep in and more and more of the salt water rushes will be overrun by mangroves and weeds. In 2006 one third of it burned took five years to regenerate. This time three quarters of it has burned, massively more. If it wasnt for the helicopters it would have been much different. I think the possibility of it going into Yatton Park was very high. Photo: Daniel Hines Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he hopes work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will be finished by early next year. "I hope that by the end of this year, or in the first quarter of next year, work will be finished and the gas pipeline will start operating," Putin told a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after talks at the Kremlin. The United States last month imposed sanctions on firms working on the almost-completed pipeline, which will double gas shipments to Germany and is a key part of Moscow's export strategy for state energy giant Gazprom. Washington believes the 9.5-billion-euro (USD 10.6-billion) project will give Russia too much influence over security and economic issues in western Europe. Putin said the US sanctions would cause delays of "several months", after Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in December that the pipeline would be finished by late this year. Merkel added that "despite the sanctions it will be possible to complete Nord Stream 2... There is a certain delay but it will be completed." She reiterated that Germany "considers extraterritorial sanctions to be unsuitable and that's why we continue to support this project." Russia "could complete construction independently without using foreign partners," Putin said. "It is a question of deadlines. That's the only issue here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Who was Sultan Qaboos bin Said and why is his death so important? (Picture: Chris Jackson/PA Wire) The death of Omans Sultan Qaboos bin Said at the age of 79 marks a significant moment for the state that he ruled for half a century. A new ruler of Oman, Sultan Qaboos cousin Haitham bin Tariq, has been sworn in but he will have a tough act to follow. His predecessor had built a reputation as a mediator within the Middle East and on a wider scale and his death comes amid escalating global tensions following the killing of a top Iranian general by the US and retaliation by Iran. Who was Sultan Qaboos bin Said? Born in Salalah on November 18, 1940, Sultan Qaboos was educated in Britain, including spending time at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. In 1970, at the age of 29, he overthrew his father Said bin Taimer in a British-assisted coup that marked the start of transformation for Oman. Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said was responsible for modernising the country in the 50 years he was in power (Picture: PA) Sultan Qaboos adopted a far more modern approach than his ultra-conservative father, whose bans included electricity, music and listening to the radio. His son abolished slavery and used Omans oil revenues to establish infrastructure like roads, an electric grid, hospitals, schools and airports, helping turn the state into a tourist destination within the Middle East. READ MORE Iranian mourners chant 'Death to England' after being told of rocket attacks on Iraq bases Under pressure, Iran admits it shot down jetliner by mistake The Sultan, who is believed to have died of colon cancer, had previously spent eight months in a hospital in Germany, with the royal court only saying that the treatment he received was successful. In December 2019, he travelled to Belgium for a week for what the court described as medical checks. The sultan, who died single with no children, had married his first cousin in 1976 but they divorced three years later. Why is his death important? Under Sultan Qaboos, Oman became a mediator within the Middle East, refusing to take sides in various conflicts. In past years, its role has included helping free US captives in Iran and Yemen, hosting visits by Israeli officials, holding talks between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels and also mediating between Iran and the US over the proposed nuclear deal signed in 2015. Story continues In a rare interview with a Kuwaiti newspaper in 2008, he said: We do not have any conflicts and we do not put fuel on the fire when our opinion does not agree with someone. Sultan Qaboos (right), pictured here in 2017 with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ((left) had developed a reputation as a mediator (Picture: Iranian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) With global tensions higher than ever following the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani by the US in Baghdad and ensuing missile strikes by Iran, the death of Sultan Qaboos could not come at a worse time. Maintaining this sort of equidistant type of relationship is going to be put to the test, said Gary A Grappo, a former US ambassador to Oman. Whoever that person is is going to have an immensely, immensely difficult job. And overhanging all of that will be the sense that hes not Qaboos because those are impossible shoes to fill. What happens now? Will Sultan Qaboos' successor be able to step into his shoes? (Picture: PA) Haitham bin Tariq, Oman's culture minister and the cousin of Sultan Qaboos, has been sworn in as the new royal ruler, the government said Saturday. At the time of his death, Qaboos had no children and had not publicly appointed a successor but had recorded his choice in a sealed envelope. According to the law in Oman, the royal family has to choose a new sultan within three days and if it can not agree, it chooses the person picked by the Sultan in their letter. The government said in a tweet: Haitham bin Tariq was sworn in as the new sultan of the country... after a meeting of the family which decided to appoint the one who was chosen by the sultan. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 20:25:31|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Six children were killed and 14 others injured as a roof collapsed in Spin Boldak district of southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province on Saturday, the provincial governor's spokesman Bahir Ahmadi said. According to Ahmadi, the incident took place in Hajji Wardak village of Spin Boldak district Saturday morning. The official didn't provides more details. In war-torn and impoverished Afghanistan, people in rural areas mostly construct mud houses, which are vulnerable in natural disasters including heavy rains and snowfall. People wait for public transport as colorful apartment buildings are seen in the background in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, July 25, 2018. New high-rise apartment buildings in North Korea constructed with Chinese building materials are causing a major shift in the North Korean real estate market, RFA has learned. In the past, prospective home buyers would shy away from living in buildings more than three-stories, because frequent blackouts and low water pressure would make living on higher floors inconvenient. But the new buildings are constructed with generators and more-modern plumbing, so living on the higher floors of these buildings has become desirable. But many of the imported materials are illegal under U.N. economic sanctions adopted to pinch the flow of cash North Korea can devote to building nuclear weapons and missiles. Sources say that they are being smuggled into the country across the Yalu, as the new apartments are making huge profit margins for developers. One such apartment building in Chongjin, North Hamgyong province has residents clamoring to get in. These days, residents are paying keen attention to the newly completed high-rise apartment building in Chongjin, said a resident of North Hamgyong in an interview with RFAs Korean Source Monday. In the past, residents wanted to live in low-rise apartments, or on the lower floors of high-rises, but now they want to move into [any floor] of these new high-rises because they know that Chinese building materials are being used, the source said. The source said that Chongjin has had a high-rise construction boom recently. At the end of last year, several high-rises with more than 20 floors were completed in the Pohang and Sunam districts of Chongjin, said the source. [They] are equipped with their own power generators, so water pumps and elevators are working 24/7. The heating systems are also up-to-date so people are noticing, the source said. [They] are located in the city center and have good [access to public] transportation and [scenic] views, the source said. Besides just the power generators, elevators and water pumps, the interior is decorated with high-end Chinese materials. People are envious of those who can live there, the source said. The new apartment buildings are a huge improvement over older buildings, according to the source. The source said that when electricity was out, people living on floors higher than the third floor had it rough, because tap water cant reach the higher floors due to low water pressure. People living in higher floors had to go down to the ground floor to get water. They also had to carry food, firewood and other necessities to the higher floors [using the stairs], the source said. So only the poor used to live in the higher floors, the source said. Not only did the newly built high-rise apartments solve most of these problems with their own generators and modern equipment, they also use Chinese luxury fixtures, inducing doors, kitchen sinks, bathrooms, and even the wallpaper and flooring, the source said. But people suspect that the building materials have been smuggled into North Korea. [They] wonder how such materials have been brought into the country from China, since both machinery and metal products are banned under the U.N. sanctions, the source said. Another North Hamgyong resident told RFA that people have become suspicious of the builders. The apartment [in Chongjin] has been constructed with up-to-date equipment with Chinese materials so the people wonder how these materials have been brought in, and with what money, said the second source. The second source spoke of residents all but abandoning older buildings now that the newer ones are around. An [old] 15-story apartment building in Ranam district is now an empty ghost building because people are reluctant to move in. But people with money are rushing to get a spot in a new high-rise apartment building these days, said the second source. In a country where the average monthly salary supplied by the communist government amounts to less than U.S. $5.00 these newer apartment buildings are far from affordable to most people. An apartment in a new high-rise in Rason City are traded between 100,000 and 200,000 Chinese yuan ($14,383.11 $28,766.22), depending on their size, said the second source. Since they know there will be no problems with tap water or elevators, the price is really high, the second source added. But in North Korea, people are legally not allowed to buy and sell property, nor are they allowed to build apartments to sell. But these high-rises continue to be built, said the second source. Private sales are possible after construction has been completed because government agencies are [behind the building boom]. They recruit private investors and arrange to buy the expensive Chinese materials which are prohibited items. RFA attempted to contact the U.N. Security Councils Sanctions Committee on North Korea, but received no reply as of Thursday. Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 19:28:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's leading automaker FAW Group said that 21 new models will be launched in the next five years under its iconic brand Hongqi, with annual sales expected to exceed 600,000 units by 2025. Xu Liuping, chairman of FAW Group, said 18 of the 21 new models will be electric or fuel-electric hybrids. Hongqi fulfilled the 2019 sales target of 100,000 cars and has doubled the target number this year, and is striving for the mass production of products equipped with autonomous driving technology in 2020. The company will further enhance global R&D for Hongqi, focusing on forward-looking design, new energy, new materials and process, smart manufacturing, as well as AI and 5G application, Xu said. Hongqi is one of China's iconic sedan brands and its vehicles have been used for parades at national celebrations. The first Hongqi car was made in 1958. Top administrators at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology continued to approve donations made by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein after he was a convicted sex offender, and worked to keep his contributions out of the public eye in an effort to protect the college, according to a new a report detailing the Epsteins relationship with MIT released Friday. MIT commissioned Boston-based law firm Goodwin Procter to conduct an investigation that focused specifically on interactions between Jeffrey Epstein and the Institute. MITs president, L. Rafael Reif, requested the probe in September. The report reveals that Epstein, who died by suicide on Aug. 10 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, made 10 donations to the college between 2002 and 2017 totaling $850,000, and that several MIT administrators knew and approved of the contributions. With the exception of one $100,000 donation, all of those contributions had been made after he was convicted of sex crimes. The report states three top administrators Gregory Morgan, Jeffrey Newton and Israel Ruiz were aware of and approved Epsteins donations to Media Lab Director Joi Ito, who helped facilitate the some of the contributions. Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Systems and Physics Seth Lloyd also accepted donations from Epstein, including two $50,000 contributions in 2012 intended to support his work. Lloyd did not inform MIT that Epstein was the source of the donations, according to the report. Lloyd also received a $60,000 sum from Epstein, a gift that he deposited into his personal bank account that was not part of the total amount given to the college, the report states. Lloyd also solicited another donation from Epstein in 2017, totaling $125,000. In an effort to protect the colleges reputation, Morgan, Newton and Ruiz debated whether to accept Epsteins post-conviction donations to the Media Lab," in good faith, before approving them, the report states. But they insisted that the donations remain relatively small and unpublicized." Regardless of their intent, these administrators were aware of the risk that the donations might become public, but did not adequately consider the potential damage accepting donations from a convicted sex offender could cause to the MIT community, the report states. Epsteins donations and his visits to the campus took place unbeknownst to Reif, the report states. Additionally, the report finds that no one else within the colleges central administration were aware of any of Epsteins visits. Because MIT had no policy with respect to controversial donors in place at the time, the decision to accept Epsteins post-conviction donations cannot be judged to be a policy violation. But it is clear that the decision was the result of collective and significant errors in judgment that resulted in serious damage to the MIT community, the report states. The report says that Reif described the decision to accept donations from Epstein as a mistake. In a statement issued Friday, shared alongside the report, Reif said that Epstein was able to cultivate deep ties with members of the MIT community is distressing and unacceptable. This moment stands as a sharp reminder of human fallibility and its consequences, he said. However, I believe this day can also mark the start of a new process of shared learning, reflection, repair and rebuilding. 3.8k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard As the administration tries to deflect questions surrounding its crumbling rationale for killing a top Iranian general, the real reason for Donald Trumps march to war with Iran has always been clear. Trump is simply obsessed with being seen as tougher than Barack Obama, so everything he says and does is an attempt to achieve that goal. As Jonathan Capehart of The Washington Post told MSNBCs Joy Reid on Saturday, it is Trumps insecurity about Obama that has pushed America dangerously close to another military conflict in the Middle East. Were in this whole mess, one, because Trump blew up Soleimani, but he junked the nuclear deal, Capehart said. When he does this what hes doing also is magnifying his insecurities. Video: Capehart explained how Trumps Iran policies tie directly to his insecurities about Barack Obama: So now we see him blaming once again President Obama for the Iran nuclear deal which were in this whole mess, one, because Trump blew up Soleimani. But he junked the nuclear deal. The Iranians say, okay, were going to fire up our weapons system because youve walked away from it, youve killed the equivalent of our CIA Director, Defense Secretary. And then Trump circles around and says, well, because theyre doing this, were going to go and do these things against them. President Trump, to Tara Dowdells point, hes the master of projection. And when he does this, when he projects onto other people what he would do himself, what hes doing also is magnifying his insecurities. I think three years into this presidency, almost five years into him coming down that escalator and into our lives in a major way, we are now hip to the fact that everything that comes out of his mouth, everything that comes through on his Twitter feed is projection. But its also, hey, world here are my insecurities right out there for you to see and ponder. Trumps dangerous obsession with Barack Obama Donald Trump doesnt know the first thing about foreign policy. Just a few years ago, in fact, he didnt even know who Soleimani was, despite his new claims that the lranian leader should have been taken out long ago. Every decision he makes, whether its in international or domestic affairs, is driven by his desire to undo the record of Barack Obama. Ultimately, Donald Trump will never achieve his goal of being seen as tougher and smarter than Barack Obama, but this dangerous obsession has made America and the world less safe. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter +3 Verified videos show Ukrainian airliner impacted before downing in Iran Videos verified by The Associated Press show the final seconds of the Ukrainian International airliner and what likely brought it down, killing all 176 people on board. This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility, and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission," said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face. As recently as Friday, Ali Abedzadeh, the head of the national aviation department, had told reporters with certainty that a missile had not caused the crash. On Thursday, Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei dismissed reports of a missile, saying they rub salt on a painful wound for families of the victims. Iran has invited Ukraine, Canada, the United States and France to take part in the investigation of the crash, in keeping with international norms. The Boeing 737 was built in the United States and the engine was built by a U.S.-French consortium. Ukraine's president said its team of investigators, who are already on the ground in Iran, should continue their work with full access and cooperation. Eliza Dushku N notched her second straight victory at Miami Valley Raceway on Friday (Jan. 10), moving successfully into Open Mares company for the first time. Driver LeWayne Miller had to be pleased when he saw the opening timer flash :26.2 while sitting fifth in the early going over a sloppy, but firm, racing strip. As the weekly feature for distaffers neared the half-mile pole, Miller moved the winner into second-over position but still had four foes to pass. Advancing one spot to fourth on the outside at the 1:23.2 third stanza, Eliza Dushku N saved her best work for last. Swinging three-wide at the head of the lane, the seven-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight wore down pacesetter Newsday (Tyler Smith) and fellow closer Colorful Sky (Sam Widger) to complete her 1:53.2 triumph. The John Ackley trainee, who races for the CT Stables LLC, paid $13.80 to win. Coupled with Colorful Sky, the exacta was worth $87.60, while the 50-cent trifecta including Newsday paid $180.20. The first leg of the Claim To Fame Series for $20,000 claiming mares split into two divisions and Ron Burke stablemates Danikova and Johns Baby Girl stole the show, with driver Chris Page sitting behind both winners. Danikova topped Model (Trevor Smith) and favoured Atlantic Star (Aaron Merriman) in 1:55 in the first division. Johns Baby Girl bested Part Time Hanover (Jason Brewer) and Velocity Lana (Jeremy Smith) in 1:54.2 in the second split, but the winner will be racing for new trainer Michael Hitchcock in the second leg via the claim box. Four divisions of $12,500 horses and geldings also got their Claim To Fame series underway on Friday night. Six other Claim To Fame classes will get underway over the next four days of racing at Miami Valley. (Miami Valley Raceway) Washington In a defining week for President Donald Trump on the world stage, national security adviser Robert O'Brien was a constant presence at the president's side as the U.S. edged to the brink of war with Iran and back again. The contrasts with O'Brien's predecessor along the way in secret consultations at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, in the Oval Office and in basement deliberations in the White House Situation Room could not have been more stark. While former national security adviser John Bolton spent decades as a conservative iconoclast in the public arena, O'Brien is far from a household name. While Bolton had strong opinions he shared loudly in the Oval Office, O'Brien has worked to establish an amiable relationship with Trump. And while Bolton's trademark mustache was a target of Trump's mockery, the president is drawn to O'Brien's low-key California vibe and style. For all the differences between the two men, though, O'Brien ended up signing off on the same course of action that Bolton had long endorsed: a strike to take out Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani. The decision drew retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran. The way that O'Brien steered the Trump White House through the process endeared himself to the president and widened his rapidly growing influence in the West Wing. "He's a deal guy and the president's a deal guy," said Jared Kushner, a senior White House adviser. "A lot of people inside the foreign policy establishment are good at explaining why things are wrong but are petrified to put things in play and take calculated risks." The Iran drama was set in motion when Trump summoned O'Brien from Los Angeles to the president's lush Palm Beach spread, where Trump was spending a two-week winter holiday. While other top aides, including Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, consulted with the president from afar, Trump wanted O'Brien at his side. "Robert was calm, cool and collected, constantly keeping the president updated," Kushner recalled. More than a half-dozen current and former administration officials and Republicans close to the White House contributed to this account. Many spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Trump has long been known for tuning out old voices in favor of new ones, but O'Brien's rise in the president's inner circle has been rapid. The 53-year-old O'Brien, who has handled scores of complex international litigation, has a corner office on the first floor of the White House, a few steps from the Oval Office. A sharp-dressing Republican lawyer who worked in the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, O'Brien was appointed by Trump in May 2018 to be the nation's top hostage negotiator. He successfully worked for the release of several Americans, including pastor Andrew Brunson, who spent two years in a Turkish prison. O'Brien also traveled to Sweden to lobby for the release of rapper A$AP Rocky, imprisoned on an assault charge. Bolton, Trump's third national security adviser, fell out of favor with the president after a series of sharp disagreements, including over North Korea and Iran policies. He was forced out in September. Trump's previous national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, never developed a personal rapport with the president, who tuned out on McMaster's long-winded briefing style. Bolton had frequently tussled with Pompeo and Defense Department officials and, at times, frustrated the president with his sharp clashes and bureaucratic knife-fighting. O'Brien, in contrast, makes it a point to collaborate with the State Department and the Pentagon. People familiar with his work style describe an honest broker who is diplomatic but direct. He is known to present the views of Pompeo and top defense and intelligence officials to the president as he would brief a legal client. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Colleagues say he doesn't try to push his own foreign policy ideas on the president and is more deferential to the views from other agencies than was Bolton. He has a plaque on his desk that says, "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit.'" It's a replica of the one President Ronald Reagan kept on his desk in the Oval Office. Administration officials, at least for now, point to a new camaraderie in the latest incarnation of Trump's national security team: Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper were West Point classmates; Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has grown close to Trump; and O'Brien, unlike Bolton, has not tried pull an end run around others in the decision-making process. "I think he's very comfortable with the idea of the job as a staff job, which I think is the model," said former Sen. Jim Talent, a Missouri Republican who met O'Brien more than a decade ago when they were advising Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign. "Obviously when the president asks for his advice, he gives his personal opinion." Where Republicans see as collegial team, some Democratic critics worry that Trump is surrounding himself with advisers too eager to accede to his views. New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the administration's national security team seems to lack "discerning voices." Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., lamented this past week that Trump's current team lacked the the gravitas of earlier advisers, including former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and McMaster, both retired generals. "People like Mattis and McMaster, who disagree with the president because he's so erratic, leave leaving a bunch of 'yes' people, who seem to want to do whatever the president wants," Schumer said recently on the Senate floor. While former advisers such as Mattis and McMaster, attempted to check some of the president's impulses, O'Brien has been regarded as enabling some of Trump's high-risk inclinations. O'Brien's style has been to offer pros and cons before ultimately agreeing with Trump's decisions, including the moves to abruptly withdraw U.S. troops from Kurdish-held territory in Syria and the military raid that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham received a standing ovation in his South Carolina congressional district Saturday at a town hall where he defended his vote to impeach President Donald Trump. The Charleston Democrat said he had to be able to tell his son that no one is above the law. But while dozens stood to applaud Cunningham, a small contingent of Trump supporters stayed seated. For the duration of the hour-long meeting they challenged Cunningham repeatedly. "What law did he break?" one man cried out. Acknowledging the shouted question with a quick nod, Cunningham tried to reframe the argument with a different cast of political characters. "If it was President Obama," Cunningham began as some of the 200 audience members tried to hush dissenters in the crowd. "If there was aid that was allocated by Congress to Israel, and President Obama told the president of Israel that we're not releasing that aid until they go on CNN and announce an investigation into President Trump, that would be illegal," he said. "That would be an abuse of power and I would hope that we would impeach the president the same." "It wouldn't come down against Democrat and Republican. It comes down to rule of law," Cunningham told the audience at the downtown Charleston County library main branch. Before his staff drew any of the audience-submitted questions from a large glass fishbowl, Cunningham highlighted issues he has championed in Washington, including a bill to ban offshore drilling off the Eastern seaboard and a bill to extend medical benefits for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! He gave U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., credit for the fishbowl idea. He praised his predecessor, former Republican congressman Mark Sanford for writing Facebook posts about why he voted the way he did. The first question asked Cunningham why he voted against a war powers resolution ordering the president to stop the use of military force against Iran unless he obtains approval from Congress. "For the most part, this resolution is mainly symbolic and I voted against it. I was one of, I think, only eight Democrats who voted against it," Cunningham said, drawing a few claps and some low-rumbling boos. Cunningham was one of the freshmen who helped Democrats win control of the House in 2018 when he flipped the longtime GOP-held 1st District that Trump carried by 13 percentage points in 2016. Already he has drawn more than five Republican challengers for 2020. Some Republicans attended Saturday's event, including Caryl Walters of Mount Pleasant. "I wanted to know why he is voting like a Democrat. I want him to be more bipartisan" said Walters, who wore a pink Trump hat to the event. "I know he's a Democrat, but he should be more representative of us and our views." After the event ended, the discussion continued in the library parking garage, where Dick Foreman and his wife, Ginny, found themselves analyzing the congressman's responses with Ron Alexander, who also attended the town hall. "Dialogue is about having a conversation. Discussion is about dissing and cussing," Alexander said. "That was dialogue." Advertisement Delays to the opening of Crossrail have been frustrating London rail commuters for nearly 18 months now, as they await its launch to bring them significantly faster train journeys across the capital. But these hold-ups should be nothing new to Londoners, because an east-west rail project was first touted in the 1840s which would have linked Paddington with the capital's East End docks and helped relieve congestion. Parliament granted the Regents Canal and Railway Company permission to build a surface line including stations within the City of London, but it was never constructed and money was instead spent on improving the canal. And these maps dating back as far as the 1850s reveal several proposed schemes to improve train travel through London, before the finalised route of Reading and Heathrow to Shenfield and Abbey Wood was agreed in 2014. The first attempts in the Victorian era came when the Regents Canal Company tried to capitalise on the 1840s Railway Mania which saw thousands of railway lines projected before the industry suffered a major downturn. 1855: The Regents Canal Company tried to capitalise on the 1840s Railway Mania and had looked at converting the canal between Paddington and City Road basin into a railway, but the finance could not be raised and the project was scrapped 1943: The Abercrombie Plan resulted in ideas such as the green belt and new towns, while it was also proposed that improved east-west railway links were needed for getting people across the capital much faster - but these never materialised The company received an offer of 1million in 1845 to convert the canal between Paddington and City Road basin into a railway, but the finance could not be raised and the project was scrapped. These plans pre-dated even the opening of the London Underground which took place with the first Metropolitan Railway journey between Paddington and Farringdon in January 1863. The Regents Canal Company eventually got governmental permission to go ahead with a railway in the 1880s, but there was a further failure to buy the canal for 1.3million in 1883 and turn it into a train route. Following the failed attempts in the Victorian era, the idea for Crossrail next resurfaced towards the end of the Second World War as planners began to consider how to improve the capital's infrastructure following the Blitz. 1974: The London Rail Study marked the first time the proposed line was dubbed 'Crossrail', and it featured a northern tunnel which would join British Rail's western region lines west of Paddington to the eastern region lines east of Bethnal Green 1980: Another idea was put forward in a British Rail discussion paper for a 330million Inter City north-south link for London which could meet a Channel Tunnel line at Victoria, rather than east-west proposals which had dominated earlier talks In 1943, the Abercrombie Plan was launched, which resulted in ideas such as the green belt and new towns in areas such as Stevenage in Hertfordshire, Harlow in Essex and Crawley in West Sussex for displaced Londoners. But around the same time it was also proposed that improved east-west links were needed for getting people across the capital much faster, with two new Underground lines put forward - however, these never materialised. There were further discussions on the proposed lines over the following years as Britain got back on its feet after the war, but these stalled as investment was instead poured into solving other economic issues. However, amid a backdrop of population and economic growth by the 1970s, the idea was brought back up when the Greater London Council and Department for Environment published the 1974 London Rail Study. 2002: The Strategic Rail Authority was asked by the Labour Government to look into extra passenger capacity, with one of the options it came up with similar to the present day Crossrail - apart from the extensions to Amersham and Tilbury 2002: A further proposal from the Strategic Rail Authority also looked at an option of Crossrail running from High Wycombe and Reading in the west to Colchester and Southend in the east, with the central section looking as it does today This was the first time the line was dubbed 'Crossrail', and it featured a northern tunnel which would join British Rail's western region lines west of Paddington to the eastern region lines east of Bethnal Green. It also included proposals for new stations at Paddington, Marble Arch, Bond Street, Leicester Square, Holborn and Liverpool Street. Three of these - Paddington, Bond Street and Liverpool Street - feature in today's Crossrail. The 1974 proposals also put forward a southern tunnel which would connect the southern region's central division services via stations at Victoria, Piccadilly, Leicester Square, Blackfriars, Monument and London Bridge. However, the study also made clear Crossrail had to be a proper mainline railway that could give the maximum benefit to people living both in London and beyond, rather than simply another Underground line. 2002: A further option suggested a line connecting Essex to South West London, running from Shenfield and Tilbury in the east down to Wimbledon and Epsom, with a further spur at Clapham Junction connecting to Hounslow on a loop 2002: The study nearly two decades ago also looked at a Crossrail option linking Colchester and South in Essex with Southampton and Portsmouth in Hampshire, going through central London via Tottenham Court Road and Victoria The study said: 'Crossrail would be similar to solutions which are being increasingly adopted throughout the world, eg, the Reseau Express Regional (RER) in Paris, and the German S-Bahn systems in Hamburg and Munich.' However, the proposals - billed as 'an imaginative and exciting solution to the problems of overcrowded public transport' - were estimated to cost about 300million and never got further than the planning stage. But just six years later in 1980, another idea was put forward in a British Rail discussion paper for a 330million Inter City north-south link across London, rather than east-west proposals which had dominated earlier talks. This also looked at creating direct routes to and from various towns and cities across the country, as well a Channel Tunnel link to arrive at London Victoria - well before the tunnel opened with services to Waterloo in 1994. 2002: A further plan within the 2002 proposals was to have a Crossrail network running from High Barnet and Epping down through Central London via King's Cross and Victoria and out the other side at Clapham Junction, before heading to Epsom 2002: Another proposal with the 2002 suggestions was to have a direct line running between Peterborough and Cambridge and Southampton and Portsmouth, running via King's Cross, Tottenham Court Road and Victoria through Central London This proposal again came to nothing, but by the late 1980s planners realised the existing rail capacity in London was extremely stretched, and published the Central London Rail Study in 1989. This proposed a variety of schemes including east-west Crossrail, a line from Wimbledon to Hackney via Chelsea - which is now planned to be Crossrail 2 and open in the 2030s - and Thameslink services through the capital. The east-west Crossrail scheme eventually got the Government's green light in October 1990, before a private bill was submitted to Parliament in 1991 with an estimated cost given to the project of 2billion in prices in 1993. But the recession in the early 1990s again scuppered the project, with Parliament rejecting a bill in May 1994. Six years later in 2000, the Labour Government said the rail link must go ahead as part of its ten year transport plan. 2002: The core route map of Crossrail 1 shows roughly the current route today, although it extends much further in the west to Reading, and the east to Shenfield. The map also includes provisions for a north-south line, to be known as Crossrail 2 2008: A bill for Crossrail was presented in February 2005 which was scrutinised over three years before it finally received Royal Assent in July 2008, putting into law the route from Maidenhead and Heathrow to Shenfield and Abbey Wood The Government also asked the Strategic Rail Authority public body to look at the need for extra passenger capacity, and it published a study recommending that both Crossrail and what would be Crossrail 2 went ahead. What followed were various proposals into different routes, including one between Heathrow and Kingston in the west and Shenfield and Ebbsfleet in the east, and a second option going to Maidenhead instead of Kingston. The Government then said it would introduce legislation for Crossrail to go ahead, with a bill presented in February 2005 which was scrutinised over three years before it finally received Royal Assent in July 2008. The Crossrail Act 2008 gave the route of Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, and the project broke ground in May 2009 at Canary Wharf, before tunnelling began in May 2012. 2018: The final route for Crossrail of Reading or Heathrow to Shenfield or Abbey Wood was confirmed in 2014, with the line at first expected to open in December 2018 - before this was pushed back three times. The start date now stands at 2021 2018: This geographical map shows how Crossrail will cut through London to bring faster journey times for passengers, connecting Berkshire with Essex with an underground section between Acton Main Line and Maryland/Custom House 2018: This Transport for London map shows how Crossrail will fit in with the current Tube network, connecting with the Central line at five different stations - Ealing Broadway, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street and Stratford Billed as Europe's most ambitious infrastructure project, the line was supposed to open in December 2018, but has been repeatedly delayed by problems with safety testing and the completion of signalling work. Last November, Crossrail's boss Mark Wild said services were expected to begin 'as soon as practically possible in 2021'. It comes after a plan to open between October 2020 and March 2021 was announced in April 2019. He also revealed that the cost of the railway could reach 18.25billion, representing a rise of up to 650million on the latest funding commitment made in December 2018. Crossrail's budget was set at 15.9billion in 2007. This week the outgoing commissioner of Transport for London said it should open in autumn 2021. Then on Friday, Crossrail said it plans to open the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood in summer 2021. The entrance hall for the new Elizabeth line at Whitechapel station in East London looks far from finished in August Two workmen look at a sign pointing to the Crossrail platforms at the new Elizabeth line station at Liverpool Street in August Canary Wharf signage in place on the platform of the new Elizabeth line station, which is due to be operational from 2021 Crossrail Ltd said there are four 'major tasks' that must be completed before services can begin, including building and testing the software to integrate trains with three different signalling systems. The other three tasks are installing and testing station systems, completing the installation of equipment in the tunnels and test communications systems, and trial runs for the trains across thousands of miles. The first part of Crossrail to open will be the central section, with trains running between Paddington and Abbey Wood. All stations on this section are expected to be in operation on the opening day except for Bond Street. This station has been delayed because of 'design and delivery challenges', but full services from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east will then commence 'as soon as possible'. New Delhi: Iran on Saturday admitted that it shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane on January 8 killing 176 onboard. The confession will trigger more trouble for Tehran. Regretting the crash, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani offered condolences to the families of the victims. Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 (sic), Rouhani said on Twitter. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences, he said in another tweet. Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif termed the development as sad day. Using a heartbreak emoji, Zarif tweeted, A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Denial And Admission Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lower the nation's death toll from 63. Mideast On Boil The region is embroiled with pitched tensions after the shocking assassination of General Qasem Soleimani. Pentagon and the White House had officially confirmed that President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Irans high-profile General in an airstrike in Baghdad on January 3. In a statement, the White House said that, At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Department of Defense added that, "General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more." For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The new update, scheduled for next week, will have the experimental feature enabled that includes classic scan lines. The new update will roll out to everyone on January 14. Microsoft is reportedly planning to release a new update to its Windows Terminal command line app with a handful of retro features that are sure to take you back in the days before the LCD. According to The Verge, the new update, scheduled for next week, will have the experimental feature enabled that includes classic scan lines. Microsoft is also adding new functionalities such as search through terminal tabs, tab resizing, and the ability to specify a profile to open using custom key bindings. The new update will roll out to everyone on January 14. On 9th January 2020, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested an Islamic terrorist who was allegedly operating an ISIS module from Vadodra, Gujarat. According to a Times Of India report, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Thursday nabbed an operative of the Islamic terror group ISIS from Vadodra. The terrorist has been identified as Zafar Ali and was arrested from Vadodaras Gorva area. He is wanted in Tamil Nadu. From the last 10 to 12 days, he was in Vadodara for spreading ISIS module, Gujarat ATS said. Gujarat ATS: A terrorist named Zafar Ali has been arrested from Vadodara's Gorva area. He is wanted in Tamil Nadu. From last 10 to 12 days, he was in Vadodara to spread ISIS module. pic.twitter.com/dnJ12VEAL4 ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2020 According to Gujarat ATS, the ISIS operative identified, as 25-year-old Zafar Ali Mohammed Haliq is a native of Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu. He was nabbed from Panchvati circle in Gorva in a joint operation of the ATS and Vadodara police. Reportedly, Zafar Ali had come to Vadodara from Cuddalore to set up a new module of ISIS in Gujarat and was in touch with three ISIS operatives who were held by the special cell of Delhi police on Thursday. Zafar Ali was also involved in setting up a module in Tamil Nadu, said ATS officials. The arrests in Gujarat comes just after the Special Cell of Delhi Police on Thursday had busted an Islamic State (IS) terror module in Delhi with the arrest of three terror suspects. The Delhi Police had nabbed three persons linked to terror group Islamic State in Wazirabad area of Delhi. Reportedly, a tense situation had occurred in the locality after the Islamic terrorists were found with arms. The Delhi police had recovered arms from the possession of the three. The six Tamil Nadu natives alleged to be ISIS terrorists are wanted for serious crimes like murder. They had absconded from their respective native places. The intelligence inputs indicated that the six absconding men were talking about conducting Jihadi activities at some unknown place. They were inspired by the ISIS and were Islamic extremists due to which there is a probability that they would plan any terror activity in the country, said ATS statement. On Sunday, the intelligence agencies had issued a warning that two ISIS-trained Islamic terrorists have entered the country. A high alert has been issued in Basti, Gorakhpur, Siddharthnagar, Kushinagar and Maharajganj among others district close to the border. The intelligence agencies had warned that the two Islamic terrorists identified as Khwaja Moinuddin and Abdul Samad were last seen in West Bengals Siliguri and may attempt to flee to Nepal via the bordering areas. Source : OpIndia THREE people including a father and son were granted bail after they appeared in court charged in connection with a substantial cash and drugs seizure earlier this week. Suspected crack cocaine, suspected heroin and a quantity of cash were seized on Wednesday when gardai searched six homes in the Garryowen and Saint Marys Park areas. The drugs have an estimated value of 8,000. A number of mobile phones and drug paraphernalia was also seized during the searches which were part of Operation Shannonside which is targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the city. The operation was led by members of the divisional drugs unit with the assistance of local detectives and a number of specialist units. The three defendants, who appeared in court this Friday, are each charged with possession of cocaine at St Senan Street, Saint Marys Park for the purpose of sale or supply. They are Kieran Williams, 43, of Downey Street, Garryowen, his son Jordan Williams, 21, also of Downey Street, Garryowen and Nicole Collopy, 25, who has an address at St Senan Street, St Marys Park. At Limerick District Court, Judge Marian OLeary was told none of the defendants made any reply when they were charged under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act. While there was no formal objection to bail, Garda Mark OSullivan expressed concerns in relation to Ms Collopys address. However, after solicitor John Herbert informed the court that his client has lived there all her life, Judge Marian OLeary said she was not willing to direct that she move out. It is her home. I couldnt agree to that she commented. Sergeant Sean Murray requested a lengthy adjournment of the case saying a very substantial file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. All three defendants were released on bail and are due to appear in court again in June. They were ordered to live at their home addressses and they must obey a nightly curfew. Their passports have been surrendered to gardai and all three must have their mobile phones on at all times. Kieran Williams and Jordan Williams were ordered to stay out of the Kings Island area as a condition of their bail. Two US service members were killed and two others injured when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, the US military said in a statement Saturday. In keeping with defense department rules, the US military did not identify the service members. The Taliban immediately took responsibility for the attack. Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said it occurred in the southern Kandahar province. More than 2,400 US service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Last year was one of the deadliest for the United States, even as Washington engaged in peace talks with the Taliban. The latest attack seemed certain to stall fresh efforts to restart the on-again, off-again peace talks between Washington and the Taliban. US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been pressing the insurgents to agree to a cease-fire or at least reduce violent attacks. Earlier, both NATO and Afghan officials had confirmed a roadside bomb hit a US army vehicle Saturday, without mentioning casualties. In a short statement, a NATO spokesman said that officials were still assessing the situation and will provide more information as it became available. An Afghan official said the attack had taken place in the Dand district of Kandahar province. The official was not authorised to speak with media and requested anonymity. The Taliban now control or hold sway over roughly half of Afghanistan. The militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and US forces, even as they hold peace talks with the US Scores of Afghan civilians are also killed in the crossfire or by roadside bombs planted by militants. In November, two US service members were killed when their helicopter crashed in eastern Logar province. The US military at the time said preliminary reports did not indicate it was caused by enemy fire, though the Taliban claimed to have shot down the helicopter a claim the US military dismissed as false. US Ambassador John Bass left Kabul last week, ending his two-year tenure as America's top diplomat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At long last, and very reluctantly, House speaker Nancy Pelosi has agreed to send the House's two articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial. The trial will be conducted on Mitch McConnell's terms. On Friday, Pelosi submitted a letter to Democrats stating her plans for the impeachment. The letter opens by taking shots at Mitch McConnell for refusing to allow in the Senate the evidence the Democrats failed to adduce in the House. She tries to justify the need for an evidentiary do-over in the Senate by alluding to "new" evidence that came to light after the most rushed impeachment proceedings in American history. She then demands from the Senate an impartiality sadly lacking in the House. (The full text of the letter is at the bottom of this post.) For all her huffing and puffing, Pelosi doesn't have a leg to stand on, and she knows it. There's a doctrine in the law that goes by the name of the "shock the conscience test": The U.S. Supreme Court established the "shock-the-conscience test" in Rochin v. California, 342 U.S. 165, 72 S. Ct. 205, 96 L. Ed. 183 (1952). Based on the Fourteenth Amendment's prohibition against states depriving any person of "life, liberty, or property without due process of law," the test prohibits conduct by state agents that falls outside the standards of civilized decency. That should be the standard for impeaching the president. That standard envisions behavior so heinous that it overrides partisanship and leads all congresspeople to believe that an accused president has completely violated his fiduciary duties to the nation and its people. But that is not what happened in the House. The House engaged in a nakedly partisan search for some wrongdoing, any wrongdoing, by which it could impeach the president before the 2020 election rolled around. When the Russia hoax failed, House members concluded that it did not matter whether the accusations had substance. It was enough to create a shadow over President Trump's name in the hope that this would injure him in the election. The House proceedings' naked politicization resulted in a Senate uninterested in meeting House Democrats halfway when it came to their demands that the Senate proceedings be conducted as a do-over of the House proceedings. It's possible that Pelosi would have delayed even longer in an effort to force Sen. McConnell's hand, if not for a new initiative announced Thursday in the Senate. On Thursday, Mitch McConnell had agreed to co-sponsor new Senate rules that would allow for the impeachment to be dismissed out of hand before the House even sent it over. The theory would be that Pelosi's delay was itself proof that the impeachment had no factual basis but was solely a partisan play. Nancy caved. As it is, Congress people in both parties have noted that Americans have lost interest in impeachment and that the long delay undercut the Democrats' contention that impeachment was an urgent necessity to rid the White House of a troublesome president. The following is the text of Nancy Pelosi's letter: Vettoor (Kerala) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Around 100 students of SR Medical College here have been left in a lurch as Kerala state government has canceled the `Essentiality Certificate' of the institute in view of gross deficiencies found by the Medical Council of India (MCI) during an inspection. The students are worried as their transfer to other colleges is uncertain. They told ANI that no college is ready to admit them. They also alleged that after taking the fees in advance, the college management did not provide them basic facilities. The students have met Kerela Health and Social Welfare Minister KK Shailaja and have briefed her about their problems regarding their admission transfer. (ANI) Kiev/Ottawa: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday demanded Iran punish those responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner and pay compensation. "We expect Iran... to bring the guilty to the courts," the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling for the "payment of compensation" after Tehran admitted accidentally downing the plane and killing all 176 people on board. "We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction," Zelensky said. He urged "total access" to the full inquiry for 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an "official apology". In a phone call with Zelensky, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said those behind the downing of the airliner will be brought to justice, said the Ukranian presidency said. Rouhani told Zelensky that "all the persons involved in this air disaster will be brought to justice", it said. Ukraine said Iran had provided enough data, including videos and photographs, to show that the probe will be objective and prompt. Zelensky's office said Tehran provided Ukrainian experts in Iran "with all the photos, videos and other materials" linked to the probe, "enough data to see that the investigation will be carried out objectively and promptly". Iranian state TV, citing a military statement, earlier on Saturday said the country 'unintentionally' shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard. The statement blamed "human error" for the shootdown. "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a tweet. "Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people." "Investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake," he added. Iran's Revolutionary Guards later on Saturday accepted full responsibility for the downing, a senior commander of the guards said in a video posted online by state TV. "I wish I could die and not witness such an accident," aerospace division head Amirali Hajizadeh said, adding a missile that was fired at the jet exploded next to the plane before it went down. "It was a short-range missile that exploded next to the plane. That's why the plane was able" to continue flying for a while, said Hajizadeh. "It exploded when it hit the ground," he added. Hajizadeh said the Iranian missile operator who shot down the jet opened fire independently because of communications "jamming". The operator had mistaken the Boeing 737 for a "cruise missile" and only had 10 seconds to decide whether or not to open fire, said Hajizadeh. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the country's armed forces to address "shortcomings", his office said. "I emphatically advise the general headquarters (of the armed forces) to follow up on shortcomings" to ensure this kind of error does not happen again, said a statement on his official website, adding he expressed his "sincere condolences" to the families of the deceased. Iran's admission came a day after its civil aviation chief denied claims that the plane had been shot down, as international pressure mounted on Tehran to conduct a credible investigation after several Western governments blamed a missile strike. The disaster came as tensions soared in the region after the Soleimani killing, and fears grew of an all-out war between the United States and Iran. 'Full investigation needed' Reacting to Iran's revelation, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said closure and accountability were needed. He also demanded "transparency, and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims", of whom many were Canadian dual nationals. "This is a national tragedy, and all Canadians are mourning together," Trudeau's office said in a statement. "We will continue working with our partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation, and the Canadian government expects full cooperation from Iranian authorities. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Iran's admission is an "important first step". "We will do everything we can to support the families of the four British victims and ensure they get the answers and closure they deserve," he said in a statement issued by his Downing Street office. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Iran's admission is an important step and called for a full investigation. Merkel said it was good to identify those guilty and underscored the need to "exhaustively establish" what had happened. "Today an important step was taken," she told a news conference after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The chairman of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee said Iran must "learn lessons" from the disaster. "If decryption of the black boxes and the work of the investigation do not prove that the Iranian army did this intentionally, and there are no logical reasons for this, the incident must be closed. Hoping that lessons will be learned and action taken by all parties," Konstantin Kosachev was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. French Defence Minister Florence Parly said it was "important to seize this moment to give space to discussions and negotiations" on the Iran nuclear deal. "The lessons that we should learn from the dramatic sequence of events that we have experienced... is that we must put an end to this escalation," Parly told France Inter radio. She reiterated the French position that everything must be done to salvage the landmark 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, which US President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said "it was important that Iran brought clarity to this issue". "Now Tehran needs to draw the right consequences in the continued appraisal of this dreadful catastrophe, and take measures to ensure that something like this cannot happen again," Mass told Funke media. (With inputs from AP, AFP and Reuters) By Trend Azerbaijans territories occupied by Armenia were indicated as a separate international entity called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in the "Country Profiles" section on the official website of the EU Horizon 2020 Program, which is a rude and insidious provocative approach with respect to Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty, Trend reports referring to spokesperson for Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva. Abdullayeva was commenting on the placement of a distorted map on the Horizon 2020 website. In this regard, the Azerbaijani side brought to the attention of the executive structure of the EU Horizon 2020 Program the need to suppress this provocation and demanded taking urgent measures. The department has already removed the distorted "map from the Horizon 2020 website. The EU representative said that this issue was investigated by the Directorate General and noted that this happened due to the inattentiveness of the technical staff involved in the development of this website. It was brought to the attention of the opposite side that it is important to issue a warning in the EU General Directorates to prevent such errors in the future. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz California mom recalls how son rejected her for 1 year after unlawful CPS removal Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A California mother who won over $1 million in legal settlements after the state removed her sons from her custody is continuing to speak out about the long-term trauma that unnecessary family separation causes on families. Rachel Bruno was awarded $1.49 million in legal settlements against Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Childrens Hospital last year. Her two sons were removed from her custody in 2015 after her 7-week-old son suffered a cranial fracture with intracerebral hemorrhage. Bruno was stripped of her custody without a warrant or a court order. Raised as a daughter and granddaughter of pastors, Bruno never thought she would be under police investigation and losing custody of her children. But thats exactly what happened. Bruno said she never abused her son but was immediately under investigation by police after she took her crying baby to the hospital and he was diagnosed with severe brain bleeding. Within a matter of hours, according to Bruno, police ordered that her older son, who was 20 months old at the time, be removed from her custody. Before she even had a court hearing, Bruno said, Child Protective Services agents were asking her mother if she would sign papers to adopt both of Burnos children. Brunos mother did so under the threat that the children would be placed in foster care if she didnt. Before this happened to me, I probably would have never believed it. And I think that's where a lot of people fall, Bruno told The Christian Post in a recent interview. Bruno also said she was ordered to take a child abuse class. Even though she thought she would be taking a class with drug addicts, alcoholics, and domestic abusers, she found that many people in her class were in a similar situation as her. When I get there and people start telling their stories, I realize everybody's in the same boat that I am, she said. There were families in there who had playground accidents [and were accused of] child abuse. Another family in the class, she said, had a child who slipped in a bathtub. They were also accused of child abuse, she said. Bruno also had to take a parenting class, do a polygraph test, a psychiatric evaluation, and oblige other requests from the CPS agency. And she wasnt allowed to return to her own home for 40 days and 40 nights, and was only given seven hours of visitation with her children each week. According to Bruno, government officials also took her 20-month-old son and gave him a full medical examination, including an anal wink test to check for sexual abuse. Additionally, her son received 13 vaccinations without her consent. Although she was allowed to return home after a month, Bruno said it took quite a bit of time for her 20-month-old son to accept her as his mother. Bruno said her son felt she had abandoned him even though it was not her choice to be separated. My 20 month old, he was really traumatized, Bruno said. He kept rejecting me for probably about a year. Even after I came home, he's like, I don't want you, mommy. I want to go live with my grandma, Bruno said, adding that it was the grandmother who picked up her son from the shelter after the medical tests were run on him. As far as he's concerned, I abandoned him and I let these people do this to him. I was shocked at the things they did to this poor child. As her son kept rejecting her, Bruno admitted that she built a wall to protect herself from the pain of her sons rejection. The words hurt. The rejection hurts, she said. I have to pray to my God: I can't do this. I'm a victim too. And I just hear the Holy Spirit say, Yes, I know, but you're the adult in the situation. And as crazy as it sounds, I had to forgive my 2-year-old and tell God I forgive Him, she said. When her oldest son turned 3 in 2017, Bruno said the Holy Spirit led her to speak to her son about what happened to him when he was 20 months old. I remember sitting down with him one day. I asked him, Do you remember when your auntie from Brazil came to take care of you? And he looked at me and he said, Why did you leave? Bruno recalled. At that point, I knew that he knew. I sat down with him and took all the pictures that I had of his brother in the hospital, she said. And I showed him what happened to his brother. Bruno said she told her son that the authorities thought she was responsible for what happened to his brother. Her son, she said, looked back at her and told her that she had never hurt him. Yet Bruno had to explain to her son, in a way that wouldnt cause rebellion, that government employees had made a mistake. Bruno said she told her son that what happened was not her or her husband, Ricardo's, choice. But no matter what, she told him that they must forgive those responsible for that because God is the ultimate judge. From that point on, she said, her sons attitude completely changed. I told him they thought they were doing their job. And in every job there's going to be people who make that choice, she said. But we're not gonna let them get away with it and we're gonna fight them. And fight them they did. Bruno even let her oldest son take part in the civil suit by allowing him to drop the litigation paperwork in the mailbox. I signed the petition for the civil suit in front of him. We prayed over it with him. We took him to the post office, he put it in the mail, she said. So he really became a part of the whole process. According to Bruno, a lot of families suffer for years after their children have been removed from the home because of the trauma and lies that their children have been told. Its the complete destruction of the family, it really is, Bruno stressed. Bruno and her family are not the only families in California to walk away with million-dollar settlements after their children were removed by child services. In November 2018, one mother received a settlement of over $6 million from Los Angeles County after a jury ruled that her child had been unlawfully seized by county social welfare workers. In Orange County, another mother was awarded about $9.6 million in 2011 on grounds social workers fabricated evidence to ensure the separation of a daughter from her mother. Theyve been sued out the yin-yang, Bruno said of Californias CPS system. But they continue to do it. I'm a lucky one in that I was in a financial position that I could sue them. How many hundreds of thousands of parents cant? That's really why I've been speaking out and I want to talk about it and I want to educate the public, she added. My story is a fairytale compared to all the other ones I've heard. But I am in a position that I can fight for them, and that's what I want to do. Bruno stressed that disruptive action continues to be committed by CPS agencies nationwide because there are too many federal incentives for states to put children through adoption. States receive about $8 billion annually in federal funds related to child abuse prevention, according to Pew Research. Due to the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, Bruno says adoption and foster care have become one big money-making machine for the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2018, President Donald Trump signed a law called the Family First Prevention Services Act, which provides more funding for at-home parenting classes, mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment. The law also puts limits on putting children in institutional settings such as group homes. Bruno praised the legislation. Let's help parents with rehab, she said. Let's help parents with classes on domestic violence. Let's help women try to get out of that abusive relationship. I think that is a step in the right direction. However, she warns that there is still much work left to be done. There is still money involved which scares me, she stressed. Sahoo is the warden of Sabarmati Hostel. The JNU vice-chancellor had said he, along with another warden, was forced to resign by students. New Delhi: The walls of Sabarmati and Periyar hostels in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were on Friday found plastered with a slew of posters accusing three varsity professors and one of Delhi University of being behind the 5 January violence on the campus by masked hooligans. The four professors who have been accused in the posters of being behind the violence are Tapan Kumar Bihari and Prakash Chandra Sahoo of JNU besides its chief proctor Dhananjay Singh. The fourth professor blamed in posters is DU's Abhinav Prakash, a former JNU student. Dubbing the four academics as 'traitors', the posters proclaimed, "Nothing will be forgotten, nothing will be forgiven." Professors Prakash and Singh denied their involvement in the incident. "I was on the campus trying to stop the violence and protect students. My family stays on the campus and I fear for their safety. I have never been biased towards students from any ideology," Singh told PTI. Prakash blamed the students' union for the posters. "Dear @JNUSUofficial kindly stop cheap theatrics. I know JNU Left doesn't like my dissent and challenge to their narrative but, this is new low even by your standards. This slandering and fake accusation by kangaroo court may force me to take legal action. Kindly inform those involved," he posted on Twitter. Bihari was not available for reaction. Sahoo is the warden of Sabarmati Hostel. The JNU vice-chancellor had said he, along with another warden, was forced to resign by students. New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday said that the intelligence alerts received on a daily basis have helped them foil "BAT actions" near the Line of Control (LoC). "LoC is very active. Intelligence alerts are received on a daily basis and they are looked into very seriously. Due to this alertness, we have been able to foil these actions known as BAT actions," the Army Chief General said on being asked about the threat posed by Pakistan Army and terrorists in the border areas. Army Chief General Naravane also asserted that the Indian Army is "much better prepared today than ever before". He, however, said that there is a shortage of officers and clarified that it is not because of lack of people applying for it. "We have not lowered the standards for selection of officers in the force," he contended. The Army Chief General said that the training of the first batch of 100 female jawans for induction into military police has started from January 6. General Naravane took over as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff on December 30, succeeding General Bipin Rawat who has become India's first Chief of Defence Staff. Naravane previously served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff. (ANI) From left to right, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, the air-defense destroyer HMS Defender and the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut transit the Strait of Hormuz In this file photo taken Nov. 19, 2019. AFP-Yonhap The foreign ministry has called in Iran's top envoy in South Korea to lodge a protest over his reported remarks hinting at the possibility that Tehran could sever ties with Seoul should it send naval forces to the tense Strait of Hormuz, an official said Saturday. On Friday, the ministry brought in Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Badamchi Shabestari and asked if he made the remarks as reported in the local daily Joong-Ang Ilbo that day, according to the official. The ambassador reportedly told the ministry that he did not directly mention the possible severing of bilateral ties, although he said Seoul's participation in a U.S.-led maritime security campaign in the strait could have an impact on Seoul-Tehran ties. Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Badamchi Shabestari, left, who was newly appointed to the post, with President Moon Jae-in, center, and Foreign M Kang Kyung-wha at Cheong Wa Dae in December 2018. Korea Times file KABUL, Afghanistan Two American service members were killed and two others were wounded in a roadside bomb explosion in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, the United States military command in Afghanistan said in a statement. They were the first American military fatalities in Afghanistan this year. The victims were in an American military vehicle that struck a roadside bomb in Kandahar Province, where they had been conducting operations as part of the American-led NATO mission known as Resolute Support, according to the statement. A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, claimed responsibility for the attack. The identities of the two killed service members were withheld pending notification of the next of kin. It was not clear which branch of the military they were from. Twenty American service members were killed in Afghanistan last year. More than 2,400 Americans troops have died in combat since the United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001, according to the website icasualties.org. New Delhi: In the midst of the unrest at the JNU campus, Ajay Devgn on Friday urged people to "wait for facts" and appealed to everyone to maintain "peace and brotherhood." "I have always maintained that we should wait for proper facts to emerge. I appeal to everyone- let us further the spirit of peace and brotherhood, not derail it either consciously or carelessly #JNUViolence," he said in a tweet. I have always maintained that we should wait for proper facts to emerge. I appeal to everyone- let us further the spirit of peace and brotherhood, not derail it either consciously or carelessly #JNUViolence Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) January 10, 2020 This tweet came shortly after the Delhi Police Crime Branch which is investigating the case of violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University released photographs of nine suspects, including JNU Students Union President Aishe Ghosh. "Those identified include- Chunchun Kumar, Pankaj Mishra, Aishe Ghosh, Waskar Vijay, Sucheta Talukraj, Priya Ranjan, Dolan Sawant, Yogendra Bhardwaj, Vikas Patel," told DCP Joy Tirkey, who is heading a Special Investigation Team, at a press conference. The senior police official said that no suspect had been detained yet but the process of interrogation of suspects would begin soon. Furthermore, Devgn's movie 'Tanhaji' hit the theatres on January 10 alongside Deepika Padukone's highly anticipated 'Chhapaak'. Kaspersky researchers identified significant changes to the groups attack tactics in the sequel operation. In 2018 Kasperskys Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) published findings on AppleJeus an operation aimed at stealing cryptocurrency carried out by prolific threat actor the Lazarus group. Now, new findings show that the operation continues with more careful steps from the infamous threat actor, improved tactics and procedures and the use of Telegram as one of its new attack vectors. Victims in the UK, Poland, Russia and China, including several connected to cryptocurrency business entities, were affected during the operation. The Lazarus group is one of the most active and prolific advanced persistent threat (APT) actors, which carried out a number of campaigns targeting cryptocurrency-related organizations. During its initial 2018 AppleJeus operation, the threat actor created a fake cryptocurrency company in order to deliver their manipulated application and exploit a high level of trust among potential victims. This operation was marked by Lazarus building its first macOS malware. The application was downloaded by users from third-party websites and the malicious payload was delivered via what was disguised as a regular application update. The payload enabled the attacker to gain full control of the users device and steal cryptocurrency. Kaspersky researchers identified significant changes to the groups attack tactics in the sequel operation. The attack vector in the 2019 attack mimicked the one from the previous year, but with some improvements. This time, Lazarus created fake cryptocurrency-related websites, which hosted links to fake organization Telegram channels and delivered malware via the messenger. Just as in the initial AppleJeus operation, the attack consisted of two phases. Users would first download an application, and the associated downloader would fetch the next payload from a remote server, finally enabling the attacker to fully control the infected device with a permanent backdoor. However, this time the payload was delivered carefully in order to evade detection by behavior-based detection solutions. In attacks against macOS-based targets an authentication mechanism was added to the macOS downloader and the development framework was changed, in addition, a file-less infection technique was adopted this time. When targeting Windows users, the attackers avoided the use of Fallchill malware (which was employed in the first AppleJeus operation) and created a malware that only ran on specific systems after checking them against a set of given values. These changes demonstrate that the threat actor has become more careful in their attacks, employing new methods to avoid being detected. Lazarus also made significant modifications in the macOS malware and expanded the number of versions. Unlike in the previous attack, during which Lazarus used open source QtBitcoinTrader to build a crafted macOS installer, during the AppleJeus Sequel the threat actor started to use their homemade code to build a malicious installer. These developments signify that the threat actor will continue to create modifications of the macOS malware and our most recent detection was an intermediate result of these changes. The Lazarus group, known for its sophisticated operations and links to North Korea, is noted not only for its cyber-espionage and cybersabotage attacks, but also for financially-motivated attacks. A number of researchers, including those at Kaspersky, have previously reported on this group targeting banks and other large financial enterprises. To protect from this and similar attacks, we recommend crypto businesses apply the following measures: The Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia has refuted statements made by the occupation authorities of Crimea about the alleged launch of Simferopol - Yerevan flights in 2020. "The Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia did not receive a request for Yerevan - Simferopol (Crimea) flight operation," the statement reads, PanARMENIAN.Net reports. According to Crimea.Realities portal, a number of Russian and Armenian media earlier announced the launch of Yerevan - Simferopol scheduled flights in 2020. It was noted that Icarus airline planned to operate flights on Yerevan-Simferopol route and had received the approval of the Federal Air Transport Agency of the Russian Federation for seven flights a week. The international flights to and from Crimea have not been operated since the peninsula was occupied by Russia in March 2014. The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation banned the flights to Crimea, in particular, to the airports of Simferopol and Sevastopol. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) officially declared that airspace over Crimea belongs to Ukraine, confirming that only Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise should exercise control over safety and security at this site. ol A North Korean official on Saturday said that the U.S. and South Korea are dreaming if they think that President Donald Trumps sending a birthday message would get leader Kim Jong Un back to the negotiating table. North Korean Foreign Ministry adviser Kim Kye Gwan repeated the Norths deep frustrations over stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration and stressed that the country will never fully deal away its nuclear capabilities for ending U.S.-led sanctions despite its economic difficulties. He was responding to comments by South Korean presidential national security director Chung Eui-yong who, after returning from a visit to the United States on Friday, said that Seoul had conveyed Trumps birthday greetings to Kim. His birthday is believed to be Jan. 8. Chung told reporters that Trump during their meeting at the White House this week had asked Seoul to deliver the message to Pyongyang, which it did through proper means on Thursday. But Kim Kye Gwan said that the North had also received a similar letter by Trump directly from the Americans, and ridiculed Seoul saying it was clinging to its role as a mediator between Washington and Pyongyang. Kim last week opened the new year expressing deep frustrations over the stalled negotiations and vowed to bolster his nuclear arsenal as a deterrent against gangster-like U.S. sanctions and pressure. The North in past months has severed virtually all cooperation with the South, while demanding Seoul to break away from Washington and restart inter-Korean economic projects held back by U.S.-led sanctions. Seoul had lobbied hard for the resumption of nuclear negotiations, with Chung shuttling between Pyongyang and Washington to help set up the first summit between Kim and Trump in June 2018. But negotiations have faltered since the collapse of the second Kim-Trump meeting in February last year in Hanoi, Vietnam. The U.S. side rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for the dismantlement of an aging nuclear facility in Yongbyon, which would only represent a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities. Trump and Kim met again in June and agreed to resume negotiations. But an October working-level meeting in Sweden broke down over what the North Koreans described as the Americans old stance and attitude. In his statement, Kim Kye Gwan said that the North will never again engage in negotiations to fully give away a crucial nuclear facility in exchange for sanctions relief as it did in Vietnam. Authors Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi met at the 2016 National Book Awards festivities in New York City. Reynoldss Ghost, the first book in his Track series, was shortlisted for the Young Peoples Literature award; Kendis Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas received the nonfiction prize. When I heard Kendi speak at the finalists reading, I knew immediately he had written something really special and important, Reynolds says. After Kendi moved to Washington, D.C., where Reynolds lives, he reached out with a proposal: would Reynolds write a young readers edition of his award-winning book? The resulting childrens book, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (Little, Brown) is due out in March. I thought a novelist could make this history accessible to everyday teens, says Kendi, a professor at American University and founding director of the schools Antiracist Research and Policy Center. Not only would his book reach teens but it would move them to be part of the struggle, and part of the solution. Intimidated by the idea, Reynolds initially turned down the offer. He had written a masterpiece, Reynolds says. Im not an academic or a scholar. I wasnt even that great a student. All the skills I would need to write a book like this, I didnt have. But, believing he had found the right person for the project, Kendi persisted. [Reynolds] is deeply reflective and mission-oriented, he says. I knew that type of writer and thinker could pull it off. After being asked numerous times, Reynolds agreed. Like the original, Reynoldss adaptation chronicles how racist thinking seeped into the American psyche and has been used to justify and rationalize some of the nations most deeply entrenched discrimination. Both books are structured around five historical figures: Puritan minister Cotton Mather, early American statesman Thomas Jefferson, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, and activists W.E.B. DuBois and Angela Davis. Reynolds calls his version a remix and cautions that it is not a history book. He describes it more as a book that contains history, a history directly connected to our lives as we live them right this minute. This is a present book, a book about the here and now. Reynolds hadnt read Stamped from the Beginning before he met Kendi. So much of it was mind-blowing to me, Reynolds says. All that information was new to me. You think you know Thomas Jefferson. You have paragraphs that come to mind when you hear the name. Uh-uh. Who we think they are is not who they were. To get his version the right length for young readers, Reynolds needed to cut more than half the text while preserving the continuum of historical events that bring us to today. It was the hardest thing Ive ever done, and the first draft did not work, he says. Reynolds recalls that his editor encouraged him, saying, Write a Jason Reynolds book. Trust your gut. He adds, If I got the information wrong, they would be there to make sure I got it right. [Little, Brown] pushed for me to do my thing and, finally, my intuition kicked in. Stamped is Reynoldss first work of nonfiction. In many ways, Kendi considers the young readers edition a whole new creation. There are very few lines that are taken directly from my book, which was well over 500 pages, he says. For him to take a book that size and not only scale it back, but also transform the language so young people will connect with it, is nothing short of extraordinary. Both authors would like the book to find a place in American classrooms. Im hoping the social studies teachers use it, Reynolds says. If we can get teachers to introduce it, that will give the kids a safe space to hold conversations about what they learn. Kendi wants to reach kids like himself, who are committed to racial justice at a young age. I want them to have a clear-eyed sense of what the problem is. There are so many people whose journey doesnt even begin until they get to college. Lets arm them intellectually, beginning in middle school. However, during its Jan. 1 meeting, the council agreed unanimously to begin efforts to rezone two parcels of land in the town, including the Gates East, under Resolution 2020-01-01. Panczuk later defended the decision, saying in Section 24-42 of St. John Town Code, all land annexed to the town will be considered R-1, unless the council agrees unanimously to rezone the parcel. In September 2019, the outgoing council OK'd the rezoning of Gates East 3-2, with Swets and Mark Barenie voting no. Since the council did not unanimously agree to rezone the land at the time of annexation, Panczuk said, it reverts back to the R-1 designation. Going back to an R-1 designation would decrease the density of the development from 3.2 units per acre to 2.3 homes per acre. "We had no unanimous vote. We feel it should be R-1," Panczuk said. "We could initiate a rezoning regardless. ... We feel that's the proper direction." When a guy wants to announce to everybody around him that he has changed, it seems that there's a handy shortcut: grow a beard. David Letterman did it when he quit nightly TV. Al Gore did it when some dangling chad cost him the White House. Brad Pitt got famously scraggly during the Brangelina years, and he has gone back and forth from hirsute to clean-shaven ever since, seemingly changing as often as his choice of dates. Now it seems to be Joel Abelove's turn. Followers of local news will remember Abelove as the Rensselaer County district attorney who lost his job in 2018 amid questions about his handling of a case in which a Troy cop killed an unarmed motorist. This week he resurfaced on our front page as a defense lawyer. His photo suggests that he is either growing a beard or has grown forgetful about shaving. The former, I figure. Most guys, it seems, try the bearded look at one time or another, often while trying on a new persona. I grew a beard in college when I got a stage role as Aeneas, a figure in Greco-Roman mythology, but my real reason for the beard was that I thought it would help me fit in better with a counter-cultural social set. I was determined to be cool, but I don't think anybody was fooled about who was under the beard. We're not supposed to judge a person by something as superficial as facial hair I mean, it's literally only skin-deep but it seems to have some significance in how men are perceived. Consider this: We haven't elected a president with facial hair since William Howard Taft. Could that have anything to do with the fact that women won the right to vote just a few years after Taft left the White House in 1913? (And did Harry Truman edge out Tom Dewey in 1948 because of Dewey's 'stache?) Rebekah Herrick, a political scientist at Oklahoma State University, has done research suggesting that facial hair leads voters to presumptions about masculinity, which in turn influences views about the issue positions those bearded politicians might take. She found no actual difference in the voting records of the clean-shaven guys in Congress compared to those with beards, mind you, but female voters seem to imagine the hairy as more hostile to women's interests. Maybe giving up politics gives guys who have long wanted to sprout a beard the freedom to toss the razor. After years of shaping one's identity to please voters, the recently retired politician can try on a new facade with an easy grooming change. Who hasn't on occasion wished for a do-over? We all have parts of our past we would rather forget, or elements of ourselves that we'd like to conceal. A genuine remake is a lot tougher to do than a new look. Every few days, I get plaintive letters from people whose mistakes have been reported in our pages, and who wish to erase their history. You'd have to be mighty cold-hearted to be unsympathetic. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. This week I heard from a local business owner a father who served our country in the military with a plea to remove from our digital archives a story about his arrest eight years ago for an alcohol-fueled offense. He spent two years in prison and says that the man he is today is not the same person as our coverage (and that of other media) reveals via a Google search. Editors everywhere have been confronted with similar requests ever since digital technology preserved our content and opened it to broader audiences than ever could see newsprint editions. Our answer is clear: We never scrub content from our Web site, because that would be altering a true account of what happened in effect, creating a lie by obscuring the truth. But we have adopted standards for occasionally "de-listing" that content, so that search engines can't find it as they crawl our archives. We block Google only in quite rare instances such as when a minor charge is dismissed without penalty and sealed by a court. We don't block the public from seeing content just because it may embarrass somebody. This policy rarely satisfies people who are involved in the stories. But it should be welcomed by readers, who turn to a newspaper for truth-telling, after all, rather than for sanitized views of reality. Technology has made all our lives including our humiliations and our failings so visible that we would all be better off if we were more accommodating of each others' mistakes. We might consider being less judgmental, and more appreciative of the human capacity to climb up off the mat and get on with the fight. Without concealing truth, then, we could respect real change, acknowledging that it isn't skin-deep. European Council President Charles Michel heads on Saturday to Turkey and Egypt for talks on the conflict in Libya. Turkey and Egypt are backing opposing sides in Libyas civil war, which has drawn regional powers into it, including Russia. European diplomats have been involved in intense diplomacy to curb foreign interference in Libya, fearing it will only fuel the violence. Mr Michel is expected to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. Talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi are planned for later on Saturday in Cairo. Russia and Turkey have called for a ceasefire at midnight on January 12, but Russia-backed military strongman General Khalifa Haftar has vowed to keep fighting. Also on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel travels to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Germany is preparing for a Berlin conference on Libya with no fixed date for it yet. Turkey, along with Qatar, supports the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in the capital Tripoli, and has dispatched troops to bolster the GNA. Struggling for power with the GNA, Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army is also backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The GNA, meanwhile, welcomed the call for a ceasefire, saying it is receptive for any serious calls to resume the political process to end the countrys years-long feud. Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Gaddafi, but violence has intensified since April, when Haftar launched an offensive on Tripoli. (dpa/NAN) Terming the five-day visit of high level military delegation led by Udhampur-based Northern Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh to China as successful, an Army spokesman here said that the interaction will pave the way for enhanced cooperation in defence sector between the two countries and peace at the borders. The first high-level Military to Military engagement in 2020 between India and China culminated on Saturday, the spokesman said in a statement. The visit is considered significant as the composition of the delegation, schedule of the visit and interactions carried out were orchestrated in a progressive manner to achieve better understanding and build up of positive perceptions about key concerns faced at operational and functional levels, he said. He said the visit, to PLA formation headquarters and units, included fruitful interactions with top brass of Chinese PLA as well as troops on the ground. "The visit of the high level military delegation led by Lt Gen Singh to China culminated at Shanghai after visits to vital military establishments in Beijing, Chengdu, Urumqi and Shanghai. "The delegation arrived in China on January 7, carried out extensive interaction with the top Military Generals and troops of People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) Western Theatre Command which oversees the Northern Borders along Line of Actual Control (LAC) over a period of five days prior to departure on January 11," the spokesman said. He said the visit is thus, expected to enhance the cooperation in defence sector and furtherance of peace at the borders. The spokesman said Lt General Singh met the Commander of People's Liberation Army, General Han Weiguo in Beijing on January 7. On January 8, Singh proceeded to China's Western Theatre Command at Chengdu, where ceremonial welcome was accorded to the general by a guard of honour. Later, he visited PLA's Western Theatre Command Headquarters and held talks with General Zhao Zongqi, the Commander of Western Theatre Command on key issues concerning Indian Northern Borders, the spokesman said. The northern Army commander along with his delegation also visited a special Operations Brigade at Chengdu where they witnessed a counter-terrorism drill. On January 9, Lt Gen Singh visited the Combined Brigade under 77 Group Army and later interacted with Lt General Liu Wanglong, Commander Xinjiang Military Command, the spokesman said. On January 10, Singh visited 9 Engineer Regiment of Xinjiang Military Command and interacted with Chinese troops. "During talks with the Chinese Military officials, the delegation discussed a host of issues including border area management, improved bilateral military ties and defence cooperation activities as part of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and China," the spokesman said. He said it was rare for an Indian Army general to visit the region. "The visit is also seen as progression of the spirit of Wuhan and Chennai Summits. The visit of the delegation will surely foster the spirit of friendship and enhance the strategic military relationship between the two countries," the spokesman said. He said the interaction is expected to resolve local issues as well as ensure facilitation of traditional rights of graziers and border population, minimising perceptional differences and establishing new norms of responding to each other's actions and initiatives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Palestinian demonstrators burn a US and an Israeli flag during a gathering in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on January 8, 2020, organized in honor of slain Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani (portrait) and to celebrate a volley of missiles fired by Iran at Iraqi bases housing US and other foreign troops. Said Khatib | AFP | Getty Images ABU DHABI One must travel to the Middle East to better sense the earthquake set off by the US drone strike that killed Iran's legendary General Qasem Soleimani a week ago. In this glittering Emirati capital, only some 200 miles from Iranian border, no one doubts that aftershocks are coming. The only question is of what nature and magnitude. After all, this is a place that knows the power of Mideast leaders to build, in the case of their Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan and his father. Or to destroy, as Emiratis have witnessed across much of the rest of their neighborhood for all too long. Talk to top officials here, and they feel that those who don't know their region underestimate the enormity of the Soleimani killing. In one side conversation this weekend during the fourth annual Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum, a Mideast official who tracks such matters shared three reasons why Soleimani may be even more irreplaceable than the Iranian Supreme Leader himself, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, as the linchpin and architect of his extraterritorial visions. First, Soleimani built and commanded to his dying day the 200,000-strong Quds (Jerusalem) Force. This Shi'a paramilitary force -- with the goal of exporting Iran's revolution and ultimately liberating Palestine and Israel was created immediately after the 1979 revolution. However, it gained its real prominence and traction when Soleimani, the son of a blind peasant, took over leadership in 1998. Second, he built out and directed Iran's global network of proxies, spies and terrorists, a position underscored by the fact that the US strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of the Iranian-backed Iraqi militias known as the Popular Mobilization Force. "Iran's current ascendency in the Middle East," writes Kara Aarabi in Foreign Policy, "is inextricably linked to the Iranian general and his willingness to spill blood. Over the course of two decades, Soleimani nurtured Shiite militancy from Baghdad to Beirut and strategized terrorism with a degree of finesse that bin Laden and Baghdadi could only ever have dreamt of." What seems to be clear is that Soleimani's loss has been not only an operational shock to the Iranian system but also a personal shock to its Supreme Leader, accentuated by his public weeping at the Soleimani funeral. Third, Soleimani's closeness to the Supreme Leader was matchless, allowing him to reach Iran's leader and quickly gain his quick, personal approval for even the most ambitious and risky of operations. As such, Soleimani became the linchpin and architect of Iran's extraterritorial activities, from Thailand to Venezuela, and from Bulgaria to Palestine. Soleimani's remarkable closeness to the Ayatollah has been reported widely, but this Mideast official argued to me that he was the Supreme Leader's son-in-law, having married his daughter. If true, this fact would have been big news breaking down the tight secrecy surrounding the Supreme Leader's personal life that even Western intelligence agencies hadn't cracked. In the end, however, neither Middle Eastern nor US intelligence sources could confirm this report. One Mideast source said the unconfirmed rumor of Soleimani's marriage had been circulating on the Iranian street for some time, partly because little else would explain his unique access to the Supreme Leader. Soleimani's Wikipedia biography merely says he is married and has four daughters and that the name of his wife is unknown. What seems to be clear is that Soleimani's loss has been not only an operational shock to the Iranian system but also a personal shock to its Supreme Leader, accentuated by his public weeping at the Soleimani funeral. What's beyond dispute is that Soleimani had a heroic reputation like no other individual in Iran, played a role unlike any other in advancing the revolution externally, and owned unmatched access to the country's famously inaccessible leader. While Mohammed Zarif is the titular foreign minister, his job is more representational while Soleimani served as the true executor of external affairs. Another Mideast official argues that if the aftermath is managed correctly by U.S. leaders with their Arab and European allies avoiding military confrontation but maintaining pressure it could speed the further erosion of an already aging Iranian revolution. His argument is that the revolution was already declining in the toxic stew of corruption, misspent resources, and the economic squeeze of American sanctions. The conventional wisdom underpinned by visuals from Iran is that the U.S. drone strike reinforced hardliners and shifted the internal Iranian dynamics from protests against the regime to angry demonstrations against the United States. Far harder to measure is the longer-term impact of Soleimani's absence on the country's revolutionary effectiveness and structure. Calculus changed overnight During her travels, Dr. Rachel Grosvenor has discovered folktales that have helped her to question stories left behind at home. The queen of Laos was feeling peckish, but nothing in the palace was satisfying her craving. It was more specific than the food the streets of Luang Prabang could offer; more nuanced than the average daily snack. She wanted mushrooms from a mountain in Sri Lanka. Now thats no mean feat, especially in a time before planes, and given the fact that railways dont exist in Laos even now. The queen therefore asked a god for help, and explained her desire to the Monkey King. He was only too happy to oblige, after all, this was the queen of Laos. He beat his magical wings and flew to the mountain and collected the first mushrooms he found there, delivering them back to the queen with pride. She stared at them, shaking her head. Those werent the mushrooms she wanted, she explained. The Monkey King, a little less enthusiastically, returned to the mountain in Sri Lanka and collected more. On his return the queen repeated her displeasure. Those werent the mushrooms she had been craving. This continued, again and again. Eventually, the Monkey King sighed to the queen. Your majesty, please tell me the name of the mushrooms that you desire, so that I can give you the correct ones. The queen refused. She knew the name of the mushrooms she wanted, but they were called monkey ears, and she was worried that this would offend the god. Instead, she asked him to continue his efforts. The Monkey King flew back to the Sri Lankan mountain, and considered the hundreds of types of mushrooms that grew atop its peak. Suddenly, a solution provided itself. He lifted the entire top of the mountain, and brought it back to the queen. Your majesty, now you may select the mushrooms you desire yourself. Phousi Mountain still sits in front of the palace today. This is only one of the intriguing folktales told in Laos culture, shared through generations to explain how the landscape was formed. After spending an evening learning about Laos folktales, I began to wonder about my own country. What did I know about British folktales, and how had I come across them? The only ones that sprang to mind were German folklore such as Hansel and Gretel, or Little Red Riding Hood. However, even these are arguably called fairy tales as Masterclass confirms, Fairy tales are written folktales credited to an author. Were the only folktales I knew therefore written stories (the Brothers Grimm being the main providers), or was there still a practice of traditional storytelling in the UK, as there is in Laos? British folk talkes: Jack the Giant Killer and Robin Hood are still talked of today I realised through research that there was actually a British folktale that I was incredibly familiar with: Jack the giant killer, which brought to mind Jack and the Giant Beanstalk. Though these two stories differ from each other, they both use the classic Fee Fie Foe Fum, I smell the blood of an English man. This line alone can be traced back to 1606, when Shakespeare used it in his tragedy King Lear (Act 2, scene 4). The story, or various stories of Jack, did not appear in print until early 1700, and its impossible for us to say whether the stories were verbally told prior to the lines use in King Lear though I think it probable. Another familiar tale was Robin Hood and his Merry Men, popular since the 15th Century in England. I remembered my sister and I coveting the Disney movie on VHS, and watching the series Maid Marian and her Merry Men as children. Though the British folktales that I recognised were outnumbered by those that I had never heard of, I realised that people still share these stories with each other today its just the medium of sharing that has changed. Folklore and the power and longevity of storytelling I was a lecturer of Creative Writing for four years, and I took pleasure in teaching the history of writing to each of my classes. This is, in itself, a folktale. From sharing and embellishing stories verbally from village to village, to writing, and printing by hand, the world has been full of storytellers for as long as we have had the ability to share a tale. The phrase Once upon a time, a line that my mother would use at the beginning of each story she made up for me, can be traced to 1380. And here perhaps lies the real beauty of folklore. Theres a comfort to a story we know well, being told with phrases used for centuries. Its more than a familiar story its a sense of belonging. When children in Laos walk the steps up to the top of Phousi Mountain, and look down on Luang Prabang, they know that the Monkey King placed that mountain there. Whether or not they believe the story doesnt matter, because the result is something more than knowledge its the memory of the story being told to them, the fascination of a familiar tale, the gift of a narrative that they can share. Western culture amnesia, and the twining threads of folklore and folk music Luckily, there are still people out there sharing folklore. Welsh musician Owen Shires tells folktales both through his music and storytelling. I asked him about why this was important to him: We have a bit of a cultural amnesia in the West, and I think weve lost touch with the past, and I think weve lost the mythic understanding of folklore, i.e. we tend to see folktales as childrens stories rather than have the capacity to understand them on a symbolic and mythical level because thats what they were designed for originally. They were moral guidelines on how to live well. Its also important in Wales to maintain a Welsh language tradition and theres not many people doing that. Theres barely any Welsh language storytellers, so thats another reason that this is important to me. The stories that Owen tells are not ones he grew up with, but rather tales that he discovered in books and manuscripts. He was driven to research these tales after coming to the conclusion that the oral tradition of storytelling had pretty much died in the UK, so he now shares both geographical tales with factual roots and broader tales, from love and romance, to tragedy. English folk music has used the narrative form of ballads since the middle ages, and it was after talking to Owen and seeing his fascinating work that I discovered two folktales that I was brought up with, and that I had never even considered as folklore. The first is Scarborough Fair. Now, I know what youre thinking, As in, the Paul Simon song? and the answer is yes, almost. Simon and Garfunkel did borrow from the original English ballad, though they added their own lyrics and music, embellishing in the classic folklore storytelling tradition. The source of the ballad is in fact the English folktale that first appeared in print in 1670. The second folktale is one that I sing every year with confidence, despite only knowing a few of the lyrics, Auld Lang Syne. Though attributed to Scottish poet Robert Burns, written in 1788, it was originally accompanied by a note from said author, stating that: The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man. Perhaps then, we are more familiar with folklore in England than we know, we just dont always realise the historical context of our familiar traditions. As I write this article I am in my third month of travelling South East Asia, and its been a fascinating experience because its helped me to understand how my own British culture leads me to behave. Though not every English person would agree, there is a lot of Britishness that informs my personality traits, and Ive been noticing them for the first time this year. Whether its a slight reserve, being quick to apologise for a minor incident, or insisting on queueing whether others are pushing in or not theres a lot that I do that could be called inherently British. British folklore lies in our bones, our stories, our hearts. English folklore, it seems, is a part of who I am without my even realising. From repeating the same words at New Year since I was a child, to the Midlands based sayings that I learned from my mother, such as going around the Wrekin. This phrase alone is based on the Wrekin hill, which folklore says is the result of a tired giant dumping a spade full of dirt on the ground. English folklore is, then, still present today. It might just take a little research to discover its origins. Carlos Ghosn and his wife Caroline Ghosn at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018. Photo: Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage A private jet leasing company has filed a criminal complaint against one of its own employees, claiming the rogue staff member helped plan car tycoon Carlos Ghosns escape from Japan. Istanbul-based MNG Jet said Friday it had launched an internal inquiry and filed a criminal complaint after learning through the media that it was involved in the former Nissan chairmans flight from Japan to Lebanon. MNG said it leased two aircrafts involved in the journey, one which flew from Osaka to Istanbul and a second that travelled from Istanbul to Beirut. Ghosn was not named on the paperwork for either aircraft, the company said. One employee of the company, who is under investigation by the authorities, has admitted having falsified the records, MNG said in a statement. He confirmed that he acted in his individual capacity, without the knowledge or the authorisation of the management of MNG Jet. READ MORE: Ghosn denies family involved in escape as arrests made MNG said it was pro-actively cooperating with the authorities investigating Ghosns escape. The companys admission of involvement is the latest development in a sensational tale that has captured the worlds attention. On New Years Eve multi-millionaire auto executive Carlos Ghosn fled Japan, where he was under house arrest on charges including falsifying financial information and breach of trust. Despite round-the-clock surveillance, Ghosn was able to slip out of his house and pass through international airports, eventually reaching Lebanon. The escape has shocked Japan and sparked fevered speculation about how he was able to cross through multiple international borders untroubled. Initial reports suggested he had been smuggled in a musical instrument case, although this has since been denied. READ MORE: Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn escaped Japan 'in instrument case' Seven people were arrested in Turkey in connection to Ghosns escape on Thursday. Interpol issued a red notice on the same day, alerting international police forces to the fact Japanese authorities were seeking Ghosns return to Japan. Story continues For his part, Ghosn has said he escaped injustice and political persecution. Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 and was held in jail for over 100 days before being released on one of the highest bails in Japanese history. Ghosn claims he is the victim of a conspiracy at Nissan, which ousted him as chairman as he was arrested. 65-year-old Ghosn is one of the most powerful men in the global auto industry, credited with helping to turn around the fortunes of Nissan and masterminding the alliance between Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi. He is expected to give a press conference to the worlds media in Lebanon next week. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she told Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rethink on the issue of amended Citizenship Act and urged him to withdraw CAA, NRC and NPR. Modi told her to come to New Delhi and discuss the matter, she told reporters after a meeting with the PM at Raj Bhawan. Banerjee termed her meeting with PM Modi as "courtesy visit" and said she has raised issues regarding the due financial assistance that the state is yet to receive. "It was courtsey meeting. I told him about the Rs 28,000 crore that the state is yet to receive from the Centre. "I also told him that protest is going on across the country against CAA, NRC and NPR. I acquainted him that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC. I asked him that the Centre should rethink on the issues and withdraw CAA," she said. ALSO READ: Anti-CAA stir: In a first, Kerala passes resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act ALSO READ: 'Save the country': Mamata writes to CMs, leaders of opposition parties on CAA With her dazzling royal title, dashing Italian fiance and phonebook bursting with A-list names, Princess Beatrice might well have thought that she would easily take home the title of 'wedding of the year'. But 2020 looks set to be a bumper year for high-society nuptials, with well-connected society beauties, designer fashion models and 'lesser' royals all set to tie the knot in the next 12 months. Society bible Tatler offered up its pick of the high-profile weddings to watch this year, including James Middleton's country ceremony and the jet-set extravaganza of fashionista Gabriella de Givenchy. Here, we share some of Tatler's ones-to-watch, alongside our own... THE PRINCESS BRIDE Undoubtedly the most high profile of all the society brides this year is Princess Beatrice, 31, who will tie the knot with Italian property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 37, pictured Edoardo, 37, was given the honour of being invited to join the Royal Family for church on Christmas Day at Sandringham, pictured, despite not yet being married to Beatrice Beatrice has seen her happiness overshadowed by the ongoing scandal surrounding her father, Prince Andrew. Pictured, Beatrice with Andrew and her mother at Royal Ascot in 2018 Undoubtedly the most high profile of all the society brides this year is Princess Beatrice, 31, who will tie the knot with Italian property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 37. The bride's grandmother the Queen, as well as her cousins, the Sussexes and the Cambridges, are all expected to attend, while Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran, Naomi Campbell and Robbie Williams are all members of her star-studded inner circle. If their engagement party is anything to go by, there will be no shortage of celebrities among the congregation. It has yet to be announced where the wedding will be held, but money is on Windsor Lodge, the home of her parents the Duke and Duchess of York. However she will not receive the same treatment as her younger sister, whose wedding was watched by three million during an ITV special last year, after the broadcaster announced it 'definitely won't' be televising her wedding live. Princess Beatrice (right) was by sister Princess Eugenie's side when she tied the knot with Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle in October 2018. Eugenie will likely return the favour Princess Beatrice and Edoardo shared this sweet photo, taken by Eugenie, to announce their engagement in September last year. It is not known where or when the wedding will be held ITV made the decision despite devoting a whole morning schedule to Princess Eugenie's 2018 wedding to wine merchant Jack Brooksbank, 34, at Windsor Castle. Beatrice has seen her happiness overshadowed by the ongoing scandal surrounding her father, Prince Andrew, with royal experts suggesting he has become so 'toxic' that her wedding ceremony could even be held privately. But no matter what the ongoing scandal swirling around the family, there is no doubt Beatrice will make the most radiant bride on her big day. Fashionistas are eagerly awaiting to find out her wedding designer as she's certainly not afraid to take risks. THE SOCIETY SWEETHEART Cressida Bonas, who famously dated Prince Harry for years, announced her engagement to estate agent Harry Wentworth-Stanley in August 2019. Pictured, the couple at a 2017 event Harry, an old Harrovian and the son of the Marchioness of Milford Haven, popped the question with a stunning ruby ring during a trip to the US. They shared this photo to announce the news Among the other society brides expected to tie the knot is one of Princess Beatrice's close friends: actress Cressida Bonas, 30. Cressida, who famously dated Prince Harry for years, announced her engagement to estate agent Harry Wentworth-Stanley in August 2019. The couple first dated while studying at university before rekindling their romance in 2017. Harry, an old Harrovian and the son of the Marchioness of Milford Haven, popped the question with a stunning ruby ring during a trip to the US. There will be no shortage of blue-bloods when the two say 'I do'. Cressida has a gaggle of glamorous siblings - among actress Isabella Calthorpe, wife of Sir Richard Branson's son Sam - and a close circle of friends, including Eugenie and Beatrice. Her former flame Prince Harry and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, could also find themselves on the guest list after Cressida was invited to their wedding in May 2018. Another royal overlap could be James Middleton, brother of Pippa and Kate, who took to the Instagram comments section to congratulate Cressida and Harry when they shared their news on the platform with a loved-up snap. THE FRENCH FINANCE WHIZZ About to marry into one of the world's most famous families is French fiancier Alizee Thevenet, who won the heart of James Middleton, 32. Pictured, the couple in November last year Alizee enviably chic, and typically French, sense of style means there's no doubt she will be a stylish bride. Pictured, the couple at Wimbledon (left) and Lady Gabriella Windsor's wedding Proud James shared this photo to announce their engagement, with the simple caption: 'She said OUI!' The couple could marry near the Middleton family home or in France The bridesmaids and page boys who will likely steal the show, with Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince George, six, expected to be among the group. Pictured, George and Charlotte with mother Kate at the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews in May 2017 About to marry into one of the world's most famous families is French fiancier Alizee Thevenet, who won the heart of James Middleton, 32. Alizee enviably chic - and typically French - sense of style means there's no doubt she will be a stylish bride... but she will do well not to be upstaged by her in-laws. The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, 38, will both be in attendance, as will Pippa Middleton, 36, and her husband James Matthews, 44. But its the bridesmaids and page boys who will likely steal the show, with Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince George, six, expected to be among the group. It could even see a public outing for Prince Louis, one, and Pippa's son Arthur, also one. Otherwise it could be an eclectic mix of famous friends and those out of the spotlight. The couple are close to James Matthews' brother Spencer, a former reality TV star, and his model/presenter wife Vogue Williams, so they could very well get an invite. It remains to be seen where the couple will decide to marry. Pippa and James married at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire, near the Middleton family home in Newbury. Or, they could jet off to France to be closer to Alizee's family. THE 'OTHER' ROYAL Flora Ogilvy, granddaughter of the Queen's cousin Princes Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, is marrying her Swedish boyfriend, Timothy Vesterberg. The couple shared this photo to announce the engagement Cousins from the Kent branch of the family tree, including Lady Amelia Windsor and her sister Lady Marina (pictured together in August 2019) are expected to be invited to the wedding Princess Eugenie is not the only royal tying the knot. Flora Ogilvy, granddaughter of the Queen's cousin Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, is marrying her Swedish boyfriend, Timothy Vesterberg. The low-key couple live and work in London, where Flora balances a handful of royal appearances - including joining the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace at Trooping The Colour each year - and work as an art consultant. Born in Edinburgh, Flora grew up in a 1780s country house on Scotlands East coast, before her parents moved to Nantucket, where they now live. Both are possible wedding venues. Prince William and Prince Harry are distant cousins and unlikely to make an appearance at the nuptials. However cousins from the Kent branch of the family tree, including Lady Amelia Windsor and her sister Lady Marina, are expected to be invited. Also keep an eye out for Lady Gabriella Windsor and her husband Thomas Kingston, who wed in their own stunning ceremony last year. THE FASHIONISTA Gabriella de Givenchy officially married her handsome beau Ugo De Mallmann at Chelsea town hall last month but the pair (pictued) are expected to have a destination wedding in June As the great-niece of celebrated designer Hubert de Givenchy - founder of the luxury French label - fashion is in the blood for bride-to-be Gabriella de Givenchy. The style maven, who is an associate fashion editor at W Magazine, officially married her handsome beau Ugo De Mallmann at Chelsea town hall last month. However the couple are expected to mark the occasion in style with an extravagant party overseas in June. THE RECENTLY ENGAGED Two society beauties became engaged over the festive season. The first is Tatler cover girl and illustrator Sabrina Percy, 29, who got engaged on Christmas Day to the genial Phineas Page (pictured), 37, whose family co-owns restaurant chains Franco Manca and The Real Greek Two society beauties became engaged over the festive season. The recent question-popping means they're not a sure-bet for a 2020 wedding but it's certainly not out of the question. The first is Tatler cover girl and illustrator Sabrina Percy, 29, who got engaged on Christmas Day to the genial Phineas Page, 37, whose family co-owns restaurant chains Franco Manca and The Real Greek. Phineas gave Sabrina three 'other' rings - one emerald, one ruby, and one sapphire - before presenting her with her stunning diamond eternity ring. If the proposal is anything to go by, then theirs will certainly be a wedding for the books. Sabrina is close friends with Amber le Bon and Isabel Getty, while fellow D&G poster girls Lady Kitty Spencer and Viscountess Emma Weymouth could also be on the list. Lady Kitty Spencer (left and right on the catwalk for D&G) became engaged to South Africa-born multi-millionaire, Michael Lewis, 61, in Cape Town before Christmas The Spencer family seat of Althorp House, pictured, is sure to be a likely choice for a wedding venue, although Mr Lewis's vast fortune means nowhere will be off limits Her father Richard Percy is the second-cousin of the Duke of Northumberland, who might offer up the family seat of Alnwick Castle as the wedding venue. The other blue-blooded beauty to reportedly be set to wed is Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer, 29, the eldest daughter of Earl Spencer. A friend told the Daily Mail that her boyfriend, South Africa-born multi-millionaire, Michael Lewis, who turns 61 this month, popped the question in Cape Town shortly before Christmas. Mr Lewis, a fashion tycoon, is 32 years older than Lady Kitty and five years older than Earl Spencer. The Spencer family seat of Althorp House is sure to be a likely choice for a wedding venue, although Mr Lewis's vast fortune means nowhere will be off limits. It's not yet known whether Lady Kitty will convert to Judaism, Mr Lewis' faith, before the big day. Baramulla (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Baramulla Police presented a charge-sheet against three accused including an active terrorist of proscribed outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, in connection with a case pertaining to the killing of a civilian in Baramulla. "Baramulla Police presented a chargesheet against 3 accused including an active terrorist of proscribed outfit HM for case FIR No:112/2019 pertaining to the killing of civilian in old town Baramulla," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. According to reports, on June 30 last year, terrorists had fired on a civilian who sustained critical injuries in the incident. Later, he succumbed to his injuries. (ANI) Armed men have attempted to rob a bank in Armagh. At around 4.45pm on Friday two men, armed with a knife and a hammer, entered the bank of Upper English Street while a third man remained by the door. The would-be robbers attempted to take cash through the glass screens at the counter but were unable to do so. They fled empty-handed. It is believed the man made off in a dark coloured car, possibly an Astra. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference 1307 10/01/20. OTTAWA This weeks plane-crash tragedy has made it even harder for Winnipeggers to reach Iran, with limited flights impeding Canadians from attending funerals and repatriating their deceased relatives. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA This weeks plane-crash tragedy has made it even harder for Winnipeggers to reach Iran, with limited flights impeding Canadians from attending funerals and repatriating their deceased relatives. "The family members and the friends of the victims, who were planning to go to Iran for their funerals and to just get the bodies of their loved ones are now scared to go, because they don't know what's going to happen," said Younes Zangiabadi, research director for the Iranian-Canadian Congress (ICC). "Its been really stressful for the community, especially the ones who lost their loved ones." Of the 176 killed Wednesday aboard a Ukraine International Airlines flight, 138 were travelling from Tehran to Toronto on one of the few routes available between Canada and Iran. One of Zangiabadis friends lost his mother in the crash, and hasnt been able to get ahold of his father since then. The man tried to reach Tehran, making it to Europe but was unable to find a continuing flight to Iran after airlines cancelled routes over reports a missile may have downed the plane. But even before this weeks news, there were few options for Canadians trying to reach Iran. A search of flights from Winnipeg to Tehran show return trips this spring starting around $1,200. Zangiabadi said flights from Toronto start at that price, but can rise to as high as $2,000, with routes passing through Frankfurt, Vienna, Dubai or Doha. 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. Flights were advertised at less than $1,000 three years ago, but have risen in recent years as airlines abandoned routes to Iran. Thats largely due to increasing American sanctions making it difficult for European companies to operate in Iran, Zangiabadi said from Toronto. He has previously flown on the same route to Tehran via Kyiv, which was generally the cheapest option; Zangiabadi said thats likely why so many of the dead were students. The ICC has lobbied Ottawa to help establish a direct flight between Canada and Iran, but made little progress. Zangiabadi believes there hasnt been a direct flight to Iran from either Canada or the United States since that countrys 1979 Islamic Revolution, despite a large Iranian diaspora in Toronto and Edmonton. But the ICCs larger concern is getting Ottawa to restore diplomatic relations with Iran, after the Harper government severed ties in 2012. On Friday, Iran granted visas for two Canadian officials to enter the country, which encouraged Zangiabadi, though he said Canada should have re-established its embassy in Iran years ago. "At the end of the day, you have diplomatic relations with countries you disagree with," he said. "If you just cut relations and cannot engage, then you're not influential and you cannot help out your citizens or protect your interests." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Russia operates the worlds largest fleet of major ice-breaking ships and, in December, the country began sea tests for the most powerful icebreaker ever built. The trials cap a long history of cracking ice for both economic and military advantage in arctic waters. The Yermak, was the first ship tough enough to crack through polar ice near the North Pole. The vessel was built in England for the Russian government in 1899. The Yermak (right) crunching through sea ice to rescue a trapped Russian battleship in 1900. The steam-powered icebreaker was initially driven by four propellers -- three at the rear and one in the front -- setting the stage for the further development of massively powerful vessels that could open icy sailing routes. After the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, ice-breaking ships took on new relevance as an increasingly isolated Soviet Union looked towards its icy northern seas as the only sea route from Europe to Asia that is entirely within Soviet waters. Soviet icebreakers were used to clear a path for more fragile merchant vessels, like this convoy in the Baltic Sea. In 1940, the Soviets also gave an ice-breaking escort through the northeast passage for the Nazi battleship Komet, which traveled from Europe all the way into the Pacific, where the vessel wreaked havoc on Allied shipping. Many icebreakers feature a distinctive spoon-shaped bow and all are built with a toughened hull and internal frame. The rounded bow is designed to slide over sea ice and break through with the enormous weight of the ship above, much as a karate expert hand-chops through blocks of wood. Modern icebreaker hulls are also coated with a slippery layer of resin to reduce friction with the ice. By 1957, several countries had powerful icebreakers in use but the launch that year of the Soviet icebreaker Lenin (pictured during an arctic expedition in 1961) marked the beginning of the nuclear era for icebreakers. Russia remains the only country with nuclear-powered icebreakers in use. A technician testing radiation levels near the nuclear reactor for the Lenin in 1962. Nuclear-powered vessels are expensive to produce and maintain but can sail for years without needing to be refueled -- a key factor in the sparsely populated polar regions. Tourists from Hong Kong pose in front of the Lenin in Murmansk in 2019. The vessel, which suffered two dangerous malfunctions with its reactor during her career, was retired from service in 1989 and now serves as a museum ship. A polar bear cub aboard the Arktika icebreaker. In 1977, the nuclear-powered ship became the first surface vessel to reach the North Pole. The Arktika, as well as her sister ships of the same class, feature a prow that is 50 centimeters of solid steel that can crack through ice up to 5 meters thick. A nuclear reactor weighing nearly 200 tons being installed in a Soviet-era icebreaker. A full day of grinding through thick ice uses up just 300 grams of uranium in a nuclear icebreaker, compared to around 100 tons of fuel for an equivalent diesel-powered vessel. Crew members relaxing inside a heated swimming pool aboard the Arktika in 1977. The engine room inside the nuclear-powered Rossiya icebreaker in 1986. As well as powering the vessels propellers, nuclear reactors supply all electricity and heating. A Saudi man prays at the North Pole in 1990. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, some of Russias nuclear-powered fleet have run a profitable side job ferrying wealthy tourists to the top of the Earth. The nuclear-powered 50 Years Of Victory icebreaker made five trips carrying tourists to the North Pole in 2018. For the 2020 season, tickets for the unusual cruise start at $30,995 per person. But the enormous resources Russia is currently pouring into its nuclear ice-breaking fleet will increase sea traffic along the northern sea route and aid in the militarization of the Arctic, where Russia maintains several bases. The Arctic Ocean is predicted to hold around a quarter of the worlds untapped oil and gas. It's Christmas in Westport! Let the hysterics begin! As the family gets ready for Christmas, Katie finds out that her parents won't be making it for the holiday. Her dad is still recovering from his foot surgery, and although she's sad not to see him, she's THRILLED that her mom's not coming. And because Greg's still estranged from his parents since the reveal of his father's secret family several years earlier, it doesn't look like anyone will be joining them for Christmas. Oliver and Anna-Kat, meanwhile, are struggling to actually embrace the "peaceful" part of the holiday. After eating part of Anna-Kat's gingerbread house, Oliver decides to show her where Greg and Katie keep their presents to make up for it. Of course, this naturally leads to another fight. They find an unwrapped box that they both think must be a present for themselves, start fighting over it, and accidentally drop and break it. Turns out, it's Katie's special Christmas serving tray. Oliver assures Anna-Kat that there's no reason to worry. Apparently, he's a master of breaking stuff and gluing it back together without anyone noticing - coffee-mugs, vases, Anna-Kat's ponies, you name it! The serving tray will just be one more thing to add to his list. Katie's happy about having neither set of grandparents coming for Christmas, as it means she gets to spend more time on Christmas traditions - like building her Nana's traditional "Bavarian Meat Tree" with Taylor (much to Taylor's chagrin). Kathryn banned making them after her mother died, so the fact that she won't be showing for Christmas gives Katie a rare chance to make one. While she and Taylor are working on the Meat Tree, Greg's gift arrives. Katie's been insisting that she's finally gotten Greg exactly what he needed. And while Greg's expecting a book of Shakespearean insults, he finds something a little different on the doorstep - the other Greg Otto, his half-brother! Turns out other Greg is exactly like his big brother (if slightly more successful!). Our Greg and Other's Greg's dad just told Other Greg about his American brother a few weeks before, and he immediately went to track him down. When he called the house, Katie answered, and upon finding out he was coming to the States to lecture at Yale, she invited him to visit as a Christmas surprise. Although the kids are enamored with him, and Other Greg's thrilled to get to know the family he never knew existed, our Greg is feeling frosty, to say the least. He's no big fan of Katie's "perfect" Christmas gift and insists to her that he has no desire to get to know his father's secret child. Of course, Other Greg is currently standing in their living room, so our Greg doesn't have much of a choice but to at least be cordial to him. As our Greg is forced to spend time with Other Greg, our Greg makes a bitter comment about Other Greg being more successful. But Other Greg says he's got it all wrong. Our Greg has everything he wants but doesn't have - a loving family. That's why Other Greg showed up so quickly upon finding out his father's secret - he's finally getting the family he's always dreamed of. This causes our Greg to start to realize that getting to know his long lost brother might not be so bad after all. Just as the Gregs are finally finding common ground, another unexpected visitor shows up - Kathryn! Turns out Greg revenge-invited her for Katie inviting his brother. Under the impression that her daughter misses spending Christmas with her, Kathryn loaded Katie's dad up with pills and hurried on over. (And she's already complaining about the meat tree!) On the bright side, she does seem to get along well with Other Greg! Just when things seem to be going okay and everyone seems to be getting along for the moment (even Kathryn and Katie), Kathryn lets it slip that our Greg has known about his brother for two years and never reached out, whereas he gave Other Greg the impression that he'd just found out as well. A hurt Other Greg storms out and our Greg angrily tells Kathryn that Katie didn't really want her there. Kathryn being Kathryn though, this doesn't cause her to leave, but just inspires her to add weeks onto her stay to get back at them! ("And I'm wearing the shorty robe!") With the Gregs duking it out and Kathryn and Katie feuding, Oliver and Anna-Kat set to fixing Katie's serving platter. Oliver glues it back together, and the two are even able to distract Katie when she goes looking for it by pretending to fight. Now all that's left is to wait for it to dry. Katie and Greg discuss their ever-plentiful family drama. Greg goes out to look for his brother, while Katie agrees to try and mend things with Kathryn. When Kathryn asks Katie why she didn't want her to come for Christmas, Katie admits that she knew Kathryn would ruin the Christmas traditions she wants to make with Taylor. ("You tend to be somewhat judgmental.") And since this is Taylor's last Christmas before college, Katie thinks it will be the last Christmas she's at home. When Kathryn says that Taylor will still come home for Christmas, Katie doubts it. After all, she never came home for Christmas after going to college. Kathryn states that that was because she was a bad mother to Katie, but Katie's not a bad mother to Taylor, so she'll still want to come home. A relieved Katie suggests that she, Kathryn, and Taylor start a new Christmas tradition that doesn't involve packaged meat! Oliver and Anna-Kat bring down the now-fixed platter and present it to Katie. It's been so meticulously glued back together, that it's impossible to tell where it broke. Until it breaks again, that is. Apparently, Oliver and Anna-Kat didn't let it dry long enough! Kathryn reasons that it probably broke due to age, and Katie begins to blame herself, inspiring Oliver and Anna-Kat to admit the truth. Katie's pissed, but slightly less so when the two tell her that working together to try and fix the platter actually caused them to get along. Katie makes them promise to actually fix it for real this time. Outside, our Greg finds Other Greg and apologizes for not reaching out to him. He admits that he took his anger at their dad for hiding a secret family out on his newly discovered brother. Other Greg says he understands, and they realize that their dad was actually a pretty terrible parent to both of them. The rest of the family makes their way outside and the brothers Greg engage in a snowball fight with the family. On Christmas morning, the family happily sings Christmas songs together and Katie accidentally discovers another one of Oliver's glued together broken masterpieces when she goes to pour water and the pitcher breaks in her hand! Random Thoughts: -The best line goes to Kathryn. "Quick question. I know that Taylor is. But is Oliver of drinking age?" At least she tried to be responsible! Were you surprised to see Greg finally meet his secret brother? Let me know below! Amid the row over the state capital, a special session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature will be held here from January 20 to 22. The report of the High-Powered Committee (HPC), comprising ministers and bureaucrats, will be taken up for discussion during the three-day session before the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government takes a formal decision on the new capital for the state. The HPC has been constituted on December 29 to work on the concept of "decentralised development" and chalk out a "strategy on the way forward", taking into view the various provisions of the AP Reorganization Act, 2014. The HPC held two meetings and is scheduled to meet again on January 13. It is expected to submit its report to the government by January 20. The state Cabinet will meet on January 20, ahead of the Legislature session to deliberate on the HPC recommendations, highly-placed official sources said. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has already indicated his mind that the state could have "three capitals" --the executive capital in Visakhapatnam, the legislative capital in Amaravati and the judicial capital in Kurnool-- spreading across the three regions of the state. A six-member committee of experts and also the Boston Consulting Group came up with separate reports endorsing the "distributed capital functions" theory while the HPC is tasked with the job of studying the two reports and coming up with suitable recommendations in line with the Chief Ministers thinking. The government will spell out its stand on the contentious issue after a detailed discussion in the Legislature, official sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks with newly-elected Conservative MPs at the Houses of Parliament, London, Britain December 16, 2019. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS Boris Johnson's government branded "disgraceful" and "inhumane" after MPs reject move to include protections for child refugees in Brexit bill. Downing Street insisted that it was committed to protecting the rights of child refugees. Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said Tory MPs had "earned the labels" of "insular and inhumane" by voting against the measures. The Commons voted by 348 to 252 against the amendment, which had been accepted by the previous Conservative government. Boris Johnson has been accused of abandoning child refugees after his government dropped protections for unaccompanied children attempting to join their families in the UK. The House of Commons voted by 348 to 252 against the amendment to the Brexit bill, which had been accepted by the previous Conservative government, which would have permitted unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with family members after Brexit. Alf Dubs, the Labour peer who successfully campaigned for the amendment to be added to the EU Withdrawal Bill in 2016, said it was a "very depressing" outcome. "It is very disappointing that the first real act of the new Boris Johnson government is to kick these children in the teeth. It is a betrayal of Britain's humanitarian tradition and will leave children who are very vulnerable existing in danger in northern France and in the Greek islands," he said. All proposed amendments to the government's proposed Brexit bill which is expected to pass its third and final reading in the Commons today failed under the weight of the new government's 80-strong majority. Downing Street insisted after the vote that it was committed to protecting the rights of child refugees. Johnson's press secretary said the provisions in the Dubs amendment would remain government policy but said there was no need for it to be included as part of the government's negotiating mandate. Story continues "Our policies on child refugees has not changed," he said. He said the government's decision to water down the clause 37 of the bill had the purpose of "clarifying the role of parliament and government in the negotiations." During the debate, shadow Brexit minister said the move was an "astonishing breach of faith with some of the most vulnerable children in the world." Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said Tory MPs had "earned the labels" of "insular and inhumane" by voting against the amendment. But Brexit minister Robin Walker said: "This Government is fully committed both to the principle of family reunion and to supporting the most vulnerable children. Our policy has not changed. "We will also continue to reunite children with their families under the Dublin Regulation during the implementation period." Read the original article on Business Insider The court held that Section 144 CrPC cannot be used as a tool to prevent the legitimate expression of opinions or grievances. New Delhi: In a major blow to the Centre, the Supreme Court on Friday said that access to the Internet is a fundamental right all citizens and asked the government to review all restrictions in Kashmir within a week. The court also ruled that Section 144 CrPc cannot be used by the authorities as a tool to prevent legitimate expression of opinions or grievances by the people. Taking a dim view of the Centre subjecting people in Kashmir to a lockdown and communication blackout, including internet services, the court said Friday that it was impermissible to suspend Internet services indefinitely. The court held that Section 144 CrPC cannot be used as a tool to prevent the legitimate expression of opinions or grievances or exercise of any democratic rights. It said: The power under Section 144 CrPC, being remedial as well as preventive, is exercisable not only where there exists a present danger, but also when there is an apprehension of danger. However, it said the danger contemplated should be in the nature of an emergency, and for the purpose of preventing obstruction and annoyance or injury to any person. Referring to the turbulence that has inflicted Kashmir over the years, Justice N.V. Ramana, pronouncing the judgment, said the choice of providing a meaningful answer to the question of whether we need more liberty or security was challenging. The pendulum of preference should not swing in either extreme direction, said mJustice Ramanna, and citizens are provided all the rights and liberty to the highest extent in a given situation while ensuring security at the same time. The order suspending Internet services indefinitely is impermissible, which could only be for a temporary duration, a bench comprising Justices N.V. Ramana, B. Subhash Reddy and B.R. Gavai said in their ruling on Friday. They added: Repetitive orders under Section 144 CrPC would be an abuse of power. The court said that a magistrate, exercising powers under Section 144 CrPC, was duty bound to balance the rights and restrictions based on the principles of proportionality and thereafter apply the least intrusive measure. Any order passed under Section 144, the ruling said, should state the material facts to enable judicial review of the same, and should be exercised in a bona fide and reasonable manner by relying on the material facts, indicative of application of mind. This will enable judicial scrutiny of the order passed under Section 144, it added. Having held that prolonged suspension of Internet services was impermissible, the court gave a constitutional protection to the use of the Internet for the exercise of the right to free speech and expression and carry out any trade or profession. We declare that the freedom of speech and expression and the freedom to practise any profession or carry on any trade, business or occupation over the medium of the Internet enjoys constitutional protection under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 19(1)(g), said Justice Ramana, speaking for the bench. It said that any order suspending Internet services was subject to judicial review based on the parameters set by the court in Fridays judgment. The court said this while deciding a batch of petitions including one by Kashmir Times managing editor Anuradha Bhasin and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad challenging the lockdown and communications blackout in Kashmir since August 5, 2019, in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcating the state into two Union territories. The court directed the J&K government to publish all orders in force and any future orders under Section 144 CrPC and for suspension of telecom services, including the Internet, to enable the affected persons to challenge it before the high court or the appropriate forum. has laid off several employees for sharing customers' data with third-party vendors, saying their action "violated its policies". In an email to those affected, the tech giant said that your email address and phone number were "disclosed by an employee to a third party in violation of our policies." "As a result, the employee has been terminated, and we are supporting law enforcement in their prosecution. No other information related to your account was shared," Amazons said in a statement obtained by TechCrunch. "No other information related to your account was shared. This is not a result of anything you have done, and there is no need for you to take any action," the email further read. last year acknowledged a similar incident, warning users that it exposed an unknown number of customer email addresses after a "technical error" on its portal. It later fixed the issue. "We're contacting you to let you know that our website inadvertently disclosed your email address due to a technical error. The issue has been fixed. This is not a result of anything you have done, and there is no need for you to change your password or take any other action," Amazon had said in the email sent to the users. In a separate incident, Amazon has fired four employees at its security camera subsidiary Ring "for improperly viewing video footage from customer cameras". Ring came in for all the wrong reasons where customers' in-house cameras were broke into and the hackers tried to intimated the residents, including children. In a bone-chilling incident, parents of an eight-year-old girl in the US were left stunned when a hacker accessed a camera installed in their daughter's room and taunted her. The incident happened with a Tennessee family who had installed Amazon-owned Ring video camera in the room of their three daughters to keep an eye on them and stay close as the mother worked night shifts as a nurse, reports FOX17. Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday pulled out of the Australian Open as he continues to struggle with his recovery from knee surgery. The 31-year-old Argentinian, who made the last eight at Melbourne Park in 2009 and 2012, has not played since slipping and hurting his knee on the grass in the Wimbledon tune-up at Queen's in June. "Our two-time quarter-finalist Juan Martin del Potro has withdrawn from AusOpen 2020 as he continues to recover from a knee injury," the Australian Open tweeted. "Wishing you all the best with your recovery. We hope to see you back in Australia soon." The injury-plagued Del Potro reached a career high of third in the world but has slipped down the rankings to 120. The opening Grand Slam of the year gets under way on January 20. Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina (pictured here during the BNP Paribas Open) has pulled out of the Australian Open Rio de Janeiro judge Benedicto Abicair on Wednesday ordered Netflix to cease the airing of "The First Temptation of Christ," a Christmas special that many called blasphemous for depicting Jesus as gay, according to an article by Latino Rebels. The order served as response to the petition by a Brazilian Catholic organization that argued the "honor of millions of Catholics" offended by the 46-minute, Portuguese-language comedy special. Online petitions also sparked last month with millions of signatures calling for its removal from the streaming giant. According to Business Insider, one Change.org petition has earned 2.3 million signatures and another from the conservative group CitizenGo has 1.4 million signatures. In the satirical film, Jesus returns home on his 30th birthday and hints he is gay. This sparked protests among religious groups. The film was produced by a Rio-based film company Porta dos Fundos, whose headquarters was targeted by a gasoline bomb attack in the Christmas Eve by a group of hooded men. Days later, a video circulated social media showing three men claiming responsibility for the attack. Abicair said the program's withdrawal "is beneficial not only to the Christian community, but to Brazilian society, which is mostly Christian." In his ruling, Abicair wrote, "The consequences of the dissemination and exhibition of 'artistic production' ... are more likely to cause more serious and irreparable damage than its suspension." Said ruling comes at a time when some civil groups criticize far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for cutting funding for arts projects that challenge "Christian values" and protesting against flamboyant carnival celebrations in the country. Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of President Bolsonaro, called the special "garbage" on Twitter. He added that the Brazilian YouTube comedy group that made it, Porta dos Fundos, "do not represent Brazilian society." Fabio Porchat, the star of the Netflix Christmas comedy special and also the cofounder of the Brazilian YouTube comedy group behind the special, Porta dos Fundos, said in an interview Variety last month that the criticisms against the film was "homophobic." "For some Catholics here in Brazil, it's okay if Jesus is a bad guy, uses drugs, that's no problem," Porchat said. "The problem is he's gay. No, he can't be gay. And that's interesting because Jesus is everything. God is black and white and gay and straight. God is everything. It's more homophobic to be insulted by a gay Jesus than to make Jesus special." The Brazilian studio has made similar comedy specials for decades. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix on Thursday released an official statement saying it has not received an official notification of the order, but has filed a complaint in Brazil's Federal Supreme Court. "We strongly support artistic expression and we'll be fighting to defend this important principle, which goes to the heart of great storytelling," according to its statement. Felipe Santa Cruz, president of the Brazilian Bar Association, said the ruling go against free expression in the arts, science and communication which is guaranteed by the Brazilian constitution. "Any form of censorship or threat to this hard-won freedom is a setback and cannot be accepted by society," said Santa Cruz. The film is still on the streaming platform. The Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has died aged 79 after suffering from cancer (Chris Jackson/PA) The Prime Minister has paid tribute to the ruler of Oman who has died aged 79. Boris Johnson said he is deeply saddened by the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, describing him as an exceptionally wise and respected leader who will be missed enormously. The Sandhurst-trained ruler came to power after seizing the throne from his father in a bloodless coup in 1970. Expand Close The Duke of Cambridge meeting Sultan Qaboos bin Said in December 2019 (Kensington Palace/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke of Cambridge meeting Sultan Qaboos bin Said in December 2019 (Kensington Palace/PA) The Arab leader spent part of his early life in Suffolk, first studying in the area as an 18-year-old, then returning after spending a year serving with a British infantry battalion in Germany. The Sultan studied a course on local government in the county and even held a brief post with Suffolk County Council. Mr Johnson said: He will be remembered for his devotion to the development of Oman into a stable and prosperous nation, and as the father of the nation who sought to improve the lives of the Omani people. I had the pleasure of meeting His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and was struck by his commitment to peace and understanding between nations and between faiths. He leaves a profound legacy, not only in Oman but across the region too. Prime Minister @BorisJohnson's statement on the death of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, Sultan of Oman. pic.twitter.com/xdjMlOQP7Y UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 11, 2020 The UK is a proud friend and enduring partner of Oman, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Omani people. Just last month, the Duke of Cambridge had an audience with the Sultan at the Palace of Bait Al Baraka at the end of a four-day tour of Kuwait and Oman. The Sultan was suffering from diabetes and a history of colon cancer, according to a report by the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy in December 2019. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was among others paying tribute, describing the Middle Easts longest-serving leader as widely respected and saying he worked hard to promote peace and stability in Oman and the wider region. Saddened to hear of the death of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was widely respected and worked hard to promote peace and stability in Oman and the wider region Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) January 11, 2020 Former prime minister Tony Blair said he heard about the death with great sadness, adding: He was a leader of vision and purpose who took over the leadership of his country at a difficult time and raised it to an entirely new level of development and prosperity. He was a man of culture, humanity and deep conviction who strove to make his nation and the world better and more peaceful. He was kind, thoughtful and with a big heart. He had great wisdom and insight from which I benefited often as did so many others. My deepest sympathy, prayers and condolences are with the people of Oman. He will be sorely missed. I heard the news about His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman with great sadness. He was a leader of vision and purpose who took over the leadership of his country at a difficult time and raised it to an entirely new level of development and prosperity... (1/3) Tony Blair Institute (@InstituteGC) January 11, 2020 Where his father ruled with an isolationist attitude, the sultan was determined to modernise the Middle Eastern country. He was frustrated by the lack of progress made in Oman, at the time an isolated and insular country, despite the wealth provided by oil reserves and is credited with raising the standard of living. One of his first steps as a ruler was to abolish slavery, before setting about using Omans oil revenues to bring the country into the 20th century. He was an avid classical music fan who regularly took his personal 120-member orchestra with him on his travels. Expand Close The Queen with the sultan in 2010 (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Queen with the sultan in 2010 (John Stillwell/PA) The Sultan married his first cousin, Kamila, in 1976, but their marriage ended in divorce just three years later. Members of the royal family, including the Queen and the Prince of Wales, have met the Sultan on a number of occasions. The Queen and the sultan watched an equestrian event together in Oman in 2010, and back in 1982 were at a banquet in Claridges Hotel held in his honour. In 1979, the sultan was at a dinner aboard the royal yacht Britannia. State TV in Oman has named culture minister Haitham bin Tariq Al Said as the new Sultan. Canada's response to the Ukrainian air crash tragedy is very different from the way Canadians reacted to the Air India disaster 35 years ago, experts say. News of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752's destruction and the deaths of all 176 people on board including 57 Canadians, a number revised downward from 63 on Friday touched off a nationwide period of public mourning. On Parliament Hill, provincial legislatures and municipal sites across the country, the Canadian flag was lowered to half-mast. Vigils and memorials are being planned in communities from coast to coast. That collective outpouring of grief is quite unlike the public's reaction to the Air India disaster 35 years ago, when Flight 182, carrying 329 people most of them Canadian citizens or permanent residents was brought down by a bomb attack on June 23, 1985. Chandrima Chakraborty, a cultural studies professor at McMaster University, said the Air India crash was dismissed as a "foreign tragedy" and met with widespread indifference by the Canadian public. Despite the scale of the tragedy 82 children were killed the event did not resonate as deeply with Canadians as PS752's crash in Iran seems to be now, she said. "It was an Air India plane, (thought to be) primarily Indians, so it must be an Indian tragedy," she said. "That hasn't happened this time." Chakraborty said this week's crash is being framed as a Canadian tragedy in the media and by the federal government, and Canadians themselves are mourning the victims as fellow citizens. Brian Mulroney, prime minister at the time of the Air India crash, was criticized for offering condolences to the Indian government rather than to the Canadian families of victims after the disaster. "Once the government has that kind of gut response, it pushed the bombing to the margins of Canadian public consciousness. It did not result in the outpouring of grief or public mourning that we're seeing now," Chakraborty said. Story continues "Canada's lack of acknowledgement of the Air India loss as Canadian, I think, exacerbated the family's grief of losing family members." Public understanding 'hazy' Today, scholarly research on the Air India tragedy remains relatively scarce and public understanding of the event is "hazy" in the minds of most Canadians, she said. The Air India disaster led to a public inquiry and lengthy criminal trials. In 2010, a quarter century after the disaster, then-prime minister Stephen Harper delivered a formal apology to the families of the victims for Canada's failure to prevent the tragedy and for mistreating the families in the aftermath. "Your pain is our pain. As you grieve, so we grieve. And, as the years have deepened your grief, so has the understanding of our country grown," he said on June 23, 2010. "Canadians who sadly did not at first accept that this outrage was made in Canada accept it now. Let me just speak directly to this perception, for it is wrong and it must be laid to rest. This was not an act of foreign violence. This atrocity was conceived in Canada, executed in Canada, by Canadian citizens, and its victims were themselves mostly citizens of Canada." Jack Major, a former Supreme Court justice who presided over the Air India public inquiry, said the circumstances of that disaster are vastly different from those of the PS752 crash. The recent event, he said, drew immediate global attention due to the increasing volatility of the security climate in the Middle East and what he called the "world fright" about what might happen next in the U.S-Iran conflict. Adrian Wyld/THE CANADIAN PRESS The news cycle and the media landscape also have changed in the decades since Air India, he said. "It became an international story immediately because of the relationships in the Middle East, which had absolutely nothing to do with Air India," he said. "I don't know you can draw much of a parallel." Major said there's "no doubt" the Air India victims were treated differently because they were considered Indian, or "late-come Canadians," but he said Canada's mishandling of the disaster had more to do with government authorities passing the buck. 'India's problem' "Their first reaction was that it's India's problem, not ours," he said. Sociologist Sherene Razack, who provided expert testimony during the Air India inquiry on whether racism played a role in the government's response to the bombing, said it was a "positive moment" to hear the federal government claim those who died in this week's crash as Canada's own. "Few in the media even did the usual hyphenation and simply said Canadians died in the crash," said Razack, now a professor at UCLA. "This was a remarkable difference from the response to Air India and I can only hope that it signals some progress on the racism front ... "Is it possible that the nation has begun to change? I can only hope so." Andrew Griffith, a former senior immigration official who now researches diversity and multiculturalism, said he regards Canada's current response as an "encouraging reminder" of how Canadians have evolved in terms of how they see, accept and embrace fellow citizens who are immigrants or members of visible minorities. "What really struck me, as these horrific stories came out, was the reference is 'Canadian.' It wasn't even Iranian-Canadian. It was simply these are Canadians, this is a Canadian issue and tragedy," he said. "I don't think any of that really happened in the early years following Air India." Griffith suggested one possible reason for the change is the fact that Canada is now far more diverse than it was at the time of Air India, when visible minorities represented a smaller, newer share of the population. "Now it is part of the Canadian reality," he said. "That's a sea-change, in my view." CBC After Air India, the Indo-Canadian community was bitterly resentful of the authorities they believed failed to take the investigation seriously. Canadians' reaction to the Ukrainian airline crash represents a "180-degree shift," Griffith said. "It means that Iranian-Canadians will feel more accepted, more welcome, more integrated, more part of society, whereas with Indo-Canadians it dragged on and on," he said. For the family members of Air India victims, the pain remains fresh. Eisha Marjara, who lost her mother and sister in the bombing, said she sees a difference in the response to the two disasters. "The response for the Air India tragedy was disappointing and heartbreaking," she said. "We were left in the dark for a long time. "So seeing the way the prime minister and the media [have] swiftly and transparently handled the crash and prioritized the well being of the families of the victims is very encouraging." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y - - In the borough with a higher cancer rate than the rest of the city, Staten Islanders are getting a new state-of-the-art cancer treatment center. On Thursday, hospital officials hosted a ground-breaking ceremony at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, for the new Florina Cancer Center. In a borough where cancer is the second-leading cause of death, the 40,000-square-foot cancer center is meant to streamline services such as cancer screening and treatment all under one roof. Theyll [Staten Islanders] have access to the latest and most innovative treatment and the most innovative clinical cancer trials," said Dr. Richard Barakat, physician-in-chief and director of cancer at Northwell Health. The new comprehensive cancer center at Staten Island University Hospital will allow us to care for all of the needs of our cancer patients. At the cancer center, patients will be able to undergo various treatments for cancer such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Many Staten Islanders currently head to Manhattan hospitals to undergo cancer screening and treatment. The new cancer center will allow Staten Islanders to cut commute times and the hassle. The center will serve both adults and children. Construction plans to add a third floor to the already existing two-story Radiation Oncology Center, while renovating the first two floors. The project will add 10 adult and three pediatric infusion chairs used in the chemotherapy process. Currently, the center sees 30,000 patient visits each year for both hematology and oncology issues and diagnoses approximately 1,400 new cancer patients annually. The hospital expects a 10% increase in patient visits in the new facilitys first year, according to a spokesman. The center is slated to open in 2021. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demands assurances for Tehran to open a full probe, bringing those responsible to justice. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he expects a full investigation, a full admission of guilt and compensation from Iran after the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane. His comments on Saturday came shortly after Tehran said it had mistakenly shot down the plane killing all 176 people on board on January 8, on the same day it struck military bases hosting US troops in retaliation for Washingtons assassination of top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani last week. Iran has pleaded guilty to crashing the Ukrainian plane. But we insist on a full admission of guilt, Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook. We expect from Iran assurances of their readiness for a full and open investigation, bringing those responsible to justice, the return of the bodies of the dead, the payment of compensation, official apologies through diplomatic channels, he said. Our 45 experts must get full access and cooperation to establish justice, he added. Iranian admission Iran said that its military unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner, blaming human error for the incident in which the military mistook Flight 752 for a hostile target. National broadcaster Press TV also quoted Irans armed forces as saying that the plane had flown close to a sensitive military site. The military said it was at its highest level of readiness amid the heightened tensions with the United States. It apologised and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies. In a statement posted on social media, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote that the country deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences, he said, adding that investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake. In a social media post, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said that human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to the disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims and to other affected nations. Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft, calling such suggestions psychological warfare. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran had shot down the aircraft. The jetliner, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Ukraine International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces in Iraq. Al Jazeeras Assed Baig, reporting from Tehran, said questions were now being raised as to why Iranian authorities kept the countrys airspace open during a military operation. Theres a lot of explaining to do by Iranian authorities. People want to know why and how it happened. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, when it was shot down. Many of the victims were Iranian with dual nationality. In a rare turn of events, actor Mark Wahlberg was not hitting his reps in the gym on Friday. Instead the 48-year-old fitness enthusiast was seen strolling the streets of Beverly Hills. The Ted 2 star looked his characteristically buff self in slim-fitting grey pants, a black leather belt and a black Louis Vuitton pullover. Doc appointment? Mark Wahlberg was seen out and about in Beverly Hills on Friday Flashy: The Ted 2 star looked his characteristically buff self in slim-fitting grey pants, a black belt and a black Louis Vuitton pullover He accessorized with a pair of shades, a sizable chain watch and his trusty diamond-studded cross necklace, a piece he rarely is seen without. Wahlberg was also rocking a bit of a bronzed glow, as he and his family are fresh off their annual holiday trip to Barbados. Not one to miss an opportunity to flex his action hero bod, the father of four covered up with just a pair of board shorts for one of his many days of fun in the sun. His wife Rhea, meanwhile, skipped around the Barbados resort in a jaw-dropping high-leg Fendi swimsuit. Buff stuff: Wahlberg looked to be rocking a bit of a bronzed glow, as he and his family are fresh off their annual holiday trip to Barbados Leggy blonde: Wahlberg's wife Rhea skipped around the Barbados resort in a jaw-dropping high-leg Fendi swimsuit The couple have been spending the holidays in Barbados every year since 2014. When he's not on the beach with his family or on a film set, the Oscar nominee can typically found sweating it out in the gym. Since the start of his career, bulking up has been Wahlberg's modus operandi as he typically stars in physically demanding roles that require extreme endurance. In fact, his commitment to fitness has been the subject of much fascination for years now. And last year, Wahlberg shared his intense workout routine with fans when asked how he stays in such amazing shape. Swole: When he's not on the beach with his family or on a film set, the Oscar nominee can typically found sweating it out in the gym Do you even lift? The biggest transformation came in 2013's Pain and Gain, when Wahlberg went from 165 to 221 pounds to play a Miami bodybuilder The Fighter actor said his days starts at 2:30 am. After a pre-workout breakfast at 3:15 am, which typically consists of eggs, avocado, steel oats and fruit, he hits the gym. He works out from 3:40 am until 5:15 am. The Oscar nominee rounds out his morning with a post-workout snack and a dip in the cryo chamber, all before 10 am. Stud: The 48-year-old's notorious workout plan was revealed as he was training for 2018's Mile 22, an action thriller in which he stars as a CIA operative leading a paramilitary team on a dangerous mission Wahlberg is currently filming the action thriller Infinite, about a man suffering from schizophrenia who is troubled by memories from past lives. The Boston native, who replaced Chris Evans as the lead role back in June, will star alongside Chiwetel Eijofor. Infinite is slated for release in August 2020. A. M Gedel, former NDC Technical Advisor on Biometric Technology in Electoral Process at the E. C. 11.01.2020 LISTEN A leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the Ayawaso East Constituency, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Gedel has described the newly proposed compilation of the voters register by the Electoral Commission (EC) as unwarranted, unattainable and that the timing defy logic and international best practices. Alhaji A. M. Gedel categorically expressed his opposition to the proposed creation of a new voters register for the 2020 general elections . According to him, he is not sure the EC has gone through all the necessary internationally acceptable procedures required for the creation of a new biometric voters register. The Senior Lecturer at the School of Applied Sciences of the Accra Technical University was speaking exclusively to this reporter at Nima, a suburb of Accra on Wednesday when he stated his position on the matter which is currently making waves on both the traditional and social media platforms respectively . Mr. Gedel who was once the NDC's technical adviser on biometric technology in electoral process at the EC is of the view that biometric voters register compilation is very cumbersome process and that he's not sure the EC can go through all the necessary requirements before embarking on a new voters register creation. He recalled that during his previous stint at the EC as his party's representative, it took them two years to complete the compilation of the voters register which involves cumbersome internationally acceptable processes. The speaker disclosed that there are three methods of compiling the register of which he mentioned among others low, medium and hightech methods. Biometric register uses hightech methods which also entails a lot of processes for it to be credible and acceptable by all. According to Mr. Ahmed Gedel there are five phases under the hightech method which is internationally acceptable. He therefore mentioned initiation requirement gathering, detail planning, implementation, roll out and post implementation as the five phases under the hightech method. He stressed that any voters register compilation which fails to adhere to these five phases is rendered unacceptable and non credible. To this end, he thinks the EC has not followed the laid down procedures and that the register would not be credible. He further explained that as part of the procedures under the first phase alone, a formal request must be made that indicates the type of register that needs to be compiled or updated. Election stakeholders such as political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the international community amongst others are identified and follow up with a meeting to discuss the formal request made where the objectives and constraints of the register are deliberated upon. The E. C will then establish a working group that includes political parties and external actors to validate and evaluate the operational concepts sustainability and decide on the fate of the proposed register to be compiled before a decision is taken. The Senior Lecturer doubted if the EC has followed all the laid down Internationally accepted procedures and further questioned who the external actors and political parties involved were as required by law to be part and parcel of the process. "If the EC has not followed these laid down procedures and still wants to go ahead with the compilation then it has violated the Internationally acceptable principles of biometric voters register compilation" Mr. Gedel pointed out. Ghana as a democratic nation, he said, needs to come out with an acceptable policy document by all stakeholders that allows for a new voters register to be compiled after every population census in the country. This, he is of the opinion will forestall any arguments, accusations and counter accusations especially among political parties and the Electoral Commission, since after the census there would be a data available to guide us to know how to plan for the future. He advised the youth to take education seriously so as to acquire the needed employable skills needed to succeed in the field of work and to help sustain them. New Delhi, Jan 11 : Twitterati on Saturday paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 54th death anniversary. #LalBahadurShastri trended with 16.4K tweets. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu tweeted on @VPSecretariat: "Shastri ji played a pioneering role in dairy & farming revolution in India. He strove relentlessly to uplift the poor and marginalised sections of society. The nation will be ever indebted to Shastri ji for his contribution to nation-building. #LalBahadurShastri." Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh tweeted: "Remembering #LalBahadurShastri ji on his death anniversary. A legendary leader whose simplicity & vision will resonate for generations to come. The entire nation is indebted to him for leading our Armed Forces to victory in 1965. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan!" BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda wrote: "Tributes to freedom fighter, our former Prime Minister, 'Bharat Ratna' late Shri #LalBahadurShastri ji on his 'punya tithi'. His simplicity, honesty & the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' continue to inspire us." Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot wrote: "Paid my humble tributes to our second Prime Minister #LalBahadurShastri ji on his death anniversary at #Rajasthan PCC. His simplicity, honesty and firm determination would always be an inspiration. His slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' remains forever relevant." One post read: "Please correct the injustice done to the former Prime Minister who was selfless, hardworking, clean and a great patriot. Name some prominent schemes and places after #LalBahadurShastri." Tashkent, Jan 11 (UNI) Uzbekistans Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov will make an official visit to India from January 14-15, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. 'Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov will make a working visit to the Republic of India from January 14-15, 2020,' the ministry wrote in its Telegram channel. The Minister is going to meet Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Uzbek delegation will also take part in the fifth international conference called Raisina Dialogue. On the sidelines of the conference, the Uzbek officials will have an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with members of the foreign delegations, the Ministry added. UNI XC JTS 0931 He could not stand still. The 20-year-old was a 70kg ball of energy. He played like that as soon as he stepped onto the court. De Minaur broke Nadal in the first game of the match. Blink and you'll miss it. De Minaur ran out of legs in the decisive third set. Credit:Getty Images He wasn't going to give that break back. The world No. 1 had no answers. He made an uncharacteristic 11 unforced errors but was generally overpowered by de Minaur. His winner count more than doubled Nadal in the first set - 14 to 6. You don't see that very often. Loading De Minaur was taking Nadal's trademark topspin groundstrokes early, and regularly mashing them down the line, with both remarkable power and consistency. He was also returning Nadal's first serve at 76 per cent, often creeping in to ensure he was immediately on the offensive. De Minaur was in the zone. The enormity of what he was doing had not yet dawned on him as he claimed the first set, 6-4. To everyone else in Ken Rosewall Arena, it was extraordinary to watch de Minaur take it to a player 13 years his senior. A player who has earned more than $116 million more in prizemoney. A player who has 84 career titles. A player who has 19 Grand Slam titles. A player who will be remembered as one of the best three to ever pick up a racquet. To de Minaur, Nadal was just another opponent. De Minaur was brilliant against Nadal. Credit:Getty Images In the second set, de Minaur kept crunching the ball. He stayed on the front foot. There were no nerves. If anything, it was the Spanish camp that looked concerned as de Minaur took the match to the best player in the world. They had good reason to be concerned. But Nadal took the one break point opportunity he had in the entire match - in de Minaur's final service game - as the top Australian seed tried to send the second set to a tiebreak. The fatal blow soon followed. De Minaur was broken to love in his first game of the third set. He lost the point of the match trying to stave off another break point up 3-0. Nadal raised his fist towards the Team Spain corner. Just 13 minutes later, he'd emerged victorious. Nadal eventually emerged on top. Credit:Getty Images Spain will face Serbia in Sunday night's inaugural ATP Cup final. Before the three set defeat, de Minaur had four wins from 17 matches against top 10 opponents. One of them was earlier in the ATP Cup, against Alexander Zverev. The proposed opening of three Turkish schools in Germany has rekindled a long-standing row over the perceived influence of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government on the country's three-million strong Turkish community. Coming after years of debate over Turkish influence in German mosques, the proposal has met fierce criticism from conservative politicians. "We don't want Erdogan schools in Germany," declared Markus Blume, general secretary of the Bavarian CSU, the sister party of Angela Merkel's ruling conservatives, in an interview with media group RND on Saturday. The German government is currently in negotiations with its Turkish counterparts to open three private Turkish schools in Frankfurt, Cologne and Berlin. While critics such as Blume fear that the schools will extend Erdogan's influence over the Turkish diaspora, Ankara sees the proposal as a simple reciprocal move. "There are German schools in Turkey and Turkey is asking to be treated similarly in Germany," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told broadcasters RTL and NTV. Proponents of the plan also claim that Turkish has long been neglected in the German education system, despite strong demand in the local community. "For decades, German education authorities have failed to offer Turkish as an optional subject alongside other foreign languages," the chairman of the Turkish Community in Germany (TGD) Gokay Sofuoglu told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. Nonetheless, the plans come at a time of diplomatic tensions between Ankara and Berlin, most notably over the arrest of numerous German citizens in Turkey in recent years. Though Angela Merkel's government is reliant on Turkey to prevent the flow of asylum seekers into Europe from the Middle East, it has also criticised Erdogan for what it sees as his increasingly authoritarian approach. On Saturday, CSU boss Blume pointed to the forced closure of a German school in Izmir in 2018, which many in the German media perceived as an act of intimidation. "If you close German schools in Turkey, you should not be allowed to open Turkish schools in Germany," Blume told RND. Other critics argue that the schools could be used to propagate Erdogan's political agenda, with Left Party politician Sevim Dagdelen warning of possible "indoctrination". Leading government figures have insisted that the Turkish schools would have to operate according to German regulations. "It has to be clear that anything taught at schools in Germany needs to be in line with our core values and laws," Germany's Integration Commissioner Annette Widmann-Mauz told the Funke media group. Foreign ministry spokesman Rainer Breuel, meanwhile, said Friday that the schools would not have any special privileges. The request for the schools comes just days after Germany's largest islamic association Ditib announced that it would begin training imams in Germany for the first time. The announcement Thursday came after years of criticism of the Turkish association, which runs 850 mosques and claims to represent 800,000 muslims in Germany. Critics claim that Ditib, which has until now only employed imams sent from and trained in Turkey, has acted as an extended arm of the Turkish government in Germany. In 2016, the association was accused of spying on members of the Turkish diaspora in Germany following a failed coup against Erdogan's government. Under pressure from Berlin to change its training policies, Ditib announced this week that it would open a training centre in the western town of Dahlem in der Eifel. "In future, a large proportion of religious leaders will be more strongly in tune with the reality of life in Germany," said Markus Kerber, secretary of state for the interior ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition leader in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia on Saturday asked Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to quit the BJP along with his MLAs and form an alternate government in the state with support from the Congress. Saikia, the senior Congress leader, said the new government will be "anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act" and "anti-BJP". A day after the Union home ministry issued a gazette notification that the CAA will come into force from January 10, Saikia said if Sonowal along with his MLAs quits the BJP, his party will support them to ensure that a new government is formed with Sonowal as the chief minister. "In view of the current situation in Assam, Sonowal should leave the BJP and come out with just 30 of his MLAs as Independents. We will support him to form a new anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act and anti-BJP government in Assam. He will be made the Chief Minister again," Saikia told reporters. "BJP and its alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad have failed to keep their poll promises. Many of the ministers and MLAs who had joined BJP from All Assam Students Union had promised to implement the Assam Accord." "Let them revolt against the central BJP for their unwillingness to implement the Accord and come out of the BJP and we will support them to form an alternative government," Saikia suggested. Asked if Sonowal will continue to be the chief minister in the alternative government, the Congress leader said: "We have no opposition to it." "Sonowal is facing the wrath of the people for supporting the CAA. The MLAs and ministers who love Assam must quit the BJP and stand with the people of Assam. That is why I am making this proposal," Saikia said. After the Rajya Sabha passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on December 11 last year, massive protests erupted in Assam and have continued across the state with people demanding that the Act be repealed. The people of Assam have termed the CAA as anti-secular and a threat to their existence, language and culture as it will grant citizenship to refugees from neighbouring Bangladesh who have settled in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two wildfires have merged to form a massive inferno in south-eastern Australia, as experts warned some species are likely already to be extinct. The megafire engulfing nearly 1.5 million acres in New South Wales and Victoria was created when lightning strikes and flames fanned by strong winds sparked new blazes. It is just one of 135 bush fires that have killed at least 28 people and an estimated one billion animals, and damaged or destroyed nearly 3,000 homes since September. Firefighters tackled the inferno as a leaked report on the emergency to the government of Victoria this week warned that some species are likely to already be extinct. And a British scientist predicted the tally of animals killed could be in the trillions far larger even than the half or one billion estimated. 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 Prof Ben Garrod, an evolutionary biologist at the University of East Anglia, said: With habitat loss, reduced food availability and possible increased predation, the full effects of these fires will not be felt for months or years to come, but will certainly cause the extinction for some of Australias most iconic, fragile and beautiful inhabitants. He said there is debate about whether half a billion or a billion animals have been affected, but by the time we include invertebrates as well as mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds, the total will conceivably be in the trillions. Australia was home to about 80 per cent of mammals found nowhere else on Earth, and the full effect of the fires may not be felt for months or years to come, he said. If we are seeing this level of death, destruction and loss now, what will our planet look like when global temperatures rise by another two or three degrees Celsius? We need to act as an international community and if not now, when? At the same time, Australias most prestigious scientific organisation has called on Scott Morrison, the countrys prime minister, to do more to tackle the human-induced climate crisis. The Australian Academy of Science said the government should put in place long-term plans for a more dangerous future. As a nation, we must deal with extreme weather events more effectively than we currently do. As such events become more frequent and severe, we must adapt Australia and Australians accordingly, as well as strengthen mitigation efforts, the academys president John Shine said in a statement. A woodchip mill burnt by fires in New South Wales (AFP/Getty) The academy is resolute that the response to the bushfires must extend beyond the immediate and essential need to rebuild and recover, he said. All the while, Australia must take stronger action as its part of the worldwide commitment to limit global warming to 1.5C above the long-term average to reduce the worst impacts of climate change. But Mr Morrison has continued to dismiss criticism of the governments climate policies, saying it was taking a balanced approach. We continue to consider our policies carefully here and we understand that we dont want job-destroying, economy-destroying, economy-wrecking targets and goals, which wont change the fact that there have been bush fires or anything like that in Australia, he told Sydney radio station 2GB. A storm cloud forming over fire-affected areas near the NSW and Victoria border (EPA) A leaked report on the emergency delivered to the government of Victoria this week warned that some species are likely to already be extinct. About a quarter of the sooty owl population has been killed, and almost all eastern ground parrots Victorian habitat destroyed, the document states, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. More than 40 per cent of the Victorian habitats of the sooty owl, diamond python, and brush-tailed rock-wallaby have also been wiped out, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning concluded. Lastreopsis decomposita, known as the trim shield fern, may now be extinct in the state, it said. Koalas and flying foxes are also said to have died en masse, but Australian authorities are hoping less intense conditions this week will help limit the destruction. Mike Lee, of Flinders University in Adelaide, said Australia was one of only 17 megadiverse countries, and numbers of small, less mobile invertebrates, which make up most animal biodiversity, would be worst hit. Meanwhile, scientists fear that when rain does fall, it may taint drinking supplies in cities and kill even more wildlife by washing charred debris into rivers. More than 26 million acres, an area bigger than the island of Ireland, have now burned, leaving ash, soot, and blackened gum tree leaves, which will contaminate water supplies. Ricky Spencer, a conservationist at the University of Western Sydney in New South Wales told National Geographic: Given the severity of the fires, pretty much everything [in burned landscapes] is gone, so one of the big issues is that when we do get some rain, a lot of that ash and crap, nothing is going to stop it running in our catchments. Rivers that are home to treasured wildlife, such as the platypus, will also be affected, and algal blooms exacerbated by the fires could dirty water supplies of cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. Stuart Khan, an engineer at the University of New South Wales said treatment processes might be slowed down significantly. It comes as officials confirm a firefighter died while on duty in Victoria on Saturday, raising the death toll from the bushfires that have devastated parts of the country to 28. In a statement Forest Fire Management Victoria Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman said: "It is with great sadness that we confirm that a ... firefighter from Parks Victoria has been involved in an incident while working on a fire in the Omeo area resulting in a fatality," During a Friday interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, President Trump explicitly stated that, as part of the decision to strike Qassem Soleimani, intelligence had revealed that Soleimani was plotting future attacks, not just on the embassy in Baghdad, but on three other American embassies: INGRAHAM: Don't the American people have a right to know what specifically was targeted without revealing methods and sources? TRUMP: Well, I don't think so, but we will tell you that probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad. INGRAHAM: Did he have large scale attacks planned for other embassies? And if those were planned, why can't we reveal that to the American people? Wouldn't that help your case? TRUMP: I can reveal that I believe it would've been four embassies. It's doubtful that the president's statement, hedged as it is with cautionary language, will convince those who think Trump lacked the urgent necessity that would justify a presidential order to strike Soleimani. Presidential watchers have noted that his story went from unspecified imminent strikes to a possible second strike on the embassy in Baghdad to the claim that Soleimani had up to four embassies on his terrorism wish list. The changing narrative will only add fuel to the speculation about whether the president was justified in executing Soleimani when he had the chance. Interestingly, no one asked this question when President Obama ordered Osama bin Laden's death, even though bin Laden had been out of the fray for years, or when President Trump ordered Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's death. The truth is that what's got the president's critics in a dither is the fact that Soleimani wore two hats: one hat was as a member of a foreign nation's government; the other hat was as a worldwide terrorist and terrorism-fomenter. The real question, then, is whether, given Soleimani's terrorism record, the fact that he had the Iranian government's imprimatur was enough to protect him from harsh and sudden justice for his many wrongs. That question, ultimately, is political, not constitutional, and is one that the voters will answer in November. New Delhi [India], Jan 11(ANI): Ahead of the Opposition party meeting in Delhi next week, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet here on Saturday afternoon to discuss the current political situation in the country. The meeting is scheduled for 3.30 pm at party headquarters. The Congress has called the meeting of Opposition parties on January 13 in Parliament Annexe to discuss the emerging situation and incident of violence against students. The Opposition parties are meeting for joint strategy on the issue of Anti-CAA protests and alleged police brutality against the students. The CWC will likely discuss the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and protests against it. The party has already supported the protest and showed solidarity with the demonstrations which are being spearheaded by student bodies. Sources say that Congress will come up with a detailed plan on this issue and a statement regarding ongoing unrest in the country and high handedness of the Government. The Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has already condemned the violence and had sent a fact-finding team to the JNU. Sonia Gandhi in her statement had demanded a judicial enquiry into the JNU violence which took place on Sunday. She had said that the entire party stands in solidarity with the students. (ANI) In route news this week, United will add a pair of destinations from SFO this summer (famous for beer and BBQ), and the airline gets stingier with delay compensation; Alaska cuts back on another San Jose route and ends three routes out of San Diego; JSX enters a new market in the Pacific Northwest; Philippine Airlines expands service to the U.S.; JetBlue pulls out of Mexico City; Spirit adds a pair of South American routes; United eyes a big gate expansion at Denver International; and construction starts on a major terminal project at JFK. United Airlines is planning to launch new service this summer on two routes out of San Francisco International. On June 4, the carrier will introduce daily CRJ-200 flights from SFO to Santa Maria, California (SMX), a Central Coast destination between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara known for its regional wineries and its Santa Maria style BBQ. Its airport, which currently has service from Allegiant Air only, will be Uniteds 20th destination in California. United is also adding daily CRJ-200 flights to Santa Maria from Los Angeles and Denver. The Santa Maria Times reports that United is getting financial incentives and a revenue guarantee for the flights-- which means that if they don't perform, they could fly away when the incentives dry up. Meanwhile, the carrier has scheduled new seasonal daily A319 service this summer from SFO to Milwaukee, continuing through September 7. (Flight times are less than ideal; the SMX flight departs SFO at 10:30 p.m. and the return leaves SMX at 6:30 a.m.; the Milwaukee flight departs SFO at 10:51 p.m., arriving in MKE at 5:08 a.m.) Meanwhile, United Airlines passengers hit with lengthy flight delays might have a harder time getting any compensation out of the airline. The travel industry news site Skift.com said this week that it got its hands on an internal United memo sent to employees, advising them the airline will no longer automatically offer vouchers as compensation to passengers whose flights are delayed less than six hours. The new policy applies to delays that are Uniteds fault, for reasons like crew shortages or mechanical issues. (Weather-related delays are typically uncompensated on most airlines.) Now, for delays between four and six hours, employees will decide what compensation to offer and theyll only give it after customers ask for it, Skift reported, citing the memo. United agents can share compensation through a mobile app on their airline-owned iPhones. Previously, Skift said, United would often give vouchers to an entire planeload of people for delays as short as four hours. Last week, we mentioned that Alaska Airlines was ending a few San Jose routes, including service to Tucson, New York JFK and Orange County. This week, we learned that the airline just cut its SJC-Reno/Tahoe service in half as well. A reader alerted us that Alaska just ended its morning westbound and evening eastbound service on the RNO-SJC route, making same-day roundtrips from Reno impossible. Huge negative impact to Reno/Tahoe folks commuting to the Bay, the reader noted. Alaska still operates morning eastbound and evening westbound service on the route. Were reallocating flying to improve frequency in our larger markets, an Alaska spokesperson tells us. Southwest Airlines still offers three daily roundtrips in the SJC-RNO market. In some changes previously announced, Alaska this week also ended its service from Reno to Boise, the only non-stop flights in that market. And at San Diego, the airline just halted its non-stop service to El Paso, Kansas City and Minneapolis-St. Paul. JSX, the regional airline formerly known as JetSuite X, said it plans to expand in the Pacific Northwest by launching new service between Seattle and Portland effective April 2. The carrier said it will operate up to five daily roundtrips in the market, which will be its first Portland service. Instead of using Seattle-Tacoma International, JSX operates its Seattle flights from close-in Boeing Field. Last summer, it launched its first Boeing Field route with flights to Oakland. JSX uses 30-passenger E135s and E145s, offering 36 inches of pitch, free snacks and beverages, and at least two free checked bags. Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up now for our FREE bi-weekly travel alerts via email! Speaking of Sea-Tac, it looks like that airport will be getting even more new transpacific service in the spring. Philippine Airlines has filed plans to inaugurate a new route between Seattle and Manila starting May 3, a flight of 12 to 13-1/2 hours. The airline will use a 295-passenger Airbus A350-900 with business, premium economy and regular economy seating to fly the route three days a week. Philippine also said it will revive non-stop service from Los Angeles to Cebu on May 2, operating three 777-300ER flights a week. The carrier, which last served the LAX-Cebu route in 2017, already offers up to three flights a day from LAX to Manila. It also flies to New York, San Francisco and Honolulu. JetBlue this week gave up the ghost on Mexico City, discontinuing all four of its routes there from the U.S. That included daily A320 flights from New York JFK, Boston, Ft, Lauderdale and Orlando. Several weeks ago, JetBlue told the Transportation Department it wouldnt mind seeing two of its MEX slots go to United, which reportedly wants to add a third daily roundtrip from San Francisco. JSX Spirit Airlines said this week it will push two more pins into its network map this spring, adding service from Ft. Lauderdale to Barranquilla and Bucaramanga in Colombia. The carrier will operate three flights a week on each route starting April 22. Spirit has been flying to Colombia since 2008; it currently has service from FLL to Cartagena, Bogota, Medellin, Armenia and Cali, and from Orlando to Cartagena, Bogota and Medellin. Read more about Spirit here from our interview with its CEO As Denver International Airport continues work on its big expansion plan that will add 39 more passenger gates over the next two years, the battle is on to see which airlines will use them. Southwest has already said it wants access to all 16 new gates being tacked onto its C Concourse at DEN, and now United has jumped in with a request for 24 new gates. If both airlines got what they wanted a total of 40 gates -- the airport would be one new gate short, and that would leave no extra space for other carriers at DEN, like fast-growing Frontier, which has a large number of new aircraft on order. United already has 66 gates at DEN and controls 44 percent of the airports traffic. Meanwhile, airport officials said the three expanded concourses will each be getting a new amenity as part of the project: outdoor patios that will feature passenger seating, fire pits and pet relief areas. At New York JFK this week, construction got started on a $344 million, two-year project to combine the operations of joint venture partners American Airlines and British Airways in a rebuilt and expanded Terminal 8. The project was announced last winter by the two carriers, which together operate up to 14 daily departures to London at JFK. BA is expected to start moving from its current Terminal 7 digs into the new Terminal 8 in 2022. The enhanced T8 will get another 70,000 square feet of space and five new gates big enough to handle wide-body aircraft, along with new passenger lounges, an enhanced baggage system, premium check-in space, and upgraded food-and-beverage concessions and retail stores. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's shocking step down from their royal duties, now known as 'Megxit', has sparked furious debate among royal commentators in the British press. The Duke and Duchess spent an extended Christmas break in Canada with their baby son Archie, before returning to break the news - and now, the Queen and other senior royals have ordered their teams to find a 'workable solution' to the young royal couple's future roles. Here, Jeremy Clarkson wonders whether either of them thought Megxit through, while Judith Woods laments that it's time to 'face the fact' that 'Meghan has broken up with Britain' in the Telegraph. Carole Malone accuses the couple of being 'selfish and disrespectful' in the Daily Express while Giles Coren says, 'Who wouldn't want to withdraw from public life now?' in the Times... The announcement that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to spend more time together in North America and quit their frontline royal duties has sent shockwaves around the world Judith Woods: 'Blame is pointless. Meghan was just not that into Britain' JUDITH WOODS, The Daily Telegraph: 'Blame is pointless. Meghan was just not that into Britain' 'We've pleaded. We've scolded. We've cajoled. But the time has come to face the facts. Meghan has broken up with Britain. Short of stealing her vertiginous Manolo Blahniks and locking her up in the Tower, there's nothing more we can do to make the Duchess of Sussex stay. 'Free-spirited Meghan was probably expecting Downton Abbey, bless her. What she got was grief; for being unnecessarily slim, for not being Kate, for wearing the wrong nail polish, for being American, for being too sincere, for not being sincere. 'It's pointless to apportion blame; she's just not that into us, much as both sides tried to make it work. We may feel bewildered and saddened but surely the only honourable response is to wish her well? 'It is far, far better that Meghan falls out of love with Britain than out of love with Harry,' writes Judith Woods in the Daily Telegraph. Giles Coren: 'Sorry Mum, I'm stepping down as a senior Coren' GILES COREN, The Times: 'Sorry Mum, I'm stepping down as a senior Coren' 'After many months of reflection and internal discussions - shut up dear, I'm typing - we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role for ourselves. 'Indeed, who wouldn't want to withdraw from public life now, given the chance? Would wouldn't want to drop out of pretty much everything? And who could possible argue that Harry and Meghan have not caught the mood of the 2020s way ahead of everyone else? 'Haven't we all had enough of the last few years? Not just of our boring jobs and empty lives, the pressures of status and money and debt and health and family and all the things that have always made the Reginald Perrin option (clothes on the beach, fake drowning, new life elsewhere) seem so appealing, but of the increasingly public that so many of us lead now, thanks to social media, camera surveillance, reality television.... 'That's what 2020 is going to be, I'm sure of it, the year when everyone just says f*** it, enough is enough, and drops the hell out. 'But please, do tell your grandma first,' Giles Coren writes in the Times. Janice Turner: 'Harry and Meghan will outgrow the Queen' JANICE TURNER, The Times: 'Harry and Meghan will outgrow the Queen' 'All those pinky-ringed courtiers and princely biographers saying Harry will regret it, he'll struggle outside the family, that you can't be a half-way royal, haven't a clue. They're drunk on deference or just plain old. 'Because, like it or not, Harry and Meghan will be bigger than the Queen. Anyone who doubts that misunderstands how modern celebrity and royalty are so well-suited. 'Many have scoffed that Meghan ''just wants to be Diana''. But she already is. 'The British Public tolerates minor royals only because they amuse us, and what is more entertaining: a plaque unveiling on a wet Wednesday in Wolves or Megxit?' writes Janice Turner in the Times. Fiona Phillips: 'Harry has every right to be angry' FIONA PHILLIPS, The Mirror: 'Harry has every right to be angry and protective of his own little family' 'Prince Harry was robbed of his mother by a whipped-up, pernicious national obsession with Diana's real-life princess charm and beauty. He, of all Diana's mourners, was the most angry. 'He has every right to be angry and protective of his own little family. And if he feels working outside the Royal Family is a means to that end, so be it. 'And we should have the courtesy to leave them be,' Fiona Phillips writes in the Mirror. Jeremy Clarkson: 'Do they know the next in line is... Prince Andrew?' JEREMY CLARKSON, The Sun: 'Resign from the Royal Family? Do they know the next in line isPrince Andrew?' 'Resigning from the Royal Family? Thats like, you know, BIG. And not just because the next in line to the throne if Harry's family has gone is... Prince Andrew. 'Every fibre of his being will have been quivering with nerves, but you get the impression that hes not actually capable of saying no to Meghan. 'Some imply she bullies him, and I dont think thats fair. He is, however, definitely obsessed with her. 'Obviously, Meghan can go back to acting. But what about Harry? Whats he going to do? Work behind the meat counter at Costco? Ive met him a couple of times and hes very down to earth. So he probably thinks he could do jobs like that but, take it from me mate, youd last a week. 'In a month youd be like your father-in-law, a fat, jobless weirdo turning tricks for paps. And a month after that, your glamorous, gorgeous wife would be on the back of a playboys boat, conjuring up the sympathy vote. 'The tale of Harry and Meghan is an epic love story and I wish them both well, but I genuinely fear that it will not have a happy ending,' Jeremy Clarkson writes in the Sun. Christopher Wilson: 'What will happen if the wheels fall off Prince Harry and Meghan's love wagon?' CHRISTOPHER WILSON, Royal Biographer in The Sun: 'What will happen if the wheels fall off Prince Harry and Meghans love wagon?' 'We wish them the best of luck and if a happier life is what theyre searching for, then why not? 'But what happens if the wheels fall off the Harry and Meghan love wagon? What happens to Harry if things go wrong? Does he have a Plan B? 'The Duke and Duchess have a rosy vision of the future. It will be a life away from prying eyes where they make their own money and live life as they want, freed from duty. 'But, critics say, Meghan may soon tire of her husband along with the corner shes painted herself into by giving up her film star life to become a royal. 'Then theres the question of baby Archie. Will he in the future be allowed to claim kinship with the Royal Family, living back in the country where he was born? 'Or will he become just another celebrity kid in a Tinseltown mansion without a sense of purpose or direction?', Christopher Wilson writes in the Sun. Carole Malone: 'I hate to say I told you so' CAROLE MALONE, The Daily Express: 'I hate to say I told you so' 'Its the greed and the deceit that make this all so low-rent and ugly. How can two people whove been given so much still be as selfish and disrespectful as Meghan and Harry? Because while this joke woke couple have tried to kid us theyre all about charity and saving the planet, what theyre actually about is money. 'Most sickening of all was the totally groundless narrative that the British tabloid press was racist and that both she and Harry were being hounded just like Diana was. Im glad theyre going. 'Harrys no longer the man we all loved and Meghans been sticking two fingers up at the monarchy and everything it stands for from the off. And while Id love Her Maj to strip them of their titles, withdraw security, take back Frogmore Cottage and stop all their allowances, I know she wont. 'Not after Diana,' writes Carole Malone in the Daily Express. Mark Steel: 'No wonder Meghan and Harry are stepping back - she's probably running for Labour leader' MARK STEEL, The Independent: 'No wonder Meghan and Harry are stepping back shes probably running for Labour leader' 'What this story needs to make it perfect, is for Meghan Markle to announce shes standing as candidate to lead the Labour Party, and that she already has the backing of the General Municipal Boilermakers Union. 'Because there seems to be such confusion, especially from Buckingham Palace, as to why she and Harry are withdrawing from the royal family. 'And it is a puzzle, why anyone would want to break their association with an uncle who was best friends with a convicted paedophile, and a father who employs someone to run his bath, and a granddad who probably said to Meghan at Christmas dinner, I expect your sort arent used to turkey as youd rather boil a missionary. 'What they havent explained is how theyre going to manage this. Maybe its not an accident this has happened in January, during the transfer window. Perhaps theyre having a medical and if all goes well theyll be transferred to the Moroccan royal family, ready to start by the weekend,' Mark Steel writes in the Independent. Amna Saleem: 'Harry and Meghan were meant to embody post-racial Britain. So much for that' AMNA SALEEM, The Guardian: 'Harry and Meghan were meant to embody post-racial Britain. So much for that' 'Its the stuff romcoms are made of: beautiful young woman meets charming prince and, after a series of mild miscommunications, they live happily ever after. Well, thats how its supposed to go at least. 'Meghan Markle, the much put upon protagonist of this Nora Ephron-meets-Get Out fairytale, has gone off-script and attempted to create a different happy ending, and with good reason. 'Everything that could have predicted the pairs joint decision to step back as senior royals can be directly traced back through all the sensationalist and derogatory headlines written about Markle. She couldn't even enjoy avocados without being framed as a drought- and murder-fuelling traitor, set on bringing down the monarchy. 'It seems that much of Britain desperately wants to be absolved its racist history without doing any work to combat racism treating marginalisation and discrimination like imagined annoyances not worth confronting. 'But looking at the fate of a royal couple that was supposed to symbolise progression and a supposedly post-racial British society, it seems clear that there is still much work to be done,' writes Amna Saleem in the Guardian. Anne McElvoy: 'The Meghan I met was impressive and determined - but this path will be hard' ANNE MCELVOY, The Evening Standard: 'The Meghan I met was impressive and determined but this path will be hard' 'It was billed as the grand reboot of the 21st-century monarchy a match that would add transatlantic pizzazz to the staid tribe of Windsor. 'Less than two years on, there has turned out to be short-stay parking at the palace, and yesterday marked an abrupt rush for the exit. 'Someone has to pick up the pieces when the royal china is smashed. So, lets wish Meghan and Harry contentment. 'But departing with good grace and due regard for what they leave behind will bring them a far more prudent legacy than succumbing to the temptation of a slammed door,' Anne McElvoy writes in the Evening Standard. Photo: (Photo : Unsplash) If you're new to Instagram, you're somewhat late to the bandwagon. But don't worry, we can forgive tardiness and help you better understand what you're getting into. Instagram is one of the world's most widely-used apps, with billions of current active users, millions of posts, likes, and comments each month, and a serious talent for marketing. "Whether you joined Instagram as a casual user, a growing business, or with ambitions of becoming a wealthy influencer, this is the place to start," says the ViralRace team. Keep reading to learn how the platform works, what you'll need to do to grow your presence, and why Instagram is the perfect tool for growing your personal brand. A Little Backstory Instagram was launched in October of 2010, nearly a decade ago at the time of this writing (time flies, doesn't it?) At its launch, Instagram performed well; attracting thousands of new users and even winning a few years the following year, including Apple's Best App of the Year award. The platform's simplicity and authenticity made it a favorite among users, and in 2012, a giant stepped in to take over the business. Facebook had its eye on Instagram for a while before making the purchase, and in 2012, the company bought Instagram for a whopping one billion US dollars. That same year, Instagram hit eighty million users, which was a huge leap in just two years' time. The app was translated to over 20 languages, making it accessible to people from all over the world. Instagram has since attracted millions of users, businesses, and created an entirely new job niche: the influencer. Influencers use their influence in the form of thousands of followers to advertise products they love, giving businesses a new and improved platform to reach their customers from. Instagram has continued to grow over the years, and is still one of the most popular platforms in use today; hence why you're here! Where Do I Start? Instagram was designed to be easy to use, and starting out is simple. You'll need to make an account, of course, and from there, you can begin posting content immediately. You can connect Instagram to your Facebook account and many other apps like Tinder and Twitter. Once you've made your account, you'll need to decide why you're using the platform. What do you hope to achieve? Are you just casually browsing content looking for the next best meme, or are you seriously considering building a business out of your content? Maybe you want to become an influencer and help convince your followers to endorse certain products, thereby making a living acting as a living billboard. Whatever your why is, narrow it down before you start diving into the Instagram pool. The next thing you'll need to do is decide what kind of content you'll be posting (if any). Is it informational content, entertaining content, or somewhere in the middle? What hashtags will best describe your content when you make a post? Who is your audience? What benefits can you offer to them if they follow your page? If you're making a business account, ask yourself how you want to market your products, who should buy them, and why. Growing Your Following This subject in itself could warrant a 10-page article, as there are literally dozens of ways to grow your following and attract new people to your page. From buying followers outright to increasing your social media presence, these methods are tried and true and have worked for thousands of accounts all over the globe. Buy Followers: This method has been polished over the years, and now Instagram has limited these kinds of service in its Terms of Use Agreement. This is because too many fake accounts were being used to boost followers, and let's be honest; fake accounts only take away from the value of the platform as a whole anyway. Today's Instagram services offer real followers from active accounts and offer a "buy Instagram followers free trial", so you can try it out beforehand. They'll send a few real followers your way and you'll be hooked in no time! Diversify: Spreading the word about your content to other social media platforms and websites is one of the most important steps in growing your page. You can't be stuck on one platform these days, because you're missing out on potential customers that only use one or two platforms that aren't Instagram. Remember that as popular as Instagram is, it's not the only kid on the block! Create Compelling Content: Even with the most diversified social media presence, buying Instagram followers, and using the right hashtags, your page will only be as good as the content you're posting. Compelling content will always outperform generic content. Remember quality over quantity, and you'll have greater success all around. Use the Right Hashtags: Hashtags are crucial to a successful Instagram page. They're how users find the content they're looking for, and how you can ensure yours is at the top of the search results. Use creative but relevant hashtags for increased views and likes on your posts. The Perfect Tool Instagram's success is due largely to its simplicity and ease of use. It's easy to scroll and find the content you enjoy, and customers really appreciate the high-quality content that businesses are posting on a daily basis. Not to mention, you can narrow down your customer base by demographic and post content that's more specific to your audience; making for better results overall. Even if you're just looking to gain followers casually, you cant' get more simple than Instagram. The competition is fierce, however, so you're going to want to create content that your followers will truly resonate with and enjoy if you want to get anywhere. Set yourself apart from the rabble, and you'll find much greater success comes your way. The modern customer is looking for a brand that's personal, genuine, and honest. The days of side-swiping customers and followers with false promises or sub-par products and services are over. You must set yourself apart with excellent products, content, and people skills. (@FahadShabbir) Two people were killed and four others injured during a clash between two tribes in a protest against the induction of Public Health department Gijal Kohistan, said police here on Saturday KOHISTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jan, 2020 ) :Two people were killed and four others injured during a clash between two tribes in a protest against the induction of Public Health department Gijal Kohistan, said police here on Saturday. According to the details, during the protest against the induction in Public Health department, clash between the two tribes Kadir Khail and Shatokhail turned bloody when both groups opened fire on each other. Persons including Muhammad Saleem son of Abdul Jaleel and Abdul Rauf son of Abdul Azid were killed while four others were injured. The injured were shifted to Basham hospital out of which two were referred to Ayub Medical Complex Abbottabad due to their critical condition. The injured persons were identified as former president PTI Kohistan district Jumma Khan, Baseem Mian son of Dolat Khan, Gul Rehman son of Taj Muhammad and Ghafoor Khan son of Abdul Aziz. After the incident, both groups again came out at Dobeer near China bridge Jeejal against each other who later dispersed on arrival of heavy contingent of police to the area. Police sources told that the reason of clash was old enmity and the both dead persons belonged to Shattokhail tribe. Lower Kohistan police also arrested few people of both tribes, locked them up and deployed force at Jeejal to avoid any untoward situation. Delhi: India's top court ruled has ruled that the "limitless" internet shutdown enforced by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kashmir for the last five months was illegal. Repeated restrictions on assembly were an "abuse of power", the court found, and said Modi's administration must publish its orders to enable citizens to challenge them in court and restore government websites, hospital and banking services. "An order suspending internet services indefinitely is impermissible," the judgment reads. Indian army soldiers stand guard as a convoy of foreign diplomats visits Kashmir this week. Credit:AP In a ruling that was critical of the government but stopped short of overturning the communication and transport restrictions that have been in place since August 5 when Modi scrapped nearly seven decades of autonomous status of Kashmir, the Supreme Court ordered the government to review them within seven days. There was no mention of the political leaders - including three former chief ministers - who've been detained since the shutdown began. I am curious about an exhibition a friend and I saw at a gallery in the District many years ago. I have such a vague recollection I wonder if I dreamed it. It featured a replica of the famed Amber Room. Where did we see this marvel and under whose auspices was it on display? Id love to know where it is housed now. It was much too elaborate to stash somewhere unless one is trying to hide it from the advancing Allied forces. New Delhi, Jan 11 : India all-rounder Hardik Pandya had to be removed from the India 'A team that is headed to New Zealand after he failed the fitness test in Mumbai on Saturday. All-rounder Vijay Shankar has been picked as replacement and is headed to New Zealand where the team will play two 50-over warm-up games, three List A games and two four-day unofficial Tests. Speaking to IANS, a source in the know of developments confirmed the same. "Yes, unfortunately, Pandya has failed the fitness test and has been withdrawn from the team. Vijay Shankar is on the flight to New Zealand in his place," the source said. The India 'A' team doesn't undergo the Yo-Yo test anymore, but Pandya failed the mandatory fitness test that a player undergoes while making a comeback post rehabilitation. Though Pandya had himself said that he was looking to get fit in time for the second half of the New Zealand tour, he was picked for the shadow tour by the national selectors. Speaking to IANS, Pandya had said: "I will be coming back before the New Zealand series, mid-way actually. That was the plan that I play some international games, the IPL and then the World T20. The biggest concern was the World T20 which touch wood is now in place. "I was managing the back, tried everything possible not to get into surgery or anything. After trying everything, we came to the conclusion that it wasn't working. I noticed that I was not able to give my 100 per cent and that meant I was not doing justice to myself and the team. That is when I decided to go for the surgery." Maria Fuertes, 92, was found in the middle of a street in Queens early Monday. A 21-year-old man has now been charged with her murder The New York man charged over the shocking sexual assault and murder of an elderly woman says he was trying to help her before his pants fell down and his genitals came into contact with hers. Reeaz Khan, 21, made the astonishing claim to detectives on Thursday after he was arrested over the horrific death of Maria Fuertes, 92. Fuertes was discovered lying 'incoherent' on a street near her home in Queens around 2am on Monday, with a broken spine, rib fractures and bruising on her chest and neck. The much-loved local - whom neighbors referred to as 'grandma' - later died in hospital. Khan was pictured walking out of the police precinct flanked by two officer on Friday following his arrest. On Friday, investigators charged Khan with sexual abuse and murder in the second-degree, with reports saying a tip-off came from his own brother. Investigators also claim they were able to retrieve significant surveillance footage from the area that proves Khan committed the crime. They believe Khan approached Fuertes from behind while she was walking home from a deli where she went to buy cat food late at night. Police assert Khan then attacked her, before the pair became involved in a scuffle and fell to the ground. However, The New York Post reports that Khan has told detectives that he was simply walking through the area when he came across Fuertes lying on the pavement. He claims he was trying to help her up when 'he fell down, his belt broke, his pants fell down and his penis fell near her vagina'. On Friday, investigators charged Khan with sexual abuse and murder in the second-degree, allegedly following a tip-off from his own brother. He is seen after his arrest Khan has told detectives that he was simply walking by when he came across Fuertes lying on the pavement and tried to help her According to The Post, Khan told detectives that at that moment 'something came over him' and he 'lifted up Fuertes' skirt and try to put his penis inside of her'. Khan reportedly admitted to suffering 'uncontrollable urges,' and decided to act upon them. He is being held without bond and will appear in court on January 15. The attack has rocked the Queens community. Khan claims 'he fell down, his belt broke, his pants fell down and his penis fell near her vagina' Officers combed through surveillance footage trying to find the person responsible for the horrific attack The popular local often go out late at night to a local deli to buy tins of tuna and cat food. She would then return home, open the tins and leave them near the front of her house for her own pets and other local cats to eat. Hugo Fuertes, Maria's son, said she was 'a very nice, very good lady' who never caused harm to anyone. Aneil Ram, who lived nearby, told ABC News: 'She was a sweet lady. 'We all knew her since we were small and it's sickening to even hear something like that happening to her.' Advertisement The Foreign Office has hit out at Iran for a 'flagrant violation of international law' after the UK ambassador to the country was arrested during a protest in the capital Tehran. Diplomat Rob Macaire was present during demonstrations against Ayatollah Khamenei in front of Tehrans Amir Kabir University and was arrested after allegedly 'organising, provoking and directing radical actions', according to local reports. Thousands had gathered to demand the supreme leader's resignation after his regime admitted it had mistakenly shot down a civilian passenger plane during retaliation against the US' assassination of Qasem Soleimani. Mr Macaire, a diplomat with 30 years experience, was released following more than an hour in detention. In a strongly worded statement, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned Iran that it needed to make a choice between becoming a 'pariah' state or to 'deescalate tensions' with the west. 'The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law. The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment,' said Mr Raab. The UK ambassador to Iran Rob Macaire was arrested earlier this evening during violent protests in Tehran in response to Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei's regime admitting it had mistakenly shot down a civilian passenger plane Following a more than an hour in detention, Mr Macaire was then released. MailOnline have contacted the Foreign Office for comment but they were unable to provide a comment Iranians protest against the government after a vigil held for the victims of Flight 752 turned into an anti-government protest outside Amirkabir University in Tehran, Iran 'It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.' Mr Macaire was appointed to the Ambassador role in April 2018, replacing Nicholas Hopton. Angry crowds gathered in at least four locations across Tehran tonight, chanting 'death to liars' and calling for the country's supreme leader to step down over the tragic military blunder, video from the scene shows. What began as mournful vigils for Iranian lives lost on the flight soon turned to outrage and protest against the regime, and riot police quickly cracked down, firing tear gas into the crowd. 'Death to the Islamic Republic' protesters chanted, as the regime's security forces allegedly used ambulances to sneak heavily armed paramilitary police into the middle of crowds to disperse the demonstration. Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 was carrying 176 people, at least 130 of them Iranian citizens, when it was shot down by hapless Iranian Revolutionary Guard air defense forces shortly after taking off from Tehran on January 8. President Donald Trump tonight tweeted his support for the Iranian protestors, writing in Farsi that his administration would 'stand by them' as they protested against the country's leadership. 'To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage.' Protesters outside Amirkabir University in Tehran demanded the Ayatollah's resignation over the military disaster Thousands gather outside Amir Kabir University on Saturday screaming 'Death to the Dictator' Iranians shout slogans against the government in protests in Tehran Saturday night Iran for days claimed that a technical failure caused the crash, before admitting on Saturday that its own surface-to-air missiles brought the plane down. Iran was on high alert at the time, hours after launching ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq in a strike that caused no casualties. That missile strike was in retaliation for a U.S. operation that killed powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani On Saturday afternoon, candlelight vigils at universities in Tehran for the victims of Flight 752 began to turn to protests against the regime. Large protests were reported at the universities of Tehran, Sharif Industrial, Amir Kabir, and Allameh. At Amirkabir University, protesters chanted 'Down with the dictator' and 'shame on IRGC [Revolutionary Guard], let the country go.' At Sharif University, crowds of outraged Iranians chanted 'commander in chief, resign!' The Ayatollah is Iran's commander in chief. 'Our enemy is right here; They lie when they say it's the US' protesters were heard chanting in one video. 'I now believe the word of the Great Satan,' one protester wrote in Persian on Twitter, apparently referring to the U.S. intelligence reports that blamed Iran for shooting the plane down, which the regime furiously denied at first. A picture is seen on Saturday next to candles lit by people and families of the victims of the crash of Flight 752 Riot police with shields and batons massed to disrupt the anti-government protests on Saturday night The regime quickly cracked down on the protests with tear gas and water cannons Screams were heard as regime forces fired tear gas at the protesters in a brutal crackdown after night fell A woman gestures during a protest against the government outside Amirkabir University in Tehran, Iran on Saturday Iranians shout slogans against the government after a vigil held for the victims of the airplane of Ukrainian International Airlines that crashed near Imam Khomeini Airport turned into an anti-government protest outside Amirkabir University Protesters demanded that those responsible for shooting down the civilian plane be publicly tried and held accountable. The crowd also condemned the Islamic Republic's paramilitary internal security force, chanting 'Death to Basij.' As night fell, riot police attempted to break up the protests with tear gas. Cops armed with shields and batons tried to disperse the crowds, and police fired water canons into the crowds of protesters. Anti-regime factions said that the protests reflected the frustrations of Iranian citizens with the government corruption and oppression. 'The protest by thousands of Iranians in Tehran burst the propaganda balloon of the regime regarding Qassem Soleimani's elimination,' said Shahin Gobadi, spokesman of the anti-regime group People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, in a statement to DailyMail.com. Gobadi said that the protests 'showed the true sentiments of the Iranians and once again clearly proved that Iran is a powder keg and the Iranian people will not stop until the regime change.' Iranians light candles and hang flowers for victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 during a protest in front of the Amir Kabir University. What began as a vigil for the dead turned to anti-government protests Iranians protest against the government outside Amirkabir University in Tehran, Iran on Saturday People gather for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the Ukraine plane crash, at the gate of Amri Kabir University that some of the victims of the crash were former students of, in Tehran, Iran on Saturday At Amirkabir University, protesters chanted 'Down with the dictator' and 'shame on [Revolutionary Guard], let the country go' Iranian Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, said on Saturday a surface-to-air missile operator had mistaken the Boeing 737 for a U.S. cruise missile responding to Iranian ballistic missile attacks, and only had ten seconds to decide whether or not to open fire. 'I wish I had died, and I wouldn't have seen such an incident,' Hajizadeh said somberly at a press conference. He claimed that a 'request had been made to clear the sky from civil flights at that time, but it did not happen due to reservations.' For days, Iran vehemently denied that it was responsible for downing Flight 752 from Tehran to Kyiv on January 8, accusing the U.S. of spreading malicious propaganda and lies for suggesting such a scenario. Hajizadeh claimed that the country's top military leaders were not initially aware that their own air defense system had shot the plan down, leading to confusion. Now the country has come clean, but still blames 'US adventurism' for the fatal 'error'. 'The delay in releasing information was not aimed at hiding the issue but it is the routine drill that the General Staff should study the case (first); and all information was collected on Friday morning after studies and what had happened became clear then,' Hajizadeh said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani extended condolences to the families of those killed in the incident, and promised that those responsible would be prosecuted. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake... My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences,' Rouhani said in a statement on Saturday. 'I wish I had died, and I wouldn't have seen such an incident,' said a somber Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, at a press conference. Iran admitted that it shot down Flight 752, thinking the plane was a missile Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 plane wreckage is seen in a picture from investigation team released today Rescue workers at the crash site recovered the bodies of victims on Wednesday (above) He said that 'the terrible catastrophe should be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible for this unforgivable mistake will definitely be identified and prosecuted'. But the country's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said 'US adventurism' was to blame for Iran shooting down the plane, a week after an American drone killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. Zarif wrote: 'A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. 'Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.' Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei also offered condolences to the families, as he called for an investigation and ordered the military to address 'shortcomings' on Saturday morning. Health authorities in central China reported the first death on Saturday from a mysterious pneumonia outbreak that has been blamed on a new strain of virus from the same family as SARS. Out of 41 people diagnosed with the new type of coronavirus in the city of Wuhan where it was first confirmed, one had died, two were discharged from treatment, and seven remained in serious condition, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said in a statement. Authorities had earlier said that 59 people were affected by the pneumonia outbreak. The commission's new statement said, however, that just 41 had been diagnosed with the new coronavirus. The outbreak has caused alarm due to the link to SARS, or Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed 349 people in mainland China and another 299 in Hong Kong more than a decade ago. Chinese authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) have both said that a new coronavirus was to blame. The outbreak was first confirmed on December 31 in Wuhan, a central Chinese city with a population of more than 11 million. "No new cases have been detected since January 3, 2020," the health commission said. "At present, no infections among medical staff have been found, and no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission has been found." It said the patients were mainly business operators at a Wuhan seafood market that was closed on January 1 as a result of the outbreak. Authorities in Hong Kong -- which was badly hit by SARS in 2002-2003 -- have since taken precautions including stepping up the disinfection of trains and airplanes, and checks of passengers. China has since ruled out a fresh recurrence of SARS. The outbreak comes just ahead of China's busiest annual travel period, when tens of millions of people take buses, trains and planes for the Lunar New Year holiday in late January. Authorities in Hong Kong have said 48 people have been hospitalized in recent days after returning from Wuhan and displaying flu-like illnesses, but none were confirmed to have contracted the mystery virus. City residents worried about the outbreak have rushed to buy face masks from local pharmacies, with many selling out earlier this week. The coming holiday has prompted concerns in Taiwan, where officials urged the island's health and welfare ministry to strengthen quarantine controls at airports. The U.S. embassy in China warned on Tuesday that Americans traveling in the country should avoid animals and contact with sick people. Advertisement Furious protesters across the globe have taken aim at Prime Minister Scott Morrison over his handling of Australia's bushfire crisis. Activists from Europe to South America flooded to the streets to demand action on climate change on Friday amid a relentless bushfire season, which has claimed the lives 26 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes. More than one billion animals are thought to have perished and at least eight million hectares have been scorched. Thousands of protesters in London, Berlin, Madrid, Copenhagen and Stockholm displayed posters in support of Australia and the victims of the catastrophic blazes. Scroll down for video A demonstrator in Buenos Aires, Argentina, painted scorched kangaroos on her face during global protests about Australia's bushfire crisis '30 per cent of koalas sacrificed to fossil fuel greed,' a sign from London read. Bushfire Climate change protesters outside the Australian Embassy in London on Friday Traffic came to a halt in London as Extinction Rebellion protesters, dressed in red or in animal costumes, gathered outside the Australian High Commission An activist dressed up as a koala outside the Australian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Friday. More than one billion animals are thought to have perished and at least eight million hectares have been scorched Face paint was used at the rally in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where demonstrators dressed as koalas and displayed scorched kangaroos on their cheeks. Traffic came to a halt in London as Extinction Rebellion protesters, dressed in red or in animal costumes, gathered outside the Australian High Commission. The notorious activist group are focusing on the 'betrayal' of the Australian government in their failures to protect the nation from the fires. 'It's getting hot Scott,' one sign from London read. '30 per cent of koalas sacrificed to fossil fuel greed,' said another. Anne Coates, who travelled from Sheffield for the rally, said watching what was happening in Australia was 'devastating'. Hundreds of activists from Extinction Rebellion stage a protest outside the Australian Embassy in London An Argentinean protester painted a black kangaroo with red and yellow flames on her face during the demonstration in Buenos Aires Extinction Rebellion are focusing on the 'betrayal' of the Australian government in their failures to protect the nation from the fires 'It's like hell. And it seems like governments around the world are in a race to drag us down to hell,' she told The ABC. Ms Coates also described Mr Morrison as 'a laughing stock around the world'. 'We're absolutely furious with him. And I don't know what's it going to take. Governments should be listening,' she said. Demonstrators in Berlin also flocked to the Australian Embassy to criticise Australia's climate policy. A woman dressed up as a koala during Extinction Rebellion demonstration outside the Australian embassy in Berlin A protester holds a banner reading 'Australia's on fire. Siemens wants to support Adani. #No more words' as activists from Extinction Rebellion protest in front of the Siemens Headquarters in Munich 'How 'bout no, Scott?' and '#FireScomo' were two posters aimed at the prime minister during Friday's protest in London Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Melbourne and Sydney to call for more action on climate change and the sacking of Prime Minister Scott Morrison amid the country's bushfires crisis. Despite pleas from Victorian police and the premier to reschedule the Melbourne event to a less risky fire day, several thousand protesters huddled under umbrellas at the State Library. Many held banners which read 'Time is Running Out,' 'Declare a Climate Emergency,' 'You have blood on your hands, Morrison,' 'Make Fossil Fuels History,' and 'Sack ScoMo.' More than 30,000 people rallied at Town Hall Square in Sydney with similar banners. Protesters in both cities chanted 'ScoMo has got to go' while Sydney protesters also yelled 'the liar from the shire our country is on fire.' Climate change activists protest against the Australian governments response to the bushfires in Buenos Aires Prime Minister Scott Morrison was pictured on placards during protests in Buenos Aires and around the world on Friday Environmental activists stand amid the flames during Friday's protests about the Australian bushfire crisis Sydney protester Ambrose Hayes, 14, told AAP people were 'fed up' with Mr Morrison because he's not acting enough on the 'climate crisis'. 'This (the bushfire crisis) is caused by climate change, there is no denying it and they're (the government) just letting it happen,' he said. 'They're not listening to us.' Izzy Raj-Seppings, the 13-year-old who made headlines when she was moved on by police during a climate protest outside Kirribilli House in December, called on Mr Morrison to step up. 'What have you done when your country burns? What have you done when the kids are crying?,' she said on Friday. Hundreds of protesters also rallied in Adelaide and Brisbane. Climate activists and members of the environmentalist Extinction Rebellion movement demonstrate outside the Australian embassy in Berlin Activists from Europe to South America flooded to the streets to demand action on climate change on Friday amid a relentless bushfire season, which has claimed the lives 26 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes Mr Morrison this week announced an initial $2 billion bushfires recovery fund and handed over an immediate payment of $60 million to council areas affected by the fires. He has flagged a royal commission and says any national inquiry into the bushfires crisis would need to examine the impact of climate change. But while acknowledging there was an appetite to examine the impacts of climate change, he said he would not consider a stronger commitment to carbon emission reductions. Australia was already 'meeting and carrying' its burden on greenhouse gas emissions, Mr Morrison said on Friday. The Melbourne protest was criticised by Premier Daniel Andrews who warned the protesters could jeopardise their standing by staging a protest that diverts police resources away from bushfires. 'The protest, against the advice of the police, in the middle of a disaster, that is when you start losing public support, not adding to your public support,' he told reporters on Friday. 'I respect people's right to have a view, I tend to agree with a lot of the points that are being made - climate change is real - but there is a time and a place for everything and I just don't think a protest tonight was the appropriate thing to do.' An environmental activist from Extinction Rebellion protests outside the Australian Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa A demonstrator holds a kangaroo and its joey during protests in London on Friday The reactions to the announcement of the royal split were mixed. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said that they will step back as 'senior royals' and work to become financially independent, creating tumult in the British royal family - who said they were not consulted and were hurt by the sudden announcement. Reuters In a statement that was released on Wednesday, Prince Harry and Meghan also said that they plan to split their time between the UK and North America. In their unexpected statement, also posted on their Instagram page, the couple said they made the decision "after many months of reflection and internal discussions." Well, the royal family may be 'hurt' but netizens decided to give it the most hilarious twist possible. Remember how in Karan Johar's K3G, Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) chooses to let go of his Raichand family tag? Twitter That's exactly what people are comparing this to. Here's how the Internet chose to have a field day. Same energy: guy leaves his wealthy family and his inheritance cuz of love #Megxit #K3G pic.twitter.com/3rQxKSiPsD Salokya Sarira (@SalazarSalokya) January 9, 2020 People comparing Meghan-Harry to Rahul-Anjalis plot in K3G. Yup, can totally imagining Will going to Canada to get back his brother, dancing with Kate to You are my Soniya. Charles and Camilla joining in for Bole Chudiyaan and oh, and the Queen dies. Plausible FiFi (@Alfifius) January 10, 2020 The raichand family facts bet you the queen goin off to Harry about parampara https://t.co/EFBvzmr3WZ Rumneeek (@rumneeek) January 9, 2020 The Royal Family story is very much the story of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum #K3G #HarryandMeghan pic.twitter.com/cQacqjZmU3 Sohail Anjum (@sohailanjum) January 10, 2020 Prince Harry is Shahrukh Khan from K3G don't @ me Bunny (@ua2kl) January 10, 2020 i know it's cringe.jpeg but i can't shake off the rahul and anjali vibe from harry and meghan peacing out. anyway. pic.twitter.com/dk267L0LfI Imaan Sheikh (@sheikhimaan) January 8, 2020 The queen must be singing Aaaaaaaa aaaaaaa aaaa Kabhi khushi kabhi gham..... https://t.co/MxygaLbrDp Dr. Bewda Rick (@SavageRaptor7) January 9, 2020 K3G all over again https://t.co/XG8X0JOfb2 Rahul Singh (@dost_malone) January 10, 2020 Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham English Version Wahab Shaikh (@wahab173) January 9, 2020 This is full blown kabhi khushi kabhi gham. 10 years later, Williams going to be flying to America saying chandu ki chachi to Meghan https://t.co/q4p7a7ylEP Raz (@raztweets) January 9, 2020 Ever since their May 2018 wedding at Windsor Castle, Harry - the younger son of Prince Charles and sixth in the line of succession to the British throne - and former US actress Meghan Markle, have been embroiled in controversy regarding their relationship with the rest of the royal family, and have been subjected to intense media pressure. Now the parents of an eight-month-old boy, Archie, the couple announced on Wednesday that they will continue to fulfill their royal obligations vis-a-vis Queen Elizabeth, Harry's grandmother, the British Commonwealth and the foundations in which they are involved, but they will not be spending all their time in the British Isles. Instagram "This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter," the pair said in their joint communique. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year is starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," the royal pair said, referring to the monarchy. SANDY, Utah, Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain America Credit Union, in partnership with Operation Warm, gifted 500 brand-new winter coats to students at Utah Title 1 schools. Today, Mountain America employees distributed coats to 400 students at Newman Elementary in Rose Park, Utah. An additional 100 coats will be distributed to Utah kids in need at other Title 1 schools. In Utah, more than 10% of children are living in poverty. Operation Warm provides warmth, confidence, and hope to children in need through the gift of brand-new winter coats. The gift of a new coat has a multiplier effect, allowing children to get to school on cold days, and in turn, succeed at school. The children we serve rarely are given anything that is brand new, says Michael Andrews, Operation Warm manager of partnerships for Inter-Mountain West. They arent given the opportunity to walk into a store and have someone buy them their favorite brand-new coat. A brand-new coat is important because it is more than just a coat. It not only provides warmth, but it also provides confidence and hope for that child. They deserve to know that feeling. Mountain America is pleased to gift hundreds of new coats to Utah kids this winter through our support of Operation Warm, says Sterling Nielsen, president and chief executive officer at Mountain America Credit Union. A new warm coat boosts self-esteem and helps kids get to school during the cold months, allowing them to succeed academically and socially. Thank you, Operation Warm, for the significant impact you are making in our community. About Mountain America Credit Union With more than 870,000 members and $9 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union assists members on the right path to help them identify and achieve their financial dreams. Mountain America provides consumers and businesses with a variety of convenient, flexible products and services, as well as sound, timely advice. Members enjoy access to secure, cutting-edge mobile banking technology, over 95 branches across five states, thousands of shared-branching locations nationwide and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Mountain Americaguiding you forward. Learn more at macu.com . Story continues A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d25b93f-d4f6-47cc-a9e1-e0098cf3f176. Media Contact: Tony Rasmussen 801-325-6430 trasmussen@macu.com On Friday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party was ready to share power with all other parties. She described the official recognition of Irish identity and funding for the Irish language as marking a historic moment, and said the pact would put Irish Gaelic on a par with English in Northern Ireland. Nigerians have taken to social media to react to the decision of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, to suspend the use of National Identification Number, NIN, as a requirement for registration in the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME. According to JAMB, the decision also affects Direct Entry Registration for the year. The examination body, however, noted that NIN would be a necessary requirement in the 2021 UTME and Direct Entry registrations. Read Also: No Going Back On Use Of National ID Card For UTME: JAMB The news was broken by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, at an ongoing press conference, at its head office, at Bwari, Abuja, stressing that the suspension was as a result of technical reasons. He said that ongoing difficulties being faced by candidates in the NIN registration, made the NIN requirement as a precondition for the UTME and Direct Entry registrations have been set aside. Many Nigerians who took to Twitter to react to the news, expressed mixed feelings. While some lampooned JAMB for making the NIN a registration requirement in the first place, causing candidates so much stress, others are just glad the requirement has been suspended. See reactions below https://twitter.com/Ody_johnson/status/1215966366181793792?s=19 I hate this country! Nigeria sickens me! Just checked my trends only to find that JAMB has suspended NIN as a prerequisite for the UTME. My baby sis of 15 is out there in the queue to get this same NIN after parting with N8,000. I hate Nigeria! Oluwademiladeogoayomi (@Harieson) January 11, 2020 JAMB: We'd use drones to curb exam malpractices. JAMB: NIN is a compulsory requirement for JAMB reg. These are good initiatives, no lies. But under what circumstances? You can't fly drones in enclosed rooms. People that registered for NIN since 2013 self are yet to get cards. Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) January 11, 2020 I think Jamb did the right thing this time, I mean how will NIN help in curbing examination malpractice? How? Daniel (@Chimobi_) January 11, 2020 https://twitter.com/cbngov_akin1/status/1215945335991951360?s=19 A North Korean official on Saturday said that the US and South Korea are dreaming if they think that President Donald Trump's sending a birthday message would get leader Kim Jong Un back to the negotiating table. North Korean Foreign Ministry adviser Kim Kye Gwan repeated the North's deep frustrations over stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration and stressed that the country will never fully deal away its nuclear capabilities for ending US-led sanctions despite its economic difficulties. He was responding to comments by South Korean presidential national security director Chung Eui-yong who, after returning from a visit to the United States on Friday, said that Seoul had conveyed Trump's birthday greetings to Kim. His birthday is believed to be January 8. Chung told reporters that Trump during their meeting at the White House this week had asked Seoul to deliver the message to Pyongyang, which it did through proper means on Thursday. But Kim Kye Gwan said that the North had already received a similar letter by Trump directly from the Americans, and ridiculed Seoul saying it was clinging to its role as a mediator between Washington and Pyongyang. They seem not to know that there is a special liaison channel between the top leaders of the DPRK and the U.S., Kim Kye Gwan said about the South, referring to North Korea by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He said it was presumptuous for South Korea to meddle in the personal relationship between the North Korean and U.S. leaders. Although Chairman Kim Jong Un has good personal feelings about President Trump, they are, in the true sense of the word, 'personal.' The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission would not discuss the state affairs on the basis of such personal feelings, as he represents our state and its interests, he said. South Korea's presidential office said it doesn't have an immediate comment on the North Korean statement. Kim, the North Korean leader, last week opened the new year expressing deep frustrations over the stalled negotiations and vowed to bolster his nuclear arsenal as a deterrent against gangster-like U.S. sanctions and pressure. The North in past months has severed virtually all cooperation with the South, while demanding Seoul to break away from Washington and restart inter-Korean economic projects held back by U.S.-led sanctions. Seoul had lobbied hard for the resumption of nuclear negotiations, with Chung shuttling between Pyongyang and Washington to help set up the first summit between Kim and Trump in June 2018. But negotiations have faltered since the collapse of the second Kim-Trump meeting in February last year in Hanoi, Vietnam. The US side rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for the dismantlement of an aging nuclear facility in Yongbyon, which would only represent a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities. Trump and Kim met again in June and agreed to resume negotiations. But an October working-level meeting in Sweden broke down over what the North Koreans described as the Americans' old stance and attitude." In his statement, Kim Kye Gwan said that the North will never again engage in negotiations to fully give away a crucial nuclear facility in exchange for sanctions relief as it did in Vietnam. We have been deceived by the U.S., being caught in the dialogue with it for over one year and a half, and that was the lost time for us, he said, criticizing what he described as unilateral U.S. demands. It can be said that the reopening of dialogue between the DPRK and the US may be possible only under the condition of the latter's absolute agreement on the issues raised by the former, but we know well that the U.S. is neither ready nor able to do so. Kim Kye Gwan, a veteran diplomat, led the North Korean delegation at many rounds of the now-dormant six-nation nuclear disarmament talks held in Beijing in 2003-2008. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese man dies from Wuhan pneumonia From Kapila Bandara in Hong Kong View(s): View(s): China has reported the first death from a dangerous pneumonia outbreak in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, and hundreds are under observation. The infected man died on Thursday night. China reported it Saturday. Sri Lanka is on alert. Forty one people are suffering from the virus in Wuhan. Seven are critical in hospital, and 739 infected people, including 419 health care workers, are under observation. The number being watched has soared from 121 since last Sunday. On Thursday, January 9, the World Health Organisation, citing Chinese heath authorities, said the disease is caused by a new coronavirus. The source is not known. The SARS virus that caused hundreds of deaths in 2003 also emerged also from China, and was later identified as a new coronavirus. It spread to 37 countries. There was no information Saturday on the Wuhan death from the WHO on its disease outbreak news section of its website. The last update was on Sunday, January 5. Chinese investigators conducted gene sequencing of the virus, using an isolate from one positive patient sample, the WHO said then. The WHO praised China for the lab work. The WHO Western Pacific Office did not have updates, yesterday. Not even on Twitter. The Sunday Times tried to reach Dr Razia Pendse the representative of WHO Sri Lanka yesterday, but no one was available. Chinese health authorities insist there is no human-to-human transmission. State media says the outbreak is under control. But Hong Kong and regional countries are not taking chances. Taiwan officials are boarding flights to check for symptoms before allowing disembarkation for Chinese passengers. Yesterday, citing the Wuhan Health Commission, Chinas CGTN, the global network of the state broadcaster, China Central Television, reported in English at 8:09am that a death has occurred. No details were given. Two hours later, the state media agency, Xinhua, reported: One patient with viral pneumonia has been confirmed dead in Wuhan, capital of central Chinas Hubei province, and seven others were in critical condition, local health authorities said. The Sunday Times contacted the Presidential Secretariats Duty Officer, Nilanga Fernando, who took notes patiently, and when contacted a second time said the Colombo airport and other ports have been informed immediately. At Katunayake, an Airport Health Office physician said they would await guidance from the Health Ministry and the WHO. In Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post reported online that the dead person is a 61-year-old man. The man was a regular visitor to a Wuhan wet market that sold wild animals such as marmots, organs of rabbits, turtles, pheasants, and snakes. The market, now shut, is seen as the prime source in the disease outbreak. The man also suffered from abdominal tumours and chronic liver disease, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said, the SCMP reported. The first infection in Wuhan was detected on December 12. Hong Kongs Centre for Health Protection, says available epidemiological information is not sufficient at this stage to reach a conclusion. They played pals on the hit NBC series. And Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox proved they were still Friends, as they joined forces for dinner in West Hollywood on Friday night. The former co-stars and close buddies tried to keep a low-profile during their night out at San Vicente Bungalow. I'll be there for you: Jennifer Aniston and pal Courteney Cox had a casual Friends reunion during dinner Friday night Under the radar: The former co-stars and close buddies tried to keep a low-profile during their night out at San Vicente Bungalow Jen looked understated but chic in a dark jacket, blue jeans, and Oxford-style heels. She carried a quilted purse at her side. After dinner the Morning Show actress said bye to a friend. Jennifer and Courteney were joined by a few other pals, who they waited for in the car. Later! After dinner the Morning Show actress said bye to a friend The ladies have stayed close since they end of their show. They were seen earlier in the week dining together at the celeb-beloved Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica. There, they were in good company, joined by jewellery designer Jennifer Meyer and Tom Hanks' second wife Rita Wilson. Jen and Courteney seemed to have a good time, staying at the luxurious Italian restaurant until well after 11PM. Cross your fingers! On November 12, THR reported that 'the six Friends leads and creators would participate' in an unscripted Friends reunion special to air on $15/month HBO Max, but 'a deal is far from done' (pictured October 15) It seems that an official Friends reunion might be in the works. On November 12, THR reported that 'the six leads and creators would participate' in an unscripted Friends reunion special to air on $15/month HBO Max, but 'a deal is far from done.' Courteney, Jennifer, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, and Matt LeBlanc from the NBC sitcom - which concluded 2004 after 10 seasons - recently celebrated their 25th anniversary together. A Hampton man has sued his former Lincoln employer, alleging he was discriminated against based on his Christian faith. Eric Pekney was hired by The Fort Inc. as a maintenance supervisor in November 2017 and worked at both Lincoln locations. In a lawsuit filed this week in Lancaster County District Court, Pekney's attorney, Abby Osborn, said he told the owner, Steve Wohlfarth, during an interview when he was hired that he was uncomfortable with God's name being used in vain around him and asked that Wohlfarth and his employees not use such language around him. Osborn said at about midnight Feb. 15, 2018, Wohlfarth visited the site of a project Pekney had been working on and left a video for him and a co-worker criticizing their performance. She said the video contained harsh language and a pointed reference to Pekney's religious beliefs. When Pekney was asked to watch the video the next morning, he was upset by what he considered harassment and asked to take the rest of the day off as a personal day. Osborn said Wohlfarth threatened to fire him if he didn't return to work immediately. Pekney said he felt he had no option but to resign. In the lawsuit, she said The Fort was aware of Pekney's religious beliefs and practices and deliberately ignored his request that they be respected in violation of the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act and the federal Civil Rights Act. Further, she said, they retaliated against him and harassed him for it. "Mr. Pekney was placed in a situation where he had to choose between his Christian faith and his livelihood," Osborn said Friday. "No employer should be allowed to explicitly disrespect an employee's religious beliefs; and no employee should have to choose between a job and their religion." She said they are confident that through this process Pekney's rights will be vindicated "and it will underscore that this behavior is illegal under the law." Pekney is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, including lost wages and reinstatement with back pay. The Fort hasn't yet filed a response to the lawsuit and an attorney was unavailable for comment. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Solano County deputies were investigating a Friday afternoon shooting in Vallejo that officials said did not harm anyone. Sheriffs deputies were near Lemon Street and Cypress Avenue in Vallejo investigating a shooting that occurred around 1:30 p.m., according to the Solano County sheriffs office. (Newser) Iran's admission that it "unintentionally" shot down a passenger jet this week, killing all 176 on board, hasn't exactly eased tensions. Thousands of angry protesters hit the streets in Iran on Saturday and faced tear gas from riot police, the New York Times reports. Videos show some protesters calling for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's head: "Khamenei is a murderer!" they shouted. "Death to liars! Death to the dictator! You have no shame!" Some social media posts even showed torn pictures of Gen. Qassim Soleimani, whose killing by the US sparked the Iranian missile strike that caused the downing of the Ukrainian jetliner. For more: Full admission: Ukraine is demanding a full apology and payment for the passenger plane, the Washington Examiner reports. "Iran has pleaded guilty to downing the Ukrainian plane," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "But we insist on a full admission of guilt." Ukraine also accuses Iran of recklessly allowing commercial flights during the crisis and violating procedure by bulldozing debris from the crash. story continues below 'I wish I had died' : Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps airspace unit, took full responsibility. He said the plane was mistaken for a cruise missile and shot down. "I wish I had died" instead of seeing crash, he said, per Newsweek. : Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps airspace unit, took full responsibility. He said the plane was mistaken for a cruise missile and shot down. "I wish I had died" instead of seeing crash, he said, per Newsweek. 'Human error' : While Khamenei expressed "deep sympathy" for families of the dead, CNN reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted: "Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster." : While Khamenei expressed "deep sympathy" for families of the dead, CNN reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted: "Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster." 'A mistake' : But Iran has backed down from its contention, per Reuters, that the plane had flown too close to a sensitive military base. "The plane was flying in its normal direction without any error and everybody was doing their job correctly," said Hajizadeh. "If there was a mistake, it was made by one of our members." : But Iran has backed down from its contention, per Reuters, that the plane had flown too close to a sensitive military base. "The plane was flying in its normal direction without any error and everybody was doing their job correctly," said Hajizadeh. "If there was a mistake, it was made by one of our members." Investigation : An international group has been created with representatives from Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, the UK, and Afghanistan to investigate the crash, per the CBC. USA Today reports that Ukrainian and Iranian officials have begun analyzing the plane's black boxes. : An international group has been created with representatives from Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, the UK, and Afghanistan to investigate the crash, per the CBC. USA Today reports that Ukrainian and Iranian officials have begun analyzing the plane's black boxes. Damning quote: "If this had been a domestic airline, we would have never discovered the truth," said an Iranian protester, per the Wall Street Journal. "International pressure made them come out and admit it." (Read more Iran stories.) A refugee-support group has appealed to Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan to stop the deportation of first year UCC student, Hamza Khan. Hamza (20) is a first year sanctuary scholar studying computer science at UCC. Hamza, his sister Shazadi, three younger brothers (Zubair, Umair and Mutjuba) and parents have been advised that they will not be allowed to apply for international protection in Ireland, and are facing possible removal from the country this week. Hamza joined UCC from Colaiste Eamman Ris, following his arrival in Ireland in 2017. The family have been living in direct provision since then. Zubair, a fifth year student, Umair, a Transition year student and Mutjuba, a second year student are studying at Colaiste Eamann Ris in Cork City. In a statement today, the UCC Sanctuary Working Group said: "In the space of just two and a half years, Hamzas academic trajectory has been very impressive. "He made a huge impact on his school, Deerpark CBS (now Colaiste Eamman Ris). Not only did he achieve a strong Leaving Certificate, he won the Most Improved Student award 2018 and Student of the Year award in 2019. Hamza's two younger brothers are current students at Colaiste Eamman Ris. "In September 2019 Hamza applied for the UCC Sanctuary Scholarship scheme and in September 2019, was ranked among the top applicants and became one of UCCs second cohort of undergraduate Sanctuary Scholars." As educators and advocates, the Working Group know that the removal of Hamza and his family from the state would put an end to their meaningful access to higher education. "The Working Group call on the Minister for Justice and Equality to intervene to stop this removal from happening, and to support Hamza and his family in applying for international protection in Ireland." The campaign to prevent the deportation of the Khans is supported by UCC, and the trust body of Colaiste Eamann Ris Cork City, the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, that represents 96 schools nationwide. Fleeing persecution in Pakistan In a statement giving further background to the case today, Colaiste Eamann Ris said the familys father Mubeen, fled to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan to escape persecution in 1982. His wife Hina Mubeen is also from Pakistan but their daughter Shazadi and sons Hamza, Zubair, Umair and Mutjuba were born in Saudi Arabia. "The family continued to live happily in Saudi Arabia until their lives were changed by the death of King Abdullah in 2015. The new king, King Salman and his son Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, introduced new laws that favoured Saudi citizens. "Under these new laws, each family member had to pay 100 riyals each, with the tax set to increase by 100% each year after. To pay this the children had to drop out of school to get jobs. Another law introduced in 2017, resulted in Mubeen losing his job in a drapers unable to pay their taxes the family faced deportation to Pakistan which they had already fled from originally. As a result the family were forced to leave Saudi Arabia, arriving in Ireland through England. As they first arrived to Europe through England, they are to be deported back to the United Kingdom, even though they have never lived there. *The UCC Sanctuary Working Group offers outreach and support to asylum seeker, refugee and wider migrant communities in the Cork region. Its members include over 20 UCC staff, students, and external city partners. In November 2019 the world-famous pianist Igor Levit received an email containing anti-Semitic death threats. At the end of December Levit responded to the email with an article published in the German newspaper Tagesspiegel am Sonntag. Ignoring the specific threats contained in the email, but under conditions of increased security, the pianist played his next concert to the end. But the mere fact that a Jewish pianist cannot perform publicly without protection indicates the extent of the current turn to the right in German politics. Igor Levit, 32, is one of the worlds leading pianists. Multiple award winner and outstanding Beethoven interpreter, Levit has been professor of piano at the School of Music, Drama and Media in Hanover (HMTMH) since October 1, 2019. He studied there himself and is now its youngest ever professor. Russian-German pianist Igor levit plays in Leipzig, Germany in 2018 [Credit: AP Photo/Jens Meyer, File] Last year Igor Levits complete recording of all 32 Beethoven sonatas was released by Sony Classical. On January 7 he commenced presenting these piano sonatas on German radio in 32 podcast episodes. His aim, he said, was to use these fascinating pieces to demonstrate the relevancy of Beethoven today, 250 years after the birth of the great composer. In his article in the Tagesspiegel, Levit pointed out that Germany is in the middle of a massive shift of norms within our democracy which will not be the same if we let anti-Semitism, racism and hatred of women gain more and more ground. Its not just about individual cases, but rather about victims, perpetrators and a system! Its about systematic anti-Semitism and racism, right-wing extremism, terror and racist violence. The state, he adds, is blind in its right eye, i.e., it ignores the threat from the far right. In his article Levit makes clear that the turn to the right in German politics has nothing to do with the entry into the country of a few Muslim immigrants, as state propaganda claims. The fact is that fascism is re-emerging in Germany. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the biggest opposition party in the Bundestag and extreme right-wing forces persecuted immigrants in Chemnitz in full daylight. Taken together with the series of murders of immigrants carried out by the National Socialist Underground, the assassination of the politician Walter Lubcke by a neo-fascist, the recent armed attack on a synagogue in Halle, the threats against the lawyer Seda Basay Yldz signed by a group calling itself NSU-2.0, as well as the cutting off of state funding for the anti-fascist VVN (Association of those persecuted by the Nazi Regime)these all point to the existence of a deep neo-fascist state within the state. As Christoph Vandreier meticulously demonstrated in his book Why Are They Back?: the revival of the far right is linked to the German bourgeoisie, its state and the return to militarism. The ruling class needs and promotes the AfD in the Bundestag, because, as Vandreier writes, capitalism has resolved none of the problems that led to catastrophe in the 1930s. Never was the gulf between classes so deep as it is today. Old Nazi cliques and far-right networks are increasingly making their presence felt in the state apparatus, the military and police, as well as in political circles, the media and the countrys universities. At Humboldt University in Berlin, professors such as Jorg Baberowski can publicly declare that Hitler was not vicious and are then protected from criticism by the German government and officially defended on the website of Education Minister Anja Karliczek (Christian Democratic Union, CDU). On the other hand, opponents of this development, such as the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGPSocialist Equality Party), are being persecuted and denounced by the German domestic intelligence service (VerfassungsschutzOffice for the Protection of the Constitution) as left-wing extremist. The only offence of the SGP is that it advocates a socialist program. According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution: The agitation of the SGP is directed in its program against the existing state and social order, as a generalized disparagement of capitalism, against the EU [European Union], against alleged nationalism, imperialism and militarism. Only recently, Hans-Georg Maassen, the former president of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, defamed refugees on a German television program and downplayed the threat of far-right terrorism. The day when Hans-Georg Maassen no longer matters will be a good day, pianist Levit tweeted in response to Maassen. Dear listeners, he said on Deutschlandfunk radio, the German population must understand that right-wing extremists are not only targeting us minoritiesit sounds terrible and I hate to have to say this they have everyone in their sights who they do not like. Everyone is a potential victim, literally everyone. Just look at Lubcke ... (a conservative politician who spoke out positively on behalf of refugees). Levit, who describes himself on his website with the words Citizen, European, Pianist, has repeatedly spoken out on political issues. He campaigns against racism and war and has played for refugees, at the massive anti-fascist demo in Berlin in October 2018 and for Fridays for Future. In one interview he emphasised that he had been politicised by the Greek crisis, and his Twitter page (which is worth visiting for the many music excerpts) contains passages such as: PS: why does the world needs millionaires again? Why? What for? For whom? Levit commented on the proposal by CDU politician Carsten Linnemann that children who could not speak German be refused school education, with the sentence: Where did I, as a child of Russian refugees, learn German very quickly? Thats exactly what school is for. Four days after the armed attack on a synagogue in Halle, Levit played the Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach at another demonstration in Berlin in front of the citys New Synagogue. The same evening, he was awarded the Opus Klassik 2019 music prize. He dedicated the prize to the victims of Halle and said: After the NSU, after countless attacks on mosques, synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, refugee homes, etc., what has happened here comes as no surprise. On the Swiss television program Sternzeiten he criticised the policies of the EU for its lack of a climate policy, the collapse of democratic values and its nightmarish migration policy. He donated the 10,000 from another award, the International Beethoven Prize, to the organisation HateAid to assist its campaigns against hate and agitation on the Internet. At the time, Levit did not reveal that he himself had received anti-Semitic threats. On his Twitter account there is only a note from November 2, where he ironically writes: Hey Twitternazis, you are right: I only owe my career to a powerful Jewish world lobby that pulls all the strings ... On another occasion, Levit stressed that hate speech levelled against him, for example on Twitter, only served to increase his determination. In his Tagesspiegel article, he wrote: Am I afraid? Yes, but not for me, rather for this country. My country. Our country. In a television interview on November 14 Levit only briefly mentioned that he had received hate mail and then stated: Racism is not an opinion, it is a definite outlook. In so doing Levit threw down the gauntlet to all those who, for example, sought to justify the showing up of AfD founder Bernd Lucke at Hamburg University as a case of freedom of expression. One should not proclaim all such [far-right] outlooks to be merely expressions of opinion, Levit declared. The AfD is waging a kind of war against Islam using the same weapons and words as classic, modern anti-Semitism. When Levit announced the death threats against himself at the end of December, the CDU in Hanover proposed in response that the city adopt a twin town in Israel. Levit, however, does not come from Israel but was born in Nishni Novgorod, Russia, and commenced growing up in the German city of Hanover at the age of 8. In articulating his views he has consistently distanced himself from German media propaganda, which immediately equates the struggle against anti-Semitism with defending Israel. In a Twitter comment Levit declared: As a Jew and citizen, I am repulsed when the Springer press try subtly and less subtly to combine the fight against anti-Semitism with their own Islamophobia. Nah guys, Im not playing on your team. You dont speak on my behalf. Springer Press controls much of German media, including the daily Bild and Die Welt newspapers. Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was caught among students affiliated to Left and far-Left unions - who had been carrying out rallies against Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the city - when they laid siege around the site of the TMC youth wings sit-in demonstration at Esplanade in the heart of Kolkata on Saturday evening. The impasse ended around 9:30 pm after Banerjee delivered a long speech pacifying the agitating students. Banerjee, who had earlier addressed the TMC demonstration before leaving to attend a light and sound show with PM Modi at Millennium Park near the iconic Howrah Bridge, was caught by surprise when she returned to find the dais virtually surrounded by the Left-wing students from Jadavpur University, Presidency University, Calcutta University and even Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. Shortly before Banerjee returned to the site, Left-aligned students had broken through three police barricades to reach the TMC students wings protest venue, leading to complete chaos. Banerjee pleaded with the students to protest peacefully. I plead with you. Carry on your demonstration. Let us carry out ours. There should not be any unrest. Since the Left-wing students were shouting slogans against the Delhi Police and the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banerjee said, If you want to express your anger against Delhi Police, go to Delhi. Kolkata Police is not Delhi Police. Without budging, the Left-minded students began shouting their Azadi slogans. In return, Mamata and her supporters raised their no-NRC slogans. She seemed to be losing temper at one point in time. Dont teach me how to conduct a movement, she shouted. There was a huge police contingent at the spot and Banerjee was surrounded by her security personnel. Kolkata mayor and urban development minister Firhad Hakim was also present on the dais with her. Some of the Jadavpur University students who gheraoed Babul Supriyo in September were also present in the gathering. I have nothing to say against your protests. You have all the right to protest. But I request you all to please maintain peace, Banerjee appealed. She led the chanting of, Chhatra Oikyo Zindabaad (Long live the unity of students), Andolone Gondogol Cholbe Na (Say no to trouble in protests) and Amra Sobai Shanti Chai (We all want peace). At one point, Mamata Banerjee started shouting CAA shame, shame, while Leftist students chanted Narendra Modi go back. When the Leftist students shouted Azadi slogans, Mamata Banerjee chanted Vande Mataram, Jai Hind and Jai Bangla. The stalemate continued for a while before things calmed down and Banerjee began addressing the students including the rival group. We have suspended six policemen who resorted to baton charge on Jadavpur University students during a demonstration. She said pacifying the students, while referring to police action on students protesting the violence at JNU. The governor advised me to remove the Jadavpur University vice chancellor and take action against students after the incident in September. I did nothing because students have some rights too, said Banerjee, while the students listened. Banerjee left the venue after pacifying the students at around 9.30pm. NEW YORKPodcast host Uluc Ulgen has created a thriving livelihood out of desperation. The professional conversationalist once felt socially awkward and lonely. And until six years ago, he even had a hard time looking into peoples eyes. But today, Ulgen sells his Podcast Superstar experiences for $300 a session on Airbnb. It is the best conversation youll ever have in your life. Thats a guarantee, Ulgen said. He offers a full refund to anyone who isnt fully satisfiedand no one has asked for one yet, he said. Shy Origins Originally from Turkey, he moved to the United States at 10. As a teenager, still struggling to learn English, he felt like an outsider. Because of a chipped front tooth, he used to cover his mouth to hide it and spoke very quickly out of nervousness. When he was 23 he had, what he called, a spiritual breakdown and lost his will to live. One moment in 2014 stands out to him: I sat on a stoop and cried my eyes out and there was maybe 15, 20, 25 people that walk past me, completely ignore me like as though, Im some kind of a ghost, he said. Deciding to run away from life, he bought a ticket to Turkey with no particular plan. Roaming towns and villages along the Syrian border, he was surprised to find total strangers being kind to himwithout expecting anything in return. The people who did not know anything about me, were coming up, asking me, brother, are you hungry? Are youdo you have a place to stay? Ulgen said. Those encounters restored his faith in humanity. He said, those strangers saved his life. New Life and Livelihood Ulgen returned to New York and started on a new path. Inspired to give back, he came up with an idea. He started posting flyers around Greenwich Village and East Village neighborhoods to invite strangers to his home for heartfelt conversations. I wanted to give a platform where people can be themselves be the true version of themselves, without any restrictions and without any discomfort, he said. And, to his surprise, people showed up. His first guest was Meshack, a homeless man. Ulgen named his conversation experiences Murmur, and decided to share them as podcast. Originally offered for free, Murmur is now his livelihood. A podcast experience usually includes a guided meditation as well as a reading of Turkish coffee grounds at the end. To date, hes had conversations with over 900 guests, through which hes honed a unique set of techniquesbecoming, in his words, a master conversationalist. All these techniques are about subtly gravitating the conversation towards the gray zone. And the gray zone is where all the magic happens, he said. He promises his guests a deep dive into the unknown of the psyche, to whatever arises out of the synergy of the moment. I feel like a really good conversation has the power of almost feeling as though God is in the room with you, Ulgen said. His podcast sessions are usually booked out, and most of his guests give him five-star reviews on Airbnb. Hes got this gift where, you know, he can be very authentic and nice and just open up to everybody, said Isabella Alisha, a recent Murmur guest, who was visiting from Australia. Today, Ulgen is writing a book on techniques to help others overcome shyness and build more authentic relationships. Thief Wine Shop & Bar | Photo: Melissa S./Yelp Looking to try the best wine bars in town? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top wine bars in Milwaukee, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to meet your needs. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1. Story Hill BKC Photo: penny m./Yelp First on the list is the Story Hill BKC. Located at 5100 W. Bluemound Road in Story Hill, the wine bar and New American spot, which offers beer, wine and spirits and more, is the highest-rated wine bar in Milwaukee, boasting 4.5 stars out of 575 reviews on Yelp. 2. Thief Wine Shop & Bar photo: lori m./yelp Next up is the Thief Wine Shop & Bar, situated at 400 N. Water St. in the Milwaukee Public Market. With 4.5 stars out of 75 reviews on Yelp, the wine bar, which offers beer, wine and spirits and more, has proven to be a local favorite. 3. The Capital Grille photo: brandon d./yelp The Capital Grille, an outpost of the chain located at 310 W. Wisconsin Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the steakhouse and wine bar, which offers seafood and more, 4.5 stars out of 283 reviews. 4. Momo Mee photo: jackie p./yelp Momo Mee, a wine bar, cocktail bar and pan Asian spot, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 106 Yelp reviews. Head over to 110 E. Greenfield Ave. to see for yourself. 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. Buildings were constructed close to Vembanad lake. The second tower of waterfront residential apartment Alpha Serene is demolished using controlled implosion in Kochi on Saturday. (Photo: AP) Thiruvananthapuram: Two of the flats constructed in violation of CRZ rules were demolished through controlled implosion in Maradu in Kochi on Saturday. Holy Faith H2O and Alfa Serene Twin towers came crashing within seconds after the controlled blasts were triggered off with precision. The demolitions were carried out following the Supreme Court directive in May 2019. The two buildings were demolished within a space of minutes. Though a portion of Alfa Serene building fell into the lake, authorities said there was no major cause of worry. The debris will be removed within 70 days. Two other apartments Jain Coral Cove apartment complex which has 17 floors and 122 flats will be razed at 11 am on January 12 (Sunday) and it will be followed the demolition of 17-floor Golden Kayaloram which has 40 flats, at 2 pm. Holy Faith H20 was the first of the apartment complexes to be demolished at 11.18 am. Thousands of people thronged the area to witness the unprecedented sight of the high rise apartment buildings coming crashing within seconds. Since the district administration had imposed prohibitory orders, the people witnessed the spectacle outside the restricted area of 200 meters. There was a delay of 15 minutes in the demolition owing to last-minute requirements. Earlier people living in and around the apartment structures were evacuated from the area by 9 am. A legal battle was on for years in connection with the construction of the four buildings which violated CRZ rules as these were very close to Vembanad lake. During an inspection by local bodies vigilance wing in 2005, it was found that the Maradu panchayat (now it is a municipality) had given permits to 13 apartments buildings including the four which are now being demolished, for carrying out construction activities in violation of CRZ norms. Though the Supreme Court had ordered the demolition by September 20, because of Kerala Governments slackness it could be executed. The apex court took strong exception to the "go slow" approach of the government. Ernakulam Collector S Suhas who visited the site after the controlled implosion told reporters that the demolition exercise was executed in a near-perfect manner. He said a portion of the debris of Alfa Serene 2 had fallen into the adjoining lake but that was done deliberately to avoid any destruction or damage to the residential houses closely. There were apprehensions regarding the safety of Thevara-Kundannoor bridge which is located very close to Holy Faith H2O. The officials of Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) officials said that there was no damage to the bridge or the houses in the vicinity after the preliminary round of inspection. The Holy Faith H2O controlled implosion was carried out by Mumbai Based Edifice Engineers in association with South Africas Jet Demolishers. Alfa Serene was demolished by Chennai based Vijaya Steels. Experts said 212.4 kg of explosives were used to demolish the 19-storey H2O which had 91 apartments. Alfa Serene twin-towers with 16 floors each had 80 apartments and was demolished with 343 kg of explosives. Experts said 943 kg of explosives would be used for carrying out controlled implosion in the four buildings. It would cost around Rs 2.32 crore. CRZ rules violation: A legal battle was on for years in connection with the construction of the four buildings which violated CRZ rules as these were very close to Vembanad lake. During an inspection by local bodies vigilance wing in 2005, it was found that the Maradu panchayat (now it is a municipality) had given permits to 13 apartments buildings including the four which are now being demolished, for carrying out construction activities in violation of CRZ norms. Though the Supreme Court had ordered the demolition by September 20, because of Kerala Governments slackness it could be executed. The apex court took strong exception to the "go slow" approach of the government. Subsequently, the Kerala chief secretary was summoned by the court and given the ultimatum to demolish the buildings. The Supreme Court had appointed a panel headed by Justice K Balakrishnan Nair to recommend compensation to the flat owners who were evacuated from the buildings. The panel recommended payout of `19.09 crore to 107 flat owners. The apex court had ordered the Kerala Government to grant the full interim compensation of `25 lakh each to all flat owners. Citizens concerned about overdevelopment of their hometowns are trying to hire some legal muscle to help their cause. Citizens for Sustainable Development, or CFSD, is asking for donations to hire an expert lawyer who can represent it on matters of industrial and commercial development in rural parts of Warren County. The group formed after Jaindl Land Co. bought 585 acres in White Township and announced plans to build up to 6 million square feet of warehouses and other commercial structures. Jaindl has since scaled that down to a total of 2.8 million square feet. The developer is currently seeking preliminary site plan approval for an 800,000-square-foot high cube warehouse located between Route 519 and the Delaware River in the township. A hearing on that application is scheduled to continue Tuesday, Jan. 14. That review comes as the White Township Planning Board is also considering amendments to the township master plan. The proposed amendments would change industrial zones to residential zones but allow high-cube warehouses through conditional use applications. The citizens group wants somebody who can fight for its cause from a legal perspective when dealing with developers and municipal entities, according to CFSD member Chris Amato. We hope it will give us a stronger position of advocacy, so we can help facilitate sound decision-making, Amato said. We would like all parties involved to know we are serious and we are here to stay. Amato lives in Pennsylvania and works for the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, and said five generations of his family have lived in White Township. Opponents of massive developments like the one proposed by Jaindl are concerned they do not fit the landscape and overall character of the area, Amato said. CFSD member Tom Bodolsky said the group is looking to hire a lawyer who has been working with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. Our executive committee feels we need legal representation, at least for the Jaindl application, Bodolsky said. We need someone shepherding testimony when it comes time for the public to have our say. A recent fundraising event for the group was sold out, Amato said, but more money is needed to reach the $50,000 goal to hire a lawyer. Fundraising is being done through the New Jersey Highlands Coalition. Visit savewarrencounty.org to learn more. John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Authorities charged Mr Lump with threatening to kill President Trump in retaliation for the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani: AP A Florida man who allegedly threatened to kill Donald Trump in a live-streamed video while dressed in a shower curtain has insisted he was only joking. Chauncy Lump, 26, is accusing of threatening to blow up the 3,400 square kilometre region of Broward County in a seven-minute clip - which came in the immediate aftermath of the US airstrike in Iraq that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. The Fort Lauderdale resident, who is employed as a security guard, appeared in the video with his face covered in white cream and a towel wrapped around his head. He faces federal charges for threatening to kill the president and making a false bomb threat. "He killed my leader, please tell me where is Donald Trump?" Mr Lump said in a video posted to Facebook under the name BlackMan vs America. He added: "He killed my leader and I have to kill him" Court filings said Mr Lump was wearing a towel on his head in the style of a turban and middle-eastern sounding music was playing in the background of the video. Mr Lump continued: I need to find the Donald because if I don't find him, I am going to have to blow up Broward County so please tell me where he is, I dont want to have to blow up Broward County tonight. Dont play with me I have an AK47, I have it here. He then proceeded to raise what appeared to be a loaded magazine for an AK47 assault rifle, according to arrest paperwork filed by Secret Service agent Lucas White. Federal agents were alerted to the case after the video was handed over by an employee at Facebook. While court filings did not specify where Mr Lump worked as a security guard, they did confirm he had a license to carry a concealed weapon. Agents said that when confronted at his home on Saturday by Florida police and the Secret Service, Mr Lump admitted producing the video in response to Soleimani's death, but said that he was just joking around and had no intention of carrying through with any of the above threats. Story continues However he acknowledged that the implication of the statements that he made in the video imply that he wanted to harm or kill Donald Trump and blow up with explosives or bombs - parts of Broward County. Additional reporting by AP. Read more College director fired after joke about bombing US cultural sites BERLIN The spoof on a classic German childrens song was intended to poke fun at the generation gap between climate-conscious young Germans and their purportedly gas-guzzling grandparents. But after one of the nations largest public broadcasters posted the song on its Facebook page, some offended grandparents complained. The far right caught on, and its online trolls fomented a controversy to promote their own agenda. The broadcaster took down the item and apologized. Its journalists accused their bosses of caving in and said that they themselves had become targets of death threats. Those events over the last two weeks in Germany are verging on a national scandal centered on, of all things, a satirical ditty called Granny Is an Old Environmental Swine. Observers note the controversy is similar to others in recent years fanned by a small number of right-wing trolls seeking to disrupt public consensus on the fight against climate change and the countrys mainstream media. Flash The chief of Iran's Aviation Organization on Friday rejected reports that a missile hit the Ukrainian passenger plane in Tehran's airspace on Wednesday. "We are sure that no missile hit the Ukrainian plane," Ali Abedzadeh told reporters. The plane on fire was flying 90 seconds in the air, Abedzadeh said. Besides, the direction and spot of the plane crash shows the pilot was trying to turn back to the airport, he added. Asked why the pilot did not inform the airport of the return of the plane, he said the pilot "did not have time to contact as he had to save the plane." "Any comment on a missile strike at the plane is not an expert view," Abedzadeh noted, dismissing the claims by the U.S. and Canadian officials about the possibility of the plane being hit by a missile. The cause of the passenger plane crash will be announced "after reading the black box," the Iranian official said. Iran is able to read the data of black box, Abedzadeh said, adding it requires since it is damaged, But since the balck box is damaged, Iran needs particular software and hardware not available in Iran to read it, he stressed. Iran might ask for assistance from other countries to recover the data of the black box, the official said. Preliminary findings have been offered to the United States as the manufacturer of the plane and to Sweden and Canada following their request, Abedzadeh revealed. On Wednesday, a Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane with 176 people on board crashed near Iran's catpial Tehran, which coincided with Iran's missile attack on the U.S. military base in Iraq. All the 176 aboard were killed in the accident. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged Iran to come to the negotiating table (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has warned Iran it is danger of becoming an international pariah after the British ambassador was arrested during anti-government protests in Tehran. Mr Raab said the detention of Rob Macaire and without any grounds or explanation was a flagrant violation of international law. He said Tehran was at a crossroads with the prospect of continuing political and economic isolation unless it engages diplomatically with the West. Mr Macaire was said to be safe and well in the British embassy after he was eventually released after more than an hour in custody. The arrest of our ambassador without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law.Dominic Raab His arrest came as a wave of anti-government demonstrations broke out across the country following the admission Iranian forces had accidentally brought down a Ukrainian airliner killing all 176 people on board. It is understood that the ambassador had been attending what had been billed as a vigil for the victims of the crash at the Amir Kabir University. However the event quickly turned into an anti-government protest at which point he was said to have left. It was as he was trying to make his way back to the embassy that he was picked up although it is not clear by whom. Expand Close People gather for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the Ukraine plane at Amir Kabir University (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People gather for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the Ukraine plane at Amir Kabir University (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) According to Irans Tasnim news agency he was one of a number of people arrested outside the university on suspicion of organising, provoking, and directing radical actions. In a statement, Mr Raab said: The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law. The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment. It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards. The incident threatened to re-ignite tensions in the region just as they appeared to be easing. In an article for The Sunday Telegraph, written before Mr Macaires arrest, Mr Raab urged Iran to come in from the cold and resolve its differences with the West peacefully. Following the dramatic events of the past fortnight, he said the diplomatic door has been left ajar for the regime in Tehran to end the isolation choking its economy. He said Britain and its European allies still hope to revive the Iran nuclear deal, despite US President Donald Trumps insistence that it is dead. However he said the Iranians must end their pursuit of nuclear weapons, drop their support for terrorism, and release the foreign nationals held as pawns in its nefarious diplomatic game. His intervention came after the Iranians admitted they had brought down a Ukrainian jet shortly after take-off from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board, in a disastrous mistake. Expand Close Debris at the scene of the Ukrainian plane disaster (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Debris at the scene of the Ukrainian plane disaster (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) The crash happened just hours after Iran launched a series of ballistic missile strikes on US bases in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of its top commander, General Qassem Soleimani, by an American drone. The missiles failed to cause any casualties and Mr Trump indicated he would respond by tightening sanctions rather than with further military action. Mr Raab said he and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have made clear to Irans president Hassan Rouhani and foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that they should now take the opportunity offered and come to the negotiating table. He said: Crucially, the diplomatic door has been left ajar for Iran to choose a different path. We conveyed the message that there is a route for Iran to come in from the cold if the regime is willing to abide by its international responsibilities. Iran must stop pursuing a nuclear weapon, end its support for terrorism, and release the foreign nationals and dual nationals it cruelly holds as pawns in its nefarious diplomatic game. That is the path out of economic and political isolation, which is choking its economy and hurting its people. Both US and the Europeans have made this overture. But this strategic choice can only be made in Tehran. Expand Close Pedestrians walk past banners of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pedestrians walk past banners of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Mr Raab said while the US had lost faith in the nuclear deal in which Iran was supposed to curb its weapons programme in return for the easing of sanctions Britain, France and Germany still hope it can be revived. He said they are now considering triggering the dispute resolution mechanism over Irans non-compliance with its provisions as a way of involving the United Nations Security Council. Our aim is to keep diplomacy and a nuclear deal alive, not extinguish it, he said. SMITHERS, B.C.A spokesman for the Wetsuweten hereditary clan chiefs says they have asked the RCMP not to use force against opponents of a natural gas pipeline facing an injunction order in northern British Columbia. Namoks said he and other chiefs delivered directives during a meeting with RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan, as well as local New Democrat MP Taylor Bachrach and provincial Forests Minister Doug Donaldson. All we ask for is to maintain the peace and to not allow the RCMP to step forward and start any form of violent action, he said after a rally in Smithers on Friday. Coastal GasLink has signed agreements with all 20 elected First Nation councils along the planned 670-kilometre route from northeastern British Columbia to LNG Canadas export terminal in Kitimat on the coast, but hereditary chiefs say the project does not have their consent. A checkpoint is seen at a bridge leading to the Unist'ot'en camp on a remote logging road near Houston, B.C., Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs issued a letter on January 4, 2020 advising Coastal Gaslink that its staff and contractors are "trespassing" in the same area where 14 protesters were arrested last January when the RCMP enforced an interim injunction at a blockade near Smithers. DARRYL DYCK/CANADIAN PRESS Supporters of the chiefs have felled trees along a road to a Coastal GasLink work site and are building a new support camp at a pullout. They already occupy two other camps along the road. The Unistoten camp, where one woman named in the injunction has lived for 10 years, and the Gidimten camp, where the RCMP enforced an injunction last year and arrested 14 people. RCMP spokeswoman Dawn Roberts confirmed that a series of meetings is scheduled and ongoing. But she says in an email that out of respect for those involved and the spirit of what they are trying to accomplish, she will not share what is discussed until all the meetings have taken place or decisions have been made. She says the RCMP is committed to facilitating dialogue between those involved. We remain hopeful that these efforts will result in a resolution. This has been our focus and continues to be our focus, she says. The RCMP issued a statement Wednesday saying it has launched a criminal investigation into traps likely to cause bodily harm after patrolling the area where trees were felled across the road. Officers found stacked tires with jugs of fuel inside, as well as bags of fuel-soaked rags. They also found trees along the side of the road that had been partially cut, which the RCMP say could be knocked down by wind. Roberts says that investigation is progressing and remains active. Namoks has said the trees were felled for the safety of Wetsuweten chiefs and their supporters. Coastal GasLink responded to an interview request with an emailed statement. Coastal GasLink is approved, permitted and under construction today with more than 1,000 people working to build it, safely and responsibly, Suzanne Wilton says in the statement. She pointed to a news release that says clearing, grading, workforce accommodation, construction and other activities are planned for January between Chetwynd and Kitimat. The company has awarded $870 million in contracts since the final investment decision was made in October 2018, it says. At the rally Friday, a spokeswoman for the Gidimten camp called supporters to donate supplies like warm clothes, noting the temperature is expected to drop to -30 C by Monday. Were being told that we are criminals for breaking the law, said Molly Wickham, who also goes by Sleydo. Well Ill tell you that at one point at time, stealing our children from us and putting us in residential schools was the law. Read more about: Dramatic footage shows the moment Alaska authorities rescue a 30-year-old man who was stranded outside in the middle of the wilderness for at least 22 days in subzero temperatures after his cabin blew up because of an accidental fire. Tyson Steele, a homesteader from Utah, wrote SOS in large letters in the snow so that Alaska State Troopers flying overhead by helicopter spotted on Thursday. The video showing the rescue shows Steele frantically waving his arms in the air as the chopper descends down on an area around 20 miles outside of Skwentna. The state troopers could only see Steele by helicopter since he had been stranded in an area that was not accessible by roadway. He has told how he ate peanut butter and pineapple and built a makeshift cabin to survive. Taylor Steele, 30, a homesteader from Utah, was rescued on Thursday by Alaska State Troopers Steele spent 22 days in the Alaskan wilderness where he braved subzero temperatures He wrote 'SOS' in large letters in the snow after his cabin burned down Steele was stranded in the wilderness in Susitna Valley, where the nearest neighbor lived in Skwentna, about 20 miles away Steele had not been heard from in weeks, and family and friends asked authorities to perform a welfare check. He told state troopers that he doesnt remember if his cabin caught fire on December 17 or 18 - meaning he was stranded for either 22 or 23 days. It started with a pretty hasty mistake, Steele said. My woodstove is very, very old. The mistake I made, I got hasty and I put a big piece of cardboard in the stove to start the fire. Which I knew was a problem, Ive had woodstoves all my life. I knew that you dont do that. So, it sent a spark out through the chimney which landed on the roof. The spark eventually made the roof catch fire. Theres fiery drips of plastic coming through the roof above me, Steele recalls. So, I go outside to pick up some snow and I just see that the whole roofs on fire. Steele quickly threw on a pair of boots while wearing no socks, pulled up his long johns, and put on a heavy wool sweater. He then sees the cabin go up in flames. Steele then remembered that his dog, a six-year-old chocolate lab, was inside. Tragically, Steele (seen in the above file photo) wasn't able to save his dog from the cabin fire Steele's family and friends grew worried when they didn't hear from him in weeks, so they asked Alaska State Troopers to do a welfare check He told state troopers that he doesnt remember if his cabin caught fire on December 17 or 18 His name was Phil. Best dog in the world, Steele said, getting choked up. He was so scared of the fire and in my thinking Ive gotta grab Phil and Ive gotta grab some stuff to sleep in so I basically I grabbed everything that was on my bed. You know, blankets on my bed. I just grabbed some coats, some sleeping bags whatever just a bag of something and whatever and wrapped it up in the blanket and I rush outside, and I tell Phil, Get out of here! Get out of here! And he jumps off the bed, and I think its good, right? I think hes left. In the confusion, Phil was still inside. I go grab my rifle around the other side of the cabin .338. And my dog starts howling, right? Inside. And I thought he was not inside. Eventually, the fire spreads and causes the ammunition stored inside to explode. He realized there was no hope of saving Phil. I have no words for what sorrow; it was just, just a scream, he said. Phil, Steele's six-year-old chocolate lab, was unable to escape the cabin went it was engulfed by flames Steele cried as he recounted the death of his good friend. The two are seen above in this undated file photo Just a visceral not angry, not sad, just, like, thats all I could express just scream. Felt like I tore my lung out. He described the explosions he saw which engulfed the cabin. All my bullets, I had 500 rounds, probably, and shotgun shells, .338 shells, 9 mm, .44 a whole bunch of different shells, Steele said. The one I recovered was out of bullets and the bullets were in an ammo box exploding. Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow! It was like a war zone. It was just 500 rounds going off all at once. I dont know if I can even approach the cabin to put it out. Theres 500 rounds of ammunition going off! Steele was able to salvage canned food and jars of peanut butter from a pantry that was not destroyed by the fire. The thing was, maybe half of those cans, theyve heated up and popped open and the smokes circulating inside, he said. So, it tastes like my home, just burning. He also told a local news station that he ate pineapple, despite being allergic to the fruit. Steele said he built a snow cave, where he slept the first two nights after the cabin burned down. Snow caves are pretty nice for survival, he said. Theres a lot of insulation. It can be negative 40 outside and if you have a candle which I didnt but if you do, it can be above 30 degrees. Steele was able to salvage canned food and jars of peanut butter from a pantry that was not destroyed by the fire But I just huddled into that dark cave and I slept. I slept for a really long time. And it was, it was warm. Warmer than outside. Steele said that the heavy snowfall combined with the fact that his snowboats were left inside the charred cabin meant that he needed to make do with boots and crappy socks that were full of holes. It took me days just to go a quarter mile, he said. Steele said he was looking for a frozen lake where a rescue plane could land and extricate him. He then paved a trail toward a lake, thinking it would make it easier for rescue services to find him. Steele then drew a big SOS into the snow. He says he then built another shelter using scrap lumber and scavenged tarps. He put the tent-like domed structure around the woodstove that he used to heat his cabin. Its by no means a cozy cabin that I was able to put together, he said. It just took the edge off. I could still see my breath, but at least I wasnt suffering. And I spent a lot of my days, a lot of my time say this is the woodstove and this is my cot, and I would be like this, he said before showing how he almost hugged the stove. At lunchtime on Thursday, the bells of Westminster Abbey rang out in the wintry sunshine, filling the blue sky above the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames with joyful sound. It was a deeply British moment: the nation's most famous church celebrating the 38th birthday of Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William, who will one day become King. But amid the pageantry, the royal family was reeling from another crisis. Hours earlier, William's younger brother, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, had dropped a bombshell, announcing -- without warning -- they are quitting their roles as senior royals to spend more time in North America. They want to become financially independent and "carve out" a "progressive new role." For a country obsessed with its history of kings and queens, it was a shocking and confusing development. Harry is the most famous member of the royal family and second-most popular after his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, according to YouGov research. His exit raises questions over the place of the monarchy in British public life and its ability to keep pace with a country undergoing the revolutionary changes unleashed by Brexit. Since the U.K. voted to leave the European Union in 2016, its politics have been pitched into disarray, with angry adversaries lining up to attack each other from both sides of the toxic Brexit debate. As Parliament collapsed into chaos and the governments of David Cameron and Theresa May fell apart, the monarchy provided a rare point of stability, as well as a welcome distraction. In May 2018, the nation delighted in the marriage of Harry to Meghan, and then a year later the birth of their son, Archie. The entire British establishment is geared toward protecting the monarchy from political controversy and keeping the queen above the fray. Any misjudgment could set in train events that would threaten its very existence. But the royal family matters deeply for British politics, too. As head of state, the queen occupies a vital part of the constitution, signing bills into law, convening Parliament and appointing prime ministers. She is also Britain's most effective diplomat, receiving visits from dignitaries to her palaces and castles and undertaking overseas trips to strengthen relations with allies. When the U.K. ends its 45-year alliance with the countries of the EU on Jan. 31, it will need its royals to work overtime to win new friends. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made clear he will open trade negotiations with other countries as soon Brexit is delivered, including with the U.S. President Donald Trump has enjoyed several tours to Britain, including a full state visit last June when he dined with the queen at Buckingham Palace. The royals have significant economic influence, too. An estimated 2.7 million visitors a year come to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, the queen's residences, while a 2017 report by Brand Finance valued the monarchy's contribution to the economy at 1.8 billion pounds ($2.4 billion) a year. "The young royals are an extension of British soft power, acting as one of the biggest pull factors for tourists visiting this country," Brand Finance CEO David Haigh said. Johnson will also need a stable monarchy to keep the U.K. together. Brexit tensions have revived the movement toward Scottish independence. While last month's general election brought some parliamentary stability in London, it widened the political divide between England and Scotland. As former Prime Minister David Cameron once infamously revealed, the queen herself had been preoccupied with the first referendum on Scotland's independence in 2014 and "purred" on the phone when he told her the country had voted to remain part of the U.K. When her reign finally ends, the question will be whether the rest of the family can retain the levels of support she enjoyed in her time as a constant presence in the nation's affairs. As a young prince, who won public affection and sympathy after his mother Princess Diana died when he was a child, Harry could have helped. In his wilder youth, he was frequently in the headlines for the wrong reasons. He was photographed wearing a Nazi uniform, and on another occasion naked pictures leaked of him playing strip billiards in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2012. Yet as a former soldier who served in Afghanistan, he's hugely popular and has a natural touch with the public that's been likened to that of his mother. In the short term, his highly contentious decision looks unlikely to win Prince Harry the peace he craves. The bitter row with other members of the royal family is set to include a wrangle over how far he and his wife should get taxpayer-funded security, a bill likely to rise if they spend more time overseas. Media attention is now more intense than ever. 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. For the royal family, the loss of such a modern prince who can connect with younger generations is a blow to the institution's image ahead of some momentous tests. Queen Elizabeth, 93, has been on the throne for 67 years, while her husband, Prince Philip, has struggled with his own poor health in recent years. The queen is loved by the public, described by fans as "admirable, hard working, respected, dignified and dedicated." But at 71, her heir Prince Charles is already facing a battle to win over the support of the public. He ranks seventh on the YouGov list, while his second wife, Camilla, is 10th. Just 30% of respondents gave her a positive rating. In November, Charles's brother Prince Andrew was forced to announce he will be stepping back from public life after he became embroiled in the Jeffrey Epstein pedophile scandal. The government has secret plans which will be put into action in the days after the queen dies. A report in the Guardian newspaper 2017 explained the nature of officials' concerns: "The queen is approaching the end of her reign at a time of maximum disquiet about Britain's place in the world," it said. For senior members of the royal family, the bells will continue to ring out to wish them a happy birthday. As Prince Harry turns his back on all the pomp, the risk for the monarchy and the stability of the British state is the public might follow his lead. - - - Bloomberg's Thomas Penny and Olivia Konotey-Ahulu contributed to this report. I ran says its military "unintentionally" shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 people aboard. A statement released to Iran's state TV said the plane was shot down in "human error" after it was mistaken for a "hostile target". The country's president Hassan Rouhani described the crash as a "disastrous" and "unforgivable" mistake. Iran's government had previously repeatedly denied accusations that it was responsible. The plane had turned towards a "sensitive military centre" of the Revolutionary Guard when the military was at its "highest level of readiness", the statement said. Iran: Tehran Plane Crash - In pictures 1 /13 Iran: Tehran Plane Crash - In pictures via Reuters AP AFP via Getty Images People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Images AP AP via Reuters AP Rescuers check the debris following the plane crash via Reuters Part of the wreckage from Ukrainian plane that crashed in Tehran shortly after take-off via Reuters "In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit," the statement added alongside an apology and vow to upgrade systems to prevent future tragedies. It also said those responsible for the strike would be prosecuted. The plane was shot down early on Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing US troops in Iraq. The attack on the bases, in which no one was hurt, was in retaliation for the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. Iran video appears to show missile striking Ukrainian plane "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake," Mr Rouhani wrote on Twitter in response to shooting down of the plane. "My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences". In another tweet he described what happened as a "great tragedy" and "unforgivable mistake" and called for those responsible to be prosecuted. He has also blamed the tragedy on "threats and bullying" by the US after the killing of Gen Soleimani. 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 country's supreme leader also offered condolences and called for an investigation. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed deep sympathy to the families of the victims and called on the armed forces to pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident. "A sad day," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. "Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations." The country's ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, apologised on Twitter after initially saying an Iranian missile could not have caused the plane to crash. Iran's acknowledgement of responsibility for the plane crash was likely to inflame public sentiment against authorities after Iranians had rallied around their leaders after Gen Soleimani's killing. The general was seen as a national icon, and hundreds of thousands of people had turned out for funeral processions across the country. But the majority of the plane crash victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians, and the crash came just weeks after authorities quashed nationwide protests ignited by a rise in petrol prices. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on Wednesday morning on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lowered the nation's death toll from 63. "This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility, and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission," said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. "I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face." QUETTA, PakistanThe death toll from a suicide bombing at a mosque in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta rose to 15 on Saturday, officials said. The blast during Friday evening prayers wounded at least 20 other people, police said. Two of the wounded people died overnight in the hospital, said provincial home minister Zia Langove, adding that six people were still in a critical condition. ISIS terrorist group claimed its suicide bomber carried out the attack to target an Afghan Taliban seminary. The U.S. condemns this heinous terrorist attack in a place of worship, Paul Jones, the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, said in a statement. I extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Mineral and gas-rich Baluchistan, of which Quetta is the capital, is at the center of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of Chinas Belt and Road project. But violence in the province has fueled concerns about the security of projects such as a planned energy link from western China to Pakistans southern port of Gwadar. The attack was the second in the city this week, while police said they had foiled another by killing a suicide attacker in Rawalpindi city near Islamabad after he shot and killed two policemen. The Taliban denied in a statement that some of its members, including a senior commander, were killed. Local officials in Quettas police and district administration would not confirm whether the Dar-ul-Aloom Shariah seminary belonged to the Afghan Taliban under a state policy which denies the presence of the group on its soil. However, two officials said on condition of anonymity that the seminary was part of the Afghan Taliban. Baluchistan has faced an insurgency by separatist and nationalist groups who want a greater share in revenues earned from the local resources. Radical Islamic terrorists, including ISIS which consists of splinters from local Taliban and sectarian groups, also have a strong presence in the region. By Gul Yousafzai Photo: Twitter Police Officer Nicholas Reyna, 27, who had been with the department for one year, died at the scene of a crash Saturday. Severe storms sweeping across parts of the U.S. South were blamed Saturday in the deaths of at least nine people, including two first responders, as high winds, tornadoes and unrelenting rain battered a large area of the region. Storm-related fatalities were reported in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama. Two first responders were killed and another was critically injured in Lubbock, Texas, Saturday morning after they were hit by a vehicle while working the scene of a traffic accident in icy conditions, officials said. Police Officer Nicholas Reyna, 27, who had been with the department for one year, died at the scene. Firefighter Lt. David Hill, 39, was taken to a local hospital where he later died. Firefighter Matthew Dawson, 30, was hospitalized in critical condition. Lubbock Police Chief Floyd Mitchell called it an extremely tragic day for the city. Another person had died in Texas Friday night when a car flipped into a creek in Dallas as severe thunderstorms passed through. Lightning from Friday's stormy weather was suspected of causing fires that burned two houses by caused no injuries in the North Texas cities of Burleson and Mansfield. In Alabama, three people were confirmed killed near Carrollton in Pickens County, the National Weather Service in Birmingham said on Twitter. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said the deaths were caused by an embedded tornado within a long line of intense thunderstorms." Earlier Saturday, in northwestern Louisiana, firefighters found the bodies of an elderly couple near their demolished trailer in Benton, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office said via Facebook. The winds were so strong the home of the couple, who were the in-laws of a parish deputy, was moved 200 feet from its foundation. The National Weather Service in Shreveport said a tornado with winds of around 135 mph (217 kph) had touched down in Bossier Parish Also in Louisiana, Raymond Holden, 75, was killed in his bed when a tree fell on his home in Oil City, crushing him, according to the Caddo Parish Coroner's Office. More than 139,000 people were without power in Alabama, according to Alabama Power. According to PowerOutage.us, Mississippi had more than 39,000 power outages Saturday afternoon. About 20,000 customers were without power in Louisiana. Outages were reported from Texas to Michigan. In Tennessee, Memphis Light, Gas and Water said about 23,000 customers were without power Saturday morning. Damage was widespread throughout Shelby County, Tennessee's most populous county that includes Memphis, including downed trees and power poles, some of which will need to be replaced, according to the utility. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reported Saturday morning that portions of several highways in the southeastern part of the state were closed due to flooding. The Arkansas Department of Transportation reported that portions of several state highways across the state, particularly in the southeastern portion of Arkansas were closed due to downed trees and power lines and to flooding. On Alabama's Gulf Coast, Baldwin County cancelled school activities including sporting events for Saturday. The National Weather Service warned of high winds and flooding and the potential for 10-foot-high (3-meter-high) waves on beaches, where northern visitors escaping the cold are a common sight during the winter. When a mother of three received fatal injuries at her home almost a century ago in south Galway, Arthur Griffiths was telegrammed about it and WB Yeats recorded its impact in two of his poems. Eileen Quinn was 24 years old, seven months pregnant, and waiting for her husband to return from Gort fair when she was shot and bled to death on November 1, 1920. Now the event has been interpreted in a, exhibition by Ms Quinns grand-niece, artist Bernadette Burns, which opened last night in Galway Arts Centre. Ms Quinns sister wrote in her diary that the shots had been fired by the Black and Tans, but the military court of inquiry ruled it as death by misadventure. However, it was reported that the trucks from which the shot was fired were carrying an Auxiliary division of the Royal Irish Constabulary being former military officers recently returned from the First World War battlefields of Flanders. There is a fine line between both, but it is her death and the impact of it on her family that inspired me, Ms Burns said. There is no one factual truth or telling of an event or story, there are many strands, versions, and viewpoints of any event that has happened. It took some time for a doctor and priest to arrive, and she died after 10pm that night. Ms Burnss grandmothers diary is at the centre of the exhibition, and the Galway Observer report of November 6, 1920, formed part of her extensive research. It is too awful, too inhuman to contemplate, local curate Fr Considine told the newspaper. I have read of Turkish atrocities; I have read of the death of Joan of Arc; I have read of the sufferings of Nurse Cavell, and as I read those things I often felt my blood boil and I often prayed that the good God might change the minds and hearts of those cruel monsters, said the priest.Fr Considine Ms Burns is a painter who works with drawing, photography, sculpture, video, and book making, and was fine art lecturer at the Dublin Institute of Technology for many years. She has exhibited her work in Ireland, Spain, and Greece. Her exhibition entitled The Uncertainty of History: Remembering Eileen Quinn continues at the Galway Arts Centre until February 21. Beleaguered private healthcare giant NMC Health is preparing to take legal action after a short-selling attack on the FTSE 100 firm wiped 2.6billion off its value, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Shares in NMC Health a Middle Eastern hospitals group listed in London halved last month after American short-seller Muddy Waters published a damning report that raised red flags over NMC Health's accounting practices, claiming its finances pointed to possible 'fraudulent asset values and the theft of company assets'. A source close to the company revealed it has engaged two major law firms to advise on filing a possible lawsuit to repair its reputation. A source close to NMC Health revealed it has engaged two major law firms to advise on filing a possible lawsuit to repair its reputation The source said: 'NMC Health is considering all potential legal remedies, both civil and criminal.' The legal claim will focus on actions taken by third parties to 'mislead the market and manipulate the share price', according to a statement to the stock exchange. Muddy Waters, run by the notorious bear raider Carson Block, and a group of hedge funds based in the US, Switzerland and London, cashed in from the share price fall because they were 'shorting' the shares. Funds that have built up short positions in NMC include AQR Capital, PSquared, Gladstone Capital Management and Portsea. Short-selling is a tactic that allows hedge funds to borrow shares under contract, returning them to the original owner when the price falls and pocketing the difference. The NMC insider said the crash triggered by Muddy Waters' report on December 17 has created a 'material loss' for NMC's pension fund backers and institutional investors, which include BlackRock and Legal & General. NMC Health operates private hospitals and fertility clinics in 19 countries including the UK. Its co-chairman is Indian billionaire Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, 77, who founded the Abu Dhabi-based group and is a major shareholder. Two of NMC's other major shareholders, Emirati billionaires Saeed and Khalifa Bin Butti, last week sold NMC shares worth $490million (375million) at a discount to cover loans owed to Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank, causing a further fall in the shares. NMC has said it will confirm its cash balances as part of an independent review of its finances. But Muddy Waters said similar reviews are usually 'exercises in whitewashing that provide little to no transparency or accountability'. It pointed out that other firms it has attacked through critical reports, such as commodity trader Noble Group and Chinese forestry group Sino-Forest, were both exonerated by their purportedly independent reviews, only to collapse later. Dr Shetty said in a statement that he 'fully supports the independent investigation and process in order to clarify matters'. NMC declined to comment on the litigation. Weather Alert ...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 35 below zero. * WHERE...Portions of central and northeast Vermont, and the Saint Lawrence Valley and northern Adirondacks in New York. * WHEN...Until 3 PM EST today. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The coldest wind chill values will occur through 11 AM today. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. && The head of the UN-recognised government in Libya said Saturday a ceasefire in the conflict-torn country would be conditional on a climbdown by Libyan strongman General Khalifa Haftar. Government of National Accord (GNA) chief Fayez al-Sarraj said he "welcomed" a joint Russian-Turkish initiative for a truce. "The condition is the withdrawal on the part of the attacker, who does not seem willing because he has another modus operandi," he said in reference to Haftar, following talks with Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in Rome. Europe and North Africa have launched a diplomatic offensive to try to prevent Libya, with the increased involvement of international players in its conflict, from turning into a "second Syria". Haftar's forces in April launched an offensive against the capital, seat of the GNA -- a military campaign that a UN panel of experts says has "unleashed new transfers of military equipment" to Libya. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin called for a ceasefire on Wednesday in Istanbul, and Turkey on Saturday asked Russia to convince Haftar to respect it. Haftar has claimed that a revival of the political process and the country's stability could only be assured by the "eradication of terrorist groups" and the dissolution of militia controlling Tripoli. Conte said Italy would make an "increased effort" to have a greater EU involvement in efforts to de-escalate the situation in the North African country, wracked by chaos since its 2011 revolt that toppled longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi. "We are convinced that this will offer the best guarantees against leaving the future of the Libyan people to the will of single individuals," he said. The EU is keen to stop the conflict spiralling out of control, fearing that terror groups such as the Islamic State could exploit the instability to launch attacks and concerned the turmoil could lead to more migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean. Conte hosted Haftar on Wednesday and called for a halt to his offensive. The prime minister's office said Conte had spoken with France's Emmanuel Macron after the meeting with Sarraj. Both leaders "reiterated the importance of coordination at a European level in support of the peace process and stabilisation of Libya", it said. Italy sees itself as a key player in Libya because of its historic links as the colonial power and opposes the increased roles of Turkey and Russia. This handed out on January 11, 2020 by the Palazzo Chigi Press Office shows President of Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, who said he "welcomed" a joint Russian-Turkish initiative for a truce This photo handed out on January 11, 2020 by the Palazzo Chigi Press Office shows Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (R), who said Italy would make an "increased effort" to have a greater EU involvement in attempts at de-escalation in Libya Unlike her colleagues at American Medical Responses local headquarters in Woodway, Liberty has to make sure her favorite toys are in tow when she heads to work each morning. The 15-month-old goldendoodle officially joined the local emergency medical services provider last month as a certified therapy dog. She is very calm, very caring and if you are sitting back in your chair she would get up in your lap, AMR operations supervisor Joby Berkley said. She is great therapy for the boss, because when you are having a bad day, you can just sit back and talk to the dog. The fluffy new addition to the team is meant to provide a measure of stress relief for first responders. Shes been here since she was 6 months old, coming every day as that is a part of their training, exposing them to everything that goes on here every day and beginning to learn the emotions and feels of people that work here. As a certified therapy dog, she is able to recognize when people need support, therapy and even cuddles after a hard or emotional day, AMR operations manager Heather Schmidt said. Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended a turbulent week in largely positive territory on Friday as investors turned their attention toward economic data from the United States, while Philippines fell on bleak trade print in November. U.S. non-farm payrolls in December, expected later in the day, are likely to increase by 164,000, according to a Reuters survey, compared with a surge of 266,000 in the previous month. The data comes ahead of the anticipated signing of a Phase 1 trade deal between the United States and China on Jan. 15, with investors hoping this could ease tensions between the world's two largest economies that has hampered global growth. "With U.S. economic growth mostly dependent on the consumer, a healthy labor market is crucial to any constructive "risk-on" narrative," said Stephen Innes, a market strategist at AxiTrader. Malaysia's benchmark index ended the week 1.2% lower, after posting five straight weekly gains. Industrial production index rose 2% in November from a year earlier, while palm oil production in Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm producer, fell 13% on-month in December, its lowest since June 2018. Telecom and utility firms dragged the index, with Axiata Group losing 1.9%, while Petronas Gas fell 0.9%. The Philippine bourse trimmed most of its losses from earlier in the session to end 0.3% lower. Data showed the country's trade deficit widening to $3.34 billion in November from previous month's deficit of $3.25 billion, with the exports falling 0.7% from last year. Ayala Land shed 1.4%, while industrial conglomerate JG Summit Holdings led declines in the industrial sector, losing 2.8%. Vietnam stocks ended at a six-week high, lifted by major gains in the financial sector. Vietnam JSC Bank for Industry and Trade and Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam gained 4.9% and 3.3%, respectively. Singapore shares closed at a near two-month high, and posted a third consecutive weekly gain. Gains in the financial sector kept the index in positive territory on Friday, with heavyweight DBS Group Holdings rising 0.5%, while Singapore Telecommunications fell 1.2%, weighing on the benchmark. Thai stocks ended the week 0.9% lower, while Indonesian shares posted their worst weekly fall in six weeks. New Jersey officials have refused to identify a former state trooper who was fired for racially offensive behavior" and now face a legal challenge from open records advocates and news organizations. A coalition of 16 media outlets, including NJ Advance Media, recently joined the legal fight arguing the secrecy surrounding the troopers termination is a violation of state records law. The case, currently before the Supreme Court, could have wide-ranging implications for New Jersey police departments, which have resisted disclosing the names of law enforcement officers fired for serious misconduct. At the center of the controversy is a single, anonymous New Jersey state trooper, who was fired after admitting to acting in an unofficial capacity to the discredit of (the State Police) while off-duty by having questionable associations, engaging in racially offensive behavior and publicly discussing police patrol procedures. The troopers firing was disclosed in an annual report of the State Police Office of Professional Standards, which includes a summary of major discipline from the previous year. In 2017, open records advocate John Paff filed a public records request seeking additional details about the fired trooper, including his or her full name. Under New Jerseys Open Public Records Act, the primary law concerning the disclosure of government documents, an individuals name, title, position, salary, payroll record, length of service, date of separation and the reason therefor, and the amount and type of any pension received shall be a government record. State Police denied the request, claiming Paff sought privileged information. CJ Griffin, a public records attorney who has won major cases forcing the disclosure of government documents, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Paffs group, Libertarians for Transparent Government. It is especially important that the public knows the identities of police officers who engage in racially offensive behavior so that we can ensure they dont just move on to other police agencies, Griffin told NJ Advance Media, which produces content for NJ.com. Both a Superior Court judge and an appeals panel upheld the denial, but the state Supreme Court agreed last fall to take up the case. Now, a coalition of media organizations led by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press are jumping into the fray. Last month, the news organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief arguing the disclosure of the fired troopers name is in the public interest. Simply put, when a public officers misconduct rises to the level of termination, the Legislature has made clear that the public is entitled to know why," the media groups argue in their brief. The Supreme Courts ruling could have wide-ranging implications for police transparency at a time when state authorities are trying to improve relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve. In December, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced a sweeping set of police reforms. Among them was a requirement that every police agency in the state produce public reports of major discipline similar to the one at the center of the Paff case. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. On Christmas morning, 13-year-old Isabel woke to gifts under the tree, laughter and smiles to be shared with her twin sister and brother, and a new TV for her room. The morning after Christmas, she woke to find her legs paralyzed. Isabel's legs had suddenly started aching terribly on Christmas day and then went numb, but she'd been able to walk upstairs, hoping to sleep off whatever was making her weak and sore. The Kirby family was baffled and terrified. Isabel wound up in Akron Children's Hospital near their home in Medina county, California. She was diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, a rare, polio-like condition that doctors believe arises after infection with an enterovirus. There's some debate over whether AFM itself can be fatal and doctors are hopeful that Isabel will recover and walk again, but it's likely to take weeks or even months of therapy, her family told the Akron Beacon Journal. Isabel Kirby woke up the day after Christams paralyzed from the waist down, and now relies on a wheelchair to get around. Doctors believe she has acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) By afternoon on Christmas, Isabel knew something was off. 'My legs went into this big huge pain,' she told the Beacon Journal. 'Then they went numb.' She and her family wrote it off and hoped some rest would set Isabel straight, but in the morning she couldn't get herself out of bed - in the most literal sense. Isabel's upper body was fine, but from thee waist down she was totally immobilized. Her doctors believe that AFM has left the middle schooler paralyzed. AFM primarily strikes children and teenagers and has had the medical community largely stumped since its emergence in 2014. Not every patient tests positive for a strain of enterovirus in their spinal fluid, but so far most seem to have been ill with some kind of cold shortly before diagnosis. The 13-year-old from Medina county was happy and healthy the day before, according to her family On Christmas morning she opened gifts with her brother, twin sister, father (pictured) and mother (not pictured), but by that afternoon, Isabel's legs were hurting and later went numb Isabel's doctors have sent a sample of her spinal fluid and the details of her case to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmation, according to the Beacon Journal. They believe that the virus is probably in her spinal cord, either damaging the cord itself, causing Isabel's immune system to misfire in an attempt to attack the virus but hitting her nervous system instead, or some combination of the two. AFM, for reasons still unclear, tends to rear its head more considerably every two years. Case counts have been much higher in 2014, 2016 and 2018 than in the intermittent years. The odds of developing AFM are approximately one in a million. Enteroviruses are common causes of viral infections, but only a very few people develop AFM afterwards, and it often doesn't follow immediately. It's not clear why some people develop it and others don't. Before her sudden paralysis, Isabel 'was perfectly happy, healthy,' her mother, Noel Kirby, told the Beacon Journal. Despite her sudden illness, Isabel (center) is keeping a positive attitude and hopeful that she can 'push through' and walk again with physical therapy 'We cant comprehend it. It doesnt feel real right now.' Isabel has been given plasma exchange treatments, which may help to assuage the symptoms. For the moment, she's using a wheelchair to get around and, in physical therapy, she's begun to get back some hip movement and a little feeling in her legs. 'Its a lot, but I try to just go with the flow,' she said. 'Try to push through.' The Kirby's friends from church have set up a GoFundMe to help them cover the expenses of Isabel's hospitalization, treatment and therapy. A day after Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited Jaipur on a private visit, BSP president Mayawati slammed her for paying no heed to Kota hospital tragedy. Over 100 infants have died in the government-run hospital in Kota. "...the Congress leader frequently comes to Uttar Pradesh to shed crocodile tears. But in Rajasthan during her private visit yesterday she does not consider it appropriate to give a little time to wipe the tears of children's mothers in Kota even though she is also a mother and this is most unfortunate," the BSP supremo said in a tweet in Hindi. She said unlike the Congress, BJP and other parties, the BSP does not adopt double standards to do cheap on any issue. "Under such an atmosphere, along with other parties, the Congress is also not ready to change itself and its latest example is the case of death of a large number of innocent children due to government negligence in Congress ruled Rajasthan's Kota hospital," she added. Priyanka Gandhi had visited Jaipur on Friday to attend a wedding ceremony. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It shares borders with Yemen, where a war involving Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates two of its other neighbors continues to rage, and it has hosted peace talks with Yemens Houthi rebels. It has longstanding ties to Western nations like Britain and the United States, but also with Iran. Those links have at times made it a useful friend to the United States, such as when it brokered the release of three American hikers jailed in Iran in 2011. A few years later, it hosted covert talks between the United States and Iran that paved the way for an international agreement over Irans nuclear program. Michael Stephens, a research fellow for the Middle East at the Royal United Services Institute, said he expected the new sultan to largely stick with his predecessors foreign policy to keep the country safe. Oman is in this mixing bowl where they cant really lean either way because of their historical relationships and their geographic position, he said. Oman survives by being quiet, not by being noisy, and I dont see why he would tear up that playbook. The new sultans greatest challenges could be at home, where economic stagnation combined with low oil prices have led to large government deficits and rising unemployment among the countrys large youth population. Sultan Haitham has helped lead efforts to diversify Omans economy, though with limited success. Experts see him continuing that effort. Sultan Qaboos created a modern economy from scratch. Sultan Haitham will now need to reform that economy in order to right the ship, said Elana DeLozier, a research fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. MARK BRANDI Loading I like a good road trip, and The Motel Life by American writer and musician Willy Vlautin fits the bill. Set in Nevada, the story follows two brothers, Frank and Jerry Lee, as they embark on an ill-fated journey toward Montana in a 1974 Dodge. Sweet, melancholy, and very funny, Vlautins inimitable characters traverse the backroads and dingy motel rooms of an America rarely seen in popular culture. Closer to home, I enjoyed Favel Parretts latest, There Was Still Love. At its heart, its a homage to family, and (most especially) grandparents. But what Parrett does particularly well are the scenes in Prague you can feel the cobblestones beneath your feet as young Ludek races through the laneways, his imagination set alight by this ancient city. Id also recommend The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon. While it depicts the pull of religious fanaticism, its also a vivid tale of unrequited love on an elite US college campus. Kwon was born in South Korea, and I think migrant writers often have unique perspective on place and social class like Parretts, her careful observation of the small details is superb. ELLIOT PERLMAN For inspiration in the years writing my latest novel, I wanted to immerse myself in dark humour that dealt with people trying to survive an oppressive system that required one face for ones work life and another for home, a system that instilled fear into hearts yet demanded protestations of loyalty and apparent commitment to a common institution. So I turned to Russian literature. People are used to thinking of Russian books as vast cauldrons of thick dark soup. While there are certainly Russian classics that satisfy those demands, there are many examples of Russian literature that are incredibly sustaining, life-affirming fingers to the system which are also terribly funny. Starting way back in the 1840s with Nikolai Gogols fabulous short story The Overcoat, you have a piece of writing that is all at once very funny, very sad, social commentary that remains as pertinent to the world today as it was to its time. Moving forward we have the work of the magnificent Vladimir Voinovich (including Monumental Propaganda and The Fur Hat) as well as that of the wonderful Sergei Dovlatov (The Zone, The Suitcase and Pushkin Hills). Very dry and guaranteed to keep you cool. Maxine Beneba Clarke takes us to Jamaica for love under the Caribbean sun and to Prague for a story that is sad, beautiful and exquisitely tender. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones MAXINE BENEBA CLARKE For an old guilty-favourite holiday escape read, you cant go past Terry MacMillans How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Set in Montego Bay in Jamaica, the novel follows 40-year-old stockbroker Stella as she unexpectedly finds younger love and a new lease on life, under the Caribbean sun. Whats not to love? Favel Parretts newly-released third novel, There Was Still Love, is set in Melbourne and Prague, among other places. Its a sad, beautiful and exquisitely tender work of historical fiction. It definitely made me want to visit more of Europe. NICK EARLS When I heard Sia Figiel speak at Sydney Writers Festival in 1998, I realised she was offering a window not just to Samoan society but to a way of storytelling that was new to me. Where We Once Belonged is written using suifefiloi, which is sometimes described as the threading of many songs together to make one. As Figiel tells and retells, layers and complexity reveal themselves, as do humour, poetry and violence. The book explores the development of identity in a culture in which identity is more plural than singular, and thats its extra dimension as story of place. Figiel writes in a way that lets you see, hear and smell Samoa, but its the insights into the culture that stick. Bad Blood isnt one of Colm Toibins best-known works, but its rarely been more topical. It charts his walk along the length of the Irish border in the mid 80s, a time when conflict was commonplace there. It tells of new violence and old animosities in a place which permits you only to be on one side or the other. Despite this, he is able to approach it as a listener, a recorder. Read it to see why the prospect of a hard border strikes such fear now. NAM LE Isabella Hammads The Parisian is an ambitious epic that follows its Nablus-born, Europe-affected protagonist, Midhat, through his education formal and sentimental between the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of the Zionist enterprise. Like the best works of historical fiction, it stages collisions of personal and political: clashing Midhats crises of identity and allegiance against those of his native Palestine. The result is engrossing. Christos Tsiolkass latest novel, Damascus, stomps the same Levantine soil albeit a couple of millennia earlier. Our protagonist is St Paul, also caught at a cultural crossroads. Where Hammad depicts the birth of Palestinian nationalism, Tsiolkas takes on nothing less than the birth of Christianity and does so with rigour and grit. This is as-it-happens history, deeply immersive, yet alive to hindsight irony. Its a brave book, and sincerely spiritual. The Alaskan landscape of Chia-Chia Lins The Unpassing is all mudflats and permafrost, bluffs and beached whales. Nineteen-hour nights and nightless days. But the landscapes beauty is tincted with immigrant suffering: the endless white spruces released a scent like damp cleaning rags. Theres bleakness here, but its told in prose of astonishing lucidity and lyricism. Alice Pung suggests a voyage to India via a novel that concerns itself with pedestrian lives, yet is a real page-turner. Credit:Thom Rigney ALICE PUNG I got this majestic book in a garage sale, and although it evokes a time and place in vivid colour and visceral detail, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry is not the sort of book you read for blissful escapism. It is Dickensian, it plods along at the pace of a turtle stuck in a drain, it concerns itself with pedestrian lives, and yet it achieves the remarkable it is a real page-turner. Set in the 20-month period (June 1975 to January 1977) when Indias Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency across the country, the book is about the intertwined lives of four people a student, a widow, and two impoverished tailors from a small village. Eight years later, I still think about the characters. I also learned about the Zoroastrians in India, a group of people whom I knew nothing about before. A Fine Balance is one of the best contemporary books Ive ever read. MEG MUNDELL Despite the title, Sydney Bridge Upside Down by David Ballantyne, is a forgotten Kiwi treasure. Written in 1968, and set on the edge of the world a coastal New Zealand town, during the summer holidays the novel is narrated by Harry, a young boy who may not be quite what he seems. Following Harry from sun-drenched sand dunes to a derelict local abattoir, we sense things wont end well. Original and unsettling, its a gothic tale of lost innocence, dark doings and small-town weirdness. Bloody Scotland (Historic Environment Scotland, 2017) is brilliant idea and a great read: 12 short crime stories, with historic Scottish landmarks providing the settings ruined castles, Neolithic tombs, abandoned mills and old lighthouses. Steeped in sense of place, its an anthology that mingles murder, architecture, history, humour and chills. Colson Whiteheads Pulitzer-winning novel The Underground Railroad knocked the wind out of me. Cora, a teenage slave, flees a Georgia tobacco plantation with her friend Caesar, heading north via a secret subterranean escape route. In prose that flows like water, Whitehead unflinchingly lays bare the horror and brutality of slavery, racism and eugenics in a gripping and disturbing tale, infused with surreal twists. ELLEN VAN NEERVEN Shawn Holland and his daughter, Emma, thought Shen Yun Performing Arts was wonderful and amazing. They attended with four other family members at Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, on Jan. 10, 2020. (NTD Television) ATLANTAThree generations of a family came to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this evening in Atlanta, Georgia, to see Shen Yun Performing Arts, inspired by the fact that one of the youngest among them studies dance. But according to Shawn Holland, American Express program manager and the father of the young dancer, they also greatly enjoyed the shows stories of hope and redemption. It was wonderful. It was amazing, said Holland, who handles operational risk management for the credit card giant. Hollands daughter, Emma, is in seventh grade and studies ballet. It was amazing. I love the costumes, they were so pretty, she said. New York-based Shen Yun employs highly-expressive classical Chinese dance in its mission to revive Chinas traditional culture and beliefs. I think in general [the meaning of the show] was very positive, Holland said on Jan. 10, 2020. I think hope was the central theme in the performance, in all the dancesredemption. It was encouraging. China was once known as The Divine Land. Shen Yun carries on that tradition by depicting the ancient legend of the Creator and his prophesied return to earth. Im a Christian and so I saw a lot of parallels and similarities and putting your hope in something bigger than yourself, like God, the Creator. They talked about the Creator and it did hit home for me, it made sense to me, for sure, Holland said. I would absolutely encourage my friends to come. I know the culture is so much deeper than what we saw, but it gave you insight into the Chinese culture and the importance around a lot of the things that the Chinese hold dear. I thought it was neat. I will certainly encourage my friends to go, Holland added. I want to go again next year, Emma said, giving her stamp of approval, to the delight of her whole family. Restoring Ancient Culture David Harrison and his guest attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, on Jan. 10, 2020. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times) David Harrison is a senior software engineer who attended that evenings performance and found the experience fun, educational, and spiritual. I thought that they were excellent. I thought that it was very colorful. I loved the storytelling, Harrison said. Each of Shen Yuns short dance pieces impressed him and felt significant, adding credence to the idea that Shen Yun represents a pinnacle in todays art world. I thought, well, theyre all important, because I love history, so it made me think about the fact that the Western world thinks they have the history, but China really does have the history, you know. I think itd be fun to learn more about that actually, he said. While Shen Yun is restoring an ancient culture, something Harrison recognizes and thinks is a great idea, it isnt a show thats completely somber. Im glad they put a little bit of comedy in there too. That made it fun, you know? Having some lighthearted pieces in there. Its good, Harrison said. The traditional spirituality and divine recognition that resonated with the Holland family struck Harrison, too. He commented on the depiction of the Creator in Shen Yuns performance as an ancient and universal concept, and something to look into. Im very spiritual. Im not a Christian, but Im very spiritual, so I really like to dive into understanding different Asian spiritual concepts. I think its an interesting concept that so long ago, we already had these kinds of ideas and the flood ideas, and you know, that theyre not unique to Christianity. I think theres probably more to it, that theres some truth in all of it somewhere way back, he said. With reporting by NTD Television, Sally Sun, and Brett Featherstone. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. Asheen Phansey, adjunct professor at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, was fired Thursday after posting a joke on his Facebook account related to US president Donald Trumps threats to wage war against Iran. Phansey wrote that the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei should tweet a list of 52 sites of cultural American heritage that he would bomb. Phansey jokingly suggested some US sites for the Iranian military to target in retaliation: Um Mall of America? Kardashian residence? Asheen Phansey [Source: YouTube] The post was in response to a tweet by Trump threatening to bomb 52 cultural sites in Iran, such a threat being itself a war crime. The Babson professor later described the posting as a sloppy attempt at black humor. I am sorry that my sloppy humor was read as a threat, he said. I am completely opposed to violence and would never advocate it by anyone. Despite his apology for remarks made on his personal time, the college absurdly said Phansey was threatening violence. Babson College condemns any type of threatening words or actions condoning violence or hate, the administration declared in a statement issued after his firing. In contrast to Phanseys treatment, the US president is allowed to make actual threats against millions of innocent people and carry out assassinations with impunity. Last June, Trump threatened Iran with obliteration should it attack US forces. Infamously, Trump in 2017 threatened the country of North Korea, with a population of 25 million, with fire and fury like the world has never seen. Trumps threats have not been limited to foreign countries. Last May, reporting by the New York Times revealed that the president had suggested that the US border be surrounded by moats filled with alligators, snakes and other hazards. He also asked if border patrol agents could shoot refugees in the legs to deter them from entering the US. This follows Trump's advice to police officers that they treat arrested citizens rough" and not be "too nice. No one in the Democratic Party or the corporate media is asking that Trump be removed from office or even censured for such open support for mass violence and barbarism. In fact, such actions are being actively facilitated by these elements. Last July, Senate Democrats voted overwhelmingly in support for the third year in a row of massively increased military spending by the Trump administration. The July 2019 Pentagon budget was the largest in US history at $750 billion. Military spending now represents 60 percent of the discretionary government budget, and this could easily be used to turn the presidents perverted genocidal mania into horrifying reality. Faced with Trumps looming threats against Iran this week, House Democrats passed a completely toothless resolution that in no way restricts the presidents ability to wage war at the time of his choosing without any oversight whatsoever from members of congress. The presidents bloodthirstiness, however, is by no means unique. Egging on the Clinton administration to escalate its bombing campaign in Kosovo in 1999, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote, You want 1950? We can do 1950. You want 1389? We can do 1389 too. The Democratic Party as a whole completely backs Trumps war-making, with the difference that it more openly encourages war with Russia, the worlds second largest nuclear power. House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff made clear that Trump was being impeached largely because he was insufficiently aggressive against Russia. The Ukraines war against Russia is our fight too, said Schiff. The fact that Trump and other members of the ruling elite are able to make such comments without reprisal, while workers and youth are severely punished for even the most modest criticism of these policies, speaks to the complete breakdown of democratic forms of rule. Moreover, on college campuses throughout the US, this effort has been led by upper-middle class proponents of identity politics and the pseudo-left, which have abandoned the fight for free speech and due process. Writing about his termination, Phansey noted, I would have hoped that Babson, an institution of higher education that I love and to which I have given a great deal, would have defended and supported my right to free speech. Beyond my own situation, I am really concerned about what this portends for our ability as Americans to engage in political discourse without presuming the worst about each other. A great deal of the toxic and antidemocratic environment taking place on university campuses can be directly attributed to the Obama administration. In 2011 and 2014, the Obama administration intervened to modify Title IX regulations on campuses so that allegations of sexual abuse and harassment could be treated like modern-day inquisitions. Drumhead prosecutorial bodies were created on campuses with names such as Harvards Office for Sexual and Gender-Based Dispute Resolution. The Association of Title IX Coordinators certified more than 2,000 new Title IX coordinators and investigators between 2011 and 2014. At these secret proceedings, accusers are presumed from the outset to be telling the truth while the accused are presumed guilty and are not allowed to bring lawyers or even advisers with them in their defense. Moreover, there is no ability for the accused to appeal verdicts with which they disagree. This fundamental breakdown of due process rights at American universities extends well beyond the issue of sexual misconduct, as cases such as Phanseys clearly demonstrate. Phanseys case is certainly not the first. In July 2017, Trinity College Professor Johnny Eric Williams was suspended after Facebook posts he made regarding race relations in the United States. In 2014, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Professor Steven Salaita, who was tenured, was let go after tweeting outraged protests against the slaughter of innocent civilians by the Israeli regime in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The phenomenon is not confined to the US. The University of Sydney sacked Dr. Tim Anderson after he too expressed opposition to Israels slaughter of Palestinians in February 2019. Boeing Papers Show Employees Slid 737 Max Problems Past FAA Boeing employees raised doubts among themselves about the safety of the 737 Max. They hid problems from federal regulators and ridiculed those responsible for designing and overseeing the jetliner, according to a damning batch of emails and text messages released nearly a year after the aircraft was grounded over two catastrophic crashes. The documents, made public Thursday by Boeing at the urging of Congress, fueled allegations the vaunted aircraft manufacturer put speed and cost savings ahead of safety in rolling out the Max. Boeing has been wracked by turmoil since the twin disasters and is still struggling to get the plane back in the air. Last month, it fired its CEO. In the 117 pages of internal messages, Boeing employees talked about misleading regulators about problems with the companys flight simulators, which are used to develop aircraft and then train pilots on the new equipment. In one exchange, an employee told a colleague he or she wouldnt let family members ride on a Max. The colleague agreed. In a message chain from May 2018, an employee wrote: I still havent been forgiven by God for covering up (what) I did last year. It was not apparent exactly what the cover-up involved. The documents contain redactions and are full of Boeing jargon. The employees names were removed. Employees also groused about Boeings senior management, the companys selection of low-cost suppliers, wasting money, and the Max. This airplane is designed by clowns who, in turn, are supervised by monkeys, one employee wrote. A Boeing 737 Max being built for Norwegian Air International taxis for a test flight, at Renton Municipal Airport in Renton, Wash. on Dec.11, 2019. (Ted S. Warren, /AP/File) In response, Boeing said that it is confident the flight simulators work properly but that the conversations raise questions about the companys dealings with the Federal Aviation Administration in getting the machines certified. It said it is considering disciplinary action against some employees: These communications do not reflect the company we are and need to be, and they are completely unacceptable. FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said the simulator mentioned in the conversations had been checked three times in the past six months, and any potential safety deficiencies identified in the documents have been addressed. The Max has been grounded worldwide since March, after two crashes five months apartone involving Indonesias Lion Air, the other an Ethiopian Airlines flightkilled 346 people. Investigators believe the crashes were caused when the jetliners brand-new automated flight-control system mistakenly pushed the planes noses down. Boeing is still working to fix the flight-control software and other systems on the Max and persuade regulators to let it fly again. The work has taken much longer than Boeing expected, and it is unclear when the plane will return to the skies. Federal prosecutors, in the meantime, have opened a criminal investigation into the development and approval of the Max. A lawmaker leading one of the congressional investigations into Boeing called the batch of messages incredibly damning. They paint a deeply disturbing picture of the lengths Boeing was apparently willing to go to in order to evade scrutiny from regulators, flight crews and the flying public, even as its own employees were sounding alarms internally, said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., chairman of the House Transportation Committee. DeFazio said the documents detail some of the earliest and most fundamental errors in the decisions that went into the fatally flawed aircraft. In one email message, an employee, believed to be a test pilot, wrote that he crashed the first few times he flew the Max in simulator testing. The email was written in May 2015, nearly two years before the FAA approved the Max for flight in March 2017. You get decent at it after 3-4 tries, but the first few are ugly, the employee wrote. In a 2015 message, a chief technical pilot said Boeing would push back hard against requirements that pilots undergo simulator training before flying the Max. One of the planes biggest selling points, as Boeing saw it, was that 737 pilots could easily switch to the new jet with only a small amount of computer-based training, saving airlines money. Critics have said the FAA should have required simulator training, so pilots knew how to handle malfunctions with the new flight-control software, known as MCAS. Initially, Boeing didnt disclose to airlines and pilots that the software was on the planes. I want to stress the importance of holding firm that there will not be any type of simulator training required to transition from NG (existing 737s) to MAX. Boeing will not allow that to happen. Well go face to face with any regulator who tries to make that a requirement, the chief technical pilot wrote in a March 2017 message. Another employee, in November 2014, made clear that the plane did things that pilots didnt expect, and it was hidden from the FAA. We dont want to indicate to the FAA that our design conflicts with pilot expectations (esp. since the pilot responses are naive and our design has been vetted in a number of demos), one employee wrote. The emails add to the growing body of evidence that Boeing misled the FAA and its airline customers. In October, Boeing turned over messages in which a former senior test pilot, Mark Forkner, told a co-worker in 2016 that the MCAS was egregious and running rampant when he tested it in a flight simulator. So I basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly), wrote Forkner, then Boeings chief technical pilot for the 737. The grounding of the Max will cost the company billions in compensation to the families of those killed in the crashes and to airlines that canceled thousands of flights. Last month, Boeing decided to suspend production of the plane in mid-January, a decision that is rippling out through its vast network of suppliers. CEO Dennis Muilenburg was ousted after alienating regulators, Boeings airline customers, and the crash victims families with his handling of the disaster and his overly optimistic predictions of when the plane might fly again. Boeings current chairman, David Calhoun, will try to right the company when he takes over as CEO on Monday. By David Koenig And Tom Krisher Two U.S. soldiers were killed and two wounded when the army vehicle they were traveling in struck a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, the NATO press office said in a statement. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the January 11 attack, saying it occurred in the southern Kandahar Province, where U.S. and Romanian forces are stationed. NATO confirmed the incident took place in Kandahar. The U.S. soldiers were conducting operations as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission. They are the first U.S. military members to be killed in Afghanistan in 2020. Last year, 20 U.S. service members died in combat-related incidents in the war-torn country. The U.S. Department of Defense will not release the names of the soldiers killed until 24 hours after their relatives have been notified. There are currently around 12,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, down from a peak of roughly 100,000 in 2011. Of those, almost 8,000 are participating in NATOs Resolute Support training and assistance mission -- making up close to half its overall contingent. Civilians have also been victims of attacks by the Taliban. The Afghan Interior Ministry reported on January 3 that 2,219 civilians were killed and 5,172 were wounded by Taliban militants last year. Taliban fighters often carry out terrorist assaults on civilian populations, Marwa Amini, a spokeswoman for the ministry said at the time, adding that killing civilians is "tantamount to a war crime." Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa SAN DIEGO, CA/CHRISTCHURCH, NZThere are a couple of new developments in the porn story that never seems to go away, even in the wake of Superior Court Judge Kevin Enright last week delivering a nearly $13 million verdict to 22 Jane Does who sued GirlsDoPorn, its owner Michael Pratt, employees Matthew Wolfe, Rubin 'Andre' Garcia and Valorie Moser, and a bunch of Pratt's shell companies. For one thing, the FBI announced that it is indeed pursuing Pratt in his native New Zealand, having indicted the 36-year-old and his associates in early November on charges of "Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud or Coercion" and Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion" for having shot a hardcore scene with a 16-year-old girl, and while the feds have released no specific information about how their "Kiwi hunt" is going, reporter Sam Sherwood of the website Stuff.co.nz managed to track down Pratt's parents in Christchurch, Pratt's home town, but his stepdad told the site that the family had no idea where he was, and that they hadn't seen him since sometime in 2019. "Just like any mum and dad would, of course, we're concerned," the stepfather said. "Even when Michael did come to us, he didn't say anything; it was only what we discovered in the papers when it broke that we realized what was going on and by then Mike had left. "We had no idea what his business was," he added. "We just know that he was in some form of IT working in the States, that's all we know. He didn't call us and say, 'Hey, I'm doing this and I'm doing that and I'm doing the other.' We just didn't know until all this broke." Since he isn't at his parents', Pratt must be somewhere else in the country's roughly 103K square milesbut they're not worried about him. "I'm sure he will be [safe]," the stepdad said confidently. "Mike is Mike; I'm sure wherever he is, he will be looking after himself. We've got our own lives to get on with as well, so there's no point us worrying ourselves sick about something we don't know anything about." Meanwhile, "Defendant Michael James Pratt is still a fugitive," an FBI spokeswoman said on Tuesday. "Anyone with information regarding Pratt's whereabouts should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI." Trouble is, the FBI isn't sure Pratt is still in New Zealand, though Associate U.S. Attorney Alexandra Foster said New Zealand police have been co-operating with both the FBI and the Justice Department, and that extradition would be sought if he were found to be in the country. Pratt's attorneys are still pondering whether to raise objections to Judge Kevin Enright's tentative ruling in the civil case against Pratt and his companies, which ruling will become final within a week, or to file an appeal once it does become final. They're also considering what to do about the criminal charges against him. "The tentative ruling does not affect the criminal case. The government's burden of proof in the criminal case is 'beyond a reasonable doubt', which is a much higher standard than in this civil lawsuit where the burden of proof is a mere preponderance of the evidence," Pratt's attorneys Daniel Kaplan and Aaron Sadock said. Both claimed not to know Pratt's current whereabouts. In yet other GirlsDoPorn news, Fredrick and Efrain Jimenez, the two brothers (one a former GirlsDoPorn employee) who were discovered by police on Oct. 13three days after Pratt was indictedremoving and destroying items such as portable air conditioning units from Pratt's Hidden Meadows home near San Diego, yesterday pled "not guilty" to charges of interfering with the Justice Department's criminal human trafficking case against Pratt. A motion hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 13 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. After decades of steady increases, life expectancy in the U.S. ticked down slightly over three recent years, a drop attributed to a rise in cause-specific deaths like suicides and drug overdoses among those ages 25 to 64. The same was true in Arizona where, even though life expectancy was still higher than the national average, it was dropping at a similar rate. The report in the Journal of the American Medical Association said that after rising to 79.1 years in 2014, U.S. life expectancy fell to 78.9 years in 2016, the latest year for which numbers were available. In Arizona, the number fell from 79.6 to 79.3 years. The drops were a reflection of increased deaths among 25- to 64-year-old Americans, who saw their mortality rate shoot from 328.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2010 to 348.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2017, a nearly 6% increase. In Arizona, the mortality rate for that age group grew 6.2% in the same period. This is a uniquely American phenomenon, said report co-author Steven Woolf, who said no other developed country is seeing such declines. Reza Nouri left Iran at age 14. He was gay and outspoken, and his parents did not think it was safe for him to live there. He remembered seeing people killed during Irans eight-year war with Iraq. He remembered not knowing whom to trust. Nouri now runs the Hollywood Hair & Nails salon in Montrose, where a rainbow flag reflects the neighborhoods role as the hub of Houstons gay community. This is a country that gave me a chance to be myself, Nouri said. But for the 39-year-old salon owner and countless others from Iran, life in America isnt entirely free, either, a truth resurfacing as news of tension between the two countries dominates headlines. Recent events are reactivating long-buried traumas, said Persis Karim, director of the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies at San Francisco State University. Iranian Americans again find themselves squeezed by two cultures wrongly stereotyped here and often uncomfortable criticizing what they see happening there. It triggers a feeling of we are not seen, Karim said. We have not been able to represent our culture, and who we are in Iran, or in this country, without those stereotypes. The renewed focus on Iran follows the U.S. militarys killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Irans retaliatory missile strike against the U.S. in Iraq and the downing of a passenger plane carrying 176 people after it departed from Tehran. Iranians in Houston vary on whether they support the Islamic regime there, those interviewed said, and many who oppose it diverge even more over what should be done about it. Those opinions are not likely to be shared publicly. There is concern that anything said here could endanger family in Iran, or them, if they decide to travel to that country of 81 million people. And there is worry over their treatment in America. A number of Iranians in Houston declined requests for interviews, a challenge a USA Today reporter faced in Los Angeles, too. For Nouri, who has never returned to Iran, talking still brings risk, he said. Nouri hopes people will think about all of those in Iran who dont have a voice. He wants Americans to know that Iranians are not synonymous with their government. Tears welled in his eyes as he explained that he had to apologize to his parents for continuing to talk about all of this. But if he stopped, he said, How can I call myself a human being? Iranians make up a small portion of foreign-born Americans. They tend to be well educated and relatively prosperous, said Kathleen Newland, senior fellow and co-founder of the Migration Policy Institute. Los Angeles or Tehrangeles is home to the United States largest Iranian immigrant population, followed by Washington, D.C., and New York City, according to MPI-compiled census data. Houston ranks seventh, with an Iranian immigrant population of about 10,000. The regions Iranians include engineers, doctors and businesspeople, a well-established part of a diverse region. One Iranian here famously co-owned dozens of Jack in the Box franchises. Anothers rug business became a sort of Houston landmark. Along Hillcroft Avenue, Persian food adds to the milieu, with Bijan serving kabobs down the road from Darband Shishkabob. (Neither restaurant allowed interviews.) Many Iranians simply want to get their degrees and work, said Cyrus Contractor, an Iranian political science professor at the University of Houston. They dont want to be put in that situation where they have to be questioned about loyalties, he said. These concerns are rooted in history. Neda Miller, who teaches English as a second language at Rice University, moved to Florida in seventh grade when she didnt speak the language. It was 1979, and the Iranian revolution was unfolding, leading to the overthrow of the last Shah of Iran and the creation of an Islamic Republic. The events sent a wave of Iranians here. News of the Iranian hostage crisis in which 52 Americans were held captive for 444 days seemed to be on TV every night. Miller remembers kids shouting at her, Go back to where you came from! She and her family began to tell people they were from Greece. Miller now is 52. She has chosen to live in the United States, where, in times of crisis, she might not feel fully accepted. But she still feels emotional seeing news about Iran. Her kids grew up listening to Persian music in her car. Iran remained home to her, too. I think we feel kind of sandwiched between these two identities, she said, that we desperately need to connect to. Ali Ravandi, 65, sat outside a strip-mall Starbucks south of Houston with a female reporter. This was not a scene he felt could take place in Iran. There, he would not feel comfortable being alone with a woman who was not family, he said. To me, the most important thing is freedom, said Ravandi, a college math professor born in Iran. Fear of the Iranian regime is so strong, he said, that some traveling there are too scared to get a beer in Europe on their layover. Alcohol is banned in the country. Its a government of oppression, said Hamid H.P. Parvizian, 42, who owns a dog training business and grew up flipping rugs for customers in his dads Houston store. That saddened him. He and his relatives still fight over the tahdig the crispy rice left at the bottom of the pot. Its a government of corruption, he said. Two students with Iranian parents one at the University of Houston, another at the University of Texas spoke on the condition that they not be identified. They had followed the news from all sorts of channels BBC Persian, Iran International, CNN. They knew, as students, they were supposed to be the hub of political dissent, the first said. But they feared the Trump administration, which banned travelers from five majority-Muslim countries including Iran because they were deemed a national security threat. The mother of the second is currently in Iran, and the student is concerned about her ability to leave. I pity our own community here because weve all been brainwashed by fear and paranoia, the first student said. The second wished they could agree to be identified. Thats what people want, the second said. If we could just get the message out without being censored all the time. emily.foxhall@chron.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 20:26:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Zambia on Saturday held celebrations for the 2020 Spring Festival with a panoramic display of Chinese culture. The event was spiced up by exhibitions of Chinese food, exhibition by Chinese enterprises as well as well as a China-Zambia Cultural and Art Exhibition. Li Jie, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, said the embassy has been holding the celebration of the Spring Festival in Zambia since 2013. He said the celebration had helped Zambians understand and appreciate Chinese culture and contributed to building cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Chinese envoy noted that the two countries had worked hard to promote their relationship which resulted in increased investment from China. Stephen Kampyongo, Zambia's Minister of Home Affairs, commended China for the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the economic success the country had recorded. He said China and Zambia had a successful 2019 which resulted in celebration of 55 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations as well as the implementation of the Zambia-China Cultural Year. According to him, Zambia and China share excellent historical relations based on friendship, equality and mutual respect as evidenced by the high level of cooperation and interaction over many years. ST PAUL Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is recommending the state spend $300 million on infrastructure to support the "most basic need of Minnesotans: clean, safe water." Walz on Friday, Jan. 10 said it is "imperative" that the state upgrade water treatment facilities and replace aging waste- and storm-water infrastructure. With many local communities unable to afford expensive updates to their water infrastructure, Walz said the state "must take action to protect our environment and the health of Minnesotans." "Every Minnesotan deserves access to clean water, yet that isn't the case in many communities across the state, especially out in greater Minnesota," he said at Friday's news conference. "Aging infrastructure threatens both the safety of drinking water as well as the quality of our lakes and rivers that we treasure so much." Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Laura Bishop said at Friday's news conference that local governments across Minnesota have requested state funding to complete 983 water infrastructure projects, totaling more than $4 billion in the next 20 years. Some of the state's oldest infrastructure dates back to the 19th century, and is "becoming obsolete, putting communities and the public health at risk," she said. And the need for fully functioning water infrastructure is more important than ever, Bishop said said, with greater and faster precipitation, quicker springtime melting periods, and overall more instances of extreme weather thanks to climate change. Last spring, major flooding caused nearly $40 million in infrastructure damage, and record summertime rainfall forced over 100 communities to release partially untreated wastewater into rivers and streams, Bishop said. ADVERTISEMENT "There are real consequences for our communities across the state if the state does nothing," Bishop said, including bodily injuries and damage to property and infrastructure during major floods, as well as public health concerns associated with partially treated water. "We cannot continue at this pace," Bishop said. "We must invest in climate resiliency." Audrey Nelsen, president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities President and Willmar City Council member, in a Friday news release called Walz's water infrastructure proposal "great news for Greater Minnesota." She said water infrastructure "needs to be addressed now," and state funding will prevent local residents and businesses from having to shoulder the costs. "Water infrastructure funding needs to be the cornerstone of this years bonding bill," Nelsen said. "Our communities cannot continue to hold off on repairing and upgrading their facilities." Friday's announcement was the second of Walz's four-part bonding package , which he says will total near $2 billion and cover projects in affordable housing, water infrastructure, higher education and public safety. Republican legislators have already begun questioning the price tag , pushing to cut the number in half to around $1 billion. Walz pushed back at Friday's news conference, saying Republicans' "haven't even seen" the full package, and calling their $1 billion benchmark "arbitrary." "You have to ask yourself the question, are these not valuable projects? Should we not do them?" Walz said. "It's just irresponsible." Asked if he would be willing to compromise around $1.5 billion, Walz said he thinks $2 billion "is the proper number." ADVERTISEMENT "I think if they'd do a good job they'd come in at my number," he said. Hostilities in West Asia View(s): Tensions in West Asia appeared to have eased on Thursday, but the issue was still alive in the Sri Lankan space with the trio sitting down under the margosa tree reading newspapers on the crisis. Batahira asiyave, ape daruvanta mokak vevida (What will happen to our children in West Asia)? asked Kussi Amma Sera. That led to another question from Mabel Rasthiyadu who asked: Prashnayak ethi-vunoth, egollanwa ivath karanna anduwata salasmak thiyena-wada (Does the government have a plan to evacuate them)? Gataluva vanne ape kamkaruvo balaganna rajayata avashyada kiyala (The problem is how concerned the government is about our workers), said Serapina. Mama hithanne na apita nisi salasmak thiyenawa kiyala (I dont think we have a proper evacuation plan), replied Kussi Amma Sera. The crisis this week was precipitated by a US drone-strike killing a key Iranian military commander. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at US targets in Baghdad and warned Gulf States of dire consequences if their territories became launch-pads for strikes on Tehran. Dubai would be the first city targeted, it was stated. SriLankan Airlines joined many other international airlines in avoiding flying over Iran and Iraq, forced to taking a circuitous route. Sitting at my computer, drinking the morning tea which was brought earlier by Kussi Amma Sera, I reflected on the West Asian crisis while hearing snatches of the conversation by the trio. It was a warm and sunny morning with expectations of a hot afternoon (has anyone wondered why it is so hot in January with the noon-day sun beating down like in March to May, the hottest months of the year?). Climate change I presume. Anyway as I ventured to write about the West Asian crisis, the phone rang. It was long-time-no-see Shifty Silva, the always-inquisitive IT expert, on the line. Hi Shifty, whats bothering you, I asked in a pleasant tone. Hi hi, I was wondering about the West Asian crisis. Do you think it would escalate? he asked. I dont think so. For that matter, I hope not, otherwise Sri Lankans working in West Asia would be at grave risk, I replied with concern. I hope so too. We are not geared for any mass evacuation of our nationals. For that matter we dont have any kind of contingency plan if tensions escalate, he said. Sri Lankas economy relies a lot on West Asian economies with tea exports to Iran and other regional countries being the countrys biggest buyers while oil from West Asia is another economic factor. However, the safety and well-being of over a million Sri Lankan workers in the Persian Gulf states, is our primary and biggest concern. There has never been an evacuation plan (to execute in a crisis), and knowing Sri Lankan authorities, there never will be given how slow officials move in a crisis of this nature. No contingency plan, no mass evacuation plan. For that matter, are our missions in West Asia geared to looking after the welfare of Sri Lankans in case the region plunges into a full-scale war? Such plans were found wanting whenever a crisis blew up in that region, the US-Iraq conflict was an example. As expected, the Philippines moved swiftly to announce measures to evacuate close to 7,000 Filipinos working and living in Iraq; more than 1,000 in Iran; and a total of more than 2 million working across West Asia. President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the armed forces to prepare air and naval assets for the evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq, Iran and nearby Arab countries, it was announced. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysias Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah was reported to have advised Malaysians to defer non-essential travel to the region, in particular areas where the security situation is critical, and for citizens in the region to register with their nearest foreign mission. Here this week, there was no announcement by Sri Lankan authorities on the safety and well-being of Sri Lankans working in West Asia, not even an advisory to avoid non-essential travel to the region. Also has there been any statement from the authorities this week on the evolving West Asia crisis vis-a-vis our workers? None! More than US$7 billion in remittances was sent by Sri Lankans working abroad last year, higher than foreign exchange earnings from apparel exports, tourism and agriculture (including tea) exports. Sri Lankas economy depends on foreign remittances but the focus and the recognition those who send these remittances deserve are not there, apart from a cursory statement in Parliament during the budget debate when the minister in charge of foreign employments holds forth on how important migrant workers from Sri Lanka are and their contribution to the economy. The problem is that most of these Sri Lankans are low skilled workers and their blood, sweat and tears do not get the recognition they deserve as key contributors to the economy. They are subject to abuse and harassment, they dont have proper working hours and their employment contracts are manipulated by recruitment agents. Apart from a couple of civil society organisations that work with government authorities to ensure better working standards and contracts of employment, they have no one to turn to for relief during a crisis. Shelters at Sri Lankan embassies in West Asia are overcrowded with workers who have had problems in their workplaces (often in homes) and wait for a resolution, often non-payment of their dues or repatriation to Sri Lanka. Again, I state with responsibility, the silence of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) and the ministry handling foreign employment is unbecoming for institutions tasked with looking after the interests of Sri Lankan workers abroad. Sri Lanka has as many workers as the Philippines in West Asia, but Manila is streets ahead of Colombo in looking after the interests of their nationals, in all aspects, with experienced and capable diplomats posted to those countries to ensure proper working conditions and proper employment contracts for Filipinos. The Sri Lankan authorities will never learn even if a full scale war erupts in the Persian Gulf and any reaction to a crisis is always a knee-jerk reaction. How many husbands, wives, mothers, fathers and children would be worried sick about their loved ones working in the Persian Gulf after the crisis blew up? How many would have tried to seek clarification from Sri Lankan authorities here about the safety of their family members or relatives? Was an emergency desk set up at the SLBFE to handle inquiries from relatives? So many questions with no answers! Nearly half a century after the oil boom in West Asia triggered large scale, initially low-skilled, employment opportunities for Sri Lankans and others, Sri Lanka is still flailing around for a proper structure and process of labour migration in the midst of abuse and harassment at workplaces and insecure employment contracts. Bilateral agreements or MOUs with labour receiving countries are of no value apart from the paper they are signed on. As I ended my conversation with Shifty shuttling between discussing the issues with him and my own reflections my second cup of tea came into the room courtesy Kussi Amma Sera. Batahira asiyave ape daruvan gena mama duk venawa (I am sorry for our children in West Asia), she said with worry lines on her face. Mamath duk venawa (I am also sad), I said with equal concern, wondering when Sri Lanka will come up with a policy on migration that would deal with all these issues with the same concern, anxiety and responsibility that spouses and parents of our workers have. (PS: Better late than never! Government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, late on Thursday, told reporters that they were taking all precautions to protect our workers in Iran). So, before you borrow or allow your kid to take on debt to attend his or her dream school, I need you to read Is College Still Worth It? The New Calculus of Falling Returns, a recent journal article published in the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review. It is this months Color of Money Book Club selection. Well it was the end of another decade and rather than sit at home and watch crap on the television, it was out on the town for me and the first place I headed for was Courtneys which was completely packed by the time I got there. I wasn't too long in the door when I met up with Jordan McAlester from Beechmount Drive and Shane Murphy from Faughart who were looking sharp and ready for a totally mad night with everyone there. Not too far away I caught up with Mary Donnelly from Knockbridge and Niamh McCartney from Mourne Vale who were settling in to spend the night in Courtneys and assured me it was going to be an epic celebration. After this I then got talking to Ava Hamill from Ardee Road and Chantelle Kane from Blackrock who were in party mode and said that they'd be staying in Courtneys where they were looking forward to seeing in the new decade. Not too long later I caught up with Kelly Oakes from Haggardstown who was with Ceri Dignan and Sarah Cunningham both from The Quay who were looking well and just knew that this was the only place to see in 2020. Making my way through the crowds I then got a word with Jordan Keating from Stapleton Place, Conor Richardson from Priorland Grove, Liam McStravick from Belfry Avenue and Mark Dollard from Parnell Park who were on the move and had just called in for a few before heading wherever the mood took them, good idea lads. After this I headed over for a chat with Kyle Rafferty from New Muirhevna, Terrence Kelly from Manydown Close, Mark Agnew from Lennonstown Manor, Graham Stevens from Bay Estate and Mark Lee from Avenue Road who simply told me they were there for the night and were definitely going to go mental. The lads were there with Josh Reilly from Bay Estate, Lee Byrne from Coes Road, Conor Pepper from Parnell Park ad Mark Traynor from Redbarns Road who had similar sentiments on how the night was going to pan out. Heading for another table I then had the pleasure of meeting up with Jillian Mulpeter from Bay Estate who is home on holidays from Singapore and was up for a night of fun with her sister Emily Mulpeter and Jordan O'Donoghue from Avenue Road who assured me he and Emily were going to make sure she had a mad NYE. I then caught up with Mark McGahon and Joanne Fisher both from Cedarwood Park who were in great form and were looking forward to seeing in the new year together in Courtneys. Finally, before I departed, I got taking to Alan Carr from Hyde Park and Lee Mackin from Clancullen Park sporting a broken left arm, which he was happy, wasn't going to interfere with his beer consumption! Another spot I certainly wasn't going to missing on New Year's Eve was the all new Brubakers where the celebrations were in full swing by the time I got there. The first couple I had the pleasure of talking to were Patrick O'Callaghan from Carrick Road and Sophie Wadding from Haggardstown who were enjoying the buzz and said they'd wait to see how things panned out before deciding their next place of enjoyment. Not too far away I then had the pleasure of meeting up with Roisin Curley and Darcey Raleigh both from Dromiskin who were there for the night and assured me 2020 was going to be a huge year for them both. I headed for a table where I was delighted to meet up with Hannah McKeown from Riverside Drive and Naoise Greene from Blackrock who were up for a mad one with Daniela Rivero and Fernanda Soto both from Mexico who were in great form and ready for a major night of fun. Meanwhile, up near the bar, dressed like an Airline Pilot, was James Muckian who was up seeing in 2020 in style. He was with well known artist Sean Hamill from Dublin Street who assured me he was only in for one or two, there was still a heck of a lot of painting to be done! Just in the door was the man everyone wants to serve them when they go to Photo Express, yes it was 'poster boy' Jason Lee from Park Avenue who was there with his main woman Alannah Conroy also from Park Avenue who were looking forward to a major night of fun to see in 2020. Not too long later I had the pleasure of chatting to Sarah Woods from St. Annes Court and Hannah Kerley from Cooley Park who were looking great and said it was going to be a totally insane night. Meanwhile up near the bar I managed a few words with Benny Treanor from Mountain Court, Shauna Kealy from Seatown Place and Naomi Doherty from Mountain Court who were looking great and Benny told me they were there to let their hair down after a particularly busy retail week, but they were up for making the best of the night together. Finally, before I departed, I caught up with Claire Neacy from Haggardstown and Megan Short from Marian Park who certainly weren't there to make up the numbers and were looking forward to a major attack on the NYE celebrations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that there is something special about the Ramkrishna Mission ahead of his Kolkata visit over the weekend that is likely to see protests against the amended citizenship law. I am excited to be in West Bengal today and tomorrow. I am delighted to be spending time at the Ramakrishna Mission and that too when we mark Swami Vivekanandas Jayanti. There is something special about that place, Modi said in a tweet. I am excited to be in West Bengal today and tomorrow. I am delighted to be spending time at the Ramakrishna Mission and that too when we mark Swami Vivekanandas Jayanti. There is something special about that place. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2020 In another tweet he said he would miss Atmasthanandaji Maharaj, president of Ramakrishna Math and Mission Swami, who died last year at the age of 98. Yet, there will be a void too! The person who taught me the noble principle of Jan Seva Hi Prabhu Seva, the venerable Swami Atmasthananda Ji will not be there. It is unimaginable to be at the Ramakrishna Mission and not have his august presence! Kolkata is bracing for a weekend of protests when Modi lands in the city to attend three government events on Saturday and Sunday in his first visit to the capital of Bengal after returning to power last summer. Police have tightened security along the Prime Ministers route in Kolkata and Howrah because Left parties, Congress, far-Left groups, students, Muslim organisations and the student wing of the TMC and a pressuer group called the No NRC Movement have planned agitations in different parts of the city as well as the airport against the amended citizenship law. The CPI(M) has said its supporters will show black flags to Modi and shout go back slogans. Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders close to chief minister Mamata Banerjee said Friday that she will not go to the airport to receive Modi but may have a private meeting with him on Saturday. If youve ever stepped into a rowdy classroom, youve most likely come across students chatting, yawning, and even raising their voices. What should schools and teachers do to deal with rowdiness in the classroom? To silence the noisy students, teachers employ methods such as ringing a call bell, rearranging students seating positions, or when all else fails, raising ones voiceQuiet! One state school in Montevideo, Uruguay, which had been facing disciplinary challenges with its students, decided to adopt an alternate approachpracticing mindfulness. Illustration Pixabay | Wokandapix Nurturing a Healthy School Environment In March 2016, the school initiated a project with the aim to create a calmer atmosphere in the classroom, prevent bullying, violence, and improve student performance. The project required each teacher to come up with something that would help build a culture of peaceful coexistence in each classroom. Sixth-grade teacher Yennyfer Quartino came up with an idea to introduce the ancient mind-body cultivation practice of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) to her students, aged between 11 and 14 years old. Quartino taught her students Falun Dafas slow-moving exercises and sitting meditation daily in the school courtyard after lunch and before the afternoon classes. A few weeks later, many students from other classes joined Quartinos students to learn the practice too. Eventually, almost the entire school was practicing Falun Dafa daily, a Minghui.org report states. As time went by, the students learned more about the universal values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearancethe core principles of Falun Dafa practiceand gradually, the regular practice of these moral ethics improved the students behavior and shaped the school atmosphere. The school day is long, Quartino said, reports Minghui.org. Many students were tired, had no energy, and couldnt focus on their classwork. This year we decided to try something different, which is Falun Dafa, and the results have been wonderful, she added. The studentswho used to suffer from fatigue, a lack of concentration, and poor academic performance, not to mention quite a few resorting to violencehave become more focused and tranquil in class. The headmistress noticed the students improvement as well. She said: They benefited not only physically, but spiritually. They breathe and relax and come to the classroom focused and with a good attitude. These kids had serious concentration problems and were violent in the classroom. The changes theyve made are soul-stirring, the school inspector said. Experiencing Peace, Self-Control, and Confidence Josefina, a sixth-grade student, said: I feel relaxed, I like it. And afterward, when we go to the classroom, I feel as if all the stress I had before practicing Falun Dafa is gone. I feel more relaxed and free, said a third-grade girl. A fourth-grade boy chimed in, I feel a lot of energy. Strength! said third-grade students Nicole and Belen in unison. The simple practice of mindfulness along with teaching children how to control their own behavior in line with good moral values paved the way for positive improvements in the overall school environment. After practicing Falun Dafa, the students began adhering to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance in daily life. They learned how to look within to find where they fall short and correct themselves instead of blaming others (looking outside). The students have experienced peace and self-control, and this, in turn, helps foster a healthy, kind, and tolerant learning environment. Before, everyone was bad tempered, but now we are calmer, said Joaquin, a sixth-grader. It is not the first time for any school to be positively influenced by this ancient meditation practice. The students at the Guasave Montessori School in Mexico are also practicing Falun Dafa. More schools in South America, India, and around the world are introducing their students to this peaceful practice in order to strengthen the upright school culture and learning environment. Watch the video to learn about the positive changes students at the Guasave Montessori School underwent after learning Falun Dafa: A stock price graph showing declines As talk of a recession and market crash becomes more frequent, its likely that the probability of a negative event occurring is greatly improving. Where we are today with markets at all-time highs and one of the longest bull runs in history, the market is clearly due for a major correction. Despite a number of people agreeing that the market and economy is ready for a reset, nobody can tell you when it will actually happen. Its virtually impossible to try and predict the timing of market crashes; therefore, worrying about it is essentially pointless. It also doesnt make sense to worry about market crashes if you have a portfolio that is prepared for bear markets and set up to appreciate in the long run. This is why Warren Buffett is never concerned with macroeconomic figures, because he is always investing for the long term and stays disciplined when selecting his investments. By doing this, you also set yourself up to add high-quality stocks, as they are being sold off in a recession, giving you the ultimate opportunity to get the best of the best stocks, below fair value. Two stocks to consider adding to your portfolio to strengthen its resilience are Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) and Brookfield Asset Management (TSX:BAM.A)(NYSE:BAM). Both companies are massive businesses that have a natural competitive advantage and moat that protects them. As we saw in 2019 with Canadian National for example, a simple one-week strike severely impacted the national economy from coast to coast. This is due to the natural role the railway industry plays in the economy, and CNRs role allows its investors to know that nothing too bad could ever happen to the company. While the Canadian economy doesnt rely on Brookfield like it does Canadian National, Brookfield too is a large well-positioned company. It is so well diversified and invested in the global economy that it too is well positioned for the future. Of the two, Canadian National is the more stable play, as its clear its business will continue to grow over time but at a pace that is relatively slow. The trade-off is that its such a high-quality business, like I touched on before, its highly unlikely anything bad will happen to it. Story continues If you are buying CNR for the long run, its almost completely guaranteed that the investment will yield you a great deal of profits. Brookfield, however, is a stock that you can still expect to earn you considerable income over time, but comparatively, its business has a bit more risk associated. While its highly unlikely the company ever goes bust, the impact a recession could have on its business is slightly higher than CNRs. The trade-off is that Brookfield will grow your investment at a much faster pace during expansionary periods, as evidenced by the companys past performance. Who says you have to choose one or the other though? Most investors should consider adding both of these companies, as they are two of the best stocks in Canada. In addition, you should also look to add more stocks that are modelled like these high-quality businesses that are extremely profitable and operate in industries that will stand the test of time. Selecting only the best of the best will keep your portfolio as resilient as possible, and over time, you will come to welcome these market crashes, so you can add more of your favourite stocks at a major discount. More reading Fool contributor Daniel Da Costa has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. David Gardner owns shares of Canadian National Railway. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Brookfield Asset Management and Canadian National Railway. The Motley Fool recommends BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT INC. CL.A LV and Canadian National Railway. 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.11 Trend: Georgias Economy Minister Natia Turnava has called on Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to familiarize himself with elementary methodology. She was commenting on Pashinyans message recently published on Facebook, in which he stated that as of 2019, Armenia allegedly left behind Georgia for GDP per capita, and in 2020, it will also leave behind Azerbaijan. This is a wrong assessment, because it does not take into account elementary methodological issues. In general, if any politician or expert seeks victory with such indicators, I call on them first of all to familiarize themselves with the elementary methodology. In November 2019, Georgias National Statistics Office (GeoStat) introduced a new method for calculating GDP, which is not yet reflected in the reports of international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova also calculated the VAT in accordance with the new methodology, but this happened earlier, therefore, their data are already reflected in the IMF report. Believe me, in the conditions of this high economic growth, in our estimation, per capita GDP in Georgia will reach $4,700. Consequently, all this will be reflected in the next IMF report, said the minister. - TESS is NASA's planet-hunting mission which has discovered multiple intriguing planets since 2018 - -A high school searching through data gathered by TESS contributed to its latest discovery - The 17-year-old discovered a planet orbiting two suns which is the first of its kind for the TESS mission - It is the only planet in the system with two stars with its size being between the sizes of Neptune and Saturn - The stars whirl around each other in orbit every 15 days with one 10% more bigger than our sun while the other is more diminutive and cooler - Wolf Cukier was interning for NASA during 2019's summer holiday when he spotted the stars A high school student in New York can now add planet discovery on his resume after he found a new world during his internship at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The 17-year-old junior student at Scarsdale High School, Wolf Cukier was working at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland a two-month internship when he uncovered TOI 1338 b. READ ALSO: Muslim cleric left in shock after discovering newlywed wife is a man READ ALSO: Kenyans revive Senator Orengo's revolutionary prophecy after Moses Kuria's arrest According to a report by CNN, Wolf 's first assignment was to examine variations in star brightness captured by NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Just three days into his internship, he discovered a new planet orbiting two stars instead of one. 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, he said. READ ALSO: Uhuru, Raila expected to launch refurbished Kisumu port on Tuesday 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," he added. NASA announced the news on their website after confirming the teenagers work, submitting a paper that he co-authored for scientific review and announcing the discovery of the planet. According to NASA, TOI 1338 b is 6.9 times larger than Earth noting it could be in between the size of Neptune and Saturn and is located in the constellation Pictor. READ ALSO: Dennis Itumbi adai alipigwa na maafisa 18 akiwa kituo cha polisi cha Kilimani It is about 1,300 light-years away from Earth, for context, the Earths sun is between seven and nine light-minutes away. The planet the first to be captured by the TESS system that is considered a circumbinary planet, meaning it orbits two stars. The two stars orbit each other every 15 days, and one is 10% larger than the Sun. READ ALSO: Miguna Miguna: High Court orders AG Paul Kihara to appear in court over deported lawyer's woes Together, TOI 1338 b and its two stars make up what is called an eclipsing binary. Wolf compared his discovery to Star Wars. I discovered a planet. It has two stars which it orbits around. So, if you think to Lukes homeworld, Tatooine, from Star Wars, its like that. Every sunset, theres gonna be two stars setting, he said. 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 My Spanish husband calls me a monkey, wants to take my children from me | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Administration officials who briefed senators this week on the U.S. strike that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani did not tell the senators that there was also an attempt the same day to target the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leader in Yemen, two sources familiar with the briefing told CBS News. Senators were also not apprised of a plot to target four U.S. embassies in the region, which President Trump disclosed during an interview to air Friday evening with Fox News' Laura Ingraham. Mr. Trump also told Ingraham that the embassy in Baghdad was "probably" among the targets. The sources said based on what was relayed in the briefing, a plot against a U.S. embassy or embassies would be plausible. But this was not specifically disclosed by the briefers. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, CIA Director Gina Haspel, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley and acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire briefed the House and Senate on Wednesday. Two senators also told CBS News that neither of these issues came up. "Didn't get a lot of detail," one said. Another said, "I have not seen anything on planned attacks on embassies." Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter late Friday that he requested a follow-up briefing from the director of national intelligence because, he said, the administration omitted information in the briefing this week. CBS News has confirmed the Washington Post report that on the same day as the strike on Soleimani, the U.S. unsuccessfully tried to kill another key elite Iranian Quds commander, Abdul Reza Shahlai, who heads the IRGC in Yemen. Shahlai, the government says, was involved in the Cafe Milano plot, a 2011 plan by Iran to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S., Adel Al-Jubeir while he was in the U.S., at a restaurant in Georgetown, in Washington, D.C., and then to bomb the Saudi and Israeli embassies in Washington, as well as a target in another country. Story continues The Treasury Department says that Shahlai approved $5 million to recruit people to carry out the assassination and attacks. The U.S. offered a $15 million bounty for information about Shahlai and the IRGC financial networks in Yemen. The government also says Shahlai had a role in one of the more brutal operations carried out against U.S. forces during the Iraq War. In January 2007, according to the Defense Department, a dozen insurgents dressed in U.S. Army-styled combat uniforms slipped by Iraqi police at checkpoints to gain passage to a coalition facility in Karbala, where they attacked U.S. troops with rifles and hand grenades. The insurgents killed one soldier with a hand grenade before kidnapping four U.S. soldiers, whom they drove to a neighboring province, where they shot and killed all four. A U.S. military official said a few months after the attack that Iran was using Hezbollah to arm Shiite militants in Iraq and that U.S. intelligence had revealed that the Quds Force had prior knowledge of the Karbala attack. David Martin, Ed O'Keefe and Margaret Brennan contributed to this report. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host Golden Globes in 2021 Queen Elizabeth to gather with royal family to find a solution to "Megxit" Puerto Rico hit with 5.9 magnitude earthquake, leaving thousands without power Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that he expects a full investigation as well as an admission of guilt and compensation from the Iran regime following the downing of the country Boeing passenger plane last week. Zelenskyy's comments came shortly after Tehran said it had mistakenly shot down the plane killing all 176 people on board on January 8, on the same day it struck military bases hosting US troops in retaliation for Washington's assassination of top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani last week, Al Jazeera reported. "Iran has pleaded guilty to crashing the Ukrainian plane. But we insist on a full admission of guilt," Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook. "We expect from Iran assurances of their readiness for a full and open investigation, bringing those responsible to justice, the return of the bodies of the dead, the payment of compensation, official apologies through diplomatic channels," he said. "Our 45 experts must get full access and cooperation to establish justice," he added. Iran said that its military "unintentionally" shot down the Ukrainian jetliner, blaming "human error" for the incident in which the military mistook Flight 752 for a "hostile target". The country's state broadcaster Press TV had also quoted Iran's armed forces as saying that the plane had flown close to a "sensitive military site". The military said it was at its "highest level of readiness" amid the heightened tensions with the United States. It apologised and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a statement posted on social media, wrote that the country "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake". Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said that "human error at the time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to the disaster". Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft, calling such suggestions "psychological warfare". But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran had shot down the aircraft. The jetliner, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Ukraine International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces in Iraq. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians when it was shot down. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PHILIPSBURG:--- Hospitality Teacher Ms. Tatiana Gibs of St. Maarten Vocational Training School selected 3 of her best students for the upcoming Regional SKILLS Competition of Friday, January 17 at Milton Peters College. The students have no idea what their culinary assignment will be, but they are looking forward to challenge the student team from Gwendolyn van Putten School, St. Eustatius and vie for the ultimate prize: competing at the SKILLS Talent Competition in the Netherlands in March 2020. Hi gayatrisk1994,Thanks for sharing your profile details with us! Your competitiveness as an applicant will depend on which schools you're talking about (including geography -- top US schools draw a different applicant pool than top European schools to some extent, for example), but broadly speaking, here are some top-line thoughts for you:Academic credentials: Your GMAT is great -- the reality is that Indian applicants in particular need to log top scores in order to stand out, so you're in very good shape there. Your college record sounds solid as well, though you'll be up against applicants from top Indian universities like IIT, so keep that in mind.Work experience: You have management experience and international experience, both of which are highly valued. I recommend emphasizing your soft skills (people management with clients and the coworkers you're managing, strategic thinking) in your essays, as Indian applicants often face a stereotype of being overly technical. Make sure you're steering clear of technical jargon when describing the work you've done (a good way to check this is to show your essay to someone who doesn't work in your field, like a sibling or a friend, and asking them how much they understand).Extracurriculars: You clearly have interests outside of work that you've pursued consistently over long periods of time! Awesome!You'll want to make sure you can articulate your short- and long-term post-MBA goals and connect those back to your pre-MBA work experience, as well as to the reasons why you believe you need an MBA.Good luck! If you'd like to chat further, check us out on our website ( www.admissionado.com )!Doris " " Characters in the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski" prepare to scatter the ashes of a deceased friend in a California state park. The film makes no mention of whether they acquired a permit to do so. Working Title/Polygram/Movieclips Somebody you love dies, and it's awful. What's worse, sometimes you're even put in charge of figuring out how to deal with their remains. It's sad, it's stressful, it's a huge responsibility and it's unfortunately complicated. Case in point: Even if your departed chose to have their remains cremated and scattered in a special place they loved in life, there are laws regulating where you can dumpout an urn full of human ashes. Of course, most people don't know this, or even consider the laws when dealing with something so personal. Because the popularity of cremation is relatively new and the laws aren't often enforced, the laws about getting rid of ashes aren't as widely known and respected as, say, traffic laws. Advertisement But more people are choosing cremation all the time according to the Cremation Association of North America, fewer than 4 percent of Americans chose to be cremated in 1958, but that number's expected to be around 50 percent by 2018. For centuries, cremation wasn't really done in Western countries because many churches believed it conflicted with religious doctrine the Catholic Church, for instance, prohibited cremation until 1963, and these days the Vatican allows it under most circumstances, but insists the ashes be buried, not scattered. But many people ask that their ashes be scattered in a place they loved after death, and while there's a greater amount of human bone ash being scattered around than ever before, it doesn't occur to most people that pouring their grandpa's ashes in his favorite fishing river could be illegal. Which it is. Although no enforcement agency exists to ride around busting people, most states have their own scattering laws, the particulars of which can vary wildly. And some federal laws take precedence over those state laws. For instance, even though the state of Texas says you can scatter ashes in a public waterway, the federal Clean Water Act prohibits scattering human ashes into freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers and streams though in most cases it's possible to obtain permits from both the federal and state agency. And although you can get a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a burial at sea, you have to scatter the ashes at least 3 nautical miles (3.5 miles; 5.6 kilometers) from the shore. Federal laws also prohibit tossing an urn full of ashes out of an airplane or helicopter, because it could hurt somebody on the ground. You also can't trespass onto anyone's property in order to scatter ashes there unless you have written permission from the landowner, though that's a trespassing violation that'd apply regardless of why you're on that property. If you are looking to unload your loved one's ashes on public land a National Park, say, for someone who loved the Grand Canyon, or Point Dume in Malibu, California you have to obtain permission from the park beforehand. These days, though, reducing a person into a jar full of ashes to be disposed of doesn't have to be the end of the line. For instance, the Neptune Society, the largest cremation provider in the U.S., owns a reef off the coast of Florida that they've turned into an underwater mausoleum. There people's cremated remains have been turned into concrete sculptures that provide habitat for sea life. Jeff Staab, president of Cremation Solutions, a Vermont-based company that sells memorial urns and creates keepsakes and jewelry out of ashes, started his company in 2006 to provide people with information about scattering and options for crafting ashes into meaningful objects. "So many people are afraid to scatter because they don't know what the laws are, and their loved one ends up in an urn in the closet or in the attic." says Staab. "People aren't sure how to do it, and it interferes with the healing process." " " A diamond made from cremated remains by the company LifeGem sits in a setting. LifeGem extracts carbon from the ashes of cremated human remains, uses super hot ovens to transform it into graphite, then compresses it into yellow or blue diamonds. LifeGem/Getty Images Some companies are getting creative, and will turn cremains into coffee cups, not dissimilar to the hair of the dead being transformed to ink for memorial tattooing. Staab's company, for instance, sells biodegradable urns that dissolve in water, urns that can be converted into birdhouses after the ashes are scattered, urns that can be planted with a tree, and even the popular Loved One Launcher, a handheld ash-scattering cannon. "People just load one of these things up with ashes, confetti and streamers and will even do it at an event with people toasting Champagne," says Staab. "They'll blast the ashes off a cliff or even right over the whole crowd, and everybody gets anointed." Well, there's another thing to remember to ask about at a memorial service, on top of donations, flowers and dress code: Just wondering, are the cremated remains of the deceased going to be launched into the crowd? Now That's Interesting If you've always wanted to go to space, a company called Celestis can carry a small portion of your cremated remains on a commercial space shuttle and launch it into deep space, into Earth's orbit or onto the surface of the moon. By AFP TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Saturday said his country "deeply regrets" the shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner, which he described as "a great tragedy & unforgivable mistake". The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. https://t.co/4dkePxupzm Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 "Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people," he added on Twitter. Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 "Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake." ALSO READ | Iran plane crash: Maybe a grim echo of US downing of Iran flight in 1988 Salman Khan sent social media into a frenzy by announcing his next project Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. Speculations regarding his next project have been rife for quite some time now and Salman put an end to that by confirming the same on social media. While theres still time for the film to go on floors, we came across some details about the film that are sure to get you interested.If our sources are to be believed then Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali will be bringing a fresh pair to the big screen in the form of Salman Khan and Kriti Sanon. While we dont know much about the films plot or storyline, this factor alone would create enough hype to attract the audience to the theatres. We still have a long way to go since the film is releasing during Eid 2021, so we expect to learn more on this with time.Salman Khan was last seen in the third instalment of Dabangg titled Dabangg 3. The film has crossed the 100 crore mark and is putting up a decent show at the ticket windows. Kriti Sanon, on the other hand, tasted success in her last release as well with the multi starrer Housefull 4. Taking centre stage in a dharna against CAA and NRC in Kolkata, soon after meeting Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that she has told the prime minister that the CAA will not be implemented in the state West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she told Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rethink on the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 and urged him to withdraw the contentious act, the proposed National Register for Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register. Banerjee who met Modi briefly at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Saturday then arrived at a sit-in organised by Trinamool Congress students' wing against the CAA and the proposed NRC. Taking centre stage among the agitating students who raised slogans against the amended Citizenship Act and the NRC, the TMC supremo said that she told the prime minister that the CAA will not be implemented in West Bengal. "We do not accept the notification issued by the government," she told demonstrators at the Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata, a few metres away from Raj Bhavan. "The CAA is anti-constitutional. We can't allow citizenship based on religion. The CAA notification will be only on paper, it will never be implemented. We would not allow it," Banerjee said during a dharna against CAA. "We do not accept NRC. We do not accept CAA," she reiterated. The Centre on Friday, in a gazette notification, announced that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will come into force from January 10. She said those who are in power at the centre should not do whatever they feel like just because they have the majority (in Parliament). "Those who are yet to understand the situation must wake up now. There is no point in sleeping while keeping your eyes open," she said at the rally. Banerjee also said that the peaceful movement against CAA and NRC will continue in West Bengal. Earlier, during a one-on-one meeting with Modi, Banerjee demanded that both the CAA and NRC should be withdrawn. Banerjee termed her meeting with the prime minister as a "courtesy visit" and said she has raised issues regarding the due financial assistance that the state is yet to receive from the Centre. "It was a courtesy meeting. I told him about Rs 28,000 crore that the state is yet to receive from the Centre. Including Rs 7000 crore, we are supposed to get for the cyclone Fani. "I acquainted him that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC. I also told him that protest is going on across the country against CAA, NRC and NPR. "I told him that there should not be any discrimination among masses and no citizens should be left out or tortured. I asked him that the Centre should rethink on the issues and withdraw CAA," she said. When asked what PM Modi said in reply, the TMC supremo said, "regarding the matter related to states, he said he will look into the documents and about these issues (CAA, NRC and NPR), he said he has come for a few government programmes. So if there is an opportunity he would speak on the subjects in New Delhi". The meeting assumes importance as it is the first between the two leaders since protests erupted over the Citizenship Amendment Act in various cities across the country. The Trinamool Congress chief is at loggerheads with the BJP-led government over the Citizenship Amendment Act and she led several protests against CAA and NPR in her state. However, she decided to stay away from the 13 January meeting of the Opposition parties convened by the Congress to protest against the Act over the "violence" by the Left and the Congress during the 24-hour general strike on Wednesday. The meeting between Modi and Banerjee drew sharp reactions from Congress and CPM, which said Trinamool Congress' "double standard" is now exposed. "Mamata Banerjee and TMC are now exposed. We have been saying this for a long time that TMC is a B Team of BJP in Bengal. "Now it has been proved. She doesn't want to fight BJP, rather she is helping the saffron camp in the state. This match-fixing is going on between both the parties," CPI(M) politburo member Mohammed Salim said. West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra too echoed Salim's views and said people of the state would "give a befitting reply to Banerjee for betraying their trust". The Trinamool Congress leadership refuted claims of "political match-fixing" and said the meeting between the two leaders was just a government-to-government meeting. "Let's get this straight. Today's meeting is government-to-government. And Trinamool Congress don't need certificates from anyone. We started this movement & now it is a peoples movement. "How many processions have you walked in? How many protests have you led? Stop giving advice sitting on a sofa," TMC leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O' Brien said in a statement hitting out at the rivals. With inputs from agencies Washington: The best most teenagers hope for from a summer internship is some work experience, beer money and perhaps a good reference. Wolf Cukier, a 17-year-old high school student from New York, went a step further. He discovered a planet. He was only on his third day as an intern at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre when he made the find. Wolf Cukier, a 17-year-old high school student from New York, who discovered a new planet while interning at NASA. Credit:Screengrab/CBS He had been trawling through satellite images flagged by members of the public where the brightness of a star seemed to temporarily dip. Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is now accepting scholarship applications for two programs: The Law School Admissions Test Preparation Course Scholarship Program and the Diversity Law Scholarship Program. Now in its 13th year, the LSAT Preparation Course Scholarship Program provides scholarships of up to $1,500 each to enable racially and/or ethnically diverse college students to participate in a study course to prepare them to take the LSAT. Studies have shown that students who take a formal LSAT prep course score higher on the test, which determines entrance into law school. Applications are due May 1. Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday accused the opposition parties of "conspiring to hijack peace" by "spreading lies and rumours" about the newly amended citizenship act. "Fear was created among a specific section of the society by the opposition parties. Some opposition parties like Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) conspired to hijack peace by spreading rumours and lies," Naqvi said in a press conference here on Friday. He said that people are starting to understand the political ambitions of these parties. "We don't have any complaints or accusations against the protesting youngsters and students. However, there are politically motivated protests which only have one agenda that is 'Jhuthmeva Jayate'," Naqvi said. "The opposition parties knew they could not convince the people on the citizenship law, so they started confusing the people. They are involved in a conspiracy to disturb the communal harmony and unity of the country," he added. There have been major protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act across the country with some states even claiming they will not allow the new law to be implemented in their states. Naqvi alleged that the Congress party and its allies were using students and the youngsters for their political interests. While replying to a question about actor Deepika Padukone's 'Chapak' movie being boycotted through social media campaigns, Naqvi said, "If I get time I will also watch it." Padukone had recently joined the protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) over the recent violence, in which as many as 30 students were injured after a masked mob entered the varsity and attacked the students with sticks and rods. (ANI) He's set to portray screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz in new Netflix film Mank. And Gary Oldman was spotted getting to work on set of the drama, as he stepped out to film in full costume in Los Angeles on Friday. The Oscar-winning actor, 61, donned a dark green blazer and matching trousers over a white shirt that he paired with a paisley tie. New role: Gary Oldman transformed into Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz as he got to work on set of Netflix movie Mank in Los Angeles on Friday Gary completed his look by sporting a black bowler hat to transform into the writer, and he could be seen wearing glasses in one scene. During the shoot, the actor walked in front of a 1920s-era car as he puffed away on a cigarette to embody the character. The film follows Herman as he battles with film director Orson Welles for screenwriting credit for Citizen Kane (1941). In character: The Oscar-winning actor, 61, donned a dark green blazer and matching trousers over a white shirt that he paired with a paisley tie Citizen Kane would go on to be considered one of the best films of all time, although its script was the only part of the picture that won an Academy Award. Mank is directed by David Fincher, his first feature film since Gone Girl in 2014 and is based on a script by David's father Jack who penned it before his death in 2003. The film, like Citizen Kane, will be shot in black and white and also stars Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins and Tuppence Middleton. Plot: The film follows Herman J Mankiewicz he battles with film director Orson Welles for screenwriting credit for Citizen Kane (Herman pictured in the 1940's) Cean Chaffin is set to produce the picture with Douglas J. Urbanski, Gary's work partner who was Academy Award-nominated for producing Darkest Hour. Gary won a number of best actor accolades for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and a Screen Actors Guild award. He also won a number of nods for best actor for Darkest Hour, including from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists and the Black Film Critics Circle. The US sees Russia as a competitor, not an enemy or a threat, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale said in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). "I would say that Russia is a competitor, quite tough, sometimes inventive, but a competitor. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly made it clear that we stand for good relations with Russia and keep the doors to dialogue open, the Under Secretary of State answered the question, whether the US considers Russia as an enemy or a threat, RIA Novosti reports. Aviation regulator DGCA has suspended the pilot-in-command of an India flight for three months as he caused a runway incursion incident at Mumbai airport on November 5, a senior official said on Saturday. "The Air Traffic Control (ATC) gave clear instructions to the pilots of flight IAD374 - which was heading to Indore - to just stand at the holding point RWY32 at Mumbai airport. Even though, the co-pilot read back ATC instructions correctly to the PIC, the latter breached the holding point," the official of Directorate General of Civil Aviation said. The DGCA, therefore, issued show cause notices to both the pilots. In response, the pilot-in-command (PIC) admitted his lapses, the official said. "Consequently, the DGCA decided to suspend the PIC's license for a period of three months," he added. Mark Holm co-owner of Ringer Reef Winery in Porepunkah For Mark Holm, there is too much at stake not to remain at his family's winery despite the looming threat of bushfires spreading into their northeast Victorian town. The winemaker is ready to defend Ringer Reef in Porepunkah, and join his parents Bruce and Annie in protecting their home behind its vineyard, if embers from nearby fires make their way to the property. As wind picked up on Friday afternoon, and a plume of smoke from a blaze near Abbeyard reared its head over the Mount Buffalo National Park's ranges, it seemed possible they might. But good fortune meant the gusts didn't blow their way, with some rain helping to quash the chances of embers causing issues. The family has filled their big wine tanks with bore water and a pest-spraying machine has been repurposed as a water-sprayer to assist in any defence. 'We've got quite a lot set up in case of a fire. Petrol pumps, diesel pumps, you name it,' Mark Holm told AAP. Smoke from bushfires throughout the Alpine region is damaging the wine industry (Pictured: Ringer Reef vineyard in Porepunkah, Victoria) Mark Holm co-owner of Ringer Reef Winery holds some of his Chardonnay grapes in Porepunkah, Victoria, Friday, January 10 Whether or not the threat of flames materialises at the town near Bright, this year's bushfire season has already taken a toll on the family business and other wineries in the region. Ringer Reef was earning $5000 a day at their cellar door in late December, but nobody is coming in now as tourists and many locals have heeded warnings to evacuate the area. Smoke which has blown over from Victorian bushfires in the past fortnight may also have rendered many of the 40 tonnes worth of grapes currently on their vines unusable. A firefighting helicopter tackling a bushfire near Bairnsdale in Victoria's East Gippsland region on December 31, 2019 Small spot fires still burn on January 05, 2020 between Orbost and Cann River east of Gippsland in Victoria It's not the first time smoke has tainted Ringer Reef's grapes - predominantly the only ones they use - with fires in 2003 and 2006/07 ushering in a similar fate. 'The first time I thought it'll be right, we'll fix it, we'll work something out. Twelve months later we just poured the whole lot down the drain,' Bruce Holm said. 'It's pretty devastating.' Grapes become more susceptible to smoke taint the closer they are to being harvested, with Ringer Reef typically harvesting about February 6. But there's no guarantee smoke will clear as that date draws closer either. There are fears the damage from the smoke will stop wineries from producing wine (Pictured: Ringer Reef vineyard in Porepunkah, Victoria) Owner of the Eagle Range Estate winery in nearby Ovens, Frank Ivone, has little faith that any grapes in the region will be usable this year. 'I can absolutely guarantee to my last dollar, there's a lot of smoke taint around. The grapes are hammered around this district - there won't be a vintage,' he told AAP. He also plans to stay with his property if there's a risk of fires nearing it and is keeping his likely tainted fruit in perspective. 'It's not lives or assets, it's just grapes. There's a lot of people much, much, much worse off than we could ever be.' Brown Brothers - one of the bigger producers in the region, which draws on 15,000 tonnes worth of grapes from across Victoria - isn't discounting any grapes yet. 'The vines are still early in their development phase, so they're in a low risk phase of taint at the moment,' their chief winemaker Joel Tilbrook told AAP. 'It's just far too early to be making calls as to whether there is going to be issues.' The Australian Wine Research Institute and an agricultural body will be hosting an industry meeting at the Milawa winery next week to share the latest information on dealing with the impacts of bushfires on their vineyards and assessing smoke taint. New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) In an effort to keep peace and tranquillity along the borders, India and China have agreed to set up a military hotline between Indian Army's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) and Western Theatre Command (WTC) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, said Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday. General Naravane said that the proposal for the hotline has been accepted by both sides after all procedural issues were resolved. During an annual press conference, the Army Chief said: "As far as the hotline between India and China is concerned, proposals have been in the pipeline for a long time. The proposal has been accepted and procedural aspects have been ironed out. I am glad to say that we have now resolved the issue." The hotline faced several roadblocks in the past because of the differing views of both sides. The Indian Army had been maintaining that this hotline should be between its DGMO and his equivalent in the PLA. China, however, proposed that as the Western Theatre Command is responsible for the front with India, therefore its commander should engage with the Indian DGMO. Both sides see hotlines as a necessity for better interaction between their armies and to defuse tensions caused by differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control. General Naravane also stated that both borders, including Northern and Western, are equally significant and stressed that the advanced weapons systems are being deployed and infrastructure improved along the Chinese border. "At one point of time it (advanced weapons system) was more towards the Western front (Pakistan). Now we think both borders are equally important. It is in that context that the rebalance is taking place," General Naravane said. He also emphasized balancing the threat along the eastern front. The Army Chief vouched on capacity building such as roads, habitat, and storage for ammunition in the East. Talking about Siachen, he said that the post is strategically important. "That is one area which faces the western and northern fronts. We should not lose sight that it's one place where collusivity can happen. So we should keep control." He said as far as land borders were concerned, Siachen was where China and Pakistan were the closest. "So the chance for collusivity here is the most. The same with the Shaksgam valley," he stated. sk/prs Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 11 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday condoled the death of Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, describing him as the architect of modern day Oman who will be missed by Indians in general and Keralite's in particular. The longest-reigning leader of the Arab world, Sultan Qaboos died on Friday at the age of 79. "We have lost a person who was always in the forefront of maintaining good relations in the Middle East and he was one who had special liking for Indian's and Keralite's. He always had a humane face when it came to governance and will be missed by all," said Vijayan in his condolence message. The Sultan was educated in India. In Oman, according to studies done by the Centre for Development Studies, here, an estimated around two lakh Keralaite's were working in Oman. The Sultan, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, was unmarried and had no heir or a designated successor, according to the media. Last month he returned home after undergoing medical check-ups and treatment in Belgium. There were reports that he was suffering from cancer, the BBC said in a report. At the age of 29, Sultan Qaboos in 1970 deposed his father Said bin Taimur in a bloodless coup with the British support and using its oil wealth, he then set Oman on a path to development. The fresh protests in Abkhazia are coordinated by Putin aide Vladislav Surkov's group, who are trying to change the puppet leader of Abkhazia, IGTDS reports. The political crisis in the self-proclaimed and internationally-unrecognized Abkhazia will result in no foreign policy changes, while reflecting the local elites' struggle for Russia's financial support. On January, 9 a group of protesters stormed the building hosting the "presidential administration" after the local "parliament" adopted a resolution calling on "president" Raul Khajimba to resign, but the latter refused, according to IGTDS think tank. These demands followed the presidential election of September 9, 2019, where the incumbent Khajimba was re-elected with 47.39% of the vote. Opposition candidate Alkhas Kvitsinia took 46.17% and suggested that the vote was rigged. Clashes ensued at the opposition rally outside the Supreme Court HQ where activists urged judges to recognize election violations. In their statements the opposition parties called the incumbent president "illegitimate" and the government "failed". Read alsoPrisoner swap lifts veil on Russia's hybrid war against Ukraine media One of the main leaders of street protests these days is Akhra Avidzba, originally from Sochi, who took the side of Russian proxy forces in Ukraine's Donbas and is now being joined by some local political figures. The fresh protests in Abkhazia are coordinated by Putin aide Vladislav Surkov's group, who are trying to change the puppet leader of Abkhazia, IGTDS reports. The economic situation remains in critical condition. The state's vital operations are exclusively financed by Russia, while Moscow's aid is manually distributed between other puppet territories, too, including South Ossetia, Crimea, and Transnistria). Abkhazia gets investments mostly in the form of Russia's state assistance, as well as corruption-laden funds from the Turkish Abkhaz community which supports the Abkhaz government. Any "issues" with government agencies and partners are solved by local gangsters in extra-judicial manner. Attacks, raids, kidnappings, and murders of Russian businessmen made several Russian MPs and members of the Federation Council appeal for justice to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Investigative Committee, and the Foreign Ministry of Russia. The main reason for the Russia-inspired protests lies in the local struggle for Russian financial support. Since both the government and the opposition are pro-Russian, the Kremlin is interested in the political player who would request less assistance, while opening the market for Russians and sealing better control over the government. The rally was more likely orchestrated in Moscow to discourage Khajimba, analysts say. However, they add, the Kremlin sits well with any outcome and expects the ultimate result will be in favor of the strongest leader whom they will then support. Despite some hopes that Raul Khajimba would flee from office as months of a tough race left him in a vulnerable position, Khajimba is unlikely to hand power to a mob of protesters. He stated readiness to declare a state of emergency in the "republic" and branded the ongoing developments a coup. Thus, by attempting to hold on to power, Khajimba could spark a wave of clashes between the Abkhaz clans. Aston Martin shares picked up speed after reports that China's Geely is eyeing an investment in the stricken luxury car maker. Geely, which owns Volvo and Lotus, is conducting due diligence before it decides whether to make an investment in the group. However, it could strike a technology partnership with Aston Martin, instead of investing money into the company, the Financial Times reported. Chinese automotive group Geely, which owns Volvo and Lotus, is conducting due diligence before it decides whether to make an investment in Aston Martin The luxury brand's stock climbed 15.3 per cent, or 62.4p, to 469.7p last night, making it the FTSE's biggest riser yesterday but the shares are still down from the float price of 1900p in October 2018. Geely is the latest big name to be associated with propping up James Bond's favourite marque. Formula 1 billionaire Lawrence Stroll is also said to interested, which could see him take a stake of as much as 20 per cent of the firm. The latest rally comes after Aston released a surprise profit warning on Tuesday, which followed a glum December and what chief executive Andy Palmer described as a 'very disappointing year'. In the same update which wiped 16 per cent off Aston's shares the business said it was in talks with several 'potential strategic investors'. Stock Watch - Team 17 Group Shares in video game developer Team 17 Group hit a record high after it upgraded profits for the fifth time in 12 months. Profits and revenue will come in ahead of expectations following a bumper Christmas, AIM-listed Team 17 Group said. Multiplayer Nintendo Switch games such as Overcooked! 2, where players cooperate to run a busy kitchen, did especially well. Its stock jumped 9.8 per cent, or 37.5p, to 420.5p. A flurry of last-minute bookings for Christmas and new year breaks will help lift Ryanair's annual profits. The Irish budget airline unveiled a surprise profit upgrade, estimating it will rake in between 806million and 890million, up from previous forecasts of 680million to 765million. It followed an unprecedented number of customers who decided to book holidays at the 11th hour, and eager travellers booking their spring holidays earlier than usual. Ryanair reckons it flew 1m more passengers in 2019 than it previously expected to raising its guidance from 153m to 154m for the full year. It wasn't all rosy. The group's Austrian arm struggled with intense competition and price-cutting that meant it had to sell tickets too cheaply to make a profit. But the upgrade was a boon to Ryanair's shares, sending them up 5.7 per cent, or 87 cents, to 16.10. And the effect was contagious with budget rivals Easyjet (up 4.2 per cent, or 60.5p, to 1499p), Wizz Air (up 6.8 per cent, or 261p, to 4119p) and British Airways-owner IAG (up 4.6 per cent, or 29.4p, to 664p) all flying high. In fact, IAG and Easyjet were ranked first and second on the FTSE 100's highest-risers table. Wizz Air was also fifth in the All Share league. Airlines were also on the up as oil prices started heading back down. When oil prices are higher it makes jet fuel, one of the biggest cost headaches for airlines, more expensive too. Brent crude, the global benchmark price, has now given up all the gains it made in a short rally after the US assassinated top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on January 3, falling from a peak of $69 a barrel to $65 yesterday. But the FTSE 100 still fell 0.1 per cent, or 10.27 points, to 7587.85, while the FTSE 250 shed 0.4 per cent, or 76.4 points, to 21566.67. Paper and packaging group Mondi lost 2 per cent, or 34p, to finish at 1678p after chief executive Peter Oswald said he would step down at the end of March. He has been Mondi's boss for nearly three years and his departure follows a dismal trading update in October. Elsewhere, Wagamama-owner The Restaurant Group was one of the day's big fallers, tumbling 6.9 per cent, or 11.1p, to 150.1p, after RBC Capital Markets analysts cut its rating from 'outperform' to 'sector perform'. Brokers think that between October and December it suffered as fewer film fans went to the cinema as its branches are often in retail parks near cinemas and with the Thomas Cook collapse affecting its airport pubs. A new poll shows US Senator Bernie Sanders has taken the lead among Democratic presidential candidates in the important early-voting state of Iowa - although his three biggest rivals are right behind him. The poll, released Friday, revealed that there is a clear top tier of four candidates competing in Iowa. Sanders received support from 20 per cent of respondents in the poll, with the next three candidates - US Senator Elizabeth Warren, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden - in a statistical tie behind him in the poll conducted by Iowa polling firm Selzer & Co and released by the state's largest newspaper, the Des Moines Register. A new Iowa poll revealed Bernie Sanders (pictured Friday) has the lead among Democratic presidential candidates in the early-voting state, with 20 per cent of respondents' support Out of the clear top tier of four candidates competing in Iowa, Elizabeth Warren came next, receiving 17 per cent of respondents' support The poll found Warren at 17 per cent, Buttigieg at 16 per cent and Biden at 15 per cent. Buttigieg experienced the biggest drop in support compared to the same poll conducted in November, losing nine percentage points. He had previously had a strong lead in the poll with 25 per cent, nine points ahead of Warren, who was then his closest competitor. Buttigieg's favorability ratings were said to have slid four points, from 72 per cent to 68 per cent, while his unfavorable ratings went up from 16 per cent to 24 per cent. 'That used to be his great claim to fame: He was very likable, and there were very few who didnt like him,' pollster Selzer said, adding that 'Some of that luster is lost in this poll.' The remainder of candidates polled below 10 per cent. US Senators Amy Klobuchar is at 6per cent and Cory Booker at 3 per cent - both remaining at the same numbers they had in the previous November poll. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, meanwhile, increased his support from 3 per cent to 5 per cent. US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and entrepreneur Tom Steyer each polled at 2 per cent, while former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg dropped from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. Although US Senator Michael Bennet and former US Rep. John Delaney's received a number of votes, their percentage rounded to zero per cent. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and author Marianne Williamson, meanwhile, received zero per cent of votes because they were not picked as a first choice for president by even one poll respondent. The Iowa poll, conducted between January 2 to 8 showed Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg and Biden had a clear lead over the remaining Democratic presidential candidate field Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg (in white on Friday) received 16 per cent of the respondents' support, dropping nine points compared to the same poll in November Former vice president Joe Biden (in striped tie Friday) received 15 per cent of the poll's support Pollsters said that Sanders' received a good showing in the poll, but that it wasn't an uncontested lead. Sanders supporters are seen here on January 1 at California's Rose Parade US Senators Amy Klobuchar (left) at six per cent and Cory Booker (right) at three per cent both remained at the same numbers they had in the previous November poll Entrepreneur Andrew Yang (right) increased his support from three per cent to five per cent Williamson dropped out of the race after the poll was announced Friday. Clearing 15 per cent is important in Iowa, a state whose caucus system means supporters of candidates that do not meet a 15 per cent threshold are forced to make a second choice. 'Theres no denying that this is a good poll for Bernie Sanders. He leads, but its not an uncontested lead,' pollster J. Ann Selzer, president of Selzer & Co., told the Des Moines Register. 'Hes got a firmer grip on his supporters than the rest of his compatriots.' Iowa voters cast ballots in February 3 party caucuses in the first contest in the state-by-state process of selecting a Democratic challenger to Republican President Donald Trump in the November 3 general election. As Sanders increases his hold in the run up to the Iowa caucus, Trump and his team have started to attack the Vermont senator, a change from his previous focus on Biden. At his first rally of 2020, Trump - while in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday night - said that 'Crazy Bernie is surging,' according to BuzzFeed News, which also noted that the president's campaign spokesperson, TIm Murtaugh told the news outlet that 'Bernie Sanders is dangerous' and 'cannot be trusted to keep Americans safe.' The statements came after Sanders condemned the airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on January 3. The poll is conducted in conjunction with CNN and cable company Mediacom. The survey of 701 likely caucus attendees was conducted January 2 to 8 and has a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points. Finishing among the top three in Iowa has been crucial for candidates seeking their party's nomination in past presidential races, with those who fail to do so often finding their campaigns ending before voters in New Hampshire head to the polls for the second nominating contest. New Hampshire's primary is scheduled for February 11. The poll still found room for movement among the candidates. Only 40 per cent of poll respondents said they had finalized their choice, with 45 per cent saying they could still change their mind. The poll is likely to be the final survey eligible to allow candidates to qualify under the rules set for next Tuesday's Democratic candidate debate in the state capital Des Moines. Six candidates have qualified for the debate: Biden, Sanders, Buttigieg, Warren, US Senator Amy Klobuchar and businessman Tom Steyer. The results from the Des Moines Register poll will not help others qualify. Ridhima Gupta By Express News Service HYDERABAD: While the Telangana government is mulling a ban on single-use-plastic in the State, the plastic manufacturers in the State claims that a complete ban will disrupt several manufacturing units and lead to the job loss. At a meeting in October 2019, Chief Minister (CM) K Chandrasekhar Rao had directed State officials, including the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB), to prepare guidelines to ban plastic use and production of plastic goods in Telangana. The States plastic-processing industry has over 7,000 units and an annual turnover of Rs 15 crore, according to the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI). Speaking to Express, Anil Reddy Vennum, a member of All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), said, "The industry that employs around two lakh people will be badly impacted if the government will not carefully weigh the impact of the ban on single-use-plastic leading to industry slowdown." ALSO READ| Complete ban on plastic may wipe out forests: Senior Telangana government official As plastic is used for packaging many commodities, we are sure that the State government will not come up with a complete ban on single-use plastic, added Vennum. Single-use-plastic, which is less than 50 micron in size, cannot be recycled. Instead of a complete ban, the government should increase the thickness limit from 50 microns to 75 microns. Then these plastic products can be re-used and recycled, said Vennum. He added that the ban will not solve the problem as there are no proper alternatives for plastic that are feasible and affordable. If there will be a ban then the FTAPCCI along with other plastic manufacturer associations, will seek an exemption from the ban on Multilayered Plastic (MLP) products such as woven sacks and carry bags, says Vennum. "We are not against the environment and as industries, we are also looking for alternatives. We will request the government to exempt a few products until we come up with an alternative, as that could disrupt supplies of key products such as biscuits, salt, and milk," said Arun Luharuka of FTAPCCI. He added that the ban will hit the annual turnover of the plastic industries by 10-15 per cent. As of now there is no clarity on what the government will identify as single-use-plastic, which is very confusing, but we are expecting proper guidelines on the ban. Aroon Purie, Founder, India Today Group, was at a meet of senior leaders of the broadcast industry who came together to discuss TRAIs recent amendments Expressing disappointment over NTO 2.0, leader of the broadcast industry and senior IBF members came together to discuss the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)s recent amendments to Tariff Order, Interconnection Regulations and Quality of Service Regulation of 2017 for the broadcasting and cable services sector. Aroon Purie, Founder, India Today Group, said, at the meet, The regulator's job is to facilitate to enable a fair field play for everybody and encourage the growth of the industry. Infact, the regulator is not facilitating but strangulating the broadcast industry and it's right across. They are killing the Golden Goose. They decide to cap your channel price, they cap your discount, they control the number of bouquets you can have. It's like tying your feet and asking you to swim, it doesn't work like that. I think it's a fundamental issue brought to the public. This is while the industry is giving employment and growth and this cannot happen the way the regulator's pushing the industry. It is not good for the country and the broadcast industry. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) Charlize Theron refused to reveal her relationship status as she spoke about the Me Too movement amid her Golden Globe nomination for Bombshell. The South-African born star, 44, reportedly turned ice cold when she was asked whether she was single during an interview with The Times. 'Oh, my God, really? I'm obviously not answering,' she said. Coy: Charlize Theron refused to reveal her relationship status as she spoke about the Me Too movement amid her Golden Globe nomination for Bombshell (pictured this month) Charlize was previously engaged to Seann Penn but split in 2015. The Oscar winning actress was the one who called off the engagement after they spent time together in Europe in May, a source previously told US Weekly. The actress has also previously been linked with Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves and Stuart Townsend. Charlize was then asked about Michael B Jordan - who her co-stars Nicole Kidman and Margo Robbie decided would be her ideal match during an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show and replied: 'He's sweet.' Romance? The actress, 44, was asked about her love life as she discussed her latest film Bombshell, in which she both produced and starred (pictured above) Ex: Charlize was previously engaged to Seann Penn but split in 2015 (pictured in May in 2015) Elsewhere, Charlize revealed there was a 'grey zone' within the Me Too movement, that made it hard for women to stand up for themselves. 'We've always dealt with that as, "Well, you weren't raped, so get over it". A lot of these abusers that we're hearing about are paternal, a charmer, somebody who really wants to help and invest in you and that is really complicated stuff for women to have to work through,' she said. Charlize starred and produced Bombshell, which is an American drama film that is based upon several women at Fox News who set out to expose CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. Based on true story: Theron garnered critical acclaim for her portrayal of Fox News anchor Megyn in Bombshell, a drama about the women who took on Fox News head Roger Referencing her role as Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, who brought sexual assault charges against her boss in 2016, she said the anchor had a 'moral dilemma' which was that 'she liked Roger'. The actress has been nominated for best actress for Bombshell by the Screen Actors Guild, the Broadcast Film Critics Association and BAFTA in the UK. It's expected she will receive her third Academy Award nomination when they're announced on Monday. And Charlize revealed her mastering of Megyn's deep voice was so accurate viewers who actually knew her well thought the opening scene was actually documentary footage. Resigned in disgrace: Bombshell follows Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly who brought sexual assault charges against her boss Roger Ailes in 2016 (pictured) But Char the cast, which also includes Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, had no idea they were working on the origin story of the movement against sexual harassment in Hollywood. She also spoke about the way the film portrays the rivalry between the women working at Fox. According to Charlize, the men were smart enough to turn their victims against each other so no one would listen to them. She revealed all women over 40 have had to 'laugh too loudly' at a man's jokes to make him feel better about himself. Charlize previously spoke about her own experience of sexual harassment in the industry, in an interview with National Public Radio in the US about when a well-known director invited her to his house for an audition in 1994. The initial incident occurred at the director's home, which happened 'at 9pm' on a Saturday night according to Theron. Once there, the South African-born beauty said the unnamed filmmaker 'wore silk pajamas and offered me a drink and rubbed my knee'. During the drive home, Charlize 'just kept hitting the steering wheel'. 'I put a lot of blame on myself ... that I didn't say all the right things, and that I didn't tell him to take a hike, and that I didn't do all of those things that we so want to believe we'll do in those situations.' The Katy Lions Club had the best year ever for its toy drive for Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, according to its president. Katy residents are so helpful and amazingly generous, said Lions Club President Carol Barnett. This year the Katy Lions Club partnered with Harris County Emergency Services District 48 and the Katy National Little League for the toy drive. Most people sit through countless orientations on the first few days of their job, but one teen discovered a planet - on his third day. Wolf Cukier, 17, of Scarsdale, New York, had wrapped up his junior year of high school when he headed off to intern in the summer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, where he discovered a planet orbiting two stars. The planet, now known as TOI 1338 b, is nearly seven times larger than Earth and has two stars - one that's about 10% more massive than our sun, and another only a third of the sun's mass and less bright, according to NASA. It was the second time he had interned at the space research laboratory, having spent the summer of 2018 working on a Goldilocks Zone project under the mentorship of NASA aerospace technology researcher Ravi Kopparapu. Cukier was invited back to intern at the space flight complex, but Kopparapu wasn't available to provide guidance. Cukier was placed under the tutelage of NASA research scientist Veselin Kostov who never had a high school intern, Kostov told The Washington Post. "I gave him a brief outline of what we do, and he learned everything by himself," Kostov said. "He learned really quickly. He really developed a very good understanding of the field." The summer was the first time Cukier worked with NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, known as TESS, he said. TESS monitors the brightness of stars for periodic drops caused by planetary transits, according to NASA. The teen had a framework of what to look for based on his exploring the Planet Hunters TESS citizen science project, which allows people to comb through TESS data and categorize different star systems, he said. While looking at an image at his internship, he thought something looked "suspicious," he said, noting that the image had an additional feature that made him alert Kostov. "After we saw the original transit, we looked at the full light curve and saw three transits," Cukier said. Cukier and Kostov spent hours verifying that the additional features they were seeing were real by looking through multiple data sets. "It was just Wolf and me in the first couple of hours, and when we were 99% certain the two traits we saw were real, we started reaching out to colleagues," Kostov said. "It definitely colored the rest of the internship," Cukier said of his planet discovery. "Now, not only was I working on searching for additional planets, I was learning the full verification that goes into verifying a planet when we suspect it to be one. " That process included using different data tools and involving researchers from the University of Chicago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and San Diego State. The process was actually much faster than normal, taking about two to three months to confirm Cukier's discovery as a planet, Kostov said. The finding is a positive sign for the TESS' capabilities, Kostov said, adding that he believes there will be more planets to be found. "TESS is the only instrument that would allow us to discover this type of planet," Kostov said. Cukier co-wrote a paper about his internship find with scientists from Goddard and other institutions that has been submitted for scientific review. TOI 1338 b was also featured in a panel discussion Monday at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu, according to NASA. Cukier couldn't name the planet, but his brother offered a better sobriquet: Wolftopia. Now a high school senior, Cukier has his sights set on colleges such as Princeton University, Stanford University and MIT, where he can major in either astrophysics or physics. He's still figuring out his summer plans, he said. Canada's Department of Justice said a Huawei executive arrested in Vancouver could be extradited to the United States, because her offense is a crime in both countries, according to documents released Friday. Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who was originally detained on a US warrant in late 2018, faces an extradition hearing in Vancouver that begins on January 20. The United States accuses Meng of lying to banks about violating Iran sanctions. However Meng's lawyers maintain that she cannot be turned over to the United States, because in order for that to happen, her offense would have to meet a "double criminality" standard -- meaning it is a crime in both countries. Violating US sanctions against Iran, they say, is not a crime in Canada. However in the documents filed in Vancouver Friday, which were widely cited by media, Canada's attorney general said the "essence" of her banking interactions amounted to fraud, which is a crime in the country. The first week of Meng's extradition hearing will be devoted to the question of double criminality. Meng, who lives under house arrest at her mansion in Vancouver, denies the US allegations and says Canadian authorities violated her rights during the arrest. Her detention at the Vancouver airport in December 2018 caused an unprecedented diplomatic rift between Canada and China, which demands her release. Just nine days later China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, whom it accuses of espionage. Huawei's Meng Wanzhou leaves the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver in October 2019 Kolkata, Jan 11 : The Centre has decided to make five iconic museums of the country as per international standards, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Saturday. "It has been decided to make the five iconic museums in the country as per international standards," Modi said after dedicating to the nation four heritage buildings which have been renovated and refurbished. The project is s being launched with the Indian Museum, one of the oldest museums in the world. Apart from it, the Delhi, Chenani, Hyderabad and Srinagar museums are also being upgraded, the Prime Minister said, stressing the need for beautification and renovation of the country's iconic structures. Underscoring the importance of creating the required resources for these museums' maintenance and management, he said the government was considering establishment of the Indian Institute of Heritage Conservation and giving it a deemed university status. "We are also considering developing the Indian government's mint here into a museum of coinage and commerce," Modi said during his address at the function organised in the OId Currency Builing, one of the four renovated heritage structures. The other three are Belvedere House, Metcalfe House and Victoria Memorial Hall. The renovation has been undertaken by the Union Culture Ministry which has refurbished the iconic galleries with new exhibitions apart from curating the old galleries. The renovation exercise is part of the ministry's initiative to develop cultural spaces around iconic buildings in various metro cities in the country. To begin with the cities of Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi are being taken up under this project. Modi said from time to time, the subject of making Belvedere House a Museum of the World has cropped up. "Now our efforts are in the direction of realisation of dream." The Prime Minister said it was not proper that two of the five galleries of Victoria Memorial Hall were shut for long. "For some time efforts are on to open them. My appeal is the third gallery should have place for the freedom movement in Bengal". He said a museum called Biplabi Bharat will be made in which freedom fighters of Bengal such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Aurobindo Ghosh, Rash Behari Bose, Deshbandhu Chitta Ranjan Das, Benoy-Badal-Dinesh (Benoy Basu, Badal Gupta and Dinesh Gupta) should get some place. Jaipur, Jan 11 : Rajasthan Police on Friday have claimed to solve the double murder mystery of a mother and her 2.1-year-old son which was reported on Tuesday. The police have confirmed that Rohit Tiwadi, a manager with Indian Oil Corporate Limited, killed his wife Shweta Tiwadi and his son Shriyam as he wanted to remarry and start his life afresh. The police have recovered the body of Shriyam from an isolated place just behind the society where the family lived. Police Commissioner Anand Shrivastav said the accused on Friday accepted the crime after interrogation. He accepted that he had stressed relationship with his wife and therefore, he planned hire a contract killer to kill his wife. The contract killer has also been arrested on Friday, said Shrivastav. Meanwhile, Shweta' parents confirmed that their daughter was been abused physically and mentally by Rohit. The couple was married in 2011 and their son was born in 2017 via IVF. They have shifted from Delhi over a year back. Further investigations are on, said police. Though that authorization is badly in need of an update, such an update is not likely to happen. Lawmakers know that being wrong on a war vote can dog them for the rest of their careers. You can see that in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, in which foreign policy is suddenly a hot topic. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who voted against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, has been reminding voters that former vice president Joe Biden voted for it when he was a senator. Iran Air Flight 655, which Mr. Rouhani invoked with the hashtag #IR655, had set out for Dubai from the port city of Bandar Abbas, on the Iranian side of the Persian Gulf. At the same time on that July morning, the Vincennes, an American missile cruiser, was engaged in combat with Iranian boats in the gulf. The Navy said later that it mistook the passenger plane, an Airbus A300, for a hostile F-14 fighter jet. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. William J. Crowe Jr., said that the Iranian plane was flying at low altitude and failed to respond to warnings or transmit radar signals identifying it as a civilian plane. The plane was brought down with a surface-to-air missile. President Ronald Reagan issued a statement from Camp David, saying the United States regretted the loss of life but defending the judgment of the skipper, Capt. Will C. Rogers III. A subsequent Defense Department investigation also supported his actions, though it noted he was given inaccurate information as the plane approached. The investigators also faulted Iran for allowing the plane to fly into an active conflict zone. In a strange twist, the following March, Captain Rogerss wife, Sharon Lee Rogers, was driving near a shopping center in San Diego when what was believed to be a pipe bomb exploded in her car. She escaped uninjured. Investigators initially believed it was an act of terrorism related to Captain Rogerss role in the deaths, but later all but ruled out the possibility, The Los Angeles Times reported. Captain Rogers was later awarded the Legion of Merit for his service in the Persian Gulf; an accompanying citation praised the captains dynamic leadership and logical judgment. A December 1988 report by an international panel of aviation experts faulted the Navy for failing to put in place procedures to keep civilian aircraft away from combat zones. The United States later paid millions to settle a lawsuit that Iran filed over the matter at the International Court of Justice. Ukraine on Saturday demanded that Iran punish those guilty for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner and compensate victims while praising Tehran for cooperating with the "objective" investigation. Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky was due to discuss the incident with his Iranian counterpart President Hassan Rouhani at 5:00 pm local time, his press office said. "We expect Iran... to bring the guilty to the courts," the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling also for the "payment of compensation" and the return of remains. Tehran admitted Saturday that it accidentally downed the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane, killing all 176 people on board on Wednesday, shortly after launching missiles at bases hosting US forces in Iraq. Rouhani said Tehran "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake". Tehran has invited the United States, Ukraine, Canada and others to join the crash investigation. Kiev said that Iran had cooperated with its experts and it expects an objective probe. Tehran has handed Ukrainian experts enough data including "all the photos, videos and other materials" to show the investigation "will be carried out objectively and promptly," Zelensky's office said. "The political part of the work is finished," it added. It published photos of experts examining the scene and close-ups of holes in the fuselage and shrapnel damage. Ukraine said Friday its experts dispatched to Iran had been granted access to the flight's black boxes, debris from the plane, the crash site and to recordings of conversations between the pilot and the airport control tower. Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's national security and defence council, which is coordinating the probe, told AFP Kiev did not yet have evidence on where the missile was produced, only that it was "launched from Iranian soil." Zelensky said earlier that Ukraine hoped the inquiry would be pursued "without deliberate delay and without obstruction." He urged "total access" to the full inquiry for the 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an "official apology". UIA chief Yevhenii Dykhne said at a press conference in Kiev on Saturday that Tehran should have closed the airport due to the escalation of tensions in the region following the US assassination of a top Iranian general. "It's absolutely irresponsible... if you're playing at war, they were obliged to close the airport," Dykhne said. He wrote on Facebook that the Ukrainian crew and the aircraft "were the best." Iran's official IRNA agency published a statement from the military saying the Boeing 737 was mistaken for a "hostile plane" at a time when threats were at the highest level. The majority of passengers on UIA Flight PS752 from Tehran to Kiev were Iranian-Canadian dual nationals but also included Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes Many in Kiev have compared the crash to the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 killing 298 people over eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists are fighting government forces. Moscow has denied the findings of international investigators that a Russian BUK misile hit the Malaysian flight. "Iran has shown itself to be more civilised than Russia," pro-western Ukraine MP Volodymyr Ariev wrote on Facebook. "Tehran has admitted its guilt in three days while Russia continues to try to get out of it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) by Melynda Fuller , January 10, 2020 When Group Nine media acquired PopSugar last year, PopSugars Sparkle platform came with it. Sparkle is a mobile-optimized publishing platform specializing in social commerce; it allows marketers and retailers to build experiences for customers through a suite of mini apps. Brands using Sparkle can activate shopping across multiple retailers, while retailers can create customized pages that feature multiple SKUs and collect purchase intent data. advertisement advertisement Group Nines new ecommerce ad solution Sparkle Ads builds on Sparkles value by giving advertisers the power to create turnkey, shoppable ads from Amazon and Walmart that feature their products. While Sparkle will launch on PopSugars website, Sparkle and Sparkle Ads will eventually extend to all Group Nine brands, including The Dodo, Thrillist, NowThis and Seeker. Campbells and a global-cleaning company were the first brand partners to try out Sparkle Ads in its beta launch. Spark Foundry, Campbells media agency, assisted the brand in its participation in Sparkle Ads beta launch. Sparkle Ads marks the latest expansion of our ecommerce suite and creates frictionless commerce solutions that make shopping easier for consumers, said Chris George, COO of Group Nine Media. Group Nine plans to make Sparkle Ads available as a unit that can be placed on other publisher websites. Users will eventually be able to connect with Group-Nine affiliated retailers like Kohls, Shopify and The Gap, in addition to Walmart and Amazon. VIJAYAWADA: A political re-alignment is on cards in Andhra Pradesh with Telugu Desam, Jana Sena and Left parties, who are on the same page on the contentious capital issue, working on possible pacts for contesting the ensuing polls to local bodies. While Left parties have already joined the Joint Action Committee formed by Telugu Desam supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu to oppose relocation of the capital from Amaravati, Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan on Saturday announced his partys decision to oppose shifting of the capital. He went on to say that a divided opposition was the cause for YSR Congress securing 151 seats in the last general elections to the Assembly. After considerable internal deliberations and airing of different opinions, the Bharatiya Janata Party too passed a resolution at its state executive on Saturday to fight against relocation of the capital from Amaravati. The party, however, decided to organise protests on its own, keeping away from the TD-led stir. The Chief Ministers decision has given a fresh lease of life to an otherwise subdued opposition. Some parties may fight individually and others could join together. But, overall, the voice of dissent is rising. It will not be a smooth sailing for the ruling party in local body polls, said CPI state secretary K. Ramakrishna. While the TD got about 40 per cent of the votes in the last general elections, Jana Senas share was six per cent and Left parties accounted for one per cent each. Opposition parties are hoping that under the changed dynamics, the three parties could come together and bag the anti-establishment vote. We are sure that Jagan will not be able to retain his 50 per cent vote share in the local body polls, Mr Ramakrishna said. Sources in Telugu Desam told Deccan Chronicle that an electoral pact with the Left and Jana Sena was very much under serious consideration. We will consolidate on alliances post Sankranti, by which time the election notification would be out, a senior TD leader said, adding that a united opposition would pose a serious problem for the ruling party. The TD, which lost the Modi support base in the state during general elections, is making every effort to woo them highlighting two issues Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying foundation stone for the capital overtly and spread of Christianity in the state covertly. Sources said the Jana Sena Political Affairs Committee, which met in the city, also gave a thought to possible poll alliances. Police said Uber driver Amir Attia, 45, was arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting a woman, 25, he was driving to her home in July 2018 A California Uber driver with a previous sexual battery conviction was charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a 25-year-old woman in 2018 after he picked her up at a police station following her DUI arrest. Authorities said they arrested Amir Attia, 45, of Tustin, California, on Wednesday, in connection with the incident that allegedly occurred in July 2018, Santa Ana Police said in a release. Police said the unnamed woman, 25, had been arrested by the Tustin Police Department for a DUI after getting involved in a traffic accident in July 2018. She told investigators that after she was released that day, she called an Uber to pick her up from the police station to take her to her home in Santa Ana, California. During the ride, she claimed that her driver - Attia - stopped the car and sexually assaulted her. Police said that DNA evidence confirmed the assault. Police said investigators got a DNA match to Attia more than a year after the incident occurred, KTLA reported. Santa Ana Police then arrested Attia at his home on Wednesday, NBC Los Angeles reported. The woman said that Attia picked her up at the Tustin Police Department, where she had been released from custody following a DUI arrest in July 2018. On the way to her home, she claimed that Attia stopped and sexually assaulted her Police said that DNA evidence confirmed that a sexual assault had taken place and that they later matched the DNA sample to one taken from Attia (pictured) Uber said they removed Attia's access to the rideshare app after learning of the alleged incident (file image) Police said that Attia then confessed to sexually assaulting the victim. He has since been booked into Orange County Jail on two felony counts of sexual penetration and two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. He faces up to six years in prison if convicted. Attia's previous sexual battery conviction dates back to 1993. His bail was set at $150,000. In a statement to KTLA, Uber said that the woman's accusations against Attia were 'deeply troubling' and said that the company 'removed the drivers access to the app back in 2018 after we learned of this disturbing incident.' 'Ridesharing services provide a valuable service in preventing intoxicated people from getting behind the wheel,' Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. 'It is tragic that this predator used his clients state of intoxication to victimize her.' The woman was said to have been released from the Tustin Police Department that night because it does not have a jail. The department's policy is to cite and release people, encouraging anyone who remains drunk to take alternate transportation home, according to NBC Los Angeles. Police said they are concerned that other women might have been sexually assaulted by Attia while he was still driving for Uber. Santa Ana Police detectives are asking that anyone with information regarding this case, or who may have been victimized by Attia call Corporal Maria Lopez at 714-245-8542 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS. TEHRAN, Iran --- Iran says its forces accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard. RELATED: https://www.kezi.com/content/news/Ukranian-airliner-crashes-near-Iranian-capital-killing-176-566804111.html The government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible for the crash. The plane was hit hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of its top general. A military statement says the plane was mistaken for a ''hostile target'' after it turned toward a ''sensitive military center'' of the Revolutionary Guard. By Trend By introducing modern farming techniques and mechanization, Azerbaijan can improve productivity and establish a food-secure nation, Trend reports with reference to Asian Development Bank (ADB) report on agriculture development in Central Asia. Azerbaijan shall adapt its economy to a more sustainable future, depending on renewable resources rather than extractive ones, according to the bank. The country has a large dependency on cereals, but is better suited to horticultural production, the report said. ADB is one of the biggest investors in Azerbaijans economy. Since the country joined ADB in 1999, Azerbaijan has received loans worth over $4 billion from the bank. Shaheed Al-Hafed, January 11, 2020 (SPS) - The National Secretariat of the Polisario Front on Friday denounced implicating some African countries by the Moroccan occupier in committing direct assaults against the Sahrawi Republic by opening the so-called consulates in the occupied cities of Western Sahara, which represents a flagrant violation of the Constitutive Act of the African Union. In a statement culminating its founding session following the 15th congress of the Polisario Front, chaired by President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali, the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front expressed the intention of the Sahrawi Republic, a founding member of the African Union, to take all political and legal steps to ensure respect for the sovereignty of the Sahrawi people over their land and the legal status of Western Sahara as an occupied country in the process of decolonization. In assessing the relationship with the United Nations, the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front confirmed the content of the letter of the President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front to the President of the Security Council dated 28 December 2019, which contained the clear practical conditions that the United Nations should provide to restore the lost confidence of the Sahrawi people as a necessary step for the success of the new Personal Envoy in his mission. In this regard, the National Secretariat stressed that the Sahrawi people has run out of patience after 30 years of passive waiting, the most prominent features of which were arrogance and disregard by the Kingdom of Morocco, with the inability and failure of the United Nations to fulfill its original commitment, namely the application of the agreement signed between the two parties to organize a self-determination referendum. (SPS) 062/SPS/T At least 12 people were killed after a migrant smuggling boat sank near the island of Paxos in western Greece on Saturday, authorities said. The Greek Coast Guard told The New York Times that bodies of the 12 people were recovered from the Ionian Sea near the west coast of Greece. The authorities were alerted that the vessel was in trouble shortly after 9 a.m. (local time), when one of the migrants on board phoned the emergency services. No details were immediately available about the identities of the victims. The cause of the sinking was also unclear, according to the Coast Guard spokesman, Nikolaos Lagadianos. Weather conditions had been good, he said. But the boat may have been overloaded, he added, noting that about 50 people may have been on board. A large search-and-rescue operation was underway, the Coast Guard said, with six Coast Guard vessels scouring the area alongside two Air Force helicopters, a Navy helicopter and four fishing boats. He added that 21 people had so far been rescued. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) D espite entering a new year, politics has been bogged down by two familiar issues in the first full week of 2020 - Brexit and the Labour leadership. On leaving the European Union, Boris Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement Bill passed through the Commons, while the Prime Minister also met with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to discuss future relations. Meanwhile, the Labour leadership saw a conglomerate of MPs touting their pitches to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, who previously announced he would step down following the party's disastrous performance at December's general election. Elsewhere, the news agenda has largely been dominated by the Iran strikes this week - which has prompted a crisis in the Middle East, as well as political rows across the world. Below, the Standard takes a look at the key political points of the week... Iran strikes Iranian Missile Attack - In pictures 1 /16 Iranian Missile Attack - In pictures Pieces of missiles are seen at the rural area of Al-Baghdadi town after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq Anadolu Agency via Getty Images An explosion is seen following missiles landing at what is believed to be Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq Iraqi security forces find and collect the pieces of missiles as they gather to inspect the site after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A protester waves the Iraq flag while demonstrators set fire to close streets near Tahrir Square during a demonstration to protest against the Iranian missile strike, in Baghdad, Iraq AP Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him addressing a meeting in Teharn Getty Images An explosion is seen following missiles landing at what is believed to be Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq via Reuters Iraqi security forces and soldiers gather to inspect the site after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq, a facility jointly operated by U.S. and Iraqi forces, at Bardarash district of Erbil in Iraq Anadolu Agency via Getty Images An explosion is seen following missiles landing at what is believed to be Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq IRIB/AFP via Getty Images Multiple rockets are launched at Al-Asad airbase Multiple rockets are launched at Al-Asad airbase A protester sets fires to close streets near Tahrir Square during a demonstration to protest against the Iranian missile strike AP A man holds shrapnel from a missile launched by Iran on U.S.-led coalition forces on the outskirts of Duhok ,Iraq Reuters The escalating tensions between the US and Iran - which the UK has found itself caught up in - has been the biggest talking point of the week. After Donald Trump ordered the killing of General Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike , it emerged the Government hadn't been consulted on the matter - drawing into question the extent of Britain's "special relationship" with the States. It is understood Boris Johnson has since spoken with the US President, while foreign secretary Dominic Raab flew to Washington to meet US secretary of state Mike Pompeo. 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 Mr Johnson has backed the US action in killing General Soleimani - though he has called for de-escalation in the region. However, he vowed to "stick up" for people in the Middle East - and the Government has refused to rule out a military response, dependant on the actions of Iran. There has also been a diplomatic row in the wake of a Ukrainian plane crashing in Iran - which killed 176 people, including four Britons - with indications that it may have been shot down by an Iranian missile. The UK, US and Canada have said this could have been accidental amid heightened tensions - though Iran has refused the possibility and suggested the plane was faulty, even inviting Boeing to inspect it. Evermore Brexit... Trade talks: Boris Johnson met with Ursula von der Leyen / PA The Withdrawal Agreement Bill came back to the Commons this week for three days of scrutiny - after which it was passed by the House at its third reading. This is a significant step towards a January 31 Brexit date, although the bill must now go through the Lords, where amendment requests could be made. The PM also met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as he vowed to secure a free-trade agreement with the EU post-Brexit. However, she was cautious on what could be agreed within the time frame given - suggesting it might not be the best possible outcome by the end of 2020. She warned Mr Johnson of the "consequences" of Brexit - given it will certainly mean a more distance relationship with the bloc - and said regulatory divergence will hamper access to the single market. This didn't put him off, with the PM declaring after the meeting that "we will negotiate a new free trade agreement". Brexit a step closer as Withdrawal Bill clears House of Commons The PM has frequently said that he does not feel an extension is necessary - despite the EU's push back. He had previously been told the Withdrawal Agreement Bill could not be re-opened after Theresa May secured it in its previous form. And, though some were critical of how much significant change he actually secured, he persuaded the bloc to blink first then. Labour's race to replace Corbyn TODO: define component type apester The Labour Party confirmed this week that a new leader to replace Jeremy Corbyn will be announced on April 4. This prompted a flurry of activity with a number of high profile figures announcing bids - and the party's first behind closed doors hustings being held. The union backed him as someone who could win back lost voters, while he himself vowed to reclaim Labour heartlands should he become leader. Another hotly tipped contender Rebecca Long-Bailey also confirmed she is running to replace Mr Corbyn. A close ally of Mr Corbyn, and seen by many as his heir apparent, she swiftly moved to distance herself from being the continuity candidate. She insisted that she and Mr Corbyn were very different in their styles of speaking and on forming policy - though she did rate his leadership as "10 out of 10" , despite the major election defeat in December. Powersharing in Northern Ireland Sinn Fein supports Stormont deal confirming return of devolved government in Northern Ireland The text of a draft deal to restore the devolved government in Northern Ireland was published this week, three years after its collapse. Sinn Fein and the DUP were locked in talks this week over the agreement, which was announced during a press conference at Stormont on Thursday night. On Friday, Sinn Fein backed the proposal, which the DUP had already indicated support for, with the parties now set to enter a devolved government together. Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney said history has been made and added an executive could be formed on Saturday. Ministry of Fabulosity Deputy Labour leader hopeful Rosena Allin-Khan says she would like to introduce a 'Ministry of Fabulosity' She is bidding to replace Tom Watson and said the newly founded ministry would "dominated by fabulous MPs and come out with fabulous policies to shape the country". The rift between Ogun APC Gov. Dapo Abiodun and his godfather Olusegun Osoba is widening, and neither side cares if the public knows. That was why Osoba and members of his group, the Osoba Political Family, refused to show up the swearing-in of the state commissioners and advisers on the weekend. The Osoba Political Family began whining when Abioudun was picking his cabinet members. They protested the composition of the cabinet doesnt favour the group which believe sit worked the hardest for the victory of Abiodun at the guber poll. Godfathers and their godsons have been falling apart in Nigerian politics lately. Similar disagreementor disloyalty, as some sayhas soured such relationship in Edobetween Gov. Godwin Obaseki and PC chairman Adams Oshiomhole; Bayelsabetween former President Goodluck Jonathn ad Gov. Seriake Dickson; Lagosbetween former Gov. Akinwumi Ambode and APC national leader BolaTinubu. In the latest in Ogun, in addition to Osoba and his group, others who shunned the ceremony held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta on Friday were Ogun-East Sen. Tolu Odebiyi, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Sidi Osho, and the Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organisation spokesman Remmy Hassan. Others were: Segun Adesegun, the director-general of thecampaign organisation; former deputy governor, Gbenga Kaka; and a former senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial district, Gbenga Obadara. But the governor said not to worrythat more appointments ahead will go round the party faithful. PV: 0 COLUMBIA One of South Carolinas oldest schools is on track to become a leading agricultural campus for students across the state. Lawmakers will decide whether McCormicks John De La Howe School should transition into a hub of learning, research and training for teens pursuing career opportunities within the industry, starting in the Senate Education Committee. It would be a dramatic turnaround for a campus that was nearly shuttered in 2017 over concerns of financial mismanagement and a loss of accreditation. We want to do everything we can to make sure that De La Howe is a success for our state, state Sen. Floyd Nicholson, D-Greenwood, said this week during a subcommittee meeting, where members endorsed a plan to make De La Howe the states third Governors School and the only one with a focus on agriculture. Pending legislative approval, De La Howe will accept 80 students in its inaugural class this August and become the first statewide school of its kind in the country. Pupils were selected through an open enrollment process and hail from all corners of South Carolina, said Tim Keown, who takes over from De La Howe interim President Sharon Wall in July. Were recruiting students from all over the state, so were hitting the road hard, Keown told legislators this week. Spread out across 1,200 acres and skirting Lake Thurmond, the school began in 1797 as an orphanage, becoming a state agency in 1918 for children without a home. Officials changed De La Howe's use in the 1980s to focus on children with behavioral and emotional conditions. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! The campus is dotted with brick cottages, and De La Howe's tomb is on the property's southern portion, "within one of the finest virgin timber stands in the United States," as former U.S. Rep. William Jennings Bryan Dorn wrote in 1970. Gov. Henry McMaster supports the De La Howe turnaround plan, his office told The Post and Courier on Friday. Agribusiness is the states largest economic sector, accounting for $42 billion and more than 200,000 jobs, according to the S.C. Farm Bureau. Established in 1797, De La Howes L.S. Brice School lost accreditation in April 2016. The following summer, lawmakers slipped a proviso into the budget that would have mothballed the institution, handing it over Clemson University. But legislators gave it one more chance, setting a December 2018 deadline for De La Howes board to come up with a plan for its future. A month later, officials decided on a broadened agricultural curriculum, and legislation was filed last April to authorize the move and allow the board to set up user fees, out-of-state tuition and other steps to ensure the schools financial stability. If the new De La Howe model is approved, the first class of students will all be high school juniors as administrators work toward re-accreditation. Gerald Moore, an Upstate consultant working with De La Howe, told lawmakers in October that process should be done soon after classes begin. The accreditation cant be given until weve operated for a year, and everythings online to do that, Moore said. The school is starting from ground zero, and were going to build our own culture and climate. BEIRUT Lebanon may lift a travel ban on ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn if files pertaining to his case do not arrive from Japan within 40 days, caretaker justice minister Albert Serhan said in a statement on Friday. Ghosn fled Japan to Lebanon, his childhood home, last month as he awaited trial on charges of under-reporting earnings, breach of trust and misappropriation of company funds, all of which he denies. His dramatic escape has raised tensions between Japan and Lebanon, where Ghosn slammed the Japanese justice system at a two-hour news conference on Wednesday, prompting Japan's Justice Minister to launch a rare and forceful public response. Lebanon has no extradition agreement with Japan. Serhan said in the statement that he had met with the Japanese ambassador to Lebanon and reaffirmed the importance of the relationship between the two countries. He also said that Ghosn's wife Carole will also be questioned by Lebanese prosecutors when authorities receive an Interpol notice for her. "Carole will be subject to the same procedures that were followed for (Carlos) when the red notice was received from Interpol." Tokyo prosecutors on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for Carole for alleged perjury related to the misappropriation charge against her husband. A spokeswoman for Carole said that she had voluntarily returned to Japan nine months ago to answer prosecutors' questions and was free to go without any charges, adding that the warrant was "pathetic". A fair trial? Carlos Ghosns lawyer on Friday told Japans government that the authorities had failed to arrange for a fair trial that respected universal rights. Francois Zimeray, French lawyer for Ghosn, said that it had been for Japans prosecutors to prove Ghosns guilt, not for Ghosn to prove his innocence. It belongs to the prosecution to prove guilt and not to the accused person to prove its innocence, Zimeray said in a statement. Japanese Justice Minister Masako Mori launched a rare and forceful public takedown of auto executive-turned-fugitive Ghosn after he blasted the countrys legal system as allowing him zero chance of a fair trial as he sought to justify his escape to Beirut. Story continues Reporting by Hoda Monem, Dominique Vidalon and Richard Lough. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> An airport employee looks at the tributes inside Borispil international airport outside in Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Ukraines national security service says it is now considering two possible causes of the Ukrainian airliner disaster in Iran that killed 176 people. Terrorism or an anti-aircraft missile hit are the two lines of inquiry. Service director Ivan Bakanov says that, although Western claims of a missile are attracting the most attention, there are still questions to be answered. Expand Close Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy leads a meeting of the emergency response team (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy leads a meeting of the emergency response team (AP) That includes the flight range of the presumed missile and the nuances of operating the launch mechanism. He said the possibility of a terrorist attack is being carefully studied. Were you Seen at the 80th anniversary of Siena College's founding on Sept. 22, 2017? ALBANY -- When Bishop Edward Scharfenberger is asked if the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany may soon be forced to follow the Rochester diocese into bankruptcy as a result of sex abuse lawsuits, he responds like a man determined to blaze a path to a brighter future. Bankruptcy "can have positive aspects, replied Scharfenberger, who has a law degree. Instead of crying about Chapter 11, we can see it as a chance to increase transparency make sure all victims are compensated fairly. But for now, hes confident that financially, Albany can make it through another year, at least." Scharfenberger says the Albany diocese, which he leads, hasnt fully calculated the financial impact of sexual abuse claims filed since New Yorks Child Victims Act (CVA) extended the statute of limitations to allow victims of childhood sexual abuse to file previously time-barred civil claims during a one-year window that began in August. Theres the worry of a windfall lawsuit wiping out diocese assets. But its also his mission to heal the spiritual damage, to reassure Catholics dismayed by the enormity of the global sexual abuse scandals and to comfort the victims. On Dec. 4, the Vatican appointed him temporarily to lead the Buffalo diocese for an undetermined time, while remaining Albanys bishop. Buffalos Bishop Richard Malone retired last year after scathing criticism of how he handled sexual abuse charges against clergy. In an interview this past week, Scharfenberger, 71, discussed his emerging role as one of the Vaticans go-to American leaders on the crisis. He also discussed social justice issues, separating politics from religion in a turbulent election year, gay priests and more in a wide-ranging interview at his Albany office. Confronting nationwide scandal Scharfenberger was born in Brooklyn and attended Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary in Queens. He was educated to be a lawyer as well as a priest. He was certified in canon law by the Catholic University of America. And he earned his juris doctor of law degree at Fordham University. He's fluent in Italian, Spanish and German and speaks enough Polish to celebrate Mass in that language. He has been Albanys bishop since 2014. He discussed the abuse crisis with the pope during a November meeting at the Vatican with a small group of other bishops. Scharfenbergers response has in some ways been more proactive than the Vaticans. For instance, four years ago he published a list of Albany diocese sex offenders. He has also told Catholic clergy and lay people who hear a credible abuse accusation to call the police before notifying church officials or church attorneys. Why hasnt the Pope declared the same, publicly? Scharfenberger explained hes not privy to internal Vatican debates but shares a couple of theories. One reason could be that in some countries, reporting sexual abuse could get people killed, he said, noting that many Catholics live in nations where law enforcement or the judicial system may be corrupt or complicit. He believes theres also the possibility that the Vatican, as a sovereign state, negotiated agreements with other nations on how sexual abuse claims are addressed. People often ask why the Vatican cant sell some of its glorious paintings or sculptures to aid dioceses contemplating bankruptcy. Scharfenberger said he isnt sure whether the Vatican is more caretaker than owner of the priceless art it displays. It may not be the Vaticans to sell, he mused. Politics vs. social justice issues Pope Francis has praised Scharfenberger for his steadfast opposition to abortion. Scharfenberger agrees with the church that abortion is murder. But he doesnt simply recite church doctrine when asked if he would follow canon laws admonition to ban those who dont support the churchs stance on abortion. In 2004, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops deliberated over whether pro-choice political candidates should be denied communion. It recognized that most Americans support a womans right to choose abortion. The conference left the decision to individual clergymen. That year, Bostons archbishop publicly opposed allowing presidential candidate John Kerry to take communion in his hometown. In 2008, Joe Bidens hometown bishop in Scranton, Pa. and one in South Carolina publicly opposed giving the then-vice presidential and current presidential hopeful communion. Instead, Scharfenberger earnestly dissects his own compassion and sense of fairness out loud. I wouldnt want (my response) to become part of a scandal, he said, imagining candidates trapped in news cycles, hit by social media tsunamis. I understand people are elected to represent all Americans, not just Catholics Id want to talk with the person privately to understand what he really believes in his heart. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. I dont quiz people about their beliefs when they show up for communion so Im not sure how I would know a persons position on abortion, he said. He said he would welcome everyone, including those the church deemed sinners, to attend Mass in his churches. He said exactly that to a gay man who asked Scharfenbergers permission to bring his gay spouse to church. To march or not to march Scharfenberger knows one key way to make the church relevant to Gen Z'ers and millennials is to champion social justice issues. He names protection of family life which he defines as including making quality education accessible to all children, opposition to domestic violence and keeping families together. So he opposes separating families of asylum seekers at the border? Thats politics. I dont get involved in that, he replied. He has expressed qualms about participating in Take Back the Night marches explaining that a woman carrying a sign he disagreed with, like a pro-abortion sign, might photo-bomb him. But he threw such worries aside on behalf of farmworkers. He attended rallies where he spoke on their behalf and in support of a New York bill that would guarantee them one day off weekly, overtime when they worked more than a 40-hour week, protection from deadly pesticides and unsafe equipment and to be eligible for workers compensation if they were injured. At a 2016 rally in Albany, he implored the crowd to think about the people who put food on your table and about how much they deserved a day off to be with their families and rest. The applause was exuberant. The bill passed in 2019 and went into effect Jan. 1. He still visits farmworkers in the fields. Scharfenberger is also devoted to a ministry to inmates, visiting jails and prisons. And hes trying to build bridges to gay Catholics. His communications director, Mary DeTurris Poust, said that in 2017, in an effort to be sensitive to the needs of the LGBTQ community, Bishop Ed and I and about 20 other people working in the Diocese of Albany attended "safe space" training to learn how to make gay congregants feel welcome and protected. Its not simply gay worshippers he wants to welcome. I know priests who are gay and theyre great, Scharfenberger said. He knows the churchs definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman is alienating for many gay Catholics. But he has his own message for them. It is never wrong to love another person. Never, the bishop said. The death toll from a suicide bombing at a mosque in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta rose to 15 on Saturday, officials said. The blast during Friday evening prayers wounded at least 20 other people, police said. Two of the wounded people died overnight in the hospital, said provincial home minister Zia Langove, adding that six people were still in a critical condition. Islamic State claimed its suicide bomber carried out the attack to target an Afghan Taliban seminary. The US condemns this heinous terrorist attack in a place of worship, Paul Jones, the US ambassador to Pakistan, said in a statement. I extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. 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 Mineral and gas-rich Baluchistan, of which Quetta is the capital, is at the centre of the $60bn (46bn) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of China's Belt and Road project. But violence in the province has fuelled concerns about the security of projects such as a planned energy link from western China to Pakistan's southern port of Gwadar. The attack was the second in the city this week, while police said they had foiled another by killing a suicide attacker in Rawalpindi city near Islamabad after he shot and killed two policemen. Recommended Outrage as Pakistan sentences academic to death for blasphemy The Taliban denied in a statement that some of its members, including a senior commander, were killed. Local officials in Quetta's police and district administration would not confirm whether the Dar-ul-Aloom Shariah seminary belonged to the Afghan Taliban under a state policy which denies the presence of the group on its soil. However, two officials said on condition of anonymity that the seminary was part of the Afghan Taliban. Baluchistan has faced an insurgency by separatist and nationalist groups who want a greater share in revenues earned from the local resources. Islamist militants, including Islamic State which consists of splinters from local Taliban and sectarian groups, also have a strong presence in the region. Reuters India climbed into the top 16 markets with the highest number of visitors to Vietnam in 2019. Foreign tourists visit Hoi An ancient city in Vietnam's central province of Quang Nam (Photo: VNA) In terms of growth, the country ranked third with an increase of 27.7 percent year-on-year to 169,000 tourists, after Thailand (45.9 percent and 510,000 visitors) and Taiwan (29.8 percent and 927,000). Over the past five years, the average growth in the number of Indian tourists has reached 26.7 percent, from 65,600 in 2015 to 169,000 in 2019. In 2019, low-cost airline VietjetAir launched two direct flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to New Delhi, becoming the first airline connecting the two biggest economic, cultural and tourist centres of Vietnam and the capital of India. The same year, Indian low-cost airline IndiGo launched its first direct flights between Kolkata-Hanoi and Kolkata-Ho Chi Minh City. VNA Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 11, 2020 14:57 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321c2982 1 National bomb,Bengkulu Free A bomb hidden inside a bag exploded in front of a house in Padang village of Seluma regency in Bengkulu on Saturday morning, injuring the house owner. Bengkulu Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Sudarno said that the bomb, which had been put inside a bag, was placed at the door of the village head's house. No fatalities were recorded but the house owner, identified as Halidin, 60, suffered from injuries to parts of his upper body and feet from the blast. "The victim is the owner of the house. He is currently under medical treatment after he was injured by the blast," Sudarno said as quoted by Antara. He added that the police could not give further information regarding whether the perpetrator was linked to any terrorist network. Seluma Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. I Nyoman Mertha Sana said that the Gegana bomb-disposal squad had been deployed to the location to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Reports said that Halidin was trying to open the bag he found at his door when it exploded. Residents in the area reportedly ran out of their homes after hearing the blast. (ars) Topics : bomb Bengkulu Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday announced Rs 5 lakh financial assistance to the kin of the deceased, who lost their lives in the fire at the chemical factory in Boisar in Palghar district this evening. "Rs 5 lakh financial assistance will be given to the kin of the deceased, who lost their lives in the fire at the chemical factory in Boisar in Palghar district this evening," Maharashtra Chief Minister Office said. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari conveyed his deepest condolences to the next of kin of the deceased. "Was deeply saddened to know about the unfortunate death of workers in a massive blast in a chemical factory in Tarapur Industrial Area. Convey my deepest condolences to the next of kin of the deceased and pray for a speedy recovery to the injured," Koshyari tweeted. A huge explosion occurred at a chemical factory at Boisar, which is located 100 km away from Mumbai. The Superintendent of Police, Palghar has said that around 5 people died and six others sustained injuries in the tragedy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The American military unsuccessfully tried to kill a senior Iranian military official in Yemen on the same day a drone strike killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, Irans most powerful commander, according to American officials, The New York Times reported. The unsuccessful airstrike in Yemen was aimed at Abdul Reza Shahlai, an official with Irans Quds Force, a potent military organization that General Suleimani had led. Mr. Shahlai was known as a main organizer of financing for Shiite militias in the region. Trump approved the strike against Mr. Shahlai in the same period that he authorized the strike against General Suleimani on Jan. 3, although it was unclear if the American attack in Yemen occurred at precisely the same time. Experts announced the availability online of proof-of-concept exploit code for CVE-2019-19781 flaw in Citrix NetScaler ADC and Citrix NetScaler Gateway servers. While security researchers were warning of ongoing scans for Citrix Application Delivery Controller (NetScaler ADC) and Citrix Gateway (NetScaler Gateway) servers affected by the CVE-2019-19781 vulnerability, many experts are announcing the availability online of proof-of-concept exploit code ([1, 2]). Researchers at MDSsec published technical details of the vulnerability along with a video that shows the exploit they have developed, but they decided to not release it to avoid miscreants use it in the wild. In December Citrix disclosed the critical CVE-2019-19781 vulnerability and explained that it could be exploited by attackers to access company networks. It has been estimated that 80,000 companies in 158 countries are potentially at risk, most of them in the U.S. (38%), followed by the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia. The CVE-2019-19781 vulnerability was discovered by Mikhail Klyuchnikov from Positive Technologies. If that vulnerability is exploited, attackers obtain direct access to the companys local network from the Internet. This attack does not require access to any accounts, and therefore can be performed by any external attacker. reads the post published by Positive Technologies. Positive Technologies experts determined that at least 80,000 companies in 158 countries are potentially at risk. The vulnerability affects all supported versions of the product, and all supported platforms, including Citrix ADC and Citrix Gateway 13.0, Citrix ADC and NetScaler Gateway 12.1, Citrix ADC and NetScaler Gateway 12.0, Citrix ADC and NetScaler Gateway 11.1, and also Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway 10.5. The experts pointed out the exploitation of the vulnerability does not require access to any accounts, for this reason, the issue could be triggered by any external attacker to achieve unauthorized access to published applications and other internal network resources from the Citrix servers. Citrix has released measures to mitigate the flaw, it recommends to update of all vulnerable software versions. Threat actors have reverse engineered the patches released by Citrix and have developed their exploit code. The number of vulnerable Citrix systems exposed online are according to Shodan are over 125,000 and it is important to fix them as soon as possible. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs Citrix Server, hacking) Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal At age 40, Jody Rufino Martinez has been arrested at least 44 times in New Mexico, racking up five felony convictions, including attempted murder and robbery. But his round trips to state prison didnt last long, and he was back on the streets. Now his membership as an alleged soldier in the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang, and a new federal racketeering indictment charging him with a 2008 cold case murder, could be his one-way ticket to life in prison or, possibly, the federal death penalty. He is accused of slashing the throat of Donald Romero in Chimayo and helping dump Romeros stripped body off a bridge over the San Juan River a crime that stumped New Mexico State Police investigators in December 2008 and went unsolved for years. An indictment unsealed Friday charges Martinez with murder under a federal violent crimes racketeering act, racketeering conspiracy, witness tampering and felon in possession of a firearm. He will be arraigned Monday in U.S. Magistrate Court in Albuquerque. To date, the sweeping FBI-led investigation into decades of violence and drug trafficking of the notorious SNM gang has solved nine cold case murders in New Mexico, court records show. The slaying of Romero, who authorities believe was killed for failing to take a heroin delivery into jail, would be the 10th. SNM, which has boasted hundreds of members inside and outside prison walls, has been severely crippled with the arrests of some 150 members and associates since an FBI investigation dubbed Operation Atonement began in 2015. The majority were federally charged, and most all were convicted. In March 2015, SNM leaders had plotted to kill three top New Mexico Corrections officials, and Martinezs name surfaced as a potential hit man for the job because he was out of prison and on the streets, according to a newly unsealed federal search warrant affidavit. Ultimately, the FBI intervened to foil the murder plot, and three high-ranking SNM members, including the alleged leader, were later convicted at trial in the conspiracy and other murders and were sentenced to life in prison. Six other SNM defendants convicted of murder involving the violent crimes racketeering act in 2018 also received life prison sentences. The 2008 murder of Romero in Chimayo might have remained unsolved except for the slaying of an SNM former leader, Leroy Smurf Lucero, outside his home in Las Vegas, N.M., last July. Lucero had testified as a government witness during lengthy trials in the case and helped convict several SNM members. With an FBI-State Police cold case team combing northern New Mexico for information about SNM activities in that area, records show, agents began looking into Romeros death 11 years earlier. Before his death in 2008, Romero had been wanted for violating conditions of his probation and had agreed to surrender to state corrections officials with a plan to use the opportunity to smuggle heroin into the jail or prison, the affidavit says. The heroin was to be distributed to SNM members in prison. But Romero failed to turn himself in and consumed or sold the heroin, the affidavit says. SNM members and prospective members confronted Romero back then, but he wasnt given a chance to explain or make excuses. A beating ensued on Dec. 5, 2008, during which Martinez allegedly took out a knife and fatally stabbed Romero in the neck. Martinez and two other men allegedly removed Romeros clothes and dumped the body into the river. Passers-by discovered the body the next day. Though State Police interviewed some of those involved, none admitted to the murder. Martinez, a lifelong resident of Truchas, surfaced as an FBI target in 2019 after he shot at a rival on the street in Santa Fe County in October 2018, the affidavit says. He is also alleged to have intimidated a witness into not cooperating with law enforcement investigating the 2018 shooting. After the victim was shot and Martinez was arrested on state charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, the District Attorneys office in Santa Fe asked that Martinez be held without bond on the shooting charge. He pleaded not guilty. The Defendant has a prolific criminal history, wrote assistant district attorney Johnn Osborne. Defendant was convicted of his first felony in 1996 and has not let up. Though 17 years old at the time in 1996, Martinez agreed to be tried as an adult and ultimately spent five years in prison for aggravated battery. Since then, he has been convicted of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery, robbery and battery upon a police officer, the search warrant states. The U.S. Attorneys office in New Mexico on Friday filed a motion stating that the new federal murder charge in aid of SNM racketeering makes the defendant death penalty eligible. The final decision on whether the government will seek the death penalty rests with the U.S. Attorney General, the motion added. Man working from home forced to hot desk with cat Daily Mash Of ants and men: Ant behavior might mirror political polarization PhysOrg (Ian P) Aeolus: Weather forecasts start using space laser data BBC (David L) Australia Burning At Davos we will tell world leaders to abandon the fossil fuel economy World Economic Forum (David L) Fitbit and Garmin Are Under Federal Investigation For Alleged Patent Violations Reuters What Went Wrong With Virtual Reality? BBC The FDA Announces Two More Antacid Recalls Due to Cancer Risk Wired Some Aspects of Memory Get Better As We Age New York Times. Also a lot of what looks like memory loss in old people is poor hearing. Hearing aids, even really good ones, have limitations, and many old people are reluctant to keep asking for things they didnt hear well to be repeated. They nod as if they got it when they didnt. Depressive realism Aeon. Of course, this fits my priors.. India Harry Dunn: UK makes extradition request to US BBC (Kevin W) Fury over Meghan and Harrys shoddy treatment of the Queen: Poll shows Britons want royal pair stripped of titles and public money as their popularity plunges Daily Mail. I barely have any idea of who is who in the Royal Family, but the cheek of Harry and Meghan planning to monetize their status via not just registering the Sussex Royal URL but a ton of tradermarks too and then thumbing their noses at doing royal duties like opening hospitals in the boonies should not be on. New Cold War Russian Ship Aggressively Approached Navy Destroyer in Arabian Sea, Officials Say Military.com Syraqistan Big Brother is Watching You Watch Hundreds of Millions of Cable Modems Are Vulnerable To New Cable Haunt Vulnerability ZDNet Imperial Collapse Watch Trump Transition The Most Popular Crook in America New Republic Deadbeat AOC rakes in a bundle but doesnt share with House Democrats New York Post (UserFriendly). OMG these people are shameless. When Alan Grayson ran for re-election in Florida the first time, the DCCC refused to give him a dime. The Dems want AOC dead and then have the nerve to act as if she owes them? Oh, and more important it is false to say AOC has not given funding to other reps. Shes just not doing it through that coin operated stalemate machine. I give quite a bit to fellow Dems weve fundraised over $300,000 for others (more than my dues), w/ over 50% going to swing seats. DCCC made clear that they will blacklist any org that helps progressive candidates like me. I can choose not to fund that kind of exclusion. https://t.co/qqwdwPAqek Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 10, 2020 Impeachment 2020 New warnings of hacking risks for voting systems connected to the internet NBC Boeings fired CEO Muilenburg walks away with more than $60 million CNBC Boeing faces another million-dollar FAA fine over faulty 737 Max parts MarketWatch GM to Revive Hummer Name on New All-Electric Pickup Model Wall Street Journal. An interesting response to the Tesla muscle car. Class Warfare Antidote du jour. PlutoniumKun: My friends 4 month old Corgi puppy, Oskar. Corgis are cow herding dogs, so we took him on his first visit to the countryside (Glendalough, Wicklow) on Sunday. We didnt find any cows to herd, but he did successfully round up lots of girls. See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. The BJP will reach out to every citizen of Delhi as part of its campaign to "expose the fake promises" made by the AAP government ahead of the assembly elections, its working president J P Nadda said on Saturday. At an organisational meeting, Nadda said party workers will expose the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi. "We will reach out to every citizen of Delhi to expose the fake promises, failures and scams of the AAP government," Nadda tweeted later. The senior BJP leader had already told party workers to conduct door-to-door campaigns to "expose the lies" of the AAP government. Delhi needs development not advertisement, he had said at a similar meeting on Friday. Voting for the 70 seat-Delhi Assembly will take place on February 8 and the counting of votes will be done on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Neil Ellwood Peart, a musician and writer, died on Tuesday after a years-long, private struggle with brain cancer. Born in Port Dalhousie, Ontario in 1952, Peart was best known as the lyricist and drummer for the Canadian hard-rock power trio Rush, which he joined in 1974, just before the bands first American tour. Pearts virtuoso drumming style transformed Rush from a straight-ahead rock group into one of the most successful and enduring bands of the 1970s progressive-rock movement. Upon joining the band, he also assumed the role of writing almost all of its lyrics. A high-school dropout who was rarely seen without his nose in a book, he brought an autodidacts wide-ranging interests to his work, beginning with post-teen forays into science fiction and later progressing to examinations of history and philosophy rarely seen elsewhere in the hard-rock idiom. A youthful interest in Ayn Rands fiction led to the lyrics for Anthem, the lead track on Rushs second album and Pearts first collaboration with his new band mates. The young man whod been picked on in high school for being a cape-wearing oddball his own parents admitted in the wonderful 2010 documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage, We thought he was weird called out to others finding their own individualism: Know your place in life is where you want to be Dont let them tell you that you owe it all to me Keep on looking forward, no use in looking round Hold your head above the crowd and they wont bring you down While Peart always denied being a full-fledged Randian I am no ones disciple, he said in later years Rands work would directly influence Rushs breakthrough album 2112: The first side consists of a seven-part rock epic derived in part from Rands novella Anthem, replacing the light bulb discovered by Rands nameless, oppressed hero with a long-forgotten electric guitar. 2112 was, to the surprise of almost everyone involved, a huge success. The science-fiction showcase of the title suite married to Rushs kinetic and complex hard rock won the band the first of its ten platinum albums and vaulted them from opening act to headliner status for the remainder of their long career. Story continues Peart often described himself as a libertarian, and his further explorations of individuality and standing against conformity in later songs such as 1978s The Trees, 1981s Red Barchetta and 1982s Subdivisions contributed to Rushs popularity in conservative and libertarian circles, which continues to this day. While Peart maintained an intense interest in current events, he rarely brought contemporary politics into his lyrics until taking a left turn very late in his career. As a member of Rush, he lyrically addressed topics ranging from the Cold War nuclear standoff to environmental issues, often with an appreciation for nuance rarely seen in the simplistic protest songs that were the norm among socially engaged rock acts such as Bruce Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine. Peart surprised an interviewer in 1984 by answering firmly in the negative when asked whether, as a Canadian, he felt more nervous living next to the United States than he had before the Reagan administration: I have a real love for this country, like I said, not a blinkered love, by any means, and I have no problems seeing the defects, of course. But I know that a lot of those are historical imperatives and the position that America occupies in the world today is not altogether by choice. I mean, its not peoples fault that it became the most successful country and the richest country and the most powerful country, it just happened, you know, because people worked and people were into it, and they did it. So, you cant fault them for being the most powerful and having that incredible responsibility. I mean, its easy to point fingers at figures in government and so on and blame the government for a lot of things, and of course, theres a tremendous amount of Reaganitis about, but really, its a bit facile to do that. Anyone who thinks about it a little more and learns a little more about the history of the country and why things are the way they are knows that America didnt go out and buy a bunch of nuclear bombs just so they could be the big guys on the block, you know? It was strictly a historical imperative. . . . They had to, you know. There was no choice and there is no choice. Peart was one of very few rock lyricists to directly address the grim realities of Soviet rule during the Cold War, a notable departure from the trite moral equivalence of Sting (I hope the Russians love their children too) and other contemporaries. In 1991s Heresy, he looked at the revolutions of 198990 not just with wonder at what was achieved, but also with revulsion at what had been lost: All around that dull gray world From Moscow to Berlin People storm the barricades Walls go tumbling in The counter-revolution People smiling through their tears Who can give them back their lives And all those wasted years? All those precious wasted years Who will pay? Along with wealth from millions of album sales and countless concert tickets, Peart earned something that he never wanted: fame. Introverted and intensely private, Peart had a life-long aversion to interacting with his own fans, often noting to his friends that the word itself was derived from fanatic. That distaste for the star portion of being a rock star was most famously expressed in his 1981 song Limelight: Living in a fisheye lens Caught in the camera eye I have no heart to lie I cant pretend this stranger Is a long-awaited friend The last decades of Pearts life were marred by terrible personal tragedy and a long rebuilding process. His tranquil family mans life was shattered when his daughter Selena was killed in a 1997 auto accident and his wife Jackie succumbed to cancer less than a year later. Those devastating losses drove Peart into self-imposed moving exile as he traveled alone across North and Central America by motorcycle for over a year. After finding the will to go on over that long journey recounted in his 2002 memoir Ghost Rider Peart rebuilt his personal life with a new marriage in 2000, and later reunited with band mates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson for three more Rush albums and several hugely successful concert tours from 2002 to 2015. Upon returning to the limelight, Rush discovered that a sea change had occurred during the hiatus imposed by Pearts loss and recovery. Long dismissed by the cool kids of rock criticism as a nerd-embraced heavy-metal oddity, Rush now found itself a beloved elder statesmen of the art form. Platinum-selling peers such as Metallica and Living Colour paid homage to the bands influence, and Rush fans whod identified with Pearts self-reliant philosophy as harassed teenagers were now influential players in popular culture. The band was featured in the movie I Love You, Man, a documentary about its career was a surprise hit on the festival circuit and home video, and the trio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in a raucous 2013 ceremony. Rushs popular appeal in terms of album sales peaked with the 1981 watershed Moving Pictures, but the vast and dedicated fanbase Peart and company built through relentless touring it was the norm for them to play over 250 live dates a year in the late 1970s and early 80s stayed with the group through a 41-year run that concluded with a de facto farewell tour in 2015. Peart, determining that he could no longer maintain his personal level of performance on stage Rush played three-hour sets, the high points of which were often his eight-minute-plus drum solos declared that he was retired after the final show of that tour. Rush never played again as a unit, and now never will. Pearts band mates announced Friday that he had died earlier this week from a previously undisclosed case of Glioblastoma, a cancer of the brain. True to his need to avoid the limelight to the end, Peart had battled the disease for over three years without any mention of his affliction reaching the public. He leaves behind a widow, a young daughter, seven non-fiction books, a novel, 20 studio albums, and a musical legacy that will endure for as long as young (and not-so-young) people seek brains, heart, and hard-won skill to go along with the primal call of bass, guitar, and drums. RIP. More from National Review BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 10 Trend: In connection with the early parliamentary elections to be held in Azerbaijan on February 9, Azerbaijan's parliament sent invitation letters to the parliamentary delegations and the Parliamentary Assemblies of which Azerbaijan is a member, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Leyla Abdullayeva told Trend. Abdullayeva was commenting on the message that the European Parliament will not be sending an observer mission to Azerbaijan for the parliamentary elections. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sent letters to the OSCE Bureau for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE, the CIS, GUAM, the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and other international and regional organizations," Abdullayeva said. According to her, the Azerbaijani side sent an appeal to observe the parliamentary elections mainly to those organizations of which it is a member and participant. "Specifically, with regard to the information provided by the European Parliament (EP), I would like to emphasize that it is absolutely incorrect to consider this information circulated by the European Parliament as refusal of this structure to observe the elections", Abdullayeva said. She explained that Azerbaijan does not have any obligations to the European Parliament. Abdullayeva said the information was provided in accordance with the procedural rules of the European Parliament, that is, it means that members of the European Parliament can personally attend and observe the elections, where the EP will not participate as an observer. "I would like to note that in order to ensure transparency on the eve of all elections, the Central Election Commission regularly provides information on the registration of observers", Abdullayeva said. COAS offered Australian Vice Chief of Defence Forces for assistance in bush fire ISLAMABAD: Australian Vice Chief of Defence Forces Vice Admiral David Johnston, the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on Friday called on Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters (GHQ). During the meeting, matters of mutual interest and regional security were discussed, said a press release. The COAS reiterated the offer he made to General Angus John Campbell, Chief of Defence Force for any assistance in tackling the bush fires in Australia. The visiting dignitary appreciated the Pakistan Armys role in ensuring peace and stability in the region and thanked the COAS for sentiments towards Australia. ABC News(NEW YORK) -- House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., is confident Boeing "deliberately concealed information" for a number of years leading to two fatal crashes, the lawmaker told ABC News, after reading through internal communications released Thursday. The company has been under the microscope since the Max was first grounded in March 2019, following two crashes that killed a total of 346 people. In October, Boeing was accused of withholding information from the Federal Aviation Administration after internal messages surfaced in which the chief technical pilot for the 737 Max told another pilot that the MCAS system, later linked to the two fatal crashes, was running rampant in a simulator session. At the time, DeFazio would not go as far as saying Boeing deliberately concealed information in an interview with ABC News' Senior Transportation Correspondent David Kerley. When asked if he felt what he calls "deliberate concealment" could lead to criminal charges for the company, DeFazio said the Justice Department (DOJ) is investigating. "I assume they have had these emails," he said, responding to reporters at a briefing on Friday. "If not, I assume they will be as angry as we are, and there's some very damning stuff in there." DeFazio said he hopes DOJ will "vigorously pursuing whatever appropriate criminal charges may be brought," but added, "in terms of a civil case, Boeing might as well just give away the bank now." Washington Rep. Rick Larsen, chairman of the House subcommittee on aviation, said they could have "potentially saved the lives of 346 people" if Boeing had been more "forthcoming early on" with the emails and messaging. The documents released Thursday contain conversations between Boeing technical pilots and personnel involved with the development of the Max simulators. They appear to show employees' efforts to mock regulators. Boeing called the internal communications "unacceptable" in a statement Thursday night and admitted the documents raised questions about Boeing's interactions with the FAA "in connection with the simulator qualification process." The FAA characterized the "tone" and "content" of some of the messages as disappointing, but the agency determined that they did not point to any new safety risks. DeFazio has repeatedly raised the alarm about the safety culture inside Boeing -- specifically production pressures that might indicate the company put profit over safety. The emails show "they were under tremendous pressure from the beginning to be certain that this plane would not require pilots to have a high level of simulator training to save money and make it more marketable," DeFazio said, adding "That came from high up in the Boeing corporation." Boeing is trying to mend relationships with regulators and airlines after missing its projected return-to-service date for the 737 Max, forcing a shutdown of the Max production line. In response, Boeing fired its CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, two weeks ago in order to "restore confidence in the company." When DeFazio recently met with David Calhoun, the new Boeing CEO, he told him the company needs to do something to "relieve the pressure from Wall Street" on the organization, "that ultimately drove all of this." Currently under the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program mandated by Congress, some of the aircraft certification process was delegated to manufacturers like Boeing. Critics of the ODA program say that delegation created a conflict of interest. However, others that defend the program say there has been sufficient FAA oversight from start to finish during the process. "The system is broken," Defazio said. DeFazio said he aims to implement legislation to strengthen government oversight over jetliner certification. "It's not a matter of if the committee is going to act to change how airplanes and components are certified, but it's how we're going to do that," Larsen said. Committee staff plan to meet with Boeing lawyers and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson to further discuss the Jan. 9 communications. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 11, 2020 Long waiting times at hospitals have become somewhat commonplace for many participants of the national health insurance (JKN) scheme, including 22-year-old Detara Nabila Prastyphylia. Deta had to spend almost a whole day every month waiting hours to visit her doctor and obtain her prescriptions at a hospital in Surabaya, East Java, from 2016 to 2018. Deta would have to come as early as 6 a.m. to register herself at the hospital and even that did not guarantee that she would be first in the line. Many people had come earlier than her, even when the hospital had not opened its door yet. She would often be In the 800s in the queue, and at one time, she even had 1,200 people before her In the registration line. On top of this, she had to spend many hours lining up to obtain a referral from a community health center (Puskesmas) the previous day. The JKN scheme requires that to proceed to a hospital, patients must get a referral, which lasts for 90 days, from a local health center. "In 2018, I had to change my work schedule, obtain permission to be late for work and make up the five hours I used for my hospital check-up during the rest of the week," the private employee said, adding that she didn't go home until 5 p.m. after an hour check-up. This routine slightly changed when the hospital she attended introduced a mobile application allowing patients to obtain a queue number digitally in 2018. However, as the app did not provide real-time monitoring of the queue, she still had to go to the hospital early to avoid missing her place in line. "I wasn't complaining because it was free. Other than the long waiting hours, [JKN] is good because it has full coverage," she said. Scenes of patients lining up since dawn, some even using their sandals or helmets to keep their place in line, are commonly seen at community health centers and hospitals partnering with the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), which manages the JKN scheme. The agency has acknowledged this problem, noting that it was among the most common complaints filed by JKN participants as shown in a recent study, BPJS Kesehatan deputy for health treatment reference Budi Muhammad Arief said. Some had also complained of being rejected by hospitals due to unavailability of hospital wards, he said, raising suspicions among participants that hospitals had been unfair toward them as compared to those paying on their own or using private insurance. The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) and Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) have also raised concerns about the service received by participants. As of November 2019, the agency has partnered with 2,200 hospitals across the country. It has encouraged these hospitals to adopt digital queue systems as well as applications to display ward availability to patients to accelerate and improve services, targeting that at least 75 percent of the hospitals had adopted these systems by 2019. This target has been reached. By 2019, the BPJS Kesehatan claimed that 80.36 percent of its partnering hospitals, or 1,784 of them had adopted the electronic queue system, while 78.33 percent or 1,739 had presented patients with information on ward availability on their mobile applications. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login WILLIAMSPORT A state Supreme Court panel has affirmed a Williamsport mans conviction and two consecutive life sentences in the drug-related killing of a mother and her adult son. The three-judge panel Friday rejected claims by Jordan Adonis Rawls, 27, that Lycoming County Judge Nancy L. Butts made erroneous rulings before and during his April trial. A jury found Rawls killed Shane Wright, 25, and his mother, Kristine Kibler, 50, in their half of a double in the 600 block of Poplar Street on Halloween night in 2016. He also was found guilty of other charges but Butts chose to sentence him only on the homicide charges: first-degree murder for Wright and second-degree for his mother. Failing to suppress a partial confession made to police, precluding and admitting certain expert testimony and not giving a particular jury instruction were among issues Rawls raised on appeal. The panel in rejecting them relied heavily on a July 5 Butts opinion that stated Rawls statements to police were made after he waived his Miranda rights. Rawls argued police failed to tell him he had been charged but the panels opinion authored by Judge Judith F. Olson pointed out he was informed that an arrest warrant had been issued in connection with a homicide investigation. Butts did not err on the expert testimony issue and properly instructed the jury, Olson wrote. Rawls, the accused gunman, was one of three men charged in the double homicide. Joseph Sentore Coleman Jr. was found guilty of second-degree murder and is serving two consecutive life sentences. He is awaiting trial in another homicide case. The key prosecution witness in both trials, Casey N. Wilson, who drove Rawls and Coleman to and from the murder scene, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. He is serving a sentence of 25 to 50 years. A new Tory MP appears to have edited his own Wikipedia page to remove references to funding that one of his companies received from the EU and information about illegal dividends that he was paid. Stuart Anderson, who became the MP for Wolverhampton South West last month, seemingly removed the potentially damning information from the site days after being elected. The edits were made by a Wikipedia user named "Stuart Anderson MP" on 21 December. The account was blocked indefinitely by Wikipedia administrators three days later, on 24 December, for the reason that the "username represents a famous person". The website's policy states that accounts will be banned if they "are promotional in nature, or appear to advertise, promote, sell, or gain support or user base of any person, company, market, product, channel, or other good or service". The edits made to Mr Anderson's Wikipedia page by the user included removing a section on reports that a security company founded by the MP, a supporter of Brexit, had benefited from 500,000 from an EU-backed fund. Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Show all 10 1 /10 Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Dennis Skinner - Labour Labour MP of 49 years Dennis Skinner lost his Bolsover seat to Conservative Mark Fletcher, losing 16% of the vote share PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Jo Swinson - Liberal Democrat Leader of the Liberal Democrats lost her Dunbartonshire East seat in a 6.8% swing to the SNP PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Anna Soubry - The Independent Group for Change Leader of The Independent Group for Change, formerly Conservative MP, Anna Soubry lost her Broxtowe seat, coming third behind the winning Conservatives and Labour PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Dominic Grieve - Independent Prominent Remain-backing MP Grieve lost the contest for Beaconsfield, coming second to the Conservatives, his former party AFP/Getty Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Luciana Berger - Liberal Democrat Luciana Berger lost the contest for Finchley and Golders Green, coming second to Conservative Mike Freer PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Laura Pidcock - Labour Prominent Corbyn ally Laura Pidcock lost her Durham North West seat to Conservative Richard Holden PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Chukka Umunna - Liberal Democrat Prominent anti-Brexit MP Chukka Umunna lost the contest for the Cities of London & Westminster, coming second to Conservative Nickie Aiken Getty Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Zac Goldsmith - Conservative Former candidate for Mayor of London Zac Goldsmith lost his Richmond Park seat to Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Nigel Dodds - DUP Former leader of the DUP Nigel Dodds lost his Belfast North seat to Sinn Fein AFP/Getty Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Gareth Snell - Labour Labour MP Gareth Snell lost his Stoke-on-Trent central seat to the Conservatives PA According to Private Eye, the company, called eTravelSafety, received the money from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, which benefits from more than 200m of funding from the EU. Mr Anderson, a former soldier, was still acting chief executive of the company when he was elected last month. The "Stuart Anderson MP" Wikipedia user also removed two references to Mr Anderson having been paid illegal dividends by another of his companies. The firm, called Anubis Associates, collapsed in 2013, owing HMRC 272,000 in tax and 179,300 to other unsecured creditors. When the company, which trained security guards, was wound up, administrators found that Mr Anderson had been paid more than 54,000 in unlawful dividends in 2011. According to The Guardian, one of the administrators said at the time: "Forecasts suggested that there would be sufficient profits to allow these to be paid ... this is not the case, therefore these are illegal dividends and should be repaid." Mr Anderson offered to repay 2,000, which administrators accepted because they believed he faced bankruptcy if he was forced to repay any more. The now MP was the director and major shareholder of the company at the time, having co-founded it in 2005. The "Stuart Anderson MP" account edited the MP's Wikipedia page to say that he was "one of the founders" of the company. The page had previously said that he was the only founder. The edits were made during a five-minute window shortly before 7am on 21 December. Mr Anderson overturned a Labour majority of more than 2,000 to win the Wolverhampton South West seat at the 12 December election. He was endorsed by Boris Johnson during the election campaign. The prime minister said at the time: I am so proud that he is standing as the Conservative candidate. We want to help start-ups here and get the economy really moving." Mr Anderson has been contacted for comment. BOSTONHelen Obando, a shy slip of a girl, lay curled in a hospital bed in June waiting for a bag of stem cells from her bone marrow, modified by gene therapy, to start dripping into her chest. The hope was that the treatment would cure her of sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that can cause excruciating pain, organ damage and early death. Helen, who at 16 was the youngest person ever to undergo the therapy, was sound asleep for the big moment. It was a critical moment in medical science. For more than a half-century, scientists have known the cause of sickle cell disease: A single mutation in a gene turns red blood cells into rigid crescent or sickle shapes instead of soft discs. These misshapen cells get stuck in veins and arteries, blocking the flow of blood that carries life-giving oxygen to the body and causing the diseases horrifying hallmark: episodes of agony that begin in babyhood. Millions of people globally, a vast majority of them Africans, suffer from sickle cell disease. Researchers have worked for decades on improving treatment and finding a cure, but experts said the effort has been hindered by chronic underfunding, in part because most of the estimated 100,000 people in the United States who have the disease are African American, often poor or of modest means. The disease also affects people with southern European, Middle Eastern or Asian backgrounds, or those who are Hispanic, like Helen. This is the story of two quests for a sickle cell cure one by the Obando family and one by a determined scientist at Boston Childrens Hospital, Dr. Stuart Orkin, 73, who has laboured against the disease since he was a medical resident in the 1970s. Like many others affected by sickle cell, the Obando family faced a double whammy: not one but two children with the disease, Helen and her older sister, Haylee Obando. They lived with one hope for a cure, a dangerous and sometimes fatal bone marrow transplant usually reserved for those with a healthy sibling as a match. But then they heard about a potential breakthrough: a complex procedure to flip a genetic switch so the body produces healthy blood. Scientists have been experimenting with gene therapy for two decades, with mixed success. And it will be years before they know if this new procedure is effective in the long term. But if it is, sickle cell disease could be the first common genetic disorder to be cured by manipulating human DNA. Four weeks after the infusion of stem cells, Helen was strong enough to be discharged. At home, in Lawrence, Mass., on a sofa with her mother by her side, she put a hand over her eyes and started to sob. She and her family wondered: Would it work? Was her suffering really over? A familys nightmare Sheila Cintron, 35, and Byron Obando, 40, met when she was in the eighth grade and he was a high school senior. They fell in love. Haylee, their first child, was born in 2001, when Cintron was 17. When a newborn screening test showed that Haylee had the disease, her father asked, Whats sickle cell? They soon found out. As the family gathered for her first birthday party, Haylee started screaming inconsolably. They rushed her to the hospital. It was the first of many pain crises. Doctors warned the parents that if they had another baby, the odds were 1 in 4 that the child would have sickle cell, too. But they decided to take the chance. Less than two years later, Helen was born. As bad as Haylees disease was, Helens was much worse. When she was nine months old, a severe blockage of blood flow in her pelvis destroyed bone. At age 2, her spleen, which helps fight bacterial infections, became dangerously enlarged because of blocked blood flow. Doctors surgically removed the organ. After Helen was born, her parents decided not to have any more children. But four years later, Cintron discovered she was pregnant again. But they were lucky. Their third child, Ryan Obando, did not inherit the sickle cell mutation. As Ryan grew up, Helens health worsened. When he was 9, Helens doctors suggested a drastic solution: If Ryan was a match for her, he might be able to cure her by giving her some of his bone marrow, though there would also be major risks for her, including death from severe infections or serious damage to organs if his immune system attacked her body. As it turned out, Ryan matched not Helen but Haylee. The transplant succeeded, but her parents asked themselves how they could stand by while one daughter was cured and the sicker one continued to suffer. There was only one way to get a sibling donor for Helen: have another baby. In 2017, the couple embarked on another gruelling medical journey. Obando had a vasectomy, so doctors had to surgically extract his sperm from his testicles. Cintron had 75 eggs removed from her ovaries and fertilized with her husbands sperm. The result was more than 30 embryos. Not a single embryo was both free of the sickle cell gene and a match for Helen. So the family decided to move to Mesa, Ariz., from Lawrence, where the cold, which set off pain crises, kept Helen indoors all winter. The family had already sold their house when they heard that doctors at Boston Childrens were working on sickle cell gene therapy. Cintron approached Dr. Erica Esrick, a principal investigator for the trial. But the trial wasnt yet open to children. Figuring out the science Nothing had prepared Orkin for the suffering he witnessed in his 30s as a medical resident in the pediatric hematology ward at Boston Childrens. It was the 1970s, and the beds were filled with children who had sickle cell crying in pain. Orkin knew there was a solution to the puzzle of sickle cell, at least in theory: Fetuses make hemoglobin the oxygen-carrying molecules in blood cells with a different gene. Blood cells filled with fetal hemoglobin do not sickle. But the fetal gene is turned off after a baby is born, and an adult hemoglobin gene takes over. If the adult gene is mutated, red cells sickle. Researchers had to figure out how to switch hemoglobin production to the fetal form. No one knew how to do that. Orkin needed ideas. Supported by the National Institutes of Health and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, he kept looking. The breakthrough came in 2008. The cost of gene sequencing was plummeting, and scientists were finding millions of genetic signposts on human DNA, allowing them to home in on small genetic differences among individuals. Researchers started doing large-scale DNA scans of populations, looking for tiny but significant changes in genes. They asked: Was there a molecular switch that flipped cells from making fetal to adult hemoglobin? And if there was, could the switch be flipped back? They found a promising lead: an unprepossessing gene called BCL11A. In a lab experiment, researchers blocked this gene and discovered that the blood cells in petri dishes started making fetal instead of adult hemoglobin. Next they tried blocking the gene in mice genetically engineered to have human hemoglobin and sickle cell disease. Again, it worked. Patients came next, in the gene therapy trial at Boston Childrens that began in 2018. The trial run by Dr. David Williams, an expert in the biology of blood-forming stem cells at Boston Childrens, and Esrick has a straightforward goal: Were going to re-educate the blood cells and make them think they are still in the fetus, Williams said. Doctors gave adult patients a drug that loosened stem cells immature cells that can turn into red blood cells from the bone marrow, their normal home, so they floated free in the bloodstream. Then they extracted those stem cells from whole blood drawn from the patient. The researchers used a disabled genetically engineered AIDS virus to carry information into the stem cells, flipping on the fetal hemoglobin gene and turning off the adult gene. Then they infused the treated stem cells into patients veins. From there, the treated cells migrated into the patients bone marrow, where they began making healthy blood cells. With the success in adults, the Food and Drug Administration said Boston Childrens could move on to teenagers. When her mother told her about the gene therapy trial, Helen was frightened. But the more she thought about it, the more she was ready to take the risk. In the months after the gene therapy infusion at Boston Childrens, her symptoms disappeared. Helen was scheduled for her six-month checkup Dec. 16. Helens total hemoglobin level was so high it was nearly normal a level she had never before achieved, even with blood transfusions. She had no signs of sickle cell disease. A Lancashire lad caught the 'amazing' moment a particularly agile elephant clambered over a five-foot wall in a bid to swipe mangoes from his safari lodge. The guests of Mfuwe Lodge in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, had just left for their afternoon safari drive on Saturday when the adult male paid an unexpected visit. General manager Ian Salisbury, 68, spotted the bull elephant calculating how to haul its four giant legs over the stone wall without falling over. Hilarious photos captured by Ian show the giant mammal hitching its legs over the wall in the same way a human might traverse the obstacle. Doing it for the mangoes: A Lancashire lad caught the 'amazing' moment a particularly agile elephant clambered over a five-foot wall Hilarious photos captured by Ian show the giant mammal hitching its legs over the wall in the same way a human might traverse the obstacle As it wandered into camp, Andy Hogg, managing director of The Bushcamp Company who own the lodge, videoed the giant creature's brief but unsuccessful hunt for fruit And as it wandered into camp, Andy Hogg, managing director of The Bushcamp Company who own the lodge, videoed the giant creature's brief but unsuccessful hunt for fruit. A family of elephants visit the site in southern Africa between October and mid-December, but this unexpected visitor was too late - searching for mangoes that were out of season. Ian, from originally from Bacup, Lancs, said: 'He just chose the most direct route and made himself right at home. 'The guests were very amused at the idea of a climbing elephant. They were in amazement that it would bother to climb over such a high wall. And as it wandered into camp, Andy Hogg, managing director of The Bushcamp Company who own the lodge, videoed the giant creature's brief but unsuccessful hunt for fruit Ian, from originally from Bacup, Lancs, said: 'He just chose the most direct route and made himself right at home' 'They were out on a safari drive in the National Park at the time, so were sorry to have missed seeing it [in person].' The lodge has a central foyer area that is open and often attracts a family of elephants in the early winter. But the herd usually take a stoned pathway, instead of taking the direct route of the wall. Ian said: 'He was a stranger to us. He wanted to investigate. He wanted to get into the central area where this big mango tree grows. 'He was obviously quite hungry and expected to get some wild mangoes for himself, though there aren't any left now. That's all done with for the year. 'He came and stretched over, had a look around, ate a bit of grass, then strangely turned round and came back the same way, which was quite amusing. 'His easiest way of getting there was to climb over this high wall. It's really unusual behaviour for an elephant to climb so high. Ian said: 'He was a stranger to us. He wanted to investigate. He wanted to get into the central area where this big mango tree grows' 'It was impressive he could coordinate his four legs to get over the wall because the elephant was quite a major bull, maybe around 30, so middle-aged.' With the unusually wet weather, Ian believes the lone elephant may have been encouraged to take a detour to avoid floods. Ian said: 'Elephants tend to wander around quite big distances and depending on the availability of food, they'll turn up in certain areas. 'It has been quite dry then over the last week or so, we had huge amounts of rain that almost caused a flood. Whether that encouraged him to have a look around, I'm not sure.' I think they will do good if the queen allows them to do what they want to do. Whether she will or not, I dont know, to be quite honest. As for moving to Canada or America, I dont know if thats a good idea or not, but time will tell, he said. BJP leader Lanka Dinakar on Saturday accused the Police Department in Andhra Pradesh of working for Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy instead of serving the public and alleged they had indulged in brutalities during farmers' protests in Amaravati region. "A woman -- Yarramneni Srilakshmi -- was kicked in the stomach by DSP Srinivasa Reddy, who was wearing his boots. It is reported that she had recently delivered a baby. Her condition is critical and she is undergoing treatment in the ICU at a hospital," Dinakar told ANI here. "We have an eyewitness of you kicking her in the stomach. The police officials of Andhra Pradesh have forgotten that they are public servants and are paid salaries from the people's money. They are serving the Jagan Mohan Reddy government and not the people," he added. Condemning the incident, the BJP leader demanded a CBI inquiry into the way the Police Department has functioned in the past week. "The BJP Andhra Pradesh's Core Committee has decided to pass a resolution stating Amaravati as the capital city for the functioning of legislative and executive bodies," added he. Meanwhile, the protests against the three capital proposal for Andhra Pradesh entered the 25th day here on Saturday. Protests are taking place all across Andhra Pradesh including at Mandadam, Tulluru, Velagapudi village. Police forces have been deployed in these areas. Taking the suo motu cognizance of the alleged reports of violence on women in Amaravati, the Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma has announced to send a fact-finding team to Amaravati. There were reports of women farmers were brutally beaten up by the police during their protest against the state government's proposal of shifting the state capital to Vizag. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LONDON - Legislators returned to Northern Irelands assembly Saturday for the first time in three years after a deal was struck to restore the divided regions mothballed power-sharing government. Lawmakers gathered at Parliament Buildings in Belfast and chose a new executive, led by the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party and the Irish nationalists Sinn Fein. Legislators picked DUP leader Arlene Foster as first minister a post she held before the previous assembly was dissolved with Sinn Feins Michelle ONeil as deputy leader. After three years of acrimony that left Northern Ireland with a stack of unresolved issues and a growing public-sector crisis, the parties agreed Friday to a deal brokered by the U.K. and Irish governments to revive the Belfast government. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Saturday was a historic day for Northern Ireland, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the news from there momentous. The parties of Northern Ireland have shown great leadership in coming together to accept this fair and balanced deal in the interests of everyone in Northern Ireland, Johnson said. Northern Ireland part of the U.K. along with England, Wales and Scotland has been without a functioning administration since the power-sharing government set up after a 1998 peace accord fell apart in January 2017 over a botched green-energy project. The rift soon widened to broader cultural and political issues separating Northern Irelands British unionists and its Irish nationalists, the two communities whose conflicting identities and aspirations fueled years of violence in which more than 3,000 people died. Since 2017, Northern Ireland has been run by civil servants with limited powers to make big decisions. Major projects have been put on hold -- all in the shadow of the U.K.s impending departure from the European Union on Jan. 31, which has serious implications for the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, an EU member. Northern Ireland has the U.K.s only land border with an EU member country and Brexit will challenge the status of the currently invisible frontier. That could potentially push Northern Ireland into a closer embrace with its southern neighbour, Ireland, so both the DUP and Sinn Fein want a say on what happens next. Northern Ireland also faced a Monday deadline to restore the government or be required to hold a new election for the assembly that could see Sinn Fein and the DUP lose ground to less intransigent parties. With that deadline looming, the parties agreed to return to government. The five-party coalition also includes the moderate nationalist SDLP, the pro-British Ulster Unionists and the cross-community Alliance Party. Foster told lawmakers that the time has come to move forward with resolution. We have many differences, she said of her party and Sinn Fein. Michelles narrative of the past 40 years could not be more different to mine. Im not sure we will ever agree on much about the past, but we can agree there was too much suffering, and that we cannot allow society to drift backwards and allow division to grow. ONeill said all the parties would undertake to co-operate in every way we can in order to rebuild public trust and confidence. As we face into the great uncertainties of Brexit, it is imperative that we redouble our efforts to develop and rebuild a modern, competitive and sustainable economy where we open doors to trade, investment, tourism and jobs, she said. The long-awaited agreement addresses divisive social and cultural issues in Northern Ireland, as well as the increasingly precarious state of its public finances. It includes measures to protect the Irish language, which is important to nationalists, as well as the Ulster Scots tongue that is the heritage of British unionists. The deal also promises U.K. government funds for big infrastructure projects and Northern Irelands cash-strapped public services. Northern Irelands health service has been has been particularly hard hit by the political vacuum, and nurses have staged a series of strikes to protest staffing shortages and eroding salaries. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday condemned the violence that took place in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) recently and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer on the violence. "What happened inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University is a subject of concern and condemnation. This kind of incident has never been seen before in the university's history. Till now the police officials should have been suspended. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer on the JNU violence and should know where the country is heading," Chief Minister told the reporters here. "The Home Minister should speak about how the masked people entered the educational institution when the police were there. They have to take action against it," he added. This comes after masked mob of miscreants entered the university campus and attacked the students and professors with sticks and rods on January 5. More than 30 students, including Ghosh, were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. The Delhi Police Crime Branch investigating the case of violence in JNU had identified and released photographs of nine suspects, including that of Aishe Ghosh. Meanwhile, Gehlot came out in support of movie 'Chhapak' and said, "I am happy that the movie has been made tax-free for the people of Rajasthan as well. People have welcomed this decision. The movie will educate people. People should enjoy the movie. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The core of the second article is captured by the principle that no one is above the law in the United States. Indeed, no president, not even Richard M. Nixon, has ever tried to block all witnesses and documents in an impeachment inquiry. Nixon thought about it but backed down quickly. The impeachment here is not just about Ukraine. Its about a president who thinks he does not even have to submit to a constitutionally authorized congressional inquiry. This stance is particularly galling because Trumps attorney general, William P. Barr, gave Trump a temporary get-out-of-jail-free card after special counsel Robert S. Mueller III found several instances of potential obstruction of justice; Barr claimed that the president could only be impeached, not indicted. Yet now the shell game continues with Trump turning around and saying he cant be impeached and investigated either. The province is preparing in case the deadly virus that killed approximately 40 per cent of Chinese pigs makes its way to Manitoba, which could be a huge issue for domestic producers. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us The province is preparing in case a deadly pig virus makes its way to Manitoba. (File) The province is preparing in case the deadly virus that killed approximately 40 per cent of Chinese pigs makes its way to Manitoba, which could be a huge issue for domestic producers. The outbreak of African swine fever in China is a potential boon for Manitoba pork producers because of a severe shortage of pigs in the pork-hungry country but the province is preparing for a potential disaster if the deadly disease shows up in domestic swine. Dr. Scott Zaari The disease hasnt been seen in Canada, but attempts to contain the spread of the lethal disease by culling herds has created a pork shortage in China. "This is a fast-acting, very high mortality, lethal virus. Certainly, there are clinical signs associated with it that farmers can recognize: loss of appetite, reddening of the skin, theres fever, overall illness but ultimately youre going to have a lot of dead hogs," said Dr. Scott Zaari, Manitobas chief veterinary officer. "You have a virus that is killing hogs immediately that doesnt have a vaccine, where theres no treatment, you have a chaotic situation and thats been occurring since the first outbreak in China was noticed in 2018." The disease, which is harmless to humans, can be spread through pigs eating infected meat. Manitoba is working with the other western provinces, along with the federal government, to prevent the disease from reaching the domestic market and what to do in the event it does, Zaari said. "We have a unique incident here where this doesnt usually happen, where weve said This is a western issue and lets look at how we can combat it at a western level," he said. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is leading the effort to keep African swine fever out of Canada. Zaari said the best methods of prevention are to control imports of pork products from infected countries and making sure travellers know not to bring home at-risk products. Blaine Pedersen The western provinces have formed a western steering advisory committee to "combine forces" on preparedness efforts. He said the provinces are looking at what financial compensation packages look like if a producers livestock were affected and developing a provincial response plan. While Zaari couldnt say how likely it is that the disease could reach Canada, it has been seen in Russia, Poland and other European countries. The provincial government and federal agencies are preparing as if African swine fever will show up in the country. Pork is big business in Manitoba. Andrew Dickson, general manager of Manitoba Pork, told the Sun on Thursday the shortage of pork in China is an opportunity for Manitoba producers, despite the risk of it showing up here. He said that in 2020, the advocacy organization expects Canada could sell approximately $200 million worth of pork to China this year. HyLife president Grant Lazaruk told the Sun the shortage has increased demand in China, the biggest consumer of pork around the world, and the company is expecting to increase sales this year. Zaari estimates 14,000 jobs in southern Manitoba rely on the pork industry, and it contributes $2 billion to the provincial economy. Much of that goes toward the export market, which would shut down entirely if African swine fever is found. "We have so many jobs in Manitoba that rely on the swine sector so its a cross-cutting issue, so I see this as very much its not just an animal issue, its an issue thatll have wide-reaching effects," he said. Provincial Minister of Agriculture Blaine Pedersen agreed the response to the disease if it shows up in Canada is important, saying the province has been advocating for the federal government to be more involved with the potential response straight from the start of any future outbreak. "Our provincial government, as best we can, understands the potential fallout should it happen, and we just need to make sure the federal government is on side," he said. "In this case, we need the federal government to be right there, right beside us from the start." Any cost associated with African swine fever showing up in Canada depends on how severe the outbreak is and how quickly it can be contained. Pedersen said all stakeholders are staying vigilant for it showing up in the domestic market. "Were working very closely with the industry and the federal government and all provinces. Its a matter of making sure were as co-ordinated as we possibly can be." dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ The former head of the Harris County Housing Authority, who was ousted in 2012 amid allegations he misspent millions in federal housing dollars, was hired in December to help the county run Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery programs. On Friday, all five members of Commissioners Court, who said they were not consulted about the hire, said Guy Rankin IV never should have made it back onto the county payroll, working for Community Services Department Executive Director Daphne Lemelle. Its very concerning that the director thought no one else was available with the talent, skills and appropriate background for this role, Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said. Bringing in someone who came into the job under a cloud of previous questionable behavior is not in the best interest of our county. She needs to explain why he was hired. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle called the decision unwise and said he has asked Lemelle to sever our relationship with him as soon as possible. County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who on Thursday announced the creation of a hotline to report wasteful government spending, said she was disappointed Rankin was hired. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis called it an unnecessary distraction from the departments work to resolve unacceptable delays in its Harvey housing repair program. In a statement, Lemelle said Rankins role as production program coordinator is temporary, having begun Dec. 6 and scheduled to end Jan. 28. He is being paid $75 an hour, a rate equivalent to a $156,000 annual salary, Lemelles spokesman Patrick Trahan said. The general role relies upon Mr. Rankins significant experience in disaster recovery to assist in making case management more efficient, Lemelle said. She did not respond to a request for an interview. Trahan said Rankin was hired through a temporary staffing agency contracted to bring on disaster recovery workers and has helped improve productivity in the office. Advocates and residents living in Harvey-damaged homes have panned the slow pace of the county and city of Houston housing repair programs, a critique local leaders do not dispute. As of Dec. 31, the county had begun no home repairs and had reimbursed just nine families for repairs they paid for themselves. Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack questioned the scope of the arrangement, saying, What in the world are you going to gain from somebody whos only going to be there a few weeks? Efforts to reach Rankin on Friday were unsuccessful. Rankin has expertise in administering government housing programs, though his tenure as CEO of the Harris County Housing Authority came to an inglorious end. In 2011, a series of Chronicle stories revealed Rankin sharply increased the salaries of himself and others and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to his and his employees friends and relatives. The newspaper uncovered other questionable spending, including: $8 million on a high-end waterfront development that was never built; $7 million on a Hurricane Ike report no agency asked for or wanted; $32,000 to a private investigator to snoop into then-County Judge Ed Emmetts correspondence with the Chronicle; $183,000 for statues and monuments; $54,000 in luxury apartments for unknown tenants and $18,000 for letters purported to bear the signature of Abraham Lincoln, purchased at the Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas. The county negotiated an exit deal for Rankin in 2012, including $137,000 in severance pay, but then discovered the housing authority was so broke it could not pay it. A 2013 audit by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found housing authority leaders mismanaged as much as $27.5 million in federal housing funds during a three-year period toward the end of the Rankins tenure. HUD later demanded the agency reimburse it for $8.5 million in misspent funds. Authority Chairman Gerald Womack said Friday the agency still is repaying that debt. John Henneberger, of the nonprofit advocacy group Texas Housers, said the county needs experienced staff to improve the sluggish pace of its Harvey housing programs, but called Rankins hire disturbing. Given the controversy around Mr. Rankins performance at the housing authority, he said, it seems almost disrespectful of the people who are waiting for disaster assistance that he would be the person tapped to try to get this program back on track. mike.morris@chron.com zach.despart@chron.com The man who died at a water treatment facility in Ashford on New Year's Eve has been described as a hard worker who was always willing to help out. Investigations are ongoing into the incident in which Vincent O'Brien of Glendale, Ballymoate, Glenealy, lost his life. Mr O'Brien was an employee of Wicklow County Council and was carrying out maintenance work at the plant in Cronroe, Ballymachara when the incident took place on the evening of Tuesday, January 31. Emergency services were called to the scene and two other men who tried to come to Mr O'Brien's aid had to be hospitalised due to chlorine fumes. Mr O'Brien was found in an unresponsive state. The Glenealy man was very active within the close-knit village and was a former chairman of the local Tidy Towns. In a tribute, Glenealy Tidy Towns said that Vincent helped to bring the whole community together to transform the village. Members of the group were heartbroken to hear of his death. 'Vincent was chairperson of Glenealy Tidy Towns when it was reformed ten years ago,' the group said. 'His knowledge and hard work saw the community come together to transform the village with lots of flowers planted, grass verges cut and litter removed. Nothing was to much trouble for Vincent where the village was concerned. 'We entered the National Tidy Towns competition the following year and won best improved village. Even when he stepped down as chairperson, he still helped out with work around the village. To Vincent's wife Caroline and his family, we offer our sincere sympathy,' the group said. In 2016, Vincent and his wife Caroline walked the De Camino Santiago in Spain, a total of 100km, over five days to raise funds on behalf of World Vision Ireland for children in Sudan The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr O'Brien's death, with the Gardai and Wicklow County Council also carrying out their own investigations. Three HSA inspectors attended the scene and the investigation into the tragedy remains ongoing. Wicklow County Council released a statement passing on its sympathies to the family and friends of Mr O'Brien. 'Wicklow County Council wishes to express its deepest sympathy on the sad passing of our work colleague and friend. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time. 'An investigation is currently under way and Wicklow County Council is and will co-operate with all investigations into the matter. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.' There was a huge turnout for Mr O'Brien's funeral on Saturday at St Joseph's Church, as the communities of Glenealy and elsewhere came out in force to say their farewells. He was buried afterwards in Glenealy Cemetery. He is deeply missed by his wife Caroline, his brothers and sisters Valerie, Imelda, Geraldine, Bertha, Martin and Bernie, sisters-in-law, brothers in law, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his sister Theresa. Oman's Sultan and one of Middle East's longest-serving rulers, Qaboos bin Said died at the age of 79 on January 10, Oman's local news media announced. According to reports, after his death, the council's high military council had called the ruling family to convene and choose a new ruler. Three days of official mourning have been further declared with flags flown at half-mast for 40 days. Qaboos had ruled since taking over in a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of former colonial power Britain. His cause of death was not announced, however, he had been unwell for years and reportedly spent a week in Belgium undergoing medical treatment in early December. He had no children and he had not appointed a successor. According to international media reports, a 1996 statue says that the ruling family will have to choose a successor within three days of the throne becoming vacant because of which the high military council called on Oman's ruling family council to convene to choose a new ruler and if they fail to agree a council of military and security officials, supreme court chiefs and heads of the two assemblies will put in power a person whose name has been secretly written by the sultan in a sealed letter. READ: PM Modi Condoles Demise Of Oman Sultan Qaboos Leaders condole his demise After Sultan Qaboos' death, many leaders including President Ram Nath Kovind condoled his demise. Saddened at the demise of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos of Oman, a close friend of India. The world has lost a great leader and a statesman who worked tirelessly towards building peace in the region and the world. My condolences to the Omani Govt and its people in this hour of grief President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 11, 2020 READ: ISIS Welcomes Soleimani's Death, Says His Death Has pleased The Hearts Of Believers Pained by the demise of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos of Oman, a close friend of India. A great leader, true statesman and symbol of peace who worked tirelessly towards betterment of region. My condolences to the Omani Govt and its people. Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 11, 2020 Sultan Qaboos was a valuable partner of the United States for decades, building on a relationship our nations set forth in the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce. I am confident his successor will continue to advance the shared interests of our two countries. Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 11, 2020 READ: Iran Admits To 'unintentionally' Shooting Down Ukrainian Jetliner READ: Iran's Foreign Minister Admits human Error Led To Downing Ukrainian Jet Carrying 176 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been spotted enjoying local beers and wine on holiday with her fiance in Australia. Ms Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford went wine tasting at Mason Wines on Tamborine Mountain in South East Queensland on Friday. Her visit to Australia comes as many people have called for her to stay and replace embattled Australian leader Scott Morrison over his handling of the bushfire crisis. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (centre) has continued her Australian holiday by drinking local beers and wines in regional Queensland on Friday Mason Wines host David Wistow shared a picture of himself and co-host Anna along with Ms Ardern, who gave a big smile to the camera. 'Anna and I were honored to get a surprise visitor, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern,' Mr Wistow captioned the post. 'She enjoyed an hour or so of peace and quiet on the stunning Mason Wines deck.' The same picture was shared to the official Mason Wines Instagram account, with a caption that hailed her as 'one of the world's most impressive leaders'. Later in the day, the couple were treated to a private tasting platter at Witches Chase Cheese and tried craft beers at the nearby Fortitude Brewing Company. On Monday night, Ms Ardern and Mr Gayford (right) dined at Fins Restaurant and Bar in Kingscliff, prompting people to say she should replace Scott Morrison as leader One hospitality worker who served Ms Ardern and her partner said they were 'very relaxed, friendly and genuinely down to earth'. 'If you didn't know who they were, you would just have thought they were a regular couple out for a stroll,' he told The Courier Mail. 'There was no entourage or security crew, just the two of them enjoying themselves on the mountain.' The couple have been holidaying in Australia for about a week. An additional 22 New Zealand firefighters sent to help tackle the Australian bushfire crisis (pictured) touched down in New South Wales to a hero's welcome on Thursday On Monday night, Ms Ardern and Mr Gayford dined at Fins Restaurant and Bar in Kingscliff on the New South Wales north coast. After a photo of Ms Ardern at the restaurant was posted to Facebook, people called for her to replace embattled Australian leader Scott Morrison. 'Jacinda there is an opening for you in Canberra hun, just head on down there,' one person wrote. Another wrote: 'Run down and grab her please. I'll get Scomo on a flight to NZ.' While Ms Ardern has been praised for her support during the bushfires, Scott Morrison (pictured) has faced a onslaught of backlash for his handling of the crisis Ms Adern has received praise for her leadership skills during the catastrophic bushfires that have ravaged Australia this month. Poll Who has better handled the bush fire crisis? Scott Morrison Jacinda Ardern Who has better handled the bush fire crisis? Scott Morrison 152 votes Jacinda Ardern 212 votes Now share your opinion Whereas, Mr Morrison, the Australian prime minister, has faced a onslaught of backlash for his handling of the crisis. On Thursday, an additional 22 NZ firefighters landed in New South Wales 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. New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal on Saturday wrote to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, stating that there was lack of co-operation on the part of the state government on the important issue of Angamali-Sabarimala new line project. "This is to bring to your kind attention the lack of co-operation on the part of Kerala state government on the important issue of the Angamali-Sabarimala new line project," reads the letter Goyal wrote to Vijayan on Saturday. "This project was included in Railway Budget 1997-98 at a cost of Rs 550 crore. Against this, part estimate for long-lead items amounting to Rs 517.70 crore including Rs 58.76 crore as the land cost of the entire project, was sanctioned in May 2006," he writes in the letter. "Consequently, in this project, work on Angamali-Kaladi (7 km) and long lead work on Kaladi-Perumbavoor (10 km) have been taken up. However, further works on this project could not be taken forward due to protests by local people against land acquisition and fixing of alignment of the line, court cases filed against the project and non-cooperation from the State Government of Kerala." "This has badly delayed the execution of the above project and as a result, project cost has increased exponentially from Rs 550 crore in 1997 to Rs 1,566 crore including land cost of Rs 719 crore in 2011 and further, Rs 2,815 crore (including land cost of Rs 965 crore) in 2017," he said. According to the letter, the Government of India requested the Government of Kerala vide letters of even number dated 06.09.2011, 22.12.2011, and 08.10.2012 to share at least 50 per cent cost of the project. The government of Kerala also agreed to share 50 per cent cost of the project. The government of Kerala had also identified this project for execution under the Joint Venture Scheme with Ministry of Railways and therefore, an MoU was also signed on 01.09.2016. "Unfortunately, within a year, the state government vide letter No. 667/16/CM dated 15.11.2016 withdrew their own consent to share 50 per cent cost of the project. This sudden change in policy was surprising and against the interest of developing Railways in Kerala, and brought into question the state government's commitment to this important project," Minister Goyal wrote in the letter. (ANI) Jenny Bender was working at Newborn Hope, a Colorado agency that supports premature infants and their families, when the group embarked on a tour of neonatal intensive care units that were eligible for grants. They were visiting the NICU at Childrens Hospital in Aurora, where the sickest of the sick babies were treated, when Benders eyes were drawn to the name card posted by a door. At first glance, she thought the baby in the room just had an unusual compound surname. When a nurse told her what it meant and pointed to a wall chart with a list of staff who rotated in to provide round-the-clock care and human contact, Bender said it almost broke her. It wasnt the childs name, but her designation. It was hyphen Alone. The nurse said, This baby has been alone for three months. She wont have a home or a family until she gets discharged and has a foster family, she said. On the drive back from Aurora to Colorado Springs that day, Bender called her husband, Zack. The Benders had two preschoolers at home, had been discussing fostering and even toured a local agency, Hope & Home. I think we need to be foster parents, Jenny told Zack. We have the capacity. Lets do it. Work or live in an arena that opens your eyes to the desperate need around you, and it can alter the course of your future. Of many futures. It did for Bender, whose professional path helped inspire a personal one. And vice versa. Bender grew up in Northern California and had just graduated from Cal State when she met her future husband, an Oklahoma native in town for a job prospect, at church. Five months later, she and Zack were engaged; five months after that, married. The couple lived briefly in Tulsa, then, 16 years ago, followed Zacks parents to Colorado Springs. We were, like, lets go live where our folks are before we start a family, Bender said. Now, shes proud to say all five of their kids were born here. Millie was just two days old, and the Benders recently licensed foster parents, when they got the call. Her birth parents were homeless and unable to properly care for an infant. We were open to being foster/adoptive parents, but also very open to the process that the whole point of foster care and child welfare is to see a family be able to work their treatment plan and become whole again, get their kids back, Bender said. We knew we could have a newborn with us for two weeks, or two months, or two years, or forever. Whatever it ended up being, we were going to teach this baby attachment. What she learned over the next two-and-a-half years, as Millies case moved through the system, is it takes more than a devoted family, and openhearted kids, to create a thriving foster or forever home. The orchestra at work behind the scenes includes judges, lawyers, case workers, guardians ad litum, and, for 37% of kids in the child welfare system or foster care due to abuse or neglect, a critical group of volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates, who provide a connecting line among the legal, medical, education and domestic realms, and voice for those who otherwise might have none. They do that through getting to know the child. They visit the child most frequently out of all the professionals on the case and theyre the only professionals appointed to the case that arent paid. So that credibility goes really far, Bender said. I had never heard of the organization before that. When the attorney representing Millies mom announced she had given birth again, the Benders agreed to serve as a foster family for Millies little sister, Poppy, who spent the first three weeks of her life in the NICU. Bender was still working for Newborn Hope at the time, so knew many of the doctors treating Poppy. Thats when it all really came full circle, she said. We had no idea what this foster journey would look like. We grew a relationship with biological mom and dad, through multiple weekly parent visits that were supervised. Every time, I would say were taking really good care of your babies. Millies CASA volunteer was a woman named Teresa Schmitt, who was there for every court appearance and followed up with regular home visits. Shed always want to visit during the dinner hour, and we would joke with her that between 5 and 7 is the witching hour at our house, Bender said. She would just sit at our dinner table and listen to all the conversation, with the macaroni flinging. Such moments, though, can provide telling insights into the family dynamics, and whether the placement is a good one, Schmitt said. When you see a case like the Benders, that is what makes it so worthwhile, she said. You see an outcome for the children that is the best possible outcome that could occur, a life opening up for those children that will be stable, loving, supporting and allow them to reach their full potential. Millies and Poppys adoptions closed on Dec. 1, 2015. Two months later, the Benders found out they were expecting. By the time Rutledge was born, Jenny had taken a job as executive director of CASA of the Pikes Peak Region, the organization she hadnt known existed before fostering and adopting. When the statewide organizations top job opened up two years ago, Bender applied and was named executive director. She now balances her work time between Denver and a home-based office in the Springs. After two decades working for nonprofits, and 13 years as a mom, shes also sharing her story. The professional one, and the personal one. My 30s were lots of years of growth, professionally and with having children and our child journey with adoption from foster care. And I didnt share my story a lot, said Bender, who recently turned 40. For a while when we were openly fostering, I needed to not talk about the girls cases for confidentiality reasons. But once the cases were closed, I still didnt talk about it a lot. It was always just a personal side. Now, though, its the first thing that comes out of my mouth. Its my why. Why I care about kids in Colorado, why I work at CASA, why I work, with five kids at home, she said. Its because of our kids and our story. Its because of the mission. Have your eyes opened to the need all around, you might be surprised at the capacity for grace. On a snow day last year, the kids were off school so Bender took everyone to see the movie, Abominable. On the way home, they were at a red light when they saw a homeless woman huddled by the curb, holding a sign pleading for alms. Eleven-year-old son Rockwell asked if the stadium blankets from the Broncos game were still in the car. They were. He rolled down the window and said, Heres a blanket, Bender said. We all got teary. Im just so proud of who my kids are becoming. I like the blended family that adoption is and the gift that it has given our kids, that its given us all. Roadside bomb hit a convoy of US troops in Afghanistans southern province of Kandahar on Saturday, NATO spokesman and Afghan officials confirmed. There have been no casualties reported as yet in the attack which was claimed by the Taliban. Nato is assessing the situation A senior Afghan military official in Kandhar revealed that the incident took place in the district of Dand after the device hit one of the armoured vehicles in the US convoy. The official further said that foreign troops have cordoned off the Afghan forces away from the scene. A NATO spokesman said that the intergovernmental organisation was assessing the situation but declined to give any details into it. However, the Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, claiming the responsibility of the blast said that it had killed all the soldiers in the vehicle. Read: Afghanistan: 8 Policemen Killed By Taliban Insurgents In Balkh Province Read: Official: Military Helicopter Crash Kills 2 In Afghanistan Taliban insurgents attacks police checkpoint As many as 8 policemen were killed and three injured at a checkpoint in the northern Afghan province of Balkh by Taliban militant groups on January 1, according to the Balkh police chief, Ajmal Fayez. Fayez said a group of Taliban insurgents attacked and took control of a police checkpoint located in Mazari Sharif -- Sheberghan highway for a short period of time on the night of Tuesday, December 31. They were soon repelled from the area by the security forces. According to the State media, the insurgents are believed to have some links among the checkpoint's 14 officers who helped carry out the attack. The Taliban has not yet claimed any responsibility for the attacks. Read: Iraqs Outgoing PM Adel Abdul-Mahdi Asserts 'US Troops Must Leave' Read: 16 Killed, 20 Injured In Blast At Mosque In Pakistan's Quetta Similarly, on December 30, a Taliban attack in northern Afghanistan targetting a pro-government militia compound reportedly killed at least 14 members of the Afghan security forces. According to international media reports, out of the 14 fatalities in the attack in Jawzjan province, 13 members were of pro-government militia and one was a policeman. Five others were also reportedly wounded and two are still missing. A 24-year-old man studying in India has been killed for opposing illegal mining of construction material from a riverbed in southern Nepal's Dhanusha district, police said on Saturday. Dilip Kumar Mahato, 24, who was pursuing his mechanical engineering from a college in Bhopal, was run over by a lorry. On Friday, Dilip, who had been protesting against the illegal mining for the last two years, heard clamour of loaders and tippers coming from the Aurahi river near his house, police said. As he began to quarrel with the extraction crew, a tipper ran him over, dragging him under its carriage and killing him on the spot, they said. Four persons have been arrested in connection with the murder, including Bipin Mahato, the owner of the lorry. Dilip had returned from Bhopal late last month after his final examinations. He had told locals that the illegal mining would put his village at risk of flooding. Dilip had received death threats and was even offered inducements, but he continued to protest against the illegal operation. "When he returned home two weeks ago, he wanted to stop the illegal mining permanently and once again got into fights with the crusher owners. Even our father was threatened by one of the owners -- Bipin -- on Wednesday," Dilip's older brother Birendra Kumar Mahato was quoted as saying by the local media. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a tragic incident, a crane who had travelled from Mongolia to India and was expected to return was found dead in Rajasthan, a report in TOI said. Tagged as T-51 by scientists back home in Mongolia, the crane that was part of the flock of 400 demoiselle cranes, was found dead. The demoiselle crane is a species of crane found in central Eurasia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and North Eastern China. T-51 passed away on January 9 and reports suggest it perished because of pesticides-laden grains that it had consumed en route his journey in India. These pesticides that are banned in the US and Europe are easily available in India. The crane had managed to cover a distance of over 2,766 kilometres from July to November last year but couldn't complete the journey back home. TOI This is not the first time a case of animal death allegedly caused due to pesticide presence came to the fore. In October last year, post mortem report of a tigress that was found dead showed traces of poisonous pesticides in its stomach. According to news agency IANS, the corpse of the tigress in question was found in a canal in Lakhimpur Kheri in July this year. But the reason of death could not be ascertained at the moment even as the forest officials looked around for all possible causes. There were no injury marks on the animal's body and it looked more or less healthy. The corpse of tigress was then sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute, which is located in Bareilly. The doctors preserved her viscera for further tests. "The report suggested that parts of insecticides from organophosphate group was found in the viscera, South Kheri Forest Department Officer Sameer Kumar was quoted as saying by IANS. He, however, refused to say anything further. Earlier, IVRI Director RK Singh had confirmed submission of the report to the forest officer. While some suspected that the tigress might had licked the grass containing pesticide, Sameer Kumar rubbished the theory saying pork was found in her stomach. A shocked mother has been 'put off McDonald's for life' after she reportedly found a dead spider baked into her partner's cheeseburger bun. Joanna Kincaid, 22, visited a branch of the fast food restaurant on College Road in Birmingham to grab a quick bite to eat with her partner Jason on January 8. Ms Kincaid said Jason had ordered a selection of items - including the cheeseburger - from the chain's Drive Thru at around 2pm. But just before her partner took a bite of the 99p burger, the couple were disgusted to find a 'small, brown critter embedded into the side of the bun'. The pair immediately took the burger back to the store but Ms Kincaid said staff told her 'they could not refund them unless they handed over the snack'. Joanna Kincaid, 22, visited a branch of the fast food restaurant on College Road in Birmingham to grab a quick bite to eat when she found a spider in her partner's cheeseburger (pictured) Ms Kincaid has since spoken to Birmingham City Council's environmental team and the mother said a representative for the authority is now coming to collect the burger. The 22-year-old said she has been 'put off McDonald's for life' after the find and had pledged to 'boycott' the restaurant which served her the meal. 'The legs were embedded right into the bun - it was so gross', she added. 'I am absolutely disgusted that a company that is so well known, so big and that caters for children - and adults - did not notice the big dead spider on the side of the bun. Thankfully, it was me that found the spider and not my son! 'I will boycott McDonald's in College Road and so will my family as everyone is disgusted.' The pair immediately took the burger back to the store after the discovery (right) but Ms Kincaid said staff told her 'they could not refund them unless they handed over the snack' Close-up photographs show the spider's body and legs on the side of the cheeseburger bun, with one of the legs appearing to be stuck beneath the surface. A spokesman for McDonald's apologised for the discovery but stressed that the customer refused to hand over the item to them. They said: 'We are sorry to hear about this customer's experience. Food safety is of the utmost importance to us and we place great emphasis on quality control, following rigorous standards to avoid any imperfections. 'When the matter was brought to the attention of our staff, we apologised and asked the customer to return the item so we could further investigate the matter, however they were unwilling to do so. 'We understand that the customer is currently in contact with our Customer Services team to help find a resolution.' Holidays having passed, what goes up must come down Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday evening amid massive protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Popula-tion Register (NPR) across Kolkata. At their meeting in Raj Bhavan, Ms Baner-jee raised her fierce opposition to the CAA and NRC and demanded that they be withdrawn. Due to several large protests across the city, including at the airport and along the route his convoy was to take, Mr Modi was forced to avoid travel by road at least twice. Mr Modi, who is on a two-day official visit to the state, had to fly in an IAF chopper from the Kolkata airport to the Royal Calcutta Turf Club from where he entered the Raj Bhavan in his convoy. Many demonstrators were waving black flags and flying gas-filled black balloons though the city as they shouted slogans against the CAA, the NRC and carried banners that said, Go Back Modi. While several protests were organised by Left and Congress supporters, students, youth and various apolitical outfits were also out on the streets venting their anger against CAA and NRC. After her meeting, Ms Banerjee said that she told the PM that Bengal is against citizenship law, NRC, NPR and that she had asked the PM to withdraw CAA and NRC as no person should be thrown out of the country or face any discrimination and torture. Soon after her meeting she rushed to her partys dharna at Esplanade where she vowed to continue her movement to counter the allegation of the Left and Congress of her support to Mr Modi. The state Congress has accused Ms Banerjee of having a tacit understanding with Mr Modi. She boycotted the all-party meeting against citizenship law that Sonia Gandhi convened in Delhi on January 13 but fixed an appointment with Modi on January 11. Her real intentions are out in the open, said Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra. Modi and Banerjees one-to-one meeting was earlier likely to be held at 9 pm at Raj Bhavan. But it was brought forward due to a change in the PMs itinerary following Mr Modis wish to stretch his visit to Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission in Howrah, and spend the night there amidst speculation of his meditation on the occasion of youth icon Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary on Sunday. She said, Since the PM came on a visit to our state, it is my constitutional responsibility and also courtesy to meet him. I have told the PM, since you have come here as my guest, I do not know if I should tell you about it or not. We are against the CAA, NRC and NPR. A movement has been underway against the three across the country. We certainly want no discrimination among the people, no person be dropped out or faces any kind of torture. She elaborated, I have requested the PM to look into it. I also urged him to reconsider the CAA and NRC. We want these be withdrawn. It should be flexible in how the village wants to use it, he said of the design. Were trying to get a lot of daylight in for all programs. This is the current plan that will go for the grant. Its a good accounting of the needs and a good use of the site." But even as the Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) protest and the fire spreads far and wide, from Mumbai's Gateway of India to hilly corners of Shillong, the government has its plan in motion to counter the anti-CAA narrative. Many within the government believe, a month long delay in the notification of the CAA even after being passed in Parliament and receiving the Presidential assent was to make grounds to launch the government's counter. This move is seen as a defiance by the government, whose Home Minister, the architect of the CAA, said a few days ago that there would be no roll back. Speaking to media, Amit Shah had said there would be no retraction by "even an inch". Modi's Digital Counter: The anti-CAA movement was sparked off digitally with a hashtag 'india against CAA' that glued students, intellectuals, movie stars and Muslim organisations together. The government too kickstarted the counter offensive digitally. On December 30, Prime Minister himself, in a tweet, launched the counter campaign where he stated, "#IndiaSupportsCAA because CAA is about giving citizenship to persecuted refugees & not about taking anyone's citizenship away. Check out this hashtag in Your Voice section of the Volunteer module on NaMo App for content, graphics, videos & more. Share & show your support for CAA." Very soon, the hashtag started trending on top and many top ministers, BJP state chiefs, Chief Ministers' of the BJP-ruled states, social media influencers and most importantly, a large number of common people, started voicing their stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act, using the hashtag. Almost two weeks on, it's still a very popular trend on Twitter that has witnessed mass penetration. Speaking to IANS, at the time of the launch of this counter digital movement, Harish Ramaswamy, a political thinker, while describing how Modi can afford to go aggressive, even in the face of multi-pronged attacks, said: "See, Narendra Modi's idea of democracy is where the ruling party alone matters. He doesn't care about the opposition. Interestingly, he is still a very popular leader and whatever he says, appears to be believable to most." Nationwide PR Outreach: Just a couple of days before Modi launched his digital counter offensive on anti-CAA narrative by the opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had identified six leaders to spearhead its nationwide outreach on the CAA. While Anil Jain is leading the party's charge in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar -- the two states that have seen major minority resentment towards the CAA, Avinash Rai has been entrusted with leading and coordinating the outreach programme in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi. Delhi, which will go to polls on February 8, has witnessed largescale violent protests, starting near Jamia Millia Islamia University. Since then, the national capital has been witnessing protests -- virtually every day -- either by the student organisations or intellectuals. Saroj Pandey will coordinate the party's CAA outreach in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and the Union Territories (UT) of Daman and Diu. Suresh Bhatt is leading the programme in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and the Uninin Territories of Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir. For the southern zone, Ravindra Raju is coordinating with the media to organise press conferences, meetings and outreach to people in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, the Andamans, Puducherry and Lakshadweep. For the eastern belt, former Bengal BJP chief Rahul Sinha was made in-charge of West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and the Northeast. He is working in coordination with Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in the Northeast. Apart from these six leaders, who are coordinating zone wise, a whole array of articulate MPs, party leaders are travelling across the country to make the BJP's stance clear to people, and arrest any slide in the party's popularity that might have been caused by the opposition's huge uproar against the CAA. Door to door campaign: Apart from holding press conferences, meeting with intellectuals and social media influencers, the BJP has also embarked into a countrywide door to door campaign for this Act, quite the old school way. Party president Amit Shah himself started it in Delhi and working president J.P. Nadda in Ghaziabad. On the very first day of the enactment of the law, as many as 42 leaders, including high profile union ministers were deputed across India to knock door to door and pass on pamphlets that seek to "dispel myths" about the CAA. Before this door to door campaign was kicked off, on Jnauary 1, 2020, as the nation was celebrating, Amit Shah was locked inside the BJP headquarters with top BJP leaders to give final touches to the modalities of the massive campaign and sort out logistical issues. Apart from Shah, those present in that meeting included BJP working President J.P. Nadda, General Secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh and all other General Secretaries of the party. As per sources, BJP Vice President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe was also present in the closed door meeting. Lately certain BJP leaders have been making communally coloured statements to make the anti-CAA protests lose its steam. But many believe, it is not a coordinated effort, but a part of the BJP's campaign for upcoming Delhi election, which is closely fought and the BJP is desperate for a comeback. But, one thing is clear, not only Amit Shah but even all the BJP general secretaries have time and again articulated, that the reconsideration of the CAA is "non-negotiable" as it involves "credibility of Prime Minister Modi's word to the refugees". London [UK], Jan 12 (ANI): Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai met ailing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif at his Avenfield apartments in London on Saturday. He was received by two sons of the former prime minister - Hassan and Hussain Nawaz - upon his arrival at their swanky British address, Express Tribune reported. Addressing the media following the meeting, Karzai said he visited the three-time Pakistani premier to inquire after his health. "It's good to see him in good health," said the former Afghan president, who was accompanied by PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif at the presser. "During my visits to Pakistan and Mian Sahib's (Nawaz) visits to Afghanistan, I found him extremely kind ... it is good to see him in good health," Karzai added. Nawaz had left for London on November 19 in an air ambulance to seek medical treatment, a month after he was released on bail from a seven-year prison sentence for corruption. He was in the custody of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), when a sharp and radical drop in his platelet count from over 75,000 to just about 2,000 within 24 hours worried doctors last year. (ANI) Activists of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) marching to gherao the Assam state secretaria to protest the new citizenship law were arrested on Saturday as a preventive measure, officials said. Slogan shouting AJYCP activists from Tinsukia in Upper Assam marching towards the state secretariat were stopped at Khanapara area ahead of the secretariat in Dispur, officials said. The AJYCP demonstrators were arrested and taken in buses to the temporary jail in 4 Assam Police battalion headquarters at Kahilipara area before they were released later, officials added. READ: Opposition's Falsehood On CAA Created Anarchy In Country: Amit Shah As the Centre on Friday night in a gazette notification announced that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will come into force from January 10, students of the premier Cotton University here came out at 11.30 pm to protest against it and burnt effigies of Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Assam Chief Minister shouting slogans against them and that people of Assam will not accept CAA. The Assam College Teachers Association staged a demonstration in Guwahati against the CAA despite a state government order warning the government servants against expressing any opinion or statement criticising the government violating service rules. "We are not interfering on political issues. But we have constitutional right to freedom of speech as citizens of India to express opposition to CAA", said a member of the ACTA adding, that they had not in anyway adversely affected the normal functioning of colleges or examinations. The All Assam Students Union (AASU) and AJYCP continued with their anti-CAA democratic protest meetings at Sadia, Guwahati, Nagaon, Jorhat and many other places across the state on Saturday. AASU president Dipanka Nath reacting to the Centre notifying the CAA, said the people of the state have to remain united against the government move and continue with their ongoing protest till it was repealed. AASU general secretary Luringjyoti Gogoi said it's legal fight along with other organisations in Assam will continue. In a gazette notification, the Union Home ministry on Friday said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act under which non- Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be given Indian citizenship, will come into force from January 10. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Australia has regained its title as Bali's number one tourist source for the first time since China took the crown in 2017 after a record number of Australians flocked to the holiday island last year. Whether it is because of Bali's warm weather, cold Bintangs or tropical seaside resorts, Australia's love affair with the holiday island is far from fizzing out. Figures by Perth-based Indonesia Institute Inc show Australian arrivals to Bali were up by 5.24 per cent last year, while Chinese tourist numbers continued to collapse. Tourists strolling along the central street of Ubud. Credit:iStock Australians have long been among Bali's largest visitor numbers, with upwards of 1 million travellers taking to the holiday island in 2016. The developments come in the wake of cancellation of Bangladesh foreign minister A.K. Abdul Momens visit to New Delhi last month. New Delhi: Bangladeshs minister of state for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam has cancelled his proposed visit to New Delhi to attend the Raisina Dialogue conference, triggering speculation that the cancellation may be linked to Bangladeshs reported concerns on the recent Indian Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). How-ever, diplomatic sources from Bangladesh told this newspaper that Mr Alam had cancelled his visit because he will be accompanying Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The developments come in the wake of cancellation of Bangladesh foreign minister A.K. Abdul Momens visit to New Delhi last month. Mr Alam had been invited by the (private thinktank) ORF to attend the Raisina Dialogue and he had accepted the invite. But when he realised that he had to accompany the PM (Sheikh Hasina) to the UAE, he wrote to the ORF explaining why he could not attend, diplomatic sources from Bangladesh told this newspaper. The Raisina Dialogue is organised annually by the ORF and the MEA. India, nevertheless, appears to be struggling to contain the possible fallout of the CAA controversy on ties with Bangladesh and seems to be in a damage-control mode on this. Bangladesh is one of the three countries mentioned in the CAA. The MEA had pointed out last month that in Bangladesh, the governments of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman (Bangabandhu) and (his daughter and current Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina had protected minorities in Bangladesh and that persecution had taken place under spells of military rule in Bangladesh and under the previous government there, a veiled reference to the earlier government led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Begum Khaleda Zia, which was seen to be pro-Pakistan and anti-India. On ties with Bangladesh, the MEA had earlier said there is a close relationship between India and Bangladesh and that the close ties between the two should not be defined by postponement of a visit, a reference to the cancellation then of the visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen. The MEA had also said then that a meeting of the Joint Water Commission between the two countries had only been postponed because Bangladesh felt it did not have the data from the six rivers. The MEA had claimed that too much should not be read into isolated incidents. She's gained a reputation for her red carpet flair. But Tessa Thompson turned heads while out and about in Los Angeles on Friday night, with the Creed II star looking pretty in striking plaid following a dinner at Craig's. The 36-year-old certainly made a statement in her unmissable suit, worn over a blue blouse as she exited the West Hollywood hotspot. Perfectly plaid: Tessa Thompson turned heads while out and about in Los Angeles on Friday night, with the Creed II star looking pretty in striking plaid following a dinner at Craig's The native Angeleno wore minimal makeup for the night out, coating her pout in a dab of nude lip. Her long raven tresses were worn in tight braids piled atop her head. On her feet the breakout star of independent film Mississippi Damned wore a pair of simple black heels. Got the blues? The 36-year-old certainly made a statement in her unmissable suit, worn over a blue blouse as she exited the West Hollywood hotspot Natural beauty: The native Angeleno wore minimal makeup for the night out, coating her pout in a dab of nude lip She's already known as a side character in the Marvel universe from her parts in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame. But Thompson might be getting a bigger part in the hit film franchise soon. Last year, Mark Ruffalo spoke to ET at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Patron of the Artists Awards and revealed who he thinks would make a great She-Hulk. 'I mean, Tessa Thompson's already Valkyrie but she'd be a great She-Hulk,' the actor revealed. Back in August, it was revealed at the D23 Expo that Disney was planning on expanding the Hulk family. 'Bruce Banner is no longer the only Hulk in the MCU,' producer Kevin Feige said at the event. Thompson nor Disney have yet to comment on the possible role. 7 Cultural Sites Damaged or Destroyed By War A 1977 photograph of the Nergal Gate in Nineveh, Iraq, which was later destroyed by ISIS. ( Vivienne Sharp/Heritage Images/Getty Images) During World War II, countries on both sides of the fight destroyed a number of important cultural sites in Europe and Asia. In 1942, the Nazi Lufwaffe leveled the Royal Opera House in Valletta, Malta. And in 1945, the United States hollowed out the Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall when it dropped the first atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan. While these sites may not have been intentionally targeted, the response to this devastation was the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The international community strengthened these protections in 1977 with additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. Article 53 of these protocols prohibits "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." According to these international agreements, targeting cultural sites is a war crime. But that doesn't mean that military groups have stopped doing it. In the past few decades, war and terrorist acts specifically targeting heritage have damaged cultural sites in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and West Africa. The Gates of Nineveh, Iraq The ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh dates to the seventh century B.C. The city was historically guarded by walls and multiple gates. Two of the most prominent gates were the Adad Gate and the Mashki Gate, also known as the "Gate of God." A 1977 photograph of the Nergal Gate in Nineveh, Iraq, which was later destroyed by ISIS. ( Vivienne Sharp/Heritage Images/Getty Images) In 2016, ISIS destroyed both of these gates as part of its ongoing campaign against cultural sites and relics. Old City of Dubrovnik, Croatia The city of Dubrovnik dates back to the 7th century, when Romans and Slavs settled on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It grew into a major trading power, and in the 19th century Lord Byron dubbed it the "Pearl of the Adriatic." In 1979, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization--or UNESCO--designated the "Old City" or "Old Town" part of Dubrovnik as a World Heritage site. Night bombing of the city of Dubrovnik 1991. ( Jon Jones/Sygma/Getty Images) In 1991 and 1992, the city suffered severe damage during the Siege of Dubrovnik, a part of the Yugoslav Wars. Over two-thirds of the Old City's buildings were hit by projectiles, and three were destroyed by fire. In 2005, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia sentenced the former Yugoslav general Pavle Strugar to eight years in prison for war crimes, including the destruction of historic monuments in Dubrovnik. VijeAnica (City Hall) of Sarajevo, Bosnia The historic City Hall, or VijeAnica, of Sarajevo dates to the 1890s. Its architecture was inspired by Islamic designs; specifically, the Mamluk architecture that flourished between the 13th and 16th centuries in Cairo, Egypt. In 1949, the city converted it into the National Library. A 1992 photograph shows Cellist Vedran Smailovic playing Strauss in the bombed National Library in Sarajevo. ( Michael Evstafiev/AFP/Getty Images) In 1992, the VijeAnica went up in flames during the Siege of Sarajevo, destroying almost two million books. The city worked to restore the VijeAnica, and in 2014, it reopened it to the public. Buddhas of Bamiyan, Afghanistan The Buddhas of Bamiyan were once the tallest monuments of Buddha in the world. Carved into the side of a cliff in the sixth century, the largest one was over 170 high. The Buddhas soon became known as a holy site. In 629 A.D., the Chinese traveller Xuanzang described tens of thousands of monks gathered near the statues. A 1997 photograph shows an Afghan walking near the world's tallest standing statue of Buddha in Bamiyan province of Afghanistan, which were later destroyed by the Taliban. ( Jean-Claude Chapon/AFP/Getty Images) But in 2001, the Taliban destroyed the Buddhas by bombing them over several weeks. The destruction followed a command by spiritual leader Mullah Mohammed Omar ordering the destruction of idolatrous statues in Afghanistan. Djinguereber Mosque of Timbuktu, Mali The Mali Empire built the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu during the reign of Mansa Musa in the 14th century. It is made out of pounded earth and wood, and is still an important part of city life today. An undated photograph of Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu. ( Luis Dafos/Getty Images) However, the mosque suffered minor damage in 2012 when members of the militant Ansar Dine group attacked the city. The group damaged two of Djinguereber's tombs along with Islamic shrines in the city that the Ansar Dine deemed sacreligious. In 2016, Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi pleaded guilty to damaging these sites in the International Criminal Court, marking the court's first prosecution of the destruction of cultural sites as a war crime. Great Mosque of Aleppo, Syria The Great Mosque of Aleppo was built between the eighth and 13th centuries. Traditionally, it's believed to contain the remains of the prophet Zechariah, father of John the Baptist. It was one of the largest and oldest mosques in Aleppo, located within the wall of the Old City. A 2017 photograph in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, which was recaptured by government forces in December 2016, shows a general view of the destruction at the site of the ancient Great Umayyad Mosque in the old city. ( George Ourfalian/AFP/Getty Images) The Great Mosque's minaret, a tall tower from which a crier calls Muslims to daily prayer, was built in the 11th century. But in 2013, it was destroyed amid fighting in the Syrian Civil War. It remains unclear what caused the collapse of the tower. The mosque was occupied at the time by anti-government forces, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime blamed the damage on fighters from an al-Qaeda-linked group. Rebels, meanwhile, claimed the site was damaged by incoming Syrian Army fire. Temple of Bel at Palmyra, Syria The Temple of Bel was a major religious site in the ancient city of Palmyra. Built in the first century, the temple was consecrated to the Mesopotamian god Bel (or Baal). The site contained more than 1,000 columns, over 500 tombs and a Roman aqueduct. A photographer holds up his 2014 picture of the Temple of Bel in front of the remains of the historic temple in 2016 after it was destroyed by ISIS. ( Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images) In 2015, the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, leveled the nearly 2,000-year-old temple. The attack followed the destruction of the Temple of Baalshamin, another ancient religious site in Palmyra. Da Nang, a coastal city in the central region of Vietnam, has outshined several globally famous destinations to take the No.1 spot in Googles list of top 10 global destinations in 2020. The search engine giant published the list on Wednesday, revealing the world's Internet hotel booking and holiday searches for this year, based on such metrics as frequency, popularity, price, as well as travel conditions. Accordingly, Vietnams Da Nang surpassed several other well-known cities in the world, including Asian tourist hotspots such as Tokyo, Seoul, and Bangkok, to stand in the Top 1 of trending destinations. Sao Paolo in Brazil was the second-most trending stop, while Seoul in South Korea came in third. "The sandy beaches in Da Nang, the nightlife of Sao Paulo, and Korean barbecue in Seoul are the first things those planning their vacation consider," Google said in its report. Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, ranked fourth, followed by Israels Tel Aviv, which is famous for its beaches, warm weather, and bustling nightlife. A bird's eye view of Ba Na Hills in Da Nang, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Other cities including Marseille in France, Vienna in Austria, Bangkok in Thailand, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Perth in Australia rounded the top 10. In 2019, Da Nang welcomed 8.69 million holidaymakers, up 30.7 percent from the previous year, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Nearly 3.5 million of them were foreigners. As of December 2019, 35 international and 10 domestic air routes respectively operated 496 and 662 flights weekly to the central coastal city. Da Nang is a gateway to four world heritage sites of Vietnam including the former royal capital city of Hue, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary in the neighboring province of Quang Nam, and the UNESCO-recognized Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the north-central Quang Binh Province, home to the world's largest cave, Son Doong. The city targets 9.8 million tourists in 2020, according to the municipal Department of Tourism. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Take care of our people. Theres little room for sympathy for someone who fires a shot on Christmas morning that harms a little girl in her living room, but the reality is that many such people are damaged, psychologically and emotionally, and they may not have become damaged had they had hope and opportunities. We need job training so everyone can do a useful job and belong, we need blue-collar jobs that pay decent wages, and we need the kind of health care system that includes mental health. Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government offered to drop money-laundering charges against him and provide with a "safe passage to India" in return for his support to the government's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution. In a statement issued by Naik's PR team on Saturday, the Islamic preacher said that he was approached by a representative of the Indian government in September, who offered him the said deal on Kashmir, which he refused. "Three and a half months before, the Indian officials approached me for a private meeting with a representative of the Indian government. When he came to Putrajaya (a Malaysian city), in the fourth week of September 2019, to meet me, he said that he is coming after personally meeting and under the direct instructions of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the Home Minister of India Amit Shah," Naik said in a video statement released by his Mumbai-based PR team. Naik, who has been living in Malaysia for the last three years, is facing charges of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities in India. He is also facing probe both in India and Bangladesh in connection with the terror attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on July 2016. "(The representative) said that he wanted to remove the misconceptions and miscommunications between myself (Naik) and the Indian government, and wants to provide me a safe passage to India," he added. "He (the representative) said that he would like to use my connections to better the relationship between India and the other Muslim countries." "The meeting lasted for several hours. He told me that he wanted me to support the BJP government when they revoked Article 370 in Kashmir. And I flatly refused," he added. Naik said that after he refused the offer, he was further asked to not make public statements against the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The controversial preacher's claim came almost a month after Speaker of Maldivian Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed, during his visit to India, said that "Zakir Naik wanted to come to the Maldives, we did not allow him." Naik further said that he believes that the Indian Muslim leaders who issued statements in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act or the National Registrar of Citizens must have been "blackmailed, pressurised or forced" to do the same. Naik statement came in response to social media posts by academic Shaikh Yasir Qadi, which made similar claims. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Eric Striker January 10, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - It all started yesterday evening when I arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport in the rustbelt township of Moon, Pennsylvania for a flight to Boston. I approached the Kiosk to print my ticket and immediately got an error, asking I go get my boarding pass from the airlines main booth. I followed the instructions. There, the woman typed my information in and made a phone call. After a lengthy 20 minutes, she gave me the phone and asked me to listen while she briefly walked away. This most likely was a way to get whatever Department of Homeland Security surveillance team to identify me and watch me through the camera. Shortly after, my ticket printed with the dreaded SSSS Secondary Security Screening Selection. This is the first time it has ever happened to me (I last flew less than a year ago). The SSSS list is reserved for suspected terrorists and criminals, of which I am neither. There are millions of people on the list, with random samplings finding that up to 40% of people on it have inaccurately registered records. Furthermore, a federal judge last September found that the practice is unconstitutional. Ive been traveling largely by bus and car to work on news stories or visit friends so I was caught off guard. Little did I know I was in for an annoying and long night, but I didnt expect how bad it would be. I have heard from other peaceful dissidents and journalists that they have been harassed like this at the airport for the past year. I used the restroom then approached the TSA line. They took me to a separate, cordoned off section and began the invasive and downright ridiculous process. As one man meticulously poked and prodded my frank-n-beans from every angle, a senior citizen checked every nook and cranny of my wallet along with the bristles of my toothbrush forIm not sure exactly. I made sure that none of my electronics (phones and laptops) were being illegally searched, which they didnt, they only ask you to turn them on. In the commotion (at least 7 TSA agents surrounded me) a woman was asking me for personal information, like my latest home address. My response to her was to ask whether it was mandatory to give it to her. She did not say whether it was mandatory, but kept asking over and over again for my information and I refused to give it. I dont have anything to hide, but the principle stands. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter When the search concluded (about 20-30 minutes), they found a secondary phone I use that happened to be out of batteries. They asked me to turn it on, which I agreed to but needed to charge it. The TSA supervisor told me it was against protocol, and escorted me with all of my stuff back outside to charge my phone, telling me that I would have to do the search all over again from scratch. At this point I was going to miss my flight. I summoned the supervisor again, who was very polite and friendly to my face, to demand a place where I can complain for my atrocious treatment and that I be compensated for my airline ticket. I informed him that I was a journalist and that being treated like a member of Al Qaeda on my way to a domestic flight was confusing and humiliating. He gave me a TSA card and in my frustration over the bullshit I had just endured, decided to leave the airport to find different transportation to my destination that would be free of these silly theatrics. As I walked away, a female police officer named Deb Spotts approached me to ask me why I had gone into the TSA security and back out. I told her they had asked me to go out and charge my phone. She then demanded to know why I had used the bathroom, to which I responded to take a piss. She asked me for identification, and my response was to ask her if I was being detained and was free to leave over and over again. She radiod her Sergeant, Michael Kuma, who gave the order to arrest me. Multiple police officers, including one carrying an assault weapon, grabbed me and put me in handcuffs. The entire time I was loudly asking in front of others in the airport lobby why I was being detained, what their probable cause was, and that I wanted to call a lawyer. The police officers transporting me told me that they did not know why I was being detained, which is absurd. I specifically told the officers that I did not consent to any search of any of my belongings, which they mostly respected. My things were put in a bucket in front of my cell and I was in there for about an hour. Finally, Sergeant Kuma emerges with his team. I asked him for an explanation. According to Kuma, the TSA inspectors had felt two bullets in one of the tight sleeves of my flight jacket. I have never owned a firearm nor have been shooting. I asked Kuma why I was not dogpiled and detained during the TSA special suspected terrorist screening process if they thought I was trying to bring bullets on board. Kumas response is that bringing bullets on a flight was not illegal, which is a flagrant lie! I then gave Kuma permission to search my jacket and show me the supposed bullets in my possession. He took his time, briefly got the jacket out of my sight, then acted like he was struggling to get the bullets out. Then, all the cops smiled at me while Kuma said oh wow, theyre only pen caps! He then pulled out black bullet-shaped pen caps from my jacket as I looked on in disbelief. I dont carry or use pens at all. I showed the pen cap to a friend who actually runs an office supply store. He said the weird bullet shaped plastic caps might belong to a mechanical pencil, which I also do not carry around and have never while owning the jacket I was wearing. Kuma I believe threw one of them away, but when I realized what was going on I said no, thats my property, Ill keep it for the second one. These were beyond all reasonable doubt planted on me after they put me in handcuffs. Judging from the big sarcastic smiles on the police officers faces as I was finally let out of my cell, they were planted on me at the precinct, probably by Sergeant Kuma himself when he needed an excuse for why I was being locked up. I then obtained the Sergeants business card, with a phone number on the back to be able to get the police report of my illegal arrest. He told me to wait a while because it takes time to get it in the system. I have a funny feeling this police report will never materialize but will be trying anyway. These kinds of shenanigans are so stupid Im almost tempted to laugh about this myself. Im relieved they didnt plant actual bullets on me, though that wouldve added a whole new layer of bullshit for them too. This type of petty corruption would be a joke if it wasnt part of a wider system the federal government has in place that has no law enforcement value and is intended solely to intimidate and inconvenience journalists and people with First Amendment protected opinions they dont like. The big question I have, and will be investigating, is how did I get on the SSSS list, along with many others I know who engage in peaceful advocacy or dissent? Why in the last year, and all of my life, have I flown without any problems prior to this? The Department of Homeland Security keeps the criteria for being a selectee very private, likely due to the civil liberties ramifications of the system as they drastically expand how many people are targeted and why. As someone who hasnt even been harassed by the FBI or accused of anything, occams razor tells me that in my case and others, they are using a purely political criteria. The only scenario for what just happened is that they are deferring to the Southern Poverty Law Center for names and adding them to the list uncritically. If it came out, it would be a scandal, as the SPLC is a highly discredited, agenda-ridden and universally despised organization. There is a small chance that it is a case of mistaken identity, but I doubt it. I will be looking into applying for the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) and will see what they tell me. National Justice is over the target indeed! This article was originally published by " National Justice " - SAN DIEGO Jan. 8, 2020 Mireille Gillings Japan Japan South Korea Thailand Malaysia Indonesia Philippines Vietnam Singapore Japan the United States Japan's Japan Mireille Gillings China China Japan South Korea China China Japan South Korea China Bob Goodenow /PRNewswire/ -- HUYA Bioscience International CEO & Executive Chair, Dr.announced the appointment of Meiji Seika Pharma (Meiji) as an exclusive distributor for its lymphoma product, HBI-8000, in. Meiji also acquired exclusive rights for HBI-8000 inand. The drug, an epigenetic immunomodulator, is the first approved oral class I-selective histone deacetylase inhibitor which is now in various stages of development globally for Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) and Adult T-Cell Leukemia (ATL) inand solid tumors in. Increased excitement has been generated by studies that show that HBI-8000 produces cumulative effects over time that increase the receptivity of cancer cells to immunologic therapy.The product has orphan drug designation for PTCL granted byMinistry of Health, Labor and Welfare. HUYABIO will complete the development of HBI-8000 for PTCL and ATL infor commercialization by Meiji who will hold exclusive sales and marketing rights. Meiji will pay HUYABIO an upfront and milestones plus royalties on net sales. HUYABIO will manufacture and supply the product to Meiji for initial commercialization."This collaboration aligns with Meiji's R&D commitment to oncology to develop new drugs to fulfil unmet needs of patients worldwide. By continually improving our R&D process with innovation, Meiji brings high-value and high-quality drugs to market quickly. Meiji and HUYABIO will cooperate to commercialize HBI-8000, for the benefit of cancer patients," said Daikichiro Kobayashi, President and Representative Director of Meiji Seika Pharma Co, Ltd."We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Meiji to bring HBI-8000 to patients with PTCL or ATL. We also look forward to advancing the development of our drug based on its immunomodulatory properties," said Dr.. "The agreement reinforces our vision to leverage assets licensed fromfor global development and commercialization. Meiji Seika Pharma's strong position in hematologic malignancy will help ensure the drug's success in the Japanese market."The novel epigenetic drug, HBI-8000, is a member of the benzamide class of histone deacetylase inhibitors, which regulate gene expression through histone modification, which enables the efficacy of increasing other cancer agents such as checkpoint inhibitors. The company was the first to leverage the Tripartite Agreement betweenand, which allowed Chinese clinical data to be leveraged in the other two countries. Based on clinical results, the Japanese Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency allowed accelerated development of this drug in lymphoma.HUYABIO is the leader in enabling and accelerating the global development of novel biopharmaceutical product opportunities originating in. The Company has emerged as the partner-of-choice for maximizing the value of innovation in. With the largest team of scientists working with Chinese innovators, HUYABIO identifies and advances promising drug candidates globally and has offices in the US,andIn order to protect and improve people's health and lives, Meiji Seika Pharma, as a "Speciality and Generic Pharmaceuticals Company," runs its pharmaceutical business in the two main fields, infectious disease and central nervous system disorders, as well as generic drugs. Meiji Seika Pharma strives to respond to diversified medical needs and contributes to the well-being of people worldwide., Ph.D.PresidentHUYA Bioscience International+1.858.342.2430bgoodenow@huyabio.com www.huyabio.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huya-bioscience-international-appoints-meiji-seika-pharma-as-exclusive-distributor-for-hbi-8000-in-japan-and-other-asian-countries-300983145.html SOURCE HUYA Bioscience International While death is a known inevitability, it mostly stabs its victims from the back and stings love ones with heart-wrenching pain and the latest victim is Elias Edwin Asante, who has left friends and family utterly shattered. Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Asante aka Soja Blaze, reportedly passed away in January 2020 after struggling for his life after being struck down and bed-ridden by stroke. Prior to Asantes demise, the young biker worked at UTV Ghana, one of Ghanas media power-houses with Osei Kwame Despite as CEO. The young mans death has sent shock waves across the Despite Group of Companies and his colleague bikers. READ ALSO: DJ Switch jets off to India to chill and cool off in first 2020 photo Edwin Asante has left friends and loved ones completely demoralised following news of his demise. As expected, some of his colleagues are at the stage of disbelief and are still processing the sad news, hoping to hear something of bliss. . However, just as the many painful and shocking deaths Ghanaians have witnessed in the past, Asantes is no different. Following his demise, tributes across many divides including heart-breaking messages from colleague bikers have been shared on social media. Thomas Esiape, a colleague biker, expressed grief and confirmed his death in a tribute. YEN.com.gh has sighted photos of a once energetic, handsome and lively Edwin Asante as he stunned in his bike tights and protective outfit. In other stories, YEN.com.gh reported that having launched into the music scene as a highlife and afrobeats artiste, Sista Afia, has fast become one of Ghanas most in-demand female musicians, serving her fans with more than smashing jams but also her apt fashion sense. Born Franscica Gawugah Duncan Williams, Sista Afia is now a household name in the Ghanaian music circle. She is also famed for her curves, heavy chest and the gorgeous photos she splashes on her social media platforms. Sista Afia continues to take her public and online appearances into her own hands as she dazzles READ ALSO: DJ Switch jets off to India to chill and cool off in first 2020 photo Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Friday, January 10, 2020 at 9:48PM Are you tired of watching films that run north of two hours all the time, especially if you're watching a superhero film? DC's upcoming flick, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), is looking to buck the trend. According to IFCO, which classifies film releases in Ireland, the film will run for 108 minutes, which is one hour and forty-eight minutes. If you consider the credits, then the film could be around one hour, forty-five minutes, which is a good length for Birds of Prey. Lead star and producer Margot Robbie told Variety before that they are taking a non-linear, off-kilter approach to telling this tale, which is an apt approach to her character. She said, "We pulled a lot of references from the comics that we love, from different movies we lovewe were really gravitating toward the idea of not having such a formulaic sort of structure, Trainspotting being of one of our favorite films. We would look at a movie like that, and then we'd break it down scene by scene, minute by minute. And funnily enough, it follows a three-act structure to the T, like, to the page, to the minute. And so we would look at a lot of films like that, like: 'How did they achieve this feeling of this beautiful chaos, but within it, everything feels satisfying?' So the non-linear aspect of the film came from those sorts of conversations... It jumps around. And then it becomes linear for the third act. You go on a ride, and it's all pretty chronological from there. It took a while to get it together, and get it approved by the studio. And then finally we got it greenlit. And we were off to the races." Source: LRM Online Three days into 2020, Luis Echeverria-Navarete had a confession to make. While at a Portland home gathering to play Monopoly, the 22-year-old told the group he hit and killed a pedestrian while driving along North Fessenden Street a couple of years earlier, one of the party hosts later told police. The details sounded familiar to the host, who lived in the area and knew no arrests had been made in a 2017 crash involving a pedestrian on that same road. So she took out her cellphone and secretly recorded Echeverria-Navarete alluding to being drunk that night while trying to drive his girlfriend to Hillsboro in a BMW and that he hit the pedestrian, according to a probable cause affidavit. He admitted multiple times that he killed somebody, the court papers said. The woman told a police investigator on Thursday, six days after the party, that Echeverria-Navarete also said he crashed his car in Hillsboro sometime after hitting the person in Portland, the affidavit said. The woman said he seemed hesitant when she suggested he turn himself in. He was arrested in connection with the Hillsboro crash in 2017. He pleaded guilty to drunken driving and assault, was sentenced in January 2018 to 13 months in prison and ordered by a Washington County judge to have his drivers license revoked for life. It was his third conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants, Oregon court records show. 2 Party confession led to arrest of driver suspected in 2017 Portland hit-and-run crash that killed pedestrian, records show Authorities say the video footage and details of the confession helped investigators find the driver believed to be responsible for the Nov. 26, 2017, death of 24-year-old Daniel Ramsey III. Portland police had been seeking the publics help for 26 months to find the driver of a 2001 to 2003 BMW 5 series car with likely heavy front-end damage that had been driving near the 7000 block of North Fessenden Street around 10 p.m. Portland Police Assistant Chief Mike Frome said the combined efforts of his department, Hillsboro police and the community was invaluable to solving this case. Ramsey had been hit in an unmarked crosswalk on Fessenden Street at the North Alma Avenue intersection with his girlfriend. Darian Conley told police that she and Ramsey were heading to get dinner and thought they would be able to safely cross but noticed a car speeding toward them after stepping into the roadway, the affidavit said. Conley said she was holding hands with Ramsey when he was hit, tearing his grip from hers, according to the court papers. She estimated the car was traveling around 70 mph. Police found Echeverria-Navarete while he was driving his girlfriend in Hillsboro on Thursday, pulled them over and arrested him on suspicion of killing Ramsey, the affidavit said. He remained held Friday in the Multnomah County Detention Center on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants, failure to perform the duties of a driver and reckless driving. The girlfriend told investigators she was also Echeverria-Navaretes passenger on Nov. 26, 2017, but said shed been very drunk that night, the affidavit said. She said she remembered awakening to the sound of a large thud while Echeverria-Navarete was driving and saw him panicking but didnt know what hed hit, the court papers said. She recalled there was a second collision the same evening that led to the arrest of her boyfriend. The 2017 Hillsboro crash occurred a little more than an hour after the Portland crash, the affidavit said. A Portland police investigator was able to determine that Echeverria-Navarete was driving a dark maroon 1997 BMW 540 when he crashed in Hillsboro. According to the affidavit, an analysis of his blood after the crash found that his blood alcohol content was 0.17%, about twice the legal limit. -- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. A Florida man who allegedly threatened to kill Donald Trump in a live-streamed video while dressed in a shower curtain has insisted he was only joking. Chauncy Lump, 26, is accusing of threatening to blow up the 3,400 square kilometre region of Broward County in a seven-minute clip - which came in the immediate aftermath of the US airstrike in Iraq that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. The Fort Lauderdale resident, who is employed as a security guard, appeared in the video with his face covered in white cream and a towel wrapped around his head. He faces federal charges for threatening to kill the president and making a false bomb threat. "He killed my leader, please tell me where is Donald Trump?" Mr Lump said in a video posted to Facebook under the name BlackMan vs America. He added: "He killed my leader and I have to kill him" Court filings said Mr Lump was wearing a towel on his head in the style of a turban and middle-eastern sounding music was playing in the background of the video. 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 Lump continued: I need to find the Donald because if I don't find him, I am going to have to blow up Broward County so please tell me where he is, I dont want to have to blow up Broward County tonight. Dont play with me I have an AK47, I have it here. He then proceeded to raise what appeared to be a loaded magazine for an AK47 assault rifle, according to arrest paperwork filed by Secret Service agent Lucas White. Recommended College director fired after joke about bombing US cultural sites Federal agents were alerted to the case after the video was handed over by an employee at Facebook. While court filings did not specify where Mr Lump worked as a security guard, they did confirm he had a license to carry a concealed weapon. Agents said that when confronted at his home on Saturday by Florida police and the Secret Service, Mr Lump admitted producing the video in response to Soleimani's death, but said that he was just joking around and had no intention of carrying through with any of the above threats. However he acknowledged that the implication of the statements that he made in the video imply that he wanted to harm or kill Donald Trump and blow up with explosives or bombs - parts of Broward County. Additional reporting by AP. The message was delivered as thousands of protesters took to the streets for 38th day of protests andstrikes French government has offered to withdraw plan to raise pension age by two years in compromise to unions Advertisement France's government offered a possible compromise to unions waging a crippling, weeks-long transport strike against pension reform. The government on Saturday offered to withdraw the most contested proposal that would in effect have raised the retirement age by two years. 'To demonstrate my confidence in the social partners... I am willing to withdraw from the bill the short-term measure I had proposed' to set a so-called 'pivot age' of 64 with effect from 2027, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe wrote in a letter to union leaders a day after they met seeking to end the labour action, now in its 38th day. An advertising screen on fire during a demonstration in Paris, on January 11, as part as a nationwide multi-sector strike against the French government's pensions overhaul A riot police officer sprays a liquid on a yellow vest demonstrator during a demonstration Saturday A man dressed as the comic book character Obelix confronts a French policeman as protesters demonstrate in Paris A French policeman aims his 40 millimetre rubber defensive bullet launcher (LBD 40) Women chant slogans against French President Emmanuel Macron during a demonstration in Paris An advertising screen on fire during a demonstration in Paris. The country has been hit by 37 days of crippling train and metro stoppages as unions battle the proposals, one of President Emmanuel Macron's signature reforms An advertising screen on fire during a demonstration in Paris, on January 11 A man tries to extinguish an advertisement board set on fire during a demonstration of French labour union members and workers The message was delivered as thousands of protesters took to the streets of Paris and other major cities in the fifth mass mobilisation since December 5 to demand the government drop the pension overhaul. The government is seeking to fuse 42 existing pension schemes into a single, points-based system it says will be fairer and more transparent but which unions fear will see millions work longer for a smaller retirement payout. Particularly vexing was the proposal to impose a 64 'pivot age' that people will have to work until to qualify for a full pension - two years beyond the official retirement age. - Protesters run away from tear gas during a demonstration in Paris, on January 11 as part as a nationwide multi-sector strike against the French government's pensions overhaul People run for cover during a protest called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) anti-government movement in Nantes, Western France on Saturday People kicks on a tear gas canister during a protest in Nantes, Western France on Saturday Masked demonstrators take part in a protest called by the 'Yellow Vest' in Nantes Protesters burn trash bins in response to security forces' intervention in Paris, on Saturday Security forces intervene in a protest against the government's pension overhaul in Paris on Saturday Protesters clash with riot police as they participate in a demonstration against pension reforms A protester with a Gallic costume demonstrates in Pari Protesters run away from tear gas during a demonstration in Paris on January 11 On Friday, Macron defended the reform, saying that for the pension system to remain viable as a growing number of retirees live ever longer, 'either one has to contribute more, or one has to agree to work a little longer', while insisting he does not want to see pensions lowered. The government said the proposed 'pivot age' would plug pension deficits set to soar in coming years, saving five billion euros ($5.6 billion) by 2023 and some 11 billion euros by 2026. Philippe said Saturday the concept of an 'age of equilibrium' would remain part of the reform, though he did not spell out what this means. The premier also announced there would be a conference, as demanded by unions, to study ways of financing the pension system, which must come up with proposals by the end of April. Firefighters try to extinguish fire after protesters burn a billboard during clashing with security forces following their intervention in a protest against the government's pension overhaul in Paris on Saturday Protesters burn trash bins in response to security forces' intervention in the protest on Saturday Firefighters try to extinguish fire after protesters burn a billboard People demonstrate on Republic Square (Place de la Republique). The country has been hit by 37 days of crippling train and metro stoppages as unions battle the proposals, one of President Emmanuel Macron's signature reforms French riot police officers detain a demonstrator on Republic Square People stand near a fire during a demonstration on Republic Square If the conference fails, the government will take the 'measures necessary to achieve equilibrium' in the system by 2027, the prime minister warned. But if it achieves its mandate, the parliament will be able to work the resulting proposals into the draft pension reform bill. The government seeks to present its reform plan to the cabinet by January and the National Assembly by February 17, but it can still be redrafted later. The moderate CFDT union welcomed 'the withdrawal of the pivot age' from the bill. Dallas, TX, Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leveraging Instagram's social networking website is a superb technique to market your law firm awareness advertising. Instagram has been growing at a constant speed. IG will continue to develop and nothing is stopping your attorney advertising strategy from turning into a law firm brand Instagram. Instagram can help you create followers who may have a positive influence on your earnings. The most beautiful thing about Instagram is the simple fact that people's opinions can offer your law firms that are considering fostering their areas of services with terrific value. These remarks can also your legal practice gain loyal following of followers, which may be leveraged to help on your bigger audience size, which will translate into more customers. Creating an Instagram account is simple and straightforward to perform; nonetheless, to develop an energetic community of followers, you will need an attorney advertising consultant who's an authority in the expansion of a holistic Instagram service. While Instagram's performance provides fantastic features, most lawyers aren't too savvy in this brand new technology platform. Therefore it is strongly recommended to talk to a specialist who not only understands the intricacies of IG advertising and expansion should also know lawyer advertising. Some Instagram hints to get for growing your Instagram to a quick start are listed on KISS PR blog here https://kisspr.com/instagram-growth-for-law-firms/ By applying some of those growth fundamentals, you will have the ability to concentrate on upping your growth as well as fostering your viewers. Media Contact: Qamar Zaman Digital Marketing Expert for Law Firms https://clarity.fm/qamarzaman https://kisspr.com/organic-instagram-growth-service/ T:972.437.8942 VIA https://story.kisspr.com/ Iranian people gather to show their sympathy to the victims of the crash of the Boeing 737-800 plane, flight PS 752, in Tehran, Iran January 11, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY A picture is seen next to candles lit by people and families of the victims of the crash of the Boeing 737-800 plane, flight PS 752, in Tehran, Iran January 11, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) Protests are taking place across Iran after officials admitted its military had shot down a Ukrainian plane killing all 176 aboard. It has been described by Iran as a "disastrous mistake", with officials saying air defences were fired in error while on alert after Iranian missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq. Iran had denied for days after Wednesday's crash that it had brought down the airliner, although a top Revolutionary Guards commander said on Saturday that he told authorities about the unintentional missile strike the day it happened. Even as top Iranian officials and the military issued apologies, protests against authorities spread across Iran including in the capital Tehran, Shiraz, Esfahan, Hamedan and Orumiyeh. Foreign governments condemned Iran's shootdown, with Ukraine demanding compensation. Canada, Ukraine and Britain, however, called Tehran's admission an important first step. Expand Close People and families of the victims of the crash of the Boeing 737-800 plane, flight PS 752, light candles as they gather to show their sympathy in Tehran, Iran January 11, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People and families of the victims of the crash of the Boeing 737-800 plane, flight PS 752, light candles as they gather to show their sympathy in Tehran, Iran January 11, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) "What Iran has admitted to is very serious. Shooting down a civilian aircraft is horrific. Iran must take full responsibility," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country had 57 citizens on board, told reporters at a news conference in Ottawa. "Canada will not rest until we get the accountability, justice, and closure that the families deserve." Trudeau said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani committed to collaborating with Canadian investigators, working to de-escalate tensions in the region and continuing a dialogue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Iran's acknowledgement was a step in the right direction but added, "The perpetrators must be held accountable." Writing on Twitter, Zelenskiy said Rouhani had apologised to him on behalf of his country. Zelenskiy demanded that the victims be identified and returned to Ukraine at once. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, until now silent about the crash, said information about the incident should be made public. Up to 1,000 protesters chanted slogans in Tehran against the authorities, the semi-official Fars news agency said in a rare report on anti-government unrest. Expand Close People mourn in front of a memorial for the flight crew members of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane that crashed in Iran, at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine January 11, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People mourn in front of a memorial for the flight crew members of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane that crashed in Iran, at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine January 11, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko On Twitter, videos showed protesters demanding that Khamenei step down because of the disaster. "Commander-in-chief resign, resign," hundreds chanted in front of Tehran's Amir Kabir university. The crash heightened international pressure on Iran after months of friction with the United States and tit-for-tat attacks. Canada and the United States had both said early on that they believed an Iranian missile brought down the aircraft, probably in error. "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake," Rouhani wrote on Twitter, promising that those responsible would be prosecuted. "My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families." Read More In the first official US statement after Iran's admission, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo posted on Twitter a video of the protests in Tehran with the caption, "The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up with the regime's lies, corruption, ineptitude and brutality" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of the Iranian military, under what he called Khamenei's "kleptocracy." Experts said mounting international scrutiny would have made it all but impossible to hide signs of a missile strike in any investigation and Iran may have felt a U-turn was better than battling rising criticism abroad and growing grief and anger at home, as many victims were Iranians with dual nationality. In Twitter messages, angry Iranians asked why the plane was allowed to take off with tensions in Iran so high. The plane, a Boeing 737-800 en route for Kiev, came down shortly after take-off from Tehran, when Iran was alert for U.S. reprisals after launching rockets at U.S. troops in Iraqi bases. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Iran's admission was "an important first step" and that it was "vital that all leaders now pursue a diplomatic way forward" to avoid conflict. Iran's Revolutionary Guards, in a rare step, apologised to the nation and accepted full responsibility. Senior Guards commander Amirali Hajizadeh said he had informed Iran's authorities on Wednesday about the unintentional strike, a comment that raised questions about why officials had publicly denied it for so long. Speaking on state television, Hajizadeh said he wished "I could die" when he heard about the incident. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter that "human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster", citing an initial armed forces investigation into the crash. A military statement said the plane flew close to a sensitive Revolutionary Guards site at a time of high alert. Ukraine said the plane was in a normal flight corridor and Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation said the airliner had not veered off its normal course. Ukraine International Airlines said Iran should have closed the airport. The carrier said it had received no indication it faced a threat and was cleared for take off. Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said his country will pay 200,000 hryvnia ($8,350) each to the families of those who died in the disaster. Honcharuk also said Ukrainian diplomats were working on how to receive compensation from the Iranian authorities. European airlines should avoid Iranian airspace until further notice, the EU Aviation Safety Agency said, expanding on earlier advice that airlines should not overfly Iran below 25,000 feet (7.6 km). The disaster was reminiscent of a 1988 incident in which the American guided-missile cruiser USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian airliner, killing 290 people. Washington said it was an accident. Tehran said it was intentional. Iran's admission stands in contrast to Russia's denials of responsibility in the 2014 shootdown of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukrainian territory held by Russia-backed separatists. All 298 people aboard died. A Dutch-led investigation concluded that the missile that hit the aircraft came from a launcher transported from a Russian military base just across the border. FILE PHOTO: Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg testifies before a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on aviation safety and the grounded 737 MAX after two deadly 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., October 29, 2019. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger Reuters Boeing Co's ousted chief executive officer, Dennis Muilenburg, stands to receive $62 million in long-term incentive, stock awards and pension benefits, but forfeited $14.6 million and will receive no severance, the planemaker said in a regulatory filing on Friday. Muilenburg was fired from the job in December as the company failed to contain the fallout from a pair of fatal crashes that halted output of its bestselling 737 Max jetliner and tarnished its reputation with airlines and regulators. He was replaced by Boeing board chairman David Calhoun, 62, a turnaround veteran and former General Electric Co executive who has led several companies in crisis. Based on Boeing securities filings from early 2019, Muilenburg was eligible for about $39 million in severance. "Upon his departure, Dennis received the benefits to which he was contractually entitled and he did not receive any severance pay or a 2019 annual bonus," Boeing said in a statement. The 737 Max has been grounded since March. The deadly accidents in Indonesia and Ethiopia within five months killed 346 people. Calhoun, who starts as CEO on Monday, will receive a base salary at an annual rate of $1.4 million, Boeing said. Read the original article on Business Insider After three months of enduring late-night construction noise from the Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation project, a neighbourhood committee in the citys east-end have run out of patience and the city has agreed to listen. In a Friday statement, Mayor John Tory announced that overnight construction will stop through the weekend until the city, the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association and construction company Aecon Group Inc. can devise solutions to the noise problem. It is abundantly clear that issues remain and further action is required, Tory said, adding he spoke with Aecon Chairman John Beck to discuss residents frustrations. Tory said the company acknowledged that noise from the work taking place past 11 p.m. had become a serious issue. I want to thank the community for continuing to raise their concerns about this issue so that we can properly address them, Tory said. Members of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association claim they have had to sleep with earplugs and eye masks to cope with construction running overnight from 9:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. most nights since mid-October. In a news release from the association, Ben Bull, a resident in the area, said his children are finding it difficult to pay attention in school, adding: We have noise machines, eye masks and ear plugs scattered around the house. Another resident, Sabina Sormova, attributed the noise to her oversleeping one morning and missing a meeting at work. Coun. Joe Cressy (Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York) has been particularly outspoken. I have said many times that this kind of construction activity should be limited to daytime hours because it often affects thousands of people who live nearby, Cressy said in a statement form the summer. It is unfair and unreasonable to burden local neighbours with overnight construction noise, especially when the project will take several months to complete. The construction, which is replacing sections of the expressway between Jarvis and Cherry streets, is part of a city effort to renew the ageing highway. The original construction notice published by the city said work would take place around the clock, seven days a week, and that this work is unavoidable. The work is scheduled to be completed in early 2021. City staff and politicians were scheduled to meet with the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association on Friday at St. James Cathedral Centre. We are looking forward to the meeting, Suzanne Kavanagh wrote in a statement released by the neighbourhood association. We do not want to hear any more words, the time for action is now. David Venn is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @davidvenn_ Read more about: Merit Functional Foods, the company building a pea and canola protein processing facility in CentrePort, has received a $19.1 million injection of cash and industry support. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Merit Functional Foods, the company building a pea and canola protein processing facility in CentrePort, has received a $19.1 million injection of cash and industry support. The cash $9.5 million comes from the federal government-funded Protein Industries Canada supercluster. Its the second project the $153 million Regina-based organization has funded. The rest of the contributions will come from Merit itself, seed genetics company, Pitura Seeds of Domain, Man., and consumer protein company The Winning Combination Inc. It was likely only a matter of time before Protein Industries Canada and Merit connected. 'No one is asking those branded food companies where they are going to get the plant-based protein to grow their business. That is where we fit in' Ryan Bracken, CEO Merit Functional Foods Bill Greuel, the chief executive officer of PIC said the Merit project is a perfect match for PIC. "We want Canada to become a global leader in the supply of plant-based protein ingredients and products," Greuel said. "Our plan is to build processing closer to production, adding value to some of our most important commodities like canola and peas and lentils. We are doing just that with Merit." The investment will effectively be in research and development. Pitura will work with Merit to determine the right varieties of pea and canola that will produce the proteins with the best attributes and The Winning Combination will share its expertise in commercial powdered protein market regarding functionality and stability. The size of Merits production facility has been growing since it was initially announced publicly in July. The construction thats underway off Route 90 north of Inkster Boulevard is for a 94,000-square-foot plant, almost 50 per cent larger than when it was first announced. Merit is using Burcon NutraSciences patented protein extraction technology, which has been in development for more than 19 years. Vancouver-based Burcon is a 40 per cent partner in the venture. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Ryan Bracken, Merit Co-CEO, announces a new project from the Protein Industries Canada supercluster and Merit Functional Foods. Ryan Bracken, the co-CEO of Merit, said he couldnt disclose the total capital investment, but it is now more than the originally announced $65 million. "We appreciate the support in this project," he said. The plan is to complete construction by the end of the year. The operation will require a staff of about 80 people when it opens with the expectation that the workforce will grow to more than 200 in the next three to five years. Although it is a greenfield development with absolutely no past business to specifically draw on, Bracken said discussions with the largest branded packaged consumer goods companies have continued to be encouraging. He said the company is planning to make a large announcement in the coming weeks with one of the largest food and beverage companies that Merit is collaborating with right now regarding a specific product that will use Merits proteins. With the growing demand for plant-based meat and dairy alternatives the source of that plant-based protein will become crucial. Investments in plant-based meat alternatives are being made by the major meat packing companies such as Maple Leaf Foods, Tyson, Hormel as well as the alternative meat companies such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. 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. Some estimates suggest the market is about $1 billion per year right now in North America but could skyrocket to as much as $80 billion in as few as five years. "No one is asking those branded food companies where they are going to get the plant-based protein to grow their business," Bracken said. "That is where we fit in." While Merit has been on PICs radar screen for some time, its intention was not to invest in the capital costs, but in assisting in the supply chain development. "We have always said that in order to be successful we have to take a value chain approach," Greuel said regarding the Prairie-wide development of the ecosystem that will bolster both plant-based and meat-based protein production. "This is a perfect example of what we are trying to do here," he said. "You have (collaboration) on the front end with Pitura, the seed company and on the back end with The Winning Combination, for the ingredient manufacturing." martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, December 11, will appeal to Ukrainians in connection with the situation in relation to the UIA plane shot down by Iran in Tehran. "On Saturday, January 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address Ukrainian people on the situation with the UIA plane crash in Tehran. The video address will be made after consultations with a group of Ukrainian specialists working at the site of the tragedy in Iran, international partners, and a phone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani scheduled for 5:00 pm," the presidential press service reported. New Delhi: Terming the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as a discriminatory and divisive law, the Cong-ress on Saturday deman-ded that the CAA be withdrawn and the pro-cess of NPR be stopped. The party also demanded that a high-powered commission be constituted to inquire into incidents connected with the anti-CAA protests. The Opposition party also threw its weight behind the agitating students of universities acr-oss the country even as its interim president So-nia Gandhi decried pol-ice excesses in many parts of UP and varsities like JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia and AMU. At a special session of the Congress Working Committee, Mrs Gandhi said: As the students protest gains momentum, it is clear that the government is digging in its heels. Not a day passes without the home minister, and on some days the Prime Minister himself, making provocative statements. The CAA is a discriminatory and divisive law. The sinister purpose of the law is clear to every patriotic, tolerant and secular Indian: it is to divide the Indian people on religious lines, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said. Gandhi further said that she was inspired by the struggle of the students who have taken to the streets and saluted their courage even as she condemned the use of brute force by the police. We are appalled by police excesses and use of brute force in many towns of UP, in Jamia Millia, in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Bana-ras Hindu University, Allahabad University, Delhi University, Gujarat University, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. We, therefore, demand that a comprehensive high-powered commission should be constituted to inquire into the incidents connected with the anti-CAA protests and justice to the affected persons, she added. Shortly after Mrs Gandhis speech, the CWC passed a resolution that every worker of the party would work alongside Indias youth and the students in their endeavor to defend the Constitution. The BJP government has used its brute majority to impose its divisive and discriminatory agenda in an insensitive manner. CWC cautions the government that its pursuit of divisive agenda with the sole objective of polarisation may give short-term political dividends but will create deep fissures in the society undermining national unity and social stability, the resolution said. The resolution also sought the lifting of curbs and restoration of civil liberties in Jammu and Kashmir. The CWC also discussed the report submitted by a Congress fact-finding committee, which was sent to JNU. Sources said that report found the vice-chancellors role suspicious in dealing with the situation. It also raised questions on the functioning of Internet services while violence was unleashed on students in the campus. Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi did not attend the CWC meeting. At least 15 people died and more than 25 injured in a mishap involving a passenger bus and a truck late on Friday night in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, confirmed a local police official to Xinhua over phone, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The passengers died due to burn injuries after the bus caught fire following the head-on collision with the truck coming from the opposite direction. The passenger bus, carrying around 50 people, was going from Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj district to Jaipur, the capital city of western state of Rajasthan. Prima facie it seems that the accident occurred due to negligence and rash driving of the truck driver as he was driving the vehicle in the wrong direction. Immediately after the collision, both the vehicles caught fire and eyewitnesses reportedly heard more than two blasts even as the fuel-tank of the bus caught fire. The fire spread so quickly through the bus that the passengers, most of whom were sleeping, could not get time to escape, though a few of them managed to jump out after breaking window-panes. Media reports quoted senior cop Mohit Aggarwal as saying that there were more than 45 people onboard the passenger bus, out of which 25 were rescued and admitted in different hospitals for medical treatment. He told local media persons "18-20 passengers are still missing and they are feared to be charred to death beyond recognition." Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock at the road accident. "I am deeply saddened at the road mishap in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh. Many people have died in this accident. I express my condolences to the families of those who died, and wish fast recovery of the injured," tweeted Modi. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a financial compensation of 200,000 Indian Rupees (around 2,900 U.S. dollars) to the families of the deceased and 50,000 Indian Rupees (around 720 U.S. dollars) for those injured in the accident. Hardliner Iranian websites on Saturday evening reported that the British ambassador in Tehran, Robert Macaire, was arrested by security forces "amongst protesters". According to these reports, the Iranian foreign ministry intervened and Macaire was released after a few hours. Tasnim News Agency affiliated with Revolutionary Guard claimed that the British ambassador who was arrested for "instigating and organizing suspicious activities in front of Amir Kabir University" where a large protest rally was underway will be summoned to the foreign ministry tomorrow for further investigation. Tasnim also claimed that a "shop opposite Amir Kabir University was the main place" for the British ambassador's purported activities. Criticizing the foreign ministry for intervening to free the British ambassador a hardliner Twitter user tweeted: "Do we have a foreign ministry or a British Interests Section?" and posted a photo of the British ambassador allegedly showing Macaire after being detained. Rahbord-e Moaser, a hardliner website, said the reason for Macaire's arrest was "instigating the crowd and taking photos of the protest". According to a statement released on the website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law. The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment. It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards. In 2009 during the unrest that followed a disputed election, Iran alleged that Iranian employees of the British embassy had played a role in the post-election protests and charged an Iranian employee of the embassy with espionage and acting against national security. The Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei blamed Britain for the unrest in his first speech after the announcement of the election results. In November 2011 hardliner mobs that demanded the expulsion of the ambassador stormed the embassy and ransacked its offices. The embassy closed and British diplomats went back home until diplomatic relations were re-established and the embassy opened again in 2015. Updated below The Iranian Armed Forces General Staff just admitted (in Farsi, English translation) that its air defenses inadvertently shot down the Ukrainian flight PS 752 shortly after it took off on January 8 in Tehran : 2- In early hours after the missile attack [on US Ain al-Assad base in Iraq], the military flights of the US terrorist forces had increased around the country. The Iranian defence units received news of witnessing flying targets moving towards Irans strategic centres, and then several targets were observed in some [Iranian] radars, which incited further sensitivity at the Air Defence units. 3- Under such sensitive and critical circumstances, the Ukrainian airlines Flight PS752 took off from Imam Khomeini Airport, and when turning around, it approached a sensitive military site of the IRGC, taking the shape and altitude of a hostile target. In such conditions, due to human error and in an unintentional move, the airplane was hit [by the Air Defence], which caused the martyrdom of a number of our compatriots and the deaths of several foreign nationals. 4- The General Staff of the Armed Forces offers condolences and expresses sympathy with the bereaved families of the Iranian and foreign victims, and apologizes for the human error. It also gives full assurances that it will make major revision in the operational procedures of its armed forces in order to make impossible the recurrence of such errors. It will also immediately hand over the culprits to the Judicial Organization of the Armed Forces for prosecution. The Pentagon had claimed that Iran shot down the airliner but the evidence it presented was flimsy and not sufficient as the U.S. tends to spread disinformation about Iran. It is welcome that the Iranian forces come clean about the incident. That is not a given in such cases. After the USS Vincennes in 1988 had shot down Iran Air Flight 655 and killed 290 people, including many children, the U.S. government denied any culpability. George H. W. Bush, the vice president of the United States at the time, commented: "I will never apologize for the United States I don't care what the facts are... I'm not an apologize-for-America kind of guy." Despite its "error" the crew was given medals and the captain was even awarded a Legion of Merit "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as commanding officer ...". We can be assured by the statement of Iran's president that the responsible Iranian officer will receive no such a reward: Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. Let us also not forget that the root cause of the accident was an assassination campaign which the U.S. launched against foreign military commanders of a country with which it is not at war: On the day U.S. forces killed Soleimani, they launched another secret operation targeting a senior Iranian official in Yemen The strike targeting Abdul Reza Shahlai, a financier and key commander of Irans elite Quds Force who has been active in Yemen, did not result in his death, according to four U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The U.S. executed a long planned campaign against several Iranian officers in third countries without any reasonable justification: There is no doubt that there were a series of imminent attacks being plotted by Qasem Soleimani, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News on Friday. We dont know precisely when and we dont know precisely where, but it was real. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper have likewise supported the case for an imminent plot. Did it exactly say who, what, when, where? No, Milley told reporters this week. But he was planning, coordinating and synchronizing significant combat operations against U.S. military forces in the region, and it was imminent. Can there be any "imminent threat" when one does not know the "who, what, when, where" of the threat? Why would killing a high officer prevent the execution of such a threat? The excuse is obviously bullshit. It were the U.S. assassination of the Iraqi and Iranian national heroes Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes and Major General Qassem Suleimani that led to the high alarm and nervousness which, in the end, killed 176 passengers and crew on board of flight PS 752. Iran's foreign minister is right to point that out: A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. The death of the people on flight PS 752 is the tragic outcome of unreasonable U.S. aggression. Update 11:00 UTC The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp IRGC's Aerospace Commander Amir-Ali Hajizadeh just gave press conference. It was an IRGC air defense unit that shot the plane down. Iran Front Page journalist Reza Khaasteh translated on Twitter: IRGC Aerospace Cmdr: I wish I was dead and such an incident hadn't happened. We in IRGC accept all the responsibility, and are ready to implement any decision made by the Establishment. IRGC Aerospace Cmdr: I was in the country's west following attacks on US base in Iraq when I heard the news. We sacrificed our lives for our people for a lifetime, and now we're trading our reputation with God (disgracing ourselves) and appear in front of the camera to explain. IRGC Aerospace Cmdr says we had requested the establishment of a no-fly zone given the war situation. But it was not approved for certain considerations. Revision: IRGC Aerospace Cmdr says Air Defence operator sent a message to his commanders; but after he didn't receive any response for 10 seconds, he decided to shoot it down. Video of IRGC Aerospace Cmdr. showing the place on map where the Ukrainian plane was shot down by the air defence. IRGC Aerospace Cmdr: I informed Iranian officials on Wednesday morning, and said we speculate our own passenger plane has been shot down. But the General Staff of Armed Forces quarantined all those who knew about it, and decided to declare it later. IRGC Aerospace Cmdr.: The officials, including Aviation authorities, who kept denying the missile hit, are not guilty. They made those remarks based on what they knew. We are to blame for everything. IRGC Aerospace Cmdr.: We were at that time ready for an all-out war with US. We had reports of cruise missiles fired at Iran. It was an individual's error that caused this tragedy. What I find inexplainable is that the crew of Tor M-1 air defense system did not really consider that the Tehran airport was operating and that civil traffic was likely. More the ten planes had already taken off that before the Ukrainian flight took to the air. The accident happened shortly after 6:00 am local time. Pure speculation: I suspect that a crew change has happened at 6:00 am and that the overnight crew did not really brief the one taking over. Another leak (ukr) from the Ukrainian side of the investigation gives some hints on how the plane came down (machine translation): [January 11, 2020] Lavelle Networks Wins CIO Choice 2020 Award as the Preferred SD-WAN Vendor for the Second Consecutive Year BANGALORE, India, Jan. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lavelle Networks was awarded the CIO CHOICE 2020 Recognition as the most preferred brand in the SD-WAN category in India, held at The Lalit Mumbai, organized by Core Media and attended by over hundreds of ICT Leaders. The annual CIO CHOICE recognition is given basis pan-India independent voting by CIOs. There is a distinguished Advisory Panel, comprising of CIOs from across verticals, that guides the entire process, with KPMG as the Knowledge Partner. Lavelle Networks has seen large scale adoption of its ScaleAOn SD-WAN solutions in India enterprise, because of is its 100% SDN technology, which is built for scale and unprecedented network up time. Lavelle Networks customers have reported a rapid increase in speed and reduction in complexity when it comes to branch bring up, especially in Tier 2 cities with branch bring up time reducing by more than 90%. In a growing me-too SD-WAN market, where incumbent routing or security products are being morphed into WAN edge solutions, without thought to network cale or uptime, Lavelle Networks has been a breath of fresh air with unmatchable dedication to solving the hard branch network problems. The WAN is not an easy space to solve problems, and customers are flocking to ScaleAOn, drawn by Lavelle Networks commitment to excelling in this space. Lavelle Networks today has the one of the largest install base for SD-WAN in India with some of the marquee customers in banking, finance, retail, ecommerce and manufacturing sectors. Last month, Lavelle Network was also mentioned as a Notable Vendor for the second consecutive year in the Gartner WAN Edge Infrastructure Magic Quadrant. Drritiman Boraah, VP Customer Experience, said, "Our customers are the biggest reason for our success in this journey. They remain our best brand ambassadors, giving references and feedback adding tremendous value to the way to build our solutions. We remain committed towards our goal of solving enterprise WAN problems and building solutions for scalable, always on networks." Vishal Khare, Cofounder and Executive VP & GM Sales, said, "It is a great honor for us at Lavelle Networks to win this recognition. I would like to thank all of our customers who selected us as their preferred SDWAN vendor and their vote is a testimony of our innovation, scale, execution capabilities and year on year commitment to make their networks run well. This award also validates the fact that we are on a right track in our journey of creating a relevant and successful technology product company out of India. In the end, this is a prestigious award and we all are elated to be selected for the same. Thank you! " About Lavelle Networks Lavelle Networks accelerates networks for the digital economy by offering software defined networking solutions that solve the biggest challenges in the WAN for distributed enterprises. With a 100% software defined architecture, the solution enables seamless network experience, ensuring enterprises, in turn, are empowered to deliver the best customer experience at the branch. Lavelle Networks SD-WAN solutions are designed for enterprises that are using, or plan to use hybrid WAN or cloud applications and are on the path to digital transformation. For more information reach us at www.lavellenetworks.com. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1075329/Lavelle_Networks_wins_award.jpg Media Contact : Maansi Sanghi, [email protected], 08025252520, Lavelle Networks Pvt Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Federal Liberal MP Craig Kelly is one of Australia's most influential politicians on Facebook, often scoring far higher levels of engagement than either Prime Minister Scott Morrison or Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Mr Kelly who denies the link between human activity and climate change, and made headlines last week after a combative interview on British breakfast television uses his Facebook page to question climate science and spruik the coal industry on a daily basis. Most weeks, Liberal MP Craig Kelly has higher engagement on his Facebook page than the Prime Minister. Credit:James Brickwood Although the backbench MP has only 38,000 "fans" on the social media platform, compared to 231,000 for Mr Morrison and 124,000 for Mr Albanese, he regularly outperforms both men on engagement particularly the number of people sharing his content. Since July 1, there have been 1.33 million interactions involving Mr Kelly's page, compared to 1.26 million for Mr Morrison and 720,000 for Mr Albanese. Mr Kelly regularly outperforms the Prime Minister, and there have only been three weeks since July 1 when the Opposition Leader had more interactions than Mr Kelly. As budget season nears for Portland city leaders, deploying armed city police officers in schools is again being debated as officials mull the $1.6 million price tag and its effectiveness as a tool to keep kids out of the criminal justice system. Leaders of the citys largest district, Portland Public Schools, decided last year that although they want police officers patrolling its nine high schools, funding should fall on the bureaus shoulders. Mayor Ted Wheeler proposed the city pick up the tab for at least one more year, which it did. On Wednesday, Portland Police Deputy Chief Chris Davis pitched the City Council on the programs continuing existence during a work session, saying having specially trained officers in schools helps keep students out of the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system is not a good solution for almost all of the problems that we have with kids in schools, he said. Davis said school-based police officers, commonly referred to as school resource officers, get a bad rap because of cops who make national headlines for the wrong reasons. He cited a 2015 case in South Carolina in which a Richland County Sheriffs deputy slammed a student to the ground during an arrest. Whats often missing in public discourse when those stories break, he said, is that those officers are typically dismissed or charged with misconduct. Portlands youth services division currently has 10 officers who patrol high schools in the citys three largest districts. The bureaus budget is funded to provide 12 school resource officers so that every high school in city limits would have at least one, but the positions are vacant at Portland Public Schools Cleveland High and Jefferson High. One officer is assigned to the Parkrose district and splits time between the high and middle schools and the David Douglas district, with the countys largest high school by far, has two officers, Davis told the City Council. Officers who apply for those positions undergo about 350 hours of training to meet national standards to work in schools, Davis said, which includes a focus on restorative justice. The officers are also chosen based on their desire to work with youth, which Davis said sets them apart from their peers on the force. Frankly, not all police officers are cut out for this role, he said. Should the program go away, Davis said, the bureaus day-shift patrol officers would need training on working with school-aged youth that would cost well over $1 million. Davis also told the City Council that school officers primary concern is to keep kids from developing a rap sheet. Only 20 students were arrested as a result of more than 5,000 calls for service in the 2018-19 school year, he said. We have no interest in a school-to-prison pipeline, Davis said, stressing that the youth services division is the bureaus most diverse in terms of age, race, gender, language fluency and sexual orientation. Students of color who oppose the program have said they feel uneasy around armed police officers and also long contended they dont feel comfortable sharing their problems with adults in their buildings, particularly because so few of those employees look like them. They have also said that counselors and mental health professionals, not armed police officers, seem like the best people to help quell conflict, suicidality and other teen angst at school. Davis pointed to recent surveys of Portland Public Schools students that shows very few teens enrolled in the states largest district feel unsafe in class. Only about 14% of seventh and 10th graders said they worry about violence at school. A group of administrators representing Portland Public Schools easily the citys largest district with enrollment nearing 50,000 students and the David Douglas district backed Davis claims to the council and spoke in support of the program Wednesday. Madison High Principal Adam Sykes recounted an instance in which a neighbor reported a fight in a vacant lot near campus. Instead of dispatching a patrol officer to the scene, the police bureau called Madison Highs regular officer Carlos Ibarra, who had a vice principal tag along on the call. What Ibarra and the vice principal found at the scene, Sykes said, was a group of about 20 students, two of whom were doing what they were not supposed to. Sykes said the teens may have fled if they didnt recognize the police officer approaching them. But because they were familiar with both Ibarra and the school administrator, they stayed put. I have concerns about what that work looks like without the program, Sykes told the City Council. I have concerns around what happens to our students when we dont know whos responding. City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who was the sole no vote on the programs budget last year, pushed back on Davis data. While Portland police logged 5,000 calls for service across the citys schools, she asked how many of those were generated when a campus officer filed a report based on something they saw but wasnt necessarily phoned in. Davis said the data isnt high enough resolution to suss out those details. Commissioner Chloe Eudaly asked if people other than police at schools, including counselors, administrators and possibly even students could be trained to resolve minor conflicts typically handled by resource officers. Hardesty echoed the concerns that Portland Public Schools students relayed to The Oregonian/OregonLive last January, which tipped the scales in the school boards decision to reverse course on its initial agreement to foot the bill for the program. My personal dialogue and conversations with students, and especially students of color, over and over again say theyre uncomfortable with having law enforcement in their school, she said. (Bloomberg) -- Wirecard AG Chairman Wulf Matthias resigned after months of controversy over the digital payments companys accounting practices. Matthias stepped down as chairman of the supervisory board for personal reasons, and will be replaced by Thomas Eichelmann, the Aschheim, Germany-based company said Friday in a statement. Matthias will remain a member of the board. The payment processors shares have whipsawed for more than a year after several media reports raised questions about accounting methods, all of which the company has rejected. The concerns relate to Wirecards Singapore operations. Wirecard has said its reporting obligations were followed properly. Shares are down more than 40% from their peak in March 2018. Eichelmann was a member of Wirecards supervisory board and head of the bodys audit committee. He has held various other supervisory positions over the past decade, including at construction group Hochtief AG and financial services company Wuestenrot & Wuerttembergische AG. Supervisory boards in Germany play an important role as they are formed of shareholders and employee representatives, who oversee the management and approve major business decisions. The role of the supervisory board is key, especially in Wirecards case, according to Neil Campling, an analyst at Mirabaud Securities. KPMG, which has been commissioned to perform an independent special audit on the back of the allegations, is accountable only to the supervisory board, he said. Eichelmann is the man who was tasked with supporting the audit on Wirecards side. Irregularities Matthias has faced a battle to calm investors rattled by reports of accounting irregularities. Wirecards revenue soared in 2018 after it bought more than 15 companies in a few years. But in a series of articles last year, the Financial Times reported allegations of accounting fraud at Wirecard in Singapore and other Asian countries. The company hired law firm Rajah & Tann to investigate. A final report from the firm in March 2019 acknowledged accounting oversights and potential criminal liability among some Singapore staff, but didnt find evidence of criminal activity linked to Wirecards German headquarters. Story continues The FT then reported in October that payments processed by a Dubai-based partner company in 2016 and 2017 may not have taken place. Wirecard called those allegations total nonsense, but controversy has continued to dog the company, which is a member of Germanys benchmark DAX index. The more we dig on Wirecard, the more disturbing it looks, Campling wrote in a December research note. (Updates with analysts comments from sixth paragraph.) To contact the reporters on this story: Nico Grant in San Francisco at ngrant20@bloomberg.net;Vanessa Dezem in Frankfurt at vdezem@bloomberg.net;Jan-Patrick Barnert in Frankfurt at jbarnert3@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, William Shaw, Andrew Davis 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. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kolkata on Saturday and said she urged him during their discussions to withdraw the recently amended citizenship law that has triggered protests across the country. The Trinamool Congress chief, who met Modi at the Raj Bhawan in Kolkata, said she told the prime minister that the party was against the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). I asked him that the Centre should rethink on the issues and withdraw CAA, she said, adding that PM Modi asked her to come to Delhi to discuss the issue. Hours later, Modi and Banerjee shared a stage at the Millennium Park as the PM inaugurated a light and sound show as a part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. The Congress and CPI(M) attacked the Trinamool chief after her meeting at the Raj Bhawan, saying her double standards stood exposed. Banerjee said the decision to meet Modi was her constitutional obligation. Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, have staunchly criticised CAA, which fast-tracks the process of granting of Indian citizenship to religious minorities from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. They allege that the NPR and the NRC could be linked with recent amendments to the citizenship law, that could affect minorities in India. At least two dozen people have died in protest-related violence across the country since the legislation was passed by Parliament in December last year. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government says the new law is not divisive and it does not threaten the existing citizenship status of any Indian national. Soon after meeting the PM on Saturday, the West Bengal chief minister attended a demonstration against CAA by the TMCs students wing in the city, where she reiterated her partys stand that the state government will not implement the new citizenship law or the NRC in the state. The CAA notification will only remain on paper but will never be implemented. We will not implement the CAA...This is unconstitutional, illegal and wrong, Banerjee said while addressing an anti-CAA rally near Raj Bhawan. The Centre on Friday, in a gazette notification, announced that CAA came into effect from January 10. While the Prime Minister did not speak about CAA in his speeches on Saturday, after dedicating four renovated heritage buildings to the nation in Kolkata, he said that salient chapters in Indian history have not found place in the way the subject has been dealt with during the British rule and even after independence. It is very unfortunate that during British rule and even after independence the drafting of the countrys history ignored some salient chapters of our history. The history we read has no reference to what the common Indian people were doing during different times. Didnt they have any existence? Modi said. Earlier on Sunday evening, some members of the Left student unions reached the spot of the TMCs protest and shouted slogans seeking an explanation from Banerjee for meeting PM Modi. To this, the chief minister said her meeting was a courtesy visit, news agency PTI reported. I am the only leader who met Narendra Modi and told him that the CAA, NRC and NPR cannot be implemented. We have been protesting from day one against CAA. The issue before both of us is the same, so please dont deviate from it, she said. The West Bengal CM said that during the meeting, she also raised the issue of financial assistance worth ?28,000 crore that is owed to the state from the Centre, and the PM promised to look into the issue. The opposition Congress accused the chief minister of having a tacit understanding with the BJP. She is boycotting the all-party meeting against citizenship law that Sonia Gandhi convened in Delhi on January 13 but fixed an appointment with Modi on January 11. Her real intentions are out in the open, Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra said, referring to the TMCs decision not to attend a meet called by the grand old party that is expected to present a unified Opposition front. The Trinamool Congress leadership refuted the claims and said it was just a government-to-government meeting. Amid widespread agitations, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched outreach campaigns to clear perceptions about CAA, and maintains that the CAA does not affect any Indian citizen or community. On Saturday, the Prime Ministers trip prompted separate demonstrations in Kolkata, with protesters gathering outside the airport ahead of his arrival for the two-day visit on Saturday afternoon. Many protesters formed human chains and protested with banners as the PM visited the city. Growing to meet your needs C&C Marine (Thailand) Co Ltd provides top-quality marine engineering for the pleasure boat and superyacht industry. In Dec 2004, C&C Marine (Thailand) Co Ltd originally opened as a small workshop with an office. The workshop and parts store consisted of 125sqm with an office of 25sqm, providing general marine engineering services starting with brands like Yanmar Marine and Kohler marine generators. marine By Sponsored Saturday 11 January 2020, 01:00PM C&C Marine (Thailand) Co Ltd offers a full range of marine services including new engine and parts sales, engine overhauls, shaft and propeller repairs, new engine installations, gearbox service and repairs. During 2007 the company opened a retail store at Boat Lagoon Marina. This has helped with getting parts closer to the customer base. In 2009, the company expanded the parts store capacity to 100sqm and also built a nachining and repair shop of 75sqm. The office size was increased to 50sqm. This was in response to expanding business and increasing staff counts. As a result, C&C Marine is now regarded a premier repair facility, servicing the pleasure marine industry in Phuket and Thailand as a whole. Due to a widening customer base and ever evolving marketplace, C&C Marine (Thailand) included brands to its portfolio such as MTU, ZF Marine and Q-SPD. In 2014, the company purpose built a 432sqm warehouse to increase storage and alleviate floor space in the workshop and parts area. This has helped immensely with our operations. As of 2015, C&C Marine (Thailand) Co Ltd operates with 25 staff. C&C Marine (Thailand) Co Ltd offers a full range of marine services including new engine and parts sales, engine overhauls, shaft and propeller repairs, new engine installations, gearbox service and repairs under the product range carried. C&C Marine (Thailand) Co Ltd prides itself on its ability to perform unique and highly specialised projects, with its primary objective being customer satisfaction. In order to accommodate our customers demands, C&C Marine has expanded over the years with increases in workshop sizes, parts store capacity and personnel to meet the anticipated needs of our customers and to further increase productivity for fast job turn-around. C & C MARINE (THAILAND) CO LTD Phone +66 (0)76 272049 Fax +66 (0)76 273248 Website https://www.candc-marine.com/ Email info-phuket@candc-marine.com Main Workshop and Parts 16/2 Moo 4, Soi Nanai, Thepkassatri Rd, Koh Kaew Muang, Phuket 83000 Thailand Retail Outlet Boat Lagoon Marina Thepkassatri Rd, Koh Kaew Muang, Phuket 83000 Thailand This article was featured in 'Set Sail', the companion guide published for the Thailand Yacht Show 2020, being held at Royal Phuket Marina. The show is open from 11am to 7pm daily until Sunday (Jan 12), when the show will close at 6pm. The Phuket News and Live 89.5 are proud media partners of the Thailand Yacht Show 2020. Health officials ramp up screenings to stave off mystery pneumonia from China PHUKET: Health officials this week upgraded up their screenings of passengers arriving from Wuhan, China, in the hope of preventing a minor outbreak of a new form of pneumonia there from reaching the island. ChinesehealthtourismCoronavirusCOVID-19 By Tanyaluk Sakoot Saturday 11 January 2020, 09:00AM A passenger arriving on a direct flight from Wuhan is scanned for elevated body temperature at Phuket International Airport. Photo: PPHO Wuhan arrivals have been screened for elevated body temperature since last Saturday (Jan 4), as fever remains one of the early indicators of infection. Other signs and symptoms include difficulty in breathing and chest radiographs showing invasive lesions of both lungs, notes the World Health Organization (WHO) in its description of the illness. However, the causal agent has not yet been identified or confirmed, reports WHO, while health officials in Wuhan said they had ruled out common respiratory diseases, such as influenza, bird flu and adenovirus infection, as the cause. At least 59 people in Wuhan have been diagnosed with the mysterious infection in the past four weeks. Eleven of those infected were in critical condition and the rest stable, Wuhan health officials said, adding that all had been isolated and doctors were observing 121 people with whom they had been in close contact. Five people, including a 3-year-old Chinese boy, were quarantined on arrival in Bangkok earlier this week, though initial tests confirmed all five were not infected with the mystery viral pneumonia. The 3-year-old Chinese boy was discharged from quarantine on Tuesday. Dr Sirilak Thaichareon, director of the regional Disease Prevention and Control office, told The Phuket News on Tuesday (Jan 7) that so far no arrivals from Wuhan had been identified as infected. However, while he downplayed the potential impact of the illness, he at the same time confirmed that measures to identify infected arrivals had been raised to top level. This [form of] pneumonia is less harmful than SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), but we are upgrading the standard for scanning at Phuket International Airport to the same level used for SARS. The decision to boost efforts was made at an emergency meeting at Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 11 office in Nakhon Sri Thammarat last Sunday (Jan 5), he said. As director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 11 division, Dr Sirilak is the leading outbreak health official for the provinces of Ranong, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket. We have to upgrade the level of checking because this case is urgent and serious, Also, the Chinese New Year holiday [on Jan 25] is coming. With more flights from Wuhan arriving, we will need to check more passengers, he said. Chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO), Thanit Sermkaew, on Monday (Jan 6) confirmed that six officers three from the PPHO and three from the Phuket Airport Health Control division were tasked with scanning arrivals on direct flights from Wuhan. Additional officers have been assigned to support the scan teams at the airport, Chief Thanit said. Four extra health officers from Thalang Hospital have been assigned to support the team, and other hospitals are standing by to provide additional support, he added. However, at this stage, only passengers on direct flights from Wuhan to Phuket are being scanned for the virus, Chief Thanit also confirmed. Asked why travellers arriving from areas near Wuhan or on connecting flights were not being scanned, Chief Thanit said, We are following the order issued, and because the infections so far were found in Wuhan and in people who travelled to Wuhan. Officers at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport are also scanning passengers, and we scan them again [when they arrive]. We check thoroughly, there is no need to worry. Counter measures Chief Thanit explained that the first step in preventing the disease from arriving in Phuket is screening arrivals for high body temperature and handing the arrivals leaflets informing them of the new form of pneumonia. If we find a passenger with a body temperature higher than 38C, we will take them to an isolated room where an officer will record their name, age and gender, and more importantly their recent activities, such as where they have visited in the Wuhan area. The officer will quarantine any passengers who have traveled to Wuhan and exhibit any symptoms before handing them over to the disease investigation team, who will examine the person more thoroughly. If the symptoms are serious, the person will be taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where there is reverse-pressure isolation room where doctors can further examine and treat the patient until the symptoms improve, he said. Chief Thanit urged any persons who believe they may have been infected to contact the PPHO urgently by calling 076-211330. This is especially for those who develop any signs or symptoms of a serious cold within 14 days of returning from Wuhan, he said. Any persons in Thailand who suspect they may have contracted the virus are urged to immediately call the Department of Disease Control (DDC) hotline 1422. Views from across Northern Ireland as the DUP and Sinn Fein finally restore Stormont after three years of paralysis. Professor Ian Greer, the president and vice-chancellor of Queen's University, said: "I welcome the draft deal and I wish the parties well for the forthcoming discussions and offer my encouragement to bring these talks to a successful conclusion for the social and economic benefit of Northern Ireland. We, at Queen's University, are ready and willing to work constructively with all parties as necessary to fulfil our crucial leadership role in creating positive impact for Northern Ireland." Mark Taylor, NI director of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: "Last year, the Royal College of Surgeons joined with organisations across the medical sector in Northern Ireland to speak with one voice in highlighting the unacceptable waiting lists for our patients. "We now welcome this draft deal, in particular for the statement of intent to urgently address escalating waiting lists and continue the transformation highlighted by the Bengoa Review. The task ahead will be a difficult one to create the necessary capacity, funding and workforce. Nicola McCrudden, senior associate at Campbell Tickell, said: "This is a new deal for housing and has the capacity to have a positive impact on thousands of families and people living in housing stress and experiencing homelessness. Having a safe, affordable, good quality home is a fundamental need - promoting better health, education and employment opportunities. If the parties sign up to this agreement, housing will be prioritised by government, meaning there will be a renewed focus on delivering more homes that are genuinely affordable and supporting those who are most disadvantaged in our society." Dr Len O'Hagan, NI Water chairman, said: "I welcome the New Decade, New Approach draft deal and in particular the priority both governments have placed on transforming public services - specifically, that the restored Executive will invest urgently in wastewater infrastructure which is at or nearing capacity, limiting growth in our economy." Neil Anderson, head of NSPCC NI, said: "The proposed deal is potentially transformative and, if implemented, the commitment to reform health and social care, particularly mental health, as well as education and justice will go some way to achieving positive change for local children and families. "We now urge our politicians to reach an agreement and to get to work quickly to close the growing funding gap that is undermining children's services' abilities to make sure children and families can get the right support at the right time where they need it." RSPB NI director Joanne Sherwood said: "The deal contains a number of proposals that the RSPB and the wider environmental sector have long been calling for. "The commitments to introduce legislation to reduce carbon emissions and establish an Independent Environmental Protection Agency are to be welcomed. However, these proposals must be followed up with strong and robust legislation and funding." Gerry Murphy, northern secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, said: "The five teachers' unions are optimistic that an Executive will be formed in the coming days which will lead to the redrawing of the educational landscape. The commitments expressed in the proposed deal; to urgently resolve the current teachers industrial dispute; address the resourcing pressures in schools and the proposed wider review of education provision are vital steps to securing the futures our members and the young people in their care. Mr Murphy is also, chairperson of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council (NITC), and added: "The commitments expressed in the proposed deal; to urgently resolve the current teachers industrial dispute; address the resourcing pressures in schools and the proposed wider review of education provision are vital steps to securing the futures our members and the young people in their care. "Addressing these core problems has been central to the work undertaken by the teachers' unions with the education employers over the past three years and we will not be found wanting when it comes to contributing to the work of delivering the improvements urgently needed for our members and the young people in our schools." Rosamond Bennett, chief executive of Christian Aid Ireland, said: "The proposed Climate Change Act is an important step forward in ensuring that Northern Ireland is doing its bit to prevent a worsening climate emergency. The carbon emissions from each person in Northern Ireland are almost twice the UK average and a third more than someone in the Republic. A new Climate Change Act must contain ambitious targets for cuts in carbon emissions, enabling Northern Ireland to reach 'net zero' by 2045." Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said: "We recognise there are many pressing social issues, such as health and education to address. But there are also pressing economic issues like the challenges presented by outdated liquor licensing, an uncompetitive rate of hospitality VAT, Air Passenger Duty and the highest business rates in the UK, which have been highlighted by the Reval 2020 showing the serious issues around the 'receipts and expenditure model' on which rates are assessed in parts of the sector." Compiled by Gillian Halliday Tehran, Jan 11 : Iran on Saturday admitted that its armed forces had downed the Ukrainian passenger plane near Tehran killing all 176 people on board, adding that it was an "involuntary human error" and those responsible would "immediately" be held accountable. In a statement, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran said that at the time of the accident on Wednesday, the forces had been on the highest alert, according to a report by the Tehran-based Press TV. It assured that "by pursuing fundamental reforms in operational processes at the armed forces' level, we will make it impossible to repeat such errors". Also issuing a statement, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) added that the mistake was made in the context of a "very delicate crisis situation", claiming that the US-made Boeing 737-800 had flown close to a sensitive IRGC military centre with the "altitude and flight position of an enemy target", reports Efe news. Reacting to development, President Hassan Rouhani in a tweet said: "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences." Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also offered "profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations". "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster," he tweeted. Saturday's confirmation comes after the Iranian military had been denying that one of their missiles brought down the the Kiev-bound Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS75. The victims comprised 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, four Britons and three Germans. A day after the crash, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US media reports, citing American and Iraqi intelligence officials, said that the airliner was shot down by an Iranian missile. Trudeau said that his government had "evidence" indicating that the aircraft "was shot down by an Iranian surface to air missile", although he added that it might have been unintentional. These claims were rejected by Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei on Friday, saying that "these reports are a psychological warfare against Iran". "All those countries whose citizens were aboard the plane can send representatives and we urge Boeing to send its representative to join the process of investigating the black box." Wednesday's crash occurred on the same day after Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two US military bases in Iraq, in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in an American drone attack in Baghdad on January 3. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text It has been a very good start to the new year for Kanturk, with good news on two fronts emerging for the town this week. German discount retail giant Aldi has lodged a planning application for a store on the former Keatings Bakery site on Percival Street, which has lain idle since the bakery closed its doors in 2006 with the loss of almost 100 jobs. Cllr Bernard Moynihan (FF) said it was more great news for the town, coming on the back of the new fire station and granting of planning permission for the refurbishment of the local hospital. It is great to see a prime site in the heart of the town being redeveloped. Any development that will attract more people into the town has to be welcomed and will, I have no doubt, act as a catalyst to attract other new commercial interests into Kanturk. Meanwhile, there was more good news in relation to the proposed new national school after Cllr John Paul OShea (FG) confirmed that construction work is finally set to start on the long-awaited development this year. He said he had received written confirmation from OPW minister Kevin Boxer Moran that the tendering process for the school will close early next month. It has been a long time coming but there is finally good news on the horizon for the school, said Cllr OShea. It is my hope that we see construction works commence on site before the summer with the build phase expected to take 14-18 months to complete. Her body was found about 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 2 in a car on Ritchie Drive. Police said James Dorsey turned himself in to the county Department of Corrections on Wednesday and is being held without bond. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg (Image: Reuters) Ousted Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg, will walk away with $62.2 million, the company disclosed on January 10. He will however not get additional severance or a 2019 bonus and forfeits stock awards worth $14.6 million. Muilenburg, who spent more than 30 years at Boeing, also has unexercised stock options, worth more than $18.5 million at the closing price on January 10, which he has held since 2013. He was fired in December for the company's botched response to two crashes and failing to get the company's best-selling plane, the 737 Max jetliner back in the air. Boeing board Chairman David Calhoun will take over as CEO on January 13. He is a former General Electric and Nielsen executive with a reputation as a turnaround specialist. Calhoun, 62, will get a base salary of $1.4 million but potentially several million more in bonuses and stock awards, including $7 million if he gets the Max back in service. The Max was grounded last March after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people. It has taken far longer than Boeing expected to fix the plane. This month, Boeing will halt production until it is clear when changes to the plane will be approved by regulators. Muilenberg was named CEO in 2015 and presided over a rapid rise in the Chicago-based company's stock price. The shares have dropped 26% in the last 10 months, however, as Max's recovery stalled. Months before Muilenburg's ouster, some lawmakers and relatives of passengers who died in the Max crashes had asked him to resign or take a cut in pay. At a congressional hearing in October, Muilenburg parried questions about his compensation by saying it was set by Boeing's board. A few days later, he announced he would not take a bonus for 2019 that he would walk away from tens of millions of dollars as a signal that he was taking responsibility for correcting problems with the Max. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 14:39:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11, 2020 (Xinhua) -- The world in the past 24hrs. A selection of the best daily press photos from Xinhua. Wang Huihui, a mechanician for ground service, poses for a photo at the bullet train overhaul base in central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 3, 2020. China, the world's most populated country, on Jan. 10 ushered in its largest annual migration, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year. This year, three billion trips will be made during the travel rush from Jan. 10 to Feb. 18 for family reunions and travel, according to official forecast. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) Israeli soldiers are seen during clashes with Palestinian protesters near the West Bank city of Nablus, Jan. 10, 2020. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin (R) addresses a press briefing at the White House in Washington D.C. Jan. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) U.S. President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One to depart from the White House for a rally in Ohio, in Washington D.C. Jan. 9, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) United Nations Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame arrives for the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) Signs are seen during a rally against war with Iran outside the Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Policemen disperse demonstrators during a protest against pension reform in Lille, north France, Jan. 9, 2020. France's transport strike against President Emmanuel Macron's plan to overhaul pension system has entered its 36th day on Thursday, making it the longest rail workers' strike since May 1968. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua) The Portuguese Parliament holds the State Budget 2020 final debate in Lisbon Jan. 10, 2020. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua) Aerial photo taken on Jan. 10, 2020 shows electric multiple unit (EMU) trains ready for the Spring Festival travel rush in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This Friday marks the beginning of the 40-day-long Spring Festival travel rush. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Aerial photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020 shows Minhe branch staff members of the State Grid Qinghai Electric Power Maintenance Company patrolling in Salar Autonomous County of Xunhua, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Wu Gang) A vehicle runs in rain in Taree of New South Wales, Australia, Jan. 9, 2020. The rainfall helped alleviate drought in the region. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) A young participant wearing animalistic costumes is seen during the annual bell-bearing tradition in the village of Volakas, Drama region, Greece, Jan. 7, 2020. Every winter, following the Greek Orthodox celebration of Epiphany, locals of certain villages of northern Greece masquerade and perform ritual dances to ward off evil spirits and awaken the coming spring. (Photo by Dimitris Tosidis/Xinhua) Aerial photo taken on Jan. 8, 2020 shows the Chinese icebreaker Xuelong 2 stopping in dense ice floes in the Cosmonauts Sea. The Chinese icebreaker Xuelong 2 with members of China's 36th Antarctic expedition team will head to travel through "roaring forties" from Cosmonauts Sea on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Shiping) China's top science award winners Huang Xuhua (L), an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief designer of the country's first-generation nuclear submarines, and Zeng Qingcun, a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), pose for a group photo at an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. The National Science and Technology Award Conference was held in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) A questionnaire was handed over to Hafiz Saeed by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Friday which is hearing a terror financing case against the Mumbai terror attack mastermind and JuD chief. Saeeds lawyers -- Naseeruddin Nayyar and Muhammad Imran Fazal Gul -- did not present any defence witnesses before the court, a court official said. Deputy Prosecution General Abdur Rauf submitted the questionnaire for Hafiz Saeed in the Anti-Terrorism Court-I, Lahore here on Friday which was handed over to him (Saeed) for reply, the official told PTI after the hearing in terror financing case against the founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and his three close aides. The court adjourned the hearing till Saturday. The content of the questionnaire was not known. Handing over a questionnaire to a prime suspect in the terror financing case seems weird, a lawyer said. Why not Saeed was asked to record his statement in the court? Handing over a questionnaire regarding terror financing to Saeed means that the Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab police, which arrested him, was not allowed to quiz him, the lawyer said. Saeed and his aides -- Hafiz Abdul Salam, Muhammad Ashraf and Prof Zafar Iqbal -- were produced to the court in high security. On Thursday cross examination of prosecution witnesses against Saeed and others concluded during which the prosecution had produced a number of witnesses. The ATC indicted Saeed and others on December 11 in terror financing case. The Counter Terrorism Department has registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices on the charges of terror financing in different cities of Punjab province and arrested him on July 17. The Taco Stop in Dallas offers free coats to those in need. Read more As Emilia Flores drove through her native Mexico several years ago, she spotted a stand-alone clothing rack under a bridge with a big sign asking passersby to either take or leave a free coat. The clever charity display stuck in her mind, and she was surprised to see it in a few other Mexican towns as she visited the country. Flores, a psychologist by trade, took the idea back home with her to Dallas, where she owns an eatery called Taco Stop that sells Mexican street-style tacos. At Taco Stop, located close to downtown Dallas, a rack of coats now stands outside, topped by this sign: Are you cold? Take one. Do you want to help? Leave one." People can anonymously pick up a coat or leave one without having to talk to anyone and countless Dallas-area residents have done so since she first put out the coat rack in 2015. I thought it was a wonderful idea, particularly since when you need help, none of us likes to ask for help, said Flores, 54. Flores, a native of Durango, Mexico, moved to Texas in 1993 and worked as a psychologist for more than two decades. She opened Taco Stop, located in a former gas station, about eight years ago. For both givers and receivers, the coat rack empowers people to give them something to do to help, and it empowers people who want help but dont want to go through the hassle, she said. The ritual begins just before Thanksgiving and lasts through March. Flores estimates her coat rack probably has collected at least a few thousand coats in the past five years. She gets coats mostly for women and men, but there are some childrens coats, too, along with occasional hats, gloves, and jackets. The first year, mostly Taco Stop customers donated the coats but now, since getting media exposure, many people including church groups make a special trip to Taco Stop with coats they dont need anymore. At Taco Stop a to-go eatery with no indoor dining the roughly 6-foot-long coat rack stands outside, in front of the business. When it rains, Flores moves the rack to a covered space, and when the rack gets full, extra coats are placed on the outside tabletops. Sometimes, she gets as many as 50 a day, and the coats go as fast as they come. During the first year, someone stole all the coats, but that hasnt happened again. READ MORE: Joy of Sox founder has distributed 350,000 pairs of socks to the needy Theres always going to be someone trying to take advantage, but thats not on me, thats on them, said Flores. Dallas may be in the Sun Belt, but temperatures fall into the 30s and 40s some winter days, and sometimes the area gets hit with frigid ice storms. Flores said some people who grab coats from the rack are homeless, and others are struggling financially. So many people have an unused coat, Flores said. It really, really warms my heart that people are willing to help, as far as doing something for someone else. I really call this compassion in action. Amy Hofland, 47, of Dallas, has been a longtime fan of Taco Stop and dedicated contributor to its coat rack. Director of the Crow Museum of Asian Art, she met Flores through an international museum partnership. She and her family husband Scott, and sons Baker, 13, and Edward, 12 have donated coats every year. Each winter, she gathers coats from her museum colleagues and takes them to Taco Stop. Its a great way to be part of something bigger, and to feel like were really making a difference in a human beings life, Hofland said. As a repeat customer, I've noticed the coats are always changing; there's never a coat there for more than a day, she said. That tells me there's a desperate need." To Flores, the coat rack represents something pure that helps people, regardless of their political beliefs, race, religion, nationality, or any other potentially dividing trait. I also think that we live in such a polarized world right now not only in the U.S., but everywhere, Flores said. At the end of the day, were all human and we try to take care of each other the best we can. https://www.aish.com/sp/so/Back-from-the-Dead.html After an amazing feat of genealogy, a Holocaust survivor tells Yad Vashem hes alive after all. Were you in a concentration camp? No. Were you in hiding? No. Were you in the underground? No. Where did you go after liberation? England. Alison OCallaghan is prompting her father, Simon Phippen, as they complete a form on Sept. 23, 2019, at Yad Vashem, Israels national museum of Holocaust commemoration. They are sitting in an office at the museums Hall of Names. The halls mission is to compile the identities of all Holocaust victims, but that is not whats going on here. Something stunningly counterintuitive is occurring. Phippen, an 85-year-old resident of Andover, England, is officially registering himself as being alive. For more than six decades, hes been listed at Yad Vashem as dead. Hes changing his registration bringing himself back to life in the presence of eight newly found Israeli and American relatives. One is his first cousin, Moni Sana, 87, of Raanana. Until two days earlier, the men hadnt seen one another in more than 75 years, each thinking that the other was killed in the Holocaust in their native Iasi, Romania. The reunion, and Phippens status change, resulted from the efforts of someone else sitting in the Hall of Names: Gemma Brown, Phippens granddaughter. More than two decades earlier, Brown began digging into her past, ultimately unearthing more than she could have dreamed. The journey that she unwittingly began is one more reminder that even as Holocaust survivors die off, disappearing from our ranks, their stories baffling, astonishing, heartbreaking just keep surfacing. Gemma Brown, 43, grew up in Ripley and then Kingsclere, England, knowing that shed been adopted. Twenty years ago, she ordered a birth certificate, necessary for opening a bank account. It arrived with a document containing familiar information about her biological parents: that her mother was 15 and her father was 18 at Browns birth. It didnt include their names or hometown. But the document asked whether Brown wished to contact her natural mother. She did. A few weeks later, in June 1999, Brown carried her newborn son, Harry, in a car seat to a room in a social-services center to meet Angie Saunders, her natural mother. Saunders was diminutive, with short, blond hair dissimilar from the shoulder-length auburn locks of Browns adoptive mother. The women spoke about their lives. They went outside to smoke. It was very odd, Brown said. Id played out that scenario in my head so many times over the years, and now it was happening. Saunders father is Phippen. When Saunders became pregnant at 15, her immigrant father, raising five other children, forced her to give up the baby for adoption. When Saunders became pregnant at 15, her immigrant father, raising five other children, forced her to give up the baby for adoption. Brown was taken with her new relationship to her birth mother. Until returning to work when Harry was 8 months old, Brown visited Saunders every week. Back then, angry with her grandfather for forcing her adoption, she refused to meet Phippen. Eventually, she relented, and they met. And over the years, Brown has become close with her biological family. At first, Brown learned about her grandfather what her birth mother knew: that he had for years insisted to his family that he was born in England (despite traces of a foreign accent), only later admitting that he was from Romania. And then, in 2008, Saunders called Brown, the daughter shed given up for adoption, to say that shed learned that her father, Phippen, was Jewish. Saunders was Jewish, on her fathers side, so Brown was part Jewish, too. Brown was intrigued, and she wanted to know more. She joined a Facebook page of Jews with roots in Romania. She joined JewishGen.org, a genealogical-research group. On Yad Vashems website, she found a short form called a Page of Testimony, submitted on Nov, 22, 1956, by a Tel Aviv resident named Zvi Luchinitzer. A Holocaust survivor and Phippens uncle, Luchinitzer had listed Simon among four members of the Mairovitz family he assumed were killed in 1941 in Iasi. Brown searched for Luchinitzer, but couldnt locate him or any descendants. After the Luchinitzer dead end unbeknownst to her, Zvis sons changed their surname to Almog Brown stopped researching. But she couldnt keep away. Last spring, she resumed the search, typing Luchinitzer on Facebook. She found this brief 2011 post by Carol Ritter Elbaz, a Houston resident: I am looking for anyone of the Luchinitzer, Shachman, Sahna, Sana last name from Iasi. Brown sent a Facebook message to Ritter Elbaz. Moni Sana and his sister Cecile on the boat to Israel, 1949 (Photo courtesy Carol Ritter Elbaz) Ritter Elbazs mother, Cecile, had often spoken about wanting to find the family of her sister Sura, Simons mother. On March 30, 1970, Cecile had mailed a letter from her home in Houston to the American Embassy in London, asking for diplomats assistance in locating them. She wrote that theyd likely have gone in 1945 or 1946 from Romania to England, the homeland of Simons father, Moshe. The embassy responded that they werent found. My heart is racing I think he would be happy to know that other members of the family survived, as I think he feels guilty. After Ceciles death, Ritter Elbaz researched occasionally. On June 6, 2019, she received Browns message. She reacted cautiously, wanting to discern what Brown knew lots, it turned out. Im not finding it easy to piece things together with all the different spellings and the limited information that my grandfather can share, but Im almost certain that this all fits together, Brown wrote to Ritter Elbaz. My heart is racing. Im just trying to do as much as I can to find [Phippen] some answers whilst he is still with us. I think he would be happy to know that other members of the family survived, as I think he feels guilty. Oh, my goodness, Ritter Elbaz responded. Im feeling very overwhelmed right now. I am trying to process all of this. Ritter Elbaz sent a photograph of her maternal grandmother, Etti, the sister of Simons mother. None of the Britons had seen an image of her. Brown felt that Etti resembled Simons sister Betty, whod moved to England with him after WWII. Another time, Brown saw a photo of Moni. He looked like Simon. Theres no doubt, she thought: The Israelis and the Americans were kin. Brown muted her conference call and bawled. She emailed OCallaghan, her aunt, whom she had met after connecting with her birth mother. Wow, she wrote. Weve done it. Brown, OCallaghan, and Monis daughter in Atlanta, Carmela Ofer, took DNA tests. The tests confirmed their being related. In late July, Brown, two aunts and an uncle visited Phippen. Ive been carrying on family research, Brown said. Do you want to know what weve found? Yes, Phippen responded. She revealed the news and showed him pictures of their new relatives. During the Holocaust, the extended clan was split up, and no one was able to find each other afterward, said Luchinitzers grandson, and thus Simons cousin once removed, Raz Almog, a resident of the coastal city of Ashdod. They were a close-knit family. Luchinitzer, whod moved to Israel after WWII and died in 2006 at age 93, reasonably concluded that his sister Sura, her son Simon, and her daughters Yetti and Betty were killed. Moni knew that at one point, Sura placed Simon in an orphanage, left Betty with an aunt, and took Yetti to visit her mother, Dora, in their native Mogilev-Podolskiy, Ukraine, about 120 miles north of Iasi. Moni remembered going with Betty to visit Simon at the orphanage and playing with him there. But he didnt know where Moshe was then or whether he survived the war. Nor was he aware of what Brown discovered online: that Dora, Sura and Yetti were deported in the summer of 1941 to the Rautel internment camp before their tracks vanished. Moni had no idea that Simon and Betty survived the Holocaust and. By virtue of Moshes citizenship in England, they had been sent there by Anthony Colin Kendall, a British colonel based in Bucharest as a consul during the war. Simon began his new life in a succession of four foster homes, culminating with the Phippens in Rhondda, Wales. As a recruit in the Royal Air Force, he was bullied for his Jewish surname, so he changed it to Phippen. My dear, dear children, Kendall began in a letter he sent to Simon and Betty on Feb. 10, 1953, responding to Simons letter about his RAF training. Kendall expressed happiness at the siblings having loving foster parents to replace the ones taken from you. He continued: I have prayed for you continuously. God bless you both. Simon would build a good life in England. He spent his career working in a civilian role as a teleprint operator, handling cryptographic messages for the RAF and the Ministry of Defence. Along with his children, he has 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He buried his Jewish identity, but not completely. He buried his Jewish identity, but not completely. Nearly a decade ago, he visited Iasi. OCallaghan and one of her sisters, Tracy-Jane, had already visited the city, including the synagogue and Jewish cemetery. The rabbi introduced them to congregants, who that day were commemorating the anniversary of the citys notorious June 29, 1941, pogrom. The sisters also went to Pantelimon Street, where Simon grew up. They entered the building the orphanage once occupied, where Simon later lived. As it happened, Ritter Elbaz and Cecile had visited Iasi with Moni and his family in 1971. They, too, went to their ancestral synagogue, the cemetery and the childhood home of Moni and Cecile. Every survivor possesses an extraordinary tale. Simon doesnt really know his tale, or at least he never discussed his experiences when his children asked. OCallaghan thinks that he blocked out his memories, after losing his parents and sister and home as a youngster. He doesnt remember his upbringing or the Romanian orphanage or Moni and Betty visiting him there. Recently, he told OCallaghan that he might remember enduring the 1941 pogrom, even seeing his father killed there. OCallaghan is skeptical. Approximately 750,000 Jews lived in Romania in 1939; fewer than half survived the war, even though the Germans didnt occupy the country. Alexander Avram, the Hall of Names director, explained in a telephone interview that most Jews were killed by fellow Romanians in pogroms and shootings, and by starvation, diseases and cold in ghettos after being deported to Transnistria. Approximately 6,000 Romanian Jews, he said, died of heatstroke in the summer 1941 deportations known as death trains following the Iasi pogrom. Luchinitzer survived after being thrown from such a train. In a Tel Aviv hotel room, 36 hours before the Yad Vashem visit, Moni and his cousin Simon embraced at first sight. They sat down side-by-side on comforter chairs, with their families sobbing and filming and watching. They began catching up on their lives and their roots. It is lovely to see the two of you together, OCallaghan told the elderly men that night. Now, at Yad Vashem at the beginning of the familys visit, Brown tearfully embraces Almog, her second cousin once removed. Almog hadnt been at the hotel gathering. Brown only releases him after 30 seconds. She tells him that the trail leading to this day began with his grandfathers Page of Testimony. You feel the connection, the past, the electricity, knowing we have roots that intertwine, Almog tells a reporter observing the scene. A guide leads the family to the exhibit on Iasi and then to the Hall of Names, whose dome is lined with photographs of European Jews in better times. Long-lost cousins Moni Sana and Simon Phippen at Yad Vashem, 2019 (Photo: Hillel Kuttler) Coming to the museum was significant because the Holocaust is part of our history, OCallaghan says as they leave Yad Vashem. We didnt grow up with it. This is where you can freely speak about it, she says. We were raised with no conversation about this. Now, were here with the extended family and its OK to talk about it. Speaking in early November of the visit, Simon admits to still feeling overwhelmed at meeting relatives hed been cut off from for more than three-quarters of a century. It meant a lot to me, because Id always been led to believe that no one from my family was still alive, he says. For someone to remember that we used to play together I didnt know that. I was excited and saddened, after all these years, to meet someone like Moni, who remembered all these things from when we were two little boys. Simons mothers picture has long hung in his bedroom, but until that first night in Tel Aviv, Simon didnt know what his father looked like. He couldnt even conjure an image. Moni gave him a photograph showing Simons parents together. Simon was stunned to see his fathers face. Monis wife, Ani, told him that Moshe was deaf and mute. Simon had no idea. Brown, like the others, is grappling with her new reality. Years ago, thinking of her grandfathers difficult childhood, his series of parents and his expelling her from the family through adoption, Brown told Phippen, You should have known better. After that, she let the matter drop. Im not bitter, she says. He absolutely made the right decision Im glad with who I am today. Browns blond hair and blue eyes are typically Aryan, yet Ive got Jewish blood in my veins! she says. It makes me increasingly angry that the whole ethos of the Nazi campaign was this idea, but Im also this thing [the Nazis] wanted to eradicate. In Jaffa, she bought Star of David necklaces and bracelets for herself, Harry, and her partner, Steven. A blue-beaded hamsa, a hand-like Jewish good-luck charm, now hangs inside their front door. Im embracing it, she says. Its who we are. This article originally appeared on tabletmag.com. Quintessence Theatre are to put on a new show at the Droichead Centre, based on the life of Clogherhead soldier, Jennie Hodgers 'The Curious Case of Albert Cashier: Lincoln's 'Lady' Soldier', opens in the Droichead Arts Centre on March 4th. The story centres ona young Irishman, Albert D.J. Cashier, who enlists with the Union Army in the Civil War, and becomes a decorated hero. But unknown to his comrades Private Cashier is waging an internal war all of his own. When he is fifty years a veteran an indiscreet doctor reveals to America that Cashier was actually born a woman: Jennie Hodgers, of Clogherhead. From that day on Albert's greatest battle truly begins: for identity, selfhood, and truth. The play will be directed by Anna Simpson, Founder and Artistic Director of Quintessence, Creative Associate of the Pleasance Theatre, London, and Education Practitioner with the Globe Theatre, London. Auditions are on Friday 10th January with rehearsals starting next week. The show runs from March 4 -7th. More details from quintessencetheatreco@gmail.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 05:03:10|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close People react in front of the private school Colegio Cervantes de Torreon after a shooting at the school in Torreon, Mexico, Jan. 10, 2020. At least two people were killed and six others were injured on Friday during a shooting at a school in Torreon, a city in the state of Coahuila in northern Mexico, the mayor of Torreon, Jorge Zermeno Infante, said. (Str/Xinhua) MEXICO CITY, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and six others were injured on Friday during a shooting at a school in Torreon, a city in the state of Coahuila in northern Mexico, the mayor of Torreon, Jorge Zermeno Infante, said. The official said in an interview with the Mexican TV network Televisa that the event occurred Friday morning at the private school Colegio Cervantes de Torreon, where a student armed with two weapons opened fire on his teacher, wounding another teacher and five other students before turning the gun on himself. The injured were taken to the medical center in Torreon city. According to the mayor, the shooter was in the sixth grade at the school and lived alone with his grandmother. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States Sat, January 11, 2020 16:08 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321c337d 2 Entertainment Harvey-Weinstein,Chile,united-states,viral,Court,Hollywood,MeToo,Sexual-assault Free A flash mob added some song and dance to Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes trial as women clad in black chanted "The rapist is you!" outside a New York courtroom Friday. Dozens of female protesters banged percussion instruments and performed a new Chilean song that rails against sexual violence and has recently gone viral around the world. As jury selection continued inside the Manhattan court, the sound of the performers, some of whom wore bandanas, shouting and dancing on the sidewalk outside filtered through the courtroom's windows. About 60 women performed the choreographed dance and recited the lyrics of feminist anthem "A Rapist In Your Path", which first shot to prominence in Chile in November. It was created by a collective called "Las Tesis" and went viral after the outbreak of huge protests in Chile which were repressed by police. It has been heard in protests elsewhere, including in London, Paris, Mexico City and Bogota. Read also: Chile anthem against sexual violence goes viral Fallen movie producer Weinstein has been accused of sexual assault by more than 80 women since accusations against him ignited the #MeToo movement in October 2017. But he is being tried on charges related to just two. He faces life in prison if found guilty of predatory sexual assault. Dozens of potential jurors have been excused after saying they could not be impartial due to heightened publicity surrounding the trial. Weinstein maintains his innocence. Opening arguments are expected to begin on January 22. The new Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alex Maskey MLA (PA) Ministers have been appointed to Stormonts coalition executive after powersharing returned to Northern Ireland. DUP leader Arlene Foster resumed the first minister role she lost when the last administration collapsed in 2017, while Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill has become deputy first minister. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who are expected to visit the region next week, hailed the local politicians for a backing a compromise deal to revive the institutions. The DUP has also taken the economy, education and agriculture ministries; Sinn Fein the finance and communities portfolios; while the SDLP, Ulster Unionists and Alliance Party fill infrastructure, health and justice respectively. The Assembly sat once again on Saturday afternoon after the landmark agreement to restore devolution. MLAs were in the chamber for around two hours to conduct the business of electing and appointing speakers and ministers. Ms Foster said she was deeply humbled to be reappointed first minister. The DUP leader said there was plenty of blame to go around for the three-year powersharing impasse, but she insisted it was now time to look to the future. Northern Ireland is succeeding in many ways. It's time for Stormont to move forward and show that 'together we are stronger' for the benefit of everyoneArlene Foster Significantly, given one of the key disputes at the heart of political crisis, Ms Foster made reference to an Irish language phrase in a speech that struck a conciliatory tone and stressed the need to work together going forward. We have many differences Michelles narrative of the past 40 years could not be more different to mine, she said. Im not sure we will ever agree on much about the past, but we can agree there was too much suffering, and that we cannot allow society to drift backwards and allow division to grow. Northern Ireland is succeeding in many ways. Its time for Stormont to move forward and show that together we are stronger for the benefit of everyone. Expand Close Arlene Foster of the DUP leads her party into the chamber at Parliament Buildings (Michael Cooper/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Arlene Foster of the DUP leads her party into the chamber at Parliament Buildings (Michael Cooper/PA) Despite the titles, Ms Foster and Ms ONeill hold equal standing at the top of the ministerial executive. Ms ONeill said it was a defining moment for the region. She said she was honoured to follow in the footsteps of the late Martin McGuinness and become deputy first minister. After three years without functioning institutions with the five parties forming the new Executive, it is my hope that we do so united in our determination to deliver a stable power-sharing coalition that works on the basis of openness, transparency and accountability, and in good faith and with no surprises, she said. Expand Close Sinn Fein returns to devolved government (Michael Cooper/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinn Fein returns to devolved government (Michael Cooper/PA) The Prime Minister said it was a momentous day. As we begin a new decade, we can now look forward to a brighter future for all in Northern Ireland with an Executive that can transform public services and improve peoples lives, said Mr Johnson. Mr Varadkar hailed the politicians for backing the deal. I look forward to working with representatives in Northern Ireland as they begin working together again on behalf of all people in Northern Ireland, said the Taoiseach. Expand Close Leo Varadkar and Boris Johnson are expected to visit Northern Ireland next week (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leo Varadkar and Boris Johnson are expected to visit Northern Ireland next week (Niall Carson/PA) Bill Clinton said he was thankful to see the Assembly restored. The current US administration also welcomed the deal, with UK ambassador Robert Wood Johnson insisting the US would remain a friend and partner of the people of Northern Ireland. The DUPs Diane Dodds is Economy minister, Peter Weir is Education minister and Edwin Poots is Agriculture minister. Sinn Feins Conor Murphy is the new Finance minister, while party colleague Deirdre Hargey is the minister at the Department of Communities. The SDLPs Nichola Mallon is Infrastructure minister while former Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann is the new Health minister. Alliance did not have the electoral strength to take up a ministry by right but the DUP and Sinn Fein invited the cross-community party to fill the justice ministry which is allocated by a different process to the other portfolios. The DUPs Gordon Lyons and Sinn Feins Declan Kearney were selected as junior ministers in Ms Foster and Ms ONeills Executive Office. Leading the @sinnfeinireland team into a new Assembly. It is time for an assembly of equality, integrity and that delivers first class public services for all citizens pic.twitter.com/gJfkblBoIc Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) January 11, 2020 Sinn Feins Alex Maskey had been elected as the new speaker of the Assembly, while the DUPs Christopher Stalford, Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs and the SDLPs Patsy McGlone are deputy speakers. The inclusion of all five of the main parties in the executive is a significant development. The last executive prior to Stormonts collapse in 2017 did not include the three smaller parties. Powersharing returned after the DUP and Sinn Fein, the regions two largest parties, agreed to re-enter a mandatory coalition ministerial executive. They both signed up to a deal, tabled by the UK and Irish governments, that offered compromise resolutions to a range of long-standing disputes on issues such as the Irish language. The endorsement of the two parties was essential for the formation of an executive, as peace process structures mean an administration can only function if it includes the largest unionist party and largest nationalist party. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) The New Decade, New Approach deal will also be accompanied by what the UK Government has promised will be a major investment package. Government funding is set to help tackle a host of acute problems facing a public sector that has been floundering amid the governance vacuum. One of the most high-profile of those is an industrial dispute in the health service that has seen nurses take strike action on three occasions in the last month. Under the terms of the deal, the new executive will also take action to reduce spiralling hospital waiting lists; extend mitigation payments for benefit claimants hit by welfare reforms; increase the number of police officers on the beat; and resolve an industrial dispute involving teachers. The last DUP/Sinn Fein-led coalition government collapsed in January 2017 over a row about a botched green energy scheme. That row subsequently widened to take in more traditional wrangles on matters such as the Irish language and the thorny legacy of the Troubles. Judge denies San Antonio's motion to dismiss Chick-fil-A airport lawsuit Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A judge in Texas has denied the city of San Antonios motion Thursday to dismiss a lawsuit filed after Chick-fil-A was blocked by the city council from opening a new location in the city's airport. Bexar County Judge David Canales is allowing a lawsuit to move forward that was brought by five residents who believe the city council discriminated against the popular chicken sandwich chain when it voted last March to block the company from opening a location at San Antonio International Airport. The lawsuit was filed last September. Now the teams can get on the playing field and argue the merits of the case, plaintiff Michael Knuffke said in a statement following the judges dismissal of the citys motion. One step forward for the case and one large step forward [for] any citizen and for all businesses [and] business owners to have the liberty to give to charities of their choice without (fear of) government retaliation. The San Antonio City Councils vote came after Chick-fil-A, known for its Christian values, faced scrutiny in the media for donating to Christian nonprofit organizations that uphold a traditional Christian belief that marriage is a union between only one man and one woman. Last June, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot signed into law the "Save Chick-fil-A" bill, which bars local governments from taking adverse action against a company or individual for donating to religious groups. The law allows any person who alleges a violation of the new law to sue the governmental entity. The plaintiffs lawsuit asks the court to use its authority to prohibit the city from allowing any vendor other than Chick-fil-A from operating in the space at the airport that had been reserved for Chick-fil-A under an initial concession agreement. The citys continued exclusion of Chick-fil-A is based wholly or partly on Chick-fil-As past and present contributions, donations, and support for certain religious organizations, including the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the lawsuit reads. Plaintiff Patrick Von Dohlen vowed in September that any vender who attempts to occupy the airport space designated for Chick-fil-A should be on notice. The citys efforts to replace Chick-fil-A violate state law and we are suing to stop this from happening, Von Dohlen said in a statement. Any vendor that tries to replace Chick-fil-A could soon be facing an injunction that prevents them from operating. A lawyer representing the plaintiffs told KENS5 that the lawsuit is not trying to apply the law passed in June retroactively to a decision by the city council made in March. Attorney Jonathan Mitchell explained that the lawsuit is challenging decisions that were made after the new law went into effect. "The continuing actions the city of San Antonio is taking to replace Chick-fil-A with a different vendor are all adverse actions," Mitchell argued during the hearing. "It's those actions that postdate September 1 that we're asking the court to enjoin. The citys attorney, Neel Lane, told the news outlet that he is disappointed in the result. But it's just a procedural ruling and we will go forward and we will make our case," Lane assured. "We feel strongly that the city never took any action to adversely affect anyone based on their religion or their affiliation of a religious group." Laura Mayes, the chief communications officer for the city, told The Texas Tribune that the lawsuit is an attempt by the plaintiffs to improperly use the court to advance their political agenda." The lawsuit also received criticism from Democratic state legislator Mary Gonzalez, chair of the state Legislatures LGBT Caucus. In a statement shared with media, she claimed that the new Chick-fil-A law has "created the space for discriminatory lawsuits. Chick-fil-A received much criticism from the Christian conservative community late last year when it announced a change to its charitable foundations giving structure in which the foundation would no longer donate to the Salvation Army or the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. After pushback, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy told the leader of a Christian conservative organization that the company inadvertently discredited several outstanding organizations that have effectively served communities for years. Some also questioned if our commitment to our Corporate Purpose was waning. Let me state unequivocally: It is not, Cathy stressed. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Main Amit Shah bol raha hun: IAF officer arrested for impersonating home minister India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 11: An officer with the Indian Air Force was arrested for posing as Amit Shah to help his friend get appointed as vice-chancellor of a medical university. Wing Commander Kuldeep Vaghela, 36, who is stationed at the IAF headquarters in New Delhi and his friend Chandresh Kumar, who runs a dental clinic in Bhopal are currently in custody. Shukla made a call from his mobile phone to the Raj Bhavan landline on January 3 and asked that he be connected to the Governor. He asked for the same to be done immediately as Union Home Minister, Amit Shah was on the line. He then impersonated Shah and asked that his friend be considered for the post of VC. Tehran plane crash: Iran admits it hit civilian aircraft by mistake | OneIndia news 3 ISIS terrorists arrested in Delhi were conspiring terror attack in UP, NCR The Governor Lalji Tandon, however, got suspicious and asked his staff to check with Shah's office. They were informed that no such call was made. Following this a complaint was filed and the police began investigation. The duo have been booked for impersonation and cheating and were remanded in three days police custody for interrogation. Stormont's first and deputy first ministers have been appointed after powersharing returned to Northern Ireland. DUP leader Arlene Foster resumes the first minister role she lost when the last coalition executive collapsed in 2017 while Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill has become deputy first minister. Despite the titles, both offices hold equal status in the ministerial executive. Ms Foster said she was "deeply humbled". The DUP leader said there was plenty of blame to go around for the three-year powersharing impasse but she insisted it was now time to look to the future. Significantly, given one of the key disputes at the heart of political crisis, Ms Foster made reference to an Irish language phrase in a speech that stressed the need to work together going forward. "When I visited Our Lady's Grammar in Newry, the pupils gave me a lovely picture as a gift," she said. "It has hung in my office upstairs ever since, just above my shoulder. In Irish, it states: 'Together, we are strong'. "We have many differences. Michelle's narrative of the past 40 years could not be more different to mine. "I'm not sure we will ever agree on much about the past, but we can agree there was too much suffering, and that we cannot allow society to drift backwards and allow division to grow. "Northern Ireland is succeeding in many ways. It's time for Stormont to move forward and show that 'together we are stronger' for the benefit of everyone." Ms O'Neill said it was a "defining moment" for the region. "After three years without functioning institutions with the five parties forming the new Executive, it is my hope that we do so united in our determination to deliver a stable power-sharing coalition that works on the basis of openness, transparency and accountability, and in good faith and with no surprises," she said. "I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of my dear friend and comrade Martin Mc Guinness taking up the position of deputy first minister, and as joint head of Government I too pledge to follow the example of Martin by actively promoting reconciliation, and building bridges we can all cross to end sectarianism and bigotry." All five of the main parties will form the region's new powersharing executive. Moments before business resumed at Parliament Buildings at lunchtime, the Ulster Unionist Party confirmed it will take up a ministry in the coalition executive while the Alliance Party said it had accepted an invite to fill the justice ministry. They will join the DUP, Sinn Fein and SDLP in the administration. It marks a significant development as the last executive prior to Stormont's collapse in 2017 did not include the three smaller parties. After the landmark deal to restore devolution, the Assembly has returned three years on from the acrimonious collapse of the institutions. Powersharing returned after the DUP and Sinn Fein, the region's two largest parties, agreed to re-enter a mandatory coalition ministerial executive. They have both signed up to a deal, tabled by the UK and Irish governments, that offered compromise resolutions to a range of long-standing disputes on issues such as the Irish language. The endorsement of the two parties was essential for the formation of an executive, as peace process structures mean an administration can only function if it includes the largest unionist party and largest nationalist party. Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey had been elected as the new speaker of the Assembly. The rest of the new ministerial executive will be elected later on Saturday afternoon. The plenary session is scheduled to last for three-and-a-half hours. The "New Decade, New Approach" deal will also be accompanied by what the UK Government has promised will be a major investment package. Government funding is set to help tackle a host of acute problems facing a public sector that has been floundering amid the governance vacuum. One of the most high-profile of those is an industrial dispute in the health service that has seen nurses take strike action on three occasions in the last month. Under the terms of the deal, the new executive will also take action to reduce spiralling hospital waiting lists; extend mitigation payments for benefit claimants hit by welfare reforms; increase the number of police officers on the beat; and resolve an industrial dispute involving teachers. The last DUP/Sinn Fein-led coalition government collapsed in January 2017 over a row about a botched green energy scheme. That row subsequently widened to take in more traditional wrangles on matters such as the Irish language and the thorny legacy of the Troubles. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap on Saturday came out in support of actor Deepika Padukone and her movie 'Chhapaak' in which she has essayed the role of an acid attack survivor. The film is facing a boycott call from sympathisers of the BJP-led NDA government at Centre in the wake of Padukone's recent visit to the JNU following violence in the campus. The RJD leader's tweet in favour of the actor and her film, however, drew instant ridicule from Bihar BJP which was quick to point out the alleged ill-treatment suffered by the mercurial leader's estranged wife, Aishwarya Roy. Yadav, who takes to the micro-blogging site far less frequently than his father, mother Rabri Devi, eldest sister Misa Bharti or younger brother Tejashwi Yadav, offered his take in typical Bihari slang. "Why is Chhapaak coming like a 'dhapaak' (blow) to those who are occupying seats of power? These are the same people who swear by women's empowerment and safety and coin slogans like 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. You are an inspiration, @deepikapadukone ji," Tej Pratap tweeted. Padukone is being trolled ever since she visited the JNU campus and stood beside students protesting the recent assault by masked attackers allegedly supporting RSS-affiliate ABVP. The hashtag #boycottchhapaak has been trending on Twitter as Padukone's gesture was seen as supportive of those opposed to the BJP. 'Chapaak' hit the screens on Friday. Yadav's averment came a day after his party colleague and former state culture minister Shiv Chandra Ram urged the Nitish Kumar government to declare the film tax-free. State BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand responded by issuing a strongly-worded statement, condemning as "ridiculous, bordering on shamelessness" the "gyaan" (wisdom) that Yadav sought to offer in his tweet. "His parents may have named him Tej (bright) but he would do well to stop taking it literally and, in view of his actions, start calling himself 'chirkut' (worthless). "He is not just a member of the state Assembly but has been a minister as well. It behoved him to treat women with respect. But the way he has treated 'samaj ki beti' (daughter of the community) is disgraceful. If he is left with an iota of shame, he should publicly fall at the feet of Aishwarya Roy and seek her apology," Anand said. Yadav had married Roy, daughter of a sitting RJD MLA and granddaughter of a former Bihar chief minister, in May 2018. He filed a petition seeking divorce barely six months after his marriage. Aishwarya Roy chose to stay with Rabri Devi in a bid to save her failing marriage. However, things reached a flash-point in December last year when Roy sat outside Rabri Devi's house, flanked by father Chandrika Roy and other family members, tearfully accusing her mother-in-law of having dragged her by the hair and driven her out of the bungalow. Roy subsequently lodged an FIR at a police station accusing Rabri Devi, her husband and Misa Bharti of domestic violence. Former chief minister Rabri Devi responded with a police complaint alleging that she faced threat to her life from her daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Roy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SOUDERTON Plans for new playgrounds in Souderton Community Park have been completed, Borough Manager Mike Coll told Souderton Borough Council at its Jan. 3 meeting. "Where the former softball field was is where we are looking to install two playgrounds a playground for smaller toddlers in an age group up to five and a larger playground structure for... Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It might be Winnipeg's answer to the Amazing Race. Over the next few months, the City of Winnipeg, the RCMP, Manitoba Justice and nearly 40 individuals and companies named in a civil lawsuit will compete against each other to determine the fate of thousands of pages of documents collected during the fraud investigation of Caspian Construction for its work overseeing the construction of the downtown Winnipeg Police Service headquarters. Winnipeg sues former CAO, contractors over police HQ 'fraud, embezzlement' Click to Expand Posted: 7:30 PM Jan. 6, 2020 Contractors and subcontractors allegedly falsified documents and invoices, and submitted them for payment. Kickbacks were allegedly paid to the president of a corporation who, at the same time, was the city's top bureaucrat. Construction of the downtown Winnipeg police headquarters was millions of dollars over budget. With no criminal charges being laid in the aftermath of years of RCMP investigation and no provincial inquiry being ordered, the City of Winnipeg has launched a lawsuit against the building's contractors, architects and even its own former chief administrative officer, Phil Sheegl. Read Full Story Paper trails and emails: city outlines its case for police headquarters fraud The City of Winnipeg paints a damning picture of the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters construction scandal. (Ken Gigliotti / Free Press files) Posted: 6:52 PM Jan. 10, 2020 It's hard to escape the irony. A large downtown Winnipeg building designed to house the city police officers who uphold the law is allegedly built on a foundation of fraud on the scale of millions of dollars. Read Full Story In a civil suit filed just last week, the city made an application to the Court of Queen's Bench for an interim order requiring the RCMP to preserve all of the evidence it collected during its investigation, which began more than five years ago, and to make it available to be copied. It is common for the police to receive requests from parties engaged in civil litigation for access to files obtained during a criminal investigation. However, rarely has this been done in such a high-profile case with so much public money hanging in the balance. Furthermore, it is believed that many others possibly including the RCMP itself, Manitoba Justice and the people named in the lawsuit will ultimately seek to either retrieve that evidence or, at the very least, keep it from becoming part of the public record. Michael Jack, the city's chief corporate services officer, said the city desperately needs the evidence from the RCMP to strengthen what it believes is an already strong case against Caspian and the others named in the lawsuit. "We really want these documents," Jack said in an interview. "They are very important to our legal action and we want to move urgently to get them." The decision to launch a civil suit in the wake of a decision not to charge Caspian and others criminally is, in and of itself, hardly surprising. The city is on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in cost overruns on the WPS headquarters; originally pegged at $137.1 million when work started in 2011, total costs ballooned to more than $214 million by the time police moved into the building in 2016. The lawsuit names Caspian Construction, its principals and related companies, former city chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl and more than 30 other people and companies. It is within that statement that the application for access to RCMP files was made. The city is on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in cost overruns on the renovation of the old Canada Post building. (John Woods / Free Press files) Given evidence that had already been made public through court documents, it was somewhat surprising when, after five years of investigation and deliberations, the Manitoba Prosecution Service announced last month it would not be laying any charges. The department offered little explanation for its decision, other than its belief that, after reviewing all of the evidence collected by the RCMP, there was no "reasonable likelihood of conviction." Although the evidence did not apparently meet the standards for a criminal conviction which requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt Jack said it could be enough to carry a civil action where the burden of proof (a balance of probabilities) is less onerous. Even so, information contained in RCMP files is of vital importance in the effort on behalf of taxpayers to recoup fraudulent claims made by the contractor. "It would be fair to say that we have a lot of evidence of fraud that comes from stuff already on the public record and in various applications for search warrants," Jack said. "We have also been contacted by subcontractors who have confirmed what we feared was going on with invoices. "But for a lot of the other evidence, we're looking at things second-hand. We need to get our hands on the originals. In some instances, it's going to confirm what we already know. In others, it's going to tell us new things that will help our lawsuit." In its statement of claim, the city alleges the respondents were collectively involved in a "scheme" to defraud the city of tens of millions of dollars in fake costs charged to the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters project. And further, that hundreds of thousands of dollars generated by the fraudulent invoices was paid in illegal "kickbacks" to a host of people, most notably Sheegl. "We really want these documents. They are very important to our legal action and we want to move urgently to get them." Michael Jack, City of Winnipeg's chief corporate services officer Jack said the city feels confident the court will grant an order for access to the police files. However, he noted a previous attempt to obtain materials from the RCMP investigation did not succeed. In 2018, Canada Post made a similar application to access police files. Caspian had also worked on the construction of Canada Post's new facility near Richardson International Airport. Concerns about similar fraudulent practices drew Canada Post into the criminal investigation. Canada Post's application was opposed by the RCMP, Manitoba Justice and lawyers for some of the companies and individuals caught up in the criminal investigation. The court ultimately declined to release the RCMP files. There are two important differences between the Canada Post application and the most recent attempt by the city to gain access to the files. First, Canada Post made its request while the police investigation was still officially underway, and before Manitoba Justice decided not to pursue criminal charges. And second, the request was not made in conjunction with an ongoing legal action, which is normally the case; in filing a civil suit, the city has satisfied that basic requirement. RCMP documents used to acquire a search warrant at Caspian Construction in 2016. (John Woods / Free Press files) The interested parties that very likely could oppose the city's motion are quite numerous. However, without exception, all are playing their cards very close to their vests. Lawyers for Caspian and related companies did not respond to several requests for response to the city's motion to obtain RCMP files. The same goes for Sheegl. Lawyer Robert Tapper denied that Sheegl had even been served by the civil suit and refused to state a position on whether he would oppose the city's request access to the RCMP evidence or seek the return of any materials seized during the investigation. The RCMP declined to comment because the matter is before a court. 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. The province, as well, is reserving comment on the city's motion. Although it may not have a legal basis on which to oppose the release of RCMP files, the prosecution service will no doubt be sensitive to having the evidence made public because it may call into question the decision not to lay charges. Jack said that there is some concern the evidence collected by the RCMP may not be adequately preserved. The suspects in this case are entitled to make their own court application to retrieve any materials seized as part of the investigation. "Would anyone shred anything?" Jack said. "I don't really want to consider that situation. Once litigation has started, everyone is under certain professional obligations to preserve evidence. That having been said, we do want to move urgently." dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Ian H Watkins (left) and Matt Evers attending the launch of Dancing On Ice 2020, held at Bovingdon Airfield, Hertfordshire. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) Dancing On Ice's first same sex partnership, Matt Evers and Ian "H" Watkins, are looking to make their routines a bit raunchier. Following on from their first performance together last Sunday, professional skater Evers has shared that he and former Steps member Watkins have approached the show's bosses to dial up the romance. "We have spoken to producers to see if we can make the routines a little steamier. Perhaps take it up a notch and add some romance," he told The Sun. "It's down to them though. Read more: Dancing On Ice star Vanessa Bauer shares video of terrifying fall "Last week we tested the waters and we were overwhelmed by the response from the viewers. Having a same sex couple on the show means so much to so many people - I didn't realise how huge it would be." Ian Watkins and Matt Evers during the Dancing On Ice 2019 photocall at ITV Studios on December 09, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) Evers and Watkins' first routine was lauded by judge John Barrowman who was reduced to tears by the performance. The actor and TV personality discussed how much it had meant to him as a gay man to watch the pair dance. He said on the night: I am [emotional]. That makes me happy on a compete multitude of levels just because of seeing two men who represent someone who is like me, and to skate as well as you did, youve done it now, the nerves are out of the way. Youve shown that two men can perform and skate together. It doesnt have to be what you did before with the man/woman thingyou know, man/man, switch it up, do it different ways." John Barrowman during the Dancing On Ice 2019 photocall at ITV Studios on December 09, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) However, the first for the show did have some detractors as their dance received 16 Ofcom complaints. Evers reacted to the complaints on Twitter, writing: "16 out of 5.5 million... the odds are in our favor." With the first half of the contestants having performed last weekend, the next six are set to skate on Sunday. Watkins and Evers won't be in the skate-off though, as it was Trisha Goddard who landed in the bottom last week alongside professional partner ukasz Rozycki. A five-judge bench comprising Justices NV Ramana, Arun Mishra, Rohinton Fali Nariman, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan will hear the curative petitions filed by Vinay Sharma and Mukesh, who moved the apex court on Thursday. Mukesh filed the plea, after fellow convict Vinay Sharma moved the court. New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) The Supreme Court will hear the curative petitions filed by two convicts, on death row, in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case on January 14. A trial court here, while issuing death warrants against the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case on Tuesday observed that "despite being afforded sufficient time and opportunity", the convicts didn't exercise their legal remedies. The court fixed January 22 and 7 a.m. as the date and time for execution of the four convicted persons in the case. After a 23-year-old woman was gangraped and tortured on December 16, 2012, leading to her death, all 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. The four 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 in May 2017 by the Supreme Court, which also dismissed their review petitions. Vinay Sharma in the curative petition said his entire family suffered due to the criminal proceedings. "The petitioner is not the only person being punished; his entire family has suffered greatly as a result of the criminal proceedings. The family faced societal wrath and humiliation for no fault of theirs. "The petitioner's parents are old and extremely poor. The case has been a huge drain on their resources and now they are left almost empty handed," stated the curative petition filed through senior advocate Adhis C. Aggarwala and Advocate A.P. Singh. "The petitioner's father earns a meagre living. The family has no savings and lives in the R.K. Puram Harijan Basti. If the petitioner is executed his entire family will be destroyed," it stated. The plea further said the state had no evidence in the form of psychiatric structured clinical judgment, based on the appellant's life in the prison (around 7 years) and life prior to it, in the background of his mental impairment, his adjustment to and interaction with other inmates and officials. ss/vin Ministers will be appointed in a new power-sharing executive in the North today as devolution is restored at Stormont after three years. The Assembly is due to sit in plenary session at 1pm after a 36-month impasse when a new speaker and deputy speaker will be chosen. DUP leader Arlene Foster will then be installed as First Minister and Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill as Deputy First Minister before the other positions are filled. Stormont sources predicted women would feature prominently in the new appointments. They revealed the justice ministry will remain outside the D'Hondt process. It will be offered to either Alliance leader Naomi Long or Independent Unionist MLA Claire Sugden, who held the portfolio in the last administration. Some insiders last night speculated that Ms Sugden was favourite for the post. The new executive will include at least three parties after the SDLP said it was willing to take its seat. Nichola Mallon is likely to be the party's ministerial choice. Sinn Fein and the DUP both voiced their support for the two governments' blueprint yesterday, despite saying it wasn't perfect. The DUP leadership briefed its executive and councillors on the deal last night. Despite some discomfort among representatives at the agreement during Thursday's internal discussions, the party was relieved there was no public opposition. Ms Foster conceded there were parts of the deal that would be challenging for the people whom she represents. "But overall and on the whole I feel that it's a fair and balanced deal and that's why we were able to recommend it to our party officers and to the elected representatives," she said. "I think people will note that whilst there is a recognition of the facilitation of Irish language, there is also very much a recognition of those of us who are Ulster British and live here in Northern Ireland as well, and there is many mechanisms to strengthen the Union." Ms Foster responded to criticism of the deal from the Orange Order and TUV leader Jim Allister. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said the executive faced many challenges, including the impact of Brexit and austerity. "But the biggest and most significant challenge will be ensuring we have genuine power-sharing built on equality, respect and integrity," she added. "I believe that the power-sharing government can work. That requires everyone to step up. Sinn Fein's commitment is to do all in our power to make this happen." Ms McDonald responded to Irish-language activists disappointed in the deal. She said it was only a start and more gains for the language would come in the future. "I would say to Irish language activists take heart from the fact that this is now a historic moment because for the first time we have official recognition," she said. Tanaiste Simon Coveney said history has been made. Speaking to reporters in Dublin, he said: "History is being made today. We now have confirmation from the two largest parties in Northern Ireland that they both are committed to re-entering an executive and establishing a functioning Stormont again." Boris Johnson tweeted: "This is a great step forwards for the people of Northern Ireland and for restoring public confidence in stable devolved government and delivering much needed reforms to public services." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 10) Real estate developer and mining giant Isidro "Sid" Consunji became the latest businessman to earn the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte, this time for Maynilad's water supply contract and the collapsed condominium building in Davao City. In a speech in Cotabato province on Friday night, Duterte gave Consunji, president and chief executive officer of DMCI Holdings, Inc., a dressing down after his familys condominium project in Davao suffered major damage during a magnitude 6.6 earthquake last October. Duterte even threatened to deny government permits for other projects of the businessman, who also operates coal mines under Semirara Mining and Power Corporation. "Ikaw, may problema ka. Unahin mo 'yung problema mo sa tao. Kung builder ka, Consunji ka man o hindi, kapag naasar ako sayo, I will not grant you any permit to dig [You have a problem. Fix the problem you have with the people first. If you're a builder, even if you're not Consunji, I will not grant you any permit to dig if I get pissed]," the President said. Portions of the Ecoland 4000 tower, which was built by Consunji-owned DMC Urban Property Developers Inc., collapsed resulting in injuries to several residents. Some were trapped inside the complex after a second tremor hit the area. City officials ordered a forced evacuation for building occupants. "Tayong mahihirap, wala tayong problema. Ang may mga problema dito, 'yung mga mayaman. Gaya nito ni Consunji, lahat ng condo niya apat, 'yung isa bumagsak. Sa karaming building sa Davao, kanya lang ang (bumagsak)," Duterte said. [Translation: We poor people, we don't have a problem. Those facing problems are the rich like Consunji. Of his four condominiums, one collapsed. Out of all the buildings in Davao, only his property suffered major damage.] He went on to blast Consunji, who is also the vice chairman of Maynilad, for earlier warning that both Maynilad and Manila Water would go bankrupt if the government revoked water supply deals for Metro Manila. Consunji was quoted as saying in a Manila Standard report that the utility firms would go under as they have no way of repaying debts if their contracts were rescinded. On Saturday, Consunji responded to President Dutertes order for him to address issues in the collapsed Ecoland 4000 condominium in Davao. We accepted the offer to settle the claims of the homeowners at 150 peercent of acquisition cost. They have a general assembly on January 20, Consunji told CNN Philippines in a text message on Saturday. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) eventually revoked the extension of the contract for the two water companies which Duterte said had onerous" provision. This made business prospects beyond 2022 uncertain for both water firms. The chief executive had been repeatedly lashing out against the Ayala family and businessman Manny Pangilinan for these deals, after Manila Water scored a victory from an international tribunal to demand 7.4 billion from the Philippine government to cover losses it had incurred. Both firms caved and said they would not collect the arbitral award anymore. READ: Duterte to file plunder charges vs. Maynilad, Manila Water This is not the first time the President has challenged big businesses. In 2016, Duterte waged a word war with tycoon Roberto Ongpin and his company PhilWeb, which triggered changes in ownership as stocks plummeted. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 16:58:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Zhang Jun (C), Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, addresses a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 10, 2020. Zhang said China always has reservations regarding the establishment of a Syrian cross-border humanitarian relief mechanism. Zhang called on all relevant parties to step up cooperation with the Syrian government and prioritize providing humanitarian assistance from inside Syria. The UN Security Council on Friday re-authorized the cross-border aid mechanism for the Syrian people, which expires at midnight, after heated discussion. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) Matt Gaetz Alex Wong/Getty Images GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida came out in strong support of the House of Representatives' war-powers resolution on Thursday. The measure would dramatically curtail President Donald Trump's power to take further military action against Iran and comes after Trump ordered an airstrike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani without notifying Congress. Gaetz on Thursday said that he supported Trump's decision but also believed Congress has a say in "matters of war and peace." "I represent more troops than any other member of this body," Gaetz said. "I buried one of them earlier today at Arlington. That sergeant died a patriot and a hero. If the members of our armed services have the courage to go and fight and die in these wars, as Congress, we ought to have the courage to vote for or against them." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Republican congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida came out Thursday in support of a war-powers resolution that would dramatically curtail President Donald Trump's power to take further military action against Iran. His announcement comes days after the Trump administration announced that the president ordered an airstrike last week that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the most powerful military official in the country and a widely revered figure within Iran. Trump's drone strike set off a series of escalatory actions from both Washington and the Iranian capital of Tehran and stoked fears that the US was about to get involved in another war in the Middle East. On Wednesday, however, Trump signaled a de-escalation of the matter and indicated that the US would not retaliate after Iran fired off several missiles at a US base in Iraq that resulted in no American casualties. "I represent more troops than any other member of this body," Gaetz said in a statement on the floor of the House of Representatives, which will vote Thursday on the war-powers resolution. Story continues He added: "I buried one of them earlier today at Arlington. That sergeant died a patriot and a hero. If the members of our armed services have the courage to go and fight and die in these wars, as Congress, we ought to have the courage to vote for or against them." Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) January 9, 2020 Gaetz is a staunch ally of the president but has broken with him on issues related to national security and climate change. On Thursday, he specified that his vote for the war-powers resolution did not represent a criticism of the president but support for Congress' duty to have a say in military and national-security matters. "I take a backseat to no member of this body when it comes to defending the president," Gaetz said. "This resolution offers no criticism of the president. It doesn't criticize the president's attack on Soleimani. As a matter of fact, this resolution doesn't even say Soleimani's name in it." "I think it's ludicrous to suggest that we are impairing the troops from doing their job by not doing our job articulated in the Constitution to speak to these matters of war and peace," Gaetz added. "I support the president. Killing Soleimani was the right decision, but engaging in another forever war in the Middle East would be the wrong decision, and that's why I'm voting for this resolution." Read the original article on Business Insider Presidential candidate Tom Steyer says America should embrace religiosity, spirituality as strength Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Billionaire Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer who said he believes Americas spirituality and religiosity is one of the nations great strengths is hoping the discussion of faith in America will seriously be acknowledged beyond the realm of the Republican Party this election cycle. Steyer, who never run for elected office before launching his campaign, much like incumbent President Donald Trump, says he is as a Christian believer who embraced the idea of God through both his fathers Jewish and his mothers Episcopalian traditions. In a recent interview with journalist Paula Faris on her podcast Journeys of Faith with Paula Faris," Steyer, a hedge fund manager and philanthropist who describes himself as a political activist whos running for president, revealed how he finally found faith in God at age 30 and infused it in his life. He believes the separation of church and state is important but also strongly embraces religious freedom, freely stating that his faith impacts his worldview including government. I think about my religion as giving me the values and the framework for thinking about everything including government. I think everybody should be coming to questions of government with values in mind in trying to do the right thing. I say look, if you come that way, if you tell the truth and put the American people first in trying to do the right thing, if we disagree on everything, Im fine with it thats called democracy, he said. I think about religion as infusing you with the values you care the most about. But the reason the Constitution separates church and state, religion and government, is because if you bring it directly into the government where you say, Im in contact with God, this is what I think because this is what God thinks, you really cant have a conversation, he said. Steyer says when he made his decision to embrace faith in God his mother felt he was a bit smug about it. I was aware growing up that people could believe in God and pursue faith from different angles and still that didnt reflect on them being right or wrong. It was their way of seeing it. So when I was about 30, I called my mom and said: Youre not gonna believe this but I really believe in God, he told Faris. She goes: Sonny, there are a lot of people who are a hell of a lot smarter than you that believe in God. Dont sound so smug, Steyer said his mother replied. He explained that at the time he decided to believe in God he was searching for something that would help him make sense of his purpose in life. I think what I was searching for then and what I think is important to me, is feeling like theres a connectedness to my life. And that, in fact, what Im doing makes sense while Im on the earth, theres a purpose to it and the values that I believe in make sense in the context of the physical world and the other human beings on the planet in kind of a continuum of life on earth, he said. I want to feel as if Im part of that continuum in a positive way and that my time here is not empty, but its in fact infused with value beyond myself. His faith, he said, helps to drive the passion he has for some of the touchstone issues of his platform, such as climate change. Lets talk for a second about climate change. I said I would declare a state of emergency on day one. I would use the emergency powers of the presidency to deal with it on day one. Id call on Congress to pass something like the Green New Deal the first 100 days. Id make it the No. 1 priority of foreign policy because unless we do that re-establish the United States as a moral and technological and commercial leader in the world we cant get it done, he said. When you think about it in terms of faith, youre thinking about two things. Youre thinking about protecting Gods earth. You cant do that and not in fact take care of the earth and watch it change in ways that can be devastating, not just for us but for everything on earth, he added. Steyer added that while America has historically been an overwhelmingly Judeo-Christian nation, it's increasingly growing more pluralistic, especially with many young people struggling with traditional faith." Historically, we were overwhelmingly Judeo-Christian and I think that even when you look at that description you can see that we are much more multiple than that. You have a lot of people who were coming here who are Muslims, Hindus. We have a lot of young people who are struggling with traditional faith and finding their own way to God, and to me thats fine, he told Faris. Everybody has to find their own way and I support that. But the key to me is not how you do it but whether you do it. I really think its really important for me. I hope other people see it this way, too, in finding that core of what were doing on this planet. How were making contributions. How were part of a positive force on this planet. We are a spiritual nation. We are a religious nation. I think thats one of our great strengths. I think that that gives us the courage to do whats right, he said. New Delhi: Several people are feared dead in an accident in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj where a bus collided with a truck and caught fire. The incident took place on Friday night at Dewar Marg in Kannauj district while the bus was en-route to Jaipur. According to police, at least 15-20 people are feared dead in the mishap. However, an official figure on the number of casualties is yet to come out. The identities of the victim are yet to be ascertained. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his gried on the incident and announced an ex-gratia for the families of those killed in the incident. CM Adityanath said that the state government has decided to provide a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each as compensation to the injured. The rescue operation was carried out late night and the Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured. As many as 15 firetenders were also rushed to the spot to carry out the rescue work, said a report. "The entire district administration is at the spot and is involved in the rescue operation. So far 21 injured have been taken to hospital. Fire is under control. It isn't yet clear that how many lives were claimed in the incident," ANI quoted the CM as saying. The Chief Minister said that he has asked state minister Ram Naresh Agnihotri to visit the spot and sought a report of the incident from the District Magistrate. According to Kannauj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar, at least 43 people were travelling in the bus and as many as 21 injured have been shifted to a hospital and have been given medical treatment. He added that the fire was brought under the control and at least 25 passengers were rescued, at the time of the filing of the report. "There is also input that some people had managed to escape from the bus but did not get admitted to the hospital. We have called a forensics team. They will assess the death toll," Kumar told reporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolence over the incident and tweeted, "Sad to hear about the horrific road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj. Many people lost their lives in the accident. I express my condolences to relatives of those who lost their lives, and wish the injured get well soon." Since the Trump administrations assassination of a top Iranian general brought the US to the brink of war, Senator Bernie Sanders has made frequent statements and appearances in which he has denounced the recklessness of the Trump administration and opposed a new war with Iran. In addition to heavy activity on his presidential campaigns social media accounts, Sanders has made the rounds of talk shows, including the "Late Show" on CBS, the "Today Show" on NBC and an interview on public radio. Bernie Sanders This has been accompanied by the systematic promotion of Sanders by pseudo-left and left-liberal publications as the only "anti-war" candidate in the presidential election. Typical were headlines in Jacobin such as Trump Wants to Drag Us Into War With Iran. Bernie Is the Candidate to Stop Him, and in the Nation, Bernie Sanders Is the Anti-War Candidate. Many people naturally assume that Sanders professed democratic socialism also means that the 78-year-old senator is an opponent of imperialist war. But in reality, since first entering Congress in 1991, Sanders has compiled a lengthy record of support for war and defense of the predatory interests of American imperialism. In one politically revealing statement made during his January 8 interview on National Public Radio (NPR), Sanders declared: We should use our wealth and our resources, through carrots and sticks, to bring countries together, to end the kind of terrible conflicts that we are seeing all over the world, to strengthen international organizations where people can sit down and argue rather than shoot guns or drop bombs against each other. In plain language, this means Sanders supports the use of military power combined with diplomatic pressure to uphold an international geopolitical order that is dominated by the United States. Now, I'm not a pacifist, he hastened to add. There are times when war may be necessary. But I believe, as somebody who as a young person opposed the Vietnam War, which was such a disaster for my generation, as somebody who helped lead the effort against the war in Iraq, which was such a disaster for our younger people, that I will do everything I can to resolve international conflict through diplomacy, through negotiations, and not through the continuation of endless wars. Enough is enough. When Sanders refers to necessary wars, he is not referring to popular revolutions against bankrupt social orders or revolts by colonial peoples against their imperial masters. He is referring instead to those wars that are necessary to advance the interests of American imperialism. Sanders record demonstrates what he considers necessary wars. It includes the 1993 US intervention in the Somalian civil war, in which the US deployed death squads from the Army Rangers, Delta Force and other special forces units to the impoverished but strategically located African nation to decapitate factions opposed to the establishment of a US puppet regime. It also includes the NATO air war against Serbia in 1999, launched on the pretext of stopping the imminent ethnic cleansing of Kosovars. In 2001, Sanders joined in a near-unanimous vote in favor of the invasion of Afghanistan. Todaynow that the nearly twenty-year-long war is widely unpopularSanders conveniently declares that his earlier vote was a mistake. But he has continued to endorse US wars in the Middle East, including the US proxy war in Syria. Sanders has also supported Israels repeated assaults on Gaza, imperialist war crimes made possible with the support of the United States. In a 2014 town hall meeting, Sanders shouted down an antiwar protester who challenged his support for Israel even as it was committing egregious crimes against the Palestinian population. Moreover, Sanders has publicly voiced support for the use of assassinations and extraordinary rendition in the so-called war on terror. In 2015, when asked whether anti-terrorism policies under a Sanders administration would include drones and special forces, Sanders replied that he supported all that and more. In his interview with NPR, Sanders evaded answering when asked whether he would leave special operations forces in Iraq after withdrawing ground troops. Where Sanders has voted against military conflict, as in his vote against the Iraq War in 2002, he did so along with the majority of congressional Democrats. But this did not stop Sanders from voting repeatedly for massive military spending bills in the years after the invasion of Iraq. Sanders repeatedly describes the Iraq War as a disaster or a foreign policy debaclebut never as a crime, whose architects should be prosecuted. Sanders support for war is closely connected to his longstanding support for trade war with Chinaa position that raises the danger of a shooting war with a nuclear power and the worlds most populous country. In fact, his first piece of legislation in Congress was a bill he co-sponsored with Nancy Pelosi opposing favorable trade relations with China. Since the election of Trump, Sanders has alternated between overtures of support for Trumps trade war measures with China and attacks on Trump and even fellow Democrats for not committing sufficiently to a conflict with China. This record is generally unknown to Sanders own supporters, in large part because, except for occasional verbal shows of opposition, which are designed to conceal his actual record and mislead popular opposition to war, Sanders has kept a studied public silence on foreign policy throughout his career. But Sanders support for US imperialism exposes his professed democratic socialism as a fraud, since it is impossible to oppose the policies of the financial oligarchy at home while supporting wars fought on their behalf abroad. His support for over a quarter-century of war waged by the American capitalist class in a struggle to maintain its world dominance is the clearest indication that, beneath his left-sounding rhetoric, Sanders is a pro-capitalist politician. Since the 2016 primaries, as Sanders has been elevated from the margins of the Democratic Party to one of its top public figures, he has been compelled to make more frequent and lengthy public statements on foreign policy, beginning with a major speech in 2017. In that speech, made at the site of Churchills famous Iron Curtain speech of 1946, Sanders proclaimed his support for wars for democracy and humanitarian intervention, and pledged his support for the Democratic Partys warmongering against Russia and Syria. By his choice of venue and his praise in his speech for presidents Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson, the architects of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Sanders cloaked himself in the mantle of Cold War-era anticommunism, signaling to the ruling class that he can be a reliable defender of its interests. In his criticisms of Trumps drive to war against Iran, he is articulating not the deep hatred of the population for war, but the tactical concerns of the Democratic Party. This is a fundamentally pro-war opposition, which is concerned primarily that Trump, in assassinating General Qassem Suleimani, acted rashly without making adequate preparations for a war with Iran, both from the standpoint of troop deployments in the Middle East and from the standpoint of conditioning the American public for the enormous material and human costs of such a war. Moreover, the Democratic Party is concerned that a war with Iran would tie up hundreds of thousands of US troops that might be otherwise deployed against Russia, which the Democratic Party sees as a more pressing and immediate adversary of American imperialism. Its demand that Trump continue his predecessor Obamas military buildup against Russia lies at the heart of the campaign to impeach Trump and the non-stop efforts to brand him a stooge of Putin, a campaign that Sanders has supported. Only a month ago, in the midst of their vote to impeach Trump, congressional Democrats voted to hand Trump a $738 billion military budget, one of the largest in history. In the House, members of the squad, congresswomen aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, sought to posture as opponents of war by casting meaningless votes against a budget whose passage was already secured. In the Senate, Sanders did not even make a show of opposition, deciding instead to abstain. In promoting himself as a leading anti-war figure, Sanders is preparing a carefully laid-out political trap for the tens of millions of workers and young people who are opposed to war and deeply concerned about the devastating consequences, both at home and abroad, of a massive new war in the Middle East. This is a repeat of the role Sanders played in the 2016 primaries. He ran in order to capture the mass opposition to poverty, inequality and war among workers and youth, which has motivated a rapid and growing interest in socialism, in order to channel it back behind the Democratic Party, where it could trapped and disoriented. Sanders endorsement in the general election of Hillary Clinton, widely reviled as a warmonger and Wall Street hack, enabled Trump to capture some of this opposition through his right-wing populism, under conditions where workers were left with no other way to register their opposition to the entire political setup. A genuine anti-war movement must be based on the working class, in complete opposition to all of the capitalist parties and their political enablers, and on the basis of genuine socialism, which seeks to put an end to war by abolishing its source, the capitalist system itself. Meet the familiar face joining Today's weekend edition. NBC News Washington correspondent Kristen Welker, 43, has been announced as the new co-anchor of Weekend Today. Welker was 21 when she began interning for Today in 1997, before joining on as a researcher for the weekend edition, according to the news organization. Congratulations! NBC News Washington correspondent Kristen Welker, 43, has been announced as the new co-anchor of Weekend Today The Harvard graduate left Today to begin reporting for stations in Redding, California and Philadelphia, Providence, before joining NBC News in 2010. Welker has been covering Washington since 2011, and even moderated the Democratic presidential debate last year alongside an all-female panel. Now the accomplished journalist will be delivering the news every Saturday morning on Today. Welker, who has occasionally filled-in as anchor for the weekend edition, appeared on the morning show Friday, where she was given a warm welcome by her colleagues. All eyes on the White House: Welker has been covering Washington since 2011 'Thank you... for passing the baton to me': She also shared an embrace with Sheinelle Jones, who recently announced she will be leaving Weekend Today after five years News of her role had already emerged a few days earlier, but her colleagues were still in a celebratory mood, raising a glass in honor of Welker. Welker expressed gratitude for the correspondent gig on her Instagram account, where she posted a photo following the champagne toast. 'Thank you @todayshow, @savannahguthrie, @hodakotb, @alroker, @craigmelvinnbc, @carsondaly & @libbyleist for the most heartfelt and remarkable welcome! It's the honor of a lifetime to join @peteralexandertv and the rest of the "Today" team every Saturday!' Star-studded: Kristen took a photo with Bernie Sanders and Larry David on Friday 'It's the honor of a lifetime': The journalist expressed gratitude for the new role on Friday She also shared an embrace with Sheinelle Jones, who recently announced she will be leaving Weekend Today after five years. Welker will be over for Jones, who will be leaving Weekend Today to spend more time with her family. 'Thank you @sheinelle_o for passing the baton to me on @todayshow Saturday. Going back to our days in Philly Ive always admired your great journalism and the fact that youre a great mom too. You've left big shoes to fill. I love watching you soar every day on @3rdhourtoday!' she captioned the photo of her with Sheinelle, who will continue co-hosting the third hour of Today. Welker will begin appearing on Weekend Today this Saturday alongside co-anchor Peter Alexander. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is currently imprisoned in the United Kingdom and faces extradition to the United States, has been awarded the 2019 Dignity Prize by the Catalan Dignity Commission, Australian media reported on Friday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th January, 2020) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is currently imprisoned in the United Kingdom and faces extradition to the United States, has been awarded the 2019 Dignity Prize by the Catalan Dignity Commission, Australian media reported on Friday. According to the news.com.au portal, Assange was awarded the prize in recognition of his efforts to raise awareness about the difficulties citizens faced in order to vote in the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, amid a Spanish government crackdown. "This deeply meaningful Dignity Award from the Catalan Dignity Commission in gratitude for Julian's courageous journalism, recognises the essence of his belief and practice, that a fierce free, truthful and independent media holding Governments and other powerful entities accountable to the people, is the most important protection we have to defend freedom and democracy," Assange's mother Christine remarked, as quoted by the media outlet. Assange regularly tweeted information about the Spanish government's attempts to influence the referendum result and also advised citizens of what cellphone applications to use to avoid government shut downs. Under pressure from Madrid, the Ecuadorian embassy frequently cut off Assange's access to the internet, the media portal stated. The Catalan Dignity Commission began honoring individuals and organizations that promoted Catalan independence and raised awareness of human rights issues in the region in 2002. In an October 2017 referendum, which Madrid called illegal, over 90 percent of voters supported Catalonia's independence from Spain. Assange resided in the Ecuadorian embassy in London from 2012-2019 after claiming for asylum. In April, the embassy allowed UK police to enter and arrest the WikiLeaks founder, who was eventually sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching bail conditions in 2012, relating to rape accusations in Sweden that have since been dropped. In May, the US Department of Justice indicted Assange on 17 charges under the Espionage Age and demanded his extradition. If convicted of these charges, the WikiLeaks founder faces up to 175 years in prison. Then-UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid approved the extradition request, stating that he did not believe Assange would face death or torture if extradited. His extradition case is set to be heard in February. Iran has admitted it fired a missile that brought down a passenger plane shortly after it took off from its main airport on Wednesday morning, effectively backtracking on fervent denials. A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster, Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif said in a statement Saturday morning. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. A Boeing 737-800 passenger plane operated by Ukrainian International Airlines went down shortly after take off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran at about 6:12 a.m. All 176 passengers and crew members on board, including 82 Iranians, were killed. There were immediate suspicion that the plane was shot down because the incident came as Iran was firing missiles against American targets in Iraq through the night on Wednesday. But Iran quickly dismissed the claim, with a senior official describing it as a big lie on state television. Ukraine also initially dismissed reports that the plane was shot down, but later retracted after emerging evidence began showing high possibility of a missile attack. But on Thursday, a day after the crash, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada announced that evidence from Canadian and other Western intelligence outfits showed Iran fired a missile at the plane. Canada had the highest number of nationals on the plane: 63. Germany, the United Kingdom and Ukraine also had citizens on it. Ukrainian aviation experts had been given access to the flight recording devices that were recovered shortly after the crash, but it was not immediately clear whether they had commenced analysis. Iran had said it would seek support from international partners, especially from France and Canada, to study evidence collected from the crash site. President Donald Trump speaks to media before departing the White House on Marine One on Oct. 11, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Trump Administration Urges Supreme Court to Deny Motions Seeking Expedited Review of Obamacare Ruling The Trump administration and a coalition of Republican-led states have asked the Supreme Court to deny a request to expedite a review of a lawsuit challenging former President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. The administration and state officials urged the court to deny the motions filed by the House and Democrat-led state in separate filings on Friday. The motions, filed last week, asked the top court to urgently consider taking up appeals of a lower court ruling that found a key aspect of Obamacare, the individual mandate provision, unconstitutional. Along with ruling the individual mandate was unconstitutional, the appeals court sent the case back to the district court to decide on whether that provision was severable from the rest of the law. If the court finds the provision is inseverable from the law, it could effectively invalidate the whole ACA. In the filing, the administration and state officials argued that the Supreme Court did not have to urgently consider the case because the district court needed to make a decision on the issue of severability before the top court can take up the case. As the case comes to this court, no lower-court ruling exists on severability or the appropriate remedy. Far from being urgently needed, this courts review thus would be premature, Solicitor General Noel Francisco wrote in the filing (pdf) for the Trump administration. Absent any operative ruling invalidating the ACAs other provisions in the interim, the accelerated review petitioners seek is unnecessary, he added. He said instead of intervening, the court should let the lower courts complete their own consideration of the question of severability. In their motions, House and Democratic state officials also requested the court to fast track the case and issue a ruling before its current term ends in June. They argued that the courts expeditious consideration is necessary because of the uncertainty the lower courts decision has on health insurance and the health care marketplace, as well as for millions of Americans who have purchased health insurance under Obamacare (pdf). In addressing that request, Francisco said the appellants had not provided a compelling justification for an accelerated timeline to consider the case. In December, judges at the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 21 that a key aspect of Obamacare was unconstitutional. The judges in the majority said the individual mandate, which required people to obtain health insurance or pay a tax penalty, was invalid after Congress removed the tax penalty in 2017, rendering the law unenforceable. Following Congresss amendment, a group of Republican-led states and two private individuals filed a lawsuit against the federal government claiming that the provision was no longer constitutional and that the whole ACA needed to be invalidated because the provision was inseverable from the rest of the law. During the district court trial, the Justice Department told the court that they agreed with the Republican states that the provision was unconstitutional (pdf) and declined to defend the ACA. The district court found in favor for the Republican-led states, prompting an appeal. In the majority opinion (pdf) of the appeals case, Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod, appointed by former President George W. Bush, said the individual mandate was unconstitutional because it can no longer be read as a tax, and there is no other constitutional provision that justifies this exercise of congressional power. On the issue of severability, Elrod directed the district court to employ a finer toothed comb to conduct a more detailed analysis of which provisions of the ACA Congress had intended to be inseverable from the individual mandate. The House and Democrat-led states, who requested to intervene in the initial lawsuit and appeal to defend the ACA, then separately appealed the Fifth Circuits ruling to the Supreme Court, saying in one of the petitions (pdf) to the top court that the lower courts ruling has cast doubt on the validity of the entire ACA, arguably the most consequential package of legislative reforms of this century. On Friday, the other respondents in the casethe state officials and two individuals, Neill Hurley and John Nantzalso made similar arguments in their filings urging the court to deny the motions. There may come a day when this courts review is appropriate, but it is after the issue of severability is decided, the state officials argued (pdf). Today we'll take a closer look at United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU.) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. If you are hoping to live on your dividends, it's important to be more stringent with your investments than the average punter. Regular readers know we like to apply the same approach to each dividend stock, and we hope you'll find our analysis useful. In this case, United Utilities Group likely looks attractive to investors, given its 4.4% dividend yield and a payment history of over ten years. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. Before you buy any stock for its dividend however, you should always remember Warren Buffett's two rules: 1) Don't lose money, and 2) Remember rule #1. We'll run through some checks below to help with this. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis LSE:UU. Historical Dividend Yield, January 10th 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. United Utilities Group paid out 92% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. This is quite a high payout ratio that suggests the dividend is not well covered by earnings. Another important check we do is to see if the free cash flow generated is sufficient to pay the dividend. United Utilities Group paid out 398% of its free cash flow last year, which we think is concerning if cash flows do not improve. Paying out such a high percentage of cash flow suggests that the dividend was funded from either cash at bank or by borrowing, neither of which is desirable over the long term. Cash is slightly more important than profit from a dividend perspective, but given United Utilities Group's payouts were not well covered by either earnings or cash flow, we would definitely be concerned about the sustainability of this dividend. Story continues Is United Utilities Group's Balance Sheet Risky? As United Utilities Group'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 is a measure of a company's total debt. Net interest cover measures the ability to meet interest payments. Essentially we check that a) the company does not have too much debt, and b) that it can afford to pay the interest. With net debt of 7.03 times its EBITDA, United Utilities Group could be described as a highly leveraged company. While some companies can handle this level of leverage, we'd be concerned about the dividend sustainability if there was any risk of an earnings downturn. Net interest cover can be calculated by dividing earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by the company's net interest expense. With EBIT of 3.20 times its interest expense, United Utilities Group's interest cover is starting to look a bit thin. Low interest cover and high debt can create problems right when the investor least needs them, and we're reluctant to rely on the dividend of companies with these traits. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of United Utilities Group'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. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of United Utilities Group's dividend payments. The dividend has been stable over the past 10 years, which is great. We think this could suggest some resilience to the business and its dividends. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was UK0.33 in 2010, compared to UK0.41 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 2.4% a year over that time. Slow and steady dividend growth might not sound that exciting, but dividends have been stable for ten years, which we think is seriously impressive. 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. Over the past five years, it looks as though United Utilities Group's EPS have declined at around 16% a year. A sharp decline in earnings per share is not great from from a dividend perspective, as even conservative payout ratios can come under pressure if earnings fall far enough. 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 United Utilities Group paying out a high percentage of both its cashflow and earnings. 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. There are a few too many issues for us to get comfortable with United Utilities Group from a dividend perspective. Businesses can change, but we would struggle to identify why an investor should rely on this stock for their income. Given that earnings are not growing, the dividend does not look nearly so attractive. See if the 13 analysts are forecasting a turnaround in our free collection of analyst estimates here. 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. The on Saturday attacked the Modi government over the killing of two Army porters in Jammu and Kashmir's Pooch district by the Army, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are silent on the barbarism of that country. Referring to reports that Pakistan, in a BAT (Border Action Team) attack in Pooch, killed two Army porters and decapitated one, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked why is the Modi government "silent" on Pakistan's barbarism. The BAT generally comprises special forces personnel of the Pakistani Army and terrorists. Pakistani soldiers beheaded a porter while the prime minister and the Defence Minister are "silent", Surjewala said also questioning media's silence on the issue. "Is the news of martyrdom run taking into account the government in power?" he said. "When will Pakistan's cowardly acts be given a befitting reply? 10 heads for 1 when? Surjewala said. New Jersey Ready to Pass Vaccine Bill Eliminating Religious Exemption New Jerseys state senators gathered enough votes on Thursday to pass a bill that would eliminate religion as a recognized reason for parents to exempt their children from getting vaccinations required to attend public schools. In a last-minute effort to save the bill that was one vote shy of the required 21 votes, Democratic state senators made a series of amendments to the legislation to convince a Republican senator to cast the deciding vote, allowing it to narrowly pass. I realize this isnt a perfect solution, Republican state Sen. Declan OScanlon, who provided the Democrats with the one much-needed vote, wrote on Twitter. But its a balance that I think is fair. Thousands of parents gathered outside the Statehouse in Trenton in protest of the bill, NJ.com reported. Many decried it as a violation of their civil rights, especially the freedom of religion. My God, My Choice, Protect Religious Freedom, read a sign held by one of the protesting parents. The controversial Bill 3818 passed the New Jersey State Assembly by a 45-24 vote with seven abstentions on Dec. 16, 2019. A final vote is expected to happen on Jan. 13, the last full day of New Jerseys two-year legislative session. The Assembly would also have to vote on the bill again because it has been amended. If the bill passes both the state Assembly and Senate next Monday and is signed by Gov. Phil Murphy into law, New Jersey will join California, Maine, Mississippi, New York, and West Virginia in becoming the sixth state that removes religious belief as a valid reason for childhood vaccine exemption. Current immunization law in New Jersey requires babies and children to be vaccinated against more than a half-dozen diseases before they enroll in licensed child care programs and preschool. By the time they begin grade school, they need to receive nearly twice as many shots, including vaccines against measles, polio, tetanus, and whooping cough, among other infections. All college students will need a meningitis vaccine as well. The New Jersey vote on the vaccine bill came shortly after hundreds of students in Seattle, Washington, were barred from attending classes for failing to present vaccination record required by state law. Washington House Bill 1638 (pdf), which took effect in July 2019, removed personal and philosophical exemptions to MMR vaccines for every child at every public and private school, as well as every daycare center in the state. Imperial Valley News Center Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin on Iran Sanctions Washington, DC - Press Briefing by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin on Iran Sanctions: SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Good morning, everybody. Thank you for being here today. Id just like to make a brief comment before we talk about Iran sanctions. Im sure everybody saw that the DOW hit 29,000. The Presidents economic plans are clearly working. Were looking forward to the China signing, USMCA, and a very strong economy this year. As previously announced by the President, we are announcing additional sanctions against the Iranian regime as a result of the attack on U.S. and allied troops. First, the President is issuing an executive order authorizing the imposition of additional sanctions against any individual owning, operating, trading with, or assisting sectors of the Iranian economy, including construction, manufacturing, textiles, and mining. And let me be clear: These will be both primary and secondary sanctions. The EO also allows us to designate other sectors in the future as Secretary Pompeo and me think is appropriate. Second, we are announcing 17 specific sanctions against Irans largest steel and iron manufacturers, three Seychelles-based entities, and a vessel involved in the transfer of products. As a result of these actions, we will cut off billions of dollars of support to the Iranian regime, and we will continue our enforcement of other entities. Third, we are taking action against eight senior Iranian officials who advanced the regimes destabilizing activity and were involved in Tuesdays ballistic missile strike. Secretary Pompeo will comment more on this. Todays sanctions are part of our commitment to stop the Iranian regimes global terrorist activities. The President has been very clear: We will continue to apply economic sanctions until Iran stops its terrorist activities and commit that it will never have nuclear weapons. Ill now turn it over to Secretary Pompeo. SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you, Steven. Good morning, everyone. Today, President Trump is delivering on the pledge that he made the day after Iran attacked American forces in Iraq: There will be a series of new sanctions. Secretary Mnuchin just mentioned eight senior Iranian officials that are responsible for the regimes violence, both at home and abroad. Were striking at the heart of the Islamic Republics inner security apparatus. These sanctions targets include the Secretary of the Supreme National Council and the Commander of the Basij Forces; thats the regimes brute squad, which has, in the last few months, killed approximately 1,500 Iranians who were simply demanding freedom. Our action targets other senior leaders close to the Ayatollah. Theyve carried out his terrorist plots in destabilizing campaigns across the Middle East and around the world. Theyve employed soldiers across the regions battlefields. Theyve trained militias in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the arts of domestic repression. Today, theyre accountable for murder and mayhem. The goal of our campaign is to deny the regime the resources to conduct its destructive foreign policy. We want Iran to simply behave like a normal nation. We believe the sanctions that we impose today further that strategic objective. Our campaign is composed of diplomatic, economic components that have deprived the regime of billions in revenue the regime has used to fuel death and destruction across the Middle East and all across the world. Sadly, the previous administration had opened up revenue streams for Iran. But under our administration, oil revenues are down by 80 percent and Iran cannot access roughly 90 percent of its foreign currency reserves. And not even two weeks ago, President Rouhani of Iran admitted that our sanctions have cost Iran over $200 billion in lost foreign income and investment. As long as Irans outlaw ways continue, we will continue to impose sanctions. Finally, I want to reiterate President Trumps concern for Americans and dual national citizens detained inside of Iran. Iran knows these individuals have committed no crime. They know the charges against them are fake. And we will do all that we can to get each of them returned home safely to their families. With that, well take just a few questions. Yes, maam. Q Mr. Secretary, the administration said this strike was based on an imminent threat, but this morning you said we didnt know precisely when and we didnt know precisely where. Thats not the definition of imminent. The President has also suggested that there was some sort of attack being planned against an embassy, perhaps several embassies. Can you clarify? Did you have specific information about an imminent threat, and did it have anything to do with our embassies? SECRETARY POMPEO: We had specific information on an imminent threat, and those threats included attacks on U.S. embassies. Period. Full stop. Q So you were mistaken when you said you didnt know precisely when and you didnt know precisely where? SECRETARY POMPEO: Nope. Completely true. Those are completely consistent thoughts. I dont know exactly which minute. We dont know exactly which day it wouldve been executed. But it was very clear: Qasem Soleimani himself was plotting a broad, large-scale attack against American interests. And those attacks were imminent. Q Against an embassy? SECRETARY POMPEO: Against American facilities, including American embassies, military bases. American facilities throughout the region. Q Mr. Secretary SECRETARY POMPEO: Yes, sir. John? Q Mr. Secretary, in the initial hours after the missile attacks on Al-Asad, in Erbil, it was believed that Iran may have taken steps to avoid U.S. casualties. But then, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Mark Milley, came out, the Secretary of Defense came out, other officials came out to say, No, these missiles were intended to kill Americans. If it was Irans intent to kill Americans, does that not deserve some sort of response? I mean, if somebody takes a shot at you and they dont hit you simply because you duck, does that mean that they werent trying to kill you? SECRETARY POMPEO: So, look, Ill defer to the Department of Defense on the details, but theres no doubt in my judgment, as I observed the Iranian activity in the region that night, they had the full intention of carrying killing U.S. forces, whether that was our military folks or diplomatic folks who were in the region. And I am confident that the response the President has taken is appropriate. The President said we dont want war; we want Iran to behave like a normal nation. The reason that the Secretary of Treasury and I are here this morning is to continue this campaign our strategic effort to get Iran to behave in a way that doesnt continue their 40-year-long effort to terrorize the world. Q Mr. Secretary and Secretary Pompeo, do you believe that the Iranians shot down the Ukrainian International Airways [sic] plane? And if the Iranians shot that plane down, will there be consequences? SECRETARY POMPEO: We do believe that its likely that that plane was shot down by an Iranian missile. Were going to let the investigation play out before we make a final determination. Its important that we get to the bottom of it. Ive been on the phone I was on the phone with President Zelensky. Just before I came here, I was on the phone with my Canadian counterpart. Theyre working to get their resources on the ground to conduct that thorough investigation. Well learn more about what happened to that aircraft. And when we get the results of that investigation, I am confident we and the world will take appropriate actions in response. SECRETARY MNUCHIN: And let me just Q Will you allow the NTSB to work with the Iranians? SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Yeah, I was just going to comment on that. The Treasury will issue waivers for anybody, whether its Americans or others, that can help facilitate the investigation. Q The last time that you both joined us in this room, it was back in September and you were announcing additional sanctions, including on the Quds Force. And, Secretary Mnuchin, at that point you said, I think weve done more sanctions on Iran than anybody, and its absolutely working. Since then, weve seen an escalation in violence from Iran: shooting down the drone, attacking the embassy, a contractor who was killed, U.S. troops that were wounded. How are sanctions keeping the United States economic sanctions keeping the United States and United States interests more secure? SECRETARY MNUCHIN: I think we have 100 percent confidence, and we are consistent in our view that the economic sanctions are working; that if we didnt have these sanctions in place, literally Iran would have tens of billions of dollars. They would be using that for terrorist activities throughout the region and to enable them to do more bad things. And theres no question, by cutting off the economics to the region, we are having an impact. And as the President has said, the fact that the Obama administration turned over $150 billion to the regime, we think we wouldnt be in this situation had that not been the case. SECRETARY POMPEO: May I just add, its important to keep in mind whats taking place in Iran today. This country has never been in the place that it is today. Big, challenging problems. Their budget theyre going to fail by tens of billions of dollars of achieving their revenue for this year. Theyve got real challenges, and figuring out how to make difficult decisions: Do you underwrite Hezbollah? Do you pick Hamas? Do you underwrite the Shia militias in Iraq? Or do you allow your people to have the opportunity to live the life they want and grow your economy? Those are the difficult choices that the regime is facing. And you can see the protests protests that we expect will continue that well demand from the Iranian regime that they begin to treat the Iranian people in the way that they so richly deserve. And this administration will continue to support those efforts as well. SECRETARY MNUCHIN: In the back. Q Thank you, Mr. Secretary. You mentioned secondary sanctions here. What is your message to our European allies who continue to do business with the Iranians? And then, specifically, if you can, will this impact the INSTEX barter mechanism, which was set up by a number of European countries to avoid U.S. sanctions and continue to do business without using the U.S. dollar? SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Sure. Thank you. I think those are both very important questions So let me first comment on INSTEX. I dont believe theres been any INSTEX transactions. As weve made clear, we are working on a Swiss channel that we have approved for humanitarian transactions. Well continue to allow humanitarian transactions. Weve warned INSTEX and others that they will most likely be subject to secondary sanctions, depending on how they use that. So thats absolutely the case. As it relates to the Europeans, both the Secretary and I have spoken to our counterparts in Europe several times over the last few days. Weve emphasized the impact and the issue of Iran has announced that they are no longer part of the JCPOA. And weve had very direct conversations with our counterparts about that. Q Secretary Pompeo, what is your definition of imminent? SECRETARY POMPEO: This was going to happen, and American lives were at risk. And we would have been culpably negligent. As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, we would have been culpably negligent had we not recommended to the President that he take this action at Qasem Soleimani. He made the right call, and America is safer as a result of that. Q But then why has there been these Secretary Pompeo, why have there been these shifting definitions (Cross-talk.) Q Thank you. Thank you, sir. SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Go go ahead. Were going to Q shifting explanations of the intelligence? SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Were going to try to do one question for everybody, just Q Were they trying to hit Iranian troops was Iran trying to hit our troops or not? SECRETARY MNUCHIN: so that as many people can get questions. So I dont mean to cut you off, but were trying to go ahead. Q I mean, let me defer to my colleague but, sir, six months ago, Secretary Pompeo, the President said that U.S. intelligence agencies had been running amok. He spent most of the past three years hes been in office denigrating and attacking the intelligence community and disputing findings, whether its on Russia or North Korea, or really any area that contradicts things that he has said publicly. Why then should Americans suddenly believe your assertions that you had good intelligence on this when the head of the Executive Branch has been casting aspersions on the intelligence community for most of his time in office? SECRETARY POMPEO: Look, I served as the CIA Director for the first year and a half of this administration. I watched the President rely on the work that the intelligence community did for the entire time I served as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency. I watched him rely on the capable men and women who are delivering exquisite information to the Executive Branch. I watched the President have confidence in that information. We all challenge their work. We have to make sure we get it right. The intelligence community is not flawless. We we get it wrong. In this case, the intelligence community got it fundamentally right. Even the reflections weve seen after the after-effect, after the strike that Qasem Soleimani took, has demonstrated that we were quite right. There was an imminent attack. There was active plotting. And we took an action that we thought was likely to create less risk for the American people, and Im confident that we did that. SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Go ahead, in the back. In the back. Q Thank you. This question is for Secretary Pompeo. There are reports that the Iraqi Prime Minister has asked you to start negotiating some withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq immediately. Is that the case? Can you comment on that? SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, he didnt quite characterize the conversation correctly. But to the larger, more important point, we are happy to continue the conversation with the Iraqis about what the right structure is. Our mission set there is very clear: Weve been there to perform a training mission to help the Iraqi security forces be successful and to continue the campaign against ISIS, the counter-Daesh campaign. Were going to continue that mission. But as the as times change and we get to a place where we can deliver upon what I believe and the President believes is our right structure, with fewer resources dedicated to that mission, we will do so. We also have today a NATO team thats here at the State Department working to develop a plan, which will get burden-sharing right in the region, as well, so that we can continue the important missions to protect and defend and keep the American people safe while reducing our cost, our resources, and our burden, and the risk to our soldiers and sailors who are in the region. Q Secretary Pompeo, if I can here, today, at the podium, you said that the imminent threat was a threat to U.S. embassies. You didnt know precisely when or where. Last night, the President said it was a threat to embassies, including to our Baghdad embassy. Why can you say that here, and the President could say it at a rally in Toledo, but no one said it to lawmakers behind closed doors in a classified setting, as multiple senators have since said? SECRETARY POMPEO: We did. Q You said SECRETARY POMPEO: Yes. Q So the senators are lying when they say that (inaudible) imminent threat was a threat? SECRETARY POMPEO: We told them about the imminent threat. All of the intelligence that weve briefed, that youve heard today, I assure you, in an unclassified setting, we provide in the classified setting as well. Q To be clear, you told them that embassies were the were to be targeted? That was the imminent threat? SECRETARY POMPEO: Im not going to talk about the details of what we shared in a classified setting. But make no mistake about it: Those leaders, those members of Congress who want to go access this same intelligence, can see that very same intelligence that will reflect what I described to you and what the President said last night, as well. Q Is that threat now gone with Soleimani gone? SECRETARY POMPEO: Threats are never gone. Uh, right? Its always a lot of danger in the world. Q The next general will pick it up? SECRETARY POMPEO: Always always a lot of danger in the world, throughout the region. Nobody believed that a single mission, in any respect, took down the risk of terror terror from al Qaeda, terror from ISIS, terror from al-Shabaab. No no one believes that. The President doesnt. Look at the list though; look at the achievements in the administration. We took away the caliphate in its entirety. We took down Hamza bin Laden. We took down al-Baghdadi. We took down Qasem Soleimani. This is a list that has reduced the capacity for terrorists around the world to perform the functions that put American men and women and the homeland at risk. Were very proud of what we accomplished. Were going to stay the course. SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Why dont we take one more over there? Yes. Thank you. Q Im curious SECRETARY MNUCHIN: No, no. Next to you. Right there. Yes. Q Me? SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Yes. Q Thank you. Secretary Mnuchin, this is a question for you too about the China trade deal. So the Chinese side is going to be here next Wednesday to sign the phase one part of that deal. But China is also a big importer of Iranian oil and Iranian minerals, and thats a big part of their economy as well. So how do you balance the two? And are you concerned about the Iran issue coming up in either the signing of the phase one deal or the negotiation for the phase two deal? SECRTEARY MNUCHIN: Well, let me just comment: I had no idea youd ask that question, but thats a good last question to end on. So let me first say that we are looking forward to the Chinese delegation coming next week. Phase one is very significant. It includes very significant components of changes to technology issues, intellectual property issues, and $50 billion of purchases for our farmers. I would comment: I dont agree with your comment that China is a big buyer of oil. The China state companies are not buying oil from Iran. And I would just say we are having conversations with China, as well with any other counterparty on sanctions evasion. So thank you very much. Thank you, everybody. Shiv Sena MLA from Buldhana in Maharashtra, Sanjay Raimulkar, his driver and bodyguard were seriously injured on Friday night after a speeding truck collided with their car, police said. Raimulkar (55), his driver Punjabrao Gudhdhe and police bodyguard Dnyaneshwar Nikam were heading towards Mehkar in Buldhana, some 500 kilometres from here, when the accident took place, an official said on Saturday. "A speeding Tata 407 truck coming from the opposite direction rammed into the MLA's car and toppled it. All three have sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital nearby and then shifted to a super specialty facility in Aurangabad," the official said. Mehkar police station has registered a case of rash driving and other offences and probe into the incident was underway, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid strong security measures and despite the deployment of troops across several cities, demonstrators on Friday chanted slogans against Washington and Tehran for turning Iraq into an arena for settling their scores, reports Efe news. Baghdad, Jan 11 (IANS) Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets to protest against the recent attacks by the US and Iran on their territory and demanded a new government to help regain autonomy. Protesters slammed the "corrupt" Iraqi politicians who they consider to have allowed this to happen. Organiser Sabah Nabil told Efe news that the demonstrations in which thousands of people participated across the country were a response to calls in the last three days. He added that participation in the capital's Tahrir Square was much bigger than in the last few weeks. Nabil said that their demands remained the same and that a new Prime Minister should be chosen who is independent and only has Iraqi citizenship so that the suffering of the people could end and pave the way for further autonomy. Protesters also demanded early polls under an honest election commission and overseen by the UN. But some demands have taken a back seat since the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad by the US later followed by Tehran's missile attack against two US military bases in Iraq. These protests come amid an escalation of tensions in the Middle East which was set off by the killing of Soleimani on January 3. On Wednesday, Iran responded with a missile attack against two military bases used by the US in western and northern Iraq. ksk/ Clogherhead: Thanks for your help - During December there were a few activities at the Lifeboat Station. Santa arrived to a tremendous welcome on then 21st, where he greeted all children present and gave them each a present listened to their lists again. Refreshments were then served to all present. Then on the 26th the Annual Swim for Chernobyl took place, I believe it was the biggest crowd ever. After the swim, refreshments were then served to all present and sincere thanks are extended to all who helped set up for Santa and the Swim and the cleaning up afterwards. Contact me Contact me on 089 200 5305 or email me at delaney.deirdre@gmail.com for all notices to be included in paper. Thank you. The Clogherhead Development Group is online at www.clogherhead.com Thought for the Day If you are too open minded your brain will fall out. Development Group Lotto Results from 10th December/ No's were: 1/8/18/24. No winner. 40 voucher winners were: Bryan Moore c/o Breeda Marley, Anthony Murphy, Marion Campbell and Maura Hughes c/o Deirdre Delaney. Commission winner Terry Rath. Jackpot is a marvellous 10.000 nice little sum to either win or share for the New Year. Good luck Condolences Sincere sympathy is extended to the Reynolds Family, Mayne on the passing of Josie. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Michael's Church, Clogherhead Tuesday last with burial afterwards in Mayne Cemetery. Dreadnots News Bingo continues every Monday night in the Community Hall, Clogherhead starting at 8.30.p.m. Local Community Opportunities 1) Are you over 21 and in receipt of a Social Welfare Payment? Would you like to train as an Early Year's Educator, receive a minimum payment of 210.50 attending 19.5 hrs per week? You may also be entitled to free childcare while working on the Project. For further information contact Clogherhead Development Group. 2) Are you over 25 and in receipt of a Social Welfare Payment? If so you might be eligible to participate on a Community Employment training project: where you will receive a minimum payment of 210.50 for 19.5 hours per week? You may also be entitled to free childcare while working on the Project. There are different Positions available. St. Colmcilles Pastoral Area SVP If you need assistance or help please phone either of the numbers listed below: 086 0390612 / 041 9835914. Your request will be dealt with in a professional and confidential manner. Community Hall, Clogherhead Monday: 8.30.p.m. Bingo: 1st Tuesday: 8.00p.m. Clogherhead & Walshestown ICA Guild Meeting. 2nd Tuesday: 8.30.p.m. Clogherhead Development Group Meeting. Wednesday: 10.30.a.m. Ferrard Day Centre: 5.30pm Miriam McCarthy Irish Dance Class: Thursday: 9.30 - 11.30a.m. Toddler Group. 2.30 - 4.30 p.m. Indoor Bowls. Friday: 3 p.m. onwards Donna's Danceworx Classes. To book the Hall for any event, please phone Carainn on 087 2767511 after 7 p.m. thank you. There are 3 rooms for rent in the hall and also kitchen facilities and any event can be catered for: Business Meetings and Presentations, Arts & Crafts, Weddings, Christenings, Birthdays, Communions, Confirmations and Funeral Receptions. Get well greetings A speedy recovery is sent to all Parishioners who are ill, either at home, in hospital, and in the various convalescence and respite homes in the area. Sincere thanks are also extended to those who care for them there. Tullyallen Contact me If you would like to see your news in this part of the newspaper, a celebration, weddings, anniversary, family party, births or anything that might be of interest to the local community, please have no hesitation in contacting. Give me a ring at 087 6366605 or pop me an email at hilary.a.kelly@gmail.com. But one thing to remember is that the deadline to get your items to me is Friday Lunchtime. Christmas Slimming World times Slimming World classes are on in the Glen Emmets Clubroom every Thursday at 6pm. Amanda will be there to help everyone get back on track after the Christmas season. Whether you need to lose a few pounds, few stone or just try and maintain what you have, the door is always open for new and returning members. There is no judgement, just encouragement and support from your friendly leader Amanda and all the members who are all in the same boat as yourself. The hardest part is deciding to go, and walking though the door on the first night but everyone else there has had that feeling, you have nothing to lose but a whole lot of satisfaction to gain from your weekly Slimming World meeting. Lotto results Results for the Glen Emmets Lotto held 1st December. The Grand Prize Draw was for 1,300 and there was no winner. The numbers drawn were 7, 10, 17 & 30. The 4 Lucky Dip winners who receive 25 are Maria Smith, Tom & Marie Johnson, Una Russell & Stephen Floyd. Next week's draw is 1,400. Tickets are on sale in Centra Tullyallen or any committee member or now you can play online at https://www.locallotto.ie/play_newa.asp?ll_id=1329#Anchor GAA Healthy Club Project The Glen Emmets are delighted to have been selected to take part in the Healthy Club Project. They have been chosen because of several ongoing projects, including their 'No Smoking Grounds' policy, their Couch to 5k programs, Nutrition Talk and their Community 5k fun run. They are delighted to be chosen for this and will be taking part in the next phas in Croke Park. Tullyallen Tractor Run The organizers of the now annual Tullyallen Tractor Run should be very proud of themselves for another successful Tractor run. This event took place on Friday, 27th December this year and it was a phenomenal success. The support from locals and friends as they came from far and wide to take part in the highly entertaining fund raiser which this year was held in memory of their dear friend and colleague Gerry Healy. The tractors, lorries, vintage cars and all types of vehicles were spick and span for their trip around the locality and with everyone digging deep to donate to the Tractor Run's chosen charities this will no doubt be as successful as previous years. Well done to the organizers and everyone who donated, participated and helped with the day. Men's Shed Tullyallen Men's Shed meets up every Tuesday and Friday mornings 10 am till 1 pm why not call into them. They are currently in the Glen Emmets GFC Clubhouse until they move into their new clubrooms. They have Bowls, Pool, Darts, Rings, Cards so why not call in for a chat and a cuppa. Everyone has something to offer in the Shed. All new members will be most welcome. Stamullen In memory Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Jackie Curran, late of Ballsgrove, Drogheda. Jackie was employed for many years in Stamullen village with the local firm Sullivan Engineering and would have been well-known to many of the older residents of the village. Following funeral Mass at the Holy Family Church in Ballsgrove on Monday December 30th last, Jackie was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery. Playground With a number of new residential housing developments currently under construction in the village area of Stamullen, some of which are nearing completion and while there are plans afloat with the intention of more land being purchased for even more residential construction, surely the time has long since come and gone and come again for the local authorities to purchase a piece of this valuable land and install a children`s playground in line with such a rise in the local population? There has been calls for a children`s playground to be put in place in Stamullen village for many years now and, just like the numerous calls that were made in the past, some of these parents have actually watched their children growing up and who have now become parents themselves and still we wait for our `favourite` Co. Council to provide this vital facility for the children of Stamullen. This is nothing short of a disgrace; to wait year after year, promise after promise and still nothing. Elections are coming about in the not-too-distant-future and; keeping this in mind, as well as the need for a new cemetery, n yet again, more and continued promises, let those `election hopefuls` know when they come a-knocking that these two particular issues are now way over due and we have had enough of false promises now for too long! House break-in A house in the Mountain View Estate at Stedalt in Stamullen was broken into just before Christmas. The house was unoccupied at the time as the householder had just left to go and do a bit of shopping but had only been gone a short while when the incident occurred. Apparently the burglar(s) had gained entry through an upstairs window at the rear of the house and, unfortunately, the closely-knit-community that is Mountain View did not notice anything a miss at the time. People across the village and parish of Stamullen are being urged to be extra vigilant regarding the safe-guarding of their properties and personal belongings and to call the Gardai if they suspect that something/someone doesent look right, vehicles driving around suspiciously, turning and returning at driveways, etc. Know Your Parish The following article appeared in the pages of the Drogheda Independent in August of 1918 and it is almost certain that this would have been the very first air accidents to have occurred at Gormanston Camp as the British Military Barracks had only opened in this same year after the land had been purchased in the winter of 1917: `Flying fatality at Gormanstown' Lieutenant Ruxton, said to be a native of Ardee, Co. Louth, was killed while flying at Gormanstown on Thursday morning. He had just gone up with a sergeant of the R.F.C. to test a new machine and was at an altitude of but 60 or 70 feet when the aeroplane crashed to the ground. The sergeant was severely injured`. Duleek Duleek Parish 2020 First Holy Communion - Bellewstown Saturday 9th May at 11am, Cushenstown and Mounthanover Saturday 16th May at 11am, Duleek Boys and Girls Saturday 23rd May at 11am, Confirmation Wednesday 13th May at 11am. Operation Motivation Operation Motivation in conjunction with Operation Transformation and Meath Local Partnership will kick off in Duleek on Wednesday 15th January at 7pm. These walks will continue for 6 weeks, which help greatly with stress / health and well being in general. All are welcome to take part, all you need is reflective clothing and appropriate footwear. All walks start at the Village Green and it should be a great social event for the community. Duleek Women's Forum We will resume again on Tuesday 7th January 2020 in the Duleek Courthouse at 10.30am. New members welcome. Duleek Chair Aerobics We are back again on Thursday 9th January 2020 in Duleek Courthouse at 11.30am. New members welcome. Free Free five week basic iphone, ipad, tablet, and smartphone class commencing in all areas in January 2020. please call Angela on 046-9280790 to book a place. Around 100 students of SR Medical College here have been left in a lurch as Kerala state government has canceled the 'Essentiality Certificate' of the institute in view of gross deficiencies found by the Medical Council of India (MCI) during an inspection. The students are worried as their transfer to other colleges is uncertain. They told ANI that no college is ready to admit them. They also alleged that after taking the fees in advance, the college management did not provide them basic facilities. The students have met Kerela Health and Social Welfare Minister KK Shailaja and have briefed her about their problems regarding their admission transfer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gov. Tony Evers has named an Iraq War veteran with 17 years of experience as an Army attorney to serve as ombudsman for the Wisconsin National Guard and assist those reporting sexual misconduct. Lt. Col. Brian Bischoffs appointment comes after an investigation found a litany of failings in how the Guard handled sexual assault and harassment allegations. At the request of Evers, Wisconsin National Guard Adj. Gen. Donald Dunbar announced his resignation last month. The ombudsman will play a critical role in restoring trust in the Wisconsin National Guards handling of sexual assault and harassment allegations, Evers said in a statement. Everyone serving in the Wisconsin National Guard deserves to know that their concerns about sexual assault and harassment will be carefully, fairly, and thoroughly reviewed. A member of the Georgia National Guard, Bischoff served as one of the federal National Guard Bureaus first special victims counsels, where he advocated for sexual assault survivors. The National Guard Bureaus Office of Complex Investigations report, released last month, found that the Wisconsin Guards policies and procedures for handling allegations of sexual misconduct were out of date, ineffective, understaffed and in violation of federal rules. The approximately six-month investigation and subsequent report stemmed from allegations that officers with the Guards 115th Fighter Wing, based at Madisons Truax Field, had dismissed at least six incidents of sexual assault or harassment. The report found that, under Dunbar, the Guard violated Department of Defense and National Guard Bureau policies by using its own investigators in sexual assault complaints instead of referring them to local law enforcement or other external authorities. In December, Evers announced sweeping reforms within the Guard, including the establishment of an office of ombudsman to assist survivors and complainants in the review of allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment and retaliation within the Wisconsin National Guard. The Guard is required to fully accommodate Bischoff, who must provide quarterly reports to Evers on his work. Bischoff also will have full access to any necessary personnel and records within the Guard. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LONDON - With Martin Scorseses The Irishman expected to battle Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 1917 for the best picture Oscar in February, all eyes are on the special effects team that made the sprawling crime epic possible. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (730 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. This image released by Disney-Marvel shows Samuel L. Jackson as a younger Nick Fury in a scene from "Captain Marvel. New digital de-aging techniques have shaved decades from Jackson's face. (Disney/Marvel Studios via AP) LONDON - With Martin Scorseses The Irishman expected to battle Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 1917 for the best picture Oscar in February, all eyes are on the special effects team that made the sprawling crime epic possible. The Irishman unfolds over decades, with the 76-year-old Robert De Niro and his co-stars playing their characters from their 30s into retirement age, a feat thats made the film one of 2019s most acclaimed movies. Its all possible through new digital de-aging techniques that in the past year in cinemas have shaved decades from Samuel L. Jacksons face and turned back the clock to the 1990s for Will Smith. When Mondays Academy Award nominations are announced, Captain Marvel and Gemini Man could see their names called along with The Irishman in the visual effects category. Each film has arrived at its reverse aging trick through a different technique, leading some to call 2019 a monumental year for de-aging in film. To many, The Irishman stands out from the field, thanks to its complete avoidance of tracking markers dots painted onto actors faces which allow computers to mathematically replicate facial movements and manipulate them as the director sees fit. The youthful transitions of The Irishman are the work of Pablo Helman, visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light and Magic, whos an Oscar nominee for his work on Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and War of the Worlds. Helman says the decision to forgo tracking markers came directly from Scorsese and De Niro. He's not going to wear a helmet with little cameras in there, says Helman. He's going to want to be in the moment with Joe Pesci and Al Pacino on set, with no markers on him. So, if you're going to capture the performance, how are you going to do that? This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Will Smith, left, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead on the set of "Gemini Man." To create the character of Junior a younger clone of Will Smiths assassin Henry Brogan Smith wore a head rig with two cameras capturing his facial expressions via tracking markers. (Ben Rothstein/Paramount Pictures via AP) Enter the three-headed monster, a unique camera rig that has a director camera in the centre and two witness cameras on either side shooting infrared footage. That allowed Helman to eliminate shadows created by on-set lighting. The shadows could potentially interfere with the geometric facial shapes constructed by de-aging software. You're not interrupting the director's thread of thinking, explains Helman. You're not changing the light on set, but the computer can see in a different spectrum. While the team at Industrial Light and Magic was working on The Irishman, another group of technical wizards were experimenting with de-aging at Weta Digital (part of director Peter Jacksons Weta Workshop in New Zealand), creating an entirely digital, 23-year-old version of Smith for the action movie Gemini Man. Since I started visual FX 25 years ago it's been the Holy Grail, says Bill Westenhofer, one of the films VFX supervisors. You have that many years of expertise of looking at a human face and knowing what's wrong. So, to try and get all the different things together and get it to pull off right, that's been the challenge. To create the character of Junior a younger clone of Smiths assassin Henry Brogan the superstar wore the traditional gray tracksuit, complimented by a head rig with two cameras capturing his facial expressions via tracking markers. We decided (on) a ground up approach to build everything from scratch from the skull all the way to the skin pores, all the way to the animation and the final kind of oil in the eyes was really the best approach we could take, says Stu Adcock, head of facial motion at Weta. Before filming commenced on both Gemini Man and The Irishman, the teams at ILM and Weta drew up test footage to show the films directors that what they were suggesting was possible. For Gemini Man it was a clip from the 1995 movie Bad Boys into which they inserted two shots of their new, digital Will Smith and asked Ang Lee to spot the fake. For The Irishman, De Niro also returned to the 1990s, performing the Pink Cadillac scene from Goodfellas before being de-aged in post-production convincing an initially skeptical Scorsese that he could bring the long-gestating project to life. Helman and his team then spent two years looking through old movies and cataloging the targeted ages that De Niro, Pacino and Pesci would appear in The Irishman. They created a program similar to that used to create online deepfake videos where one actors face is swapped for anothers which would check their work on the movie was heading in the right direction, with the system spewing out hundreds of images for cross-referencing. Creating Junior required Smith to spend time in a photogrammetry booth where multiple cameras captured his likeness as numerous lights fired in different sequences, giving a base scan of the actor and analyzing the structure of his face from a skin pore level. Ironically, considering Scorseses vocal criticism of Marvel movies as not cinema, a similar system was used to de-age Jackson in Captain Marvel." A young Nick Fury was created by comparing footage from old Jackson movies with the work the actor did on set again, using tracking markers. "I looked at that face as, you know, maybe 'The Negotiator' face, says Jackson, referring to his 1998 movie of the same name, Fortunately for them and for me, I had enough stuff from that period in my life that they could use a bunch of different facial expressions and films to put that face together that made sense to people who knew me from that time." 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. Darren Hendler, director of the Digital Human Group at Digital Domain and the man responsible for turning Josh Brolin into Avengers supervillain Thanos, was impressed by Jacksons appearance in the movie. Thats more of a 2D-image based approach where they're taking the actor's performance and then they're painting and tracking certain frames. Theyre still using some of the actors performance directly, but theyre modifying it. It was very believable. It may not have been exactly what the young Samuel Jackson looked like, but it definitely looked de-aged. The de-aging of Samuel L. Jackson is absolutely fantastic, agrees Wetas Guy Williams, adding, different approaches suit different requirements. It's not a one-size-fits-all kind of situation. Thats a sentiment echoed by Helman, who believes that 2019 was a watershed year for VFX. It's not by chance that we have several movies that have motion capture performance, facial performance, in three or four different ways. That shows that we're all thinking about digital humans. I mean, we all stand on each other's shoulders, Helman says. "I can't wait for somebody to pick this up and do something else with it, you know? Video PlayerClose Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presents China's top science award to Huang Xuhua (R) and Zeng Qingcun (L) during an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. Huang Xuhua is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering who worked at a research institute of the former China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and Zeng Qingcun is a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). [Xinhua/Li Xueren] BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) President Xi Jinping presented China's top science award to Huang Xuhua and Zeng Qingcun on Friday for their outstanding contributions to scientific and technological innovation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, granted award medals and certificates to them at an annual ceremony held in Beijing to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements. Xi shook hands with them and expressed congratulations. Other leaders, including Li Keqiang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng, were also present. Huang Xuhua, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is the chief designer of the country's first-generation nuclear submarines. Born in Guangdong Province in 1926, Huang later joined a research institute of the former China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and has been engaged in the research and development of nuclear submarines for about 30 years. He won the Medal of the Republic in 2019 for his outstanding contributions to the nation. Zeng Qingcun, 85, is a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). His theory of numerical weather prediction solved the problems of timeliness and stability in calculating multi-scale weather change processes and is the basis of the global numerical weather prediction technology. Zeng's visionary study on global climate change has brought him a host of accolades and international acclaim, including the world's top prize for meteorological work. Friday's ceremony also honored 296 projects, with 46 winning the State Natural Science Award, 65 the State Technological Invention Award, and 185 the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Ten foreign experts won the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. Sci-tech Push On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Premier Li Keqiang extended congratulations to award winners and thanked foreign experts for their support of China's science and technology development. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has made brilliant achievements in scientific and technological development, with the past year witnessing a number of internationally leading advances. Li noted that China is striving to achieve the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2020. The premier stressed the importance of following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, further implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and accelerating the in-depth integration of science and technology with the economy, in a bid to maintain the economic growth within a reasonable range and promote the high-quality development. He called for the strengthening of basic research as the foundation of sci-tech innovation. "We will increase financial support and guide social forces including enterprises to increase investment," Li said, adding that the mechanisms for ensuring funds, evaluating achievements and rewarding talent shall all be optimized. China will support researchers in concentrating on their work without distractions and create more original achievements by respecting rules and tolerating failures, Li said. Those who dedicated themselves to the scientific work despite decades of obscurity shall be commended and awarded, he said. The premier also stressed that sci-tech innovation shall address the urgent needs of economic development and people's livelihood. China will accelerate the development of key technologies and transforming research achievements to products to help speed up industrial upgrading, he said. Research and development shall be intensified in major disease prevention and control as well as environmental management so that more people will directly benefit from technology and innovation, he said. The premier emphasized the role of enterprises in technological innovation and called for efforts to improve their ability and willingness to invest more in innovation by implementing tax and fee deduction policies as well as respecting and protecting their intellectual property rights. To expand international cooperation in innovation, Li pledged to facilitate scientists and technicians as well as enterprises from various countries to come to China for exchanges and development. Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the ceremony, with about 3,300 people attending. Before the ceremony, Xi and other leaders met representatives of the award winners. Diverse Achievements This year's ceremony highlighted major breakthroughs in basic research. Chemist Zhou Qilin, 63, and his team won the first-place prize of the State Natural Science Award for inventing a highly effective catalyst that has been widely used by giant pharmaceutical companies in drug production. Other research programs that were presented with the State Natural Science Award included studies on topological quantum materials, iron-based superconductors as well as the controllable growth and performance regulation of graphene. "Many perplexing problems look like technological ones. In fact, they are not backed by solid basic research. With no clear understanding of basic science problems, you cannot get original results," said Zhou. A batch of key technologies for industrial applications, such as the jetliner ARJ21 project, were also honored. Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the ARJ21 is China's first domestically developed turbo-fan regional passenger jetliner. Other awarded technologies applied in industries and large engineering projects included those for building large-scale tunnels and ensuring highway safety in geographically complicated and dangerous mountain areas, as well as for the automatic transmission hybrid power system for commercial vehicles. Awards were also given to animal studies, medical breakthroughs and agricultural technologies. Wei Fuwen, a CAS academician, and his colleagues won the second-place prize of the State Natural Science Award, for their research on giant pandas. They focused on the evolution of the ancient species and contributed to endangered species conservation. The team led by Sun Lingyun, a doctor at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in east China, won the State Technological Invention Award, for developing a stem cell treatment for lupus erythematosus. Other award winners related to diseases included studies on cross-species infection of the animal influenza virus in humans as well as the new pathogenesis and treatment of depression. Research programs associated with safe food and stable grain output, such as technologies for accurately detecting pollutants in agricultural products and cultivating new high-yield wheat varieties, also received awards. Video PlayerClose Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presents the award to China's top science award winner Huang Xuhua during an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. Huang Xuhua is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering who worked at a research institute of the former China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Video PlayerClose Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presents the award to China's top science award winner Zeng Qingcun during an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. Zeng Qingcun is a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Video PlayerClose Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, other leaders and China's top science award winners Huang Xuhua and Zeng Qingcun, present certificates to representatives of the winners of the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological Invention Award, the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, and the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award during an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. Huang Xuhua is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering who worked at a research institute of the former China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and Zeng Qingcun is a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Video PlayerClose Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, other leaders and China's top science award winners Huang Xuhua and Zeng Qingcun, present certificates to representatives of the winners of the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological Invention Award, the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, and the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award during an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. Huang Xuhua is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering who worked at a research institute of the former China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and Zeng Qingcun is a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Video PlayerClose Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presents certificate to one of the representatives of the award winners during an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. [Xinhua/Sheng Jiapeng] (Source: Xinhua) A firefighter has died while trying to contain a fire in Omeo in Victoria's north-east on Saturday. Wonthaggi man Bill Slade, 60, was killed by a falling tree at the fire's edge in Omeo as part of a group of Forest Fire Management Victoria firefighters. Mr Slade had worked with Parks Victoria for more than 40 years, receiving a commendation in November last year. He is survived by his wife, Carol, and his two children Steph and Ethan. Each New Mexico legislator will likely have $800,000-$900,000 to spend on local projects this year, one of Rio Ranchos representatives said at a public forum Tuesday night. That amount falls far below the cost of requests local entities made at the forum in the Rio Rancho Public Schools board room. Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, talked about the current estimates for allotments of money for capital outlay projects, which deal with infrastructure, equipment and similar physical projects that can be done with non-recurring funding. Each legislator gets a set amount of that money to spend on local projects of their choice. Its not going to be as beautiful as last year, said Harper, a member of the Legislative Finance Committee. Last year, the state gave much of its surplus of one-time money from a boom in the oil and gas industry to legislators for capital outlay, he said. This year, a lot of that money is expected to go into an early childhood fund. That situation leaves legislators with amounts of capital outlay funds similar to past years, before the oil boom. Representatives of the City of Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho Public Schools, Sandoval County, Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority, The ASK Academy charter school and Explora Childrens Science Museum presented requests totaling tens of millions of dollars. Among the requests, the city and county jointly asked for $6 million to upgrade first-responder radios to connect to a statewide system thats under construction. County Fire Chief Eric Masterson said the county owns infrastructure the state could use, and then the county could be a partner in the radio system. He said it would allow local first responders to communicate with other responders across the state, including school security officers. The $6 million would provide new hand-held and in-vehicle radios, as well as new dispatch consoles, all connected to the new system. Masterson said the vehicle radios would have to be able to connect to the current system and the new one in order to communicate with agencies on both systems. County Manager Dianne Maes said a voter-approved county bond would provide matching money for the radio upgrades. Masterson recalled that after a fatal five-vehicle chain-reaction crash on I-25 in 2018, a line of responders had to stand and relay information back and forth because the multiple agencies responding didnt all have compatible radio systems. The new system would help remedy that problem. Rio Rancho Police Capt. Andrew Rodriguez said Rio Rancho and Sandoval County responders radios arent compatible with City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo Countys. However, RRPD needs help from those agencies in handling big events, whether its something planned like a presidential visit or an emergency such as the attempted shooting at Cleveland High School last year. We cant do it alone, Rodriguez said. He said those agencies do have means of communication now, but radio interoperability will allow them to communicate and coordinate better. It is a long-overdue need here in our community, Rodriguez said. Government statement blames human error for the incident that left 176 people killed, including many Iranian citizens. Iran has announced that its military unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 on board. The statement on Saturday morning blames human error for the incident, adding that the military mistook Flight 752 for a hostile target. Press TV also quoted Irans General Staff of the Armed Forces as saying that the plane had flown close to a sensitive military site. The military said it was at its highest level of readiness amid the heightened tensions with the United States. In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit, the military said. It apologised and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies. In a statement posted on social media, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote that the country deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences, he said, adding that investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake. Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a statement on Saturday said his country expects a full admission of guilt and compensation for the jets downing. We expect from Iran assurances of their readiness for a full and open investigation, bringing those responsible to justice, the return of the bodies of the dead, the payment of compensation, official apologies through diplomatic channels, he said. Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft. On Friday, Ali Abedzadeh, head of Irans civil aviation authority, said it was impossible due to close coordination between Irans air defence and the civil aviation department. What is obvious for us, and what we can say with certainty, is that no missile hit the plane, Abedzadeh told reporters in Tehran. Acknowledging that the aeroplane had been taken down, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei on Saturday offered his condolences and called for an investigation into the incident. The jetliner, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Ukraine International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces in Iraq. Al Jazeeras Assed Baig, reporting from Tehran, said questions were now being raised as to why Iranian authorities kept the countrys air space open during a military operation. Theres a lot of explaining to do by Iranian authorities. People want to know why and how it happened. In a social media post, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to the disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims and to other affected nations. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, when it was shot down. This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission, said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face, he told AP news agency. (Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on European markets? In your inbox before the open, every day. Sign up here. Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook will receive an award in Dublin on Jan. 20 in recognition of the iPhone makers 40 years of investment in Ireland. Irelands Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will present Cook with the accolade, according to IDA Ireland, the countrys investment agency. Irelands decision to present Apple with an award may raise some eyebrows. Although its one of the countrys biggest employers, with 6,000 workers in Cork, its still reeling from being hit with a record 13 billion-euro ($14.4 billion) tax bill from the European Commission in one of the biggest state aid cases on record. More recently, Apple shelved a plan to build $1 billion data center in the west of Ireland, citing difficulties with the planning system. Focus on the visit may be heightened with Varadkar set to face a general election within months. One of the countrys largest opposition parties, Sinn Fein, has criticized the government for fighting the tax case, saying the money should be accepted as a windfall to build homes and hospitals. The Irish government and Apple both vehemently deny they have done anything wrong. Economic Model Cook will receive the award in recognition of Apples commitment to investing in Ireland, the IDA said. In part, the Irish economic model is based on attracting overseas companies. We should never take foreign direct investment for granted, Martin Shanahan, chief executive of the agency, said in a statement. Separately on Jan 20., Alphabet Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai will make a rare public appearance in Brussels, where hes scheduled to speak at the Bruegel think-tank about the development of responsible artificial intelligence. Microsoft Corp.s Brad Smith will also be in Brussels that day to promote his new book, Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age. The visits by the tech chiefs to Europe come as regulators in the region continue to take a tough line on U.S. digital giants over issues ranging from their collection of user data and whether they preference their own services on their platforms over those of rivals. Google and Apple in particular are still entangled in long drawn-out legal battles with the EU over competition and tax issues, respectively. Story continues Pichais and Smiths talks will take place several weeks before the European Commission, the EUs executive body, is set to unveil its plan to support the ethical development of artificial intelligence in the bloc. (Adds IDA comments from sixth paragraph) To contact the reporters on this story: Dara Doyle in Dublin at ddoyle1@bloomberg.net;Natalia Drozdiak in Brussels at ndrozdiak1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Chad Thomas at cthomas16@bloomberg.net, Nate Lanxon 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. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan conveyed deepest condolences on the demise of Omans ailing Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Deepest condolences to Oman on the passing of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He is respected and admired for his statesmanship for the peace and prosperity of his people and the region, he tweeted. Deepest condolences to #Oman on the passing of His Majesty #SultanQaboos bin Said al Said. He is respected and admired for his statesmanship for the peace and prosperity of his people and the region. @MofaOman pic.twitter.com/nlUBH9z66H Zohrab Mnatsakanyan (@ZMnatsakanyan) January 11, 2020 Sultan Qaboos, 79, who had ruled since 1970, died on Friday. Minister of Culture and National Heritage Haitham bin Tariq al-Said has been named as the new ruler. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige says the people of the southeast should disabuse their minds of the belief that they are being marginalised. Ngige who spoke in an interview with Vanguard spoke on the easiest way for the Igbo person to become the president of Nigeria is to believe in one Nigeria. He said; Why Im going into all these details is because the people of the South-East always feel they are being marginalized. When you ask them, they say they are not being appointed as SGF or that Ngige is not made Minister of Works, Housing or Power or Health. Why it surprises me is that all those positions they are mentioning were occupied by Igbo people under the PDP government yet nothing spectacular was achieved for the Igbo. Under the PDP era, South-East people had ministers of power, aviation, they got all the appointments in the world, even the ones they gave them from that portfolio were abused. They also became Minister of finance and coordinating Minister of Economy, Okonjo Iwealla, representing Abia. They also headed health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, Stella Odua, Chidoka and Njeze were all in aviation. So I dont know what theyre talking about. But the good thing again is that we are only one FEC established by section 148 of the 1999 constitution. President and Vice President hold regular meetings with ministers and that session makes us chief advisers to Mr. President. Read Also: Choose Between Biafra And Igbo Presidency: Arewa Group To Southeast So when people talk, they talk out of ignorance and it pains me that people who should know also join them. I am asking that we be careful the way we castigate the government. I am appealing to South Easterners, my brothers, that unnecessary criticisms that are not constructive will not lead us anywhere. Criticisms that are constructive are welcome by any government and this government is not averse to such. When you criticize us, give us an alternative, your own view, solution to what you are suggesting and it will be done. It has been done many times by this government. The point I am making is that the South-East is getting her fair deal, forget about appointments. People like big appointment for ego sake, like -my brother is Chief of Defence Staff. What are you defending? For me, our people should play our politics well, this is a time for us to re-engineer and join other Nigerians in believing that this country is ours and become more patriotic about it, and giving honour and accolades to who it is due and appreciate government or whoever that have done justice to you. Water woes and a lack of funding are among the many problems said to be affecting residents World number one Kento Momota is through to the Malaysia Masters final after defeating homegrown hopeful Lee Zii Jia 21-10, 21-19 on Saturday. Momota will face Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, who was equally impressive in his 21-14, 21-18 win over Hong Kong's Angus Ng Kah Long. "It is a good start for the new year," the Japanese star told reporters after the match. "My opponent played well with a home ground advantage." Lee conceded Momota's superior form and even claimed the reigning world champion was only playing at half capacity in the 43-minute win. "I noticed he wasn't as serious about the match. He was clearly just out to enjoy himself," Lee said. But Momota seemed clinical from start to finish, using deceptive shots and ferocious speed to keep the Malaysian flat-footed. Momota is widely expected to clinch gold at home in July's Tokyo Olympics. He missed out on the Rio Olympics four years ago due to a gambling suspension. The 25-year-old had a stellar 2019 with 11 titles, the most ever by a male player in a badminton season. Axelsen said he was delighted to make his first final in nearly a year. Momota has beaten the fifth-ranked Dane in their last 12 encounters. Kento Momota (bottom) will face Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the Malaysia Masters final (Newser) Severe storms sweeping across parts of the US South were blamed Saturday in the deaths of at least nine people, including two first responders, as high winds, tornadoes, and unrelenting rain battered a large area of the region, the AP reports. Storm-related fatalities were reported in icy weather in Texas, a tornado in Alabama, and winds so strong in Louisiana that they toppled trees and lifted a trailer home off its foundation and carried it several hundred feet. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power from Texas to Michigan, parts of highways were closed in Oklahoma and Arkansas due to flooding and hundreds of flights were canceled at Chicago's international airports. Two first responders were killed and another was critically injured in Lubbock, Texas, Saturday morning after they were hit by a vehicle while working the scene of a traffic accident in icy conditions, officials said. story continues below Another person had died in Texas Friday night when a car flipped into a creek in Dallas as severe thunderstorms passed through. Lightning from Friday's stormy weather was suspected of causing fires that burned two houses by caused no injuries in the North Texas cities of Burleson and Mansfield. In Alabama, three people were confirmed killed near Carrollton in Pickens County, the National Weather Service in Birmingham said on Twitter. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said the deaths were caused by an embedded tornado within a long line of intense thunderstorms." Earlier Saturday, in northwestern Louisiana, firefighters found the bodies of an elderly couple near their demolished trailer in Benton, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office said via Facebook. The winds were so strong the home of the couple, who were the in-laws of a parish deputy, was moved 200 feet from its foundation. Also in Louisiana, a 75-year-old was killed in his bed when a tree fell on his home in Oil City, crushing him, according to the Caddo Parish Coroner's Office. More than 139,000 people were without power in Alabama, according to Alabama Power. According to PowerOutage.us, Mississippi had more than 39,000 power outages Saturday afternoon. About 20,000 customers were without power in Louisiana. Outages were reported from Texas to Michigan. In Tennessee, Memphis Light, Gas and Water said about 23,000 customers were without power Saturday morning. Damage was widespread throughout Shelby County, Tennessee's most populous county that includes Memphis, including downed trees and power poles, some of which will need to be replaced, according to the utility. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reported Saturday morning that portions of several highways in the southeastern part of the state were closed due to flooding. The Arkansas Department of Transportation reported that portions of several state highways across the state, particularly in the southeastern portion of Arkansas were closed due to downed trees and power lines and to flooding. On Alabama's Gulf Coast, Baldwin County canceled school activities including sporting events for Saturday. The National Weather Service warned of high winds and flooding and the potential for 10-foot-high waves on beaches, where northern visitors escaping the cold are a common sight during the winter. Many streams already are at or near flood levels because of earlier storms, and heavy rains could lead to flash flooding across the region, forecasters said. Parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana were under flash flood warnings or watches on Saturday. The storm, bringing the threat of ice and snow to the Chicago area, prompted the cancellation of about 1,000 flights Saturday at Chicago's two main airports. (Read more weather stories.) She's best known for her work on Puberty Blues and Home and Away. Australian actress Isabelle Cornish took to Instagram on Friday to share a picture of herself 'kissing and hugging the trees' during a full moon in the UK. The 25-year-old was all rugged up in a wool beanie, turquoise scarf and a jacket as she puckered up for a lichen-covered tree. 'When I feel lost, alone or confused, I go home to nature': Puberty Blues actress Isabelle Cornish (pictured) kisses and hugs a tree under a full moon 'When I feel lost, alone, confused or scared across the world, I go home. To nature,' Isabelle wrote in the caption. She added: 'Tonight I am kissing and hugging the trees upon the full moon in the UK. Connection.' Isabelle previously revealed that she doesn't go to her older sister, actress Abbie Cornish, for advice. 'When I feel lost, alone, confused or scared across the world, I go home. To nature,' Isabelle, who is best known for her work in Puberty Blues (pictured) wrote in the caption One with nature: The 25-year-old was all rugged up in a wool beanie, turquoise scarf and a jacket as she puckered up for a lichen-covered tree The younger Cornish sister told The Daily Telegraph in 2018, 'We are very different and there is such a big age gap, so I don't really go to her for advice.' Abbie, 36, starred in Oscar-winning 2017 drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. Isabelle most recently played Crystal in Marvel's Inhumans in 2017, which was cancelled after one season. 'We don't discuss acting!' While Abbie, 36 starred in Oscar-winning epic Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Isabelle believes the siblings can't relate professionally However, Isabelle believed she couldn't relate to her sibling on a professional level. 'I have a different style to her and we don't discuss acting,' Isabelle explained. 'But it's really great having my sister with me in LA,' she added. The missile attacks on US positions in Iraq are just the beginning. On January 3, US President Donald Trump announced triumphantly the killing of Irans General Qassem Soleimani. Having assassinated the equivalent of a member of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Trump claimed he did not want war. His words rang hollow in Tehran where this brazen attack was seen as an act of exactly that. As many have noted so far, the assassination was carried out to help Trumps struggling re-election campaign. This strategy could have worked if Iran was a static player on the chessboard. But it is not and depending on how it chooses to retaliate and the course of action it adopts vis-a-vis the US in the coming months and years, it could determine Trumps political fate. This episode along with other impulsive actions by the president will negatively affect the United Statess regional position and its global role more broadly. Only hours after the assassination, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei stated that a harsh revenge awaits the criminal killers. And after a meeting headed for the first time by him, Irans supreme national security council issued a statement saying the US regime will be responsible for all the consequences. If Trump expected Tehran to swallow the pain, he obviously miscalculated. Soleimani was by far the most popular official figure in Iran; according to a 2019 poll, 82 percent of Iranians viewed him favourably. His assassination brought the nation together and made the need for revenge that more urgent. Beyond taking vengeance, a gradual shift in Irans strategic conduct vis-a-vis the US and its client states in the region is expected one that will be less tolerant of the US presence. Soleimani rose to prominence from the lowest ranks in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the 1980s and fought all of Irans adversaries beginning with the Baathist Regime in the Iran-Iraq war all the way to ISIL (ISIS). He was the architect of Irans forward deterrence in the region that rendered US anti-Iran efforts feckless and helped defeat ISIL. Soleimanis strategic vision was widely seen as essential to Irans defence. Assassinating him, therefore, targeted first and foremost Irans national security in the eyes of both Iranian officials and the Iranian public. Hours after the assassination, Soleimanis deputy, Esmail Qaani, was appointed the new commander of the IRGCs Quds Force. The move was meant to refute speculations about a vacuum left behind by Soleimani but also to emphasise the continuation of Irans regional strategy of forward deterrence. After the assassination, the Iranian leadership started debating when, where and how rather than whether or not to retaliate. Tehran is compelled to respond as its inaction would render its regional deterrence irrelevant, weaken the axis of resistance the alliance of like-minded Middle Eastern states and political-military movements allied with Iran and encourage the USs escalation. Irans geographic position, regional alliance and military capabilities, demonstrated recently in the downing of the sophisticated US spy drone in November and the targeting of ISIL positions in eastern Syria in 2016-17, gives it a wide range of options to respond. The barrage of missiles which hit US bases in Iraq on January 8 was just the beginning just a slap according to the Iranian Supreme Leader and it seems to have been meant as a quick response to satisfy the publics cry for revenge. It fell short of being proportional to the assassination of Soleimani, which means one should expect more to come. Iran is not likely to resort to rash action in the face of US escalation. It will most likely sleep on its options for quite some time before launching its response which will be marked by the traditional gradualism and steadiness of its regional conduct. Re-establishing deterrence on a new level would be the main objective of Irans new course of action vis-a-vis the US escalation. Though varied, Irans options are all hard choices that can lead to further escalation. The US backing down after the January 8 missile attacks on its positions in Iraq decreased this possibility for now, but in the future, a tit-for-tat can easily spiral into a confrontation Irans main options include an increase in asymmetric warfare on an unprecedented scale to bleed the US in the region. Feeling attacked in Baghdad, the entire axis of resistance can be engaged in such a scenario. Tehran might also resort to a devastating attack on one of the USs client states such as Israel as alluded to in the IRGC statement after the missile attacks in Iraq that diminishes any sort of deterrence Washington thought the assassination could establish. Other Iranian options include cyberattacks and indirect attacks on US assets and forces in the region. Tehran knows that continuing domestic and international debates on Trumps foreign policy misconduct during this time can increase internal pressure on him, which it hopes to take advantage of. It will try to show the American public, Trumps rivals within the US as well as its clients in the Middle East that the assassination will not in any way serve US interests or those of its allies. In doing so, Tehran will be pushing Trump into the hard place he tried to put Iran in: A retaliation would work against his campaign promise of pulling out of wars, while inaction would harm his reputation. With Trump ordering the assassination as a way to show his decisiveness after being criticised for inaction against Irans downing of the US spy drone, Irans new course of action is likely to focus on hurting his reputation. Over the course of this year, this can affect his re-election campaign or taint his second term. Soleimanis assassination also precluded any chance for a diplomatic win in the Middle East for the Trump administration. In 2018, Trump killed the Iranian moderates momentum by pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal and by reimposing sanctions. He has now killed the prospect for any future negotiations under his administration. Iran has already shown signs it is willing to resurrect its nuclear programme. Declaring Irans fifth step in reducing its Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action commitments, President Hassan Rouhani announced Tehrans move beyond many of its restrictions. With public demand for revenge, Iranian missile attacks on US positions in Iraq and urgent geopolitical considerations Iran has to address, it is hard to imagine the re-start of negotiation with the US in the years to come. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The Iowa poll matched what is visible on the ground in Iowa, which is that Sanders, after a heart attack last fall and other setbacks to his campaign, is on the move. His supporters in Iowa, as elsewhere, are loyal and committed. His campaign team believes his organization will be as effective as any other in getting people to the caucuses on Feb. 3. Three years into Donald Trump's presidency, the United States government imprisons more migrants than ever before. Given the president's rhetoric, this isn't a surprise. But it's also not inevitable. Sixty-five years ago, racism was widespread, and yet the Eisenhower administration moved aggressively toward abolishing immigration prisons. That past offers important lessons for the future of U.S. immigration policy. For decades starting in the late 19th century, the federal government operated immigration prisons where migrants were detained for days, months or even years as immigration officials decided whether they would be allowed to stay in the United States. On San Francisco Bay's Angel Island, the "Chinese jail," as one facility was often called, was so unsanitary that a government inspector called it a "death trap." On the East Coast, one woman detained on Ellis Island's immigration prison wrote that it reminded her of "a group of kennels." Imprisoning migrants was a firm part of immigration policing, but in November 1954, Eisenhower's Attorney General Herbert Brownell Jr., presiding over a naturalization ceremony at New York's Ebbets Field, announced a new approach. Overlooking the crowd of people ready to swear their allegiance to the United States as new citizens, Brownell praised a "step forward toward humane administration of the immigration laws." "In all but a few cases, those aliens whose admissibility or deportation is under study will no longer be detained," Brownell explained. As a result of this policy shift, the government shut down six immigration prisons. A few years later, the U.S. Supreme Court remarked, "physical detention of aliens is now the exception, not the rule." ADVERTISEMENT Eisenhower's departure from past practices wasn't motivated by good-hearted embrace of migrants. On the contrary, that era was marked by animosity toward migrants. In 1952, a Border Patrol team in south Texas caught and deported more than 1,000 Mexicans in a single week. Two years later, in the same year that INS closed detention facilities, there was a massive roundup that resulted in the arrest and deportation of more than 1 million people to Mexico, including an unknown number of U.S. citizens. The Eisenhower administration shut down immigration prisons because of money and politics. By 1954, the immigration prison on Angel Island had been destroyed by fire. Across its remaining network of immigration prisons, the government faced increasing costs. Closing six facilities, Brownell said, would save more than $1.3 million -- roughly $12.5 million in 2019. On Ellis Island, the government faced a particularly big financial sinkhole. "Our government will save more than $900,000 in the move from Ellis Island alone," Brownell announced, a savings of about $8.6 million today. With the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency spending $2.7 billion on its immigrant detention network in 2017 alone, a few million dollars seems like pennies. But to the Eisenhower administration, immigration prisons weren't worth the cost. With Cold War tension between the United States and the Soviet Union increasing, immigration prisons also carried a political cost on the global stage. Before he described the government's new policy of not detaining migrants, Brownell decried the "malignant forces of tyranny" and "the communist conspiracy" that "many of you risked your lives to penetrate the Iron Curtain" to escape. Just a few years later, Eisenhower ordered immigration officials to welcome more than 38,000 Hungarians fleeing Soviet persecution. Despite complaints that communists and economic migrants would conceal themselves as refugees, Eisenhower hoped that "the American people will rally wholeheartedly to this great cause," and ordered the federal government's immigration services to lead the way. To the Eisenhower administration, the U.S. government's treatment of noncitizens was a key feature of its Cold War strategy. Portraying the United States as the world's beacon of freedom, it offered a welcoming embrace to people fleeing Soviet influence. In the messy politics of the Cold War, Soviet totalitarianism was pitted against American liberty. Reality is always more complicated than political talking points. The government's sweeping promises of freedom didn't insulate Mexicans or U.S. citizens of Mexican descent from various forms of discriminatory treatment in the West and Southwest. But when it came to immigration prisons, the Eisenhower administration's desire to contrast the United States with the Soviet Union helped push open the prison gates. As in Eisenhower's era, immigration policies today continue to bend to pressures that have very little to do with the migrants who are coming to the United States. But instead of responding to a clash between global superpowers, the Trump administration's immigration policies reflect the worst moments of our nation's past. As a candidate, Trump seemed to endorse the huge roundup of Mexicans in 1954. And as president, he has ramped up the number of migrants locked up. The Eisenhower administration's decision to shut down immigration prisons was justified by the cold reality of government budgeting and political expediency. International tensions shuffled the politics of immigration so that it was more valuable to let migrants live freely in the United States than it was to keep them behind barbed wire. Moving forward, humanitarianism will continue to play a part in immigration policy, but money and politics will have an important role, too. Joe Biden reportedly confused Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden while defending his foreign policy record during a rally in Iowa. The former Vice President, 77, made the gaffe while responding to a voter who asked whether he could be trusted on foreign policy, given that he voted to authorize the use of military force in Iraq in 2002 and cautioned President Obama against conducting the successful raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in 2011. According to Politico, Biden at one point scrambled the two separate incidents in his 'lengthy response' by mixing up the former Iraqi president with the one-time leader of al-Qaeda. The incident occurred last Saturday at a rally in Des Moines - three days before he mixed up Iran and Iraq while speaking at an event in New York. Biden is trying to tout his foreign policy experience and present himself as a steady hand following President Trump's strike on Qassem Soleimani and increasing tensions between the US and Iran. But Biden has been attacked over his record by Democratic rival Bernie Sanders who is surging ahead of the former VP in a new poll of Iowa voters. On Monday, Sanders blasted Biden during an interview on CNN, stating: '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.' Joe Biden reportedly confused Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden while defending his foreign policy record during a rally in Des Moines, Iowa last weekend. He is pictured at the event According to Politico, Biden at one point mixed up the former Iraqi president (left) with the one-time leader of al-Qaeda (right) Meanwhile, in a separate interview with The Washington Post earlier this week, Sanders blasted Biden again, stating: 'People are tired of the traditional types of campaigns in which candidates like Joe are running to wealthy people's homes and raising large sums of money.' He added: 'It's just a lot of baggage that Joe takes into a campaign, which isn't going to create energy and excitement. 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.' The attacks on Biden appear to be working for Sanders - who famously voted against intervention in Iraq - as he is now the frontrunner in Iowa, according to a new CNN/ Des Moines register poll released Friday. Sanders has jumped five points from a previous poll conducted in November, and now commands 20% of the new poll's vote share. The attacks on Biden appear to be working for Sanders who is now the frontrunner in Iowa, according to a new CNN/ Des Moines register poll released Friday Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warrren is holding steady with 17%, while former frontrunner Pete Buttigieg has seen his support slip in the state, dropping a whopping nine points in the two months since the November poll. He now commands 16% of the share - but is still ahead of Biden, who is languishing in fourth place with 15%. Meanwhile, Biden's wife, Dr Jill Biden, doesn't approve of Sander's stinging new attacks on her husband - hitting back in a CNN interview on Saturday. The former Second Lady stated: 'Joe has been under attack because he's doing so well. And I don't like it that Democrats attack other Democrats. We're in this race against Donald Trump. We're not against any of the other Democrats.' As for Sanders' claims that her husband has baggage, Jill shot back: 'That's ridiculous!' New York, Jan 11 : "Harry Potter" fame actor Daniel Radcliffe was once offered a cup of coffee while cuddling his dog in New York by a helpful individual who mistook him for a homeless person. Radcliffe often has to put up with being recognised everywhere he goes, but opened up about a bizarre experience while he was out with his girlfriend Erin Darke, reports aceshowbiz.com. The actor has grown a beard recently, and told British chat show host Graham Norton that it resulted in him receiving charity -- as a passerby thought he was down and out. "It's weird and funny, with some very odd moments. I was in New York recently with my girlfriend and while she was in a shop, I was outside with our adopted dog," he said. The actor added: "It was very cold, and I had on a hoodie, a fleece and then a big coat over the top. Because it was so cold, I knelt down to warm the dog and I saw this guy looking at me and then he walked past me. But then he came back and handed me five dollars and said, 'Get yourself a coffee mate.' Apparently, I need to shave more often!" -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Seattle, Jan 11 : Amazon has laid off several employees for sharing customers' data with third-party vendors, saying their action "violated its policies". In an email to those affected, the tech giant said that your email address and phone number were "disclosed by an Amazon employee to a third party in violation of our policies." "As a result, the employee has been terminated, and we are supporting law enforcement in their prosecution. No other information related to your account was shared," Amazons said in a statement obtained by TechCrunch. "No other information related to your account was shared. This is not a result of anything you have done, and there is no need for you to take any action," the email further read. Amazon last year acknowledged a similar incident, warning users that it exposed an unknown number of customer email addresses after a "technical error" on its portal. It later fixed the issue. "We're contacting you to let you know that our website inadvertently disclosed your email address due to a technical error. The issue has been fixed. This is not a result of anything you have done, and there is no need for you to change your password or take any other action," Amazon had said in the email sent to the users. In a separate incident, Amazon has fired four employees at its security camera subsidiary Ring "for improperly viewing video footage from customer cameras". Ring came in news for all the wrong reasons where customers' in-house cameras were broke into and the hackers tried to intimated the residents, including children. In a bone-chilling incident, parents of an eight-year-old girl in the US were left stunned when a hacker accessed a camera installed in their daughter's room and taunted her. The incident happened with a Tennessee family who had installed Amazon-owned Ring video camera in the room of their three daughters to keep an eye on them and stay close as the mother worked night shifts as a nurse, reports FOX17. RTHK: Communication jamming led to missile firing: Iran The Iranian missile operator who shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet opened fire independently because of communications "jamming", a Revolutionary Guards commander said on Saturday. The operator had mistaken the Boeing 737 for a "cruise missile" and only had ten seconds to decide whether or not to open fire, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, said in televised remarks. The plane was shot down on Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing US troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. Hajizadeh, the head of the guard's aerospace division, said his unit accepts full responsibility for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, I wished I was dead. He said guard forces ringing the capital had beefed up their air defences and were at the highest level of readiness", fearing that the US would retaliate. He said an officer made the bad decision to open fire on the plane after mistaking it for a cruise missile. "He had 10 seconds to decide. He could have decided to strike or not to strike and under such circumstances he took the wrong decision." "It was a short-range missile that exploded next to the plane," he added. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the victims and called on the armed forces to "pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a statement saying the crash investigation should continue and the perpetrators should be brought to justice. He said Iran should compensate victims' families, and he requested official apologies through diplomatic channels. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with the country mourning the loss of many of its nationals, said closure and accountability were needed after Iran's announcement. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lowered the nation's death toll from 63. (AFP, AP) This story has been published on: 2020-01-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Just when we thought we were all Goop-ed out. [Photo: Getty] The actress turned wellness purveyor, Gwyneth Paltrow has just launched a Goop cruise which will set you back a casual 5,000. The lifestyle platform, Goop, has faced criticism in the past for its leanest liveable weight advice and has recently announced a Netflix series called The Goop Lab. The cruise, which Paltrow announced on her Instagram account, is in collaboration with Celebrity Cruises. Itll take guests on a trip around Spain, France and the Italian Riviera. READ MORE: Gwyneth Paltrow frees grey roots The 11-night trip has been described as a wellness cruise. Itll leave Barcelona on 26 August this year. Paltrow and Goops COO, Elise Loehnen, will be on the ship for one day only on 30 August to host an event. The event sounds much like her wellness summits and will involve exercise classes, treatments, workshops and other treats which are described as Goopified perks. If you want to attend, you probably needed to start saving last decade. The tickets cost 574 (for the actual wellness summit) but thats only if youve already spent 4,149 on a suite room. READ MORE: Gwyneth Paltrow gifts herself a vibrator for Christmas Heres what Paltrow had to say about the cruise: Weve had massive success within goop Health, our wellness summit that translates Goops content into a tangible, high-touch experience. This partnership with Celebrity Cruises allows us to bring Goop to new audiences and to meet readers where they are. Goops brand DNA is based in curiosity, and curiosity is an essential component of travel. With Goop at Sea, well be invoking that adventurous spirit with a series of transformative experiences led by a few of our most-trusted wellness practitioners and healers. READ MORE: Warning after woman is burned by vaginal steaming The price of this experience is likely to put a lot of people off, but heres a little look at what youre getting for your money. Story continues Suite Class has been described as uberluxurious with in-room La Labo toiletries, access to a seriously souped-up minibar plus a butler and exclusive access to the fanciest places on the boat, which includes the Retreat Lounge. As far as actual wellness goes, theres pretty much everything you could wish for in the 14,000 square foot spa. From a heated salt room for halotherapy to a Peloton biking, guests wont be short of things to during their 11-night stay. There will also be plenty of events to attend from The Soul Session which has been designed to ground you to The Mind Session to help you shift to a more positive outlook. Cant make this one? It would seem that Goop at Sea isnt going anywhere. On the website, people are welcome to sign up to hear about more cruise experiences in the future. So, dont worry if you miss the boat on this one. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK: Mexico City: After then-candidate Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed at a Brazilian presidential campaign rally in 2018, some of his allies advanced a perplexing theory. Despite widespread evidence that a Brazilian man with a history of mental health problems had carried out the attack alone, they suggested it had actually been planned by Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim Lebanese militant organisation and political party that serves as a proxy for Iran and which the US regards as a terrorist group. Then presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro grimaces right after being stabbed in the stomach during a campaign rally in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, in 2018. Credit:AP Pundits and politicians in the US, particularly those on the far right, have long issued periodic warnings that Hezbollah and other Islamic terror groups pose a serious threat in Latin America. Those ideas have gained more currency in the region in recent years, as the Trump administration pushes its allies there to also designate Hezbollah as a terrorist group. Three countries Argentina, Paraguay and Honduras have done so in recent months. St. Marys College in Derry celebrated another major educational success this week with the board of governors, senior leader- ship, middle leadership, teaching and support staff receiving the prestigious Effective School Govern- ance award from Optimus Education. The accolade, delivered in partnership with EES for Schools, is based on nine elements that address the Ofsted criteria for Effectiveness of Leadership and Management within a school or college. The Northland Road college successfully met all elements of the framework. These included accountability, engagement, financial over- sight, performance manage- ment, statutory responsi- bilities and vision. Ensuring that the school has a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction. The timetable for the verification visit allowed for a tour of the school, meetings with members of staff, parents, pupils and governors. Assessor Ian J. Preston, ESGA lead adviser, on behalf of Optimus Education, praised the school for its ethos and culture, stating: This is a superb school in all aspects. It was evident from the initial tour of the school how the ethos and culture of the school permeates throughout. Pupils spoke of the 'amazing opportunities' the school presents and are undoubtedly proud. Parents said their children 'loved the learning atmosphere' and praised the 'great pastoral care.' Staff confirmed the culture of academic excellence in the school and the outstanding involvement of parents and the wider local community. Staff development opportunities are visionary and inspirational leader- ship underpins all of this. Relationship within the school are professional at all levels and based on trust and mutual respect. Gay Durkan, chairperson of the St Mary's College board of governors, said: It was a very useful and informative experience to work with ESGA. The process enabled us, as governors, to engage in constructive self-reflection and to assess our impact on the teaching and learning in St. Marys College. Mrs Durkan thanked Mr. Preston for his advice, assistance and for directing the governors in areas where they could improve their practice. She also acknowledged the support and contribution of Stephen Keown and Yvonne Connolly. School principal, Marie Lindsay, described the process as an excellent learning opportunity which bought real challenge to everyone within the school community. As well as chairperson Mrs Durkan, St. Marys board of governors, includes Fr. Paul Farren, Padraig Canavan, John Healy OBE, . Delma Boggs, Gavin Molloy, Margaret McDaid, Deborah Hagan and Paul Herron. In a phone call Thursday, Cassidy said anyone calling for resignations or political moves in response to the email should take a breath and be mindful of the fact that we're talking about an act of violence against a human. As we talk about this, the more we talk about everything else around it, the more we dehumanize that person, she said. And so, first and foremost, what I want to see happen is the appropriate authority take on the effort to determine if in fact this happened, if this person wants justice, and separately, look at these questions of cover-up. You know, whether or not there is a sexual assault to be prosecuted, what we do have in these emails are three very powerful men appearing to be complicit in the cover-up of some pretty serious crimes. Cassidy said she wasnt sure which investigative authority should take the lead on the matter, but finding the right answer to that question should be a top priority. Were these emails generated out of Sangamon County, can the Sangamon County state's attorney do anything? Can the attorney general do anything? You know, I think that's where we need to really focus our attention first and foremost, she said. Virginia Democrats have full control of the state government, and they are making the most of it. Less than two days after Virginia opened the 2020 legislative session, newly empowered lawmakers voted to pass a total ban on guns at the state capitol and legislative office buildings. Previously, those with a valid concealed handgun permit were allowed to bring a gun into the Capitol. Weapons were banned only in the Senate gallery and the governor's office. "Our focus is to keep everybody safe," said Democratic House speaker Eileen Filler-Corn. "These are policies and rules that should have passed a long, long time ago." Democratic House majority leader Charneile Herring claimed the sudden policy decision by the Joint Rules Committee, just a handful of people, was at the request of the Capitol Police. "I think there are times when we sort of have to trust what our law enforcement officers are telling us," she said. When asked by reporters, after the rushed and less than transparent committee meeting, the Capitol Police's Col. Anthony Pike said he had made no recommendations on whether guns should be banned, only how to implement the ban. GOP delegate Kirk Cox called Herring's attempt to put the onus on the Capitol Police "a deliberate misrepresentation, there's just no way around that," he said. Virginia State Capitol (photo credit: Ron Cogswell). House Republican leader Del. Todd Gilbert put out the following statement: With less than 24 hours notice House and Senate Democrats overturned more than a decade of policy and voted to ban all firearms from the Capitol and office buildings. This measure includes the general public, concealed carry permit holders, and General Assembly members. Law abiding citizens with valid concealed handgun permits have always been allowed to bring their lawful firearms into these facilities. Not only did the vote take place with little notice and no public distribution of the policy ahead of time it was done in a meeting that was not broadcast to the public like other committee meetings...Furthermore, hiding behind our Capitol police is cowardly. Garren Shipley works for the House GOP Caucus and was in the committee room when the vote took place. Shipley's tweets indicate that Republican members were blindsided by the Democrats' action on Friday. "What just happened, Dems pushed through complete Capitol gun ban, said Capitol police asked for it, Capitol police told members, press they did not...Gun policy given to members at the table, members told they were on the committee less than a day before the meeting. " With 118 Second Amendment sanctuaries now resolved to protect law-abiding Virginians' constitutional right to bear arms, state officials have been voicing their concerns regarding upcoming rallies at the Capitol and surrounding areas. The Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) expects huge crowds of gun rights advocates on January 20. Because of the upcoming rallies and the new gun policy, many people are asking whether the gun ban applies to the square around the Capitol. The inquiries prompted the governor's office to respond: The issue of the open space that constitutes Capitol Square is more complicated from a legal perspective. That being said, the Governor is reviewing options in coordination with state and local law enforcement and in light of incoming intelligence. His top priority is keeping Virginia safe. The policy, set to go into effect Friday at midnight, has some Republicans like Del. Gilbert throwing up a white flag. "That is not a good way to govern and doesn't speak well of transparency, I think it's a sign of what's to come for gun owners," he said. On the other hand, we have Senator Amanda Chase here in Chesterfield County. Chase has always been and remains a fierce advocate for our Second Amendment rights. The commonsense senator reminded the Democrats that forcing law-abiding citizens to leave their guns in cars parked on the streets of downtown Richmond provides an opportunity for criminals to steal them. Chase also told reporters, "This isn't Republican vs. Democrat, this is American vs. un-American." Echoing him BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha suspected the presence of either RDX or a more powerful explosive. Kolkata: A day after the massive explosion of seized firecrackers on the banks of river Hooghly at Naihati in North 24 Parganas when the police tried to diffuse them, West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar questioned the callousness of the state administration under chief minister Mamata Banerjees rule amidst the BJPs demand for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the incident. On Friday, Mr Dhankhar said, The explosion which took place was the third one. Earlier, five people were killed there. It was said that the business was going on without lice-nce. When something goes on without any licence, the responsibility falls upon two: those who are doing it and those whose task is to keep an watch on them. Why was there lapse in watch? Where was the lack on the administrations part? Why didnt the administration pay attention to it first? This poses a huge danger. Just see how innocent people lost their lives earlier. It calls for a deep and thorough probe. The governor noted, Peace can be restored only when they would be unmasked. Earlier, BJP national executive committee member Mukul Roy said, It looked to be explosive in view of the magnitude of the blast. I demand an NIA probe to detect where such a huge quantity of explosive come from, how its could be kept there and how the blast took place. Echoing him BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha suspected the presence of either RDX or a more powerful explosive. It is the field for stock-piling. Bombs explode less here because it is den of the terrorists. Neither the police nor the criminal investigation department can probe the case because of their limitations. So a NIA probe is the need of the hour, he claimed. Cohen has offered no evidence that he provided substantial assistance to this Office in the investigation or prosecution of others, Strauss wrote to U.S. District Court Judge William Pauley. To the contrary, the Office reasonably determined that Cohen did not provide substantial assistance after his sentencing both based on the nature and scope of the information provided and because of substantial concerns about Cohens credibility as a witness. Hong Kong: SARG reps to visit Wuhan Under Secretary for Food & Health Dr Chui Tak-yi will visit Wuhan on January 13 to examine the situation concerning the cluster of pneumonia cases, the Food & Health Bureau announced today. The bureau said with the arrangement of the National Health Commission, Dr Chui will go to Wuhan, together with representatives from the Department of Health and Hospital Authority, to learn about the prevention and control measures and clinical management there. They will return to Hong Kong on January 14. This story has been published on: 2020-01-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. After being retrieved from the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Peace Light flame is put on a plane to Vienna, Austria before catching a second flight to New York. Following a brief ceremony, the flame is distributed throughout the United States. Karla Christian, Peace Light Coordinator for the Sam Houston Area Council, picked up the light before bringing it to Jersey Village Civic Center on Dec. 9. An International Peace Light from Bethlehem ceremony was held in Jersey Village for the first time Thursday during a local World Organization of the Scout Movement meeting. The ceremony is conducted in the Houston area annually by members of WOSM, which includes the Boy Scouts of America. Local scouts and community members filled the Civic Center while Christian described the history of the Peace Light. During the ceremony, the flame was passed to observers who held candles. Attendees were given the option of taking the flame home for multiple uses, like worship, a gift, or a symbol of peace Christian said. The project originated in Austria in 1986 and its dedicated to spreading a continuous flame, along with a message of peace and friendship from the birthplace of Jesus, across the world, Christian said. We have a special arrangement with Austrian Airlines and they fly this for us. They do bring it over on a commercial flight but the paperwork that they go through to make that happen is pretty astonishing. Scouts have participated in the Peace Light initiative since its inception. In 2011, the kings of Sweden and Saudi Arabia launched the Messengers of Peace project and sharing the story of the Peace Light became an official mission of the project and of the Scout movement. We make sure that the flame is never extinguished and we make sure that the message of peace and friendship goes along with it, Christian said. We spread it all over the world and sometimes we do it in large ceremonies like were doing here tonight. Sometimes the flame is passed through families. Local Boy Scout Gabe Houston said he was glad to be able to participate in the ceremony. The fact that its this ever-burning candle thats been burning for 1,000 years and is just an all-around universal symbol of peace, as a scout I find that really cool, he said. It really goes with the scouting message and what the whole movement stands for. Jon Rosenthal, representative for Texas House District 135, was present at the event and said he was glad to serve the area. Its a district with strong family, strong community and thats why its such a pleasure to be able to come to things like this, he said. This event is so cool, and Im told its the very first time, so its a huge honor for me just to be present for this. The Peace Light first came to the United States in 2001 two months after 9/11 and was presented to the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority, Christian said. The light is used as a symbol of hope and peace to be shared across demographics such as religion, race and sex. Human beings tend to put a lot of barriers in place, she said. The Peace Light crosses every boundary that people can put in place. Every one. It doesnt matter what your religion is, where you are, whether youre male or female, how old you are, your language your socioeconomics, your academic achievement, politics, heritage, culture, none of that matters. chevall.pryce@chron.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 06:58:20|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- An impasse between Democrats and Republicans over the arrangement of a Senate trial of U.S. President Donald Trump's impeachment was broken on Friday after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a plan for the delivery the articles of impeachment. In a letter to her Democratic colleagues, Pelosi said she has asked Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler to be prepared to bring to the House floor next week "a resolution to appoint managers and transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate." "I will be consulting with you at our Tuesday House Democratic Caucus meeting on how we proceed further," the House's top Democrat said. The Democrat-led House impeached Trump last month for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, charges the White House has refuted. Pelosi, who initiated an impeachment inquiry into Trump in September 2019, has been withholding the articles of impeachment and refused to name impeachment managers, who will make the House's impeachment case in a Senate trial. Pressure is building up on Pelosi, who is trying to give Democrats more leverage in setting rules for the trial in the Senate, where Republicans have a narrow majority. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters at the Capitol that he's "glad" the standoff is over. "We've been anxious to get started for the last - how many weeks has it been now? And we'll get about it as soon as we can," the Kentucky Republican said. It remains unclear how the Senate trial will play out as McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer haven't been on the same page. McConnell, who has criticized Pelosi's moves, has said that the Senate should model Trump's impeachment trial after that of former President Bill Clinton's case in 1999 by dealing with potential witnesses after the trial begins. Schumer, however, has stated that he wants to make sure certain witnesses would be called upon for the trial before it starts, which McConnell has so far rejected. "Senate Democrats are ready for the trial to begin and will do everything we can to see that the truth comes out," Schumer tweeted on Friday. As part of a pressure campaign on Pelosi, McConnell on Thursday signed on to a resolution backed by over a dozen GOP senators that would alter Senate rules to dismiss articles of Trump's impeachment. In her letter on Friday, Pelosi accused McConnell of engaging in "tactics of delay in presenting transparency, disregard for the American people's interest for a fair trial and dismissal of the facts." "Yesterday, he showed his true colors and made his intentions to stonewall a fair trial even clearer by signing on to a resolution that would dismiss the charges," Pelosi wrote. "A dismissal is a cover-up and deprives the American people of the truth." House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Friday accused Pelosi of hypocrisy. In an anonymous complaint last summer, a whistleblower raised concerns about the White House's interactions with Ukraine, resulting in the Democrat-led impeachment inquiry against Trump. The president was alleged to have pressed his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, into launching investigations that could politically benefit him. Furthermore, the White House allegedly tried to cover it up. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoings and called his impeachment case a "witch hunt" or a "hoax." 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. The timeline for the Senate trial mostly depends on the House's actions next week. Senators could be sworn in as soon as Thursday for the impeachment trial, according to CNN, citing Senate aides. But the trial, with arguments on the floor, probably won't begin until days after that. NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announce that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (Fiat or the Company) (NYSE: FCAU) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, for the Eastern District of New York, and docketed under 20-cv-00202, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired publicly traded Fiat securities from February 26, 2016 through November 20, 2019, inclusive (the Class Period). Plaintiff seeks to recover compensable damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). If you are a shareholder who purchased Fiat securities during the class period, you have until January 31, 2020 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Fiat, together with its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, manufactures, distributes, and sells vehicles, components, and production systems. The Complaint alleges that the statements were materially false and misleading when made because they failed to disclose the following adverse facts which were known to defendants or recklessly disregarded by them as follows: Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company employed a bribery scheme to obtain favorable terms in its collective bargaining agreement with UAW; (ii) high-ranking Fiat officials were aware of and authorized the scheme; and (iii) as a result, Defendants statements about Fiats business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. Story continues On November 20, 2019, while the market was open, General Motors (GM) filed a racketeering lawsuit against Fiat in the Eastern District of Michigan styled as General Motors LLC, et al. v. FCA US LLC et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-13429-PDB-DRG, for damages caused by a bribery scheme perpetuated by UAW and the Company. According to the lawsuit, the illegal activity was authorized by the high-level officers of the Company, including Marchionne, and helped the Company win union acceptance of cost concessions in 2011 and 2015. The lawsuit also contended that Fiat executives bribed UAW leaders to pressure GM into a merger with Fiat. On this news, shares of Fiat fell $0.58 per share, or 3.72%, to close at $15.00 per share on November 20, 2019, damaging investors. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com . CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com Photo taken on Jan. 9, 2020 shows the view of a lantern fair at Shanzhou Silo-Cave, a scenic area of ancient underground dwellings in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province. The lantern fair displaying 118 lantern groups featuring folk culture kicked off here on Thursday. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] Photo taken on Jan. 9, 2020 shows the view of a lantern fair at Shanzhou Silo-Cave, a scenic area of ancient underground dwellings in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province. The lantern fair displaying 118 lantern groups featuring folk culture kicked off here on Thursday. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] Tourists visit a lantern fair at Shanzhou Silo-Cave, a scenic area of ancient underground dwellings in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 9, 2020. The lantern fair displaying 118 lantern groups featuring folk culture kicked off here on Thursday. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] Photo taken on Jan. 9, 2020 shows the view of a lantern fair at Shanzhou Silo-Cave, a scenic area of ancient underground dwellings in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province. The lantern fair displaying 118 lantern groups featuring folk culture kicked off here on Thursday. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] Photo taken on Jan. 9, 2020 shows the view of a lantern fair at Shanzhou Silo-Cave, a scenic area of ancient underground dwellings in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province. The lantern fair displaying 118 lantern groups featuring folk culture kicked off here on Thursday. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] Tourists visit a lantern fair at Shanzhou Silo-Cave, a scenic area of ancient underground dwellings in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 9, 2020. The lantern fair displaying 118 lantern groups featuring folk culture kicked off here on Thursday. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] (Source: Xinhua) Members from Swords Senior Citizens centre visited St. Finian's Community College for their annual Christmas party during the recent festive period. The event was organised by the student council and Ms Kathy Konopka, the new HSCL in the school, who hosted a Christmas themed quiz and provided tea, coffee and cake for everyone. There were prizes given out on the day and to finish up our wonderful music group performed a collection of Christmas tunes for everyone to sing along to, led by music teacher Ms Sayers. St. Finian's teacher Ms Nicola Mc Kittrick said: 'At St. Finian's C.C we are proud of the tradition started three years ago and each year we have more senior citizens visit our school. It is a great opportunity for students to converse with our seniors and to hear stories from the older generation. 'It's also an opportunity for our neighbours and older members of the community to meet with our fantastic young people and share some Christmas cheer. 'St. Finian's C.C are continuing their partnership with others in the community and the Christmas party is one event that brings about the community spirit so evident in our school. 'We are always interested in linking with local groups and businesses, for more information contact us through our new school website www.stfinianscc.ie.' 3.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson said Donald Trumps reckless policy in Iran helped cause the unintentional shoot-down of a passenger jet that left 176 innocent people dead. During a discussion with MSNBCs Joy Reid, Wilkerson who also served as chief of staff for former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Irans downing of a Ukrainian jet was the product of this administrations disastrous policy in the region. When you create maximum tensions, as Pompeo is so glib in saying, between two states like Iran and the United States, you are going to have that sort of thing happen, the retired colonel said. Video: Retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson pins the blame on Trump for ratcheting up tensions with Iran, which led to the shoot-down of a passenger jet. #ctl #p2 #amjoy pic.twitter.com/66Oz2YEgdD PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) January 11, 2020 Col. Wilkerson said: I would point out that the recent shoot-down is a product of that sordid history. When you create maximum tensions, as Pompeo is so glib in saying, between two states like Iran and the United States, you are going to have that sort of thing happen. Its a tragic death of innocence, if you will, that accompanies this kind of really stupid purblind relationship between states in the world. Hard to imagine the shoot-down taking place in a universe where Trump didnt take out Soleimani Since day one of his presidency, Donald Trump has sought to ratchet up tensions between the United States and Iran. This came after the Obama-Biden administration worked tirelessly to keep the Iranians check, which they were able to with a hard fought nuclear agreement. Seeking to reverse this policy because it had Obamas name attached to it, Trump pulled out of the Iranian deal, slapped more sanctions on the country and put the two nations on a collision course, which this administration took to a new level by bombing an Iranian general without any evidence to justify their claims that he posed an imminent threat to the U.S. In the midst of Irans retaliation for the U.S. strike, they unintentionally shot down a passenger jet with nearly 200 people onboard. There is no question that Iran pulled the trigger that ultimately led to this tragedy, but its hard to imagine that this would have happened if not for Donald Trumps initial decision to take out Soleimani. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 11, 2020 08:26 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321b9eec 1 Editorial #Editorial,reynhard-sinaga,Manchester,Manchester-Evening-News,rape-case,sexual-violence,media,press Free The only comfort for the family of the United Kingdoms most prolific rapist may be that the coverage of Reynhard Sinaga was mostly in the UK, rather than in his home country. Indonesians expressed shock at the news that Reynhard, a PhD student in Manchester, was sentenced to life for 159 counts of rape or sexual assault against 48 men between January 2016 and June 2017. Police suspect he raped many more. No prior report had surfaced of the police investigations or the subsequent trial of the 36-year-old, reportedly the son of a wealthy family in Depok, West Java. Apart from the knowledge that anyone, including a harmless looking student, could rape not one but scores of victims before being arrested, the news was surprising because in Indonesia, other predators apart from the criminal would have been on the hunt much earlier; predators tasked with satisfying the insatiable appetite for salacious news. This has already happened. Shortly after the news about Reynard circulated, pictures of his parents were making the rounds on social media. Worse, a man with a similar name was subject to cyberbullying. A few comments reflected a deeply misleading focus: the criminals sexual orientation rather than his crimes. Here, police investigations of such crimes would be accompanied by zealous members of the press. Camera crews would be all over his house and his family members, if they could not get close to the criminal himself. Media hordes would swarm the courtroom. More dangerously, the victims would be exposed while media watchdogs might raise feeble appeals to remind the press to protect victims privacy and the criminals family and to avoid reinforcing homophobic tropes. The lessons from Manchester that the Indonesian media and public need to be reminded of are first, to remain focused on the crimes instead of the characteristics of criminals, including sexual orientation, and second, to fiercely protect victims. Our press code of ethics includes respecting victims privacy, particularly victims of sexual crime. However, both media competition and the sick hunger for sensation, to consume and to click-share, often throw ethics out the window, with some law enforcers relishing the opportunity for fame. In past high-profile crimes, the criminals sexual orientation has fed the headlines, increasing insecurity among Indonesias lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. On Thursday the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) announced they were aware of social media posts seeking to identify Reynhards victims. They stated that under the countrys sexual offences law, victims have a lifelong right to anonymity and therefore any post which identifies victims of sexual offences constitutes a criminal offence. Such posts risk jeopardizing an ongoing investigation into serious crime, the GMP said. They are tracing other potential victims, some of whom are coming forward. In Indonesia the National Police said they were also investigating whether Reynhard committed similar crimes here. However, even though he is safely behind bars, any possible victims here would likely lie low, fearful of predators seeking to expose their identities and threaten their well-being, predators who might be just as cruel to them as the smiling rapist. A bill that would forbid anyone under 21 years old from using or possessing a cell phone in the state of Vermont has been introduced in an apparent bid to make a point about a recently passed gun law. Democratic state Sen. John Rodgers introduced bill S.212 and told The Barre Montpelier Times he doesnt think the bill will pass, but wanted to make a point about laws recently passed in the state legislature that raise the smoking age to 21, prohibit those under 21 from buying gun unless theyve taken a hunter safety course, and require a 24-hour waiting period to buy a gun. I have no delusions that its going to pass, Rodgers told the Barre on Wednesday. I wouldnt probably vote for it myself, adding that the state Legislature seems bent on taking away our Second Amendment rights. The two-page bill (pdf) states: It is clear that persons under 21 years of age are not developmentally mature enough to safely possess them, just as the General Assembly has concluded that persons under 21 years of age are not mature enough to possess firearms, smoke cigarettes, or consume alcohol. Violation of the proposed legislation would be punishable by a maximum of a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. In the bill, Rodgers also noted the high rate of fatal car crashes among teenagers and cyberbullying, which some suicides among young people has been attributed to. The Internet and social media, accessed primarily through cell phones, are used to radicalize and recruit terrorists, fascists, and other extremists, he added. Cell phones have often been used by mass shooters of younger ages for research on previous shootings. Michelle Fay, director of Voices for Vermonts Children, told the newspaper that the bill doesnt solve the issues noted in it because those under 21 can still access in the internet via computers. It feels like a reach, for sure, she said. For teenagers, people in their car is a bigger distraction than cellphones, There are so many critical issues impacting the lives of working families in Vermont today, from increasing minimum wage to implementing equitable family and medical leave insurance programs to establishing an office of child advocate, Fay said in a statement. We urge the Legislature to focus on the important work at hand instead of getting tied up in hollow diversions. Military exchange to stop selling 'Jesus' Scripture Candy after secular group complains Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Army & Air Force Exchange Service said it will stop selling Jesus-themed candy in response to a complaint filed by a secular legal organization warning that selling the treats at commissary and exchange stores is a violation of the U.S. Constitution. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation announced Friday that it received a response to a letter it sent recently to the AAFES objecting to the sale of Jesus Candy at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. AAFES is the retailor found on U.S. Army and Air Force installations worldwide. The package of candy comes in mini stockings that have the words Jesus Sweetest Name I Know written on the top. The product is produced by a company called Scripture Candy, which carries the motto: Reaching the World One Piece at a Time! The New Mexico-based MRFF accused the candy package of being more of a Christian proselytizing kit than a package of candy and argued that the sale of the product violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The clause prevents the establishment of a state religion. MRFF demanded that the product be removed from store shelves. In an op-ed Friday, MRFF senior research director Chris Rodda said MRFF attorneys received a response from the AAFES on Thursday. AAFES reportedly agreed to stop selling the candies, but did not say it agreed with MRFF's claim that selling the product was a violation of the Constitution. Instead, AAFES said it would stop selling the candies due to limited historical demand." Upon exhaustion of the very small quantity of inventory we have remaining in stock, AAFES will discontinue the stocking and sale of the products from this vendor due to limited historical demand, the AAFES letter reads, according to MRFF. Rodda wrote that MRFF assumes that the AAFES discontinuation of Scripture Candy products will apply to Scripture Candys products for other holidays as well. An AAFES spokesperson confirmed to The Christian Post that the service "discontinued the sale of Scripture Candy because of low demand." CP also reached out to the First Liberty Institute, a leading legal nonprofit organization that has experience litigating military religious freedom cases. In an emailed statement, Michael Berry, chief of staff for First Liberty, said, We commend AAFES for not giving in to the demands of a radical activist. As usual, the MRFFs claims are meritless. It goes without saying that selling candy canes is perfectly legal in America, no matter how badly the MRFF wishes to the contrary. In a previous interview with Fox News, Berry, a Marine Corps combat veteran, defended the candy company, adding, This is just the latest publicity stunt by a bunch of activists. A real constitutional expert or any first-year law student knows that selling candy canes at Christmas is perfectly legal. Berry also accused MRFF of having its own version of the Constitution. "Sadly, the MRFF has duped its so-called 'thousands' of alleged clients into believing its dubious legal fairy tales, Berry argued. In its complaint to AAFES, MRFF claimed that selling the candy is an illegal promotion of religion and offensive to people of other religions who shop at the exchanges stores. MRFF cited an Air Force code requiring leaders to ensure their actions cant reasonably be construed to be an endorsement or preferential treatment for any religion. MRFF regularly pressures military entities to end any perceived endorsement of religion. Late last year, the U.S. Armys licensing office banned a faith-based company called Shields of Strength from engraving Bible verses on Army-licensed dog tags. The decision came after MRFF sent a letter to all branches of the military objecting to Shields of Strength products. MRFF claimed that Shields of Strengths products violated a Department of Defense rule stating that DoD marks may not be licensed for any purposed intended to promote religious beliefs. In December, First Liberty Institutes Berry sent a letter to the director of the Army Trademark Licensing Program arguing that the action was unlawful. Your directive that SoS remove all biblical references from its products demonstrates precisely the type of government hostility toward religion that the Establishment Clause forbids, Berry wrote. The First Amendments Free Exercise Clause also protects private entities from impermissible government interference with religious exercise. This includes the prohibition against government censorship of religious expression by a private, for-profit corporation, such as SoS. In context: Foldable phones are in their infancy but the appetite for them is apparently there. Huawei has been able to sell 200,000 units of its Mate X to Chinese consumers in just two months, despite the device being more expensive than Samsung's Galaxy Fold and restricted to just one market. During CES 2020, Samsung's CEO gave an ambiguous estimate of how many Galaxy Fold units were sold in 2019. Admittedly, it was subject to a botched launch, but the company seemed less than enthusiastic to talk about the performance of its foldable smartphone, so it chose to hint that it was somewhere between 400,000 and 500,000 units. Now it was Huawei's turn to put a number out there for its foldable Mate X since it launched in November. The Chinese tech giant says it's somewhere around 100,000 units per month, which is not a bad start considering the device isn't yet available outside of China. By comparison, the Galaxy Fold is sold across the US, UK, France, Germany, India, and South Korea, as well as imported in a few other countries in the EU. And unlike Huawei, Samsung still has licensing rights for new versions of Android and Google services. There is also a price difference between the two devices: the Galaxy Fold retails for around $2,000, while the Mate X is approximately $2,400. Both companies are rumored to be launching newer and cheaper versions at MWC 2020 in just a few weeks, and Huawei does have a slim chance of dealing again with American companies, so it'll be interesting to see if they come up with something that'll bring the foldable smartphone to the mainstream. Motorola has its own style of foldable phone with the upcoming new Razr that resembles the flip phones of the past, and Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Bloom is said to feature a similar design, minus the chin. However, even that is quite expensive at $1,500 for relatively modest internal specs and Motorola isn't even sure how to deal with the unexpected high demand, so good luck getting your hands on one. Google says it's working on foldable phones, but isn't on a hurry to bring a foldable Pixel to market. Still, analysts estimate around 30 million foldable phones will be sold by 2023, which is not hard to believe if they get cheaper and more durable. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen was out in front as votes were being counted on Saturday after an election battle dominated by the democratic island's fraught relationship with China. Unofficial live tallies kept by major local networks showed the 63-year-old securing around 56-57 percent of more than 10 million votes counted so far. Her main rival Han Kuo-yu, of the China-friendly Kuomintang party (KMT), trailed with 38-39 per cent on an island where some 19 million people are registered to vote. The outcome will reverberate far beyond Taiwan's borders with Tsai and Han laying out very different visions for its future -- in particular how close the self-ruled island should tack to its giant neighbour. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to retake the island one day, by force if necessary. But China is also Taiwan's largest trade partner, leaving the island in a precariously dependent relationship. Tsai, seeking a second four-year term, has pitched herself as a defender of Taiwan's liberal values against the increasingly authoritarian shadow cast by Beijing under President Xi Jinping. "We hope our citizens can come out to vote to exercise their rights and make Taiwan's democracy stronger," she told reporters after voting in the capital Taipei. Han, 62, favours much warmer ties with China -- saying it would boost Taiwan's fortunes -- and accuses the current administration of needlessly antagonising Beijing. He has cast the election as a choice between "peace or crisis" with China, adopting the slogan "Taiwan safe, people rich". Thousands of supporters began gathering Saturday night for election count rallies but the atmosphere at Han's event in Kaohsiung was markedly more subdued with some in tears, AFP reporters said. A Tsai victory would infuriate Beijing, which has made no secret of wanting to see her turfed out. Taiwan bans the publishing of polls within 10 days of elections, but the former law professor has led comfortably throughout the campaign. Her party currently has a parliamentary majority, which analysts expect it to retain. "We need a president who can defend freedom and democracy," Vicky Hsiao, a 37-year-old housewife, told AFP after voting in Taipei for Tsai. "Taiwan is an independent country that doesn't belong to anyone." But others want change. Tracy Hsueh, a saleswoman in her 50s, said she felt Tsai's government had been "fanning hatred towards China". "I think Han can change the situation for Taiwan and I believe his promises that he can improve the economy and make people rich." The results of Saturday's vote will be closely watched by regional powers and in Washington, especially given the parlous state of US-China relations. Taiwan has long been a potential flashpoint between China and the United States, which remains the island's main military ally. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party leans towards independence, and Tsai rejects Beijing's view that Taiwan is part of "one China". In the four years since Tsai won a landslide victory, Beijing has tightened the screw, severing official communications with her administration while ramping up economic and military pressure. It also poached seven of Taiwan's few remaining diplomatic allies, hopeful that its pressure would convince voters to punish Tsai at the ballot box. But that campaign appears to have backfired, especially in the last year after Xi gave a particularly blunt speech stating Taiwan's absorption into the mainland was "inevitable". Taiwanese voters have been increasingly rattled by China's hardline response to pro-democracy protests in neighbouring Hong Kong and the mass internment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. Analysts say Tsai's ability to seize on the Hong Kong protests, along with Taiwan's largely successful economic navigation of the US-China trade war, has boosted her fortunes. Last year, her party also pushed ahead with legalising gay marriage -- a first for Asia. While the move infuriated conservatives and many older Taiwanese, it reinvigorated Tsai's youth base. Her rival Han has struggled on the campaign trail. A plain-speaking populist, he stormed onto the political scene in 2018 when he won the mayoralty of the usually staunch DPP city of Kaohsiung, and then saw off party bigwigs to win the KMT primary. But his political momentum slowed once he became the opposition candidate as he fought to shake off accusations he lacked experience and was too cosy with China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MOVIE PASSES TO BOMBSHELL Director Jay Roach's fictionalised account of the women who brought down Roger Ailes, the chairman and chief executive of Fox News the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time, releases on Thursday. Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie play the women who began to topple the gender power dynamic in 2016 and we have 20 doubles to catch the session of your choice (conditions apply). For your chance to win, send your details to mr.spiggott@bigpond.com before midnight tonight. Bombshell. Credit: THE OBESITY CODE COOKBOOK Internationally bestselling author of The Obesity Code, Dr Jason Fung returns with more than 90 taste-tempting recipes to revolutionise the way you cook, eat and live. With offerings as diverse as slow-roasted pork shoulder to chia pudding and almond cake, The Obesity Code Cookbook showcases healthy fats, nutrient-dense foods and low or no carbs while providing diet plans to help balance your nutrition and energy requirements with long-term health objectives. Published by Scribe ($35 ) we have six copies on offer. Send your details, including postal address, to info@scribepub.com.au before midnight tonight with The Obesity Code Cookbook as the subject line. Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country should be able to complete a gas-export pipeline to Germany that has been placed under sanctions by the United States by the first quarter of 2021, slightly later than previously announced. Putin, speaking at a joint press conference in Moscow on January 11 with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said Russia will "certainly" be able to complete Nord Stream 2 without foreign assistance. The Russian leader said the project, which was expected to start in the first half of 2020, will be delayed "several months." "I hope that by the end of this year or the first quarter of next year, the work will be completed and the gas pipeline will start," Putin said. The United States last month sanctioned Western vessels laying the pipeline for Nord Stream 2, which consists of two parallel lines stretching 1,230 kilometers each from Russia to northern Germany, amid claims the project hurts European energy security and increases Moscow's influence over Kyiv. Merkel said she did not agree with the U.S. approach to sanctions. She called the project legitimate and said it should be completed. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (Republican-Texas), one of the authors of the bill sanctioning Nord Stream 2, said Washington targeted the vessels amid the belief that Russia did not have the technology to lay deep sea pipelines. Russian officials said last month they will send a ship currently in the Far East to complete the pipeline. However, the ship will first need to be upgraded, the officials said. Iran Deal Putin and Merkel also talked about salvaging the Iranian nuclear deal, bringing peace to Libya and rebuilding Syria during their meeting that lasted 3 1/2 hours. The two leaders said the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- which eased sanctions against Iran in exchange for limits on its uranium-enrichment program -- should be adhered to. The agreement was backed by the United States, Russia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and China. However, Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018, calling the deal signed by his predeccesor Barack Obama "terrible," and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran that have decimated its economy. After months of complaining about the new sanctions, Tehran on January 5 said it would no longer abide by the terms of the JCPOA, putting the landmark agreement on the verge of collapse. Merkel said the JCPOA is "certainly not perfect" but added she and Putin "agreed that we should do anything to preserve the deal." Libya Peace Russia and Germany are also involved in efforts to bring about a cease-fire in Libya, which Berlin has said could become a "second Syria." Merkel and Putin expressed support for peace talks organized by the UN to be held in Berlin in the coming weeks. Turmoil in the oil-rich North African nation has been escalating as Russia-backed warlord Khalifa Haftar seeks to take power from the UN-recognized government. During a trip to Istanbul on January 8, Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a cease-fire in Libya starting January 12. Turkey has sent troops to support the UN-backed government. Media have reported that Russian mercenaries from the Vagner paramilitary group are fighting alongside Haftar. Putin said there are many mercenaries in Libya, including from Syria, but claimed he was unaware of Russian mercenaries. "If there are Russian citizens there, they do not represent the interests of the Russian government and do not receive money from the Russian government," Putin said. At least 12 people died Saturday when a boat loaded with asylum-seekers sank in the Ionian Sea, the Greek coastguard said. "So far 12 bodies have been recovered. The search and rescue operation continues," the coastguard said, adding that over 20 people had been found alive. The boat, with around 50 people on board, took on water near the island of Paxi during an apparent attempt to reach Italy. There were no immediate details on the identity of those on board. Six coastguard patrol boats and two navy helicopters were engaged in the continuing rescue effort, authorities said. Four passing cargo ships were also assisting the operation, the coastguard said. Thousands of migrants and refugees have died in recent years while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in small, overloaded boats. Twenty-two people have died or are still missing in migrant boat sinkings in the Mediterranean just this month, according to the International Organization for Migration. Another 73 persons were rescued in separate incidents in the Aegean between Friday and Saturday, the Greek coastguard added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander says his unit accepts full responsibility for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane. In an address broadcast by state TV on Saturday, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh says that when he learned about the downing of the plane, which killed all 176 passengers on board, I wished I were dead. Iran's armed forces say they mistook the passenger plane for a hostile target in the tense aftermath of Iran's ballistic missile attack on two military bases in Iraq housing US troops. That attack was retaliation for the killing of Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, in an American airstrike in Baghdad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) File picture Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a meeting at the Raj Bhavan on January 11, a state secretariat official said on January 10. They are also likely to share the stage during a programme here on Sunday, a source in the Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) said. Modi will be on a two-day visit to Kolkata from January 11, amid ongoing protest at various places in the state against the amended citizenship law. "As far as we know, she (Banerjee) will attend a programme of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) on January 12, where the prime minister would also be present," a senior TMC leader told PTI. Both the leaders are also scheduled to hold a meeting at the Raj Bhavan here on Saturday evening, according to a highly-placed official at the state secretariat, who added that Modi will reach the city at around 4 pm as per the schedule. "The PM and the chief minister will be meeting at the Raj Bhavan tomorrow soon after he reaches the city, the official told PTI. However, the agenda of the meeting between Modi and Banerjee was not disclosed. Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya had gone to the state secretariat on Friday to invite Banerjee to the 150th anniversary programme of the KoPT. The significant political development comes a day after Banerjee had said in the state assembly that she would boycott an opposition meeting called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on January 13 over the JNU violence, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and other "anti-people" policies of the Centre. Ever since the BJP emerged the main contender of the TMC in West Bengal following the Lok Sabha poll results, Modi and Banerjee have not shared the dais at any government programme. The chief minister had gone to New Delhi in September last year and met Modi in a "courtesy call" visit. The new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with the TMC opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation. Meanwhile, reacting to the likely meeting of the two leaders, the opposition CPI(M)-led Left Front said the Trinamool Congress' "double standard" is now exposed. "The TMC is actually a Trojan horse in the opposition camp," CPI(M) legislative party leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged. The West Bengal BJP leadership, however, said it is expected that in a federal structure, a chief minister will be present at a government programme attended by the prime minister. 'Something comfortable' - that was the only advice on what to wear offered over the phone by teacher Louise Curran in advance of the session at Arus Lorcain in Arklow. The implication was that her chair yoga classes are not overly strenuous, though they turned out to be demanding enough for those who take part. Chair yoga is exactly what the phrase suggests - yoga practised in a sitting position or maybe hanging on to a chair for better balance. There is no need to bring a mat for floor exercises or to arrive in skin-tight gear because no one comes to chair yoga in order to perfect the iconic lotus position. Though she is not one to boast about such things, Louise herself is more than capable of achieving a lotus and reaching a high standard in the physical challenges of her chosen discipline. At the age of 50, she remains as supple (probably more supple) as many people half her age, a tribute to the benefits of decades of yoga. However, she fully realises that her loyal followers in Arklow (or any of the other venues she visits) are generally happy to patrol the less exalted heights. 'I can do the strenuous stuff,' she laughs, 'but chair yoga is for people who are not comfortable with lying on their tummies. There is less pressure on hips and knees.' The exercises she calls are particularly designed to stimulate the synovial fluid which lubricates the joints of the body. Much of the gentle emphasis during class is on breathing and no one is expected to be too precise with their moves. 'Once you get used to the movement, it is easier to link up breathing and movement but it takes time and practice. 'People coming the first day sometimes say they could not work out the breathing. So I say don't not breath.' She pauses for laughter. 'And follow with arms and legs as best you can.' Louise Curran is a self-confessed blow-in to County Wicklow, born in Scotland and spending much of her early years in South Africa before the family moved to London. Yoga came early into her life as her mother trained to be a teacher of the art, though without ever making much of her qualification. Now 86 years old, mother remains well capable of enjoying a chair yoga session at home in the British capital whenever her daughter comes to visit her. Louise enrolled in classes while living in England and maintained her interest on arrival in Ireland. Eventually she realised that yoga meant more to her than merely being an elaborate way of keeping fit. Living in Rathnew, she found herself drawn to the Ananta studio in Wicklow, where Liz Richards became her first teacher as she explored more of the spiritual side. 'Yoga is ultimately about calming the mind,' she says. Louise's career in the stressful world of business analyst was going well for her a few years ago but, when a contract came to an end, it was time to make a decision. Rather than seeking to land another contract, she opted to become a full-time yoga trainer. She has since specialised in the chair version of the practice, citing the adage: 'Yoga is for everyone'. So, at her sessions, yoga is for older people. Yoga is for those recovering from childbirth or surgery. Yoga is for people in wheelchairs. Her first sessions were held at Ananta in Wicklow town where she continues to call the moves each Monday and Friday. She is also in charge at classes in Aughrim, in Laragh's Brockagh Resource Centre and in Arus Lorcain, one of several teachers active across the county. 'This is a whole new career,' she muses. 'I don't miss business analysis and I don't miss office politics or the commute to Dublin.' Louise has discovered that, for no logical reason, the seated version of yoga attracts an overwhelmingly female clientele. The fundamentals of the discipline were first devised and spread in India by men and it is equally suited to either gender. For reasons unknown however, in Ireland the appeal is more to women than to men. The 'regular' classes at Ananta are split 60:40 in favour of the feminine and the trend is much more marked in chair yoga where the men are, frankly, a rarity. 'In the Western world, it is the women who are coming along,' notes Louise. 'Maybe they are more aware of their bodies.' She wonders subversively whether maybe too they are more sociable. She makes an appeal to the fellows to please come along and give it a try, if only in order to make it easier for them to tie their shoelaces. She stresses that such improvements in flexibility do not happen overnight. Expect no instant results: 'You need to be patient.' But she insists matter of factly that she regularly sees students who are overweight or stiff making great strides under her gentle command. Your reporter attended the session in Arklow where he found that Aidan Farrell was the only other man present, so the pair of us retreated discreetly to a corner of the hall. Aidan has Parkinson's disease and finds that the regular weekly exercise in the Arus is very beneficial in relieving the symptoms of the condition: 'This has loosened me up - it is working for me and I would hate to miss it.' So we two men took our shoes off like everyone else and sat down on our chairs like everyone else, all our eyes fixed on the calming presence at the centre of the bright and airy room. Louise's seat was raised slightly on a dais to ensure we all had no difficulty following her as she took us through our stretches and shakes and twirls. The effect of her untroubled voice verged on hypnotic as she coaxed our 30-strong group, most of us middle-aged to elderly, through our creaky paces. 'Nice long spine,' she urged, always coming back to the rhythm of breathing. Yet there was room for a hint of humour amidst all the earnest effort. Our tutor prompted a wave of shared laughter as she surveyed our attempts to bend our arms and our legs to hold a tree-like pose while standing beside our chairs. She looked at the forest of quivering limbs and observed wryly: 'No two trees look the same.' None of us collapsed but most of us came close to toppling over as we laughed. Your reporter spoke to members of the class who were unanimous in their enthusiasm and in their praise of Louse. Margaret: 'I have done yoga before but chair yoga is better and still very effective. I do it for pleasure but it is exercise. I just wish I had the willpower to do it all through the week.' Anne: 'I have been coming for more than a year and I definitely feel the benefit on my two bad hips. It helps mentally too.' Jane: 'I have been coming since summer of last year. I gave up my art class because I wouldn't miss yoga. I have had two knee replacements and it is gentle exercise. I find it more beneficial than the swimming pool.' Mary: 'People think chair yoga is easy but there is a lot of work, though we have the cup of tea afterwards and we probably have a biscuit - though we are not supposed to. Yoga will really relax your mind and, if you have a problem, you just forget about it.' Agnes: 'The yoga is lovely, amazing, with easy stretching, and you can see people improving. I had a frozen shoulder and then then I came here. All of a sudden I was able to pull on the seat belt in the car again.' Sadie: 'Last summer, we did a fundraiser for Sister Anne who works in Haiti. I am doing yoga for a year - it helps with the muscles, bones and the body generally. Louise works us very hard but we have a laugh and a cup of tea, so it's good for the wellbeing too.' Maureen noted the gender disparity: 'You men don't look after yourselves! I find chair yoga very relaxing.' Betty: 'I have been here since the classes started. It keeps you fit and it keeps you going.' She echoed the concern at the dearth of males and reported that the same imbalance is in evidence at her line dancing sessions: 'It is hard to get men going.' Margaret: 'Yoga is very effective for the body.' Rose: 'The doctor advised me to come because I had trouble with my arm and the exercise is good for it.' Pat: 'My daughter is a yoga teacher but chair yoga might be a separate discipline.' Adrian insisted that it has been known for people to arrive on crutches for classes and leave without them. Louise makes no such miracle-working claims but there was no doubt but that yoga gives practitioners - be they young or be they old and infirm - greater confidence in their bodies. American Murder By Paul Edwards January 10, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Clausewitz said, War is the continuation of politics by other means, but American Presidents have modified his apothegm. No one knows when it was first judged--How to put it? Not legal, no; not moral, no, surely not. Conceiveable..? Permissible..?--politically safe, for a nation to assassinate a human being, a foreign enemy. There is no record of that meeting of our governments most powerful men--only such a group could plan so radical an action--when one of them first dared to say, Suppose we kill him? Those souls shocked and wounded by our latest murder, need to know that meeting was not recent: didnt happen under the Suppurating Pustule that infects the White House today, nor the charming Grand Bullshitter who preceded him, nor the aphasic buffoon before him. It was a century ago. Theres no dating it to a particular hit but it was certainly held before our deviously arranged murder of Sandino in Nicaragua in 1934. For the last century the US government has made it its regular business to execute, or to buy the execution of, men it deemed geopolitically damned. There isnt space here to review the long roster of Americas secret victims, nor any need for that. The uninformed need to take their own education in hand or continue mooing meekly down the chute toward who knows what end? Perhaps even their own date with the stungun. Skipping past our more notorious standard issue deep cover CIA murders--Lumumba, Che, Allende, Diem--and excepting killings during phony police actions and incursions, gets us to the phase of dedicated, clandestine extermination outfits, to the era of terminating with extreme prejudice by quasi-military units like the Phoenix Program that murdered thousands of Viet Cong and NVA. It was a short step then to creation of specialized military hit squads. Navy SEALS with their Osama murder are typical. In this era of magical tech innovations--GPS wizardry, HUMINT, SIGINT, IMINT and MASINT--America vaunts the uncanny accuracy of drones that slaughter wedding parties instead of jihadi honchos, and Hellfire missiles that maim and eviscerate more peasant children than diabolized hajjis. Targeted assassination has, in its current iteration, thrown over the traces and expanded its lethal reach so that nailing its purported target is now irrelevant. Busloads of Yemeni kids will do. Its now a case, as a Marine buddy told me in Khe Sanh, of Kill em all; let God sort em out. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter It needs to be clear that none of this cowardly murder was done in the heat of authorized battle. None of it has come during legally declared war. These assassinations are just that: murders without acknowledgment, much less official justification that, when exposed, are flatly denied by implausible baldfaced bullshit from our robotic, faux-Christian Mandarins. Our government always keeps, among its court jongleurs, trained slugs whose unique sociopathic gift consists in being able to look a clueless public in the face and solemnly assure them that dogshit is ice cream. What is notable about this sordid history is not that it happened, since this country has foisted the dirtiest, most flagrant deceptions on the world and its own people as a matter of course for generations, but this: that from the beginning of our state murder program enormous effort has gone into keeping the fact of it hidden or, at least, deniable. It remained to Jabba, the President, not only to end that charade, to blow that cover in the Soleimani murder, but also, with idiot vanity, to celebrate himself as its author. Quite apart from being astoundingly, stupidly reckless, since The Empires functionaries, military and other, become immediate potential targets, it is an offence against the laws of nations and of war. America, the full rogue state, cares nothing for such laws, of course, but some quaint nations still do and it puts it in seriously bad odor with the few suckup lackeys it still may have despite Trumps relentless campaign to demean and alienate them. Candidates for another coalition of the willing to mask Americas brute adventurism are going to be scarce as birdshit in a cuckoo clock. So much for side effects. This murder of Soleimani was, to cop a line from Hamlet, a Murder most foul, as in the best it is, but this most foul, strange, and unnatural, because of his history as a once critical American ally. He, with forces loyal to him, was key in defeating ISIS after our multi-billion dollar, half-assed, spit-and-baling wire Iraqi Armys meltdown and flight. America murdered no Takfiri barbarian, no crazed, fanatic Jihadi in him, but a temperate, judicious statesman, and a hero to most Iranian people. If the intent was crude, direct provocation of war with Iran, that intent may now be realized. With millions of Persians in the streets mourning him and Khamenei vowing stern vengeance, symbolic rockets are no expression of that outrage. If retaliation does come, as it may, the world will know it. At that point, Trump has to fish or cut bait. If his authority is heeded then-- which is not certain--by a military that much prefers no-risk bullying of weak entities that generate big money for little blood, and a Congress at once warmongering and cowardly, the balloon could go up. If so, speculation is useless beyond one ineluctable reality: the US will be, at a minimum, badly hurt and the world economy will be shaken to pieces. Needless to say, the results of Big Power war would be orders of magnitude more catastrophic. Very Serious People, men who make regular appearances on the MSM-- the PR arm of the Deep State--and their owners who dont, are betting that nothing so insane as Great Power war could come about as a result of this murder and theyre probably right. It would take an interlocking set of wild errors of judgment and calculation on the part of the powerful men who control world order, such as it is, for a major cataclysm to be triggered. That was the case in 1914, as Tuchman detailed in The Guns Of August. Men of broad experience and vaunted acumen, in charge of armies, fleets, and nations, slow marched in their egotism, arrogance, and wilful rigidity, into the most devastating war in history, mesmerized by their own folly. A wag has said that history doesnt repeat itself but it rhymes. Wisdom and sound judgment are not unattainable by men who value them. They forever elude the arrogant, the egoist, and the sociopath. The men and women who now lead us are such people, enlisted by, and devoted to, our Capitalist rulers, and their voracious quest for dominion of the world and the acquisition of its wealth that is their only purpose and goal. People of this barren, soulless, biophobic creed are incapable of rational, humane, and life-affirming decisions. The impending dangers of rape economics, climate change, and world war do not appear to these defectives as the horrifying, immanent threats they are. We are hostage to their inadequacy. It is not impossible that the murder of Soleimani could result in a disaster of greater magnitude than did that of the Archduke Ferdinand, and that we may, in the days ahead, suffer our own 1914 and its dreadful aftermath. Paul Edwards is a writer and film-maker in Montana. He can be reached at: hgmnude@bresnan.net Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here Mexicos future is in large part dictated by the future of its oil and gas industry, and the rolling back of landmark energy reforms has now put that all in jeopardy. Heres what Mexicos energy industry has to look forward to in the coming year. No Oil Auctions Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced earlier this week that Mexico was indeed not looking to put oil and gas blocks up on the auction block this year, as some had hoped. The announcement dashed all hopes that the worlds energy companies would be invited in to develop Mexicos oil and gas resources. Obradors no-auction stance is in character, following his efforts to seize more control of its energy sector as he continues to roll back some energy industry reforms that had ended state-run monopolies and opened the door wide to foreign oil companies to encourage competition. Most see this nationalistic agenda as a step backwards for Mexicos energy sector, after the previous administration, Enrique Pena Nieto, had been hailed for his progress in this area. Obrador, however, has said that the reason for not offering any oil and gas blocks up for auction this year was because while oil and gas companies had been awarded over 100 contracts through previous auctions (during Pena-Nietos rein), they had not made enough headway with their projects. Of the 1.735 million barrels that were extracted yesterday only 10,000 were extracted by the companies that received the contracts, Obrador explained. But Amexhi countered that the private sector has so far invested more than $11 billion in the energy sector. Related: IEA: The Oil Glut Is Going Nowhere What, then, is Obrador banking on, if not foreign oil companies? A surge of state-run oil production, apparently. Most banks, analysts, and creditors, however, feel Obrador is reaching. Pemex Not Just in Deep Water - Deep in Debt After all, Mexicos state-run oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), is still deep in the red, to the tune of about $100 billion. The IMF said that Pemexs plan for 2019-2023 was unrealistic with regards to production growth and reserves replenishment. Current plans focus on areas where the company has had better success rates in the past, the IMF said in a report published last November, This strategy will likely lead to some short-term production gains, but the 60% increase in production by 2024 to 2.7 million b/d currently projected by Pemex appears optimistic. IMFs take seems prudent, given that Pemexs crude oil output came in under 1.7 million bpd in October last yeara figure that was 5.5% down year on year, and a far cry from the 3.4 million bpd it produced back in 2004. But Obrador says this has all changed. For the first time in 14 years, petroleum production didnt fall, it was an extraordinary achievement due to the good management of Pemex, Obrador said this week. But analysts wholeheartedly disagree. Unless Mexico were to sink billions into its oil industry or open up its doors to foreign oil companies, the outlook is bleak. Fitch has already downgraded Pemex to speculative grade, and more downgrades are likely on the way, Mexicos Central Bank warned this week. Not Just Oil, But Renewables Too The pain will not be limited to the oil and gas industry. Mexicos renewables industry may take a beating this year as well, as Obrador announced this week that the government would review solar and wind contracts in order to ascertain whether private companies in these sectors are being subsidized improperly. Related: Low Gas Prices Crush Appalachia Shale Boom This comes after Mexicos Federal Electricity Commission considered in December putting an end to a few clean-energy contracts and deep discounts it was handing out for transmission costs for legacy permits. A Glimmer Of Hope Oil production issues aside, all is not lost for Mexicos energy sector. It has a few things going for it this year, one of which is its typically successful Hacienda hedge. While Mexico is keeping a few of the details extra secret this year, the hedge cost around $1 billion for 2020, locking in a price of $49 per barrel, to protect its oil sales when prices fall too far. Mexico has made a killing from its hedge during years of ultra-low prices. Pemex had some success late last year, finding more oil which will be critical to its future. Pemex called its Quesqui find a giant one, stating that it is estimated to hold as much as 500 million barrels of crude that will produce as much as 69,000 bpd by 2020, and 110,000 bpd by 2021. It is the largest find in more than 30 years, Pemex said. But while a positive development for Pemex, it alone will not be enough. Another positive development for Mexicos energy sector is Talos Energys Block 7 Zama oil find offshore Mexico. While this wont be in production by 2020, it is expecting first oil by 2023. The production could generate as much as $28 billion in fiscal revenue for Mexicos government. But again, this is a few years down the road. Mexicos oil industry accounts for 4% of the countrys GDP. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A minor girl died after being set ablaze following a clash between two families in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district, police said. The 12 year-old girl lost her life on Friday after the two families came to blows in Sonaudi village under Dehat Kotwali police station area over suspicion of stone pelting, Balrampur Superintendent of Police Dev Ranjan Verma said. In a fit of rage, Ramu poured kerosene and set fire to neighbour Vishram Chaurasia's daughter leading to her death, the officer said. A case of murder has been registered after Chaurasia lodged a complaint, he said. Two teams have been constituted to nab the culprit who fled the village along with his family soon after the incident, the SP said, adding that additional personnel have been deployed in the village as a precautionary measure. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The worlds first cruise that will touch all seven continents left port from Fort Lauderdale on Monday. Silverseas Silver Whisper ship will sail around the world for the next four months until it reaches its final destination of Amsterdam of May 25. During that journey, guests will have visited 62 destinations in 32 different countries on all seven continents. The Legends of Cruising 2020 cruise is nothing if not luxe. Fares for the 140-day cruise started at $62,000. On the higher end was a $240,000 option for the spacious owners suite, the most expensive cruise accommodation in industry history. The ship can carry up to 388 passengers. To involve all destinations while on board, the ship will be introducing a cocktail program that will personalize drinks for each stop. that will include regional specialties and local ingredients. Cocktail masterclasses will also be offered onboard, so guests can learn how to recreate their favorite drinks when back on land. The cruise also includes 33 off-shore experiences, including a folkloric ballet performance in Brazil, a candlelit al fresco dinner in the Red Sea desert and a tour of the Royal Yacht Brittania in Scotland. The expedition also includes three days in Antarctica, where guests could spot penguins and seals or explore icebergs. The ship will make its way south, stopping in San Juan, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires before exploring Antarctica. It will then back up the west coast of South America, working its way from Chile to Australia. Asian stops include Singapore and Mumbai before heading to Europe, where the cruise will finally finish in May. It's an exciting time for Silversea as the company will introduce two more epic world cruises for 2021 The Finest World Tour 2021 will be a 150-day journey, visiting 34 countries on six continents, including Easter Island and Venice, Italy. The Uncharted World Tour 2021 will last 167 days and visit 107 different destinations in 30 countries across six continents, including Antarctica. Harbour View:--- Today, January 10, 2020, the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency drs. E.B. Holiday was informed by the chairman of the Central Voting Bureau about the proceedings of the January 9, parliamentary elections. Governor Holiday also received the preliminary results of January 9, 2020, parliamentary elections. Interim Prime Minister Ms. S. Jacobs has, in view of the elections, made the portfolios of the Ministers and the Minister Plenipotentiary available. The Governor informed the Prime Minister that he will take the resignation into consideration and requested the Ministers and the Minister Plenipotentiary to continue to handle the daily operations of government and to continue working with him in the interest of Sint Maarten until a decision has been taken concerning the request for resignation. Based on the preliminary results the Governor decided to start consultations today with various persons to gather information to decide on the process for the formation of a new government. The Governor will meet with, among others, the leaders of the political parties that obtained seats in Parliament (National Alliance, United Peoples Party, United St. Maarten Party, Party for Progress, United Democrats), as well as with the Chairperson of Parliament, the vice-chairperson of the Council of Advice and the chairperson of the Central Voting Bureau. During these meetings, the outcome of the elections and consequences thereof for the formation process for a new cabinet are discussed. Fine Gael ministers have been urged to change the public perception that the party is only for the wealthy and the elite before the approaching general election. Ministers were told they need to highlight what the party has done for all sectors of society, including the most vulnerable, as the debate over the election date rumbled on into the weekend. Meanwhile, Fine Gael backbench TDs said they were no clearer on when the election would be held after attending a parliamentary meeting in Dublin hosted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. It has also emerged Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is still prepared to agree to dissolve the Dail in April after his meeting with Mr Varadkar. Earners A senior Fianna Fail source said Mr Martin's offer to extend the Dail until Easter still stands and it was now up to Mr Varadkar to ensure he has the numbers to stay in Government. Before their parliamentary party meeting, Fine Gael ministers met to discuss general election campaign strategy at the Irish Georgian Society. Ministers were told they need to show voters that the party is not just for middle and high income earners but also for those who are less well-off. Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty gave a presentation detailing how much funding Fine Gael had invested in welfare payments since taking office nine years ago. "There was big emphasis on messaging and telling voters what we have done for those who are less well-off in society," a minister said. Another added: "There was talk of being a party 'for the many, not the few'." At a press conference, the Taoiseach said he believes he has the numbers to defeat a motion of 'no confidence' in Health Minister Simon Harris set to be tabled. He also said the Dail would return next week. In a separate development, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald announced that the party has agreed to back a deal to restore powersharing at Stormont - a move that confirms the return of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a three-year absence. The Dublin TD said she believes that "powersharing can work". "It requires everyone to step up. Sinn Fein's commitment is to do all in our power to make this happen," she added. Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Saturday said the Army is taking a raft of measures including moving advanced weapons and developing infrastructure as part of its approach of "rebalancing" operational preparedness for combating any security challenge along the frontier with China. Addressing a press conference on the eve of Army Day, Gen Naravane also said the long-pending hotline between the two militaries will be set up soon as differences over it have been resolved. "We have to balance out our preparation along the northern border. We are going in for lot of capacity building, laying roads to forward areas, creating storage for ammunition and moving advanced weapon systems to our eastern side," he said. Asked about the situation at Siachen glacier, Gen Naravane said Indian forces should not lose sight as threat of collusion between China and Pakistan is maximum in the area. "We need to hold on to it. This can take place at any level, but Siachen and Shaksgam Valley are the places where the territory of these two countries meets," said the Army Chief. Gen Naravane said the Indian Army is now prepared for any challenge along the frontier with China as result of "rebalancing" its preparedness. "At one point of time, the focus was more towards the western front (Pakistan). We think, now, that both western and northern fronts are equally important and it is in that context, rebalancing is taking place," he said. Asked how prepared the Army is to deal with a two-front war involving Pakistan and China simultaneously, he said a primary front and a secondary front would be identified. He said bulk of the resources would be deployed on the primary front and an approach of deterrent posture would be adopted to deal with the secondary front. On incidents of transgressions by Chinese Army, Gen Naravane said such issues are being addressed under broad framework of strategic guidelines given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Army Chief said maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border will help the negotiators in arriving at a solution to the boundary issue. On the visit of Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh to China, Gen Naravane said he had been extended all the courtesies and the trip reflected the bonhomie between the two sides. The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas. The focus of the second informal summit between Modi and Xi in Mamallapuram in October was to further broaden India-China ties. The two leaders held their first informal summit in April 2018 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, months after India-China relations came under severe strain following a 73-day standoff between their armies in Doklam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Add CoolSocial badge. Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Fastreviewsonline.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 17 Jun 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. Add a widget like this on your site: click here The total number of people who shared the fastreviewsonline homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. 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Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND By Express News Service KOLKATA: Embroiled in a war of words with the Centre over the amended citizenship law, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has agreed to share the stage with PM Narendra Modi at an event of Kolkata Port Trust (KPT) on Sunday. The CM gave the nod after Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Friday evening to invite her for the KPTs 150th-anniversary celebration. At the forefront of anti-CAA protests, Mamata has announced that her government would not allow the Act in Bengal. Trinamool leaders were unable to confirm whether Mamata would be present at Kolkata airport to receive the Prime Minister. They said a senior minister could receive Modi in such a situation. While doubts prevail whether she will attend a dinner to be hosted by the Raj Bhavan in honour of Modi on Saturday night, there is a buzz that she may accept the invite of Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar with whom she has often been on loggerheads. Both our party and the BJP are hitting out at each other on CAA. The situation is fragile. There is no confirmation that the CM will attend the dinner, conceded a senior TMC leader. Ever since the BJP emerged as the principal opposition in Bengal after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Modi and Mamata have not shared stage at a government programme. The two leaders last were seen together in 2018 at the inaugural ceremony of Bangladesh Bhavan at Visva Bharati. On his two-day visit, Modi will reach Kolkata on Saturday afternoon. He will attend a programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium apart from other events. A delegation of BJP leaders is likely to meet Modi for briefing him about the steps taken to counter Trinamools misleading anti-CAA campaign. Riverine route for Modi en route to Belur Math Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take a riverine route to reach Belur Math on Saturday instead of roads due to the ongoing protests and blockades against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. A SPG team, which is responsible for the Prime Ministers security, reviewed the Intelligence Bureaus report and decided to change Modis route to Belur Math. The Prime Minister will travel by road from the airport, but an IAF helicopter will be kept standby in the likelihood of large-scale demonstrations on his route. PM to visit four heritage buildings in Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate four renovated iconic buildings to the nation. This is a part of the Ministry of Cultures plans to develop cultural spaces in the metropolitan cities. Currently, the focus is on Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi. The four heritage buildings are the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall. The buildings will feature new exhibitions while curating the old galleries, the ministry said. SPRINGFIELD Illinois is an exporter of moving trucks, according to the companies that own them. In annual reports, Atlas Van Lines, United Van Lines, and U-Haul all have Illinois listed as a state with significantly more outbound moving trucks than inbound ones. Atlas said 61 percent of its moving trucks that crossed Illinois state lines were on their way out, making it the fourth-highest percentage of outbound moves in the nation. United Van Lines has released its National Movers Survey every year for decades. In 2019, Illinois saw the tail lights of more than 4,500 of United Van Lines trucks and welcomed about 2,300. For the last decade, Illinois has definitely teetered more outbound than inbound, but weve seen a significant rise lately, said Eily Cummings, United Van Lines communications director. The Champaign-Urbana area, Cummings said, had one of the highest outbound ratios in America. Decatur, Rockford, Joliet, and Champaign show a 70 percent or more, she said. In Champaigns instance, its almost 80 percent outbound. United Van Lines data showed many midwesterners were moving to states like Arizona, New Mexico and Florida, all common retirement destinations. Cummings said corporate relocations make up a significant portion of Illinois out of state moves. Retirement is still the story, but you cant really overlook some of those corporate relocations and manufacturing plant closures, she said. Beyond Indiana, the top destination for Illinois ex-pats was Florida. According to a Wall St. Journal analysis of Census data, more than 500,000 Floridians said they were residents of a different state in 2018, more than any other state. Forty-one percent of Uniteds outbound Illinois movers said they left for a job compared to 30 percent who said they were retiring. The annual U-Haul Top Growth States report naturally trends toward more of a middle-class customer, according to U-Haul Illinois President Aaron Freeman, who said the majority of the companys moves are from one part of Illinois to another. Its more of a perception that everybody is fleeing the state, he said. I just dont see it on the front line. Illinois ranked last again in U-Hauls 2019 comparison of states, meaning the state had far fewer inbound moves than it did people taking their trucks and crossing state lines with them. Illinois shrank by 51,000 in total population in 2019, according to the latest U.S. Census population estimates. (Newser) A Seattle police officer who apparently used a ruse for "fun" may have contributed to a man's suicide, CNN reports. An internal police probe says it all began when two officers approached a West Seattle woman's house in 2018 to ask about her connection with a man who had driven away from a fender bender. As they walked up, one officer said he had a ruse to sniff out the hit-and-run suspect: "It's a lie, but it's fun," he said, per the Office of Police Accountability report. At the home, the officer said the suspectwho had used the woman's address in registering his carhad critically injured someone in the accident who "might not survive." The woman was "clearly emotionally affected" by the officer's words and contacted the suspect, who didn't seem concerned at first. story continues below After all, it was just a fender bender. But the suspect eventually became disconsolate and feared he "had hit and killed someone but that he did not remember it. ... [he] was freaking out," a friend told the OPA, per the Seattle Times. The man, apparently a former heroin addict, then killed himself in June 2018. Now the OPA's civilian director blames the suicide on the officer's actions and said the ruse "shocked the conscience." But the cop, who was suspended for six days, said the ruse "was needed" for "a criminal investigation," and while the suicide is "regrettable," the officer "was not ultimately responsible." If you're contemplating suicide or know anyone who is, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. (Read more suicide stories.) The Boeing CEO who was ousted last month for the companys botched response to two crashes and the grounding of its best-selling plane - the 737 Max - will walk away with $62.2million, the company said on Friday. However, Boeing added that that Dennis Muilenburg will not get additional severance or a 2019 bonus, and will forfeit stock awards worth $14.6million. He will, however, be getting a pension, deferred compensation benefits and long-term incentive awards, which add up to $62.2million, according to amounts that were listed in Boeing's securities filing. Boeing said ousted president and CEO Dennis Muilenburg (pictured in 2019) will receive $62.2million in contractual payouts, but won't get extra severance and will forfeit some stocks Muilenburg, who spent more than 30 years at Boeing, also has unexercised stock options that he has held since 2013 and that are worth more than $18.5million at Friday's closing price. 'We thank Dennis for his nearly 35 years of service to the Boeing Company,' the company said in a statement obtained by the New York Times. 'Upon his departure, Dennis received the benefits to which he was contractually entitled and he did not receive any severance pay or a 2019 annual bonus.' Muilenburg was fired in late December after failing to get the company's 737 Max jetliner back in the air. Boeing board Chairman David Calhoun will take over as CEO on Monday. He is a former General Electric and Nielsen executive with a reputation as a turnaround specialist. Boeing board Chairman David Calhoun (pictured in 2004) will take over as CEO on Monday Muilenburg was fired in late December after failing to get the company's 737 Max jetliner (pictured) back in the air after two fatal crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia led to its grounding Calhoun will be paid a base salary of $1.4million, but could receive several million more if he manages to get the 737 Max back in the air. A 737 Max jet is seen parked outside Boeing's Washington State factory on Friday Calhoun, 62, will get a base salary of $1.4 million but potentially several million more in bonuses and stock awards, including $7 million based on 'continued employment and the achievement of several key business milestones, including full, safe return to service of the 737 MAX,' according to the company's securities filing. The Max was grounded last March after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people. It has taken far longer than Boeing expected to fix the plane. This month, Boeing will halt production until it is clear when changes to the plane will be approved by regulators. Muilenberg was named CEO in 2015 and presided over a rapid rise in the Chicago-based company's stock price. The shares have dropped 26% in the last 10 months, however, as the Max's recovery stalled. Months before Muilenburg's ouster, some lawmakers and relatives of passengers who died in the Max crashes had asked him to resign or take a cut in pay. At a congressional hearing in October, Muilenburg parried questions about his compensation by saying it was set by Boeing's board. A few days later, he announced he would not take a bonus for 2019 - that he would walk away from 'tens of millions' of dollars as a signal that he was taking responsibility for correcting problems with the Max. She rang in the new year in the winter wonderland that is Aspen, Colorado with beau Scott Disick. Now back home in sunny Southern California, Sofia Richie had her eye on some new bling when she hit the fancy XIV Karats store in Beverly Hills on Friday. Richie, 21, kept sporty, but still stylish, in grey and white leggings that hugged her gym-honed figure and a dark grey cropped jacket. Sporty style! Sofia Richie, 21, opted for a sporty look in leggings and a crop while shopping at a jewelry store in Beverly Hills on Friday Keeping with the casual theme, the model donned a pair of black and white jogging sneakers and wore her dyed blonde tresses long, with a part on the slight right. The daughter of music legend Lionel Richie helped stave off the powerful sun with some retro-style sunglasses. At times, during her walk out of the high-end store, she put her right hand in front of her face to help block the blinding glare. Shining star: The sun glared down on Richie as she walked out of the fancy XIV Karats store Casual cool: The model and fashion designer wore a sporty but stylish outfit in leggings, grey crop jacket, jogging sneakers and retro sunglasses Dinner date: She was spotted Friday night heading to dinner with friends Richie and Disick, 36, celebrated the new year in Aspen with two of his three kids: Mason, 10, and Penelope, seven, that he shares with ex-Kourtney Kardashian. The couple have now been dating for more than two-and-a-half years. They were first pictured flirting while in Cannes in May 2017, when she was 18-years old. Scott and Kourtney's breakup in 2015 hasn't stopped them co-parenting their kids together and collaborating on some projects. They finally called it quits in 2015 after nearly 10-years together. Hot look: She wore an all black outfit of tight pants, a tee shirt and blazer with statement red heels that tied around her ankle Winter wonderland: Richie and beau Scott Disick ushered in the new year in Aspen, Colorado with his daughter Penelope (pictured), seven and son Mason, 10 Along with Mason and Penelope, they are parents to four-year-old son Reign, four. Richie has been featured in a number of campaigns for major brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors and Chanel. This past year she teamed up with Frankie's Bikinis to launch a colorful swimwear collection that premiered in July 2019. She also designed a clothing line called Sofia Richie X Missguided for UK-based retailer Missguided. The man who prevented the Dec. 29 Texas church shooting incident from turning into a massacre by killing the gunman is to receive a medal of honor from Governor Greg Abbott. I dont feel Im a hero. I was doing what I needed to do to protect the people of the congregation, Jack Wilson, head of the volunteer security team at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas, told ABC13. The only clear shot I had was his head because I still had people in the pews that were not all the way down as low as they could, Wilson said. The incident happened just after the service started on Dec. 29. Wilson and 67-year-old Richard White, another member of the church security squad, spotted the gunman beforehand because he was acting strangely and dressed in a hat, long coat, wig, and an obviously fake beard. The man, who was identified as 43-year-old Keith Thomas Kinnunen, was not unknown to some churchgoers because he had enjoyed free meals provided by the church in the past. White sat down behind Kinnunen to keep an eye on him. But soon after the service started, Kinnunen stood up and wielded a shotgun that hed concealed under his coat. White reportedly pulled a gun on him but was shot first. Then Kinnunen turned to the deacon, 64-year-old Tony Wallace, and shot him too. At least six congregants pulled their guns out, while others ducked for cover between the pews. Wilson had one clear shot at him and pulled the trigger. The whole event was over in less than 6 seconds. I dont feel like I killed a human. I killed an evil. Thats how Im coping with the situation, Wilson, who is a certified gun instructor and operates a shooting range in his back yard, told DFW. After the news broke, many gun rights proponents hailed Wilsons actions, saying it proved the Second Amendment works. President Donald Trump also expressed his support on Twitter, saying lived were saved by these heroes. Our prayers are with the families of the victims and the congregation of yesterdays church attack. It was over in 6 seconds thanks to the brave parishioners who acted to protect 242 fellow worshippers. Lives were saved by these heroes, and Texas laws allowing them to carry arms! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019 On Jan. 13, Wilson will be bestowed with the highest honor a civilian can receive from a state governor, the Medal of Courage, which will be presented by Governor Greg Abbott in Austin. The Metropolitan Correctional Center, which is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, stands in lower Manhattan in New York City on Nov. 19, 2019. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Bipartisan House Bill Seeks to Protect Privacy of Emails Between Federal Inmates, Lawyers Two members of the House Judiciary Committee introduced a bill that seeks to protect the privacy of electronic communications between federal inmates and their attorneys. Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, introduced the bill on Wednesday, saying that it would [allow] incarcerated individuals to communicate with their attorneys efficiently and privately. Currently, federal law protects the privacy of other forms of communications such as telephone calls, but emails are currently exempt. Federal inmates who use the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) email system to contact their attorneys have to give consent for a government review of their attorney-client communications. The same content can also be accessed by prosecutors. The bill, titled the Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act (H.R. 5546) would prohibit the BOP from monitoring such email communications. Attorney-client privilege is a pivotal part of our legal system because it helps ensure fairness. Emails between those incarcerated and their attorneys should fall under attorney-client protections, but currently, thats not the case, Collins said in a prepared statement. [The Act] would protect the rights of incarcerated men and women to speak openly and honestly with their attorneys online. Jeffries said in a prepared statement that email communications should enjoy the same protection as telephone calls and other forms of private communication. Most fair-minded people would agree that our system of justice requires a dynamic where individuals are able to have the effective assistance of counsel necessary to adequately defend themselves, he also said, adding that email is the most efficient way of communication for inmates and their attorneys. The bill was previously introduced to Congress on Oct. 29, 2015, but was not enacted. In a joint announcement of the bill, the two congressmen noted that other ways of communication besides email can be especially burdensome and time-consuming. Face to face meetings can cost attorneys hours of time, which takes away time the attorney could be working on the clients case, they pointed out. Meanwhile, phone calls are often limited in time and require advance notice, they said. The phone also cannot allow the sharing of legal documents and other legal documents, and using postal mail to send such documents can take up to two weeks, they noted. The bill would stop the BOP from monitoring the emails between inmates and their attorneys. In a court of law, upon a motion by the defendant, the bill can suppress evidence obtained from accessing such emails. The BOP is still able to keep the emails until the inmate is released, but the emails contents may only be accessed under very limited circumstances, a release notifying of the bill states. A number of groups are in support of the bill, with the American Civil Liberties Union, American Bar Association and FreedomWorks among them. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) agreed to co-sponsor Sen. Bernie Sanders' "No War Against Iran Act," CNN reports and Sanders confirmed Saturday on Twitter. What's happening: The legislation seeks to deny funding from the Pentagon for use of military force in Iran, which it calls "unauthorized" in light of Congress not approving the lethal strike on top Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. What he's saying: "War, generally speaking, is something we want to avoid," Lee said on Saturday at the Utah Eagle Forum, following the senators' announced partnership on the legislation. "President Donald Trump has, in my view, been more respectful and more restrained in his exercise of his commander-in-chief role than any other president in my lifetime," Lee added on Saturday couching his criticism of Wednesday's classified briefing on the Soleimani strike, led by Trump's top national security officials. in my view, been more respectful and more restrained in his exercise of his commander-in-chief role than any other president in my lifetime," Lee added on Saturday couching his criticism of Wednesday's classified briefing on the Soleimani strike, led by Trump's top national security officials. Lee told Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) he would support a war powers resolution which aims to "vote in Congress to prevent further escalation of hostilities with Iran," if Kaine removed language that criticized Trump, he said Saturday. Background: Lee called Wednesday's Soleimani briefing the "worst" he's ever seen. He said it was "insulting and demeaning" that briefers instructed senators not to debate the appropriateness of further military action against Iran. "As United States Senators, we often disagree on many issues. But standing up for the Constitution is not about partisanship. The Founding Fathers were absolutely clear. They wanted to ensure that our country avoided needless conflict and they understood that presidential war-making would be harmful to our democracy." the senators' joint Saturday statement to CNN Go deeper: House passes war powers resolution condemning military action against Iran Exxon Mobil in Baytown now faces a third lawsuit from the Harris County Attorneys office, which cites concerns about continued environmental violations at the facility. Things are happening at those facilities on a far too frequent basis, Rock Owens, special assistant Harris County Attorney for environmental matters, told the Houston Chronicle, and we have a Commissioners Court that wants us to be assertive when it comes to facilities like this. The lawsuit filed Thursday against Exxon Mobil stems from emissions reports on Dec. 12, Dec. 16 and Jan. 2 from the chemical plant that resulted in the release of thousands of pounds of pollutants, some of which are known carcinogens. The county is seeking a temporary restraining order and temporary and permanent injunctions. Exxon Mobil is the worlds largest publicly traded oil and gas company and one of the biggest chemical manufacturers. The Baytown complex sits on about 3,400 acres along the Houston Ship Channel, about 25 miles east of Houston, and includes a refinery and chemical plant that employ about 7,000 people, according to the companys website. Previously, the county had sued the company after two industry-related fires last year and the subsequent releases of unauthorized emissions. Shortly before noon on March 16, a tube leak caused a fire at a hydrofining unit that the company said processes motor gasoline, sending a thick cloud of dark smoke into the sky that was captured on video and posted on social media. While emergency responders extinguished the fire before 5 p.m., the Baytown refinery continued to release air pollutants including sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and benzene through March 24, according to a report to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. No injuries were reported. Then on July 31, the Olefins plant erupted in flames injuring at least 37 people. Plant manager Jason Duncan said in a news conference then that the injuries had been minor, first-degree burns. The fire began in an area used to purify the chemical propylene, which is used as a fuel and in making plastics. The state also has a pending lawsuit against the company for environmental violations, including releasing millions of gallons of firefighting wastewater into the Houston Ship Channel after the petrochemical giants July fire. The lawsuit, filed by the attorney general on behalf of the TCEQ, seeks injunctive relief, civil penalties exceeding $100,000, attorneys fees and court costs for alleged violations of the Texas Clean Air Act and the Texas Water Code. On Jan. 17, there is a hearing scheduled in state court in Houston to determine jurisdiction between the state and the county. The Texas attorney general is arguing that Harris County couldnt have sued Exxon Mobil on Aug. 1 using a commissioners court preauthorization. An Exxon Mobil spokesman said Friday the company was aware of the lawsuit and would review it. Company officials have previously said that the company remains focused on the safety of its employees and community. A company statement noted that Exxon Mobil spent nearly $1 billion on the Baytown complex since 2005 to improve environmental performance. The investment came after a lawsuit by the Environmental Protection Agency. Some of the unauthorized pollutants released by the company for which it is now being sued include nitrogen oxides, which contribute to the formation of both smog and acid particles, along with toluene and xylenes both forms of benzene. Hydrogen sulfide can cause nausea, tearing of the eyes, headaches and poor memory, among other symptoms depending on the amount breathed and for how long. Recent reports from environmental groups have also named Exxon Mobil as one of the top polluters in the area. Data analyzed by the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project puts Exxon Mobil in Baytown as the states largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions in 2018 from the oil and gas sector. According to the group, it released 11.8 million tons, nearly twice as much as the next company, Motiva Enterprises, LLC in Jefferson County, which emitted about 6 million tons. Exxon Mobils plants in Baytown have a history of environmental violations. In 2017, a federal judge ordered Exxon Mobil to pay nearly $20 million for releasing millions of pounds of excess air pollution over a five year period from the Baytown complex, which the environmental groups suing called the largest penalty resulting from a citizen suit in U.S. history. Part of it is that we need to make sure companys attention is focused on that facility, said Owens. Exxon has facilities all over the world and this one is acting up and its in Harris County. perla.trevizo@chron.com A little girl has been left battling for her life after her head was allegedly banged on the floor. The little girl who got paralyzed A young child who was physically assaulted by a woman has been left fighting for her life at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi. A Facebook user, Ukan P Kurugh, took to his social media page to share the sad story. Could This Be Accident Or Wickedness? For demanding that she needed to take a break from her lesson, Erdoo Luper Amu, four years is now battling with life at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) Makurdi. Her helpless father, Luper Amu said he initially declined to honour the request to allow his daughter to live in Makurdi with Laadi Terhemba Amo, who is now the reason why his daughter is battling with life. According to the father of the four-year old, his daughter incured the wrath of Mrs. Amo when she complained that she could no longer continue with reading and be allowed time to rest. Angered(?) by the request, Mrs. Amo is said to have hit the little girl on her head, as she fall on the tiles floor of her living room. But Erdoos forearms and head, her body system from the waist to the hind limbs are not moving. Offaly students were awarded at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition awards ceremony in Friday. The young scientists who are students at Tullamore College, Sacred Heart Secondary School and Gallen Community School impressed the judges and took home four awards from the Technology and Social & Behavioural Sciences categories. A total number of 11 represented Offaly at the exhibition this year. Among those were Gallen CS TY student Eoin Sheridan, pictured above, who received a Highly Commended Award. Eoin's project was entitled: Tackling Back Pain due to sitting posture using technology. "Eoin has worked tirelessly at his project and richly deserves his award," his school said. Cormac Harris and Alan OSullivan, both aged 16, fourth year students from Colaiste Choilm, Cork, took home the top prize for a project entitled: A statistical investigation into the prevalence of gender stereotyping in 5-7 year olds and the development of an initiative to combat gender bias. The coveted prize was presented to the winners this evening in the BT Arena by Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD, and Managing Director of BT Ireland, Shay Walsh. Cormac and Alan presented their project in the Intermediate section in the Social and Behavioural Sciences category. Head Judge of the Social and Behavioural Sciences Group category, Professor Joe Barry said about Cormac and Alans project, "Despite awareness of the lower percentage of females relative to males pursuing study and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), we still do not understand exactly why this is the case. The aim of Cormac and Alans project was to determine how early gender stereotyping can be identified. "They conducted workshops with 376 5-7 year olds from a range of school settings with a number of different tasks including: choosing between gender-specific and gender-neutral toys; drawing and naming an engineer, and; rating male and female competency at a number of gender-specific roles. One of the most striking findings emerging from the research was that 96% of boys drew a male engineer while just over 50% of girls drew a female engineer. "This, along with the other data, indicates that gender stereotypes emerge in young children and that they are particularly strong among boys. Cormac and Alans findings are important as intervention typically focusses on girls, but the project recognises the need to focus on all children, boys and girls, from a young age, in order to combat the development of gender stereotyping. "The project is particularly impressive in that Cormac and Alan also created very pertinent and useable resources for primary school teachers to combat gender stereotyping among young children." The 2020 BT Young Scientist & Technology winners received the BTYSTE perpetual trophy and the top prize of 7,500. The lucky winners will also represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists, which takes place in Santander, Spain in September 2020. Cormac and Alan will also get to attend the 62nd Annual London International Youth Science Forum later in the year. Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD, said, Congratulations to all the students at this years BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and in particular to Cormac and Alan on their fantastic project, well-deserved winners. The atmosphere of excitement, creativity and fun at the RDS this week has been incredible. I am particularly pleased to see so many young people tackling some of the most important issues facing us, from climate change to health, to technology, ethics and societal change. The students are a credit to their families, schools and teachers and they should rightly be proud of being here. They are a huge inspiration. Id like to thank everyone involved in the unique and brilliant event that the BTYSTE is; the organisers; the 83 judges; the dedicated teachers; and of course, the mothers, fathers and families whose support is absolutely key to this. Shay Walsh, Managing Director, BT Ireland said, Congratulations to all of our participants, and particularly to all our winners. For more than five decades, the Exhibition has shown the ingenuity of Irelands youth, and this years Exhibition is no exception. The students at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition have sought creative and innovative solutions to some of the worlds most pressing issues, and that spirit and drive is to be commended. We say Create Today, Shape Tomorrow at the exhibition and it really is only the beginning. From the young students involved in The Primary Science Fair to secondary students at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, it is vitally important that every students voyage of discovery does not end here. Married At First Sight's Jessika Power was involved in a car crash late last week. The 28-year-old revealed on Saturday that an elderly man abruptly pulled out in front of her, prompting their vehicles to collide on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Her car was left with huge dents and scratches across it's entire right side. 'A really old guy pulled out in front of me': Married At First Sight's Jessika Power, 28, (pictured) was involved in a car crash with an elderly man late last week on the Gold Coast, Queensland Taking to Instagram, Jessika began: 'A really old guy pulled out in front of me, and I felt so bad for him because he was so cute. Look what he did to my f**king car. 'I was like, 'Don't worry about it! Insurance will cover it'. He just like pulled out and I felt so bad. You know what I reckon? It's time to get a new car.' She assured fans that both she and the man were okay following the collision. Shock: The reality star revealed on Saturday that the elderly man abruptly pulled out in front of her, leaving her car with huge dents and scratches across the entire right side of it 'You know what I reckon? It's time to get a new car': Jessika said she felt bad for the elderly man as he was 'really cute' - telling him, 'Don't worry about it! Insurance will cover it' Following the crash, Jessika calmed her nerves by having her hair done at a salon. The incident came days after Jessika was discharged from Lake Macquarie Private Hospital in Gateshead, New South Wales, and returned home to Brisbane. Jessika was admitted to hospital after complaining of constant pain in her abdomen and struggling to get out of bed, and underwent several tests. Relax: Following the crash, Jessika calmed her nerves by having her hair done at a salon On Tuesday, the blonde confirmed she had been discharged after being diagnosed with a kidney issue requiring 'the highest dose of antibiotics'. 'Before this, I hadn't been sick or on antibiotics for so long,' she told Daily Mail Australia. She had previously told her Instagram followers that she feared she had appendicitis. Health battle: The incident came days after Jessika was discharged from Lake Macquarie Private Hospital in Gateshead, New South Wales, and returned home to Brisbane By Bailey Wright Record-Journal staff SOUTHINGTON On a Friday night at any independent brewery in New England, youre likely to find a food truck or two outside. At Kinsmen Brewing Co. on Canal Street things are different. Instead of a rotating food trucks, Kinsmen added a kitchen in the back of its main hall and Sauced was born. When the brewery opened in April 2017 it used food trucks for almost a year. Sauced opened in January 2018. Bruce Staebler, co-owner of the brewery and Sauced, said the switch was for consistency. Food trucks sometimes wouldnt show up, or people wouldnt like the food, or the truck would run out of food. Our experience is a 360 experience, so food was a big part of it and we wanted to make sure there was a quality that we could control, Staebler said. Sauced co-owners Mike Annenberg, Vin Crudele and Rick Trocchi also co-own Domenics and Vinnies Pizza, with locations in Southington, Middlebury and Waterbury. They partnered with Staebler, owner of the building and a lifelong customer of Domenics and Vinnies Pizza, to start Sauced. The partners knew Sauced would be different than their other restaurants because its inside a brewery and the customers are younger and often in groups. To accommodate, they decided to stick to 12-inch pizzas, and offer more modern, artisanal pizzas. It was a completely different concept from Domenics and Vinnies, Trocchi said. The pizzas include the Por-U-Pine with mozzarella, prosciutto, shaved parmigiano, arugula and an option for balsamic glaze. The Farmer has farm-fresh mozzarella, spinach, red onions, green peppers, roasted red peppers and mushrooms. Sauced serves around 600 pizzas on a busy night. Its definitely exceeded expectations, Annenberg said. We needed to add another oven... The Sauced and Kinsmen Brewing partnership has been so successful the owners are planning a new brewery location in a former factory in Clinton. Staebler said they hope to have it running this summer. Sauceds most popular pizzas have been the margherita, with fresh mozzarella, basil and extra virgin olive oil; the Hot Lips with mozzarella, hot soppressata and honey; and the McGinty with mozzarella, mashed potatoes, bacon and chives. "Its definitely exceeded expectations. We needed to add another oven..." -Co-owner Mike Annenberg Staebler suggests pairing the McGinty pizza with Kinsmens coffee roast brew and the Hot Lips with the Milldale Lite. If youre trying The Macho Taco nacho pizza, he suggests pairing it with the Fiesta Ombre Mexican lager. Sauced also offers a gluten-free crust pizza and sandwiches, pretzels, salads, bread bowl sliders and cookie pie desserts. Kinsmen Brewing is open Monday through Wednesday 3 to 11 p.m., Thursday from noon to 11 p.m., Friday from noon to midnight, and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. Sauced is open Monday 5 to 10 p.m., Tuesday 4 to 10 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. Pizza prices range from $11 to $17. Sandwiches are about $9 each and most appetizers and salads are about $8. bwright@record-journal.com 203-317-2316 Twitter: @baileyfaywright She's a reality star turned successful swimwear designer. And Kimberley Garner proved to be her brand's own best advert, as she posed in one of her bespoke designs during a recent getaway. The reality star, 28, showcased her sensational figure in a white two-piece which paired a bikini crop top with high-waisted bottoms. Stunning: Kimberley Garner showcased her incredible figure in a plunging white bikini as she frolicked in the ocean during a recent getaway Kimberley's plunging swimwear showed off a glimpse of her cleavage, and ensured her toned abs and peachy posterior were on full display. Her high-cut bikini also helped to accentuate her slender legs and sun-kissed skin as she frolicked in the ocean. The blonde beauty wore her golden tresses in a sleek, straight style and protected herself from the brilliant summer sun with a chic boater hat. Revealing: Her swimwear ensured her slender figure and peachy posterior were on full display Wowsers: Her high-cut bikini also helped to accentuate her slender legs and sun-kissed skin as she frolicked in the ocean Kimberley splits her time between her home in London and Miami after purchasing a dream pad in the Floridian coastal city in December 2018. Speaking to MailOnline about her home last year, she explained: 'I worked very hard last year and had even moved home for a few months to save money. 'I really had my head down working to concentrate on goals, but achieved it on New Years Eve, praise God, and flew over here. Completed the sale on the plane over.' Reflecting on her property empire, the designer admitted it is a world away from the hustle and bustle of her busy life in London. 'It's right on the beach, and really is a dream come true,' she explained. 'I am over doing the interior design, going for a beachy chilled vibe for the place. 'I won't be moving there [permanently], as London is one hundred percent home, but really overjoyed and proud to have achieved it.' MARPLE Startled by the screams of her sister-in-law Friday night, Cathy Grandizio ran into her home next door, only to find her bedridden brother-in-law, slipping away from life, trapped by the flames surrounding him. Fred Grandizio, 69, died in his 707 St. Francis Drive home Friday night after valiant attempts by family and first responders. His wife, Mary Jean, was listed in critical condition early Saturday morning at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Marple Police Officer Pete Baylor was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. Cathy Grandizio lives next door with her husband, who is Freds brother. Cathy Grandizio explained that Fred had cancer and was on hospice with his wife, Mary Jean, caring for him. Neighbors say the single-level home at 707 St. Francis Drive had been in the Grandizio family and after the parents passed, one of the four children, Anna, took care of it. Cathy Grandizio said Fred came from New York to care for his sister Anna, who died last year. Then, he got a diagnosis of cancer and his wife came to care for him in the same home. With Cathy living there for 21 years, she got to know Fred and Mary Jean well. She came over the back door, at first I couldnt understand, Grandizio said of Friday night. She was screaming. The first thing I thought was, Oh, did she burn something in the kitchen? And I said, Whats wrong? Whats wrong? Whats wrong? Then she said, Freddie! Grandizio continued. Then, I went, Oh my God, Oh my God.' The two immediately bolted into the burning house. We ran in, ran down the hall, it started getting smoky, Grandizio said. The bed was completely covered with flames. Alls I heard was his voice say, Cath I tried to go in but it was too much, she said. And, I said, Called 911, Freddie and I did, I called 911. She paused, then quietly said, I just wish I couldve done more. Next door, Beth Sullivan was on her front patio after finishing work. We were out here smoking and we heard weird noises from the back, she said. I said to my husband, It sounds like a velociraptor or something like that. We thought it was kids. Then, she said she saw Fred Grandizios brother. We saw Carmen, his brother, come running on the side of the house, screaming. I went inside to turn the light on and I saw flames so I called 911. She said first responders showed up within minutes. They ran in, no nothing, went in and pulled her out, Sullivan said. One of the cops came out coughing out smoke. Im worried about him. Marple Police Chief Brandon Graeff said Officer Pete Baylor is doing fine. He said as Sullivan called 911, Mary Jean Grandizio went back into the home to try to get her husband out. Thats when Baylor and Springfield Township firefighter James Jardine, who had been in the neighborhood visiting family and friends, arrived separately. They both went into the house after the husband and wife, Graeff said. They found her quickly They got into the house and found her and took her out. Sullivan said others saw the wifes anguish. I think she was trying to get him out even though he was gone and they went and grabbed her and she was screaming, Im not leaving the house without my husband, she said. After making sure she was safe, Baylor and Jardine ran into the inferno again, trying one more time. They went back into the house, Graeff said, But the heat was too intense and the smoke was awful and they had to retreat, unfortunately. The police chief said the fire started in the bedroom although the cause is not yet known, It is being investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal and Delaware Countys Criminal Investigative Division. He said the 911 call was received about 8:55 p.m. and the fire was still involved about an hour later. Multiple fire companies, including Broomall, Springfield, Manoa and Newtown Square responded to the incident to put it under control and extinguish it. Our guys did a great job keeping calm, letting the fire companies know what was going on, Graeff said, adding that the oxygen tanks the resident had in the home for his care caused the situation to escalate. It was pretty intense. Sullivan agreed with that description. Shortly after Baylor and arrived, the neighbor said fire companies appeared on the scene. It was then that the windows exploded, Sullivan said. There was oxygen in the house, he was bed-ridden. The neighbor praised the first responders. Seven fire trucks were on the street, she said. I think the whole Marple police force was out. The ambulances couldnt even come down the street, they were up top. On Saturday, Sullivan had only begun to grapple with the loss of her neighbor. Im still in shock, she said. Its pretty devastating. The Marple police chief said first responders are trained to respond to events like this, even though they dont happen often. We expect things like this, it doesnt make it easier, Graeff said. What I took extra pride on, as should our community, (was) when you see police officers and firefighters respond without hesitation. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has disassociated herself from upcoming documentary about disgraced American entrepreneur and producer Russell Simmons. The yet-to-be-titled documentary, directed by Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick, is based on the stories of some of the 20 women who have publicly accused Simmons of sexual harassment and assault. Winfrey had boarded the project in December as an executive producer and it was set to stream on Apple TV Plus but that will no longer happen, reported Deadline. "I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering Documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+. First and foremost, I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard," Winfrey said in a statement. The popular TV personality also said she believes there is still more work need to be done to "illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision". Winfrey added that she took the decision to exit the project as she believes the movie is not yet complete but Ziering and Dick want it to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival. "Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering are talented filmmakers. I have great respect for their mission but given the filmmakers' desire to premiere the film at the Sundance Film Festival before I believe it is complete, I feel it's best to step aside. "I will be working with Time's Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment," she added. In their first response after Winfrey's departure, Ziering and Dick said that while they were "disappointed" that she pulled her name from the project, they were "gratified that Winfrey has unequivocally said she believes and supports the survivors in the film". "Revealing hard truths is never easy, and the women in our documentary are all showing extraordinary strength and courage by raising their voices to address sexual abuse in the music industry. "The film is a beacon of hope for voices that have long been suppressed, and an inspiration for anyone wanting to regain their personal power," the filmmaker duo said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) London: Two inmates wearing fake suicide belts attacked and wounded a guard at a maximum-security prison in England, police said on Saturday. Detectives were treating the incident as a terrorist attack. Whitemoor men's prison near March, Cambridgeshire, England. Credit:CC/Penningtonuk The Metropolitan Police force said the officer was injured in the head and neck with "improvised bladed weapons" during the attack at Whitemoor prison in eastern England. Four other prison staff members who came to the guard's assistance were also hurt, the police force said. All five were treated at a hospital and released. Police said the attackers were "wearing belts with various items crudely attached." The two inmates were subdued and detained by prison staff. New Delhi: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday suspended MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and his son Parminder Singh Dhindsa with immediate effect and resolved to issue them a charge sheet to explain their conduct. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the party's core committee which was presided over by the SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Dhindsa and his son Parminder had been vocal against Sukhbir. Former minister Sikander Singh Maluka, who is the Observer of the party's Sangrur district unit, disclosed to the core committee that at a recent meeting of the Sangrur district body it was unanimously decided to recommend the expulsion of the father-son duo for indulging in anti-party activities. According to party spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema after due discussion it was decided to issue a charge sheet to the duo following which they would be given two weeks to explain their conduct. "The party will take its next course of action after receiving the reply of the two leaders," he added. Meanwhile, the SAD's core committee also resolved to meet Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore on January 15 to demand an independent inquiry into the recent "power scam" which had come to light. The core committee said the Congress government had shown deliberate laxity to give a benefit of Rs 3000 crore to private thermal plant managements and a coal company by putting up a weak defence in cases filed by them against the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. It was also decided that a delegation of party leaders will meet Union Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday. It will take up issues including befitting observation of the 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, commuting Balwant Singh Rajoana's death sentence to life and his release from jail and asking Pakistan to ensure safety and security of Sikhs and Sikh shrines in Pakistan. Two Committees were also formed to look into "betrayal of promises" made to all sections of society by the Congress government and to look into cases of the "state repression". It was also decided that Sukhbir will hold meetings with District Presidents at the headquarters as well as interact with Circle delegates at the constituency level. New Delhi, Jan 11 : The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has urged the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) to approve the revised formula for sharing resolution proceeds from the disposal of bankrupt IL&FS group firms among its creditors in a fair and equitable manner. The revised mechanism would provide for distribution of residual proceeds over and above liquidation value of assets to other than secured creditors. The MCA has submitted the fresh affidavit in the company law tribunal representing the new IL&FS Board which took over the group in 2018. In its affidavit filed on January 9, Rajesh Tiwari, Joint Director (Western Region) in MCA, also submitted to remove Power Finance Corporation (PFC) from among "top five creditors" as IL&FS group shares in Wind SPVs have been transferred to ORIX. The affidavit has appealed the tribunal to declare and direct all financial creditors of the relevant IL&FS group entity, including group lenders, to be part of the Creditors' Committee constituted or to be constituted in accordance with the modified resolution framework. Some of the creditors had earlier objected to internal IL&FS group companies as creditors as they had been involved in alleged financial bungling or fraud. Inclusion of internal group firms among the secured creditors and part of Creditors' Committee would ensure they get the share of the proceeds realised by sale, disposal or closure of the defaulted companies. Among other key submissions is a direction for first making payments towards the resolution process cost involving financial and transaction advisors, legal counsels and resolution consultants, among others. This will be followed by the creditors in accordance with Section 53 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). "Third, the remaining sale proceeds/termination amount/settlement amount to be distributed pro-rata to each class of creditors of the relevant IL&FS Group entity, adjusted for any recovery made by the relevant creditors on account of distribution under Section 53 of IBC, as contemplated above," the affidavit said. IL&FS group, which has about Rs 91,000 crore in debt, is in the bankruptcy court following its defaults that shook the entire financial sector of the country and triggered the NBFC liquidity crisis. During the period July 2018 to September 2018, two of its subsidiaries reported having trouble in paying back loans and inter-corporate deposits to lenders. This was followed by multiple subsidiaries defaulting and the group heading to bankruptcy. The 12 new Love Island contestants strip down to their swimwear in the latest racy trailer for the hit dating show. The debut winter series starts on Sunday, with seven ladies and five men set to move into a new villa in Cape Town, South Africa. Its cold, grey and wet but for a lucky few the sun is about to shine, narrator Iain Stirling says before the islanders begin to rip off their work clothes. Beautician Siannise Fudge opens her blouse while police officer Mike Boateng gives the camera a smouldering look from inside a prison. Democratic services officer Shaughna Phillips is seen manning a polling station before stripping down to a pink bikini. And builder Nas Majeed shows off his six-pack as he burst through a wall in a pair of trunks. Police officer Mike Boateng (Joel Anderson/ITV/PA) The teaser is set to U2s I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For, a nod to the groups singleton statuses. Lewis Capaldis ex-girlfriend Paige Turley, a former Britains Got Talent contestant, is seen singing along. Stirling then announces: Winter is going to be hotter than ever because its always summer in paradise. Love Island starts Sunday at 9pm on ITV2. Flames have blackened an area the size of Guatemala, destroyed some 2,000 homes and killed at least 28 people in one of the worst wildfire seasons in Australian history. More than 200 blazes are still burning, many of them completely uncontrolled. On Saturday, Victorias Forest Fire Management confirmed on Twitter that one of its firefighters had died while working on a bushfire near Omeo. On Friday, two of the biggest infernos merged into what officials called a mega-fire, straddling the countrys two hardest-hit and most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria. Steady winds continue to drive the flames, but the record-breaking heat that made conditions worse last month and into the new year has abated, and the possibility of at least a little rain next week entered the forecast. Julian Smith visits Northern Ireland...Northern Ireland's new Secretary of State Julian Smith arrives at the Guidhall, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, during his first visit to the region since his appointment. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday July 26, 2019. Mr Smith earlier held a series of separate meetings with the five main parties in Belfast. PA story POLITICS . Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire...A The British and Irish governments have published their expectations for the future health minister and executive. To say they are ambitious is an understatement, to say the least. A new power-sharing government here will be expected to deliver pay parity to bring an immediate end to the strike by health staff, sweeping changes to the way healthcare is delivered in Northern Ireland and the introduction of a plan to address the waiting list scandal. In fact, no-one waiting over a year at the end of September last year for outpatient or inpatient treatment will still be on a waiting list by March next year, according to the New Decade, New Approach deal. But can the goals be achieved? First of all, the person who takes up the health portfolio at Stormont is going to need a huge cash injection if they are to deliver the New Decade, New Approach wish-list. Yesterday evening, the Secretary of State Julian Smith had not revealed how much money Westminster is willing to make available. However, in December, the Belfast Telegraph revealed that NHS officials need 50m a year for the next seven years to bring hospital waiting lists under control and 150m a year for the next five years in order to push through the recommendations from the Bengoa report. They are truly eye-watering sums and while tackling waiting lists and reform of the health service are crucial to reducing the misery for patients and staff and building a robust and sustainable health service, there is no doubt that the new health minister will have difficult financial decisions to make. The reality is, no matter how much money they are handed by Westminster, they will still have to prioritise their spending. Looking to the aspirations for waiting lists, additional funding will be important, but capacity - or lack of it - is also at the heart of this issue. A lack of nurses, doctors and beds have played a role in the spiralling waiting lists. Increasing the number of beds can be easily achieved, increasing staffing levels is a different matter altogether and it will take years to see the benefit of additional training places. So, we will have to turn to the independent sector, but that will also take time. Tenders will have to be made, contracts agreed, patient details delivered to private hospitals, appointments will have to be offered under the partial booking system, this all takes time. It could be six months before the independent sector can start to deliver services to NHS patients. Meanwhile, the row over doctors' pensions is rumbling on and that is having a significant impact on consultants' availability for clinics. Another important question - what happens to the unknown number of people who have been waiting a year for their appointment since the end of September last year? Also, what effect will the plan to offer appointments to the 108,000 patients waiting longer than a year in September have on everyone else in the system? There is no doubt waiting times must be addressed, but it cannot happen to the detriment of the rest of the service and it must be done in parallel with reform of the health service. The Bengoa report had overwhelming cross-party support prior to the collapse of the last Assembly and its implementation is key to the future of the NHS. However, will the new health minister be willing to potentially put their career on the line to press ahead with some of its more controversial proposals? Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday visited Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's residence here to understand the functioning of the 'CM Dashboard' monitoring system. It was launched last year to monitor district-level execution of various government schemes. The system operates from a room containing a large wall of video screens in a room at the chief minister's official residence. Shah, after attending a program of the state police department in the morning, visited Rupani's residence, said an official release. He was impressed by the system which facilitates real time monitoring of schemes, it added. Later, the Union home minister visited the Gandhinagar Capital Railway Station to launch various projects, including Wi-Fi facility at Gandhinagar and five other nearby stations. He also inaugurated, through remote control, a new announcement system at Chandlodia and Kalol stations and an electric chart display at Ahmedabad's Sabarmati station. Shah also unfurled a huge tricolor measuring 30 X 20 feet on a 100-feet mast installed outside the Gandhinagar railway station. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) No fewer than 100 unrepentant bandits were killed by the joint forces of Operation Hadarin Daji in Zamfara and parts of Katsina State between December 2019 and January 2020, the Acting Force Information Officer, Ayobami Oni-Orisan, has said. Mr Oni-Orisan made the disclosure in a statement made available to journalists in Gusau on Saturday. He said the troops, comprising personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Police, Department of State Services and other security agencies conducted several clearance operations to smoke out and neutralise the recalcitrant bandits from their enclaves. So far, OPHD troops have flushed out bandits hibernating around Tashar Kuturu, Dankalgo, Gobirawa junction, Bagega, Kawaye, Duhuwa, Sabon-Birni, Dankurmi, Dangulbi, Hayin Bawa, Zango, Unguwar Shanu, Tundu Mali, Magazu, Mayanchi and Gando forest, in Anka, Talata Mafara, Tsafe, Maru and Bukkuyum Local Government areas of Zamfara. Additionally, OPHD ground troops backed by the fighter jets of the Air Component also cleared Shinfida in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, neutralising several bandits in the process, he said. The information officer said the renewed the use of force against the bandits followed their refusal to embrace the peace process introduced by the governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, about six months ago as well as the recent upsurge of the bandits in the affected areas. He said during the operations, 10 kidnapped victims were rescued, while 500 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition 23 Motorbikes, 15 AK 47 rifles, four General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), one PKM Machine Gun, one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bomb, one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tube, 11 fully loaded magazines, 600 rustled cows and 300 rustled sheep were recovered. Mr Oni-Orisan further said that during the clearance operations, the troops in collaboration with the Defence Forces of Niger Republic apprehended a high profile gunrunner, popularly known as Kunene who was responsible for the inflow of arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons into the region. In addition, he said, the troops also apprehended three suspected bandits; Abubakar Kiri Koloma, Abubakar Ibrahim and Haruna Alhaji Yaro, as well as two notorious drug dealers; Kabiru Abubakar Isah and Hamisu Dan-kwanba at various locations in Zamfara during the period. He said all the suspects had been profiled and handed over to the relevant security agencies for further investigation and prosecution. Mr Oni-Orisan said that the Force Commander and Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Aminu Bande, reassured the people of Zamfara and all other neighboring states of their safety. The information officer urged members of the public to continue supporting the operation by providing timely and credible information to OPHD troops through the dedicated emergency telephone numbers earlier provided for prompt and efficient action. He said the Force Commander also warned the recalcitrant bandits and their cohorts to immediately lay down their arms and embrace the ongoing peace process or face full military action. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there has been a gradual return of the bandits in some parts of the state recently, after a very large number of them had embraced the peace process initiated by the Governor. (NAN) The Vietnamese official chaired a working luncheon of the UN Security Council (UNSC) with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and had bilateral meetings with the UN Secretary-General, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Foreign Minister of Nicaragua Denis Moncada, Foreign Minister of Timor Leste Dionisio Babo Soares, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson. The meetings took place on the sidelines of an open debate of the UNSC chaired by Vietnam. At these events, officials of the UN and countries valued Vietnams international stature as it is concurrently serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and ASEAN Chair in 2020. They said the open debate organised by Vietnam was successful with the participation of many UN member states. They also highly regarded the debates focus on the UN Charter, which is highly topical at present and meet countries attention amidst complex developments in the world situation. At the working session between the UNSC and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, participants discussed the cooperation between the council and the UN Secretariat, along with some issues of common concern. Deputy PM Minh affirmed that the maintenance of contact and close coordination between the Security Council and the Secretariat has helped the council be updated with information in a timely and comprehensive manner, thus devising effective measures to ease tensions, prevent conflicts, peacefully resolve disputes, and better contribute to the maintenance of regional and global peace and security. At the bilateral meeting with the deputy PM, Secretary-General Guterres applauded the Vietnam-UN cooperation, as well as the countrys development achievements and commitments to realising the Sustainable Development Goals. He said Vietnam holds a special standing and is an important factor contributing to peace and stability in the ASEAN region. He affirmed his support for the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means and in line with international law. Deputy PM Minh appreciated the UNs cooperation and assistance for Vietnams development, underlining the wish to enhance ties in the time ahead. He asked the UN and the Secretary-General to continue paying attention to the East Sea situation to help promote the peaceful settlement of disputes. At the meeting with UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, the Vietnamese official thanked the UNDP for its support for Vietnam over the last 40 years, proposing it provide more counselling for the country, especially in economic restructuring, climate change response, realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and sustainable use and management of the Mekong Rivers water resources. Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (L) and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. (Photo: VGP) Congratulating Vietnam on its recent attainments, Steiner said the country is a model in economic development, and the UNDP is ready to give support and policy advice during the new development stage of Vietnam. Meanwhile, Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka hailed the significant outcomes Vietnam has obtained in promoting gender equality, particularly womens economic empowerment. She affirmed that UN Women will keep working closely with and helping Vietnam to organise important events marking the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action on gender equality, as well as others on women, peace and security. For his part, Deputy PM Minh asked UN Women to continue support Vietnam to promote the themes on women, peace and security within the UN framework, and to boost gender equality and womens empowerment in the coming time. Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (R) and Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. (Photo: VGP) At another meeting, Foreign Minister of Nicaragua Denis Moncada expressed his belief that the Southeast Asian nation will successfully serve as both a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and ASEAN Chair. The Nicaraguan and Vietnamese officials agreed to step up political dialogue in an appropriate point of time and consider the negotiation on a trade and investment framework agreement to create a legal framework for bilateral cooperation. Deputy PM Minh also took this occasion to convey Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trongs invitation to visit Vietnam to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. Talking to Deputy PM Minh, Foreign Minister of Timor Leste Dionisio Babo Soares congratulated Vietnam and highly valued its growing international role. He voiced his countrys wish to become a member of ASEAN and increase bilateral collaboration with Vietnam, noting the readiness to support activities of Vietnamese businesses, including Viettel, in Timor Leste. Deputy PM Minh asked Timor Leste to soon ratify the trade agreement between the two countries so as to create a legal basis for boosting trade connections. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation and share their stances at regional and international forums, including the UN. Meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy PM Minh offered heartfelt condolences to the Ukrainian Government and people, and the families of the victims in the serious plane incident in Iran on January 8. The officials discussed measures to advance their countries cooperation, including organising delegation exchanges at all level, holding annual political consultations, and foster economic and trade links which are developing well. The Ukrainian side expressed the hope to coordinate with Vietnam at multilateral forums, particularly the UN, and enhance ties with ASEAN, saying the country wishes to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. At another event, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, who chairs of the Elders a group of senior global leaders at the UN, spoke highly of Vietnams priorities at the UN Security Council such as climate change, security, and protection of women and children in conflicts. She stressed the importance of multilateralism and learned about Vietnams priorities during its ASEAN Chairmanship Year. Robinson and Deputy PM Minh also exchanged views on global and regional matters of common concern like the Middle East issue and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. The Bharatiya Janata Party has tasked chief minister Yogi Adityanath to tour several cities in the country to remove, what BJP calls, misinterpretations of the new citizenship law that has polarised political as well as peoples opinions. On Saturday Yogi travelled to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, a Congress-ruled state, and was scheduled to visit Gaya, Bihar, a state where BJP shares power with Nitish Kumars JD (U), on January 14 to address public meetings on the new law. After that, Yogis office has lined up series of public meetings in UP beginning with Varanasi (January 18), Gorakhpur (January 19), Lucknow (January 20), Kanpur (January 21), Meerut (January 22) and Agra (January 23). BJP leaders said if required more states could be added in Yogis itinerary. The places listed in Yogis schedule include either opposition-ruled states or centres in UP which witnessed maximum protest and violence, like Kanpur. The state government had cracked down on such protestors, who had allegedly engaged in violence and were identified on camera, by making them pay damages for the loss to government and private property. Chief ministers of other BJP-ruled states like Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, too, have been roped in as part of the campaign to spread awareness on the new law which minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, presently touring UP, has said wont be rolled back or amended. Khattar would participate in a padyatra (foot march) in Saharanpur in support of the citizenship law. Naqvis statement shows firming up of BJPs resolve to continue with the citizenship law that has come under massive attack from major opposition parties across the country and which has also seen youths from several universities rise in protest. The Yogi is trampling democracy by stopping peaceful protests against the citizenship law. They have got the police to impose Section 144 and are using it to stop protests, says Heera Lal Yadav, CPI (M), UP, secretary. While Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has been very active of late, touring the state to meet those injured in police action during protests against citizenship law, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is also opposing the law, has said that Samajwadi Party cadre wont fill up details for National Population Register (NPR) that BJP government has introduced. BSP chief Mayawati, too, has opposed it saying that the government should have a re-think. The oppositions principal charge against the new law is that it discriminates on the basis of religion, in violation of the spirit contained in Article 14 of the Constitution. The BJPs counter to the charge is that the new law is about giving citizenship rights to persecuted minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanisatan and isnt about taking any Indians citizenship. The BJPs ideological fountainhead, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and outfits backed by RSS like Muslim Rashtriya Manch are holding small and big meetings to drum up support on the subject. The outreach campaign is also on social media with several facebook and Whatsapp groups spreading the message that largely blames opposition parties for instigating violence and triggering protests against the new law. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the Arab world's longest-serving ruler, has died aged 79, state media reported on Saturday. "The Diwan of Royal Court announces mourning and disrupts the official work of the public and private sectors for three days and flags at half-mast in the next 40 days," Xinhua news agency quoted the state TV public channel as saying on Twitter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the death of Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said and described him as a "visionary leader and statesman", who transformed Oman into a prosperous nation and called him a "beacon of peace". In a series of tweets, Modi said, "I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary leader and statesman who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation. He was a beacon of peace for our region and the world." Sultan Qaboos was a true friend of India and provided strong leadership for developing a vibrant strategic partnership between India and Oman. I will always cherish the warmth and affection I received from him. May his soul rest in peace. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2020 The Sultan, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, was unmarried and had no heir or had designated successor, according to media. Last month he returned home after undergoing medical checks and treatment in Belgium. There were reports he was suffering from cancer, the BBC said in a report. At the age of 29, Sultan Qaboos in 1970 deposed his father Said bin Taimur in a bloodless coup with British support and using its oil wealth, he then set Oman on a path to development. According to the sultanate's Basic Statute, the Royal Family Council - comprising about 50 male members - should choose a new Sultan within three days of the throne falling vacant. If the family cannot agree, members of the defence council and the chairmen of the Supreme Court, the Consultative Council and the State Council will open a sealed envelope in which Sultan Qaboos secretly recorded his choice and enthrone that person. The sultan is the paramount decision-maker in Oman and also holds the positions of prime minister, supreme commander of the armed forces, minister of defence, minister of finance and minister of foreign affairs. New Managers Editorial Dear Opalesque Reader, Welcome to the January issue of New Managers! In Profiles we look at a new Paris-based fund Aquanthus Premia, which is being incubated on the RCube platform and focuses on risk premia. We also highlight a new fund from Five Star Funds targeting Las Vegas. Hedge fund data provider Eurekahedge provides an infographic on trends in European hedge funds. Marketing Challenge focuses on how to improve the story you tell potential investors. You will also ...................... To view our full article please login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 11 2020 Top diplomacy: President Joko Jokowi Widodo (right) welcomes Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday. (Indonesian Presidential Palace/AFP) After personally visiting Natuna regency in Riau Islands to put a damper on the spat with the Chinese coast guard there earlier this week, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has now invited Japan to invest more in developing the outermost islands bordering the highly disputed South China Sea. Jokowi delivered his invitation at the State Palace on Friday when he met with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who responded with not only a commitment to help develop Natuna, but also to empower Indonesias Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) which has been at the forefront of patrols in Natuna waters as part of Indonesias "white hull" diplomacy (as opposed to the gray hulls of the Navy) . to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) on Saturday dismissed media reports about its president Babulal Marandi meeting a senior BJP leader, paving way for his return to the saffron party. The party came with a statement in the backdrop of media reports speculating Marandi's coming back to the BJP. The reports also highlighted chance of Marandi becoming BJP's Legislature Party leader in the recently constituted Jharkhand House. The speculation, as per the media reports, has been triggered by the fact that the BJP has not yet named its legislature party leader in the assembly even after a fortnight has passed since the election results were declared. "He has not yet met any senior BJP leader anywhere. He has not at all discussed on the issue of BJPs legislature party leader, senior JVM-P leader and former general secretary Abhay Singh said in a press statement. The newspapers claimed that Marandi met a senior BJP leader in Delhi and "may return to the saffron party" after January 14. "Babulal Marandi never indulges in of bargaining. One should not forget that without any greed he relinquished the post of chief minister (in 2002) and also quit from the membership of Lok Sabha," Singh said. Singh, however, was ambiguous in one of his lines saying "The whole party stands by Marandi in whatever decision he makes in the interest of the state or the nation. He has not met any senior BJP leader anywhere." "Babulal Marandi is a clear leader and whatever decision he makes in the interest of the nation and in the interest of the people every worker of the party is with him,' Singh added. He said that after the dissolution of JVM-Ps central committee on January 5, the party had authorised Marandi to re-constitute all committees from panchayat to central levels under the party constitution. He added that Marandi is now on a foreign visit and a new team of the executive committee of the party would be formed on January 16. "Only after that, the (new) executive committee will decide. The partys president will look into all the alternatives," Singh added. Meanwhile, the party workers on Saturday celebrated Marandis 62nd birthday, cutting a cake at the party office here, distributed sweets and blankets among the poor, a JVM (P) release said. Marandi, who served as first chief minister of Jharkhand after its creation out of Bihar in 2000, had resigned in 2002 after some of his ministers crossed the floor during the budget session. He was succeeded by Arjun Munda. Later, Marandi won Lok Sabha elections in 2004, but he resigned from the House membership as well as the primary membership of the BJP and formed JVM-P, apparently peeved over the then saffron party leadership. Marandi also handed a letter of unconditional support to the new JMM-Congress-RJD government and Chief Minister Hemant Soren also mentioned JVM-Ps three MLAs along with the list of 47 MLAs of JMM-Congress-RJD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SEOUL, SOUTH KOREANorth Korea said on Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump had sent birthday greetings to its leader, Kim Jong Un, but added that the rapport between the two leaders would not help resolve their countries nuclear standoff. Ever since his first summit meeting with Kim, in June 2018, Trump has repeatedly flaunted his good relationship with the Norths leader, calling Kim smart and even going so far as to say that he and Kim fell in love. The two leaders have also exchanged personal letters and dispatched special envoys to each others capitals, but talks on how to de-nuclearize the North remain deadlocked. On Saturday, Kim Kye Gwan, a senior aide to Kim, confirmed that Trump had sent a personal letter to Kim for his birthday (Kim is believed to have turned 36 on Wednesday). He also acknowledged that the personal relations between Kim and Trump were not bad, but said Kim would not discuss the state affairs on the basis of such personal feelings. Although Chairman Kim Jong Un has good personal feelings about President Trump, they are, in the true sense of the word, personal, the official said in a statement carried by the Norths official Korean Central News Agency. Chung Eui-yong, the national security adviser for President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, told reporters on Friday that Trump asked Seoul this past week to relay his birthday greetings to Kim. But Kim Kye-gwan said that a letter from Trump had already been delivered to Pyongyang directly from the Americans, calling South Korea presumptuous for seeking to act as an intermediary between Kim and Trump. North Korea also hardened its position toward Washington on Saturday, calling the past 1 1/2 years of on-and-off negotiations a lost time. The de-nuclearization talks collapsed when Kim and Trump met in Vietnam in February 2018 for a second summit meeting and Trump rejected Kims offer to dismantle one of the Norths nuclear fuel-production facilities if Washington lifted international sanctions. Trump insisted on a more comprehensive rollback of North Koreas nuclear program. Kim said recently that he no longer expected the United States to ease sanctions. Instead, he vowed to expand his countrys nuclear force, warning that North Korea no longer felt bound by a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range ballistic missile tests. There will never be such negotiations as that in Vietnam, in which we proposed exchanging a core nuclear facility of the country for the lift of some UN sanctions, Kim Kye Gwan said Saturday. We know well about the way we should go and will go on our way. Read more about: Twenty years after Dundalk celebrated the success of a local winner at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, hopes are high for the Louth students taking part in the national event which opens tomorrow (Wednesday, 8th). The countdown is on to Ireland's most exciting festival of science and technology, which takes place from 8-11th January at the RDS, Dublin. The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, now in its 56th year, is a fun-filled spectacle of creativity and inspiration, offering something for people of all ages. At the heart of the Exhibition are the 1,100 students representing 244 schools across the island of Ireland who will compete for the coveted title of BT Young Scientist & Technologist(s) of the Year 2020. There are 11 projects in total from Louth schools taking part in the renowned exhibition, seven of which are from schools in north Louth. St.Vincent's Secondary, Dundalk Grammar and Bush Post Primary School in Riverstown will be flying the flag for the Dundalk area at the event with a range of interesting projects sure to catch the imagination. Two St. Vincent's students, Sophie McArdle and Erinn Leavy will be presenting their project 'An analysis of physiological and running metrics in 3k cross country in comparison to track and treadmill running.' Led by science teacher John White, the students explained the project aims to 'analyse the different running metrics such as heart rate, cadence and power over 3k, and comparing them to track and treadmill running.' Meanwhile, Solomon Doyle will represent Dundalk Grammar School. This the second time he has represented the school at the BTYSTE. His project is to help visually impaired navigate their surroundings in a new innovative way. He has developed an mobile app that links to google maps that speaks directions and corrects if you move off a programmed route. In addition to this using 3D printing and programming and assembling the required circuitry he made a smart cane that has a vibrating handle which changes intensity based on the distance to obstacles Bush Post Primary School have five projects which are set to be on display at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. One of these will look at the impact of Foot and Mouth disease, twenty years after the crisis devastated farming communities in north Louth and other parts of the country. Concerns about climate change are expected to be a significant theme in the exhibition overall, but a group of Bush PP school students have taken their own look at the debate, with the project: 'A study on the ethics of having children in a world being ruined by climate change.' The remaining projects from bush school include 'Money Actually Does Grow on Trees'. 'Are screen time limits a friend or foe in the Snapchat generation' and an interesting look at the bottled water phenomenon with a project 'testing BPA levels in water before and after exposure to sunlight in different types of bottles.' EASTHAMPTON Community support to build a $104 million school does not mean everyone is happy about the tax increase voters approved to pay for it. City data shows that the 14.9% property tax hike from $15.46 per $1,000 of valuation last year to $17.76 in fiscal 2020 will mean a $742 per year hike for an average single-family home assessed at $265,184. Mayor Nicole LaChapelles administration has come under criticism for not doing enough to warn homeowners and businesses about increase. The City Council is also at fault, according to its president, Peg Conniff. The hike is mainly the result of a Proposition 2 override voters approved in 2018 to fund construction of a prekindergarten through eighth-grade school to replace the Maple, Center, and Neil A. Pepin schools. For the average home, Conniff said, the override raises taxes by $674. The other factor behind the increase is the recent citywide reassessment of properties. Overall property values increased 5.54% since fiscal 2019, Conniff said. This accounts for an increase of $68 for the average home. In a phone interview Friday, Conniff said the administration could have prepared something that showed a recognition this was a big hit and the city acknowledging this was going to be painful. The setting of the tax rate was proper, she said, but what I would like to have seen (was) an explaining graph that said how we got to these numbers. Conniff created a graph and posted it on her Facebook page Sunday. In a statement Friday afternoon, LaChapelle defended her handling of the matter, saying discussions about the tax rate with the City Council began 18 months ago. As the Council knows, the City utilizes multiple channels of communication for this type of news, from press releases to the website to social media to Easthampton Media and others along with robust discussion at City Council meetings to prepare residents for this change, LaChapelle wrote. In November, I shared extensive information through these channels with the new tax rate and average values. I have been clear at every step that this increase would be seen in January 2020. The Easthampton assessors office in a Nov. 14 news release said the state Department of Revenue had certified the citys property values and tax rate for fiscal 2020. The City Council adopted the $17.76 per $1,000 tax rate at a Nov. 6 hearing, the news release said. The FY2020 rate is $2.30 more than the FY2019 tax rate of $15.46, as it includes the school debt exclusion amount of $2.54, the news release said. Without the debt exclusion, the tax rate would have been $15.22. The City Councils Finance Committee is scheduled to convene Jan. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at 50 Payson Ave. The agenda says the committee will discuss the tax rate issue with the city assessor and auditor. The public will also have an opportunity to speak. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. Aircraft parts from the wreckage of a Boeing Co. 737-800 aircraft, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, which crashed shortly after takeoff lie on the ground near Shahedshahr, Iran, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates Iran's military early Saturday morning announced its role in the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet that killed all 176 people on board, saying the shootdown was "unintentional" and blaming "human error." The Boeing 737-800 airliner, Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, crashed five minutes after takeoff from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport on Wednesday Jan. 8, just hours after Iran fired a barrage of missiles at two military bases in Iraq. The attacks on the bases, which housed American forces, were in retaliation for the U.S. killing of Iranian commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani the previous week. Those attacks caused no casualties. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani took to Twitter to call the crash a "great tragedy" and "unforgivable mistake." Tweet1 "Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people," Rouhani's tweet said. "Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake." Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif blamed America's actions for the "human error," writing on Twitter that Iran's armed forces concluded that "human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster." Tweet2 Iran's statement stressed that the error occurred during very high tensions with the U.S. "After the threat of U.S. president and commanders of attacking several important places in our soil and the movement of U.S. planes in the region we were at the highest alert," an English translation of the armed forces' statement read. "After the attacks the flights of U.S. planes increased in the region and reports came in from strategic centers and many targets were visible in the radar," the statement went on. "In this sensitive moment the Ukrainian plane while approaching an IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) base was shot down after the plane's unexpected and sharp turn, leading to the martyrdom of several of our fellow citizens and foreign nationals." The statement added that the person responsible for the shootdown of PS752 would face legal consequences, and that the military will undertake "major reform in operations of all armed forces" to ensure such "human errors" would not happen again. The Revolutionary Guard Corps has also been ordered to give a full public explanation. A senior Revolutionary Guards commander later appeared on state TV Saturday explaining that the plane had been mistaken for a cruise missile. SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service CHENNAI: Students of IIT Madras allege that their ongoing annual cultural festival 'Saarang' has recorded decibel levels higher than the prescribed limit. The noise pollution norms allow 45 dB(A) during the night and 55 dB(A) in day time for a residential area. It is alleged that last night levels at the open-air theatre (OAT) were recorded at 110 dB(A). The theatre is located about 200 metres from the designated habitat of blackbucks. The occupants of Sabarmati Hostel located next to the OAT had sent several complaint mails to cultural secretaries in the past few days. Express accessed a few mails where they express their plight and fears. Some of them have threatened to lodge police complaints too. One of the student cultural secretaries said that the decibel level had clocked 85 dB(A) but was 'within limits'. CH Padma, Chennai Wildlife Warden said that high-decibel sounds definitely disturb the blackbuck habitat. "The IIT administration, which takes pride in having wildlife inside their campus, should take measures to protect it," she added. "IIT Madras is classified as a residential area and the decibel levels should be under 45 dB(A). We will visit and measure the decibel levels and instruct the organisers accordingly," S Vijayarajan, District Environment Engineer at the State pollution control board told Express. Environment Secretary Shambu Kallolikar said that the department will issue a notice to the institution and seek an explanation. IIT Madras in a response to the queries said, "The noise levels are being checked frequently and they are compliant". Saarang, which concludes on Sunday with musical maestro Shankar Mahadevan blockbuster night, is expected to have a footfall of 80,000 people. An emergency declaration on the Pacific Motorway has finally been lifted after a fuel tanker spilt its load during a multi-vehicle crash that forced the closure of part of the M1 in both directions. Northbound lanes reopened about 7.30pm on Saturday but the southbound lanes remained closed until about 6.30am on Sunday. Emergency crews assess the scene of the spill at Helensvale. Police said the tanker overturned in Helensvale and spilt fuel in the southbound lanes about 11.50am on Saturday. Four people were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital for treatment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Eldar Janashvili Trend: The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has taken over full control of work of the liquidated Azerbaijans Financial Market Supervision Chamber, Chairman of CBA Elman Rustamov said, Trend reports. Rustamov made the remark at the meeting with representatives of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs' Organizations (employers), entrepreneurs and bank managers. The CBA's priorities in 2020 are the development of the financial sector, ensuring its stability, completing the restructuring process, as well as expanding and supporting the stability of the insurance sector, applying the principles of open banking, and developing of business lending, Rustamov said. Despite growth of the lending sector in the country, most of the loans issued by banks are in consumer loans, while business lending is growing at a slower pace. Nevertheless, the financial sector in the country has noticeably intensified, the chairman said. The Financial Market Supervision Chamber of Azerbaijan was abolished on November 28, 2019 in accordance with the decree of the head of state on improving management of the regulatory system and control of the financial services market. According to the decree, the authorities of the chamber, defined by the laws of Azerbaijan, including its rights and obligations in the field of licensing, regulation and supervision of the financial services market, protection of the rights of investors and consumers of financial services, as well as its property, were devolved to the CBA. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili A Mays Landing man has been arrested on charges that he threatened two people with a handgun on Friday night, according to Winslow Township Police. Officers responded to Red Fox Trail around 8 p.m. for a report of an armed man and met a woman who said she was confronted after parking her car in front of her home. As she got out of her car, she heard a noise, turned and saw a man pointing a gun at her. The woman screamed and the gunman ran off toward South Cedar Brook Road. A K-9 was called in to search the area, but did not locate the man, police said. About two hours later, Winslow police received a report of a man matching the description from the earlier incident. He was holding a handgun and appeared intoxicated as he walked in the center of East Central Avenue, authorities were told. He pointed the gun at a motorist who had stopped his car when he saw the man in the roadway, police said. The gunman then ran off into a field and an adjacent wooded area. Police returned with K-9s and established a perimeter. Dyrelle T. Taylor, 26, was arrested without incident shortly after midnight. He was charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses and placed in Camden County Jail pending court hearings. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. GUANICA, P.R. Not long after Jose Mendez Marrero, a civil engineer, arrived on Saturday to inspect the damage at a Puerto Rican town crippled by a big earthquake, the ground beneath him groaned. Again. The woman he had been chatting with on the street began to run into her house. No, senora! he hollered behind her. To the plaza! It was another scary one a 5.9-magnitude aftershock, on the 15th day since tremors large and small began terrorizing southern Puerto Rico. The quake stunned the island just as signs of life, like trucks selling fresh fruit on the side of the road, had started to return. Now there were more power outages, more cracked buildings, more feelings of dread that the worst of the shaking was, somehow, not yet over. Initial Serological Disease Screening FDA 510k Submission Received Commencement of EU Extended Immunohematology Field Trial Activities JERSEY, Channel Islands, Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quotient Limited (QTNT), a commercial-stage diagnostics company (the Company), headquartered in Eysins, Switzerland, today announced the commencement of the EU field trial activities for the extended Immunohematology (IH) microarray. In addition, the Company announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received its 510(k) submission for the initial SDS microarray and the MosaiQ system. The commencement of the EU Extended IH field trial activities mark another important step forward in the development process. We feel confident in moving forward to commence the field trial activities at this time and expect to begin the US field trials in the coming months, said Franz Walt, CEO of Quotient. The 510(k) application submission and receipt also marks a major step toward regulatory clearance in the worlds largest market and the subsequent initiation of U.S. hyper-care sites once approved, added Mr. Walt. The Company submitted a 510(k) notification on 23 December 2019 and the application was received by the FDA on 26 December 2019. As previously disclosed, the Company aims to subsequently seek U.S. regulatory approval for the Expanded Immunohematology Microarray in 2020. About Quotient Limited Building on 30 years of experience in transfusion diagnostics, Quotient is a commercial-stage diagnostics company committed to delivering solutions that reshape the way diagnostics is practiced. MosaiQ, Quotients proprietary multiplex microarray technology, offers the worlds first fully automated, consolidated testing platform, allowing for multiple tests across different modalities. MosaiQ is designed to be a game-changing solution, which Quotient believes will increase efficiencies, improve clinical practice, deliver significant workflow improvements, and operational cost savings to laboratories around the world. Quotient's operations are based in Eysins, Switzerland, Edinburgh, Scotland and Newtown, Pennsylvania. Story continues Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding our expectations of continued growth, the development, regulatory approval, commercialization and impact of MosaiQ and other new products (including the application of MosaiQ to infectious disease diagnostics), and the timing of the issuance of the Company's additional notes. Such statements are based on current assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include delays or denials of regulatory approvals or clearances for products or applications; market acceptance of our products; the impact of competition; the impact of facility expansions and expanded product development, clinical, sales and marketing activities on operating expenses; delays or other unforeseen problems with respect to manufacturing, product development or field trial studies; adverse results in connection with any ongoing or future legal proceeding; continued or worsening adverse conditions in the general domestic and global economic markets; the Company's ability to satisfy certain closing conditions associated with the issuance of the additional notes; as well as the other risks set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Quotient disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. The Quotient logo and MosaiQ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Quotient Limited and its subsidiaries in various jurisdictions. CONTACT: Christopher Lindop, Chief Financial Officer - chris.lindop@quotientbd.com; +41 799 61 69 38 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday demanded that the entire state, including the non-scheduled areas, be exempted from the purview of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. He urged the Centre to take measures for protecting the indigenous communities of the Northeast. "We are thankful that the Centre has exempted Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh (from CAA) and to a large extent Meghalaya, but we demand a full exemption for our state and similar measures for Assam as well," he said at an event in West Garo Hills district. Most of the non-scheduled areas of Meghalaya are in Shillong and comprise around 3 per cent of the state's total area. Observing that the Meghalaya Assembly had passed a resolution seeking implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state, Sangma said, "We are firm in our demand and will continue engaging with the Centre till complete exemption (from CAA) and protection is provided to our people." While interacting with hundreds of Nokmas (village chiefs), Sangma urged them to play their roles in safeguarding the interests of the indigenous people. "The government will make policies to protect the land and its people. But our local institutions should continue playing a vital role in ensuring protection at the grassroots level," he said. Sangma urged the village chiefs not to sell their lands to outsiders, who he said adopt unfair means to obtain land in Meghalaya while referring to cases of 'benami' land transfers. He also suggested documentation of 'Nokmaship' and the lifestyle of the Garos so that the future generation understands the importance of the Nokmas in society. Sangma said budget provision will be made in the current financial year for the construction of traditional village courts in the Garo Hills. "For progress in the state, there have to be leaders at the grassroots level who can coordinate the exercise of rural development and create political awareness among people. Nokmas also work as mediators between the government and the people," he said. Sangma said work is being done to bridge the communication barriers between village councils and the state government so that the issues faced in the villages could be addressed there itself. "We are working towards establishing a tribal research institute, a vision of my late father P A Sangma, which will act as a conduit for facilitating the preservation of our indigenous communities. Research on the tribal communities will be used in policy-making," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - Authorities in the Guinean capital Conakry have banned demonstrations from Monday and the following days in the city, according to a statement issued late Friday Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 22:58:47|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Brunei recorded an 85.5 percent year-on-year drop in trade surplus for October 2019 due to a jump in major imports. Latest International Merchandise Trade Statistics released on Saturday by the Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPD) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy showed that Brunei's trade balance for October 2019 decreased to 44.2 million Brunei dollars (32.8 million U.S. dollars) from 304.0 million Brunei dollars in October 2018. This was largely due to an increase in imports valued at 725.4 million Brunei dollars from 551.4 million Brunei dollars, a 31.6 percent rise. Exports decreased in the time frame to 769.6 million Brunei dollars from 855.4 million Brunei dollars. Mineral Fuels recorded the highest contribution of total exports (91.2 percent) with 702.2 million Brunei dollars. "Major exports decreased by 8.9 percent in October 2019. This was mainly due to a decrease in the exports of liquefied natural gas by 26.7 percent. On the other hand, the exports of crude oil increased by 13.5 percent," said DEPD. The highest share of exports in October 2019 went to Japan (41.4 percent), followed by Australia (17.2 percent), Thailand (16.4 percent) and the Republic of Korea (7.1 percent). The highest share of imports in October 2019 came from the United Arab Emirates accounting for 14.5 percent, followed by Kazakhstan (12.8 percent), Singapore (11.4 percent) and Germany (11.3 percent). GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - A newly-created Guatemalan congressional commission recommended on Friday the arrest of judges and prosecutors who it claims committed abuses while working with a U.N.-backed anti-corruption body that the outgoing president bitterly opposed. President-elect Alejandro Giammattei, who is set to assume office next week, has not commented on the explosive recommendations. Giammattei's stance on the matter will send an important signal on his anti-graft agenda as he begins his four year term. The commission recommendations formally rest with Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras, who has also not said whether she will act on them. Dubbed a "Truth Commission," the panel is made up of three conservative members of the 158-member legislature, all allies of outgoing President Jimmy Morales who commands majority support in the Congress. Established in October, the congressional commission has for weeks heard testimony from those investigated by the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, or CICIG, who alleged illegalities and abuses in their cases. "The prosecutors, judges and magistrates involved should be investigated... they should remember that they are not immune or above the law," the commission stated in a report issued on Friday that also requested arrest warrants for those who worked with CICIG. A spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for "the Guatemalan authorities to protect the rights and ensure the safety and security of former CICIG staff" in a statement issued on Friday, adding that the body made a "decisive contribution towards eradicating corruption and impunity" in the country. The anti-graft body was set up over a decade ago as part of a joint U.N.-Guatemala agreement with authority to conduct independent investigations and work with the country's prosecutors. Among dozens of successful cases it helped pursue, former President Otto Perez Molina turned himself to authorities and was jailed in 2015 on corruption charges. Story continues The CICIG also went after Morales, who won the presidency on a slogan of "not corrupt or a thief", and said last August he would not renew the organization's mandate which was due to expire in September. Days later, he banned CICIG head Ivan Velasquez, a hard-charging Colombian prosecutor, from re-entering the country. Morales was accused by CICIG of campaign finance violations, and his brother and son also faced a corruption trial, but were ultimately released. Morales has denied any wrongdoing. (Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Editing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) B oris Johnson has welcomed Iran's admission it unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian aircraft which crashed near Tehran as an "important first step". The Iranian government had previously denied claims it was responsible for bringing down the aircraft resulting in the deaths of all 176 passengers and crew , including four British nationals. However after Britain, the US and Canada all said they believed it had been hit by surface-to-air missiles, President Hassan Rouhani acknowledged the plane had been struck "due to human error" in an "unforgivable" mistake. In a statement, the PM said there now needs to be a "comprehensive, transparent and independent international investigation" into exactly what happened. He added the Government will do everything it can to support the families of the British victims and ensure they get "the answers and closure they deserve". Iran: Tehran Plane Crash - In pictures 1 /13 Iran: Tehran Plane Crash - In pictures via Reuters AP AFP via Getty Images People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Images AP AP via Reuters AP Rescuers check the debris following the plane crash via Reuters Part of the wreckage from Ukrainian plane that crashed in Tehran shortly after take-off via Reuters He said: "Iran's admission that Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 was shot down by mistake by its own armed forces is an important first step. "We now need a comprehensive, transparent and independent international investigation and the repatriation of those who died. "The UK will work closely with Canada, Ukraine and our other international partners affected by this accident to ensure this happens. Boris Johnson made a statement on Saturday / PA "This tragic accident only reinforces the importance of de-escalating tensions in the region. We can all see very clearly that further conflict will only lead to more loss and tragedy. "It is vital that all leaders now pursue a diplomatic way forward." Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752 from Tehran to Kyiv came down on Wednesday, hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq in revenge for the killing its top military commander, General Qasem Soleimani. Mr Johnson called for a transparent investigation into the crash / AP Today, the Queen has sent a message of condolence to the Governor-General of Canada. There were 57 Canadians killed in the crash, with the oldest born in 1945 and the youngest born in 2018. The majority of the victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians, while at least four are believed to be British nationals. In her message to Governor-General Julie Payette, the Queen said: "Philip and I have been deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life following the crash of the Ukrainian Airlines aircraft in Iran. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Canada, which has suffered such a devastating loss. "I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all those Canadians, and indeed other nationalities, who died, and to the many others who have been affected by this terrible event." The Queen and Prince Philip said their "thoughts and prayers" are with the people of Canada / AFP via Getty Images The position of Governor-General is considered the oldest public office in Canada, and dates back to colonial times when monarchs appointed governors to act as their intermediaries in state affairs. Prince Charles also offered a message to Canadas Governor-General which said: My wife and I were utterly horrified by the appalling disaster in Iran in which so many Canadian citizens lost their lives so tragically. We can only begin to imagine the heart-rending anguish of the families and friends of those who were killed in this catastrophe. From the outside at least, there is little to choose between them. Both women are undeniably elegant with though the accents might differ the same careful use of words and a considered, polished manner. Delve into the murky world of their internet super-fans, however, and its a startlingly different picture. Here, there are two distinct and opposing tribes those who support Kate, and those who back Meghan and never has their rivalry been more intense, or the insults more vicious. The Sussex Squad, the name adopted by supporters of Meghan, dub Kate Duchess Do Little, while Meghan is referred to as Me-Again Sparkle and Duchess Dumb-a**e by her rivals in the opposing camp The news that Harry and Meghan plan to step down as senior Royals has caused widespread rejoicing among Kates online champions who have been campaigning for Megxit for some time. Meghan fans, meanwhile, are redoubling their efforts to flood the internet with positive praise for their idol, while portraying Kate as a creepy goody two shoes. How times have changed. Once, being a Royal super-fan meant building an enviable collection of commemorative plates, or perhaps at its extreme camping out overnight before any wedding and christening, as long as it involved a member of the House of Windsor. Meghan fans are redoubling their efforts to flood the internet with positive praise for their idol, while portraying Kate as a creepy goody two shoes. She is pictured with baby Archie at last year's Wimbledon But the new online super-fans, known as stans, are far more rancorous, emboldened not just by anonymity but by the sheer volume of people who share their views. To be Royal super-fan now means not just wholehearted devotion to a single Duchess, but a vehement rejection of the other. Put simply, if you love Meghan, you must hate Kate and vice versa. The result is a vicious keyboard war on blogs and social media, with harmless banter escalating behind the scenes into cyberbullying, harassment and even death threats. One woman who has run fan sites dedicated to both women told The Mail on Sunday she was too frightened to reveal her real name. The potential backlash and cyberbullying that I would endure would be overwhelming, she said. I would never have expected this behaviour from supporters of the Duchesses. I can say with absolute confidence that both Meghan and Kate would be horrified to learn that women are being cyberbullied, to the point that they are deleting accounts, discontinuing websites, and even seeking care for their mental health, in the name of support for a favoured Royal. The word stan comes from a 20-year-old chart hit by US rapper Eminem featuring an unhinged fan. It can be used to describe any fanatical celebrity obsessive, but those who follow the Royals seem particularly malicious. Those who back Kate have treated the news of Harry and Meghans decision to step back from Royal duties as a gross act of betrayal. SPOILT BRATS, one shrieked. The couple are pictured together last week Both Meghan and Kates particular fanbases have spiteful nicknames for the other, for example. The Sussex Squad, the name adopted by supporters of Meghan, dub Kate Duchess Do Little, while Meghan is referred to as Me-Again Sparkle and Duchess Dumb-a**e by her rivals in the opposing camp, some of whom describe themselves as the Cambridge Cult. Wild conspiracy theories are common, including the notion among members of the Cambridge Cult also known as Cambs that Meghan faked her pregnancy and used a surrogate to have Archie. One wrote under a picture of a heavily pregnant Meghan: This obviously isnt normal. Why would her bump look lumpy? Its another case of Meghans magic bump. Shes clearly got a surrogate. A world of stands and Royal cults A stan (noun) an over-zealous or obsessive fan, devoted to a specific public figure To stan (verb) to exhibit behaviour which suggests an extreme or excessive devotion to someone or something A fandom the collective noun for a group of fans, or stans The Cambridge Cult unofficial name used by some fans of Kate The Sussex Squad name adopted by fans of Meghan Duchess Do Little derogatory description of Kate, used by fans of Meghan Me-Again Sparkle derogatory description of Meghan, used by fans of Kate #Megxit a hashtag used on social media by Kate Middleton fans expressing their wish for Meghan Markle to be removed from the Royal Family. The hashtag is also used by fans of Meghan to praise the Duchess of Sussex. Advertisement Most Cambs have, admittedly, wanted Meghan out of the Royal Family since her relationship with Prince Harry emerged three years ago. On one blog, set up to criticise Meghan, a Kate admirer asks sarcastically: Why is Meghan ditching her duchess role? Because she wants to be the global Queen of Woke. The website brooks no argument or countervailing views. Verbal attacks on Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, will result in immediate block by me, the house rules state. The QUEEN is also off limits as are the York girls. On the other side, there is equal vehemence. One member of The Sussex Squad wrote: Kate Middleton is a creepy woman for wearing everything Diana used to wear, trying to win sympathy by using her dead mother-in-law scary. Zero personality. Duchess Do Little envies Meghan. Those who back Kate have treated the news of Harry and Meghans decision to step back from Royal duties as a gross act of betrayal. SPOILT BRATS, one shrieked. The news that Harry and Meghan plan to step down as senior Royals has caused widespread rejoicing among Kates online champions who have been campaigning for Megxit for some time. Kate is pictured above on her birthday earlier this week Unsurprisingly, it is seen differently by Meghans devotees. They view the decision as empowering, an Independence Day for the couple a sign, perhaps, of The Sussex Squads more transatlantic community. Its a huge decision, says one fan, addressing the couple. But you are both strong enough to follow your dreams and I admire your choice. Bella, 20, from Liverpool, who runs Instagram accounts dedicated to both Royal women, says drawing comparisons comes with the territory. Her Majesty and Princess Margaret were always compared, as were Fergie and Diana and even Pippa and Kate, she said. The fact that Kate and Meghan are both beautiful, intelligent women doesnt help, as people always want to criticise everything they do and say. Its foolish to compare them because theyre completely different and independent people. I think theyre both inspirational in their own ways. That may be so. But with super-fans like these, surely everyone can agree on one thing neither Kate nor Meghan needs enemies. Six concerts have already been confirmed for the summer of 2020 at Malahide Castle. The castle walls will be rocked by The Killers, Gerry Cinnamon, Lewis Capaldi, Picture this and Dermot Kennedy with the aforementioned Killers lined up to play two dates in the series of summer concerts. The band, whose most recent UK sojourn was their spectacular Glastonbury 2019 headline set will embark on their biggest ever tour in May / June 2020. The Killers will be joined at Malahide Castle by special guest Sam Fender. Since the release of their 2004 debut, Hot Fuss, with its now-classic breakthrough singles Mr Brightside and Somebody Told Me, Las Vegas' The Killers have gone on to sell 28 million albums, win countless Grammy, Brit, Q, NME nominations and awards and headline stadia and festivals around the world. Hot Fuss' follow up, Sam's Town, a love letter of sorts to the band's hometown, was released in 2006 and featured When You Were Young and Read My Mind. Third studio album, Day & Age, was released to widespread critical acclaim in 2008, anchored by the massive global hit, Human. 2012's Battle Born then saw them expand their world tour into countries they've never visited before, and ultimately headlining a sold out Wembley Stadium, one of the most significant and memorable shows of their career. The Killers' most recent LP, Wonderful Wonderful, was released in September 2017 and saw the group achieve a record breaking fifth consecutive UK Number One, also topping the U.S chart for the very first time. With the addition of that album's hits, The Man and Run For Cover, The Killers have amassed a truly incredible back catalogue. 2019 saw The Killers unveil a standalone song, Land Of The Free, a heartfelt lament inspired by current events and recent national tragedies in the United States that was accompanied by a video from Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee. Later in 2019, the band headlined Glastonbury Festival for the second time (the first was in 2007), playing a hit laden set that also saw them joined by some of their ultimate heroes, Pet Shop Boys and Johnny Marr, in the encore. Renowned for their electrifying live performances, The Killers are not to be missed and will set a high bar for the acts to follow this coming summer as Malahide Castle becomes the centre of the live music universe once more with the remainder of the confirmed concerts at the venue having a distinctly Celtic feel. German chancellor stressed Libyas warring parties would need to play an important role to help find a solution. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Libyan peace talks will be held in Berlin, as Turkey and Russia appeal to Libyas warring factions to enter a ceasefire. During a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, Merkel said: We hope that the joint efforts by Russia and Turkey will lead to success, and we will soon send out invitations for a conference in Berlin. Merkel stressed that the United Nations would lead talks if a meeting were to take place in Berlin and that Libyas warring parties would need to play a significant role to help find a solution. The aim was to give Libya the chance to become a sovereign and peaceful country, Merkel said. Putin expressed support for the process, saying it was a timely idea and necessary to bring the conflict in Libya to an end. 200111144544587 Earlier this week, Turkey and Russia urged Libyas warring parties to declare a ceasefire on Sunday. Turkey backs Fayez al-Sarrajs Tripoli-based, internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and has said it will send military advisers and possibly troops to reinforce its support. Russian military contractors have been deployed alongside renegade military commander Khalifa Haftars eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA). In response to being asked whether he was aware of the presence of Russian mercenaries in Libya, Putin said: If there are Russian citizens there, then they are not representing the interests of the Russian state and they are not receiving money from the Russian state. Demanding immediate sacking of the JNU vice chancellor and the Delhi police commissioner, the Congress on Saturday said that the entire incident of violence in the university campus should be investigated by an independent judicial commission. The party's fact-finding committee on the JNU violence also submitted its report to party chief Sonia Gandhi, though details of the report were not known. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala claimed that the Delhi Police was a guilty party in the entire JNU violence and this statement was being made by him not as a member of the Congress, but as a member of the public who cannot remain oblivious to the truth being shown across TV and print media. "Both the VC of the JNU as also the commissioner of police of Delhi should be sacked. An independent judicial enquiry should investigate the role of home minister in latently instigating this violence and the Home Ministry officials. So, the buck actually stops at the door of Home Minister Shri Amit Shah," he told reporters. "This entire assorted drama, where goons were permitted to commit unprecedented violence with active abetment of Delhi Police, needs to be investigated as also the roles identified through an appropriate judicial enquiry," he said. Surjewala said one more video of the JNU violence has been shown by TV channels and the role of Delhi Police and its commissioner as also the vice chancellor of JNU is circumspect. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trans-identifying teen sues New York to change sex on birth certificate Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A trans-identifying teenager is suing the state of New York to change the sex listed on her birth certificate. In 2014, the Empire state enacted a law that allows adults to change the sex listed on their birth certificate but does not extend that right to residents 18 years old and younger. The teenager is being represented by LGBT rights group Lambda Legal which argues in the lawsuit that forbidding a minor to change their sex on legal documents violates the United States Constitutions guarantees of equal dignity, equal protection of the laws, fundamental rights to privacy, liberty, and autonomy, and freedom of speech. Possessing accurate identification documents that are consistent with a persons gender identity a persons core internal sense of their own gender is essential to their basic social and economic well-being, the lawsuit reads. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose office is being sued in the legal action, appears to be supportive of the teenager. From passing GENDA [Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act], to outlawing conversion therapy and eliminating the so-called trans panic defense, New York has always been at the forefront of protecting and advancing the civil rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people, Peter Ajemian, senior deputy communications director for the governor's office, said in a statement. We are deeply sympathetic to the situation as it has been described to us and are reviewing this lawsuit. Born in Ithaca, New York, the high school student is female but identifies as male and now resides in Houston, Texas. The teen believes New York's law barring children and teenagers from changing their sex on a birth certificate is a violation of their rights. Having an inaccurate birth certificate can cause the disclosure of my transgender status when I enroll in college classes or when I get my drivers license, and expose me to possible harm, the teen, who is identified as M.H.W., said in a statement. The teenager's Social Security records, passport, and other identity documents have already been changed. Only a handful of states California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington allow transgender-identifying minors to alter their sex marker on their birth records, according to Lambda Legal. Meanwhile, James Shupe, who once identified as transgender and was the first person to ever obtain a legal "nonbinary" gender status, now says it was "psychologically harmful" and successfully petitioned the same court to let him correct the sex listed on his birth certificate, changing it back to "male," his original sex. Filing lawsuits to change the sex listed on government documents is just one tool the transgender movement is employing as it pushes gender identity activism. Critics say that at the root of this and other conflicts occurring around the country over transgender issues is the legal redefinition of "sex" to mean something other than its biological basis. The precise definition of "gender identity" is not known, and when added as a civil rights category to the legal code, it undermines protections based on biological sex, some feminists and others continue to maintain. Unlike sex, an immutable trait, no brain imaging scan, blood test, or genetic marker has ever indicated the presence of an innate and durable gender identity. As it pertains to minors, another question at the center of the debate over transgenderism is whether those who identify as trans are capable of giving informed consent, particularly when their bodies are being used as experiments by giving them puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. The controversial State Commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary in Dublin Castle, which was deferred by the Government following public outcry, was deemed inappropriate by Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Niall Kelleher. His stance on the issue had been backed by Deputy Mayor Cllr Norma Moriarty, also of Fianna Fail. The Government was to honour those who served in the RIC and the Dublin Metropolitan Police at an event in Dublin Castle as part of the War of Independence centenary programme. However, the decision by the Government to honour the organisations had been met with overwhelming opposition from a large portion of the public and was eventually deferred on Tuesday evening. Councillor Kelleher said he felt that it would be inappropriate to attend. I acknowledge that many of the RIC members were quite decent people but, as a body, the organisation was guilty of gross interference with this countrys search for freedom and independence. Sinn Feins Pa Daly said he believed that the majority of Kerry people were against the RIC and, therefore, the commemoration should not be attended. We should talk to the families of John Leen and Maurice Reidy, shot on Christmas day in 1920 in Ballymac, about a commemoration, he said. There was also the siege of Tralee in 1920, where the town was terrorised by the RIC. As per protocol for such invitations, the invitation to the commemoration had been passed to Kerry County Councils Corporate Policy Group (CPG), who were due to discuss the matter when they meet next Tuesday. The CPG is chaired by Cllr Kelleher and includes Cllr Michael Cahill, Cllr Norma Foley, Cllr Mike OShea, Cllr Robert Beasley and Cllr Mike Kennelly. As The Kerryman went to print, Minister Brendan Griffin TD (Fine Gael) had not replied to requests for comment on the situation. It was hard to miss Maria Fuertes in her neighborhood. She was 92 years old and could be seen at all hours of day, shoulders hunched, slowly pushing her black cart filled with bottles and cans through the streets of South Richmond Hill, Queens. On Monday evening, while taking what neighbors described as one of her regular strolls, Ms. Fuertes was attacked just steps from her home by a man who approached her from behind and knocked her to the ground, the police said. Ms. Fuertes was found lying in the street and later pronounced dead. Investigators are now seeking to determine whether she was sexually assaulted, the police said at a news conference on Friday. A suspect, Reeaz Khan, 21, also a resident of South Richmond Hill, fled the scene and was later arrested and charged with murder and sex abuse, authorities said. Counting On stars Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo have had a crazy couple of years. Within three years, the couple has gotten married, had a daughter, and moved to a whole new state. To add even more to their already changing lives, Jinger decided to change her appearance as well and she her hair blonde. While fans loved Jingers new hairdo, nobody seemed to love the new look more than her husband. Though, there is nothing wrong with a husband liking the way that his wife looks, fans thought that Jeremys reaction was just a little bit odd. So, what exactly happened between Jeremy and Jinger Vuolo that made fans feel a little uncomfortable? Keep reading to find out. How long have Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo been married? The Duggar family | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra Jinger and Jeremy first met in 2015. Jeremy became friends with Jessa and Ben Seewald. When Jessa first met Jeremy, she knew that he would be perfect for her sister, Jinger. After Jeremy had corresponded with the Seewalds for a few months, he made the trip from Texas to Arkansas to meet with the family. And that is when he first met Jinger and sparks were immediately flying. A few months later, Jeremy asked Jim Bob Duggar if he could court his daughter. Their fun-filled, side-hugging courtship lasted for only around a month before Jeremy asked Jinger to marry him. Then, on November 5, 2016, Jeremy and Jinger said I do, in front of over 1,000 of their closest friends and family members, as well as the TLC film crew. After the wedding, Jinger and Jeremy traveled back to Laredo, Texas to live and then they welcomed their daughter, Felicity, into the world around two years later in 2018. Jeremy and Jinger Vuolo moved to California and welcomed even more changes Recently, Jeremy and Jinger announced that they would be moving to Los Angeles so that Jeremy could complete his masters degree at the Masters Seminary in Sun Valley. So, the Vuolos packed up their belonging (and their film crew) and headed to California. Right before they left for their new home in California, Jinger felt that it was a good time to update her appearance a little bit. In addition to her rebellious pants and sleeveless shirt ensembles that she sometimes chooses to wear, she has now decided to dye her hair blonde. And we have to admit, it does look pretty good on her. She came home from the salon with her new hairdo and surprised both her daughter and her husband. At first, her daughter didnt really know what to think, but her husband was not shy about letting her know just how much he loved her new hair color. What was the one moment between Jeremy and Jinger that made fans feel uncomfortable? When Jinger first walked in with her new hair color, Jeremys face immediately lit up. He walked over to her, gave her a kiss, grabbed her butt and told her that he loved her new look. Many fans thought that his initial reaction was very sweet. However, the way that he kept going on and on about how good she looks now made fans feel a little uncomfortable and think that he may have not liked the way she looked before. Also, when the producers asked Jeremy if he prefers before Jinger or after Jinger, Jeremy was quick to answer, Oh, the now Jinger. One fan on Reddit had said: Jeremy preferring the Now Jinger made me a bitsad? Like the old wasnt good enough for him.. Ive seen snark about him preferring blondes and molding Jinger to his standards of beauty, so I guess it all makes sense now that we have seen his reaction and heard how much he had to say about [her] hair. The Vuolos are now in California and seem to be loving their life. Its hard to say for sure if Jeremy actually didnt like the way Jinger looked before, but one thing is for sure, he definitely likes the way she looks now. ZAGREB, Croatia - A fire engulfed part of a nursing home in northern Croatia early Saturday, killing at least six people, authorities said. The blaze erupted around 5 a.m. in a privately-run nursing home in the village of Andrasevac, 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Zagreb, the capital. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. Unfortunately, according to initial information we have received, six people died, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told reporters after arriving on the scene. At this moment, we dont have enough information to be able to say anything else. We need to wait until the authorities finish their job, Plenkovic added. Croatian media said the fire erupted in a wooden building close to the homes main building. N1 TV said about 20 people were staying there when the fire broke out. Videos and photos from the scene showed the building was completely destroyed with only outer brick walls and some roof beams still standing. A much bigger main building could be seen undamaged nearby. Police said the fire was put out quickly, but they had to wait for while before they could enter the charred building to conduct the probe. A major conference has taken place outlining how those within the commercial and business sectors in county Wexford can work together to maximise the potential of the county in the coming years. The Invest Wexford conference took place in the Riverside Park Hotel and was organised by the CEO of Enniscorthy & District Chamber, the Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager, Ger Mackey, and Ed Murphy, from Invest Wexford. It was the first seminar of its type held in the county and there were business sector representatives from around the county in attendance. The speakers at the event included Christian Pollard (Opus financial services; Gerard Reynolds (BD); Edwina Dunne (GrandPad); and Patrick McGee (IDA North America). Among those in attendance at the seminar were Dr Patrick Prendergast, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin; Barbara Jones, Irish Ambassador to Mexico; Assistant Garda Commissioner, David Sheehan, Minister Paul Kehoe; Gillian Baker, Development Advisor with Enterprise Ireland, and Tom Foley, Director of AIB Plc. A number of local councillors were also in attendance including the Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan. Ed Murphy is the Senior Economic Advisor for Wexford County Council, and in welcoming everyone to the event he said that in addition to Enniscorthy being in a position to become one of the most prosperous towns in Ireland going forward the county as a whole is also ideally positioned to maximise its potential if the business sector works together and adopts a positive attitude over the next five years. 'Unemployment in Wexford and in particular in Enniscorthy is high,' said Mr Murphy in his opening address. He said there is an issue with people leaving the model county and not returning. Mr Murphy said that should not be the case and that more can be done to entice and encourage skilled workers back to their native county. 'Invest Wexford will be running an event in Dublin on February 20 where we will be encouraging Dublin-based companies to consider setting up additional offices in Wexford,' he said. With regard to the seminar he said the idea behind it was to generate ideas from stakeholders as to how county Wexford and towns like Enniscorthy can grow over the next five years. Before inviting the guest speakers to address the event he said job creation in the county will only come about by people working with the local authority, the IDA, and Enterprise Ireland. Christian Pollard: Christian Pollard, from financial services company, Opus, was the first speaker and said his company initially set up an Irish office in Dublin in 2015 - having begun in his native Bermuda. 'In early 2019 we set up an office in Wexford, in Enniscorthy,' he said, and highlighted that Dublin becoming increasingly uncompetitive in terms of costs was a major factor. 'Dublin was great to us in 2015 but as each has gone on it's become less competitive,' he said. He said his company first looked at Ireland as a result of the IDA inviting it to do so. 'We looked across Europe including places like Poland but we were attracted to here,' he said. He said setting up in county Wexford with the office in Enniscorthy was very advantageous to the company. 'We have nine employees at the moment and we have new people coming in [early this year] and we have taken out another floor in the building that we are in here,' he said. 'There will be 15 people working there in the next few months and we will be hopefully moving into the courthouse and increasing our staff to around 60 people within the next two to two-and-a-half years,' he added. Mr Pollard said the ultimate goal of the company will be to set up its office in the Enniscorthy Technology Park when its office space comes on-stream. 'When that becomes available we should be able to get to 100 employees within the next five years,' he said. Gerard Reynolds: Gerard Reynolds is Director of Operations with BD (Becton Dickinson) Enniscorthy, and he outlined to the attendees the nature of the company - which is involved in the manufacture of medical devices. 'It was originally Clearstream Technologies,' he told the seminar. 'There are 480 people employed there and we have no issue filling roles,' he said. However, he also commented that sometimes difficulties arise in filling senior roles within the business. He said staff turnover is less than 1 per cent per year and that it's attractive for people to work in the area. Mr Reynolds said people want to move back to Wexford but added: 'People do not move here as a career progression move so it tends to be a more long term move.' 'Our issue is attracting people to senior levels and getting them to move here,' he said. Significantly, Mr Reynolds told the seminar that there were instances where people had moved to Enniscorthy but moved out again because they felt there wasn't much happening. He then said more needs to be done to ensure that people know what is happening in the town and county. Mr Reynolds also said access to third level education is an important aspect of attracting people to Wexford but said the cost of housing and 'relatively low rental options' is another issue. With regard to his own company Mr Reynolds expressed hope for the future and anticipated growth and expansion in the months and years ahead. 'We have a lot of talent in this area and they are driving our ability to grow,' he said. Patrick McGee: Patrick McGee's is based in New York city and his role within the IDA is to attract companies in Canada and the USA to Ireland. He told the seminar that location is one of the things that companies look at when considering alternative areas to set up new or expanding offices. 'We have to highlight competitiveness in Ireland,' said Mr McGee. 'When companies visit [here] then we can put different locations on the map,' he added. He said availability of manufacturing space is another important factor and commented that the Technology Park in Enniscorthy will be very positive for the county. However, he said there is a lot of scope for development in the county and added that Wexford is a county that could be targeted at companies that have reached capacity in other sites in Ireland - especially those that are located in Dublin and wish to expand outside of the capital. Mr McGee said towns like Enniscorthy and county Wexford in general are ideally positioned to benefit from that. 'The IDA is a sales and marketing agency and the product has to be really good,' he said. He commented that availability of options is another factor that Wexford can benefit from in addition to having a skilled workforce. 'Having availability of property is key and they will look at other options after that,' said Mr McGee. He said investment follows when the county is attractive to interested parties. 'People have to feel that they want to live in a place first,' said Mr McGee. 'People like myself who live abroad, we want to move back to Wexford.' Edwina Dunne: Edwina Dunne is the Chief Executive Officer of GrandPad, which is based in Gorey, She said office space in the Hatch Lab is ideal for her company and that when she brought company founder, Scott Lien to the office for the first time he was very impressed by what he saw. 'When I brought Scott to the building he said 'that is really nice, who is in that?' and I said you are,' Ms Dunne told the seminar. 'We employ home workers,' she said. Our people work from home and that really suits them,' she added. Ms Dunne said she had commuted to Dublin in the past and it necessitated her leaving home at 5.30 a.m. and she did that for 10 years. Outlining the benefits of operating out of county Wexford she said employees in GrandPad also have the added benefit of being able to work without going out the door. Ms Dunne also said the benefit of working out of the Hatch Lab is that there are other skilled people close by if her company needs them. Ms Dunne also said there is optimism within her company for the future and outlined plans for growth. 'We are very optimistic for GrandPad for 2020,' she said. 'We will be employing a lot more people.' Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buharis Senior special assistant on media and publicity says the presidents wife and children can use the presidential jet. The presidential spokesperson was reacting to backlash from various quarters over the use of the presidential jet by Buharis daughter to a private event in Bauchi state. Hanan Buhari had gone to Bauchi on the invitation of Rilwanu Adamu, emir of Bauchi, to Durban on Thursday. The daughter of the president who recently graduated with a first-class degree in photography from a UK university, was expected to document the event and other tourist attractions in the state. Buharis aide in statement on Saturday said the presidency authorised the visit and informed the office of the national security adviser (NSA) to release the jet. Its true that a member of the First Family was flown to Bauchi yesterday on a mission duly authorised. Read Also: Shehu Sani Is Not Being Held Because Hes Buharis Critic: EFCC It wasnt an impromptu or improper trip because it followed normal procedure. The Presidency informed the National Security Adviser of the mission who in turn informed the Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet. The normal practice in existence for a long time is that the Presidential Air fleet is available to the President and the first family and four others. These four are the Vice President, the Senate President the Speaker and any other person(s) authorised by the President. The Supreme Court will hear the curative petitions filed by two convicts, on death row, in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case on January 14. A five-judge bench comprising Justices NV Ramana, Arun Mishra, Rohinton Fali Nariman, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan will hear the curative petitions filed by Vinay Sharma and Mukesh, who moved the apex court on Thursday. Mukesh filed the plea, after fellow convict Vinay Sharma moved the court. A trial court here, while issuing death warrants against the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case on Tuesday observed that "despite being afforded sufficient time and opportunity", the convicts didn't exercise their legal remedies. The court fixed January 22 and 7 a.m. as the date and time for execution of the four convicted persons in the case. After a 23-year-old woman was gangraped and tortured on December 16, 2012, leading to her death, all 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. The four 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 in May 2017 by the Supreme Court, which also dismissed their review petitions. Vinay Sharma in the curative petition said his entire family suffered due to the criminal proceedings. "The petitioner is not the only person being punished; his entire family has suffered greatly as a result of the criminal proceedings. The family faced societal wrath and humiliation for no fault of theirs. "The petitioner's parents are old and extremely poor. The case has been a huge drain on their resources and now they are left almost empty handed," stated the curative petition filed through senior advocate Adhis C. Aggarwala and Advocate A.P. Singh. "The petitioner's father earns a meagre living. The family has no savings and lives in the R.K. Puram Harijan Basti. If the petitioner is executed his entire family will be destroyed," it stated. The plea further said the state had no evidence in the form of psychiatric structured clinical judgment, based on the appellant's life in the prison (around 7 years) and life prior to it, in the background of his mental impairment, his adjustment to and interaction with other inmates and officials. Unintended Consequences As Iran Admits It Destroyed Ukrainian Passenger Jet Iran has admitted "unintentionally" shooting down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people on board. An investigation found that "missiles fired due to human error", according to President Hassan Rouhani. He described the crash as an "unforgivable mistake". The military said the jet flew close to a sensitive site belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and was then mistaken for a hostile aircraft. Iran had previously rejected suggestions that it was responsible for the crash. The downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, on Wednesday, came just hours after Iran carried out missile strikes on two airbases housing US forces in Iraq. President Trump has recently said there were no casualties from the recent Iranian missile strike on US bass and that the US is ready to embrace peace. The US says it is "ready to engage without preconditions in serious negotiations" with Iran following the countries' exchange of hostilities.But theres more than just a physical war to worry about. Tension Is Reduced But Iran Is Expanding Its Online Disinformation Operations Irans missile attacks on two Iraqi airbases have been accompanied by a spread of online disinformation, falsely labelled images and claims of news sources being hacked, which have added to jitters in the region regarding the attacks. Iranian state television said on Wednesday 8th January that at least 80 American terrorists were killed, despite the US making clear that it had not sustained any casualties. Iran has a long history of running state-backed disinformation campaigns which attempt to influence opinion overseas, with Facebook. In October, Facebook announced that it had booted a number of fake Iranian accounts spreading disinformation within the United States and North Africa. However, Iran is using new online efforts to sway public opinion as tensions increase with the US. So how good is Iran at online influence campaigning and what do those campaigns look like? The first thing to know is that Irans no Russia, whose online disinformation campaigns in 2016 brought the field into mainstream public discussion. Tehrans operators are less sophisticated, less well-funded, and less focused on achieving electoral political outcomes. But they can have a big effect, particularly in the Middle East. The regime is known for its hacking capabilities and spends a considerable amount of resources trying to shape discourse on social media. While Russias disinformation operation includes conventional media as well as intelligence and military elements, Irans influence and disinformation actors are generally part of traditional media outlets. The online campaign is an extension of what Iran has been doing with television for decades. Russian operators establish fake personas and pretend to be people from the United States or members of other groups, and then carefully maintain those personas, creating content to build credibility within that group, content that doesnt necessarily further a specific information mission. Russian operators might seek to influence a particular political race or ballot measure in a specific country, but the Iranian focus is much less complex. The goal is always a push for Iranian foreign policy objectives, and turning global sentiment against the United States. When playing to a US audience the Iranians will focus on issues related to race, police brutality, and discrimination against Muslims, and the online themes will mirror what they are pushing through conventional TV and other media outlets. The Iranians have a growing reach in some surprising places, including Latin America, thanks to an Iranian Spanish-language outlet called HispanTV. Iranian messaging comes in two primary ways to suit the intended audience. The first is pro-Iran, such as the recent flood of pro-Soleimani propaganda that swamped parts of the Twittersphere in the days after a Jan. 2 airstrike killed the Iranian military commander. This is mostly naked self-promotion intended for consumption by the Shia portion of the Middle East. The second form is much broader: anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Western. This is intended to foment resentment against the US among audiences like Sunni Muslims, audiences that wouldnt support Iran on other issues. Iran isnt above dirty tricks. At very least, theres been a big increase recently in actors pushing pro-Iranian narratives online through deceptive means. A Kuwaiti news agency has announced that it had been hacked to spread disinformation about the US withdrawal from Iraq, though agency officials declined to specifically name Iran as the source. Defense One: Guardian: Marketplace: BBC : Image: Flickr / LLGB Spotter You Might Also Read: Iranian Hackers Attack The US, Not Very Badly: Iran's Cyberwar Response To Its General's Killing: Japan has entered the new decade with the world's most powerful passport, a new global ranking has revealed. The nation has secured the top spot in the Henley Passport Index for the third consecutive year, with its citizens able to travel to 191 nations around the world visa-free. The Singaporean passport was ranked in second place, with natives able to travel with ease to 190 countries. In joint third place were South Korea and Germany with visa-free movement to 189 nations. However, the US and the UK have continued to fall on the index, this year in joint eighth place alongside Belgium, Greece and Norway. All five nations can travel to 184 countries. Citizens of Japan can travel to 191 nations around the world visa-free and have secured the top spot in the Henley Passport Index for the third consecutive year This is a far cry from the US and UK's lead on the index in 2015, when both countries topped the ranking. Last year, two powers were ranked in joint sixth place. Elsewhere in the top ten, Finland and Italy share fourth place, with 188 countries, while Denmark, Luxembourg, and Spain together hold fifth place with 187. Ranked sixth with 186 countries are France and Sweden, with Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland in joint seventh. The top ten is completed by Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Malta and New Zealand in joint ninth, who can all travel to 183 nations visa-free. Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia are in tenth with 181. The Henley Passport Index also singled out the 'historic success story' which is the 'steady ascent' of the UAE. The nation, in the Middle East, has climbed a remarkable 47 places over the past ten years and now sits in 18th place, with a visa-free score of 171. The US and the UK have continued to fall on the Henley Passport Index, this year in joint eighth place alongside Belgium, Greece and Norway On the other end of the travel freedom spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with its nationals only able to visit 26 destinations visa-free On the other end of the travel freedom spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with its nationals only able to visit 26 destinations visa-free. Iraq and Syria complete the bottom three, with scores of 28 and 29. Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, said the latest ranking provides a fascinating insight into a rapidly changing world. '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', he said. '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.' Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Malta and New Zealand are in joint ninth. They can all travel to 183 nations visa-free More than 150 activists braved freezing temperatures to stage a round dance at Portage and Main. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion More than 150 activists braved freezing temperatures to stage a round dance at Portage and Main. They were not alone Friday. Thirty-four other, similar actions across Canada and the U.S. joined them, responding to a week-long call for solidarity from citizens of the Wetsuweten Nation in northwestern B.C. For more than a year, Wetsuweten citizens have been standing on their own traditional territory, blocking the planned route of a natural gas pipeline owned by Coastal GasLink through their traditional territories. They have been harassed. RCMP arrested 14 activists last January, and dismantled a camp to assist the projects delivery. This resulted in a now-typical Canadian cycle involving Indigenous conflict: media coverage of Indigenous arrests, national outcries, and a march to the Supreme Court over competing claims over the land, rights, and reconciliation. The problem is actually quite simple: who speaks for the Wetsuweten? The $6.2-billion pipeline has been approved by the government of Canada, the province of British Columbia, and even the elected chief and council of the Wetsuweten under the Indian Act alongside all 20 of the Indian Act-elected councils along the pipelines route but not by the leaders of the Wetsuweten traditional government. Leaders of the Wetsuweten hereditary chief system, who have governed the Wetsuweten nation far longer than Canada has been in operation, have demanded all construction plans and permits be suspended until free, prior, and informed consent be obtained something guaranteed to all First Nations under the constitution. In case its not blatantly obvious, Indian Act governments and traditional Indigenous governments are not the same. One is an imposed system (recognized by the Canadian government) and the other is ancestral (often not recognized by Canadian officials). Since the 1990s and the Delgamuukw case over Aboriginal title in B.C., the Wetsuweten have claimed nearly 22,000 square kilometres of land and never attained a resolution. The case was thrown out in 1993 by the B.C. Appeals Court due to discrepancies regarding the use of oral tradition to claim land. A new trial was ordered. The Wetsuweten claim, which has not been tried since, remains in legal limbo. For nearly four decades, the Wetsuweten have pursued peaceful, legal means to assert their claim. Yet, Canada, B.C., and a Canadian company is trying to take the land anyways. When government officials cant get one group of Indigenous leaders to agree to the project, they just find another. Its that simple. Mike Sudoma / The Canadian Press Kimberly Kostik drums and sings as supporters of the Wetsuweten Nation protest the Coastal GasLink pipeline at Portage and Main Friday. Spokesperson for the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs, Chief Namoks (John Ridsdale), has announced: "As far as we know, Coastal GasLink intends to commit trespass on Wetsuweten lands and continue construction." On New Years Eve, the B.C. Supreme Court decided to grant an injunction to remove Wetsuweten activists from the pipelines route and continue construction on the route to an export facility near Kitimat. The court essentially criminalized Indigenous citizens standing on their own lands, upholding cultural, ancestral, and customary law. In the decision, though, is the admittance Wetsuweten claims remain unsolved: "The Aboriginal title claims of the Wetsuweten remain outstanding and have not been resolved either by litigation or negotiation, despite the urging of the Supreme Court of Canada." So, with legal means clearly not stopping the projects development, what choice the Wetsuweten have but to fight? On Jan. 5, the hereditary chiefs issued an eviction notice to all Coastal GasLink workers, charging them with having "bulldozed through our territories, destroyed our archaeological sites, and occupied our land with industrial man-camps The ongoing criminalization of our laws by Canadas courts and industrial police is an attempt at genocide." On Jan. 9, Coastal issued a 72-hour notice all Wetsuweten must leave the pipelines route or face arrest; RCMP added to the conflict by launching a criminal investigation into the activists. Which brings us back to the round dance at Portage Avenue and Main Street. Before the event began, a Winnipeg police officer appeared and warned participants the downtown intersection was too dangerous, and no one would be liable for what happened. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The dancers danced; one asked the officer if he also similarly warned Winnipeg Jets and Blue Bombers fans when they take over the space. In the middle of the round dance, an ambulance appeared. The circle opened, allowed it through, and continued. On a break, leaders gave a cheer for the striking workers at a nearby Tim Hortons coffee shop. Lawful. Peaceful. Committed to good relationships and saving the Earth, alongside everyone in it like you and me and our children. Just like the Wetsuweten, facing off against forces that are anything but. niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca When Donald Trump attacked us, he didnt know what he was coming up against, Higginbotham says. Baltimore is my city. The 7th District is our community and in a country of so much, so many go without the opportunities they are due. Even as nationwide protests against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 continue, the Union Government on Friday went ahead and formally notified the law. This means that the law came into effect starting Friday. Even as nationwide protests against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019 continue, the Union Government on Friday went ahead and formally notified the law. This means that the law came into effect starting Friday. "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of the Section 1 of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (47 of 2019), the Central Government hereby appoints the 10th day of January, 2020, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force," the government informed the general public through an 'extraordinary Gazette notification' published last evening. The Act allows Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who faced religious persecution, and came to India before 31 December, 2014, to get citizenship in India The CAA was passed by the Parliament on 11 December, while President Ram Nath Kovind had assented to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 on 12 December, turning it into an Act. The Home Ministry, however, is yet to frame the rules for the Act. Legality of law remains contentious The Supreme Court on Friday sought stands of various petitioners, challenging the constitutional validity of the CAA before different high courts, on a plea by the Centre for transfer of their petitions to the apex court. A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant issued notices to all petitioners, seeking their replies, and slated the matter for further hearing on 22 January along with a slew of other anti-CAA petitions, already pending before the apex court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the court that different high courts adjudicating the same question of CAA's constitutionality may lead to the emergence of conflicting views from different high courts, eventually necessitating the apex court's intervention. Additionally, it may also inconvenience lawyers, obliging them to rush to different high courts to attend proceedings, he pointed out. The bench, however, said lawyers moving to different states for attending hearing in CAA matter is not its concern. Earlier on 18 December, hearing a slew of anti-CAA petitions filed before it, the apex court had agreed to examine the constitutional validity of the CAA but refused to stay its operation. The top court had on 18 December issued notice to the Centre and sought its response by the second week of January on a batch of pleas challenging the CAA's legality. The apex court had fixed 22 January for hearing a total of 59 anti-CAA petitions, including those filed by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. The petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the CAA before the court include those filed by RJD leader Manoj Jha, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi. Other anti-CAA petitioners include Muslim body Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, All Assam Students Union (AASU), Peace Party, CPI, NGOs 'Rihai Manch' and Citizens Against Hate, advocate ML Sharma. Several law students have also approached the apex court challenging the Act. With inputs from agencies President Donald Trump tweeted a message of support for the people of Iran on Saturday evening, saying 'we are inspired by your courage' as thousands of angry demonstrators protested the regime in the streets of Tehran. 'To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage,' Trump tweeted in English and in Farsi. 'The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching,' he added. His statement was a sign of solidarity with the thousands who gathered in front of the gate of the Amirkabir University of Technology near the former US embassy in Tehran to protest the government and Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for mistakenly downing a civilian passenger plane. President Donald Trump tweeted a message of support for the people of Iran on Saturday evening, saying 'we are inspired by your courage' as thousands of angry demonstrators protested the regime in the streets of Tehran He tweeted the message in English and Farsi, showing his solidarity with the people of Iran He added: 'The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown' On Saturday President Donald Trump warned Iran 'the world is watching' Earlier on Saturday, Iran finally admitted that its Revolutionary Guard Air defense forces mistakenly brought down Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 shortly after it took off from Tehran on January 8. On board were 176 people, 130 of them Iranian citizens. 'Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people,' President Hassan Rouhani said on Twitter. 'Investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake,' he added. Iran for days claimed that a technical failure caused the crash, before admitting on Saturday that its own surface-to-air missiles brought the plane down. Iranian Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, claimed on Saturday that the country's top military leaders were not initially aware that their own air defense system had shot the plan down, leading to confusion. Now the country has come clean, but still blames 'US adventurism' for the fatal 'error'. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei also offered condolences to the families, as he called for an investigation and ordered the military to address 'shortcomings' on Saturday morning. Iran was on high alert at the time, hours after launching ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq in a strike that caused no casualties. That missile strike was in retaliation for a U.S. operation that killed powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. On Saturday night a gathering that started out as mournful vigils for the Iranian lives lost in the plane crash turned into a protest against the Iranian government for the loss of 130 Iranian lies People pictured on Saturday gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 which was mistakenly shot down by Iran's Revolutionary Guard on January 8 shortly after taking off from Tehran. 176 people on board were killed, at least 130 of them were Iranian citizens At Sharif University, crowds of outraged Iranians chanted 'commander in chief, resign!' The Ayatollah is Iran's commander in chief Iranians protest against the government after a vigil held for the victims of Flight 752 turned into an anti-government protest outside Amirkabir University in Tehran, Iran On Saturday night, a gathering that started out as mournful vigils for the Iranian lives lost in the plane crash turned into a protest. Riot police quickly arrived on the scene to control the protesters as they chanted 'Death to the Islamic republic' and were seen firing tear gas into the crowd. Angry crowds gathered in at least four locations across Tehran tonight, calling for the country's supreme leader to step down over the tragic military blunder. At Amirkabir University, protesters chanted 'Down with the dictator' and 'shame on IRGC [Revolutionary Guard], let the country go.' At Sharif University, crowds of outraged Iranians chanted 'commander in chief, resign!' The Ayatollah is Iran's commander in chief. 'Our enemy is right here; they lie when they say it's the US' protesters were heard chanting in one video. Cops armed with shields and batons tried to disperse the crowds, and police fired water canons at protesters. In the midst of the protests UK Ambassador to Iran Rob Macaire was arrested in Tehran for allegedly 'directing radical actions'. The UK ambassador to Iran Rob Macaire was arrested and released about an hour later on Saturday evening during violent protests in Tehran in response to Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei's regime admitting it had mistakenly shot down a civilian passenger plane 'I wish I had died, and I wouldn't have seen such an incident,' said a somber Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, at a press conference. Iran admitted that it shot down Flight 752, thinking the plane was a missile Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 plane wreckage is seen in a picture from investigation team released today Rescue workers at the crash site recovered the bodies of victims on Wednesday (above) Diplomat Rob Macaire was present during demonstrations against Ayatollah Khamenei in front of Tehrans Amir Kabir University and was arrested after allegedly 'organizing, provoking and directing radical actions', according to local reports. Mr Macaire, a diplomat with 30 years experience, was released following more than an hour in detention. In a strongly worded statement, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned Iran that it needed to make a choice between becoming a 'pariah' state or to 'deescalate tensions' with the west. 'The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law. The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment,' Raab said. 'It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.' The Japanese drugs giant which bought Shire last year is facing a 340million tax demand from the Irish authorities. The bill has been inherited from Shire which was founded in Britain and listed on the FTSE 100 until last year when it was bought by Takeda for 46billion. It relates to a $1.64billion (1.25billion) fee paid to Shire over a separate aborted takeover attempt by US firm AbbVie in 2014. Japanese drug firm Takeda is facing a 340million tax demand from the Irish authorities The deal was called off after a crackdown by President Barack Obama on takeovers designed to shift tax liabilities abroad. AbbVie was forced to pay Shire a 'break fee' when the deal collapsed. At the time, Shire said it had been advised the break fee one of the biggest of its kind would not be taxable in Ireland. The claim triggered a fresh row over the tax affairs of the company, which moved headquarters from Britain to Ireland in 2008 to cut its tax bill. But it did warn that had not been agreed with the tax authorities. Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal the Irish taxman quietly launched a 398million (340million) claim weeks before the takeover was completed in January last year. The group is appealing and said the continued legal guidance it has received is that it is not liable. The Irish Revenue said it does not discuss details of the tax affairs of individuals nor companies. First responders removed Ehabe and his son, Everett Ehabe, from the vehicle, and they were transported to a hospital, police said. Everett was then transported to Childrens National Hospital in the District, where he died on Dec. 4. A group of 39 tourists were rescued from an Icelandic glacier late Tuesday evening after a blizzard struck, according to Iceland Monitor. No injuries were reported. The tourists were taken to Langjokull glacier by the tour group Mountaineers of Iceland despite a blizzard warning and travel advisory. Some members of the group were stranded for about nine hours before being rescued. We were told it was going to be quick and then it ended up being five and a half hours, hiding behind the snowmobile, Nicole Smith, an American tourist, told the Daily Mail. We did all think we were going to die out there, which wasn't super fun. The group left for their snowmobiling tour around 1 p.m. on Tuesday. While waiting for rescue, they dug snow shelters behind their snowmobiles. By 8 p.m., the rescue team was called out to the glacier. The last of the group was rescued by 2 a.m. Wednesday morning. We clearly made a mistake by going into the ice cave, Haukur Herbertsson, the manager of operations for Mountaineers of Iceland, told The Reykjavik Grapevine. We probably made more mistakes than that. At this point I dont know what all of them are. I dont think its been made clear why they took the decision to go on the tour, Icelands Minister of Tourism ordis Kolbrun Reykfjor Gylfadottir told RUV. The outlying conditions were very clear. Of course one is very disappointed to see such a case. In our ministry, we have made safety a priority. The rescue team was comprised of at least 200 people in 57 different vehicles. They transported the tourists to a Red Cross shelter, where they were examined and given crisis counseling. Mountaineers of Iceland also made news back in 2017, when an Australian couple got lost during one of their snowmobiling tours, according to Iceland Monitor. They sued the company. The company alleged that the couple got lost because they strayed from the rest of the group. "With some of those fires we're seeing an increase in activity, but many are burning in national park areas that aren't easily accessible. "Most areas where it didn't rain overnight have been able to continue to strengthen containment lines. So far it's been a pretty productive day and we'll have more to come," Mr Bruce said. The 600,000-hectare "mega-fire" was burning south of the Snowy Mountains. after two fires merged. Credit:Eddie Jim A fire popped up in the Port Stephens region, just east of Anna Bay, and was burning close to a handful of homes on Saturday morning. Four RFS crew members received minor injuries fighting the blazes at Shannons Flat, near Adaminaby in the Snowy Mountains, and a man protecting his home in the same area suffered serious burns. He was scheduled to undergo surgery in the burns unit at Concord Hospital on Saturday. Loading The four RFS members were all discharged by Saturday morning, and some were back at the fire front in the afternoon. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was "incredibly relieved" there was not more property damage or loss of life on a day that temperatures climbed into the late 30s and early 40s and wind speeds reached 100km/h. Much of this was due to early preparation by the fire crews. "There is no doubt in my mind that that level of professionalism and preparedness allowed communities to survive again after what was a long and difficult night," Ms Berejiklian said. Mr Fitzsimmons said the crews had invested in the strategy of trying to "knock down" as much of the fires as they could earlier in the week to limit their potential to spread on Friday, and this had yielded dividends. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons briefed the media at RFS headquarters on Saturday. Credit:Rhett Wyman In one sense, the merger of fires was a positive development because it meant they were running out of fuel. "Having said that, we have still got thousands of kilometres of fire edge that needs to be consolidated and tied up over the coming week," Mr Fitzsimmons said. At the latest count, 2079 homes have been destroyed this bushfire season, more than half of them since January 1, and 830 homes damaged. The figure is likely to increase as crews work through the area. There have also been 216 facilities destroyed and 4287 outbuildings destroyed. More than 24,000 buildings have been saved, including 12,625 homes. Reopen for business Areas not directly impacted by the bushfires in the states South Coast are in a position to start anew, following an assessment meeting by NSW Police, NSW Rural Fire Service, Transport for NSW and local councils. "The eastern areas of the South Coast, such as the Shoalhaven, Basin and Far South Coast (Eurobodalla), where people normally holiday at this time of year, may now be in a position to reopen for business," NSW Police said in a statement. "People who wish to travel to these areas are encouraged to contact their destination operators or accommodation providers to ensure they are operating before they set out." To the west, Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill posted on his Facebook page that he felt "happier this morning than I have for a while". "The southerly was not as hard as we thought. It did not create quite the dangerous fire situation we anticipated. Now, there is the strange stuff falling from the sky! Rain!" Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has written to the Prime Minister suggesting that the first item of business on Parliament's first sitting day should be a motion of condolence, acknowledging the loss of life and property in the bushfires. "It just seems to me ... that it is not really tenable to do anything else on the first day back," Mr Albanese said. The opposition would also pass any legislation that might be required for reconstruction and recovery. The snow towns of Thredbo and Perisher also emerged from Friday unscathed, after fire crews sprayed retardant around the resorts. Meanwhile, a man and woman have been charged after they allegedly looted a fire-damaged business in Batemans Bay. A 38-year-old man from Tilba Tilba and a 31-year-old woman from Narooma are alleged to have broken into the business twice on January 8 and stolen electrical goods. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said police would have a high visibility presence on the firegrounds, including aircraft watching for looting, describing such behaviour as "disgusting". Loading Queensland Premier urges reason from Trump Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is urging US President Donald Trump to revise US travel warnings for Australia. The US State Department last week put out a new warning for Americans to consider postponing their travel to Australia as disastrous bushfires ravage the country. But the Premier has passionately pleaded with the US leader to reconsider the warning, which could be damaging to the tourism industry at a delicate time. "The last thing we need is for international tourists to think that the entire country of Australia is not safe to visit," Ms Palaszczuk wrote on Friday. "We have large parts of our beautiful country that are not affected and would love to welcome American tourists here. "I urge you to change the travel advice for American tourists looking to visit Australia." On Saturday night, the Sydney Opera House will illuminate its sails in a show of support for fire-hit communities around Australia and the firefighters defending them. The display will begin about 8.30pm and will show scenes of hope from the past three months of the fire crisis projected onto the buildings famous sails, remaining lit until about 11pm. A young British woman who posed as a teenage boy to deceive potentially dozens of girls into having sexual contact with her was jailed for eight years yesterday. Gemma Watts (21), from north London, created an online persona as Jake Waton, a 16-year-old boy, and used social media to strike up relationships with girls as young as 14. Watts pleaded guilty in November to seven charges relating to four victims aged 14 and 15, although police believe she was a prolific predator and there were likely to be many other unidentified victims. The charges included assault, sexual assault and meeting a child following sexual grooming. Watts was sentenced to eight years in prison at Winchester Crown Court in southern England. She would start her grooming by liking girls' profiles on Snapchat or Instagram, then sending them complimentary messages. Soon she would be calling them "Babe" or other pet names. Her own profile as Jake Waton featured posts about skateboarding and photographs of herself, dressed in baggy sportswear, with her long hair tied up in a bun and hidden under a cap or hood. Having persuaded her victims to meet her, Watts travelled by train to their homes in various parts of England. In several cases, there were multiple encounters over months. She met the parents of some of her victims and they too were taken in. Phillipa Kenwright, one of the detectives in the case, said the victims were unaware they had been deceived until they were contacted by police, and it had been devastating for them to learn the truth. Ms Kenwright said she expected that once the details were in the media, more victims would come forward. She said her personal estimate was that there might be between 20 and 50 unidentified victims. While motorists are being warned about the messy mix of heavy rain, sleet and snow thats spreading across Michigan today, Gale Warnings have been issued for Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior by the National Weather Service. Lake Superior also has a Freezing Spray Warning in effect, a caution to ship crews that the lakes spray can quickly turn into a heavy, icy covering on upper decks and superstructures, causing stability issues. The NWS issued the Gale Warnings today and they all stretch into Sunday. Lets break it down by lake and talk about whats expected: Lake Michigan: Northeast winds up to 40 mph, and gusts up to 52 mph are forecast to build throughout today. Waves could reach 16 feet. A prolonged period of strong north to northeast gales will persist through tonight, the NWS meteorologists in Grand Rapids said. Very high waves are expected as well, especially over the southern portion of the lake. High waves have been of heightened concern along the Lake Michigan shoreline, where high water levels and churning waves have led to dramatic beach and dune erosion in the last year. These conditions have sent some homes tumbling down bluffs into Lake Michigan and swamped other neighborhoods. Lake Huron: Winds up to 36 mph are forecast, with gusts whipping up to 54 mph. The largest significant waves will be 15 feet, with a potential maximum wave height of 22 feet, meteorologists at the Gaylord NWS office said. The maximum winds are expected around 1 a.m. Sunday with the largest waves expected around 3 a.m. Sunday. Strong winds will cause hazardous waves, which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility." Lake Superior: The Gale Warning on the largest of the Great Lakes will kick in later this afternoon. Northeast wind gusts of up to 46 mph will sweep across Superior, with waves of up to 10 feet expected. But its the Freezing Spray Warning that carries a heavy note of caution for mariners still making winter runs on the lake. A check of MarineTraffic.com today showed as steady stream of freighters coming and going near the Soo Locks, but also showed a handful of bigger ships hugging the northern rim of Superior. Heavy freezing spray at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater expected, and may rapidly accumulate on vessels, meteorologists at the NWS office in Marquette said. Operating a vessel in heavy freezing spray is hazardous. Freezing spray may render mechanical and electronic components inoperative. Rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures may result in a catastrophic loss of stability. Strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. READ MORE: Saturday updates on ice storm, heavy snow, flooding rain Move houses near Lake Michigan bluffs or lose them, experts warn Ice Storm Warning issued for more than 2.5 million Michiganders The short story on the big storm Russia denies ship came too close to U.S. destroyer: Russia denied Friday that one of its navy vessels came dangerously close to a U.S. Navy destroyer in the North Arabian Sea the previous day, according to a Defense Ministry statement cited by Russian news agencies. The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said that a Russian ship had "aggressively approached" the USS Farragut. Russia said the U.S. vessel had crossed the Russian ship's path, in an action it deemed "an intentional violation of international maritime security norms." 426 Shares Share The World Health Organization has designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife in honor of Florence Nightingales 200th birthday. We owe a lot to Florence Nightingale, but what about Harriet Tubman or Mary Seacole? Nursing and society has been changing since the days of these nursing pioneers. Its way past time to catch up to their timeless insights and fearless activism. We owe to all these women a fair and just analysis of the current state of nursing. The Year of the Nurse cannot be considered unless we contemporaneously consider sexism, racism, classism, power differentials, structural barriers, and privilege. Some nurses will use the Year of the Nurse to shine a spotlight on the beauty of the profession, as well they should. Nursing personifies virtue, moral character, fortitude, intellect, advocacy, and grit. Historically, we have been trained to show gratitude, nurture others, and display selflessness. We bring these characteristics to our patients and workplaces every day. Health care as we know it would collapse without the skill, science, and art of nursing. As for me, Im using the Year of the Nurse to help nurses come to know their individual and collective power. Its a damn shame nursing had to be given a platform. Why didnt we already have it? Some nurses might say I should be grateful for the worldwide platform. While I am grateful, I am also disenchanted by the gesture because it seems we had to wait for a higher power to grant us this privilege. So who exactly holds power over our collective voice? Nurses comprise the largest percentage of health care workers in America. Is it any coincidence that: The nursing industry is comprised of about 90 percent women, and yet men get paid more than women? We lack the power to effect change during a time when the Equal Rights Amendment still hasnt been ratified? We must be given the opportunity to speak up, rather than simply holding power to do so? Overwhelmingly, older white men have a stronghold on leadership positions in health care and legislative bodies? Harriet Tubmans and Mary Seacoles names arent as well-known as Florence Nightingales in the world of nursing? There are professional nursing organizations that try to represent nursing. Many nursing professionals also choose not to participate with these organizations because they question the organizations intentions, dont perceive any real value in a fee-based membership, or feel dissociated from organizational efforts. Paying exorbitant dues grants members access to a publication and supports opaque lobbying efforts under the guise of activism and advocacy. Many of us nurses hold associates, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees. We hold clinical, educational, academic, and other non-clinical roles. Yet, the disproportionate representation of nurses in board rooms and legislative bodies is limited to either those who are either far detached from our current lived experiences or those who have lobbied for the right to speak. Nurses are written about, but we are not asked to write. Talked about, but not asked to speak. Told to succeed, but set up for failure. We are more than what labels have been placed upon us. Were also right where the corporate health care establishment wants us we offer plentiful expertise and hard work, but were kept powerless enough to justify the discrediting of our opinions, observations, and recommendations. Nurses are not actively sought out for our expertise, only used for it. Excluding us has direct links to sexism, misogyny, exploitation of the human nature of nursing, historical definitions of nursing, and power differentials. Those of us on the front lines of patient care are on the sidelines of health care decision making and legislation. Consistently, nursing is ranked as the most trusted profession in the U.S. At the same time were being ranked as trustworthy, the corporate health care establishment doesnt trust us enough to make decisions that directly impact us. Where has the label of most trusted gotten us? Still on the sidelines, but dutifully grateful for the commendation and proud of our glowing reputation. We selflessly display our chronic back pain, post-traumatic stress, burnout syndrome, apathy, poor coping mechanisms, acting out, and moral injuries as we nurture the corporate structure that damages health care. Isnt this situation analogous to an oppressive power differential in a dysfunctional, abusive relationship? Dont we warn people about these relationships? Is the perception of being trustworthy really what well-behaved oppression looks like? Here are my Year of the Nurse realizations: Lip service from people who call themselves leaders is no longer enough. We are the majority; lets command our representation. Non-nursing, executive-driven systems fail in the face of a crisis-level nursing shortage, educational barriers, rising rate of suicide in nurses, and the abuse and exploitation of nurses. Health care will get better when you give us equitable time and input to health care decisions. Traditional hierarchies in health care are ineffective and need to be flattened. We see those of you in positions of power. We see your abuses, your greed, and your unconscionable bonuses. We are a force to be reckoned with. The establishment is afraid of strong, courageous, brilliant women. In this, the Year of the Nurse, we need to courageously and openly discuss the deeply embedded sexism, racism, classism, power differentials, structural barriers, and privilege that impact our everyday lived experiences. Then we need to do something real about it. Now is the time to misbehave, get educated, re-evaluate our dysfunctional relationship with health care, hold each other up, and disrupt the establishment. Lets use this platform to band together, innovate, use our power, take up our space, and take the lead. We are innovative, resourceful, and educated. Some nurses chose this profession as a second career. We have carpenters, engineers, entrepreneurs, plumbers, daycare providers, accountants, biologists, educators, social workers, and much more. We are well-rounded experts in much more than nursing. What can we do with all this experience and bypass traditional means? Share your ideas. Lets do this! Sarah E. Jorgenson is a nurse. Image credit: Shutterstock.com WEST CHESTER A former world-renowned dance instructor at an East Whiteland ballet studio was convicted Friday of molesting a male student at the school over a period of two years, the same conduct he admitted to in Delaware. The jury in Common Pleas Court Judge David Bortners courtroom took about six hours before delivering its verdict in the case against Ukrainian native Alexander Sasha Boitsov, a former principal dancer with major ballet companies in Russia and instructor at various schools in Delaware, where he lives, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including the studio in Frazer. The panel of six men and six women found Boitsov guilty on 11 counts of indecent assault as well as charges of unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and endangering the welfare of children. Bortner ordered Boitsov to surrender his passport but allowed him to remain free on bail pending sentencing. He faces possible minimum prison terms of between three and 12 months on the charges that he was convicted of. According to court records and statements by those involved in the case, Boitsov, a native Ukrainian, was arrested in July 2017 while he was in New York on charges from Dover, Del. involving an allegation of illegal sexual contact with a minor there. He was extradited and faced those criminal charges, to which he ultimately pleaded guilty in 2018 and served three months in prison. He is now a registered sex offender in Delaware. The student who accused him of molesting him in East Whiteland testified at the week-long trial that he had been 15 years old when the abuse began and that it took place in various areas of the International Ballet Theater, where he had been taking ballet lessons for some time. When news of Boitsovs arrest on the Delaware charges was related by school officials to parents, the youth decided to come forward about what had been happening to him, he told the jury. In her closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Erin OBrien of the DAs Child Abuse Unit, who prosecuted the case with Assistant District Attorney Alexis Shaw, urged the jurors to believe the account of the student, now 19, because of his consistency over the period of time since he reported the alleged abuse of police. The defense, she said, is calling (him) a liar. But these events are fresh in his mind, and they weigh on him. When you are recalling events that happened, it is much different than telling a story. This is clearly wrong, OBrien said, as the youth and his family listened in the courtroom. This is clearly abuse. Boitsovs attorney, Vincent DiFabio of Paoli, argued in his closing that others at the school who testified on Boitsovs behalf had said that what the students said happened could not have taken place as he had described, but that investigators had rushed to judgment because of the arrest in Delaware. Just based on that he was charged, DiFabio said. But there was no (independent) investigation done. You cannot jump to the conclusion that he is guilty because of the matter in Delaware. Boitsov was arrested on July 6 on the charges from Dover, which included inappropriate contact with a student at a school there. On July 7, a day later, the then-17-year-old boy appeared at the East Whiteland police station with his mother to report that he had been inappropriately touched by Boitsov over a stretch of time beginning when he was 15. The youth, whose name was not included in the police report and is being withheld by the Daily Local News because of the nature of the charges, said Boitsov began touching his genitals during costumes changes, but that he did not think it was strange at the time. The costumes were tight-fitting and persons assisting can sometimes touch a dancer inadvertently, according to the criminal complaint filed by East Whiteland Detective Sgt. Patricia Doyle, who filed charges against Boitsov in 2017. However, the boy said that later Boitsov began touching him outside of costume changes. He said Boitsov would invite him into his office at the studio and put his hands down the youths pants and molest him. He estimated that the contact occurred once every two or three weeks at first but escalated to at least once a week for about 18 months. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. Five teen-agers could face life in prison after being indicted in connection with a school fire that authorities call the costliest in city history. Taylor County grand jurors on Thursday indicted Trent Hadley, Morgan Pethis, Nick Pethis, Cory McFadden and Brandon Smith on charges of organized criminal activity. The February blaze at Wylie Junior High caused $1.5 million in damage. A trial date has not been set. McFadden, Smith and Nick Pethis, who were 16 at the time, will stand trial as adults, a judge ruled Wednesday. Prosecutors have declined to pursue adult certification of the fourth accused minor, Jon Seaborn, also 16. State law considers those 17 and older to be adults. Hadley was 17 and Morgan Pethis was 18 at the time of the blaze. Authorities accuse the teens of setting the Feb. 9 school fire and igniting a string of additional arsons that day. Prosecutors said the six youths took part in an escalating series of thefts, burglaries and vandalism in the months before the school blaze. Over 200 drink and drug driving arrests made in North Wales during festive period This article is old - Published: Saturday, Jan 11th, 2020 More than 200 arrests were made across North Wales as part of the Christmas Anti Drink and Drug Drive Campaign. The month-long campaign, which between December 1st 2019 to January 1st 2020 saw 100 drink drive arrests and 101 drug drive arrests being made across the region. Each year police forces across the country take part in a crackdown on motorists under the influence of drink and drugs in the lead up to the festive period. Officers from the Roads Policing Unit, Armed Alliance, local policing as well as the Special Constabulary were deployed across the region to carry out stop checks and used intelligence-led tactics and local knowledge of hotspot areas to detect people who were driving whilst under the influence. The highest reading during was 147 by a 41-year-old man in the Flint area on Sunday 29th December. He was arrested and later charged with drink driving and will appear before Mold Magistrates on January 14th. A 69-year-old taxi driver who was caught drink driving whilst carrying passengers in the Bontnewydd area of Gwynedd at the start of the campaign will appear before Caernarfon Magistrates Court on January 16th. Superintendent Jane Banham, head of the Roads Policing Unit for North Wales Police said: More than 200 drivers had a Christmas and New Year to remember for all the wrong reasons after being arrested on suspicion of drink and drug driving. Over recent months weve seen people who work in a variety of professions including self-employed, being arrested and facing prosecution, job loss and financial penalties. We target drink and drug drivers throughout the year, not just over the festive period. We have a zero tolerance for this type of offending so we will continue to proactively stop and arrest people who risk their own lives and the lives of innocent people. Think about the effects a drink or drug driving conviction will have on you and your family, the shame and ruin that it can and does bring. In March 2015 the drug driving law changed to make it easier for police to convict drug-drivers. Sixteen legal and illegal drugs are covered by the law including cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine. The limits for all illegal drugs are extremely low taking even a very small amount of an illegal drug could put drivers over the limit. We have specialist roadside testing kits that can detect whether a person is under the influence of drugs in just eight minutes, added Supt Banham. I dont think people are quite grasping the full extent of the danger drug-driving poses. Those that do take the risks clearly dont think about the families of those who have died at the hands of a driver who is on high on drugs. It has been proven that both drink and drugs can impair a persons ability to drive and we hope the message from our campaign gets through it is never acceptable to drive whilst under the influence. Few other building materials are more vilified than concrete. The philosopher Roger Scruton believes that post-war Britain was almost obliterated by ugly deposits of concrete and steel. And even the revolutionary architect Frank Lloyd Wright recognised concrete had an image problem, once describing it as the gutter rat of the building world. From the man in the street who huffs and puffs at the latest modernist eyesore, to Prince Charles who famously described the proposed extension to the National Gallery as a monstrous carbuncle, the world is full of people who cant look at a concrete construction without feeling aggrieved. Easy on the eye: Outhouse in the Forest of Dean Yet now one of Australias foremost architectural critics, Joe Rollo, who writes for The Age newspaper in Melbourne, has decided that enough is enough. In Concrete Houses, a lavishly illustrated book published later this month, he defends concrete with a missionary zeal. The concrete houses I have included in the book are beautiful each elevates the art of house design to another level, he said last week. Concrete has conviction, strength and directness. It has plasticity too, which makes the possibilities for form-making almost endless. Some of the houses chosen by Rollo, such as Casa Plana in Porto Feliz, Brazil, designed by Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan, are spectacular. Its 68million by 17million slab roof, which appears to float above the glass walls of the building, is sown with grass that keeps the building cool in summer and warm in winter. Then there is The Pierre on the San Juan Islands in northwest Washington in the U.S., designed by Tom Kundig, which appears to be squeezed in between an outcrop of rock. Only concrete would allow for such mind-bogglingly peculiar shapes. You can pretty much build concrete structures anywhere, Rollo says. Concrete houses have their supporters in this country, too notably at the Concrete Centre (concretecentre.com), an organisation providing guidance in its design, use and performance. They are keen to promote examples of concrete houses sitting well in the British landscape houses such as Outhouse in the Forest of Dean. This building has addressed a problem that torments architects: how to get planning permission to build in a scenic landscape. Their solution? Disguising the house with natural camouflage. Nominated for the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2016, the low-slung 490 sq m building projects from just one facade and is barely visible from any distance. It has wonderful views and its covering of thick green grass runs naturally into the surrounding hill. Yet, as Rollo says, you do not need an impressive open landscape to frame a concrete structure. Hill Top House, an angled terrace infill in Oxford, is yet another award-winning property. All of the structure was prefabricated off site and finished in less than a week. So why the dodgy reputation? There have been cases of people finding difficulty in securing finance for non-standard construction home insurance, which includes concrete. There have also been horror stories of post-war concrete council houses being defective with poor quality steel rods used in their construction. Theres also the matter that if you build a house using concrete, pipes and wires have to go into the wall, meaning you have to break through it. And dont concrete buildings cost more to build than traditionally constructed homes? Elaine Toogood, head of architecture at the Concrete Centre, disregards these so-called problems. The issues you mention all date back 60 years concrete homes are very different today, she says. Your senses are immediately aware of the superior performance of a concrete house compared to a traditional build. Its quieter, with no creaking floorboards. Its comfortably heated not too hot or too cold because concrete acts as an energy store. You get a sense of solidity. Above all, concrete looks so good. Concrete Houses: The Poetics Of Form by Joe Rollo is published by Thames & Hudson, 39.95, on January 23. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 03:18:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the United Nations, Mahamadamin Mahmadaminov, on Friday called on the international community to undertake urgent collective measures to stop wars and settle conflicts. "Maintenance of peace and security is an issue of top priority for the entire international community. For this reason, in order to stop wars and settle conflicts the international community must bear responsibility and undertake urgent collective measures," Mahmadaminov told the Security Council ministerial-level open debate on the topic of "Maintenance of international peace and security upholding the UN Charter," which opened the previous day. "The UN Charter's norms and principles retain their fundamental significance in international relations," he said, adding that he fully agrees with what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that "peace, justice, human dignity, tolerance, and solidarity are enshrined in the Charter and bind us together." "Indeed, we can only succeed if we work together," the Tajik UN ambassador added. He noted that the negative aspects of such phenomena as international terrorism, extremism, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, exacerbation of environmental issues "pose a serious threat to the international community." "The current situation requires that all countries take more robust actions and make firm commitments through facilitating regional cooperation and partnerships based on fair, effective and mutually beneficial economic relations," he said. "Therefore, Tajikistan calls upon all those concerned to maximize their efforts for a speedy and full settlement of the long-lasting and current conflicts in different parts of the world, in particular in the Middle East," said the ambassador. Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges international partners to remain united and persistent until a probe is complete. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani have agreed in a phone call to identify the remains of those deceased on Ukraine Airlines Flight 752 in the near future and to begin joint work on decoding the black boxes of the crashed plane. Zelenskyy on Saturday said Ukrainian experts were continuing their work in Tehran and that their findings meant the truth about the crash could not be concealed. He also urged Ukraines international partners to remain united and persistent until the investigation was complete. Zelenskyy thanked the international community Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom in particular for their support in the wake of the plane crash just outside Tehran on Wednesday. Earlier on Saturday, Iran said its military had shot down the Ukrainian plane killing all 176 on board in a disastrous mistake, adding that air defences were fired in error while on alert after Iranian missile strikes on US targets in Iraq. In a televised address, Zelenskyy promised that his government would compensate the families of the victims. Shortly afterwards, Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said Ukraine would pay 200,000 hryvnia ($8,350) each to the families of those who died in the plane crash. He said Ukraine International Airlines would make payments to the families of the crew members who died in the crash. The airlines spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. Erroneous actions Iranian President Rouhani on Saturday called Zelenskyy to officially apologise to Ukraine for accidentally shooting down the passenger plane. [Rouhani] apologised on behalf of the Iranian side for the tragedy that took 176 lives, a statement from Zelenskyys office read. The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran fully acknowledges that the tragedy was caused by the erroneous actions of the military of this state. During the call, Rouhani assured Zelenskyy that those involved in the incident would be held accountable. It is extremely important for us to return the bodies of the deceased to Ukraine next week by January 19 so that their relatives can bid a final farewell, Zelenskyy said, according to the statement. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered his condolences and ordered the armed forces to address shortcomings so that such a disaster does not happen again. The acknowledgement came after officials in Iran had for days categorically denied Western claims that the Ukraine International Airlines plane was struck by a missile. 2020 Nordics On The Air Norway This year, the annual Nordics On The Air ham radio youth camp will be held in Norway during Easter, April 10-13, 2020 The IARU Region 1 site report says: We invite all the Nordic youngsters to take part in a fun weekend full of radio related activities, meeting new friends and having a great time! Since this is a sub-regional YOTA camp, we have a few seats reserved also for you outside of the Nordic countries! What will we do? The program is mainly centered around amateur radio activities, introducing newcomers to the hobby as well as advanced exercises for seasoned radio amateurs. In addition to get the opportunity to go on air from the LA1YOTA station the program also includes an Intercultural Evening one of the most beloved activities known from former annual Youngsters On The Air events. Do you want to advance your knowledge about the hobby? What about operating LA1YOTA? If that sounds exciting we encourage you to join us! Where? The event will take place in Camp Killingen, Killingsholmen, an islet south-west of Oslo. The campsite is on the south side of the islet where we are mostly to ourselves, surrounded by nature. We want you to come! NOTA is a camp for youngsters by youngsters. You all are welcome to join us. If this is your first youngster activity in the hobby we especially encourage you to apply and also if you have never been to a NOTA or YOTA sub-regional camp before! You dont need to already have an amateur radio license, just be enthusiastic about the hobby! The goal of camps such as these is to activate youngsters in the sub-region. Please note that we prioritize participants under 26 years of age. Applying through your own IARU member society The application to participate has to go through your countrys member society (e.g. SRAL, SSA, NRRL, IRA, EDR). Applications are accepted from January 9th to February 9th. The amount of attendees is limited, so we recommend contacting your member society quickly if you are wondering whether to participate! If you are not yet a member, now is a good chance to join! Some of you might be contacted about NOTA by your association. Please contact your national member society for applying. Fees and further info There is a symbolic participation fee of 20 euros / 200 NOK including all meals and accommodation. We recommend participating members societies to cover their participants travel costs. More detailed info will be sent to the participants soon after the application deadline. With any further questions, please contact us at nota@nrrl.no Stay tuned! 73, we hope to see you in April! The Nordic NOTA organizing team IARU Region 1 https://iaru-r1.org/ Press Release January 9, 2020 PRRD signs law increasing salary of gov't employees President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed a new law on Wednesday evening, January 8 which seeks to give civilian government employees, including nurses and teachers in the public sector, their fifth round of salary increases. The enrolled Senate Bill (SB) No. 1219, also referred to as the Salary Standardization Law 5, was one of the priority bills of Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, in addition to the Malasakit Center Act of 2019 and a bill postponing barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, both of which have also been passed into law. In previous interviews, Go said that SB 1219 satisfies the President's wish to ensure a complete and holistic approach to salary increase for government employees. "The President wants nothing less than a complete and holistic approach to the salary increase. Meaning, he wants all government employees to receive an increase," Go said. The Senator filed in his first week of duty as a Senator SB 200 which served as one of the bases of SB 1219. With the signing of the measure, "the minimum basic salary of a first-level (Salary Grade 1) government employee will now be increased from P11,068 to P13,000 (after all tranches, in 2023) due to the SSL 5," Go explained. Under the newly signed law, the increase in the salaries will be divided into four tranches, starting 2020 until 2023. A total of P34 billion was allocated in the 2020 national budget for the salary increases for the current year. He added that "around 1.4 million civilian personnel in the national government" are set to benefit from the law. Duterte and Go have been staunch supporters of salary increase for government workers, with the President even urging the Congress to pass the new SSL during his State of the Nation Address in 2019. The President then certified the bill as urgent in December last year, allowing the Senate to proceed to the third and final reading of the bill right after the second reading, bypassing the rule that requires three days to pass between the second and third readings. "In recognition of their invaluable contributions, our civil servants, the people who dedicate their everyday lives to the service of the Filipino people, must be given an opportunity to pursue a career in the service that would allow them to enjoy competitive wages, enough to address their personal needs and that of their families," Go said in his previous statements. "Lastly, allow me to thank each and every employee, from the highest posts to the lowest ranks, who has dedicated himself each and every day to the service of the country and the Filipino people," he added. Go also expressed his gratitude to his colleagues in the Senate and the Lower House of Congress for their support and their efforts in making sure that the measure was passed on time. "Nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga kasamahan ko sa Senado lalo na kay Senate President Tito Sotto III at Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri. Pati rin po kay House Speaker Alan Cayetano at House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez for their support in passing this measure. Sana ay magpatuloy ang magandang performance ng legislative branch ngayong taon," Go said. The heartbroken family of a teenager who died from an asthma attack say their daughter is another victim of the unrelenting bushfires. Courtney Partridge-McLennan, 19, died at her parents' home in Glen Innes, New South Wales, where blazes have been raging since September. She lived in a granny flat in the backyard of the family home when she suffered an asthma attack and died in the night. Her horrified family found her body the next morning on November 29, according to the Daily Telegraph. Courtney Partridge-McLennan, 19, (pictured) died at her parent's home in Glen Innes, where blazes have been raging in September Courtney (pictured) was passionate about young people and hoped to study youth work, already dedicating much of her time to youth camps Smoke is seen pouring into the sky from a bushfire outside Nana Glen (pictured), near Coffs Harbour, just two hours from Courtney's house back in November - just weeks before her death One of six children, she had suffered with asthma all her life - but never severely, and was always able to control the condition. 'I dont want to take away from victims on the frontline, but death by poor air quality needs to be known,' her sister Cherylleigh, 27, said. 'She was not a severe asthmatic. Mum and Dad are lost but they want other families to read this and take extra steps for asthmatics.' Police told Courtney's family the built-in torch on her phone was on and her ventolin medication was nearby, indicating her death was very sudden. A fire truck is seen near a bushfire (pictured) in Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour, just hours from Courtney's home back in November Courtney (pictured) had suffered with asthma all her life, but it was not severe and she was always able to control it Teenager Courtney Partridge-McLennan (pictured) is another victim of the bushfire crisis The teenager had hoped to study youth work and dedicated her time to working with young people at leadership camps. 'That night the smoke came in so heavy you could not even see the hospital across the road,' her sister added. It comes as the CEO of Asthma Australia warned more lives will be lost. 'It is something we would like to focus on to better understand the number of people who have lost their lives due to respiratory issues triggered by the bush fires,' Michele Goldman said. The raging bushfires near Glen Innes killed three people back in November, and left the town covered in thick smoke. Within 50km of the besieged area, there are still four fires burning. Smoke from a large bushfire is seen pouring into the air outside Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour, (pictured) just weeks before Courtney's death Keeping safe in the smoke Children, the elderly and people with heart and lung conditions are most at risk. To minimise the risk to your health, there are some steps you can take. - Remain indoors with the windows closed - Preferably stay in an air-conditioned building - Reduce outdoor activities, including all school sports - Cover your nose and mouth with a mask or damp cloth to reduce exposure to dust particles. - Wear a P2 or P3 mask, which blocks even the finest particles if fitted correctly over the nose and mouth - Seek medical advice if you feel ill Advertisement On January 2, an elderly woman died after getting off a Qantas flight in Canberra which is shrouded in toxic smoke from bushfires. She went into distress while exiting the plane onto the tarmac which was thick with smoke. Air quality in the capital has recently been ranked by a global air quality index as worse than New Delhi, India or Lahore, Pakistan. Air quality in Canberra was more than 10 times hazardous levels according to local health authorities, having peaked at more than 20 times hazardous levels in early January. Between December 22 and January 8, the NSW ambulance service received a worrying 3,685 call-outs for breathing conditions, up by 16 per cent on last year. Air quality in some areas, including Sydney, has reached such critical levels that breathing it is the equivalent of smoking an entire pack of cigarettes. Wearing hardware masks (pictured, on a man in Sydney) can block even the smallest particles from entering your nose and mouth. PM2.5 particles can enter the lungs of animals or humans A woman covers her face (right) as she rides a Sydney ferry as the city struggles under a blanket of dangerously polluted smoke Hazardous conditions created by the raging bushfires have left Australians breathing in dangerous levels of smoke, with some particles small enough to enter the lungs. Data from the NSW Environment Department show levels of PM2.5 - a particle so fine that humans inhale it into their bodies - has often reached 'hazardous' levels. This is the worst classification of air pollution, and poses an immediate risk to health. At these levels, all residents should significantly reduce time outdoors, while sensitive groups such as the elderly, children or those with heart or lung problems, should avoid outdoor activity all together. Fires burn in the town of Sussex Inlet, NSW, on New Year's Eve, as nearly 2,000 firefighters continue to battle blazes across NSW TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwanese voters demonstrated their overwhelming desire to distance themselves from China and to reject its proposal of living under a Hong Kong-style "one country, two systems" arrangement, returning both the presidency and the legislature to the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party. President Tsai Ing-wen won a resounding reelection, taking 57% of the vote in a three-way race and a record 8 million votes, according to the Central Election Commission. Her party also retains control of the Legislative Yuan, enabling her to press ahead with her reform agenda and cater to the generation of Taiwanese who say they were "born independent." The strength of Tsai's victory particularly underscores Taiwanese voters' antipathy toward China and the Communist Party's designs on absorbing the self-ruled island of 23 million people. "The results of this election carry an added significance," a characteristically restrained Tsai told reporters here after her landslide win. "They have shown that when our sovereignty is threatened, the Taiwanese people will shout our determination even more loudly back." Indeed, the outcome is a stinging rebuke to the Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping, who has refused to rule out trying to take control of Taiwan by force, and it will probably lead to greater aggression from Beijing. Taiwan's vote could be the most consequential election of 2020, said Natasha Kassam, a former Australian diplomat who is now with the Lowy Institute in Sydney. It offers a premonition of the issues that other democracies, including the United States, are encountering. "Not only is Taiwan a proxy for much of the world's strategy to deal with the consequences of an increasingly authoritarian China, but also Taiwan has been on the front lines of the Chinese Communist Party's aggression for decades," she said. "And while it is trying to safeguard its democratic institutions, it's also trying to manage its economic relations with China." China is always an issue in Taiwanese elections but it has been particularly prominent this time around because of the events in Hong Kong over the past six months. Hong Kongers, who are supposed to enjoy a degree of autonomy under a "one country, two systems" framework agreed when the territory returned to Chinese control in 1997, have been protesting relentlessly against Beijing's increasing erosion of their freedoms, to no avail. This framework, though implemented in Hong Kong and Macao, was designed with Taiwan in mind. The Communist Party, especially under Xi's leadership, harbors a dream of incorporating Taiwan into its People's Republic, even though Taiwan has never been a part of that state. Technically, it has existed in a kind of limbo ever since the Communists took control of China and the nationalists from the Kuomintang (KMT), fled to the island, 100 miles off China's southeast coast, in 1949. But in reality, it has become a dynamic and pluralistic society, boasting the world's first transgender cabinet minister and last year becoming the first in the region to legalize same-sex marriage, with its own sense of national identity. Polls show that more than half of citizens identify only as "Taiwanese," concentrated in the younger generations, while most of the remainder call themselves both Taiwanese and Chinese. "This election was about national identity and sovereignty, so it reflects the demographics of Taiwan," said Nathan Batto, a researcher at the Academia Sinica think tank in Taipei. Throughout the campaign, Tsai has held up the events in Hong Kong as a harbinger of what would happen to Taiwan if it were to agree to such an arrangement, mobilizing the electorate with the warning: "Hong Kong today, Taiwan tomorrow." "We reject the 'one country, two systems' proposed by Xi Jinping," Tsai told reporters Saturday night before heading to a huge celebration rally in central Taipei. "We value the lifestyle of democracy, and we defend our sovereignty." Han Kuo-yu, the candidate for the Beijing-friendly KMT, who ran a Trumpian-style campaign of angry populism, won only 38.5% of the vote. "No matter what, we hope to see a united Taiwan when we wake up tomorrow," an emotional Han told his supporters at a rally in the southern city of Kaohsiung, where he is mayor. The KMT, which has traditionally favored much closer ties with China, would now have to reflect on its losses, Batto said. "They might have to ask themselves whether their strategy for dealing with China is still appropriate and whether they were right to select such a populist. They had issues in terms of substance and packaging." Even for the dynamic democracy that is Taiwan - complete with candidates in Japanese anime costume and a death metal band frontman - this election was electrified. That was partly because of the Hong Kong factor but also because of clear signs that China was trying to spread fake news through social media and tilt the coverage through traditional media with strong ties to the mainland. The disinformation continued on Election Day, with messages circulating on social media telling people not to come out to vote because of the risk of a pneumonialike virus from China. Chinese efforts to muddy the waters in Taiwan were credited with propelling the KMT to a huge victory in local elections at the end of 2018, with voters skewing older. But China's efforts may have backfired spectacularly by encouraging people to vote and not for the KMT. Turnout was high at almost 74%. Lines were so long Tsai had to wait 20 minutes to vote at a Taipei elementary school, while her predecessor as president, Ma Ying-jeou, waited for 30 minutes. Local television showed one man from the outlying island of Tainan driving his boat 60 miles to his polling station. And because there is no absentee voting in Taiwan, overseas Taiwanese have been returning in droves to cast their ballot. The number of overseas Taiwanese who registered to vote Saturday was more than double in the 2016 elections. The cautionary tale of Hong Kong encouraged many young Taiwanese to vote Saturday. "I don't want Taiwan to become next Hong Kong," said Chen Yi-wen, a 28-year-old waitress in Taipei. "We have to use our votes to guarantee the democracy and freedom of our home." Some revelers held "We are not China" placards on the streets after the results came out Saturday night. Others chanted "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Time!" and flew the black "Hong Kong, Revolution Now" flags that are usually seen on the streets there. "The result shows our resistance towards mainland, because most of us didn't choose the KMT," said Cindy Lin, who took the day of work to vote for Tsai and attend Saturday night's victory rally. "We stands with Hong Kong. I have never thought that I was Chinese." The big question now is how does China react to Tsai's victory and the continued dominance of the DPP. Since Tsai's election in 2016, Beijing has systematically sought to isolate and constrain Taiwan by peeling off its diplomatic partners - only 15 small countries now recognize Taiwan - and having it shut out of international institutions like the World Health Organization and climate talks. Taiwanese citizens on vacation in New York cannot even go on tours of the United Nations headquarters because the international body does not recognize their passports. Beijing has also sought to hurt Taiwan economically, most recently banning Chinese tourists from traveling to the island independently, and has punished companies that have suggested Taiwan might be an independent country. That strategy will probably continue, analysts say, wondering if China will exclude Taiwan, which usually competes as "Chinese Taipei," from the Winter Olympics it will host in Beijing in 2022. In her remarks Saturday night, Tsai repeatedly emphasized her "commitment to peaceful, stable cross-strait relations" based on parity between the two sides and dialogue. There was no immediate reaction from Beijing, but the Global Times newspaper, which often reflects the foreign policy thinking of the Communist Party, said Tsai's reelection showed the need to "expedite reunification." - - - The Washington Post's Tiffany Leung contributed reporting. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Womens Organiser, Dr Hannah Bissiw, has asked President Nana Akufo-Addo to focus on providing jobs instead of pushing for a new voters register. Speaking at a demonstration dubbed Tikusayi held in Tamale in the Northern region Saturday, she said, we need ambulances, we need jobs for our husbands, jobs for our children, and good education for our children. The former Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in the late John Atta Mills administration, kicked against the move by the Electoral Commission to compile a new voters register which she says is a recipe for confusion. The peaceful demonstration was held in protest to the ECs decision to compile a new voters register for the upcoming general elections. All Peoples Congress and Peoples National Convention, were other political parties who also added to the huge numbers of participants who flocked the Tamale streets, to support the countrys main opposition party, NDC against the EC. The EC proposed that a new voters register be compiled towards the end of last year. The voters register which will cost the government just over GH444,000,000, has been met with great opposition from legislators, civil organisations and minor political parties. ---Myjoyonline.Com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 Trend: Armenian provocations against the combat positions of the Gazakh separate border division of the Border Troops of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan (SBS), which guards the state border in the Gazakh and Agstafa districts, is continuing, Trend reports with reference to the SBS. In recent days, border guard posts and military vehicles of the SBS, which are moving in the rear direction, have been repeatedly subjected to intense shelling from large-caliber guns and sniper rifles by units of the Armenian Armed Forces at different times of the day. In all cases, the provocations were stopped, the firing positions of the Armenian Armed Forces, from where the SBS border posts were shelled, were suppressed by return fire. 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. TEHRAN,Iran, Jan.11 Trend: The international airlines have resumed their flights through Iran, following the horrible Ukraine plane crash, said deputy director of Iranian Civil Aviation Organization Morteza Dehghan, Trend reports via Iran's Roads and Urban Development ministry's official website. Previously, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran released a statement saying that the Ukrainian aircraft was unintentionally shot down, due to a human error. "The flights have been resumed since for these international airlines Iran is the shortest route to their destinations and is economically profitable in terms of fuel consumption," he said. Deghgan said that Iran's airspace is in normal state as of now. "Some of airlines have temporary canceled flights, but have resumed them since then," he said. The Ukrainian Boeing 737 crashed near Imam Khomeini Airport in Iran on Jan. 8. There were 167 passengers and 9 crew members on board. The passengers of the plane were citizens of Iran, Canada, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Afghanistan and Ukraine, while the crew members were all Ukrainians. The plane crashed shortly after taking off. Germanys Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines suspended flights to Tehran until Jan. 20. French airline KLM Air France suspended flights over Iraqi and Iranian airspace. Norwegian Air Shuttle said it is rerouting Dubai flights, Reuters reported earlier. Meanwhile Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways continues to operate flights to Tehran and in Iranian airspace. Aeroflot, Kuwait Airways, China Southern Airlines, Oman Air and Omans SalamAir are scheduled to operate flights to Tehran over the weekend. A 61-year-old man has become the first person to die in China from a respiratory illness believed caused by a new virus from the same family as SARS, which claimed hundreds of lives more than a decade ago, authorities said. Forty-one people with pneumonia-like symptoms have so far been diagnosed with the new virus in Wuhan, with one of the victims dying on Thursday, the central Chinese city's health commission said on its website on Saturday. Seven others remained in serious condition, two were discharged from treatment, and the rest were stable, it added. The episode has caused alarm due to the spectre of SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which in 2002-2003 killed 349 people in mainland China and another 299 in Hong Kong, whose economy was hit hard by the epidemic's devastating impact on tourism. The Wuhan health commission said the man who died had purchased goods from a seafood market in the city identified by authorities as the centre of the outbreak. It was closed on January 1. The man, who also had underlying health issues including chronic liver disease, died in hospital on Thursday of "respiratory failure and severe pneumonia", the commission added. No new cases have been detected since January 3 nor any "clear evidence of human-to-human transmission", it said. People in white hazmat suits were seen spraying liquid on the market floor late Saturday, while a number of guards sat outside the perimeter of the facility's two sections without masks on. Chinese scientists investigating the outbreak said last week they believe the pathogen is a previously unknown type of coronavirus, a broad family ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses like SARS. Scientists in Hong Kong's Department of Health said Saturday that genetic sequencing of the virus found in one of the Wuhan patients and published online by a Chinese expert indicated it was 80 percent similar to SARS found in bats. Speaking at a news conference in Hong Kong, they said it was too early to conclude definitively that it was a SARS strain, adding that the city needed to stay vigilant. "We will remain alert as we believe the epidemic will continue to develop," said Wong Ka-hing, director of the department's Health Protection Centre. Hong Kong authorities have taken a range of precautions including stepping up the disinfection of trains and planes, and checks of passengers. - Travel rush looms - On Saturday evening, there was little sign of alarm in Wuhan outside of the seafood market, which had been cordoned off. Few people at the city's airport wore masks, and no extra monitoring measures were visible at the airport's terminals. A restaurant on the outside of the building housing the seafood market was still open for business. One man, a dry goods seller at the market surnamed Dai, attempted to enter the market around midnight but was turned away by the guards. He told AFP he was not worried about getting infected. "I haven't heard that this disease is contagious," Dai said, adding that he believed the illness was caused by a fire at the market in mid-November where items including plastic materials and chili peppers were burnt. The WHO said Thursday it was not recommending any specific measures for travellers or restrictions on trade with China, and expressed confidence in the ability of Chinese authorities to contain the virus. China has entered its annual Lunar New Year holiday travel rush, raising concerns about the mass movement of people serving as a vector for the pathogen. In the world's largest annual human migration, hundreds of millions will pack into trains, buses and planes to travel for the festival in late January. China has not announced any travel restrictions. Hong Kong authorities said on Saturday that the number of people hospitalised with flu-like symptoms in recent days after travelling to Wuhan had grown to 60, including seven new cases since Friday. Forty-six of that total, however, have already been discharged. None have yet been diagnosed with the new coronavirus. City residents worried about the outbreak have rushed to buy face masks from local pharmacies, with many selling out earlier this week, while officials in Taiwan have urged the island's health and welfare ministry to strengthen quarantine controls. The Iranian government acknowledged late Friday that its armed forces were responsible for shooting down a Ukrainian airliner earlier this week, leaving 176 passengers dead, Mother Jones reports. Twitter, Iranian foreign minister Mohamad Javad Zarif offered his profound regrets, apologies and condolences, but he also sought to shift blame to the United States, whose killing of a top Iranian general had ratcheted up tensions between the two countries. Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster, he wrote. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the destruction of the plane, which was shot down two minutes after it departed from Tehran on Wednesday, a disastrous mistake. Per the New York Times, the Iranian military released a statement saying that it had believed the passenger jet was a cruise missile, Mother Jones reports. Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems announced Friday it will lay off more than 20% of its workforce in Wichita, Kansas, just one day after documents were revealed confirming that Boeing employees had raised concerns about the 737 MAX's safety, AP reports. Why it matters: The roughly 2,800 layoffs are a sign that Boeing's difficulties are beginning to ripple out, AP writes. Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita's largest employer, cites the "ongoing uncertainty" surrounding Boeing's 737 MAX jet as the primary reason for the layoffs, the Washington Post notes. Nearly half of Spirit's yearly revenue came from selling parts for the 737 MAX, per the Post. Spirit's stock took a hit on Friday, after already losing more than 20% since the grounding of the 737 MAX last March, according to AP. What they're saying: Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.): "The layoffs announced today at Spirit AeroSystems have dealt a harsh blow not only to the company but also to Spirit suppliers and subcontractors. I plan to continue working with the administration and Department of Defense to showcase the capabilities of Wichita manufacturers in an effort to diversify the industry and bring more job opportunities to the region. "The layoffs announced today at Spirit AeroSystems have dealt a harsh blow not only to the company but also to Spirit suppliers and subcontractors. I plan to continue working with the administration and Department of Defense to showcase the capabilities of Wichita manufacturers in an effort to diversify the industry and bring more job opportunities to the region. Gov. Laura Kelly promised an "all-hands-on-deck approach" across the state government. "We stand in lockstep with the workers and companies affected," Kelly said, per AP. promised an "all-hands-on-deck approach" across the state government. "We stand in lockstep with the workers and companies affected," Kelly said, per AP. Nearly half of Spirit's yearly revenue cam from selling parts for the 737 MAX, per the Post., Boeings callousness has now cost thousands of Kansans their livelihood and endangered the economy of our state, which is dependent on aerospace." Go deeper: Guests attend a panel themed on "Forecast of China's Economy for 2020" in New York, the United States, Jan. 9, 2020. China is capable of maintaining steady economic growth in the year to come and beyond, buoyed by multiple driving forces, despite mounting downward pressure, economists have said. Themed on "Forecast of China's Economy for 2020," the panel held in New York on Thursday featured a group of leading Chinese and American economists, who shared their insights on macro-economic trends, reform possibilities, as well as expected challenges and opportunities in 2020 and beyond. The half-day event was presented by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Peking University's China Center for Economic Research. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) China is capable of maintaining steady economic growth in the year to come and beyond, buoyed by multiple driving forces, despite mounting downward pressure, economists have said. "The gross domestic product growth in China in 2020 is likely to be stable," said Xu Gao, chief economist of Bank of China International Ltd, at a panel held in New York on Thursday. Chinese policymakers have "ample policy ammunition to maintain a stable growth," Xu said, adding he expects the nation to embrace a friendlier policy environment in the coming year as it heads to boost economic growth. The economist also pointed out that the biggest upward potential for the Chinese economy lies in the massive number of high-skilled and low-cost human resources. Themed on "Forecast of China's Economy for 2020," the panel featured a group of leading Chinese and American economists, who shared their insights on macro-economic trends, reform possibilities, as well as expected challenges and opportunities in 2020 and beyond. Panelists lauded China's vigorous efforts in deepening further reform and opening up, while tackling challenges in recent years. "That's really important. It's a really big deal. We even see it (the reform) with respect to the state enterprise," said Barry Naughton, an economist with the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California, San Diego. He also said China is leading the way in the adoption of decentralized, convenient and cashless payment systems, which is "really impressive." Huang Yiping, professor and deputy dean of the National School of Development at Peking University, said he is "confident" about the prospects for China's economic growth. "The Chinese economy is entering into a new phase of development," which has inevitably caused some problems in the financial sector, said Huang. "We actually see in concrete steps moving ahead (toward financial reform and opening-up)," he said, adding "I'm confident and I'm optimistic that we are moving in the right direction." China has vowed to keep opening up its financial sector while controlling risks, with the country introducing 34 opening-up policies in the banking and insurance sectors in the past two years, including expanding the business scope of foreign-invested firms and easing market access. "There is growth momentum in its domestic (economy)," Nicholas Lardy, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the panel. "The very strong consumption from households, the growth of disposable income and consumption, I think, will continue to be a very important driver of China's economic growth," he said. China, the world's largest developing economy, registered a 6.2-percent growth year on year during the first three quarters of 2019, within the government's annual target of 6-6.5 percent, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Consumption continued to be the mainstay in driving up demand, with final consumption contributing 60.5 percent to economic growth in the January-September period. Lardy also noted sustained resilience in the Chinese economy, bolstered by the nation's "very entrepreneurial" private firms. "They increase productivity and become more competitive," he said. Catherine Mann, global chief economist at Citi, told Xinhua that productivity, appropriate capital investment, and demographics are the key foundations for economic growth going forward, noting "China is very well suited on the education side." The half-day event was presented by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Peking University's China Center for Economic Research. Nathan Andrewartha, 22, of Scrogg Road, Walker A man has revealed his horrific wounds after he was stabbed in the stomach with a steak knife at a party because he had ordered a taxi home. Adam Robertson from Walker, Newcastle, was partying in a Quayside flat in the city when he decided and order a taxi home at 4.30am. Yet his friend, Nathan Andrewartha, 22, 'seemed to take offence' at Mr Robertson's decision to go home and flew into a cocaine and whiskey-fuelled rage inside the Dream Apartment on City Road. Drenched in his own blood, Mr Robertson was left lying on a bed and feared he may die after the attack which could have easily ended in a murder charge, a judge ruled. Andrewartha, of Scrogg Road, Walker, was arrested and initially charged Adam Robertson (left and right) from Walker, Newcastle, drenched in his own blood after he was stabbed in the stomach with a steak knife at the Dream Apartment, City Road, Newcastle. Mr Robertson said his attacker 'deserves' to behind bars and has revealed graphic pictures of his blood-stained t-shirt just moment after the attack on March 23 last year But prosecutors accepted his guilty plea to the lesser offence of unlawful wounding and wept as he was jailed for two years last week. Recorder Jonathan Aitken told him that his actions could have seen him spend life behind bars. Mr Robertson said his attacker 'deserves' to behind bars and has revealed graphic pictures of his blood-stained t-shirt just moment after the attack on March 23 last year. 'I was in hospital for weeks because of what he did to me, and the doctors were worried I might not pull through,' he said. 'I've even lost my job because of what he did - he's just a scumbag.' Newcastle Crown Court heard earlier that night, Andrewartha had been 'showing off and bragging' about what he had done to other people. With the steak knife tucked down his trousers, he threatened to stab a work colleague's boyfriend who had mistreated her. Adam added: 'He was going around all night acting like an idiot, saying he was scared of nobody. 'I'll always remember him standing in the middle of the room with a bottle of Famous Grouse whisky, drinking it straight from the bottle. 'I ran at him and he ran at me but as we met, he stabbed me right in the belly and slashed me all over,' said Mr Robertson. 'I then got him in a headlock and he was trying to stab me even more but my friend took the knife off him. 'I looked him straight in the eye and said 'You've stabbed me'. 'He just went 'Aye, I know I have' and then he started crying.' As he bled out, Mr Robertson claims Andrewartha, realising the seriousness of what he had done, begged those present not to contact the police before leaving and going home. Mr Robertson was taken to hospital, where he had a 3.9ins wound behind his ear and a puncture wound to his abdomen. And that night, his family kept a vigil at his bedside in the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where he was treated. Recorder Jonathan Aitken said: 'I have to sentence you for unlawful wounding on a person who used to be your friend when, in a drink and drug-fuelled state and not thinking correctly, you took umbrage at him due to some imagined slight because of the way you were intoxicated. 'You attacked him, he thought he had been punched but in fact you had a knife in your hand and that inflicted a very serious injury. 'It could so very easily have ended his life and yours as well, to all intents and purposes, because you would have got life imprisonment.' The court heard how Mr Robertson's injuries left him unable to work and he lost his job as a result. Mr Robertson said he is also now cautious when out in public and spends most of his time at home. 'What he did left me really deflated,' he said. 'For me, what happened since was all about rebuilding my confidence as I've always been in work so he has robbed me of that.' New Delhi: Joaquin Phoenix became a sensation after his R-rated movie Joker has hit the theatres last October. The actor went on to win Golden Globe awards for the Best actor category. And then turned several heads with his extremely outlandish acceptance speech. The actor now has got himself into some legal trouble as the police arrested him along with other climate change protestors over their demand of Green New Deal and other urgent action to combat climate change. According to reports by Variety.com, the the Golden Globe award winning actor march with hundreds, including the likes of Martin Sheen, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Susan Sarandon, and give a speech about the effects of the meat and dairy industries on climate change where the US Capitol Police detained them. Why US Police arrested Joaquin Phoenix and other protestors Joaquin Phoenix at FireDrillFriday climate change protest. Pic Courtesy: Twitter@@DailyJoaquin According to police, 147 protesters were arrested in total for the unlawful demonstration. Since October, Fonda and other actors, including Sam Waterston, Ted Danson, Rosanna Arquette, Sally Field and Catherine Keener, have been arrested for civil disobedience, as they advocated for a Green New Deal, among other demands Phoenix attended the protest, standing alongside Fonda onstage to deliver a speech. In her introduction, Fonda tagged Phoenix "one of the greatest living actors today". "Something I think isn't oftentimes talked about in the environmental movement or in the conversation about climate change is that the meat and dairy industry is the third leading cause of climate change," he said. "I think sometimes we wonder what we can do in this fight against climate change and there's something that you can do today, right now, and tomorrow, by making a choice about what you consume." Watch video of his speech here: #VIDEO | Joaquin Phoenix full speech at The Fire Drill Friday Protest about the beef and dairy industries and how they have an impact on climate change pic.twitter.com/kw0yyeVSkT a Joaquin Phoenix Updates (@DailyJoaquin) January 10, 2020 Phoenix and his stairs act in Joker and Golden Globes acceptance speechA Phoenix's role in Joker famously included a scene on a set of steps, and photographs from Friday show the actor putting on another powerful performance on a staircase. The remarks came days after Phoenix's acceptance speech for best actor, drama at the 66th Golden Globes Awards, where he praised the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for "recognising and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate changeaA and making It's really nice that so many people have sent their well wishes to Australia but we have to do more than that," Phoenix emphasized. "Hopefully, we can be unified and actually make some changes. It's great to vote, but sometimes we have to take that responsibility on ourselves and make changes and sacrifices in our own lives. We don't have to take private jets to Palm Springs for the awards," the star added. "It is a very bold move making tonight plant based. It really sends a powerful message," he said. Also Read: Joker Controversy Continues: Parents Of Aurora Shooting Victims Call Out Todd Phillips For Dismissing Violence The animal rights activist was the one who convinced the Hollywood Foreign Press to implement its first all-vegan menu at the Golden Globes. Martin Sheen also gave a speech during the protest. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Tens of millions of workers, youth and rural toilers participated in Wednesdays all-India one-day general strike. They did so to voice their anger and opposition to the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, its pro-investor, pro-market policiesausterity, privatization, the promotion of hire and fire contract jobs, and massive corporate tax cutsand its relentless promotion of Hindu communal reaction. Broad sections of the working class joined the strike. They included workers in Indias globally connected auto industry, coal miners, jute plantation workers, and bus, truck and rickshaw drivers; bank and power workers, and much of the extremely poorly paid, largely female workforce of the state-funded rural child care network (Anganwadi Services). Workers shout slogans during the general strike in Ahmadabad, India, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 [Credit: AP Photo/Ajit Solanki] The strikes strength, as would be expected in a diverse country of more than 1.3 billion people, varied across states and economic sectors. However, its overall impact was massive and demonstrated, albeit only in embryonic form, the immense social power of the working class. Under conditions where the Modi government and its Hindu supremacist allies have been mounting one communal provocation after another, whipping up bellicose nationalism with war threats against Pakistan, and stoking all forms of reaction, the strike demonstrably united workers across all communal, caste and ethno-linguistic divides. The strike underscored that when workers enter into struggle they do so as a class, cutting across the racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identities promoted by the bourgeoisie and other privileged layers of the affluent upper-middle class. The strikers specifically demanded the repeal of the BJPs anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the rescinding of the governments plan to force all of Indias residents to prove their citizenship, which is transparently aimed at intimidating and harassing Indias Muslim minority. Mass protests against the CAA have convulsed India since it was rushed through parliament last month. Pushed onto its backfoot, with its corporate media-cultivated image of invincibility shattered, the Modi regime has responded to the anti-CAA agitation with lethal violence. Across large swathes of India, it has repeatedly imposed blanket bans on all public gatherings of more than four people and suspensions of internet service. Last Sunday, in an action clearly orchestrated by the BJP and its RSS allies, masked vigilantes brutally attacked students at Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University while police stood down. The eruption of mass opposition to the BJP government is part of a global working class upsurge against austerity, rampant social inequality, the suppression of democratic rights, rearmament and warthat is, against the policies that are being pursued by the various nationally-based capitalist elites and their political representatives, whatever their party label, throughout the world. The past year has seen major strikes and sustained and in some cases insurrectionary protest movements around the globe: from Chile, Ecuador, Haiti, the US, Mexico, Britain and France to Algeria, Sudan, Iran, Lebanon, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. During the last week, millions took to the streets in Iraq and Iran to protest Washingtons assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Suleimani and US imperialisms plans to wage all-out war on Iran and the people of the entire Middle East. On Thursday, millions of workers in France took strike action and marched in mass protests amid a month-long transport strike to protest the across-the-board attack on pensions and other social rights being mounted by President Emmanuel Macron. It is this global working class counteroffensive that constitutes the objective foundation for the struggle against the Modi government, the Indian bourgeoisie, and austerity, reaction and war around the world. Indian big businessled by its newly minted cohort of more than a 100 billionairespropelled Modi to power in 2014 and massively financed his re-election last May. They did so on the calculated gamble that the Hindu supremacist BJP could provide the strong government needed to push through socially incendiary pro-investor reforms and aggressively assert Indias great power ambitions on the world stage. In the face of a rapidly unravelling economic situation, the BJP has dramatically accelerated the assault on the working class and its push to transform India into a Hindu rashtra, or state, in the first seven months of its second term. In early August, the BJP government illegally stripped Jammu and Kashmir, Indias lone Muslim-majority state, of its special semi-autonomous status. Modi then transformed it into two Union territories, thereby placing the region under permanent central government rule. Since then, the Kashmir Valley has effectively been under a state of siege. Modis aim in systematically ratcheting up communalism is to mobilize the Hindu right as shock troops against mounting social opposition, channel social tensions behind reaction and militarism, and divide the working class. But to the shock and dismay of the BJP and the bourgeoisie, it now confronts mass defiance, with working class anger over austerity and joblessness intersecting with the opposition to the governments authoritarian and communalist measures. Modi is the Indian expression of a universal phenomenon. In all the imperialist countries and aspiring great and regional powers, bourgeois governments are frantically rearming, turning to authoritarian methods of rule, and cultivating reaction. This is true not just of the likes of US President Donald Trump, Brazils Jair Bolsonaro, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but also of French President Macron. The former Socialist Party minister has moved to rehabilitate the Nazi collaborator and former Vichy president Marshal Petain, normalized emergency powers, and authorized state violence against the Yellow Vest protests. The only viable strategy to oppose austerity, imperialist war and reaction is the systematic unification of the struggles of the working class across state boundaries and continents and its mobilization as an independent political force in the struggle for workers power and socialism. This requires a tenacious struggle against the pro-capitalist trade unions and the establishment left parties and pseudo-left organizations, which seek to keep the working class trapped within the reactionary framework of capitalist politics and to divide it on national, racial, gender and other identity politics lines. In India, this means a struggle against the Stalinist parliamentary partiesthe Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM, and the Communist Party of India (CPI) and their Left Frontwhich for decades have functioned as an integral part of the capitalist political establishment. The Stalinists politically led Wednesdays strike, which was called by their union affiliates (the CITU and AITUC) and eight other overtly pro-capitalist central trade unions, including that of the Congress Party the historic party of the Indian bourgeoisie and the party that until Modis ascension in 2014 spearheaded neo-liberal reform and Indias strategic alignment with Washington. The Stalinists called the January 8 strike with aim of tying the burgeoning mass opposition to the BJP to the Congress Party as well as a host of right-wing caste-ist and ethno-chauvinist parties, and the putrefying institutions of democratic India. For the past 30 years, the Stalinists, in the name of blocking the Hindu right from power, have systematically suppressed the class struggle, as epitomized in their support for a succession of right-wing governments from 1989 to 2008 and their imposition of what they themselves call pro-investor policies in the states where they have held office. By so doing, they fertilized the political ground for the BJP to grow, enabling the Hindu supremacist right to cynically exploit mass discontent and frustration over endemic poverty and mounting social inequality. In India as around the world, the cutting edge of the struggle for the international unity of the working class is the struggle against war. This requires the building of a working class-led global anti-war movement, in opposition to imperialism and to South Asias communally partitioned nation-state system and the reactionary Indo-Pakistani conflict to which it has given rise. The transformation of the growing global working class upsurge into a conscious struggle for socialism is above all a question of revolutionary program, perspective and leadership. In India, as around the world, mass parties of the working class must be built based on the program of world socialist revolution that animated the October 1917 Russian Revolution and the subsequent struggle, led by Leon Trotsky, against the usurpation of workers power by the Stalinist bureaucracy, which ultimately restored capitalism. Today that struggle and its lessonsabove all the imperative of the working class defining itself as an international revolutionary force and basing itself on a world strategyare embodied in the International Committee of the Fourth International. A Multnomah County jury on Friday awarded $3 million to a 21-year-old woman who said the principal of her public elementary school sexually abused her in his office when she was in second, third and fourth grade. Jurors found 11-1 that the young woman was molested more than a decade ago by Jeff Hays, who was principal of Deep Creek Elementary School in Damascus from 2005-2009. The school is a part of the Gresham-Barlow School District, which is responsible for paying the verdict. Shes trying to put the pieces of her life together, but its a greatly reduced life, said one of her attorneys, Greg Kafoury. If theres one place on the planet where she should have been safe, anyones child should have been safe ... it was her school, with the principal there. Jurors determined by a preponderance of evidence that Hays had molested the young woman when she was a child. Thats a lower threshold than the standard required in a criminal case -- guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Kafoury and his son, attorney Jason Kafoury, said their client was relieved by the civil jurys finding that the abuse occurred. She hopes it serves as a catalyst to push prosecutors to pursue criminal charges against Hays, they said. Hays has not been charged in the case, although the statute of limitations hasnt run out. Prosecutors couldnt be reached for comment Friday. The Kafourys told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the Clackamas County District Attorneys Office declined to prosecute Hays after their client and another girl who attended the Damascus school reported in 2016 that they had been abused. But according to the Kafourys, prosecutors have said theyre reviewing a more recent report from a male student from the same school and have indicated that its possible they could file criminal charges against Hays for all three alleged victims. Unbeknownst to jurors, the other female student settled last week with the school district for $425,000. Shes in her late teens now. Hays most recently worked as a principal for City View Charter School in Hillsboro. In 2018, he mutually agreed to separate from the school, according to minutes from a school board meeting. During this weeks trial, the Kafourys said Hays summoned hundreds of students into his office using the Damascus schools intercom for one-on-one math sessions. They said hed close the blinds and shut the door, which was just steps from the schools two secretaries. Jurors saw this photo of the solid wood door to the principal's office, where the plaintiff said she was sexually abused repeatedly over three years. (Trial exhibit) Hays didnt attend any part of the trial or testify. In a pre-trial deposition that wasnt shown to jurors, Hays repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment in declining to answer questions, including the first question asking him to state his name. The 21-year-old woman told jurors that Hays molested her from ages 7 to 9. She said shed tried to put her feelings in a box so she wouldnt have to deal with them, but she couldnt escape the trauma. She said she had once been a happy child eager to learn. I always wanted to be the best, she said. Jurors watched a video of her reciting all of the state capitals in the U.S. at age 3. By second grade, she told jurors she was reading at a seventh-grade level. That was the same year Hays began to sexually abuse her in his office, she said. As a third grader she pleaded with her mom to cut her hair shorter and shorter, so it was the same length as her brothers. When she was 16, she said she had her first sexual experience and left in tears. She said from then on more problems began to surface. She developed bulimia and depression, and she contemplated suicide, once stopping herself before she carried out a plan to jump off a cliff in the Columbia River Gorge, she testified. She went from straight As, said Jason Kafoury, summing up the womans early years, to flunking out of college. The woman said memories about the unidentified source of her trauma came flooding back in 2016 after a childhood friend called to tell her that she had been sexually abused by Hays and was reporting it to police. The woman said she spent the coming days and weeks waking up from nightmares in a cold sweat and sometimes vomiting. She ultimately told her parents and wrote down her memories in a statement later given to police. He liked when I wore my black pants because they were stretchy and easy to access down to my crotch, she said in the statement. He would tell me that I was in trouble, that I have to stay quiet or else my parents will find out Im bad. She wrote that "he would tell me that its punishment. I never knew what I was being punished for. This happened multiple times. Kim Hoyt, a lawyer for the school district, argued that the woman hadnt proven her lifes problems stemmed from sex abuse. By far, Hoyt said, not every person who has bulimia and depression has suffered sexual abuse. There could be other triggers, Hoyt said, pointing to the womans testimony that during her sophomore year she was deeply affected by a boyfriends thoughtless comments that she needed to lose weight. By college, the woman was spending lots of time with friends and drinking alcohol, like many freshman do, Hoyt said. Hoyt also questioned whether the young womans memories of sexual abuse were real. Before the phone call from her childhood friend, she had no memory of ever being touched by Mr. Hays, Hoyt said. The Kafourys called six witnesses -- two former students and four adults -- who said they saw Hays one-on-one with students in his office with a closed door. One of those adults was the schools booster club president, who said she loudly confronted Hays about how inappropriate it was for him to spend time alone with students in his office. Hays had denied to a Clackamas County police detective that he would ever be alone behind closed doors with a child because that could raise concerns about sexual grooming of children, the Kafourys said in their closing arguments to the jury. After the verdict, a juror said the most time consuming part of the deliberations was not whether the woman had been sexually abused, but how much money to award her. A spokeswoman for the school district said Friday that the district respects the jurys verdict but is evaluating whether it will appeal. The Gresham-Barlow School District is committed to the safe education of its students and will continue our efforts to safely guide students through their education, Athena Vadnais said in an email. -- Aimee Green agreen@oregonian.com o_aimee Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. We left our establishment at the mouth of the river du Bois or Wood river, a small river which falls into the Mississippi, on the east-side, a mile below the Missouri, and having crossed the Mississippi proceeded up the Missouri on our intended voyage of discovery... The day was showery and in the evening we encamped on the north bank six miles up the river. Here we had leisure to reflect on our situation, and the nature of our engagements: and, as we had all entered this service as volunteers, to consider how far we stood pledged for the success of an expedition, which the government had projected; and which had been undertaken for the benefit and at the expence of the Union: of course of much interest and high expectation. Patrick Gass, May 14, 1804 The Lewis and Clark Expedition started a year before it began. Meriwether Lewis immersed in crash courses in Philadelphia for medicine, botany, zoology, and surveying, plus he learned how to take celestial observations necessary to determine latitude and longitude. He oversaw construction of the keelboat and engaged in the biggest shopping trip in then-American history. Lewis and Clark independently recruited men for the expedition and migrated slowly westward. However, they were not allowed to cross west of the Mississippi, since the Louisiana Purchase had not yet transferred from Spain to France to the United States. The expedition wintered over at the starting gate, building a small fort named Camp Dubois on the Wood River in todays Illinois, officially launching the Corps of Discovery on May 14, 1804. While they sat at the starting line, our Missouri River Corps of Rediscovery stalled near the finish line, camping for three days in St. Charles to wait out a storm. Bedded down in our tents below the Boat House Museum, people passing by wouldnt have known we were there. However, someone encountered an overly friendly puppy and dog-napped Jubilee as a lost dog. Chris spent the following day at a coffee shop searching online lost pet notices and fortunately got her back. She was dog-napped again a day later, only minutes after being released to run off her pent-up puppy energy. Chris paid $35 to retrieve her from the pound, following up with a dog tag and phone number on her collar. Scotts girlfriend Margie flew in from Colorado and joined us as we paddled out of St. Charles, doing an easy 25-mile day to Columbia Bottom, only 3.5 miles from the end of the Missouri River. Our final day of paddling was largely symbolic. We awoke to heavy frost, a sure sign to wrap up the trip. We paddled out into the chilly morning, soon reaching the confluence where the Missouri joins the Mississippi. There isnt any significant turbulence where the waters merge, just two great rivers flowing together like a slow-moving lake. The Lewis and Clark Expedition continued fifteen miles down the Mississippi to end their 28-month expedition at St. Louis on September 23, 1806. We followed their lead, paddling to the Gateway Arch, the iconic symbol of St. Louis. Conceived in the 1940s and completed in 1965, the 630-foot-tall stainless steel arch was created as a memorial to the men who made possible the western territorial expansion of the United States, particularly President Jefferson, his aides Livingston and Monroe, the great explorers, Lewis and Clark, and the hardy hunters, trappers, frontiersmen and pioneers who contributed to the territorial expansion and development of these United States. In todays more politically correct terms, that would make it a monument to colonialism and the subjugation of Native American peoples. Thats the great challenge in celebrating American history. Thomas Jefferson and William Clark both owned slaves, and Meriwether Lewis supervised slaves on his mothers plantation. All three men helped bring about the subjugation of Native Americans, especially William, who continued the work of his elder brother George Rogers Clark to ethnically cleanse Indians from all lands east of the Mississippi. We cannot and should not bury our history, but we can own it and re-interpret it. I grew up with Montana history where General George Custer was slaughtered by wild Indians at the Custer Battlefield National Monument, otherwise known as Custers Last Stand. In a re-appraisal of our history, Congress renamed the site as the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in 1991. The revamped park includes a memorial to the Indians who fought and died there, as well as a telling of their side of the story. Piece by piece we are telling a more authentic narrative of our history, and that is an achievement to be appreciated and honored. In St. Louis, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial was renamed Gateway Arch National Park in 2018. We planned our arrival for Sunday, the least busy day to mingle with the big ships in the Port of St. Louis. Headwinds kicked up turbulence, aggravated by passing barges, but manageable overall. Waves threatened to batter the canoes against the flooded stairway at the Arch, so we paddled another quarter-mile downriver to a boat ramp. We completed our journey on November 3rd, 2019, five months after leaving home. Many people are under the illusion that we worked hard and suffered greatly on our expedition. I would describe the experience as akin to turtles drifting down the river on a log. John, Chris, and I had extensive prior expedition experience. Scott seemingly gained the most from the journey, transitioning from an office cubicle to canoe to a new life of adventure. For all of us, it was a great privilege to paddle through the heart of America, see beautiful scenery, study our history, and meet some of the nicest people on the planet. The Missouri River Corps of Rediscovery joins a surprisingly short list of all known Missouri River expeditions since 1962, maintained as a database by Norman Miller of Livingston, Montana at www.missouririverpaddlers.com. Thank you for reading along and being part of the journey! Thomas J. Elpel lives in Pony, Montana. He is the author of Green Prosperity: Quit Your Job, Live Your Dreams. Go to www.Elpel.info to learn more about Toms books and the Missouri River Corps of Rediscovery. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Money continues to flow into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and it's easy to see why. ETFs provide convenient and cost-effective access to a wide variety of investments, and because they're traded on exchanges, they're as simple to buy and sell as stocks. ETFs can make it easier to invest in the industries and assets that are likely to outperform the broader market. Here are several ETFs that are particularly well positioned to deliver market-beating gains to investors in the year ahead. The war hedge With U.S. military forces on high alert in the Middle East due to heightened tensions with Iran, it's understandable if your investments aren't first and foremost on your mind right now. But if you are seeking a way to protect your portfolio from the risk of military conflict and the subsequent economic ramifications, one way to do so is to invest in defense stock-focused ETFs, which tend to perform well during periods of turmoil in the Middle East. The SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEMKT:XAR) gives investors access to an equal-weighted index of approximately 30 stocks in the aerospace and defense industry. Holdings include defense industry titans such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon, but also smaller and faster-growing defense companies such as Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and AeroVironment. Importantly, XAR is not over overexposed to the biggest defense businesses. By contrast, rival defense ETF iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEMKT:ITA) uses a market-cap weighted approach and has a greater than 20% weighting in Boeing (NYSE:BA), the aerospace giant that has struggled mightily after multiple fatal accidents forced it to ground its 737 MAX planes. The crisis has resulted in billions of dollars of losses for Boeing, and its stock has lost a quarter of its value since early 2019. The poor performance of Boeing's stock -- and ITA's oversized allocation to the struggling aerospace behemoth -- is a large reason why ITA has underperformed XAR by more than 10% over the past year. Moreover, XAR has a relatively low expense ratio of 0.35%, which compares favorably to ITA's 0.42% annual fee. Thus, if you'd like to limit your risk by capping your exposure to any one particular company -- and save money in the process -- stick to XAR and its lower-fee, equal-weight portfolio strategy for your defense ETF needs. The safe haven Gold also tends to perform well during periods of geopolitical turmoil. The precious metal is seen as a defensive investment that can hold its value, and even appreciate, when the value of other assets, such as stocks, fall. Gold recently hit a nearly 7-year high of more than $1,600 per ounce after a U.S. drone attack resulted in the death of a top Iranian general, and Iran responded with missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq. Investors concerned that these events would lead to a war between the U.S. and Iran bought gold en masse, pushing its price up in the process. The price of gold has pulled back to approximately $1,550 per ounce in recent days, following comments by President Trump and Iranian officials suggesting that the two nations would de-escalate their military actions to avert a war. However, with recent reports that an Iranian missile may have shot down a passenger airliner, it's possible that tensions could begin to rise once again. Investors seeking a means to protect -- and potentially grow -- their wealth during these volatile times might wish to consider a gold ETF such as the iShares Gold Trust (NYSEMKT:IAU). IAU is designed to track the price of gold bullion by holding gold bars in a secure vault. By taking on the challenges and expenses of storing and securing gold, IAU gives investors a convenient and relatively low-cost way to profit from an upward move in gold prices. Like the SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF, iShares Gold Trust is a bargain compared to its main rival, SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEMKT:GLD). IAU's carries an expense ratio of only 0.25%, compared to 0.40% for GLD. And although GLD is the largest gold ETF with assets of approximately $44 billion, IAU is also quite large, with assets of about $18 billion. Thus, investors will sacrifice little in the way of liquidity with IAU, while benefiting from significant cost savings. As such, if you're interested in adding a gold ETF to your diversified investment portfolio, iShares Gold Trust is your best option. Two students who examined gender stereotyping in five to seven-year-olds have scooped the top prize in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. The project by Cormac Harris and Alan O'Sullivan, both aged 16, from Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co Cork, involved surveying 267 young pupils across many schools. "We're completely shocked," Cormac said. "We're thrilled." "We're absolutely delighted because in the world we think there's a huge issue of gender stereotyping," said Alan. "I think it's great that people are recognising the stereotyping issue." The transition-year students' project indicated gender stereotyping emerges in young children, especially boys. "What we found from our project was that girls weren't limiting either gender's ability aged five to seven - however, we found that boys were limiting girls' ability at this age," said Cormac. "Based on our results, we developed a school-based kit to help combat gender stereotyping. It was great fun," he said. They hope in future to go to schools and implement the resource kit. Colaiste Choilm also won the prestigious award in 2018. Cormac and Alan's teacher Karina Lyne said she couldn't believe their win last night. "I can't believe that for them for all the work and the passion they had for that project that they got this accolade, it's unbelievable. "I didn't expect this. They had a different title at first and I said no, so they went away and researched it and came back with this title and I said tes," she added. The award was presented by Education Minister Joe McHugh and BT Ireland managing director Shay Walsh at RDS in Dublin last night. The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition trophy comes with a cheque for 7,500 and the chance to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists. The minister told students the awards were "an indication and an insight as to where we are as a society in terms of where our young people are at. "I want to thank you and acknowledge that you have earned your place as part of the history of the exhibition," he told the audience. "We live in each other's shadows and you live in the shadows great scientists that went before you." Oscar Despard (17), from Sandford Park school in Dublin, was awarded the best individual prize and received a trophy and 2,400 cheque. Ava Hynes (14), from Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co Cork, won the individual runner-up award. Cathal O'Meara and James O'Malley from Castletroy College in Limerick, both 13, were runners-up and received the BT Trophy and a 1,200 cheque. The award for the best overall school in Ireland was presented to Kinsale Community school. BTYSE 2020: the winners OVERALL WINNER (Intermediate Group): Cormac Harris and Alan O'Sullivan, from Colaiste Choilm, Co Cork A statistical investigation into the prevalence of gender stereotyping in 5-7 year olds and the development of an initiative to combat gender bias OTHER WINNERS Senior Individual: Oscar Despard, Sandford Park, Dublin Junior Group: Cathal O'Mara, James O'Malley, Castletroy College, Limerick Junior Individual: Ava Hynes, Colaiste Treasa, Co Cork BEST SCHOOL NAPD Best Overall School (Republic of Ireland): Kinsale Community School, Co Cork SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL Intermediate Group 1st place: Ella Walsh, Robyn Bagley, Ella Markey, Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co Dublin Girls' confidence in maths and Stem careers Senior Group 1st place: Diarmuid English, Finbarr English, Kiril Cariov, Cashel Community School, Co Tipperary Don't Miss A Day Of School Senior Individual 1st place: Evan Hogg Heywood, Community School, Co Laois An investigation into how physical literacy and parental physical activity levels affects young people's PAL Junior Individual 1st place: Emma McCann, St Joseph's Secondary School, Dublin Sans Eyes, Sans Ears: An Analysis of Dual-Coded Information in Aural Exams Intermediate Individual 1st place: Ben Loughnane, Kinsale Community School, Co Cork A statistical investigation into the power of 0 Junior group 1st place: Riain Kennedy, Andrew Gordon, Reuben Florisson, Colaiste Iognaid SJ, Galway city Bottle Shot - A Nudge in the Right Direction BIOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL Senior Individual 1st place: Rachel McPartlin, St Clare's Comprehensive School, Co Leitrim A comparison of the pre and post- injury mobility and rehabilitation of hip fracture patients Junior Individual 1st place: Cormac Breathnach, Colaiste Ailigh, Co Donegal An eifeacht ata ag easpa fuinseoige ar chursai iomanaiochta agus an ga ata le trial a bhaint as crainn eile chun camain a dheanamh in Eirinn Junior Group Joint 1st place (a): Hannah Walsh, Johannah Pigott, Colaiste Treasa, Co Cork Banking on the willow: An investigation on the effectiveness of willow in promoting riverbank biodiversity Junior Group Joint 1st place (b): Ryan Clarke, Josie Lennon, Shea Mallon, St Patrick's High School, Co Armagh Propolis - To Bee or not to Bee Intermediate Group 1st place: Emily Duggan, Eva Duggan, Loreto Secondary School, Co Kilkenny To Prove The Impact of terroir on new make spirits TECHNOLOGY Intermediate Group 1st place: Ruairi Mullally, Justin Cunningham, Patrician Secondary School, Co Kildare Reusable Braille Translator Senior Individual 1st place: Greg Tarr, Bandon Grammar School, Co Cork Vender Independent Age Verification (VIAV) Senior Group 1st place: Rhys Mordaunt, Rohan Kadam, The Institute Of Education, Dublin A Kinetic Energy Recovery System For Modern Road Cars Junior Individual 1st place: Benjamin Murray, Sandford Park, Dublin JC Coder - An e-learning Website for Teachers and Students of the Junior Cycle Short Course in Coding Junior Group 1st place: Ian Cullinane, Noah Dennehy, Bailey Jake, Kinsale Community School, Co Cork Energy Efficient Fridge Intermediate Individual 1st place: Tomas O'Croinin, Gaelcholaiste Carrigaline, Co Cork Franken-Dron CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL & MATHEMATICAL Intermediate Group 1st Place: Kaitlin Brereton, Emma Bannigan, Ryan George, Our Lady's Secondary School, Co Monaghan Icy Hot: An investigation to prove the existence of the Mpemba Effect and examine under which physical circumstances it can occur Senior Group 1st Place: Katrin Birk, Aisling Barry, Bandon Grammar School, Co Cork A Statistical Analysis into the Accuracy of Weather Forecasts in Predicting Hot vs Cold Temperatures Senior Individual 1st Place: Aoife Morris, St Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill , Co Cork Photoactive Water Purification: Novel Materials for Global Accessibility to Clean Water Junior Individual 1st Place: Cuan Moore, St Conleth's College, Dublin 4 The effectiveness of colour on a bike light Intermediate Individual 1st Place: Yaduvir Harhangi, Synge Street CBS, Dublin 8 Extensions of Marden's Theorem Junior Group 1st Place: Sophie McQuillan, Roisin Grant, St Mary's Secondary School, Mallow, Co Cork An Investigation into the Photolytic Degradation of the Nitrate Radical (NO3) by Light Pollution in Cork City and County STUDENT TRAVEL RTE Best Social and Behavioural Junior Individual: Ava Hynes, Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co Cork A statistical analysis of the impact of adolescent smartphone use on adolescent social anxiety and social isolation Perrigo Best Biological and Ecological Senior Individual: Oscar Despard, Sandford Park, Dublin Applying Data-Driven Experimental Analysis to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing Analog Best Technology Senior Group: Samuel Byers, Ben Sheeran, Tim Cleary, St Mary's College - C.S.Sp., Dublin 6 Using a heart rate sensor and an E-Bike to create a more accessible bicycle CISCO Best Chemical Physical and Mathematical Project Senior Individual: Aoife Morris, St Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork Photoactive Water Purification: Novel Materials for Global Accessibility to Clean Water TEACHER AWARDS Senior Individual: Angelina Carew, St Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork Photoactive Water Purification: Novel Materials for Global Accessibility to Clean Water Junior Individual: Eva Acton, Colaiste Mhuire, Co Westmeath A-OK, A digital communication wristband for people with autism Junior Individual: Daryl Dunne, St Joseph's Secondary School, Dublin Sans Eyes, Sans Ears: An Analysis of Dual-Coded Information in Aural Exams Intermediate Group: Louise Gallagher, Carrick-On-Shannon Community School, Co Leitrim Does the area you live in have an impact to your perception of salt? Realty firm Signature Global, which is mainly into affordable homes, on Saturday said it will invest around Rs 375 crore to develop a new housing project in Gurugram, Haryana. The national capital-based firm also announced its plans to launch 20,000 units under affordable housing segment this year. Signature Global in a statement said that it has started construction work on a new project 'Signature Global Proxima I and II' comprising 1,410 units with a total investment of around Rs 375 crore. Prices vary from Rs 22-26 lakh in this project, which is being developed under the Haryana government affordable housing policy. Pradeep Aggarwal, Founder & Chairman, Signature Global, said, "Till date we have already launched 15,173 units under Haryana Affordable Housing Scheme and Deen Dayal Jan Awas Yojna and have delivered 1,820 units till date." The company is targeting to deliver another 3,181 units in Gurugram by the end of this year. On launches in the pipeline for 2020, Aggarwal said the company plans to launch 9,000 units under Deen Dayal Jan Awas Yojna, 9,000 units in various locations of Gurugram under Haryana Affordable Housing Policy and 2,000 units in Rajnagar Extension Ghaziabad under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. In the last five years, the company has launched 17 affordable housing projects, all in Gurugram, Sohna and Karnal in Haryana. It has also launched a commercial project, including a shopping mall, in Vaishali, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh comprising over 7.5 lakh square feet area. The government is promoting affordable housing in a big way by charging only 1 per cent GST, interest subvention under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) and additional deduction of 1.5 lakh for interest paid on home loan under income tax law for flats priced up to Rs 45 lakh. During 2019, housing sales improved marginally on the back of demand for affordable homes and ready-to-move in flats, according to reports of various consultants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of protesters staged protest outside Kolkata airport and various parts of the state on Satruday against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to the city during the day. Youth Congress activists assembled outside Kolkata airport and shouted slogans against Modi demanding that he should not be allowed to land in the city. SFI activists assembled near Jadavpur University, Golpark, College Street, Hatibagan and Esplanade with placards which read 'Students Against Fascism.' "We protest the visit of the Prime Minister who is behind the discriminatory Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens and the attack by saffron forces in Jawaharlal Nehru University campus," SFI leader Debraj Debnath said. "We are against the visit of Modi, Amit Shah and other BJP leaders who are dividing people to Bengal". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SENECA FALLS, N.Y. -- Officers first took notice of the driver when he started to tailgate a marked Waterloo Police Department patrol car, police said. The Seneca Falls Police Department tried to stop the driver, Ryan W. Jacobson, on West Bayard Street in Seneca Falls, police said in a news release. But Jacobson refused to pull over, police said, and started to speed away. Jacobson, 36, of Seneca Falls, led officers on a short traffic chase, police said. The pursuit ended when Jacobson lost control of his vehicle on Center Street and drove into the front yard of a home, police said. Jacobson has been charged with: Reckless driving Unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle Failure to comply with police officer Speeding Failure to stop at a red light Failure to keep right Failure to stop at a stop sign Following too closely Driving with no or an improper headlamp Driving without a license Driving on the sidewalk Jacobson was ticketed and released. Hes slated to be arraigned on Jan. 17. Seneca Falls police were assisted by the Waterloo Police Department, the New York State Park Police, the Seneca County Sheriffs Office and the New York State Police. There will be a "visible police presence" on city streets next weekend following the relaxation of alcohol restrictions in Sydney's CBD as a major inner-city hospital prepares to treat more patients suffering alcohol-related injuries. The CBD lockout laws will be scrapped from Tuesday, allowing drinks to be served until 3.30am and bottle shops and venues to stay open longer in a bid to revive Sydney's ailing night-time economy. Sydney's controversial lockout laws provoked vigorous debate and protests such as this 2016 rally. Credit:Peter Rae NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said the mid-week removal of the controversial restrictions was chosen to give businesses time to adjust to the new hours before the weekend rush of revellers. "We've seen what happens when Sydney vacates the field in terms of responsibility," Mr Ayres said. "We want people to enjoy themselves, but to do so responsibly. This is an opportunity for Sydney to really shine." A funeral was held on Saturday for Diane Ford, the matriarch of a family that continues to make its political mark on Toronto and Ontario. Ford died at home on Sunday of cancer. She was 85. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, her son, spoke at Saturday's service, saying he remembered his mother as someone who was guided by three principles: family, community, and giving back through charity. "She guided us through the good times and through the tough times and until her last day. Our family never made any major decision without her," he said. Doug Ford also thanked Ontarians for the support they have given to him and his family. "The outpouring love and support from across the province has been absolutely incredible and truly humbling," he said. Chris Young/Canadian Press Diane Ford's house was the setting for so many important moments in the history of her family, according to Doug Holyday, a family friend. Holyday, former Etobicoke mayor, sat on Toronto city council when the late Rob Ford was mayor. Doug Ford was also a councillor at that time. "I think the entire family revolved around her home," Holyday said. "That's where they would congregate to to discuss family plans and situations, and of course, she'd be right in the middle of it." After the family moved to the home in 1972, the backyard soon became the venue for an annual summer barbecue that evolved into an important political event. Now called "Ford Fest," it's a gathering that thousands attend and was last held at the Markham Fairgrounds. CBC Diane Ford's funeral started at 10 a.m. at the Toronto Congress Centre, located at 1020 Martin Grove Rd. It is the same venue in Etobicoke where thousands attended a celebration of Rob Ford's life four years ago. Holyday, who has been longtime friend of the Fords, says the family has long been involved in politics, starting with Doug Ford Sr., who as an Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP represented the riding of EtobicokeHumber from 1995 to 1999. Story continues The founder of Deco Labels & Flexible Packaging died of cancer on Sept. 22, 2006. Chris Young/Canadian Press But while Diane Ford did not run for or hold office, Holyday says she was a force behind the scenes. "As far as her legacy is concerned I think that she played a big part in the political careers of her sons and I think a big part in the lives of her children," Holyday said. "And she probably was the catalyst of the family ... She was kind of the driving force, the one that kept everything together. I know they are a family with strong opinions and someone had to be in the middle to make that all work and I think that was her ..." Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press Her sons followed her husband's footsteps into politics. Rob Ford was a Toronto city councillor and served as mayor from 2010 until 2014 a tumultuous period in city politics in which he admitted to smoking crack cocaine, among other scandals. After seeking help for addiction to drugs and alcohol, Rob Ford died on March 22, 2016 of a rare and aggressive form of cancer. His widow, Renata Ford, ran federally this summer for the People's Party of Canada Michael Wilson/CBC His older brother, Doug Ford also served as a city councillor and stepped in to run for mayor in 2014 when Rob Ford was diagnosed with cancer, eventually losing to John Tory. In 2018, he came from behind to win the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership during a turbulent party convention. He became premier that summer, after the Progressive Conservatives ousted Kathleen Wynne's Liberals in the provincial election. The next generation of the political dynasty continues with Diane Ford's grandson Michael Ford, who served as a school board trustee and is now a Toronto city councillor. "Nana, you have been a pillar of support for me from my earliest memories," Michael Ford said during a speech at the funeral on Saturday. "It is hard to see living a life without you." Former Ontario premier Mike Harris delivered her eulogy. "Matriarch, rock, steady, strong, loving, kind, sharing, generous these are just a few words that come to mind when I think about my friend Diane Ford," Harris said on Saturday. Chris Young/Canadian Press Holyday agrees. "You know, she was regarded highly regarded by a lot of people and she made a contribution to the democratic process by keeping her family involved, in getting her family involved, supporting her family when they were involved," said Holyday. "And she was very supportive and loving grandmother to her grandchildren." Popular social media commentator, Reno Omokri has advised his followers not to worry when their families, friends tag them stingy when they invest. Speaking via his official Twitter handle, he said they would feel the stings of poverty for divesting their wealth and living large in their youths while their own stinginess will become ingeniousness with time. Read Also: You Will Not Exit Poverty If You Started Your Life With Borrowing; Reno Omokri He wrote: Let your family and friends call you stingy when you invest and they divest their wealth in living large in their youth. They will feel the sting of poverty in their old age while your stinginess will become ingeniousness in the fullness of time. A majority of children under the age of eight with autism-spectrum disorders predominantly Black and Hispanic are not given the required treatment. The study was published in the Autism Research journal. Walter Zahorodny, who is an associate professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Director of the New Jersey Autism Study said that despite growing awareness about autism, the cases in Black and Hispanic people are still under-diagnosed. In 2014 researchers analysed the education and medical records of 266,000 children aged 8 to determine how many children had not clinically diagnosed or were given services that demonstrated the symptoms of the disorder. Of the nearly 4,500 children identified, 25 per cent were not diagnosed. Most were black or Hispanic males with deficits in mental abilities, social skills and activities of daily living who were not considered disabled. Zahorondny further said, "There may be various reasons for the disparity, from communication or cultural barriers between minority parents and physicians to anxiety about the complicated diagnostic process and fear of stigma. Also, many parents whose children are diagnosed later often attribute their first concerns to a behavioural or medical issue rather than a developmental problem." Screening all children for autism in preschool and school-age may contribute to reducing diagnostic disparities, Zahorodny said. In addition, clinicians can overcome communication barriers by using pictures and/or employing patient navigators to help families understand the diagnosis process, test results and treatment recommendations. States may help improve access to care, if insurance companies first determine a child is at risk, instead of waiting for the diagnosis, to provide early intervention services, Zahorondny added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A young Australian Army private whose family were trapped in their beloved town of Mallacoota as it was ravaged by fires has been reunited with her parents. In a tear-jerking moment, Private Brodie Scott is seen returning to the besieged Victorian town to help with the fire relief effort. As haunting pictures of Mallacoota drew horror around the world on New Year's Eve, the brave reservist was forced to watch helplessly from afar as the sky turned an eerie orange over her childhood home. She feared for her parents, Marty and Kathy Scott, after they decided to stay behind to help the fire-ravaged community. Private Brodie Scott hugs her mother Kathy (pictured) as the family enjoyed an emotional reunion near their hometown of Mallacoota Private Scott (pictured) explained she was 'devastated' by what the fires had done to her childhood home Private Scott, a driver specialist in the Australian Army Reserves, who grew up in Mallacoota, broke down in tears as she feared it would now be unrecognisable. 'To know mum and dad were there was pretty terrifying. Our house is situated pretty much right in the town centre. They stayed until they couldn't stay any longer. 'I think it's going to be pretty devastating, I don't think I'll recognise a lot of the town.' Mallacoota, a small town in the East Gippsland region of Victoria, drew headlines across the globe after it was the focal point of Australia's biggest peacetime rescue mission, with more than 1,100 saved by two navy ships after seeking shelter on its beach for four days. Private Scott arrived back in Mallacoota (pictured) as part of Operation Bushfire Assist, which has seen tens of thousands come to the aid of fire-ravaged towns The young private hugs her father Marty (pictured) as they are finally reunited following the bushfires The Scott family embrace one another in emotional scenes as their daughter arrived back home to help with the relief effort But in a stunning twist of fate, Private Scott, who is part of the 4th Combat Service Support Battalion, was soon deployed to the town as part of Operation Bushfire Assist. It gave her the opportunity to reunite with her parents in emotional footage, where she is seen crying and hugging them. 'Seeing mum and dad for the first time was again so many emotions, so happy to see them,' she said. There were tears of joy as the Scott family (pictured) embraced one another soon as their daughter arrived home Marty and Kathy Scott (pictured) said they feared they would lose their home to the devastating Victorian fires 'It's a shame it's not under better circumstances, but as soon as I saw them it bought a tear to my eye, and they said the same thing. 'While I'm here in Mallacoota I'll be helping with the fuel deliveries around town along with the other emergency services like CFA and the SES. 'The town is in good spirits, and it's a really tight community so i'm sure we'll get through this. 'It's a small coastal town, population is about 1,000 people. Considering it's such a small town, I got so many opportunities through school, and just the community, which was really good.' In a photo that came to define the bushfire crisis, Allison Marion took a picture of her son Finn, 11, as they fled Mallacoota by boat on New Year's Eve (pictured) Families in Mallacoota (pictured on January 4) were forced to flee their homes and were meet with hellish red skies Her mum Kathy explained they feared they would lose their house, and that it was made all the more difficult as the family were separated from their daughter. 'We thought we were going to lose our place, we were fortunate we didn't but so many people have,' Ms Scott said. 'It's pretty devastating. It's been hard not having our girls here, and I know it's been hard for them not being here. The town of Mallacoota was badly hit by the bushfires over new year (pictured) and now faces a long path to rebuild The town suffered days of raging bushfires which destroyed the community (pictured) over the new year 'When we got a call that she was coming back to town, it was pretty exciting for us. 'It's been amazing the number of emergency services and volunteers that have come, not just the ones that are here but the ones who have come in since just to help out. 'It's a pretty big thing.' The bushfire crisis is a huge effort for the Australian Defence Force, with several thousand full-time and reserve personnel providing direct support in the field, at sea, in the air and from defence bases across fire-affected regions. About 20,00 reservists have been deployed in support of Operation Bushfire Assist, with the number still growing daily. Up to 3,000 reserve personnel will likely be called up over the course of the crisis, to be deployed in NSW, the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. More than 1,000 people were later evacuated from Mallacoota by the Australian navy. They have now returned to Melbourne (pictured) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 22:48:45|Editor: ZX Video Player Close COLOMBO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The highest number of elephant deaths in Sri Lanka's history occurred in 2019, when 361 deaths were recorded, the local media quoted the Center for Environment and Nature Studies as saying. Media reports said on Saturday, that over 100 people were killed in the human-elephant conflict in the same period. Killing wild elephants is an offence punishable by death in Sri Lanka, but there have been regular reports of angry villagers poisoning or shooting dead marauding jumbos. According to official records the current population of wild elephants in Sri Lanka is about 7,500. The area where the elephant deaths occurred is part of the proposed "Elephant Corridor" in the Elephant Management Plan of the DWC, officials told The Sunday Observer in October 2019. The Elephant Corridor ranges from Kalawewa to Habarana in North Central Sri Lanka. Villagers use electric fences to contain intruding elephants, and according to DWC Director General M.G.C. Sooriyabandara, they might also be poisoning the elephants. The FBI has charged a man with fleeing prosecution after he allegedly strangled a Roswell woman and fled the country with their young son. Frank Fisher, an FBI spokesman, said the bureau filed an arrest warrant Friday for Jorge Rico-Ruvira, 32, charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Rico-Ruvira, a Mexican citizen, may have fled to Mexico, where he has family in the areas of Zacatecas and Jalisco, Fisher said in an emailed release. On Thursday Rico-Ruvira was charged in state court with first-degree murder in the Jan. 7 death of 27-year-old Isela Mauricio-Sanchez. Relatives found Mauricio-Sanchez dead in the couples southeast Roswell home Tuesday morning. Rico-Ruvira and the couples 3-year-old son, Osiel Ernesto Rico, were missing. An Amber Alert was issued for the toddler later that day. The pair are believed to be traveling in Mauricio-Sanchezs maroon 2003 GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle with a turquoise New Mexico license plate, MNF231. Tips: Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the FBI at (505) 889-1300, Roswell Police Department, (575) 624-6770, or the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-457-3463. Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "starting a new chapter in India's development" and exuded confidence that India will achieve its goal to be a $5 trillion economy by 2024. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started a new chapter in India's economic development. Since 1947 to 2014, we could make India a $2 trillion economy. From 2014-2019, the Narendra government within five years made it $3 trillion from $2 trillion," he said while addressing the annual convocation at the Gujarat Technological University (GTU). "No economy in the world has made such a huge jump. Today, those who are commenting on a temporary phase ... don't get disheartened by it ... I am here to tell you that $3 trillion is not our destination. In 2024, India will achieve the goal of $5 trillion economy," he said. The Home Minister stressed that youths are important for achieving this goal. Talking about 'New India,' Shah said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi says it in the entire world that we would build a New India. That is because of his faith in the country's youths like you. On the basis of this faith, he says with confidence that -- my country has the solution to all the challenges of the world." The Home Minister said that faith is there in him because of his constant communication with children, and students. He, however, said: "There is no dearth of people in the country spreading pessimism." Congratulating students for 'crossing' an important milestone, the Home Minister urged them to read about Swami Vivekananda and try to inculcate his thoughts in their lives. Urging the youths to think of nation-building, he said: "Can we make the use of technology a medium to solve problems faced by the country? We will have to keep this dimension in our thinking as well." "Thousands of farmers are burning stubbles due to compulsion. When I see those talking of environment and giving lectures to them, I want to make them understand that you are talking about problems. Please don't think the farmer is not aware of the problem. He just doesn't have the solution," added he. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tehran: Iranian state TV, citing a military statement, says the country unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard. The statement came Saturday morning and blamed human error for the shootdown. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. forces. Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The US officials on Friday had given Kiev "important data" about the crash of a Ukrainian airliner in Iran, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Friday. All 176 people on board died when Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 went down near Tehran on Wednesday, shortly after Iran launched missiles at US forces in Iraq in response to the killing of a top Iranian general in a US drone strike in Baghdad. American, British and Canadian officials say intelligence sources indicate that Iran shot down the plane, perhaps unintentionally, but this has been denied by Tehran. "President Volodymyr Zelensky and I met with US representatives," Prystaiko said on Twitter. "We have received important data which will be processed by our experts." Zelensky was due to speak to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the crash at 3 pm (1300 GMT), the minister added. Mumbai, Jan 11 : Laxmi Agarwal has become a social media star thanks to "Chhapaak". The acid attack survivor, whose life story has inspired the Deepika Padukone-starrer, is enjoying a huge fan base on social media and her videos are going viral on TikTok. Image Source: IANS News Recently, Deepika Padukone made her debut on currently one of the most popular social media apps, TikTok to promote her film "Chhapaak". A video of Deepika and Laxmi dancing together to the beats of the Punjabi song "Rider" is getting immense love from netizens. Netizens are also loving Deepika and Laxmi's dance to the beats of the song "Naagin gin gin". Not just Laxmi's dance videos, "Chhapaak"s dialogues being mouthed by fans are also going viral on TikTok. Image Source: IANS News Although Laxmi was already popular on social media earlier as well, her popularity has grown manifold ahead of the release of "Chhapaak". Laxmi fell prey to acid attack at the age of 19. She bravely fought back and earned everyone's respect with her social work. Image Source: IANS News Laxmi is currently an activist for women's rights and campaigns to stop the sale of acid. She has inspired many other acid attack victims in the past and continues to do so even today. Her courage and bravery has earned her respect and salute from everyone. While Deepika impresses on screen, the real hero of "Chhapaak", Laxmi Agarwal, has become a TiKTok sensation. -- Syndicated from IANS Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Actress and Tony Awardwinning Broadway star Cynthia Erivo might have been invited to this years BAFTAs in February, but because no performers of color were voted onto the awards four acting categories, she wont be attending them after all. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts drew criticism this week after it was revealed this years slate of acting nominees, specifically for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, are all white. Additionally, no female nominees made it onto the Best Director list. So, when she was asked to perform at the awards, the Harriet actress took a hard pass. Providing the entertainment at a show where no actors or actresses of color were being recognized, she explained, felt like she was being throw in as a party trick. I felt like [the invitation] didnt represent people of color in the right light, Erivo told Extra at the premiere of her latest show, HBOs The Outsider. It felt like it was calling on me as an entertainer, as opposed to a person who was a part of the world of film, and I think that its important to make it known that its not something that you just throw in as a party trick, you know? Continued Erivo, I work hard and every single person of color who is working in these films this year has worked really hard, and there are many of them who deserve to be celebrated. And no women directors? It just was like, Cmon. The cast of upcoming G.I. Joe spin-off movie Snake Eyes received a traditional Japanese blessing today ahead of the start of filming in Tokyo. Also known by the rather more cumbersome moniker Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, the film follows Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding as the titular martial artist a fan favourite character in the G.I. Joe world. Robert Schwentke, who directed comic book movie Red as well as two Divergent films, is behind the camera on Snake Eyes, which will serve as an origin story for the character. The cast and crew of 'Snake Eyes' at the Hie-Jinja Shrine in Tokyo, Japan on January 10, 2020. (Photo by Christopher Jue/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures) Ahead of cameras rolling in Japan, key members of the cast and crew paid a visit to the Hie-Jinja Shrine in Tokyo a Shinto site dating back more than 500 years. Read more: Golding responds to James Bond rumours Those in attendance received a traditional blessing, including Golding, Schwentke and co-stars Iko Uwais, Andrew Koji, Haruka Abe and Takehiro Hira. Samara Weaving is also a part of the cast as G.I. Joe team member Scarlett, but was not present in Tokyo. Henry Golding attends the "Snake Eyes" event at the Hie-Jinja Shrine on January 10, 2020. (Photo by Christopher Jue/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures) The Tokyo leg of filming for Snake Eyes comes in the wake of previous production in Vancouver, Canada last year. Read more: Weaving on her Ready or Not role Its the first G.I. Joe movie since 2013 sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation received a poor critical response, sending Paramount back to the drawing board. That film and its predecessor both featured martial arts performer Ray Park best known as Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace as Snake Eyes. Ray Park and Dwayne Johnson in 2013 sequel 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'. (Credit: Paramount) Snake Eyes is traditionally depicted as a ninja commando who wears a mask and doesnt speak, though it is unclear whether this will be the case in his origin story. Golding has recently appeared in films including festive romcom Last Christmas and Guy Ritchies crime thriller The Gentlemen. Read more: Hugh Grant on going dark for The Gentlemen Despite negative reviews from film critics, Last Christmas has been a major box office success, raking in $121m (92m) at the global box office. Snake Eyes will arrive in US cinemas on 16 October, with a UK release date yet to be confirmed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-12 05:42:21|Editor: ZX Video Player Close TUNIS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied will pay an official visit to Oman on Sunday to express his condolences over the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, said a presidency statement. "Tunisia will always remember the imprint of the deceased who made the ties between Tunisia and the Sultanate of Oman a source of inspiration for what should be the relations between the brothers," said the presidency. Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was chosen on Saturday as Sultan of Oman to succeed the Sultan Qaboos who passed away on Friday evening, at the age of 79, after a period of rule for almost half a century. By Trend Ankara and Baku will jointly fight against illegal visits and illegal economic activity in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, a diplomatic source in Turkey told Trend. Along with this, warning information will be regularly disseminated in the Turkish media, according to the report. As part of the joint fight against illegal visits to the occupied Azerbaijani territories and illegal economic activity in this territory, regular information exchange will be carried out between the relevant agencies of Azerbaijan and Turkey, the source said. The source added that products illegally manufactured in the occupied Azerbaijani territories wont be allowed to be imported into Turkey. 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 Joaquin Phoenix has become the latest celebrity to be arrested as part of Jane Fondas weekly climate protests. On Friday, a spokesperson for Fire Drill Fridays, the name of Fondas weekly initiative, confirmed that the actor was among 147 people arrested in the protest for crowding, obstructing or incommoding. Phoenix was joined by a number of celebrity activists at the event, including fellow actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen. Before being led off by police, the Joker star addressed the crowd at the protest with a speech in which he took aim at the meat and dairy industry and urged people to turn vegan. Something I think isnt oftentimes talked about in the environmental movement or in the conversation about climate change is that the meat and dairy industry is the third leading cause of climate change, he said. (Getty) I think sometimes we wonder what we can do in this fight against climate change and theres something that you can do today, right now, and tomorrow, by making a choice about what you consume. Phoenix continued: I struggle so much with what I can do at times. There are things that I can't avoid I flew a plane out here today, or last night rather. But one thing that I can do is change my eating habits. The remarks come days after Phoenixs speech at the Golden Globes, in which he praised the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for serving guests with vegan food. While accepting an award for best actor for a motion picture, drama, the Joker actor said: Id like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for recognising and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate change. It really sends a powerful message. Its really nice that so many people have sent their well wishes to Australia but we have to do more than that. Fonda has led the Fire Drill Fridays protests in Washington DC since last October, reportedly getting arrested on four separate occasions for her involvement. The group holds a protest on the steps of the US Capitol building every Friday morning, inspired by teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. The protests demand that action by our political leaders be taken to address the climate emergency we are in, according to the Fire Drill Fridays website. Levenson provided quart-size canning jars for other artists to fill with what she terms studio dirt. Some of the contents are catalogued on strips of paper, one long enough that it drapes on the floor. In both a parody of and an homage to scientific method, Levenson offers a metal desk and a set of tools. The desk holds one of five jars of her own art detritus, open so that visitors can sift and analyze the stuff. In someone elses junk, the artist suggests, you just might find yourself. Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed crucial issues on the international agenda today, Saturday, in a private meeting and at the level of delegations in the Kremlin, Prensa Latina reports. At the start of the private talks, Putin thanked Merkel for accepting the invitation and noted that the two are in permanent contact to discuss economic and political issues, as well as the international agenda, the presidential press service said. The Kremlin's press service anticipated that official talks would address the situation regarding Ukraine's compliance with its commitments made in the Final Communique of the Paris summit of the Normandy Quartet (Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine). For-profit schools been scrutinized for student outcomes. Students who enroll at for-profits are less likely to complete a program and more likely to default on their loans, research from the Center for Analysis of Postsecondary Education and Employment at Columbia University shows. Tourist remains hospitalized after falling into Tulum cenote Tulum, Q.R. A tourist remains in hospital after falling into a cenote in the municipality of Tulum. Reports say the male tourist was exploring the area when he overstepped and slipped, falling onto a concrete area of the narrow cenote. Witnesses called emergency rescue services. According to police reports, the incident occurred around 5:00 p.m. when Emergency 911 alerted authorities that a man had fallen into a cenote near the Coba archaeological zone with witnesses reporting him as deceased. Personnel from the Quintana Roo Police, Tulum Fire Department and Civil Protection, along with an ambulance, arrived at the site where they began the task of rescuing the (deceased) man from the cenote. It took nearly three hours for rescue personnel to lift the man through the extremely narrow rock passage to the surface, where he was declared unconscious and with severe injuries. The man has been identified as 33-year-old Vicente L from Germany. Paramedics from the Tulum Fire Department reported the man suffered several fractures and remains hospitalized. Boris Johnson hailed a great step forward for Northern Ireland last night after nationalist and Unionist parties agreed to restore devolved government. Three years after power-sharing collapsed, Sinn Fein and the DUP signed a new deal to resurrect the Stormont assembly and executive. The historic decision is a major victory for the UK and Irish governments, which drew up the agreement and means the Northern Ireland Assembly could resume sitting as early as today. Sinn Fein party leader Mary Lou McDonald (pictured at the Parliament Buildings on the Stormont Estate, on January 10 ) said there is now 'the basis to restore power-sharing' since her party and the DUP signed a deal to resurrect the Stormont assembly and executive The breakthrough is also a success for Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith. There was speculation last night that he could keep his job in the upcoming reshuffle, despite earlier predictions he would be sacked. Mr Smith threatened to withhold hundreds of millions of pounds for struggling public services and force new elections if the parties refused to re-enter government. On Thursday night DUP leader Arlene Foster backed the agreement just minutes after the proposals were published. The new partnership will ensure future negotiations between the parties are built upon 'equality, respect and integrity', according to Ms McDonald (pictured with vice president Michelle ONeill on January 10) Then yesterday afternoon, following a day of internal deliberations, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the draft agreement was acceptable. In a statement issued last night, the Prime Minister said: This is a great step forwards for the people of Northern Ireland and for restoring public confidence in stable devolved Government and delivering much needed reforms to public services. Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the ministerial executive can only function if both the largest Unionist and nationalist parties in the region agree. Boris Johnson (pictured on January 8) said the decision is 'great step forward for the people of Northern Ireland' and 'restoring public confidence in stable devolved Government and delivering much needed reforms to public services' There has been no confirmation as to when the assembly will resume business and when a new first and deputy first minister will be elected, but it could be this weekend. Miss McDonald said: We now have the basis to restore power-sharing, and were up for that. Theres no doubt there are serious challenges ahead; the impact of Brexit, austerity and other pressing issues. The deal is a major victory for Ireland Secretary Julian Smith (pictured) who could now keep his job in the cabinet reshuffle But the biggest and most significant challenge will be ensuring we have genuine power-sharing built on equality, respect and integrity. I believe the power-sharing government can work. That requires everyone to step up. Sinn Feins commitment is to do all in our power to make this happen. The wide-ranging deal, published by the governments on Thursday, contains compromise solutions to the major disputes between the parties, including the issue of promoting the Irish language. The sweetener was a major Treasury-funded cash package to tackle a host of public sector problems. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (left), deputy leader Michelle O'Neill (centre) and party colleagues arrive to speak to the media in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on January 10 The NHS and education systems in Northern Ireland have suffered lower funding because officials were unable to make funding decisions required to be made by ministers. Under the terms of the deal, the new executive will also take action to reduce spiralling hospital waiting times, extend payments for benefit claimants and increase the number of police officers. Following the announcement, Mr Smith tweeted: A devolved government can now start delivering the reforms needed in our public services. After three years, its time to get back to work for the people of Northern Ireland. Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney hailed it as a momentous breakthrough. Speaking to reporters in Dublin, he said: History is being made today. We now have confirmation from the two largest parties in Northern Ireland that they both are committed to re-entering an executive and establishing a functioning Stormont again. We hope it may be possible that executive will be formed tomorrow, but if not tomorrow certainly Monday, and to build on the momentum that is being created in the past 24 hours so people can see positive political activity. She stays busy managing all of her famous children. And Kris Jenner was heading out of the studio on Friday and straight into the weekend. The momager cut a sleek look as climbs into her ride outside of the Los Angeles studio. Matrix Kris: Kris Jenner cut a sleek look as climbs into her ride outside of the Los Angeles studio, donning an all black outfit The 64-year-old matched her all black ride in her Matrix-esq look. Jenner teamed a long black leather coat with black trousers and a plain black t-shirt. Despite coming from a family known for always donning heels, Kris went for a low option in black leather booties. Coordinated: Jenner teamed a long black leather coat with black trousers and a plain black t-shirt and black boots The reality TV star had her signature short locks in a sleek styled look and covered her eyes with large, squared sunglasses. Her outing comes just a day after her daughter Kim Kardashian revealed that Kris gave each of their Christmas party guests gift baskets filled with appliances valued at hundreds of dollars each. The lucky recipients went home bursting with holiday cheer and weighed down with Dolce & Gabbana and Smeg appliances valued at $650 per item. Signature look: The reality TV star had her signature short locks in a sleek styled look and covered her eyes with large, squared sunglasses Pricey presents: Kim Kardashian revealed Thursday on Instagram that her mother Kris Jenner gave their Christmas Eve party guests $650 appliances from Smeg and Dolce & Gabanna Kim showed off the gorgeous gifts, which appeared to be stacked in boxes around her home. Her first short video zoomed in on an array of Smeg toasters, which were produced in collaboration with Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana. The small appliances were decorated with ornate, colorful designs inspired by traditional Sicilian ceramic designs. 'Did I ever mention for our Xmas eve party my mom makes the best gift bags! This year we were blessed with @smegitalia & @dolcegabbana appliances!!!' Kim captioned the clip. Her first short video zoomed in on an array of Smeg toasters, which were produced in collaboration with Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana Bright: The small appliances were decorated with ornate, colorful designs inspired by traditional Sicilian ceramic designs Fruity: The classic citrus juicer was also decked out in elaborate designs and fruit illustrations Kim filmed a wall of boxes with a delicate toaster, which featured a red color scheme and panels with rustic rooster and bluebird designs. The classic citrus juicer was also decked out in elaborate designs and fruit illustrations. The final appliance Kim revealed was a white kettle covered in swirling floral decorations. It's not clear if Kris gave the party guests all three items or just one. Kim also didn't mention if the boxes were leftovers or if the videos were filmed prior to handing them out on Christmas Eve. The presents were certainly pricey though, with each item retailing for hundreds of dollars.. Smeg hasn't announced prices for its Dolce & Gabbana, but Digital Trends reports that all three items Kim showed retail for $650, and all the items stacked in Kim's home would retail in the ballpark of $150,000. Proud: Kris also shared a photo of herself posing in striped pajamas next to all of her appliances on Christmas morning The brand also sells a larger toaster for $850 and a mixer for $1,500. Though Kris was feeling generous, she steered clear of the outrageously expensive Smeg/Dolce & Gabbana refrigerator, which costs a whopping $50,000. Kim's sharing may have been inspired by a photo of herself in front of two refrigerators that only included bottles of water, ginger ale and milk cartons, while the majority of the space was unused. Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Saturday termed the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff a "very big step" towards integration of the three forces and said the Army will ensure its success. He also asserted that allegiance to Constitution should guide "us in all times". "Justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as enshrined in Constitution must guide us," he said. Addressing a press conference, Gen Naravane said the focus of training will be on preparing the Army for future wars which will be network-centric and complex. "We are prepared to deal with challenges along northern border," the Army chief said when asked about China enhancing military infrastructure. "We are initiating rebalancing of preparedness along northern border, including moving advanced weapon systems," he said. He said the focus will be on integration within the Army and among the three services. "The formation of the CDS and the creation of a department of military affairs is a very big step towards integration. We on our part will make sure that this is a success," the Army chief said. "Integration will also be within the Army and the integrated battle group is just one example of that. But I also want to assure everyone that in this process of integration we will take everyone along. Nobody will be left behind," he said. The Army chief's remarks come days after Gen Bipin Rawat took over as India's first Chief of Defence Staff with a mandate to bring in convergence in functioning of the Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force and bolster the country's military prowess. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a cruel twist of fate a doctor has died from the same type of skin cancer she spent her whole life researching. Melanoma expert Dr Sharon Hutchison worked as a researcher at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness, Scotland. But in January last year she was herself diagnosed with skin cancer after spotting a mole on her neck. Dr Hutchison underwent treatment but died last week at the Highland Hospice just a year after being told she had the aggressive form of melanoma. Melanoma expert Dr Sharon Hutchison (pictured), who worked as a researcher at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness, Scotland, has died of the same type of skin cancer she spent her life researching The 39-year-old had originally joined the university research team in the summer of 2018 with its work being part of a worldwide collaboration. She had previously been employed for around six years before that in the radiopharmacy department at Raigmore Hospital where she was involved in producing treatments for thousands of cancer patients. She was also been involved in the development of drug treatments for melanoma at Glasgow University. The 39-year-old was diagnosed with skin cancer in January last year after spotting a mole on her neck Dr Hutchison continued to work months after her diagnosis up until the beginning of December. She underwent two different types of therapy but the cancer spread. She spent her final days in the hospice surrounded by her family and her colleagues have since vowed to carry on her work. Dr Antonia Pritchard said: 'She was very stoic. She faced it with immense strength. She was remarkable. 'She went to her doctor - she did all the right things but her melanoma was a particularly aggressive form. Her colleagues have since vowed to carry on her work. Pictured: Dr Sharon Hutchison (left) alongside Dr Antonia Pritchard (right) 'She had major surgery and was back at work after one week. She had a tremendous work ethic when it came to her research.' 'Being an expert in this, we knew from the outset what the options were. 'She was a great friend, meticulous researcher and I miss her immensely.' Dr Pritchard added that her team would continue to research the disease and raise awareness of melanoma so people know how to spot the warning signs. Dr Sharon Hutchison originally joined the university research team in the summer of 2018 with its work being part of a worldwide collaboration. Pictured: University of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness, Scotland She said: 'Sharon was very passionate about people getting themselves tested. 'Hopefully, that will be one of the outcomes from this.' Dr Hutchison leaves her parents David and Jane and her brother Neil. She often enjoyed outdoor pursuits in her spare time and included mountain biking and running events. Mourners were invited to give donations to the hospice at her funeral which took place at Falkirk Crematorium on Thursday. The Indian Coast Guard evacuated an ailing Burmese national from a merchant vessel off Porbandar coast in Gujarat, an official release said on Saturday. A Coast Guard ship carried out the medical evacuation of Myanmar native Myo San from MV Fortune Wing on Friday evening, following an alert from the Maritime Rescue Co- ordination Centre Mumbai (MRCC), it stated. "On receiving the information, ICG ship C-445 sailed out at 1 pm for medical evacuation, which was carried out 78 nautical miles off Porbandar coast at 6.45 pm," the release said. San was disembarked at Coast Guard jetty and handed over to a local agent at the midnight in a stable condition, after which he was shifted to Rajkot, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A ruling Congress MLA in Puducherry caused a flutter on Saturday by charging the territorial government with being "steeped in corruption" and warned it would lead to the downfall of the party in the Assembly elections in 2021 if left unchecked. A detailed memorandum would be presented soon to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior leader Rahul Gandhi to bring to their notice the rampant corruption indulged in by the V Narayanasamy-led government in the union territory, the Bahour MLA N Dhanavelou told reporters here. "The party high command was not aware of what is happening in Congress-ruled Puducherry and hence I would seek the intervention of the top brass soon by meeting them in Delhi and presenting a memorandum," he added. The Congress MLA alleged corrupt practices were rampant in the Registration department at the instance of some ministers. Dhanavelou, who is also chairman of the government- owned Civil Supplies Corporation (PAPSCO), said the healthcare services in rural areas were a shambles. The Bahour MLA recalled that he had led a procession in his constituency a few days ago to highlight the shortcomings and lack of drugs including lifesaving medicines in the local primary Health Centre (PHC). He said he would soon come out with more details of "poor governance, corruption and malpractices in Puducherry government." "There was a need for a change of guard lest the Congress suffer a serious downfall in the next general elections in 2021 to the territorial Assembly," Dhanavelou said. The Congress MLA also said he was opposed to the Chief Minister's move to opens casinos in Puducherry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rag trade billionaire Philip Day is stepping up investment in his stable of British 'heritage' brands with flash new West End headquarters and a flagship store for his prized Jaeger fashion chain. Day is understood to have snapped up a 30,000 square foot building in Marylebone, West London, that will house office staff for his brands Austin Reed, Jaeger and Viyella. The labels form part of a group of brands owned by Day which also includes Peacocks, Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Country Casuals. The group employs 27,000 staff and has 1,200 shops and concessions. Jaeger owner Philip Day also owns Peacocks, Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Country Casuals But the fashion mogul has identified the brands destined for the new office as a key investment opportunity. Day, 54, who lists his residence as Switzerland and has handed an essential role running the Jaeger chain to his daughter Lauren, is understood to have been opening a Jaeger store every month and wants to double the chain to 30 town centre shops. A spokesman for Day's Edinburgh Woollen Mill group said the brands had 'lost their way' before being rescued from collapse. 'We are on a mission to bring back British heritage brands to the UK high street. We want to restore these proud British brands to their former glory, not only in the UK but internationally too,' the spokesman added. He declined to reveal details of the new operations centre. But sources said it will include the main London store for Jaeger on its ground floor and concessions to show off the latest Austin Reed and Viyella ranges. The new push emerges after The British Retail Consortium said the high street has suffered its worst year for 25 years. Last week's grim news included a raft of dire trading updates from across the sector and culminated with the sudden departure of John Lewis boss Paula Nickolds. But Day, who has been described as 'the new king of the high street', is not alone among mega-rich retail barons snapping up ailing high street chains in the hope that better days may be around the corner. Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley, who described himself as the 'saviour' of Britain's high streets, bought House of Fraser in 2017 and has long stalked its larger rival Debenhams in the hope he can seize the chain on the cheap. Strategy: Jaeger designs will be more visible as Philip Day doubles the number of stores Meanwhile, the founder and executive chairman of online fashion chain Boohoo, Mahmud Kamani, is also waiting in the wings. Kamani's family, which includes son Umar who runs Boohoo's PrettyLittleThing.com site, is reportedly worth 1.2billion. Sources say the rapid growth of the group will mean that figure is highly conservative. Boohoo hoovered up the fallen Karen Millen and Coast brands for just 18million last year. Meanwhile, Day scrapped his dividend from Edinburgh Woollen Mill last year amid speculation he may be lining up more acquisitions. But one senior retail executive said buying up faded chains, while cheap, was not a recipe for success. He added: 'The bet is that the high street is nearing the bottom. That online is going to plateau. If you can buy things on the cheap, renegotiate rents and sort out the suppliers then great, but you need a bit of vision or you might just end up flogging a dead horse.' He added there was always a risk that 'ruthlessly stripping' assets and brands 'could backfire'. Day, who grew up on a council estate in Stockport, spends much of his time in the Middle East and mainland Europe and has a castle in Carlisle. He cut his teeth as managing director of upmarket men's tailoring label Aquascutum in the 1990s and is said to regard his growing stable of upmarket British brands as a return to his roots. He also owns suit brands Berwin & Berwin, Baumler and a clutch of womenswear brands familiar with department store shoppers including Jacques Vert, Dash, Eastex and Windsmoor. Directors at Day's group have previously talked about having as many as 50 shops under the Austin Reed brand, which Day once said had been 'horrifically' mismanaged before he bought it. Any such strategy is understood to be some way off with the group focusing on growing its 49 concession partners and selling online in the short term. It has also launched a made-to-measure service for Austin Reed through 22 partners and signed a deal with premium wool supplier El Escorial, whose other customers include Louis Vuitton and Chanel, to make the 2,500 fitted suits. The spokesman said: 'Rebuilding iconic brands takes time and there are no short cuts. We know that it will be a long journey. We know that it is necessary to take this at a measured but focused pace. We are not in this for short-term wins we see this as a long-term mission that requires strategy and investment. 'We believe these British brands partly lost their way because they became dependent on an unsustainable discount-led marketing strategy. Now the emphasis is on quality.' Lets play a game. Ill provide you a Bernie Sanders quote, and youll see if you can guess what year the quote came from. This nation, Sanders said, is owned and controlled by a handful of people who are using the wealth and productivity of the nation for their own selfish economic gain. It could have been something the Vermont senator said last week on the presidential campaign trail. Or it could have been a snippet from one of his 2016 debates with Hillary Clinton. In fact, however, this quote comes from 1974, when Sanders, then a 32-year-old freelance writer, ran as the Liberty Union Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Vermont. The fact that this statement would have perfectly represented the world view of Sanders at any point over the past 50 years helps to explain the enduring political power of the man. And why he is so routinely underestimated. Guessing the right year for a Sanders quote is like guessing the right year for an AC/DC studio outtake. Just like Angus Young and his band mates, Sanders, early on, found his niche, stuck with it and delivers it with unyielding commitment and no-frills passion. Thats their strength and their limitation. You dont get surprises or creative evolutions from Sanders or AC/DC. But you also never have to wonder where theyre coming from. For most of the past year, Sanders has been taken for granted in the Democratic presidential race. Even though the polls consistently showed him to be a top-tier contender, pundits generally concluded that Sanders couldnt win. (In much the same way that pundits concluded in 2015 that Donald Trump would never win the Republican nomination, much less make it to the White House.) On ExpressNews.com: As a presidential contender, Julian Castro left it all on the field This premise was based on the idea that voters attracted to Sanders platform would find Elizabeth Warren to be a more appealing and less scolding critic of corporate corruption than Sanders. Also, at a time when Democratic voters are obsessed with finding a nominee who can beat Trump, Sanders a self-described democratic socialist who will be 79 on Election Day was seen as too much of an electability risk. That consensus was only reinforced in October when a heart attack briefly sidelined Sanders. Over the past month, however, as presidential campaign activity slowed for the holidays, a new narrative formed: Watch out for Bernie! Sanders could actually take this thing! Recent polls show Sanders leading in Iowa and New Hampshire and running a close second to Joe Biden in Nevada. Sanders also raised $34.5 million over the final quarter of 2019, the biggest three-month haul for any Democratic candidate in this race. Politico reported Thursday that Biden increasingly views Sanders as his most formidable opponent in Iowa and beyond. The Independent proclaimed that against all odds, it looks like Bernie Sanders might be the Democratic nominee after all. The new pro-Sanders consensus is that Biden and Pete Buttigieg will split the partys centrist vote, while Warrens perceived pivots on how she would implement Medicare for All have weakened her bid to seize control of the partys left flank. When former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro endorsed Warren on Jan. 6, his Facebook endorsement video met with dozens of angry comments from die-hard Sanders loyalists who told Castro he had backed the wrong candidate. A late November Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll found that 64 percent of Sanders supporters say their minds are made up about the presidential race. Thats not a surprise, but its still telling. Sanders supporters do not merely prefer him. They believe in him. As a longtime political independent, he shares their distrust for the Democratic Party establishment. He stuck his neck out in defiance of that establishment in 2015-16, when he complicated and delayed Hillary Clintons coronation as the partys presidential nominee. Sanders relentless pursuit of his democratic-socialist agenda is evident in his early political history. He ran four times for statewide office in Vermont from 1971-76, never garnering more than 6 percent of the vote, but never losing faith in his cause. In 1981, only two months after Ronald Reagan began a presidency devoted to conservative principles, Sanders pulled off a stunning win over the incumbent mayor of Burlington, Vt. A year into his mayoral tenure, Sanders said, Youre not going to have real change in this country until you change the system of Republicans and Democrats. He added, We are telling people to break with the system. Sanders speaks to his supporters desire to upend what they view as a rigged economy and they know he wont alter his message to suit his audience. After all, he hasnt altered it a bit in the past 50 years. Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Many Manitoba drivers acknowledge switching to an electric vehicle would be doing the right thing. But is this the right time? Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Editorial Many Manitoba drivers acknowledge switching to an electric vehicle would be doing the right thing. But is this the right time? For many Manitoba vehicle owners, its a question of when not whether to go green by purchasing a personal vehicle without an internal combustion engine. Its possible the answer became more clear in recent weeks because, finally, Canada has a coast-to-coast network of fast-charging stations. Late last month, Petro-Canada completed a chain of 50 such stations along the Trans-Canada Highway from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. Locations include Brandon, Dugald at the site known locally as Deacons Corner, Kenora, Ont., and Whitewood, Sask. Another is planned for Portage la Prairie. Until now, there were gaps in Trans-Canada charging stations between Calgary and northern Ontario, a drawback that caused some drivers to postpone switching to electric because they feared getting stranded on road trips. That threat is eliminated with the new chain of fast-charging stations that are strategically positioned close enough to keep electric vehicles powered up. The Petro-Canada Charging Station here in Brandon, for example, is located along the Trans-Canada Highway at the junction with First Street. Manitoba already had relatively low-powered Level 2 chargers scattered throughout the province, but the new additions are Level 3 superchargers, which provide a 200-kilowatt charge in about 30 minutes. At the same time, Tesla has also expanded to Brandon, with the construction of a supercharger charging station at the Corral Centre. Its one of at least four recent Tesla additions that have opened up in recent weeks in Winnipeg, Whitewood, Sask., and in Regina. Might this be the tipping point for Manitoba drivers? Will the availability of highway and community superchargers be the assurance needed to increase the historically slow sales of electric vehicles in Manitoba? The lack of adequate chargers in the sparsely populated geography in and around Manitoba has often been cited as a reason for the low number of electric vehicles, compared to places with higher concentrations of drivers and service centres for vehicles. And questions still remain regarding the charging options available to travellers to Manitobas far-flung north. 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. MPI says the number of electric vehicles registered in Manitoba jumped 48 per cent from 2017 to 2018 from 126 to 187 and there are about 6,000 hybrids, a number which includes plug-in hybrids that can run on gas when the battery runs out of charge. Consumer interest in electric vehicles was heightened eight months ago with the introduction of a federal-government rebate of $5,000 on any electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles costing less than $55,000. Electric-vehicle evangelists urge us to crunch the numbers: they say the initial sticker-price difference between all-electric and fossil-fuel vehicles evens out after seven years of ownership, thanks to government rebates and the much-lower costs of fuel and maintenance. In Manitoba, another important factor could be the impending availability of all-electric vehicles larger than the models that are currently most popular, the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt. A glance at any Manitoba parking lot shows a large percentage of this provinces drivers still prefer their trucks and SUVs especially out here in rural Manitoba and a selection of all-electric versions of these larger vehicles is apparently coming soon to market. For Manitoba drivers still undecided about whether the time is right, there remains the appeal to regional pride. This province has invested heavily in developing hydroelectric power; do we believe in the product were producing? Every electrical vehicle in Manitoba is a vote of confidence for the clean-energy power Manitoba is trying to sell. At the very least, the proliferation of charging stations across the country should spark even more interest. Winnipeg Free Press & The Brandon Sun India is the fourth country to pay up for this year and is the largest contributor so far. India paid on Friday the full amount of $23.4 million for this year for the general budget due only at the end of the month. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Friday thanked India for sending the payment. Very few countries pay their dues by the January-end deadline and there is a large list of countries in arrears from past years. Of the 193 members, 47 have not paid last year's dues creating a cash crunch, according to Dujarric. Guterres has called it "the worst cash crisis facing the United Nations in nearly a decade." The UN is on an austerity mode curtailing several services and even the escalator at the Secretariat. The UN could not produce the full summary of the Security Council debate on Thursday at the end of the day because of the cutbacks. The General Assembly last month approved this year's UN budget of $3 billion for its worldwide operations, a small increase from last year's $2.9 billion outlay. It also switched to a system of annual budgets from the two-year budgets that had been in force. The UN has a separate, far larger budget for peacekeeping operations with a different fiscal year that runs July to June. It is $6.5 billion for the current year. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) The weekly Irish language conversation group (Ciorcal Comhra Bhaile Atha Fhirdhia) which meets in Full of Beans Cafe, Ashwalk, Ardee held their Christmas dinner recently and is inviting new members to join them every Thursday morning at 10.45am to practise speaking Irish in an informal setting. As well as general conversation, the group focuses on a different topic each week and participants get a list of sample sentences to bring home with them, some popular Irish songs are also included. The group has been going almost five years now. There is no charge to attend and newcomers are welcome every week. For those who are not available during the day, another group meets in Ughtyneill Hall on the main Kells-Kingscourt road on Monday evenings at 7:45 p.m. Just come on the day or phone Tom on 087-9895542 for more information. Beidh failte romhat. FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, file photo, a Boeing 737 Max being built for Norwegian Air International taxis for a test flight, at Renton Municipal Airport in Renton, Wash. Newly released Boeing documents show that company employees knew about problems with flight simulators for the now-grounded 737 Max jetliner and talked about misleading regulators. Read more The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that it was seeking to penalize Boeing $5.4 million over allegations that it wrongly told the agency that defective wing parts were safe to use on its 737 Max jets. The proposed penalty is on top of a $3.9 million penalty the agency issued in December over the same issue in older generation 737s. The parts are called "slat tracks" and are used to guide parts of the wing that help the plane take off and land. The FAA accused Boeing of doing too little to oversee its suppliers and then submitting aircraft to the agency for final safety approvals despite determining that the parts had failed a strength test. The problem affected 178 Max jets, the FAA said. Boeing has 30 days to review the new fine. The proposed penalty comes as Boeing faces ongoing scrutiny over the development of the Max, which was involved in two deadly crashes in a span of five months between 2018 and early 2019 that killed 346 people. The plane was grounded shortly after the second crash and is still under safety review by American and international regulators. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new proposed penalty. In a statement issued after the first one, the company said any affected Max planes would be reviewed before the plane is cleared to fly again. Boeing also said it has "not been informed of any in-service issues related to the slat tracks themselves." The lengthy safety review after the crashes led to the ouster of Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg last month and prompted the company to announce that it would halt production of the Max. Boeing came under renewed criticism this week after it disclosed internal emails late Thursday that showed employees disparaging regulators and striving to minimize training requirements for the Max. The FAA has also faced questions over its relationship with Boeing, with some lawmakers accusing the agency of being excessively cozy with the company. But in recent months, the agency has sought to demonstrate that it is using its powers to hold Boeing accountable, including by proposing the first fine in December. Boeing also had 30 days to review that penalty, and the company and the FAA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the outcome of that review. At a congressional hearing in December, a former Boeing manufacturing manager testified that factory workers faced extraordinary pressure as the company sought to deliver the new Max to its customers. As Boeing pushed to make more planes each month, the former manager said the result was a "factory in chaos." Democratic lawmakers have accused the company of putting its financial ambitions ahead of safety, but the company said there was no indication any manufacturing issues contributed to the two crashes. Also Friday, the FAA said it was proposing to levy a $3.92 million fine against Southwest Airlines, alleging that the company had incorrectly calculated weight and balance information on more than 21,000 flights. That information is used to determine how the plane should be loaded, the FAA said, including how many passengers and fuel can be carried and where cargo should be put. In a statement, Southwest said the problem occurred when the airline was transferring data from one computer system to another in the spring of 2018 and that it had since strengthened its process for managing the information. "Southwest Airlines will continue working with the FAA to demonstrate the effectiveness of our controls and processes and seek to achieve an effective and appropriate resolution to this proposed penalty," the company's statement read in part. The Washington Posts Lori Aratani contributed to this report. Savers trapped in Neil Woodford's flagship fund have been hit with a further setback after finding out they will have to wait ten more days before they get their first payment. Link Fund Solutions, the firm charged with overseeing the management of the Woodford Equity Income fund, had promised savers they would receive their first chunk of money on January 20. But it is understood that Link pushed the payment date back to January 30 because it wanted to give as much money to savers as it could in one go. Savers trapped in Neil Woodford's flagship fund have been told they will have to wait ten more days before they get their first payment More than 300,000 savers have been trapped in Woodford's Equity Income fund since June, when it was suspended after a run of poor performance. Justin Modray, of Candid Financial Advice, said: 'This is yet another kick in the teeth for investors who have been waiting for months to get their money back, while watching their savings dwindle. 'The news of a ten-day delay, less than two weeks before the date Link had promised savers they could expect their first payment, makes Link appear as though they are making up the process as they go along.' At the end of January, the fund is expected to return 63 per cent of money, or 1.9billion, to investors. Link will send a letter to savers outlining exactly how much they will get on January 28. This is the cash that Blackrock, which was appointed along with private equity firm PJT Park Hill to wind up the fund, has so far been able to raise by selling the listed stocks held by the fund. But crucially, because the value of the fund has fallen, savers will not get back as much as they put in. Someone who invested 10,000 when the fund launched in 2014 is facing an estimated loss of 16 per cent. And someone who had an investment worth 10,000 when the fund was gated in June will get back 15 per cent less than they would have done then or around 8,500. The rest of the money will be returned at some point in the future, but there are fears this could take years with savers receiving less than expected. Blackrock and PJT Park Hill must find buyers for the difficult-to-sell, illiquid holdings in the Equity Income fund's portfolio. These also include stakes in companies which are not listed on stock exchanges, and which focus on early-stage technology, making them more difficult to value. Critics believe that many such companies in the Equity Income fund's portfolio will not attract as much as Blackrock and PJT are accounting for. Some investors in the Woodford Equity Income fund have had to put major plans on hold because they were frozen out of their savings on June 3 last year. Susan and her partner Jane, both in their 70s (who did not want to disclose their surnames), invested all of their 30,000 pension pot in the Woodford Equity Income fund. Susan attempted to withdraw a chunk of her savings the day before Link announced the suspension, in order to replace her broken-down car. But her request was never fulfilled, and she had to wave goodbye to the car she hoped to buy. By WKDZ, West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 10, 2020 | 02:00 PM | HOPKINSVILLE According to WKDZ, the Oldham County Circuit Court clerk says Dayton Jones had been indicted for first-degree promoting contraband and second-degree persistent felony offender. Oldham County Commonwealth's Attorney Courtney Baxter spoke told WKDZ that Jones had been caught with suboxone in September of last year at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex. The lab results required to confirm the drug, did not come through until December 30. Baxter says that if Jones is convicted on the new charges, he may face up to ten years in prison. Former Gov. Bevin signed the executive order on December 9, which commuted Jones's sentence to time served. He had been serving 15-years after admitting to his role in a sexual assault case against a 15-year-old victim in 2014. As of Friday Jones had not been arrested in connection to the indictment. According to the Courier-Journal, Christian County Commonwealth's Attorney Rick Boling has publicly apologized for writing a December letter to Gov. Bevin suggesting that Jones be pardoned. The letter suggested Jones had been targeted because his grandparents supported Republican candidates. Boling apologized for any embarrassment he caused the community, but others have called for him to resign. The Hopkinsville man who was released from prison after Gov. Bevin commuted his sentence last month, has been indicted by the Oldham County Grand Jury on Friday morning. On the Net: While the mass media tends to sensationalize suicide in the military, blaming it on whatever seems likely to draw the most readers, or clicks, something quite different was going on. Since 2015 suicide rates among active-duty American military personnel have been rising, even though there has been a lot less combat duty. Most American troops withdrew from Iraq in 2011 and Afghanistan in 2014. This suicide increase is apparently from the stress of being overseas, rather than combat. Or was it something else? The U.S. Army, which has always had the most suicides, also had the best historical records and researchers were surprised to find that army medical records as far back as 1819 tracked suicide. This is actually not that unusual because detailed birth and death records, in areas not ravaged by destructive wars, go back nearly a thousand years. This was first noticed in the 19th century when it became fashionable to comb centuries old records for data to get a better view of the past. Many unexpected trends were discovered. Since the Cold War ended in 1991 there has been more attention paid to suicide rates and since September 11, 2001, suicide rates in the military. This enabled non-historians, not just epidemiologists (experts on medical statistics) to note that non-combat troops and those who had not even gone overseas usually had higher suicide rates. It turned out this was nothing new. Until the Vietnam War is was common for the military suicide rate to sharply decline during wartime. The highest army rate was in 1883 when it was 118 per 100,000. From that high point rates steadily decreased until during the last year of World War II (1945) the rate was 5 per 100,000. Just before the war, in 1938, it was 40. During the Cold War (1948-1991) the rate fluctuated between 10 and 15. It rose a bit higher during the Vietnam War, reaching 18 in 1975. This raises interesting questions about the impact of conscription. Historically the United States only had conscription during wartime, the kind of national emergency that gives everyone a reason to live. Thus the rate in the army plummeted as conscription was revived in 1940, dropped for a few years after World War II and then rose again until 1972. The peak army suicide rate came as the Vietnam War, and peacetime conscription ended. That was a time of very low morale in the army, which might have had a lot to do with the spike in suicides. After the Cold War ended the rate remained low until 2004 when it went over 20 for the first time. The rate was up to 29.7 in 2012. Recent events were even stranger. In 2013 suicides for the 520,000 active-duty U.S. Army personnel declined from 35.6 to 29 per 100,000 personnel. More than half the total strength of the army are part-time soldiers of the reserve and National Guard. At that time the suicides for the entire military were down 16 percent. The navy experienced the sharpest drop (25 percent). In 2013, after more than a decade of heavy combat, the military knew that these fluctuating suicide rates had little to do with combat. This is being demonstrated now because the suicide has been rising at about six percent a year since 2014. So has the rate among civilians. Current rates are 30 per 100,000 for the army, 31 for the marines, 20 for the navy and 18 for the air force. The rate is higher in some job categories that are particularly stressful. Thus SOCOM (Special Operations Command), which has paid particular attention to reducing suicides, hit a high of 33 per 100,000 in 2012. That was reduced to 18 by 2014 and was down to 8 per 100,000 personnel in 2017. Suddenly it went up to 22 in 2018. SOCOM only has 70,000 personnel so a few suicides a year can shift the rate dramatically. But going from 8 to 22 in one year is extraordinary. Then again so was reducing the rate from 33 to 18 in two years. SOCOM is a special case in several ways. For one thing about a third of its personnel are combat troops and they have been spending a lot of time overseas since 2014 because of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and the fact that, while fewer troops are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, there are still plenty of Islamic terrorists to deal with and that is done largely using SOCOM personnel. Commanders have long warned that year after year of overseas deployments for SOCOM operators (the combat specialists) takes its toll, even on this carefully selected (for the ability to handle stress) and trained group of specialists. There have also been problems with some special operations commanders, who have made mistakes while trying to keep their men combat-capable. As long predicted this intense use of SOCOM personnel since 2001 has made suicide, morale and readiness problems worse. That said, SOCOM is a small part of the American military, comprising about five percent of active-duty personnel. The vast majority of military personnel and suicides are non-combat troops. Military epidemiologists have long sought to convince people outside the military that the rise in suicide rates within the military has little to do with the stress of combat and mostly to do with the stresses of military life during wartime or peacetime. In other words, the increased suicides were not concentrated among the combat veterans, who make up less than 15 percent of those in the military but are more evenly distributed among all service personnel. For example, during the last decade over 75 percent of suicides were among troops who had never gone overseas. The military, especially the army, has long documented all deaths and the Department of Defense in 2013 released a study of all suicides since 2001, when more troops saw combat, to 2008, when the heavy fighting in Iraq ended. A similar study for 2009-2012 suicides found little change. The researchers also point out that the reasons for suicides in the military are quite similar to those for civilian suicides, especially when victims are of the same age, education, and other factors as their military counterparts. In other words, periods of intense combat for the military have little impact on the overall suicide rate because so few troops are exposed to combat. These revelations were not well received by the mass media which makes much of the rising suicide rate in the military but pays less attention to rising suicide rates among civilians of the same age and education. That was 9 per 100,000 in 2001 but had risen to 17.5 in 2013 and by 2016 was 26 per 100,000 men aged 25-44, which is the age of most men in the military. This was declared to be a health emergency, and to a certain degree, it was. What was missed in all the discussion was that the higher suicide rate in the military is usually below the rate for civilians of the same age. The fact of the matter is that the military seeks to recruit only people who have an above-average ability to deal with stress, especially for the minority headed for combat jobs. Its not just combat stress the military worries about, because so few troops in the ground forces have combat jobs. The rest are doing civilian type jobs but often under stressful (combat zone) conditions. In fact, most of the military suicides are of men who were never in combat or even overseas. But since the military suicide rate is so much lower than those of comparable civilians, it hardly matters. There are so few actual suicides in the military each year that a few soldiers having family problems can cause the rate to seemingly spike. Thats largely what has been happening. The question now is what factors have caused the rate to creep up steadily since 2014. The military has been doing a lot to keep their suicide rate down by addressing stress. The losses to stress for troops overseas have been growing since 2003. For example, for every soldier killed in a combat zone, one was sent back home for treatment of acute stress. Most of these are not combat troops. For every one of those cases, there are several less serious ones that are treated in the combat zone. Many of these stressed troops are no longer able to perform all their duties. This is sometimes the case with troops taking anti-stress drugs. Some of these medications slow you down, which can be fatal if you find yourself in combat or an emergency situation. Many troops on these medications are no longer sent overseas. They can perform well back in the United States but this complicates the job of finding enough troops to go perform combat jobs. Problems with stress and mental health, in general, were seen as an inevitable result of so many NCOs and officers doing their third or fourth combat tours (in Iraq or Afghanistan). Thus, a stress epidemic has been created by the unprecedented exposure of so many troops to so much combat in so short a time. Once a soldier has reached a certain level of stress they are often no longer fit for combat, and many troops headed for Afghanistan after 2008 fell into this category. High-stress levels make it difficult for people to function or get along with others. With treatment (medication and therapy) you can recover from all that stress. But this can take months or years. New Delhi, Jan 11 : Little before 10 p.m. on the Friday night, the Centre uploaded the gazette notification for the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, ensuring the Act comes into play with immediate effect. This move comes amid nationwide protests against the Act by various Muslim organisations, intellectuals and student bodies across the country. This move is seen as a defiance by the government, whose Home Minister, the architect of the CAA, said a few days ago that there would be no roll back. Speaking to media, Amit Shah had said there would be no retraction by "even an inch". But even as the Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) protest and the fire spreads far and wide, from Mumbai's Gateway of India to hilly corners of Shillong, the government has its plan in motion to counter the anti-CAA narrative. Many within the government believe, a month long delay in the notification of the CAA even after being passed in Parliament and receiving the Presidential assent was to make grounds to launch the government's counter. Modi's Digital Counter: The anti-CAA movement was sparked off digitally with a hashtag 'india against CAA' that glued students, intellectuals, movie stars and Muslim organisations together. The government too kickstarted the counter offensive digitally. On December 30, Prime Minister himself, in a tweet, launched the counter campaign where he stated, "#IndiaSupportsCAA because CAA is about giving citizenship to persecuted refugees & not about taking anyone's citizenship away. Check out this hashtag in Your Voice section of the Volunteer module on NaMo App for content, graphics, videos & more. Share & show your support for CAA." Very soon, the hashtag started trending on top and many top ministers, BJP state chiefs, Chief Ministers' of the BJP-ruled states, social media influencers and most importantly, a large number of common people, started voicing their stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act, using the hashtag. Almost two weeks on, it's still a very popular trend on Twitter that has witnessed mass penetration. Speaking to IANS, at the time of the launch of this counter digital movement, Harish Ramaswamy, a political thinker, while describing how Modi can afford to go aggressive, even in the face of multi-pronged attacks, said: "See, Narendra Modi's idea of democracy is where the ruling party alone matters. He doesn't care about the opposition. Interestingly, he is still a very popular leader and whatever he says, appears to be believable to most." Nationwide PR Outreach: Just a couple of days before Modi launched his digital counter offensive on anti-CAA narrative by the opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had identified six leaders to spearhead its nationwide outreach on the CAA. While Anil Jain is leading the party's charge in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar -- the two states that have seen major minority resentment towards the CAA, Avinash Rai has been entrusted with leading and coordinating the outreach programme in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi. Delhi, which will go to polls on February 8, has witnessed largescale violent protests, starting near Jamia Millia Islamia University. Since then, the national capital has been witnessing protests -- virtually every day -- either by the student organisations or intellectuals. Saroj Pandey will coordinate the party's CAA outreach in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and the Union Territories (UT) of Daman and Diu. Suresh Bhatt is leading the programme in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and the Uninin Territories of Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir. For the southern zone, Ravindra Raju is coordinating with the media to organise press conferences, meetings and outreach to people in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, the Andamans, Puducherry and Lakshadweep. For the eastern belt, former Bengal BJP chief Rahul Sinha was made in-charge of West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and the Northeast. He is working in coordination with Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in the Northeast. Apart from these six leaders, who are coordinating zone wise, a whole array of articulate MPs, party leaders are travelling across the country to make the BJP's stance clear to people, and arrest any slide in the party's popularity that might have been caused by the opposition's huge uproar against the CAA. Door to door campaign: Apart from holding press conferences, meeting with intellectuals and social media influencers, the BJP has also embarked into a countrywide door to door campaign for this Act, quite the old school way. Party president Amit Shah himself started it in Delhi and working president J.P. Nadda in Ghaziabad. On the very first day of the enactment of the law, as many as 42 leaders, including high profile union ministers were deputed across India to knock door to door and pass on pamphlets that seek to "dispel myths" about the CAA. Before this door to door campaign was kicked off, on Jnauary 1, 2020, as the nation was celebrating, Amit Shah was locked inside the BJP headquarters with top BJP leaders to give final touches to the modalities of the massive campaign and sort out logistical issues. Apart from Shah, those present in that meeting included BJP working President J.P. Nadda, General Secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh and all other General Secretaries of the party. As per sources, BJP Vice President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe was also present in the closed door meeting. Lately certain BJP leaders have been making communally coloured statements to make the anti-CAA protests lose its steam. But many believe, it is not a coordinated effort, but a part of the BJP's campaign for upcoming Delhi election, which is closely fought and the BJP is desperate for a comeback. But, one thing is clear, not only Amit Shah but even all the BJP general secretaries have time and again articulated, that the reconsideration of the CAA is "non-negotiable" as it involves "credibility of Prime Minister Modi's word to the refugees". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The state opposition is demanding answers over a mass blackout that saw over 100,000 Western Australian homes lose power on Friday evening. The outage was sparked when a Kwinana generator failed, and the ABC reported firefighters responded to reports of a smoking turbine at the Leath Road power facility just before 9pm. The fault then caused two other failures at Badgingarra Wind Farm, and Worsley Power Station. Western Power asset operations executive manager Dave Fyfe spoke to media about the incident on Saturday. Credit:9 News Perth The Australian Energy Market Operator said in a statement the multiple generator outages meant WA lost about 470 megawatts from the power system, which triggered a short period of load shedding. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, left, escorts his mother, Mary, after the funeral Mass for his brother and predecessor, former U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, at Queen of the Universe church in Levittown, Pa. Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Read more The casket spray of red, white, and lavender flowers had just been taken down when Bucks County Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick walking alone but in front of hundreds of people gathered inside a Levittown church stepped toward the casket and looked down, with an anguished face, at the man inside. The casket was about to be shut. He leaned into his big brother for what felt like forever. Then, as everyone eventually must do during a funeral, he walked away. No longer was this the chubby-cheeked pipsqueak version of Brian the one in a faded Fitzpatrick family photograph on a memorial montage nearby. In that classic photo, Mike, the oldest of eight, is right behind Brian, in braces and a wide-lapeled getup betraying the sartorial tragedies of a 1970s childhood. No Brian was now a congressman and Mike, dead at 56 and inside that casket, the former congressman whod previously held Brians seat. There were, according to one congressman I spoke to, a total of five current or former members of the U.S. House of Representatives at the funeral. But what truly had brought out the hundreds, if not thousands, of people over two days could be named in a single word. Cancer. It is the one word that none of the 13 priests and bishops I counted on the altar uttered during a Mass that hewed closely to a standard Catholic service, with eulogies reserved for a luncheon later in the afternoon. It is the one word that, along with the word congressman, had brought me to Queen of the Universe church for the viewing and funeral. It is the one word that, despite a stirring and deeply personal homily, Father Thomas More Garrett had studiously avoided saying at all. Perhaps, I wondered, the priest had done so to keep cancers harrowing echo as far from these wounded hearts as possible. Father Garrett called Mike a mentor; they had worked together in Washington before Garrett became a priest. He spoke of how, a few days ago, the former congressman had asked that he be by his side. It must have been hard to lose the capacity to speak easily is all Father Garrett said. Mike died Monday. In the front row sat the late congressmans wife and six children. Behind them was Brian and the elderly parents, Mary and James Fitzpatrick, who had now outlived their oldest son. We fancy ourselves the worlds leading economy and democracy, but we have proven so feeble at defeating one of our cruelest medical foes. We are living, in 2020, at a time of incredible wealth and innovation. U.S. fortunes are being spent to develop driverless cars; billionaires and politicians are lustily eyeing outer space as the next frontier even as cancer remains a terrorist on our soil. Space-age wireless earbuds connect our brains to sophisticated pocket computers that we recklessly fiddle with for hours. But cancer is just too tough? Really? We should take little comfort in the news this week a drop in cancer mortality rates. While good news, it represents only modest progress. There are gleaming, new hospital towers devoted to cancer treatment some very sparkly and expensive ones in our very own Philadelphia. There are people in the medical world who refer to cancer as growth divisions within their institutions. As though this pestilence were merely a revenue opportunity around which to build a management bonus objective. All the while, people we love moms and friends and janitors are being diagnosed or dying. Even a powerful guy like Mike Fitzpatrick. A man who on top of that had lived with the knowledge that cancer had taken disproportionate aim at members of his immediate family. In my case, the then-still-congressman wrote in 2013, four grandparents died from cancer; both my parents are cancer survivors, and a sister. Mike had written that in an essay still online for the American Association for Cancer Research in Philadelphia. AACR told me they annually ask Republicans such as Fitzpatrick and Democrats to share their cancer experiences to fuel advocacy for research money. Thus far, Ive been spared and Im forever thankful to God and the wonderful care I received, and continue to receive, in follow-up visits, Fitzpatrick wrote. I have the utmost respect for those in the healing profession the physicians and scientists who have chosen this path so others may live. They have my heartfelt gratitude. Among the mourners Friday was GOP political strategist Athan Koutsiouroumbas. His name was all over a photo montage that celebrated Mikes grit and, in one cheeky section, talked about how Mike had spent one 15-hour day in the congressional district hitting all eight Burger Kings. He remembered how Mike was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2008, after losing his seat to Democrat Patrick Murphy in 2006. Treatments went well. Cancer-free by 2010, he won back his seat. Months later, and after what he thought was benign foot pain, came melanoma. Its devastating, Koutsiouroumbas said. Pat Wandling, now 85, used to babysit Mike before she became a journalist, and over the last two decades, worked for him as a writer. She remembered him going for chemo and coming to work without saying a word. But one thing also stands out: the memory of a man as a playful tyke. I can picture him, to this day, 2 years old, she said. He would hide before hed go to sleep. The Queen with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (John Stillwell/PA) Sandringham will host a crisis meeting on Monday aimed at resolving the future role of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex within the royal family. In the key meeting are likely to be: The Queen and her private secretary Sir Edward Young The Queen is head of state and head of the royal family, and will ultimately have the final say in the matter. As the nations longest-reigning monarch, her experience and knowledge on the workings of the institution of the monarchy are unrivalled. Through the decades, the Queen has weathered the Windsors many storms and is a symbol of stability both for the nation and within the royal family. Although left hurt by Harry and Meghans actions, the Queen is not given to rash decisions, and will be approaching the problem in a calm and pragmatic way. Expand Close Sir Edward Young (David Davies/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sir Edward Young (David Davies/PA) Sir Edward, who has worked for the Queen for 16 years, is responsible for supporting the monarch in her duties as head of state and is the channel of communication between the Queen and the Government. He previously worked for Granada as head of corporate communications and for the bank Barclays, where he held a range of financial and executive roles. Sir Edward reportedly played an influential role in getting the monarch to star in the much talked-about 2012 Olympics opening sequence film with James Bond actor Daniel Craig. The Prince of Wales and his principal private secretary Clive Alderton Expand Close The Prince of Wales (Nigel Roddis/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Prince of Wales (Nigel Roddis/PA) Heir to the throne, Charles is the future king and currently bankrolls Harry and Meghans public duties through his 21 million-a-year Duchy of Cornwall income. The prince is a caring, sensitive soul, and is said to be furious at how Harry and Meghan have handled the situation. He is committed to his royal duty, but will also want his impetuous youngest son, who endured the loss of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, when he was only 12, and Meghan to be happy. Mr Alderton is a career diplomat who became Britains ambassador to Morocco after a previous six-year stint as an aide at Clarence House between 2006 and 2012. Always sharply dressed with blond combed-over hair, he regularly accompanied Charles on overseas tours. Camilla in particular is said to adore him, one source told the Times. Mr Alderton joined the Foreign Office in 1986 and has taken up posts in Poland, Belgium, Singapore and France. The Duke of Cambridge and his private secretary Simon Case Expand Close The Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of Sussex (Joe Giddens/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of Sussex (Joe Giddens/PA) When Harry turned 21, he described William as the one person on the planet to whom he could talk to about everything. But talk of a falling out between the brothers, with William said to have urged his brother to not rush into marrying Meghan, has changed their once-close relationship. William, who was said to be incandescent with rage at the Sussexes actions, is a future king, and his position within the royal family is vastly different from sixth-in-line Harry, who has moved steadily down the line of succession and has to carve out his own role. With a settled family life with the Duchess of Cambridge and their three children and his work on mental health, homelessness, and conservation William is viewed as a sensible and stable part of the monarchy. Mr Case was has been a leading civil servant previously tasked with trying to solve the border issue in Northern Ireland and Ireland during Brexit discussions. The Cambridge University history graduate, who undertook a PhD in political history at Queen Mary university in London, also served as former Prime Minister David Camerons principal private secretary. He took up the role with Mr Cameron after serving as director of strategy at the intelligence and security organisation GCHQ. The Duke of Sussex and the couples relatively new private secretary Fiona Mcilwham Expand Close Attending Diana, the Princess of Wales funeral cortege (PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Attending Diana, the Princess of Wales funeral cortege (PA) Harry has always been a favourite with royal fans, who have never forgotten the heart-rending image of the 12-year-old prince walking behind his mothers coffin. In his younger days, he was a royal liability dabbling with cannabis, dressing up as a Nazi and brawling with a paparazzi photographer before he pulled off a charm offensive as he carried out overseas tours on behalf of the Queen. Kind and sensitive, Harry also brought humour to his engagements, and won plaudits for his charity work and his openness about his mental health struggles. But his deteriorating relationship with the press amid his desire to protect his wife and son, and his rash approach to what he wants to achieve, has led to one of the worst royal crises in modern history. He will be intent on securing his goals as he negotiates the path which will dictate his familys future. Ms Mcilwham is a top diplomat and became one of the UKs youngest ever ambassadors when she was posted to Albania aged just 35 in 2009. She swiftly impressed in the role, with Albanian journalist Muhamed Veliu telling the Mail on Sunday she quickly gained huge respect at a time of mounting political tension over organised crime. She describes herself on social media as a wannabe supermum, where she also lists having held diplomatic posts in Washington, Brussels, Baghdad and Sarajevo. The Duchess of Sussex Expand Close The Duke and Duchess of Sussex holding their son Archie (Toby Melville/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke and Duchess of Sussex holding their son Archie (Toby Melville/PA) Meghan may have flown back to Canada, but she will be dialling into the meeting as the proposals on offer are discussed. The intelligent, driven American former actress, who is just 20 months into her royal life, will be focused on achieving her key life goals. Speaking about coping with intense tabloid interest, the duchess has said: Its not enough to just survive something, thats not the point of life. You have got to thrive. The duke and duchess said in their statement, they want to carve out a progressive new role, and continue to collaborate with the Queen, who in fact leads the rest of the royal family rather working alongside them. There is likely to be a secretary taking notes of the meeting. About 8:20 a.m., the governor said, the boy went to the bathroom nearest his classroom. After about 15 minutes, his teacher went to find him, he said. When she did, the student opened fire, the governor said. The London Bridge attacker said he was here for the police during his stabbing rampage, one of the men who fought him has said. Darryn Frost, a civil servant, had been attending a conference held at Fishmongers Hall by Cambridge Universitys Learning Together programme alongside Usman Khan on 29 November. He described hearing shouting downstairs before running out of a room to see someone lying in a pool of blood, and grabbing an ornamental narwhal tusk. Mr Frost, 38, recalled seeing Khan confronting fellow delegate and former prisoner Steve Gallant with two knives. He was slashing at Steve, but Steve had a chair, Mr Frost told the Guardian. I pointed the tusk at Khans belly and the balance of power shifted in our favour. Khan turned and said to me: I am not here for you. I am here for the police. I am waiting for the 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 Khan, who was wearing a fake suicide vest, allegedly added: Ive got a bomb. The attack was claimed by Isis but Khans ultimate target and motivations have not been made clear. By the time the exchange took place, the terrorist had already murdered Learning Together coordinator Jack Merritt and volunteer Saskia Jones. Mr Frost handed Mr Gallant, a convicted murderer who had been jailed in 2005, the narwhal tusk and fled to take the second ornament off the wall before returning to see Khan leaving the building. He said the terrorist had his knives raised and seemed to be going for the public, going for maximum damage as he was chased by delegates including another convict wielding a fire extinguisher. He came at me and, instinctively, I stabbed him in the lower abdomen, Mr Frost said, describing how Khan was pulled to the floor before he jumped on top of him to hold him down. An armed police officer can be seen pulling him off Khan before opening fire on the attacker at close range. Mr Frost, who works for HM Prisons and Probation, said he has since suffered survivors guilt but has been helped by others who fought the terrorist. He has started a project called Extinguish Hate to challenge the spread of fear, hatred or intolerance within our communities. Ex-offender who took on London Bridge attacker says he was prepared to lose his life Inquests are to be held into the deaths of Mr Merritt, 25, and Ms Jones, 23, who both died from stab wounds to the chest. Like proceedings over the 2017 terror attacks, they will examine potential failings by probation services, the police, security services and other authorities. Khan was under investigation by MI5, but had been given permission to travel to London for the Learning Together event. Staffordshire Police is being investigated by a watchdog for its role in the management of Khan following his release from prison. He had been jailed for his part in an al-Qaeda inspired bombing plot in 2012 and was freed by mistake in December 2018. Khans stabbing, as well as a suspected terror attack at HMP Whitemoor last week, has raised fresh questions over processes for deradicalising terror offenders in prison and assessing the risk they pose. Four days after the attack at Fishmongers Hall, a separation centre designed to hold the most dangerous terrorist prisoners was closed. The government has launched an urgent review of recently released extremists. American soldiers drive past an oil well in Syria: Getty Donald Trump has renewed his threats to forcibly steal oil from Syria, a move which experts say would amount to a war crime. The president defended his decision to leave a small number of American troops in the war-torn nation after a general withdrawal in October by claiming they were only there to secure Syrias oilfields. They say he left troops in Syria... do you know what I did? I took the oil, he said during a Fox News interview. The only troops I have are taking the oil, they are protecting the oil. When the interviewer, Laura Ingraham, attempted to correct Mr Trump by insisting the soldiers were not there to take the oil but to guard the facilities, the president cut her off. I dont know, maybe we should take it, but we have the oil. Right now, the United States has the oil. We have the oil. This is not the first time the erratic former business tycoon has publicly mused about stealing Syrias oil reserves. In October, shortly after his abrupt withdrawal of US forces and abandoning of their Kurdish allies in the region, Mr Trump said he wanted an American oil firm to fly in to tap Syrias oil on behalf of the government. What I intend to do, perhaps, is make a deal with an ExxonMobil or one of our great companies to go in there and do it properly, he said. However, such a move would likely constitute pillage and looting, actions which have long been designated as illegal under international law and the rules of war. The Geneva Convention, which the US is a signatory to, explicitly prohibits the looting of property during conflict, defining it as a war crime. The president appears to believe that the US can sell the oil, based on his statements in the past about Iraqi oil and Libyan oil ... thinking that we can loot countries, Benjamin Friedman, policy director at think tank Defence Priorities and adjunct professor at the George Washington University, told The Independent last year. I am sure people in the White House have tried to explain to him that is not how it works. Story continues Taking the profits from the sale of Syrian oil for the US treasury would be illegal. That would probably qualify as pillaging under the law. Ironically, experts say Syrias oil fields are not much of a prize anyway. Even before the country descended in a chaotic civil war, it only produced about 380,000 barrels of poor-quality oil a day. In 2018, after its production was several hampered by the conflict, it produced about the same amount of oil as the state of Illinois. Before he entered the White House, Mr Trump had said several times that the US should have taken the oil from the other Middle Eastern nations its armed forces had intervened in, including Iraq and Libya. Some commentators have speculated that defence officials desperate to persuade the president to permit some US forces to remain in Syria as a counter-balance to Isis and the Assad regime were forced to appeal to his oil obsession to gain his approval. Read more Trumps Syria withdrawal has hurt fight against Isis, Pentagon says By PTI JAIPUR: Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone's film 'Chhapaak' has been declared tax-free in Rajasthan. The film has been facing the wrath of a certain section of people after Padukone visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a masked mob on January 5. The decision to declare the film tax-free in Rajasthan was taken on Friday night. "The move of exempting the film from tax has been welcomed by people. The film will educate people," Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot told reporters on Saturday. 'Chhapaak', directed by Meghna Gulzar, presents the story of acid attack survivor and activist Laxmi Agarwal. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. To mark Manitobas 150th anniversary in 2020, the Free Press will feature weekly an article from the archives of the Manitoba Historical Society. The following document is a letter written in 1888 by a I. A. Yerex. It was forwarded to Manitoba History by Catherine G. Taylor of Kelseyville, Calif. A note to readers: As the original letter is 130 years old and written in the vernacular of the time, some might find a few words offensive given the world we live in today. July 22nd, 1888 Dear Father and Mother I left Selkirk pier, Str. "princess" 17th July. After a very pleasant voyage of three days on Lake Winnipeg I arrived in Grand Rapids on the 20th. Grand Rapids is situated on a beautiful bay at the mouth of the Saskatchewan. About six white people live there. The balance of the population being composed of Half Breeds and Indians. The only means of existence are fur trading, fishing and trans-shipping from Lake boats to River boats and visa-versa. There is quite a large fishery and a fine Hudson Bay Post located there. We left Grand Rapids on the evening of the 20th and have since been winding very slowly up the great Saskatchewan. Navigation is very dangerous on this end of the River, as Rapids are numerous, swift, and we have a number of lakes to cross. The "Northwest" is 200 feet long and carries four hundred tons. She runs swift on smooth water but a high wind on the lake will smash her to atoms. The cabin passengers are composed of some people from the Old Country and one Lady from Ont. bound for Prince Albert, some fur dealers and Hudsons Bay Co. men. It is very interesting as long as the boat is running as the diversity of the scenery affords us ample company in leisure moments, but when the boat ceases to move and we have a little run on shore to eat berries and be eaten by mosquitos, the scenery becomes monotonous and we hail with delight the signal for proceeding to a fresh scene. If you have not seen one of those large river boats running up rapids I am sure it would interest you. About a dozen Indians are harnessed in straps attached to a large York boat filled with rope about 6 inches in diameter. The Indians walk along the bank pulling the York boat about of a mile up the rapids. The large rope is then fastened to a tree or pier up stream and on the other end to a spool on the Steamer which is wound up stream by steam. This is repeated until we are out of the Rapids. In about 6 days more we expect to be near the scene of the Rebellion. Millions of fish of all kinds and wild game in every direction. Good day, will write in a few days. Monday 23rd July We have not moved an inch since I wrote above. A gale blowing from the west. Cannot say when we will get out of this My expenses are $3.00 per day which accounts for my anxiety to proceed. We expect to reach Prince Albert in about a week when nearly half our voyage on this boat will have been completed. Twelve hundred miles on one boat imagine and on one river after three hundred and fifty miles on one lake and one boat. However, the accommodation is good perhaps better than you could get on any boat on Lake Ontario. There are state-rooms for 80 cabin passengers and altogether over 1000 people could be accommodated on this boat You will perhaps be surprised as I was to hear of such Enterprise away up here in the far north but what is still more difficult to comprehend is this fact. Two days drive from Edmonton north connects us with boats as large as this which run nearly 3,000 miles north or within sixty miles of the Arctic Ocean. The people of Manitoba know less of this northwest Country than the people of Ontario do of Manitoba or Montana. Thursday 26th july On Tuesday we stopped 2 hours at one of the old Hudson Bay posts called The Pas beautifully situated on the first raise of ground since we left Grand Rapids 140 miles. Up to this time we have not seen enough dry land to pitch a tent on. And here at "The Pas" there cannot be over 50 or 100 acres of groundhowever what there is, is good and presents a very imposing appearance after 3 days of muskegTwo Hudsons Bay men, one Free Trader and a few hundred Indians comprise the population oh! I might add a school teacher and a Church of England Clergyman. There are 3 Hudson Bay Co. buildings inside of an enclosure of 5 or 6 acres all painted white. The Church of England once white with paint is now very much weather beaten. From appearances you might call it any where from 100 to 1,000 years old. About 70 miles of very winding river with marsh on either side brought us on Wednesday morning to Cumberland House the chief Hudson Bay post for the district. The chief Factor for the district (Mr. Belanger) has been the life of the boat. A very fine jovial fellow with a heart that compares with his size (315 lbs). We accepted his invitation to dinner & I assure you we enjoyed the moose steak and the nose which is considered one of the greatest delicacies in this part of the country Cumberland House beautifully situated on a gravelly point on Lake Cumberland on an Island with an evergreen background. An abundance of vegetation. We left Cumberland yesterday afternoon and do not stop for two days unless stuck on a sand-bar which is quite a usual thing in this part of the river. The banks of the river have been gradually raising (sic) since we left Cumberland and have now reached about 5 feet and rapidly increasing in height. Saturday 28th July 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. For two days after leaving Cumberland we did not see a house and as yet have only seen 4 or 5. The banks of the river are now about 100 feet high with beautiful evergreen banks on either side. We have been making extra good time the last two days and consequently expect to reach Prince Albert to-night. The country on either side is high, sandy loam and partially covered with wood. The river is very wide and full of rapids. Two Mounted Policemen boarded our boat last night from Prince Albert to see if there was any whiskey on board. This boat (carries?) an excursion from Prince Albert to Battleford tomorrow on her way to Fort Pitt. It will be eight days making trip. We are within 17 miles of Prince Albert. Mostly prairie clay-loam. Dry land fine country. I will probably be here for a week. I will write you again after leaving P.A. and give you a description of the town & etc. With Love to all I will close abruptly as I have some business to attend to. Yours affly I. A. Yerex Cannot write good as boat is always heaving. I. A. Y. For more information or to become a member of the Manitoba Historical Society, call 204-947-0559 or email: info@mhs.mb.ca. The MHS is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as manitobahistory. Janis Joplin had a heavy influence on Southeast Texas and her hometown of Port Arthur during her life. On Saturday, the line of hundreds that formed inside of Museum of the Gulf Coast to get an autographed biography proved her art still resonates with all ages. Holly George-Warren stopped in Port Arthur to sign copies of her book Janis: Her Life and Music. Im blown away by the incredible support from people in Beaumont and Port Arthur, she said. Its so great that (Port Arthur) is so supportive of the Joplin family and Janis legacy. Also present was Joplins brother, Michael Joplin to sign copies and interact with his sisters fans. Now living in Arizona, Michael Joplin made his only appearance on the tour Saturday. This is my hometown and they asked me to do it, Michael Joplin said. I really support the museum and wanted to do what I can to support them. (The turnout) is crazy. Im terrified because Ive met people I havent seen in forever. Its beautiful and absolutely stunning. George-Warren said it was good to be able to catch up with Michael Joplin who she had not seen in several years. If it wasnt for Michael and his sister Laura and their belief in me as a writer, this book wouldnt exist, she said. Im really fortunate for that. Madison Cole, of Bridge City, said she received a copy of the book when she graduated from Lamar University in December. I read the book as soon as I got it, Cole said. My mom linked me to this event at the museum and I was so excited. Its so crazy that someone one of that caliber was in this area. Museum director Tom Neal said Janis Joplin pulls people from all over the world to the museum each month. She is an international figure, Neal said. We have people who make destination visits to the museum from Scotland and Ireland. Ive had people tell me they found us on the internet. They flew into Houston and come in sand spend the day here and then some would go to New Orleans and go back, but the whole trip was to come to here. Neal said he was pleased with the number of children he saw standing in line with their parents or grandparents. Weve noticed it here, Neal said. Theyll come in and punch up Janis on the jukebox. Theyll bust out singing it. Weve put some of it on Facebook. Cole said she was very excited that Michael Joplin was there to sign the book. Its like all of the stars aligned for me, she said. I read the books, then found the event and then found out he was going to be here. I should go play the lottery. This is great. chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/chris_moore09 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announces new sanctions on Iran, at the White House in Washington, on Jan. 10, 2020. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) US Congratulates Taiwan Presidents Re-election, Says Island Force for Good: Pompeo U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election on Jan. 11, commending her for maintaining stability with Beijing in the face of unrelenting pressure. The elections demonstrated the strength of the islands robust democratic system, which makes Taiwan a model for the Indo-Pacific region and a force for good in the world, Pompeo said in a statement. The United States thanks President Tsai for her leadership in developing a strong partnership with the United States and applauds her commitment to maintaining cross-Strait stability in the face of unrelenting pressure, he added, in a likely reference to growing efforts by the Chinese regime to interfere with the self-ruled island. Beijing sees Taiwan as a part of its territory, despite the island having its own political and economic system. Incumbent Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (R) and Vice President-elect William Lai wave to their supporters after their election victory at a rally, outside the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan Jan. 11, 2020. (Reuters/Tyrone Siu) Tsai of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) defeated her main opponent Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomingtang (KMT) party in a landslide victory, as around 74 percent of the voting population turned out to vote on Saturday. Her win came despite increased efforts by the Chinese regime to influence the elections in favor of pro-Beijing candidates. [In Taiwan] you have among the most sophisticated and well-educated voters in the world, and ultimately that is a hard audience to fool. James Moriarty, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a de facto embassy in Taiwan, told NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times, of Beijings attempts to interfere with the islands elections. Several U.S. lawmakers also joined in to congratulate Tsai, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) who, in a statement, called the islands democracy a shining beacon of freedom for oppressed peoples around the world, particularly those suffering under the yoke of the Chinese Communist Party. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) also congratulated the people of Taiwan, writing on Twitter: Congratulations to President [Tsai Ing-wen] and to the people of Taiwan for an extraordinary electoral victory. The United States Congress stands firmly with [Taiwan]! Congratulations to President @iingwen and to the people of Taiwan for an extraordinary electoral victory. The United States Congress stands firmly with #Taiwan! Mario Diaz-Balart (@MarioDB) January 11, 2020 The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jonathan Fritz said at an election-watching event in Washington that Taiwan had provided a stellar example of democracy in action. We also share with the Taiwan people a profound interest in cross-strait peace and stability, and will continue to work to counter unilateral efforts that seek to alter the status quo, Fritz added, in a reference to the Chinese regime. The United States is bound under law to provide Taiwan with arms and services necessary to defend itself, and also maintain its own defense capacity to defend against threats to Taiwan. Randall Schriver, who until December was the Pentagons top official for East Asia, said during the same event that the election should be an inspiration to other countries facing the similar pressures from Beijing. Taiwan was under extraordinary pressure and facing coercion, he said. Taiwan is not the only country in the Indo-Pacific that faces that. Other countries, as they prepare for their elections, will take great inspiration and heart for how Taiwan withstood that kind of pressure and carried forward with a very successful election. The islands democratic elections will also prompt people in mainland China to question their own governance, Schriver said. The CCP is not a representative government entity, it is not a legitimate fully in the way that elected governments are, he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. And every time Taiwan succeeds in its own election, people in China pay attention and ask themselves questions, why they cant have those same privileges and rights? So someday there may be a different kind of China. And Im sure that Taiwans example is going to be on the leading edge of what promotes that change. Epoch Times affiliate NTD reporter Kitty Wang contributed to this report. (Reuters) - Sorrento Therapeutics Inc said on Friday it had received a proposal from a private equity fund interested in acquiring a majority or all of its outstanding shares, valuing the company at as much as $993 million. Shares of the company surged 67.74% to $5.72 before the bell, after the drugmaker said it was reviewing the non-binding proposal of up to $7 per Sorrento share. The market capitalization of the company, which has one therapy, ZTlido, approved in the United States for relieving nerve pain following shingles infection, stood at about $483.8 million as of Thursday's close. The San Diego-based company did not disclose the name of the private equity fund and did not respond immediately to Reuters request for the name. The proposal comes a few months after the cancer therapy developer rejected an unsolicited buyout proposal from two pharmaceutical companies which offered between $3 and $5 for each of Sorrento's outstanding shares. Sorrento added ZTlido as part of its 2016 acquisition of majority stake in privately held SCILEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) Iran announced Saturday that its military 'unintentionally' shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard. The statement came Saturday morning and blamed human error for the shootdown. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. forces. Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. Also read: Iran-US conflict: DGCA asks Indian airlines to avoid Iranian airspace, remain vigilant Also read: Ukraine crash: All 170 passengers onboard Boeing 737 plane dead, says report She's due to welcome her second child at any moment. And Casey Batchelor, 35, showed off her burgeoning baby bump to her Instagram followers on Saturday in a candid snap. The former glamour model - who is 38 weeks pregnant - showed off her huge bump and joked she should 'serve an eviction notice' to her unborn child as she awaits its arrival. Cute: Casey Batchelor, 35, showed off her burgeoning baby bump to her Instagram followers on Saturday in a candid snap as she counts down to the birth of her second child In the relaxed photo, Casey wore a fitted top which she had rolled up to reveal the bump, while her brunette tresses were swept sideways away from her face. She wrote in a caption that there was 'no more room' in her belly for her baby, with around a fortnight to go before she reaches her due date. Casey wrote: 'I mean surely there is no more room in my belly for this baby to grow anymore literally I could pop! 'I would like to serve you your eviction notice but you seem too sung as a bug in there little one'. Candid: Casey donned a cardigan and tracksuit bottoms as she showed off her belly and told followers she could 'literally pop' 'P.S its not a great photo, Ive not done my hair and no make up because quite frankly, I cant be bothered! 'Womens bodies are just incredible, they amaze me everyday #notlongnow #pregnancyupdate #38weeks #pregnantbelly #readytopop,' she added. Casey's post comes after she spent some quality time with her daughter Florence on Thursday ahead of becoming a mum for the second time. The Celebrity Big Brother star took to Instagram to share a sweet photo of herself cuddling Florence, 20 months, as she displayed her growing baby bump in a crop top and open blue cardigan. Sweet: Casey's post comes after she spent some quality time with her daughter Florence, 20 months, on Sunday The yoga fanatic penned a heartfelt caption next to the snap as she revealed that she was cherishing the last few days 'just them' before she welcomes her second daughter later this month. Casey said: 'We wont have many more of these hugs with you on my big round belly and your sister inside. Soon your little sister will be here with us and we can all hug together [heart emojis]. 'Cherishing these last days just us #notlongnow #babyonbaby #pregnantbellybump #38weeks #twoprincesses.' Casey also took to her Instagram stories to reveal that she has been suffering with pregnancy insomnia and credited a mug of Ovaltine for helping her 'sleep like a baby'. The former glamour model is currently 38 weeks pregnant with her second child, and is due to give birth later this month. Casey, who is mother to daughter Florence with fiance Dane Goodson, recently confessed that she is expecting to give birth early. Taking to Instagram last month, she penned: '35+ weeks pregnant. So many people are having their babies early, I wonder if this little Princess will come early. 'So excited to see what she's going to look like. Florence is the double of Dane, so be nice if this Princess is a mini me.' Radiant: Casey also took to her Instagram stories to reveal that she has been suffering with pregnancy insomnia and credited a mug of Ovaltine for helping her 'sleep like a baby' She confessed she is hoping her newborn will 'sleep through the night straight away' as she admits she knows every baby is 'completely different'. She added: 'As much as I'm more prepared this time coming, I'm sure it will still be a completely different new journey. Fingers crossed she'll sleep through the night straight away. We can only dream.' Casey and Dane won't be stopping there when they welcome their baby girl in 2020, and plan to carry on trying until they have a son. The couple have been together for almost three years and announced their engagement in February 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive here on Saturday on a two-day visit, during which he will attend sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust and hold a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The visit comes at a time West Bengal has been witnessing protests against the amended Citizenship Act. Apart from attending scheduled programmes, the prime minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with Banerjee at the Raj Bhavan Saturday evening. The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with Banerjee's Trinamool Congress opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation. The prime minister will dedicate to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata -- the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall. The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic galleries and refurbished them with new exhibitions, while curating the old galleries. Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Saturday and Sunday. The prime minister and the chief minister will share dais at the programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present. The prime minister is also scheduled to visit Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, on Saturday. The West Bengal administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the visit. Several opposition parties, including the CPI(M) and the Congress, and some student organisations are scheduled to hold protests across the city against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From who should have the final say on land sales to the feds, to the killing of three mountain lions near Pima Canyon, our letter writers have a lot to say in this edition of Letters to the Editor. Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday cautioned against a collusive threat to the Siachen glacier from Pakistan and China and stressed that if the government ordered his force to seize control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from Pakistan, it will act on those directions. Naravane also underlined that allegiance to the Constitution of India and its core values will guide the conduct of the army. His comments come at a time when theres a debate in the country over the so-called politicisation of the armed forces.Talking about his overall focus as the army chief, Naravane said it will be ABC allegiance, belief and consolidation. He said the force will be guided by its core values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. He said it was critical for India to keep the glacier under its possession to pre-empt the joint threat. The army chief also explained how India will deal with a possible two-front war scenario. Siachen is an area where one formation is looking after both western (Pakistan) and northern (China) fronts. And that is what makes it so strategically important. We must not lose sight that it is from where the collusivity can happen, and, therefore the importance of always being on our guard and keeping that particular area always in our possession, Naravane told reporters at his customary press conference ahead of Army Day on January 15. He visited the Siachen glacier the worlds highest and coldest battlefield on Thursday, his first outstation trip after taking over the top job on December 31. The glacier acts as a wedge between the Shaksgam valley under Chinese control and Baltistan that is occupied by Pakistan, and prevents the two armies from linking up and posing a threat to Ladakh. Responding to another question on Siachen and the possibility of China-Pakistan collusion, the army chief said: As far as the land border is concerned, Siachen is where the two countries (China and Pakistan) are the closest to each other. And that is why the threat of collusivity is maximum at that location, that is, in Siachen and Shaksgam valley, the army chief said. He said such collusion could be physical on the land borders and it could play out in other realms too such as in technology, coming to each others assistance in times of trouble and so on and so forth. Asked on how India would deal with a two-front war, he said the army was conscious of the fact that India faced threats from both fronts. In case of simultaneous threat from both directions, there would always be a primary front and a secondary front. Wherever the primary front is, the bulk of our forces and resources will be concentrated to deal with that threat. And on the other front, we will adopt a more deterrent posture so that we are not found wanting on either account, he said. Naravane said the army had dual task formations that were ready to swiftly move from the western to the eastern front and vice versa to deal with all emerging threats. In this manner, we will be able to deal with both the fronts while ensuring that our sovereignty and territorial integrity is not compromised, he said. He said the army was balancing out its deployments to cater for threats from both the west and the north. He said significant capacity-building was happening along the northern borders with China as part of the rebalancing exercise, including the deployment of advanced weapons in the countrys east. We are going in for a lot of capacity-building and that includes creating roads to forward areas, creating capacities in terms of habitat, storage for ammunition, moving some of our more advanced weapon systems towards the eastern side. We are balancing out so that we are able to meet a threat from any direction, he said. Asked to comment on if the army was ready to take PoK back from Pakistan, he said the force was ready to follow any orders given by the government. As far as PoK is concerned, there was a parliamentary resolution many years ago that the whole of erstwhile J&K is a part of India. If Parliament wants that area should be ours at some stage and if we get such orders, we will definitely act on those directions, he said. The army chief said that the ground situation along the line of actual control with China had improved after the informal summits between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan in April 2018 and Mamallapuram last October. After the two summits, strategic guidelines were given by the two leaders to resolve border tension or differences at the lowest level. After that strategic guidance, small differences are being resolved there itself and we dont let matters become serious. Due to this, northern borders are peaceful, he said, adding that the Indian and Chinese armies would soon have a hotline to swiftly respond to border issues. He said the hotline had been in the works for quite some time but some procedural issues had to be ironed out. I am glad to say we have resolved those issues and we will now have a hotline between our director general military operations and Chinas Western Theater Command, he said. Naravane said the governments decision to appoint a Chief of Defence Staff and create the department of military affairs was a game changer. When we go in for joint or integrated theatre commands, we will do so keeping our own requirements and operational realities in mind. We will not blindly copy any existing system in any other army of the world. It will be an India-specific model and we will do whatever it takes to make it a success, he said. He said for joint structures to work, the armed forces will have to train for integrated operations and future wars that will be fought in a highly complex, volatile and uncertain environment. He said his message to the army was it was to be guided by the countrys Constitution. As an army, officer or jawan, we swear allegiance to the Constitution. We take an oathAnd that is what should guide us in all our actions and at all times. It translates into being guided by the core values enshrined in the preamble to the Constitution: justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. And that is what we are fighting for. We are deployed on the borders safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and securing for our people these core values. We need to keep that in mind at all times, he said. Last month, his predecessor General Bipin Rawat (now CDS) triggered a controversy by publicly condemning those leading violent protests, asserting that leadership wasnt about guiding people to carry out arson and violence, comments that were widely seen as being aimed at the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests across India. The comments by the general drew sharp criticism from Opposition leaders who alleged that the armed forces had been politicised. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Founder and General Overseer of Gods Crown Chapel, Prophet Reindolph Oduro Gyebi popularly known as Eagle Prophet has prophesied that Electoral Commission Chair, Jean Adukwei Mensa will be shot to death. According to the Eagle Prophet, the EC Chair must beef up her security because the attack will come from any of the political parties. The celebrity Prophet made this shocking prophecy while speaking in an interview about the 2020 general elections on the Dwene Ho Bio show hosted by Kwabena Owusu on Accra-based Hot 93.9FM. There is something fishy about the 2020 elections. We should not concentrate on those 31st Prophecies about who would be winning the elections but rather concentrate on how to let peace prevail in the 2020 electionsI can see a lion with seven heads standing on the Ghana flag with fire hopping around it means something serious, he told Kwabena Owusu. its serious. I prophesy as a man of God that, I can see that the EC Chair (jean Mensa) has been shot and killed by some people. She would be shot by any of the political partiesIts a political game they want to playBut all the people involved are going to be exposed before the Year ends, he prophesied. The Eagle Prophet gained wide recognition after his prophecy about the Kintampo Waterfalls which caused the death of several students, the death of dancehall songstress Ebony Reigns, and the death of Multimedia Group Presenter Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA) Listen to the interview below! Source:HotfmGhana.com The bar and lounge at The City Society (Credit: Arcc Spaces) SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - These days, Singapore-based real estate concept developer Arcc Spaces has a presence in six key Asian cities. But when it opened 17 years ago, the companys chief executive Justin Chen remembers a very different market. Back then, co-working space operators like Regus, Servcorp and The Executive Centre were in their nascent stages, and the requirements were much more transactional. It was much more about having a least arbitrage business where people were just taking up smaller spaces, something that was flexible for them, Chen recalls. In those days, you actually had to educate people what serviced offices were. You know, we had many a conversation where we had to introduce by proxy to service apartments being a similar kind of model and people have to be convinced that this was a viable alternative to a traditional office space. But workplace needs have evolved and Chen says the idea of flexible working has become very integrated into the entire market now. Meeting room at the space in Pavilion Tower, Kuala Lumpur (Credit: Arcc Spaces) As at June 2019, about two in five of all the office buildings tracked by commercial real estate firm CBRE Research has some sort of flexible office component. By 2030, it should be no surprise to see at least three out of five buildings with a flexible office component, CBRE notes in its flagship Singapore 2030 report. The rise of co-working was embraced by landlords as operators were taking up huge swaths of space and willing to pay market rents during the last down-market cycle, adds CBRE. From 2017 to 2019 with the market having recovered and spurred by rising competition posed by flexible space operators landlords and developers are now entering the fray at a more active level. As of 3Q2019, CBRE data highlighted that privately owned co-working operators accounted for almost 37% of the market share while 44% were taken up by privately owned serviced office operators. Story continues But as the scene heats up with more competition, change is also necessary. Lounge at the Bund Finance Center in Shanghai (Credit: Arcc Spaces) As far as Chen is concerned, his company has been evolving to keep up with changing consumer needs. Back in 2013, Arcc Spaces became one of the few companies to really catered to community-oriented requirements as they recognised that even though people wanted to have a sense of community and network with like-minded individuals, there was still a strong need for something that was structured and augmented with a range of services that were more sophisticated. Chen: Theres always been a desire for us to be back in Singapore (Credit: Albert Chua/ The Edge Singapore) To be sure, these demands are aligned with the companys vision. Under its parent group Arcc Holdings, which have established a firm base of over 30 years in Singapore, the shared workspace arm Arcc Spaces focused on one thing creating a space and a sense of community that will have clients coming back for more. Now, Arcc Spaces has over 20 properties in six key Asian cities: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Yangon where they house tenants that include teams from Alibaba Group, Airbnb, Swarovski, Fendi, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, BP, and Clarks. In Singapore, Arcc Offices is located at Suntec Tower Two and One Marina Boulevard. Branching out Recently, Arcc Spaces unveiled two new ventures The Co. and The City. Chen says the new offshoots were spun out to allow for more freedom to explore a grassroots approach to co-working and community building. Breakout space at The City Society (Credit: Arcc Spaces) In Singapore, The Co. occupies an entire eight-storey building at 75 High Street while another space is at 99 Duxton Road. This characteristic is also similar to the Kuala Lumpur arm of The Co., which is housed in a refurbished bungalow in the affluent residential district of Bangsar. Accredited by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) as the first digital hub in Malaysia, The Co. Bangsar runs innovation programs for companies like Maybank and Maxis. The Co.'s offices in Singapore are located near its clients, Uber and Spotify. Both companies have used the spaces to hold innovation programs for its employees, says Chen. In 2016, The Co. also played host to the DBS HotSpot Pre-Accelerator programme as well. There is a desire from corporates to have that unique perspective, Chen claims, adding that The Co. was created to fill in that gap. Were trying to break out of the typical mould. Over time, I think our coworking business has transformed itself in a way to cater a lot more to kind of these programmatic needs, so its really looking at how can we support a lot of these corporates in terms of giving them access to talent, connections, and learning and development [opportunities]. The City was launched in Beijing in 2016 and is decidedly more upmarket (Credit: Arcc Spaces) The City, on the other hand, was launched in Beijing in 2016 and is decidedly more up market. Targeted at C-suite executives the brand also features a private members club called The City Society where membership is strictly by invitation. Chen says The City encapsulates the idea of building up a holistic ecosystem around work, catering not just to the needs of a company or a working individual during work hours but also after dark. Opportunities Since Arcc Spaces entered China in 2006, occupancy rates have been consistently over 80%, says Chen. Weve actually established a lot of working relationships, not just with a lot of our long-term customers that have stayed with us for a whole decade, but also with all the brokers and landlords in the markets, he adds. Hudson restaurant at The City, World Financial Center, Beijing (Credit: Arcc Spaces) In 2019, it acquired its latest mainland property a 26,000 sq ft space on the ninth floor of Taikang Insurance Tower in Shanghais Pudong Financial Square. When asked why a Singaporean company has focused less on properties here, Chen says: I think its because the opportunities overseas have presented themselves in a way that they were a lot greater. I think thats what has been driving us to tackle those because I think that requirements then were growing as a lot of foreign companies were first entering into China looking to establish a base. Early on, armed with the knowledge they have accumulated from their work here, the company decided to leverage on that and export their expertise overseas. This was also why they ventured into Yangon and Malaysia, he adds. I think thats one of the main reasons why we kind of took advantage of that window of opportunity to enter into these markets much earlier than maybe some of the newer competitors, says Chen. The business lounge at Taikang Insurance Tower, Shanghai (Credit: Arcc Spaces) It was only recently, after realigning the overall business with the upcoming trends in the workplace and doing a lot more soul-searching has it reignited a desire to re-establish their presence in Singapore. This will be achieved with the refurbishment of The Co. at 75 High Street, where a facelift can be expected soon. This project was launched over 10 years ago, so I think as Arcc Spaces, we just havent had a representative project in Singapore for a good amount of time. Its something of a homecoming for us, says Chen. Theres always been a desire for us to be back in Singapore. Weve always been looking for the right opportunity. Read also: See Also: Throughout the three years of my entrepreneur journey, I have learnt that ideas, dreams or having the solutions alone is not enough when it comes to starting a business and growing it into a sustainable enterprise. So in my quest to make things happen, I needed people to work with and Im still figuring this team building and team work out. Having an idea alone like I said is never enough to start and run a business with, no matter what your business idea or venture is you need people. The importance of people in realizing your dream cannot be stressed enough. Even though it not easy to get the right people to work with, team work is essential in todays world. The success of a business is largely dependent on how you build value and how you can scale your business to survive without you. In every sphere of business, there are various skills that are required to reach this success; we know Africans richest man, Dangote, very innovative and filled with ideas, he cannot be successful as he is without his team, the group of people that works for him, most of them behind the scene. He may have birth the idea but for the ideas to come out to be successful, he needs a team of hard-working professionals, their abilities and skills to get to where he is now. A close working relationship is a source of motivation, cooperation and support. In todays multifunctional world, we all need the least motivation and support we can get, as individuals we have different weaknesses, strengths, talents, skills and ideas that when we organize and manage very well, it promotes harmony and efficiency. 5 Importance of Teamwork 1. Fosters Collaboration, Creativity and Innovation Multiple sets of skills, thoughts, creativity, perspectives, opportunities and problem solving approaches are brought to the table. Once they are motivated and encouraged to reach their individual potentials, the collective goal of the team will also be achieved with less efforts as compared to one person doing everything. 2. Increase Working Morale Teams encourage better work relationships and communication between leaderships and employees and when the barrier between leadership is dissolved to create an environment where everyone is a colleague, the result is increase workers morale and productivity. 3. Learning Opportunities Building a team means you are bringing different experiences from different working backgrounds together. Everyone in the team have the opportunity to learn from everyones insight to different approaches to problem solving and generating ideas. 4. Increase in Efficiency and productivity When teams have the opportunity to learn together collaboratively, they understand each others strengths and weaknesses which help them in knowing when to complement each others efforts. This creates a positive work culture where everyone is contributing their best. this environment also adds to workers moral which in turn increases productivity. Workloads is also shared among team members, this reduces pressure and improves the quality of their work output. Task is also completed on a faster rate and is also more attainable with improved satisfaction. 5. Competition Through Fun By channeling competition into work through fun, team members are in high spirit to contribute to the overall output by accomplishing their shared task on time and on high levels. This is a more effective way to achieve team bonding and increase productivity. When there are incentives to win, celebration and fun at the end of every achievements, teams bond even faster and are motivated to bring their best. 5 Guideline To Running An Effective Team 1. Building A Dynamic Team To build a successful team, it is important to ensure that you hire people with different abilities. Dynamic team members with different abilities complement each other and the team is equipped in every area and is poised to deliver better. 2. Communication Communication is undoubtedly the most important life-line when it comes to every relationships including working relationships. When communication breaks or fails, everything else fails. Without effective communication, teams are positioned to fail. So there should be a platform where open dialogue is encouraged and practiced when it comes to problem solving. Team members should be allowed to air their concerns and views without fear or intimidating. 3. Clear Instructions Teams should have clear instructions about their task as individuals and as a team on a day to day basis. They should be completely sure of what is expected of them and if possible give them samples or provide examples of both the processes and the end results of their task. Ensuring that team members know their responsibilities, affects the quality of work output required of them and the time they are expected to complete them which in the end contributes to the quality of output of the entire team. 4. Monitoring And Evaluating Performance After assigning tasks with clear instructions, there is the need to place emphases on performance through monitoring and evaluating. The team as a whole and the individual members should be closely monitored and reviewed occasionally. And to aid with this, let team members know the level of work output required of them and provide room for improvement whenever necessary. 5. Break The Barriers It is one thing to build a team and another thing to lead them effectively to deliver the required results. To achieve these required results, create an environment that connects leadership and employees. There shouldnt be a large gap between these two entities. Your employees shouldnt come to work every day to be remembered that you are the boss and they are nothing but employees. You may not need to say this with words; your actions can put them in that position. So delegate them to take up roles that may be meant for you and in turn you also take up their task. In addition to this ten points, I want to add that team building takes time so dont give up is you are trying but it seems not to be working out. Keep learning from the failures and keep improving upon them until you get what you want. Top image: Unsplash / Jayden Sim When I first moved to Malaysia, thirteen years ago, I lived in one of Kuala Lumpurs less affluent neighbourhoods. My first impressions of the country, and the city, were formed from a modest second-floor flat in a mould-blackened low-rise, low-cost development, where the local drug dealers policed the stairwell. The flat belonged to my wifes family. They had lived in the area a long time, previously owning and occupying what is sometimes referred to, not always flatteringly, as a squatter house, before the developers bulldozers ate the fruit trees, filled the fish ponds, and leveled the chicken coop, along with the house. Through my neighbours and my wifes family I quickly understood that not all ethnic Chinese Malaysians have been blessed with the financial wealth typically attributed by stereotypes. In fact, it took me time to learn that the archetypal rich Chinese image was even how many Malaysians view the countrys second most populous ethnic community. Not to say that there isnt a grain of truth to the clichescertainly many Chinese Malaysians have done very well for themselvesbut that grain of truth is far from the full truth. As such I was glad to see Tash Aws latest novel shine a spotlight on what is to some Malaysians a near-invisible community. I could relate to the characters because they were my former neighbours. Some are and were even members of my wifes extended family. Or perhaps by marriage I am a member of theirs. Set in Malaysia, Tash Aws latest novel, We, the Survivors, gives voice to the under-represented demographic of poor and working-class Malaysian-Chinese, and follows the fate and struggles of protagonist Lee Hock Lye, who rises briefly from obscurity to notoriety because he killed a man. This is not a spoiler; right from the outset his guilt is clear although his motives are not, making We, the Survivors not so much a whodunnit as a whydunnit. The story is framed as a series of interviews, conducted over several months, and interspersed with brief sections where the protagonist observes his interviewer, a young New-York-educated woman named Su Min, measuring the socio-economic distance that separates his life from hers, and perhaps by extension highlighting the potential distance between Ah Hock and the reader. Story continues Su Min and Ah Hock exist in the same time and place, but the intersection of their lives is so small as to be almost non-existent. Nevertheless, a complicity develops between them, each helping the other in different ways; the interviewer coming to Ah Hocks aid when he is sick, for example, or Ah Hock negotiating the release of Su Mins impounded car. As Ah Hock recounts his childhood, we learn that his father has gone to work in Singapore and is earning a decent wage in a warehouse. At first it seems like the father might return. He maintains contact. Letters, short on detail, like a public service announcement or a newsreader announcing a headline, are written in cliches that highlight the contrast between the two countries: Singapore is very clean. Or, Here, spitting is Not Allowed, Or, No One Has to Pay Bribes Here. Years pass. A final letter arrives: The pastor says my life will improve because I love Jesus. The father never returns. We later learn that he has a new wife and new childrena new family Ah Hock will never belong to. Ah Hocks mother sells his fathers few boxed belongings, but keeps her wedding ring, a little longer at least. This story of migration and separation, or versions of it, is a common one. But in this context, it is also easy to read as a metaphor for how two countries went their different ways, one faring better than the other (on a material level at least). The other main character is Ah Hocks childhood friend, a small-time gangster named Keong, though friend is a loose term here, since Keong might better be described as Ah Hocks nemesis. Try as he might, Ah Hock never manages to fully escape Keongs dark gravitational pull, which ultimately drags him to the scene of his crime. Yet, while Ah Hock contemplates his lot from his prison cell, Keong, ever the chameleon, loses his gangster manners and hairstyle, transforming himself. There are no heroes hereleast of all the protagonistand very little redemption, yet scrape a little at the surface and we see that this is a novel about heroism. As the title suggests, it deals with the feats of endurance required by the characters to simply survive, in what is a largely uncaring and cruel world, where most of the protagonists lead short, hard lives, with little or no occasion for joy. As an uneducated single-mother with no access to childcare, Ah Hocks mother is repeatedly ostracised, condemned to work for low wages in a series of dead-end jobs. Again, survival becomes her only goal, her work leaving her too exhausted to raise or nurture her son, who is often left to his own devices, wandering aimlessly around the wastelands that make up the coastal area around the mouth of the Klang River. This is a novel with a social conscience. Aw examines many of the issues Malaysia has faced in the past decades, particularly the lives of those who have paid, and continue to pay, the price for the countrys rapid, if staggered, development. While Malaysias other dominant ethnicities are almost entirely absent, the Bangladeshi and Indonesian immigrant communities play a significant role, and we understand that they too merit inclusion in the titular We, that they count among the survivors. Though here, as in real life, many do not survive, falling prey to disease, or the abuse of human traffickers, among other things, including our murderous protagonist. Malaysias chronic overdependence on cheap, and often illegal, foreign labour, is one of the important themes in this book. Aw points out that the type of manual work that might once have been an option for non-academically inclined Malaysians like Ah Hock is simply no longer available, since wages are undercut by those willing to endure the harshest of conditions for what amount to starvation wages. If a Bangladeshi worker went to Singapore, he writes, hed earn fifty times what hed earn back home but they mostly end up here, because in Singapore there are rules, permits, all that nonsense you cant change. Try to bribe someone, you go straight to jail. No permit, no talk. But here its different. This difference, and the divergence between Malaysia and Singapore, while not the main theme of the book, is repeatedly revisited, and by doing so Aw highlights the moral vacuum that allows the worst kinds of behavior to flourish unregulated in Malaysia. Perhaps the part of the novel that works best is the microcosm of the fish farm where Ah Hock finds work as a foreman. Like Malaysia, the farms success is largely predicated on a plentiful supply of cheap labour. But when that workforce is no longer available everything starts to collapse and spiral out of control, leading the fish farm to ruin and accelerating Ah Hock down his road towards perdition. Though occasionally Ah Hock seems a little too articulate, in its details We, the Survivors is accurate and authentic, often unflinchingly so. Aws use of language is plain and unadorned, giving the story an unambiguous immediacy, as well as perhaps an accessibility to a potential readership his earlier work might not have had. All in all, this fine novel makes a very welcome addition to the Southeast Asian canon and Malaysias expanding store of internationally recognised literature in English. What else should we be reading? Tell us at community@ricemedia.co. The post We, the Survivors: The Forgotten Plight of Poor Malaysian Chinese appeared first on RICE. Educational institutions need to reorient syllabus and teaching methodologies to make students meet industry requirements, Vice President M said here on Saturday. Institutions must lay greater emphasis on skill development and establish industry linkages to give students first hand experience of working in an enterprise and cultivate spirit of entrepreneurship, he said. The Vice President was addressing students at the 21st convocation of Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College here. "There is an urgent need to reorient syllabus and teaching methodologies in our institutions to train students on par with industry requirements," he said. Tailor-made and need based programmes must be initiated for specific groups in language and communication skills, life and positive thinking skills besides personality development and management skills, he said. Every college must pay greater attention to skill development and students coming out of educational institutions must acquire employable or entrepreneurial skills to face the competitive world in this 21st century, he said. He pointed out that as the country marches ahead to become a USD 5 trillion economy, entrepreneurial youths would have a major role to play in achieving that goal. "Eradicating poverty, ensuring inclusive growth, making agriculture more reliable, bridging the urban-rural divide, making effective use of programmes like Make in India, Digital India will help in building a prosperous new India," he added. Later, the vice-president laid the foundation stone for the new campus of the college. Muscat, Jan 11 : After ruling Oman for nearly five decades, Qaboos bin Said al-Said, the last Sultan of the Middle East, has died at the age of 79 with no known successor, state media reported on Saturday. The official Omani agency ONA announced the news early Saturday in a short message without providing details of the causes of the demise of the Sultan, who travelled to Belgium last month for a medical check-up, reports Efe news. Oman has declared three days of mourning and shutdown of offices in both the public and private sectors following the loss of its leader. Flags will fly at half-mast for the next 40 days His death comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East as Washington and Tehran have attacked one another on Iraqi territory. The Omani Sultanate had called for calm, in line with Bin Said's policy of neutrality. Under the Sultan, Muscat even mediated between conflicting countries in the volatile neighbourhood and sought to end the conflict in Yemen. Oman was the first Persian Gulf state to establish low-level ties with Israel. Qaboos was born in the southern city of Salalah, the then-capital of the kingdom, and was the only son of Said bin Taimur and Princess Mazoon al-Mashani. He overthrew his father in 1970 in a bloodless coup with the help of the British. Venerated in Oman, he is remembered as wise, righteous and the chief mediator in one of the most conflict-ridden regions of the world. He established ties with neighbouring Iran and even Israel. He played a key role in the resolution of the Kuwait crisis and the Iraq-Iran war. The only conflict the Sultan had to face in his land was the Dhofar War (1962-1975) - which he inherited from his predecessor - where the southern rebels wanted autonomy until they were defeated by Qaboos five years after ascending to the throne. Russian author Sergei Plekhanov, in his book "A Reformer on the Throne" - one of the few authorized biographies of the Sultan - explained that Said bin Taimur did not let Qaboos visit the Omani capital until he was 25 and deprived him of access to newspapers because he foresaw an opposition to his authoritarian policies. However, his father sent him to Suffolk in England for education. There, he developed an interest in photography and classical music, which later led him to set up Oman's first opera and its choir. After ascending the throne in 1970, and heavily influenced by the West and Zanzibar - his main country of reference - he sought to turn around the fortunes of Oman and its people. He also placed much emphasis on education. By 1975, there were already 214 schools and in 1982, the first university, named Qaboos, was founded. In addition, he set up a free, modern healthcare system - that went from having 150 doctors in 1975 to more than 3,500 in the present day - which significantly improved life expectancy and infant mortality. Now, since Qaboos has died without leaving an heir, the Royal Family Council - comprising about 50 male members - should choose a new Sultan within three days of the throne falling vacant. If the family cannot agree, members of the defence council and the chairmen of the Supreme Court, the Consultative Council and the State Council will open a sealed envelope in which Sultan Qaboos secretly recorded his choice and enthrone that person. The sultan is the paramount decision-maker in Oman and also holds the positions of prime minister, supreme commander of the armed forces, minister of defence, minister of finance and minister of foreign affairs. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text "It was incredibly difficult to watch him deteriorate," Marianne said. "I know it's a long, hard road ahead. I am not cured, it's just a different set of challenges ahead in the hope that it will allow me to have a better quality of life." For Marianne's transplant to succeed, the organs must come from a single, dead donor. A perfect donor would be the same size or smaller than Marianne, likely a child, around the age of 10. The circumstances of the donors death are critical; they must die in intensive care at time when all their organs are functioning well. This rules out those who have died following an illness that is likely to have damaged their organs, or those who have been killed in car accidents, because they often die before arriving at hospital or their organs have been badly crushed or damaged. Marianne waits apprehensively each day for the phone call that a donor has been found. She was on the transplant list again in 2012, for new stomach, bowel, pancreas and duodenum, but was taken off when she became too ill. Doctors are hesitant to speculate on how much time she has left. In the last three months, she has been hospitalised five times for life-threatening infections. This is her only chance of survival. "There are a lot of emotions that come with it," Marianne said. "It is a constant battle and I do really struggle with it. For me to survive, somebody dies. Their family loses somebody they love and I will be forever indebted to that family. It's something that I would, never, ever take for granted and, I guess, it will really drive to me to live the life that person never got to live." Marianne with her mother Lorraine Thrush Credit:Eddie Jim Marianne was born into the Exclusive Brethren in Queensland and her family fled the ultra-secretive religious sect which has been marred by controversy in recent years when she was a young child. Their decision to cut ties with the sect, and leave with only the clothes on their backs, has meant her mother, Lorraine, who is her fulltime carer, often struggles to pay for the medical bills and care Marianne requires. Of the dozens of Victorians who die in each week, few are suitable donors for Marianne. "In 12 months in Victoria there would likely be about three suitable donors," Austin Hospital liver transplant unit director, renowned transplant surgeon Professor Bob Jones, said. Once an ideal donor is found their organs must be removed within six hours of death. Their digestive tract would then need to be immediately transplanted, with organs still connected, into Mariannes hollowed out, waiting body. Both operations could take up to 24 hours. "You're virtually replacing the entire abdominal contents," Professor Jones said."It's very much a plumbing procedure, the blood vessels and intestinal bowel are all carefully hooked together." The new organs are meticulously sewn in and connected to the main arteries. Once the arterial clamps are removed, blood flows freely into the organs, changing them from pale and bloodless to light pink. It's intricate and cutting-edge work involving a team of more than 20 medical professionals from surgeons and anaesthetists, to laboratory specialists who work behind the scenes, and against the clock, testing the tissue and blood of the recipient and donor to ensure they are a match. No two people in the world are identical, Professor Jones explains, so organs taken from one human and transplanted into another automatically result in some form of rejection. The bodys immune system recognises it as foreign and attempts to attack it. For a six organ transplant like Marianne's, however, Professor Jones said the risk of rejection reduces. "The bigger the amount of organs you get the larger the mass of tissue from the donor it seems to counteract the rejection to some extent because it overwhelms the system," he said. There are the elements of the unknown in all transplants that you have to deal with afterwards. But on the other side of it, we have very, very powerful and sophisticated drugs we use to slow the immune system down so we dont get uncontrolled rejection. The fortnight after the transplant is crucial. The risk of complications, infections and organ rejection dwindles as the weeks go on. TAIPEI, Taiwan Taiwans voters delivered a stinging rebuke of Chinas rising authoritarianism on Saturday by re-electing President Tsai Ing-wen, who vowed to preserve the islands sovereignty in the face of Beijings intensifying efforts to bring it under its control. Ms. Tsais victory highlighted how successfully her campaign had tapped into an electorate that is increasingly wary of Chinas intentions. It also found momentum from months of protests in Hong Kong against Beijings encroachment on the semiautonomous Chinese territorys freedoms. For Chinas ruling Communist Party, the outcome is a dramatic display of the power of Hong Kongs antigovernment protest movement to influence attitudes toward the mainland in other regions the party deems critical to its interests. Chinas authoritarian leader, Xi Jinping, has warned Taiwan that unification between the sides was inevitable. His party has sought to court Taiwanese with opportunities to work in the mainland while isolating Ms. Tsais administration and said that China would use force, if necessary, to prevent the island from taking steps toward formal independence. Demonstrators brave the weather in Glasgow, calling for a second referendum on Scotlands independence. Glasgow, Scotland Tens of thousands of pro-independence supporters rallied on the streets of Glasgow on Saturday despite torrential rain and high winds, calling for a second referendum on Scotlands independence from the United Kingdom. Organisers estimated almost 80,000 took part in the march as strong gusts swept through Glasgow. Some carried Saltires Scotlands national flag while flags of Palestine, England and the Spanish region of Catalonia were also seen in the passionate crowd that had come from all over Scotland to take part. Banners messages including Were not anti-English, were pro-Scottish while homage was paid to the pro-Catalan independence movement in Spain. A small group of counter-protesters held a demonstration nearby, waving British flags in support of the UK. The pro-independence march was organised by All Under One Banner (AUOB) a Scottish independence pressure group established in 2014 just one month after voters in Scotland rejected independence by 55-45 percent in the UK constituent nations first sovereignty referendum. We dont usually do winter events, Gary Kelly, lead named organiser of AUOB, told Al Jazeera. We called this one due to exceptional political circumstances, he said, referring to last months UK-wide general election that saw Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson secure a majority in Parliament and the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) take 48 out of 59 Scottish seats. Support for Scottish independence has hovered between 40 and 50 percent in recent months [Russell Cheyne/Reuters] But despite the SNPs success and its continued dominance of the devolved Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh where it has been the governing party since its maiden victory in 2007 Kelly lamented the UK governments refusal to sanction another independence vote. Fluctuating support Speaking before the march, one protester told Al Jazeera that with local and national press still overwhelmingly supporting Scotlands place within the union, such peaceful acts of defiance against the UK were the only way to make public displays of support for an independent Scotland. Given the way the media works, and given the propaganda machine youre up against, the only way that you can sometimes show the visible support that there is for Scottish independence is through the very traditional and very old fashioned one of having these large demonstrations, argued Willy Maley, a professor at the University of Glasgow. Many pro-independence campaigners told Al Jazeera they preferred watching coverage on foreign channels. First Minister Nicola Sturgeons SNP won 48 out of 49 Scottish seats in Decembers UK-wide general election [Neil Hanna/Reuters] Support for Scottish independence has fluctuated between the 45 to 50 percent mark, according to opinion polls. Campaigners hope that the UKs forthcoming departure from the European Union will push support beyond the 50 percent needed to secure independence. In the 2016 UK referendum on EU membership, Scotland along with Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the bloc, contrary to England and Wales. A second referendum? Non-party political, the AUOB has organised many marches recently across much of Scotland including Edinburgh and the Scottish borders, with more planned this year and has become a hugely significant part of the Scottish independence movement, according to political commentator and author Gerry Hassan. These are people putting these together off their own bat, said Hassan. What it tells you is that ongoing story of political power and authority shifting in Scotland. Passing through some of Glasgows iconic streets, including Kelvinway and Jamaica Street, the demonstrators battled the weather over some three miles, ending the march at the Glasgow Green park in the citys east. A rally was supposed to take place there but was cancelled due to the weather. Independence supporters were met with a smaller pro-union demonstration [Russell Cheyne/Reuters] While a planned second referendum on independence this year is being pursued by SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, it remains to be seen whether she can get the UK Parliament to agree to another poll, let alone persuade a majority of voters in Scotland to vote for statehood. Referring to the different nationalities in Scotland who have pledged support for independence, Kelly was proud of the turnout on Saturday. This is what Scotland is totally all about being inclusive, said the AUOB organiser. If you want to come to Scotland and live in Scotland, youre classed as Scottish. Youre not a foreigner. A well-balanced concert can be challenging and pleasing. Tanya Gabrielian, a classical pianist, wants her performance this Sunday to be both. The award-winning performer, of whom the Washington Post once said, "the Herculean keyboard demands were met with a strikingly poised nobility and a commanding presence," is in Missoula to play at the University of Montana's Celebrate Piano Series. She's starting off with a demanding piece, and then providing some classics. Up first is Soviet composer Alfred Schnittke's Piano Sonata No. 2, which premiered in 1990. "Art represents society and society is pretty messed up right now, so I think Schnittke's post-Soviet music is like the grunge rock of the classical music field," she said. "You can really portray existential dread on the piano," she said, complementing the extremes of darkness and light in his music. She compared it to watching a film in a foreign language. Schnittke employs a traditional structure, the sonata, as did Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. With that form, he's using language that might be new. After playing the piece enough times, she finds "very sleek," and believes the audience can track the emotional development within it. "They can hear the forward momentum and the progression of where the spirit goes in this piece." While some musicians on the East Coast told her she shouldn't play it here, she said, "to think that it's too esoteric or too weird for a Montana audience kind of offends me." Classical is often thought of as soothing or relaxing, and "fits in a very specific place that is not where it should be, or whatever artists want it to be, and challenging the audience in this way is like making you eat vegetables before the candy that is the rest of the program," she said. "The rest of the program is like the greatest hits," she said. The bookend is Schnittke's "polar opposite," George Gershwin, with Rhapsody in Blue. She's played it in myriad variations: orchestra, big band, four hands (i.e. two piano players). Audiences respond to him, since he's an American composer in a field that doesn't have a deep history of classical compared to Europe. What's more, the piece is optimistic and "reflects the American Dream" in musical form. As a performer, "there's no question that it's great and fun and enjoyable." Between the bookends, you'll hear Liszt's Sarabonde and Chaconne from Almira and Papillion, Op. 2 by Schumann. The latter was written when he was young and is "full of vitality" and mirrors the difficulties to come in his life he struggled with manic-depressive symptoms. "You can sort of see the beginning of what's going to happen to him in this piece," she said, which is about "a heart that was completely open, and eyes wide open with love." *** It's not Gabrielian's first trip to Montana, although she seems to visit either when it's cold or smothered in wildfire smoke. In January 2016, she performed a concert in this same UM series; and in the hazy summer of 2017 she visited Whitefish for the Festival Amadeus chamber music festival. This visit, she played a public concert at Seeley Lake High School through Alpine Artisans and then did six outreach concerts in the local public schools. Steven Hesla, a UM piano professor and concert organizer, said she's "both a strong player and a wonderfully friendly personality. She connected beautifully with the audience and they adored her" approach. He said she provides explanations of a piece beforehand, particularly a newer one, so that they have context going in. While here, she was signed up for a master class on Friday, where UM students can present pieces they're working on and receive critiques, encouragement and assistance. The concert series is designed to help raise money for the Keyboard Fund, which pays for instrument maintenance and assistance for students, whether in the form of scholarships or to help pay travel expenses for national conferences or competitions in which they've placed. Hesla said donations are "always accepted," as the concerts might not always pay for themselves. However, he said they believe in the mission of bringing artists like these to Missoula both for the UM music community and residents as a whole. Guests are attracted by western Montana, and also the sound in the Recital Hall and their instrument: a Steinway grand piano that was purchased in 2012. It was paid for with $80,000 from the community and $15,000 from the Keyboard Fund, plus a generous price from the manufacturer. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. There is now hope that Gorey will become a place or town of sanctuary in 2020, following on from both Bunscoil Loreto primary school and Creagh College making the pledge at the end of last year. Gorey resident Tiffy Allen, who is the national coordinator of Places of Sanctuary Ireland, said that a meeting on the topic will take place this month. She is hopeful that interested members of the public will make themselves known, as to achieve this for the town would be something of a collaboration creating a dedicated delegation with its heart in the right place. 'No individual can engineer this, there's a lot to be done to get everyone involved as a whole, from local businesses to the wider community. 'But there's a real will out there and at our meeting we are going to get a measure of what people are feeling, but to me it seems very doable. 'It's important to get the local authority behind it as well but there are a number of strands and a whole ethos behind becoming a place of sanctuary, it's about commitment to awareness raising and learning'. Tiffy explained that people can show their commitment in different ways, giving examples of businesses providing work experience to refugees, or local politicians speaking to a group. It's key that Gorey would commit to the mission of Places of Sanctuary Ireland. 'These things are very much an opportunity for creativity, it's not a tick box job. The schools are leading taking the lead, but this is something that has to be worked out by a whole community'. Over the holidays, about 30 people in the local area who are training to be sanctuary ambassadors were tasked with getting a feel for their own community in terms of how they feel about the welcoming of asylum seekers and others. Tiffy said that this is a really helpful thing to gage, and she looks forward to hearing the feedback at the upcoming meeting. As a newcomer to the area herself, she has found Gorey to be a really open community that is most welcoming. Tiffy is hopeful that local TDs will come on board, as she sees now as the time for the conversation. Places of Sanctuary Ireland is a network of groups in towns, cities and local communities which share the objectives of promoting a culture of welcome, so that people seeking sanctuary such as asylum seekers or refugees will feel safe. The aim is to promote the voices and celebrate the contribution, giving those seeking sanctuary opportunities to be included in all activities of a place. Places of Sanctuary Ireland is not affiliated to any political or religious organisation, but is linked to the wider City of Sanctuary movement which was established in the UK in 2005. To find out more search 'Places of Sanctuary Ireland' on Facebook. 'BPCL has always been spoken about as a multinational company though it is State-run... this sets our work culture also apart.' Amritha Pillay reports. Photograph: Sivaram V/Reuters In 2016, when the NDA government repealed the Bharat Petroleum Corporation 1976 Nationalization Act, life for the once private company came full circle. Even after its nationalisation, the company continued to remain "foreign" and "privatised" in its work culture, say former and present employees and some industry executives. "BPCL has always been spoken about as a multinational company though it is State-run... this sets our work culture also apart from the others," says a senior BPCL official, who did not wish to be named. From Burmah Oil Company to Burmah-Shell, the company that started from Scotland travelled through the South Asia markets and found its bearings in India's manufacturing sector when it built a modern refinery at Mumbai's Trombay in the 1950s. Burmah Shell was nationalised in 1976, paving way for the present day BPCL. It is believed the major reason for nationalisation of BPCL was the reluctance by the company to supply fuel to the Indian armed forces during the 1971 SWar between India and Pakistan. On November 20, 2019, the Centre decided to go for sale of its entire 53.29% stake and transfer of management control to a strategic buyer. People in the know add the sale is likely to attract attention from a host of foreign bidders, mostly oil producers aiming to secure a market for their produce. In the event of a foreign or private investor, they may not find it difficult to fit into the company's pre-nationalisation work culture, which some believe has been preserved well. "The Burmah Shell culture continued even after the nationalisation. A lot of the Burmah Shell employees stayed with BPCL and the new recruits were trained in the same culture. The company was different in terms of decision making; faster and response to crisis management was more professional," says Sarthak Behuria, former chairman and managing director, BPCL, who also worked as Indian Oil Corporation chairman. Behuria says the culture was advantageous when deregulation of petroleum pricing first happened after the dismantling of administered price regime. BPCL started its marketing initiatives, like Pure for Sure campaign. "The company was considered to be more progressive," Behuria adds. P Elango, managing director, Hindustan Oil Exploration Company, refers to the absence of name-plates at BPCL offices as symbolic of this culture. "There would be no nameplates for directors and associates have a culture of calling each other by names," he says. The BPCL official quoted earlier adds the salutation 'sir' is used sparingly, only for senior-most persons. According to BPCL's 2018-2019 annual report, the company has a workforce of around 12,000 employees across the country. A retired senior BPCL official refers to this culture as "people above oil". "Thanks to Burmah Shell, the organisation had a people above oil culture, which continued even after it became State run," he says. The workforce employed during Burmah Shell's times was part of BPCL's recent strength till as late as 2015. "Some Burmah Shell employees retired as recently as four to five years back," says the BPCL official quoted earlier. Elango recollects an international safety certification that Cairn won few years back. "We thought we were the first in India to achieve level -8 of the International Safety Rating System, only to realise BPCL already has it," he adds. Elango is a former CEO, Cairn India. "Because of their origin as Shell, their safety culture has always been strong," he adds. While the work culture continued, the 1976 nationalisation also brought in some changes, including in its retail operations. "During Shell's time, the company reached out to the most aristocratic family in the town and made them a dealer. This meant, the family's reputation was also at stake along with the brand," says the former BPCL official quoted earlier. "This, however, later changed with the government regulations and other vigilance," he adds. Though operational and financial structure challenges may still bother a new buyer, what is assured of at least is a faster implementation of any intended business plan. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday reiterated that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was enacted to give citizenship and not take it away, while also urging people to steer clear of opposition parties who are "spreading lies". "No citizenship can be taken away by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. It was only enacted to grant citizenship. The opposition parties are spreading lies. I only want people of Gujarat to stay away from such people," Shah said, pursuant to inaugurating VISWAS and Cyber Aashvast Project in Gujarat's Gandhinagar. The newly-enacted law grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. Protests have been happening across the country ever since the law received the presidential assent last month. The Union Minister added that technology can play an "important role in controlling the law and order situation" in the country. "VISWAS and AASHVAST have been kick-started. It has a network of CCTV cameras which will be immensely helpful for the Gujarat Police," Shah said. He said that cybercrime will be curbed with the help of Aashvast Project. Shah had yesterday inaugurated the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to fight cybercrimes and the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal through which people can report cyber crimes online. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In July, the school board in a small Connecticut town called Killingly took what local officials said was a long-overdue step: removing the name of the school mascot, Redmen, which some Native Americans have deemed racist. Students did not seem to rebel against the change, even agreeing in the fall to adopt a new name, the Redhawks. But then the adults had their say. Residents, apparently angered by the removal of the Redmen mascot, flocked to the polls in November and gave Republicans control of the town council and school board. The new school board quickly voted to rescind the Redhawks name. And this week, at a contentious five-hour meeting, the board voted 5 to 4 to reinstate Redmen, which first became the school mascot in 1939. MASON, Ohio, Jan. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Prescolaire is thrilled to announce the opening of a premier early learning academy in Mason, Ohio. They cordially invite all local families to join their Opening Gala on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. The grand event will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 7818 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason, OH, 45040. All Prescolaire schools are meticulously devised, built and located to create optimal learning environments for children from infancy to pre-kindergarten. Prescolaire Early Learning Academy In the Infant Program, the curriculum is designed to enhance self-awareness and sensory experiences, as well as enrich observations and curiosities about the environment. The academy accomplishes this by introducing multi-sensory activities, fine motor development through play and outdoor activities to develop gross motor skills. In the Toddler Program, the curriculum implements developmentally appropriate practices for toddlers as they learn to engage in the physical, natural and social worlds, by observing, manipulating, and exploring. The preschoolers and pre-kindergartners are advanced in science, technology, and mathematics fundamentals by using robotics and coding to build computation thinking skills such as algorithms, sequencing, engineering design process. Preschool students gain independence and self-control, take initiative and assert themselves in socially acceptable ways, as they learn to express their ideas and understand others more effectively. The main focus of this age group is to lay a solid educational foundation for Kindergarten Readiness by preparing students with essential skills to further develop, grow, achieve, and succeed as they transition to Kindergarten and beyond. Each Prescolaire academy is like a family. The employees are personally invested in the wellbeing and success of each child. Everyone serving at Prescolaire is valued and appreciated for their individuality and unique contributions, empowered to make the best possible choice in every interaction. At Prescolaire Early Learning Academy, the curriculum incorporates digital literacy and robotics to provide measurable outcomes in math, science, literacy and critical thinking, emphasizing the cognitive and social skills required to survive and thrive in the 21st century. Young learners are born with an innate ability to solve problems, face challenges with flexibility, and handle change. The Prescolaire approach is to help our students make the very most of those qualities early on, developing the basic skills and critical thinking that will serve them for the rest of their lives. At Prescolaire, we believe in Higher Education, Earlier. Contact information Tel: 866-760-0887 Email: [email protected] Website: www.prescolaireus.com Related Images engineering-for-preschoolers.png Engineering for Preschoolers hands-on-curriculum.png Hands on curriculum education-made-fun.png Education made fun small-group-size.png Small group size Related Links www.prescolaireus.com Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EL0j0CjENc SOURCE Prescolaire Early Learning Academy Related Links http://www.prescolaireus.com The United States state department on Saturday reacted to the recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir by a group of foreign envoys, including the US ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, and termed it an important step. The same tweet by the state department, however, added that it remained concerned by the continued detention of political leaders and residents along with the restrictions on the internet. A group of 15 envoys and diplomats had interacted with security officials, politicians and civil society representatives over a recent two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir organised by the government since Jammu & Kashmirs special status was revoked on August 5, 2019, and restrictions on movement and communication were imposed along with detention of several political leaders. Closely following @USAmbIndia & other foreign diplomats recent trip to Jammu & Kashmir. Important step. We remain concerned by detention of political leaders and residents, and Internet restrictions. We look forward to a return to normalcy, said the tweet from the state department, which was signed off by the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells. Wells will travel to Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan, from January 13-22, the following tweet by the state department added. The group of envoys were briefed by security officials and army commanders on the ground situation, the threat of terrorism and the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) after they landed in Srinagar. The purpose of the visit was to give the envoys a first hand account of the governments efforts to normalise the situation but members of the opposition criticised the move and questioned the government for denying a similar opportunity to the Indian politicians. The diplomats also met former legislators and ministers led by Altaf Bukhari, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) minister and interacted with civil society representatives, members of panchayat, activists, musicians and the local media. Most of these people had also met members of the European Parliament (MEP) who had travelled to Kashmir as part of a controversial private visit organised by a think-tank in October. The diplomats were from the US, South Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Fiji, the Maldives, Norway, the Philippines, Morocco, Argentina, Peru, Niger, Nigeria, Guyana and Togo. On the second day, the group met with civil society representatives and community leaders in Jammu and with the residents of a Kashmiri migrant camp on the outskirts of the city. The state departments comment follows a Supreme Court order on Friday asking for a review of the restrictions on internet connection in the region, while noting that freedom of speech and conducting business on internet were protected under the constitution. The police authorities in Jammu and Kashmir held a security review meeting in the light of the SC verdict on Saturday. In another important step on Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir administration revoked the stringent Public Safety Act against 26 people who were lodged in various jails paving the way for their release. In December last year, five politicians, including a former state minister and three former legislators were released. Three former chief ministers of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, namely, Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and political rival Mehbooba Mufti, however, are still under detention along with several other regional leaders over fears that their release may be against public safety. BLUFFS It appears serendipitous timing was at play, but a Bluffs womans bizarre experience serves as a reminder to keep personal information safe. Village board member Tim Welch said a resident reported that a woman had come to her residence and was asking for personal information. Later, Welch said, he received a text-message warning about people claiming to be government employees but actually robbing people. The text read, Security alert for USA residents: Be warned, there is a group going to homes and pretending to be officials from home affairs. They have documents with the letterhead Department of Home Affairs and claim to be confirming that everyone has a valid ID for the upcoming census. They are robbing home. Please alert your family and friends. The text has been making the rounds through the reach of social media. It originated in South Africa, where the Department of Home Affairs is responsible for population and immigration issues. There is no such agency in the United States. The South African government did caution people about such a robbery scheme in 2017 and again last year. The heightened sharing of the story could be related to this year being when information will be collected for the U.S. Census. While canvassers may be going door to door starting about March, the questions do not include asking for such things as a complete Social Security number, bank or credit card numbers or citizenship status. Census canvassers might ask about how many people are at home, their gender, age, race, a phone number and whether the house is owned or rented. The Federal Trade Commission, which is working with the U.S. Census Bureau to guard against Census-related scams, said canvassers must show photo identification with the U.S. Department of Commerce seal and an expiration date. If asked, the representative must provide contact information for a supervisor or a regional office for verification. Mayor Linda Sapp said the village requires a permit to go door to door, and that people should guard against providing personal information. Coping well with the pre Muire Gan Smal Christmas Concert tension were from left: Elaine ODonoghue, SNA; Paris Coffey, Maura Culhane, SNA; Ciara Downey and teacher and event spokesperson, Maura Browne. Photo by: John Reidy Excitement was building at Muire Gan Smal Presentation Primary School just before Christmas as angels, stars, elves and a host of other festive characters were arriving with family and friends for the school's annual Christmas concert. The big show kicked off with an amazing performance by teacher Grace Kelter's dance group followed closely by Junior Infants who performed their very first Christmas show. Next to take to the stage were Senior Infants with a dazzling performance of 'What a Star' which saw a little star named Leo journey to Bethlehem and remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. Ralph the reindeer then swooped in to save Christmas with the help of first and second class after poor old Rudolph got a terrible cold. Third and fourth class entertained the crowds with a modern twist on the Christmas story which provided plenty of laughs before fifth and sixth class finished off the night with a fantastic performance of 'A High School Musical.' "It was, as always, a truly magical night for all involved from the very smallest of performers taking to the stage for their very first time to the parents, grannies and grandads gathered to watch, many of whom had tread the boards at the school themselves in the not so distant past," said teacher Maura Browne. "The night finished off with the annual Christmas raffle and the school would like to thank all those who supported it by purchasing tickets on the night and/or lines which were sold by the pupils in the run up to the big night, the parents of the pupils who all contributed towards the hampers and the parents association as well as the raffle's many sponsors. "The spirit of generosity is, as always, alive and well in Castleisland and the raffle raised 800 for the school," said Ms. Browne. The list of sponsors includes: Diamonds Forever; The Treasure Chest; SG Business Solutions; Garvey's SuperValu; Diarmuid's Family Butchers; the River Island Hotel; Kennelly's Pharmacy; Shanahan's Pharmacy; Lynch's Pharmacy; Shine Hair Salon; Cute Cut Hair Salon; Jackie Reidy's Menswear; Crag Cave; Hannon's Fashion; La Femme; MP Moran & Sons Ltd; Walsh Bros Electrical; Browne's Topline; Denis Collins' Garage; Centra; Tom Mc Carthy's Bar and Tomo Burke Electrical. Two persons were killed and five others injured when their car dashed into a roadside tree in neighbouring Mahoba district, police said. The accident took place on Friday evening on Kanpur-Sagar stretch of National Highway-86, Mahoba Sadar Kotwali police station house officer Dinesh Kumar Singh said. The speeding car crashed into the tree near Palka village under the police station limits, he said. The car was on its way to Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh, the SHO said, adding that the deceased have been identified as Anand Sharma (25) and Pappu Kori (45). The injured have been referred to a hospital in Kanpur, the SHO added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gina Campbell felt like a child again as the jet engine fired into life and Bluebird K7 screeched past at more than 100mph. As she stood on the banks of Scotlands Loch Fad with tears in her eyes, she could almost picture her legendary father, Donald Campbell, in the cockpit gunning for yet another world water speed record. Gina was 17 when he died as Bluebird crashed then sank at Coniston Water in the Lake District on January 4, 1967. Bluebird looked fantastic, absolutely beautiful, and it was magical to see her on water again, just as I remembered her as a little girl, says Gina, now 70, of that poignant day in August 2018. You felt the thrill of the power of her with all the noise and the spray. My heart was thumping and I couldnt stop crying. It was spine-chilling. Back then, Gina heaped praise on Bill Smith, the amateur diver and engineer who, in 2001, salvaged Bluebird from Conistons murky depths and located her fathers body so he could receive a proper burial. Gina Campbell (pictured) daughter of Donald Campbell, holding Donald's teddy bear mascot Whoppit with restoration engineer Bill Smith (pictured). In 2001, she managed to locate her fathers body in the partially sunken Bluebird boat Thrilled at Mr Smiths painstaking restoration, she excitedly shared his vision to tour the world with Bluebird to inspire future generations. She declared the majestic vessel was not ready to sit in a crusty old museum. How she regrets those words now. Today, one of Britains most iconic boats sits unseen in Mr Smiths Tyneside lock-up, at the centre of a toxic legal battle over her future and a dispute over who owns which parts of her. Last week, on the 53rd anniversary of her fathers death, Gina called for Bluebirds immediate return to Coniston to go on permanent display to the public. The Campbell family gifted the hydroplane to Conistons Ruskin Museum in 2006. It has spent 800,000 on an extension for it. Last week trustees threatened Mr Smith with legal action unless he gives her back within 90 days. He is arguing that ownership should be shared because of the new sections he added during restoration and wants a contract reflecting that before he agrees. He told the Mail his lawyers had advised him he was legally entitled to retain every single piece hed added to Bluebird, right down to the nuts and bolts. About 50 per cent belongs to them, he says, and 50 per cent belongs to me. Gina was 17 when her father died as Bluebird crashed then sank at Coniston Water in the Lake District on January 4, 1967 (pictured) He insisted the last thing he wanted was to dismantle Bluebird and return the original wreckage to the museum, though given the hostilities that might yet prove to be the only solution. Vice-chair of the Coniston Institute and Ruskin Museum, Jeff Carroll, told the Mail they disputed Mr Smiths claims to part-ownership. Its a bit like taking your car into the garage and the mechanic then saying I now own half of it after adding a wing mirror, he said. Gina adds: Its terribly sad to see this situation overshadowing my fathers wonderful legacy. I fully understand why Bill might find it hard to let Bluebird go. Hes nurtured her like a child for 18 years. Hes done a remarkable job, but I dont believe hes playing fair. Amateur diver and engineer Bill Smith resurrected the ship in 2001 The museum trustees very generously agreed to let Mr Smith have Bluebird for three months of the year to show on water, but hes imposing the most ridiculous conditions. So I have to do the right thing and try to bring Bluebird back to her spiritual home. Mr Smith dismisses Ginas claims as rubbish, saying the museum has failed to address his concerns about security, access and potential damage to the vessel. I couldnt be happier for Bluebird to go on display, as agreed, once my concerns have been addressed, he says. From the very start it was agreed that the restoration by my Bluebird Project would be as a living, working boat. For 18 years I have put my heart and soul into that. Until last year, Gina agreed with his vision for a more dynamic memorial to her father. Now, she explains for the first time why she has changed her view. Clutching her late fathers lucky bear mascot, Mr Whoppit, Gina recounts vivid childhood memories of swimming at Coniston Water as her father worked on his revolutionary design, taking her for runs up and down the lake. Bluebird looked like this great big blue lobster and back then I was too young to really appreciate her beauty, says three-times married Gina, whose Southport home is decorated with so many images of her father and Bluebird it almost resembles a shrine. I had no idea my father was a national hero, so Im ashamed to say I barely looked up at the roar of the jet engine and just carried on swimming. If anything, Gina admits, she almost resented the time, love and attention her dad lavished on Bluebird K7, instead of her. She was his only child from the first of three marriages. The two-tonne steel rival for her fathers affections often felt like his real baby. Growing up, she was shunted from one boarding school to another while he travelled the world pursuing his dream. Stripped-down: Restorers at work on the Bluebird. While the family's hope for securing a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for its restoration was rejected, Mr Smiths unpaid restoration of Bluebird was helped by volunteers and sponsorship The son of motor racing legend Sir Malcolm Campbell, his ambition was to better his fathers own record-breaking land and water speed attempts. He succeeded, despite one near-fatal car crash which left him suffering crippling panic attacks and depression. Between 1955 and 1967, Campbell broke seven world water speed records in Bluebird; his Boys Own heroics capturing the imagination of post-war Britain. Gina treasures the memories of posing with her father next to Bluebird, for in private he was a remote, unaffectionate, old-fashioned man with little time for her. It was only after his death that Gina discovered hed raided her 20,000 trust fund set up by her grandfather to finance his headline-grabbing derring-do. Campbell was famously going for his eighth record when Bluebirds nose fatally lifted before she flipped, crashed and sank as he tried to smash the 300mph barrier. Gina, for all her fathers failings, was devastated when he was killed aged 46. To this day, she cannot bear to watch the footage of the dramatic moment her father lost control of Bluebird, nor listen to those haunting last words to his radio operator: I have gone. Bluebird fires up on Loch Fad in 2018. Gina said: You felt the thrill of the power of her with all the noise and the spray. My heart was thumping and I couldnt stop crying. It was spine-chilling.' Her father would have sat in the cockpit gunning for a world water speed record For 34 years boat and skipper lay in their watery grave until Bill Smith discovered Bluebirds wreckage after four years of searching and he says at Ginas request resurrected her in 2001. Mr Smith, 53, further agreed to locate Donald Campbells remains so Gina could give him a proper burial. She wept when Mr Smith returned to her the engraved gold St Christopher her father was wearing when he died. But its been a rollercoaster of emotion ever since. After Bluebird was raised we had offers from museums to display the wreckage, says Gina, herself a former holder of the womens world water speed record. But my father had died in this boat and I found the whole idea abhorrent. The family decided to gift Bluebird to the Ruskin Museum in the hope of securing a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for its restoration. It was rejected, however, and Mr Smiths unpaid restoration of Bluebird relied on volunteers and sponsorship. The Campbell family gifted the hydroplane to Conistons Ruskin Museum (pictured) in 2006. It has spent 800,000 on an extension for it Under the original terms of the deed of gift, Mr Smith was permitted to run the boat once on the water at Coniston, before it went on permanent display. He claims the deed of gift was updated in 2013. Mr Carroll told the Mail: Mr Smith drew up a new deed of gift, stating he would give the museum his new parts of Bluebird, if he could have the vessel for three months of the year, but this was not signed by the board. In a statement, the museum said its obligations were to preserve, protect and defend one of the most iconic boats in British history for the benefit of the public. It added: What Bill Smith and his team of volunteers have achieved is remarkable. Our duty as an accredited museum is to ensure that Bluebird can be shown off to all who want to see her and learn about her exceptional story. Gina says: Bill never wanted or asked for any payment or contract of work. It was an understanding based on trust. But the restoration was taking an awfully long time and alarm bells started ringing in 2013 when the family was approached before the 50th anniversary of my father breaking both the land and water speed records in the same year. A museum wanted to put the boat and car together for an exhibition, so I spoke to Bill but it all became a bit heated when, in a nutshell, he said, Its not your boat and I shall do what I want. We didnt have any further communication for a long time. The next time I saw him was in London on the BBCs The One Show in 2018 when he suddenly announced the boat was going to be ready to run on Loch Fad that August. It came as a complete surprise to me, so I went up to see the boat and I have to say I was absolutely mesmerised, and decided to give Bill my full support. But my understanding was that she then had to be returned to the owners. The museum issued its first legal letter requesting Bluebirds return in March 2019. Repairs and restoration were still ongoing, so I invited them to come and meet me, talk about it over fish and chips, but they said they were too busy, says Mr Smith. They couldnt even be bothered to see the boat. Aware of growing tension between the two sides, Gina stepped in to act as a mediator. We had a big meeting in July, about 25 of us, all the museum trustees, Bill and his cohorts my family and I really thought wed agreed on the best of both worlds, says Gina. Everyone agreed Bluebird would go on display for nine months at the museum and Bill would have the boat for three months to do what he wanted, within limitations. They started to draw up a contract, but it seemed to me Bill wanted totally impossible, insurmountable conditions placed on Bluebirds return and presented one hurdle after another. I completely understand his passion for Bluebird and the museum tried to accommodate him, but its got to the point where weve realised that, irrespective of what we do, hell find another reason as to why she cant come back. Mr Smith, who admits he and his team would like to keep working on Bluebird until 2021, insists all the issues he has raised are valid. Concerned that the floor of the Ruskin Museums new wing is not strong enough for Bluebirds weight, he claims the museum has dismissed his research into risk assessment. He has also voiced worries over potential damage to the vessel from over-enthusiastic, selfie-obsessed visitors. And he has warned that plans for architectural outdoor artwork in Coniston will block access to the museum for the 22-tonne wagon needed to transport it there. Gina says: Before Christmas I had a meeting with Bill and asked, Where do you see this heading, Bill? What do you want to happen? Whats the end game? He kept going round in circles and I got quite heated with him. We parted on good terms, but I warned, Bill, if you continue in this way, you wont have a boat. She adds: That night he sent me a text saying, Its good that we can have a spirited conversation and still be mates. Well get this cr*p sorted, Ill see to it. I wrote back and said, Bill, thats fantastic, you are going to give me the best Christmas present I could wish for. Two days later I texted, Bill, we just need to jot something down in writing, so you are protected and the museum is protected and his whole attitude changed again and we were back to square one. In the end I sent him an email, saying, Bill, I cant fight your corner any more. I havent the energy. Ive tried all I can. You must do what you must do and so must the museum. Effectively, what I think hes been saying all along is, You lot dont deserve Bluebird. Last night, Mr Smith claimed Gina had stormed off in a huff and agreed they dont deserve Bluebird, but the public deserves to see her on the water, as was always the agreed intention. Im very sad that Gina chose the 53rd anniversary of her fathers death, to which she told me I was no longer welcome, to tell the world shed changed her mind. Its an unseemly codicil to a legend, but where will it end? I dont own Bluebird. I could just walk away and leave this whole mess to them to sort out, says Gina. But I feel so strongly because this was my fathers boat and I saw her being built from conception to manifestation. If its the last thing I do, Im determined she will be displayed properly where the whole world can finally see her. One of the oldest bars in New York City that featured in the epic mob film Goodfellas was set to close after nearly 200 years - but in a last minute reprieve, Mayor Bill de Blasio's office intervened to keep its doors open. Neir's Tavern in Queens, where the Lufthansa heist was planned in the 1990 classic, was set to shut on Sunday as the owner battles crippling rent. Fireman Loycent Gordon, who bought the bar in 2009 with friends, broke the news in an email to mates and customers. Scroll for video Neir's Tavern in Queens, where the Lufthansa heist was planned in the 1990 classic (pictured), will shut on Sunday as the owner battles crippling rent New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday that the bar's doors will not shut after the city offered the building's owner a small business loan to keep the building up to standard and to avoid raising the rent Fireman Loycent Gordon, who bought the bar (pictured) in 2009 with friends, broke the news in an email to mates and customers Pictured is the outside of the bar in Queens, which will shut its doors after almost 200 years on Sunday Rent for the property has soared from $1,100 a month to roughly $5,400 after it was bought for $1.35million in 2018 by an LLC called 353 Rockaway Realty. Gordon, 40, who still works full time as a fireman, told the Gothamist: 'I don't have enough time to fight these battles anymore.' He added that due to eye-watering rent and no long-term lease, it was unlikely the bar could continue in different hands. What was the Lufthansa heist? The Lufthansa heist in Goodfellas was based on a real robbery which saw gang members steal around $5million in cash and $875,000 worth of jewelry from the German airline at JFK airport in 1978. The thugs brutally attacked airport workers guarding the cash in what was the biggest cash theft at the time. Each mobster who took part was supposed to get $750,000, but most did not live receive the cash, prosecutors wrote in court papers. There were numerous suspected participants, but one only man - cargo agent Louis Werner - was ever convicted. The FBI has always agreed with the plot of Goodfellas about all loose connections to the robbery being killed off by paranoid mob bosses. Advertisement It comes after Mr Gordon tried to secure landmark status for the bar last year in a bid to save it. He wrote: 'Everyday I pray I would find a way to dedicate more time to overcome these challenges until yesterday I had to face the truth.' 'I'm sorry I let you down. I'm sorry I couldn't get landmark status. I'm sorry I couldn't buy the building.' But in a remarkable turnaround, the building's landlord struck a 'handshake deal' to renew the lease for another five years. According to the New York Times, Gordon and his brother Ken met with the building's owner - Henry Shi - along with city councilman Robert Holden and assemblyman Mike Miller to find a compromise. Holden, a Democrat representing the area, told the publication that negotiations were 'tense' but it became clear that Shi could not get a mortgage on the property because it lacked proper certificates and did not meet zoning rules. Mayor Bill de Blasio with Neir's customers on Friday where he announced that the doors would remain open Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Twitter on Friday afternoon that the bar's doors will stay open after the owner, Henry Shi, was awarded a $90,000 grant to get the building up to standard. The agreement put in place means that Holden's office will work to ensure the building meets all its requirements, provide a small business grant to improve the property and in return Shi would raise the rent less than he proposed, according to the New York Times. It's unclear how much the rent will be under this new agreement. The rustic gin hall in Queen's opened in 1829 and is said to have hosted actress Mae West's first performance and movies such as the notorious scene in Goodfellas. Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta became regulars at the watering hole while filming Goodfellas and harbored a deep affection for it, according to the Queens Tribune. In the movie, the Lufthansa heist was based on a real robbery which saw gang members steal around $5million in cash and $875,000 worth of jewelry from the German airline at JFK airport in 1978. The thugs brutally attacked airport workers guarding the cash in what was the biggest cash theft at the time. Each mobster who took part was supposed to get $750,000, but most did not live receive the cash, prosecutors wrote in court papers. Rent for the property (pictured) has soared from $1,100 a month to roughly $5,400 after it was bought for $1.35million in 2018 by an LLC called 353 Rockaway Realty The rustic gin hall in Queen's opened in 1829 and is said to have hosted actress Mae West's first performance and movies such as the notorious scene in Goodfellas (pictured, Robert DeNiro) There were numerous suspected participants, but one only man - cargo agent Louis Werner - was ever convicted. The FBI has always agreed with the plot of Goodfellas about all loose connections to the robbery being killed off by paranoid mob bosses. Neir's opened as The Blue Pump Room by the owner of a racecourse which was then across the street. In 1835 it was renamed The Old Abbey. Neir's (pictured) opened as The Blue Pump Room by the owner of a racecourse which was then across the street It was bought in 1851 by a politician who maintained it for 40 years, before a man named Louis Neir arrived in 1898 (pictured) The FBI has always agreed with the plot of Goodfellas (pictured) about all loose connections to the robbery being killed off by paranoid mob bosses According to Neir's website, the racecourse went through a bumpy financial patch, and the bar became known as a 'notorious rumseller' for 'black legs, thieves, housebreakers [and] fighting men'. It was bought in 1851 by a politician who maintained it for 40 years, before a man named Louis Neir arrived in 1898. Neir's Social Hall, as he dubbed it, was extended to include a ballroom, bowling alley, and hotel rooms. It was sold in 1967 and renamed the Union Course Tavern, which closed in 2009. More recent owners finished constructing Neir's mahogany bars, and reopened as Neir's Tavern. Irans supreme leader has offered condolences and called for an investigation after his countrys armed forces acknowledged that they accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the 176 victims, and called on the armed forces to pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident. Iran shot down the passenger plane after it took off from Tehran, amid heightened tensions stemming from the US air strike that killed Irans top general, Qassem Soleimani. The military said it mistook the plane for a hostile target after launching a ballistic missile attack on two bases housing US troops in Iraq. The Iranian government had previously repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. All on board the passenger plane were killed. No-one was wounded in the missile attack on the bases. A military statement carried by Iranian state media said the plane was shot down after it turned towards a sensitive military centre of the Revolutionary Guard. An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander said his unit accepts full responsibility over the incident. Expand Close Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five University of Windsor students who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash (Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five University of Windsor students who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash (Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press/AP) In an address broadcast by state TV, Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, I wished I were dead. Ukraines president said Iran must take further steps, including an official apology, following the admission. Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his country expects assurances from Iran of a full and open investigation, bringing the perpetrators to justice. He added that Ukraine also expects the paying of compensation and official apologies through diplomatic channels. He expressed hope for the continuation of the crash investigation without delay. A team of Ukrainian investigators is already in Iran. Our 45 specialists should get full access and co-operation to establish justice, he said. "As long as I am President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon." pic.twitter.com/7lzGY5fWz3 The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) January 8, 2020 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said following Irans admission that his focus remains on seeking justice for the families of those who died. A total of 57 Canadians were killed in the crash. Mr Trudeau issued a statement on Saturday saying Canada is concentrating on closure, accountability, transparency and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims. He called the incident a national tragedy and said all Canadians are mourning together. He said Canada will continue to work with partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation, and the Canadian government expects full co-operation from Iranian authorities. Irans acknowledgement of responsibility for the crash was likely to inflame public sentiment against authorities after Iranians had rallied around their leaders after Gen Soleimanis killing. Expand Close Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five University of Windsor students who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash (Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five University of Windsor students who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash (Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press/AP) The general was seen as a national icon, and hundreds of thousands of people had turned out for funeral processions across the country. But the majority of the plane crash victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians, and the crash came just weeks after authorities quashed nationwide protests ignited by a rise in petrol prices. The shooting down of the plane and the lack of transparency around it, along with the restrained response to the killing of Soleimani, could reignite anger within Iran at the countrys leadership. On Saturday night, hundreds gathered at universities in Tehran to protest against the governments late acknowledgement of the plane being shot down. They demanded officials involved in the missile attack be removed from their positions and put on trial. Police broke up the demonstrations. Irans president Hassan Rouhani blamed the tragedy on threats and bullying by the US after the killing of Gen Soleimani. He expressed condolences to families of the victims, and he called for a full investigation and the prosecution of those responsible. A sad day, Irans foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Expand Close Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meets family of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US air strike in Iraq (AP/PA) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meets family of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US air strike in Iraq (AP/PA) The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. The head of the airline said he was sure all along that that the company was not at fault. Evgeniy Dikhne said on Facebook: We did not for a second doubt that our crew and our plane could not have been the cause of this terrible, awful air catastrophe. They were our best guys and girls. The best. Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. Meghan Markle, wife of Britain's Prince Harry, has signed a voiceover deal with Disney. The former actor, who quit the profession when she got engaged to Harry in 2017, inked a deal to work with the studio in return for a donation to an elephant charity, according to The Times. The charity is Elephants Without Borders, a conservationist group that focuses on protecting elephants from poachers. Meghan recorded her voiceover in November, before she and Harry left the UK for a six-week break in Canada with their son Archie. The comes after she and Harry announced on Wednesday their intention to step back as senior royals. The couple indicated in their statement that they want to be free to work on their own terms while continuing to support the work of Queen Elizabeth II, Harry's grandmother. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United Airlines will begin offering daily service from Santa Maria to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver this spring, giving Central Coast residents access to hundreds of domestic and international destinations, Santa Maria Public Airport manager Chris Hastert announced Friday. The airport at this time offers only one regular route to Las Vegas through Allegiant Air. The new routes, which begin June 4, were announced by airport officials and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce during a press conference at the airport. Read the full story right here - Update: United Airlines to offer flights from Santa Maria to Denver, SFO and LAX A disturbingly misogynistic conference that promises to make women great again but only has male speakers has drawn fierce criticism from campaigners. The event, which organisers have billed as the mansplaining event of the century, will be held in Orlando in Florida in May. Discussions at the three-day conference, which costs 764 ($999) to attend, will focus on how to destroy the feminist establishment, become the ultimate wife and get pregnant and have unlimited babies. Women today are being taught to act more like men, organisers warned. Where has that led us? Skyrocketing rates of broken families, a documented decline in female unhappiness since the 1970's, endless social and dating dysfunction, and America at the #1 spot in the world for single motherhood. The events promoters continued: No longer will you have to give in to toxic bullying feminist dogma and go against your ancient, biological nature as a woman, the men have arrived to help make women great again. 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 event, which is only open to women, is not affiliated with Donald Trump's administration but its organisers have red hats which say Make Women Great Again and resemble the president's Make America Great Again (Maga) hats. Make America Great Again was a key catchphrase used by Mr Trump throughout his presidential campaign and many see Maga hats as synonymous with the administrations perceived racism and xenophobia. Kate Kelly, a New York based human rights lawyer at Equality Now, a non government organisation which aims to promote the rights of women and girls, raised concerns about the event. This conference demonstrates that this administration has emboldened even those with more latent anti-female tendencies to come out in the open, she told The Independent. It has made the unacceptable acceptable again. This is not a celebration, its a denigration. Misogyny is always couched as a celebration of womanhood. Its the oldest trick in the book. You cant be pro-women and anti-feminist. An image posted on the events website includes a man wearing a red Make Women Great Again hat next to screen displaying a photo of a woman emblazoned with the slogan men prefer debt-free virgins without tattoos. The conference, which is advertised as the worlds ultimate event for women, by men, pledges to help women raise their femininity by 500 per cent. Our speakers will teach you how to get wifed up, knocked up, and have as many babies as your heart desires, say organisers. Vivienne Hayes, chief executive of the Womens Resource Centre, the leading national umbrella organisation for the womens sector in the UK, said: This is yet another highly disturbing development linked to the MAGA brand. There is undoubtedly severe regression in womens rights both here in the UK and Europe as well as the USA, which is part of a dangerous and frightening growing ideology which promotes human rights abuses. Indeed we are witnessing an escalation of state sanctioned violation of our human rights. Womens human rights defenders will be mobilising to meet this deadly threat head on. Silence is no longer an option. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday attacked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for supporting those are who were involved in the violence during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the national capital. New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi said that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal rewarded those who incited violence during the protest by giving them compensation of Rs 5 lakh. Lekhi said, What type of a patriot is he? He (Kejriwal) is trying to prove his patriotism by giving compensation to the person involved in riot protesting CAA. He is going to provide compensation of Rs 5 lakh and employment to the people involved in these riots. He supports those who are burning the city, what kind of a CM is he? She also hit out at Kejriwals deputy, Manish Sisodia, for spreading misinformation and adding to confusion by tweeting fake photographs. The BJP also hit out at the AAP on the issue of corruption and questioned the party why it didnt take any action against the previous Congress government despite leveling allegations of corruption against it. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel said, Kejriwal had claimed he has evidence against the then Congress government, but all know what action he took after coming to power. Meanwhile, the BJP will reach out to every citizen of Delhi as part of its campaign to expose the fake promises made by the AAP government ahead of the assembly elections, said BJP working president J P Nadda. At an organisational meeting, Nadda said party workers will expose the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi. We will reach out to every citizen of Delhi to expose the fake promises, failures and scams of the AAP government, Nadda tweeted. AAP leaders couldnt be reached for a comment. Videos and comments on social media show angry Iranians calling on leadership to resign over plane crash incident. A group of Iranian protesters has demanded Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders step down after Tehran admitted its forces mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board. Commander-in-chief [Khamenei] resign, resign, videos posted on Twitter showed hundreds of people chanting in front of Tehrans Amir Kabir University on Saturday. Protesters chanted slogans denouncing liars and demanded the resignation and prosecution of those responsible for downing the plane and allegedly covering up the accidental action. Others on Twitter asked why the Boeing 737-800 was allowed to take off on Wednesday, at a time when tensions between the United States and Iran were so high Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crashed moments after departing from Tehran, hours after Iran struck bases housing US troops in neighbouring Iraq in retaliation to the US assassination of a top Iranian commander last week. Fars news agency reported that Iranian police dispersed students that were chanting destructive and radical slogans during the gathering in the capital. The United Kingdom confirmed its ambassador, Rob Macaire, was arrested briefly during the demonstrations, accused of inciting the protesters in front of the Amir Kabir University. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the arrest was a flagrant violation of international law and repeated calls for Iran to de-escalate tensions. Earlier on Saturday, after days of denials, Iran said its military had shot down the Ukrainian plane, calling it a disastrous mistake but blaming the US for heightened tension. The military claimed air defences were fired in error during an alert which was imposed after the missile struck against US targets in Iraq. Authorities promised to bring those responsible to justice. Speaking from Tehran, Al Jazeeras Dorsa Jabbari said: There is a lot of anger. Iranians are demanding justice and accountability. Many people including families of the victims are in shock. They do not understand why their government would have lied to them for this long. Vigils that were held near Amir Kabir University quickly turned into anti-government protests with people calling for the IRGC to leave the country, she said, referring to the elite Islamic Revolution Guard Corps. Irans leadership last faced mass protests in November following the rise in petrol prices. The country has been in the grip of a severe economic crisis since President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018 the US from the nuclear deal signed between Iran and world powers in 2015 and reimposed punishing sanctions. Condemnations The plane, bound for the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians including many Iranians with dual citizenship and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. Foreign governments condemned the downing of the plane, with Ukraine demanding compensation and a United States official calling the action reckless. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for a complete and thorough investigation with Irans full cooperation, while the UK said Tehrans admission was an important first step. Supreme leader Khamenei, until now silent about the crash, said information should be made public, while top officials and the military issued apologies. But state television suggested revealing the truth might be used by the enemies of Iran, usually a reference to the US and Israel. Experts said mounting international scrutiny would have made it all but impossible to hide signs of a missile strike in any investigation. They said Iran may have felt a U-turn was better than battling rising criticism abroad and growing grief and anger at home, as many victims were Iranians with dual nationality. Theres nothing you can do to cover it up or hide it, said Anthony Brickhouse, an air safety expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and former US National Transportation Safety Board investigator. Evidence is evidence. The crash heightened international pressure on Iran after months of friction with the US and tit-for-tat attacks. A US drone strike killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq on January 3, prompting Tehran to fire at US targets on Wednesday. Following the killing of Soleimani, a hero for many in Iran, huge crowds across the country attended funeral procession for the slain head of the IRGCs overseas forces in an apparent show of support for the countrys leadership. Rare apology In a rare step, IRGC on Saturday apologised to the nation and accepted full responsibility for the plane crash. Senior IRGC commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh said he had informed Irans authorities on Wednesday about the unintentional strike, a comment that raised questions about why officials had publicly denied it for so long. Speaking on state television, he said he wished he could die when he heard the news about the incident. Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter that human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster, citing an initial armed forces investigation into the crash. A military statement said the plane flew close to a sensitive IRGC site at a time of high alert. But Ukraine said the plane was in a normal flight corridor. Irans Civil Aviation Organisation also said the airliner had not veered off its normal course. Ukraine International Airlines said Iran should have closed the airport, adding that it received no indication it faced a threat and was cleared for take-off. The disaster echoed a 1988 incident, when a US warship shot down an Iranian airliner, killing 290 people. While Washington claimed it was an accident, Tehran said it was intentional. Pupils representing seven Kerry schools will head to Dublin for the 2020 BY Young Scientists and Technology Competition, which starts today (Wednesday, 8th) and runs until Saturday at the RDS. A total of 10 exhibits in all are from Kerry, and pupils will display a cross-section of projects dealing with categories in Social and Behavioural Studies; Technology; and Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences. This annual trip to the capital for secondary-school pupils in January is the pinnacle of many weeks' research and hard work as they put their projects before the judges for approval. This year marks the 56th year of the internationally renowned competition, which features over 550 inspiring projects from 1,000 pupils representing 244 schools across the island of Ireland. Of the seven Kerry schools taking part, Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine will be represented by three projects: one dealing with research on the correlation between economic prosperity and the mental well-being of residents in the Republic of Ireland; the second with 'An Open Source Implementation to Simulating Tropospheric and Stratospheric Dynamics on a Synoptic Scale'; and a third with the Electromagnetic Brake System. Tarbert Comprehensive School will submit two projects: 'This is the Final Straw' in the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences Category; and 'The Hardest Choice' in Social and Behavioural Sciences. Investigations into Electroencephalography and how it can help emulate human empathy and emotion in artificial intelligence is the project of pupils at Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra. Tralee CBS Secondary School pupils (a school that won first place in a senior category in 2019) will give a statistical analysis into vaccine hesitancy in first-year males; and the pupils from Colaiste Bhreanainn will present an app devoted specifically to electronic tagging and scanning of livestock. The 2020 project from Killorglin Community College will focus on investigations into the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards invisible disabilities that create a 'well-being course' for secondary-school students. Completing the list is Castleisland Community College, where the exploratory question is asked: 'Is happiness a state of mind or a state of well-being?' Speaking about the latter project, pupil Micheal O'Shea explains how his inspiration arrived when he saw a poster on mental health in a local supermarket that read: 'One in five adolescents in a classroom have a mental-health issue'. This prompted Micheal to delve further into the topic with the help of his teacher, Donncha Hickie. Micheal was curious to know why a prevalence of mental-health issues increased over the past three years, yet everyday on social media he noticed friends and peers posting videos and pictures of them having a good time. Micheal's project is an exploration of happiness using in-depth research, statistics and hard facts. He combines two key elements: a literature review and examination of past research, and a three-part questionnaire. Micheal's stats verify that less time spent on technology, increased sleep, more exercise and introducing simple lifestyle changes increases happiness and well-being. "I began the project in September and it involved doing research every week," Micheal said. "We're living in a digital age now and one of my questions was 'how long are you spending on a phone everyday?' "In terms of a happiness score, respondents who spend more than four hours on a phone received a score of 3.65, while those who spend less than one hour on a phone scored 4.46. What I learned from this is: the less time participants are on their phones, the happier they are." Teresa Lonergan, Principal of Castleisland Community College, described Micheal, along with all the other students heading to Dublin, as great innovators and ambassadors. "Micheal is so engaged in his work, and he is very thorough in what he does. For students, this competition is a way of developing skills that sometimes the curriculum doesn't reach or develop," Teresa said. Today's opening ceremony will be attended by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, with a business symposium hosted by Liz Bonnin featuring a line-up of speakers that includes Professor Brian Cox. The symposium will contain a range of inspiring stories and insights about the challenges and opportunities that technology innovation offers. There will be a specific focus on sustainability and Ireland's 2050 carbon neutral objective. The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is described by its organisers as 'much more than a competition' - it is the experience of a lifetime. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis strategic decision to delay forwarding the articles of impeachment to the U.S. Senate appears to have paid off. Oh, it wont move Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has pledged total coordination with the Trump White House, to assure a fair trial. Fairness, let alone an appearance of such, just doesnt concern him. This is the Senate leader who ignored all pretense of even-handedness when he blocked consideration of President Barack Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland for 293 days to allow incoming President Trump to fill the seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. No, Pelosi was playing a longer game. She was calculating that time was on her side. And so it was. Two significant pieces of evidence have emerged in the weeks since the House passage of two articles of impeachment. Former national security adviser John Bolton, who had balked at appearing in the House inquiry, has signaled willingness to testify in a Senate trial. Boltons account of the withholding of the Trump administrations military aid to Ukraine could be consequential. For one, he supposedly had direct conversations with the president about it. Moreover, his disdain for what he compared to a drug deal outside regular diplomatic channels was spelled out in sworn House testimony. The other key development was the disclosure of secret emails that detailed the White House stonewalling the Defense Departments attempt to find out why the Ukraine aid had been suspended. One email from Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey plainly stated, Clear direction to continue to hold. The Senate will turn away this evidence at its peril. Do Republicans in competitive seats want to risk suppressing Bolton and then see him deliver damning disclosures, in a House hearing, media interview or book? Score this one for Pelosi. She signaled Friday she would be sending the articles to the Senate this week. The pressure now is on GOP senators to allow witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the presidents actions. Enlightened self-interest: Carl Guardino, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, made the surprise announcement last week that he would soon be stepping down after 23 years. Its hard to overstate the influence on public policy that Guardino had in the region and beyond. I dont know a single person in the valley whos had a greater impact in so many areas that affect our quality of life, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo told me Thursday. I first met Guardino in 1996, when each of us was starting our current roles. He was pitching a half-cent sales tax for transportation. He was back campaigning for another sales tax increase in 2000. And again in 2008. And in 2016. He also had leading roles in three statewide housing-bond campaigns that raised $11 billion. I sometimes joked with Carl that he was a tax-and-spend liberal. Yet he was anything but. He rallied the business community behind those measures by ensuring that they were accompanied by strict accountability. As Liccardo noted, Guardino championed specific taxes for pressing needs, not general taxes that could be spent on anything. He accompanied his support for government programs with philanthropic initiatives on education. Lenny Mendonca, the governors top economic and business adviser, called Guardino a world-class civic leader in all the best dimensions, fulfilling the vision of David Packard of Hewlett-Packard, who recognized that building up the community is essential to a vibrant business environment. Liccardo said elected leaders elsewhere often would tell him, I wish we had a Carl Guardino. Now the valleys challenge is to find the next one. It wont be easy. Crusader to candidate: No one has been a more fearless and relentless champion of clean money in politics than Ann Ravel. She was the former chair of the state Fair Political Practices Commission who exposed and fined shadow groups that had funneled $15 million against a measure to raise taxes (Prop. 30) and for one to restrict the use of union dues (Prop. 32) in 2012. She was the Obama-appointed member of the Federal Election Commission who raised holy hell when Chairman Don McGahn (yes, that Don McGahn, later White House counsel for Trump) stymied any real enforcement. The absurdity of the FECs fecklessness was highlighted in a Comedy Central segment featuring Ravel, and she had a prominent role in the 2018 documentary Dark Money. Now Ravel is seeing the effects of big money up close and personal. She is running against two established Democrats in one of the hottest Senate races in the state. Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese has raised more than double Ravels contributions; and former Assemblywoman Nora Campos is getting a boost from an independent expenditure from oil interests. Ravel has raised money from 3,000 contributors, with 70% of the donations being $50 or less. Still, for someone who has studied money in politics so extensively, she is struck by the degree to which a candidates viability is judged by her or his fundraising. Its even worse than we think, she said. One thing is certain: If Ravel makes it to Sacramento, its a good bet that campaign finance reform will be among her priorities. John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron Federal officials said a Virginia man arrested Friday is linked to a string of fake bomb threats and "swatting" attacks on journalists, government officials and others as part of an international group sympathetic to neo-Nazi ideology. John William Kirby Kelley had his first appearance in federal court in Alexandria on Friday; his public defender did not comment on the allegations but said his client has "very limited funds." The charge against Kelley of conspiracy to make threats carries up to five years in prison. Members of the group, which is unnamed, "all appeared to share racist views," according to an affidavit from an FBI agent, "with particular disdain for African Americans and Jewish people." They expressed affinity with the neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Division, the agent wrote. The investigation began in November 2018, when Old Dominion University in Norfolk got a call claiming someone armed with an AR-15 had hidden pipe bombs around campus. The police got a call a couple hours later from someone with a similar voice who said he had dialed accidentally and apologized. That call came from Kelley's number, listed in school records, according to the affidavit. Authorities said in the documents that Kelley was studying cybersecurity at the school until January, when he was expelled after facing state drug charges. In chat logs among group members later accessed by law enforcement, the affidavit states, Kelley appeared to suggest the college as a target so he would not have to go to class. "DON'T BOMB THREAT YOUR OWN SCHOOL," another member later responded after Kelley had been interviewed by campus police. Authorities said the Old Dominion University incident was linked to a November 2018 bomb threat at the historic and predominantly African American Alfred Street Baptist Church in Old Town Alexandria, which led to the evacuation and sweep of the church by police during evening worship. Kelley engaged with the group online under the moniker "Carl," officials allege in court papers, suggesting targets and sometimes recording swatting calls. Officials said he helped with technical issues during live video feeds of incidents. False emergency calls are called "swatting" because practitioners hope to provoke an overwhelming SWAT team response. Another false threat was called in to the Alexandria police last January; the caller claimed to have killed his girlfriend and taken her two children hostage. The address he gave was of a person protected by the U.S. Secret Service. A person familiar with the incident said it was resolved without fanfare after a call to the Secret Service. The group maintained a website called DoxBin, according to prosecutors, that listed past and potential swatting targets. One victim on the list, according to independent journalist Brian Krebs, was Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. He was ordered out of his home and handcuffed by police after the false report made in June. Another was a Facebook executive. Along with more prominent targets, the group is also accused of swatting a vape shop in a small town in Pennsylvania in 2018, leading to a "shelter in place" order for the whole community. Altogether, 134 law enforcement agencies got calls from the group, according to the affidavit, including some in Canada and Britain. A photo found on his phone showed Kelley and others in tactical gear holding assault rifles, along with pictures of Atomwaffen recruitment material and the neo-Nazi publication Siege, according to court papers. One photo of a ballistic vest and helmet found in the search was also in the possession of Jeffrey Clark, a District resident who in 2018 admitted to becoming involved in the white nationalist movement. Featuring angry Nicolas Cage, a First Nations community besieged by white zombies, Emerald Fennells tale of a promising young woman, and a new Rebecca. Photo-Illustration: Vulture, RLJE Films, A24, Paramount Pictures and Fox Searchlight Pictures Event horror films are coming from all sides in 2020. Big ol Paramount has A Quiet Place: Part II, and Universals got another Purge. The mini-major Blumhouse is staying on the IP trend with a new installment to the Halloween franchise and remakes of Fantasy Island, The Invisible Man, and Rebecca (yes, as in Alfred Hitchcock and Daphne du Maurier). Then theres the Jordan Peeleproduced revival of Candyman starring Dr. Manhattan himself. And thats just a handful of the dozens of horror titles were excited about this year, featuring Nic Cage in a Lovecraftian nightmare, a First Nations community battling white zombies, Keri Russell versus a Guillermo del Toroproduced monster, and more. Here are the 35 horror films were most excited about in 2020. January Underwater (Now Playing) Underwater isolation. A sea monster. Claustrophobic peril. Kristen Stewart with gay hair. This sounds like a great January time at the movies! (Vultures Bilge Ebiri agrees.) The Turning (January 24) The Turning seems like a low-lift January horror drop meant to deliver some easy jump scares, but this spooky-house movie stars Mackenzie Davis, Brooklynn Prince, and Finn Wolfhard, which makes it immediately more intriguing. Davis plays a governess hired by a man recently put in charge of his niece and nephew, but these kids are pretty creepy and they dont seem happy to have a new caretaker around. Floria Sigismondi directs this Turn of the Screw adaptation. Color Out of Space (January 24) The Rage Cage returns! In writer and director Richard Stanleys adaptation of the H. P. Lovecraft novel of the same name, get ready for Mandy meets Annihilation after a glowing meteorite crashes into the bucolic backyard of the Gardner family. The landscape, the animals, and the Gardners all start to transform as the UFO perverts the surrounding area, making for crazy violence, grotesque creature FX, a surprising amount of comedy, and Nicolas Cage uncorking his inner fury. Gretel & Hansel (January 31) Osgood Perkins has made a pair of very understated horror films in I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House and The Blackcoats Daughter. Now hes taking that muted style to the more fantastic story of Hansel and Gretel. It star Sophia Lillis appears as one half of the titular brother-sister pair who is enticed by a witch into a lonesome house in the forest. It looks like a properly dark take on the classic Grimm fairy tale. February Come to Daddy (February 7) Elijah Wood plays a man whose estranged father reaches out and invites him to come visit his remote home. Mom never really talked about dad, though, and Woods character, Norval, is in for a very weird and surprisingly violent reconnection. The Lodge (February 7) The last feature from Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala was the exquisitely eerie Goodnight Mommy. In this English-language sophomore film, they once again establish a stark and terrible place where threats reveal themselves very, very gradually. Riley Keough plays the soon-to-be stepmom of two young kids who are extremely bitter about their parents breaking up, but all three of them are stranded at a snowed-in cabin while dads arrival is delayed by work. Alone in a whiteout, are the kids turning against Keoughs Grace, or is the lodge turning against them all? After Midnight (February 14) Director and co-writer Jeremy Gardner stars in this movie about a man wrecked by the recent dissolution of his decade-long relationship, and adding to his hard times is the monster trying to break into his house every night since she left. Is it actually her? Is he crazy? Is there really a beast terrorizing him? Find out! Fantasy Island (February 14) This is not the Fantasy Island of your parents! A group of people do fly into a dazzling island getaway with that big white house and a long wooden dock to welcome them at the shore, and a resort assistant does say a version of The plane! when they land. But the fantasies on offer here are considerably darker in the Blumhouse treatment. Want to get revenge on an old bully? Surprise! Heres a torture chamber with that bully locked inside! What?? The Truth or Dare team of star Lucy Hale and director Jeff Wadlow are together again, and it looks like theyve made a giant bowl of horror popcorn for us to snack on. VFW (February 14) Writer and director Joe Begos saw the release of his run-and-gun vampire movie Bliss last fall, and now hes got a no-holds-barred action-horror sprint coming out in 2020. Stephen Lang plays the owner of a VFW chapter and watering hole that serves as a small peaceful corner in a version of America that has been savaged by an extremely addictive new drug. When a young woman bursts into the bar after robbing the drug lord across the street, the vets pledge to protect her from the sociopath dealer and the hordes of junkies he sends after her to recover the stolen product. Hard-boiled genre icons William Sadler, Fred Williamson, Martin Kove, and David Patrick Kelly co-star. Brahms: The Boy II (February 21) Listen: Brahms the haunted doll looks suspiciously similar to the person in charge of handling the opioid crisis and Middle East peace in this current presidential administration, so how could we not be excited for his very cursed sequel? This one even stars Katie Holmes, and were not about to ignore Katie Holmes and Brahms together in the same movie. The Invisible Man (February 28) In Blumhouses update of this classic Universal monster movie, the writer and director turns The Invisible Man into an allegedly dead domestic abuser who leaves his fortune to the woman he used to beat up. Elisabeth Moss stars as Cecilia, who, still suffering from PTSD due to the abuse, swears that her dead ex is actually alive and terrorizing her and, oh, potentially invisible. Cecilia has to fight against a whole lot of gaslighting as she struggles for her life in this update from writer and director Leigh Whannell. March Swallow (March 6) Swallow is one of the calmest body-horror movies youll ever see, but that doesnt stop it from twisting every nerve. Haley Bennett stars as Hunter, a prim newlywed whose domestic malaise leads her to start eating things to break up her dull routine and preplanned life. And we dont mean just soft things. We mean batteries. Marbles. Thumbtacks. And more. But trying to digest sharp objects is a bad idea, and when Hunters secret addiction is discovered, she has to either confront the roots of her compulsion or bury herself behind the guise of a pretty housewife. The Platform (March 20) This one looks disturbing. This Spanish film is set in a vertical prison where inmates live two to a cell and they only get to eat when a platform passes through their level and pauses for two minutes while they feast. The horror of it all is that the table starts full at the top, and those near the bottom only get to eat what is left by the end and hunger makes monsters of us all. The Platform will debut on Netflix. Vivarium (March 27) What if you got stuck in a distressingly uniform suburban housing development called Yonder? Thats the broad premise of Vivarium, in which Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg co-star as a couple searching for just the right starter home. (A vivarium, its worth noting, is a typically enclosed area used for raising and observing plants or animals. So, do with that information what you will.) April The Other Lamb (April 3) Attack of the Australians! The Other Lamb is from screenwriter Catherine S. McMullen, and it appeared on the Black List and the BloodList (basically the Black List for horror scripts) back in 2017. Magorzata Szumowska directs the film, which centers on an isolated religious community called the Flock that is made up of all-female subordinates with one male leader (yikes!). When a member named Selah participates in the sacred ritual of the birthing of the lambs, it leads to a transformative experience that will probably be frightening! Sea Fever (April 10) Irish filmmakers really know their way around moody suspense, and this movie from director Neasa Hardiman stars Hermione Corfield (Rust Creek) as a marine-biology student who gets stranded at sea with a crew people on the boat shes hitched a ride on. Thats already bad enough, but then theres a bioluminescent force that starts overtaking the vessel and spreading a mysterious infection among the crew. Talk about cabin fever! Promising Young Woman (April 17) Emerald Fennell might be best known for showrunning season two of Killing Eve or from her on-camera work in The Crown, but come spring shell make waves with this rape-and-revenge movie starring Carey Mulligan. In Fennells debut feature, Mulligan is Cassandra, a woman who plays vulnerable out at bars to see which shitty men fall into her honey trap. They insist theyre nice guys, but Cassandra knows better, and shes out to make them pay. A former premed student who had to drop out after a traumatic incident, the movie will explore what happened to this once-promising young woman surrounded by bad, bad men, and what shes doing to take out the trash. May The Vast of Night (May 29) The Vast of Night feels like a quaint old Twilight Zone episode about an alien presence in small-town America, but the gorgeous cinematography and art direction place it among the most stunning of prestige horror films. A teenage phone operator and a local radio DJ in 1950s New Mexico set out to solve the mystery of a strange frequency thats invading the airwaves in their town. After playing festivals through the end of last year, Amazon will release Vast of Night sometime this year. June Fear Street (June 5) Leigh Janiak is directing all three films in this planned trilogy adapted from the R. L. Stine book of the same name. The first film will be set in 1994, and it will follow a group of teens who learn that their town has a history of terrible, interconnected events that have been playing out for centuries. The other installments take place in 1978 and 1666 and then circle back to 1994 again. The Fox project was originally meant to see each of the three films released in successive months, but under Disney ownership its unclear if that strategy is still in place. Regardless, Fear Street chapter one comes out this summer. July The Forever Purge (July 10) Its the fifth Purge, and its coming during an election year, near to the Fourth of July holiday. Were in. Bring on Purge Night. September A Quiet Place: Part II (September 3) As if sound-sensitive monsters werent bad enough, whats left of the Abbott family will venture away from their formerly peaceful farm in A Quiet Place: Part II to find a lot of awful people are roaming the postapocalyptic landscape, too. This creature-feature sequel, also written and directed by John Krasinski, will fill in some of the backstory on how the end-time started and bring back Emily Blunt with a shotgun. They better wear socks this time! Candyman (September 25) Nia DaCosta takes over the legacy of Bernard Roses classic from 1992 with this spiritual sequel to his original story. New Candyman takes place in the same place as the first film, but the Cabrini-Green neighborhood has been gentrified over the past three decades. Watchmens Yahya Abdul-Mateen II takes over the iconic titular character from Tony Todd, and if hes still stalking the same area, then his victims might look a lot different this time around. Last Night in Soho (September 25) Plot details are still scarce for Edgar Wrights next film, but it does star Thomasin McKenzie as a young woman who develops a connection with a character played by Anya Taylor-Joy, and that link results in a time-travel situation that brings them back to London in the 1960s. Wright has cited Repulsion and Dont Look Now as inspirations for the movie, which sounds like a very promising fall genre offering. October The Witches (October 16) This Robert Zemeckis interpretation of the 1973 Roald Dahl book of the same name stars Anne Hathaway in the role of Grand High Witch. Anjelica Huston made the role iconic in the 1990 film adaptation, but Hathaways incredible capacity for camp and theater-size performances onscreen makes her a very exciting successor to the role. And lets be honest: Any Witches movie is going to live or die by the Grand High Witch. Halloween Kills (October 16) The second movie in Blumhouses planned Halloween trilogy arrives this October, and it has all three Strode women returning (Laurie, daughter Karen, and granddaughter Allyson), along with a few faces from the beginning of it all. Current Real Housewife Kyle Richards will reprise as Lindsey Wallace from the original film, and Anthony Michael Hall will play the grown-up Tommy Doyle, another Halloween 1979 character. We love nostalgia casting, but just give us more Judy Greer this time! December Escape Room 2 (December 30) Call us suckers for a fluffy murder franchise, but Escape Room is like, What if Saw and Hostel, but not so angry? Adam Robitel directed the surprise hit that kicked off 2019, and Sony is confident enough in the follow-up to get it on the books for this spring. Our two heroes from the first film successfully completed the deadly escape room (RIP, Deborah Ann Woll!) and finished the movie vowing vengeance on the people who entrapped them. Lets go! Date TBD Antebellum The trailer for this Janelle Monaestarring horror movie (co-produced by Get Out and Us filmmaker Sean McKittrick) arrived in November and took everyone by surprise. The story follows Veronica (Monae), a successful author who somehow finds herself trapped in a terrifying alternate reality (the title might give you a clue as to what kind of alternate reality that is). First footage cuts back and forth between modern times and the Civil War era, where black people are running for their lives from gray-suited soldiers. Veronica appears in both timelines, where a sinister presence seems to be stalking her in the present day too. Antlers The last best-known horror movie that took place in Oregon was Green Room, and folks, the report on the state is not getting much better with Antlers. Keri Russell plays a small-town teacher, and Jesse Plemons plays her brother, the local sheriff, and both of them will become involved with a little boy keeping a terrifying secret. And by that, we mean there is a hideous monster. Antlers is produced by Guillermo del Toro through Fox Searchlight, which also made his Oscar winner The Shape of Water. Blood Quantum Migmaq filmmaker Jeff Barnaby wrote and directed this movie about a First Nations tribe (his own, in fact) dealing with a siege by the undead on their Red Crow reserve. The Migmaq, however, are immune to whatever is causing this zombie contagion, which means they have to fend off a bunch of white walking dead. Quantum will arrive on Shudder later this year. Im Thinking of Ending Things This road-trip movie is advertising palpable tension, psychological frailty, and sheer terror from writer and director Charlie Kaufman. Stars on board include Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley, Toni Collette, and David Thewlis, and the story centers on a woman who starts to reexamine her whole life as she tries to break up with her boyfriend. Ending Things will debut on Netflix later this year. The New Mutants Two years after it was originally slated to premiere, this dark entry into the X-Men universe will finally (allegedly) arrive in theaters this April. Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, and Maisie Williams are among the young mutants trapped in a secret facility that they have to fight their way out of to survive. Its hard to be optimistic knowing New Mutants has been pushed so many times, but of course that means were even more curious to see what this movie actually looks like. Rebecca Ben Wheatley directs this adaptation of the gothic horror classic based on Daphne du Mauriers novel. Armie Hammer stars as Maxim de Winter, with Lily James as his new bride, the one who moves into his grand home, Manderley, and is haunted by the looming presence of his beautiful deceased wife, Rebecca. Lets see justice for Mrs. Danvers this time around, a queer horror icon! Rebecca will debut on Netflix. Saint Maud This years beautiful A24 horror movie comes from British writer and director Rose Glass. Saint Maud follows a zealous private nurse who becomes obsessed with saving her posh employer. That might mean some tough love, self-harm in the name of religious devotion, and maybe even eventual possession by some sort of spirit whether its a holy or unholy one, we really couldnt say. Spiral: From The Book of Saw So, Chris Rock is starring in a new Saw movie written by Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg, based on a story that Rock came up with. The comedian and actor (and also producer, in this case) will play a detective trying to solve a series of gruesome murders (obviously), and he will be joined by Samuel L. Jackson as his dad, along with Marisol Nichols and Max Minghella in supporting roles. Okay! Untitled Blumhouse Movie Vince Vaughn makes his return to lighter fare in this horror-comedy from Blumhouse that revolves around the body-swapping of a large male serial killer and a petite teenage girl. Vaughn is the murderer terrorizing a small town, and Kathryn Newton plays the introverted high-school student, meaning you actually get to see him play an adolescent girl while shes a hardened sociopath on a killing spree. Happy slashing! The Blumhouse title should arrive sometime in the second half of the year. A special court here acquitted a 25-year-old man in an NDPS case, citing the police's failure to preserve the seized narcotics and not sending them for chemical analysis. In his order on Wednesday, district judge Hemant M Patwardhan gave Mumbra resident Matin Iqbal Ansari the benefit of doubt and held that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The prosecution informed the court that Ansari was arrested on December 22, 2017 for alleged possession of ganja. After hearing both the prosecution and defence's arguments, the court held that as the alleged narcotic found in the accused's possession was immediately destroyed and was not sent for chemical analysis, there is nothing to substantiate the allegations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. "Canadians have questions," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday, "and they deserve answers." Yes, they do. But whether Mr. Trudeau, or anyone else in his government or in the broader global community, will be able to provide answers that offer some measure of comfort and certainty to the many Canadians affected by the crash of Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752 remains to be seen. ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a candlelight vigil to remember those killed on Ukraine International Airlines Flight on Thursday in Ottawa. Information about the tragedy which claimed the lives of all 176 on board, including at least 63 Canadians has been advanced in an ever more troubling tangle of updates, contradictions and occasional denials, with a picture emerging by Friday of a catastrophe that was decidedly not the result of internal aircraft failure. Rather, what has become clear is that Flight 752 was the target of a surface-to-air missile, launched by Iranian interests, which makes the 176 lives lost direct casualties whether deliberate or unintended of the heightened-of-late hostilities between Iran and the United States. The threads that tie Canada to this horrific event are numerous and strong; in addition to the 63 citizens (at least eight from Manitoba) who perished in the rocket-initiated crash, many other passengers in total, 138 of the 176 on board had Canada as their final destination. Every one had a family or a connection here, and as a result the anguish and heartbreak that has descended on Canada has been indescribably intense and undeniably far-reaching. It might be worth noting, for future discussion purposes, that there were reportedly no Americans on the flights passenger manifest. But as the grief lingers and the anger continues to percolate, the most pressing issue for the federal government is cutting through the diplomatic haze and myriad bureaucratic obstacles that stand between the affected Canadians and the answers that might offer them some small measure of closure. In acknowledging the reality that the Ukrainian airliner was, indeed, downed by a military missile, Mr. Trudeau added Thursday that "This may well have been unintentional." That is a possibility that cannot be dismissed outright, but given the ratcheted-up tension in the region after the Jan. 2 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq, and the subsequent Jan. 7 retaliatory Iranian missile attack on two Iraqi military bases housing U.S. troops, there also remains every possibility that the destruction of the civilian passenger plane was not accidental. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Late Friday, Iran state TV, citing the military, said the country "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian jetliner because of human error. Until that point, Iran was in deep denial mode. In the immediate aftermath of the Flight 752 crash, officials there attributed the disaster to technical/mechanical issues. Even after video obtained by various media outlets seemed to rule out conventional mechanical difficulties, Iran continued to deny the assertion that ground-to-air missiles were involved. Now, however, there remains no doubt about the missile-related facts of the matter. What remains is a determination of motive hostile or accidental and getting to the truth will be no easy feat. Canada has not had diplomatic relations with Iran since 2012, when our embassy there was closed and Iranian diplomats were expelled from this country over non-compliance with a UN Security Council resolution regarding Irans nuclear program. Since then, Italy has been Canadas diplomatic voice in Iran. Reports that Iran will allow officials from Canadas Transportation Safety Board to access the crash site are encouraging. But they are only the beginning of what will be an exhaustive and, no doubt, exhausting search for the truth in a region in which truth holds very little political currency. But Mr. Trudeau must remain steadfast in his determination to deliver it. Canadians deserve answers. The man charged with firing 15 shots into a room at the Douglas Heights Apartments and killing one person will still be free after the prosecutor was not ready to have a preliminary hearing for Toddie Woods on Friday morning. A few days earlier, Criminal Court Judge Don Poole withheld Woods capias until his matter in General Sessions Court could be resolved. Woods, 26, had made bond related to his pending murder case, one that is being threatened to be revoked after Woods was charged with domestic assault on Jan. 2. According to police reports, Woods and his wife were both intoxicated when officers arrived. Even though the officer who arrested the couple was present as a witness, the prosecutor told General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom he was not ready to have a hearing. He said he knew nothing about the case, and that there was body-cam footage he needed to review as well. It would be detrimental for the states case if I handled a case I knew nothing about, said the prosecutor. In addition to moving the hearing to Jan. 24, the prosecutor enlisted the help of Criminal Court prosecutor Brian Bush to assist him on the case, a move Judge Statom approved of. Maybe we could get the district attorney (general) downstairs, said Judge Statom,and maybe he would be willing to put him on pre-trial house arrest, until he could revisit the case. Prosecutor Bush later confirmed he would be assisting with the case in General Sessions Court, but would not be the prosecutor. He said he and prosecutor Miriam Johnson would be the prosecutors for the case in Criminal Court. Woods is due in Criminal Court on Monday to resolve his bond issue. Depending on how Judge Poole rules, he may issue his capias, thus revoking the defendants bond and taking Woods back into custody. Woods, his brother Ommerial Woods, and their friend Hyacinth Taylor are all facing various charges for their alleged involvement in the shooting at Douglas Heights, which also left two injured. Toddie Woods was seen on video firing multiple shots into the door of the apartment, and was charged with first-degree murder. Yolanda Hadid was born 56 years ago, today. And her famous daughter Gigi Hadid made sure to post a birthday tribute to the family's matriarch on Instagram Saturday morning. The 24-year-old model gushed about how 'honored and lucky' she was to 'grow up learning from a woman' like her mother Yolanda. To celebrate, Gigi shared several throwbacks of the Dutch stunner in her younger years. Happy Birthday: Gigi Hadid wished her mother Yolanda a happy birthday on Instagram Saturday morning Model mom: The now 56-year-old is seen here with a young Gigi during her modeling days 'Wishing the Happiest Birthday and a year full of light, good health, and adventure to my golden mamma (& matriarch to all our animal babies)' posted Gigi. She shared a number of snapshots of Yolanda tending to the family's number of horses. 'You surprise and inspire me more each year with all that you are capable of. Thank you for life and for its greatest gifts' she continued. Baby Gigi: Yolanda holds onto a pint-sized Gigi while on a family vacation Hadid, who closely resembles her former model mama, also took to her Instagram story to share ever more photos of Yolanda with her nearly 52million followers. The pictures included a side-by-side comparison of Gigi and Yolanda, along with a slew of the 56-year-old's early modeling work. 'WE LOVE YOU BEYOND WORDS!' concluded Hadid. Yolanda posted a birthday message to herself, as well. The post included a picture of the model mom rocking a swim top and bikini bottoms as she sat on a sandy beach. Mommy and me: A bikini-clad Yolanda posed with a baby Gigi in the 90s Twinning: The 56-year-old and her eldest child, Gigi, share a striking resemblance to one another 'Reflecting on this past year is bitter sweet. As much as Im grateful for the blessings that have come my way, the heartache of loosing my mam is beyond anything Ive felt before.... Today is one of those days I wish I was still a little girl and could climb in her lap and cry until the hurt goes away...' Yolanda lost her mother, Ans van den Herik, in August of 2019, after losing her battle with cancer at the age of 78. 'But I cant, its now time to really grow up and be a big girl and except that her goodness, her caring and her wisdom will live on like a legacy of love within me.' She honored her late mother in the post and labeled Ans as her 'guardian angel.' Modeling work: The Hadid matriarch would go on to model for 15-years under Ford Models Last day of 55: On Friday, Yolanda shared these snapshots of her toned body to Instagram to celebrate her last day of 55 She then went on to thank her three children, Gigi, Bella, and Anwar, for tending to her emotional needs. 'I cherish you and the small village that surrounds me today and everyday.' Yolanda concluded her retrospective post by expressing optimism for the New Year and expressing that she is 'finally back on [her] feet and ready to thrive in business.' She even hinted at working on writing a new book as a highly anticipated follow up to her first novel, Believe Me: My Battle with the Invisible Disability of Lyme Disease, published in 2017. Animal lover: Gigi shared photos of Yolanda tending to the family's many horses Happy: A young Yolanda enjoying a laugh Yolanda began her modeling career in the early 80s, when she was discovered by Ford Models executive Eileen Ford and signed to the renown agency. She would go on to model in Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, New York, and more places across the globe. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star would retire from the modeling business after meeting and marrying successful real estate developer, Mohamed Hadid in 1994. The couple would eventually divorce in 2000, after giving birth to Gigi, Bella, and son Anwar. Mini horse: The family own an adorable mini horse Yolanda would reemerge into the spotlight after being cast in the popular Brave reality series, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2010. She would later go on to host her own model search reality show titled Making a Model with Yolanda Hadid on the Lifetime channel. On Friday the Dutch beauty posted a hoard of bikini-clad shots to her Instagram page in anticipation of her birthday. 'Celebrating the last day of my 55th year on this planet..... My bestie loves her new iPhone camera and i love the portrait setting..........' she wrote in the caption of her pre-birthday post. side-by-side: Gigi shared this fan edit of a side-by-side of herself and Yolanda The post was tagged: '#CelebrationOfLife' and '#FreeAtLast.' Hadid also recently revealed that her Lyme disease has gone into remission. In November she told People: 'I feel better than ever. Im in remission. I had a really bad year last year but I found a new frequency healing device and its been amazing for me. 'It took away 90 percent of my symptoms. It helped with my joint pain, the exhaustion, the brain fog, all the symptoms that come with Lyme disease.' Yolanda has been a longtime advocate for those suffering from Lyme, dedicated to promoting awareness and supporting new research. Christmas together: Daughter Bella shared this snapshot of the whole family spending Christmas day with Yolanda Make a wish! Bella shared a sweet family photo with her sister Gigi as Yolanda blue out the candles on her birthday cake HBD: 'Our capricorn. happy birthday to day the angel that is my mother. i cant express how lucky I feel to be your daughter. thank you for all that you are, you make me so proud every single day ! my forever bff @yolanda.hadid,' wrote Bella Only white candidates have qualified for next week's Democratic presidential debate, the first time in this election cycle that no minority contender will make the stage. It's a dynamic that critics say threatens to undercut the party's rhetoric of inclusivity. The race for the 2020 Democratic nomination kicked off last year with a historically diverse pool of candidates, including two black senators, a black mayor, a Hispanic former Cabinet secretary and an Asian businessman. Since then, all have either dropped out or failed to qualify for a spot on the stage, determined by poll numbers and donations. Now the specter of an all-white debate in the mostly white state of Iowa is prompting concern among party activists. "Both the way the primary is set up and the way debates are done are a problem," said Rashad Robinson, executive director of Color of Change, a racial justice organization. "The system they have designed has suppressed the most loyal base of the Democratic Party." He added: "Anyone with an understanding of civil rights law understands how the rules can be set up to benefit some communities. The Democratic Party should look at the impact of these rules and question the results." The Democratic Party has held six debates so far, with the seventh scheduled for Tuesday. The party will host at least five additional debates in 2020. Candidates qualify based on public polling and the number of small donors they attract. Over time, those standards have risen, winnowing the field. For Tuesday's debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, candidates must show contributions from 225,000 unique donors and reach 7 percent support in two polls of early states, or 5 percent in at least four polls of early states and national surveys. The latest survey, released hours before Friday's midnight cutoff, showed the four top candidates clustered in the lead. The poll, sponsored by the Des Moines Register, CNN and Mediacom, showed Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., attracting 20 percent of the vote; Sen. Elizabeth Warren garnering 17 percent; Pete Buttigieg at 16 percent; and former vice president Joe Biden with 15 percent. Nobody else achieved more than 10 percent in a poll with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points. The whiteness of the debate stage - and the top candidates - has been an issue for weeks. During the last debate, businessman Andrew Yang called it "an honor and disappointment" to be the only person of color included. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., told the Associated Press this week that he had one of his best fundraising days during the December debate, even though he wasn't on the stage, because of the "reaction of the absence of me, and frankly, people with more diverse lived experiences." The Democratic National Committee, which runs the debates, has defended its rules, saying the requirements were set well in advance and that the stage reflects the preferences of voters, including voters of color. "We've set forth a clear set of transparent, inclusive rules," DNC Chairman Tom Perez said this week in an interview with MSNBC, adding: "We set those rules out in advance. And it's for the voters to decide." The responsibility for increasing diversity lies with the voters, he said. "If you want to make sure that a candidate of color makes the debate stage, when a pollster calls you, make sure you make that preference felt," Perez said. "Because that is how you move the polling needle and, again, the voters are the ones who are making these decisions." He also noted that Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who is black, would have qualified for the debate in December and probably January as well. She dropped out of the race early last month amid flagging fundraising. But critics believe the party isn't being introspective enough. "The fact that they are defending the process and saying it is fair is troublesome," Robinson said. "At this point, I don't know what they can do to disrupt the rules. But let's at least be honest about the result." The all-white stage reflects long-held societal biases among voters, said Aimee Allison, executive director of She the People, an organization that elevates women of color in politics. She argued that the conversation this year around "electability," a top concern among many, highlights how entrenched these ideas are. "It's a troubling indication of the built-in bias toward white men and white candidates over everyone else," Allison said. "There is a deep cultural belief that hasn't been adequately challenged." "Why are we assuming that a Biden" - who tops polls of black voters - "is a stronger candidate?" Allison added. "What is magic now? He was beaten by a younger African-American candidate" in 2008, when Biden garnered just 1 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses before dropping out. Two white women - Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. - have qualified for the January debate. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, remains in the race, though she didn't qualify. Self-help guru Marianne Williamson dropped out of the contest Friday and wouldn't have been on the stage. The men on the stage will be Biden, Buttigieg, Sanders and billionaire businessman Tom Steyer. The DNC has not unveiled its rules for the subsequent debates this year and hasn't said whether it will continue to include a small-donor qualification. Removing that hurdle could provide billionaire and former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg a chance to make the debate stage. He is self-funding his campaign and isn't accepting any donations, so he cannot make the debates under the current framework. The change would do little to boost minority candidates. Booker and Yang both met the donor threshold for January's debate, but neither polled high enough to qualify. Some longtime observers said the whiteness of Tuesday's debate shouldn't overwhelm the reality that the Democratic Party is friendly to minorities. "Yes, the optics will be off-putting to some observers - a bad thing for a party that will need the enthusiastic support of all sectors of its coalition," said Randall Kennedy, a Harvard Law professor who has written extensively on race. "But it is mistaken to suggest that the racial cast of the lineup means that the Democratic Party is hostile or indifferent to people of color. We need to look beneath and beyond looks." But the absence of nonwhite candidates can limit the discussion of issues that are important to minorities. "Where do the candidates stand on fully restoring the Voting Rights Act? On racial gerrymandering?" said the Rev. William J. Barber II, the co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, a group focused on ending systemic racism and poverty. "It's not just who is on the stage. It is what we choose to debate on the stage." Barber plans to fly to Iowa next week to urge the candidates to speak more about poverty. He also wanted to know how the DNC set its debate qualifications. "Who is in the room when the rules are made? And why are they made in such a way that could create this lack of diversity?" he asked. He also pushed major minority groups to advocate for change, suggesting that the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus should pull their endorsements until the debate stage reflects the country. "We have to be sure we put in front of America the issues that are important to America and a picture that looks like America," he said. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The JNU administration, on the instructions of police, has issued a notice to hostel wardens, instructing them to ensure that the stay of guests and outsiders is audited by them given the violence that erupted on campus where miscreants came from outside and attacked hostellers. In the letter to all senior wardens, Office of Dean of Students Inter Hall Administration asked them to post a notice, saying: All the hostel residents to follow the rules regarding having guests in the hostel room as per the procedures and rules of IHA and provide the necessary details in the forms accordingly. In case, any outsider/unauthorised student/guest is found staying in the rooms, necessary action will be initiated against the resident student as per IHA rules and the details of such guests shall be forwarded to the Station House Officer (SHO). ALSO READ | JNU violence: Delhi police 'biased' says Aishe Ghosh after being named among 9 suspects The order to wardens was given on Friday; two days after JNU admin received the instruction from Ritu Raj, SHO, Vasant Kunj North. Raj in a letter to JNU registrar on Wednesday said, It may be taken on the top priority given the present scenario. Besides this, the admin announced that classes and academic activities in all schools and special centres will resume from January 13. They have requested students, who have gone out of station, to return to campus. The winter semester registration is going on smoothly and the campus is peaceful. Students who have gone out of station are requested to return to the university in time to pursue their studies and research, JNU Assistant Registrar Manoj Kumar Manuj said in a notice issued on Saturday. The university had opened its registration portal online for winter examination from January 1 to 5 but due to the ruckus on campus, the process could not be completed. Hence, the varsity extended the date of registration till January 13. A daredevil jailed for scaling The Shard skyscraper without permission or safety equipment walked free from prison Friday -- and said climbing the London landmark was worth being jailed. George King-Thompson, 20, was greeted by family and friends as he left London's Pentonville prison after three months behind bars. "I just saw it as success fee for achieving my dream so for that reason it was worth every second in there," he told AFP moments after he was released. "I'm happy it's over... to be out in the open I feel like I'm floating." King-Thompson, a self-proclaimed "urban explorer", was jailed in October for breaching a civil injunction on climbing the 309.6-metre-tall (1,016-foot-tall) tower, one of Europe's tallest. The six-month sentence, of which he served half, was criticised by supporters, including renowned free-solo climber Alain Robert -- dubbed the "French Spiderman" for his own spectacular ascents. Robert, 57, who has been scaling skyscrapers unaided around the world since 1994, flew to London from his current base in Bali, Indonesia, to greet King-Thompson upon his release. "George's case is quite insane," he said, noting he himself had climbed different London towers six times without being jailed. "I found it totally unfair, because if I am comparing the treatment that I've had over the last 20 years and what they did to this guy, it's kind of disgusting." King-Thompson called Robert's support "an honour". "He is the Muhammad Ali of urban free solo," he said. - Disproportionate - King-Thompson, who had wanted to free-climb The Shard since first setting eyes on it aged 13, was initially given a police caution after conquering the pyramid-shaped building on July 8. But the complex's leaseholders, Teighmore, and another firm, LBQ Fielden, asked the High Court to jail him for breaching one of two injunctions against trespassing on the site. The Shard had been previously targeted by so-called urban adventurers and Greenpeace activists. King-Thompson, then 19, admitted he was aware of the injunction but "just did it anyway". His parents have said he did not understand the consequences, which they believe were disproportionate. "He climbed a building... he should have had community service," said his mother Hilary King-Thompson, 54, after hugging her son as he emerged through the prison gates. "They just wanted George to be an example to everybody else -- a deterrent," added Dad Clive Thompson, 58. Lawyers for the two firms declined to comment. - 'Mr Shard' - Despite breaching civil law and having no prior convictions, King-Thompson was sent to Pentonville in north London, which holds hardened criminals. He said he regularly saw stabbings and attempted suicides there as well as cockroaches, rats and mice. But he called it "a fascinating experience". "It's a tough place but you can never let it get (you) down," he added, noting he began work on a book to be released later this year. "I never let myself feel sorry for myself. I just adapted to my environment and got on with it." He said other inmates "saw the humorous side" of his conviction. They nicknamed him "Mr Shard" and joked that he should climb his way out of jail, he added. His mother said she hoped his climbing career could take now take a different route but he said: "I would never let adversity extinguish my spirit. "I plan to shock the world again in 2020." A teenager was taken to hospital in a critical condition after falling from the tray of a utility being driven at a reserve outside Toowoomba. Emergency services were called just before midnight on Saturday after the 16-year-old fell from the vehicle at Bowenville Reserve. The teenage boy was rushed to hospital with head injuries. Credit:Queensland Ambulance Service Paramedics rushed the boy to Toowoomba Hospital with serious head injuries. The 20-year-old male driver was helping police with their inquiries, and the Forensic Crash Unit is investigating. Blackstone On offer are galleys for a trio of 2020 debuts: Pale: A Novel by Edward A. Farmer, a tale of secrets and lies at a 1966 Mississippi cotton plantation; Block Seventeen by Kimiko Guthrie, which examines the inheritance of trauma; and All Things Left Wild by James Wade, about the aftereffects of a botched robbery at the turn of the 20th century. Blair Featured are Blue Marlin by Lee Smith, a standalone novella set in Key West, Fla., and a sampler of three backlist favorites by Silas House: Clays Quilt, A Parchment of Leaves, and The Coal Tattoo. Bloomsbury Available are two novels: Old Lovegood Girls by Gail Godwin, which centers on a friendship between two women, and A Saint from Texas by Edmund White, which explores class, sexuality, and the intersection of wealth, culture, and power. Consortium Giveaways from this distributor include A Silent Fury: The El Bordo Mine Fire by Yuri Herrera, trans. by Lisa Dillman (And Other Stories), about the deaths of 87 men at the mine a century ago, and the graphic novel Art Life by Catherine Ocelot, trans. by Aleshia Jensen (Conundrum), about an artists place in the modern world. Counterpoint/Catapult/Soft Skull Available are Trees in Trouble: Wildfires, Infestations, and Climate Change Hit the West by Daniel Matthews (Counterpoint), about climate changes effects on western pine forests; This Town Sleeps by Dennis Staples (Counterpoint), a novel set on a reservation in far northern Minnesota; Godshot by Chelsea Bieker (Catapult), a debut novel about mother loss and motherhood; Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abraham (Catapult), which follows one family over the course of two decades in Nigeria; and Romance or the End by Elaine Kahn (Soft Skull), poems about the instability of truth, love, and language. Dundurn Look for a mystery sampler featuring a plethora of titles: Carve the Heart: The Jack Palace Series by A.G. Pasquella; Never Forget: A Victor Lessard Thriller by Martin Michaud; Lions Head Revisited: A Dan Sharp Mystery by Jeffrey Round; True Patriots by Russell Fralich; Roanoke Ridge: A Creature X Mystery by J.J. Dupuis; Closing Time: A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery by Brenda Chapman; River of Lies: A B.C. Blues Crime by R.M. Greenaway; The Starr Sting Scale: The Candace Starr Series by C.S. OCinneide; Tell Me My Name by Erin Ruddy; and Night Call: The Walking Shadows by Brenden Carlson. Emily Featured is Hilary Leichters debut novel, Temporary, which, PW noted in a starred review, cleverly explores a capitalist society taken to a dreamlike extreme. Erewhon On offer is The Fortress, a work of social speculative fiction by S.A. Jones. The Experiment Featured galleys are How to Argue with a Racist: And Why Science Is on Your Side by Adam Rutherford, which uncovers racist pseudoscience; Hello I Want to Die Please Fix Me by Anna Mehler Paperny, which combines a memoir with investigative research on treating and talking about depression and suicide; and Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear by Eva Holland, which discusses why we feel fear and how to treat it. Graywolf Look for Postcolonial Love Poem, Natalie Diazs sophomore poetry collection; Later: My Life at the Edge of the World, a memoir by Paul Lisicky; and Telephone, a novel on loss and grief by Percival Everett. Hachette Featured is The Third Rainbow Girl by Emma Copley Eisenberg about the aftereffects of a 1980 double murder in West Virginia. Harlequin Galleys on offer from Park Row include Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West, a novel set on the South Side of Chicago, and The Other Mrs., a twisty psychological thriller by Mary Kubica; from Mira, The Lost Orphan by Stacey Halls, a novel set in Georgian London, and The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi, about a woman who escapes an abusive marriage and goes to Jaipur, where she takes a job; and from Hanover Square, Grand: A Grandparents Wisdom for the Next Generation by Charles Johnson, a National Book Award winner and MacArthur genius fellow. HMH Giveaways include Chosen Ones, the first adult novel by Veronica Roth, with a 250,000 first printing; The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey, a novel inspired by museum collections being taken out of London for safekeeping during WWII; The Patient by Jasper DeWitt, which the publisher describes as an homage to H.P. Lovecraft; and Homebaked: My Mom, Marijuana, and the Stoning of San Francisco by Alia Volz, a memoir by a woman whose mother ran an underground bakery. Also on offer are two cookbooks: Serial Griller: Grillmaster Secrets for Flame-Cooked Perfection by Matt Moore and How to Dress an Egg: Surprising and Simple Ways to Cook Dinner by Ned Baldwin. Little, Brown Look for galleys for Marie Kondo and Scott Sonensheins latest, Joy at Work, with a one millioncopy first printing, about decluttering your workspace; Souvankham Thammavongsas debut story collection, How to Pronounce Knife; Lacy Crawfords Notes on a Silencing, a memoir about surviving a sexual assault; and Michael Farris Smiths Blackwood, a novel about a family of drifters in a small town in rural Mississippi. Macmillan On offer are Hollywood Park (Celadon), a memoir by musician Mikel Jollett with a 250,000-copy first printing; The Paris Hours by Alex George (Flatiron), a novel set in the 1920s Paris of Hemingway, Stein, and Proust by the owner of Skylark Bookshop in Columbia, Mo.; Luster by Raven Leilani (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), a comic debut novel about a young black woman; The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner (St. Martins), a debut novel, with a 200,000-copy first printing, that takes place just after WWII in the village that was Jane Austens final home; Crossings by Alex Landragin (St. Martins), a debut novel in three parts that is designed to be read in two different directions and spans 150 years; Charles Finchs newest Victorian mystery series featuring Sir Charles Lenox, The Last Passenger (St. Martins); and Camilla Bruces debut thriller, You Let Me In (Forge). Milkweed There will be one featured galley: Makenna Goodmans The Shame, a novel about motherhood, midlife anxiety, and the paths not taken. MIT Press Look for The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another by Ainissa Ramirez, which looks at eight inventions, among them clocks and silicon chips, and When Blood Breaks Down: Life Lessons from Leukemia by Mikkael A. Sekeres, which tells the stories of three people who receive diagnoses of leukemia within hours of each other. Morrow Morrows featured galleys include Universe of Two by Stephen P. Kiernan, which chronicles the experiences of a man who helped construct the atomic bomb; The Light of Days by Judy Batalion, a novel, with a first printing of 200,000, about a network of Jewish women in occupied Poland who helped transform Jewish youth groups into resistance cells; and Mother Land by Leah Franqui, a novel set in Mumbai about an impulsive American woman and her headstrong Indian mother-in-law. From Custom House are Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas, a debut novel about an elite, secretive college and the research the school is doing behind closed doors; and Nine Shiny Objects by Brian Castleberry, a debut novel chronicling the intersecting lives of a line of dreamers over the course of half a century. New Press Featured galleys are Use the Power You Have: A Brown Womans Guide to Politics and Political Change by Pramila Jayapal, cochair of the House of Representatives Progressive Caucus and a leading immigrant advocate and health care reformer; and Suncatcher by Romesh Gunesekera, a novel about coming-of-age in Sri Lanka in the early 1960s. Red Hen Look for Glorious Boy by Aimee Liu, a historical novel set in 1942, when Japan is closing in on India, and Claire, Shep, and their four-year-old mute son are to be evacuated from a remote island to Calcutta. Riverhead Look for The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi, a novel about a familys journey through grief to hope. Seven Stories Featured are a true crime book by Chloe Hooper, The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire, and a collection of short stories by Guadalupe Nettel, trans. by Suzanne Jill Levine, Bezoar: And Other Unsettling Stories. Simon & Schuster The press is bringing galleys for Ordinary Hazards by Anna Bruno (Atria), about a woman on the verge of deliverance or destruction; Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould (Avid Reader), which the publisher describes as a warmhearted New York novel about choosing between being a young mother and being an artist; Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang, trans. by Ken Liu (Saga), a novel set in the wake of a war between Earth and its colonies on Mars; Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland (Simon & Schuster), a family saga about secrets and betrayals; and Kept Animals by Kate Milliken (Scribner), a debut novel about three teenage girls, a horse ranch, and a tragic accident. Sounds True Featured are The Motherly Guide to Becoming Mama: Redefining the Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum Journey by Jill Koziol, Liz Tenety, and Diana Spalding, illus. by Stepha Lawson, one of the few pregnancy books to include the postpartum experience; Stay Woke: A Meditation Guide for the Rest of Us by Justin Michael Williams, illus. by Victoria Cassinova, a book on mindfulness from the perspective of a queer, black millennial. Sourcebooks Available are Before She Was Helen by Caroline B. Cooney (Poisoned Pen), a mystery that involves decades-old secrets and living a lie, and Every Bone a Prayer by Ashley Blooms (Sourcebooks Landmark), a debut novel about a young girl who wants to be the person she was before William cornered her in the barn. TwoDot Look for galleys for No Place for a Woman: The Struggle for Suffrage in the Wild West by Chris Enss, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment with stories of women in the West. Univ. of New Mexico On offer are Try to Get Lost: Essays on Travel and Place by Joan Frank, a collection of essays on travel through Europe and the U.S., part of the River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize series; Reservation Restless by Jim Kristofic, about growing up on the Navajo Reservation; and A Hundred Little Pieces on the End of the World by John Rember, an examination of climate change, population, resource depletion, and mass extinction. Univ. of Nevada Featured are two short story collections: The World Doesnt Work That Way, but It Could by Yxta Maya Murray, which, the publisher says, exposes the daily ridiculousness of living under government rhetoric and policies that would seem comical if they werent so dangerous, and Acceleration Hours by Jesse Goolsby, narratives about families, life, and loss during Americas 21st-century forever wars. Workman Available are Total Olympics: Every Obscure, Hilarious, Dramatic, and Inspiring Tale Worth Knowing by Jeremy Fuchs, which the publisher describes as the ultimate collection of stories from the worlds biggest and most sensational sporting event, and How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet by Sophie Egan, a guide to making decisions about what foods to buy. Check out WI15: Childrens Galleys to Grab RTHK: Iran admits accidentally shooting down airliner Iran has announced that its military "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard, after days of denying any involvement in Wednesday's tragedy. A statement issued on Saturday morning blamed human error. Iran's military said they mistook the aircraft for a hostile jet. The plane, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff. The incident happened just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces in response to the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad. Tehran had maintained that it had not shot down the aircraft. But the US Canada and Britain cited intelligence sources saying they believe Iran shot down the aircraft. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying nine crew and 167 passengers from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. It was Iran's worst civil aviation disaster since 1988 when the US military said it shot down an Iran Air plane over the Gulf by mistake, killing all 290 people on board. (AP, AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-01-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Kolkata: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Kolkata for his two-day visit, he was met by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday (January 11). The meeting took place at the Raj Bhawan where the TMC chief requested PM Modi to withdraw NRC and reconsider imposing CAA. Banerjee called it a customary meet and expressed her objection to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), NRC and NPR. She also spoke to the Prime Minister about the Rs 24 crores owed to the State by the Centre and reminded of the compensation pending which was promised during Cyclone Bulbul. This is PM Modi's first visit to West Bengal after BJP's impressive show in the last Lok Sabha election by winning 18 seats (out of 42) in Bengal. Live TV Mamata Banerjee has been the strongest critic of the Modi-led government at the Centre and has been critical of the imposition of CAA, she even declared that the Act will not be implemented in West Bengal. The state has seen several anti-CAA protests and demonstrations many of which have been supported by the CM herself. Incidentally, after the meet, Banerjee sat on a dharna opposing CAA and NRC called by the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad at a location which is about 200 meters away from Raj Bhawan. PM Modi arrived at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport on Saturday at 4 pm and is scheduled to inaugurate a light and sound show at Howrah Bridge in the evening. He will then proceed to Ramkrishna Mission headquarters in Belurmath. I am excited to be in West Bengal today and tomorrow. I am delighted to be spending time at the Ramakrishna Mission and that too when we mark Swami Vivekanandas Jayanti. There is something special about that place. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2020 On Sunday, he will be addressing an event of Kolkata Port Trust (KPT) and another at Netaji Indoor Stadium. He departs for Delhi on Sunday afternoon. Quzhou city in east China's Zhejiang province will hold a grand ritual on Feb. 4 in its Kecheng district to welcome the Start of Spring. During the ceremony, a total of 24 overseas Chinese will be invited to join local residents for a series of activities, including paying tribute to the god of spring and land, and whipping the spring ox, as part of a time-honored ritual to carry on China's agricultural traditions. The ritual ceremony dates back 1,000 years, and it has been formally held each year since 2005 in the village on the special day on the Chinese lunar calendar, signaling the start of the farming season. On this day, farmers perform the ritual to wish for a rich harvest. The Start of Spring is one of 24 Solar Terms on the Chinese lunar calendar, representing 24 periods and climate-governing agricultural arrangements in ancient China. The Solar Terms were inscribed in the "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO in 2016. A highlight of this year's ceremony will be the "Drone Light Show." About 200 luminous drones will perform the light show, presenting people with a unique high-tech experience during the traditional festival. YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian had a meeting with Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. During the meeting the President and the Mayor discussed the ongoing and prospective programs relating to the development of the capital city. Mayor Marutyan introduced the ongoing works in the city and the upcoming programs which will be possible to implement also through attracting investments. President Sarkissian expressed readiness to assist the programs aimed at the development of Yerevan. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Amid the sit-in protests by the students of Aligarh Muslim University despite the ongoing winter vacations, Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor has expressed fear of threat looming over his life and family by writing a letter to Aligarh police chief on Saturday. Mansoor has demanded the police administration to spruce up the campus security and to heighten his personal security as well. The V-C in an SoS sent to the Aligarh SSP and DM has expressed threat from anti-social elements allegedly active on campus. AMU is scheduled to reopen after the winter vacation of Monday, January 13. Mansoor has sent the copy of his letter to UP Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary Home and DGP as well. As per the sources, the V-C has claimed that a number of students suspended and rusticated for the spreading unrest on campus are trying to vitiate the atmosphere yet again. The sources also claimed that the V-C had mentioned in his letter in no uncertain terms that the anti-social elements could create a law and order issue on campus. He has also claimed that such elements could also harm him personally and his family. They may instigate those elements by branding me as RSS/BJP agent and pro-CAA, the V-C is believed to have written in the letter. If such elements are not stopped and if any untoward incident occurs, it will have a nationwide impact as the AMU is a sensitive institution, wrote the V-C in his letter. He has gone ahead to attach the screenshot of those social media posts wherein he has been maligned. He has been tagged as BJP/RSS supporter with objectionable comments. An FIR in this regard was lodged by Proctor AMU on January 6 at a civil lines police station, he has said in his letter. DIG Akash Kulhary too confirmed that he had received a letter from AMU V-C. While assuring that extra security would be provided to both the V-C and AMU Registrar, the DIG also shared that an internal security audit was being conducted by the police administration to decide the kind of security mechanism to be put in place on campus. Notably, during the anti-CAA protests on campus on December 15, cops had made an entry into the campus on the request of the varsity administration and that had turned the students against the V-C. The VC said that he has already informed all students leaders that university authorities were not competent to discuss CAA and they can give representation in a peaceful and democratic manner to the competent authorities. He said, as far as incidents of December 15, 2019 are concerned, they are being investigated by the NHRC as per the orders of Allahabad high court. Thousands of people attended WuXi Biologics open days held in both Dundalk and Drogheda over the festive season, as the Chinese bio-pharma firm launched its recruitment campaign. The company are aiming to recruit 400 by the end of 2021 for its state-of-the-art plant, which is currently under construction at Mullagharlin. It is expected the first 250 will be employed by the end of this year. With significant recruitment getting underway over the next few months, WuXui hosted two open days , inviting potential applicants to join them for an information session in the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk between Christmas and new year, and a second session in Drogheda last weekend. A spokesman told the Argus they were overwhelmed by the response. 'We had a long queue of people in Dundalk, and a lot of people both expressing interest, and trying to find out more information on what we are about.' 'I think what is appealing for a lot of people is the fact that this is essentially a start up, a new industry for Dundalk and the region.' He added that the purpose of both events was 'to share information about the company, and to create general awareness in the community.' 'We decided to host them around Christmas and New Year, as we thought it would appeal to people who were home for holidays, and those who might be looking at making changes for the coming year.' At the Dundalk open day, he added there were requests for information about specific posts, but the company are currently focusing on three areas for recruitment. 'There are three main areas - manufacturing, engineering and quality - which we are looking to fill in the coming months.' He explained that graduates from DkIT will be one of the sectors the company are hoping to appeal to as WuXi operations grow. 'We have established fantastic links with the Institute, which we are keen to develop over the coming years.' The company are set to employ 400 people in WuXi Biologics. A further 200 jobs are also expected to be created in the new WuXi vaccines plant which was announced at the end of 2019. Although the nature of the industry - bio pharmaceuticals- will require some employees to have specific qualifications or background, the company will be providing training for the new technology set to be in use. Over 1,100 construction workers are currently working on building the 'Factory of the Future' which will be set on a new campus just off the M1 south of Dundalk. For information on recruitment, log on to www.wuxibiologics.com/career At an undisclosed location somewhere in Winnipeg, a new candy factory is quietly nearing completion. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. At an undisclosed location somewhere in Winnipeg, a new candy factory is quietly nearing completion. When its done, the 50,000-square-foot facility will be a cornucopia of confectionery, pumping out chocolates and caramels, biscuits and cookies, chewing gum and gummies, all with one key ingredient in common: cannabis. Before the Trudeau government legalized and regulated marijuana in October 2018, an enormous cannabis candy plant would have been impossible. But more than a year after legalization, after Ottawa gave itself extra time to write new regulations governing commercially produced, cannabis-infused food, the products known as edibles have recently appeared at licensed weed stores across the country. Winnipegs upcoming edibles factory is 80 per cent-owned by Vancouver-based AgraFlora Organics International; the remaining 20 per cent belongs to an as-yet unnamed Manitoba manufacturing partner. In a press release, AgraFlora described the partner as "North Americas largest confectionery fruit slice manufacturer." AgraFlora Organics International will make cannabis-based chocolates and caramels, biscuits and cookies, chewing gum and gummies, all with one key ingredient in common: cannabis, much like Tilray (pictured), does. (Supplied) AgraFlora CEO Brandon Boddy will say only that its a family business Winnipeggers will recognize when its identity is eventually revealed. But a regulatory filing dated June 6 says the junior joint-venture partner "has access to existing confectionery experts of Cavalier Candies Ltd.," a Winnipeg firm that specializes in candy fruit slices. "Were working with these candy-makers who have been doing it for three generations, and we believe were going to put out unbelievable products," says Boddy. The Free Press wasnt allowed to tour the facility, which is being renovated and is not yet licensed for production. But when its complete, Boddy anticipates a highly automated, state-of-the-art, government-regulated plant with robust security, an on-site research laboratory and stringent quality-control testing. He believes it will be the largest facility of its kind in North America. No weed will be grown on site; that ingredient, in concentrated liquid form, will be shipped to Manitoba from elsewhere in Canada. AgraFlora is spending more than $10 million to retrofit the Winnipeg plant. Why such a big gamble? "We see it as, theres a whole demographic of consumers that do not want to smoke or vape and would prefer an edible, whether it be to relieve anxiety, whether it be to help sleep, whether it just be for recreational use," Boddy says. Aurora Drift soft baked chocolate cookies are available in Winnipeg. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files) Eating weed is far from new. The practice has a long recorded history in the Indian subcontinent, where a ground cannabis mixture called "bhang" is still consumed today, usually in a drinkable form. Nor is Canada the first national government to grapple with regulating edibles. In 1893, the British colonial government in India launched a commission on the use of what were called "hemp drugs," driven by concern that they caused insanity. The resulting report, thousands of pages long, documented the many roles of cannabis in Indian society, including the religious use of bhang by Hindus and Muslims alike. Give it a go? Start slow Click to Expand Want to give cannabis edibles a try for the first time? Follow these tips to reduce the risks of having an unsatisfying experience: Seek out low doses containing 2.5 milligrams of THC or less. Licensed store employees should be able to help you find an appropriate product. Clear your schedule and give yourself time to feel the effects. Onset time could take between 30 minutes and two hours, and feeling the full effects could take up to four hours. The acute effects of ingested THC could last as long as 12 hours, Health Canada advises. Don't plan to drive or operate heavy machinery after using edibles. Avoid using other substances, including alcohol, at the same time as cannabis. Keep edibles away from children and pets. Consider any pre-existing medical conditions, including cardiovascular and mental-health conditions, that might make weed use inadvisable. If you're concerned about whether you're healthy enough to use edibles, ask your doctor first. "To forbid or even seriously to restrict the use of so holy and gracious a herb as the hemp would cause widespread suffering and annoyance and to the large bands of worshipped ascetics deep-seated anger," warned one colonial administrator in his notes to the commission. Religious sacrament might not be why Canadians consume edibles today, but were definitely using them. Forty-four per cent of cannabis users surveyed by Health Canada in 2019 said they use edible forms, making it the second most popular weed product after dried flower. Research suggests the use of edibles is driven by the perceived harm of smoking, an appreciation of long-lasting effects and a desire for discreet consumption. "I could be sitting here at my desk having a coffee and a cookie, and no one would be the wiser," says Andrew Papadopoulos, a University of Guelph public health professor who recently reviewed the existing academic research on edibles. Edibles are most likely to be used by current weed users, Papadopoulos says. But they also appeal to people who are new to the drug, and some might experience unwelcome effects, especially if they over-consume. "Thats where you where get a lot of the emergency-room visits, 911 calls," he says. "People start to panic. "And because they are naive users and they may have over-consumed, there is a lot of anxiety with that. Now people know they have cannabis in their system, and theyre not quite sure theyre having a feeling that they dont typically have, and therefore they start to feel very nervous about the product and about their high, and 911 calls have originated because of that." Edibles became available for purchase a year after the federal government legalized marijuana usage in October 2018. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files) Edibles reputation for potency is based in different pharmacological dynamics when the drug is ingested compared to when its inhaled. People who smoke or vape generally feel the effects within a matter of minutes, as the psychoactive chemical compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (better known as THC) quickly enters the bloodstream via the lungs. That fast-acting effect allows even novice users to adjust the dose according to their response, a concept known as titration, familiar to any drinker whos taken a break after one too many beers. Ingested cannabis takes a slower journey through the body, from the stomach to the liver, where its transformed into a different type of THC called 11-hydroxy-THC. Being processed through the liver significantly increases the time before onset, which could take hours for some users. Without a quick response to the drug, it can be harder for novice users to adjust their dose. For most users, the high from smoking weed wears off relatively quickly official Health Canada guidance advises that acute effects can last up to six hours. But edibles have more staying power, with Health Canada advising of effects that could last twice as long. Beyond the slower onset and longer duration, some research has suggested that the 11-hydroxy-THC is more potent than the delta-9-THC. But that theory "has not been borne out by more recent studies," leading medical cannabis researcher Dr. Ethan Russo wrote in an email. Russo said his own research developing the GW Pharmaceuticals cannabis drug Sativex suggested the two kinds of THC were actually equivalent in psychoactive potency, but the practical difficulties of measuring THC levels in the brain means its "likely to remain an academic question for some time." Regardless of why edibles pack such a punch, their potency has become something of a cultural touchstone. In a famous 2014 column, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd chronicled a harrowing all-night experience in her Colorado hotel room after eating an entire cannabis-infused chocolate bar of unspecified strength. "As my paranoia deepened, I became convinced that I had died and no one was telling me," Dowd wrote. (She later found out she should only have eaten one-sixteenth of the chocolate bar, "but that recommendation hadnt been on the label." Colorado later instituted standard serving sizes for edibles.) Ingested cannabis such as these Aurora raspberry gummies takes a slower journey through the body, from the stomach to the liver, which increases the time it takes to get high. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files) Dowds tale of delirium highlights the core conundrum of edibles: they have the potential for a powerful, enduring high delivered in a form thats potentially more attractive than smoking to inexperienced users. If they dont feel the effects quickly, those users might assume they simply didnt take enough and keep eating, just as Dowd did. When the THC finally does kick in, theyve taken more than intended and theyre in for a formidable psychotropic ride. Versions of the "too much edibles" story have made international headlines, such as the Toronto police officer who, in 2018, radioed for rescue after eating cannabis-infused chocolate lifted from a raided dispensary. Perhaps the best-publicized case is the tragic story of Levy Thamba, a 19-year-old college student who died in 2014 after jumping from a Denver hotel balcony. Thamba had eaten a cookie purchased legally by an older friend that contained 65 milligrams of THC. A store clerk reportedly advised them to break the cookie into six servings and take one at a time. Thamba initially ate a single piece, but finished the rest of the cookie not long after; he jumped to his death a few hours later. Thambas death is an unusual but terrifying example of the potential drawbacks of edibles, especially among the uninitiated. But the risks are easily reduced with planning and proper dosing. Rielle Capler, a post-doctoral research fellow with the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, last year called for Health Canada to set a standard 2.5-milligram dose of THC for edibles. She says the idea, which turned into a Huffington Post op-ed co-written with fellow PhD Jenna Valleriani, grew out of a think-tank where various stakeholders discussed appropriate dosing. Health Canada never officially set a standard dose for edibles, but it did set an upper limit of 10 milligrams of THC, both per unit and per package. (Tijana Martin / The Canadian Press files) "I think what we were thinking was, What is the effect of a beer, a standard alcohol drink? What is the effect, what is the level of intoxication that that provides? And I think just based on the average person, the majority of people, we felt that the 2.5 milligrams could be seen as the equivalent to that," says Capler. "And people have different tolerances, so youre going to have people saying, Well I use 200 milligrams, so it should be 200 milligrams. But I think theyre conflating the issues of a standard dose, which gives guidance to the majority of the population, and a maximum per unit or per package (dose)." Even though 2.5 milligrams might not have much of an effect on an experienced user with a developed tolerance, Capler believes it should be enough for the average adult to notice an effect within a few hours of ingestion. "That might be very pleasant, they might really enjoy that and be very happy with that, and then go up in very small increments," she says. Health Canada never officially set a standard dose for edibles, but it did set an upper limit of 10 milligrams of THC, both per unit and per package. That means one package of cannabis candy could contain a single piece with 10 milligrams, or two pieces with five milligrams each or four pieces with 2.5 milligrams each but Canadians will never find more than 10 milligrams in a single package of government-regulated edibles. Health Canada recommends new users stick to edible products with 2.5 milligrams of THC or less. (Supplied) Its legal for users seeking higher doses to make their own edibles at home. "The limit draws heavily on lessons learned from, and the limits established by, U.S. states that have legalized cannabis," the federal government wrote in an official description of its new regulations. "Its important to note that the 10 milligrams limit does not represent a safe dose or standard serving size for THC, particularly for new and novice consumers." Health Canada guidance does recommend new users stick to edible products with 2.5 milligrams of THC or less, warning it could take as long as four hours to feel the effects. Still, Capler worries that the federal regulators per-package THC limit might have inadvertently sent a message to some users that 10 milligrams is an appropriate single dose. "But I would say that many of the manufacturers of these products are aware that people want smaller doses than that," she says. "And so they are going to be producing products that have lower THC levels... the manufacturers want their consumers, their clients, to have a good experience. And if they have higher doses of THC they might not, and then theyll never use it again." Papadopoulos says potency regulations seem like a reasonable step to help avert possible harms. But he says harm reduction strategies that seek to manage and mitigate behaviours such as drug use without necessarily relying on abstinence also requires public education. Even limiting the amount of THC per package, or per piece, wont necessarily stop users from taking too much. "Its the same with alcohol... you know what a serving should be, but it wouldnt stop you from over-consuming," he says. "So having both the individual knowledge and the regulatory support would hopefully create a web of harm reduction that will make edible cannabis a safer product to use within our communities." Terrascend Canada's No. 550 rise tea. (Tijana Martin / The Canadian Press) The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba has been trying to get that harm reduction message across for months, advising Manitobans to choose edibles with lower amounts of THC, to keep them away from kids and pets and to identify cannabis-infused foods to guests to avoid unexpected highs. Among other provinces, Quebec has taken the most restrictive stance with a regulation requiring that edibles "not be sweets, confectionery, dessert, chocolate or any other product attractive to persons under 21 years of age." In Manitoba, where cannabis foods have started arriving at retail outlets over the last few weeks, the provincial governments key edibles-related policy has been a bill to ban their consumption in public places, matching a public ban on smoking or vaporizing cannabis. On the unregulated market, cannabis has been infused into almost every food product imaginable, from the usual gummies and chocolates to more exotic items such as honey and ice cream, with THC doses reaching into the hundreds of milligrams. Predictably, the regulated market is more restrictive. Federal regulations forbid edibles from requiring freezing or refrigeration, which rules out a whole category of products. Meat, poultry and fish are also banned, with an exception for dried products such as jerky. Added caffeine is banned, although naturally occurring caffeine found in chocolate, tea and coffee is allowed in limited amounts. Products available on the legal market so far include chocolate bars and squares, breath mints, chocolate cookies and fruit-flavoured gummies. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files) Mixing edible cannabis with alcohol is generally prohibited by Health Canada, although its permitted in very small amounts to allow for foods and ingredients with some fermentation pass the cannabis vinegar, please. Beverages cant be represented with any terms related to alcohol, such as "beer" or "wine." Producers arent allowed to add vitamins or minerals to their food products and cant make any food-related health claims on the packaging. Given the possibility that children could get their hands on products, Ottawa has forbidden sales of anything weed-related including edibles that have an appearance or shape that might appeal to young people. Its a broad requirement with room for interpretation, but a Health Canada policy document offers example of dinosaur- and unicorn-shaped edibles as being offside. The prohibition on appealing to youth doesnt mean edibles have to be tasteless, though: products available on the legal market so far include chocolate bars and squares, breath mints, chocolate cookies and fruit-flavoured gummies. Beverages are expected to roll out in the coming months. Like other weed products, regulations require that edibles come in child-resistant, plain packaging with a warning symbol and health message, along with strict limitations on branding and marketing. Those packaging regulations were made with public health in mind. Ray Gracewood, senior vice-president of marketing and communications with New Brunswick-based manufacturer Organigram, says the rules make it harder for legal cannabis brands to compete with each other and the illicit market. Gracewood gives the example of what he calls "glamour copy," an on-package blurb that describes how a product was made or where the ingredients were sourced. Such descriptions are common on regular food products, but are prohibited on cannabis because they might be construed as promotional. "I think theres only so much that you can talk about that makes your brand or your product special, and when the rules prohibit you from telling that story, or giving people a sense of education on how its different than products in the illicit market, youre doing consumers a disservice," he says. "Whereas you would have that ability in the illicit market, you (also) have that ability in a lot of other industries. And without that, obviously, it makes it far more difficult for consumers to get educated on what makes one product stand out against another." Added caffeine is banned in edibles, but naturally occurring caffeine found in chocolate, tea and coffee is allowed in limited amounts. (Supplied) With legal sales of edibles only just beginning, its too early to predict whether Organigram and other regulated producers can capture significant market share from their illicit competition. Statistics Canada estimates that 28 per cent of weed users in the third quarter of 2019 got all they used from legal sources only, with older consumers more likely to choose legal providers. Edibles have reportedly been selling out quickly at licensed retailers that have managed to stock them. But some users have complained that prices are excessive and argue that 10 milligrams of THC per package simply isnt enough to get high. Rick Macl, president of Brandon-based supply and accessory store Growers n Smokers, bought and tried every legal edible he could find as soon as they were in stock at a local store in December. He says he "felt nothing" after eating his entire haul which, in total, contained 50 milligrams of THC. (To be fair, Macl describes himself as an experienced user with a high THC tolerance.) "Most of them tasted like crap," he says. "And Im like, Holy crap, I just went and spent almost $100, and (got) nothing to show for it. When, meanwhile, I could have bought a gram of good weed for, like, $5 off the street and got a buzz." Chocolates with 10 milligrams of THC are currently listed on licensed Manitoba retail websites for between $7 and $9. For comparison, one illegal online dispensary is selling a "Cookies N Cream Crack Bar" said to contain 300 milligrams of THC for $20. Proponents of the legal industry point out that unregulated edibles may not contain as much THC as sellers claim, and argue that 10 guaranteed milligrams of THC in a government-regulated product might be stronger than the skeptics think. Winnipeg cannabis chef Allan Pineda thinks 10 milligrams of THC at legal prices might be reasonable "for maybe the basic (recreational) consumer, sure." But for medical cannabis users who tend to seek higher doses, he thinks legal edibles are unaffordable. "Its too expensive, 100 per cent too expensive," says Pineda, who is planning to offer edibles-making courses to the public. "I mean, people that already are making it at their homes know how much it costs to make." 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. Whatever the potency of legal edibles, theyre bound to be too strong for some. At some point in the coming months, some Canadian somewhere is all but guaranteed to over-indulge, have a bad experience and take the story to the media. With alcohol by far Canadas most popular drug Capler says users learn their limits through experience. "They know that they can have one drink and then still go about their activities, but if theyre going to be going out and drinking, or having a bottle of wine with dinner, that its going to change how the rest of their evening plays out," she says. "So I think people have to just think about (edibles) in the same way. Its a privilege and a right now to use cannabis recreationally, but it comes with responsibilities." solomon.israel@freepress.mb.ca @sol_israel Ukraine has demanded that Iran punish those guilty for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner and compensate victims. 'We expect Iran to bring the guilty to the courts,' the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling also for the 'payment of compensation' and the return of remains. It also praised Tehran for cooperating with an 'objective' investigation. Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky was due to discuss the incident with his Iranian counterpart President Hassan Rouhani at 5pm local time, his press office said. Iran admitted Saturday that it accidentally downed the Ukraine International Airlines plane, killing all 176 people on board on Wednesday, shortly after launching missiles at bases hosting US forces in Iraq. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded that Iran punish those responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner Rouhani said Tehran 'deeply regrets this disastrous mistake'. Tehran has invited the United States, Ukraine, Canada and others to join the crash investigation. Kiev said that Iran had cooperated with its experts and it expects an objective probe. Tehran has handed Ukrainian experts enough data including 'all the photos, videos and other materials' to show the investigation 'will be carried out objectively and promptly,' Zelensky's office said. 'The political part of the work is finished,' it added. Tehran admitted Saturday that it accidentally downed the Ukraine International Airlines plane, killing all 176 people on board on Wednesday, shortly after launching missiles at bases hosting US forces in Iraq It published photos of experts examining the scene and close-ups of holes in the fuselage and shrapnel damage. Ukraine said Friday its experts dispatched to Iran had been granted access to the flight's black boxes, debris from the plane, the crash site and to recordings of conversations between the pilot and the airport control tower. Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's national security and defence council which is coordinating the probe, said Kiev did not yet have evidence on where the missile was produced, only that it was 'launched from Iranian soil.' Zelensky said earlier that Ukraine hoped the inquiry would be pursued 'without deliberate delay and without obstruction.' He urged 'total access' for the 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an 'official apology'. UIA vice president Igor Sosnovsky told a news conference in Kiev on Saturday that Tehran should have closed the airport due to the escalation of regional tensions following the US assassination of a top Iranian general. 'It's absolutely irresponsible,' Sosnovsky said, accusing Iran of failing to protect ordinary citizens while 'playing at war.' 'They were obliged to close the airport. Obliged! Then shoot as much as you like.' Iran said a missile operator shot down the Boeing 737 after mistaking it for a cruise missile at a time when threats were at the highest level. The majority of passengers on UIA Flight PS752 from Tehran to Kiev were Iranian-Canadian dual nationals but also included Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes. Many in Kiev have compared the crash to the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 killing 298 people over eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists are fighting government forces. Moscow has denied the findings of international investigators that a Russian BUK misile hit the Malaysian flight. 'Iran has shown itself to be more civilised than Russia,' pro-western Ukraine MP Volodymyr Ariev wrote on Facebook. 'Tehran has admitted its guilt in three days while Russia continues to try to get out of it.' Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday asked officials to provide relief to farmers for loss to crops due to locust attacks. He directed collectors of the affected districts to submit the 'gurdawari' or loss assessment report at the earliest and to start distribution of compensation to the affected farmers in the next three days. The CM held a video conference with the collectors of districts where locusts have damaged crops and also reviewed the works being carried out for locust control, a statement said. The collectors of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Pali, Ganganagar and Hanumangarh attended the video conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mostly sunny and bitterly cold. It will feel like it's in the single digits and low teens.. Tonight Partly cloudy and extremely cold. Wind chills around or below 0 degrees. TULSA, OK, Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (LPI) (Laredo or the Company), announced today the pricing of $600 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.50% senior notes due 2025 and $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 10.125% senior notes due 2028 in a registered underwritten offering for a total of $1.0 billion, representing a $100 million upsize from the previously announced offering. Interest is payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The first interest payment will be made on July 15, 2020, and will consist of interest from closing to that date. The offering is expected to close on January 24, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to refinance the Companys $450 million in aggregate principal amount of 5 5/8% senior unsecured notes due January 2022 and $350 million in aggregate principal amount of 6 1/4% senior unsecured notes due March 2023 through tender offers or, if applicable, redemptions, and to pay tender premiums and fees and the fees and expenses related to the offering and for general corporate purposes, including repaying a portion of the borrowings outstanding under the Companys senior secured credit facility. The new notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company and will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Companys existing subsidiaries and all of its future subsidiaries, with certain exceptions. BofA Securities, Wells Fargo Securities, BMO Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays and Capitol One Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. This offering is being made pursuant to an effective automatic shelf registration statement, including a base prospectus and a prospectus supplement related to the offering, previously filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of the base prospectus and the prospectus supplement, when available, may be obtained by visiting the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the base prospectus and the prospectus supplement may be obtained by contacting any of the joint book-running managers at: Story continues BofA Securities Wells Fargo Securities BMO Capital Markets NC1-004-03-43 Attn: Client Support 3 Times Square 200 North College Street 608 2nd Avenue New York, NY 10036 3rd floor South Minneapolis, MN 55402 Attn: Sherman Lee Charlotte, NC 28255-0001 wfscustomerservice@wellsfargo.com sherman1.lee@bmo.com Attn: Prospectus Department 1-800-294-1322 dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Barclays Capital Inc. Capital One Securities, Inc. Prospectus Department c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions 201 St. Charles Ave. 200 West Street 1155 Long Island Avenue Suite 1830 New York, NY 10282 Edgewood, NY 11717 New Orleans, LA 70170 telephone: 1-866-471-2526 (888) 603-5847 Attn: Gabrielle Halprin facsimile: 212-902-9316 barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com Prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Any offer or sale of these securities will be made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the related registration statement. This press release and any statements of intent contained herein do not constitute a notice of redemption under the applicable indenture, and the redemption of the existing notes, if any, is being or will be made only by and pursuant to the terms of the applicable notice of redemption. About Laredo Laredo Petroleum, Inc. is an independent energy company with headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Laredos business strategy is focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, primarily in the Permian Basin of West Texas. Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any oral statements made regarding the subject of this release contain forward-looking statements as defined under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities that Laredo assumes, plans, expects, believes, intends, projects, indicates, enables, transforms, estimates or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on managements current belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, among others, that our business plans may change as circumstances warrant and that the new notes may not ultimately be offered to the public and the existing notes may not be purchased because of general market conditions or other factors. General risks relating to Laredo include, but are not limited to, the decline in prices of oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas and the related impact to financial statements as a result of asset impairments and revisions to reserve estimates, the increase in service and supply costs, tariffs on steel, pipeline transportation constraints in the Permian Basin, hedging activities, possible impacts of litigation and regulations, the suspension or discontinuance of share repurchases at any time and other factors, including those and other risks described in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, the prospectus supplement and those set forth from time to time in other filings with the SEC. These documents are available through the SECs Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov. Any of these factors could cause Laredos actual results and plans to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, Laredo can give no assurance that its future results will be as estimated. Laredo does not intend to, and disclaims any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statement. Contact: Ron Hagood: (918) 858-5504 - RHagood@laredopetro.com Plans to commemorate the RIC and the Black and Tans has been condemned by Sinn Fein Justice Spokesperson, Deputy Martin Kenny and local councillor Declan Bree in separate statements. Deputy Kenny said government plans to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary and its auxiliary force the Black and Tans along with the Dublin Metropolitan Police are shocking and inappropriate. Deputy Kenny said: "There is certainly no public demand for this as most Irish people recognise that the RIC and the Black and Tans were brutal enforcers of British rule in Ireland. "While some people may have regard for deceased family members who were in these colonialist militias, it is up to them to commemorate them individually. Everyone has a right to mourn their dead. "However, it is for the British, whom they served, to commemorate them as a force if they wish. "In no other State formed from anti-colonial struggle would they celebrate the deeds of oppressors. This is more Fine Gael revisionism, from a party which would like to see more emphasis placed on celebrating partition and the Government of Ireland Act than 1916 and the struggle for independence. "British police and military in Ireland ruled with terror for centuries, from the RIC with their battering rams evicting families during the Great Hunger, to the Dublin Metropolitan Police attacking and murdering poor workers during the 1913 lock out. "One hundred years ago the war of Independence was raging, as the RIC and Black and Tans pillaged, murdered and burned out communities across the country, in their attempt to enforce the rule of the British Empire. "It is shocking that this government would think it right that these oppressive brutal colonial militias, should be honoured for their service." The decision by the Government to commemorate and honour members of the R.I.C. including those R.I.C. members who in March 1920 murdered the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Tomas Mac Curtain, was described as outrageous and unacceptable, by Cllr Bree. "The Minister for Justice claims that the Government commemoration which is to take place in Dublin Castle on the 17th of January, is to honour policemen who were "doing their job" and "maintaining the rule of law". "However, anyone with even the scantiest knowledge of Irish history will know that following the establishment of the First Dail and the declaration of independence, the R.I.C. acted as a force of traitors and was responsible for maintaining martial law and for arresting and imprisoning without trail political activists who were opposed to British rule in Ireland. "Popular resistance to R.I.C. repression was evident throughout the country. Indeed, by September 1920 only eight of the thirty-four R.I.C. barracks in county Sligo remained in use. "The R.I.C. special reserve later known as the Black and Tans was responsible for countless murders and atrocities They terrorised communities and burned and sacked many small towns and villages. "Here in Sligo the R.I.C. was responsible for destroying creameries, halls, stores and shops in many parts of the county. "On the 21st of November 1920 the R.I.C. shot dead 13 unarmed civilians and wounded 60 others who were attending a GAA match in Croke Park. "Given the crimes and acts of terror carried out by the R.I.C. as part of the Crown Forces the decision of the Government to commemorate and honour their memory can only be described as an affront to all those who gave their lives in the struggle for Irish independence," said Cllr Bree. Iraq welcomes Indias call for peace and stability in West Asia against the backdrop of the Iran-US stand-off, and the tensions in the region will not affect oil supplies, Iraqi ambassador Falah Abdulhasan Abdulsada said on Friday. Abdulsada said in an interview that all Indians living in Iraq are safe and adequate measures are in place for their security. He made it clear Iraq doesnt want its territory to become the theatre of bilateral conflict. Iraq welcomes Indias call for peace, security and stability in the region. We also want the same, Abdulsada said, referring to tensions following the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike last week and Iranian missile strikes on Iraqi bases housing American personnel on Wednesday. India is also an important energy partner for Iraq and oil supplies will not be affected by the current tensions, he said. Iraq emerged as Indias top oil supplier, meeting almost a quarter of the countrys needs in fiscal 2017-18 and 2018-19, and displacing Saudi Arabia, which was earlier number one. Iraq sold 26 million tonnes of oil to India during April-September 2019 and Indian oil companies have deep interests in Iraqs oil sector. On Thursday, Indias external affairs ministry said peace, security and stability in West Asia are of utmost importance to the countrys economic and security interests. We have important interests in the region and we would like the situation to de-escalate as quickly as possible, ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Abdulsada also said all the Indians living and working in Iraq are safe and Iraqi authorities have ensured safeguards for all expatriates in the country. The total number of Indians in Iraq is estimated to be around 15,000 to 17,000, according to the Indian embassy in Baghdad. Most of them are in Kurdistan, Basra, Najaf and Karbala, and there are more than 6,000 Indian workers at the Karbala refinery project. An Indian advisory on Wednesday asked people to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq. However, there is no ban on Indians travelling to Iraq. Abdulsada noted that Iraqi security forces, including the popular mobilisation forces, couldnt afford to divert their attention from battling terrorists, especially Daesh or Islamic State. Iraq reiterates to its allies in the fight against Daesh to neither draw Iraq into the bilateral conflict between the allies, nor make its territories a theatre of such bilateral conflict, he said. Iraq wants strong relations with the US and Iran and any deterioration of the countrys security situation would have grave repercussions for regional and international peace, he said. Recent events, such as the unilateral US airstrike on the headquarters of the Iraqi Army and popular mobilisation forces at al-Qaim on December 29, led to the deterioration of the security situation and triggered a wave of public anger that was manifested in the protest outside the US embassy in Baghdad, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Facebook has been sued by its employees for allegedly monitoring their breaks, even when they to go to the toilet, according to international media reports. The news broke out from Facebook's European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland where a lot of employees working as content moderators have alleged working in a strict environment under their senior managers tracking their time for toilet breaks. They required the employees to log in and out every time they leave their desks. READ: Anusha Dandekar Is Multi-faceted Personality And Here's Everything To Know About Her Spokesperson defends the company The employees in question worked as content moderators and were in charge of sensitive, illegal, pornographic or child abuse content. A company spokesperson defending the company said that the news is false and no employee has been monitored or any restriction on the breaks that they take. The official added that the system which is placed there is to assist plan "staffing schedules" and make sure that the employees get time for their training and "well-being breaks". READ: Facebook Riles Tiny Oregon Town With Plan For Undersea Cable Ministry of Justice in Brazil slaps lawsuit The Ministry of Justice in Brazil slapped the US tech giant Facebook Inc with a hefty charge of 6.6 million reais ($1.6 million) on December 31 for improperly sharing user data with apps. This comes after the ministry clarifies that their consumer protection department has found that data from 443,000 Facebook users was shared with an app called "thisisyourdigitallife". The ministry in a statement asserted that the data was being shared for "questionable" purposes. READ: Trump's Digital Ad Campaign Helped Him Win In 2016: Facebook Executive Facebook in an email response to the ministry said that they are evaluating its legal options regarding the case. The ministry accused Facebook, the world's largest social networking site, for not providing users with adequate information regarding default privacy settings. They said that the data related to "friends" and "friends of friends" has particularly not been mentioned by Facebook. Furthermore, the ministry of justice also revealed that they had launched a probe into data breach following the Cambridge Analytica case in 2018. As per reports, Facebook has only 10 days to appeal the decision and the fine should be paid within 30 days. READ: Facebook Bans Deepfakes In Fight Against Online Manipulation Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight A few clouds. Low 51F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High 74F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. The newly-created department of military affairs, headed by the chief of defence staff (CDS), will be staffed with two joint secretaries, 13 deputy secretaries and 25 under secretaries, a government official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the officers would be a mix of civilians and uniformed personnel. The new department, under CDS General Bipin Rawat, is an addition to the four existing verticals in the defence ministry: the departments of defence, defence production, defence research and development, and ex-service welfare. As CDS, Rawat is the principal military adviser to the defence minister on all matters related to the tri-services. He took over as the countrys first CDS on December 31. In his first official directive after taking over as CDS, Rawat last week asked top officials of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff to prepare a proposal to create an Air Defence command to enhance military synergy and optimally utilise the resources of the armed forces. Rawat has set a June 30 deadline for the proposal to be submitted. In the last few days, he held series of meetings with important functionaries of the defence ministry and the three services exploring ways to bring in inter-service synergy and jointness in a time bound manner. The government expects the CDS to bring about jointness among the three services within three years. He is expected to prepare an annual report for the defence minister on achievements in improving jointness. One of the key objectives behind so-called jointmanship is the setting up of joint or theatre commands for the best use of military resources to fight future battles. While the army and the navy have been open to the idea, the Indian Air Force has concerns about theaterisation. The new department will also work towards promoting the use of indigenous equipment by the services at a time when the armed forces are heavily dependent on imported military hardware. The creation of the new posts is a step towards achieving the ultimate goal of bringing in tri-services synergy. The department needs to have officers who understand cross-service issues and are well versed in government procedures, said Lieutenant General Satish Dua (retd), a leading expert on issues related to the tri-services. Iraqs caretaker prime minister has told Kurdish leaders he did not seek a hostile relationship with the United States. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi travelled to Erbil on Saturday with a delegation of top ministers and his intelligence chief in his first visit to the autonomous region since coming to power in 2018. The trip came at a time of political turmoil for Iraq, after months of anti-government rallies that saw Abdul Mahdi resign and worsening ties with the US as Iraqi legislators push for a withdrawal of foreign troops. Abdul Mahdi met the regions Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, President Nechirvan Barzani and influential powerbroker Masoud Barzani, who heads the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party. A statement from the prime ministers office said he discussed the continuing anti-government protests with the Barzanis, as well as the presence of foreign troops in Iraq and broader regional tensions. We do not want hostility with anyone, including the United States, said Abdul Mahdi who then travelled to the semi-autonomous Kurdish regions second city, Sulaymaniyah, to meet leaders of the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) sees Abdul Mahdi as a reliable ally and had hoped he would help rebuild ties between Baghdad and Erbil, which frayed following the KRGs controversial independence referendum in 2017. The KRG continued to back him as protests erupted across Baghdad and Iraqs Shia-majority south in October, which eventually prompted Abdul Mahdi to step down. 200105150709628 Days before his resignation, the KRG had agreed in principle with Baghdad on a revenue-sharing deal that granted it a share of the 2020 federal budget in exchange for exporting its oil through the national seller. The KRG saw the terms of the agreement as favourable and feared that Abdul Mahdis replacement would not stick to it, but political factions have not agreed on a candidate. Kurdish authorities have also been worried by Baghdads insistence that foreign troops leave Iraq, following a vote in the federal parliament last week. No Kurdish parliamentarians attended the vote and many see the US-led coalitions presence as a counterweight to Iran. Some 5,200 US troops are stationed across Iraq to back local forces preventing an ISIL (ISIS) 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 ISIL. The protests against the three capital proposal for the Andhra Pradesh entered the 25th day here on Saturday. (Photo: ANI) Amaravati: The protests against the three capital proposal for the Andhra Pradesh entered the 25th day here on Saturday. Protests are happening all across Andhra Pradesh including at Mandadam, Tulluru, Velagapudi village. Police forces have been deployed in these areas. Ahead of the Dalit youth foot march from Mandadam village to Gunadala, section 144 was imposed as police say no permission was given to hold rallies. In Velagapudi, police prevented the protestors from entering their tent and in retaliation, people raised slogans against the government and state police. The GN Rao Committee, which was set up by the Andhra Pradesh government to look into the suggestion of three capitals has made a favourable recommendation saying it will help in decentralised development and put the available resources to the best use. It proposed Visakhapatnam as the Executive capital and Kurnool the judicial capital while retaining Amaravati as the legislative capital. Washington [US], Jan 11 (ANI): The United States forces made a failed attempt to kill an Iranian military official in Yemen on the same day the commander of Iran's Quds forces, General Qassem Soleimani was assassinated in an airstrike by Washington. The Washington Post reported citing four US officials that the military executed a strike targeting Abdul Reza Shahlai -- a Yemen-based financial backer and high-ranking member of Iran's Quds Force. However, the mission was failed. Last week, Soleimani, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of an Iraqi Shia militia group, was among those killed in the US drone attack near the Baghdad International Airport. The attack on Soleimani comes in the backdrop of the attack on the US embassy in Baghdad by Shiite protesters after airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. Officials said that the attacks on the Iranian military officials were carried out after intelligence suggested that Soleimani was plotting a "large-scale" attack that threatened U.S. embassies, among other American facilities. U.S. officials would not offer many details on the strike against Shahlai other than the mission remains highly classified. The State Department in December offered upto USD 15 million for information on the financial activities, networks and associates of Shahlai. He is accused of directing attacks against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, providing weapons and explosives to violent Shi'a groups, and planning the 2007 attack against U.S. forces in Karbala, Iraq, that killed five service members and wounded others. (ANI) Bangladesh Deputy Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam will not take part in the Raisina Dialogue 2020 slated to be held from January 14 to January 16 in New Delhi, diplomatic sources said on Saturday. Sources added that the Alam cancelled his participation in the conference as he will be accompanying Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her visit to Abu Dhabi. The Raisina Dialogue is India's annual flagship platform on geo- and geo-economics. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. Alam is the third Bangladesh leader from Dhaka in recent weeks to cancel a visit to India. Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had cancelled their scheduled visits to India. After Momen had cancelled his visit, the MEA had said that any speculation that the development was connected with the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill was "unwarranted". The Citizenship Amendment Act allows non-Muslim refugees who came to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014 to have Indian citizenship. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lawmakers in New York have proposed a statewide cryptocurrency and blockchain-based banking platform to encourage the recirculation of money in low-income communities. The project pitched as a public Venmo was proposed by New York state assembly member Ron Kim, senator Julia Salazar, and Cornell law professor Robert Hockett. Should the proposal be accepted, it would mark the USAs first publicly-owned electronic banking platform alongside a digital currency that could be exchanged for various goods and services in the state. The project aims to compensate residents for work that is either unpaid or underpaid. This could encompass babysitting children or caring for senior citizens. Inclusive Value Ledger The digital currency would run on top of the projects Inclusive Value Ledger (IVL). The team has called for New York State to distribute $55 billion per year that is uncollected in individual tax credits through the public Venmo. The IVL is an administered, non-extractive payment system which would enable recipients to spend freely within the New York economy without transaction fees or delays. In effect, every business and individual in the state would be given a virtual wallet that is connected to a state government-controlled master wallet. This would then serve as an alternative to a bank account minus the fees a bank would take for profit, reports Vice. Kim, Salazar, and Hockett argue that unlike Facebooks Libra, the IVL statewide cryptocurrency would encourage the recirculation of money in low-income communities since it is a complementary currency to the US dollar. This would mean it operates on a hyper-local scale and keeps money rooted in one particular area, supporting local economic growth. Hockett writes in the whitepaper for the IVL that the peer-to-peer payment technology needed to underpin a project such as this already exists. The proposal emphasises that the payment system will be secure, but it does not provide details on how security will be carried out or how the project aims to meet the privacy needs of those it hopes to serve. Interested in reading more New York-related stories? Discover more about a financial regulator in the state hoping to give freedom to cryptocurrency exchanges. The post New York lawmakers propose statewide cryptocurrency appeared first on Coin Rivet. THE Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy says he hopes this year Ireland becomes a nation promoting justice, equality and dignity. In his World Day of Peace Homily this week in Foynes, Mr Leahy said he feels there is a deep-rooted DNA in all of us for peace. It comes in the wake of a difficult start to the year, with tensions between Iran, the USA and her allies, escalating. Bishop Leahy drew up the Popes 2020 Message for Peace, saying issues start by an inability to accept that others are different to us. When the difference threatens us, we develop attitudes within us such as seeing ourselves as bigger than others, wanting to dominate them but really its our selfishness and pride that are at work, he said. Conflicts or estrangement can result in our lives, he continued, and acts of violence result all too easily, he said, After all, acts of violence occur not just in our deeds but in our thoughts and our words. An unhealthy mentality of distrust and fear can arise. Read also: Tragic Australian firefighter had strong links to Limerick community He said when peace breaks down, people are needed to help in breaking the vicious circle of mistrust, fear and desire for dominance. We need people prepared to go to the deep place within them where they discover the deep-down desire for peace that we all harbour, the deep-down desire for good relationships that bring peace and happiness, the Bishop added. And then set out with a new conviction that a world of brotherly, sisterly relationships is possible, where diversity need not be a threat but can be an enrichment. The world has been created for peaceful working together. Our deepest DNA points in this direction. We have been created as bearers of hope, channels of peace, he added. We need people prepared to listen to one another, people prepared to keep going, working at peace continually, Bishop Leahy concluded. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles decision to step back from royal duties has been described as a crisis for the monarchy, but they are the ones who are most likely to suffer the damage. Members of the royal family are in a conflicted position. They lead lives of great privilege, but they also lack fundamental freedoms. They arent free to choose a career, they cannot speak freely and they have limited freedom to privacy and family life, which the rest of us take for granted. Harry and Meghan are not alone in finding that frustrating, Prince Laurent of Belgium is another who is visibly unhappy in the role. The harsh reality is that younger sons are spares who are ultimately dispensable from a hereditary monarchy: it is only those in direct line of succession who count. As spares they are subject to the same personal restrictions as the immediate heirs, without either the prospect of succession or the freedom to develop truly independent careers of their own. Other European monarchies (encouraged by parsimonious governments and legislatures) have learned to keep the core team as small as possible. It can be just four people in Norway and Spain it is the king and queen, the heir and their spouse. In 2019, the King of Sweden removed five grandchildren from the royal family, under parliamentary pressure to reduce its size and its cost. The UK has a larger population over ten times the size of Norway and it could therefore be contended that it makes sense for its royal family to be larger to carry out necessary duties. A bigger team is also required given the realms: the queen is head of state of 15 countries other than the UK, and Prince Charles and his sons make regular visits to countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. In total, 15 members of the British royal family conducted almost 4,000 royal engagements in 2019 alone. Cutting the spares Prince Charles is said to want a smaller, streamlined monarchy, perhaps just the core team of the queen, Charles and Camilla, William and Kate: but with a smaller team they could accept fewer royal patronages and fulfil far fewer engagements. It is not clear how far Prince Charles has thought through such consequences any more than Harry and Meghan have thought through the consequences for others of what they want. Story continues The media has portrayed this as a crisis for the monarchy, and it is indeed a family crisis, but the monarchy as an institution will suffer no serious or lasting damage. Opinion polls consistently show between 70 and 80% support for preserving the monarchy popularity ratings politicians would die for. The damage is more likely to be suffered by Harry and Meghan, who may have misjudged the extent to which their celebrity is independent of their royal status. Their plans to carve out a progressive new role, and to work to become financially independent have been widely criticised as unrealistic. Initial polling shows some public sympathy for their aims but strong objection to their continuing to receive public money. Royal officials have been tasked to find a compromise, but it is hard to see how they can be half in, and half out of the royal family and reside regularly abroad. Can you ever really leave? There are two levels of difficulty. The first is sharing the load. All members of the royal family who carry out public duties do so on behalf of the queen, and must be willing to undertake their fair share of the duties assigned to them. The second is the risk that becoming financially independent will involve exploiting their royal titles and royal connections for commercial gain. Other members of the family who accept the constraints will understandably feel aggrieved if Harry and Meghan are allowed to pick and choose. The Sussexes nevertheless deserve our sympathy. In a comparative study of the European monarchies, due to be published in our upcoming book The Role of Monarchy in Modern Democracy, we argue that it should be possible for minor royals to opt out of the gilded cage if they find the restrictions too great. But opting out would need to be total: giving up not just their public duties but their public funding, their royal titles, their security trying as far as possible to become private people. It would not be easy to undergo such a complete change of lifestyle. And it may not prove possible: the public might still consider them to be a royal couple, and the media might continue to portray them as such keeping them in the spotlight, whether they want to be or not. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. on the 40th day of nationwide Iran, protests to hail the brave protesters who are standing up for freedom, especially those murdered by the Regime, who have become martyrs for the cause. Here, we will look at Maryam Rajavis speech, focusing on the idea that the regimes crackdown shows that the regime is nearly finished. Maryam Rajavi said: Let me emphasize that in the face of these arisen youth, the regime cannot forestall its overthrow. Khamenei and his IRGC are dead wrong if they think that they can continue their rule by filling the marshlands of Mahshahr with the blood and corpses of our defenseless people. These massacres signal the end of the mullahs inhuman regime. She advised that the martyrs of the uprising exposed the true face of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as the most reviled and murderous dictator of our time for ordering this massacre and that, despite the crackdown, the Iran uprising would continue until the regime is overthrown as the mullahs could not stop the protests. Maryam Rajavi advised that unlike previous protest movement, the regime had prepared for this one; knowing that it would come as soon as they raised fuel prices., but just like every other protest, failed to grasp the sheer number of people who would come out in protest. They failed to understand that the Iranian people, like all oppressed people, are willing to die for their countrys freedom if thats what it takes. She then began to talk about the conclusions she drew from the nationwide uprising, the first of which being that the November uprising dealt an irreparable blow to the regime within just 48 hours. Maryam Rajavi said: Angry protesters confronted the regimes suppressive forces by destroying the mullahs centers of repression and plunder. According to the regimes leaders, 1,000 banks, 900 petrol stations, and many of the government offices were set ablaze. More than 80 IRGC and Bassij bases and police stations, and a large number of seminaries were attacked and overtaken. She continued by noting that vast parts of various cities, including Shiraz, Sadra, Mahshahr, Shahriar, Islamshahr, and Quds, were liberated by the protesters. Maryam Rajavi said: In some parts, including in Mahshahr devastated people rebelled and took up arms. The protests and uprisings turned into a full-fledged war against the criminal Revolutionary Guards. In this way, they showed the path to, and the prospects of, the victory of the uprisings and the liberation of Iran. This uprising will not fade away or be tempered by the regime, that is for sure. In our next piece, we will discuss Maryam Rajavis conclusion that the Iranian people are protesting against the regime in its entirety, discrediting the hardliner versus moderate narrative peddled by the regime and its apologists in the West, and that these protests represent an irreversible turning point in the battle for freedom and democracy in Iran. Pointing out that dozens of sale and purchase agreements have already been cancelled or put on hold, sources said that fear of crash in land price is also looming large. Guwahati: The ongoing agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and state governments announcement to introduce new land policy putting restriction on sale of land to non-indigenous people have not only impacted the investment climate in Assam but also driving away the prospective investors. Informing that many companies who were in process of procuring land in Assam have put their projects on hold, sources in the industry told this newspaper that state governments decision to introduce new land policy in which the government is contemplating to ban sale of land to non-indigenous people has created fear among industrialists who had invested huge amount of money in land. Pointing out that dozens of sale and purchase agreements have already been cancelled or put on hold, sources said that fear of crash in land price is also looming large. The impact of anti-CAA movement was more visible when Assam minister for commerce and industry, transport and parliamentary affairs Chandra Mohan Patowary told reporters, Many companies are now refusing to come here. Being the industry minister, I am today the most despondent person in Assam. There are companies from countries like Hungary and Norway which were keen to invest in the state. Now they are calling us and saying that they are no longer willing to do so. One company was planning to invest Rs 2,000 crore, while another had investment plans of Rs 4,000 crore. But now they are telling us that this is not the correct time to hedge their bets on Assam. He, however, refrained from giving the exact figure regarding the loss of prospective investment suffered by the state or the number of companies which have backtracked due to the anti-CAA agitation. Patowary, who was working tirelessly to bring in investment, said that once a state loses its image as an ideal investment destination, it is not easy to regain that status. He said that corporate houses seek favourable environment. He argued, Today there is peace in Kashmir. But companies are still reluctant to invest there, because once an impression is formed then it becomes difficult to alter it. The North-East was a disturbed region for a long time. But in the past three and half years the image of Assam had changed and companies were making a beeline here. Then scenes of burning tyres on the streets went viral. It is a huge loss for Assam. He further said that Abu Dhabi-based billionaire businessman B.R. Shetty, who had shown interest in acquiring the Nagaon and Cachar paper mills, is now become reluctant to go ahead with the plan. He called a few days back and said that he will not come to Assam now as the time is not conducive. But I have not given up hope. I will talk to him again. If necessary, I will visit Abu Dhabi and meet him, said Patowary while regretting that a big food processing firm from London too was in talks. They wanted to set up a unit in Assam. Now the company has cancelled the plan, said the industry minister who reiterated that all sections of society to come together to ensure that agitation should not hurt the economic development of the state. Andrea Widburg writes: Shortly after the Ukrainian jet crashed in Iran, people began to speculate that the plane had not crashed but, instead, that Iran had shot the plane. This was based on eyewitness testimony that the plane was already in flames before it hit the ground. On Thursday, the Pentagon announced that satellite footage indicated that those who speculated that Iran had shot down the plane were correct. The Pentagon did not assign a motive to Irans actions but suggested that Iran, which only four hours before had launched ballistic missiles at American military locations in Iraq, might have thought the passenger plane was an American jet delivering explosive retaliation. Iran denied this charge, refused to let anyone see the black box, and plowed over the ground where the crash occurred. On Saturday, however, Iran finally broke down and admitted what was, by this point, an irrefutable truth: It had shot the Ukrainian plane, although it had done so inadvertently: Iran's military says it "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, Iran's state TV reports. The statement, released on Saturday morning, said it had done so due to "human error". Those responsible would be held accountable, the statement read on state TV said. Iran had previously rejected suggestions that one of its missiles brought down the plane near the capital, Tehran, on Wednesday. All 176 people on the flight died, including at least 63 Canadian passengers. Civis Americanus adds: Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, says Iran may have "unintentionally" destroyed a passenger airliner and killed all 176 passengers and crew members aboard. Even President Trump appears willing to dismiss the incident as a "mistake." The only mistake is the premise that somebody can any more "unintentionally" fire a surface-to-air missile at a civilian airliner than he can "unintentionally" shoot an innocent bystander. The best he can plead is recklessness or criminal negligence. The only way to shoot somebody is to (1) disengage the safety catch; (2) point a firearm at him, which, in the absence of justification, is a glaring violation of firearm safety practices and quite possibly a crime, such as reckless endangerment (Pa.), aggravated assault (Pa.), or a gross misdemeanor (Nev.); and (3) squeeze the trigger. It is, in fact, essentially impossible to discharge a firearm (much less hit somebody with the bullet) while obeying Colonel Jeff Cooper's four gun safety rules. This is why many firearm instructors prefer to use the term "negligent discharge" rather than "accidental discharge." Holes in hull showed damage from missile explosion Photo credit: YouTube screen grab. The only way to shoot down an airplane is similarly to (1) disengage whatever safety mechanisms are in place to prevent unwanted missile launches, (2) aim the missile at the aircraft, and (3) launch the missile. The bottom line is that weapons, including artillery and rockets as well as small arms, are designed to not fire unless somebody really wants them to fire. DefenseOne's "How Not to Operate a Surface-to-Air Missile Battery" adds the possibility that the Iranian missile system was allowed to fire autonomously, but this is not an excuse. It is negligent to allow an anti-aircraft weapon system to shoot everything in sight when commercial aircraft are flying into and out of a nearby international airport. Firearm-owners know better than to shoot at noises, people, or animals they cannot identify, or even prowlers who have not entered a household. The handful who violate these commonsense rules by shooting, for example, unexpected family members or other innocent people often find themselves facing lawsuits and even criminal charges. Iran should have similarly known from the Boeing 737's flight plan that the aircraft that was climbing away from a civilian airport was unarmed and neutral. DefenseOne elaborates that, as but one example of what should have prevented this incident, civilian aircraft have transponders that identify them clearly. If Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was indeed destroyed by an Iranian missile, it was neither unintentional nor a mistake (accident). It was reckless and negligent use of a deadly weapon that resulted in the loss of a defenseless civilian aircraft with 176 innocent people on board. The Federal Aviation Administration has already banned U.S. airlines from operating in Iranian (and also Iraqi) airspace because of Iranian missile attacks on U.S. personnel and assets. The rest of the world's civilian airlines should follow the FAA's example. Nobody should fly in or operate any kind of aircraft near a despotic country that launches missiles at every blip it sees on a radar screen. Civis Americanus is the pen name of an American Thinker contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. Remains of Lankan students to be brought back home from Azerbaijan By Sandun Jayawardena and Jayanie Madawala View(s): View(s): The Sri Lankan Mission in Iran is coordinating with relevant authorities in Azerbaijan to repatriate the remains of the three Sri Lankan university students who were killed due to suffocation after a fire at their apartment on Thursday. Sri Lanka has no diplomatic presence in Azerbaijan and as such, the Sri Lankan Mission in Tehran and the Azerbaijans Embassy in New Delhi are coordinating efforts to repatriate the remains of the deceased students to Sri Lanka, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. The Ministry stated that the three female students died as a result of suffocation from smoke inhalation due to a fire at their apartment in Azerbaijans capital Baku. Authorities in the country have initiated an investigation into the incident, the Ministry added. The students had been studying at the Western Caspian University in Baku. The victims were identified yesterday as sisters Malsha Sandeepani (23) and Tharuki Amaya (21) of Bokundara, Mahawatta and Hansi Madubashini (25) of Pahala Bomiriya, Kaduwela. Malsha and Tharuki were past pupils of Lumbini Vidyalaya, Colombo while Hansi was an old girl of Bomiriya Central College. At the home of Malsha and Tharuki in Bokundara yesterday, shocked family members and relatives were trying to come to terms with the deaths of two young girls in the prime of life. Malsha had been following a degree in IT while her younger sister Tharuki was following her passion for fashion design. They were living with their friend Hansi at an apartment in Baku when the tragedy occurred. Their father Nishan Sanjeewa (48) was distraught after losing his only children. He said he had sent his two daughters to Azerbaijan through an education agency in Kollupitiya in August last year. It was the agent who informed us on Friday morning that they had met with this accident on Thursday evening, he said. We have heard that the cause of death could be the result of suffocation, but proper clues have not been revealed and they say there arent any visible injuries on the bodies, the father added. Mr. Sanjeewa implored authorities to take all necessary measures to repatriate the remains of his children and their friend quickly. The students were following a pre university English Language course at Western Caspian University and were living in a two- storey residential building as they were not entitled to hostel facilities according to university rules. They had been living at this apartment for two months. Meanwhile, issuing a statement to Azerbaijan news agency Report.az confirming that Malsha Sandeepani and Tharuki Amaya were its students, Western Caspian University stated that As a rule, foreigners apply for these courses individually or through various agencies providing services in this area. In this case, the Sri Lankan women applied through the Agency to participate in preparatory English courses at Western Caspian University. The University provided them with information about the conditions of the introductory sessions, as well as informed them that the University does not have a hostel and does not offer a service for renting apartments. As such, the university stated that the students came to Azerbaijan, rented apartments and lived there on their own. The university added that it was deeply saddened by this tragedy and extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the foreigners. Sajiths temple donations under police probe View(s): Opposition Leader and UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, who held the Cultural Affairs portfolio under the previous government, is likely to face a police investigation into disbursement of large amount of funds. The matter came up for discussion at a top-level meeting where Central Cultural Fund disbursements were discussed. Earlier, it was the subject of study by an official committee. A government source said the enormity of the funds utilised had prompted a thorough investigation. This is particularly in respect of donations made to temples. They ranged from just Rs. 10 million to Rs 80 million. In some instances, the temples had been paid a part payment with a letter that the balance would be met after the presidential election, the source said. The source added that a list of financial commitments, both made as well as assured, was now being compiled. Nigerian soldiers stand guard at the offices of the state-run Nigerian Television Authority in Maiduguri, Nigeria, on June 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) Suspected Islamists Kill 25 Soldiers in Niger: Government NIAMEYSuspected radical Islamist terrorists killed 25 soldiers and wounded six others in an attack on an army post in west Niger near its border with Mali on Thursday, the government said. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack on the post at Chinagodrar, about 130 miles (209 km) north of the capital Niamey. The attack coincides with a campaign by Islamist groups connected to al Qaeda and the ISIS terrorists forcing the Nigerien army back from its western frontier with Mali, where government control of the rural center and north has all but evaporated because of the rise of jihadists. Attackers approached the military post on motorcycles and other vehicles and were met with resistance from the army and the air force, the government said in a statement. Sixty-three assailants were also killed during the raid. The Defence Ministryoffers its condolences to the victims and wishes the wounded a prompt recovery, the statement said, adding that a search operation was underway to find those responsible. Despite efforts by international forces to stop them, attacks have risen four-fold over the past year in Niger, killing nearly 400 people, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a non-profit research organization. They include a raid last month that killed 71 soldiers at another military outpost about 93 miles (150 km) to the west of Chinagodrar, believed to be the biggest attack on the Nigerien military. Security has deteriorated this year across the Sahel, a semi-arid strip of land beneath the Sahara, amid jihadist attacks and deadly ethnic reprisals between rival farming and herding communities. The region has been in crisis since 2012, when ethnic Tuareg rebels and loosely aligned jihadists seized the northern two-thirds of Mali, forcing France to intervene the following year to beat them back. The jihadists have since regrouped and expanded their range of influence. By Boureima Balima and Moussa Aksar Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released their bombshell announcement on Jan. 8 that they would be stepping back from their royal duties and moving away from the UK, the internet has exploded with everything from serious commentary about the pressures of royal life to #Megxit jokes. In a joint statement, little Archies parents wrote in part, We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. Among the many headlines that have circulated over the past few days, a few have especially made fans of the royal family take notice. From major news outlets to local Chicago newspapers, a few publications have chosen to put Markle front and center rather than casting her simply as Prince Harrys wife. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Chris Jackson/Getty Images AJ+ referred to Prince Harry simply as Markles husband in a viral tweet AJ+ News shared an unconventional #Megxit headline on Jan. 8 that quickly went viral. The tweet about the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs big announcement read, Meghan Markle and her husband say theyre stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family and will work to become financially independent. Theyll split their time 50/50 between the UK and North America. The outlets choice to make Markle the focus of the tweet got plenty of attention. As of Jan. 10, the tweet had garnered nearly 109,000 likes and over 17,000 retweets. Thousands of comments poured in, praising the outlet for putting a twist on the conventional media focus on powerful male public figures, while women are often cast as simply their wives. This headline isnt the energy we deserve, but its the energy we need, one Twitter user wrote in response. Another raved, And her husband thats the mood for 2020. Yet another joked, Dont think Im familiar with her husband but good for Meghan for putting her family first. Outlets made similar unconventional choices when George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin Other outlets have put this twist on headline construction to similar rave responses. When George Clooney (who, incidentally, is friends with Markle and Prince Harry) married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, for example, many fans noticed Alamuddins name was left out of many headlines entirely. When she wasnt left out, she was often relegated to simply wife or bride, with no mention of her own accomplishments or identity. A few outlets sought to change that trend, according to BuzzFeed. BuzzFeeds headline, Accomplished lawyer Amal Alamuddin marries that actor from ER, quickly went viral. Business Woman Magazine made a similar point with their article, titled, Internationally acclaimed barrister Amal Alamuddin marries an actor. And heading up the trend was Slate, where Clooneys and Alamuddins engagement was announced with the headline, London human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin is engaged, with no mention of Clooney at all. Two Chicago-area papers focused on Markles connection to Northwestern Many Chicagoans and Northwestern grads are especially proud of Markles connection to the city and to Northwestern itself, where she graduated with her bachelors degree in international relations and theater in 2003. A few headlines from Chicago-based outlets followed a similar pattern, highlighting Markle instead of Prince Harry. The Chicago Tribune tweeted their #Megxit story with the headline, Northwestern graduate moving closer to home after spending time abroad. The wildly popular tweet amassed nearly 70,000 likes and over 12,000 retweets as of Jan. 10. Markles supporters loved that she was being centered in the story, especially because of Markles difficulty with the media over the past year. Whoever wrote this headline deserves a raise, wrote one Twitter user. Another joked, Princess Diana approves! with two pictures of Prince Harrys mother in a Northwestern sweatshirt. This isnt the first time that the Chicago Tribune has focused on Markles role in the royal family. A 2017 editorial in the publication was (somewhat satirically) titled, NU alumni notes: 2003 grad accepts government post in London. The Daily Northwestern, a local paper serving Northwestern as well as the surrounding Evanston area, also highlighted Markles connection to Chicago. Northwestern alumna Meghan Markle, husband to step back as senior members of British royal family, read the outlets headline. A Hamilton man who allegedly threatened to run people over with his truck if he didnt get his medications was charged with felony intimidation Thursday. Anthony T. Bicos, 61, appeared before Ravalli County Justice Jennifer Ray on the felony count and a misdemeanor charge of privacy in communications. Ray set bail at $15,000. Hamilton police were initially dispatched to Sapphire Community Health on Jan. 7, where an employee said that Bicos was a patient who had been getting increasingly angry over his inability to obtain his medications, according to the charging affidavit. The employee told the police that Bicos said he would do whatever he needs to do to get his medication. The employee also said he didnt want Bicos to get in trouble. He asked the officer to contact Bicos and speak to him about his behavior. The officer made several attempts to contact Bicos that day, but was unable to do so. The next morning, the same officer was sent back to the health clinic after Bicos allegedly continued to make threats. A clinic employee said Bicos had called more than eight times that morning to continue to yell at staff. The employee told the officer the clinic had decided that Bicos' behavior was no longer going to be tolerated and his phone calls would go unanswered. The police officer made phone contact with Bicos, who continued to yell and scream, the affidavit said. Many of Bicos statements were unintelligible. The officer couldnt understand much more than that Bicos said he was in pain and he could not take it anymore. Bicos continued to yell and scream before hanging up on the officer, according to the affidavit. Later that day, two Hamilton police officers met with clinic staff. They were told that Bicos' threatening phone calls had scared several employees. One employee told the officers she had answered the phone at about 8:15 a.m. and Bicos had demanded his medication. He allegedly said if he didnt receive it, there would be violence. The employee said she felt scared and took steps to ensure that Bicos was not around when she left the building. She said Bicos had stated he would run people over with his truck, according to the affidavit. Before they finally blocking his number on Jan. 8, clinic employees said Bicos had called about 20 times. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 3 Sad 6 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. South Korea plans to launch an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system for foreign visitors next year, following the approval of a relevant law early this week by the National Assembly, the Ministry of Justice said Saturday. At a plenary session Thursday, the Assembly a revision to the Immigration Law on the introduction of the ETA system to help facilitate the entry of overseas tourists and prevent illegal stays by foreigners, the ministry said. Under the revision, citizens from visa-waiver countries will be allowed to obtain an ETA online before traveling to South Korea. Those with a valid ETA will be exempted from submitting a disembarkation card and can easily enter the country through ETA-only counters at airports. The ministry said it plans to implement the ETA system next year after completing the development of relevant systems. The ministry also said it has steadily increased the number of visa-waiver countries to boost inbound travelers and human exchanges with foreign countries. Thanks to such efforts, the ratio of visa-exempt nationals among all foreign visitors in South Korea rose to 53 percent in 2018, it noted. At the same time, however, the share of visa-waiver foreign nationals among all illegal stayers has risen to 54.1 percent, forcing local immigration officials to strengthen entry interviews with newly arrived foreigners. This has resulted in some foreign visitors being forced to wait a long time at airports, while others are turned back over suspicions about their intention to illegally stay, the ministry said, explaining the purpose of the ETA system. (Yonhap) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) A television reporter spoke out against a rider from ride-hailing company Angkas who repeatedly shamed her for being overweight. In a Facebook post on Friday, GMA correspondent Saleema Devi Refran recalled how a rider, whom she did not name, described her as mataba, overweight and obese while she was doing a story on the app-based motorcycle taxi service providers new policy called weight safety check. In the latest version of the Angkas app, the company said that heavy passengers may be denied for safety reasons. We dont judge, we just want to ensure the safety of both you and our bikers, claimed Angkas. Refran said that the one who allegedly shamed her wanted to use her as sample on how smaller bikes cannot handle bigger passengers. When the broadcaster could not take the insults any longer, she told the rider: Opo, mataba ako pero hindi ako dapat pagtawanan. [Translation: Yes, I am fat, but I should not be laughed at.] But the reporter clarified she has no issue with the Angkas policy, saying she gets objective behind it. I have no issue with the policy as it is meant to partner passengers with riders using bigger bikes, Refran wrote. But as someone who has struggled with her weight, Refran took offense when people think that being fat is a laughing matter. To riders who will refuse passengers because of their weight, wag nyo naman po kutyain or alipustahin. Wag nyo naman po pagtawanan. Tao rin po kami, she said. [Translation: Please dont ridicule us. Dont laugh at us. We are also humans.] Washington: Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House will take steps next week to transmit the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, ending a three-week standoff but confronting the Senate with only the third trial in US history to remove a chief executive. In a letter to her Democratic colleagues, Pelosi said Friday she was proud of their courage and patriotism and warned that senators now have a choice as they consider the charges of abuse and obstruction against the president. In an impeachment trial, every Senator takes an oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, Pelosi wrote. Every Senator now faces a choice: to be loyal to the President or the Constitution. The trial could begin next week. The Constitution gives the House the sole power to impeach a president, but the Senate the ability to render a verdict when it convenes as the Court of Impeachment. Pelosi was particularly upbeat Friday as she strode through the Capitol, despite the mounting pressure on her to quit delaying the trial. Her decision to end the showdown with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell does not fully bring closure to the question of whether the Senate will consider new witnesses, as some want, shifting pressure on senators to decide. Trump swiftly signaled his intention of blocking any testimony from John Bolton, the brash former national security adviser who could be a wildcard witness in the trial. Bolton has said he would appear before the Senate if he received a subpoena. At the same time, a key centrist GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, whose vote is among those most watched, announced Friday she was in discussions with other Republicans on a strategy that would allow the Senate to hear new testimony. While the rules of Senate trial remain unsettled, the outcome is not. Trump is widely expected to be acquitted of the charges that he abused power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, then obstructed Congress in its investigation. No president has ever been removed by the Senate. A motorist who was driving the wrong way on Route 80 when he crashed into a car and killed its three occupants last year was charged with causing their deaths, the Morris County Prosecutors Office announced Friday. Miguel Botero, 28, of Dumont, was charged with three counts of reckless vehicular homicide in connection with the Oct. 18, 2019 crash, according to a joint statement from the prosecutors office and the New Jersey State Police. Botero was driving a grey Jeep Grand Cherokee east on Route 80 in Parsippany-Troy Hills around 1:45 a.m. and then pulled a U-turn in the highway and began driving the wrong way, according to a witness statement in an affidavit of probable cause obtained by NJ Advance Media. The witness then said they saw the Jeep crash with a black sedan, later identified as a black Toyota Corolla, which had three occupants, and then catch fire. Officers arrived and found the Corolla on the median with heavy front end damage and the three dead inside. NJ Advance Media previously identified two of the victims as Julia Wells, of Mine Hill, and Jalen Davis. The affidavit identified the victims only by their initials of J.W., J.D. and R.F. and police said they would not be making their names public. Boteros Jeep was in the right lane of the Route 80 eastbound following the crash and he was found unconscious inside, police said. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, where blood was drawn, revealing that he had a blood alcohol content of over .20 percent; over twice the legal limit, authorities said. "The investigation revealed that Botero had consumed alcoholic beverages at various establishments in Morristown on the evening of October 17 and into the early morning hours of October 18, the affidavit stated. Two other cars, a Toyota 4-Runner and a tractor trailer, were struck in the crash but their drivers were not seriously injured, according to the affidavit. Botero remains in custody pending a court appearance. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. We are grateful to Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez for his help ensuring that this debate will proceed without the disruption of a labor dispute, Chris Shelton, president of the Communications Workers of America, said in a statement. The Democratic presidential candidates demonstrated their commitment to working people by intending to honor the picket line. The case hinged partly on whether CNN could be considered a so-called joint employer of the Team Video Services workers, meaning that it had legal obligations to them under labor law even though it didnt hire them directly. Companies that have relationships with contractors and franchisees can be considered joint employers of their workers if they exercise sufficient control over them. The current standard for judging whether a company like CNN is a joint employer was set during the Obama administration and allows a company to be deemed a joint employer even if it exercises only indirect control over workers employed by a contractor, such as requiring the use of software that locks in scheduling practices. The current labor board is widely expected to narrow this standard in the coming weeks, which would make it harder to hold parent companies liable for labor law violations. The Communications Workers of America accused CNN of waging such a long, protracted battle against the workers that several of them died before the dispute could be resolved. An administrative law judge ruled in 2008 that CNN violated the National Labor Relations Act and that CNN was a joint employer with Team Video Services. But the union said CNN then filed more than 1,600 exceptions with the board. In 2014, the board ordered CNN to bargain with the unions and provide back pay. But the union said CNN appealed the decision to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which upheld most of the boards findings in 2017 and enforced its order that CNN cease and desist from refusing to recognize and bargain with the unions. The court, however, remanded the boards joint employer finding for further clarification, along with the issue of back pay for further consideration by the board. End tax terror, economy in dire times: Swamy India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Ahmedabad, Jan 11: The BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy said that the country's economy was in "dire times", and "tax terrorism" should be ended to encourage investors. He also said that every university should have police personnel on the campus, and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which is in news for a recent incident of violence, should be "closed for two years". "The economy is in dire times, everything is going downwards if the trend continues banks will close down, NBFCs will close down and (it will) lead to disaster," Swamy said, speaking to reporters here. He was speaking on the sidelines of a programme at Indus University. India lacks in macroeconomic policies says Subramanian Swamy "The measures that can be taken are...first Income Tax needs to be abolished. The tax terrorism in our country needs to be reined in so that people start investing and do not fear taxman," he said. Tehran plane crash: Iran admits it hit civilian aircraft by mistake | OneIndia news "The problem we are facing at present is lack of demand, we have a good supply. So the government needs to print notes and put it in the hands of people to boost demand. Government needs to build roads, big six-lane, eight-lane roads," he added. Asked about the recent violence at JNU in Delhi, Swamy said for the safety of students, every university should have police presence on the campus as in the United States. Confidence building measures needed to allay China's concern over India-US ties: Subramanian Swamy "In universities like JNU we should have not only police but CRPF and BSF too," he said. JNU should be closed for two years and its "good students" should be shifted to other universities like Delhi University, the MP, known for making controversial statements, added. Tehran has now admitted that the Ukrainian jet that crashed near the capital on Wednesday morning was inadvertently shot down by a surface-to-air missile launched by the Iranian military. All 176 passengers and crew on the Boeing 737 to Kiev died in the crash of flight PS752 just west of Tehran. Irans foreign minister, Javad Zarif, tweeted: A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by armed forces: human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. He offered profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Is this admission a surprise? Yes, given the attitude of the Iranian regime during the first 72 hours after the Tehran tragedy. What is now described as a disastrous mistake was initially blamed on technical problems. Even though Irans military chiefs will presumably have known within minutes that one of their missiles downed the plane, officials initially denounced the Wests evidence of a shootdown as propaganda. Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Show all 18 1 /18 Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People and rescue teams are pictured amid bodies and debris All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off, Iranian state media reported ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran One of the engines State news agency IRNA said 167 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft operated by Ukraine International Airlines Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work at the scene AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Passengers' belongings West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Members of the International Red Crescent collect bodies of victims EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work amidst debris AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran A relative of a victim reacts at Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Part of the wreckage Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Officials inspect the wreckage EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP The head of the civil aviation authority, Ali Abedzadeh, flatly rejected the claims, saying: Scientifically, it is impossible that a missile hit the Ukrainian plane, and such rumours are illogical. He insisted the plane experienced engine failure and was heading back to the airport when it crashed. Should the plane have been allowed to take off from Tehran? Given the extreme sensitivity to threats by the Iran military, just hours after Iran had fired missiles at bases with US troops in Iraq, clearly not. With the country on a war footing, with hindsight it would have been better to issue a ground stop to passenger traffic. But that order was never made. In Iran as elsewhere, military and civil air-traffic controllers coordinate operations. Civil controllers will have sought clearance from the military for operations to continue at Tehran airport, and conversely anti-aircraft personnel should have been aware that airspace was being used by commercial aircraft for scheduled flight. Was the plane off course? Irans civil aviation authority has said that the Ukraine International flight took an unusual turn and started descending and therefore was regarded as a threat by a Revolutionary Guard base. One theory is that the pilots did encounter a problem and decided to turn back. But for flight crew not to liaise with air-traffic controllers in such circumstances is almost unthinkable. In addition, the tracking site FlightRadar24 has analysed six weeks of departures on the route and concludes that there was nothing special about the Wednesday morning routing of flight PS752. It followed a standard departure path from Tehran in terms of direction and altitude. What are the implications of Irans admission? It means that military shootdowns of commercial airliners have now claimed almost 500 victims in six years: the worst air disaster of the last decade was the loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. All 298 passengers and crew aboard the Boeing 777 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur were killed when a surface-to-air missile was fired from rebel-held territory. In this case, as with the Iranian tragedy, a Russian missile was used. Are planes still flying over Iran and for that matter, Iraq? Yes. On Friday, the Department for Transport warned UK airlines of a potential risk from heightened military activity and dedicated anti-aviation weaponry in both Iran and Iraq and advised carriers not to enter the territory and airspace of either country. Yet plenty of flights are still using Iranian and Iraqi airspace. The Saturday morning Qatar Airways plane from Doha to Edinburgh flew over Iran, while the Qatari airlines Manchester flight took its usual route over Iraq. Qatar is banned from the airspace of several countries so it has little choice but to use those routes to Europe. But Emirates is also using the corridors over Iraq rather than routing south across Saudi Arabia. As I write, flight EK1 from Dubai to Heathrow is between Baghdad and the Iranian frontier. The airline, one of the biggest in the world, has extremely complex scheduling choreography. If an Emirates round-trip to Heathrow, Newcastle or Glasgow arrives back in Dubai an hour late because of an extended flight, half the intended connections may be missed. Iran TV footage allegedly shows black boxes from Ukrainian plane that crashed near Tehran How worried should passengers be? In a world where aviation is becoming progressively safer, tragedies involving unintended shootdowns are all the more prominent. Airlines, governments and, above all, passengers are understandably concerned about the risk of inadvertent mass killing. There are two schools of thought about the effect of the Iranian admission on air safety. The first is that the government, the military and civil aviation officials in Tehran, aghast at this tragedy, have taken ownership and will do everything they can to avoid any possible repeat. The opposite view is that the initial vehement denials of blame by Irans government and civil aviation authority means that they cannot be trusted. A good indicator of which perspective prevails in the international community will be how swiftly flight bans over Iran by the UK and other governments are relaxed. Meanwhile thousands of passengers with advance bookings on Gulf-based airlines are considering whether or not to change their plans, losing hundreds or thousands of pounds. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad of Abu Dhabi say their normal terms and conditions apply, and therefore no-penalty postponements or cancellations are not possible. My personal view is that I would confidently book on a flight overflying the region; if the captain is prepared to fly, I am happy to accept his or her judgement. As the UK government has advised against overflying Iran and Iraq, could British passengers who discover their flight is likely to take a route across one or the other refuse to fly and get their money back? They can refuse to fly, but they wont get a refund. The UK is advisory, and applies only to British carriers. Foreign airlines will follow their own governments advice. I do not understand Gov. Kevin Stitt's position regarding the Indian gaming compact that grants tribes which have signed the compact certain exclusive rights. Those compacts, agreed to in 2005, are available online and the key section, part 15, paragraph B was printed in the Tulsa World. "This Compact shall have a term which will expire on January 1, 2020, and at that time, if organization licensees or others are authorized to conduct electronic gaming in any form other than parimutuel wagering on live horse racing pursuant to any governmental action of the state or court order following the effective date of this Compact, the Compact shall automatically renew for successive additional fifteen-year terms; provided that, within one hundred eighty (180) days of the expiration of this Compact or any renewal thereof, either the tribe or the state, acting through its Governor, may request to renegotiate the terms. Gov. Stitt needed to leave things alone, then after Jan. 1 "request to renegotiate the terms" of subsections A and E of part 11 of the compact. Those subsections pertain to the money the state receives. Like many of the lesser-known countries in the Global South, Oman rarely commands the attention of the international community. For the opaque politics of this Arab sultanate, though, the obscurity appears intentional. Omani officials have relied on their countrys relative anonymity to exercise considerable influence behind the scenes, maintaining contacts with competing regional powers such as Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia in addition to the world powers battling for control of the Middle East, among them China, Russia and the United States. As tensions between Iran and the United States rise over the American-orchestrated death of the Iranian spymaster Qasem Soleimani, Oman's longtime role as a regional mediator may become more important than ever. Iran wages a cold war against the Western world while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates prosecute an all but endless war in Yemen. Oman shares land borders and maritime boundaries with Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia and has managed to distinguish itself as an island of stability in the region. In fact, the sultanates oft-cited reputation as the Switzerland of the Middle East has allowed Omani officials to serve as mediators in these conflicts. Former US President Barack Obama often references the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action the international agreement limiting the Iranian nuclear program as among his major accomplishments. But he might not have realized this achievement without Omani assistance. Oman, a close ally of the United States in the Middle East and perhaps Irans only reliable partner in the Persian Gulf, facilitated a backchannel between the US and Iranian diplomats that laid the groundwork for the talks that ended with the JCPOA in 2015. In the case of Yemen, Oman has hosted peace talks between the Emirati- and Saudi-led coalition backing a frail Yemeni government and the motley alliances tenacious opponents, the Houthis, a collective of rebels backed by Iran. Whereas most other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council joined the Emirati and Saudi war effort at one point or another, Omans respected history of neutrality in Yemen and the region as a whole underpins its role as an intermediary. Related: Low Gas Prices Crush Appalachia Shale Boom After the United States targeted Soleimani's vehicle in Baghdad, Oman immediately urged Iran and the United States to pursue dialogue to deescalate tensions. (Source: World Bank) In many ways, neutrality and obscurity go hand in hand in this country of 4.9 million people. The sultanate has more or less refrained from taking sides in the ever-expanding roster of Middle Eastern conflicts since Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said ascended the throne in 1970. Therefore, Oman has had little reason to engage in the kind of headline-grabbing interventions that have often characterized American, Emirati, Iranian and Saudi foreign policy. In turn, the few outsiders who do think about Oman know it as a neutral country and a tourist destination, not as a source of conflict. As Middle Eastern and Western pundits alike have lambasted regional and world powers for their part in proxy wars on the Arabian Peninsula, in the Levant and in the Maghreb, Omani officials have earned goodwill by bankrolling cultural diplomacy and sustainable development. Oman invites Western students to the country to study Arabic and sponsors a prize for environmental scientists in cooperation with the United Nations. In addition to Qaboos recent contributions to Omani foreign policy, the sultanate has adopted an isolationist, noninterventionist approach to the world because of its demographic and historical characteristics. Unlike their Shia and Sunni neighbors, most Omanis practice Ibadism, a conservative, secretive offshoot of Islam that emphasizes moderation and tolerance. In keeping with their traditions, Ibadisms adherents tend to keep to themselves. The downfall of the Omani Empire, which once extended from Balochistan to Zanzibar, also taught Omani leaders the dangers of the expansionist ambitions that tempt their Iranian and Saudi counterparts. Omans lack of interest in pursuing the rivalries that have riven the Gulf as well as the rest of the Middle East explains the depth of its friendships across the region and the world in general. The sultanate has hosted delegations from Israel and Saudi Arabia, cut trade pacts with China, Iran and Russia, and received military aid from Britain and the United States. Few other small powers could balance relationships with so many competitors at once. Beyond growing Omans list of allies and keeping the sultanate out of the spotlight, the countrys foreign policy has shielded its internal affairs from outside scrutiny. Like its neighbors, Oman has limited human rights and freedom of expression in particular even imprisoning critics occasionally yet Omani officials have encountered much less criticism than their Emirati and Saudi counterparts. The countrys status as an absolute monarchy has also received little attention, and many Omani officials engage in torture without fear of consequences. Related: IEA: The Oil Glut Is Going Nowhere Despite the many ways in which Oman has gained from its foreign policy, contemporary history signals that this Omani renaissance may be coming to an end. Omans most powerful neighbors, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have proved frustrated with the sultanates opaque decision-making. In 2011 and again in 2019, Oman claimed to have discovered Emirati spy rings operating on its territory. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has pressured Oman to move away from Iran. The kingdoms leadership has long wanted Oman to halt trade with Iran, and some analysts have speculated that Saudi Arabia could withdraw its investments from the sultanate to compel Omani compliance. (Source: World Bank and Observatory of Economic Complexity) Two longer-term challenges indicate that Oman may struggle to afford the luxury of neutrality in the coming years. Many analysts question what will happen to the sultanates foreign policy once Qaboos, a 78-year-old monarch, dies or relinquishes power. Qaboos has yet to pick a successor. Omans dwindling oil reserves, which could be depleted as soon as 2032, have heightened the lack of clarity over the sultanates future. Observers expected revenues from fossil fuels to fund more than 70 percent of the 2019 budget, predicated on a price of $58 per barrel. If either problem leads to a constitutional crisis, this little-known neutral country may find that, in fact, it has few permanent allies. In the face of these looming challenges, Oman can try to capitalize on its immediate relevance to geopolitics by building on its diplomatic and economic partnerships to cement permanent alliances. Neither the principals of the American-Iranian contest for dominance of the Middle East nor the combatants in the Yemeni Civil War have access to a better intermediary than Oman. Omani officials could leverage their diplomatic skill in courting financial assistance or trade guarantees from other powers in need of such intercession. Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the US may also need the sultanates assistance to determine the future of the Strait of Hormuz as tensions remain heated. Oman still has the diplomatic capital to extract these actors from the regions persistent conflicts. Whether Oman can sustain a foreign policy built on neutrality and obscurity well into the future remains a question for the few analysts who reflect on the sultanates trajectory. So far, Oman has fared better than the Gulfs regional powers, from Iran and Qatar to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, in dodging ceaseless conflicts that have entangled so many other Middle Eastern players. The North African and Western Asian countries that have made a point of distancing themselves from the regions conflicts, such as Kuwait and Morocco, tend to succeed where so many others have failed. By ignoring the temptation to pursue regional hegemony, these likeminded monarchies have escaped the fate of Iran, Saudi Arabia and other oft-criticized middle powers viewed as pariah states by many in the international community. For its part, Oman has continued to offer the best example of a neutral country in a region bereft of them. By Yale Global More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: What the papers say January 11 (PA) The front pages present different accounts of Harry and Meghan and the royal rift. The Queen wants rift repaired in 72 hours, according to The Daily Telegraph. A poll reveals fury over the Sussexes actions and says the couple should be evicted from their Windsor cottage and be made to pay back the 2.4 million of public money spent on refurbishing it, according to the Daily Mail. The Daily Express says the Queen is ready to cut a generous deal with her grandson Harry which would allow the couple to step back from their official duties and continue to receive royal funding. The Daily Mirror praises the Queens Bravery, quoting a source as saying: When all around her is crumbling, she will steady the ship whatever it take. The royal family has denied that Harry and Meghan are being driven out, according to The Times. The Times 11/1/2020 The Duchess of Sussex with Jessica Mulroney, a close friend who lives in Canada. Meghan has returned to the country to be with her eight-month-old son, Archie. Photo : George Pimentel/Wire Image/Getty Images#tomorrowspaperstoday #thetimes @TimesPictures pic.twitter.com/Ib5H2EbCpi The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) January 10, 2020 The Guardian reports that counter-terrorism police have targeted school climate strikers alongside right-wing extremists. Guardian front page, Saturday 11 January 2020: Anti-terror police target school climate strikers pic.twitter.com/VeIeYLC3KE The Guardian (@guardian) January 10, 2020 Weapons manufacturers will receive a 14-billion boost from the ongoing Iran crisis, according to the i. I WEEKEND: Making a killing: arms dealers enjoy 14bn boost from Iran crisis #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/q0LB0nRbcb Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 10, 2020 The besieged manufacturer Boeings woes have worsened as one of its big suppliers announced thousands of staff redundancies amid fresh criticism from US politicians, says the Financial Times. Just published: front page of the Financial Times UK edition Saturday January 11 https://t.co/akiK9TCFol pic.twitter.com/WSqeeJ9TAF Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) January 10, 2020 And the Daily Star reports that actress Linda Robson broke down in tears on television while discussing her obsessive-compulsive disorder. FORMER CIA director Leon Panetta, not known for making outlandish statements, is deeply worried about recent developments in the Middle East. He believes the Trump administration is the closest the U.S. has been to war with Iran in 40 years (or since the Iranian revolution of 1979). Maybe. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion FORMER CIA director Leon Panetta, not known for making outlandish statements, is deeply worried about recent developments in the Middle East. He believes the Trump administration is the closest the U.S. has been to war with Iran in 40 years (or since the Iranian revolution of 1979). Maybe. To no ones surprise, U.S. President Donald Trump has only escalated matters by unleashing a Twitter firestorm against Iran. It wasnt enough to snuff out Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, arguably the No. 2 leader in the Iranian hierarchy, with a lethal drone strike from a U.S. Reaper. Now, he is tweeting about "targeting 52 Iranian sitessome of a very high level & importance to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself." He then went on to stir the pot menacingly: "WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!" Hossein Dehghan, a top military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quick to say Tehran is not seeking outright war with the U.S. "It was America that started the war. Therefore, they should accept appropriate reactions to their actions," he said pointedly. He followed that up by noting ominously: "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. Afterward, they should not seek a new cycle." Of course, one of the critical questions here is what will the U.S. and Trump do in response to Irans recent military retaliation. That, more than anything else, will be a key factor in whether a protracted U.S.-Iran war could ensue. At the moment, Trump has been measured in his remarks about Wednesdays Iranian missile attacks in Iraq. But for how long? Significantly, one of the central reasons why neither the Bush nor the Obama administrations attempted to assassinate Soleimani was because they feared the fallout and Irans anticipated retaliation for such a brazen act. They knew Tehran would have to respond forcefully and that it had a multitude of ways in which it could inflict punishment on America and Americans or have its proxies in many parts of the world do so. Michigan Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Middle East expert, understood the situation well during the Bush and Obama years. She remarked recently that "What always kept both Democratic and Republican presidents from targeting Soleimani himself was the simple question: was the strike worth the likely retaliation, and the potential to pull us into a protracted conflict?" As far as she was concerned, "the two administrations I worked for both determined that the ultimate ends didnt justify the means." So where does this leave the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau? And what options does it have at its disposal? Not very good ones, Im afraid. In a minority government situation, the Trudeau Liberals need to be mindful of not acting without the support of opposition parties and the consent of Parliament. The potential domestic politics of this is, to state the obvious, unquestionably treacherous for the federal Liberals. 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. It needs to be careful about not being perceived as Trumps lackey if it opts to back any additional U.S. military actions. And if the Liberals, heaven forbid, do get bogged down in a military conflict with Iran, it could ultimately topple their government. Canada does have some 800-plus soldiers already in Iraq as part of a Canadian-led NATO (and U.S.) training mission. But NATO has now decided, in light of the precarious geostrategic situation on the ground, to suspend its commitment. Will Ottawa follow suit or leave some of its forces in theatre? Add to this the fact that the USMCA trade pact among the "three amigos," which Canada desperately wants to put to bed, has not been ratified yet. Could Trump use the deal to pressure Canada into supporting any future U.S. military initiatives in the region? On the other hand, can we afford to rebuke the U.S. president? Far be it for me to advise the Canadian government on what to do here, but I cant see any up side to Canada getting into a shooting war with the Iranians. It would be like the Afghanistan conflict on steroids. Moreover, the political optics of the Trudeau Liberals standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Trump against Iran would be absolutely deadly. Theres just no way that his government could survive such an act of subservience. Ottawa, therefore, would be wise to keep its distance. Peter McKenna is professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. The absence of Russia was quite glaring, given that Moscow has continued to strongly back India after New Delhi revoked Art 370 last year. New Delhi: Russia is understood to have been reluctant to join the 15-member foreign envoys delegation that had visited J&K on Thursday and Friday at the invitation of the Indian government, but there are indications that Moscow may consider a stand-alone invitation for its envoy to visit the Kashmir Valley at a future date. The absence of Russia was quite glaring, given that Moscow has continued to strongly back India after New Delhi revoked Article 370 in August last year. According to sources, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) had held informal preliminary consultations with Russia which was reluctant to join the delegation. Therefore, no formal invitation was eventually sent by New Delhi. Sources indicated that since Russia does not consider the Kashmir issue to be part of the Indo-Russia bilateral ties, Moscow apparently felt there was therefore no need for the Russian ambassador to be part of the delegation. But observers feel this may be only part of the story. Significantly, the United States was represented in the delegation by its ambassador Kenneth Juster. Its no secret that the United States does not currently enjoy a cordial relation with Russia and the US has been threatening to impose sanctions on countries buying Russian weaponry and armaments. Observers also point out that Russia may be somewhat uneasy over the recent two plus two dialogue between India and the US at the foreign and defence ministerial level. Moscow does not want the Indo-US proximity to have any impact on the Indo-Russian bilateral relationship, especially in the defence sector. When asked specifically why Russia was not part of the foreign envoys delegation, the MEA had indicated recently that there may be more such visits in the future to J&K in which countries not represented in this delegation may be represented. Russia has been Indias time-tested friend for more than seven decades and is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC). Envoys of 15 countriesthe United States, South Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Fiji, Maldives, Norway, Philippines, Morocco, Argentina, Peru, Niger, Nigeria, Guyana and Togo-had comprised the group that had been taken by the Indian Government to J&K on the two-day visit on January 9 and 10. The foreign envoys had met security officials, members of civil society, political leaders and the local media there. The MEA had said the envoys had been taken there to see the efforts being made by the Government to bring the situation to normal. Pirelli's head of F1 and car racing Mario Isola says that the ten F1 teams rejected the new proposed tyres because of the development costs that would've been caused by the change. Teams tested the new rubber at the back end of last season but voted against the change, instead keeping the 2019 tyres for 2020. Tyres are one of the most talked about things in F1, with different rubber making a huge difference to the performance of a car. Read more Pirelli predicts more overheating in 2020 due to retained 2019 tyres Ultimately, the different profile of the 2020 tyres put off the teams, with the development needed a factor in the rejection. Isola told RaceFans.net: Before taking the decision we had a lot of discussion with the teams. Obviously that decision came quite late, considering that we had the additional development and then the final validation in Abu Dhabi. It is clear the new product has a different profile and this affects the aerodynamics of the car. And with cars that are almost I would say 95% finalised, the teams are not very happy to modify the car again or to put additional resources on developing the 2020 car." - Drogba will be in the country on charity matters - The football star took to Twitter to confirm his anticipated visit to the country - The Chelsea legend is particularly excited to meet the Samburu ladies who greatly admire him Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has expressed his excitement ahead of an anticipated visit to the country. The Ivorian took to social media on Thursday, January 9, thanking the Samburu Girls Foundation for their support. READ ALSO: Lionel Messi clashes with Joao Felix during Barcelona's loss to Atletico Madrid Drogbas heart was molten after a video was shared by the foundation heaping praise on the 41-year-old. Hi Drogba, thank you for supporting Samburu Girls Foundation. Welcome to Kenya, we love you, the girls said in a video. READ ALSO: Harry Kane: Tottenham striker hit by hamstring injury, ruled out till April Drogba responded to the video, saying: Cant wait to come visit you my Samburu girls. Josephine Kulea, cant thank you enough for dedicating your heart for these beautiful girls. Keep up the great work. Founder of the foundation Dr Kulea confirmed Drogbas visit by also joining in the conversation with a gratitude message. READ ALSO: Lionel Messi clashes with Joao Felix during Barcelona's loss to Atletico Madrid Kulea is credited with establishing the foundation which has gone some way in helping save girls in Samburu from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forced marriages. One of the primary objectives of the foundation is to tackle harmful cultural practices which mainly target the girl child. More than 1,200 girls have been rescued by Kuleas foundation since the year 2011 while more than 300 girls are currently getting advanced education. 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 How we lost our babies promo | Tuko TV: Source: TUKO.co.ke Hours after this, a large group of masked people armed with iron rods and sledge-hammers entered the campus and attacked students and teachers. New Delhi: Even as the nation continued to express outrage over the brutal attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University students and faculty by masked goons and polices inaction, the Delhi Police and at least two Union ministers on Friday tried to put the blame for the violence on the very students who were injured and student bodies affiliated to the Left. While the police held the JNU Students Union and its president Aishe Ghosh responsible for the violence, Union ministers Smriti irani and Prakash Javadekar gave a clean chit to the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and claimed that the Left groups were behind the violence. Reacting to the allegations, Ms Ghosh asked the police to make public their proof against her. I too have evidence of how I was attacked, she claimed. On Friday, the police named Ms Ghosh among nine suspects for the violence at the university last week and released their circled photographs to the media. Naming mostly members of the Left-controlled students union, the police gave just a few details of the Sundays campus attack. Focusing on clashes that took place on the campus before Sunday over increased hostel fees, the police named Ms Ghosh, Chunchun Kumar, Pankaj Mishra, Waskar Vijay, Sucheta Talukdar, Priya Ranjan, Dolan Sawant, Yogendra Bhardwaj and Vikas Patel. The last two, Yogendra Bhardwaj and Vikas Patel, are said to be members of the ABVP. A national news channel, which carried out a sting operation, has nailed the possible assailants who, by their own admission, had engineered the assault on the Left-leaning students with the support of right-wing groups outside. The channel caught one of the main attackers on camera, who confessed that he mobilised the mobs from within and outside the campus. A first-year student of the French degree program at the JNU, Akshat Awasthi identified himself in the footage of Sundays attack as an ABVP activist. JNUs online records show that one Akshat Awasthi is a resident of Kaveri hostel on campus. Armed with a stick, his face covered with a helmet, Awasthi showed the video and said he could be seen rushing through the hostel corridors in maddening rage and knocking anything and anyone that came in his way. What did you have in your hand? an undercover reporter asked Awasthi. It was a stick, sir. I pulled it out from a flag lying near (the) Periyar (hostel). As the mystery deepened over the identity of the attackers organisation, the self-identifying assailant revealed his affiliation and the motive behind the raid. Awasthi said the attack occurred in retaliation to an assault allegedly by the Left students on Periyar hostel the same day earlier. It was a reaction to their action, he said. Asked how he was able to organise mobs in a matter of hours, Awasthi named office-bearers of the ABVP from outside the campus. Hes an organizational secretary of the ABVP. I called him. Left-wing students and teachers were holding a meeting at Sabarmati. When Sabarmati was attacked, they all ran away and took shelter inside, Awasthi explained. You were telling us that 20 of the ABVP activists belonged to the JNU and 20 others were mobilised from outside, the reporter asked Awasthi. I can tell you that I did all the mobilisation. They dont have that much mind. You know you need to act like a superintendent or a commander. Why its to be done and where exactly. I guided them about everything where to hide, where to go. I told them to do everything systematically. I didnt have any position or a tag. Still they listened to me carefully, the student claimed. The student recounted how mobs smashed vehicles and furniture on a street facing the Sabarmati hostel. All students and teachers standing there ran away when the attack happened. They had no idea that the ABVP would ever retaliate like this. Earlier on Friday, deputy commissioner of police (crime branch) Joy Tirkey, who is probing the case, said a majority of the students wanted to register for the winter semester from January 1 to 5, but Left students groups were not allowing them to do so. He said that members of Left groups attacked the server room at JNU to stop online registrations and enforce a strike over their protest against the increased fees. Hours after this, a large group of masked people armed with iron rods and sledge-hammers entered the campus and attacked students and teachers. Ms Ghosh was among those who suffered a head wound, and was bleeding when she was taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre. None of the attackers were stopped or arrested, even though several policemen were outside the campus. The police admitted that it was facing difficulty in identifying those responsible for the attack on the Sunday and cited the lack of security footage, authenticated video recordings and witnesses. Ms Ghosh, speaking to the media around the same time as the police, denied any role in the violence and accused the police of blatant bias. She said she had gone to the scene to stop the violence. I was not wearing any masks, I have done no wrong... I still have my blood soaked clothes, she said. Polices claims were seized by members of the ruling BJP as vindication of their stand. Mr Javadekar said, Todays police press conference established that for the last five days the chorus that was created deliberately to blame ABVP, BJP and others wasnt true. Its the left organisations that pre-planned the violence, disabled CCTVs and destroyed the server. His colleague Ms Irani, a former HRD minister, tweeted, Left design in JNU unmasked. They led mobs of mayhem, destroyed public property paid for by taxpayers, disallowed new students from being enrolled, used the campus as a political battleground. #LeftBehindJNUViolence becomes public knowledge as Delhi Police releases evidence. The two cases against Ms Ghosh and other Left students for the clashes on Friday and Saturday were filed by the police within a span of four minutes on Sunday evening, while she was being taken to hospital bleeding from the attack. Three professors of JNU have approached the Delhi high court seeking directions to preserve data, CCTV footage and other evidence relating to the January 5 violence at the varsity campus. The petition also sought directions for preservation and retrieval of all material/evidences available with WhatsApp, Google and Apple pertaining to relevant data of WhatsApp groups Unity Against Left and Friends of RSS, including messages, pictures, videos and phone numbers of the members, in connection with the violence at JNU. Eight persons were killed and several others injured in an explosion at an industrial and medical gas manufacturing factory in Gujarats Vadodara district on Saturday morning, the police said. The explosion took place around 11 am at Aims Industries near Gavasad village in Padra tehsil. The plant is located off Padra-Jambusar highway. Most of the victims were workers, a senior police official said. The injured were taken to a hospital in Atladara near Vadodara. At least eight persons were killed. Six persons were injured, Superintendent of Police (Vadodara Rural) Sudhir Desai said. A team of forensic science laboratory officials was on the spot to investigate the cause of the blast which apparently took place when gas was being refilled in cylinders, he said. We will register a First Information Report based on the evidence the FSL team collects and ensure that those responsible for the explosion get maximum punishment, the SP said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Markham, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2020) - MBMI Resources Inc. (NEX: MBR.H) (the "Company" or "MBMI") announces that it has entered into a binding support agreement (the "Support Agreement") with Techlink Venture Limited ("Techlink") for a going private transaction (the "Going Private Transaction") to be completed by way of consolidation of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of one post-consolidation common share for every 360,000 pre-consolidation common shares (the "Consolidation"). As of the date of this press release, the Company has 3,975,755 common shares issued and outstanding. Techlink is the largest shareholder of the Company, holding 360,000 common shares representing 9.05% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. In connection with the proposed Consolidation, each holder of common shares of the Company, other than Techlink (the "Non-Techlink Shareholders") is entitled to receive $0.13 in cash for each common share held immediately prior to the Consolidation being effected (the "Consideration"). Fractional shares will not be issued under the Consolidation and all fractional shares resulting from the Consolidation will be cancelled, which will result in Techlink being the sole shareholder of the Company holding one post-consolidation common share after giving effect to the Consolidation. Pursuant to the terms of the Support Agreement and for the purpose of facilitating the Consolidation, the Company is required to continue from the Province of Ontario pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) to the Province of British Columbia pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Continuance") prior to implementing the Consolidation. In addition, Techlink agreed to provide a term loan to the Company (with a term of at least 24 months) for an amount equal to the amount required by the Company to implement the Consolidation, pay the Consideration for the Consolidation to the Non-Techlink Shareholders and carry on its business as a solvent company. Story continues Once the Consolidation is completed, the Company intends to apply to have its common shares delisted (the "Delisting Application") from the NEX Board of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and intends to apply to cease to be a reporting issuer with the applicable securities regulatory authorities. The proposed Consolidation is not a "Business Combination" or a "Related Party Transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). As a result, the proposed Consolidation is not subject to the minority shareholders' approval and formal valuation requirements under MI 61-101. However, pursuant to the policies of the Exchange, a "majority of minority" shareholder approval is required for the Delisting Application. In addition, the proposed Continuance and Consolidation are required to be approved by special resolutions of the Company's shareholders holding not less than two-thirds majority of the votes casted at the Company's shareholders' meeting. The Company has scheduled a special meeting of shareholders on March 6, 2020 (the "Meeting") to seek its shareholders' approval for, among other things, the Continuance, the Consolidation and the Delisting Application. Shareholders of record as of January 29, 2020 are entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. While a formal valuation is not required for the Going Private Transaction under the applicable securities laws, the Company has retained Evans & Evans, Inc., an independent professional valuator, to prepare a fairness opinion regarding the Consolidation. Further detail with respect to the Consolidation, including a copy of the fairness opinion, will be included in the Management Information Circular to be mailed by the Company to its shareholders in connection with the Meeting, and will be filed under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. It has been four years since the last material development in the Company's efforts to reinstate the cancelled Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (the "FTAA") which, if reinstated, would allow large-scale exploration, development and utilization of minerals on the Company's Palawan properties in the Philippines. Over the past few years, the Company has been relying on small annual private placements and debt financings to maintain operations and pay expenses related to maintaining its status as a listed reporting issuer. Due to the uncertainty in the outcome of the Company's efforts to restate the cancelled FTAA, it has become increasingly difficult for the Company to continue raising funds through private placement and debt financing. In recommending the shareholders to vote in favour of the Continuance, the Consolidation and the Delisting Application, the Board of Directors of the Company believe that the proposed Consolidation and the Delisting Application, if implemented, will significantly reduce the financial burden of continuing the Company's operations as a listed reporting issuer. In addition, the Company's common shares are thinly traded and offer little liquidity opportunity for its shareholders. The Board believes that the proposed Consolidation provides the shareholders with a meaningful liquidity event to realize the value for their shares. The Board cautions shareholders and others considering trading in the Company's common shares that completion of the Consolidation and the Delisting Application remains subject to a number of conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all regulatory and shareholder approvals and satisfaction of other closing conditions customary in a transaction of this nature. If the Company receives the requisite shareholder approval for the Continuance, the Consolidation and the Delisting Application at the Meeting and all other conditions for the completing the Consolidation are met, the Company anticipates completing the Continuance and the Consolidation as soon as practicable following the Meeting. If approved, trading of the Company's shares on the Exchange will be voluntarily halted effective the close of business on the date of the Meeting before the Consolidation being effected in order to minimize settlement and entitlement issues. About MBMI Resources Inc. MBMI Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based mining company which operates 7 nickel mineral properties in the Philippines, which include the Alpha Property, Bethlehem Property and Northern Rio Tuba Property located in Palawan Philippines covering an area of 12,560 hectares (collectively, the "Palawan Properties"), and the Borongan-Maydolong Property, Gen. Mcarthur-Llorente Property, Balangiga-Giporlos Property and Homohon Island Property in Samar, Philippines covering an area of 10,150 hectares (collectively, the "Samar Properties"). The Company's principal properties, the Palawan Properties, have been subject to a dispute (the "FTAA Dispute") which led to a decision by the Office of the President of the Philippines on April 19, 2011 (the "OP Decision") that cancelled a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (the "FTAA") granted in April 2010 for the Palawan Properties. The FTAA, if reinstated, would allow large-scale exploration, development and utilization of minerals on the Palawan Properties. Through a series of transactions from September 2012 to March 2014 involving the sale of the company's ownership in the operating companies (the "Operating Company") that own and control the Palawan Properties and their respective holding companies, the Company's ownership in the Palawan Properties have been sold to DMCI Mining Corporation, a Philippines based mining company (the "Purchaser") for an aggregate purchase price of US$25.2 million (the "Sale Transactions"). The closing of Sale Transactions is subject to a number of closing conditions which include, among other things, the reinstatement of the cancelled FTAA. As a result of the Sale Transactions and the FTAA Dispute, the Company has suspended its exploration and development operations in all of its properties to focus its efforts and resources on the reinstatement of the cancelled FTAA in order to conclude the Sale Transactions. On December 9, 2015, the First Division of the Philippine Supreme Court issued a favourable decision (the "SC Decision") declaring null and void the decision of the Philippine Court of Appeals which affirmed the OP Decision without prejudice to any other appropriate remedy the parties may take against each other. It is important to note, however, that while the SC Decision is the final court decision with respect the FTAA Dispute, it is not a direct ruling with respect to the re-instatement of FTAA that would allow the Company to meet the closing conditions of the Sale Transactions. Therefore, following the SC Decision, the Operating Companies have commenced work on the documentation required to re-engage the Office of the President regarding the reversal of the OP Decision and reinstatement of the FTAA pursuant to the SC Decision. Since there is no assurance that the Office of the President of Philippines will reinstate the FTAA, the Company, the Operating Companies and the Purchaser are concurrently evaluating other recourses including, but not limited to, binding arbitration proceedings in accordance with the dispute resolution mechanism set out in the FTAA as sanctioned by the SC Decision. Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. For more information, please contact: Joseph Chan, CEO Phone: (647) 299-9203 Email: mbmi@mail.com Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51330 The owner of a pit bull that died of heat stroke complications in 2018 after being left on a balcony for hours in the sweltering heat was sentenced Friday to jail and probation, authorities said. Jonathon Correa, 31, of Brick, was sentenced to 270 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of four years of supervised probation, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office announced. He will not be allowed to own any animals while on probation and was ordered to perform 180 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty to animal cruelty on Sept. 30, 2019, prosecutors said. Correa left his 13-month-old pit bull, Princess, unattended outside on his townhouse balcony for an unspecified amount of time on July 1, 2018 as temperatures reached 97 degrees, according to a statement from the prosecutors office. Neighbors called police at around 5:48 p.m. and reported the dog was in trouble at the home on Northrup Drive. When the responding officer arrived, he found neighbors trying to help the dog, which was unconscious and in severe distress." Brick police officers rushed Princess to a veterinary hospital but the dog died two days later. Correa must also pay $1,735 in restitution to the township, according to the prosecutors office statement. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The programme for the fifth annual Blackwater Valley Fit-Up Festival has been unveiled, with five plays set to run at seven intimate venues along the course of the River Blackwater across January and February. A colourful feature of Irish country life during the post-war period, Fit-Up theatre saw professional companies featuring popular actors of the day touring the country, bringing productions of plays to small venues in rural towns and villages. In 2009 the West Cork-based Blood in the Alley Theatre Company, in association with Cork County Council and the Arts Council, resurrected the tradition bringing contemporary Irish plays to the stages of venues across the region. Fast forward to 2016 and the decision was taken to expand the initiative to North Cork with the inaugural Blackwater fit-Up Festival aiming to bring rural communities across the region together though the medium of theatre. The festival's artistic director and curator, Geoff Gould, said Fits-Up's were a hugely popular part of rural life during the middle part of the last century. "Popular actors of the day such Harold Pinter and Andrew McMaster would regularly visit small towns and villages, often performing plays in tents or even on the back of trucks," he said. Mr Gould said that since its inception the Blackwater festival had proved to be an unqualified success and that he anticipated this years events to be just as popular with theatre goers. "The festival is a wonderful opportunity for people across the region to see some great new Irish plays performed by a talented groups of exceptional actors," he said. "This year's programme is the most ambitious and exciting to date with the company planning to tour eight new plays for five new venues across the Blackwater area," promised Mr Gould. The 2020 edition of the festival will kick off on Wednesday, January 22 at the Town Hall in Mitchelstown with Katie Holly's critically acclaimed play 'Crowman' starring Jon Kenny. The intimate one-man show is a window into the soul of crow-hating Dan, who measures his life by the amount of funerals he attends each week. However, one day, hearing a death announcement on the radio, his world is shattered. The play will also run at the Community Hall's in Bartlemy and Ballynoe on Thursday and Friday, The Mall in Youghal on Saturday and the Palace Theatre in Fermoy the following Monday. Week Two will see 'Maura Laverty This was Your Life' - a play about the tumultuous life of the broadcaster, cookery expert and agony aunt dubbed 'the Mammy of Irish cookery' who was a household name for three decades and 'The Experience of Being' - a thought-provoking drama about ageing at the same venues. Week three will the venues host Fishamble's production of 'Before' written by and starring award-winning Cork actor Pat Kinnevane as a father struggling to choose a last-minute gift for his estranged daughter whom he has not seen for almost 20-years. The penultimate week of the 2020 festival will see another double header at the venues in the form of Seamus O'Rourke's 'Indigestion' - a bitter-sweet drama about the life of man who emigrated to London as a teenager and 'The Man from Moogaga' - a hilarious tale of growing up in rural Ireland during the 1980s written and performed by award-winning comic actor Aindrias de Staic. The final week of the festival will feature Sarah Jane Scott's 'Appropriate' - a comedy about Sorcha who has just run away from her own wedding reception and 'Spliced' - a visceral account of one man's obsession with GAA and his struggle to become an individual outside the sporting institution that raised him. For more information about the festival including venues, times and tickets for each of the performances visit www.fit-uptheatrefestival.com. The Queen has summoned senior royals including the Duke of Sussex to a crisis meeting in a bid resolve Prince Harry and Meghans future roles in the family. The head of state will be joined at her private Norfolk estate of Sandringham by her successors Prince Charles and Prince William on Monday for a crunch meeting to decide the next steps after the Sussexes announced they were stepping back from royal duties. It will be the first time the four will have met since the issue engulfed the royal family, and it is thought Charles will be travelling from Birkhall in Scotland, William from his Kensington Palace apartment, and Harry from Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle. Before them will be a range of options, and it is likely the royals will try to come to some agreement before the meeting ends to stop the immediate crisis causing lasting damage to the monarchy. It comes amid reports Duke and Duchess of Sussex flown their pet dogs to Canada, prompting speculation the couple plan to set up their permanent home in North America. World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Show all 24 1 /24 World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down US World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Canada World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Italy World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down US World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Canada World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Argentina World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down US World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Belgiam World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down US World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Brazil World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Chile World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Belgiam World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Canada World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK The two dogs said to have travelled out with Harry and Meghan in November for a six-week break and are not thought to have returned to Britain. Meghan brought her beagle Guy when she moved to the UK to live with Harry, and the couple are also said to have a black Labrador. A black Labrador was seen in the grounds of the property at which the couple stayed in Vancouver Island during their holiday, according to the Daily Mail. The Duchess returned to Canada shortly after the couples bombshell decision to step back from royal duties was made public on Wednesday. Asked about the dogs being flown to the Commonwealth country, a spokeswoman for the couple declined to comment. The development comes as the Queen pushes courtiers to clarify Prince Harry and Meghans future roles as members of the royal family within days. She has set a deadline of 72 hours for a conclusion to be reached, according to The Telegraph. The Queen reportedly wants a resolution before Prince Harrys next public appearance. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent six weeks in North America over Christmas with their eight-month-old son Archie. Recommended Royals who stepped back from their duties before Harry and Meghan The couple have said they wish to split their time between the UK and Canada in the future and plan to become financially independent. After the announcement, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said: We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take some time to work through. A friend of Prince Harry and Meghan claimed on Friday the couple felt they were being driven out of the royal family, prompting a vehement denial from a palace aide. Meghan, a promoter of adopting rescue dogs, chose animal welfare charity Mayhew as one of her first patronages. She has previously said her dogs mean the absolute world to her and has referred to them as my loves and my boys. Additional reporting by agencies A sheep has been stabbed to death and dumped in the middle of a road along with a cross made of hay and straw in a national park where spates of animal killings have sparked fears of a Satanic-style cult. Police are probing the sheep's death after it was discovered with a broken pitchfork left on its body and the peculiar cross. Its owners say they are horrified by the killing in Cadnam, a village in Hampshire's picturesque New Forest National Park. Warning: Graphic content A sheep was found stabbed to death (pictured) with a broken pitchfork left on its body and a peculiar cross. An examination showed the sheep appeared to have been stabbed eight times The sheep found dead on a lane in Cadnam, a village in Hampshire's picturesque New Forest National Park. Its owners say they are horrified by the killing The death is the latest in a series of mysterious and grisly livestock killings in the New Forest, which have been attributed to a Satanic-style cult. Last month a sheep was found 'slit from neck to crotch with entrails removed' in the village of Boldre. In November, a shocking photograph of a slaughtered sheep emerged showed it covered with pentagrams. The animal was one of two sheep knifed to death during a spate of attacks within a few miles of each other. Three cattle were brutally knifed, a heifer was injured and a 12th century church in the neighbouring parish of Bramshaw, where the two sheep where found, was also sprayed with Satanic symbols and the number '666'. Police mounted extra patrols amid fears that members of a Satanic-style cult were active in the area. Today the owner of the ewe dumped in Cadnam, 60-year-old farmer Wendy Maughan, said: 'I'm extremely saddened that we seem to live in a society where someone gets pleasure by attacking and stabbing to death innocent, non-aggressive animals.' One of her neighbours, Andrew Parry-Norton, said: 'The ewe looked as if it had been dragged into the middle of the lane. The old, broken pitchfork (left) with three initials inscribed onto it and the cross made out of hay and straw (right) that was found lying on and next to the sheep 'A broken pitchfork had been placed on the sheep's body, along with a cross made of hay and straw. It was very creepy.' Mr Parry-Norton, 51, who runs a small farm, added: 'It's starting to get worrying in terms of putting animals out in the forest. We are also quite isolated up this lane and it's all rather worrying.' His wife, 53-year-old Sarah, was the first to find the dead ewe in the road. She said: 'I saw the dead ewe and then the wood sticking out of it. It was very disturbing and immediately I knew it was something rather dodgy. 'The worrying thing for us is that whoever the perpetrator is, if they do that with animals, what would they do if you were to disturb or corner them while they were up to no good.' An examination of the animal showed its body was covered in puncture wounds. It appeared to have been stabbed eight times - possibly with a long thin blade. Ms Maughan believes the killings are being carried out by two or more people working together, who may have animal stunning equipment. Two sheep were found within a few miles of each other fatally stabbed and marked with pentagrams in Hampshire's New Forest National Park two months ago The sheep was sprayed with pentagrams and slaughtered in November last year. It is one of many in a series of mysterious and grisly livestock killings in the New Forest She said: 'They have got to have a knowledge of livestock to do this and there is quite some intent and planning involved - it is quite sinister in that respect. To fashion a straw and hay cross takes some effort. 'The sheep had bedded down about half a mile away from where it was found so they had to kill it and then get it to there. 'Sheep are quite strong and you have to know how to hold them so I think it's more than one person and they may have stunning equipment. 'It seems one person would have been holding our ewe and the other person stabbing it with the two pronged pitchfork. It's not a nice way to be killed. 'There wasn't a pool of blood. The stab wounds were quite deep so it's almost as if they hit the heart and know how to kill an animal. 'It's an evil thing to do. We try to give our sheep a good life out on the forest. To kill a sheep for no reason, for the fun of it rather than for food, is so wrong.' A Hampshire police spokesman said: 'It's currently unclear how the sheep died. A pitchfork was found at the scene but it is not clear if it was used to kill the sheep. 'We are looking into all lines of enquiry and will link together similar crimes if the evidence allows us to.' Union Minister on Saturday said the is looking at an aggregate investment of $70 billion in the eastern region of the country through accelerated development of the sector. Launching the 'Purvodaya' programme here, Pradhan said the underdeveloped districts in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, northern Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha have to be taken forward for development of the steel sector. The eastern region with rich mineral resources has a great potential for development of the steel industry, he said, adding that Bihar needs to be included in the list. According to the National Steel Policy announced in 2017, the government is aiming at a total production capacity of 300 million tonne by 2030 and out of which, around 200 million tonne is envisaged from the five eastern states, he said. Addressing an event organised by CII, Pradhan, minister of petroleum, natural gas and steel, said the region has rich deposits of coal, iron ore and bauxite. "As much as 90 million tonne of steel is produced in the east, out of the total production volume of 140 million tonne in the country," he said. The steel ministry's additional secretary Rasika Chaube said the eastern region has a "natural advantage and potential" to contribute to India's target of achieving an economy of $5 trillion within 2024-25, adding that the sector has the capability to act as a catalyst. She said the 'Purvodaya' programme would also address the logistics and infrastructure bottlenecks in the eastern region. It also seeks setting up of greenfield plants and expansion of brownfield ones and constructing of clusters near the demand centres, Chaube added. "Task forces have also been set up for setting up pilot projects under the aegis of the and inter-ministerial consultations will be held for the proposed clusters," she said. Coal India chairman and managing director Anil Jha said the miner has been focusing on minimising the imports of the fuel. "For this, we are looking to produce 900 million tonnes of coal by 2023-24 from the current level of 607 million tonnes," Jha said. SAIL chairman A K Chaudhary said the company has a strong presence in the east with five steel plants having production volume of 20 million tonnes while Indian Oil Corporation chairman Sanjiv Singh said the expansion of the gas and oil pipelines will boost demand for steel consumption. "Oil and gas has a strong linkage with the steel sector," he said. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has asked the United States to send a delegation to Iraq to set up a mechanism for troop withdrawal from the country. Stock image Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has asked the United States to send a delegation to Iraq to set up a mechanism for troop withdrawal from the country. The request followed a vote by the Baghdad parliament to expel thousands of US troops, a direct consequence of the drone attack that killed senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and nine companions in Baghdad a week ago. Mr Mahdi made the demand to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call, his office said. Major General Soleimani's killing set off a string of events in the region. On Tuesday, Iran retaliated for the death of its revered Quds Force commander by launching more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two US military bases in Iraq. US President Donald Trump said the strike caused no American or Iraqi deaths and new sanctions on Iran will be imposed. The Iraqi prime minister has repeatedly insisted that US troop withdrawal was the only path toward de-escalation. In the phone call, Mr Mahdi asked Mr Pompeo "to send representatives to Iraq to put in place a mechanism for implementing the parliament's decision for the safe withdrawal of forces from Iraq". A 43-year-old San Francisco man is suspected of trying to rape a woman after she refused to have sex with him in exchange for a ride from San Francisco to San Carlos on New Year's Day in 2018, authorities said Friday. Richard Fabian Silverio spotted the woman waiting for a rideshare car in the early morning hours of Jan. 1 and offered to drive her to San Carlos, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's office. The woman got in the car, but before arriving at her destination, Silverio allegedly drove to the rear of a business in the 300 block of El Camino Real in San Carlos. Silverio then allegedly brandished a knife at the victim and told her he wanted sex as his payment for the ride, authorities said. The woman resisted and struggled inside the car, breaking free and running away. Richard caught her and allegedly tried to rape her, the sheriff's office said. She managed to break free a second time and ran to a gas station, where a cashier called 9-1-1. After gathering evidence and talking to witnesses, Silverio was arrested Thursday afternoon on suspicion of felonies that include attempted rape, assault to commit rape, kidnapping and false imprisonment. Silverio was a contracted driver with a rideshare company, but he was not on-duty during the alleged assault, authorities said. A judge on Thursday suspended the criminal proceedings against a San Francisco man charged with murder for the fatal stabbing of a 49-year-old man on a BART train at the transit agency's South Hayward station in November. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Stuart Hing issued his ruling after defense lawyer Mark McGoldrick expressed doubt about the mental competency of Jermaine Brim, 40, who is charged in connection with the death of 49-year-old Oliver Williams of Oakland on Nov. 19. Brim is scheduled to return to court on Monday for a mental competency hearing before another judge, Superior Court Judge Michael Gaffey. Another major development in Brim's case on Thursday is that the Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed an amended complaint in which it added the special circumstance of committing a murder during an attempted robbery to the charges he already faced. McGoldrick objected to the amended complaint but Judge Hing allowed it to be filed. If the court appoints psychiatrists to examine Brim and they agree he is incompetent to stand trial he would be placed in a state mental institution to get treatment aimed at restoring his competence. If Brim is restored to competence he could still stand trial at a later date. If he's convicted of murder with special circumstances he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said on Friday evening that deputies are prepared to remove two homeless mothers who have been occupying a vacant West Oakland home for nearly two months if they refuse to leave voluntarily. Earlier on Friday, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Patrick McKinney ruled that mothers Dominique Walker, 34, and Sameerah Karim, 41, who are part of a group called Moms 4 Housing, have no valid claim of possession to the house at 2928 Magnolia St. that they moved into on Nov. 18. But in a Twitter message after the ruling Moms 4 Housing wrote, "The moms, and the community behind us, will not leave the property." Walker and Karim, along with four other women who joined them, said they want to call attention to Oakland's homelessness crisis and to vacant, investor-owned homes in the city. Real estate investment firm Wedgewood Properties bought the house, which had been vacant for two years, for $501,078, at a foreclosure hearing on July 31. Westwood served an eviction notice on the women in November but attorneys for Walker, Karim and the four other women filed legal claims asserting their right to live there and McKinney recently held two hearings on the matter that were packed by the mothers' supporters. A large group of supporters have also gathered outside the Mangolia Street house at times in an effort to protect them. McKinney's ruling means the mothers only have five business days before they will be evicted from the house. Eviction orders in Alameda County are enforced by the sheriff's office. Elizabeth Echols of Berkeley has been selected from among four finalists to fill the remaining term of East Bay Regional Park District Ward 1 incumbent Whitney Dotson. Dotson died this earlier this week, according to friends, who posted an announcement of his passing from Robert Doyle, park district general manager. Dotson, a resident of Parchester Village in Richmond who long advocated for environmental protection and community access to open space, served 11 years on the district board before retiring in December. Echols has a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Yale and a juris doctor from Stanford Law School. Her career in public service includes more than 20 years in public policy roles, according to the district. Most recently, she was appointed by former Gov. Jerry Brown to serve as the Director of the independent Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission. Recent policy work by Echols has focused on environmental protection, climate change, and wildfire prevention and mitigation. She was one of 12 applicants for the vacant Ward 1 seat, which includes the communities of Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Kensington, part of Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo. Regional Parks in Ward 1 include Brooks Island, Kennedy Grove, McLaughlin Eastshore, Miller/Knox, Point Isabel, Point Pinole, Sobrante Ridge, Tilden, and Wildcat Canyon. Alameda County Fire Department crews rescued a horse that fell into a ravine in the Palomares Canyon area of Castro Valley on Friday morning. Responding personnel were called shortly after 10 a.m. to the scene, where the horse was wedged into a ravine about 15 feet below. It took about an hour to free and extricate the horse, which was then turned over to its owner and a veterinarian, fire officials said. An 80-year-old San Jose man who works as a customer service representative at Avis Rental Car has been arrested for misdemeanor sexual battery in connection with an incident in September, police said Friday. The victim contacted her local police department to report being touched inappropriately by the suspect while renting a vehicle on Sept. 3 at was renting a vehicle at the Avis location at 1659 Airport Blvd. The report was forwarded to San Jose police, who investigated and arrested Ranjit Singh Birk, a 20-year employee at Avis, on Thursday. Detectives say there is a likelihood of additional victims and ask anyone with information to contact Detective Jennifer Valosek (408) 277-4102. Saturday will be partly cloudy and breezy in the morning before becoming sunny. Highs will be in the mid 50s. Northwest winds will be 10 to 20 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Saturday night will be mostly clear. Lows will be in the 40s. North winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Sunday will be partly cloudy before becoming mostly cloudy. There will be a 40 percent chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs will be in mid 50s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Ever since the creation of mankind, human beings have always been in search of energy. Several conflicts and wars happened over energy resources for many centuries. Depletion of energy resources is the most important challenge that the major powers are struggling for, Modern Diplomacy writes in the article TANAP Is Inaugurated: What Southern Gas Corridor Promises To The Europe And Stakeholders? Energy policy is a big issue for almost any country in the world which is dependent on external resources. Energy consumption in the EU is more than any other region in the world while being poor in terms of energy sources. Implementation of renewable alternative energy projects requires proper and expensive infrastructure, which not all of the states are capable of it in an economic context. Therefore, alternatives and new routes in the traditional energy sources are vital priorities for the EU. The Caspian region offers more stable and secured energy flow considering the fact that the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project is designed for this purpose between the region and the EU. Therefore, the EU is providing substantial support for the reconstruction and development of the infrastructure of gas pipelines, which passes from transit countries such as Georgia and Turkey and brings energy resources to Europe. There are several important reasons that the EU took into consideration while implementing SGC. Firstly, the 2006 and 2009 gas dispute showed that Ukraine is not a reliable transit country anymore. Instead, Turkey can be the more optimal alternative route as it has a desire to become a regional power. Secondly, Azerbaijan offers more stable and secured energy supply by using its foreign energy relations experience from 1994. Also, Azerbaijan is more interested in to cooperate with the West in energy relations rather than sticking into one direction and using intermediary actors. Because having reliable and effective transportation networks for easy access to the world market is essential for economic development and security of Azerbaijan due to its geographical location as a landlocked state. Thirdly and most important factor is security. In the modern era, the prior direction of the states foreign policy is the solution of the security problem. Eastern part of the EU, especially CEE countries, are highly dependent on Russian gas, which makes them go under both political and economic pressures from time to time. Therefore, the principal direction of the EU is to ensure energy security as well as the national security of the Member States by diversifying their economic trade partners. Energy security can be described either additional category of the national security or a category which is based on the synthesis of economic and political security. Thus, as the energy security has both economic and political implications, the EU makes great efforts to protect its borders from any threat by addressing to the issue in two ways; international aspect which is targeted to provide reliable, cost-effective and low-risk energy imports to the domestic warehouses, and local aspect which is intended to establish uninterrupted supply of energy with affordable price for the population and industrial workers (consumers). Azerbaijan-EU energy relations In 2011 Azerbaijan and the EU signed a joint declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor. SGC was more an optimal and promising version of the Nabucco pipeline project. The direction of the project was also crucial for Europe because the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) in the SGC will deliver Azerbaijani gas to the South of Europe. Thus, this pipeline both will meet the gas needs of these regions and diminish Europes energy dependence on Russia slightly. Unlike Nabucco, the SGC is a more promising and strategic start to bring gas resources from the Caspian Sea, Middle East, and Central Asia. The primary purpose of this project is to diversify energy routes by using completely new and alternative directions. The geopolitical significance of the TAP project is quite high in terms of diversifying energy sources. Although the main direction of the TAP project is Italy and Greece at initial stage, the pipeline can supply Azerbaijani gas to several European countries, such as Austria, Central Europe region, Bulgaria, Balkan countries, Southern Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as United Kingdom, Germany, France and Switzerland. The project was announced on November 17 2011 at the Third Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum held in Istanbul and following this a memorandum of understanding was signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey on December 26 2011. The opening ceremony of TANAP was held on November 30, 2019, in Ipsala of Turkeys Edirne province. Ipsala is located near the Turkey-Greece border, and TANAP is connected to the TAP, which will bring Azerbaijani gas to European region directly. TANAP is the largest and central segment of SGC and has strategic importance for both Azerbaijan and Turkey. First and foremost, Azerbaijan will be able to transfer its natural resources directly into the European market for the first time in history. Second, by joining this project, Turkey reaffirms its position in the regional security by becoming a reliable regional energy hub. Third, European states support the energy supply from the Caspian Sea to the European market and by providing economic and political support. Thus, SGC is a multinational natural gas pipeline supported by the European Commission and financed by the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Despite the US has not invested and will not get any commercial benefit from the project, Washington supports TANAP due to its promotion of diversification of energy supplies. On the other hand, procedures between the EU and Azerbaijan show that Azerbaijan is interested in independent cooperation with the EU. Although the Nabucco project failed, with the choice of TAP and TANAP projects, Azerbaijan proved its pragmatic partnership and its aim to increase revenues. At the same time, from its independence, the absence of internal conflicts in Azerbaijan, continuous promotion of peace, active involvement in international missions resulted in a robust, durable and stable economy and political system. In fact,as long as Azerbaijan is interested in delivering energy to the West by supporting transit projects, the EU does not face any difficulties in the region. In order to describe the big picture, as presented by the EU Commission prior to the global financial crisis and alternative energy routes, it is essential to note that volume and cost are not the only elements at stake in the SGC.It has crucial geopolitical consequences. Building East-West transportation corridor passing through South Caucasus to connect Europe to Asia offers to establish new infrastructures, railways, highways and pipelines, new job opportunities, security as well as different transport facilities. This corridor sits right at the intersection of both politics and economics. In terms of economics, it creates new chances for the regional countries to connect to global markets and to stimulate economic development by fostering integration with the global economy. On the other hand, politically, it enhances the strength of sovereignty of both sides by opening new supply routes. Because the creation of transit corridors requires diversified access to the international arena considering the fact that being dependent on a single route may emerge potential blockade by the exporter. Azerbaijan is one of the main actors of this corridor and can supply gas to the European market by improving European energy security and without creating additional geopolitical tension. Azerbaijan has experienced energy trade with Europe by implementing the BTC pipeline. Alternative supplies remain its significance by building affordable and relatively more feasible projects with necessary investments. Azerbaijan, in this picture, emerges as the most reliable supplier and trade partner with a clear understanding of supply, demand and transit routes. Therefore, the initiative of SGC, TANAP and TAP together with the EU aims to hinder Russias dominance in the European gas market. To put it briefly; SGC offers more benefits rather than its predecessors due to several reasons: Energy resources in the Caspian Basin are important for the EU, and the geographical location of Azerbaijan makes it ideal and more optimal point for the transportation of these resources; -SGC is not long-distance route as Nabucco, therefore, it is affordable in terms of costs; -SGC will create competitive prices in the energy market, especially for Southern Europe at the first stage, and later for CEE countries; -SGC will strengthen Turkeys position as a transit country, and enhance the EU-Azerbaijan relations. In the future, it is planned to give life to the Trans-Caspian energy pipeline by connecting to the SGC. In this context, the legal status of the Caspian Sea defines the strategies of the five Caspian littoral states. Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea gave a ground that the other countries cannot intervene in the projects unless they are official partners. It means that by signing this convention, the five Caspian littoral states can build their energy strategies and policies independently. Thus, if the Trans-Caspian project is to be implemented in the future, it will be able to transport gas to Europe from other regions. The central part of this route will be the Southern Gas Corridor. Thus, Azerbaijan will also play a role in the region as a bridge to connect Europe with Asia, becoming a transit country. This means more investment, stronger infrastructure and well-built East-West relations. What TANAP means for Turkey Turkey has limited natural resources which makes it dependent on external energy sources. As energy demand and dependency rate on external sources is increasing, energy issues have increased their weight by becoming the determinant of the dynamic of Turkish foreign policy gradually. The main objective of Turkeys energy policy is to provide energy promptly to ensure economic growth as well as sufficient, reliable, competitive prices. Turkey imports its 98% energy demand from its energy-rich neighbours such as Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan thanks to its geographical location. On the other hand, Turkey is the vast market for these exporter countries. Therefore, the TANAP project has specific importance and means more than an energy project for Turkey. TANAP will not only diversify energy routes but also will contribute to the security of supply. Turkey considers this pipeline as an important project with its economic dimension because it will lead to the development of economic and political relations between Turkey and regional states. TANAP will improve the effectiveness of Turkey in the region as well as its position in the global energy projects. Another critical point is that Turkey aims to become an energy centre as Austrian Baumgarten if manages to involve as much as energy directions. This is important for the EU as well because by turning into an energy hub, Turkey can ensure Europes energy security and provide securitization of energy supply and formation of a market structure in which gas competes gas. Since TANAP offers regional prosperity and security, Turkey takes a critical role in every point of the value chain extending from producer to final consumer. Since the dissolution of USSR, the Azerbaijan-Turkey axis has brought positive trends both in the political and economic fields. For instance, despite several issues and obstacles at the end of XX century, Azerbaijan and Turkey managed to implement the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (oil pipeline), Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (gas pipeline), and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (railway) projects and strengthen their geopolitical benefits in the world arena. Following this, TANAP project Turkey will gain a strategic momentum against Russia in the context of ensuring energy flow, especially to Europe in the near future. Since the restoration of state independence in 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan has defined the integration and expansion of cooperation with the EU as one of the strategic directions of foreign policy. The economic integration interests of Azerbaijan towards Europe are shaped by geopolitical and geoeconomic position and socio-economic development of the country.The SGC is particularly vital in terms of EUs energy security. The interest of the European countries in this project results in the construction of new infrastructure for the secure supply of energy resources from the Caspian region to Europe.Additionally, TAP and TANAP will have a positive impact on Europes as well as Turkeys energy economy, while diversifying energy routes because these projects will create competitive prices in energy markets. Also, SGC is considered to be profitable for both the participating countries and companies directly involved in its implementation. It has been a few days since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the shocking revelation about their decision to step back as senior members of the Royal Family, leaving everyone confused and full of questions. Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's announcement, a lot of familiar names have already been connected to their controversial decision. One of the big names that got involved in the now-infamous "Megxit" is Oprah Winfrey. The 65-year-old TV mogul made headlines after rumors went viral that she influenced the royal couple to make such move. Page Six reported that a source told them that Oprah is one of the key people who encouraged the 35-year-old Harry and 38-year-old Meghan to break free. The report also noted that the TV personality encouraged the royal couple to move to America to "build their own brand." Just a few hours the news went viral, Oprah was quick to debunk the rumors and said she has nothing to do with influencing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in coming up with a decision to abandon their royal duties. In a report by People, Oprah said: "Meghan and Harry do not need my help figuring out what's best for them. I care about them both and support whatever decisions they make for their family." Aside from Oprah, a Page Six report also claimed that some of Meghan and Harry's A-list friends helped them shape the idea of stepping out from the Royal Family. Such friends include George and Amal Clooney and Michelle and Barack Obama. As of writing, both camps have yet to comment on the said issue. The report also said that Oprah's close friend Gayle King will hold the first interview of the royal couple after their controversial exit. On Wednesday, the whole world was taken by surprise when the Sussex's took to their official Instagram account and announced that they will be stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family. They also highlighted their decision to balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen," a part of the Sussex's statement wrote. "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages," they added. Meghan and Harry explained that geographical balance will help them raise their now seven-month-old son, Archie, with a space they need and still has an appreciation for the royal tradition he was born with. The royal couple also announced that they will launch their own charitable institution and will disclose the full details soon. Who Do You Trust With Your Data? How Do You Protect Your Data? (TNS) Mobile payment apps are becoming an everyday convenience for splitting a restaurant bill or paying a friend for a movie ticket.But users arent always aware where the banking information they give a financial app like Venmo is going.The spread of data online -- largely without user knowledge -- is a hot-button topic as more people use their phones to bank, shop and store valuable information such as insurance or passport details.In the case of Venmo, banking log-in credentials are sent to an aggregator called Plaid. Plaid is the connector between banks and the app, taking a users information and using it to unlock the bank account.Plaid connects more than a quarter of U.S. bank accounts to financial services apps, according toI would absolutely share not any kind of username, password or credential with any kind of third-party service, Baldwin Wallace assistant professor Brian Krupp said. I think you have to take a step back and ask it if the service is worth me sharing information with the potential of it being compromised.The company collects banking user names and passwords, but also can scrape information like account balances, user device information, loan balances and more. What they collect depends on what app youre using, according to its website.The biggest issue (with third-party apps in general) is that users dont have fine-grained control over their privacy, Krupp, who leads a mobile, privacy and security research group, said. So you have no way of telling whether or not that app is sending that information to advertisers, servers (or) whether its selling it off.Venmo or parent company, Paypal, did not respond to request for comment for this story.The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2019 conducted a survey on mobile payments, which found 56 percent of adults had made a mobile purchase in the last year. Mobile transactions are defined as transactions conducted via smartphone apps.But, the same survey showed that showed that consumers trusted debit and credit card security more than they did mobile payments.Pittsburgh-based PNC started to alert its consumers recently about potential problems with financial apps and third-party data aggregators.The fact that the sensitive information outlined above is maintained by an outside party is concerning, a post on PNCs website reads. Of particular concern to us is the storage of account numbers by a third party, because fraudsters, if armed with this information, would have the access they need to move money from our customer accounts.PNC partners with Zelle, one of Venmo's biggest competitors. Zelle, which also maintains a stand-alone app, partners with hundreds of banks to allow customers to send money digitally.Zelle is often built into the banks online or mobile services. For example, what was once Chase QuickPay is now Chase QuickPay with Zelle.PNC customers complained in December that recent security upgrades stopped them from connecting their accounts to financial apps, including Venmo, according to theThe issue was that the Plaid data aggregator didnt meet PNCs new security requirements. Though there seemed to be manual workarounds, some claimed that PNC worked to divert customers away from Venmo to Zelle, which the bank denied.Other banks have issued warnings about providing bank information to outside apps. Chases CEO addressed concerns in a 2015 shareholders letter, but took a different approach to boosting security.The bank signed an agreement with Plaid and other financial tech services like Intuit, which powers budgeting app Mint and tax software TurboTax. Instead of copying user information this agreement would allow Chase to share information with the services through a secure portal.Theres not an answer that would say because your bank is part of your partnership that youre good to go, Krupp said. From my experience in industry in those type of integrations, you can put more trust in that because now your bank is taking accountability.Krupp said direct partnerships like the one between Zelle and its member banks work differently; the app doesnt take a users credentials and log in. Instead, the app asks the bank to confirm the users identity. Krupp compares it to a handshake.PNC on its website states it supports secure financial app use, and that its working on better ways to connect with financial apps. The bank issued a list of recommendations when choosing financial apps.PNC advises making sure whatever app youre using encrypts its data. Encrypted data is coded and can only be decoded by the correct encryption key.Both Venmo and Plaid use encryption to protect consumer data, according to the companies respective websites.Krupp, who favors Apple Pay, advises checking on how services make their money before trusting them with information. Facebook and Google arent paid services for most users, but information is being used for targeted advertising.If Im not paying for it, typically its going to be in some form of data that I shared. For now, however, Mr. Abdul Mahdi seems to be moving ahead with plans to implement Parliaments will. On Friday, he said that he had asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to send a delegation from the United States to discuss steps for withdrawal. Mr. Pompeo fired back that the United States would do no such thing, despite the militarys frequent refrain that it is a guest of the Iraqi government and will comply with its hosts demands. We are happy to continue the conversation with the Iraqis about what the right structure is, he said at a news conference on Friday. But the American mission in Iraq is to train Iraqi forces to fight the Islamic State, he said, and were going to continue that mission. After the Iraqi Parliament vote on Sunday, President Trump threatened to impose very big sanctions on Iraq if it ousted American forces sanctions like theyve never seen before. He also said that Iraq would have to reimburse the United States for billions of dollars it had invested in a major air base there. But for many Iraqis, booting out the Americans was long overdue. Although many remain grateful that the United States ousted the longtime dictator Saddam Hussein, and fought alongside Iraqi forces to drive out the Islamic State, they are still pained by American military mistakes and decisions, including massive civilian casualties during the war that followed the American invasion and the humiliating abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. The recent American airstrikes killed Iranian proxy fighters who were also members of the Iraqi security forces and considered heroes by many Iraqis for their role in helping fight the Islamic State. The final straw appears to have been the American drone strike last week that killed the Iranian military leader Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani and the deputy chief of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces, the armed groups that have fought against the Islamic State. The White House is considering dramatically expanding its much-litigated travel ban to additional countries amid a renewed election-year focus on immigration by President Donald Trump, according to six people familiar with the deliberations. A document outlining the plans timed to coincide with the third anniversary of Trump's January 2017 executive order has been circulating the White House. But the countries that would be affected if it moves forward are blacked out, according to two of the people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the measure has yet to be finalized. It's unclear exactly how many countries would be included in the expansion if it proceeds, but two of the people said that seven countries a majority of them Muslim would be added to the list. The most recent iteration of the ban includes restrictions on five majority-Muslim nations: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as well as Venezuela and North Korea. A different person said the expansion could include several countries that were covered in the first iteration of Trump's ban, but later removed amid rounds of contentious litigation. Iraq, Sudan and Chad, for instance, had originally been affected by the order, which the Supreme Court upheld in a 5-4 vote after the administration released a watered-down version intended to withstand legal scrutiny. Trump, who had floated a banning all Muslims from entering the country during his 2016 campaign, criticized his Justice Department for the changes, tweeting that DOJ should have stayed with the original Travel Ban, not the watered down, politically correct version they submitted to S.C. The countries on the proposed expansion list include allies that fall short on certain security measures. The additional restrictions were proposed by Department of Homeland Security officials following a review of security protocols and identity management for about 200 countries, according to the person. White House House spokesman Hogan Gidley declined to confirm the plan, but praised the travel ban for making the country safer. The Travel Ban has been very successful in protecting our Country and raising the security baseline around the world," he said in a statement. While there are no new announcements at this time, common-sense and national security both dictate that if a country wants to fully participate in US immigration programs, they should also comply with all security and counter-terrorism measures -- because we do not want to import terrorism or any other national security threat into the United States." Several of the people said they expected the announcement to be timed to coincide with the third anniversary of Trump's first, explosive travel ban, which was announced without warning on January 27, 2017 days after Trump took office. That order sparked an uproar, with massive protests across the nation and chaos at airports where passengers were detained. The current ban suspends immigrant and non-immigrant visas to applicants from the affected countries, but it allows exceptions, including for students and those who have established significant contacts in the U.S. Here's the scoop on candidate forums, early voting One-stop voting runs Feb. 13-29 at four locations. With early voting just less than five weeks out, voters have limited time to sort out their choices in primary elections, especially in the 11th Congressional District, which has 12 Republican and five Democratic candidates. The Democratic and Republican parties have announced candidate forums in the coming weeks. Republican Party Republican candidates on the March 3 Republican primary ballot will have an opportunity to introduce themselves to Republican voters during four meet-the-candidates breakfasts in January and February. The events are Saturday, Jan. 18; Wednesday, Jan. 22, Saturday, Feb. 15 and Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Dixie Diner in Laurel Park. The Republican Party encouraged candidates for statewide office and those who will be on the primary ballot in Henderson and Transylvania counties to appear. Democratic Party The Democratic Party is hosting a candidate forum 1-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at the city Operations Center, 305 Williams St., for candidates for state House Districts 113 and 117, Senate District 48, and the 11th Congressional District 11. Schedule: 1 p.m. Introduction 1:05 District 113 Speaker(1): Sam Edney. 1:15 District 117 Speakers(2): Danae Aicher, Josh Remillard. 1:35 Q & A for state House. 1:45 District 48 Speakers(3): Brian Caskey, Cristal Figueroa, Najah Underwood. 2:15 Q & A for state Senate. 2:25 District 11 Speakers(5): Gina Collias, Moe Davis, Michael OShea, Phillip Price, Steve Woodsmall. 3:15 Q & A for congressional seat. 3:30 Closing. Early voting Early voting starts Thursday, Feb. 13, and runs through Saturday, Feb. 29. Hours are 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 28 and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29. One stop-voting locations are the Board of Elections office, 75 East Central St.; Etowa Library, 101 Brickyard Road, Etowah; Flat Rock Village Hall, 110 Village Center Drive, Flat Rock; and Fletcher Town Hall, 300 Old Cane Creek Road, Fletcher. Texas woman sues USPS for banning custom-made Jesus stamp Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A county official in Texas is challenging a U.S. Postal Services regulation banning religious content on personalized custom stamps. Susan Fletcher, a devout Christian who serves as the Collin County Precinct 1 commissioner, filed a complaint last month with the U.S. District Court of East Texas in hopes it will protect her constitutional rights to free speech and religious liberty granted under the First Amendment. The lawsuit says Fletcher wanted to create personalized postage stamps to reflect her faith during the Christmas season. USPS allows customers to use third-party companies to create stamps designed by citizens. One stamp design Flethcer created for Christmas features a Nativity scene under text saying: Emmanuel God with us. Fletcher said she tried to create a stamp that reflected her religious beliefs through PhotoStamps.com, a subsidiary of Stamps.com. However, the lawsuit states that Fletchers stamps were rejected by Stamps.com and USPS because of a regulation that prohibits images or text that contain a depiction of religious content. USPS reserves the right to determine whether a stamp design meets the criteria. The lawsuit argues that the policy allows secular depictions on the same topics. Ms. Fletcher has a sincerely held religious belief that she is compelled by the Lord to use her God-given artistic abilities to advance a religious message in all available communications media, including custom stamps for various holiday and celebratory occasions, the lawsuit argues. Ms. Fletcher considers these stamps to be an essential aspect of her religious practices and Christmastime message for friends and family. Fletcher is represented by Winston & Strawn, LLP, a law firm that participates in a national network affiliated with the First Liberty Institute, a leading nonprofit legal group devoted to defending First Amendment rights. USPS offers its own version of a religious stamp, but, ironically, it will not allow religious Americans to personalize stamps containing an expression of their own religious beliefs for their own use, Jeremy Dys, special counsel for litigation and communications at First Liberty Institute, said in a statement. This regulation by the USPS not only chills speech, it silences it. The lawsuit contends that the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly held that this kind of categorical exclusion of religious perspectives on permitted topics constitutes impermissible viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendments free speech guarantee. The lawsuit further states that the stamp regulation creates a substantial burden on Fletchers rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The lawsuit asks the federal court to enjoin enforcement of the illegal aspects of the regulation and order the USPS to allow PhotoStamps.com to print Fletchers holiday stamps. No comment will be provided by USPS, as the agency has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation. In addition to the Nativity scene design, the court document explains that Fletcher also created customized stamp designs for other federal and Texas holidays. Fletchers Texas Independence Day stamp reads: God bless Texas. In addition to an Easter stamp, Fletcher created a mission trip stamp that cites Matthew 28:18-20. The lawsuit notes that Fletcher has not yet submitted her stamp designs because of PhotoStamps admonition regarding potential liability for publicly challenging the customized postage criteria. The lawsuit also contends that while PhotoStamps policies prevent religious content, the company has advertised custom postage with religious imagery representing the religious holidays Hanukkah and Kwanza. PhotoStamps has engaged in conduct that is inconsistent with its stated policies and the policies of USPS, the lawsuit reads. By allowing PhotoStamps to promote and sell customized postage stamps that display certain religious images but not others, USPS has engaged in unlawful viewpoint discrimination and burdened Ms. Fletchers religious practices. Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): The protests against the three capital proposal for the Andhra Pradesh entered the 25th day here on Saturday. Protests are happening all across Andhra Pradesh including at Mandadam, Tulluru, Velagapudi village. Police forces have been deployed in these areas. Ahead of the Dalit youth foot march from Mandadam village to Gunadala, section 144 was imposed as police say no permission was given to hold rallies. In Velagapudi, police prevented the protestors from entering their tent and in retaliation, people raised slogans against the government and state police. The GN Rao Committee, which was set up by the Andhra Pradesh government to look into the suggestion of three capitals has made a favourable recommendation saying it will help in decentralised development and put the available resources to the best use. It proposed Visakhapatnam as the Executive capital and Kurnool the judicial capital while retaining Amaravati as the legislative capital. (ANI) Many people in the United States are able to get health insurance through their employers. Some may qualify for certain government-funded health care plans. Individuals can also purchase insurance plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Learn more about possible options here. Seton Medical Center, the 127-year-old Daly City hospital, was on the verge of potential closure after a deal to buy the hospital from its bankrupt owner fell apart last month. Now its in talks to be sold to another buyer, according to the president of the hospitals medical staff. Seton and Seton Coastside, a smaller affiliated facility in Moss Beach, may soon be acquired by Apollo Medical Holdings and AHMC Healthcare, a Southern California health management company, said Dr. Robert Perez, who oversees the hospitals physicians and is knowledgeable about the discussions. Verity Health System, Setons current owner, declined to say whether it is talking to prospective buyers, saying only that it is actively working on many options. Apollo did not immediately return a request for comment. A deal could take several weeks to close and would have to be approved by the judge overseeing bankruptcy proceedings for Verity, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018. Seton, which serves many low-income and elderly patients and is Daly Citys largest employer, with 1,200 employees and 350 doctors and nurse practitioners was at risk of closing within two months if another potential buyer had not come forward, Perez said. Seton has endured a rocky few years that saw many physicians, nurses and other staff leave because of financial instability. Prolonged uncertainty about whether the 300-bed hospital would be able to stay open worried local officials who say their community would suffer greatly in its absence. The next closest acute care hospitals are San Francisco General Hospital, Kaiser in South San Francisco and Mills Peninsula, all of which would add critical driving time for patients in an emergency. My main goal is to make sure were able to provide an acute care hospital for not only Daly City, but for the northern Peninsula, said San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, whose district includes Seton Medical Center and who was born at the hospital. Its closure would create a doughnut hole in medical care. Seton hospital serves a lot of people, poor people and indigent people. Without having that hospital there, the adverse effects to health outcomes will be disastrous. Fearing that Seton may be sold and its property used to develop real estate, the City Council passed a resolution to keep Seton and its surrounding land zoned for hospital use. Seton is one of six California hospitals that for decades were run by the Catholic nonprofit Daughters of Charity. In 2015, the financially distressed nonprofit, which was losing millions of dollars each year in part due to treating uninsured patients who could not pay for medical care, transferred the hospitals to a subsidiary of New York hedge fund Blue Mountain Capital, which became known as Verity Health System. Verity filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018, casting uncertainty over the six hospitals future. In 2019, Strategic Global Management, an affiliate of health management company KPC Group, made a $610 million bid to buy four of the six hospitals the other two, OConnor Hospital in San Jose and St. Louise Regional in Gilroy, were bought by Santa Clara County but the deal fell apart in late December. Verity and KPC disagree about the reasons and are in litigation. Strategic Global Management said Wednesday it remains interested in resolving its differences with Verity and closing the purchase transaction. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Integrity Healthcare, the former management company for the hospitals, is affiliated with billionaire Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, and is a creditor in the Verity bankruptcy. Verity announced Monday it will close St. Vincent hospital in Los Angeles, and committed $80 million to continue running the remaining three hospitals the two Seton facilities and St. Francis in Los Angeles Lynwood neighborhood. U.S. hospitals have been closing at a rate of about 30 per year, according to a 2018 analysis from the American Hospital Association, for a variety of reasons. In some cases, its because treating many uninsured or poor patients on public health plans is unprofitable: Public health plans pay hospitals lower rates than commercial health plans. In 2016, Seton Medical Center and Seton Coastside lost a combined $7 million, according to the hospitals tax filings. In 2015, the facilities lost a combined $65 million. Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo shut down in 2015 after losing $18 million a year, despite efforts to remain open. Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley, owned by Sutter Health, is scheduled to close in 2030. Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has compared the slaughter of 176 people in a downed passenger plane in Iran to a US drone strike that killed terrorist general Qassem Soleimani. Addressing a 'no war with Iran' protest in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, Mr Corbyn said the disaster, which killed three Britons and 57 Canadians, was 'part of a whole pattern of appalling acts across the region'. He added: 'There's no excuse for shooting down an airliner, there's no excuse for a targeted assassination by one state against another.' Addressing a 'no war with Iran' protest in Trafalgar Square on Saturday (pictured), Mr Corbyn said the disaster, which killed 176 people including three Britons and 57 Canadians, was 'part of a whole pattern of appalling acts across the region' Iran has admitted its military accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane amid heightened tensions with the United States over the killing of senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on January 3. Speaking to several hundred demonstrators, Mr Corbyn said: 'Today let's recognise the horror that the families of those that died in the airliner travelling from Tehran to the Ukraine are suffering from now. 'Let's be clear there can be no excuses here. Let's also recognise that that event and the events of the last few days and weeks have consequences. Speaking to several hundred demonstrators, Mr Corbyn said: 'When big powers act illegally, when people step outside the norms of international law there are consequences' Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 plane wreckage is seen in a picture from investigation team released today Iran has admitted its military accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane amid heightened tensions with the United States over the killing of senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani (pictured) in a drone strike on January 3 'When big powers act illegally, when people step outside the norms of international law there are consequences. 'There's no excuse for shooting down an airliner, there's no excuse for a targeted assassination by one state against another. 'All this does is set off a spiral of violence and danger which will lead us to yet more wars in the future.' Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said on Twitter 'regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash', adding it was a 'great tragedy and unforgivable mistake'. Mr Corbyn, who also demanded the release of jailed British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, added: 'I would want a British Government approach to this to be not to immediately side with the United States whatever the questions put before them, not to put ourselves into hock to President Trump because of a trade deal... but to stand up for international law, for peace and for justice all around the world.' Despite the apparent ratcheting down of tensions between the US and Iran, demonstrators marched on Trafalgar Square demanding there should be no new conflict in the Gulf. Mr Corbyn also demanded the release of jailed British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (pictured) The British Government has defended the right of the US to act in self-defence while calling on both sides to de-escalate. Nevertheless, the Stop the War coalition and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) - which are organising the protest - argue the situation in the region remains critical. Several hundred demonstrators chanted 'one-two-three-four no to Trump, no to war' as they descended on the London landmark. Retired headteacher Nasso Christou said: 'We're talking about war crimes committed by the so-called leader of the free world and our Government is standing by and supporting it - it's outrageous.' Asked about the plane being shot down, she added: 'Would that have happened if Trump hadn't set off this chain of events?' Bryn Potter, a software developer, added: 'It's much more likely to press a button when the Americans are threatening to bomb.' Legal researcher Giles Longley-Cook, 27, said: 'It's a horrible tragedy and people do get itchy trigger fingers and it's more likely to happen when you escalate things to this level.' Hyderabad: Corruption in garbage has reached a new high. The nexus between Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials and politicians has destabilised the civic bo-dys transportation wing, which transfers garbage from the city to the Jawa-harnagar dump yard. The transportation of garbage is big business for officials and netas ever since the inception of the GHMC. The politician-officialdom nexus has resulted in the transfers of three additional commissioners and for-ced a recently-appointed officer not to take charge. Highly-placed GHMC sources say the garbage transported to the dump yard is about 4,000 metric tonnes (mts). However, flawless paper work and political patronage helped that swell to 6,500 mts. Politicians even forced successive commissioners to endorse the same and announce it via public platforms. The corporation pays `1,341 per mt to Ramky Enviro Engineers to transport garbage to the dump yard. Sources alleged that a political leader has stakes in the transportation wing. Corrupt officials, they said, have swindled `3.35 crore on a daily basis on garbage transportation, which is shared among field-level, mid-level and top-rung officials along with the political leader. Three additional commissioners who followed former additional commissioner N. Ravi Kiran were not allowed to stay in place for more than two months. Sources said that the high-level corruption in the transportation wing caught the attention of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) minister K.T. Rama Rao, who appointed R Upender Reddy as the new additional commissioner for transportation. This did not find favour with the politician involved in the swindling, who harshly took the administrator to task. Amid high drama, the newly-appointed additional commissioner went on leave. Citizens are bearing the brunt as sanitation pick-up has going from bad to worse with each passing day. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 14:18:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SUVA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese parliamentary delegation, led by Ding Zhongli, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), visited the South Pacific island country of Tonga on Jan. 8-11, seeking ways to strengthen the bilateral relations, in particular the parliamentary cooperation, between the two countries. During his stay in Tonga, Ding met with Tongan Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Lord Fakafanua. Ding said that Tonga is China's good friend and good partner in the Pacific region. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 22 years ago, the two countries have enjoyed a good relationship, an increasingly enhanced mutual political trust, pragmatic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. China highly appreciates Tonga's firm adherence to the one-China policy, he said, adding that China is willing to better integrate the building of the Belt and Road Initiative with Tonga's development strategies. Ding also expressed China's willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Tonga in the fields such as legislative institutions, science and technology as well as basic research, aiming to push forward the bilateral ties to a new high and bring benefits to the two peoples. Ding also briefed them on the great achievements China has made over the past 70 years. For the Tongan part, they spoke highly of China's achievements over the past 70 years, reaffirming their continuously upholding of the one-China policy. While thanking China for its support and assistance to the island country's economic and social development over the past years, Tonga also appreciated the leading role China has played in dealing with global climate change. Tonga also voiced its active participation in building the Belt and Road Initiative, and is willing to help further develop the relations between China and the Pacific island countries. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expects full cooperation of the Iranian authorities in the situation with the crash of the Ukrainian Boeing 737-800, spokesman for the Prime Minister Cameron Ahmad said on Saturday. "We will continue working with our partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation, and the Canadian government expects full cooperation from Iranian authorities," as statement reads on Ahmad's Twitter. Trudeau emphasized that the plane crash is a national tragedy for Canada. As previously reported, the Iranian media, citing a statement made by the General Staff of the Iranian armed forces, reported that the Ukrainian Boeing was shot down by mistake by the Iranian military. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the crash of the Ukrainian plane "a great tragedy" and "an unforgivable mistake." Asia India: Haryana public transport workers strike against outsourcing Workers from the state-owned Haryana Roadways walked out for two days on January 7 in opposition to the outsourcing of commuter services. The walkout was sparked after the state government announced a plan to hire up to 150 private buses on a per kilometre basis throughout the state to make up for years of not upgrading service and equipment. Workers fear that the outsourcing is just the first step towards full privatisation of the company and the elimination of thousands of government jobs. In October last year 20,000 roadways workers struck for 18 days over the issue. The Haryana Roadways Employees Union is demanding that the state government add 14,000 buses to the current fleet and provide thousands of new jobs. Karnataka public sector workers oppose Indian governments privatisation plans More than 5,000 public sector workers demonstrated in Bangalore on January 4 against the Modi governments privatisation policies. Workers from Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Bharat Electronics, Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel, Vignyan Industries and Hindustan Aeronautics, which are all earmarked for partial privatisation, participated in the protests. Petroleum workers reject privatisation in Kerala Workers from the state-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation protested in Kochi on January 3 against Modi government moves to sell off the profit-making company. The demonstration was organised by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), a trade union federation affiliated with the prime ministers Bharatiya Janata Party. Union officials transformed the protest into an anti-government rally, denouncing the anti-labour policies of Indias central and state governments. Tamil Nadu workers protest employers anti-labour policies Hundreds of workers from various industries in and around Sriperumbudur and Chennai walked off the job on January 5 and held a 24-hour hunger protest to highlight the anti-labour practises of their employers. Protesters demanded jobs for hundreds of workers who have been hit by the growing number of factory closures in Tamil Nadu. The Centre of Indian Trade Unions opposes unified strike action and continues to issue toothless appeals to the government to take legal actions against companies that ignore labour laws and union rights. Kerala journalists protest against new labour law Members of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists and Kerala Newspaper Employees Federation demonstrated outside the state governors official residence in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala state, on January 4 to oppose the new labour laws which they say will disadvantage them. The new law, which is called the Labour Code on Industrial Relations 2019, will consolidate 44 existing labour laws and divide them into four codes. Journalists fear they will lose the guarantee of the minimum wage set by Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees Act. The demonstration was joined by information technology employees who are also opposed the new labour laws and IT industry retrenchment policies. Pakistan: Islamabad journalists oppose salary and job cuts Journalists demonstrated at the National Press Club in Islamabad on January 2 against sackings, pay cuts and long delays in the payment of salaries by media companies. The protest was organised by Media Action Force and 4th Pillar Media International. Journalists have threatened to continue and expand their protests nationally if their concerns are not resolved. They also appealed to other journalists organisations to join future protests. Bangladesh land port workers demand higher wages Thousands of Benapole Land Port employees stopped work and formed a human chain outside the port administrative building on January 4. Loading and unloading of all cargo was suspended for six hours. The striking workers are demanding pay parity with their fellow workers at other land ports. Workers at Benapole port, which is on the border with India, are employed through a middleman contractor and only paid 22 taka ($US0.26) per tonne that they load or unload. Land point workers at Bhomra, Sona Masjid and Mongla receive 35 taka per tonne. The 891 Port Handling Labour Union has threatened extended strike action if higher wages are not agreed within the next week. Taiwanese workers protest over wages and conditions Dozens of workers affiliated with various labour rights organisations protested outside the China Nationalist Partys headquarters in Taipei, the Taiwan capital, last Saturday. They later marched to the offices of other Taiwan political parties. The workers want their pay raised to the official minimum wage and receive retirement pay and for their holidays to be increased from 116 to 123 days a year. They also demanded the lowering of the threshold for official union recognition from 30 to 10 members and for abolition of the migrant brokerage system, under which foreign workers have to pay exorbitant fees for the right to be employed. Thousands of Cambodian hotel workers on strike Some 3,000 workers from Phnom Penhs NagaWorld hotel and casino complex walked out on strike for higher wages and improved conditions on Thursday. They are also demanding the reinstatement of the facilitys union president, Chhim Sithar, who was suspended by the company in September. The company sent a memo to workers prior to the strike threatening to sack them if they walked out. NagaCorp has an exclusive license to operate in Phnom Penh. It had a reported revenue of $1.8 billion in 2019 and a nine-month net gaming revenue of $616.3 million last year. The hotel workers want staff paid $US300 a month and gambling floor employees $500. Wages are currently $150 and $250 per month. One striker told the media that workers are not allowed a toilet break if there is no one to replace them. Australia Thomastown packaging workers maintain work bans Over 60 workers at Ororas fibre packaging plant in Thomastown, Victoria, are continuing two months of industrial action to demand a new enterprise agreement (EA). Workers have imposed an indefinite ban on overtime. In November, they began rolling one-hour stoppages. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union officials have met with management 18 times since last January over the companys proposed EA. The company is demanding the removal of certain paid meal breaks and other cuts in hardwon condition. In early December, Orora took its proposed EA to a vote of employees. It was rejected 59 to 7. The Fair Work Commission on Tuesday dismissed Ororas application to have industrial action stopped on the grounds that the union was not negotiating in good faith. Westmead Hospital cleaners in Sydney stop work to demand more staff Cleaners on the afternoon shift at Westmead Hospital in Sydneys western suburbs walked off the job on December 20 over inadequate staffing levels. Health Services Union members have been campaigning for additional workers for over a year. They took action after management withheld data from a staffing review committee that supported a case for recruiting additional cleaners. Workers have called for an additional 33 cleaners to be hired to relieve staffing pressure and ensure that the hospital is cleaned to an acceptable standard. Management responded by docking the cleaners pay for the time lost during the stop-work meeting. Food services workers strike at New South Wales hospital Workers from the Food Services Department at Gosford Hospital, a 480-bed training hospital servicing the New South Wales Central Coast, walked off the job for three hours on December 19. Their action followed seven months of failed negotiations between management and the Health Services Union, including over staffing issues. The union wants the immediate recruitment of eight staff, in line with a recent 13 percent increase in hospital activity. Workers have called for improved rostering and workflows, and an end to bullying and harassment. Convicted murderer Graham Dwyer has been able to remain on the official register of architects, the Herald has learned. Regulators have yet to consider the withdrawal of his registration - almost five years after his conviction for the horrific murder of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. Legal observers believe the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) may have delayed action after Dwyer lodged an appeal against his conviction and took civil proceedings against the State. Dwyer (47) met 36-year-old O'Hara online and his trial heard he stabbed her to death for his own sexual gratification. Her remains were found in the Dublin Mountains in 2013. The RIAI said Cork-born Dwyer's membership of the organisation was automatically revoked when he was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in March 2015. However, the regulatory and support body for architects confirmed Dwyer was still on its register of architects. By law, only persons on the register can use the title "architect". They can only be removed from the register following an investigation by a professional conduct committee and their removal must be confirmed by the High Court. The RIAI said it did not comment on cases "that may or may not be under consideration by the professional conduct committee". Judgment Dwyer is currently serving a life sentence at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise and is appealing his murder conviction. However, the appeal is on hold while a Supreme Court judgment is awaited on the State's appeal of a High Court finding on data-retention laws. Dwyer is arguing the judge in his murder trial erred by allowing into evidence call data records from his mobile phone and another handset attributed to him. This information played a crucial part in the investigation leading to his conviction. The High Court ruled in 2018 the legislation under which gardai accessed the records contravened EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights. The State says the ruling has had adverse consequences for the investigation and prosecution of serious crime. In a statement, the RIAI said its articles of association at the date of Dwyer's conviction provided that a person convicted of a felony shall by that very fact or act cease to be a member, but this does not mean they are removed from the RIAI register. The statement said that, on foot of a complaint about a registered architect, the RIAI's professional practice committee may investigate a person's "conduct connected to the profession of architecture in which the individual concerned is alleged to have seriously fallen short" of standards expected. Where the professional practice committee directs a person's name be removed from the register, confirmation of the decision must be sought from the High Court, the statement said. The rules of the committee provide that all meetings are held in private and, by law, matters referred to it cannot be made public unless there has been a guilty finding. During an interview on Thursday on CNN, Speier insisted that the disaster was collateral damage from Trumps provocative actions toward Iran. When pressed during another CNN interview on Friday, she said that, while she wasnt placing blame on Trump specifically for Irans apparent shoot-down of the plane, it all emanates from the killing of [Maj. Gen Qasem] Soleimani ordered by Trump. Speier added that, in the wake of the airstrike that targeted the Quds Force commander, Iran is providing vengeance . . . to the United States, which, though useful to the narrative dispensary, isnt supported by logic in the case of the airliner. Never mind the worrisome possibility that Trumps aphasia-like means of expression may be a contagious tic. Making a Toast to the End of Prohibition in New Wilmington JNU Violence: Delhi Police Identifies 37 Members Of WhatsApp Group That Had Organised Attack The Delhi Police has reportedly identified some 37 people who were part of 'Unity Against Left' one of the several WhatsApp groups that were created on January 5, the day on which armed masked men and women attacked students and faculty members inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. Read more. Here are the other top news of the day: Iran says it 'unintentionally' shot down Ukraine passenger jet Iran said it "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people on board, in an abrupt about-turn after initially denying Western claims it was struck by a missile. President Hassan Rouhani said a military probe into the tragedy had found "missiles fired due to human error" brought down the Boeing 737, calling it an "unforgivable mistake". Read more. 4 Tiger Deaths In 4 Days: Goa Govt Asks Locals To Leave Sanctuary Where Tigers Were Poisoned The Government of Goa has said that villagers living in the tiger territory in the state will be shifted elsewhere to avoid man-animal conflict. This comes after an unprecedented death of four tigers in the state earlier this week. The four carcasses were found a day apart from each other in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary near Golavli village in Sattari. Read more. India On High Alert Ahead Of Republic Day, Inputs Of 300 Terrorists In PoK Trying To Infiltrate A high-level alert has been sounded in various Indian cities ahead of Republic Day on January 26 following the intelligence reports that over 300 terrorists are being trained at launchpads in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed and ready for cross-border action. Read more. Dalit Girl Gang Raped, Murdered, Body Hung From Tree Only Because Police Didn't Act Timely Protests are simmering in Modasa, Gujarat after the body of a 19-year-old girl was found hanging from a tree after she was allegedly gang-raped. According to the family, the girl had gone missing on December 31 and her decomposed body was found hanging from a tree in Saira village of Modasa on January 5. Read more. Mumbai, Jan 11 : "Uri: The Surgical Strike" was released a year ago on this day. The cast says they are forever grateful to have had the chance to work in such a prestigious project. Dhar on Saturday tweeted a still from the film and wrote: "Forever Grateful!! #1YearOfURI" "Uri: The Surgical Strike" is a military action film featuring Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Yami Gautam, Mohit Raina and Kirti Kulhari. The film is about a covert Army operation against a group of militants who had attacked a base in Uri, Kashmir, in 2016 and killed many soldiers. "Uri" won four National Film Awards, including Best Actor for Vicky and Best Direction for Aditya Dhar. Yami, who played an intelligence officer in the film, tweeted: "Gratitude forever to our Indian army, our audience who embraced It & gave it so much love! And entire Team of URI for being so fantastic & hard-working ! #1YearOfURI" Kirti, who played flight lieutenant Seerat Kaur in the film, said: " It was an impactful and powerful role and people have given it so much love that it fills my heart with gratitude every time. Being a defense kid, I think the fact that I got to represent a uniform on screen, in a film like 'URI...', is something that will always stay very close to my heart." She added that the "josh" is still super high and she hopes it remains the same. "It's a tribute to all the Jawans in uniform who safeguard all the citizens of this country and protects us from all the harm," she added. -- Syndicated from IANS "With this feat, the indigenously developed niche technologies specific to deck based fighter operations have been proven," Indian Navy Spokesperson Vivek Madhwal told IANS. New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) The indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Aircraft (N) Mk1 has made a successful arrested landing on the India's biggest warship INS Vikramaditya on Saturday. This will now pave the way to develop and manufacture the twin engine deck based fighter for the Indian Navy, he said. However, the DRDO in a statement said that after completing extensive trials on the shore based test facility of DRDO's Aeronautical Development Agency, developed the LCA Navy. "The LCA Navy did an arrested landing on INS Vikramaditya successfully today on January 11, 2020 at 10.02 a.m.," DRDO said in a statement. sk/pgh/ The annual CES gadget fest ended Friday, following an eventful week with hundreds of thousands of new gadget introductions, controversy over bringing presidential politics into the show with an appearance by first daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump and a headline-grabbing act of war against Google. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The annual CES gadget fest ended Friday, following an eventful week with hundreds of thousands of new gadget introductions, controversy over bringing presidential politics into the show with an appearance by first daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump and a headline-grabbing act of war against Google. Some 175,000 people attended, and while Trumps appearance was mild, without any protest, California speaker maker Sonos did rain on Googles unveiling of new products with "partners," when it accused the search giant of stealing its technology. Sonos is asking for an immediate cease-and-desist order preventing Google from selling speakers, phones or laptops. Ouch. Meanwhile, there are no Google-partnered products on our reporters and contributors highlights. Here are six stand-outs. John Locher / The Associated Press A model of the S-A1 urban air taxi concept is on display during a Hyundai Motor Company news conference before the CES tech show in Las Vegas Hyundais Flying Cars The lure of a flying car is rarely more enticing than at CES, when 175,000-plus attendees regularly gridlock Las Vegas streets. Sunday, Hyundai put its own air-taxi cards on the table by unveiling the S-A1 a four-passenger electric aircraft with eight rotors that let it take off and land vertically that its developing with Uber. Hyundai said the SA-1, with a 62-mile range, 150 mph cruising speed and eventual autonomous operation, would deliver "an era of liberation from gridlock and the democratization of flight." But the touted 2023 launch seems exceedingly optimistic. Aviation-safety consultant Robert Mann offered a more conservative prediction via email: "Maybe by the 2028 Olympics, but most likely beyond that time." Rob Pegoraro Inkjet printer for makeup Procter & Gambles Opte device is like an inkjet makeup printer for your skin. It uses a tiny HD camera with blue LED lights to help it hunt down tiny dark spots that your human eye might miss. Once it finds a blemish, scar, whatever you want to cover, the Opte uses 120 thermal inkjet nozzles to dispense a precise amount of tinted serum with mineral pigments -- to instantly camouflage imperfections. John Locher / The Associated Press A full-body version of the exoskeleton is designed to boost the users strength and endurance. The idea is that instead of smearing makeup all over your face, youre using next-gen technology to put a precise, targeted amount of product only where your skin needs it. Of course, theres a high price to pay for this kind of beauty gadget. The Opte will cost nearly $600 dollars when it comes out this summer, and the little prefilled cartridges of makeup, moisturizer and serum cost around $100 each. But if youre a woman who has glopped makeup all your face as you have over the years, this is great. Its like waving a magic wand, and it makes you look perfect. Jennifer Jolly Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold Christina House / Los Angeles Times Jeffrey Katzenberg, left, and Meg Whitman are the masterminds behind the startup Quibi, a digital studio that is creating bite-sized shows for millennials. Billed as the worlds first foldable PC, I loved its versatility. Its a 13-inch OLED device, you can prop it up and use it full screen to watch a movie, or slightly bent to read an ebook. You can browse the web on one side of the display and control music on the other. When youre ready to put it away, just bend or close it, and slip it in a bag. It will be out in the spring, with a hefty price tag of $2,499, but its really cool. Marc Saltzman Delta Air Lines new tech Delta Air Lines parallel reality displays and exoskeleton were show stoppers. The displays, which will be tested in Detroit beginning this summer, simultaneously show passengers information that is only relevant to them, like fight and gate information, all in the language you select. You dont need special glasses to read it. I also liked Deltas robot-like exoskeletons, which are being tested to help baggage handlers and maintenance workers lift heavy objects like luggage and tires. Dawn Gilbertson Ross D. Franklin / The Associated Press A variety of Impossible Pork dishes. Impossible Pork 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. Mmmmm, tastes like technology. Actually, Impossible Foods latest innovation -- its plant-based "pork" -- did taste pretty darn good. As a member of a household that eats the "other white meat" pretty often mostly in the form of sausage patties and chops, I found the ground "pork" product to have the same satisfying feel and taste my eyes prepared me for when the food hit my mouth. This wasnt the first faux pork product, of course, but its one of a handful Ive had that replicate, rather than approximate, the taste of the real thing. They were also announcing a new "sausage" breakfast sandwich at Burger King. While this isnt the typical device or doohickey one expects to sample at CES, hey, technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes and food is pretty practical. There was also a mouth-watering promise that they would release no bacon until they can sway the most hardcore meat-eater that the taste is beyond kosher. What wasnt yet as satisfying was the answer to when these products will become more affordable and more available. Michelle Maltais Quibi There are lots of reasons to be skeptical about the prospects for the new streaming service Quibi, given subscription overload and competition. But this new mobile-focused streaming service is different. All original bite-sized (under 10 minutes) content from a large roster of Hollywood A-listers. And impressive tech that seamlessly adapts to the orientation of the way you watch a show on your phone in portrait or landscape. It launches in April; plans start at $4.99 a month. Edward C. Baig USA Today The heavy weights of the Maghreb are taking their arms race to the skies with Morocco opting for advanced US jets while Algeria sticks to its Russian supplier amid a lethargy in their bilateral ties on the back of diverging stands on the Sahara issue. Morocco has on multiple occasions extended an outstretched hands policy towards Algeria met with rejection by a regime facing an implosion as pro-democracy protest continue to push for reforms. At the heart of the Moroccan-Algerian stand-off is Algiers support for the polisario militias. The two Maghreb countries were ranked by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) as Africas largest arm buyers taking 26% and 30% respectively of total arms sales on the continent. Morocco has been cleared recently by the US administration to buy 25 F 16 fighter jets worth 3.8 billion dollars and to upgrade 23 other F16 that the country already operates. The North African Kingdom, the largest US weapons buyer in Africa, is also set to reinforce its attack capabilities with 24 AH- Apache helicopters for a total cost of 1.6 million dollars. For its part, Algeria reportedly signed contracts to acquire 14 jets of each of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-34 and Sukhoi Su-57. But Algerias hopes to acquire the Russian fighter jets are shrouded in uncertainty following the death of all-powerful General Gaid Salah. The recent deal shows that Algeria remains bogged down in a military doctrine typical of a soviet era emphasizing ground troops while Morocco focused more on qualitative air capabilities. Another point of superiority for Morocco are the two reconnaissance satellites that are used for civilian purposes, but can help militarily if needed. Besides aircrafts, the recent acquisition by Morocco of Abram tanks, tow missile launchers as well as interest to purchase Patriot Air Defense Systems, show that the Royal Armed Forces remain consistent in their efforts to modernize weaponry. Moroccos recent US purchases would significantly tip the balance in the regional arms race with Algeria. But weapons alone do not make the difference without proper training. Morocco has convened regularly sea, land and air exercises, including Africas largest military games held annually together with the US and other armies. Algeria, on the other hand, has been hostage to a military doctrine that forbids foreign intervention and has refrained from participating in multinational military drills of the scale of the African Lion. A report issued by the Strategic Defense Intelligence (SDI) said Morocco is poised to become Africas leading army in 2022 thanks to its advanced procurements. A prophecy that is set to become true as Morocco is on way to unseat an Algeria plagued by internal strife and dwindling revenues. Morocco consistently imports advanced arms and ammunitions such as fighter and training aircraft, ships, missiles, tanks and frigates to strengthen its armed forces; a trend expected to continue over the forecast period, reads the report dubbed The Future of the Moroccan Defense Industry- Market Attractiveness, Competitive landscape and Forecasts to 2022. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has announced the creation of an international working group of countries assembled to press the Iranian regime for a full and thorough investigation of the destruction of Flight PS752. The group will be made up of representatives from countries whose citizens were passengers on the plane, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Ukraine, Canada and Afghanistan. Iran also had citizens on the plane but it will not be part of the working group. "Canadians can be rest assured that our government will continue to do everything it can," he said. Champagne said that officials with the group's member nations will talk and share information on a daily basis in an effort to confirm the cause of the crash. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday that multiple intelligence reports indicate that the Ukrainian passenger aircraft that crashed outside of Tehran on Wednesday, killing everyone on board, was shot down by an Iranian missile. The crash killed 176 people. Initial reports said that 63 of the passengers were Canadian citizens; Champagne said that number has since been revised to 57. The minister also said that Prime Minister Trudeau has asked Clerk of the Privy Council Ian Shugart to set up an emergency task force of senior officials to ensure that loved ones and family members of the victims have the support they need. The Liberal government also will be setting up a dedicated process to help families struggling with visa issues related to the crash, he said. "Our priority at this time is providing support to the affected families. They need us and we are looking at all possible options to do this." Champagne said that the parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, Omar Alghabra, has been asked to work directly with families of the crash victims. Rising tensions The tragedy happened shortly after Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. and coalition troops an act of direct retaliation for the Trump administration's targeted killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani just days earlier. Story continues Asked if he told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Canada was upset at not being warned in advance of the plan to kill the general, Champagne sidestepped the question, saying the U.S. is an important player in the region. "I won't get into the details of what I discussed specifically with the secretary. This is a national tragedy for Canada so we spent the bulk of our time speaking about the downing of the aircraft," he said. "The U.S. presence in Iraq is essential to be able to provide the security and stability that the Iraqi people have wanted." Rising tensions Canada has about 500 troops in Iraq; some have been moved to Kuwait in recent weeks in response to the ongoing volatility on the ground. About half of those Canadians are with the NATO training mission, while the others including up to 250 special forces members are involved in the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition. Trudeau confirmed that there were Canadian personnel present at one of the two bases targeted by the Iranians when the attack occurred. Tensions in the region flared up on Dec. 27, when an Iranian-backed militia group killed an American contractor in Iraq. Iran's civil aviation authority said it's following international rules and will allow other countries to participate in its investigation of the crash. But the role Canada is being offered by Tehran amounts to the bare minimum required by the international legal convention on aviation accident investigations and at this point does not include active participation in the probe of the Ukraine International Airlines flight. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) confirmed Thursday that Iranian authorities have invited it to the crash site and it is "making arrangements" to travel there and work with "other groups and organizations already on site." Canada's designated expert also will be able to receive and review information released by Iran's aviation officials, monitor the progress of the investigation, and receive a copy of the final investigation report. Today, Global Affairs Canada told CBC News that it is seeking visas for two TSB investigators and another 10 visas for consular officials. So far, the two visas that Iran has issued are for consular officials. Champagne was asked if he's confident that Iran is approaching the investigation of the crash in good faith. "Time will tell," he said. "The world is watching. We've been clear with them we want to cooperate. Over the course of the next days ... we'll see if they're genuine in their interest in having a full and transparent investigation. Transparency is what the world, the international community, is looking for now." Two farmers are suspected to have died of cold while watering the crops in their agriculture fields at two separate places in Rajasthan's Bundi district, police said. Notably, the region is in the grip of a cold wave for the last few days with minimum temperatures in the range of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius. The bodies were handed over to family members after post mortem was done on Saturday morning and investigation under Section 174 of CrPC was initiated to ascertain the reason behind their death, they said. In the first case, the body of Prakesh Gurjar (52) from Dabhaiyo Ka Naya Gaun was found dead in his agriculture field on Friday night when his younger brother went there to give meals for him, Dablana police station house officer Ramvilas Gurjar said. Prakash had gone to the field to water the standing wheat crop earlier in the evening, the SHO said. The body was handed over to family members after post mortem on Saturday morning and a viscera sample was also collected and sent to a forensic laboratory, he added. However, the farmer's brother lodged a complaint with the police that Prakesh Gurjar had likely died after being bitten by a poisonous insect in the field. Yet, he added that the actual reason of death would become clear once post mortem and viscera reports arrive. In the other incident, 35-year-old Durgalal Gurjar, a resident of Neem Ka Kheda village under Bundi Sadar police station limits, was found dead late on Friday night in his agriculture field. He is likely to have died of intense cold while watering the crop but we will know only when the post mortem report comes, Bundi Sadar ASI Arjun Singh said. The body was handed over to the family members after a post mortem was conducted on Saturday morning and investigation initiated under Section 174 of CrPC, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The single comes from 18-year-old Noah Gudgeon, who readers may remember as our talented RTL intern in late 2019. 'ARQUE' is the songwriter-producer project Noah Gudgeon, who is currently studying art at Lycee Classique Diekirch. Starting out as an electronic dance music producer in 2015, he is now focusing on writing alternative indie-pop singles. 'Shy Boy' is the young musician's latest release, which he wrote, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered independently in his bedroom. The production is spotless, however - not an easy task for a home-made jewel. Noah explains: 'There's a definite 80s vibe going on, but there's some early 2000s pop-punk and 90s Britpop influences in there, while the vocal-chops and the very danceable instrumentals provide that more modern sound.' The video was made in collaboration with Noah's childhood friend, Ben Kugener, a graphic designer and music video creator and filmed in the latter's garage. 'It's all very home-made, but we both have the necessary experience and gear to get pretty decent results.' Of the future, Noah is uncertain. He hopes he can juggle his passion with his last year of secondary school without his music-making taking a toll on his school results. After that, who knows. 'I've been thinking for a while about starting a band. Hopefully I meet some people at University who share the same enthusiasms as me. If that doesn't work out, I'll definitely try and figure out a way of sustaining myself by doing what I love most making music.' The future is bright for this young lad. See some of Noah's articles for our site below: The Colombo Port City has become an example of how even investors with the direct backing of a powerful Government can fall victim to the vagaries of Sri Lankan policymaking. Red tape, changes in administration, geopolitics, shifting goalposts and local sensitivities are just some of the challenges the project has faced since it was launched. Land reclamation was completed in January last year, adding 269 hectares to the countrys landmass. The property was declared open to investors a full 12 months later, in December. Yet, the promoters of Port City are constrained from making a convincing sales pitch because an essential prerequisite is still not in place: a law that will declare it to be the countrys first service-oriented special economic zone (SEZ). Since commencement in 2014, CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd has a profit and loss statement that is just accumulating cost. Hit also by a suspension of 18 monthswhen the project was stopped for the attempted renegotiation of some termsthe company hasnt earned a single rupee yet. It was announced in November that project partner Urban Development Authority (UDA) would call tenders for the construction of an international school, hospital and conference hall in the Port City. It is still not done. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration moved at a snails pace on the proposed legislation which it said would be based on English law. The rationale was that English law, with London being a major centre of finance, was accepted in the financial world. The previous Government found it difficult to implement a policy which would attract the international investor community that was at the same time acceptable to the local business community, said a source familiar with the internal workings. It was decided Port City would be a test case touting specific economic and commercial legislation attractive to investors in such a way that it wouldnt interfere with the status quo in the rest of the country. But the Government was on slippery footing, politically, and thatin addition to characteristic inertiabadly affected momentum. The investor has been going at it for the last two to three years and nothing came out of it, the source said. The law is expected to address red tape and shortcomings in approval processes within a ring-fenced, controlled environment. And if done right, it could be rolled out elsewhere, such as in Board of Investment (BOI) export processing zones. Investors in Sri Lanka face recurrent problems. Every new administration has its quirks. They must quickly adjust to dealing with new people and their own vested interests. Sometimes key officials are replaced several times during the tenure of a single Government. There are new policies, new powerbrokers and new egos to stroke. But the pace has now picked up. At best, the hope is for a more proactive Government, sources familiar with the project companys thinking said. The previous Prime Minister had seemed a little bit remote. On December 9, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attended a ceremony to officially declare the reclaimed property open for investment. He not only pledged to accelerate the project, officials present there said he took instant decisions. It was his Government, after all, that had started this ball rolling. There were issues from the start. In what was typical of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, rules and procedure were treated as a miserable inconvenience. The manner in which the Port City deal was executedit was an unsolicited proposal and there were no international tenders calledwas riddled with so many holes that it left room for justifiable criticism. For instance, the agreement was forged with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) which had no legal authority to sign it and, therefore, to discharge those obligations. The environmental impact assessment failed to address significant concerns, including whether there would be damage to marine and coastal life. Fisher unions protested and lobbyists questioned the sand mining. The suspension was lifted and China Communication Construction Company (CCCC), CHECs parent company, dropped its claim for US$ 143mn in compensation over delays. The agreement had some airtight clauses that the Government could not shift. But there were some adjustments. For instance, a supplementary EIA was taken out to plug (however shoddily) the gaps. But a major adjustment was related to land ownership and it is clear that Indian, as well as domestic, concerns had an impact here. The original contract gave the project company freehold rights over 20 hectares and leasehold rights over 88 hectares. The SLPA and Government were entitled to 62 hectares of marketable land while the remaining 63 were for common areas such as roads, etc. It was agreed after talks that CHEC Port City will have no longer have freehold land. Everything is on a 99-year lease. The split became 90 hectares for city infrastructure and 179 (divided into 74 blocks) for development. Some plots are allotted to the project company, others to the Government. Also, the project company will surrender its leasehold right to any third-party investor that comes in. The lessorthe landlord, effectivelyis always the Government of Sri Lanka. The agreement is now tripartite one between CHEC, UDA and the Ministry of Megapols; except that the Ministry of Megapolis no longer exists. It is now the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supplies and Housing Facilities. This is another Sri Lanka idiosyncrasy that investors must contend with. Ministries are renamed; subjects and functions are combined, divided, shuffled; secretaries and other key officials are replaced. In this country, the bureaucracy may be slow but this kind of turnover is rapid. The project companys financial obligations start to kick in this year. It needs investors to come in and develop the 116 acres leased out CHEC Port City based on a master plan. The US$ 1.4bn it put in has a debt component which it must now start honouring. With the reclamation done, the city infrastructureroads, bridges, utility connectionsare being built. This expected to be completed around September 2021. The idea is to create a business hub for South Asia with residences, offices, retail outlets, hotels and some social infrastructure including a hospital, school, convention centre, integrated resort and marina. The idea is to create something to service South Asia, like Singapore is to South East Asia and Dubai is to the Middle East. Promotion has already started, insofar as it can be done without the actual law in place. CHEC Port City has worked in the past two years with the BOI, the Colombo Stock Exchange, the former Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade (which also no longer exists) and so on. These teams have pushed the project everywhere, from Germany, parts of West Asia and London to Beijing, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and, of course, India. But without the necessary prerequisites and structures in place to market the concept aggressively enough, it is hard to see how these were anything more than junketsat least for Government officials. They found that there was strong investor sentiment in South Asia but that much of it is directed towards the huge market that is India. But India is crucial here. In fact, it is Port Citys primary market. The quality of air in New Delhi has become a concern and Colombo has been voted South Asias most liveable city consecutively for two years. Indian professionals are looking for a second home, not too far away. And flight connectivity between the two countries is excellent. Singapore, Malaysia and the Middle East are also potential investors. There are, however, no commitments at presentonly discussions. Port City has not a hard sell because the law is not ready. There has only been soft marketing, to understand the pulse and the market requirements. The project wants two layers of investors. The first are developers, parties that will put in money and build infrastructure such as hotels, apartments, offices and retail shops. The second are secondary customers, those who will occupy the space. These could be, for instance, coffee shops, celebrity chefs, and so on. For any of this, the environment must be conducive and they must have business. Incentives are a crucial factorand the previous Government was not willing to give much. Thow Ming Liang, the Port Citys Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, is fond of an analogy: I think, he said, we have poured sufficient gasoline on the floor to burn down a whole building if we wanted to. What we need is that match. The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, on Friday provided more information on the killing of 13 people in the state on Thursday. PREMIUM TIMES reported the killings which the police blamed on suspected herdsmen. Mr Lalong, who spoke to journalists in Abuja after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, said the attackers were cattle rustlers who had earlier been stopped by youth from the community. Our little investigations confirm that it was a group of cattle rustlers in a huge number that rustled over 100 cows. They were moving with them. We have also made appeal through the youths that whenever there is this kind of challenge, they should move in and see to arrest some of the criminals. Unfortunately, the youths came out, they did their best. In fact I will call them patriotic. They went in and stopped the rustlers from moving with the cows and were able to rescue about 100 cows at the end of the day. So after the rescue they were only able to arrest about three or four those people and took them to the police station and returned to their various villages. That early morning, some of those rustlers who escaped came back and started attacking and killing people in the villages. So it was quite unfortunate, the governor said. Read the full details of the responses by the Plateau governor below. Lalong: I have just seen Mr President and there was also an attack early yesterday and up to the afternoon when I got there. My seeing the President was to brief him because there are usually briefing from security, he usually has proper briefings from the chief security officer direct. From my own assessment of what has happened and if we want intervention of what we want to be done in the state to curtail the situation. So, as a matter of fact we woke up yesterday early in the morning to get information that people were killing themselves in a village. So I didnt waste time, I took off to that village. My timely intervention and presence helped a lot. Because, after the first set of killings, the second set was reprisals killings. So when I got there, everything stopped. I spoke to the people, we buried the people and they understood with me and the place has remained calm, peace has been restore to that place. Q: Is there any particular solution you are trying to find to end the killings which have been reoccurring? Lalong: Well, if you know Plateau, we have settled this crisis in the state and we are enjoying our peace. But at times, when you get to this level, people forget that there was peace in the state. Christmas was well celebrated in the state, New Year was well celebrated in the state until this incident. Our little investigations confirm that it was a group of cattle rustlers in a huge number that rustled over 100 cows. They were moving with them. We have also made appeal through the youths that whenever there is this kind of challenge, they should move in and see to arrest some of the criminals. Unfortunately, the youths came out, they did their best. In fact I will call them patriotic. They went in and stopped the rustlers from moving with the cows and were able to rescue about 100 cows at the end of the day. So after the rescue they were only able to arrest about three or four those people and took them to the police station and returned to their various villages. That early morning, some of those rustlers who escaped came back and started attacking and killing people in the villages. So it was quite unfortunate. I must say the security people got there and they did a good job. If they were not there the level or casualty would have been much. Those people were heavily armed but the youths had no arms but they did their best. Three of them sacrificed their lives and before I got there the people were also engaging in reprisal attacks. You know the moment it gets to reprisal attacks it means you are also attacking innocent people, about three people again were killed. So a total of 13 people were killed. We were able to address the people and the people understood and are very calm. Life has gone back to normal but investigations are still ongoing. We have put security around to follow and get the culprits. Q: When will your colleagues in the north-central consider putting up a security outfit like Amotekun in south west? Lalong: When you talk about north-central, I am chairman of Northern Governors Forum. We have taken a decision sometime last year. You will recall that at one time we met the president and we told him what we were doing. We set up committees and the the committees have worked very hard. You will recall that we started our meeting from the northwest in Katsina, we are going back to have another meeting in north central. The situation in the south might not be the same with the north but in the north we are also looking at some ways that will also address these issues. So we have gone ahead to set up committees, those committees have done their work and we are going to meet to address these issues once and for all. Two, we have also agreed to key into the community policing and at the level of the committee we have already gone far. Each state is already neck deep in community policing. But I have not read the document. I cannot claim to have read the details of that (Amotekun) document, to understand what they mean by Amotekun. I saw various vehicles that were bought but you know if its about vehicles, many vehicles have been bought in the north. I bought almost 100 vehicles and gave to the police but that is not what will address the insecurity in my state. So, it may vary from south to the north but in the north we are trying to look for a comprehensive way that will help augment what the federal government is doing in respect to insecurity. In Plateau State particularly, all of these things had stopped. We were not witnessing cattle rustling again, I knew what I did. We were not witnessing kidnapping again even without the law in my state. But this attempt just happened and it has reawakened me to something else. That is why I am going back to look at another window in respect to cattle rustling. One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. We'll use ROE to examine Tsaker Chemical Group Limited (HKG:1986), by way of a worked example. Over the last twelve months Tsaker Chemical Group has recorded a ROE of 31%. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each HK$1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made HK$0.31 in profit. View our latest analysis for Tsaker Chemical Group How Do I Calculate ROE? The formula for ROE is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity Or for Tsaker Chemical Group: 31% = CN508m CN1.7b (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.) Most readers would understand what net profit is, but its worth explaining the concept of shareholders equity. It is all earnings retained by the company, plus any capital paid in by shareholders. The easiest way to calculate shareholders' equity is to subtract the company's total liabilities from the total assets. What Does ROE Signify? ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, all else being equal, a high ROE is better than a low one. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies. Does Tsaker Chemical Group Have A Good Return On Equity? Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. As you can see in the graphic below, Tsaker Chemical Group has a higher ROE than the average (12%) in the Chemicals industry. SEHK:1986 Past Revenue and Net Income, January 11th 2020 That is a good sign. I usually take a closer look when a company has a better ROE than industry peers. One data point to check is if insiders have bought shares recently. Story continues The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. Tsaker Chemical Group's Debt And Its 31% ROE Although Tsaker Chemical Group does use debt, its debt to equity ratio of 0.18 is still low. The combination of modest debt and a very impressive ROE does suggest that the business is high quality. Judicious use of debt to improve returns can certainly be a good thing, although it does elevate risk slightly and reduce future optionality. The Bottom Line On ROE Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. 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 when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. It is important to consider other factors, such as future profit growth -- and how much investment is required going forward. You can see how the company has grow in the past by looking at this FREE detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. 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. Video PlayerClose Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan visits an elderly care center during a research tour to Changping District in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2020. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Thursday called for greater efforts to put in place an elderly care system to help senior citizens live a happy life. Sun gave the instructions in a research tour to Beijing's Changping District. While commending measures taken by Beijing municipal authorities in this regard, Sun said a combination of elderly care services that are based on families, supported by community-level institutions and supplemented by other elderly care centers is in line with the conditions and people's habits in China. Sun noted that China is a country with more than 166 million elderly people aged above 65. She underscored efforts to streamline policies to facilitate the entry of various forces of society into the elderly care areas and the integration of diverse elderly cares services available at communities and elderly care institutions. Video PlayerClose Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan visits an elderly care center during a research tour to Changping District in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2020. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] (Source: Xinhua) By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Facing criticism for the flip-flop by his National Peoples Party (NPP) on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), which is now a law, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the states coalition government had decided to expedite the process of implementation of amended Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA). He told journalists that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government would soon start working towards stepping up the process by taking all those involved in it on board. ALSO READ: Artistes in Assam face GST music for extending support to anti CAA protests The MRSSA will be a replica of Inner Line Permit (ILP), enforced in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. The ILP is a travel document which a non-native is required to carry while he or she is traveling to an ILP-enforced state. It permits stay only for a limited period. Once MRSSA is implemented, an outsider, willing to visit and stay in Meghalaya for more than 24 hours, will be required to register themselves in the same manner by furnishing necessary documents to the government. Currently, the whole of Meghalaya is protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution where land and political rights are preserved mostly for the natives. Sangma categorically stated that the state would continue to remain protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution even after the MRSSAs implementation. On November 1 last year, the state cabinet ratified an ordinance by amending MRSSA. Subsequently, it was forwarded to Governor Tathagata Roy for examination and approval. Sangma has been all along critical of the issue of granting Indian citizenship to the non-Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, to the surprise of all, his sister, Agatha Sangma, who is the Tura MP, had voted in favour of CAB. Le Premier Ministre Adjoint a prononce un discours lors de session du travail de lIrena High Level Meeting On Accelerating The Energy Transformation In Small Island Developing States Trough Renewable Energy pendant la matinee du 10 janvier 2020. I thank IRENA for dedicating this High Level Meeting to energy transformation in small island developing states(SIDS). This meeting is taking place at a time when young people are pleading for bolder actions to reduce emissions. These are signs of the growing anxiety about our future sustainability. In this backdrop, small island states which are the most affected victims of global warming, are already assailed by uncertainty in the face of extreme weather events. Populations live in fear of what next is going to happen. Apprehensions about the future of our island states have amplified. We small islands are facing an existential threat. This calls for more accelerated deployment of cleaner energy in our countries. IRENA SIDS Lighthouse Initiative shows that SIDS have been making considerable efforts in terms of renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency. Yet, in the wake of recent natural disasters, it is clear that we still have a long way to go. In my own country, we have spelt out a clear vision in our NDC to reduce emissions by 30% in 2030. We have developed a Renewable Energy Roadmap up to 2030, setting targets of 35% renewable energy by 2025 and 40% by 2030. To create the desirable environment for investment, we set up an institution dedicated to renewable energy development, the Mauritius Renewable Energy Agency. We introduced fiscal incentives. We resorted to competitive bidding and simplified approval procedures to give confidence to investors. This has led to private investment of over 120 Million USD over a period of 5 years in one wind farm and 8 solar PV plants which are generating about 80 MW of renewable energy. Households, SMEs and cooperatives have received support to set up roof top solar systems and are producing about 10 MW of energy. We believe that addressing climate change requires community participation at grassroots. For this reason, we initiated the Home Solar project, which consists in the installation of solar PV kits on houses of 10,000 low income families. These households will benefit from 50kWh per month of free electricity over a period of 20 years. This project is funded by the IRENA/Abu Dhabi Fund for Development project facility. Four MW of battery storage has been installed and installation of 14 MW is in progress. In parallel, we have been implementing a Master plan for energy efficiency, including energy audits, mandatory energy efficiency labelling of home appliances and sensitisation of children, youth and the public at large. A special partnership has been developed with the private sector, which has resulted in voluntary energy audits in private enterprises, followed by implementation of energy efficient manufacturing processes. One essential ingredient contributing to these achievements has been the partnership and support of international and regional agencies. The Green Climate Fund has allocated financial support of 28 Million USD for the installation of battery energy storage system, smart grid, 300 PV mini-grids at Agalega island and rooftop solar PV for a total of 25 MW in households, public buildings and buildings of NGOs. Other partner agencies are the Indian Ocean Commission, the Agence Francaise de Developpement and UNDP. Mauritius is a member of the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. It is a founding member of the International Solar Alliance, which aims at mobilising more than US $ 1000 billion of investments needed by 2030 for solar energy. We are now in the process of reviewing our NDCs for submission to the UNFCCC Secretariat ahead of COP26 in 2020. This is the time for us to revisit our stance and reinforce partner engagement. The UNFCCC has underlined that the ability of small islands to undertake adaptation and mitigation programmes and their effectiveness, can be substantially strengthened through appropriate assistance from the international community. International community support is critical to accelerate the dissemination of smart grid technologies and business facilitation in the field of renewable energy. SIDS must act as a pressure group to press for technology transfer at affordable costs and must develop common negotiation positions to support energy transition. We believe that IRENA has a pivotal role in supporting the cause of small island states and placing their concerns at the forefront in sustainable development debates. SIDS have to develop a common agenda to overcome the overwhelming challenges of climate change and achieve its economic transition. Thank you. First Minister Arlene Foster with deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill at Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. There were moments when it looked and felt like a parallel political universe: so much smiling, civility and congratulations you could be forgiven for forgetting that the Assembly hasn't actually met for three years and that for most of that time the DUP and Sinn Fein sniped and snarled at each other on an almost daily basis. Indeed, the only discordant note (a note that came as a surprise to no one, of course) was from Jim Allister. And even he managed to laugh a couple of times. Read More It wasn't a given that the five parties would join the new Executive and it was only a few minutes before the session began that the UUP confirmed it would take a ministry. That wasn't really a big surprise because, as I noted in the Belfast Telegraph a couple of days ago, Opposition would be a very difficult challenge for a party with only 10 MLAs, seven of whom have only had a few months experience in a functioning Assembly. It was also interesting to note that the DUP and Sinn Fein had already cut a deal to replace Robin Newton as Speaker (who had previously announced he was standing down) and it probably took some people by surprise when the DUP's Peter Weir nominated, in fairly warm terms, Alex Maskey to the role. And in fairness to Maskey he presided over a very speedy process of appointing the three deputy Speakers, First and deputy First Ministers, two junior ministers and the eight other ministers. Some of us expected to be hanging around until 5pm or later, yet everything was done and dusted by 3.30pm. And what of the new ministerial team? There were no surprises in the reappointment of Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill. There have been rumblings in the undergrowth that Foster could be damaged when the RHI report is published- expected fairly soon- but she will, as is normal practice, have seen the references the report will make to her, so her reappointment suggests that neither she nor her party anticipate any difficulties. I suppose the biggest surprise of the day- in that nobody predicted it- was Robin Swann's appointment as Health Minister. It's the biggest department, with the biggest budget and the biggest mountain of problems; and is often regarded as the poisoned chalice of politics. Enoch Powell, a former Health Minister, described the role as "often the graveyard of political careers." It was actually quite brave of the UUP to take it (and let's not forget that last week there were divisions within the UUP about whether they should take an Executive position at all), although at that point the only other post left was Agriculture. But for a party in need of profile, Health makes more sense- even with all the risks involved. Two other surprises: Diane Dodds, who only became an MLA a couple of weeks ago, is now Economy minister; while Deidre Hargey, replacing Mairtin O Muilleoir in South Belfast just after Christmas, is responsible for Communities. It's worth noting that Foster has surrounded herself with people who have been politically close and loyal to her during what has been a very difficult three years- Peter Weir (Education), Edwin Poots (Agriculture/Environment) and Diane Dodds. Again, a signal that she feels safe. While it wasn't a given, either, that Alliance would go back into the Executive, Naomi Long is now Justice Minister. She has been a councillor, MLA, MP, MEP, party leader and now minister, which is, I think, a record of some sort in UK politics. The only jobs left are First Minister or Prime Minister. That said, Justice is a tough job and she'll need more than her usual feistiness to get her through difficult and unpopular decisions. Of the eight ministers only three, Conor Murphy (Finance), Peter Weir and Edwin Poots have served in the Executive before and all three emerged with their reputations enhanced--which isn't always the case with former ministers. The five new ministers, Long, Swann, Dodds, Nichola Mallon (Infrastructure) and Hargey are all experienced politicians, yet it will be interesting to see how they rise to what is usually the greatest challenge of any political career. What will also be interesting to see is how they work together in what will be a very critical exercise in proving that this rebooted Executive won't repeat the same squabbling and silo mentality of its predecessors. Today was a good day in the Assembly. But every day won't be as good and the smiling, civility and congratulations won't always be front and centre. The most important thing now is that there is a huge opportunity for this new Executive to collectively make everyday life better for so many people in so many ways, as well as instilling some much-needed confidence into Northern Ireland. Let's hope the opportunity isn't squandered. Republican Georgia Rep. Doug Collins apologized Friday for having said, earlier in the week, that Democrats are in love with terrorists and that they have grieved over the death of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani more than they mourn our Gold Star families. (Gold Star families are the families of U.S. veterans who have died in combat.) I do not believe Democrats are in love with terrorists, Collins now says. Great; thats good. But former South Carolina Gov. and Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley hasnt apologized for saying that the only ones mourning the loss of Soleimani are our Democrat leadership and Democrat presidential candidates. And here are some of the many things Doug Collins hasnt apologized for: spreading the conspiracy theory that national security officials changed whistleblower rules in order to allow a complaint about Donald Trumps behavior toward Ukraine to go forward; insisting, despite a lack of evidence, that an official corruption investigation of the Biden family is justified, and that Joe Biden is the only one whos done a quid pro quo; demanding that Nancy Pelosi be sanctioned under House rules for (correctly) describing Trumps go back to where they came from tweet about four nonwhite Democratic congresswomen as racist; participating in the enormously wasteful and ultimately unsuccessful multiyear effort to blame Hillary Clinton for the deaths of Americans in Benghazi, Libya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this is instructive context for the ongoing Democratic preoccupation with the concepts of unity and its evil twin divisiveness. Primed by some of their leading presidential candidates, many Democrats have taken to hoping for a nominee who can create unity by winning over Republicans. Joe Biden says every few weeks that he believes Republicans in Congress will work with his administration after having a post-Trump epiphany. Pete Buttigieg has risen in Iowa polls while delivering a stump speech that paints a picture Americans coming together in the tender moment after Trump leaves office and often brings up his previous job as a mayor in Mike Pences Indiana to suggest that hell have crossover appeal. Amy Klobuchar is explicitly looking for support in Iowa counties where many people voted for Obama in 2012 and Trump in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement On the flip side, voters, pundits, and rivals have often expressed concern that Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren will be insufficiently unifying because they criticize wealthy people in their speeches and hold progressive economic views that may alienate some segments of the public. (It was not hard to figure out who Klobuchar was contrasting herself with when she said at the September debate that her candidacy was targeted to people who feel stuck in the middle of the extremes in our politics and are tired of the noise and the nonsense.) Advertisement Believing in the imminence of a truly national coming together, though, requires one to ignore the reactions that Haley, Collins, and other Republicans had to criticism of the Soleimani strike (and to ignore the rest of Collins public career). Democrats almost universally noted, in a ritual appeal to common American interests, that Soleimani was a bad guy who planned and ordered violence that killed civilians in a number of countries. Many then also observed that killing one specific bad guy from a country with which the United States is not formally at war by bombing a neutral countrys airport might end up causing more deaths than it prevents. Republicans responded not by disagreeing with their read on the strategic implications of the strike, but by suggesting that Democrats are sad that Soleimani is dead because they support his cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As my former colleague Osita Nwanevu observed, one notable attribute Haley and Collins share is that they are not Donald Trump. In fact, both are poised to be major parts of the post-Trump GOP: Haley is only 47 and seems to be setting herself up as a 2024 presidential candidate, and Collins, who is the ranking minority member of the House Judiciary Committee, may run for Georgias open Senate seat this fall. Their statements about Democratic support for terrorism were delivered before Trump had said anything on the subject and echoed common claims that were made about Barack Obama before Trump was an important part of the party. Advertisement Advertisement These are the kinds of Republicans that the next Democratic president will be dealing with. They wont be punished at the polls for their commentsit was a surprise that Collins apologizedbecause most Republican voters agree with them: As writer Matt OBrien highlighted this week, a 2019 Pew poll found that 63 percent of Republican voters consider Democrats to be less patriotic than other Americans. (Only 19 percent of Democratic voters said Republicans are less patriotic than other Americans.) Forty-three percent of Republicans believe Obama is literally Muslim. Are these voters chosen representatives going to work with Joe Biden to pass gun control? Hahahahahahahaha! No, they are going to vote to impeach him, probably for Benghazi. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Public Policy Polling organization released results of polls conducted in Arizona and Iowa, two 2020 tipping-point states that Trump won over Hillary Clinton by 3.5 and 10 points, respectively, but which have since seen Democrats flip congressional seats. Heres how the group summarized its findings: Trumps position would be much, much worse if voters who dont like himor even just those voters who voted against him in 2016end up unifying around the eventual Democratic nominee. In Arizona more than 80% of the undecideds in every match up between Trump and the individual Democratic candidates disapproves of Trump. And the undecideds also voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 by anywhere from 45-50 points. If you allocate the undecideds based on whether they approve of Trump or not, all of the Democrats move into leads ranging from 4-6 points. Its a similar story in Iowa. Trumps approval rating with the voters who are undecided ranges from 3 to 7%, and the undecided group voted for Clinton over Trump by an average of 31 points. If you allocate the undecideds based on Trump approval Buttigieg takes a 2 point lead and the other three Democrats all tie with Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winning in 2020 will require unity that the Democrats have not yet achieved. But it wont be unity between their own moderates and mythical moderate Republicans; itll be between Democratic moderates, leftists, young Democrats, old Democrats, 2016 nonvoters, and independents whove always been put off by Trump. That, rather than a John Kasich VP nomination, is their winning coalition. In that light, which current candidate is the best option? On paper, its Biden, who combines a reassuring, statesmanlike resume with an Obama association that should help him with nonwhite and young people. But Biden has run a limited campaign that has persuaded basically no younger Democrats to support him. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have drawn significant numbers of women and working-class voters, respectively, into mini-coalitions with the younger lefty types who also support them, and they have economic proposals that should go over well in the Rust Belt. But they are also perceived by many voters as being too radical. Pete Buttigieg has no nonwhite support. Much of the time, Amy Klobuchars campaign seemingly only exists to demotivate progressives. Cory Booker is promising in the abstract: Hes the former mayor of a majority-black city but has won statewide in a state thats 72 percent white, has a decent record of supporting progressive legislation but is good at charming donors and other business Democrats, and has been a lively, non-gaffe-committing presence at debates. He is also polling at 1.8 percent nationally. In summary, congratulations to future president Tom Steyer. LAS VEGAS As this year's Consumer Electronics Show got underway in Las Vegas, cities and states across the country readied themselves for the potentiality of a cyberattack from Iran . Vegas itself, was saddled with a cyberincident on the opening day of the show, which made the remarks at the CES sessionseem all the more urgent.Panelists from the cyber industry discussed the emerging world of data and interconnectedness, agreeing that by making communities and products "smarter" they were ironically making them that much more vulnerable to cyberattack."A lot of people think 'I'm not susceptible to being hacked because I'm not driving around in a Tesla.' But any car made after 2001 is connected to GSM [the Global System for Mobile Communications] and is a target," said panelist Alissa Knight, of Knight Ink, a marketing and advertising firm focused on cybersecurity.Knight, a self-admitted "recovering hacker" who described her life and transition from Black Hat lawbreaker to White Hat cyberprofessional as the "typical Hollywood story.""I hacked into a government network in 1997. I was caught, I was arrested, and I went to go work for the U.S. government in cyberwarfare," said Knight. But the world of hacking and cyberwar, which was mostly about defacing government websites at the time, has changed immensely since then, she said."It's one thing to deface a website, it's another thing to take control of a car that your family is in," she said.Knight would know, since she's spent the last few years hacking into cars and manipulating them for research purposes. From a remote location, Knight is typically able to control a car's steering wheel, push the gas or pump the brakes, she said, admitting that in one particular case she accidentally ran the test car into the side of a building.These powers in the wrong hands pose grave security risks, she warned."Why fly a plane into a building when you can just do it from your cave and cause just as much panic through terrorism remotely?" Knight posed.Ami Dotan, CEO of Karamba Security, said the risk is amplified by the fact that hacking tools are now very accessible. He gave the audience some examples of exposed systems his team could find by using Internet scanning tools that anyone could download: controls for gas stations, electric vehicles, even a high-rise's emergency generator. Many devices, designed for connectivity and convenience, have built-in and obvious weaknesses, he said."We don't want to waste time, we love those gadgets that make a life easier and more efficient," said Dotan. "But connectivity comes with a huge risk."The hacking crisis is made worse by the urbanization of communities around the globe, a trend that is creating exponentially more data approximately 16.5 zettabytes and counting and the task of securing that data is becoming increasingly more difficult, said Sameer Sharma, Intel's general manager for IoT Solutions."Three million people are moving into urban areas every week. ... When we are bringing all these people in, we are also creating a lot more data," Sharma explained.Because of this, he advocates for taking a "data-centric" view of cybersecurity that takes into account how urban populations are directly tied to data creation.Panelists generally agreed that solutions for city officials would have to be diverse and multifaceted and could include regulations, but also that the solutions start with the relationship between the vendor and the consumer.Knight said she felt that an increased consumer knowledge and focus on cybersecurity could help pressure vendors to be more responsible with their designs. Dotan agreed and advocated for normalizing cybersecurity standards, much the same way that working airbags are considered basic security for a car. Security should be viewed as a marketing advantage, he added."If consumers are aware that cybersecurity is an issue and that [a lack of] it makes a platform less safe, then they will require it [from vendors]," said Dotan.Information security officers also need to be able to better at cataloguing the devices under their domain to better protect them, Knight said."You can't protect what you don't know you have," she said. "If there's anyone in the audience in charge of security for their city, one of the most systemic problems that I've found in my career is that a lot of CISOs ... don't have asset catalogs, they don't know how many CCTV cameras they have, and they don't know who's patching them. That's a huge problem." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, had just announced that the couple would be moving to North America and relinquishing their duties as senior members of the royal family, according to the Official Sussex Instagram page. And now the couple is sharing their tentative travel plans, as well as, what they intend to do for security purposes while living across the pond. After countless questions were asked regarding the logistics and their protection, the Official Sussex website addressed those concerns. Related: Oprah Winfrey Offered Advice to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Their Royal Exit Prince Harry is now 'The Rebel With A Cause' Madame Tussauds Wastes No Time Removing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle From Royal Display Prince Charles, William's Reaction to Harry and Meghan Leaving is 'Rage', Queen Highly Concerned Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Not So "Financially Independent" After All Travel Logistics to be Independent of UK Taxpayer Dollars The first official statement addressed the financial aspects of their travel and all affiliated logistics, confirming that any expenses would be paid for by the couple, themselves, not any of the United Kingdom taxpayers. "All travel arrangements undertaken by The Duke and Duchess in their private time have always been and will continue to be paid for privately and not by UK taxpayers," the statement began. "With their transition to becoming members of the Royal Family with financial independence, this will continue to be the case. Wherever possible and unless advised otherwise on security grounds, their logistical arrangements are undertaken via commercial air carriers, local trains and fuel-efficient vehicles, be it for official or personal travel." Previous Criticisms for Flying Private Jets on Vacaction The nod to commercial airliners is in response, not only to previous criticisms of the carbon impact of a private jet but also to further develop their independence as it comes to being more of a civilian than members of the royal family. Story continues The Sussex's were recently criticized in 2019 for taking a private jet for a vacation to Ibiza, Spain and then to Nice, France, despite the knowledge of the carbon footprint the airliner was putting out in the atmosphere. People on social media were quite to call them out for not using a more economical, commercial airplane. The Unknowns of Security That Will Be Needed or Provided As for security purposes, Prince Harry and Markle have also been working on the logistics of that, as well. They continued their statement with information on how they planned to remain safe living in a new country, after all, even though they won't be on the payroll of the United Kingdom, they both are still very public figures and will require the best security possible, however, they are not able to comment directly on this. According to the Metropolitan Police, "No breakdown of security costs is available as disclosure of such information could compromise the integrity of these arrangements and affect the security of the individuals protected," their website read. "It is long-established policy not to comment upon the protective security arrangements and their related costs for members of the Royal Family or their residences." Uncertainty on When the Move Will Take Place or Where The final itinerary for the move has not yet been determined and it is unlikely that it will occur sooner than later. There will be much to be done in regard to official documentary changes, as well as, the purchasing of a property in North America, amongst other hurdles. It is also not known to what extent Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will retain royal duties, as they are not completely cutting ties with the family. In a statement Wednesday by the couple, their move was predicated on gaining their own financial independence to start a new life for their 8-mont-old son, Archie, as well as, create an avenue to begin their own charitable organization. The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Saturday accused the BJP of running a proxy government in the Union territory and widening the gap between the people and administration, leading to the piling up of common man's problems. It said for the relaxation of security clampdown and restoration of people's liberties, allowing the resumption of usual political activities of "genuine" mainstream leadership and make the administration accountable to the people in J&K, all hopes are now pinned on the apex court. "The BJP is busy distracting people's attention from real issues to escape its duty in absence of any meaningful political process amid the prevailing situation in the erstwhile state," J&K Pradesh Congress Committee said in a statement here. It alleged that "the doors of high offices in the UT administration are open to the BJP and affiliated people only" and there is no institution in the government left to take a call for redressal of people's grievances as a result the gap between them and the administration. The widening gap between people and the administration, in turn, is leading to the piling up of problems, the J&K Congress alleged. It said unlike the BJP functionaries, the opposition is being denied all facilities and liberties to expresses the people's resentment and anger against the maladministration. The Congress statement said the BJP, after failing in its "mission 44 plus" of securing more than 44 seats in the 88-member House in the erstwhile state during the 2014 assembly polls, experimented "north pole-south pole" misadventure of forming alliance government with the PDP for its lust for power and it brought havoc in the state. The BJP subsequently made an abortive bid to install its own government and is "now running a proxy government, without allowing any voice of difference or political dissent with its political philosophy", it said. The J&K Congress alleged "the administration is obliged to take directions from the local BJP leaders, who continue to preside over official functions like inaugurations of public works against all settled norms of governance and democracy". "No one in the administration dares to question such unauthorised acts by former ministers and ex-legislators of BJP," the JKPCC said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trump administration announced Thursday that one of the countrys oldest and most prominent environmental laws is set to be gutted, potentially allowing major energy and infrastructure projects to avoid significant federal and public scrutiny leaving states like Alabama at greater risk, say experts. The National Environmental Protection Act, which enjoyed broad bipartisan support under the Nixon Administration, has formed a bedrock of environmental regulation in the United States for 50 years, and is a policy so revered it has been copied by dozens of other nations. It legally requires all federal agencies to consider the environmental consequences of its actions through impact statements and assessments. It also allows the public, activists and environmental groups to remain knowledgeable throughout the review process. The Trump administration, which has rolled back dozens of environmental laws since coming into power in 2017, wants to do away with many of the acts legal requirements while streamlining the environmental review process. Projects with minimal federal funding or involvement would forgo any assessment at all, while other projects would require either a one or two-year review process, according to new policy documents published on the Federal Register website Friday. Mining companies routinely describe permitting delays as their top concern. The new rules released yesterday by the White House would dramatically accelerate NEPA reviews for mines and land leases.https://t.co/nEn9x14nqu E&E News (@EENewsUpdates) January 10, 2020 Environmental experts in Alabama, one of the most ecologically diverse states in the nation, say the rollback will mean the public could be shut out of the process altogether. Losing NEPA means we lose our ability to probably both know what the environmental impacts are gonna be for a project and even knowing what projects are being proposed, said Casi Callaway, executive director of the Mobile Baykeeper, a Gulf Coast-based environmental group. And certainly we would lose our ability to weigh in on those projects. In 1998, the Baykeeper was able to use NEPA provisions to oppose the Highway 98 construction plan because of the potential it would pollute Mobiles public drinking water. Eight years later, the Baykeeper took legal action against the Alabama Department of Transportation after construction caused mud and dirt to fill Big Creek Lake. The legal action forced ALDOT to improve stormwater and hazardous material containment on the project and actually raises Alabamas standards for future roadway construction. While proposals for a new gas unit at Alabama Powers Barry Plant are unlikely to be affected by the White House rollbacks, Callaway says it could make it more difficult for the public to fight the long-proposed road that would connect the Foley Beach Expressway to Orange Beach. Essentially it would go straight through the only maritime forest left on the northern Gulf Coast, said Callaway. Its protected by federal designation and by state designation, but its the kind of road project that could go through without public comment, opposition or protection if these new rules are passed." The oil and gas industry, alongside trade unions, have long called for a more streamlined process in obtaining authorization for major projects. The governments proposal noted that some simple reviews were taking as long as six years. The step were taking today, which will ultimately lead to final regulations, I believe will hit a home run in delivering better results to the American people, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said on Thursday. The public will have a 60-day window to make comments about the changes and then two public hearings will be held before a final regulation is issued, which could come as soon as the fall. However, the proposal is likely to be challenged in court and may not be complete until after the next election, said Callaway. It comes just four months after the Trump administration scrapped the controversial anti-pollution Water of the United States rule, which was designed to better define bodies of water governed by the 70s-era Clean Water Act. Since President Trump came to power nearly three years ago, he has made it common policy to roll back environmental regulations, making it easier for industry to avoid certain checks and balances created under Obama and previous presidents. Trump has successfully rolled back 58 different federal regulations and has 37 in the process of being changed or scrapped, according to a New York Times study. In many cases, the federal government handed over authority to the states, noted the study. Infrastructure permitting red tape is out of control! The Trump administration's latest actions could change that. https://t.co/zb1MQhWX1c Power The Future (@powerthefuture) January 10, 2020 While the proposals will help speed along projects, some of which have been under review for as long as 20 years, it will leave the environment at greater risk, said Stephen Stetson, a senior member of the Alabama chapter of the Sierra Club, an influential grassroots environmental organization. Im old enough to remember back when we used to want the government to be careful before taking a wrecking ball to things, said Stetson. Now, I guess were in too much of a rush for short-term profits to really care any more about protecting the environment. He added: When the government proposes a new dam or roador when a private company seeks to build a project like a pipeline that needs a federal permitNEPA requires the federal agency associated with the project to take several steps before breaking ground. Thats smart policy and gutting these protections is bad for Alabama. Nguyen Thi My Dung, a senior at the College of Foreign Economic Relations in Ho Chi Minh City, was shocked when she walked by an abandoned charity bread box on Cao Thang Street and saw the box filled with nothing but garbage. Frustrated that the charity box, originally meant to help underprivileged members of the community, had apparently been forgotten by the community it was meant to help, Dung was inspired to breathe new life into the idea of local bread boxes for the needy. She brought the bread box to the local coffee shop where she works part-time and convinced the owner to let her place it in front of the store. Touched by Dungs compassion, the owner even decided to donate a small portion of the shops daily profits to help keep the box filled. Now, the once-forgotten bread box is filled with 100 freshly delivered loaves each day which the coffee shop staff carefully put on display in the case. A bottle of soya sauce and a can of condensed milk are also placed on top of the box for those who wish to add a bit of flavor to their bread. A man prepares a bread as a woman fills her bottle with iced tea at a free bread box donated by college student Nguyen Thi My Dung in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Each person who visits the box is asked to limit themselves to one loaf and once the bread runs out the box is brought inside for storage. Many people know about our bread box and have donated soya sauce and condensed milk to help us. Some people have even bought more bread to put in the showcase," said Dang Tien Tri, the coffee shops 45-year-old manager. "Together we can change the world." 72-year-old Nguyen Thi Than, a local lottery ticket seller, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the loaf of bread she takes each day from the box keeps her stomach full and enables her to save a bit of extra money to take care of her sick husband in her hometown. Different from regular bread boxes, Dungs free bread box is not only 'sweet' because of the condensed milk, but also because of the love of the many people who contribute to its upkeep in order to help the community. College student Nguyen Thi My Dung cleans a container which she uses to store free bread for those in need in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Coffee shop manager Dang Tien Tri and his staff carry a charity bread box donated by college student Nguyen Thi My Dung onto the sidewalk in Ho Chi Minh City at 6:30 am in the morning. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Delicious loaves of bread are neatly stored in a charity bread box donated by college student Nguyen Thi My Dung in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre A man prepares his breakfast using bread, condensed milk, soya sauce, and chili sauce available at a charity bread box donated by college student Nguyen Thi My Dung in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong/ Tuoi Tre A charity bread box donated by college student Nguyen Thi My Dung is located at one end of Le Van Sy Bridge in District 3, Ho Chi Minh city. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre A man restocks condensed milk at a charity bread box donated by college student Nguyen Thi My Dung in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Strong gales of up to 80mph are set to sweep across parts of the UK on Monday. The Met Office has warned coastal routes and communities could be particularly affected by Storm Brendan as large waves batter seafronts. Yellow weather warnings are in place for Northern Ireland, much of the western half of the UK and the north east of Scotland from 12pm on Monday to midnight. Frank Saunders, of the Met Office, said the UK and Ireland will turn increasingly windy throughout Monday as the storm, named by Irish forecaster Met Eireann, sweeps in. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) He said: Its going to be windy across the western half of the UK, with gusts reaching 60-70mph along Irish Sea coastlines, the west of Scotland and perhaps some English Channel coasts maybe even 80mph in a few exposed places. Mr Saunders added the severe conditions could cause travel disruption, and those in affected areas are advised to take extra care when driving on exposed routes such as bridges or high open roads. Looking further ahead to the rest of next week, he said: It looks like its going to stay very unsettled with the potential for further disruptive weather in places. On Saturday, strong winds and heavy rain battered parts of Scotland, causing road closures and rail disruption. The main A1 road from the English border up to the Edinburgh area was closed to high-sided vehicles for several hours. A former Party Secretary in the northern Ha Giang Province has been reprimanded over violations committed in the conduct of national high school exams in 2018. The decision to punish Trieu Tai Vinh, Deputy Head of the Communist Party's Central Economic Commission and former Party Secretary of Ha Giang, was issued by the Politburo at a meeting Friday, following recommendations made by the Party Central Inspection Committee last month. The Politburo held Vinh responsible as the then head of the provincial Party unit for letting the serious violations occur during the 2017-2018 national high school exam, when many students had their grades raised to earn entry into leading universities. The violations have resulted in several Ha Giang cadres and Party members being disciplined or criminally prosecuted, including those directly under the Party unit's charge. Vinh's daughter was also found to be among the students with their results altered, with her total score being 5.4 higher than the actual value. "At first, when I heard my daughter earned a very high score, I thought she will go to university this year. After learning her score was altered, I asked her about it and felt a bit sad. How her score was altered, I dont know," Vinh had said last July. Party inspectors found Vinh displayed a lack of responsibility in leading and directing the task of inspecting, supervising, reviewing, detecting and handling the violations. He also failed to strictly comply with regulations on the Party's leadership role over law enforcement agencies in handling organizations and individuals that committed violations. He was indecisive, loose and failed to take timely action, the inspection found. The former provincial Party chief also evaded responsibility after his sister was found to have committed violations in the exam fraud, failing to lead by example as required by the Party. "The violations and shortcomings of Trieu Tai Vinh have negatively affected the reputations of the local Party unit, local government and himself," the Office of the Party Central Committee said in a statement. The scandal The 2018 national high school exam fraud, which covered the three northern provinces of Ha Giang, Hoa Binh and Son La, has seen numerous officials arrested or disciplined for their involvement. Last November, five senior education officials in Ha Giang were sentenced to jail for one to eight-year terms for abusing their power for personal gains, ranging from one to eight-year jail terms. Nguyen Thanh Hoai, former head of the Testing and Quality Assurance unit under Ha Giang's Education Department, received the longest jail term of eight years. Investigations revealed that over 200 students taking their exams in the three provinces had their results altered. Dozens of students from top universities have since been expelled or have voluntarily dropped out after their scores were corrected. Last October, Vinhs sister Trieu Thi Giang, deputy head of the external economic relations division of Ha Giang's Department of Planning and Investment, was reprimanded by the provincial Party Inspection Committee for pulling strings to raise the score of his daughter. The inspection committee however concluded that Vinh and his wife "did not know about this and did not know who altered their daughter's results." Vietnam's Communist Party has four modes of punishment for misconduct by official members: reprimand, warning, demotion and expulsion. Vinh's wife, Pham Thi Ha, Deputy Director of Ha Giang's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was warned by the inspection committee to "thoroughly review and learn from her experience" for letting her sister-in-law meddle in the conduct of the examination. In September 2016, information about several family members of Vinh holding senior positions in Ha Giang Province was widely shared on social media. In response to the incident, Vinh told VnExpress that "the appointment process complies with the provisions of the Party and the state," adding that he "is not happy about the fact that my family members have been elected and appointed to be seniors." The 51-year-old official, who belongs to the Dao ethnic minority group, is a native of Ha Giang. He was appointed Deputy Head of the Central Economic Committee last July. Pakistan Army on Saturday rejected the remarks by Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane to launch action across the Line of Control (LoC), saying it was fully prepared to respond to any act of Indian aggression. At a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday ahead of the Army Day on January 15, Gen Naravane said that his force can take control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) if it gets orders from the political authority. Pakistan Army also said that the statements made by the Indian Army chief usually are routine rhetoric for domestic audiences to get out of the internal turmoil. "Statements by Indian Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) to undertake military action across LOC are routine rhetoric for domestic audiences to get out of ongoing internal turmoil, Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet. "Pakistan Armed Forces are fully prepared to respond to any act of Indian aggression, he said. A resolution by Parliament in February 1994 stated that Pakistan must vacate the areas of Jammu and Kashmir, which it has occupied through aggression, and resolved that all attempts made by Islamabad to interfere in India's internal affairs will be dealt with resolutely. Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up support against India for withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5 and bifurcating it into two union territories. Reacting sharply to India's decision, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled India's high commissioner. India has categorically told the community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda. Most millennials, Gen Z dont view marriage, family formation as life goals: study Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment New research from Barna reveals that younger generations around the world are more interested in the pursuit of professional success than they are focused on family formation and building a home. The study, called "The Connected Generation Report," documents findings collected from over 15,000 interviews with young people in both the Gen Z and millennial generations in 25 nations and nine languages. The Barna group conducted the research along with Christian humanitarian organization World Vision. The nations selected for the study were based on countries and regions where Barna and World Vision receive frequent requests for research-based insights, the researchers noted in the report released Thursday. The survey was offered in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Romanian, Korean, Indonesian and Taiwanese. Among the survey participants, approximately half had both completed their education and become financially independent from their parents. Around 40 percent reported having traveled to other nations, begun a career, and becoming "spiritually mature." A quarter had prioritized getting married and caring for the poor; fewer still, 21 percent, said they prioritized purchasing a home. Practicing Christians who were surveyed led young adults in family formation, with nearly one-third stating that they had gotten married, 37 percent reported becoming a parent, and 53 percent said they had become more spiritually mature. The study distinguished between "practicing" and "non-practicing" Christians. "While family-oriented goals may climb higher on the list of priorities as these respondents move further into adulthood, nearly four in 10 young adults also aim to follow their dreams (38%) and about one in three wants to start a business (36%), travel to other countries (32%) or become financially independent from their parents (30%)," the Barna report noted. "Goals that did not make the top 10 list for young adults around the world include caring for the poor and needy (23%), becoming more mature spiritually (21%) and enjoying life before having more responsibilities (20%)." Numbers were notably higher among practicing Christians. The Barna data shows that 32 percent of practicing Christians expressed desire to care for the poor and needy in contrast to 21 percent of non-practicing Christians, 26 percent of young persons of non-Christian faiths, and 17 with no faith. The data also reveals that both millennials and Gen Zoomers are highly success-oriented, "with both generations moving further away from more traditional life goals of generations past to a life course that demands achievement or at least stability in their education, career and finances." Because of this, 40 percent of survey respondents in these younger generations indicated that they are as likely to feel optimistic about the future as they are uncertain about the future, in addition to afraid to fail and anxious about important decisions. Thirty-six percent reported feeling pressure to be successful. The report coheres with other survey data in recent years from reputable polling organizations which show that younger generations around the world, but especially in the U.S., are moving away from faith and are now categorized as "nones" those with no particular religious affiliation. Such a shift likely explains, in part, the trend of moving away from goals related to family formation, which is often associated with the active practice of faith. The region is under a wind advisory from Sunday morning through early afternoon as temperatures across Connecticut are expected to remain unseasonably warm. The advisory goes into effect at 4 a.m. Sunday and continues through 1 p.m. During the advisory period, residents can expect winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The strongest winds will likely take place around daybreak through mid-morning Sunday. This could result in downed tree limbs and unsecured objects being blown around, the advisory states. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Residents are urged to secure outdoor objects. Anyone hitting the roads, especially if driving a high profile vehicle, should use extra caution, the NWS said. The gusty winds will continue throughout the day but are forecast to drop below advisory levels by early afternoon. Despite the wind, the NWS predicts that unseasonably warm conditions will continue through the remainder of the weekend before a cold front pushes in cooler temperatures Monday. Overnight Saturday into Sunday, the temperature is expected to fall into the upper 50s to around 60 degrees typically the nighttime temperatures Connecticut sees in late May or early June. Temperature highs on Sunday will again climb into the 60s, with the potential to threaten previous temperature records. But Sunday night into Monday, temperatures will drop drastically into the upper 20s to mid-30s in the wake of the cold front. Highs on Monday will range from the mid- to upper-40s. While these temperatures are definitely a stiff drop from Saturday and Sundays highs, the NWS said these temperatures are still roughly 10 degree above normal for mid-January. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal In January 2018, about five minutes after they kicked in the door of a vacant apartment off east Central, four Albuquerque Police Department officers shot and killed a man they found hiding in a closet. Lapel camera video shows the officers opening fire as 24-year-old Daniel Saavedra leapt out into an empty bedroom, swinging a metal pipe, just feet from them. On Tuesday, Saavedras sister filed a wrongful death and loss of consortium lawsuit against the city, alleging the officers created a situation where they were forced to use deadly force. Saavedra, who has also been referred to as Arreola-Saavedra and Saavedra-Arreola, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. By entering the apartment and cornering Daniel, APD increased the likelihood that deadly force would need to be used against a person suffering psychosis, the lawsuit states. APD officers had their guns drawn when they opened the closet door. APD gave Daniel no verbal warning that they intended to use deadly force. Attorney Shannon Kennedy, who is representing the family, said this was a case of officer induced jeopardy. Rather than using proper protocol of cover and concealment they close distance putting themselves unnecessarily and unreasonably in a position of vulnerability, she said. The legal theory is called danger creation where officers create a dangerous situation then use deadly force. She said Saavedras family filed the suit to make the community safer, especially for people suffering from mental illnesses. His sister and his mother loved him very, very much, and theyre still devastated by the loss, Kennedy said. In response to questions about the allegations, an APD spokesman said he was not certain the city has been served with the suit. (When) that happens, the Legal Department will respond to the lawsuit in court, Gilbert Gallegos wrote in an email. The incident unfolded on the evening of Jan. 6, 2018, when police were called because Saavedra had broken into the vacant apartment at the Luna Lodge, on Central near Zuni. Saavedra used to live in the apartment and entered through the unlocked window. It is unclear why Daniel entered the apartment, but it is believed Daniel was suffering from psychosis, the lawsuit states. Officers Amy ODell, Elisa Valdez, Emmett Fritz and Bryce Willsey arrived at the scene. Lapel video released by APD shows them knocking on the front door, calling for anyone inside to exit, before kicking it in and entering. According to the lawsuit, the officers requested the SWAT team, but it refused to come. A SWAT unit has persons who are expert at communicating with mentally ill people, the suit states. SWAT would have been able to maintain the status quo while deploying people who could gain voluntary compliance from Daniel. Kennedy said the actions the officers took remind her of the time before the Department of Justice investigation and the federally mandated police reform effort. Its very much a throwback case to individuals acting without supervision, without direction, without a plan, without one voice and officer induced jeopardy where they placed themselves in harms way and necessitate unnecessary use of deadly force, she said. It is in an aberration; its shocking actually that this could take place after the Department of Justice (investigation) and the (Court Approved Settlement Agreement) being in place. Business Roundup The Irrawaddy Business Roundup The Asia World Port in Yangon. / Reuters The first week of 2020 has already passed, but the Myanmar government has yet to officially announce its economic reforms agenda for the year. Business has already begun in the new year in Myanmar, with new financial partnerships with Thai banks, jade emporiums in the capital, newly-exposed ownership information on extractive businesses and Western Unions decision to cut ties with military-owned Myawaddy Bank. This week, The Irrawaddy recaps some significant business activities and events in Myanmar. Thai Bank submits proposal to invest in Myanmar farmers bank Thailands fourth-largest commercial bank submitted a proposal to invest in Myanmars Ayeyarwady Farmers Development Bank (A Bank) as part of a plan to increase financial cooperation between the two banks. According to the Ministry of Information, an official from Thailands Kasikorn Bank (K Bank), formerly known as the Thai Farmers Bank, submitted an investment application on Wednesday in Naypyitaw to the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM). Founded in 2014, Ayeyarwaddy Farmers Development Bank, widely known as A Bank, was formed by a set of companies specializing in agriculture businesses throughout the supply chain. The bank mainly offers loans to the agriculture industry, as well as for rubber production, tourism, fisheries, livestock and construction. During the ceremony, the sides discussed opportunities the banking sectors of the two countries to cooperate to develop Myanmars economy, and the current cooperation between A Bank and K Bank. The ceremony was attended by CBM Governor U Kyaw Kyaw Maung, deputy governors and directors-general, Thai Ambassador Suphatra Srimaitreephithak, Assistant Governor Mrs Nawaron Dejusuvan from Thailands Central Bank, and officials from A Bank and K Bank. Myanmar and Thailand sign agreement for cross-border payments Myanmars Ayeyarwady Bank and Thailands Siam Commercial Bank inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for collaboration on cross-border payments and financial transfer services between the two countries. The MoU by the two private banks came after CBM and Bank of Thailand signed an MoU in October to promote the use of the Myanmar kyat and the Thai baht for cross-border payment and settlement between the two countries. The agreement also included commitments to collaborate in the areas of financial innovation and payments systems. Ayeyarwady Banks statement said that the agreement also aims to encourage payment of remittances from migrant workers through official channels and to enhance officials transfers from small and medium-sized enterprises along the border between the two countries. Gems and jade emporiums Myanmar fetched over 59 billion kyats (US$40.1 million) in jade and gem lots at the gem emporium held from Jan. 2-7 in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, according to the Myanma Gems Enterprise. Myanma Gems Enterprise said that through the open tender system, a total of 3,695 jade lots and 286 gem lots were put on sale. More than 2,000 gem merchants attended the sale and 3,491 of the jade lots were sold out during the six days. Nine of the gem lots, worth over 36 million kyats, were also sold out. In the previous gem emporium, over 60 billion kyats of gem lots were sold out. Disclosure of beneficial ownership information of extractive businesses A government investment agency, the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), has publicized beneficial ownership information of over 120 extractive companies and state-owned enterprises for the first time on its website, aiming to increase transparency in the sector. According to the DICA, Myanmar collected data on beneficial owners, their links to politically-exposed persons and other related information for 158 companies and 5 state-owned enterprises operating in the countrys mineral, pearl, jade, colored gemstone and oil and gas production and transportation industries in November and December 2019. These same companies were involved in the 4th Myanmar Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (MEITI) report covering 2016 and 2017. On Friday, DICA said that out of 163 companies which fall under the scope for disclosure, 18 companies disclosed some data but did not submit them and 24 companies did not disclose any data. DICA said that 121 extractive companies and state-owned enterprises both disclosed and submitted their beneficial owners and related information to the taskforce. Myanmar submitted its Beneficial Ownership Roadmap to the International EITI Secretariat in December 2016. In 2018, Myanmar formed a taskforce for the implementation of the roadmap. Western Union cuts ties with military-owned bank Western Union, a US-based global financial transfer service, has cut ties with Myanmars militaryowned Myawaddy Bank after human rights organizations called on the company to sever its links in light of accusations that the military is responsible for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Burma Campaign for UK (BCUK) said on Tuesday that it received the notification from Western Union that the company has stopped using military-owned Myawaddy Bank as one of its agents in Myanmar after reviewing relevant regulatory requirements and Western Unions own policies. Myawaddy Bank is a subsidiary of a military business conglomerate, Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL). BCUK said that profits from Myawaddy bank benefit the Myanmar military. In October, 33 human rights organizations sent an open letter to Western Union president Hikmet Ersek calling on him to end the companys relationship with Myanmars military, known as the Tatmadaw, which has been accused by UN investigators of being responsible for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The group said that by partnering with Myanmars generals, Western Union was risking its reputation and that of its top management. In December 2018, BCUK named and shamed a total of 49 companies worldwide, including Western Union, that do business with Myanmars military in the human rights groups Dirty List of firms. The companies work in sectors including energy, telecommunications and arms and military equipment. They are headquartered in countries including China, France, India, Japan, Norway, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the UK, Ukraine, the US and Vietnam. The UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar also urged the international community to cut ties with the countrys military and the companies that it controls and relies on. The UN Fact-Finding Mission said that any foreign business activity involving the Tatmadaw and its conglomerates MEHL and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) poses a high risk of contributing to, or being linked to, violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Govt Denies Its Move to Allow Officials to Import Cars Tax-Free Is Vote Grab Myanmar, China to Sign Agreements on SEZ, Border Economic Cooperation During President Xis Visit Mysterious Signs of Impending China-Backed Railway Worry Villagers in Myanmars Shan State Haze covers Thang Long Highway in Hanoi on December 14, 2019. Photo by VnExpress. Hazardous air quality may cause damages worth 5 percent to Vietnams GDP as foreign investors lower funding, heard the Vietnam Business Forum. "Prolonged air pollution will lower foreign companies' investment in Vietnam," Miura Nobufumi, chairman of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in Vietnam, told the forum on Friday. Lower investment would lead to slower economic growth in the country, he said. Water pollution is another major concern among overseas investors, with industrial and private discharge increasing river pollution beyond the national safety limit, he stressed. The Vietnamese government should standardize and tighten environmental regulations as a matter of urgency, with Japan willing to provide technical assistance, it was added. Vietnams biggest cities Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi last year regularly choked on haze, the air quality index (AQI) of each hitting very unhealthy levels. Officials blame low air quality in both cities on construction, the growing number of cars and motorcycles and heavy industry, including steel works, cement factories and coal-fired plants. Vietnam's GDP grew at 7.08 percent in 2018, the highest in a decade, to $223.9 billion. The country's economic growth reached 7.02 percent last year. A school student interning at Nasa helped to discover a planet with two stars, the agency has announced. In 2019, Wolf Cukier joined Nasas Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland, US, as a summer intern, and helped to discover a planet now named TOI 1338 b on his third day at the agency. He said: 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. 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. Mr Cukiers job was to examine variations in star brightness captured by Nasas Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and upload them to TESSs citizen science project. Our @NASAExoplanets mission @NASA_TESS has found its first planet with two suns , located 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Pictor. A @NASAGoddard intern examined TESS data, first flagged by citizen scientists, to make this discovery: https://t.co/ADydGfx1uc pic.twitter.com/hkgCYYW5AQ NASA (@NASA) January 7, 2020 The TESS mission began searching for planets in the summer of 2018, and has now discovered its first circumbinary planet, a world orbiting two stars. The newly-discovered planet, TOI 1338 b, is around 6.9 times larger than Earth. One of its stars is about 10% larger than our Sun, while the other star is cooler, dimmer and only one-third the Suns mass. The planet lies in a system 1,300 light years away from the Earth in the constellation Pictor. TOI 1338 bs discovery was featured in a Nasa panel discussion on Monday in Honolulu, Hawaii. A paper, co-authored by Mr Cukier along with scientists from Goddard, San Diego State University, the University of Chicago and other institutions, has been submitted to a scientific journal. Marilyn Amobi, the embattled Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company Limited (NBET) reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday was indicted by Nigerias main anti-corruption agencies over corruption allegations. Apart from the two main anti-graft agencies, EFCC and ICPC, Nigerias auditor-general also found Ms Amobi culpable of maladministration. PREMIUM TIMES reported how President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday overruled the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, by reversing the suspension of Ms Amobi. The agency has also been moved from the ministry of power to the ministry of finance, an action described by sources in the agency as curious. On December 24, Ms Amobi was suspended by Mr Mamman, who claimed that the move was in continuation of the governments effort to reorganise and sanitise the Federal Ministry of Power and its affiliate agencies. Consequently, a five-member investigative committee was constituted to probe the myriad complaints leveled against Ms Amobi. The suspension of Ms Amobi came after PREMIUM TIMES reported how she instigated the arrest and detention for several hours of nine top officials of the bulk trader by the State Security Services (SSS, also called DSS). The embattled MD had been accused of abuse and intimidation of employees in recent time, with concerns over workplace safety and teamwork among staff members. On Thursday, Mr Buhari ordered the reversal of Ms Amobis suspension, with stakeholders expressing concerns over the decision to move the agency to the finance ministry. The president had earlier ordered the reversal of the suspension of the immediate past Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency, Damilola Ogunbiyi. The reason for Mr Buharis decision remains unclear Friday morning, as industry players await detailed information amid uncertainties. President Muhammadu Buhari [Photo: Presidency] Documents in possession of this newspaper, however, showed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Auditor-Generals Office indicted the embattled official in separate investigations. Sources at NBET and the power ministry told PREMIUM TIMES that it was because of these indictments that the power minister ordered her suspension. Ms Amobi has been in the eye of the storm over allegations of violation of procurement laws, fraudulent payments to generating companies, alleged maltreatment of staff, among other allegations. Previous Reports In February 2019, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Ms Amobi controversially paid at least N2 billion to two power generating companies and made illegal payments to law firms and other consultants. Documents obtained by Leaks NG a coalition of Nigerian newsrooms and civil society groups revealed that Ms Amobi, who was made the substantive boss of NBET in July 2016, was also involved in a series of corrupt acts such as subversion of board approvals and infraction of procurement laws. In 2017, the report showed that Ms Amobi made a request to the Accountant-General for officials from his office to be transferred to NBET to head the Internal Audit and Finance departments. Inside sources alleged that she made this request because she felt the officials who headed the department at NBET were standing in her way. Earlier in April 2018, this newspaper had reported how NBET budgeted $96,350 for the eight lawmakers to attend the 43rd international training programme on utility regulation and strategy; but cancelled the trip for undisclosed reasons. Despite the cancellation, however, a source within NBET told PREMIUM TIMES that the fund was approved and money released to the lawmakers. In the midst of the controversies, PREMIUM TIMES detailed the travails and persecution of Abdullahi Sambo, a whistleblower in the agency who was redeployed under controversial circumstances. He and Waziri Bintube, another staff who acted as (acting) MD in the agency, petitioned anti-graft agencies on the allegations. Mr Sambo maintained that his redeployment and subsequent predicament at NBET was not unconnected to his whistle-blowing efforts on Ms Amobi, whom he accused of mismanagement and misappropriation of funds. EFCC, ICPC Reports In March 2019, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) said its investigations indicted Ms Amobi and the commission vowed to prosecute her and others indicted for violation of the countrys procurement act. In a letter to the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, the ICPC noted that Ms Amobi was found guilty in at least five of the many allegations levelled against her. Nigerias Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. [PHOTO CREDIT: Osinbajos official twitter account] Allegations made against the NBET chief include disregard for procurement laws, illegal funding of foreign trip for federal lawmakers, six years payment for office furniture for a four-year tenure and sidelining of due process in the purchase of Ms Amobis vehicles. Other allegations include that Ms Amobi funded NBETs expenditure without appropriation from the National Assembly, authorised withdrawals from the Central Bank to fund unnecessary training, sanctioned transfer of staff illegally and stopped payment of salaries to two management staff. The commission said Ms Amobi, like other indicted persons, violated the countrys procurement Act, 2007 and ICPC Act, 2000. The letter, signed by the ICPC Chairman, Bolaji Owosanye, disclosed that the NBET MD faltered in areas of procurement and fund approvals. The Respondent (MD) does not follow due process in award of contracts, the letter read. The Respondent (MD) makes payments before securing the required approvals. Advertisements The Respondent (MD) received excess furniture allowances of N22,646,328.48 above the approved N5,777,595.00 for CEOs of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The report also indicated that two management staff of NBET, Waziri Bintube and Abdullahi Sambo, were wrongfully dismissed. In the same vein, an Interim Investigation Report by the EFCC showed similar findings. The report, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, is dated February 26, 2019 and signed by the EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu The report, among others, revealed that Ms Amobi admitted to have collected 6 years rent and furniture allowance which is contrary to the harmonized salary structure as rent cannot be paid for more than two years. The report also said that the NBETs boss claim that her predecessor enjoyed same benefits before she assumed office was not tenable because, as head of the agency, she was supposed to correct abnormalities. The EFCC said that although its investigation was still on-going at the time, it was waiting for instruments used for transactions in Ms Amobis accounts to investigate other allegations. SGF Boss Mustapha Meanwhile, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAGF) in a report addressed to the management of NBET also accused the agency of gross violation of extant rules. The report, dated January 28, 2019, and seen by PREMIUM TIMES, was based on monitoring and evaluation of capital projects executed by the agency between June 2017 and June 2018. It was signed by A. Owolo, Director of Audit and Performance Audit Department. The report revealed that within the period, payments were made for a contract awarded to one A.K Usman to the tune of N21 million but it was not executed. The OAGF directed the NBET MD to recover the sum and institute disciplinary action against officers in charge. The report also alleged cases of contract splitting and outright breach of procurement law as NBET was said to have awarded three contracts for the same project/work, in different amount, in different award letters, and within short intervals to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. The report ordered the managing director of NBET to explain, within 21 days, reasons why she should not be sanctioned in line with section 58 (5a-b) of the PPA. There were other cases of variations of contract without approval, non-deduction of retention fee from contractors payment, unauthorized payment on international training, payment without supporting documents, among others. On over-expenditure and unrecovered flight tickets on international trainings in Florida and Denmark, the report said NBET acted in violation of Financial Regulation (FR) 2009, and the MD should immediately recover and refund to the treasury the sum of N1,400,572,30. The OAGF also accused the agency of denying auditors access to vital documents and financial details, saying it is a flagrant violation of extant laws. Curious Reinstatement Mr Buharis reinstatement of Ms Amobi and reported transfer of NBET to the ministry of finance on Thursday came as a surprise to many staff of the agency. Sources at the agency told PREMIUM TIMES that the development may not be unconnected to the relationship between the embattled MD and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed. Insiders in the agency said the move is a violation of the EPSR Act 2005, as the NBET is an agency that should be under the supervisory control of the Ministry of Power. How can you suddenly move such a crucial agency in the power sector to finance ministry; without any explanation or discussion. Something is definitely fishy, an official of the agency said. Although the ICPC report was made available to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo last year, it remains unclear whether Mr Buhari is aware of the various developments, particularly the indictments by the ICPC, EFCC and the auditor-general. PREMIUM TIMES also learnt that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, recently received an official communication from the power ministry containing all the official indictments of Ms Amobi. The SGF received the report from the power minister. The EFCC and ICPC reports were contained. I believe the SGF has forwarded it to the president, a top official at the SGFs office told this newspaper. The SGF, Mr Mustapha, did not return calls nor reply text messages sent to him on the matter. Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, did not also reply to PREMIUM TIMES enquiry on the matter on Friday. Calls and text message to his phone were not replied. Soon after that decision, state Republican leaders pushed for a November 2018 referendum to change the state constitution and require voters to present voter ID. And then, Republicans passed a law, known as Senate Bill 824, that implemented the voter ID requirement. The N.C. NAACP and several local chapters, including the Winston-Salem chapter, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the law. On Friday, attorneys for House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate Leader Phil Berger filed a motion asking to intervene in the lawsuit and to grant an emergency stay in Biggs decision. In a news release that Republicans sent out Friday, Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Burke) said, The votes of two million citizens to amend their own Constitution to require voter ID were thrown out by one unelected Democratic judge. The legislature will fight with every tool at our disposal to reverse this lawless decision that overturns the will of the people. Lakewood Democrat Nickie Antonio introduced her Ohio Fairness Act four times when she served in the Ohio House and has offered it again now that shes in the Ohio Senate. Its premise is simple -- to make sure that discrimination in housing, employment, education, credit and public accommodation thats specifically outlawed in Ohio based on gender, race, religion, national origin and the like is no longer permitted for reasons of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Support for this sort of equity is widespread. A 2013 survey found that nearly seven in ten Ohioans favor LGBTQ protections against job bias. Two years ago, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and hundreds of Ohio businesses that already offer such protections dramatically swung their support to the bill, citing workplace equity, job retention and job attraction needs. In other words, the lack of such LGBTQ protections is harming Ohios economy and its ability to attract top-flight talent. Our editorial board has repeatedly supported such legislation, noting in 2017 that, All Antonios bill seeks is fairness. That should be the goal of every right-thinking lawmaker in Columbus. The closest such a bill came to passage was in 2009, before Antonio was elected to the House, when a related bill sponsored by then-Reps. Dan Stewart, a Columbus Democrat, and Ross McGregor, a Springfield Republican, handily passed the Democratic-controlled House but died in the GOP-run Senate. Given the rising level of popular support since then, why hasnt the bill passed? Cleveland.com reporter Laura Hancock looked into that question recently. One part is the old story: insufficient support among Republicans at the Statehouse and a total lack of interest from leadership. Antonio, the only openly gay member of the legislature, told Hancock she thinks there are plenty of younger Republicans who back the bill but -- with the upcoming 2020 elections -- are reluctant to stick their necks out. On the other side of the equation appear to be both LGBTQ rights groups and religious conservatives unwilling to support a bipartisan compromise Antonio crafted in 2016 with then-GOP Rep Bill Hayes that also worked in religious freedom protections. Antonio remains optimistic a way forward can be found, however. So what could or should be done to get this bill into law in Ohio? Our Editorial Board Roundtable shares its perspectives. Jarvis DeBerry, cleveland.com columnist: Fairness demands that Ohio make it plain that nobody should be fired or otherwise discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. That shouldnt be controversial not even among people who believe their religion justifies their disapproval of LGBTQ people. We have a secular government, not a religious one, and our laws should explicitly prohibit discriminatory firings. Ted Diadiun, cleveland.com columnist: This is simply a full-employment act for plaintiffs lawyers, encouraging judicial mind-reading and making employers, landlords and school administrators guilty until proven innocent. There are very good laws already that protect people from unfairness and discrimination no matter what their sexual or gender identification, and the last thing we need is another law that creates yet another protected class. Thomas Suddes, editorial writer: Just one more example of how a clueless legislature can make Ohio look bad. Eric Foster, editorial board member: The act will not pass until these issues hit home for many Republican lawmakers. Rep. Hayes story about an impression being made on him when he met LGBTQ constituents in his district is similar to Sen. Rob Portmans shift on gay rights once his son told him he was gay. Empathy should not be this hard to come by. Lisa Garvin, editorial board member: We all know why this legislation probably wont pass. Its an election year, and Republican lawmakers are far more concerned with getting re-elected than carrying out the will of the people. And no, current laws do not include the LGBTQ community. Ohios population is aging and shrinking. We cannot afford to alienate anyone. Victor Ruiz, editorial board member: Why doesnt legislation like this have widespread support? Who is hurt by its passage? What is there to compromise? Its good for business, and all people. Theres only one explanation: bigotry. Progress needs to happen for all, and until we accept that in this state, we will continue to decline. Mary Cay Doherty, editorial board member: While Ohios fair-minded citizens oppose all forms of discrimination, sexual orientation and gender identity laws prove problematic. Though purported to shield victims from discrimination, the laws are often weaponized to trample religious freedom, squelch free speech, and upend Title IX. In considering legislation, lawmakers must tread carefully. New anti-discrimination laws cannot imperil the constitutional rights of others. Elizabeth Sullivan, opinion director, cleveland.com: If the two Larrys -- House Speaker Larry Householder and Senate President Larry Obhof -- wanted this bill to pass, it would. And they should want it. The Ohio Fairness Act would make Ohio a more attractive place to live, work, study and do business. That means both more tax money -- and more fairness for all our citizens. Have something to say about this topic? * Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Follow option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial board roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. With the hyperbole inherent in a politicized topic like student loans, it's important to step back and look at the data. The Department of Education recently published a quarterly report of the federal student loan portfolio with updated totals and information on what student debt looks like today.As of January 3, 2020, the federal student loan portfolio total is $1.51 trillion. The majority of those loans, 82 percent, are direct loans to students, another 17 percent are federal family education loans (such as parent PLUS loans and Stafford loans), and federal Perkins loans comprise less than .5 percent.Overall, loan applications have fallen by about 3 percent last year, continuing a trend that started in 2011. The population of high school graduates has dropped, and colleges have received fewer incoming students as a result.For current borrowers, though, income-driven repayment plans, wherein payments are determined by a borrower's income, have grown in popularity. They saw an 8 percent increase since last year. Those plans help borrowers avoid defaulting on their loans by taking some financial pressure off them if they've fallen on hard times and cannot meet their monthly payment requirements.Loans in default, meanwhile, have slightly increased compared to a year ago: 260,000 borrowers entered default, accounting for $6.3 billion in outstanding debt. Most loans don't reach default unless a borrower has failed to make a payment for 270 days.Some borrowers have found relief by getting their loans discharged. About 48,000 applications have been approved, resulting in about $535 million in loans being discharged. Borrowers can apply to have their loans dischargedthe Department of Education reported.Other borrowers have attempted to get their loans forgiven through the public service loan forgiveness program, but relatively few have been successful. Borrowers who work in a service job (usually a qualifying government or non-profit job) full-time for a decade while making 120 qualifying monthly payments can have the remainder of their balance forgiven. About 110,000 borrowers have applied for forgiveness, but 74 percent were ineligible, and another 24 percent need to submit more information for the Department to approve or deny their application. Only 1,561 applications were approved, forgiving $71.9 million in loans for 1,139 borrowers (some borrowers had multiple qualifying loans).It's important to keep in mind that not all young people have student debt. Of young adults ages 18 to 29, 34 percent have some student debt. Most of those students aren't drowning in debt, either. Median debt for borrowers with less than a bachelor's degree was $10,000 in 2016 and $25,000 for borrowers with a bachelor's degree. Postgraduate degree holders had $45,000 in debt, but those borrowers also tend to have the highest incomes.While the total amount of student loan debt looks truly eye-popping, the public needs to keep in mind that the $1.51 trillion is spread among hundreds of thousands of borrowers. On Wednesday, 63 Canadians were innocent victims of the Iranian air disaster, caught in the crossfire of warmongering over the past year. But in the days since, Canada has suffered from disastrous decisions of its own making, boxed in by our undiplomatic manoeuvring of the past eight years. Without a Canadian embassy in place on the ground in Tehran, we have been caught out of position and out of country. Our team of rapid-response diplomats had to cool its heels awaiting visas first assembling in Ottawa, then holding in Turkey, awaiting onward connections to Tehran until the paperwork cleared. Had our envoys been in place at the time of the downing, they could have deployed from our embassy directly to the crash site, using every means at their (diplomatic) disposal to protect Canadian interests: First, arranging emergency treatment for any injured had there been any survivors; second, securing the bodies of the dead for transport and burial without delay; third, documenting any evidence pointing to the causes; fourth, demanding on the scene that Canadian national and humanitarian interests be respected in the highly fraught investigation, notably in handling the black box that holds important clues. This isnt the way other countries have handled Iran, or responded to the deaths. Instead of having a head start on the other side of the world, so crucial to any countrys foreign service, our diplomats were a world away. At a time of national mourning, it might seem beside the point or even pointless to question why our foreign policy apparatus was missing in action for one of the greatest single Canadian diplomatic and consular challenges of recent years. Amid the grieving, however, our self-imposed isolation from Iran has only exacerbated the suffering of the surviving families in Canada, which surely qualifies it as a foreign policy failure worth figuring out, if only for the future. To be sure, a functioning Canadian embassy in Iran would not have spared the lives of anyone. But a diplomatic presence might have eased the pain of their deaths for the surviving families, not least by hastening the identification and repatriation of bodies. No one could have predicted such a disaster. And yet closing our embassy was an accident waiting to happen, because it was only a matter of time until Canadians would be in need. The Islamic Republic of Iran has been a cauldron for decades, sitting on political flashpoints and geological fault lines from the 1979 U.S. embassy hostage crisis to the killing of Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi in 2003, not to mention major earthquakes that can cause untold human casualties at any moment (one of which I covered years ago). We closed our embassy in Tehran with good reason after then-ambassador Ken Taylor put himself in harms way by helping to exfiltrate American diplomats during the 1979 hostage crisis. But bear in mind that we never severed formal diplomatic relations, nor did we prevent Iranian diplomats from using their embassy in Ottawa in the years that followed. Keeping that formal bilateral channel open helped us reopen our embassy a decade later in Tehran, which in turn opened the door to a flood of talented Iranian immigrants to Canada numbering 300,000 people today. Why then did we close our embassy, and go one step further by also cutting off diplomatic relations in 2012? Stephen Harpers Conservative government cited a grab-bag of concerns, from human rights violations to its nuclear program and security concerns that politicized the issues. Why didnt Justin Trudeaus Liberal government reverse course when he became prime minister? Trudeau told the Stars editorial board in 2015 that he would re-examine the decision, but he never resumed relations nor reopened the embassy. Michel de Salaberry served as Canadas ambassador to Iran in the late 1990s when I was based in the Middle East for the Star, and who subsequently returned as charge daffaires in times of tension. He told me it made sense to close the embassy for a period in 2012 after the British embassy briefly came under attack, but not to sever all diplomatic ties. The British have long since returned, and have maintained formal diplomatic ties. So have other Western countries. De Salaberry believes the embassy should have been reopened long ago, but domestic political considerations constrained Trudeau. The Harper government boxed him in with legislation that permitted potentially enormous lawsuits against Iran a roadblock to re-establishing bilateral ties, and a delicate matter for Trudeau to reverse. Now we are more isolated than most. Germany and Sweden also suffered casualties in the crash, but their diplomats on the ground were able to move in swiftly to protect consular and humanitarian interests. Others understand that diplomatic relations are never an endorsement of international lawlessness, merely an instrument to protect national interests and defend dual nationals. We cannot afford to cut ourselves off for years at a time, no matter how frustrated. It is a lesson worth remembering when it comes to China a country that has effectively taken one of our diplomats hostage and ransomed our farm exports over the Huawei affair. The Iran debacle reminds us that diplomatic relations are not merely for friendly countries in good times, but most especially for difficult countries in bad times. Read more about: New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) The Congress Working Committee (CWC) here on Saturday passed a resolution and four statements on economy, Kashmir, students agitation and Iran-US conflict, and demanded withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and immediate stalling of the National Population Register (NPR) process. The CWC said the Narandra Modi government had unleashed the brute state power to suppress, subjugate and stifle the voice of youth and students across the country. "A concerted attack on the Constitution, rampant unemployment, commercialisation of education, unprecedented fee hikes and autocratic refusal to listen to the voice and concerns of youth-student have led to spontaneous protests across campuses," it said. Instead of listening to students, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had unleashed the police on them, made arrests, lodged FIRs, and even planned attacks on protesting students and youth, the CWC resolution said. Delhi University, JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia, Banaras Hindu University, Allahabad University, AMU, and many others had seen massive protests, it said. The resolution said, the "Modi government is systematically attacking the culture of creative thinking and learning, of questioning the hierarchy and of inculcating the culture of assimilation and cohabitation. The BJP government realises that students and the youth can't be divided through its sectarian agenda." It expressed solidarity with youth and students in their fight for defending the Constitution, standing for independent and creative learning and aspiring for employment-linked education at a minimal expense. "The CWC resolves that every worker of the Congress will work alongside India's youth and students in this endeavour," the Congress said. miz/pcj Songs and melodies composed by DkIT-based researchers and lecturers Dr Adele Commins and Dr Daithi Kearney feature on a new CD by Cork-based group Ceolta Si, celebrating and inspired by the cultural heritage of Youghal. The couple led the project, which was run by the Craobh Eochaile Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann supported by the East Cork Municipal District Creative Communities Fund, Creative Ireland and Youghal Credit Union. The links between DkIT's Creative Arts Research Centre and Ceolta Si developed informally when Ceolta Si were the guest artists in the first concert performance by the Oriel Traditional Orchestra, Ensemble-in-Residence at DkIT. The younger members of Craobh Eochaille CCE then visited the wonderful facilities for third level studies in the Creative Arts at DkIT and discover opportunities to study in Dundalk. Graduates of the BA (Hons) Music programme were also engaged as facilitators for workshops during the project, sharing their skills and experiences of performing in the DkIT Ceol Oirghialla Traditional Music Ensemble before embarking on careers in Irish traditional music. However, the story goes back further, as it's fifteen years since Kearney, now co-director of the Creative Arts Research Centre at DkIT, first met Ceolta Si in his role as Artistic Director of the Cork International Folk Dance Festival as part of Cork's celebration of the European Capital of Culture. He later taught with the local branch of Comhaltas and lived in the area before moving to Dundalk. He was the Artistic Director of Ceolta Si for a number of years, travelling to China and Mexico with the group and producing the annual Seisiun. Amongst the songs on the album, Kearney wrote 'McGrath's Clock Gate' based on conversations with John McGrath, the last resident of the iconic building, and 'Moll Goggins' based on local folklore. Head of Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music at DkIT, Adele Commins' first introduction to Youghal was during the series of concerts to launch the critically acclaimed album 'A Louth Lilt', when she performed with Kearney at the Bru na Si cultural centre in the town. She went on to facilitate a number of workshops with local musicians and her composition, 'Lighting Capel Island' was chosen as the music for a radio series, Oilean an Chaplaigh - The Lighthouse that never was, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The piece also features on the new album recorded by Ceolta Si. Continuing the link with the Creative Arts Research Centre at DkIT, the album design was undertaken by graphic designer and DkIT lecturer JJ Quinlan. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila delivered a homily at a predawn Mass, a few hours before the Black Nazarene procession at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on January 9. By Robin Gomes Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle led thousands of faithful in prayers for peace amid growing tension between the United States and Iran, following the assassination of a top Iranian general in Iraq last week. Speaking at the solemn predawn Mass on the occasion of the carrying of the statue of the Black Nazarene at Rizal Park, the Archbishop of Manila hoped that the brewing conflict may not lead to war. Tensions escalated after a U.S. drone airstrike in Baghdad on Jan 3 killed Qassem Soleimani, Tehran's most prominent military commander and the architect of its growing influence in the Middle East. Calling on the faithful to pray intensely so that an escalation of revenge will not occur between the US and Iran, the cardinal also urged for prayers for the Filipinos who could be caught up in the middle of a brewing conflict in the Gulf region. Speaking in his homily, he said, Let us pray for the safety of our fellowmen in the Middle East, to dispel the desire to destroy ones neighbour, to dispel the desire to take vengeance." He also urged prayers for the anxious families at home in the Philippines. The cardinal led the crowd into a moment of silence for peace in the Middle East. The Philippine government has ordered the evacuation of more than 1,500 Filipino workers in Iraq amid the escalating Middle East tensions. According to the Ministry of Labor records, over 2,000 Filipinos work in Iraq, some of them in US facilities, while over 1,000 reside in Iran, among them Filipino women married to Iranians. Reflecting on the days Gospel, Cardinal Tagle then asked the devotees to imitate Jesus in His mission of love. Jesus mission of love is also our mission, he said, adding, We should not let ourselves be the cause of danger and harm of our fellows. A real devotee of Jesus is the way of life and salvation. The success of love should start within us, the cardinal added. The feast of the Black Nazarene, which attracts millions of people, celebrates the "traslacion" , or the "solemn transfer" of the image of a black Jesus of Nazareth carrying His cross, from a chapel at Quirino Grandstand to the minor basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo district in Manila. Thursdays Mass of the Black Nazarene was Cardinal Tagles last as Manila archbishop, a post he held for eight years. He will shortly be moving to the Vatican to take up his job as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which oversees the Catholic Church's vast missions across the globe. NEW YORK - President Donald Trumps ex-personal lawyer told a judge Friday that hes the victim of a continuing campaign of character assassination by prosecutors who oppose his time behind bars being trimmed from three years to one. Michael Cohen said in a court document filed in Manhattan federal court that federal prosecutors are using innuendo, conjecture, and inaccurate opinions as a basis for urging the Courts denial of the pending motion. He added in his letter to U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III that the continued character assassination by prosecutors isnt relevant to his request to be released from prison after serving a year and one day. He said the U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the breadth, scope and relevance of over 170 hours of testimony he gave to nine government agencies. Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for prosecutors, said the office had no comment. Cohen, 53, is housed at a federal prison in Otisville, New York, after pleading guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations and lying to Congress, among other charges. He began serving his sentence last May. Cohen maintains he deserves early release for telling investigators about the presidents misdeeds. In court papers of their own, prosecutors say Cohen has offered no evidence that he provided them with substantial assistance of the kind that warrants a significant reduction in sentence. And they say Congressional testimony does not earn a reduction either. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018, abandoning his longtime position of loyalty to Trump. He later met with federal and state prosecutors in New York and with the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, telling them he had lied to Congress to protect Trump. Cohen said he now feels targeted by the president because Trump wants to depict him as a convicted liar and by Republican members of the House Oversight Committee. He recalled that Trump had frequently asked him what role he wanted in his administration before he was offered a job as an assistant to the White House counsel. Cohen said he truly wanted the position he received. There was no perceived shame to being President Donald J. Trumps personal attorney, especially for a man who had started Trumps presidential campaign in 2011 and 2015, acted as the presidents fiercest surrogate, and protected his and his familys interests for a decade, he said. Dublin Airport welcomed the recent announcement from United Airlines that it is to operate a new, year-round, daily nonstop service between Dublin and its hub at San Francisco from next summer. The airline will operate its new route with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from June 6, 2020. 'United is a valued customer serving Dublin Airport for more than two decades and we are particularly delighted to see it adding a fourth destination to its route network next summer,' said Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison. 'San Francisco is the global tech centre of the world and many of the companies based there have offices in Ireland. This new route will further grow tourism and trade between Ireland and the US and provide greater choice and flexibility for both business and leisure passengers. We will work closely with United's management team to ensure this new service is a success in both directions.' 'Dublin and Silicon Valley are two regions synonymous with big tech,' said United's Vice President of International Network Patrick Quayle. 'Many global tech companies have a major footprint in both regions, and they need a carrier with an extensive worldwide network to help conveniently connect their business. As the only US airline to serve Ireland from the West Coast, United is uniquely suited to provide the connectivity these companies and economies need to continue thriving.,' he added The new daily service will depart Dublin at 11.50 arriving in San Francisco at 14.20. The return flight will depart San Francisco at 15.55 and arrive in Dublin Airport at 9.45 the following day. United Airlines also operates services to Chicago, Newark, and Washington D.C. from Dublin. More than 30.6 million passengers have travelled through Dublin Airport between January and November, which is a 5% increase compared to the same period last year. Yesterdays jobs report145,000 new jobsis only so-so, but there are two more interesting features of the labor market right now. The first is that wages are rising fastest at the bottom end of the income scale, suggesting that sustained economic growth is better than redistribution or minimum wage mandates for lifting the prospects of low-skilled workers. Of course, the left is not interested in growth any more, as Ive often argued here, and as Joel Kotkin points out again in a great article yesterday at Quillette: For much of the last seventy years, economic growth has lifted the quality of life in Europe, North America, and East Asia, providing social stability after the violent disruptions of World War II. Today, however, many of the worlds most influential leaders, even in the United States, reject the very notion that societies should improve material wealth and boost incomes given what they believe are more important environmental or social equity concerns. . . Even in the United States, where growth has long been an unquestioned priority, virtually none of the leading Democratic candidates for President even mentions the word. Vice-President Joe Biden, the leading moderate in the Democratic party primaries, has explicitly stated that he would wipe out fossil fuel employment in the country to pursue a green agenda. The second notable thing about the current job market is that women now constitute a majority of job holders: Women overtook men to hold the majority of U.S. jobs for the first time in a decade, while employers added positions for a record 10th straight year, pointing to a growing and dynamic economy heading into 2020. The number of women on nonfarm payrolls exceeded men in December for the first time since mid-2010, the Labor Department said Friday. Women held 50.04% of jobs last month, surpassing men on payrolls by 109,000. But, but. . . dont we live in a patriarchy? Im sure feminists will nevertheless persist in throwing down the bogus pay gap claim. Which reminds me, second, to post up here Mark Perrys extremely useful chart of the whole range of male-female disparities in America: Patriarchy indeed! Chaser: The Wall Street Journal also reports today on the revived interest in the idea of a guaranteed income, a centerpiece of Andrew Yangs campaign, for example: As Democrats embrace a more activist government, some are flirting with an idea that hasnt received serious attention since the 1970s: a minimum guaranteed income for all Americans. . . The belief that Washington should create an income floor last stirred widespread debate half a century ago. In 1962, conservative economist Milton Friedman called for a negative income tax, a kind of government salary for the poor. A few years later, President Nixon, a Republican, proposed a guaranteed annual income for families with children that would be worth about $1,600, or $10,000 in todays dollars. His legislation passed the House twice, before dying in the Senate under attack from both conservatives, who said it went too far, and liberals, who said it didnt go far enough. I think the reason the idea of a guaranteed income is suddenly back on the table is simple: it is a plot of the patriarchy to enable men to sit on the couch at home and watch TV and play video games and eat chips and drink beer while the women go out and dominate the workplace. We should start promoting this line, along with the explanation that the reason women now outnumber men in the workplace is that employers have finally figured out that you can hire women to do the same job as men for a lot less money! No wonder corporate profits and the stock market are soaring! You cant beat the Deep Patriarchy (an adjunct of the Deep State). This is the first installment of the occasional series Why Is This App No. 1? The app: Davids Disposable, a mobile camera app released on Dec. 23, that has been downloaded well over a million times as of Thursday and temporarily occupied the No. 1 spot on Apples Top Free Apps list. As the name suggests, the app nostalgically mimics the plastic disposable cameras of yore. While the hazy, overexposed aesthetic of the photos it takes isnt all that different from what you can achieve in with Instagram or VSCO, Davids Disposable ups the verisimilitude by simulating the most inconvenient aspects of using a disposable camera. Using the app requires you to squint at a minuscule virtual viewfinder. And after you take the picture, you cant see the resulting image until 9 a.m. the next day, a feature premised on the assumption that what kids really admire about disposable cameras is the wait time for developing photos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why is it popular? The apps sudden success likely has a lot to do with its creator, 23-year-old David Dobrik, who is an immensely popular YouTube vlogger with 15.1 million subscribers. His videos contain standard influencer fare like stunts, pranks, expensive cars, giveaways, glamorous travels, and banter with an entourage of zany and photogenic characters. His relationship status is a constant source of breathless speculation in BuzzFeed, and a recent video of his giant elephant toothpaste experimentit was actually pretty coolmade headlines in Business Insider and the Daily Mail. Hes also made inroads into more traditional media, lending his voice to The Angry Birds Movie 2 and appearing as a passed-out drunk in the music video for the late Juice WRLDs song Graduation. Amir Ghodrati, director of market insights for the mobile analytics company App Annie, explained, Dobrik having a dedicated fanbase of millions is a major boost for the launchremember how quickly BTS World was able to get fans to download the app? (Fans of BTS, the worlds most successful K-pop group, made the BTS World mobile game skyrocket to the No. 1 spot in the App Store within five hours.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dobrik has been playing with disposable cameras for a while now; the Los Angeles Times reported that he keeps a bar cart stocked with Fujifilm QuickSnaps in his Studio City home. In June, months before the apps release, he created an @davidsdisposable Instagram page for his disposable camera photos. The page currently has 3 million followers and includes candid pics of Chris Hemsworth and John Stamos. Dobrik is also currently selling a calendar and hoodie with Davids Disposable logos, and formerly sold a $20 physical disposable camera with similar branding on Fanjoy, a platform where social-media influencers sell merch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This social media strategy taps dovetails with a larger millennial and Gen Z disposable camera trend that the Times traces back to 2017. Indeed, Dobrik is far from the only influencer to create a separate Instagram account for pics from disposable cameras. The cameras have even been spotted in outfits at fashion shows in Paris and New York. The disposable camera app Huji Cam, which predates and is remarkably similar to Davids Disposable, has tens of millions of downloads and earned the endorsement of Selena Gomez. Plus, there seems to be a general hunger for products from the late 80s and 90s, like Champion sweatshirts and scrunchies. Why not 90s-style wait times? Star power and broader photography trends, however, dont explain why nearly 60 percent of Davids Disposables total downloads mysteriously occurred over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday alone, according to the analytics firm Sensor Tower. The apps developers did come out with a 1.1 version of the app fixing multiple bugs last weekend, and it recently won a spot on Apples curated Apps We Love Right Now list. Its unclear, though, what exactly is driving this download bonanza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is the app any good? It certainly executes on its concept. The apps interface looks almost identical to the backside of a Fujifilm QuickSnap camera. There are virtual renderings of the familiar switch for flash and a bulky shoot button. The bottom of the screen has an information phone number (1-800-DAV-VLOG) that youll find is disconnected if you try to call it. If your phones volume is on, the app will emit the sound of a click and a high-pitched flash-charging whine. Once youve taken your shots and waited until the next morning, you can have them printed and sent to you in three weeks for $1 per photo. This is presumably an option for people who unaware that you can just download the images directly and have them developed at Walgreens with same-day pick-up for 20 cents. Advertisement Heres a screenshot of me trying to take a pic of my Nature Valley Oats n Honey granola bar. Alas, the winding wheel on the top right is purely decorative. I havent heard of this app. Am I old? Yes. But at least its an app for the old at heart. Last week, I saw a brilliant and evocative documentary on Mahatma Gandhi, called Ahimsa. It has been made by Ramesh Sharma, the award-winning filmmaker. The film brought tears to my eyes. A thought that struck me afterwards is that, while the Central government is commemorating with great fanfare the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji, the BJP is doing everything, directly or indirectly, to demolish the legacy and message of the Mahatma. Consider the following. The Mahatma laid the greatest stress on inter-faith harmony, and respect for all faiths. He was a pious Hindu, but he was, in thought and action, a man who envisaged an inclusive India, where all Indians, irrespective of their faith, would enjoy equality and be a part of the national mainstream. The BJPs worldview is directly opposed to this vision. Its leaders, spokespersons, and affiliated organisations talk openly and repeatedly about the Hindu rashtra; and, they look upon minorities, especially Muslims, as derivatives on sufferance in a nation where only Hindus have a monopoly. This exclusionist view of the BJP militates directly against the most cherished tenets of Hinduism itself. It is important to emphasise this because the Mahatma, while extracting the best from all religions, especially drew inspiration from Hinduisms eclectic foundations. The revered Upanishads state: Ekam satya, bipraha bahudha vadanthi (The truth is one, the wise people call it by different names). Our ancient scriptures have emphasised: Anno bhadraha kritvo yantu vishwataha (Let good thoughts come to us from all directions). It was our sages who proclaimed: Udar charitanam vasudhaiva kutumbukam (For the big hearted, the entire world is our family). Adi Shankaracharya audaciously declared that the only reality is the all-pervading cosmic consciousness of Brahman, and all other man-made differentiations have little ontological value. The communal venom that BJP leaders often spout, including the valorisation of Godse, the man who killed the Mahatma, and the brittle and false definition of Hinduism aggressively propagated by their followers, would have been anathema to Gandhiji. He would have been appalled at the CAA-NRC scheme, which seeks to institutionalise religious division and target one community in particular, thereby militating directly against the plural, composite and inclusionist vision for which Gandhiji lived and died for, and which is enshrined in our Constitution. Gandhiji never reconciled himself to the fact of Partition, but even if he reluctantly accepted it, he was emphatic that India, unlike Pakistan, would not become a bigoted religious theocracy, and would embrace all the religions which have over millennium found a home here. Moreover, the NRC will particularly work towards the harassment of the marginalised and vulnerable who will have to produce the documentation to prove their citizenship. This would be yet another repudiation of the Mahatma, who fought for their rights tirelessly. Secondly, ahimsa or non-violence was an article of faith for Gandhiji. The abhorrent violence inherent in acts of lynching and that too in the name of protecting Hinduism would have deeply pained him. Most recently, he would have been appalled at the statement of UP CM Yogi Adityanath that he would take badla or revenge against those protesting the CAA. Undoubtedly, violence by the protesters was wrong too. But the disproportionate use of force by the police in UP, and their reportedly communal bias, makes a mockery of the principles of the Mahatma. The police used the same kind of vicious violence in Jamia Millia Islamia university, where even the library was vandalised and students mercilessly beaten. On January 5, JNU saw the worst example of organised violence by goons against students and faculty members. As the nation and the world watched in horror, these goons, armed with stones and lathis and metal clubs, reminiscent of the Klu Klux Clan, went on the rampage inside the precincts of one of Indias foremost universities in the capital of the Republic. A police inquiry has been ordered to establish their identity, but there appears to be enough evidence although I am willing to be corrected by concrete facts to the contrary that these were right-wing thugs who wanted to teach the left oriented anti-national students of JNU a lesson. The police, through its inexplicable inaction, became an accessory to this crime, as did the JNU administration and the universitys security apparatus. Finally, Gandhiji was the quintessential democrat. He believed that dissent is a vital part of a democracy, as is the right to protest. He was a firm believer in the efficacy of dialogue, where disagreement did not entitle you to hate or demean the other side. On the contrary, the BJP believes in demonising those who oppose it. Its refrain is that anyone who doesnt agree with it is a Paki stooge, or should be banished to Pakistan. All those who differ from the party are ipso facto anti-national. They are peddlers of fake news. Only the BJP has a monopoly on what is good for the nation. Such an attitude has put an end to the possibility of a civilised discourse which is an inalienable adornment of a democracy, and which Gandhiji set great store by. Remembering Gandhiji on his 150th birth anniversary is something a grateful nation should do. But remembering him through official publicity, while simultaneously demolishing everything he believed and stood for, is a cruel joke. Ultimately, Gandhiji wanted a united India, where people of all faiths can live with respect and equality, and in which social peace and harmony prevails, for that alone can ensure a happy and prosperous India. That was his Ram Rajya. Until the BJP understands this basic, unalterable, and non-negotiable aspect of Gandhiji, and acts upon it, all its lip service to the Mahatma will remain just that. As governor of Texas, Greg Abbott has rarely exceeded expectations. But seldom has Abbott disappointed Texans as profoundly as he did this week. On Friday, the Republican governor announced that Texas will become the first state to opt out of the refugee resettlement program, under a new approach announced by President Donald Trump last year. This decision is a deeply saddening one, at odds with the values of the city of Houston and the state, both of which have a long history of welcoming refugees, who in many cases have left their home countries to escape persecution, war or violence. It also raises some real questions about the caliber of Abbotts political instincts. A day before he announced this decision, Houston-area advocates were confident that he would continue the states legacy of resettling refugees. I cant imagine, really, that Texas is going to be labeled as a state that does not welcome others, said Ali Al Sudani, the senior vice president of programs for Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, when I spoke to him on Thursday. Al Sudani began working with IMGH as a beneficiary of its services, having come to Houston from Iraq as a refugee. He told me he was hopeful that Abbott would make the right decision eventually. Most Houstonians, he explained, are on the same page when it comes to refugees: We have the support from the business community, the faith community, the civic community all of them. Natalie Wood, the senior vice president of programs for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, was similarly optimistic on Thursday, when I asked her for the state of play. We do believe in prayer, and we do have strong faith, and we know that usually, in the end, goodness prevails, she explained. I asked her what would happen if Abbott declined to opt in to the program, just on the off chance he decided to do such a thing. Oh... said Wood. Well, I imagine if the governor doesnt sign, there would be a lot of people who would raise their voices in protest. She added, I know how strongly all the Catholic Charities feel about providing services to refugees. We take it as one of our core ministries. The question at hand had been put to state and local leaders across the country in a September executive order. Trump explained that his administration was seeking greater cooperation with state and local governments to ensure that refugees are resettled in communities that are eager and equipped to support their successful integration into American society and the labor force. To that end, he continued, the federal government in the fiscal year beginning June 1 would only resettle refugees in places where the leaders of both the state and the locality affirmatively consented to their arrival, in writing. The president also announced that month that just 18,000 refugees would be allowed to resettle in the United States this year, down from 30,000 last year. This was a bit puzzling, because state and local governments cant actually ban refugee resettlement. Refugees are legal immigrants and, as such, free to move around within the country. And the executive order concerning where refugees are resettled may eventually be struck down in court. A lawsuit filed by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Church World Service and HIAS three faith-based resettlement agencies describes it as an unprecedented act of executive overreach. Neither the federal statutory scheme nor the Constitution leaves room for a state or local veto over refugee resettlement, the plaintiffs argue. A federal judge in Maryland heard arguments on the case this week. But if Trumps goal was to stir up controversy over refugees, the stunt has turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. More than 40 governors have already opted in to the program including more than a dozen Republicans. Some of the latter have shrewdly taken the opportunity to proclaim the virtues of the states they respectively lead as well as the refugees who might someday find new homes in their communities. This marvelous compassion is simply embedded into our states culture, wrote Utah Gov. Gary Herbert in October, for example, after commending the contributions that refugees have made to his state over the course of its history. Abbott is the first governor to opt out of the refugee program and its not the first time. In 2016, citing nebulous security concerns, he formally withdrew the state from the refugee resettlement program. In that case, though, the federal government continued to place refugees in Texas, in collaboration with local agencies. The governors letter to Trump in this case makes no mention of security concerns, and gives the impression that he would like to have it both ways. Abbott cites Texass history as a welcoming state for refugees as a reason the state should now shirk what many of us consider to be a moral responsibility as well as a good thing for our state. Texas has carried more than its share in assisting the refugee resettlement process, Abbott writes, in its conclusion. Thats true, and its because most Texans believe we can and should welcome refugees. After Abbott's announcement, I called Al Sudani again, and he told me he was shocked, disappointed, and dismayed. We should be a leader in showing our compassion, he said. We cant turn our back to the ones who need our help the most. What message we are sending by saying officially that the state of Texas, with all of our resources, that we cant accept a couple of thousand refugees?" he asked. "What kind of message would this send to the business community, to other communities that want to make Texas home? Do they really want to come to a state that is not welcoming? "This is not the Texas I know," Al Sudani concluded, sadly. And certainly, he is not the only Texan feeling that way. erica.grieder@chron.com Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A push to add New Mexico to the growing list of states that have legalized recreational marijuana use has made incremental progress in recent years but hasnt reached the finish line. Backers are hoping this year will be different, as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham directed a working group last summer to come up with a cannabis legalization road map and plans to add the issue to the agenda of the 30-day legislative session that starts this month. Rep. Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, who sponsored last years bill, which passed the House before stalling in a Senate committee, said supporters this year plan to start the bill in the Senate. We feel pretty good, Martinez told the Journal. We think its going to be a good bill. However, the cannabis legalization bill will likely face significant hurdles in the form of skepticism from moderate Democrats and most Republicans and at least one lawmaker is accusing the governor of political posturing over pot. Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, one of three GOP senators to team up with Democratic colleagues last year on a bill that would have allowed for the sale of marijuana through state-run stores, said hes not optimistic about a legalization bill passing during this years session. He said thats because last years proposal was close to winning approval and could have been brought back with just a few changes dealing with impaired driving and keeping cannabis products out of minors hands to address concerns. Instead, the working groups recommendations used an initial version of last years bill as a starting point and do not include the state-run stores provision favored by Moores and others. The governor sees this as a political issue and a potential fundraising issue moving forward, Moores said. If they really wanted a bill, we could have got a bill passed (during this years) session. Lujan Grisham, the states first-term Democratic governor, has insisted shes serious about getting a marijuana legalization bill passed. But she has acknowledged that winning approval of the legalization plan will be difficult, even though the working group she appointed held a series of public meetings this fall and released its final recommendation in October. I think cannabis is going to be really hard it should be, Lujan Grisham said last month. That is not something to run into without being really clear. 17% state tax proposed The recommendations released by the cannabis legalization working group are far-reaching and based on other states experiences. They include an average tax rate of 17%, state-level licensing, taking revenue generated by legalization to subsidize the states medical cannabis program and giving local governments some authority to determine where cannabis dispensaries could be located. Pat Davis, an Albuquerque city councilor who headed the governors working group, said he expects the bills fate to be decided during the final days of the session, which ends Feb. 20. He said some law enforcement officials are expected to testify in support of the legislation but acknowledged that persuading wary lawmakers to vote in support of the idea will not be easy. I dont think theres a big political consequence for voting for it, but I do think its going to take some political courage, he said, citing recent polls showing that most registered New Mexico voters, across all regions of the state, support legalizing recreational marijuana use and taxing its sales. Davis said supporters have laid the groundwork for the 30-day session by coming up with the recommendations, meeting with legislators and studying potential trouble spots. As a result, he said, Lujan Grisham supports keeping the proposal largely intact, though there could be attempts made to amend it. The framework to how we get to ending cannabis prohibition is really clear, but were open to some legislative changes, Davis told the Journal. Its going to have to have bipartisan support in order to pass, Davis said. However, Moores said Lujan Grishams pick of Davis the former executive director of a progressive advocacy group called ProgressNow New Mexico to lead the task force could alienate Republicans and some moderate Democrats. I think the task force muddied the waters and got us further from getting something accomplished, Moores said. Legal in 11 states Nationwide, 11 states and the District of Columbia now have laws legalizing small amounts of marijuana for adult recreational use, with Colorado and Washington the first states to approve such policies in 2012. However, just two states Vermont and Illinois have approved cannabis legalization laws through the legislative process; other states have done so through ballot measures. Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said he believes last years bill would have passed and made it to the governors desk for final approval if it had reached the Senate floor in its final form. He said in a recent interview that hes encouraged by the task forces work but that fellow Democrats raised concerns during a recent caucus meeting about how legalization would affect New Mexicos medical cannabis program and how tax dollars generated by the proposal would be divvied up. You cant just see this as a revenue booster, Wirth said, indicating new revenue should be earmarked for treatment, behavioral health and education, and possibly other similar programs. Democrats hold sizable majorities in both legislative chambers, but Wirth said thats no guarantee cannabis legalization will make it to the governors desk. Theres bipartisan support and theres bipartisan opposition, he said. New Mexico lawmakers moved during last years legislative session to approve a law decriminalizing the possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana, but Rep. Martinez said legalization is still needed and is fundamentally different because it would generate revenue for the state. This is different this is about creating a well-regulated industry, Martinez said. He also said that backers will keep trying if theyre unsuccessful during this years session, but he acknowledged a sense of urgency I think if we wait too long were going to miss the opportunity to legalize recreational marijuana the right way, Martinez said. Taiwans president has won a second term in office as voters endorsed her tougher stance with China in a landslide. Before all the votes had yet been counted, Tsai Ing-wens main challenger Han Kuo-yu conceded defeat as it became clear the incumbent leader was racking up an insurmountable lead. With 99.75 per cent of the ballots counted, Ms Tsai, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won 57.2 per cent of the vote to Mr Hans 38.6 per cent. In her victory speech, she said every election in Taiwan was a vote of confidence in its democratic way of life, a coded rebuke to those who would seek closer ties with the one-party state of China. I would like to thank everyone who voted today regardless of how you voted, she 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 With each presidential election I want to show the world how much we value our democratic way of life and how much we value our nation, the democratic republic of Taiwan. She later spoke directly to the Chinese government across the Taiwan Strait: Today I want to once again remind the Beijing authorities that peace, parity, democracy and dialogue are the keys to stability. I want the Beijing authorities to know that democratic Taiwan and our democratically elected government will never concede to threats. I hope that Beijing will show its good will. Recommended Chinese pressure on Taiwan likely to increase after election Ms Tsai became Taiwans first female president when she won power in 2016. Her initial victory was in part a repudiation of the then-governing Kuomintang (KMT) partys fostering of better links across the Taiwan Strait with China. China still considers the island a breakaway province of its own territory and the former president Ma Ying-jeou had spent years trying to breathe life back into Taiwans ailing economy by bolstering links with the Chinese authorities and increasing cross-border trade. The DPP suffered major electoral setbacks in local elections only 14 months ago, but Ms Tsais more pro-independence platform has been boosted, experts say, by the crackdown in Hong Kong throughout 2019. The violent response to anti-government protests in that semi-autonomous part of China may have convinced many voters that Taiwans future cannot lie in being reabsorbed into China in any way. Supporters of Ms Tsai brandish a banner declaring Taiwan's independence from China (AP) Mr Han and the KMT have argued that Taiwan, which has been ruled independently of Beijing since the Communist takeover in 1949 but has never formally declared its own sovereignty, should be open to some form of one country, two systems which is the declared system in Hong Kong. Although Taiwan is a de facto sovereign state which issues its own passports, rules its own affairs and trades freely with the rest of the world, it has not been recognised as a nation by any major power or the UN. We will work even harder to build on our achievements of the past four years, Ms Tsai said after the result had become clear. We will constantly remind ourselves our administration must be clean, confident and efficient. Of course we will work to keep our country safe and defend our sovereignty. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ock Hyun-ju (The Korea Herald/Asia News Network) Sat, January 11, 2020 15:04 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321c31c8 2 Entertainment South-Korea,K-pop,seungri,Big-Bang,music,arrest-warrant Free The prosecution sought an arrest warrant for K-pop star Serungri on Friday over suspected illegal overseas gambling and procuring prostitutes for his investors. The Seoul Central Prosecutors Office said it had filed an arrest warrant for the 30-year-old former Big Bang member, on seven charges including illegal overseas gambling, illegal currency transactions and procuring prostitutes. A hearing on whether to issue an arrest warrant for Seungri, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, will be held at the Seoul Central District Court at 10 a.m. Monday, with the decision expected later in the day. Seungri is suspected of procuring prostitutes on 29 occasions for investors from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan in September 2015 and January 2016. Read also: K-pop star Seungri accused of illicit gambling Separately, he is accused of sharing via a mobile messenger nude photos of three women that were secretly taken without their consent. He is also suspected of having participated in illegal gambling in Las Vegas, the US, for three years and six months on several occasions and illegally exchanged currency. He also faces embezzlement charges. The warrant request comes about seven months after police sent the case to the prosecution with the recommendation of indicting him without detention in June. The polices earlier attempt to arrest Seungri was rejected in May as the court saw the charges disputable. The police launched a probe in January and dispatched some 150 officers in connection with the scandal encompassing illicit sex videos, drugs, prostitution and embezzlement. The scandal, involving several other K-pop stars, sent shockwaves across the country and the K-pop industry. Topics : This article appeared on The Korea Herald newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post A 32-year-old Houston woman was charged with murder this week in the death of an unborn child in a car crash that police say happened because she was driving drunk. Elene Lujan was charged with murder and intoxicated assault with a vehicle after getting into an argument on Jan. 7 with a pregnant passenger in her Toyota Camry, according to the Houston Police Department. Long-time leader, who has been receiving medical treatment, will miss national day celebrations for the first time. For the first time since he took power more than four decades ago, Omans Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said will not attend the countrys national day celebrations. Known as Sultan Qaboos, the Omani leader has been receiving medical treatment in Germany for an unconfirmed illness since summer. In August, a diplomatic source in Oman told the AFP news agency that Qaboos was suffering from colon cancer. Omani national day celebrated annually on November 18, which is also the sultans birthday coincides with the time when we are abroad for the reasons you know, Qaboos said in a televised address on November 5. Praise be to the Almighty, for He has realised for us good results that require us to proceed with the medical programme in the forthcoming period, he said. Speaking to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Khalid Bin Hilal Bin Nassir Al-Muawali, the chairman of Omans Shura Council, parliaments upper house, said the sultans appearance was a great source of relief for the people of Oman, despite this being the first time the Sultan celebrates this occasion of national day abroad. RELATED: Oman sets sight on tourism industry But despite these assurances, rumours abound concerning the sultans health, while the question of life after Qaboos remains an overwhelming elephant in the room in the small Gulf state. Sultan Qaboos has led Oman since he took over from his father in a bloodless coup in 1970. After seizing power, Qaboos appointed himself prime minister, defence minister, finance minister and foreign affairs minister, and commander of the armed forces. Qaboos is credited with modernising the countrys economy, and instituting cultural and educational reforms. Under Qaboos, Oman was transformed into a modest, yet important, regional player capable of bridging major diplomatic divides, as seen in its role as mediator in nuclear talks between Iran and the United States. In the capital Muscat, a major street, the port and university are named after Qaboos, and his photo can be seen affixed to major landmarks and in hotels, shop windows and restaurants around the city. More Marc and modernisation, I think the most important achievement of the sultan has been to create a very strong Omani national identity.] More than the technical [advances] and modernisation, I think the most important achievement of the sultan has been to create a very strong Omani national identity, explained Marc Valeri, professor of political economy of the Middle East at the University of Exeter, and an expert on Oman. He explained that without a charismatic leader like Qaboos leading the country, already-existing problems from high unemployment and economic woes to Omans delicate role in regional affairs could serve as major stumbling blocks. All these things will be tremendous for the next Sultan. Another issue is one of legitimacy. Obviously the new ruler will not have the same legitimacy as Sultan Qaboos. All the country, symbolically, is built around the figure of the sultan, Valeri told Al Jazeera. RELATED: Oman students get back to their roots Without any children, and no clear successor within the royal family, the question of who will step in to replace Qaboos remains very much up for debate. Having accomplished so much almost singlehandedly, its unclear whether anyone could take his place, wrote Bilal Saab, a senior fellow for Middle East security at the Atlantic Council. Saab said the maintained presence of key Qaboos advisers, including Yusuf bin Alawi, the foreign affairs minister, is a positive sign for future stability. Ultimately, it is Qaboos task to continue his decades-long record of responsible leadership by being transparent about what lies in store in the immediate future. Attempts to contact Oman-based analysts were not answered in time for publication. Under the countrys Basic Law, passed in 1996, the ruling family council is tasked with appointing a successor to the Sultanate within three days of the position becoming open. If a decision cannot be made, the Defence Council along with the heads of the State Council, Shura Council, and the Supreme Court will instate the person designated by His Majesty the Sultan in a sealed letter. The power is concentrated in one individual and its not a hereditary monarchy, unlike what we see in other countries in that area, explained Jeffrey Lefebvre, a professor of political science at the University of Connecticut who has written extensively about Oman. Lefebvre told Al Jazeera that the best-case scenario would be a shift towards a constitutional monarchy, where a figurehead would lead the state but all the power would rest in parliament. Thats the big if that nobodys really sure [about], he said. When you look at Omans geographic location, the impact of Ibadism, and then also the need to prepare for a post-oil economy, those are factors that I think are going to have a moderating [effect] and shape the policies of any future government. Harpreeet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: The US-Iran confrontation has hurt Basmati rice growers of Punjab and Haryana and hit the economy hard. With sales to Iran, which constituted 30% of the trade, nose-diving on the back of a ban by the European Union over complaints of pesticide residue in grains, Punjab tenants are facing a glut and sliding prices. Ashik Sethi, Director of Punjab Rice Millers Exports Association, said India exported Basmati about 40 lakh ton worth Rs 36,000 crore to some 100 countries, which is now down 50%. Iran alone bought some 14 lakh ton worth Rs 12,000 crore. With the Gulf turning a conflict zone no exporter wants to risk shipments. Since May last year, exports to Iran have come down as India is not buying oil from them under the bilateral rupee trade agreement. Basmati exports were also affected as payments were delayed. Now it has totally stopped, said, traders. They said, earlier EUs pesticide restriction rules kicked in and exports to Europe slipped from 4 lakh ton to 1.35 lakh ton and Basmati prices dropped to Rs 2600 to Rs 2,700 per quintal against last years price of Rs 3,600 to Rs 3,700 per quintal. Sethi says, In 2011, USA started rejecting Basmati rice shipments due to pesticide issue and EU and GSS states like Saudi Arabia, which imported 35% of the stock, followed. The Centres mandate in November that EU consignments be tested by the Export Inspection Agency (EIA) of the union, which charged Rs 1,450 per ton added to costs and misery. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday faced protests by Left students for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegedly "diluting the fight against CAA". The Left students were protesting against her meeting Modi at the Raj Bhavan here and sharing the stage with the prime minister at a function later in the evening on the first day of his two-day visit to the state. They lanched a dharna at the Dorina Crossing at Esplanade and said it would continue as long as the prime minister is in the state. Members of SFI, AISA, IC of Presidency University students unions chanting 'Azadi' and 'Shame Shame' broke three barricades put up near the stage of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad's (TMCP) sit-in at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, not far from the Raj Bhavan, and demanded explanation from Banerjee as she rushed from a programme attended by Modi to the venue. They wanted to know why Banerjee met the PM, who, they said, is behind the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens and "diluted the fight" against it. "We were heading towards the Raj Bhavan. But we were prevented from doing so by the police near TMCP's dharna site on nearby Rani Rashmoni Avenue. When the CM arrived, we demanded an explanation from her," Subho Biswas, a student of Presidency University, claimed. An SFI leader Tapas Das said the protests would go on as long as Modi was in the city on Sunday. "We demanded an explanation from Mamata Banerjee about her meeting the prime minister at the Raj Bhavan and sharing the stage at an official programme ... There is a secret understanding between Mamata Banerjee and Modi. She has been exposed. "We will sit on dharna at the Esplanade crossing till the prime minister leaves the city tomorrow," he said. Banerjee, who was seen arguing with Left students, sought to clarify her stand and said it was her "constitutional obligation to meet the PM". "I am the only leader who met Narendra Modi and told him that the CAA, NRC and NPR cannot be implemented. We have been protesting from day one against CAA. The issue before both of us (TMCP and Left students' unions) is the same, so please don't deviate from it. "I request you all to protest in a democratic way ... We should fight the anti-CAA battle together. We are fighting on the same issue," she told the Left students unions. She also asked the TMCP students, who were separated by a barricade put up by police, to remain calm and not retaliate. Banerjee was seen sitting on the dais surrounded by security guards and TMCP students raised counter slogans chanting 'Bande Mataram' and 'Down with BJP and its cohorts'. A senior Kolkata Police Police officer said Banerjee is still present at the sit-in venue and officers and extra policemen are present there. "We are alert," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ever since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced they would be stepping back as senior members of the royal family, everyone began to take sides. Many supported the Sussexes decision to become independent, while others including the Queen were disappointed by their choice. And just in case you were curious about President Trump's stance on the drama, he weighed in on Megxit in a wide-ranging interview with Fox News's Laura Ingram on Friday. When asked about his opinion on situation, Trump uncharacteristically kept his comments brief, but made it clear that his loyalty is to Queen Elizabeth. WPA Pool/Getty Images "I dont want to get into the whole thing but I find it I just have such respect for the Queen. I dont think this should be happening to her," he told Ingraham, adding: "I think it's sad, I do, I think it's sad. At another point, he expressed his admiration for the 93-year-old monarch, saying: "She's a great woman. She's never made a mistake, if you look, I mean, she's had like a flawless time." Donald Trump asked for his advice to the Queen on Prince Harry and Meghan Markles royal exit https://t.co/yn2ng8ptdc Nick Bryant (@NickBryantNY) January 10, 2020 Trump's siding with the Queen shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, especially considering his outspoken views on Meghan in the past. Last year, before his visit to the UK, he called the duchess "nasty" for publicly criticizing him during his presidential campaign in 2016. During an interview on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, the then-actress labeled Trump as "misogynistic" and said she "might just stay in Canada" if he won the election. RELATED: Meghan Markle Reportedly Flew Back to Canada While Prince Harry Navigated Drama in England Pool/Samir Hussein/Getty Images The details on Meghan and Harry's new roles in the royal family haven't been outlined just yet, but the Queen is working to reach a resolution with the couple soon. An official statement from the Palace said, Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through. President Trump said that he would use executive privilege to block former national security adviser John Bolton and other officials from testifying in his Senate impeachment trial 'for the sake of the office'. Trump made his comments soon after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she would be taking steps to send the impeachment articles to Senate next week. 'I think you have to for the sake of the office,' Trump said when asked about using the privilege by Fox's Laura Ingraham. Besides Bolton, Trump also said that acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Energy Secretary Rick Perry were other administrative officials he could also see having to use his executive privilege to block from testifying. Trump made his comments soon after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she would be taking steps to send the impeachment articles to Senate 'I think you have to for the sake of the office,' Trump said when asked about using the privilege to block former national security adviser John Bolton from testifying in his Senate impeachment trial 'I would love everybody to testify,' he claimed. 'I'd like Mick to testify, I'd like Mike Pompeo to testify, I'd like Rick Perry to testify. I want everybody - but there are things that you can't do from the standpoint of executive privilege.' Trump also claimed that he was worried about 'future presidents' if a testimony was forced from officials involved in national security matters. 'Especially, a national security adviser,' Trump said. 'You can't have him explaining all of your statements about national security concerning Russia, China, and North Korea everything. We just can't do that.' The president criticized Pelosi's announcement, calling it 'ridiculous'. Besides Bolton, Trump also said that acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Energy Secretary Rick Perry were other administrative officials he could also see having to use his executive privilege to block from testifying 'I think it's ridiculous,' he said. 'She should have sent them a long time ago. It just belittles the process ... Nancy Pelosi will go down as the least successful speaker of the House in the history of our nation. She has done nothing. Pelosi announced Friday that she will bring to the House floor next week a resolution to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate so Donald Trump's trial can begin. The move comes after the speaker faced increasing pressure from her party to allow the president's trial to begin and signals an end to her three-week standoff with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. 'About time,' McConnell told reporters on Capitol Hill in response. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was another administrator mentioned as having to be blocked from giving a testimony 'I would love everybody to testify,' he claimed. 'I'd like Mick to testify, I'd like Mike Pompeo to testify, I'd like Rick Perry to testify. I want everybody -- but there are things that you can't do from the standpoint of executive privilege' Pelosi gave no indication of what date the vote would occur and told her Democratic lawmakers she would consult them on next steps at their weekly party meeting on Tuesday. 'I have asked Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler to be prepared to bring to the Floor next week a resolution to appoint managers and transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate. I will be consulting with you at our Tuesday House Democratic Caucus meeting on how we proceed further,' Pelosi wrote in a 'Dear Colleague' letter. But her announcement indicates the Senate will have the articles by the end of next week, meaning the upper chamber could begin President Trump's trial shortly thereafter, perhaps even late next week. The Davos World Economic Forum begins the week of January 20th and President Trump is expected to attend. Pressure has increased on the speaker to send over the two articles - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - so the Senate can begin proceedings on the president. Even some Democratic senators have said it is time. Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she will bring to the House floor next week a resolution to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate President Trump's Senate trial cannot begin until the articles are transmitted Pelosi said on Thursday she would send the articles 'soon'. 'We need to see the arena in which we are sending our managers. Is that too much to ask?' she said, complaining about a lack of transparency on McConnell's part. 'I'm not withholding them indefinitely. I'll send them over when I'm ready, and that will probably be soon,' she said Thursday at a press conference on Capitol Hill. The Senate has been in waiting mode as it can't formally begin its trial until the impeachment articles are transmitted. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, a prominent Trump ally on Capitol Hill, 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. McConnell has signed on to that measure - another move that will increase pressure on Speaker Pelosi. After she announced the upcoming House vote on the articles, Pelosi slammed McConnell for signing onto Hawley's resolution. 'By joining a resolution to dismiss, Sen. McConnell showed his true colors. Americans have now seen what is at stake in a fair trial with witnesses & evidence, and new evidence has emerged. Every Senator will have to vote: is their loyalty is to the President or the Constitution?,' she wrote on Twitter. In addition to voting to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate, the House will also vote on the prosecutors who will present the Democrats case to the upper chamber. Pelosi will appoint those lawmakers - who are known as 'managers' - but they must be approved by the House, which is expected to happen in the Democratically controlled chamber. The speaker has given no indication of who she is thinking of appointing but Nadler and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff are expected to be on the list along with a slate of diverse lawmakers. The hold up has been on calling additional witnesses. 'Senate Democrats are ready for the trial to begin and will do everything we can to see that the truth comes out,' Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement Friday afternoon. Mitch McConnell has urged Speaker Pelosi to transmit the articles McConnell wants a speedy trial with no additional witnesses. Senate Democrats want to call four more and Pelosi was holding onto the articles in part to give her party a boost in negotiating how the proceedings would take place. Pelosi again called for additional witnesses in her letter on Friday. 'The American people have clearly expressed their view that we should have a fair trial with witnesses and documents, with more than 70 percent of the public stating that the President should allow his top aides to testify. Clearly, Leader McConnell does not want to present witnesses and documents to Senators and the American people so they can make an independent judgment about the President's actions,' she wrote. It's been 23 days since the House approved the two articles of impeachment against the president. 'We're going to have to do something or we could be here on day 200 or day 400,' Hawley told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday. 'I mean, really, there's no end in sight.' Some Democratic senators have urged Pelosi to send the articles and Schumer suggested the speaker should transmit the articles to the Senate. '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 it's becoming clear that Mitch McConnell wants to do everything he can to avoid a fair trial so she has some idea of what's happening,' he said Tuesday. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday she'll transmit the articles soon Schumer also praised Pelosi for with holding them over the holidays. '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 there's 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 and Speaker Pelosi I have great confidence in the decision she will make. But she's accomplished a great deal already.' Schumer wants to hear from four additional witnesses, including acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and former National Security Adviser John Bolton. But Trump suggested on Thursday the White House would continue to block Bolton or others from testifying. 'When we start allowing national security advisers to just go up and say whatever they want to say, we can't do that,' the president said. 'So we have to protect presidential privilege for me, but for future presidents. That's very important.' Bolton said this week that he would testify if subpoenaed. McConnell, however, announced that he has the votes from Republican senators to begin Trump's impeachment trial with no witnesses. '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 pronouncement doesn't preclude witnesses from being called during the trial. It simply means senators will vote on the matter further down the road after opening arguments have been heard. House Democrats charged President Trump with withholding nearly $400 million in U.S. military aid to Ukraine in exchange for promises from officials there to investigate his political rivals, Joe and Hunter Biden. Trump denies the charges and Republicans point out the money has been sent to the Ukraine. Democrats counter it was sent only after a whistleblower revealed the contents of a call Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said his call was 'perfect.' DALLAS - Authorities in Louisiana said Saturday said at least three people have died in connection with a severe storm that is sweeping across parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast. The Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office said on its Facebook page that the bodies of an elderly couple were found near their demolished trailer by firefighters. A search for more possible victims was underway. The Sheriffs Office also said the roof of Benton Middle School was damaged and that water damage from the sprinkler system has flooded many rooms. In Arkansas and Missouri, tornadoes destroyed homes and also caused damage in Oklahoma. The national Storm Prediction Center said Friday more than 18 million people in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma were at an enhanced risk of storms Friday, including from strong tornadoes, flooding rains and wind gusts that could exceed 80 mph (129 kph), the speed of a Category 1 hurricane. The area included several major Texas cities including Dallas, Houston and Austin. The storms also unleashed downpours that caused widespread flash flooding. Dallas police said one person died when a car flipped into Five Mile Creek west of downtown Dallas about 7 p.m. Earlier in the afternoon, a tornado destroyed two homes near Fair Play, Missouri, about 35 miles (56 kilometres) northwest of Springfield. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said no injuries were reported. Shortly before 3 p.m., a tornado stripped the shingles from the roof of a home near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, about 60 miles (96 kilometres) southeast of Tulsa. No injuries were reported there either. What the NWS described as a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado roared through parts of Logan County, Arkansas, about 45 miles (72 kilometres) east of Fort Smith on Friday night. At least three homes were destroyed by the Arkansas tornado, said Logan County Emergency Management Coordinator Tobi Miller, but no injuries were reported. Downed trees and power lines were widespread, she said. Miller said the tornado skirted her home in Subiaco, Arkansas. She said she heard but couldnt see the rain-wrapped twister in the dark. Ahead of the storms, Dallas Office of Emergency Management asked residents to bring in pets, outdoor furniture, grills, and anything else that could be caught up in high winds to reduce the risk of flying debris. Such strong winds are a key concern in an area at greatest risk: A zone that includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas, the Storm Prediction Center warned. Weather service meteorologists in northern Louisiana said that such a dire forecast for the area is only issued two to four times each year, on average. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said boats, helicopters, medical and rescue teams had been placed on standby in case they are needed. I ask that all Texans keep those in the storms path and all of Texas first responders in their prayers as they deal with the effects of this storm, Abbott said in a statement. Wicked weather also will pose a threat to Alabama and Georgia as the system moves eastward on Saturday, forecasters said. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Friday the state was making necessary preparations ahead of the potential weather. At the state level, we continue to closely monitor this storm system, while making all necessary preparations, Ivey said in a statement. I encourage all Alabamians to do the same, stay weather aware and heed all local warnings. On Alabamas Gulf Coast, Baldwin County cancelled school activities including sporting events for Saturday. The weather service warned of flooding and the potential for 10-foot-high (3-meter-high) waves on beaches, where northern visitors escaping the cold are a common sight during the winter. Heavy rains also could cause flooding across the South and part of the Midwest. Many streams already are at or near flood levels because of earlier storms, and heavy rains could lead to flash flooding across the region, forecasters said. Parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana were under flash flood warnings or watches on Saturday. ___ Martin reported from Atlanta. Associated Press Writer Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama, contributed to this story. By PTI NEW DELHI: Tata Motors on Saturday reported a 3 per cent decline in global sales, including that of Jaguar Land Rover, at 97,348 units in December. Global wholesale units of all Tata Motors' commercial vehicles and Tata Daewoo range last month stood at 34,526 units, down 15 per cent, from December 2018, the company said in a statement. The company's global sales of all passenger vehicles were at 62,822 units, up 5 per cent from December 2018, it added. Global sales of JLR stood at 50,001 units. Jaguar wholesale units for the month were 12,742 vehicles, while Land Rover wholesale stood at 37,259 units. The Duchess of Sussex showcased one of her favourite wardrobe heroes - a classic camel coat - when she stepped out in London earlier this week. Meghan Markle, 38, wore a chic 345 style from high street chain Reiss over a sumptuous rust-coloured ensemble as she joined Prince Harry, 35, at Canada House, London, on Monday. The outing marked a return to royal duties for the couple following a six-week sabbatical. It is the latest addition to Meghan's sizeable collection of camel coats, which cover a range of materials to be worn rain or shine. Wardrobe hero: Meghan Markle, 38, wore the chic 345 camel coat from high street chain Reiss over a sumptuous rust-coloured ensemble as she joined Prince Harry, 35, at Canada House on Monday. It is the latest addition to Meghan's sizeable collection of camel coats Speaking to FEMAIL, stylist Caroline Wolf, of Capsule Wardrobe Collection, said: 'A camel coat is probably one of the most versatile pieces of clothing in your wardrobe. Its todays hero piece. 'You can dress it up with a fitted dress or dress it down with a pair of jeans. Throw on a camel coat to elevate and pull your look together. 'Meghan Markle is a style pro at turning an understated separates look into a statement look. With her visit to Canada House, her camel coat was the lynch pin ensuring a low key yet polished appearance.' The Duchess of Sussex has long been a fan of the style and was spotted in camel coats long before she met Prince Harry, according to the experts behind royal fashion blog Meghan's Mirror. Showcasing a very different look - and another camel coat - Meghan wore a Prada camel overcoat while staying in New York for her star-studded baby shower in February 2019, above Proving the versatility of a camel coat, Meghan donned a trench by Martin Grant in Sydney on the first day of the royal tour in 2018. She wore it in Melbourne days later (right) A favourite from her pre-royal days was a MaxMara 'Manuela' coat, which she wore when heading out and about with friends in Toronto. When it came to one of her early royal engagements - church on Christmas Day at Sandringham in 2017 - Meghan reached for a different camel coat. This time the Duchess stepped out in a 1,000 wide collar camel wrap coat by luxury brand Sentaler, which tapered in around the waist and flared out at the hem. The coat made another appearance just two months ago, when Meghan 'shrobed', or draped, it over her shoulders at the WellChild Awards in London. The Duchess of Sussex wore 1,000 wide collar camel wrap coat by luxury brand Sentaler when she joined Prince Harry for church on Christmas Day at Sandringham in 2017, pictured The coat made another appearance just three months ago, when Meghan 'shrobed', or draped, it over her shoulders at the WellChild Awards in London, pictured Proving the versatility of a camel coat, Meghan donned a trench by Australian label Martin Grant in Sydney on the first day of the royal tour in 2018. Showcasing a very different look - and another camel coat - Meghan wore a Prada camel overcoat while staying in New York for her star-studded baby shower. Other camel coats owned by the Duchess include the 605 Smythe 'Brando' coat worn on her first public engagement of 2018 and the 250 Wilfred Cocoon Coat in Chasm she wore on a private visit to the Association of Commonwealth Universities in December 2018. Caroline noted that Meghan is not afraid to mix high-end designer pieces with high street alternatives, proving that camel coats don't need to come with an extortionate price tag. She added: 'Meghan doesnt only wear designer names. Shes known to own high street labels too, notably from the UKs modern fashion brand, Reiss. 'One of the most popular high street camel trenches is from another UK brand Hobbs, meaning you dont have to spend a fortune to up the ante in your personal presentation.' Queen Elizabeth II just finished dealing with a "bumpy year." Now, she started the new decade trying hard to save the monarchy again. The royal family got involved in a lot of issues in the past year which burdened Queen Elizabeth II. But unlike the Sussexes' previous headlines like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry riding private jets and being called hypocrites, their recent drama is a whole new level of irritation for the Queen. Can The Queen Save The Day? After spending a six-week break in the U.S. and Canada, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex came back to Britain only to unveil a shocking news. On Jan. 8, Prince Harry and Meghan posted an announcement on Instagram, stating that they are stepping back as "senior" members of the royal family to divide their time flying back and forth from the U.K. and North America. They added that they have been thinking about it for "many months" since they found it a very tough decision to finally become independent from the central and senior members of the royal family - the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William. What seemed to be good news for the royal couple, who is about to taste freedom from the Royal Family, was a bad one for Queen Elizabeth II and the members of the central monarchy. BBC confirmed that neither Queen Elizabeth nor Prince William knew about the Sussexes' plans, and Her Majesty immediately pulled off the best option she could temporarily do that time. Queen's Move Buckingham Palace released a statement to give royal watchers an update with regards to Prince Harry and Meghan's sudden decision. "Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through," the Palace stated. The Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English also posted on Twitter, "The Queen has convened a meeting of all four royal households and 'tasked' them with coming up with a 'workable' future role for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex within 'days not weeks." The Queen started a four-way conference call with Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex reportedly got locked within the said conference without gaining any ideal conclusion. They tried to resolve the Sussexes' departure from the royal family, which they did not know would happen. A source told Buckingham Palace that the Queen pledged and assured that there will be talks to take place "at pace." The Queen will also reportedly involve the government, including Home Secretary Priti Patel. The aforementioned scheduled discussions may also even include foreign administrations, possibly Canada and the United States. Because the announcement came out against Her Royal Highness' strict orders and only received by Princes Charles and William 10 minutes before they posted it online, Courtiers warned that "Harry and Meghan will be punished." The Palace may be in a war right now, but the royal watchers feel that the Queen will get through this again just like how she successfully overcame every problem before. This week, the Nebraska Legislature kicks off a new session at the State Capitol. Over the interim, Ive been working with my team and Senators to prepare important initiatives such as property tax relief and flood assistance. On Wednesday, Jan. 15th, I will detail my plans for the session in my annual State of the State address, which you can watch online at www.netnebraska.org or read once its posted on my website which is listed below. Ahead of this address, I want to share one very important priority with you. Early in the session, the Legislature is expected to debate tax relief for veterans. Last year, LB 153 was introduced by Senator Tom Brewer of Gordon and prioritized by Senator John Lowe of Kearney at my request. This bill proposes to exempt 50 percent of military retirement benefits from income tax. The Revenue Committee voted to advance it to the full Legislature for floor debate. Military retirement tax relief is important for several reasons. First, it helps keep us competitive with surrounding states. Currently, Nebraskas tax policy on military retirement puts our state at a competitive disadvantage compared to our neighbors. South Dakota and Wyoming dont have state income taxes. Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Missouri exempt military retirement pay from state income taxation. Other Midwestern states are making progress in the area of attracting military retirees by creating better policies for veterans. For example, North Dakota and Indiana both enacted legislation in 2019 to end taxes on military retirement pay. Second, veterans are a great cultural fit for Nebraska, and we want more of them to make their home in Nebraska. Military families are some of the most dedicated, patriotic citizens in our society. Theyre responsible, disciplined, and ready to give back to their community. Since many military personnel can retire after twenty years of service, they often finish their military service in their 40s or 50s. At this age, theyre still looking for ways to actively invest their wealth of skills and experience in a new job. Given our states need for talented workers, we cannot afford to have military retirees exit our state for a more favorable tax situation elsewhere. I know about the value of hiring veterans from firsthand experience. As Governor and in the private sector, several key team members who have worked for me previously served in the military. In my administration, I have hired a former Navy officer as Chief Human Resources Officer and to lead Administrative Services as well as a Captain from the JAG Corps to lead Veterans Affairs. Finally, tax relief for veterans is a part of our plan to make Nebraska the most veteran-friendly state in the nation and to connect veterans with great opportunities here in the Good Life. My administration has taken a number of steps to make Nebraska a friendlier and more welcoming home for our military families and veterans. We adopted a new rule to enable military spouses to receive a three-year teaching permit in Nebraska with a valid out-of-state license. We expanded the hiring preference in Nebraska to include spouses of service members. We also entered into the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows nurses to have one multi-state license. This makes it easier for military spouses to begin work in nursing after moving to our state. Through these initiatives and a host of others, the State of Nebraska is thanking our veterans in practical ways. Passing LB 153 is the next logical step in our mission to make Nebraska the best state in the U.S. for military families and veterans. As the legislative session kicks off, I encourage you to follow www.Governor.Nebraska.gov for updates on important bills. We will need your help to deliver tax relief and support our veterans. It is an expression of our gratitude for our servicemen and women for the sacrifices they have made. If you want to join us on these important efforts, please consider reaching out to your State Senator right away. You can find their contact information at www.NebraskaLegislature.gov. Let them know you stand with Nebraskas veterans! Pete Ricketts is the governor of Nebraska. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A large number of people from the Women India Movement on Saturday staged a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Register of Citizens (NRC) here and raised slogans denouncing the newly enacted law. Protestors were seen carrying placards that read, 'Stop diving India, Boycott CAA, NRC, NPR', 'We are humans, not criminals', 'Save India from fascism'. "Today's youths are tomorrow's future. The present leaders are scared by the youths and are trying to wipe us out. They are scared of the students because they are raising their voices," a protestor told ANI. "It started with the triple talaq, then the removal of Article 370 and Babri Masjid verdict. We Muslims kept quiet but now it is a question to our Constitution. We are not here as Muslims but as an Indian Citizen protesting against the cruelty of the BJP government," she added. The protestor said the Central government is trying to make India a Hindu Rashtra by wiping out all other communities. "This fascist government is trying to poison the minds of Hindus against the Muslims. After Muslims, there will be the Christian community and then other communities. The main motive of the government is to only keep Brahmins in India," added the protestor. The newly-enacted law grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday appointed Garba Abubakar as the new Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Mr Abubakars appointment, which is in line with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), was conveyed by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, via a letter dated January 7. The new Registrar General, who already assumed duties, is from Bauchi State. He was born on October 7, 1966. He attended the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989. He joined the CAC in April 2004 as principal manager in charge of compliance and rose through the ranks to become a director in January, 2016. He was a special adviser to Bello Mahmud, the then Registrar General of CAC between August, 2010 to October, 2017. Prior to joining the CAC, Mr Abubakar worked with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (formerly National Provident Fund) as Compliance Officer between 1991 to 1993. He also worked at NICON Insurance between June 1995 to December 1997. He is a member, Governing Council Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law, March 2017 date, Member, Inter-Agency Committee Against Money Laundering and Terrorists Financing, 2007-date, CAC Focal on Open Government Partnership, amongst others. Mr Abubakar is also a member, In-House Committee on the Review of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). He is married and his hobbies include traveling and reading. BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi on Saturday launched an attack on the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi over the alleged role of its ministers in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in the capital. The BJP MP, in a press conference, released videos allegedly showing AAP MLAs Amanatullah Khan, and Haji Ishraq Khan, in two separate incidents, in which they were, according to Lekhi, instigating the crowd. Protests had erupted across the country in December last year, against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which grants Indian citizenship to Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014 Lekhi further targeted AAP over giving benefits to the people of Delhi just months ahead of polls. "I want to assure the people that whatever we are going to do (in government) will last for five years and not just five months. The way in which they ended the pensions of disabled persons, senior citizens and kept the poor people deprived of the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana will not be done," Lekhi said. She also hit out at Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for spreading misinformation through his tweets and added that a second such press conference will be held later tomorrow for "exposing more lies of the AAP government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko is holding meetings with representatives of embassies of countries which citizens died in the crash of a Ukraine International Airlines plane in Iran. "Our current priority is supporting the families of the victims from all of the affected countries. Im in close contact with my counterparts and were working closely with embassy representatives," Prystaiko wrote on Twitter. Today, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran. On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet. In this regard, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter that the crash had been caused by a "human error." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani apologized for the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane by the Iranian military, expressing his condolences to the families of the dead. He called the plane crash a disastrous mistake. A Ukraine International Airlines plane (flight PS752), en route from Tehran to Kyiv, crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport at about 06:00 Tehran time (04:30 Kyiv time) on Wednesday, January 8. There were 176 people on board the aircraft. All of them died. The crash killed 11 Ukrainians (two passengers and all nine crew), 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, ten Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons. ish An orchid festival will be held in the sleepy town of Silapathar in Assam's Dhemaji district to create awareness on conservation and propagation of many orchid species of the state classified as endangered, organisers said. The two-day orchid festival, coinciding with the Bihu festival of Assam in April, will display some rare species of orchids belonging to Assam, which boasts of the second-highest number of orchid species in India behind Arunachal Pradesh. Envisaged by the Orchid Society of Assam, a body formed in December 2018 to conserve the state flower 'kopou phool' (Rhynchostylis Retusa or the foxtail orchid), the festival will also bring together traders from all over India, including Kerala and Karnataka, president of the organisation Jitu Gogoi said. The dates of the festival will be finalised on the sidelines of their first orchid workshop to be conducted at the Silapathar Science College on Sunday in order to create awareness on conservation and propagation of Assam's species, most of them classified as endangered. "We are expecting more than 3,000 people. Many people have already confirmed participation, we are expecting more to come. It's the blooming time of orchids here and it will be worth a visit and the festival of Bihu will make it doubly special," Gogoi, a Botany lecturer at the Silapathar Science College here, told PTI. "They will exhibit wild and rare orchids and some hybrid ones which will be up for sale. Local orchids that are tissue-cultured will also be sold. We will also award three people of the state who are doing outstanding work for orchid conservation of Assam, mainly Rhynchostylis retusa and variety alba (the white foxtail orchid). "This will be an annual affair in the same date in every April, the blooming season for most of the orchids in Assam including our state flower 'Kopou Phool' (Rhy retusa)," Gogoi said. The festival will be held at their college ground in Silapathar, s small town in the Dhemaji district in upper Assam, just six kilometres off Arunachal Pradesh border. A girl's attire during Bihu dance is not complete without kopou phool, worn as a hair ornament, but with heavy industralisation and deforestation the orchid is facing extinction and is listed as an endangered species. But the society formed just over a year ago hopes to spread awareness and keep the state's pride intact, Gogoi said. The countdown for which will begin with the workshop on Sunday where three scientists from the Rain Forest Research Institute of Jorhat and state's well-known orchid expert Khyanjeet Gogoi, who himself has identified 35 species from Assam and discovered four new among them, are expected. "They will teach technique about how to conserve and propagate the orchids. We will give preferences to the rare and endangered species like Blue Vanda (Vanda coerulea) and Rhy Var Alba a -- a highly endangered species." "Khaynjeet Gogoi had conducted a workshop at his place but with the participation of the three scientist from Jorhat -- Dr Bebija L Singha, Satyam Bordoloi, Prasanta Saikia -- we hope the workshop will be highly successful," Gogoi said. The workshop is open to both students and faculties, while farmers and conservators are also expected as the OSA expects a gathering of about 100 people on Sunday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a tragic incident one student died after being trapped in heavy snow while six others were rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) late Friday night in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, officials said. The seven students aged 18-21, studying in an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) centre near Badkot town of Uttarkashi, were walking to their homes when they got stuck in heavy snowfall. Praveen Alok, spokesperson, SDRF said, they received an emergency call from one of the students on Friday evening at 5pm. A team of SDRF men then soon left on a rescue mission for the spot about 25 km from their centre in Badkot. The team finally reached the spot late night at around 10.30 pm on foot braving heavy snow. After reaching there, they found one student, Anuj Semwal, 18, in an unconscious state. His friends said that he was not well due to the severe cold, said Alok. The rescue team then soon attended him and other stranded students, and brought them to the hospital in Badkot at 2.30 am. There the doctors declared Semwal dead on arrival. The other six students were discharged after primary treatment, said Alok. Alok said that prima facie it seems that Semwal died of hypothermia. All the students including the deceased hail from Uttarkashi district, he added. Uttarakhands hill districts including Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Nainital received heavy snowfall in past few days throwing the local peoples life out of gear as the snow blocked road connectivity to many villages. In the hilly areas, many areas are also suffering from power outage although the government constantly working to restore it. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kalyan Das Kalyan Das covers crime, transport, human rights and central government offices from Bhopal and Indore. ...view detail Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived here on a two-day visit to West Bengal. Ahead of his visit, the members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) staged a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The students took to the streets holding placards with -- 'Go Back Modi' and 'United Against Fascism.' Protests have been happening across the country ever since the law received the Presidential assent last month. During his two-day visit to the state, Prime Minister Modi will be inaugurating a light and sound show at Millennium Park here. The Prime Minister will also unveil the plaque of 150 years of commemorative installation at the site of original Port Jetties and will inaugurate the upgraded ship repair facility of Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock along with other inaugurations on Saturday. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is at loggerheads with the Centre over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, is likely to share the dais with him at an event here today. A powerful blast at a mosque during Friday evening prayers killed at least 16 people, including an Imam and a senior police officer, and left 20 others injured in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, three days after a bomb explosion claimed two lives in Quetta. The nature of the explosion, which occurred inside the mosque during Maghrib prayers in Ghousabad neighbourhood, was not immediately known. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amanullah was among the 16 people killed in the incident, Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema said. According to some media reports, the slain police officer was the likely target. Last month, unidentified gunmen killed the DSP's son in Quetta, The Express Tribune reported. Twenty others were also injured in the blast, the report said. Law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area to investigate the incident. The mosque, which is located in a densely-populated Pashtun-majority area, was being searched by the bomb disposal squad and security personnel. Meanwhile, an emergency has been declared at all hospitals in the area. The TV footage showed debris and shattered glass spread on the floor of the mosque. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast. Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and regretted the loss of lives. He said the best possible treatment would be given to the injured. Khan also sought a report of the incident. Pakistan military's media wing ISPR said that troops of the Frontier Corp (FC) Balochistan have reached the site and were carrying out joint search operation with the police. "Every possible assistance be given to police & civil administration. Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim," the ISPR quoted army chief General Qamar Bajwa as saying. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan condemned the incident and expressed grief at the loss of lives. Reacting to the incident, Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove condemned it, saying "terrorists were scared of Pakistan's development". "Internal and external enemies are making failed efforts to create panic and unrest in the country," he said in a statement. Talking about the casualties in the incident, Langove said the death toll might rise as condition of some of the injured was critical after they were shifted to the Civil Hospital for treatment. The blast occurred three days after two men were killed and over a dozen injured in a blast near a vehicle of the security forces in Quetta. In May last year, a bomb blast at a mosque in the provincial capital Quetta killed two people, including a prayer leader and injured 28 others. In August, an explosion took place inside a mosque during Friday prayers in the city. PTI AYZ IND CPS AKJ RUP Thomas and Eileen Ashe outside their family shop which served the community in Annascaul from 1916 until last Saturday when it finally fell victim to the declining trade in rural shops. Photo by Declan Malone There was the atmosphere of a wake in Ashe's shop in Annascaul on Saturday as locals called in for a cup of tea and a chat before the doors were closed for the last time on a business that has served the community since 1916. For Thomas Ashe and his wife, Eileen, the decision to close was "extremely painful" but in the end there was no getting away from the fact that it had become economically unviable to continue running a small shop that simply couldn't compete with supermarkets. Although the gradual decline in small rural shops has been ongoing since the 1980s, Thomas feels that the more recent arrival of Lidl and Aldi in Ireland has "skewed the whole market". Other supermarkets were forced to cut their prices in order to compete and the knock-on effect trickled down as far as small shops. However, small retailers didn't have the same scope for cutting prices which left them at a competitive disadvantage and one by one they have been forced to close down. Ashe's shop didn't go down without a fight. Since taking over the shop in 1990 Thomas and Eileen diversified into providing a wider range of artisan foods, they expanded their selection of wines and added a seating area in an effort to attract more customers. All of this helped, but not enough. Even their greatest strength - the advantage of being a local 'convenience store' - was diminished by the fact that Annascaul doesn't have enough footfall to maintain the cost of running the shop in which two people were employed. "We tried everything... We would love to have kept it open; it was a heart-breaking decision to close but there was no option. I feel bad for the village of Annascaul, but a shop has to be economically viable and in the end it wasn't," said Thomas. The fate of Ashe's shop is part of a pattern that has been replicated throughout the village of Annascaul and throughout West Kerry. Thomas recalls that in the 1980s there were eight small shops and a 'pop-up' chemist shop in Annascaul, now only O'Donnell's shop remains. The village used to have two small petrol stations, both are now closed. West of Dingle only three rural shops remain and the two-pump country petrol stations have become a thing of the past. Ashe's shop leaves behind a fascinating slice of local history. It was built on a site bought for 12 from the Tralee and Dingle Light Railway and opened in 1916 by Thomas's grand uncle Michael F Ashe and his American-born wife Ella O'Flaherty after he returned home from Boston where he had owned a pub with Cornelius O'Sullivan. Michael and Ella, who was of Annascaul extraction, operated the shop as a general merchant store, selling every kind of commodity that would be needed in a rural village as well as buying butter from local farmers which he then sold on to the butter market in Cork. The shop included a butcher's counter and from the outset one of their house specialities was home-made black pudding. The pudding met with approval from discerning local palates and shortly after he took over the shop in 1990 Thomas seized on this as a source of inspiration. He set up Ashe's Annascaul Black Pudding as a separate entity and gradually it grew to become the main business, winning a great many awards and commendations along the way. Seven people are now employed in the small food production unit at the back of the old shop where Ashes produce their black pudding - using the family recipe that Thomas learned from his mother - along with a range of other products including sausages, sausage rolls and rashers. The business supplies up to 70 shops, restaurants and hotels and in an Ireland where artisan food is more appreciated the future looks bright. That success doesn't take away from the sadness at the closure of the old shop but Thomas still holds out hope: "The premises is still here, so who knows, there might be the possibility of something in the future," he says. Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein donated more than $850,000 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and visited campus at least nine times after being convicted of sex crimes in 2008, according to new findings from a law firm hired to investigate the pedophile's ties with the elite university. The report - compiled by Goodwin Procter at the MIT governing board's request - found that some senior leaders at MIT approved Epstein's donations but demanded that they be kept out of the public spotlight in an attempt to protect the school's reputation. Many of the donations came through Epstein's foundations and were recorded as anonymous gifts. Still, the report, released Friday, concluded that MIT's leaders violated no laws or school policies in accepting gifts from a convicted sex offender. At the time, it had no policy on accepting controversial gifts. The school says it will now develop one. Investigators working at MIT's behest have released a report stating that Jeffrey Epstein (pictured in 2004) donated $850,000 to the elite university between 2002 to 2017 Investigators also found that the majority of Epstein's donations were made to the school after his 2008 sex crimes conviction and that he had also visited the school at least nine times MIT President L. Rafael Reif called the findings 'a sharp reminder of human fallibility and its consequences.' 'An enduring MIT value is the willingness to face hard facts, and as community voices have made clear, this situation demands openness and transparency,' Reif wrote in a campus letter. In total, investigators found that Epstein donated $850,000 to MIT between 2002 and 2017. Nine of those donations - amounting to $750,000 - were made after he pleaded guilty to one count each of soliciting an underage girl for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute in Florida in 2008. The report found that all of Epstein's post-conviction donations were made to either the MIT Media Lab, which received $525,000, or to mechanical engineering professor Seth Lloyd, who received the remaining $225,000. The Media Lab donations were said to have been 'driven either by former Media Lab Director Joi Ito or by Professor Lloyd, not by MITs central administration (including its central fundraising group, the Office of Resource Development).' Former Media Lab director Joi Ito - an entrepreneur and venture capitalist - resigned in September 2019 amid uproar over his ties to Epstein. The report found that Epstein had donated $525,000 post-conviction to the MIT Media Lab and that now former Media Lab Director Joi Ito (pictured) had driven the donations The report also found that Epstein's post-conviction donations included $225,000 to mechanical engineering professor Seth Lloyd (pictured), who was put on administrative leave The report found that Ito had asked for and received donations for the Media Lab from Epstein after his conviction, even though staffers had raised multiple red flags about Epstein Lloyd, who has previously apologized, was placed on administrative leave on Friday over findings that he 'purposefully failed to inform MIT that Epstein, a convicted sex offender, was the source' of $100,000 in donations that Lloyd accepted in 2012 'to support his work.' Those donations were said to have been unsolicited, but 'Even if Professor Lloyd did not solicit these donations, as described below, he knowingly facilitated Epsteins plan to circumvent any possible MIT vetting process,' the report stated. Lloyd was also said to have solicited and received another donation from Epstein for $125,000 in 2017. In addition, the report said that Lloyd did not tell MIT that he had received a personal gift of $60,000 from Epstein in 2005 or 2006. As that money was said to have been deposited into Lloyd's personal bank account, it was not included in the overall $850,000 total of Epstein's donations. Investigators found that Epstein reached out to Lloyd as he tried to rehabilitate his reputation following his 2008 conviction of sex crimes in Florida. The report stated that MIT president L. Rafael Reif (pictured) 'was not contemporaneously aware of Epsteins donations' or that they were coming from a convicted sex offender and accused pedophile The report stated that MIT vice presidents (L to R) R. Gregory Morgan, Jeffrey Newton and Israel Ruiz approved Epstein's Media Lab donations in 2013 and that they 'were aware Epstein had a criminal record involving sex offenses' at the time The report says Epstein was disappointed that other universities were rejecting his money and sent an email to Lloyd as a test. In an email, he told Lloyd, 'im going to give you two 50k tranches to see if the line jingles.' Lloyd did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The report said that in 2013, Epstein's donations to the Media Lab and in support of Ito were approved by Jeffrey Newton, vice president for Resource Development; R. Gregory Morgan, senior vice president; and Israel Ruiz, executive vice president and treasurer. All three of the vice presidents 'were aware that Epstein had a criminal record involving sex offenses' at the time. They were said to have debated whether to return the money, but ultimately approved it, under the condition that it be kept anonymous, the report said. Newton and Morgan have retired and Ruiz 'has expressed deep regret, which we believe is sincere, for what he believes was a collective and continued error of judgment,' the report found. Epstein's last donation to the school was $25,000 to the Media Lab, given in December 2017. The report also stated that MIT president Reif 'was not contemporaneously aware of Epsteins donations, was not aware that MIT was accepting donations from a convicted sex offender and accused pedophile, and had no role in approving MITs acceptance of the donations.' MIT senior leaders were said to have been unaware that Epstein (in 2017) had visited the school at least nine times between 2013 and 2017. Some Media Lab staffers were said to have been uncomfortable that he arrived with female assistants in their 20s Investigators found that the school's senior leaders were unaware of Epstein's regular visits to campus, which often came at the invitation of Ito. Epstein was said to have visited campus as recently as April 2017, the report said, despite objections from some staff members at the Media Lab. Some secretly called him 'Voldemort,' investigators discovered, and some felt uncomfortable when he arrived with female assistants in their 20s. While at the school's campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Epstein was said to have 'made frequent visits to professors and academics' between 2013 and 2017, but that 'There is no evidence that anyone in MITs central administration was aware of any of Epsteins visits to MITs campus.' The report stated that since MIT did not have a 'policy or processes for handling controversial donors in place at the time,' the school employees who decided to take Epstein's money after his 2008 conviction 'cannot be judged to be a policy violation.' However, the report stated, 'it is clear that the decision was the result of collective and significant errors in judgment that resulted in serious damage to the MIT community.' In August, MIT president Reif announced that the university would donate an amount equal to its donations from Epstein to a charity that supports victims of sexual violence. In his campus letter, Reif said Friday MIT will create a process to guide decisions on controversial donors and will establish guidelines 'to keep the MIT community safe from visitors who pose a direct threat.' 'As all of you demonstrated, there is a great deal that is right with MIT,' Reif wrote. 'We must fix what needs fixing and improve what needs improving. And we must make room for many more voices and perspectives.' Epstein, 66, killed himself in his New York City prison cell in August after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges. The wealthy financier had pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing girls as young as 14 and young women in New York and Florida in the early 2000s. In lawsuits, women say the abuse spanned decades. ROME - Libyas U.N.-backed prime minister on Saturday conditioned his governments participation in a proposed ceasefire to rival forces withdrawing from the outskirts of Tripoli, suggesting no immediate end to the countrys civil war. Prime Minister Fayez Serraj defended his bellicose activities to protect the Libyan capital, the seat of his government, on the eve of the start date for the truce proposed by Turkey and Russia. Serraj spoke while in Rome for a meeting with Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte. The meeting was the latest diplomatic effort to end the offensive launched by Serrajs rival in eastern Libya, Gen. Khalifa Hifter, and return the two sides to a U.N.-supported political process. The presidents of Turkey and Russia this week called for a ceasefire between the warring eastern and western Libyan forces starting Sunday. While Serrajs government welcomed the call, a spokesman for Hifters self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces, Ahmed al-Mosmari, said the groups battalions would still try to take control of Tripoli from what he called terrorist groups. We welcome with pleasure the Russian and Turkish initiative that points to a cease-fire, as we are always open to and welcome any initiative that goes in this direction, Serraj said in comments after meeting with Conte. As long as it is conditioned on the complete withdrawal of the adversary, the attackers. But in our long experience, we do not trust any offers from the attackers because deception is the way they operate. Hifters eastern-based forces launched a fresh offensive in Tripoli in April, sparking a flurry of diplomatic efforts to try to contain the crisis in the North African nation. The east-based government, backed by Hifters forces, is supported by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. The western, Tripoli-based government receives aid from Turkey, Qatar and Italy. The fighting has threatened to plunge Libya into violent chaos rivaling the 2011 conflict that ousted and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Both Russia and Turkey have been accused of exacerbating the conflict in Libya by giving military aid to its warring parties. Serraj appeared to defend Turkeys decision to deploy troops to bolster his forces, saying his government was forced to take part in these bellicose activities which we consider a right to defend the capital. Conte is eager to show Italy, Libyas former colonial ruler, as a key facilitator in Libyas political process, and met Wednesday in Rome with Hifter as part of that effort. Serraj snubbed Conte on Wednesday, but on Saturday thanked Italy for its efforts. The two sides agreed to restart a mixed commission to work out compensation to Libya stemming from Italys Libyan occupation. Conte called for an end to foreign interference in Libya and for the European Union to take an even greater role in returning the parties to political talks, in a clear reference to Russia and Turkey. We are convinced this (EU) intervention offers the maximum guarantee to not place the future of the Libyan people at the will of lone actors, Conte said. Later, he called French President Emmanuel Macron, whose government is backing Hifters forces. A statement from Contes office said the two repeated the importance of a European-level co-ordination that favours the pacification and stabilization in Libya. ___ AP producer Maggie Hyde contributed from Cairo. ALBANY A state Supreme Court justice has struck down New York's ban on the sale of certain flavored electronic liquids, granting an injunction sought by the vaping industry that challenged the legality and constitutionality of an emergency order issued last year by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the state Health Department. The ban was issued in September by the state Department of Health's Public Health and Health Planning Council, a day after Cuomo signed an executive order to ban the sale of e-flavored cigarettes and related products. The swift action, which the vaping industry said would cripple its more than billion-dollar-a-year industry in New York, followed an outbreak of vaping-related illnesses and deaths across the country. The decision by acting state Supreme Court Justice Catherine Cholakis noted the devastating impact the emergency order would have on the vaping industry while also acknowledging the real threat that vaping has had on public health, including luring more youth to use nicotine products after decades of anti-smoking campaigns had helped lower cigarette use. But Cholakis found that the state had overstepped its authority and that the regulation of the vaping industry and flavored e-cigarettes in particular should be handled by the Legislature. "Of course, nothing in this decision, order and judgment should be read as in any way trivializing the concern that the availability of flavored e-liquids may well be contributing to the spread of nicotine addiction among our youth," Cholakis wrote. "Rather, this court's holding on the present motion is limited to the recognition that there is a likelihood that petitioners (the vaping industry) will ultimately succeed in proving that the emergency regulation is an impermissible administrative transgression into territory that is reserved to our Legislature by the state Constitution." The state's emergency regulation effectively was an effort by Cuomo's administration to use state policymaking to limit the availability of vaping products in New York, but the judge found that type of action is "reserved constitutionally to the Legislature and not to the executive branch." She noted that the policy was also not the product of any biomedical research. Following Cuomo's executive order, the health council bypassed public notice and public comment periods normally used for regulatory action and issued their directive in a hastened procedure of emergency rulemaking. The ruling noted that it remains unclear whether vaping industry would succeed in challenging the state's blanket ban as it relates to any health crisis, but found the separation of powers issue had trumped that. Still, her ruling acknowledged it is "not nearly so clear" that the health council had been out of line when it opted to use the emergency regulation procedure to ban the products. "The spate of illnesses and deaths attributable to pulmonary disease brought on by vaping has only recently come into public consciousness, though vaping has existed in its current form for more than a decade," Cholakis wrote. "And the significant rise in teenage use of vaping materials has only recently reached the point where, according to (the Health Department's) evidence, one in four high school students has engaged in the activity." The vaping industry, which sought an injunction keeping the state from enforcing the order and declaring it unconstitutional, had argued that losing the case would have resulted in the shuttering of many of their businesses across the state. The judge said the Legislature can step in and still take steps to regulate the industry. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "(O)nly a few days ago the minimum age of persons to whom vaping products may legally be sold increased in New York from 18 to 21," the judge wrote. "The Legislature could opt to await the passage of some period of time to gauge whether this legislation is sufficient in itself to stem the increase in vaping among teenagers." State health officials have said they believe eliminating flavored vaping products would help curb the extremely high usage among youth. The case was filed against the state by the Vapor Technology Association, which has roughly 800 members, and two of its affiliates. They argued the Health Department exceeded its authority in enacting a ban that state legislators had already considered during last year's legislative session. But the session had also ended before the mysterious vaping illnesses began surfacing. At least 52 people are known to have died from the illness and 2,409 others have experienced serious respiratory issues that state and federal health investigators have linked to vaping. Two of those deaths have occurred in New York. Vaping advocates countered that many of the cases were associated with black-market THC products. Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, who co-sponsored a 2016 bill to ban flavored e-cigarette sales, previously told the Times Union that she would revisit the legislation this month as the Legislature returned to Albany. "I believe this kind of thing should be codified in statute," she said. "It will have a much stronger, lasting impact than regulations, which can be challenged as we're now seeing." Benjamin G. Greenberg, a shareholder in the Miami office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A., participated in the Miami Jewish Legal Societys CLE Luncheon hosted by Greenberg Traurigs Miami office on Jan. 9. Greenberg and the Honorable Judge Robert J. Luck, United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and a former justice of the Florida Supreme Court, discussed Criminal Justice, Prison, and What the Talmud Says on Creating a Just Justice System. We have to focus on rehabilitation and what happens after incarceration, Greenberg said. Thats where we can do more, such as providing greater access to mental health resources and making sure we address the difficulties and barriers people face upon release from incarceration. The CLE luncheon included a presentation that addressed the Jewish exploration of conviction, sentencing, and the various forms of criminal rehabilitation. Greenberg is a member of the firms White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice and is the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. He counsels corporations and individuals on white collar matters and an array of regulatory issues, as well as advising them in connection with investigations and compliance. Greenberg utilizes his experience to help clients navigate local and national issues involving the Department of Justice. He is an experienced trial attorney who has tried more than twenty cases to verdict. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2100 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. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is urging US President Donald Trump to revise US travel warnings for Australia Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is urging US President Donald Trump to revise US travel warnings for Australia. The US State Department last week put out a new warning for Americans to consider postponing their travel to Australia as disastrous bushfires ravage the country. But the premier has passionately pleaded with the US leader to reconsider the warning, which could be damaging to the tourism industry at a delicate time. 'The last thing we need is for international tourists to think that the entire country of Australia is not safe to visit,' Ms Palaszczuk wrote on Friday. 'We have large parts of our beautiful country that are not affected and would love to welcome American tourists here. 'I urge you to change the travel advice for American tourists looking to visit Australia.' The US State Department put out a warning for Americans to consider postponing their travel to Australia as disastrous bushfires ravage the country (Pictured: Donald Trump) Rural Fire Service volunteers (RFS), National Parks and Wildlife Service staff and Queensland Rural Bushfire Brigade volunteers back burning at Burrill Lake south of Ulladulla, January 5 Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia, as well as other southern beach regions rely heavily on tourists. The devastation from bushfires has seen the communities ravaged and there are fears it could cause an overall boycott. The Royal Australasian College of Physicians says Australians are facing an unprecedented public health crisis because of of the long-term exposure to smoke. The lasting impact on people's health is unknown, however doctors are seeing more patients presenting with respiratory issues, RACP president and respiratory physician John Wilson said in a statement on Saturday. 'Long term health impacts may be felt not just by those on the frontline being directly impacted by the bushfires, but also those in metropolitan areas,' Professor Wilson added. A bushfire is seen burning on Long Gully Road in the northern New South Wales town of Drake, Monday, September 9 Many of Queensland and Australia's hardest-hit bushfire areas are regions where the tourism industry dominates. However, Ms Palaszczuk pointed to her home state, where fires that have raged in recent months are not currently threatening. 'Queensland has more than 4000 miles of beautiful coastline, tropical islands and, of course, the Great Barrier Reef,' she wrote. More than a million tourists travelled to the Queensland outback last year, and their visits will be crucial to support the nation's economy when the fires ease. 'The rebuilding effort will be extensive as will the economic recovery for our whole country,' Ms Palaszczuk added. 'One of the industries that will be crucial to help rebuild our economy is tourism.' Arjav Rawal sat at his desk and hit refresh on his computer again and again. Then, 21 minutes before its scheduled Friday afternoon release, the results of Januarys highly anticipated Iowa Poll appeared. The 18-year-old Dublin High School senior scooped CNN on a poll it paid for, obtaining the results, then publicly releasing them via his personal Twitter account. UPDATE: I GOT IT, he Tweeted at 2:39 p.m. The all-caps boast was followed by the results of a poll that matched the official results that soon followed. They showed Bernie Sanders leading the pack of Democratic candidates with 20%, followed by Elizabeth Warren (17%) and Pete Buttigieg (16%). CNN and the Des Moines Register, co-sponsors of the Jan 2-8 poll that surveyed more than 3,000 Iowa voters, released the results at 3 p.m. By then, however, Rawals tweet had caught fire and got him profiled in the New York Times. Rawal, who turned 18 last week, quickly ticked off his resume when reached Friday evening by The Chronicle: Internships with Rep. Eric Swalwell and California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, vice chair of the California High School Democrats, former president of the Tri-Valley Youth Expo. In my free time, I leak polls, he joked. Friends and strangers alike heralded him on Twitter as a legend, while everyone wondered one question: how? Rawal said it wasnt that hard. Based on past online polls, he figured out the URL of the results webpage, a trick he and his high school friends discovered when they were eager to view a recent polls results. There is probably an executive (at CNN) fuming about this, but its their own fault, Rawal said. They couldnt hide the date until 6 p.m. Eastern. Its really just pure incompetence or ignorance. 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. Getting the information is something that anyone with above-average technology skills could do, he said. If it wasnt me, I can guarantee someone else would be doing this right now, he said. Fridays poll is the third that he has made public. The leak was a deliberate way to expose CNNs incompetence, he said. Rawal said he hopes the leak is an opportunity to expose flaws in the media. He criticized CNN for employing people who are mouthpieces for hatred and bigotry. Rawal said he has spoken with the Register about securing their information, which that paper did after his last leak. He has not heard from CNN, calling their polls the gift that keeps on giving. Im hoping theyll book me for an appearance, he said. Id love to take them to task. Anna Bauman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @abauman2 White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien tells Axios that despite predictions to the contrary, he's convinced Iran is more likely to return to the negotiating table since the U.S. killed Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani. What he's saying: The strike will "reset deterrence," O'Brien added. O'Brien sat down with Margaret Talev, Jonathan Swan and Alayna Treene at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Friday to talk about Iran and other national security challenges at the start of a new year. On the prospects for diplomacy with Iran, O'Brien told us: "I think the chances of sitting down with the Iranians and getting to a deal have improved significantly" because Soleimani's "off the battlefield." for diplomacy with Iran, O'Brien told us: "I think the chances of sitting down with the Iranians and getting to a deal have improved significantly" because Soleimani's "off the battlefield." We'll have more from the broader conversation on Sunday evening in Sneak Peek. Between the lines: O'Brien's claim flies in the face of what the Iranian leadership and regional experts are saying. Iran's UN ambassador described U.S. diplomatic overtures this week as "unbelievable," in light of the Trump administration killing Soleimani which Iran's leaders view as an act of war. The Trump administration also added more sanctions against Iran Friday. O'Brien said he thinks "the Iranians have realized they don't want a military confrontation with the U.S. and that the maximum pressure campaign is not going to end." "Soleimani's belief was he could end the maximum pressure campaign by going up an escalation ladder with the U.S., taking out drones, taking out Saudi refineries, taking ships and that sort of thing," O'Brien added. was he could end the maximum pressure campaign by going up an escalation ladder with the U.S., taking out drones, taking out Saudi refineries, taking ships and that sort of thing," O'Brien added. "I think those plays are over now. ... I believe that the Iranians are standing down," O'Brien said. After hotly denying it and blaming a mechanical problem, Iran today took responsibility for the fatal crash of a Ukrainian jet over Iran, saying it was an accident by the Revolutionary Guard. O'Brien, speaking before that admission, said if it was a mistake by their armed forces, Iran must provide compensation to victims' families and allow a "full and impartial" investigation. O'Brien described a president who was determined to project strength as he saw pro-Iranian crowds attack the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. At Trump's direction, O'Brien said, the U.S. brought in a Marine Corps company and Army infantry platoon: "We got air assets, Apaches, up in the air, very quickly so that the crowd understood that this embassy was not going to be overrun. We were not going to have Tehran 1979. We weren't going to have Benghazi." O'Brien said, the U.S. brought in a Marine Corps company and Army infantry platoon: "We got air assets, Apaches, up in the air, very quickly so that the crowd understood that this embassy was not going to be overrun. We were not going to have Tehran 1979. We weren't going to have Benghazi." "In the context of this, we received very strong intelligence that Soleimani was coming to the region to meet with his proxy allies, not just in Baghdad but Damascus and Beirut" to plan attacks against Americans. we received very strong intelligence that Soleimani was coming to the region to meet with his proxy allies, not just in Baghdad but Damascus and Beirut" to plan attacks against Americans. "We believed that if we took him off the battlefield that we could disrupt the attacks that were being planned against the United States." Gulf allies to the U.S. can feel assured, O'Brien said, that "the U.S. is there to deter" Iranian aggression and "the Iranians understand that we mean business" and they should "think very carefully about attacking the United States and its interests in the region." He stopped short of any absolute guarantees, saying he wasn't going to negotiate defense treaties through an interview. We asked O'Brien why the Trump administration publicly took credit for killing Soleimani, rather than killing him anonymously and leaving a "zone of deniability" which some analysts have argued would have been more prudent because it would have been less humiliating to Iran's leaders. His response: "There weren't too many countries with the capability of undertaking that attack." too many countries with the capability of undertaking that attack." Soleimani "was involved in plotting attacks against Americans at the time" and "we were going to disrupt those attacks. It would have become public." "was involved in plotting attacks against Americans at the time" and "we were going to disrupt those attacks. It would have become public." "There was no reason not to own it." Go deeper: Trump says "all is well" after Iranian strikes on bases hosting U.S. troops At long, blessed last Terry Gilliam has completed The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. He wasn't yet 50 when he embarked on his film adaptation of the classic 17th-century novel by Miguel de Cervantes. This year he will turn 80. The project has survived legal injunctions, illness, death, floods, even fighter jets (which kept flying noisily overhead, forcing Terry to stop shooting after five days). It has survived crackpot financiers, one of whom said he had access to gold stolen by an African president, while another claimed to own 15 per cent of the world's mineral wealth. It has survived producer Paulo Branco's attempts to stop it in a rights dispute. And the cast has changed over and over. Johnny Depp, John Hurt, Robert Duvall and Ewan McGregor were attached at one time or another; now the lead is Adam Driver (who was at school when Terry got started). At long, blessed last Terry Gilliam has completed The Man Who Killed Don Quixote and now the lead is Adam Driver (pictured left), who was at school when Terry got started Adam plays Toby, a cynical commercials director given the chance to make one based on Don Quixote. Shooting in Spain, his production is soon mired in the sort of setbacks Terry knows all too well. When Toby happens upon an old DVD of his first short film (coincidentally also about Don Quixote), he decides to track down the Spanish cobbler (Jonathan Pryce) he'd cast as the addled nobleman. Now, addled for real, the shoemaker believes he actually is Don Quixote, and Toby loses his grip on reality as he becomes his Sancho Panza. Terry goes back decades with Jonathan Pryce, whom he directed in the 1985 absurdist masterpiece Brazil and 1988's The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen, and loves his performance in the new picture. 'He's absolutely on fire, channelling every Shakespearian character he's ever played and squeezing so much comedy out of the role. Have you seen The Two Popes [the new Netflix film in which Pryce plays Pope Francis]? I sent him a note saying Francis would have to pull his socks up to be as good a Pope as Jonathan.' Pryce is indeed terrific in this film, but it is Adam Driver who carries it. Terry had never worked with him before. As befits a man who owes his fame to Monty Python, Terry (pictured) finds his catalogue of troubles getting the film made hilarious 'My daughter said, "He's very bankable, and very interesting." He was very different to what I had in mind. I still kind of had Johnny Depp floating in my head. But I met Adam at The Holly Bush pub in Hampstead and I was beguiled. 'He's not like an actor at all; it's like talking to a human. I love that he decided to join the Marines the morning after 9/11. How naive, but how heroic. He's a fascinating guy.' As befits a man who owes his fame to Monty Python, Terry finds his catalogue of troubles getting the film made hilarious. At the suggestion that even in the long, colourful history of movie directors pursuing pet projects there aren't many never-say-die stories like this one, he chuckles at the use of 'die'. Adams not like an actor at all, its like talking to a human He chuckles a lot a high-pitched noise almost like a cackle, which punctuates his animated chatter. He was a fit middle-aged man when he started on Quixote. Now, he explains, he's had two cataract operations, wears hearing aids and has prostate trouble. The film, out this month, has been screened at festivals where some critics loved it, others not so much. 'I always read the reviews,' says Terry. 'The bad ones hurt. But some of the best reviews I've had are bad ones, because they say what's wrong with a film. And sometimes they're right.' Does he see much of his fellow Pythons? 'Michael Palin, Terry Jones and I live within five minutes of each other in north London. I see Mike a lot, but I can't bring myself to see Terry, who has dementia. Jonathan Pryce (right) is indeed terrific in this film, but it is Adam Driver (left) who carries it. Terry had never worked with him before 'He looks like himself, better groomed than ever, but he's not really there. He was always a pain in the ass, argumentative, but he was so... alive.' How does he cope with the mental deterioration and death of his friends, and his own mortality? 'Humour. I love the way Billy Connolly's going, making Parkinson's disease work for him. That's the advantage of having a sense of humour. 'I hope I get a couple more things done before I kick the bucket, but I've planned my funeral. I have a house in Italy on a hill, and I want to be buried there, in a biodegradable coffin, with a sapling in my chest so I can grow up to be an oak.' More laughter, but not everything amuses him. Not least political correctness. 'People have become so thin-skinned, it's like they're waiting to be offended. Yet some things need saying. My daughters used to say I was very rude about some people. I said, "Is that so bad? It's not a crime." Only now I think it is a crime. 'If you say a transgender character doesn't have to be played by a transgender actor, everyone goes crazy. Did you need a serial killer to play Hannibal Lecter? 'I even dared to suggest the #MeToo movement was becoming like a witch-hunt. Harvey Weinstein was a monster, but a lot of those girls were adults and ambitious. You make your choice in life.' The most momentous choice in his life was moving from Minnesota, US, to England more than half a century ago. He knew John Cleese, contacted him, and by 1969 he was part of the Python phenomenon, making the surreal animations. One of their most devoted fans was George Harrison, who financed Monty Python's Life Of Brian in 1979 and Terry's delightful 1981 film Time Bandits. 'All the studios turned Time Bandits down. Then it became the most successful independent film of all time until Cleese came along with A Fish Called Wanda, damn him.' Terry adored George. 'He was very funny, once he got going you couldn't stop him. There's a parallel between George and the Beatles and me and Python. 'I was the inarticulate American who could only draw, and he was in the shadow of Lennon and McCartney. But when the Beatles were over, George made his Living In The Material World album and it was huge. And I got out of the group and made some pretty big movies.' They included Brazil and his 1991 comedy The Fisher King, which bears striking similarities to his new film. 'My wife says I make the same film over and over and just change the costumes,' he says. 'Well, they're all about reality and imagination, so maybe it's true I keep dancing on the same dancefloor in different ways.' He explodes with mirth. It doesn't seem to have done him any harm. The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is in cinemas from 31 January. Concerning Test services CEO defends SAT, ACT as UC faces suit (Jan. 10): Given the cheating scandals on college admissions tests by the wealthy and celebrity parents of certain high school students, why should such exams still be required when applying to UC schools? A college-bound individuals potential cannot be predicted by his or her performance on tests that discriminate based upon ones ability to take test prep courses, or because their life experiences dont enable them to answer certain test questions. Whats more important, ensuring fairness in the college admissions process or protecting the profit-making abilities of test prep companies? Josephine DiCostanza, Burlingame Needed protections The writer of Unintended consequence (Letters, Jan. 10) bemoans that AB5, the legislation that entitles workers classified as employees to greater labor protections, such as minimum wage laws, sick leave, unemployment and workers compensation benefits will devastate Uber and Lyft and lead to job losses and more income inequality in California. As a union member, I would argue that these rideshare companies have been taking advantage of their workers by regarding them as independent contractors, rather than as employees. They are putting profits and shareholders above the basic needs of their drivers. And while this writer states that drivers come promptly and predictably, what if they sustain injuries in an accident or their cars are damaged? Should they bear all the costs? AB5 will, despite its anti-union objectors, provide much-needed protections for workers throughout California. George Alexandrou, San Francisco Lesson in economics Regarding Genius of Trump economy (Letters, Jan. 9): The letter from the writer who touted the genius of President Trumps economy was hilarious, although completely disingenuous. Just the act of putting the name Trump, and the word genius, in the same sentence has to be the definition of an oxymoron! Im guessing the writer never took a university-level course in economics 1A, or, if he did, he must have been absent the day the professor pointed out that supply-side economics (Reaganomics) has never worked and will never work. In fact, when former President Ronald Reagan was a presidential candidate running for the GOP nomination in 1980, his closest competitor was former President George H.W. Bush, who correctly described Reagans economic plan as Voodoo Economics. The supply-side concept of putting more money into the hands of the wealthy because they create jobs is a fallacy. As any economist knows, the only way to stimulate an economy and get real growth (short of a war-time effect) is to put more money into the hands of the middle and lower classes, who in turn will spend every last penny on demands for goods and services, and new businesses start up, and the economy takes off, floating everyones boat. Larry Lack, Novato Union wages Regarding Dispute could kill Bay Areas biggest housing project (Jan. 9): How ironic, but not at all surprising, that failure to pay union wages would make many local workers unable to afford jobs for the Concord housing project, although 3,000 of the proposed units would be for affordable housing. The article also omits another key reason for the dispute: competence. Hiring union workers would, in theory, assure buyers that workers had met union training standards, and that the developer supported union apprenticeship programs to keep skilled trades available in the Bay Area. Would the parties agree to union wages for the market-rate housing, and OK non-union wages for the affordable housing? Of course not! That would only confirm buyers worst fears, that affordable meant sub-standard. We want union wages and training, because we dont want to read about subpar building leading to tragic construction accidents. Your paper often reports on those in other countries; in the U.S., were expected to observe higher standards. Pam Rolph, Pacific Grove Waiting on GOP I vividly remember when Rep. Barbara Lee acted with integrity and courage as the only member of Congress to vote against authorizing war following the 9/11 attacks. I am waiting (though not holding my breath) for Congressional Republicans to show the same courage and integrity in voting to limit the damage President Trump can do. So far, they have shown their willingness to pass on to future generations a nation in which homelessness has increased, mass shootings continue unabated, the climate warms and wildfires rage; immigrants, who are the very foundation of our nation, kicked to the curb, and our Constitution is threatened. The question now is whether they are prepared to let an unhinged president follow his worst impulses to further diminish Americas standing in the global community. Anne Stafford, Oakland Burned statue So, according to Trump statue (News of the Day, Jan. 10), a wooden statue showing President Trump with his trademark hair style, blue suit, white shirt and a long red tie, and right arm fist clenched, raised high like that of New Yorks Statue of Liberty, was burned to the ground in Slovenia, the birthplace of his wife, Melania? Im wondering if the arsonist is someone who regularly attends the annual Burning Man Festival. The monarch will meet Prince Harry, Prince Charles and Prince William to sort out the next stage of the Duke of Sussex's proposals to quit the royal family with his wife Meghan. The Queen has summoned Prince Harry to meet with her, Prince Charles and Prince William for an emergency summit at Sandringham on Monday to sort out the next stage of his proposals to quit the royal family with his wife Meghan. Following a series of top level meetings between senior royal aides, government mandarins from the UK and Canada and police forces including the Met Police, a series of proposals have been drawn up to formulate a working plan to try and appease the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who have demanded a way out of their royal lives. The four principle members of the royal family will be given written briefings to digest before they meet in person for the first time since Harry and Meghan publishes their bombshell statement announcing their intention to resign from their royal roles immediately so they could pursue a life earning millions of pounds. Credit: Mirrow For Europe's rebel leader, when your enemies are ganging up it's time to make a powerful new friend. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has consistently thumbed his nose at the European Union, which has criticized him for cronyism and undermining the rule of law in his country. But through an unlikely alliance with French President Emmanuel Macron, it might be Orban helping force the EU to change its ways. When it comes to how to approach Vladimir Putin's Russia and Donald Trump's U.S., the common ground is growing. The relationship could prove pivotal in 2020 as Britain leaves the bloc and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has served as a bridge between east and west, takes more of a backseat. Indeed, shifting alliances threaten to make a renewed effort to bring Orban to heel all but redundant. He faces potential expulsion from the European People's Party, the largest group in the European Parliament, after former European Council chief Donald Tusk took over its leadership and vowed to purge it of populists. The EPP may vote next month on whether to boot out Orban's Fidesz party but it may no longer mean a costly isolation. "Orban and Macron come from very different places but both seek to disrupt the status quo," said Daniel Hegedus, a fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. "There's now talk of an Orban-Macron axis in Europe." Orban, the anti-immigration proponent of "illiberal democracy," and Macron, who is bidding to become the continent's main power broker, are the standard-bearers for two very different visions for Europe. Yet the camaraderie on display in October when Orban was received by an honor guard at the Elysee Palace in Paris was unmistakable. An hour was scheduled for the meeting and it ended up lasting more than two. That was a sharp contrast to Macron's early days in office. During his presidential campaign in 2017, he called out populists like Orban for using the EU as a "supermarket," taking its funding but leaving democratic commitments on the shelf. Macron also made a point of skipping Budapest on his first tour of eastern Europe and he replaced his ambassador to Hungary after the latter called Orban's policies a "model" for Europe. Orban, 56, dismissed Macron, 42, as the "new kid" on the bloc who didn't understand the region. When Orban paid a visit to the Italian nationalist Matteo Salvini in August the following year, Macron said "if they want to see me as their main opponent, they're right." A few weeks later he called a European Parliament vote censuring Orban as a first step in the fight against "illiberals" in the region. Last year, though, saw a convergence of interests as Macron sought to broaden his alliances across the continent. In the European Parliament during the summer, they linked up in backroom deals in Brussels to retain the supremacy of national leaders to elect the head of the next EU executive, rejecting the EPP choice for president of the European Commission. Orban's aides see common ground on some of the biggest issues facing Europe, including how to manage relations with Russia and the U.S. The Hungarian leader has long argued for a detente with Putin over the EU's objections. For Macron, the new entente between the two men says something about his change in tactics in Europe. He's stopped with this "us against them" approach to confront what Merkel and Tusk have called the forces of darkness. The French president is dispatching his foreign minister to several eastern European countries early this year. His calls to toughen environmental policies and to force countries within the border-free Schengen zone to take on more migrants or risk expulsion will likely face pushback from in the region. 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. "They may have different points of view in detail, but both feel that the EU needs to agree on a common approach on how we deal with China, Russia or the U.S.," Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga said in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt last month. The two men have both shown they have a keen eye for political opportunity. Both have disrupted the status quo at home and want to wield more influence abroad. When Orban first came to power in 1998, he was the young, fresh-faced leader who represented the new Europe that emerged after the end of the Cold War less than a decade earlier. When Macron formed a new party to snatch the French presidency, he won similar accolades as the man to help steer European politics away from the nationalism that threatened to undermine the EU. The question is how another adept political operator fits into the equation. Tusk, the former Polish prime minister and European Council president, is marshaling the EPP to fight for the political center ground. He called on members in a fiery speech in Zagreb in November to disavow populism, which was widely interpreted as an ultimatum aimed at Orban. Orban's Fidesz party was already suspended in March for its opposition to liberal democracy and courting of far-right leaders. Macron, whose En Marche also isn't a member of the EPP, criticized the group at the time for being too soft on Orban. The EPP has asked a trio of "wise men" to assess Fidesz and the panel submitted its report to Tusk, Hungarian newspaper Nepszava reported on Friday. Orban has said he would quit the EPP before a formal ouster could take place. "The issue of Orban and the EPP is nested inside a much bigger battle for power and influence in the EU," said Richard Youngs, a Madrid-based analyst at Carnegie Europe, "with Macron shaking things up." EDITORS NOTE OWI means operating while intoxicated. DWLS means driving while license suspended. (MC) is for Judge Michael D. Carpenter. (L) is for Magistrate Gerald Ladwig. (B) is for Circuit Judge Michael J. Beale. (SC) is for Circuit Judge Stephen P. Carras. Sentences may vary based on previous offenses committed by the defendant. Some sentencings include other fees imposed by the state. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Beaverton William Albert Pomranky, 76, operating while license/suspended/revoked/denied on Sept. 23, 2019, $75 in costs and fines. (MC) Midland Brian Gene Blain, 36, North Rumbaugh Lane, weapons firearms possession under the influence on Aug. 18, 2019, 45 days in jail with credit for one day, $375 in costs and fines. (MC) Royce Joseph Brister, 31, North Merritt Drive, two counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer on Oct. 9, 2018, and one count of aggravated assault on June 21, 2019, one year in jail with credit for two days, $900 in costs and fines, 12 months probation, not to be involved in any assaulting/threatening/intimidating/violent/aggressive/disorderly or abusive behavior toward any person, no contact with victim, may not use or possess alcohol/illegal drugs/marijuana/ or mind-altering substances, subject to random drug/alcohol screening, may not enter bars. (MC) Chancy Logan Eastman, 36, North Eight Mile Road, use of controlled substance - narcotic on Sept. 17, 2019, 93 days in jail with credit for 40 days, $75 in costs and fines. (MC) Kody Clyde Hintz, 24, North Eleven Mile Road, operating while license suspended/revoked/denied on Dec. 6, 2019, four days in jail with credit for four days, $75 in costs and fines. (L) Christopher Wayne Loose, 37, Rodd Street, operating while intoxicated on Sept. 26, 2019, 93 days in jail with credit for one day, $1,100 in costs and fines, may not use or possess alcohol/illegal drugs/marijuana/ or mind-altering substances, subject to random drug/alcohol screening, may not enter bars. (MC) Joyful Moses, 30, Quincy Drive, assault and battery on July 29, 2019, 45 days in jail with credit for one day, $125 in costs and fines. (MC) Scott Ammon Roberson, 57, Fournie Street, larceny of less than $200 on Sept. 28, 2019, three days in jail with credit for three days, $325 in costs and fines, $4.80 in restitution to Anna's Market & Deli. (MC) Daniel Lee Sian, 33 , Meridian Road, operating while license suspended/revoked/denied, seven days in jail with credit for three days, $75 in costs and fines. (L) Shepherd Olivia Joe Bennett, 27, aggravated assault on Aug. 11, 2019, 12 days in jail with credit for two days, $675 in costs and fines. (MC) Weidman Steven Samuel Johnson, 45, second-degree retail fraud on Aug. 20, 2019, $1,100 in costs and fines, 12 months probation, may not use or possess alcohol/illegal drugs/marijuana/ or mind-altering substances, subject to random drug/alcohol screening, may not enter bars, must complete 15 hours of community service work with 60 days, must pay $71 per month starting on or before Jan. 15, 2020. (MC) Dawn Faye Riggs, 48, operating a body art facility with no license on Aug. 9, 2019, $125 in costs and fines, $200 in restitution to Shawn Felczer. (MC) No address Tony Lee Bradford, 30, failure to comply with reporting duties of Sex Offender Registry on June 5, 2019, one year in jail, $625 in costs and fines. (MC) It has been yet another successful year on the showjumping circuit for Kilcurry native, Jordan Kilkenny, who has built on his incredible success last year. Jordan, son of Tony and Margo, was a member of what he describes as the best stable in the world - Cian OConnors Karlswood. Here, his manager and trainer is fellow Longfordian, Michael Kelly. The horse riding enthusiast and former student of Ballymahon VS, competed this year at a horse show in Knokke Hippique, Knokke-Heist, Belgium, where he claimed his first ever International grand prix. Jordan explained, I had an incredible two weeks competing 3 horses Jordan II,(owned by Rodrigo Pessoa (Irish chef dequipe), Under fire du lozon and Florida van maarle. I started off week one with a lovely clear round from Jordan II in the 1.15 m and then Florida van maarle went and got a well deserved 6th in the 1 star 1.30m grand prix qualifier. Then with a qualification spot earned for the grand prix, we just had to wait for Saturday. It was the 1 star grand prix, where a field of 81 competitors lined out. There was 13 clears going into the jump-off. the Longford native continued. At this stage, Jordan was 7th clear and Florida helped him storm into the lead. He said, It proved to be a fast class but Florida went in and stormed her way to the lead. It was an incredible day and an even better feeling winning my first international grand prix. Representing his country marked a proud moment for Jordan and his family. It really sank home that this is what all the hard work is about, he said. This wasnt the end of the success for Jordan on his travels either, as he was also honoured with the prestigious U25 young talent award at the same event. Jordan also competed on the four star Sunshine tour in Vejer De La Frontera. Here he jumped forty rounds on five horse in the up to 1.45cm grand prixs and knocked down four individual jumps, thereby making the trip to Spain a very successful one. Also read: Kilcurry show-jumper Jordan Kilkenny Jordans success didnt end there either, as in July and August of this year he took two trips to Sentower Park in Belgium, in preparation for competing in Italy. He explained, In Italy, I was placed in the Longines world ranking class on Chicago Hd, top 10 placing with Chicago in the 2* Grand Prix. Florida van maarle also won the equieffe under 25 competition. Quentucky jolly placed top 10 in the 1* grandprix. I was also training horses and producing other placing throughout the tour. Jordan then embarked on a tour of Spain for three weeks, where he placed in the top 10 in two 1.40 competitions with Quentucky Jolly and made the top ten with Florida van maarle in the first week 2* Grand Prix. He said, I was placed 7th in the ranking class on Quentucky Jolly and Florida finished 6th in the Grand Prix. Jordan has described his time with Karlswood Stables and Dagoberthausen as amazing as after his tour he finishes up with them and looks to embark on a new journey. I would like to express a huge thanks to Cian OConnor, Michael Kelly, the whole Karlwood Team and the Pohl family, for what was a time I will always remember. In terms of the future, Jordan is now heading off to California in 2020 to embark on yet another venture in his showjumping career. Onwards and upwards. Also read: Further showjumping success for Longford's Jordan Kilkenny Iraqs caretaker prime minister privately does not want US troops to withdraw, several sources familiar with the situation told Al-Monitor, though Adel Abdul Mahdi publicly backed a recent parliamentary vote that urged the Donald Trump administration to exit the war-torn country. Despite calling on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to send an American delegation to Iraq to negotiate the withdrawal of US troops in a readout of a Friday call, Abdul Mahdi is trying to find a way to keep an American presence in the country while attempting to placate Iran-backed militia leaders who want to force 5,200 US troops out, a source familiar with the situation on the ground said. Abdul Mahdi is attempting to save face, a former senior administration official told Al-Monitor. He doesnt want us to leave. By demanding a US exit, the former official said, Abdul Mahdi is using [the] only leverage he has. In a heated response to Abdul Mahdis statement on Friday, the State Department rejected the caretaker leaders request for a plan for US troops to exit. "Any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership not to discuss troop withdrawal," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. Abdul Mahdi who resigned in November amid ongoing anti-government street protests is more likely to ask for US troops to stay in a training role without rules of engagement for combat, the source familiar with the situation on the ground said. Despite the parliamentary resolution urging the prime minister to rescind Iraq's 2014 invitation to US forces, the government has not officially requested US withdrawal. But the Iraqi leader has to push back on the American presence to save face with Iran-backed militias, the source said, hiding the US footprint while still getting the support needed for the Islamic State (IS) fight. Abdul Mahdi has balanced his relations with Washington and Tehran, and was informed in advance by each side prior to the strikes on Kataib Hezbollah bases in late December and on bases housing US forces on Jan. 8. More than 500 people have died since demonstrations began in October, and US and Iraqi sources have raised questions about whether Abdul Mahdi has the authority to expel US troops, and if Iraq can fight IS on its own. There is a lot of pressure on him, said Rehan Hanna Ayoub, a deputy in the Iraqi parliament council and a member of the foreign relations committee. All data and reports indicate that Iraq is not ready economically, financially or militarily to confront IS and criminal gangs. Ayoub, who represents a district in northern Iraq, told Al-Monitor that the situation is not likely to change after an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Tuesday targeted Iraqi military bases in al-Asad and Erbil that house US and coalition troops. He is trying to calm down [the] militias for now, said Sarkawt Shams, another member of Iraqs parliament. He knows bad things will happen if US leaves this way, he added, referring to the possible forceful expulsion of American troops. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper did not speak to Abdul Mahdi after the Iranian attacks. We were trying to arrange a quick call, and then I think I was on the line with members of Congress, Esper said on Wednesday. Al-Monitor subsequently learned that Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John Rood, the agencys third-ranking official, made the call instead. Earlier this week, Esper insisted that the vote to urge the expulsion of US forces had showed the support of Iraqis, as most Kurds and Sunnis did not show up. The vote had also been marred by Iran-backed militias forcing Shiite blocs to vote at the threat of their own lives, the Pentagon chief said. As Iraqi protesters took to the streets again on Friday, Abdul Mahdi appeared caught between the need to placate Iranian demands and a desire to keep US forces in the country, lawmakers and sources with knowledge of the situation said. My sense is that on a popular and political level is that almost no one wants the troops to leave and theyre going to do this public dance, said Christine van den Toorn, president of the Iraq Fund for Higher Education. Theres going to be a reorganization and a back and forth and some kind of shuffling that pleases Iran. San Antonios biggest little Netflix star is coming back for more binge-worthy adventure. Sammi Haney, 9, will return to the hit sci-fi series Raising Dion, which has been renewed for a second season. Production on the eight-episode order starts this year. The Alamo City native will reprise her role of Esperanza, the plucky best friend of Raising Dions young title hero, played by newcomer JaSiah Young. Its actually really exciting, said Sammi, who made her acting debut on the series. I cant wait to do it, and acting is actually very fun. Sammi turned heads on Raising Dion not only for her performance but for raising awareness about osteogenesis imperfecta, commonly known as brittle bone disease. Sammi was born with the rare genetic disorder, which hinders her growth and ability to walk. She can scoot on the ground, though she usually uses a motorized wheelchair thats as pink as her glasses. Sammi has suffered numerous broken bones through her life, some from just sneezing or tossing in her sleep. Yet even after her latest bone density drug infusion over the holidays, she sounded just as confident and upbeat as her character on the Netflix series. Actually, life has been great, Sammi said regarding her health. Raising Dion is doign great, too. According to Netflix, the show made the streaming services top 10 list of most popular series releases of 2019. It also was Netflixs most popular kids and family series release of the year. Raising Dion debuted last October as a sort of lighter, more family friendly Stranger Things. In the series, single mother Nicole (Alisha Wainwright) discovers her second-grade son Dion (Young) has developed strange powers after the death of her husband Mark (Michael B. Jordan). Nicole tries to keep her sons abilities a secret while uncovering what caused them. In a statement last year to the Express-News, Raising Dion showrunner Carol Barbee described Sammis character Esperanza as funny yet wise beyond her years with a big heart. Barbee said she cast Sammi not just because she wanted an actress who uses a wheelchair but because of who Sammi is. She doesnt lead with the chair, Barbee said. She lights up the screen and makes you fall in love with Esperanza. That charm has warmed the hearts of Hollywood stars as well as those who live with osteogenesis imperfecta and other disabilities. Sammis father, Matt Haney, shared numerous photos of Sammi at a Netflix party posing with celebrities such as Adam Sandler, Paul Rudd and Dave Chappelle. Meanwhile, Sammis mother Priscilla Haney said Sammi continues to inspire kids and adults alike, whether through public and private video messages, her Instagram account @sammi.haney or her website disabilityshirts.com. Im very proud of her, Priscilla Haney said. Sammi said she cant wait to see her friends again on Raising Dion, which brings back Young and Wainwright as well as Jordan as an executive producer and Barbee as showrunner. And while Sammi still hasnt seen a script for season two, she would like to see her Raising Dion character also show what she can do outside a wheelchair the way Sammi does in real life. On or off camera, Sammi shows no signs of slowing down. Rene Guzman is a features reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rguzman@express-news.net | Twitter: @reneguz The unique soap-bubble like shimmering hues seen on hummingbird, is due to the special shape of their feathers' pigment-containing structures, which enable them to reflect a rainbow of light, a study reveals. According to the researchers, including those from the Chicago Field Museum in the US, while hummingbird feathers have the same basic makeup as that of other birds, the special shape of their pigment-containing structures, called melanosomes, enables them to reflect a rainbow of light. As part of the study, published in the journal Evolution, the scientists examined the feathers of 35 species of hummingbirds with transmission electron microscopes, and compared them with the feathers of other brightly-coloured birds, like green-headed mallard ducks. Bird feathers are made of a protein called keratin which is the same material that makes up our hair and nails, the researchers said. Keratin is structured like tiny trees, with parts resembling a trunk, branches, and leaves, they explained. Using the electron microscope, the scientists found that the leaf-like structure in the feathers are made up of cells with pigment-producing organelles called melanosomes. These are the same cell components that produce the dark melanin pigment which colours our hair and skin. Apart from the pigments produced by these organelles, the shape and arrangement of melanosomes can also influence the way light bounces off them, producing bright colours, the scientists noted. "We call these iridescent colours 'structural colours' because they depend on the structural dimensions. A good analogy would be like a soap bubble. If you just look at a little bit of soap, it's going to be colourless," said study co-author Matthew Shawkey of Belgium's University of Ghent. But with the right structure, shaped like a shell, Shawkey said, bubbles can create a shimmering rainbow of colours around its edges. "It works the same way with melanosomes: with the right structure, you can turn something colourless into something really colourful," he explained. "In mammals, the melanin isn't organised in any fancy way inside of the hairs, but in birds, you get these layers of melanosomes, and when light bounces off the different layers, we see bright colours," said co-author Chad Eliason from the Field Museum. But what makes the hummingbird special is that while ducks have log-shaped melanosomes without any air inside, those in the tiny bird are pancake-shaped and contain lots of tiny air bubbles. According to the researchers, the flattened shape, and air bubbles of hummingbird melanosomes create a more complex set of surfaces. As light bounces off these surfaces, it does so in a way that produces iridescence. The study also found that the different traits that make hummingbird feathers special -- like melanosome shape and the thickness of the feather lining -- are features that evolved separately. This has allowed hummingbirds to mix and match a wider variety of traits, the scientists noted. "This study sets the stage for really understanding how colour patterns are developed. Now that we have a better idea of how feather structure maps to colour, we can really parse out which genes are underlying those really crazy colours in birds," Eliason said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Daniel Radcliffe attends the "Guns Akimbo" premiere during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival at Ryerson Theatre on September 09, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/WireImage) Daniel Radcliffe has shared that he was once given money by a stranger on the street who assumed he was a homeless person. The Harry Potter actor, who was named the 8th richest person aged 30 or under in Britain last year, told the tale in an appearance on The Graham Norton Show which aired on Friday night. He said: "I was on the street with this dog and my girlfriend was in the shop. It was very cold, I've got my hoodie and my fleece and then a big coat over that and the dog was really cold so I was like 'I'll kneel by you and stroke you and try and keep you warm'." Read more: Daniel Radcliffe on why he wouldnt play Wolverine I saw this guy look at me and smile. Then he walked past me, got about five steps away, reappeared with a five dollar bill over my shoulder and went, Get yourself a coffee mate. Apparently I have to shave more often, Radcliffe, 30, added. Daniel Radcliffe during the filming for the Graham Norton Show at BBC Studioworks 6 Television Centre, Wood Lane, London, to be aired on BBC One on Friday evening. (Photo by Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images) Radcliffe was on the programme alongside guest Sharon Horgan, Alan Cummings and Mariam Margolyes. Margolyes, who starred as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, has become an established favourite on the show due to her candidness. Earlier in the week, the Call the Midwife actor appeared on This Morning where she called herself a "tw*t" live on air while recalling an experience of meeting the Queen. Well, I have talked about this before on television, and I feel awkward saying it again, the 78-year-old began. But I was invited to the palace as part of British Book Week and when the Queen came over to me, she asked me what I did... in a very nice way, you know. Miriam Margolyes and Daniel Radcliffe during the filming for the Graham Norton Show at BBC Studioworks 6 Television Centre, Wood Lane, London, to be aired on BBC One on Friday evening. (Photo by Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images) And I said, like a t**t, Im the best reader of stories in the whole world. Margolyes told of how Her Majesty went on a Scottish man who said he taught dyslexic children to read. Maam, weve noticed that if you put the letters in different colours and the pages are printed in different colours, it helps the children absorb the information more quickly, she continued, impersonating the teacher. And I said, Really?! Thats fascinating, I didnt know that, she added. And she turned to me and went, Be quiet. She had every right to do [it], but it was a bit discombobulating. The US tried to take out another top Iranian military figure on the same day as Qassem Soleimani was killed, according to officials. Abdul Reza Shahlai, a high-ranking commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was reportedly the target of a failed airstrike in Yemen. US officials said the unsuccessful mission happened on the day Soleimani, a senior Iranian general, died in a drone strike. Soleimanis assassination prompted Iran to threaten revenge and carry out missile attacks against two US army bases in Iraq, causing no casualties. Both men were on approved US military targeting lists. 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 US State Department offered a reward of $15m (11.5m) last month for information on Mr Shahlai, a key financier to the IRGC. The military official has a long history of targeting Americans and US allies globally, helped to plan multiple assassinations of coalition forces in Iraq and led a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in Washington DC, the department said. Rebecca Rebarich, a Pentagon spokesperson, said an airstrike in Yemen had been reported in early January. She said the country is long-understood as a safe space for terrorists and other adversaries to the United States, according to The Washington Post. Soleimani was killed in Iraq on 3 January in a drone strike by US forces. The assassination has proved controversial and has been called provocative and disproportionate by Nancy Pelosi, the house speaker. Donald Trump, the US president, has claimed without evidence that the military leader was planning to attack four US embassies. Tensions have escalated in the Middle East following the assassination, with Iran attacking military bases used by the US in Iraq and promising to throw out its international nuclear deal. Iran has admitted to shooting down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing around 180 people. The countrys foreign minister said the disaster was a result of human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism. Additional reporting by Associated Press Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky assures that the memory of all victims of the UIA plane crash in Iran will be honored and all those responsible for the tragedy will be brought to justice. Zelensky made this statement in a video address to the Ukrainian people in connection with the UIA plane crash in Tehran. The Office of the President of Ukraine released the full text of the address: Dear Ukrainians! Ive just had a phone conversation with President of Iran Hassan Rouhani. He officially apologized to Ukraine and the relatives of the crash victims and acknowledged the fact that Iran had shot down the Ukrainian Boeing 737. Now I want and I finally can tell you in detail about all the actions of the Ukrainian authorities, starting from the tragic morning of January 8. The emergency operations center of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine was set up and started to work immediately after the crash. The ambassador and the consul of Ukraine in Iran arrived at the crash scene, at the Imam Khomeini Airport. A special government meeting was held, and the decision to set up and send a search and rescue group to Iran was approved. The group involved 45 experts from the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine, the National Bureau of Air Accidents Investigation of Ukraine, representatives of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of the Ukraine International Airlines. We sent to Tehran the best specialists of our country with vast experience in expert examinations. The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine addressed a proposal to establish an international investigation team to Iran, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom. At 3:30 on January 9, our search and rescue team arrived in Tehran and started work at crash site in two hours. I had a conversation with the President of Iran regarding a clear and full interaction with our experts. They gained access to plane fragments, black boxes, recordings of radar and controllers from the flight control center. On the morning of January 9, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine outlined four main versions, including the possibility of missile hitting the Ukrainian plane. It was necessary to collect the DNA samples of crash victims relatives in particular, those of relatives of a flight attendant who currently reside in the temporarily occupied territory to identify the bodies. I held working consultations with our international partners the prime ministers of Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the presidents of Iran and Afghanistan underscoring the need for joint action to investigate into circumstances of this tragedy. Earlier that evening, the statements from US, Canada and UK leaders about possible downing of Ukraine's Boeing appeared. We urged all international partners to provide data that would confirm this version. Our work was systematic, without hysterics, we aimed only to achieve the result, namely to find out the truth about the circumstances of the plane crash. On January 10, I had a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a meeting with Charge d'Affaires, a.i. of the United States Embassy in Ukraine Kristina Kvien who provided me with important and useful information for investigation. Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Melinda Simmons also provided important information. I want to commend the work of Ukrainian experts in Iran. They have been working selflessly, diligently and around the clock. Their high professionalism and promptness, convincing preliminary findings and evidence found in Tehran made it impossible to hide the truth. And today the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledged the fact of downing the Ukrainian plane and their fault in the plane crash. This was undoubtedly facilitated by the support of international partners and the persistent position of the international community. I express my sincere gratitude on behalf of the Ukrainian people to the leaders of the USA, Canada, the UK, other countries, international organizations. Now a group of Ukrainian experts continues to work. A series of steps still need to be taken to complete the investigation. They are currently trying to reconstruct the plane. A few words more about the conversation with the President of Iran. We agreed that the instructions would be given right now to finish, together with Ukrainian experts, the identification of bodies of the crash victims and prepare them for return to Ukraine as soon as possible. This should happen soon. We also agreed to start working together to download two black boxes. We agreed on full legal and technical cooperation, including the issue of compensation. We agreed that no one would get away with it. The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine initiated a case over the murder of Ukrainian citizens. The Government will provide financial assistance to the families of the victims. The state will also make every effort to obtain compensation from the carrier, insurance companies and the Islamic Republic of Iran. I call on all international partners of Ukraine, the entire world community, to stay united and persistent till the full and final completion of the investigation into all the circumstances of the crash. All of us need this. For the sake of a person who needs to feel safe in this turbulent world on land, on water or in the air. Because people and their lives must be of the highest value to any government, any state, any politician. Dear Ukrainians! These difficult days for each of us, I want to say the following thing. I will return the deceased to their relatives and friends, they will be able to pay last respects humanly. We will honor their memory. All perpetrators will be brought to justice. We will return the sense of safety and justice to Ukrainians and the assurance that Ukraine will always protect you in every corner of the planet. * * * As reported, Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport at about 06:00 Tehran time (04:30 Kyiv time) on Wednesday, January 8. There were 176 people on board - 167 passengers (including two Ukrainians) and nine crew members (all Ukrainians). There were 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, ten citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany, and three citizens of the UK. Early today, Iran announced that it had shot down the UIA passenger plane accidentally. President of Iran Hassan Rouhani apologized for downing UIA passenger jet by Iranian military, calling the crash disastrous mistake. ol If youre not familiar with New York City Councilman Mark Gjonaj from the Bronx, well, youre about to get a hell of an introduction. On Monday, the councilman received a subpoena from law enforcement authorities, though little is known about its contents. In January, Gjonajs legal adviser Edmond Teddy Pryor stepped down from his post after coming under fire for representing the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. A week before Pryor left his post, it was reported that he had helped the group secure its new Bronx clubhouse, following a reported shooting outside their new hangout. While details of Gjonajs subpoena are still under wraps, its hard to imagine anything that rivals his other unflattering headlines regarding his alleged mafia campaign donors, use of council funds and his own personal antics. Heres a rundown of Gjonajs biggest scandals, over the years. He received donations from alleged members of the Gambino mob family Dec., 2019, it was discovered that Gjonaj accepted thousands in donations from two alleged affiliates of the Gambino mob family, Mark Chippy Kocaj and John Smiley Simonlacaj, who had recently been charged with a number of crimes by the feds. A week after the news broke, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said that Gjonaj should return the funds. No one should be accepting money from the Gambino crime family, Johnson said. I think anyone who takes money from anyone associated with organized crime should return the money. Campaign contributions to build Bronx housing complex Community activists attempted to halt the construction of a new housing complex in the Bronx after it was discovered that Gjonaj and Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. both received campaign donations from people with ties to the projects developer, Exact Capital, in September, 2019. Gjonaj received a $11,000 donation from people related to the owners of Exact Capital, while Diaz Jr. received $15,000 donations directly from Exact Capitals co-owner in 2014 and 2016. The councilman endorsed the project, which the City Council unanimously approved, and the borough president signed off on the development in 2018, despite two community boards being opposed to its construction. The pair was accused of driving public funds toward their donors. I was not a supporter of it, but I crafted this into something that would benefit the community and the neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhood, Gjonaj told NY1. Diaz Jr. did not respond to NY1s requests for comment. He gave campaign donors over $20,000 in City Council money It was uncovered that Gjonaj paid over $20,000 of his City Council office budget to a number of businesses connected to his campaign donors, in December 2018. One of the companies, Pro Design & Construction Corp., also happened to share the same address as his realty company, MP Realty Group Corp. Uses campaign funds to sue city In October 2018, it was discovered that Gjonaj was using two of his campaign funds to fuel a lawsuit against the city. In the suit, which was filed in 2017, the councilman alleges that the Bronx that the borough is overburdened with more than its fair share of homeless shelters and mental health facilities. Gjonajs use of campaign funds to pay for his suit raised the question of whether or not he was violating any campaign finance laws. Ties to an unruly commercial trash company The Bronx trash collection company, Sanitation Salvage, had its service suspended by the Business Integrity Commission, which oversees the citys commercial trash industry, on Aug. 31, 2018, for causing two fatal accidents and a whole host of other issues, ProPublica reported. It was also discovered at the time that one of the companys co-owners, Rosemarie Isabella, a former principal of Isabella City Carting, had her carting license for Isabella City Carting revoked by the Business Integrity Commission in 2013. Gjonaj, along with former state Sen. Jeff Klein and a few other Bronx politicians issued a letter in support of Sanitation Salvage, asking that its license be reinstated. It was revealed that Gjonaj had received $40,000 in campaign funds from the companys other co-owners, Steve and John Squitieri, since 2007. The notorious Squitieri brothers were tyrants of the citys commercial trash industry for years, until Nov. 2018, when Sanitation Salvage went out of business. The brothers had also done business with Gjonajs brother, Paul Gjonaj, in the past. Together they had shares in Jemi LLC that owned various dining establishments that included the Lighthouse, Vistamar Restaurant and Don Coqui on the Water. In 2017, when Gjonaj was a member of the New York Assembly he spent $72,000 in campaign funds at Don Coqui on the Water. Yelling shame outside of Biaggis campaign office After watching a few too many episodes of Game of Thrones, it seems, Gjonaj was filmed yelling shame, repeatedly outside one of state Sen. Alessandra Biagis campaign events on Aug. 31, 2018. Is this your elected official pacing in the street, yelling SHAME at young women? He's Councilman @MarkGjonajNY. Im the young woman. This is not okay. VOLUNTEER >> DONATE >> VOTE >> https://t.co/Ab2owq0oY4 #september13 pic.twitter.com/DoopZN6G5W Alessandra Biaggi (@Biaggi4NY) August 31, 2018 The councilmans chief of staff Reginald Johnson, told Gothamist that Gjonaj was protesting the Department of Transportations Corridor Safety Improvement Plan on Morris Park Ave, which Biaggi supported. Though its possible something else could have been at the heart of Gjonajs public hysterics. At the time, Biaggi was campaigning to unseat then-state Sen. Jeff Klein, a good buddy of Gjonajs. Attempt to donate City Council money to an Albanian-American charity Jul. 2018, the councilman attempted to give $130,000 of the City Councils money to the Albanian-American Community Association which he has close ties to. Several local reports alleged that Gjonaj was the organizations co-founder, according to the Daily News. Johnson, however, made sure that the money did not make it to the charity and instead redirected the money to other organizations that aid the citys Albanian-American community. The money Gjonaj tried to donate was from the Councils reserve of cash allocated for charitable donations. Environmental organizations hit out at Chile's Senate on Thursday for rejecting a measure that would have made water officially a resource for public use. Activists also called on the public to vote in April to change the dictatorship-era constitution so that new rules can be approved around the exploitation of natural resources. The center of Chile has been hit by a major drought due to a decade of scarce rainfall. The bill's rejection on Tuesday "demonstrates that business interests, mainly mining, agriculture (and) hydroelectric businesses prevail," Alexander Panez, spokesman for the Movement for the Defense of Water, the Earth and Environmental Protection, told AFP. Greenpeace Chile said the Senate's move is "a national disgrace" while the country is "in the middle of the worst water crisis in our history." Activists say the use of water for agricultural and mining production has contributed to this scarcity and left more than 600,000 people without running water in their homes. The constitutional status of water is one of the main topics that social movements want addressed in any eventual new constitution. Chile will hold on April 26 a referendum on whether -- and how -- to change the constitution that was enacted under former dictator Augusto Pinochet, who ruled from 1973-90. Following two months of social unrest, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera agreed last month to enact a law to enact a law to allow the constitution to be changed. That was one of the primary demands of protesters who have hit the streets regularly since October 18, demanding that measures be taken to reduce inequality. Those demonstrations have at times turned violent and left 29 people dead and thousands injured. (Reuters) - Boeing Co's former chief executive officer, Dennis Muilenburg, is not entitled to and did not receive any severance or separation payments in connection with his departure, the U.S. planemaker said in a regulatory filing on Friday. (Reuters) - Boeing Co's former chief executive officer, Dennis Muilenburg, is not entitled to and did not receive any severance or separation payments in connection with his departure, the U.S. planemaker said in a regulatory filing on Friday. (http://bit.ly/36GcTq4) Muilenburg was fired from the job in December as the company failed to contain the fallout from a pair of fatal crashes that halted output of its bestselling 737 MAX jetliner and tarnished its reputation with airlines and regulators. He was replaced by Boeing board chairman David Calhoun, 62, a turnaround veteran and former General Electric Co executive who has led several companies in crisis. Based on Boeing securities filings from early 2019, Muilenburg was eligible for about $39 million (29.9 million pounds) in severance. "Upon his departure, Dennis received the benefits to which he was contractually entitled and he did not receive any severance pay or a 2019 annual bonus," Boeing said in a statement. The 737 MAX has been grounded since March. The deadly accidents in Indonesia and Ethiopia within five months killed 346 people. Calhoun, who starts as CEO on Monday, will receive a base salary at an annual rate of $1.4 million, Boeing said. (Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru, Tracy Rucinski in Chicago, Eric Johnson in Seattle and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Matthew Lewis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. NEW YORK - A 190-year-old New York City tavern where scenes from the movie Goodfellas were filmed will stay open thanks to a deal reached Friday by the bars owner and his landlord, city officials said. Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Queens Chamber of Commerce announced a handshake agreement between Loycent Gordon, the owner of Neirs Tavern, and property owners Ken and Henry Shi. Im proud to have helped keep the doors open so New Yorkers can continue to enjoy a place that has meant so much to so many over the years. Cheers to another 190 years! de Blasio, a Democrat, said in a statement. Thomas Grech, president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, said, It would be a shame to lose an institution with as much history as Neirs, and were thrilled the bar will continue to serve its patrons for years to come. Gordon announced earlier this week that Sunday would be the the last call for the pub in the Woodhaven neighbourhood of Queens unless a miracle happens. He said a rent increase and other rising costs had made it impossible to stay in business. De Blasio promised to help save Neirs when Gordon called into WNYCs weekly Ask the Mayor radio show Friday morning, and the mayor joined bar patrons to celebrate the deal later Friday. A video posted on Twitter by Queens Eagle managing editor David Brand shows de Blasio toasting the taverns owner with a chant of Loy! Loy! Loy! Neirs opened in 1829 as the Old Blue Pump House and has operated at the same location under several different names. It has been featured in several movies including Goodfellas, Martin Scorseses 1990 mob classic starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta. Two American soldiers were killed and two others injured in a roadside bomb attack on a US Army vehicle in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, the NATO mission there said. "In accordance with US Department of Defense policy, the names of the service members killed in action will be withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete," the NATO Resolute Support mission said in a statement. The Taliban earlier claimed responsibility for the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The rise of populist politicians across the rich world has led to a profound rethinking of the way developed economies work. In particular, the impact of automation on the labour market, and the disappearance of routine manufacturing jobs, has been blamed for the electoral successes of leaders such as US President Donald Trump and Italys Matteo Salvini. Yet there are profound differences in what determines the economic winners and losers on the two sides of the Atlantic. In the US, the main factor deciding whether a worker can prosper in the age of robots appears to be ... Amid the row over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani on Saturday said he is ready to quit his post to protect the rights of the minority community. "Nothing will happen to minorities and if anything happens, I will stand with them. The post is not important to me and I am ready to quit to protect their rights," he said. Speaking at a function to distribute Pongal harvest festival gifts at Karumbukadai, a Muslim dominated area in the city, Velumani said Chief minister K Palaniswami had made the ruling AIADMK's stand clear on the floor of the House on the CAA. Besides, he had taken up the matter at the Central government level after a delegation from Jamaath met him a few days ago, he said. Palaniswami on Thursday asserted in the Assembly that the interests of minorities would be fully protected by his government and urged them to not be swayed by 'politically motivated' rumours on the NRC. The AIADMK, which supported the controversial citizenship bill in Parliament, recently asserted it would be the first to raise the voice in case even a single person from the minority community was affected if and when the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is implemented. Over 20 Muslim organisations and outfits on Thursday petitioned the state government to urge the Centre to withdraw the CAA. Stating that about 3,000 people belonging to the minority community were staying around his house, Velumani said all were living like brothers and sisters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California is sending 31 disaster specialists to Puerto Rico after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the islands southern coast on Saturday, the latest in a series of quakes over the past week that have toppled homes and schools and left more than 4,000 people in shelters. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the deployment comes in response to the Puerto Rican governments request for assistance. The Governors Office of Emergency Services says in a statement that the team will depart from Sacramento on Sunday and will spend 16 days working with emergency management and public safety officials there. The group consists of experts in incident and emergency management, engineering and safety assessment, planning, public information, debris management and crisis counselling. Earlier this week, Newsom approved the deployment of four firefighters to assist with search and rescue operations. The ground in southwest Puerto Rico has been shaking since Dec. 28, with more than 1,100 earthquakes, of which more than 100 were felt and more than 66 were of magnitude 3.5 or greater. Saturdays quake occurred four days after a 6.4 magnitude quake in the same area. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Saturday said the Centre has followed an age-old Indian tradition of offering shelter to persecuted religious minorities by passing the amendment to the Citizenship Act and asked youths to do their bit to clear people's doubts about the new law. In his inaugural speech for the two-day Uttarakhand Young Leaders Conclave here, he said India had given shelter to the Jews, the Parsis and the Tibetans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly made it clear that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is not meant to strip any community members of their citizenship. It only aims to grant citizenship to persecuted religious minorities which has taken shelter in the country, Rawat said. "A conspiracy to spread misinformation about CAA is underway across the country. Educated young people like you should come forward to educate people and dispel their misapprehension about it," the chief minister said. "By passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Central government has only followed an age-old Indian tradition of offering shelter to persecuted religious minorities," he added. The Uttarakhand Young Leaders Conclave was being held on the occasion of the 157th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda which falls tomorrow, the chief minister said. Referring to Swami Vivekananda's speech at World's Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, where he had begun his address with "sisters and brothers of America", Rawat said, "This showed Swami Vivekananda's inclusive philosophy which also forms the core of the Indian ethos." "We now talk about the concept of global village. India introduced the world to the philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) centuries ago," he said and asked the participants at the conclave to take pride in their glorious traditions. Noting that 30 per cent of the world's young population lives in this country, the Uttarakhand chief minister said India is in a position to show the way to the rest of the world. "The young constitute the largest section of our population and it is our biggest strength. We have to make the most of this advantage to be in the leading position," he said. The footsteps of the approaching times when India is set to play a much bigger role in international politics have already made themselves audible, Rawat said and claimed that Iran has expressed its desire to have India mediate in its current standoff with the US. The young leaders conclave which will have several interactive sessions including one with the chief minister to understand their aspirations and take their suggestions on the development of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has said it "cannot support" the new deal to restore power-sharing due to the provision of an Irish Language Commissioner The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has said it "cannot support" the new deal to restore power-sharing due to the provision of an Irish Language Commissioner. Published by the UK and Irish Governments on Thursday, the document, New Decade, New Approach, offered a deal which meant no party could wield a single veto. It also said that there would be an Irish Language Commissioner put in place instead of a standalone Irish Language Act. However, in a statement the Orange Order said it has very serious concerns over the deal and described its provision for Irish language as "far-reaching". "The Orange Institution has, on many occasions, stated its opposition to such legislative provision and has clearly articulated this message in the media and to our politicians and government," read the statement. "The detailed raft of proposals including the provision of an Irish Language Commissioner are clearly at odds with the stated view of the Institution and as such, we cannot support them." The Order also expressed concern at "ambiguous" references to Ulster-Scots and Ulster-British culture when compared to Irish language proposals outlined in the deal. It is feared within the institution that there is a severe lack of detail and delivery mechanisms on Ulster-Scots culture. "As British citizens living in the United Kingdom we have a complex and multi-layered identity which in many areas is wider than simply 'Ulster-Scots'," continued the Orange Order. "We remain unconvinced that the cultural traditions and identity of the Orange family will be meaningfully promoted or safeguarded by these proposals." DUP leader Arlene Foster conceded parts of the deal will be challenging for people she represents. She said: "But overall and on the whole I feel that it's a fair and balanced deal and that's why we were able to recommend it last night to our party officers and to the elected representatives. I think people will note that while there is a recognition of the facilitation of Irish language, there is also very much a recognition of those of us who are Ulster British and live here in Northern Ireland as well, and many mechanisms to strengthen the Union." Colombo braces for shocks from West Asia crisis By Bandula Sirimanna and Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): The stock market recovered after a day-long crash, the Colombo auction didnt react but was on alert while airlines are bracing for possible pressure on air fares if tensions in West Asia escalate to a full blown conflict between the US and Iran. Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) Chairman Dimuthu Tennakoon told the Business Times that airlines operating to Sri Lanka have been called for a meeting tomorrow and they expect to have at least a committee meeting. So far, he noted that airlines have not changed their pricing as re-routing of airline traffic from travel via Iran and Iraq is likely to be a short term measure. Pricing however could get impacted should the re-routing become a permanent feature in future depending on the situation in those countries. Across economic sectors that deal with West Asia and the Persian Gulf region, there were worries and concerns but these dissipated by Friday after the US made conciliatory gestures. Tensions escalated after a top Iranian commander was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq while Iran retaliated with missile strikes on two bases in Iraq housing US military staff. Share prices at the Colombo bourse fell sharply on Wednesday but recovered the next day to post the highest ever turnover in recent times after a 10 per cent stock of John Keells Holdings was sold in a transaction between two foreign entities. In terms of the safety of Sri Lankans working in Iran and the rest of the Persian Gulf, Government spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said they were monitoring the situation and would take steps to evacuate Sri Lankans is the need arose. There are over a million Sri Lankans working in West Asia. Former Planters Association Chairman and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Roshan Rajadurai said that it was too early to predict the outcome on tea arising out of the tensions between US and Iran. He noted however that a price spike was expected in the short term since panic buying could spell a surge in demand. But in the long term prices would be determined by the buying power available at the time. Colombo auction prices this week remained buoyant. Iran, being one of the biggest buyers of Ceylon Tea, seems to be shifting its purchasing pattern by moving towards Indian teas even as they drag their feet on the Sri Lanka tea for oil deal. Indian authorities were bracing against this weeks US announcement of maximum sanctions imposed on Iran. So far food does not face sanctions but it seems challenging to carry out trade on food with Iran as questions are raised on every aspect of the trading item. In terms of fuel prices and supply, while there is increasing uneasiness over the evolving situation in West Asia, officials said there were enough supplies and that Sri Lanka was prepared to face any impact from new US sanctions on Iran. The country imports 30 to 40 per cent of its crude oil from the conflict-prone Gulf region, government data showed. Sri Lanka buys crude and refined petroleum from Singapore, Dubai and Fujairah, a Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) official said, adding that the fuel prices will go up to a new high if the Gulf tensions escalate. Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) sources said they have sufficient petrol and diesel reserves to meet any eventuality. Sri Lankas crude oil bill is around US$250-300 million per month and an increase of just 15 per cent within a few days can exert some impact on local fuel supply, an analyst said. If the oil price continues its upward trend owing to US-Gulf tensions the LIOC will have to increase prices in accordance with government terms. Sri Lanka has stopped crude imports from Iran and is actively switching to other crude grades from Malaysia or Singapore, as South Asian importers, including India, significantly restrict supply in the wake of US sanctions against Tehran. A tortoise who helped save his species from extinction by having hundreds of children will be released into his homeland after spending eight decades away, conservation authorities have said. Diego earned a reputation for having lots of sex during a captive breeding scheme for giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands, and the 100-year-old has now reportedly fathered over 800 children. He will soon be released into the wild on his native Espanola Island after officials said the programme which recruited Diego from San Diego Zoo four decades ago has been a success. Around 40 per cent of the new tortoises on the island are Diegos descendents, according to Galapagos Conservancy. Diego, who is over 100 years old, will return to his home island almost eight decades after being extracted from it, the conservation body said. Jonathan the Giant Tortoise has his first bath after 184 years Show all 5 1 /5 Jonathan the Giant Tortoise has his first bath after 184 years Jonathan the Giant Tortoise has his first bath after 184 years Jonathan takes a bath Vet Joe Hollins gives the 184-year-old tortoise an overdue clean. St Helena Government Jonathan the Giant Tortoise has his first bath after 184 years Jonathan takes a bath The vet gently washed his enormous shell. St Helena Government Jonathan the Giant Tortoise has his first bath after 184 years Jonathan takes a bath Jonathan is one of many Giant Tortoises residing at the Plantation House on St Helena. St Helena Government Jonathan the Giant Tortoise has his first bath after 184 years Jonathan takes a bath Jonathan is something of a an in his home of St Helena, he even features on the back of five pence pieces. St Helena Government Jonathan the Giant Tortoise has his first bath after 184 years Jonathan takes a bath The vet says looking after Jonathan, the oldest living land animal in the world, is "an honour". St Helena Government The population of the Chelonoidis hoodensis species has gone from 15 to 2,000 since the scheme started around 40 years ago, according to Jorge Carrion, the Galapagos National Park director. The islands ecosystems currently have adequate conditions to support the growing population of tortoises, he added. The national park service believes Diego left the Galapagos Islands 80 years ago during a scientific expedition, the BBC reported. He became one of three male tortoises involved in the breeding scheme which involved 12 females after being recruited from the US zoo where he had been living for 30 years, Galapagos Conservancy said. Diego is currently in quarantine before he returns into the wild on Espanola Island along with other tortoises in March, according to authorities. The island has sufficient conditions to maintain the tortoise population, which will continue to grow normally, said Washington Tapia, the director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative. A species of giant tortoise that was believed extinct was discovered on another Galapagos island earlier this year, Ecuador's government said. The Fernandina Island tortoise had previously only been seen once before at the start of the 20th century. Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has issued an apology over the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS 752. The apology comes after Iran issued a statement on Saturday morning admitting that the plane was hit by its a surface-to-air missile. Iran stated that it was a "human error" which led to the catastrophe that killed 176 people. READ: Iran Admits To 'unintentionally' Shooting Down Ukrainian Jetliner Supreme leader's apology In a statement, the supreme leader said that the causalities are even more severe after the results of the investigation. He went on to apologize for the act and expressed "deep sympathy". He also urged the government and the forces to pursue any shortcomings have emerged from the incident. His statement read, "Knowing the results of the General Staff's investigation into the incident of the Ukrainian passenger plane and the involvement of human error in it, the casualties of the death toll of this unfortunate incident became much more severe. First of all, I need to express my deep sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the supreme families of these beloved ones, and to pray to God Almighty for their spiritual and heart-felt peace. Secondly, I strongly urge the General Staff of the Armed Forces to pursue any shortcomings or possible blame in this painful incident. Third, I request the necessary care and follow-up to prevent such a recurrence from the managers and authorities concerned. Dear God and the Most Merciful, extend mercy and mercy to the deceased, and grant them patience and mercy." READ: 63 Canadians Killed, PM Trudeau Issues Statement As Iran Admits It Shot Down Ukraine Jet Shortly after the announcement was made, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani tweeted an apology and later issued another statement where he again apologized to the family members of the victims and tried to explain the situation which led to the unfortunate event. "In the atmosphere of threats and intimidation by the aggressive American regime against the Iranian nation after the martyrdom of General Qasem Soleimani, and in order to defend ourselves against possible attacks by the American Army, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran were on full alert, which unfortunately led to this terrible catastrophe taking the lives of dozens of innocent people because of human error and mistaken shooting." READ: Ukraine Issues Stern Statement & Lists Demands As Iran Admits It Shot Down Jet Killing 176 Ukraine demands an open investigation and prosecution Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a strong statement and listed demands which should be met by Iran. "We expect Iran to conduct a full and open investigation, bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies of the deceased, pay compensation and issue official apologies through diplomatic channels." Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had earlier stated "that the country will be focussed on 'accountability, transparency and justice for the victim and the family members' of those who lost their lives in the crash." READ: Russia Says That Iran Must "learn Lessons" After Tehran Admits Shooting Down Ukrainian Jet KYODO NEWS - Jan 11, 2020 - 10:18 | All, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe embarked on a five-day trip to the Middle East on Saturday as part of Tokyo's efforts to help reduce tensions in a critical region for resource-poor Japan. The trip will take him to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, countries which Japan sees as important players in stabilizing the situation in the Middle East, according to Japanese officials. The visit precedes Tokyo's dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel and assets to the region to help secure the safe passage of shipping by enhancing intelligence-gathering capabilities. The SDF's operational areas include the Gulf of Oman and part of the Arabian Sea. "Japan will take its own initiative to tenaciously conduct peace diplomacy so as to ease tensions and stabilize the situation in the region," Abe told journalists before leaving Tokyo's Haneda airport. Abe said he wants to win support from the three countries for the SDF dispatch to the region since it is vital to ensure the safety of Japanese commercial ships operating there. In Saudi Arabia, Abe plans to meet with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday. He will travel to the United Arab Emirates on Monday for a meeting with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In Oman, the Japanese leader is expected to hold talks Tuesday with Sayyid Asaad bin Tariq bin Taimur Al Said, deputy prime minister for international relations and cooperation affairs and special representative for the sultan of Oman. Abe is seeking to do his part in bringing stability to the Middle East, from which Japan gets most of its crude oil imports. Increased cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman is seen as key to securing stable energy supplies. During the trip, he plans to brief leaders of the three countries on the SDF deployment, the Japanese officials said. The dispatch is separate from a U.S.-led maritime initiative near the Strait of Hormuz. A recent spike in tensions following the U.S. killing of a top Iranian commander initially prompted the Japanese government to weigh the option of canceling the trip. Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting bases in Iraq that host American forces but U.S. President Donald Trump made a restrained response without turning to military action. Japan has good ties with both Iran and the United States despite a months-long standoff between Tehran and Washington over a 2015 nuclear deal. Abe has been urging all parties involved to exercise restraint to prevent the situation from escalating. The prime minister is scheduled to return to Japan on Wednesday. Related coverage: 2 SDF planes leave for Middle East on intel-gathering mission U.S. slaps Iran with fresh sanctions after missile attacks Japan orders naval mission to Middle East U.S. believes Iran downed Ukraine plane by accident, Tehran denies it Researchers working with data from NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have discovered the missions first circumbinary planet, a world orbiting two stars (NASA) An high school intern at NASA who had been at the job for just three days helped discover a new planet with two suns. The planet TOI 1338 b was found 1,300 light-years away in the Pictor constellation - the only planet in the system with two stars. The stars in the system make an eclipsing binary, which occurs when the stellar companions circle each other in our plane of view (NASA) In 2019, Wolf Cukier joined NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as a summer intern. His job was to examine variations in star brightness captured by NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and uploaded to the Planet Hunters TESS citizen science project. Read more from Yahoo News UK: Woman, 21, who posed as teenage boy to sexually assault up to 50 girls after grooming jailed Foolish drunk driver who killed up-and-coming rapper after drinking six pints is jailed Police appeal for witnesses after horse is shot in head with 50mm nail gun But the student spotted something unusual while examining TESS' star data. Cukier said of the discovery: About three days into my internship, I saw a signal from a system called TOI 1338. The TOI 1338 system lies 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Pictor. The two stars orbit each other every 15 days (NASA) At first I thought it was a stellar eclipse, but the timing was wrong. It turned out to be a planet. 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. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is a telescope/camera that hunts for undiscovered worlds around nearby stars (NASA) The four cameras used in the ongoing TESS analyse an area of sky for 27 days at a time, taking a photo every 30 minutes. As planets pass in front of stars, - known as a transit - it can help astronomers determine the location of planets. But a planet with two stars makes the transit method a little more difficult to spot. TESS could only spot the transit of the planet passing in front of the larger star. This 1920s era chocolate box would have impressed someones Jazz Age sweetheart. The 20-inch-by-7-inch box with four separate boxes inside was designed to hold about two pounds of chocolates. A red and white script logo identified the box as coming from Ambrozs Chocolates, La Crosse, Wis. Candy maker Rudolph Ambroz was born in Bohemia in 1883. He and his wife, Rose, settled in La Crosse in 1910, with Rudolph working for Funke Candy Company. While Rudolph remained at Funke, his wife Rose and their daughter began an independent candy manufacturing business in 1919. They worked out of their home at 712 Cass St., a building that stands today. Rudolph Ambroz appears as the owner of a retail confectionery at 301 S. 7th St. in 1922 and 1924 La Crosse City Directories, but the storefront was short-lived. By 1926, the Ambroz family had returned to a home-based candy manufacturing business, now called the Liberty Candy Company. The Ambrozes continued to live on Cass Street, but by 1934 the business was listed as the Scherdin Candy Company. Arthur and Henry Scherdin were former Funke employees who later became affiliated with the Murphy Candy Company. Rudolph and Rose retired to San Diego, California, in 1937, and Rudolph died there in 1945. The candy box itself features a color drawing of a flapper girl in a smoke- colored strapless dress with a feather fan. It is signed Hamilton King, 1920. Hamilton King (1871-1952) was an illustrator of the period famous for his portraits of beautiful women. His Coca-Cola girls are among his best known images, but his art also graced magazine covers, cigarette cards and sheet music. His postcards and candy boxes could be purchased commercially. The Ambroz family probably bought Hamilton King boxes as a deluxe feature for their fine chocolates. Hamilton Kings flapper girl would have been dressed in the height of fashion for the Remember When 1920s gala. The annual fundraising event for La Crosse County Historical Society will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Cargill Room of The Waterfront, 332 Front Street South. The gala begins at 4:30 pm. It will feature dinner, an evening of live 1920s music by Doug and Truman Way, and live and silent auctions. Period dress is encouraged. For further information or tickets, contact LCHS at 608-782-1980 or visit their website at lchshistory.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 For nearly two decades, the area of Bougainville has been declared an autonomous region. Last month in a non-binding independence referendum, residents voted to declare their independence. Watch the above video to find out more. New Delhi, Jan 11 : The Delhi High Court on Saturday restrained the makers of the Deepika Padukone starer "Chhapaak" from releasing without giving credit to the victim's lawyer Aparna Bhat who represented real life acid attack survivor Lakshmi Agarwal in her legal battle. Justice Pratibha M. Singh directed that the restraint will be effective from January 15 for multiplexes and live streaming apps while for other platforms it would be effective from January 17. The Fox Star Studios had approached the high court against the trial court order directing them to give credits to the contributions of Advocate Aparna Bhat as the lawyer of the real life acid attack survivor. The makers during the hearing on Friday told the high court that Bhat had no legal right, statutory or contractual, to seek acknowledgement for her contribution in the film in the form of consultation, inputs and documents. Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar appeared for Fox Star Studios while Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi appeared for Meghna Gulzar Opposing the claims made by the counsel for the filmmakers, senior advocate Sanjay Parikh said that the conduct of the filmmakers amounted to breach of trust and her claim seeking acknowledgement in the film was not only based on promissory estoppel but "something higher". Parikh went on to add that Bhat offered her assistance to the making of the film pro bono, pursuant to which substantial changes were made to the film. A Delhi court had on Thursday directed the makers of "Chhapaak" to give due credits to advocate Aparna Bhat for her contribution in the making of the film. Additional Senior Civil Judge Dr. Pankaj Sharma directed director Meghna Gulzar and the makers of the film to mention the advocate's name in the credit roll. "This court is of the considered view that facts are indicative that the pique of the plaintiff for interim injunction is well-founded and it is necessary that her contribution be acknowledged by providingthe actual footage and the images." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text With the ever-growing unemployment rates in the country, it is not advisable to pursue the least marketable courses. This is because they have little to no job openings in the current employment market. Besides, their demand is predicted to go down in the future. Image: wikimedia.com Source: UGC At some time before joining the university, you might have wondered what the best degree or diplomas to pursue in Kenya are. While you desire to enrol in a sought-after program, you possibly might want to consider the flooded courses in Kenya to be practical when choosing your career path. Top 20 least marketable courses in Kenya Here are some useless fields in the current and future employment market that are not worth pursuing. They might be considered as valueless as graduates from such programs end up doing some odd jobs. 1. Chemical Engineering This sounds fishy. Are all engineering courses supposed to be valuable? Well, no. A Chemical Engineering degree is as good as useless in the country. However, there are lots of opportunities available beyond borders in developed states such as Russia and America. Whats worse is that these countries possibly might not regard your Kenyan degree. 2. Mass Media Most employers consider your skills more than a degree in this field. It is even not surprising that talented individuals such as Jalango, MC Tricky, and the rest are in the media, yet this is not their profession. If you are not artistic and gifted, you should never think of taking Mass Media. 3. Political Science Many graduates from this discipline have not had the chances to air their political views and showcase critical thinking skills. There are very few opportunities in the line of Mutahi Ngunyis profession. Most of the graduates end up settling for some odd jobs. 4. Education Some subject combinations are no longer needed as the fields have been flooded. Business, History, and CRE are some of the unmarketable blends you can waste your time pursuing in the university. The said subjects are simple, and everyone is opting to take them in college over Mathematics, Geography, Physics, and Chemistry. Image: wikimedia.com Source: UGC 5. Sport Science Upon graduation, you will end up being a gym instructor and a personal trainer. We all agree that only a few people are interested in such a lifestyle. The majority cannot even afford to cater to the services of a graduate. 6. Psychology and Counselling It is one of the great courses in the country as it involves impacting and changing peoples lives positively. However, getting employed in such a field is next to impossible today. You can also not start your counselling centre as many Kenyans prefer not to share their problems with anyone. A good number of them are not even aware of the services offered by a psychologist and a counsellor. 7. Theology Theology is one of the most useless degrees in the country. Unless you have plans of becoming a chaplain or a religious leader, you should never undertake this programme. Even so, you dont need any certificates to become a pastor nowadays. Anyone can wake up today and claim that God has called him/her to spread the gospel. So, with this in mind, who needs Theology and Biblical classes? 8. Criminology With the rising insecurity cases in the country, one would think that experts in this field have lots of opportunities. Security firms and chiefs no longer need the services of such experts. With this degree, you will end up settling for something you did not train for. 9. Hospitality Hospitality includes any catering, hotel management, and related courses. Together they make up the worst courses in Kenya. Doing such courses requires some connections somewhere. Hospitality graduates mostly work in banks and other unrelated fields. It is one of the least marketable courses that you should not pursue. 10. Art courses Ranging from drama, acting, music, and so on, some art courses are considered to be less serious degrees that only require cramming exam answers and a little creativity. With this in mind, anyone can do them quickly hence, the reason why such fields are usually crowded. 11. Physical Education Physical Education is also among the least marketable degrees in the country. The programme equips learners with psychomotor knowledge that is aimed at promoting play in secondary and primary education. Today, not many schools are very keen on having the services of such experts. It is especially true because schools have not been allocated such funds based on the recent budget hence, Physical Education is something you might not want to pursue as a degree. 12. Anthropology Anthropology is the study of humankind in a broad comparative approach. Graduates here know how societies are formed. With many people opting to pursue the course, it is next to impossible to get hired as there are few to no job openings. Many employers do not need services provided by anthropologists. 13. Library There are few state-of-the-art libraries in the country. It means that there are few opportunities in this industry. Additionally, top institutions are adopting computer systems that reduce the number of employees they need. Nowadays, a big library can typically be run by one or two librarians and a couple of other support staff such as guards and errand men. Image: wikimedia.com Source: UGC 14. Records Management We are in a brave new world where computers have eradicated the services of record managers. Records Management is one of the least marketable courses that should be avoided at all costs. Very few companies are currently still using old record-keeping ways such as files, and so on. The said firms do not need an expert in the field as chances are they already have one. 15. Animal Husbandry Animal Husbandry involves the study of animal and livestock companionship. The country does not have a significant agricultural industry, and so taking this course means that you might find it hard to secure employment. It is therefore among the less viable degrees and diplomas in Kenya as of now. 16. Forestry Only a few graduates from this course get employed. Few organizations and companies require Forestry experts. Thus, opportunities are limited as only the best get jobs. Now, you dont want to gamble with your future, so it is advisable to shun away from this programme. 17. Meteorology As you might be aware, this field involves weather and climate change in the earth. Well, we have many weather apps in the country, and so your services might not be needed. Many companies have replaced their meteorology departments with computer systems and apps which are relatively accurate. Also, there are few meteorology centres in the country. Therefore, if you are not outstanding, you will end up doing some odd jobs for the rest of your life. 18. Environmental Science Environmental Science is one of the least marketable diploma courses in Kenya. At the moment, there are few prospects for diploma holders. Companies need high-level, experienced individuals. Securing an excellent job will mean getting a lot of experience from paid or unpaid internships. Why waste close to five years working on getting experience without getting paid while you can pursue a sought-for degree? 19. Bachelor of Commerce (BCOM) Nearly everyone in the university is taking up BCOM. Although the degree is quite sought-after by employers today, it is one of the least marketable courses. It is predicted that the field will soon be flooded as thousands of people graduate with such certificates every year. 20. Masters of Business Administration Last on our list of useless courses in the country is the MBA. Well, lots of people out there have furthered their education via this discipline. Many of them even have PhDs, and thus, it is a complete waste of time to undertake this profession. You will end up tarmacking with a very fat CV and valueless certificates. The above is the least marketable courses in Kenya. All of them have one thing in common. They are flooded, or the services of such experts are no longer viable to employers. However, this should not discourage you from pursuing them. You can still take them and get a good-paying job immediately after graduation. You only have to make sure you join a reputable university, pursue other short courses such as CPA, have a good network with friends, do as many internships as you can, go for a postgraduate program, seek opportunities beyond the borders or even employ yourself! Source: TUKO.co.ke Sen. Susan Collins Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images GOP Sen. Susan Collins said she's working with a "fairly small group" of fellow Republicans to ensure witnesses are called to testify during President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial. "We should be completely open to calling witnesses," Collins said on Friday, according to Maine's Bangor Daily News. John Bolton, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, put pressure on GOP lawmakers when he announced earlier this week that he's willing to testify. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Republican Sen. Susan Collins revealed that she's working with a "fairly small group" of fellow GOP senators to ensure witnesses are called to testify during President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial. "We should be completely open to calling witnesses," Collins said on Friday, according to Maine's Bangor Daily News. "I am hopeful that we can reach an agreement on how to proceed with the trial that will allow the opportunity for both the House and the president's counsel if they choose to do so." A simple majority 51 votes is required to set the trial's rules, so Collins needs to convince three other Republicans to join her and the 47 Senate Democrats in forcing witnesses to the stand. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pledged to work "in total coordination" with Trump and the White House counsel's office. Collins and other vulnerable Republican senators supported McConnell's decision to move forward with a trial without guaranteeing that the Senate will call witnesses. A moderate from Maine, Collins is running in a competitive race for reelection this year. John Bolton, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, put pressure on GOP lawmakers when he announced earlier this week that he's willing to testify in the impending Senate impeachment trial, even if the president opposes it. Story continues GOP Sen. Mitt Romney said this week that he'd "love to hear" from Bolton during the trial. With Bolton, Democrats now have a key witness someone with direct knowledge of Trump's dealings with Ukraine ready and willing to make what could be very damaging claims against the president. Many Republicans appear willing to deny Bolton the chance to divulge information about what his lawyer has said are "many relevant meetings and conversations." Shortly after Bolton's announcement, McConnell declared the Senate would decide on whether to call witnesses once the trial is underway, similar to President Bill Clinton's impeachment proceedings in 1998. Read the original article on Business Insider New Delhi, Jan 11 : While maintaining that both Northern and Western frontiers are equally important for India, Army chief General M.M. Naravane on Saturday said whenever government gives the go-ahead, his force is ready to take away Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Making it clear that accordingly rebalancing of deployment of the forces and weapons are being carried out, the General commenting on Pakistan occupied Kashmir said: "If Parliament wants that area should be taken we will definitely do so and action will be taken accordingly." The Indian Army chief's comments came at the annual press conference, where he said there was a parliamentary resolution that entire erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir is part of India. Whenever the government directs it will be done. Naravane stressed: "If that be the mandate so be it." Last year in October, the then army chief and now the country's first Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat had said that the PoK territory is illegally occupied by Pakistan. "The territory is not controlled by the Pakistani establishment, it is controlled by terrorists. Pakistan administered Kashmir is actually a terrorist controlled country or a terrorist controlled part of Pakistan," Rawat stated. In September 2019, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had said that PoK is a part of India. "We expect one day we will have physical jurisdiction over it," he said. On August 5, 2019, Home Minister Amit Shah had asserted in Lok Sabha that PoK and Aksai Chin are part of Jammu and Kashmir and that Kashmir Valley is an integral part of the country. Moving a resolution for abrogating some provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019, Shah had said "Kashmir is an integral part of India, there is no doubt over it. "When I talk about Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin are included in it," he said. On border issue with China, India have had several rounds of talks. General Naravane said their priorities are to maintain peace and tranquility on the border. "We are conscious of the fact there are threats from the both side," he said. On his recent visit to Siachen, General Naravane said: "As far as land borders are concerned this is where (Siachen) the two countries -- (China and Pakistan) are the closest. So the chance for collusivity is the most. Here and in Shaksgam valley." About the China border, he said: "We have to balance our requirement. On northern border we are going in for capacity building, roads, habitats, storage for weapons by moving advanced weapons towards eastern side." Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata on Saturday to inaugurate four revamped iconic Kolkata buildings Old Currency Building, Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall. He will be in the city for a two-day visit. The renovations are part of the ministry of cultures plans to modernise museums and develop cultural spaces around iconic buildings in metro cities in India. The PM will also be part of sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust, where he will launch a port anthem and unveil a commemorative plaque for 150 years at the site of port jetties. At the iconic Victoria Memorial, the Archeological Survey of India have used multani mitti (fullers earth) to clean the facade of the 99-year-old building. 59.96 crore was spent, and of the 25 total galleries, seven will open to the public, including the Royal Gallery which will reopen after 25 years. Several exhibitions, including one featuring the 1987 Jaipur Procession, known widely as the worlds second-largest oil painting, will be held in these galleries. At the Old Currency Building, a 187-year-old triple-storeyed structure built in Italian style with Venetian windows, renovation was done by removing years of paint to replace with rich lime plaster, and ACs and sensor glass doors installed. The Metcalfe House, where renovations focussed on the inner structure, drainage, and the wooden staircase, will open to an exhibition on a century of Bengali Cinema in collaboration with Film Heritage Foundation. Of the 11 museums - six have already been made ready and one of the museums which will be dedicated to Netaji Subhas Bose will refer to INAs association with the Red Fort, PTI quoted Raghvendra Singh, CEO for Development of Museums and Cultural Spaces as saying. Johnny Murphy and Martina Lynch from Arklow celebrating their marriage at their reception in the Amber Springs Hotel in Gorey on New Years Eve One Arklow couple rang in the New Year in style - by saying 'I do'. Martina Lynch and Johnny Murphy tied the knot in St Joseph's Church, Templerainey on New Year's Eve. Martina, the daughter of Margaret and Kevin Lynch of Templerainey, is a well-known dance choreographer and teacher who runs Studio 55. A carpenter, Johnny is the son of John and Rita Murphy from Oaklands. Martina's bridesmaids were Els Penston, Fiona Walker, Anne Hurley and her maid of honour was her sister, Karen Kennedy. Martina's niece, Charlotte, was the flower girl. Johnny's brothers Sean, Mark and Craig were his groomsmen while Peter Farrell was the best man. They were joined by 175 guests to celebrate the happy occasion of their marriage. After the ceremony, everyone travelled to the Amber Springs Hotel in Gorey for the reception and to dance the night away. The couple, who have been together for three years, met in Canada while Martina was visiting the country for a holiday. 'Johnny was living in Canada and I knew him from years ago, but I hadn't really chatted to him,' said Martina. 'We had our first date in Canada, then we met up in Las Vegas for our second date and our third was in New York.' Johnny later returned home to Arklow and now works as a carpenter with PK McCain. The couple have a two-year-old son, Frankie. Music for the ceremony and drinks reception was provided by Sacred Sounds, while the guests were also entertained by a surprise singing waiter. The band for the evening reception was Blue Moon. The couple's first dance was to a slow version of 'Living on a Prayer' by Bon Jovi. The celebrations continued on New Year's Day with a day-after event at the Old Ship in Arklow. Martina's stunning gown was from BCouture in Arklow, while the bridesmaids' dresses were from the Dressing Room in Gorey. The suits were from John Flood. The happy couple will travel to Miami in the United States for their honeymoon in February, which will include a cruise. Three young students attending after-school services at Funbugs Creche have raised over 542 in aid of BUMBLEance. BUMBLEance is the official Childrens National Ambulance Service of Ireland which provide safe and comfortable transportation for young patients as they travel between their homes and hospitals, hospices, treatment centres, and respite centres nationwide. Noreen Doyle, a Kildare based business woman and Network Ireland Business Woman of the Year SME, is a board member of BUMBLEance and a dedicated supported of the service, owing to two of her children having survived serious illness. I think these three girls, Amy, Olive and Katie who are 10-11 years were amazing to run this fundraiser. The girls who attend Rathmore National School decided to hold a little cake sale at their after-school facility in Funbugs and raised 542! "I cannot commend them highly enough well done, girls. Huge thanks to all involved and to Sinead Tobin, manager of Funbugs and Brenda Coomey, after-school carer concluded Noreen. BUMBLEance offer comfort and safety to children undergoing serious medical treatment, along with being hugely supportive of parents. The BUMBLEance service is the first of its kind in the world. It has all the amenities of a regular ambulance but it includes the all-important extras to make a sick childs journey as safe, comfortable and entertaining as possible so all monies raised in support of BUMBLEance is welcome concluded Noreen, who founded the Irish Biltong Co. Muscat: Oman Sultan Qaboos, the longest-reigning leader of the modern Arab world, has died at the age of 79, the royal court said Saturday. With great sorrow and deep sadness... the royal court mourns His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who passed away on Friday, the court said in a statement. Qaboos, who has ruled since 1970 when he deposed his father in a palace coup, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. PM Modi Condoles Death Of Qaboos I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary leader and statesman who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation. He was a beacon of peace for our region and the world. pic.twitter.com/7QnGhM5lNA Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2020 He left no apparent heir. He was unmarried and had no children or brothers. It is not clear who will succeed Qaboos, whose country has a distinct method of choosing the next ruler. According to the Omani constitution, the royal family shall, within three days of the throne falling vacant, determine the successor. If the family does not agree on a name, the person chosen by Qaboos in a letter addressed to the royal family will be the successor. The sultan should be a member of the royal family, as well as Muslim, mature, rational and the legitimate son of Omani Muslim parents. Local experts say that more than 80 men meet the criteria, but one name stands: Asad bin Tariq. Tariq, 65, had been appointed deputy prime minister for international relations and cooperation affairs in 2017. The move was seen as a clear message of support to the sultans cousin and special representative since 2002. Qaboos transformed the Arabian Peninsula nation from a backwater into a modern state while pursuing a moderate but active foreign policy. Having played a role in Irans nuclear deal with world powers while preserving its membership in the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council, Oman has emerged as the Gulfs discreet mediator. It remains to be seen whether the next ruler will take the same moderate approach in a region often in turmoil. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Getty The sentiment started bubbling among Democrats almost instantly after news broke that President Donald Trump had ordered the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani: that it was all too convenient, on the eve of an impeachment trial that would decide his presidency, that Trump would make a brazen foreign policy move that effectively shoved impeachment out of the news cycle. But as more details came out about the strikeor, more importantly, did not come outmainstream Democratic Party figures were raising the suggestion that Trump brought the U.S. to the brink of war with a dangerous adversary with his own personal political considerations in mind. Two days after the killing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said on Meet the Press we know Donald Trump is very upset about this coming impeachment trial But look at what hes doing now. He is taking us to the edge of war. And on Jan. 3, the day it happened, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) tweeted, without comment, a poster for the 1997 film Wag the Dog, in which political operatives working for the White House concoct a fake war in order to distract the public from a sex scandal involving the president. Hes either a really bad decision-maker, or, this certainly does help provide a little relief from impeachment news, said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) after a briefing Wednesday. Whenever a nation is potentially at war, going after someone whos a traditional enemy of the people, so to speak, certainly makes us wonder what the real rationale was. By Friday, that suspicion was fueled further with a story in the Wall Street Journal that reported Trump had admitted to feeling pressure from GOP senatorshis jury in an impeachment trialto go after Soleimani. Between the lack of satisfactory answers from the administration in hours of classified briefings and its constantly changing public narrative, congressional Democrats were openly entertaining the idea that by killing Soleimani, Trump had wagged the dog himselfcreating a high-profile military spectacle in order to distract from a scandal. Story continues Let me just say it this way, said Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) after one briefing. Nobody walked out of that meeting knowing anything more than they walked in knowing. And the idea that either the intelligence was so thin or none existed, that raises the question as to what their motivation was, why did they pick that momentand this is an administration that has earned the reputation of being willing to do anything at all to defend themselves. That open suspicion speaks to the profound lack of trust between congressional Democrats and the White House in a remarkable political moment in which dramatic military escalation with Iran has collided with a scorched-earth impeachment process. Fueling Democrats suspicions is the nature of that impeachment, which is centered on charges that Trump abused the power of his office for his own political gain. In pressuring Ukraine for political favors, said Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), the president put his interests above the national interest. And there are questions about whether thats what he did here with Iran. Some Democrats, however, were wary of wading further into conjecture. I try not to speculate without at least some, you know, concrete understanding, said Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Personally, I think the policy decision was bad enough on its own, Smith added. Thats what we should focus on. The motivationwho knows, and if we dont have evidence of that, speculation I dont think helps our argument. The White House declined to comment for this story. Since killing Soleimani, administration officials have made the case to Capitol Hill and to the public that the generalwho controlled the elite, transnational Iranian military unit known as the Quds Forceposed an imminent threat to U.S. soldiers and interests in the Middle East that required urgent, drastic action. That case has not been consistent, however. Appearing on all five major Sunday shows the weekend before, Pompeo only revealed that Soleimani was actively engaged and plotting against American interests. On Thursday, Pompeo told Fox News Laura Ingraham that the threat posed by Soleimani was real but we don't know precisely when and we don't know precisely where. But by Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed at a White House press briefing that the U.S. had specific information on an imminent threat, and those threats from him included attacks on U.S. embassies. Period. Full stop. Later that day, Trump himself divulged to Fox that Soleimani had supposedly targeted four U.S. embassies overseas, though he declined to name which ones. Democratic lawmakers say they are still eager to learn more about the administrations specific rationale in confronting Iran. They may have more opportunities, as relevant committees schedule new briefings from administration officials. I think people are suspicious of the motives, said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) on Friday, but I still hold out hope that Im gonna learn more. But for many Democrats, the last three years have shown them that there is no depth to which this president will not sinkmeaning that, until proven otherwise, the question of whether Trump wagged the dog on Iran is a fair one to raise. Do I dismiss it out of hand? asked Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA). No. Trump being Trump, no. You cant dismiss anything out of hand. Anythings possible with this guy. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Lekker's "Which came first" chicken and egg dish. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui There's joy and wit in "Which came first?", a chicken and egg dish that ponders the age-old conundrum. A pademelon (a small wallaby) tartare is an exuberant, sensitive exploration of Australian protein. Smoked salmon cigars are as fresh as sashimi, as luxurious as a Rolls and as fun as a waterslide. It's all highly accomplished, with an unusual jauntiness. Kabboord is no celeb but he's one of our best chefs. He returned to Melbourne from Sydney mid-2019 after a month-long helper stint turned into four years as chef de cuisine at three-hat Quay, where boss and mate Peter Gilmore just didn't want to let him go. Along the way, Kabboord and his fort-holding wife Bron closed Merricote, their much-loved Westgarth bistro. Bron is now in the country, at Trentham's du Fermier. A few months ago when her funemployed husband started presenting her with multi-course weeknight banquets, pre-desserts included Bron encouraged him to find a new gig. That's how Lekker came about. Cheese heaven: "Dat is kaas voor ieder". Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui It's in a Hotel Windsor function space and is a suck-it-and-see venture with the Halim Group, which owns the hotel. Part of the happiness in the food is because Kabboord isn't the owner: the headaches of proprietorship are off his plate. The other wellspring of joy is the freedom. Quay is many good things but nimble is not one of them; here, Kabboord can have a brainwave in the shower and get his lightbulb moment on the table that night. You can taste the immediacy. There are two modes of dining: snacks in the bar (city theatres are nearby) or a five-course prix fixe menu. The pademelon is sustainably sourced from Flinders Island; cubed backstrap is arranged with beetroot (slow-cooked, raw and pureed) plus the acidic pop of raspberries. Smoked oyster cream and oil made with kombu (a seaweed) tie the dish together in slick, savoury symphony. The chicken and egg dish is sublime: poached breast and confit leg are bathed in consomme and nestled with an egg yolk slow-poached in oil. They're hidden by potato foam which is overlaid with puffed chicken skin crisps. It's a supremely balanced conversation stopper. Born in the Netherlands, Kabboord's neo bistro is also a nostalgic and sometimes wry look at Dutch food culture. The name "Lekker" is a cover-all word for tasty, yummy, cosy and nice. An apricot dessert plays with Jenever, the Dutch antecedent to gin. The unmissable cheese course is called "dat is kaas voor ieder", a northern Dutch expression which translates as "that's cheese for everyone" but means, more or less, "everyone will like it". They really will. Stinky Livarot is whisked with cream and plated with Madeira gel and apple. Scattered atop are housemade potato crispies that apply Quay-style ultra fine dining magic to a $15 dish available on the tasting menu and as a snack. Even though it's a pop-up, Lekker's food identity is confident. The space is functional and there are nice Nederlander touches, but it's less lekker than the menu. The waiting team, led by German-born Amsterdammer Carl Schroeder is warm and professional but understandably green, and it feels a bit like you're all on the adventure together. The restaurant may only be here until March. Leap on it. Flavour that lasts OMNIA Capitol Grand, corner Toorak Road & Chapel Street, South Yarra, (03) 8080 8080. Daily lunch and dinner. After a nearby pop-up, Omnia has moved to glamorous permanent premises. A soaring lobby-style atrium gives way to a cellar-like dining room. The food is flat-out delicious - I'm still thinking about the tartare with roasted capsicum and chilli a month after eating it. LESA Level 1, 122 Russell Street, Melbourne, (03) 9935 9838. Thurs-Fri lunch, Wed-Sat dinner. Reopening this week after a break, Lesa does composed, produce-focused dishes as part of prix fixe menus. The two-course pre-theatre option from 5.30pm ($55) offers a tasty intro to chef Dave Verheul's food. CUTLER & CO BAR 55-57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, (03) 9419 4888. Sun lunch, daily dinner. I am such a fan of sitting at the bar in great restaurants. Cutler's bar is in the same area as the open kitchen, making for great theatre. If you want even more performance, order the tableside steak tartare service, or call for the cheese trolley. NAPIER QUARTER 359 Napier Street, Fitzroy, (03) 9416 0666. Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner. British doctors are earning thousands at a time for performing 'virginity repair' operations on young women under pressure from their traditional families, it has emerged. It is believed they are hundreds of girls being forced to go through an intimate procedure called hymenoplasty to prove they are 'pure' for their wedding night. Known more commonly as hymen repair, the operation involves constructing a layer of skin at the entrance to the vagina that can tear when a woman first has sexual intercourse. It takes less than an hour and is performed under local anaesthetic. It is believed they are hundreds of girls being forced to go through an intimate procedure called hymenoplasty to prove they are 'pure' for their wedding night (stock photo) An investigation by the Sunday Times found there to be at least 22 clinics offering the service privately, mostly in London. One such clinic, The Gynae Centre in central London, recommends having the 'small' operation because 'the hymen is considered a token of virginity and for cultural and religious reasons can be an important factor in a new marriage. In many cases marriages are even annulled if the hymen is torn.' Some private clinics charge up to 3,000 and lure patients with advertisements that promise the surgery can 'restore your innocence' and are '100 per cent safe'. Campaigners have accused the clinics of capitalising on the fears of patients. The majority are young Muslim women from Middle Eastern and Asian families under pressure to be 'untouched' when they marry. Extramarital sex, or zina, is forbidden by the Koran. Guidance from the General Medical Council (GMC) says that before undertaking any procedure practitioners must obtain a patient's 'informed consent', which 'may not be valid if it is given under pressure or duress exerted by another person'. Dr Leila Frodsham, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said hymen repair perpetuated 'harmful myths' about virginity. 'I think people would be surprised to know this is going on. There are a lot of people making a lot of money out of very vulnerable women,' she said. Mohammad Masood, director of MAS Gynaecology, said requests for the procedure at his Harley Street clinic had risen four-fold since 2014. He said his patients typically found him online and were 'almost exclusively Muslim', and that girls would be the subject to stigma if they didn't bleed when losing their virginity. Mohammad Masood, director of MAS Gynaecology, said requests for the procedure at his Harley Street clinic had risen four-fold since 2014 Halaleh Taheri, founder of the Middle Eastern Women and Society Organisation, based in Finsbury Park, north London, said she had dealt with several cases of young women who 'grew up here' and felt they had a 'right to have sex' but were then forced into marriage. 'They don't know what to do,' she said. She had also been contacted by mothers asking 'where they can take their girls' for the surgery: 'They are often very scared the father will find out.' Aneeta Prem, founder of the charity Freedom, said women often feared being viewed as 'second-hand goods'. She said: 'It's a dreadful practice, but I understand why women feel under so much pressure to have it done. Sometimes the consequences are too grave not to.' 'Virginity repair' surgery is legal in the UK. Critics claim demand for the operation is based on the belief that the hymen is a 'seal' that breaks during sex. Mr Masood denied claims that surgeons were cashing in on young women's fears. 'I have seen tragic situations where I felt as though I was saving a life. It is a very sad situation,' he said. North Korea has said the personal relationship between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un is not enough for a return to talks after the U.S. president wished the dictator 'happy birthday' this week. According to a statement published on Saturday by state news agency KCNA, while Kim could personally like Trump, he would not lead his country on the basis of personal feelings, Kim Kye Gwan, an adviser to the North Korean foreign ministry, said. The comments come against the backdrop of stalled denuclearisation talks following a flurry of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea in 2018 and early 2019. 'Although Chairman Kim Jong Un has good personal feelings about President Trump, they are, in the true sense of the word, 'personal',' he said. Scroll down for video Donald Trump sent Kim Jong-un a happy birthday message via South Korea, a diplomat who met him in Washington this week said. Kim is thought to have turned 36 on Wednesday 'We have been deceived by the United States, being caught in the dialogue with it for over one year and a half, and that was the lost time for us.' North Korea will not discuss proposals such as those Trump made at his last summit with Jong-Un in Hanoi in February 2019, the foreign ministry adviser said. The North will not give up its nuclear facilities for partial sanctions relief, and will only return to talks when the United States makes concessions, he added. 'The reopening of dialogue between the DPRK and the U.S. may be possible only under the condition of the latter's absolute agreement on the issues raised by the former, but we know well that the U.S. is neither ready nor able to do so,' he said. The abbreviation DPRK refers to the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Saturday's comments show how ties between leaders are sometimes only marginally useful for diplomacy, said Mason Richey, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. 'At least one member of the U.S.-North Korea diplomatic 'bromance' is mature enough to admit that personal feelings are just that,' Richey added. 'Kim Kye Gwan's statement doesn't close the door on diplomacy any more than it already was, but he underlined how the U.S. and North Korea have fundamentally different strategic interests with almost no meaningful overlap.' The North Korean adviser also cautioned South Korea to steer clear of ties between the North and the United States, saying it should not seek 'to play a mediator role'. On Friday, a South Korean official said Trump had asked the South Koreans to pass on birthday greetings to North Korea. Jong-Un's birthday is on January 8 and it is thought the dictator turned 36 this year. Chung Eui-yong, South Korea's national security adviser, said Trump gave him the message to pass along to Kim during a meeting in Washington on Wednesday. Chung told South Korean media that Trump wanted President Moon Jae-in to relay the message, and believes it was delivered the next day. Chung did not reveal the exact contents of the message, and did not say how it was received by the North Koreans For South Korea to meddle in personal relations between Kim and Trump was 'presumptuous', the North Korean adviser said, adding that the North had already directly received from Trump a letter with the greetings. 'But they seem not to know that there is a special liaison channel between the top leaders of the DPRK and the United States.' South Korea's presidential Blue House declined to comment. The North's comments come after South Korean President Moon Jae-in's administration signalled it wanted to renew 'independent' economic engagement with the North, Richey added. 'This is another slap in the face, which Moon seems determined to accept ad infinitum.' The KMT, which has traditionally favored much closer ties with China, will have to reflect on its losses, Batto said. They might have to ask themselves whether their strategy for dealing with China is still appropriate and whether they were right to select such a populist. They had issues in terms of substance and packaging. We dont understand what President Trump really wants, said a European official, who like others interviewed for this report spoke on the condition of anonymity due to persistent sensitivities over the United States handling of the Iran crisis. Is he going to confront Irans meddling in the Middle East and push back on the al-Quds Forces power? Does he want to prevent that the U.S. would have to carry a larger burden in the Middle East again? Is he offering Iran and the militias a partnership? Contributed Photo / Aleksandar Radovanov - Fotolia NEW HAVEN A city resident faces up to 10 years in federal prison for allegedly being in possession of guns as a felon, officials said. Carlos Buddha Barnes, 28, of New Haven, was indicted on Jan. 2, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham. TAIPEI, TAIWANTaiwans voters delivered a stinging rebuke of Chinas rising authoritarianism on Saturday by re-electing President Tsai Ing-wen, who vowed to preserve the islands sovereignty in the face of Beijings intensifying efforts to bring it under its control. Tsais victory highlighted how successfully her campaign had tapped into an electorate that is increasingly wary of Chinas intentions. It also found momentum from months of protests in Hong Kong against Beijings encroachment on the semi-autonomous Chinese territorys freedoms. For Chinas ruling Communist Party, the outcome is a dramatic display of the power of Hong Kongs anti-government protest movement to influence attitudes toward the mainland in other regions the party deems critical to its interests. Chinas authoritarian leader, Xi Jinping, has warned Taiwan that unification between the sides was inevitable. His party has sought to court Taiwanese with opportunities to work in the mainland while isolating Tsais administration and said that China would use force, if necessary, to prevent the island from taking steps toward formal independence. The vote, which was a reversal of Tsais political fortunes, suggested that Beijings pressure campaign had backfired. It could widen the political and cultural gulf across the Taiwan Strait and might raise the spectre of armed conflict, which could have implications for the United States. In her victory speech, Tsai called for unity as she pledged to work to defend the islands sovereignty and improve the economy. With each presidential election, Taiwan is showing the world how much we cherish our democratic way of life, she said at a news conference in Taipei. We must work to keep our country safe and defend our sovereignty. The vote drew a large turnout including thousands who flew home from abroad. Lines of voters snaked through schools and other public spaces. Willie Yu, 23, who cast his ballot at the Taipei Municipal Jinhua Junior High School, said he had come out to vote because I hope Taiwan can preserve its democracy and freedom. Tsais main opponent, Han Kuo-yu, a populist mayor, conceded defeat on Saturday evening, saying he had called Tsai to congratulate her on her re-election. I can only say that I didnt work hard enough to live up to everyones expectations, he told his supporters. During his campaign, Han had pledged to restore closer relations with the mainland but then found himself on the defensive because of Chinas increasingly authoritarian actions. Tsai and her supporters had cited the Hong Kong protests as an ominous example of what unification on the Communist Partys terms would portend for Taiwans young and vibrant, if messy at times, democratic society. Taiwan must be Taiwan, Hiro Huang, a 30-year-old filmmaker, said this past week at a rally for Tsai and her party, the Democratic Progress Party. He cited national security and the protection of Taiwans sovereignty as the principal reasons for his vote for Tsai. After all, we are completely different from the system on the other side, he added. That much was clear in the campaign, in which the candidates offered divergent visions of Taiwans economic and political path and contested them openly in ways that would be unthinkable in todays China, where the party cracks down on dissent. In China, a spokesman for the department overseeing Taiwan affairs, Ma Xiaoguang, issued a statement that avoided even mentioning Tsais name but warned that Beijing resolutely opposed any form of separatist conspiracy in Taiwan, the Xinhua News Agency reported late Saturday. Tsai defeated Han and a third candidate, James Soong. She exceeded her vote total from four years ago, surpassing eight million votes, the most garnered by any candidate since direct presidential elections began in 1996, according to unofficial results. The victory completed a remarkable comeback for Tsai, who only a year ago appeared to have little chance of winning. The election underscored support for a distinct Taiwanese identity and the extent to which public sentiment had drifted further from the idea of a single, unified China. Chinas efforts to intimidate Taiwan allowed her to portray herself as a defender of the islands democracy and sovereignty. In the months leading up to the vote, officials warned that China was trying to sway the outcome with online disinformation campaigns. A would-be defector detailed what he claimed were covert efforts by Chinese military intelligence to manipulate the outcome of elections in Taiwan. Taiwan became the Republic of China after the national Kuomintang forces of Chiang Kai-shek retreated to the island following the Communist revolution in 1949. It has never been part of the Peoples Republic of China, and since its transition to democracy following decades of martial law, it has developed a distinct identity that makes unification with China seem more unlikely than ever despite Xis efforts to encourage it. Xi has said that Taiwan could join the Peoples Republic and still preserve its political and social freedoms under the one country, two systems political formula that governs Hong Kong and Macau, former colonies that returned to Chinese rule in the 1990s. Tsai has rejected the proposal. Young people in Hong Kong have used their lives and blood and tears to show us that one country, two systems is not possible, Tsai said at a large rally in Taipei Friday night. Tomorrow its the turn of our young people in Taiwan to show them that the values of democracy and freedom will overcome all difficulties. Chinas efforts to isolate Tsais administration and to punish the island economically by forbidding tourist travel by Chinese citizens, for example failed to deliver the desired outcome. Tsais government has presided over an improving economy, with the lowest unemployment rate in two decades (3.8 per cent on average) and rising wages. She also lured manufacturers back from overseas, which might be a benefit of the trade war between the United States and China. The question now is whether China will change its tactics, reaching out at last to Tsais administration or, as some hawkish voices in Beijing have suggested, turning to more forceful actions. Xi Jinping will be under enormous pressure at home for failing the one country, two system model, said Su Chi, a former legislator and government minister for the Kuomintang who served as an adviser to Hans campaign. He warned that Xis government could very likely take steps to halt what officials there view as Taiwans further drift away from the possibility of unification. Short of military conflict, short of an invasion, he said, it will take punitive actions to teach Taiwan a lesson. The potential for military conflict has always hovered over the relationship. At a conference in Beijing last month, hawkish officials openly called for China to take more aggressive measures. Wang Hongguang, a retired lieutenant general in the Peoples Liberation Army, declared that the window for peaceful reunification has already closed in Taiwan. In her first term, Tsai sought to revive the islands military in the face of a much larger, more ambitious project by Xi to modernize the Peoples Liberation Army, particularly its ability to project naval power beyond its coastal waters. Chinas newest aircraft carrier, the Shandong, has twice sailed through the Taiwan Strait during the presidential campaign. Only days before the vote, Taiwans top uniformed officer, Gen. Shen Yi-ming, died when the American Black Hawk helicopter he was flying in crashed near the capital. Tsais predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, sought to forge closer economic and political ties with the mainland, and even met with Xi in 2015. Without a drastic shift in tactics by Beijing, the prospect of warming relations during a second Tsai term appears slim. This cold confrontation between the two sides of the strait will continue, Zhu Songling, a professor at Beijing Union University, said. Beijing has insisted that Tsai disavow the provision of her partys charter recognizing Taiwan as an independent country as a condition for any improvement in relations. Tsai has refused, carefully maintaining a balance among her own supporters between a declaration of independence and de facto steps to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with other nations, especially the United States and Japan. Han, who in 2018 was elected mayor of the southern city Kaohsiung, said that Tsai and her party had harmed Taiwans economy by pivoting away from reliance on China. At a Thursday night rally attended by tens of thousands, he led supporters in a call and response. Dear friends, are you satisfied with the current situation? he asked the crowd, which responded in unison: Were dissatisfied! At the Kuomintangs office in Kaohsiung on Saturday, Tsai Jie-wen, a 60-year-old retired soldier, blamed the president for the chill in relations with Beijing. There is no diplomatic contact with the mainland China at all, he said. This is a very, very big loss for Taiwanese people. In the end, however, people seemed more worried about the fate of Taiwans de facto independence from China. Having seen whats happening in Hong Kong, I get it: the so-called one country, two systems is a Communist lie, said Allen Hsu, a student in Hong Kong who returned home to vote. I hope Taiwan doesnt end up sharing the same fate, with my children having to take to the streets 20 years from now to oppose the Communist Party. Read more about: Gold Above $1,600 As Iran Retaliates We didnt have to wait long for Irans response. After the missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq, gold briefly soared above $1,600. What should we expect next? Iran Retaliates, Gold Rallies On Tuesday, I wrote that given that Soleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran, we should expect a response. And, indeed, it arrived before too long. On Wednesday, just hours after the funeral of the Iranian general, Iran launched a missile attack on two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. In the last edition of the Fundamental Gold Report, I also wrote the elevated geopolitical risks may support the gold prices, at least in the short-term. Indeed, gold got support and what a strong one! Please take a look at the chart below. As one can see, the price of gold spiked to above $1,610, the highest level since February 2013. Chart 1: Gold prices from January 7 to January 9, 2020. However, the rally was not sustainable. When the dust settled, it turned out that there were no casualties, and gold returned below $1,600. Moreover, both countries sent signals that they did not go to war. Irans foreign minister said that Iran had taken proportional measures in self-defense and didnt seek further escalation of the conflict. Some analysts speculate that the said Iranian officials even warned the U.S. the strikes were coming, as they did not want to kill Americans, but rather to appease Iranian citizens calling for revenge. Meanwhile, President Trump tweeted that all is well in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Later, he suggested that the U.S. is not planning to retaliate: No Americans were harmed in last nights attack by the Iranian regime. We suffered no casualties. All of our soldiers are safe, and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases () Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world () The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it. American strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent. The whole statement indicated an important de-escalation in the conflict, which created downward pressure for gold prices. The price of the yellow metal has already decreased below $1,550. Implications for Gold What does it all imply for the U.S.-Iran conflict and the future of gold? Well, although the tensions have been put on the back burner somewhat, it would be naive to think that Iran is done retaliating. The recent attacks were just a first strike, or a symbolic response necessary to save face after Soleimanis death. But confrontation will almost certainly explode again at some point this year. So, gold could receive support then. However, while not minimizing the importance of geopolitical risks for investing in precious metals, I am of the optinion that macroeconomic factors are far more impactful when investing long-term. The recent developments in Iraq do not change the fundamental outlook for gold. And it has deteriorated somewhat, at least when compared to 2019. Thus, while not being a bear, I expect that after a solid beginning of the year, gold may struggle somewhat. Thank you. If you enjoyed the above analysis and would you like to know more about the gold ETFs and their impact on gold price, we invite you to read the April Market Overview report. If you're interested in the detailed price analysis and price projections with targets, we invite you to sign up for our Gold & Silver Trading Alerts . If you're not ready to subscribe at this time, we invite you to sign up for our gold newsletter and stay up-to-date with our latest free articles. It's free and you can unsubscribe anytime. Arkadiusz Sieron Sunshine Profits Market Overview Editor Disclaimer All essays, research and information found above represent analyses and opinions of Przemyslaw Radomski, CFA and Sunshine Profits' associates only. As such, it may prove wrong and be a subject to change without notice. Opinions and analyses were based on data available to authors of respective essays at the time of writing. Although the information provided above is based on careful research and sources that are believed to be accurate, Przemyslaw Radomski, CFA and his associates do not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the data or information reported. The opinions published above are neither an offer nor a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Mr. Radomski is not a Registered Securities Advisor. By reading Przemyslaw Radomski's, CFA reports you fully agree that he will not be held responsible or liable for any decisions you make regarding any information provided in these reports. Investing, trading and speculation in any financial markets may involve high risk of loss. Przemyslaw Radomski, CFA, Sunshine Profits' employees and affiliates as well as members of their families may have a short or long position in any securities, including those mentioned in any of the reports or essays, and may make additional purchases and/or sales of those securities without notice. Arkadiusz Sieron Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Luz Orellana, a second year audiology student at ISU, used her unique experiences as a part of the Minority Student Leadership Program at the recent American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) convention, to better help migrant families from Spanish speaking countries. During this convention, Orellana learned how to address major issues from a minority standpoint, navigate race and ethnicity in a leadership role and how to educate non-native speakers who may do or say something that could be considered offensive. Orellana, who was born in Guatemala and raised in California, said the conference was a great way to make connections with people like her. Its really nice to have that community of people who might understand where Im coming from, but they also know where Im going, Orellana said. I was an undocumented immigrant growing up, and there are other students who went through the same thing. So I thought it was a really great experience. Orellana worked with a group on assigned topics to present solutions to the issues minorities continue to face, like decreased funding for public education. She also learned some interesting information to help her better navigate being a minority and student leader skills that will translate perfectly into practice after graduation. Somebody made a comment saying that the population of minorities is now up to 56 percent, Orellana said. So were no longer the minority were just underrepresented. She said the experiences she had in the Minority Student Leadership Program at the ASHA conference helped her learn how to handle issues like underrepresentation in the future. If I do feel theres an issue Im experiencing and other professionals are also experiencing, I can possibly step into a role of leadership and do something about it, and Id have the tools and resources to know where to start and who to recruit to ask for help, she said. Orellana has come a long way to be a student leader and an audiology student. Her parents achieved only elementary-level education before they had to go to work, and she is currently the only member of her family to seek higher education beyond a bachelors degree. Before she went on the trip, she was worried about paying the high cost of the flight, plus being out of work for a week. Orellana, an employee at the Oboler Library on campus, wrote a proposal at the suggestion of a coworker, explaining to her employer all that she had learned and how it had helped her grow in her program. The library not only offered to reimburse her for the cost of her airfare, they created a student scholarship directly because of her efforts and example. In the future, she plans on working with pediatrics, including kids who are on the autism spectrum and who live with Down syndrome, as well as migrant families both in the United States and on what she hopes to be annual trips to Spanish-speaking countries. I can help them better if I can speak Spanish directly to them instead of having an interpreter, Orellana said. Orellana said she feels this work in Spanish-speaking countries is vital, and appreciates the opportunity to present them with reduced-cost or donated hearing aids she can give to those kids in need. A lot of times, in those countries, if the kid falls behind, thats it, she said. Theres no special ed, theres no one-on-one aid to help them. So, especially with kids, if they cant afford it, well just give it to them because we want the kids to be able to hear. By Renee Parsons January 10, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The assassination of Major General Qaseem Soleimani, who was already a national hero in Iran, has now achieved the stature of a world class martyr. Carrying a diplomatic passport on his flight into Baghdad, Soleimani was also carrying the Iranian response to a Saudi initiative for peace. In contrast, President Donald Trump has revealed more about his own inner angst than he ever intended or perhaps, being a non-introspective type, what has been revealed may be more than he himself has ever acknowledged. As events and more of the back story unfold, Trumps frequently problematic sense of reality may be questioned in view of his astonishing suggestion that he is ready to make a new nuclear deal with Iran, even as he ordered additional sanctions against the country. Prior to Soleimanis assassination, Trump threatened to kill Iraq Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi. There is no denying that the nature of the act is right out of the Israel playbook of quick and dirty overkill and extermination of humanity as seen in Gaza and Jerusalem on a daily basis. During a session of the Iraq legislature immediately after the assassination, Mahdi reported that the Americans had ruined his country and were now unwilling to repair Iraqs electric grid and other infrastructure needs. Mahdi did what any self respecting leader would do; he signed a contract with Trumps favorite trading partner to make the repairs. China already had an international reputation for providing necessary community infrastructure in Africa and elsewhere wonder if they might visit Detroit and solve their water quality crisis. Trump has vehemently opposed Iraqs deal with China unless Mahdi would guarantee that 50% of Iraqs oil revenue would go to the US. Mahdi refused and when he refused to reject the contract, he said that Trump threatened to unleash huge demonstrations against me that would end my premiership . Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Mahdi continued Huge demonstrations against me duly materialized and Trump called again to threaten that if I did not comply with his demands , then he would have Marine snipers on tall buildings target protesters and security personnel alike in order to pressure me. I refused again and handed in my resignation . To this day the Americans insist on us rescinding our deal with the Chinese. Mahdi says he was also threatened with false-flag sniper shootings of both protesters and security personnel in order to inflame the situation like what took place in Cairo in 2009, Libya in 2011, and the Maidan in 2014. After this, when our Minister of Defense publicly stated that a third party was targeting both protestors and security personnel alike (just as Trump had threatened he would do), I received a new call from Trump threatening to kill both me and the Minister of Defense if we kept on talking about this third party . Does any precedent exist, outside of a formally declared war, where the leader of one country personally threatens the life of the leader of another country? This sounds more serious than just a bad hair day but rather that someone was off their meds. As Trump frequently demonstrates a bombastic nature with a non-functioning filter to refine his every whim and thought, he has more recently exhibited a deep dark side that has emerged for many Americans to witness. The nature of the Act itself, the sheer violence of obliterating another human being beyond recognition, appeared to not be enough to satisfy the Presidents inner lustful rage. He continued over the weekend to issue a score of irrational threats to Iran and unfounded accusations about Soleimani who is now acknowledged as architect of the successful campaign to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Despite the false bravado, Trumps media blast was less a show of strength and courage than a horrifying display of one souls malevolent nature. Forty two hours after the assassination, Trump appeared before the VFWs National Conference where, in a massive disconnect from reality, he suggested: I withdrew the US from a horrible one sided nuclear deal and Iran is not the same country any more; that I can say. Well see what happens but were ready to make a real deal; not a deal that was done by the previous administration which was a disaster Is it rational to consider a new nuclear deal with Iran after having just assassinated that countrys most revered military leader? By Wednesday, in an awkward and somewhat bumbling public appearance from the White House, Trump appeared short of breath and nervous as he spoke the same belligerent rhetoric but in a more mellow tone. He again raised the possibility of a new nuclear deal with Iran: We must all work together to make a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place and The US is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it . as if the assassination was a long ago forgotten kerfuffle. As Trump continued to pound on Soleimani in death about destabilizing the Middle East, every word he uttered about terrorists could be easily applied to the US, to himself or to Barack Obama or GW for their never-ending campaign to preserve The Empire. With a penchant for over-exaggeration, Trump claims that the US has achieved energy independence as if it is a done deal. We are now the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. We are independent and we do not need Middle East oil. So lets take him at his word that the US has truly achieved long term reliable energy independence; then lets immediately initiate an exit strategy from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and where ever else US troops are protecting pipelines. The Iranians are long term, big picture thinkers and they might see the wisdom of going through the motions of a new deal with the US but the smart money is on a covert act that will claim a fitting justice for Soleimani as it is time for Israel to fight its own battles. Renee Parsonshas been a member of the ACLUs Florida State Board of Directorsand President of the ACLU Treasure Coast Chapter. She has been an elected public official in Colorado, an environmental lobbyist with Friends of the Earth and staff member in the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC. She can be found on Twitter @reneedove31. Troubled reality star Suzi Taylor was back behind bars for breaching her bail conditions after arguing with her cousin over a pair of jeans. The off-the-rails star was arrested outside her cousin's home in Brisbane on Friday night where she was meant to be living as part of her strict bail conditions. The former model is awaiting trial after being accused of luring her alleged honeypot' victim to her luxury Brisbane apartment then beating him when he refused to hand over his bank details. She spent Friday night in jail after her cousin told police Taylor hadn't been at the house from New Year's Eve until January 8 - which is in breach of the rules. Southport Magistrates Court on Saturday heard Taylor left the house on Christmas Day, saying she was visiting her children, and stayed in a halfway house. Taylor's lawyer told the court the cousin had 'ratted' on her to police because she was jealous about who looked better in a pair of jeans. Magistrate Pamela Dowse fined Taylor $300 after she pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching bail, but did not record a conviction, the Courier Mail reported. Taylor told waiting media she 'lost a little bit of weight in prison so I needed a new pair of jeans' as she walked free on Saturday morning. The Block star Suzi Taylor (pictured) has been accused of 'honey trapping' a Tinder date after she allegedly held him against his will Queensland Police alleged the former reality star (pictured) and nude model then allegedly demanded money from the man but he refused to give anything to her Taylor starred on The Block in 2015 but has since been charged with a number of offences relating to the incident involving the man she met on a dating app. After discovering her 33-year-old victim had no cash on him, police claim she said she needed it to pay off 'rebels and bikies' chasing her for money. She is alleged to have called for her flatmate and co-accused, Ali Ebrahimi, to come and help her, who soon tied the man up with a phone charger. Along with Taylor, he is claimed to have then beat the victim while demanding the PIN to his phone to transfer themselves money. Taylor allegedly told Ebrahimi: 'No, he isn't going anywhere, he has been here hours now. I have bills to pay, I have Rebels and bikies coming to my house chasing me for money, so I am not letting him go until I get my money.' The former Penthouse Pet and nude model denied having any affiliations with bikie gangs or owing them money. The former Penthouse Pet and nude model (pictured) denied having any affiliations with bikie gangs or owing them money Taylor (pictured) was released on bail on December 16 under strict conditions, including not going to New Farm where the flat is located, or talking to Ebrahimi Court documents allege the midnight liaison on October 29 went very wrong minutes after the unsuspecting man walked in the door. Taylor, 49, had invited him for a drink via a message on another dating app, Plenty of Fish, and soon said they should 'take this into the bedroom'. As they lay on her bed kissing, the former star of The Block, who the man knew as 'Katie', whipped off her top to expose her breasts - then allegedly made her demand. 'If you want to go any further you need to cough up some money... This is what I do for a living and my time is my money,' she allegedly said, the Courier Mail reported. The man said in his statement filed with the court he was blindsided by this demand because he thought the encounter was a hookup not him hiring a prostitute. 'I believe by this comment Katie was implying that I needed to pay her for sex. This comment completely shocked me, and I have then said 'I am not paying for anything',' he told police. Police in other court documents allege Taylor, who was in 2003 fined $600 for prostitution, is earning money 'by illegal means'. Taylor starred alongside best friend Yvonne 'Voni' Cosier (pictured together) in the 2015 season of Channel Nine's The Block Mother-of-three Suzi Taylor (pictured) allegedly demanded her Tinder date pay her $500 for sex because she owed money to 'bikies and rebels' The mother-of-three in her statement said she didn't believe she was a drug addict, and didn't know what police meant in their allegation. The Tinder date said after he refused to pay $500 he 'owed' her, she yelled that he was a pr**k, an a**ehole, and a thief, the man's statement alleged. He told police she then called out to her flatmate and co-accused Ali Ebrahimi, 22, 'this guy has no money', who then came in the room. Ebrahimi allegedly tied him to the bed with a phone charger before he and Taylor beat him while demanding the PIN to his phone to transfer themselves money. Taylor allegedly told Ebrahimi: 'No, he isn't going anywhere, he has been here hours now. I have bills to pay, I have Rebels and bikies coming to my house chasing me for money, so I am not letting him go until I get my money.' Prior to starring on The Block, Suzi posed nude for Penthouse magazine in the early 90s and once dated INXS star Michael Hutchence The former Penthouse Pet and nude model in her statement denies having any affiliations with bikie gangs or owing them money. The man alleged that after being beaten for some time, he gave up his PIN and Ebrahimi walked to an ATM at the New Farm IGA supermarket and stole $950. 'You better make sure this number is correct. If I come back here and it's not the right number you're dead,' Ebrahimi allegedly said before he left the flat. Court documents state the alleged victim picked Taylor and Ebrahimi out of a photo board and posed for photographs of his bruises. Taylor is charged with deprivation of liberty, unlawful detention, assault occasioning bodily harm in company, extortion, and drug possession. Her lawyers told the court she denies the charges and intends to dispute the man's version of events at trial. She previously claimed in court that she wasn't even on either of the dating apps she allegedly met and contacted the man on. Taylor was released on bail on December 16 under strict conditions, including not going to New Farm where the flat is located, or talking to Ebrahimi. She also has to report to police three days a week, not possess drugs or drink to excess, live at her cousin's Gold Coast home, and has an 8pm curfew. Taylor was also pictured partying with troubled ex-NRL star Greg Inglis (pictured together) during a three-day bender in May She next faces Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 3. How does a woman working in healthcare find the inspiration to open her own shop and pull the trigger? Brooke Pfeffer, owner of The Peddler in Lanesboro, did just that. "My husband and I have renovated many homes over the years. We love older homes, the history, the architectural details, a chance to preserve a piece of the past. We happened to be walking by this building and noticed a note in the window that the business and building were for sale. After many months of discussion and dreaming, we decided to give it a go." When asked about the items in her shop and where they came from, Brooke responded with, "Of course, it would be easier for me to go to market and purchase large quantities of mass-produced items. But that is not what is in my heart and how I want to earn my living. The way I stock my store now takes a considerable amount of time and mental energy. But I need to be a part of something that is larger than myself. I need to not lose focus." When asked what she disliked about owning a business. she said, "My least favorite part of being in business is the feeling that Im not businessy enough, and the sometimes-crippling self-doubt that exists in my mind. ADVERTISEMENT "Am I choosing people over profit? Is this a sustainable mindset and business model? Only time will tell. But I am creating the kind of store I would want to shop in, and I hope that others feel the same way." Owning The Peddler has been "the best job of my life so far," she said. "Its not always about how much Ive made at the end of the day. Sometimes its about that one other shop owner, whom I was sure didnt even know I existed, stopping in to tell me that his customers have nothing but good things to say about my shop and that Im doing a great job. "Ive felt the gratitude for my existence from the Lanesboro business community. I may not be running a business how they would or be stocking items they are interested in, but I feel like a part of a system that is working together really well where differences are recognized and celebrated," Brooke added. "I really enjoy the platform it has created for me that I can use to promote positivity and kindness. I try very hard to source items from ethical sources. The fair-trade industry has so many amazing artisans from around the world. I love to search out these makers, buy a small lot of their wares, and give them a chance to sell here in my shop. Im also happy to support local makers, especially kids. I have about seven kids that routinely bring in their creations for me to sell for them. "Most of the items I have are connected to greater causes," she said. "By purchasing a mug made in Haiti or earrings made in Ghana, for example, those dollars are so important to those families. I really enjoy being a part of a system that supports small business and young entrepreneurs." Brooke offered advice to women following a dream of opening a shop. "Create the kind of place you'd want to visit. Look around your community and think about what may be missing. Are people wishing there were more thrift stores, a hardware shop, a bookstore? You dont have to limit yourself to one category. You could be a thrift store or consignment shop with a stellar used book section. Pay attention to what people need and focus your energies there if that aligns with your values and interests. I would LOVE for a similar store to be near me. As they say, a rising tide lifts us all." Washington: US President Donald Trump said that the "imminent threat" from Iran might involve planned attacks on four US embassies, US media reported. "We will tell you that probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad," Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Friday when asked about what had been specifically targeted by Iran. "I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies," Trump added, Xinhua news agency reported. Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, was killed last Friday in US drone strikes near Baghdad airport. The killing of Soleimani drew skepticism from some US experts and Democratic lawmakers, who argued that Trump's decision was "provocative and disproportionate," and might trigger an uncontrolled conflict between the United States and Iran. The United States has dubbed the UK's request to extradite an American woman accused of killing teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn 'highly inappropriate'. The Home Office said it submitted the request for Anne Sacoolas on Friday after she was charged with causing the 19-year-old's death by dangerous driving last month. Mr Dunn died after his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year. The 42-year-old suspect, the wife of a US intelligence official, claimed diplomatic immunity after the collision and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy. Now, the Home Office has said the matter is now 'a decision for the US authorities' after formally submitting the extradition request on Friday. The Home Office submitted an extradition request for Anne Sacoolas (left) on Friday after she was charged with causing Harry Dunn's (right) death by dangerous driving in August The 42-year-old suspect, the wife of a US intelligence official, claimed diplomatic immunity after the collision and was able to return to her home country But the US Department for State has said it has always been their position that Mrs Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity, stating that a request to extradite somebody with immunity would be an abuse. A spokesman said the US has a strong law enforcement relationship with the UK and, in particular, a strong track record of close cooperation on extradition matters. He added that under the circumstances of this case, they strongly believe an extradition request would be highly inappropriate. It was also said the US will continue to engage with the UK government and said they have been transparent on all matters, both legal and diplomatic. After a meeting with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel, Mr Dunn's family pressed repeatedly for a meeting with the Prime Minister. The family's MP, Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, has written to Boris Johnson to request a face-to-face meeting. Pictured: Harry Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles, stepfather Bruce Charles, family spokesman Radd Seiger, father Tim Dunn and stepmother Tracey Dunn In the letter, Ms Leadsom urges the Prime Minister to 'hear at first hand what they have been through', adding that a meeting would 'go a long way to assure them that the case and their concerns are being taken seriously'. The family said they said they are 'pleased' with the extradition request, adding that they feel it is a 'huge step towards achieving justice for Harry'. Confirming the request, a spokesman for the Home Office said: 'Following the Crown Prosecution Service's charging decision, the Home Office has sent an extradition request to the United States for Anne Sacoolas on charges of causing death by dangerous driving. 'This is now a decision for the US authorities.' The family have initiated various legal proceedings against the Foreign Office, the US government and Mrs Sacoolas herself after their lawyers disputed the granting of diplomatic immunity. Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom wrote to Boris Johnson this month to request a face-to-face meeting for Harry Dunn's family with the Prime Minister Pictured: Harry's step-brother Ciaran Charles (middle) leads a planned protest at RAF Croughton demanding the return of Sacoolas in January Reacting to the extradition request on behalf of Mr Dunn's family, spokesman Radd Seiger said: 'I have learned that the extradition request for Anne Sacoolas has been delivered today to the United States Department of Justice in accordance with the requirements laid out in the treaty between the two countries and I have notified the parents. 'This will not of course bring Harry back, but in the circumstances of all that this family have been through, they are pleased with the development and feel that it is a huge step towards achieving justice for Harry and making good on the promise that they made to him on the night he died that they would secure justice for him. 'Despite the unwelcome public comments currently emanating from the US administration that Anne Sacoolas will never be returned, Harry's parents, as victims, will simply look forward to the legal process unfolding, as it must now do, confident in the knowledge that the rule of law will be upheld. 'They will simply take things one step at a time and not get ahead of themselves. 'However, no one, whether diplomat or otherwise, is above the law.' Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Amit Shah draws no option to Modiji analogy to pan oppn criticism over CAA Union home minister Amit Shah said on Saturday the BJP can make the people understand the truth behind the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) as he accused the opposition of creating anarchy in the country through falsehood. Read more. Mistook Ukrainian plane for cruise missile: Irans Guards commander A Ukrainian plane shot down by Iran was misidentified as a cruise missile, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said on Saturday in a broadcast on Iranian state television. Read more. Student dies in heavy snow in Uttarakhands Uttarkashi, six others rescued In a tragic incident one student died after being trapped in heavy snow while six others were rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) late Friday night in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, officials said. Read more. Aaditya Thackeray pans BJP for politicisation of schools with CAA talks, says mustnt be tolerated Maharastra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday questioned the BJPs campaign in schools to teach students about the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a criticism dismissed by the opposition party as dirty politics. Read more. India vs New Zealand: Squads to be named on Sunday, Virat Kohli & Co to leave on January 20 The Indian teams for the New Zealand tour will be picked in Mumbai on Sunday and the T20I team will leave for New Zealand on January 20, a day after the final ODI between India and Australia at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on January 19. Read more. Ranveer Singhs A Clockwork Orange themed jacket is one-of-a-kind. Heres how much it costs Ranveer Singh is known for making risky fashion choices and pulling them off very well, he is seen as a fashion pioneer in Indian cinema. His recent airport look confused most of his fans and made him a new level of quirky. Ranveer was seen heading to Gujrat sporting a jacket with a mans deranged face on it. Read more. Hrithik Roshan parties with ex-wife Sussanne Khan, Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani on birthday. See pic Hrithik Roshan celebrated his 46th birthday on Friday with his loved ones, including his ex-wife Sussanne Khan, actors Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani, Vaani Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor. Tiger shared a group selfie from the intimate birthday bash on his Instagram account, with a Koi Mil Gaya reference. Read more. A woman believed to be Carole Ghosn, wife of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, leaves in a car, in Beirut, Lebanon. / Reuters ISTANBUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - A Turkish private jet operator said on Friday that ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn used two of its planes illegally in his escape from Japan, with an employee falsifying lease records to exclude his name from the documents. MNG Jet said it had filed a criminal complaint over the incident, a day after Turkish police detained seven people, including four pilots, as part of an investigation into Ghosn's passage through Istanbul en route to Lebanon. Ghosn has become an international fugitive after he revealed on Tuesday 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. Lebanon on Thursday received an Interpol arrest alert for Ghosn, whose surprise escape from his home in Tokyo to a separate home in Beirut has not been fully explained. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the diminutive Ghosn slipped out of Japan aboard a private jet hidden in a large black case typically used to carry audio gear. He was accompanied by a pair of men with names matching those of American security contractors, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with Turkey's probe into the escape. Japanese public broadcaster NHK, citing investigative sources, said a surveillance camera captured the former Nissan chairman leaving his Tokyo residence alone shortly before his escape. The security footage was taken by a camera installed at his house in central Tokyo around noon on Sunday, and the camera did not show him returning home, NHK said. By early Monday, he had touched down in Istanbul. MNG Jet said in its statement it leased two jets to two different clients in agreements that "were seemingly not connected to each other." One plane flew from Osaka to Istanbul, the other from Istanbul to Beirut. Story continues "The name of Mr Ghosn did not appear in the official documentation of any of the flights," it said. "After having learnt through the media that the leasing was benefiting Mr. Ghosn and not the officially declared passengers, MNG Jet launched an internal inquiry and filed a criminal complaint in Turkey," it added. An employee admitted to falsifying the records and confirmed he "acted in his individual capacity," the company said. The pilots and other detainees, including two airport ground staff and one cargo worker, were sent to court on Friday after giving statements to police, according to a Reuters witness. Late on Friday the court ruled to formally arrest five of the suspects, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported. The other two suspects were released from custody, according to media reports. Turkish interior ministry spokesman Ismail Catakli told reporters earlier on Friday that Ghosn was believed to have been transferred through the cargo section of the airport in Istanbul, but did not provide further details. Ghosn has said he will speak publicly about his escape on Jan. 8. Some Lebanese media, in reports similar to the Wall Street Journal, have floated a Houdini-like account of Ghosn being packed in a wooden container for musical instruments after a private concert in his home, but his wife has called the account "fiction." NHK said police suspected Ghosn may have left his home to meet up with someone before heading to an airport. Under the terms of his bail, Ghosn was required to have security cameras installed at the entrance of his house. You Might Also Like Former North Korean chief nuclear envoy and current foreign ministry adviser Kim Kye-gwan. Xinhua Former North Korean chief nuclear envoy Kim Kye-gwan said Saturday that dialogue with the United States could only resume if it fully accepted Pyongyang's demands. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim, currently a foreign ministry adviser, also stressed the North would not engage in negotiations on partial sanctions relief for dismantling the entirety of its core nuclear facility. The city of joy has found yet another reason to make merry as it takes the crown for being India's safest city for the second year in a row! Kolkata took the top spot owing to the lowest rate of known recorded offences recorded. Flickr The news came to light after the National Crime Records Bureau recently released its report for the year 2018, and as per the report, Kolkata has a score of 152.2 on the scale that measures known recorded offences per lakh people. The report also mentioned that Kolkata is closely followed by Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai to be the other safer cities in the country. Flickr However, according to the report, West Bengal's overall performance isn't worth boasting about. The report also claimed that Bengal is the fourth-most violent crime-prone state, while its crime rate stood at 46.1, higher than states like Jammu and Kashmir (25.6) and even Uttar Pradesh (29.2). Flickr The state's only saving grace has been its better performance when it came to preventing crime against women. Bengal has also slipped to the 10th position in rapes. This would definitely come as happy news for residents and other Bengalis living outside their home state. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 10, 2020 | CALLOWAY COUNTY By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 10, 2020 | 07:51 PM | CALLOWAY COUNTY A report of a suspicious vehicle in Calloway County on Friday resulted in a vehicle pursuit and several charges for a driver and his passenger. The Calloway County Sheriff's Office received a call of a suspicious vehicle parked in the building of a Ross Road resident. When the property owner approached the vehicle, it fled the scene. A vehicle matching the description was found parked behind a property on McCallon Mills Road. As the officer turned into the driveway, the vehicle fled through the front yard and onto the road. The officer pursued the vehicle, which lost control on a curve and overturned. The male driver, 34-year-old Angel Medina of Mayfield, fled but was apprehended after a foot pursuit. The female passenger, 34-year-old Stephanie Burdette, was apprehended in the woods. Medina was charged with fleeing or evading police by motor vehicle, DUI, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana, receiving stolen property over $10,000, and various traffic charges. Burdette was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), fleeing or evading police on foot, and tampering with physical evidence. They were lodged in the Calloway County Jail. When Jennifer Gobrecht was 17, doctors told her that she would never carry her own child. But on Thursday researchers at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia announced that Ms Gobrecht had delivered a son by caesarean section in November, the second baby in the United States to be born using a transplanted uterus from a deceased donor. We were beyond lucky, Ms Gobrecht said. Ms Gobrecht, now 33, was born with a congenital condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome, meaning she was born with ovaries, but without a uterus. In 2017, she and her husband were exploring the possibility of implanting frozen embryos into a surrogate when Ms Gobrecht was selected to be the first patient in a trial at Penn Medicine that hopes to help five women who otherwise couldnt carry their own children. Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary Uterine transplantation, as the process is known, is a relatively new frontier in reproductive medicine. Doctors say it could help women who have a condition called uterine factor infertility, which means they were either born without a uterus, had it removed or had uterine damage. About 5 per cent of reproductive-age women worldwide are affected, according to Penn Medicine. For women with uterine factor infertility, uterus transplantation is potentially a new path to parenthood outside of adoption and use of a gestational carrier and its the only option which allows these women to carry and deliver their babies, said Dr Kathleen ONeill, who is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynaecology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and who helps run the trial. Recommended It has taken seven months for me to enjoy being pregnant There have been about 70 such transplants around the world. But most programmes have focused on living donors, researchers at Penn medicine said. (In some cases the donor was the recipients mother.) In the US, there have been six live donor cases. In 2017, the worlds first known woman to receive a uterus from a deceased donor gave birth to a 6lb girl in Brazil. Last summer, the Cleveland Clinic announced the birth of a girl after a uterus transplant from a deceased donor, a first in the US. Dr Paige Porrett, an assistant professor of transplant surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and one of the studys co-leaders, says the major advantage of using a deceased donor is that doctors are able to harvest more of the blood vessels attached to the organ. This gives surgeons larger vessels to use during the procedure, in which vessels from the donor organ are sewn together with the patients. Jennifer and Drew Gobrecht were able to have a child thanks to uterine transplantation (AP) Using deceased donors also eliminates the unnecessary surgical risks that otherwise healthy living patients would undergo to donate, Dr Porrett said. Despite these risks, more than 80 women offered to donate a uterus for the trial. Dr Porrett said there wasnt enough data yet to determine whether there was a difference between transplanting an organ from a living or deceased donor. The total cost of the procedure is unknown, said Dr ONeill, who added that the hospital was paying for the five cases in the trial. She estimated that similar procedures cost $60,000 (46,000) in Britain and upward of $200,000 at Baylor University Medical Centre in Dallas, which also performs the procedure. Dr ONeill, who has struggled with her own infertility issues, said the team had successfully transplanted a uterus into a second patient, but declined to provide further details. In 2018, Ms Gobrecht underwent a 10-hour surgery to transfer the donor uterus. About six months later, doctors implanted the first embryo, which was ultimately successful. I felt the actual glow, she said about being pregnant with her son, Benjamin. Feeling Benjamins little kicks, and seeing all the ultrasounds are priceless to me. But there were difficult parts. Ms Gobrecht had to take immunosuppressant medicine and follow a strict regimen to prevent her body from rejecting the organ. After Ms Gobrecht gave birth to her son, doctors removed the uterus. On Thursday, her husband, Drew Gobrecht, said the couple were relishing changing nappies and feeding their son at their home outside Philadelphia. Its been an abnormal journey so far, he said. Were excited about the normal stuff. The Washington Post The Queen with the Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1979 (Ron Bell/PA) The Queen has said she is deeply saddened by the death of the ruler of Oman, whom she described as a good friend of the royal family. Sultan Qaboos bin Said, 79, led the Gulf Arab country for half a century with wise leadership and a commitment to peace and understanding between nations and between faiths, read a statement from the Queen. She said of the Middle Easts longest-serving ruler: I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. His devotion to Oman, to its development and to the care of his people was an inspiration. He will be remembered for his wise leadership and his commitment to peace and understanding between nations and between faiths. He was a good friend of my family and of the United Kingdom, and we are thankful for all he did to further strengthen the bond of friendship between our countries. My State Visit to Oman in 2010 remains a cherished memory. Expand Close The Queen with the sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 2010 (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Queen with the sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 2010 (John Stillwell/PA) A member of the royal family will be expected to travel to the country for the funeral of the ruler, who did not have any children. The Sandhurst-trained leader came to power after seizing the throne from his father in a bloodless coup in 1970, and modernised the former British protectorate using its oil wealth. He studied local government in Suffolk as an 18-year-old even holding a brief post with Suffolk County Council and also spent a year serving with a British infantry battalion in Germany. Just last month, the Duke of Cambridge held an audience with the sultan at the Palace of Bait Al Baraka at the end of a four-day tour of Kuwait and Oman. William said he was truly honoured, and that it was clear from all those I met that he will be remembered with great affection. He added: His Majesty was unwavering in his commitment to improve the lives of his people, and in his resolve to work towards regional stability. I am thankful for His Majestys many years of friendship with my family and the UK. "I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Omani people, and wish to send a personal message of friendship as Oman mourns the death of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said." The Duke of Cambridge Read The Duke's message to the people of Oman: https://t.co/iMpB10wTGu pic.twitter.com/8FcdRPXhtp The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) January 11, 2020 No official cause of death has been released but he was suffering from diabetes and a history of colon cancer, according to a report by the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy in December 2019. Oman state TV has named culture minister Haitham bin Tariq Al Said as the new sultan. Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to an exceptionally wise and respected leader who will be missed enormously. Mr Johnson said: He will be remembered for his devotion to the development of Oman into a stable and prosperous nation, and as the father of the nation who sought to improve the lives of the Omani people. He leaves a profound legacy, not only in Oman but across the region too. Where his father ruled with an isolationist attitude, the sultan was determined to modernise. One of his first steps as a ruler was to abolish slavery, before using Omans oil revenues to bring the country into the 20th century. He was an avid classical music aficionado who regularly took his personal 120-member orchestra with him on his travels. The sultan married his first cousin, Kamila, in 1976, but their marriage ended in divorce just three years later. Members of the royal family, including the Queen and the Prince of Wales, have met the sultan on a number of occasions. The Queen and the sultan watched an equestrian event together in Oman in 2010, and back in 1982 were at a banquet in Claridges Hotel held in his honour. In 1979, the sultan attended a dinner aboard the royal yacht Britannia. Prince Harry was always going to fall for a woman like his mother Princess Diana, according to a royal biographer. Angela Levin, who wrote Harry: Conversations with the Prince in 2018, made the claim following the ongoing fallout caused by the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step back from the royal family. Those closest to Harry, including his older brother, had initially cautioned him over the speed of the pair's relationship after they met in October 2016. But Ms Levin suggests that the synergies between Meghan and Diana encouraged his hurry to marry and have impacted his decisions ever since. Angela Levin, who wrote Harry: Conversations with the Prince in 2018, made the claim following the ongoing fallout caused by the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step back from the royal family. Pictured: Harry and Meghan outside Canada House on Tuesday Ms Levin suggests that the synergies between Meghan and Diana encouraged his hurry to marry and have impacted his decisions ever since. Pictured: Princess Diana with Harry and William at Thorpe Park in 1993 Prince Harry started dating Meghan Markle when she was 36 - the same age his mother, Princess Diana, was at the time of her death. In their engagement interview with the BBC in 2017, Prince Harry said: 'I think [Diana] would have been over the moon... and so excited for me.' He added that he believed his then future wife and his mother would have been 'best friends' and 'thick as thieves'. The Duke said that he was comforted in believing that Diana was still somehow in touch and aware of the milestones in his life. Ms Levin said that perhaps Meghan's mention of his mother early on in their relationship was 'no coincidence' and 'cliched the deal'. Pictured: Harry and Meghan on their wedding day in May 2018 The pair shared his mother's passion for helping the less fortunate and Meghan had been a keen admirer of Princess Diana's good deeds when she was growing up Prince Harry had two major long-term relationships before meeting Meghan - with Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas - both of whom were also strong women who knew their own minds just as Princess Diana had been. Writing in the Telegraph, Ms Levin said: 'Harry, it seems, never wanted a "yes" woman who would quietly walk behind him on royal engagements but someone who was spiky, spicy and could stand her own ground.' She added: 'His previous failed relationships had helped him define what he needed in a wife: someone who was beautiful, intelligent, warm, sexy and strong-minded with a touch of motherliness.' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who was divorced from her first husband, initially met in July 2016. The couple announced on Wednesday that they would be giving up their positions as senior royals and would instead move to North America. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with newborn son in May 2019 It is thought that the pair had not informed the rest of the family, including the Queen, before announcing their intentions it to the British public via a social media post. Pictured: Royal family celebrating the centenary of the RAF in July 2018 The pair shared his mother's passion for helping the less fortunate and Meghan had been a keen admirer of Princess Diana's good deeds when she was growing up. Ms Levin said that perhaps Meghan's mention of his mother early on in their relationship was 'no coincidence' and 'cliched the deal'. Meghan's diamond ligament ring now includes jewels from Princess Diana's private collection. The couple announced on Wednesday that they would be giving up their positions as senior royals and would instead move to North America. It is thought that the pair had not informed the rest of the family, including the Queen, before announcing their intentions to the British public via a social media post. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-12 01:46:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TIRANA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Albanian government signed on Saturday an agreement with the Turkish government on building 500 houses in the northern town of Lac for families affected by the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that hit the country on Nov. 26 last year. The agreement was signed by Albanian Minister of Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj and Turkish Minister of Environment and Urbanization Murat Kurum in the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Speaking after the signing ceremony, Rama said the construction of the new houses will not only solve the housing problem in Lac, but also the flooding problem residents in the area face every year. "This is the replacement of damaged buildings as well as an important transformation of the whole urban situation in the area," Rama said. The project includes the construction of 500 houses for the families who lost their houses in the northern towns of Thumane and Lac, as well as some commercial buildings, one public school and the municipality of Thumane. "We are here as part of this construction process and by the end of January the Albanian authorities will hand over the land where the construction will take place. The new buildings will fit in with Albanian architecture and tradition," said the Turkish minister. Enditem Justyn Pennell (pictured) called 911 and confessed to a Florida dispatcher that he intentionally killed a man with his car on purpose A Florida man admitted to intentionally hitting a 75-year-old Vietnam veteran because he was reportedly 'looking for someone to run over so he could see what it's like to kill.' Justyn Pennell of Hudson, was arrested by the Pasco Sheriff's Office around 3pm on Thursday after he called 911 and told the dispatcher he fatally hit man on purpose. Sheriff Chris Nocco said the 21-year-old was running errands when he spotted the victim walking along the side of the road. Pennell initially drove past the older man before pulling a U-turn and aiming his vehicle directly at the victim, Tampa Bay Times reports. Pennell's 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser (pictured) was found a quarter-mile away with damage to front-end bumper on the passenger side, the hood and the windshield The man desperately scrambled out of the way, but was hit and died at the scene. While at the scene and in later interviews, Pennell confessed to deputies that he laughed at the fear he saw on the victim's face. 'While he's driving at his victim, he could see the look of fright on the victim's face. This man is absolutely evil,' Nocco said during a Thursday press conference It was later revealed that Pennell had thoughts of killing someone for months, had already planned how he would do it and had left his home with the express intent of finding someone to kill with his vehicle. Pennell, pictured in ROTC gear, killed a Vietnam veteran because he was 'looking for someone to run over so he could see what it's like to kill' Pennell (pictured) was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Pasco County Jail Deputies and Pasco Fire Rescue crews dispatched to the scene, and found the victim lying on the side of Aripeka Road. They then discovered Pennell's 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser a quarter-mile away with damage to front-end bumper on the passenger side, the hood and the windshield. The car was inoperable. 'There are some cases that we hear of that absolutely, even for us in law enforcement, make us just realize and remind us that there is pure evil in the world,' said Nocco. Deputies say there appears to be no relation between the men and they were strangers. Pictured: Pasco County authorities at the scene near Aripeka Road after Pennell struck the victim with his car Pennell was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Pasco County Jail. During the press conference, Nocco said deputies at the Pasco Sheriff's Office were stunned by the brazen crime. 'I have never worked a case where someone actually planned to go out and look for a victim. The act was not random, but the victim was a random victim,' he said. Pennell only appears two times in the department's records, including once when he was classified as a runaway. Pennell initially drove past the older man before pulling a U-turn in his car (pictured) and aiming his vehicle directly at the victim The investigation into the incident is ongoing, as deputies are still interviewing Pennell's family, friends and are crafting search warrants. The Florida Highway Patrol is also investigating the crash to gather details about speed and time of collision. Nocco said there's 'a very strong case' against Pennell, but the department is urging residents with evidence to come forward. Witnesses said that other motorists stopped and took pictures of the scene before driving away, WFLA reports. Nocco said: 'Because of the pure evil that happened yesterday, there's a 75-year-old man, who's a father, a grandfather, a Vietnam War veteran, who was killed.' The Trump administration has threatened to shut off Iraq's access to a key central banking account if U.S. troops are forced to with drawn from the country, according to a new report. The State Department warned that Iraq's access to its main account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York could be shut off if the Iraqi government asks American troops to leave, Iraqi officials told the Wall Street Journal. The account is used to collect revenue from Iraq's overseas oil sales, and shutting off access to it could quickly cripple the country's economy and its government's ability to provide basic services. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Saturday. The U.S. currently has some 5,300 troops in Iraq. The US warned that Iraq's access to its main account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (above) could be shut off if the Iraqi government asks American troops to leave U.S. Army soldiers stands next to a a guided-missile launcher in Tal Afar, Iraq in a file photo On Sunday, furious members of Iraq's parliament voted on a non-binding resolution urging the country's prime minister to work toward the expulsion of U.S. troops. Iraqi Shiite factions, which dominate the parliament's ruling coalition, were outraged over the US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad International Airport on January 3. Following the vote, President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions against Iraq if the U.S. was forced to withdraw its troops. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has already transmitted his request to Washington to work together on a road map for troop withdrawal, but was bluntly rebuffed on Friday by the State Department, which said the two sides should instead talk about how to 'recommit' to their partnership. Abdul-Mahdi asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to 'send delegates to Iraq to prepare a mechanism' to carry out the Iraqi Parliaments resolution on withdrawing foreign troops, according to the statement. US soldier advising Iraqi forces is seen in the city of Mosul in a file photo. The U.S. currently has some 5,300 troops in Iraq Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi (above) has already transmitted his request to Washington to work together on a road map for troop withdrawal 'The prime minister said American forces had entered Iraq and drones are flying in its airspace without permission from Iraqi authorities, and this was a violation of the bilateral agreements,' the statement added. Abdul-Mahdi signaled he was standing by the push for U.S. forces to leave despite signs of de-escalation by Tehran and Washington after Iran retaliated for Soleimani's death by firing missiles that hit two Iraqi bases where American troops are based but caused no casualties. Iraqis feel furious and helpless at being caught in the middle of the fighting. Abdul-Mahdi has said he rejects all violations of Iraqi sovereignty, including both the Iranian and U.S. strikes. The State Department flatly dismissed Abdul-Mahdi's request, saying U.S. troops are crucial for the fight against the Islamic State group and it would not discuss removing them. President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions against Iraq if the U.S. was forced to withdraw its troops Pompeo indicated Friday the troops would remain, adding that the U.S. would continue its mission to help train Iraqi security forces and counter the Islamic State group. 'We are happy to continue the conversation with the Iraqis about what the right structure is,' Pompeo said at the White House during an unrelated appearance. 'Our mission set there is very clear. We've been there to perform a training mission to help the Iraqi security forces be successful and to continue the campaign against ISIS, to continue the counter-Daesh campaign,' he said, using alternate acronyms for the militant group. 'We're going to continue that mission but, as times change and we get to a place where we can deliver upon what I believe and what the president believes is our right structure with fewer resources dedicated to that mission, we will do so,' Pompeo said. This week, Sebastian Kurz took up the job of Austrian chancellor for the second time in his remarkable career - and started an experiment that could create a template for traditional parties across Europe amid the continent's political fragmentation. Germany, in particular, should take note. The parties in the second Kurz government have no common agenda, so they've agreed to divide up ministerial portfolios so that they don't interfere with each other's attempts to keep election promises. Kurz's conservative People's Party, which won the national election last September, will govern with the fourth-place Greens. It was the least bad of several nearly unpalatable options for Kurz, whose previous coalition with the far-right Freedom Party failed miserably. He wanted neither another such alliance nor a traditional deal with the center-left Social Democratic Party - this sort of toothless "grand coalition" has had Germans groaning in disgust for the last two years. Kurz had to go with the Greens, even though, as he told the German daily Bild in his first interview after forming the coalition last week, "the Greens are a party that stands very far apart from us content-wise." Indeed, the Greens are pro-immigration while the conservatives want sharp limits on the number of newcomers. The People's Party is focused on cutting taxes while the Greens demand increases in climate-protection spending. Kurz's party attaches a high importance to security, the Greens are pacifist. And yet the two managed to work out a 326-page common program and will divide up portfolios in such a way that, at least in theory, each party can still face its voters at the next election. The Greens got the social security, health and culture portfolios - but more importantly, a new superministry of infrastructure and environment. This new entity will be responsible for setting Austria on a path toward climate neutrality by 2040, 10 years before the European Union as a whole would like to reach that goal. The Greens got to write the climate and environment part of the common program, and it includes giving Austrians the ability to travel anywhere in the country using public transportation for just 3 euros ($3.35) a day. Greens leader Werner Kogler has agreed to pursue this ambitious agenda without raising taxes; he says it can all be done by shifting the existing tax burden toward less climate-friendly activities, such as the use of diesel-guzzling SUVs. A special commission will work on changing the tax system in that way, and the infrastructure ministry will put a priority on railroads and clean public transportation when it picks projects to fund. In exchange for letting the Greens pursue their climate agenda, the People's Party got control of the economy, foreign policy and, importantly, immigration policy. Kurz doesn't try to hide that he wants to kick out all immigrants whose asylum applications are rejected and that he won't take part in any EU efforts to resettle, for example, the denizens of the overflowing refugee camps on the Greek islands. In the only concession to the Greens' pro-immigration stance, the cabinet includes a Bosnian immigrant, Alma Zadic, a Greens appointee, as justice minister. As Kurz explained to Bild, the two parties have agreed "not to negotiate minimalist compromises, but to choose a new way of cooperation - in my opinion a very modern and promising way in terms of democratic politics. We have quite deliberately defined which party should take the lead in which areas." The arrangement is designed to avoid the kind of paralysis of eternal negotiation that has struck the German government. It also relieves the parties of political responsibility for actions that their voters find distasteful: It is understood from the start that People's Party ministers will be tough on immigration and the Green ministers will do everything in their power to get Austrians to switch from cars to public transportation. The division of labor is relatively easy with the Greens because they're a party focused on a relatively narrow set of issues. The conservatives, a traditional umbrella party, essentially are letting the experts do their thing on the environment and climate - just as the voters appear to have requested by giving the Greens their best-ever election result and propelling them into a government coalition for the first time. This should be a tempting model for other European countries where climate issues top the political agenda, including the Nordics and the Netherlands. But it's especially intriguing for Germany, where the Greens are the second-most popular party after Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats. The rifts between the two political forces are quite similar to those seen in Austria. So if the Austrians manage to divide up the work of government without getting in each other's way, a similar arrangement could work for their bigger neighbor, too. More generally, in a fragmented political landscape where people increasingly vote on specific issues rather than along traditional left-right lines, it's become easier to imagine a government made up of seemingly incompatible parties that implement their separate agendas while only agreeing on basic things like the size of the budget deficit. That, of course, is an idealized picture. In practice, personality clashes and ideological red lines are likely to undermine such coexistence cabinets. For now, the Austrian coalition leaders, at least, appear to have hit it off. Kurz, who is 33 years old, praises Kogler's ability to act on his convictions and keep his word. Kogler, 58, admires Kurz's directness. Spending three months in close contact during the coalition talks appears to have forged a personal link. But even if Kurz and Kogler fail at their experiment, both deserve kudos for trying something different. There's so much disruption in European politics that business as usual is no longer an option. Someone needs to scout out workable solutions. Kurz has made a habit of it, and a few other leaders, such as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and, in his own way, French President Emmanuel Macron, also are taking risks to find out what works when traditions are out the window. - - - Leonid Bershidsky is Bloomberg Opinion's Europe columnist. He was the founding editor of the Russian business daily Vedomosti and founded the opinion website Slon.ru. Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - The latest release earlier this week of nine Rwandans from Ugandan detention facilities dominated headlines in Rwandan newspapers this week as a major step to normalizing ties between the two countries Trump was right To paraphrase Leon Trotsky: We might not be interested in war with Iran, but Iran is interested in war with us. They have been since they took hostages from our embassy in 1979. Theyve continuously provoked us and killed Americans. Like with Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, President Donald Trump was right in ordering Gen. Qassem Soleimanis death. Iran is an authoritarian regime where there are no human rights, womens rights, gay rights, or freedom of speech, religion or press. It is the largest state sponsor of terrorism and funnels billions of dollars to terrorist organizations all over the world. Yet these are the people Democrats are siding with over Trump. Have they no shame? Liam Harvie Why strike now? Gen. Qassem Soleimani, leader of Irans elite Quds Force, was killed in a hellfire missile strike just outside the Baghdad airport. Soleimani was the architect of attacks on U.S. forces for at least two decades. Yet past administrations had decided the assassination of the second-most powerful leader in Iran would possibly result in all-out war. His death wasnt worth it. But, supposedly, President Donald Trump knew better. Still, its curious that previous Iranian attacks on oil tankers, a Saudi oil refinery and even the downing of a U.S. drone went unpunished. What to make of that? What was different this time? Could it be that the difference is one word: impeachment? What better distraction than a potential war with Iran? Why not give the country something else to talk about? Carl Lloyd On ExpressNews.com: Iran vows revenge for US attack that killed powerful general Flaw in Gates plan Re: Bill Gates pushes for higher taxes on rich as wealth soars, mySA.com, Jan. 3: While it is commendable that Bill Gates wants himself and fellow billionaires to pay more taxes, surely he understands the law of unintended consequences. Billionaires donate many dollars to lawmakers (for re-election purposes), who then write favorable tax code loopholes that benefit the rich. Do you see the conflict of interest here? My guess is that higher taxes on the wealthy will tend to drive money and business offshore. Unemployment would then go up and then the dominoes will begin to fall. Can one pay more taxes than is required by tax law? If so, Gates should do so. Better yet, he should encourage other billionaires to be as philanthropic as he is. Howard Monroe live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on January 10 reported a 5.9 per cent decline in total retail sales at 5,57,706 units last year as compared with 2018. The sales of Jaguar brand were at 1,61,601 units during the month, down 10.6 per cent, while Land Rover sales witnessed a dip of 3.8 per cent during the year as compared with 2018, Tata Motors said in a regulatory filing. In December, JLR reported 1.3 per cent increase in total retail sales at 52,814 units as compared to the year-ago period in 2018. The sales of Jaguar brand were at 13,372 units during the month, down 17.3 per cent from December 2018. Land Rover sales stood at 39,442 units, up 9.6 per cent from the same month last year, it added. "2019 was a year of two halves for Jaguar Land Rover. Over the last six months, we saw a marked improvement in China, where intensive work with our retailers, combined with significant process and product improvements are starting to gain traction," JLR Chief Commercial Officer Felix Brautigam said. Elsewhere, adverse market conditions continued to affect the industry but encouragingly in North America the company closed last year successfully with a new record year, he added. In December, company's retail sales were boosted by China (up 26.3 per cent year-on-year), a sixth successive month of double-digit growth, Brautigam said. Acid attack survivors working at the Sheroes Hangout Cafe in Agra have appealed to people to watch the newly released movie Chhapaak to know about their untold story of pain and struggle. The Deepika Padukone-starrer has been in the midst of controversy ever since the actress visited the JNU campus in Delhi on January 7 to join a protest against the recent violence at the varsity. The movie, directed by Meghna Gulzar, is based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. On Saturday, acid attack survivors in Agra urged people not to politicise Chhapaak, saying that it represented the voice of wronged women. This movie will encourage other victims to come forward and fight for themselves, said survivor Rukaiyya Khatun. On Friday, the survivors of Agra had watched the movie along with several dignitaries and guests. They were also felicitated by various organisations. Deepikas portrayal of an acid attack survivor is heart touching. She played Laxmis character very well. I and many other acid attack victims like me have faced similar situations in our lives, said Rukaiyya. Another survivor, Shabnam, said, This film has immense emotional importance for us. It depicts the reality of the society and the victims struggles. She said that instead of associating the film with Deepika, people should look at it as a tribute to the survivors. We want people to watch Chhapaak so that no other girl or woman is forced to face such an attack and come to Sheroes Cafe, said Shabnam. Narrating her personal struggle, she said, I was attacked in 2005 when I was only 15 years old. My attacker was a 34-year-old contractor. It took me over five years to come out and start living for myself. But there are many victims who never come out and stay behind closed doors due to societal pressure. Shabnam said all that acid attack survivors had was self motivation. Rarely do they find anyone who supports them. They have to bear not only physical and mental pain but also the pain inflicted by society, she said. Survivor Madhu echoed Shabnams views. Any protest against this movie will end up curbing our voice. So, I appeal to everyone to not make an issue out of Deepikas visit to the JNU and watch the movie to see our pain and fight. Sheroes Hangout is run by acid attack survivors. At present, nine survivors work there. Yogesh Dubey Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 23:01:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's top banking and insurance regulator vowed to ensure greater support in terms of inclusive financing services for the country's small businesses amid efforts to boost the real economy. In 2020, greater efforts will be made to ensure lower financing costs and continued fast loan growth to small and micro firms, according to decisions adopted at an annual work conference of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. Overall financing costs of inclusive financing services for small businesses will be lowered by another 0.5 percentage points this year, while the country's five largest banks are expected to see their inclusive loans to small firms grow by over 20 percent year on year. By the end of 2019, total outstanding inclusive lending to small businesses reached 11.6 trillion yuan (about 1.67 trillion U.S. dollars), up over 25 percent, the commission said. The regulator also pledged to step up financial services for private businesses especially those in the manufacturing sector, with a focus on supporting those advanced firms and industrial clusters. A five-year-old girl from Ireland, named Priya Galvin, has earned praise for her presence of mind at such a young age. According to reports, her mother, Mary, had collapsed onto the floor of their home due to a stroke, and Priya and her baby sibling were the only other people in the house. Twitter Her father, Damien Galvin, was on his way to work when he received a FaceTime call from his little daughter who informed him that her mother had collapsed on the floor at their residence. The father had taught her daughter how to use the iPad to make calls on FaceTime. Speaking to a radio show, Galvin said that he would not have answered the call but for some strange reason he did. "I was on my way to work and my phone went off. My daughter was Face-timing me. I normally wouldn't answer it but something made me take the call. She was crying on the phone. She said that Mammy was drinking a cup of tea and now she was on the floor and she couldn't get up," Damien told RedFM's Neil Prendeville Show. Source/Picture For Representation She was crying and she said mammy was drinking her tea and now she was on the floor and she cant get up, Galvin said. She turned the camera around and I could see [Mary] was on the floor, stressed and she couldnt get up, he said. Following the video call, Galvin rang Marys sister, who sent her husband around to the house to help. Upon arrival, the backdoor of the home was locked, but Priya managed to open it and let him in. Galvin added that the ambulance came within just 40 minutes and they found out after a scan that she had a stroke. The doctors found that there was a clot to the left side of her brain and that side had completely shut down. This is not the first time FaceTime came to the rescue of someone in dire need of medical attention. In July 2018, a little girl used the app to call her mother after her father suffered a stroke. Molly, who has not yet learned the alphabet, used the FaceTime feature on her fathers iPhone to call her mom. At first, Devon, an ICU nurse, missed the call. But when a second FaceTime came through, Devon, worried, pick up the call to see her 3-year-old daughter in tears, reports Fox News. Thanks to the little girl's presence of mind, her father was rushed to the hospital and given the necessary treatment. It has been argued, time and again, that kids should not be exposed to too much technology too soon. However, teaching them how and what to use in what situation can definitely be a life-saver, as it happened the the two cases mentioned above. Scott Christian University opened its doors in 1962, as Scott Theological College. The facility is sponsored by the Africa Inland Church of Kenya and serves as the national theological institution of the church. Aimed at providing church ministries with advanced education, the institution has had progressive upgrades to its academic standards. Currently, it offers diverse programs that are market-focused, accessible, and competitive at the same time. Image: pinterest.com, @itswinterr Source: UGC The school earned its ACTEA (Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa) accreditation in 1979 and was the continents first institution of higher learning to reach this milestone. It was fully endorsed by ACTEA later on in 1986. In 1997, the Government of Kenya awarded the facility a Charter, and its degree courses got the university-level authorization. Over time, Scott has stretched her academic offering, thus enhancing a wider scope of both ministry and service. At the moment, it is divided into the Schools of Professional Studies, Education, and Theology. List of programs offered at Scott Here are some of the areas to apply: Graduate programs Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (MABS) Master of Arts in Theology (MAT) Post Graduate Diploma in Education Master of Arts in Leadership and ManagementMaster of Education (M.Ed.) Master of Business Administration (MBA) Undergraduate/degree courses Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) Bachelor of Arts in Community Development Bachelor of Leadership and Management Bachelor of Arts in Counseling Psychology Bachelor of Information Communication Technology Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) (Arts) Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management Bachelor of Business Information Technology (BBIT) Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Development Education READ ALSO: Best courses for B+, B, or B- students in 2020 Diploma options Diploma in Agribusiness Diploma in Theology (DTh) Diploma in Christian Ministry Diploma in Leadership and Management Diploma in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) Diploma in Information Communication Technology (ICT) Certificate programs Certificate in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) Certificate in Information Communication Technology (ICT) Certificate in Agribusiness Certificate in Christian Ministry Admission requirements at Scott Christian University The institution offers vast programs to her students, giving you and other applicants a variety of courses to choose from. If you have one already in mind, then here is what is required in your chosen level of study: Certificate courses - You need to have attained at least a D+(plus) or its equivalent to apply for this group of courses. Diploma courses - Here, the minimum grade that you can apply with is a C-(minus) in your KCSE. You also need to have attained a KCE, Division 111, or hold a certification from a recognized facility. Qualifications that are equivalent to any of these are also accepted. Undergraduate programs - If you wish to apply for any Bachelors degree, you need to have accomplished a minimum of grade C+ (plus) in your KCSE. You are also eligible if you already hold a diploma earned from a certified institution. Postgraduate program - Applicant here must possess Bachelors degrees from accredited institutions of higher learning, and your cumulative GPA must be at least 2.75. Alternatively, you also qualify if you hold a First Class- or Upper Second Class degree. If you scored 2.5, or hold a Higher Diploma or Lower Second Class honors, you may be considered for relevant programs, but only if you have experience in the field. Image: twitter.com, @scottuni Source: UGC Scott Christian University fee structure The specific fee structure that you will adhere to depends on your registered course. These resources offer various amounts that students pay for their respective programs: Government-sponsored students Certificate courses Graduate and Undergraduate How to apply for any course at Scott Once you are confident with the outlined requirements and amounts, it will be time to apply. You first need to get an official application form from the Academic Registrars office within the facility. Alternatively, you can download it from the institution's website. You must return your duly filled form alongside the photocopies of the necessary certificates. READ ALSO: Strathmore Law School intake, admission requirements, fee structure, contacts You also have to part with a processing fee, usually non-refundable. If yours is a graduate program, then you will pay Ksh. 1,500. Certificate, diploma, and undergraduate applicants, on the other hand, will pay Ksh. 1,200. Your application must be in the office of the registrar before the following dates: December 30 (January applications) April 30 (May applications) August 19 (August intake) September 19 (September intake) Scott Christian University admission letters are only sent to candidates whose applications are approved. The letter will inform you of your acceptance and outline any requirements or steps that you must follow to settle eventually. Scott Christian University student portal Learners here enjoy lots of convenience through the dedicated portal. Through this online system, you will be able to access a range of services that the institution offers, such as: Checking on your calendars and timetables Viewing your results Adding your program units Printing the examination card Viewing your fee structure, payment history, and balances You only need to key in your Scott Christian University login details, which are your registration number and password, then tap on the Login button. Accommodation facilities Image: scott.ac.ke Source: UGC You can reside within the spacious and clean Scott Christian University hostels. As a first time applicant, you must book in advance to get this opportunity. You will be aptly guided on the application procedure for accommodation if you contact the institution via the numerous available avenues. Scott Cristian University contacts If you have questions or need elaborations on any matter, then you can reach out to the institution in the following ways. Scott Christian University address: PO Box 49-90100 Machakos, Kenya Email addresses: admissions@scott.ac.ke or info@scott.ac.ke Phone numbers: (+254)713 745404 or (+254)734 833832 You can also visit the sites "Contact Us" page where you will fill in your name, email address, contact, and inquiry. READ ALSO: 20 least marketable courses in Kenya in 2020 Scott Christian University is the ideal institution if you are seeking a marketable postgraduate or undergraduate degree, diploma, or certificate course that is competitive as well. Whether you seek to join the School of Professional Studies, School of Education, or School of Theology, an opportunity in this facility could help you achieve academic milestones and self-development as well. Source: TUKO.co.ke HAMDEN A short film co-directed by North Haven resident Ashley Brandon, assistant professor of film, television and media arts at Quinnipiac University, has been selected to make its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The film, Dia de la Madre, will be screened in Sundances documentary short film category Jan. 23-Feb. 2 in Utah. The film is co-directed by Quinnipiac adjunct film professor Dennis Hohne and produced by Nevo Shinaar, Brandons classmate at Northwestern University. Brandon learned her film had been accepted when a Sundance official called her on Nov. 17. The caller ID said, Santa Monica, California, she recalled. I thought it was a spam call because I get them a lot. I also knew that Sundance was going to be calling around that time, so I decided to pick up. It was so exciting. I have dreamed of getting that phone call since I was 7 years old and fantasized about what it would be like. I really did not have a reaction because I was so shocked. Dia de la Madre, a six-minute documentary shot in one day with a $300 budget, was filmed on Mothers Day 2019. It features young members of the Mariachi Academy of New England. While Brandon was tight-lipped about the plot, she did offer that Sundance is the ultimate honor for independent filmmakers. It is the biggest and most prestigious festival in the world, Brandon added. There is a feeling of validation. The film did not have a big budget or a big name behind it and was literally made with a few lenses I borrowed from Quinnipiac. It is exciting because I did not think I would have a chance to make it to Sundance. Brandon, who grew up in Defiance, Ohio, is a graduate of Wright State University's motion pictures program and earned a master of fine arts degree in documentary media from Northwestern University. She joined Quinnipiac in Fall 2017. Brandon was nominated as a finalist at the 2014 Student Academy Awards and has screened at Slamdance Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Cinequest, Portland (Oregon) Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Citizen Jane Film Festival, St. Louis International Film Festival, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and the American Documentary Film Festival. She is a 2016 winner of the Tribeca Film Institute & ESPN Future Filmmaker Prize and a participant in the Tribeca Film Institute's If/Then American Midwest 2017 documentary program, which provided funding for her 2018 film, On the Bit. Brandon co-produced a film, Stay Close, that appeared at Sundance last year. She is looking forward to seeing how audiences at Sundance react to Dia de la Madre. I already feel like a winner, Brandon said. I just want to go and have a good time. -- Press Release Iran has denied reports that one of its missiles hit a Ukrainian passenger airplane. The Ukraine International Airlines jet crashed earlier this week near Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. Iranian officials called on the United States and Canada Friday to share any information they have on the crash. The plane broke up just hours after Iran launched missiles at two air bases in neighboring Iraq. The bases housed U.S. troops. Iran launched the attacks to answer the killing of its top general in a U.S. airstrike last week. The downed aircraft was carrying 63 Canadians. On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. He noted the information came from several intelligence sources. U.S. officials said that Iran might have mistakenly identified the Boeing 737 as a threat. Ali Abedzadeh is head of Irans national aviation office. He said Friday, What we can say with certainty is that no missile hit the plane. He urged Western nations to, in his words, come and show their findings to the world. Western governments may not be ready to share the information because it comes from highly classified intelligence sources. However, The Associated Press, The New York Times and other media companies released videos appearing to show something hitting a plane near Tehran's main airport. In one video from The Associated Press, someone off camera says: The plane has caught fire...In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful. God, please help us. Call the fire department! The comments were made in Farsi, the official language of Iran. Recovering the black boxes Shortly after the crash, Iran reported the recovery of the planes flight recorders -- or black boxes. Abedzadeh announced, We prefer to download the black boxes in Iran. But if we see that we cant do that because the boxes are damaged, then we will seek help. The head of the Iranian investigation team said that the process could take more than a month and that the investigation could stretch into next year. Under United Nations aviation rules, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, can join the investigation because the crash involved an airplane designed and built in the U.S. The NTSB said Thursday night that its involvement could be limited by U.S. sanctions on Iran. U.S. officials have expressed concern about sending employees to Iran because of the heightened tensions. Iran had first said it would not let Boeing -- the planes manufacturer -- take part in the investigation. The state-operated IRNA news agency later reported that Iran has invited both Ukraine and the Boeing company to participate in the investigations. In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the missile theory is not ruled out, but it has not been confirmed yet. The government said it wanted to search the crash site for any sign of a Russian-made missile used by Iran. A preliminary Iranian report released Thursday noted that the planes pilots never made a radio call for help. The report said that an emergency problem happened just minutes after the flight left Tehran. The plane reportedly was heading to a nearby airport before it crashed. I'm Caty Weaver. Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story on board - n. in or on a plane, train, boat... indicate - v. to show (something): to show that (something) exists or is true source - n. someone or something that provides information aviation - n. the business or practice of flying certainty - n. a fact about which there is no doubt classified - adj. kept secret from all but a few people in government merciful - adj. Kind and forgiving; not cruel or harsh; having or showing mercy prefer - v. to like better or best sanctions - n. economic or military measures designed to force a nation to do something or stop doing something participate - v. to take part preliminary - adj. coming before the main part of something Photo: Contributed Kelowna residents Walter Barkman and Betty Barkman. UPDATE: 3:27 p.m. A Kelowna man who lost his wedding on Thursday has caught some luck. Walter Barkman found his wedding ring on Saturday, while making apple pie with his wife. ORIGINAL: 5 a.m. A Kelowna man has reached out to the public for help after losing his precious wedding ring. Walter Barkman, 79, was running errands in Kelowna on Thursday afternoon and returned home, only to realize his wedding ring was missing off of his hand. Barkman first stopped at the Canada Post Office in the Capri Centre Mall near the Independent Grocer entrance, then from there, he went to the Valley Medical Lab on Lawrence Ave, then to BC Tree Fruits on Vaughn Ave, then lastly travelled to the Lakeview Market on the corner of Pandosy and KLO. Barkman has cherished the ring since 1960 when he married his wife, Betty Barkman. Although a photo of the ring is not available, it is described as gold and squared off at the top, and the top is covered with diamonds. "They don't have many possessions left so it was very devastating to lose the ring," says Colleen Giesbrecht, Barkman's daughter. "I just hope that some honourable person has found it and will return it." Anyone with details on the missing ring is urged to contact Kelowna RCMP. NEW DELHI: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Aishe Ghosh, here on Saturday and said the country was with them in their protest against the fee hike in the institution and Citizenship Act. Vijayan met Ghosh at Kerala House, expressed solidarity with their protest and also gifted her a book, Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi by Sudhanva Deshpande. Ghosh had suffered head injuries during the January 5 attack on JNU students in the campus by a group of masked assailants. The whole country is with the JNUSU in their fight for justice. Everyone knows about your protest and also about what has happened to you in the fight for justice, Vijayan told Ghosh after enquiring about her health and that of other students, who were injured. In a Facebook post, the CPI(M) veteran wrote that the JNU students were fighting an epic battle against the Sangh Parivar. Sangh Parivar was hoping to overcome the dissenting voices from JNU using muscle power. However, the JNU has put up an uncompromising fight against them. Ghosh has been leading this battle with her injured head, CM Vijayan said. Ghosh, after meeting Vijayan, thanked the people of Kerala for standing with JNU students and teachers when the campus was under attack. Comrade Pinarayi has said go ahead and that is the inspiration I take and we will take this fight ahead. Whether it is the fight for rolling back the fee hike or against the CAA, I would like to thank, again and again, the people of Kerala who stood by us during all these attacks that we are continuously facing, said Ghosh. Ghosh reached Kerala House after her daily check-up at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). (With PTI inputs) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has announced that she plans to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate, but that does not mean she has lost in the seeming standoff with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., over whether to call witnesses at the Senate trial. McConnell has said"there's no chance the president's going to be removed from office" and"there will be no difference between the president's position and our position." In response, Pelosi still has cards in her hand - if she plays them - because the House approved two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The first article of impeachment effectively charges the president with shaking down Ukraine; the second impeaches him for his unprecedented obstruction of Congress. That gives the speaker room to maneuver. She could choose to tweak her announcement and send only the second article, on obstruction, for trial. Or she could transmit them both - along with a House-approved provision advising the Senate that if it fails to obtain adequate witnesses and documents, the House will reopen the investigation into Article I and subpoena that material itself. Separating the two articles - our preferred approach - would make perfect sense. When it comes to the second article, all the evidence about Trump's obstruction is a matter of public record. There's nothing more to add, so the second article is ripe for trial. But as to the first, although there is plenty of evidence demonstrating Trump's guilt, his obstruction has prevented all of the evidence from coming forward. Since the House voted to approve the articles of impeachment last month, new revelations of Trump's involvement have emerged, including emails showing that aid was ordered withheld from Ukraine 91 minutes after Trump's supposedly "perfect" phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, has said he is willing to testify before the Senate if subpoenaed, and Bolton's lawyer has said he has new information, yet McConnell has balked at assurances that Bolton would be called. How can one conduct a "trial" without knowing this evidence? As lawyers, we have never heard of a trial without witnesses. Both past impeachment trials of presidents featured witnesses - 41 in the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. And the lack of witnesses is particularly striking given the shell game Trump and his Republican colleagues have played. In the House, Trumpprevented executive branch employees from testifying, but said some of them would be able to testify in the Senate. Now that we are in the Senate, Republicans say these folks should have testified in the House. Lewis Carroll would be pleased. Other senators, includingFlorida Republican Marco Rubio, have said that the record in the Senate must be limited to the evidence generated in the House. This is a terrible argument, but it underscores the need for the House to either obtain a commitment from the Senate to gather the evidence or to warn that it will do it itself. McConnell claims he is adhering to the rules in the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. But there's one big difference: Clinton didn't gag all the witnesses and documents in the House and the predecessor investigation; as a result, there was a full record before the Senate. And there were, in fact, witnesses who were deposed as part of the Senate trial nonetheless. This time, the reason this evidence wasn't generated in the House has everything to do with the defendant in the impeachment case itself. That is the case for sending up the second article now, to put the spotlight on Trump's obstructionism. The core of the second article is captured by the principle that no one is above the law in the United States. Indeed, no president, not even Richard M. Nixon, has ever tried to block all witnesses and documents in an impeachment inquiry. Nixon thought about it but backed down quickly. The impeachment here is not just about Ukraine. It's about a president who thinks he does not even have to submit to a constitutionally authorized congressional inquiry. This stance is particularly galling because Trump's attorney general, William Barr, gave Trump a temporary get-out-of-jail card after special counsel Robert Mueller III found several instances of potential obstruction of justice; Barr claimed that the president could only be impeached, not indicted. Yet now the shell game continues - with Trump turning around and saying he can't be impeached and investigated either. Holding the first article back, and letting the second go forward, would be a powerful and precise response to McConnell's unprecedented attempts to avoid committing to a real trial. It makes practical sense but also highlights what's at stake here. Trump would be forced to undergo two impeachment trials instead of one - but that's a fair price for him to pay for his attempts to hide evidence from the American people. If, alternatively, Pelosi sent both articles up with a formal note that the House would step back in if the Senate failed to proceed appropriately, that would be a fair price for McConnell to pay. The speaker would, essentially, be guaranteeing that Trump would face another investigation due to McConnell's insistence on a sham trial, one that fails to call willing witnesses or deal with relevant, if potentially damaging, evidence. - - - Conway III is a lawyer in New York and an adviser to the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump super PAC. Katyal, a law professor at Georgetown University, is the author of "Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump" and previously served as the acting solicitor general of the United States. New Delhi: India moved a step closer to getting an indigenous fighter jet for its navy with the developmental Light Combat Aircraft Naval (LCA-N) Tejas MK1 on Saturday (January 11, 2020) successfully making an arrested landing on Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The important milestone proved the indigenously developed niche technologies specific to deck based fighter operations. The success will lead to India developing and manufacturing the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter for the Indian Navy. The official Twitter handle of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said, "After completing extensive trials on the Shore Based Test Facility, DRDO, ADA developed LCA Navy did an arrested landing on INS Vikramaditya succesfully today 11 jan 2020 at 10:02 hours. Commodore Jaideep Maolankar did the maiden landing." After completing extensive trials on the Shore Based Test Facility, DRDO, ADA developed LCA Navy did an arrested landing on INS Vikramaditya succesfully today 11 jan 2020 at 10:02 hours. Commodore Jaideep Maolankar did the maiden landing. DRDO (@DRDO_India) January 11, 2020 Fighters make arrested landings on aircraft carriers using hooks which catch the high-strength wires on the ship's deck to help the plane in decelerating and stopping it in a limited space of about 100 metres. Almost one-and-half month back, the naval version of LCA Tejas had achieved the feat of taking off from the Shore Based Test Facility INS Hansa, Goa armed with four missiles. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had on November 29, 2019, declared that the supersonic combat aircraft was carrying two Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missiles (BVRAAM) and two Close Combat missiles (CCM) during the successful test flight. The missiles carried by LCA Navy were the Israeli Derby (BVRAAMs) and Russian R-73 (CCMs). Derby missile is in service with both the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF) while the R-73s also arm the combat aircraft of the latter. INS Vikramaditya is the only aircraft carrier in service with the Indian Navy and its flying deck has ski-jumps to assist fighters take-off from the warship. Indian Navy operates the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29K jets. While the LCA-N is a single-engine aircraft, the Navy is looking at a twin-engine fighter. The test flights will give necessary data to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to develop a twin-engine version of LCA-N. Since landing of an aircraft on a carrier involves a higher sink rate than landing on a land-based facility, the fighter needs to have a sturdier and heavier landing gear than those used in the air force or army planes. Braxten Boyd is one of the new names on the Cal Expo program, as the 19-year-old Michigan native is getting his first taste of California racing. I grew up around the horses on my fathers farm, and I knew I wanted to be in racing from about the time I was in Kindergarten, Boyd related. Boyd recorded his first victory as a 17-year-old on the Michigan fairs, with his initial pari-mutuel score coming this past summer at Running Aces behind his father Bretts top performer Bestinthebusiness After getting his initial racing education from his dad, Boyd apprenticed under Gene Miller in Minnesota. Ed and Willie Hernandez were two of the most encouraging people when it came to his decision to give California a try. They said this track was a great place to learn, said Boyd. On a mile track, you have the chance to wait for the last quarter, which isnt usually the case on a half-mile or five-eighths track. Boyd is currently working at Cal Expo in the Nick Roland shedrow and looking to pick up as many catch drives as he can. So far hes made a half-dozen trips to the Cal Expo winners circle and is looking forward to more. Open Pace Brings Out Contentious Cast The last four clashes at the head of the pacing class have seen four different winners, with last weeks upsetter Almost Cut My Hair looking to do an encore in Saturdays $7,200 Open Pace. The headliner goes as the fourth event on a 12-race card that is presented under the banner of Watch and Wager LLC and things get underway at 6:10 p.m. Almost Cut My Hair is a six-year-old son of Barber Pole who is owned by Hank Wieseneck, Martin Garey and Bob Johnson with Johnson the conditioner and Chip Lackey back at the controls. He rattled off a hat trick versus softer company in November, had to settle for minor awards in the next two appearances, then pulled off the 33-1 surprise in last weeks top dance for the pacing set. Leaving from the cozy rail in that large cast, Almost Cut My Hair tracked to the lane, then ignited when the question was asked by Lackey to be up by a neck over fellow longshot Senga Nitro. With Senga Nitro going off at 42-1 and 16-1 Marced Magic rounding out the Trifecta, it returned a whopping $1,669 for each correct 20-cent ticket. Senga Nitro and Marced Magic will once again be in the line-up along with Buzz Light, Timetoplaythegame and To The Limit, while Allmyxliventexas has the outside post as that classy performer looks to get back on the winning track. There are two wagers offered at Cal Expo each night with a reduced 16 per cent takeout rate the 20-cent Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4. The Pick 4 comes with a $30,000 guaranteed gross pool on Fridays and a $40,000 guarantee on Saturdays. (With files from Cal Expo) U.S. citizens will still only be subject to the rule if theyre suspected of having run afoul of the law, so its immigrants (more than 740,000 of them per year after full rollout, by DOJs count) who will be surrendering their DNA en masse. Those who enter lawfully, with papers, will walk away unlogged. But those who arrive without documentation, whether at an official border station or not, are liable to have samples sent for indefinite storage in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database with no mechanism to petition for removal. Asylum-seekers, DHS says, wont have to submit DNA if they show up at ports of entry yet its still unclear what will happen to those whose claims are deemed ineligible. Rescue workers at the scene of the crash near Tehran (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP) The Ukrainian government is offering about 6,200 in financial compensation to the families of its citizens who died in the plane crash in Iran. All 176 people on board the Ukrainian Airlines Kyiv-bound plane were killed, including 11 Ukrainians. Iranian officials have admitted responsibility for mistakenly shooting down the Boeing 737 shortly after it took off from Tehran. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address on Saturday that his government will also push Iran to provide separate compensation to the victims families. Expand Close President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the nation following the downing of a Ukrainian plane in Iran (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the nation following the downing of a Ukrainian plane in Iran (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP) He said he had just spoken by phone to Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, who had promised those responsible for firing on the jet will be prosecuted. Mr Zelenskiy also said Iran had vowed to quickly identify and return victims remains to their home countries. He thanked the US, Britain, Canada and others for information about the crash, saying that support undoubtedly helped push Iran to acknowledge its responsibility for the crash. The principal of North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School said that a 'master planning process' for a new school building is ongoing and nearly finished. Principal Jonathan Browner said that KSN Project Management were asked to create a plan to show how both Bray Institute of Further Education and NWETSS could be positioned on the Novara Road site currently occupied by BIFE. 'We are positive, upbeat and hopeful that the Department of Education is bringing this to fruition,' said Mr Browner. The school has been operating from a building on Putland Road and awaiting a new school premises since it opened in September 2016. The school population is growing each year, and the lease on the current building is coming to an end in June. The school currently has 300 pupils and expects to ultimately have a student body of 1,000 pupils. The Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) said in 2018 that it does not wish to have the new secondary school building co-located on the campus of BIFE. However, the Minister for Education directed the KWETB to cooperate with plans for the new building. Representatives from the school attended a briefing recently with KSN Project Management in the offices of the Department of Education in Tullamore. They were given an opportunity to see an indicative outline of the master plan and to comment on this. The school was asked not to release details into the public domain and they have abided by that request. A traffic survey recently undertaken by the school community will feed into the master plan process. Engagement between officials in Wicklow County Council and the department continues. Any development on Novara Road would require planning permission, with detailed plans submitted to the council. Those plans would be available to the general public for viewing and to make submissions. 'We would point out that the Department of Education and Skills has responsibility for all decisions pertaining to the location and financing of schools and other facilities,' said Mr Browner. 'The site on Novara Avenue was not sought by Educate Together nor by the Board of Management of our school. However, the Board has welcomed the site as being ideal in terms of access to transport links given that over 50 per cent of our students are from Bray. Many of our students may also want to access BIFE after the Leaving Certificate.' Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin TD met with NWETSS in December, together with Cllrs Steven Matthews and Lourda Scott, to discuss the delivery of a new school. 'The students, parents and staff of North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School have been very poorly treated by the Department of Education and their progress in delivering the new school has been slow and frustrating,' said Cllr Steven Matthews. 'I have written to the last two Ministers for Education on several occasions to request better communication and support and urgency in delivering their commitment to construct a new school for Educate Together.' With the school operating from a temporary location, Cllr Steven Matthews said that the facilities at the school are presently not suitable, and students are being denied access to the full range of education opportunities that Educate Together wishes to provide. 'In particular, NWETSS provides a valuable ASD unit in their resource centre for children with autism,' said Cllr Lourda Scott. 'This unit is currently full and they cannot open an additional class until they move to permanent premises. Families in the area, with children with autism are desperate for more educational support and unfortunately cannot be accommodated until this issue is resolved.' Deputy Martin said that she has met with the minister to demand action on their 2016 commitment to construct the new school, to finalise design plans and proceed to a planning application to Wicklow County Council. An Israeli tech company accused of helping Saudi Arabia spy on murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has hired its first US lobbying firm in an attempt to fend off allegations that it illegally spied on hundreds of people through WhatsApp. Herzliya-based Q Cyber Technologies hired Mercury Public Affairs last month after coming under fire on Capitol Hill, according to newly disclosed lobbying filings. The one year, $1.4 million contract was signed by Q Cyber Technologies legal counsel Shmuel Sunray and Mercury CEO Kieran Mahoney and was effective Dec. 15, 2019. The agreement calls for Mercury to provide strategic consulting and management services specific to government relations and crisis management issues that Q Cyber faces in connection with pending and potential future litigation or regulatory actions. The firm also wrote in the Justice Department filing that it is providing consulting services in connection with public relations, media relations, government relations, and litigation. Digital communications specialist Nicole Flotterton and Ian McCaleb, a former spokesman for the Justice Departments criminal division who previously worked as a reporter for CNN and producer for Fox News, have registered to work on the account for Mercury. Neither responded to a request for comment. WhatsApp and its parent company, Facebook, sued Q Cyber Technologies and its subsidiary the NSO Group in federal court in California in October, alleging that the companies used WhatsApp servers to send malware to 1,400 users with country codes from 20 countries, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Mexico. The lawsuit claims that among those targeted were more than 100 human rights activists, journalists, lawyers and academics, including at least one person with a Washington, D.C., area code. In a statement at the time, NSO Group disputed the allegations and promised to fight them. The sole purpose of NSO is to provide technology to licensed government intelligence and law enforcement agencies to help them fight terrorism and serious crime, the firm said. Our technology is not designed or licensed for use against human rights activists and journalists. On Nov. 26, 2019, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced that he would be investigating whether the firm hacked Americans. If foreign surveillance companies like NSO are helping their foreign government customers hack or spy on Americans, particularly US government employees and contractors, that would raise serious national security issues, Wyden, the top Democrat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, told The Guardian. Q Cyber and the NSO Group have also come under fire by activists and US companies. A Saudi dissident close to murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has filed a lawsuit alleging that the NSO Group's Pegasus software helped Saudi Arabia spy on Khashoggi before he was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. And the Washington Posts David Ignatius has reported that Q Cyber officials dealt directly with Saudi officials. NSO Group has maintained that their software aims to prevent crime and terrorism. The companys CEO, Shalev Hulio, told CBS "60 Minutes" last year that the companys software has saved thousands of lives. We do what we need to do. We help create a safer world, he said. Mercury is not alone in its work for NSO Group-affiliated companies. SKDKnickerbocker worked for the firm last year, FastCompany reported. The firm did not respond to Al-Monitors request for comment on whether it is still lobbying for the company. Meanwhile, OSY Technologies, an NSO offshoot, last year asked law firms Paul Hastings and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison for legal opinions last year. Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson wrote in the Paul Weiss opinion that the firms proposed new Human Rights Policy and attendant governance documents of the Group are substantially aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. NSO Group did not respond to a request for comment. Mercury also lobbies for Turkey and Libyas UN-recognized Government of National Accord. Welcoming Army chief Gen M M Naravane's statement on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Saturday, the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah said the force should be ordered to take back PoK. "When the Army is prepared, why wait?" the dargah deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan said. "The parliament should order the Army to take back PoK," he tweeted. He said the time has come for India to integrate PoK with itself and fulfil the dream of "Akhand Kashmir". Earlier Saturday, Gen Naravane said the Army can take the control of PoK if it gets orders from the political authority. "As far as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is concerned, many years ago there was a parliamentary resolution on it that entire J and K is part of India. If Parliament wants that area should also belong to us and if we get orders to that effect, then definitely we will take action on it," the Army chief said. He was replying to a question on whether the Army was ready to reclaim PoK. A resolution by Parliament in February 1994 stated that Pakistan must vacate the areas of Jammu and Kashmir, which it has occupied through aggression, and resolved that all attempts made by Islamabad to interfere in India's internal affairs will be dealt with resolutely. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While fajitas sizzled and chips were dipped into salsa at the Romeros Las Brazas Mexican Kitchen on Longenbaugh Road in Cy-Fair, Democratic candidates for Texass 2nd Congressional District made their case for being elected, criticizing the current representative Dan Crenshaw and the conflict in Iran. Democratic candidates for various offices in and around the Houston area, including state board of education, judge and railroad commissioner positions, came to the Cy-Fair Area Democrats meeting on Dec. 9 to inform the group about their platforms. Related: Navy veteran challenges fellow Navy veteran Rep. Dan Crenshaw in Houston Congressional District Candidates Sima Ladjevardian, Travis Olsen and Elisa Cardnell all spoke about their mission to win the TX-2 office, focusing their speeches on criticizing Crenshaw and his support of President Donald Trump, his position on the current conflict in Iran and his voting history. Cardnell, who joined the race last year, said her grassroots support combined with her status as a Navy veteran, like Crenshaw, will help her succeed in the Nov. 3. Her campaign is based on school safety, taking money out of politics, lowering healthcare costs and investing in flood prevention. Cardnell said Crenshaw receiving less than 53 percent of the vote when he was elected in 2018 showed signs that he could lose the election. It is time for someone who knows what it is to serve and sacrifice and it is time for him to face a veteran who can go toe-to-toe with him because hes beaten a millionaire, he has beat a professional fundraiser, but he hasnt ever faced another veteran, she said. Ladjevardian, former adviser for Beto ORourke, said she was motivated to enter the race after ORourke dropped out of the presidential race. Lajevardian said she opposed the recent conflict in Iran, her home country. As a cancer survivor, Ladjevardian said she was disappointed about Crenshaws recent vote against the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019, a bill passed Dec. 12 that defined a maximum fair price for drugs and generally stabilized drug costs. Ladjevardian said affordable healthcare is one of her main issues going into the race. We cannot have somebody in Washington who just wants to ... use this as a stepping stone, she said. Hes a liar and Im here to take him out. I am not afraid to put on fights, fights that will look impossible. I know how to unite people. Crenshaw defended his position on voting nay to HR 3. HR 3 stifles innovation and would lead to fewer cures according to the [Congressional Budget Office], he said in a statement. No one cares more about drug innovation than me. My mother was patient number one for taxotere, now an effective cancer treatment. Im glad my opponent won the battle against cancer. My family wasnt as lucky, but were incredibly proud of my moms selfless dedication to helping cancer patients that followed her. Candidate Olsen took aim at Crenshaw and his support of President Trump and recent decisions concerning violent conflict between the U.S and Iran. Olsen said he wants to flip TX-2 to a Democratic district so he can reflect the needs of constituents and avoid conflicts like the one in Iran. Related: Second Democrat launches challenge to Crenshaw in 2nd Congressional District Olsen previously worked for Homeland Security, working with the Cuban government to improve human rights, reach common ground on civil aviation and negotiating the release of political prisoners under the Obama Administration. Olsen said he resigned from his position in Homeland Security in protest of President Trump and his strict immigration policies, like the Muslim Ban in 2017, after he came into office. The world is more dangerous because of the shortsighted policies and approach of the Trump Administration, he said. We are not safer than we were before. There is uncertainty in the world and that all comes from this administration. In a statement Jan. 9 on the House floor, Crenshaw referenced U.S. forces killing Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3 with a drone strike: After the successful response by the United States against the escalating aggression from the worlds most active and deadly terrorist, Qassem Soleimani, our great country has found itself divided and unsure of itself, he said on Jan. 9. Instead of unity and resolve in the face of a clear and common enemy, we have division and self-doubt. Whats worse, that division has been sourced from the leadership in this very body. Crenshaw said he stands firm in his position concerning Iran. I find it strange that candidates who are running to represent the American people are starting off election year by advocating for a foreign policy that doesnt protect and defend American citizens and embassies when attacked by terrorists, he said in a statement. Another candidate, Libertarian Elliott Scheirman, is also running for TX-2 with a platform based on easing immigration restrictions, free speech and ending the war on drugs. As a candidate attempting to garner support from both Republicans and Democrats, Scheirman said he wants to unseat Crenshaw due to his overspending and support of Trump as conflict resumes with Iran. I strongly oppose actions leading the US into war with Iran or any country unless we are under direct threat of invasion, he said. Both incumbent Dan Crenshaw and President Donald Trump are wrong to push for aggression as a basis for foreign policy. Free trade is the path to peace, not bombs. The primary for the congressional election is March 3, while the election for the position is Nov. 3. chevall.pryce@chron.com Mamata Banerjee says Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited her to Delhi to discuss Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens after the Bengal chief minister made her opposition to the exercises clear in a 15-minute meeting with Modi at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata. Mamata said she also demanded that Centre releases Rs 38,000 crore due to the state. I also told him that you are our guest and I dont know whether it is proper to raise this but I am telling you that we are opposed to Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR). These are creating divisions among people. Please rethink, said Banerjee. He (Modi) invited me to Delhi to have a discussion on this issue, she added. Banerjee said she also raised the issue of the funds due from the Centre and the prime minister promised to look into the issue once he returns to Delhi. Watch | Mamata Banerjee meets PM Modi, say she asked for CAA, NRCs withdrawal The opposition, however, accused Mamata of having an understanding with Modi in private and taking a different stand in public. She says something in the greenroom and something else on the stage. If her opposition to CAA and NRC was genuine, why didnt she gather all her MPs in Lok Sabha during the voting on CAA? If she had to speak on debts, why werent the finance minister and finance secretary with her? Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Md. Salim asked. Mamata said she was bound by the constitutional duty to meet the PM if he visited Bengal. If the Prime Minister or President visits Bengal, it is my constitutional duty to meet them. As a courtesy, I met him. Minister Firhad Hakim greeted him at the airport, Banerjee told the media while leaving Raj Bhavan. The left, however, persisted with its claim of a Mamata-Modi tacit understanding and questioned the timing of the TMC students wings sit-in demonstration against NRC and CAA. When students organisations all over India were on the streets, she did not ask her partys student organisation to hit the streets. She asked them to organise a demonstration only after her private meeting with Modi had been finalised. She is playing a game, Salim said. Veteran Congress MLA and former Bengal minister Manoj Chakraborty similarly, alleged that Banerjee was acting like BJPs B Team. How could she find it an opportune moment to raise the issue of debt? This meeting with the PM, along with her decision to boycott the January 13 opposition meeting, exposes the real nature of her political line. She has surrendered before the BJP and is playing a game to strengthen it in Bengal, claimed Chakraborty. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek Obrien soon hit back with a tweet accusing the left and the Congress of armchair activism. Lets get this straight. Todays meeting is govt-to-govt. And Trinamool dont need certificates from anyone. We started this movement & now it is a peoples movement. How many processions have U walked in? How many protests have U led ? Stop giving advice sitting on a sofa, said his tweet. Meanwhile, governor Jagdeep Dhankhar attacked the state government over counselling of WBUHS (West Bengal University of Health Science) barely a few minutes before he left Raj Bhavan for the airport to receive the Prime Minister. #GoBackModiFromBengal trended on Twitter on Saturday, with 336,000 people tweeting using this hashtag till 5 pm. Demonstrations continued across the city with more rallies being organised in the evening. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 20:22:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's securities regulator said Friday the country has strengthened the financial support for the Belt and Road Initiative in 2019. Six new Belt and Road bonds had been issued via the exchanges by the end of November 2019, raising 6.7 billion yuan (about 996 million U.S. dollars), according to the China Securities Regulatory Commission. China will further open the futures market and bonds market based on the measures on opening up China's capital market announced in June 2019. The capability of supervision and risk prevention will be further improved as China opens up the market, said the regulator. President of Peru Martin Vizcarra launched a plantation drive campaign on January 9 for reforestation of 1,000,000 trees near Machu Picchu archeological site in order to prevent it from from mud slides and forest fires. Vizcarra has vowed to plant one million trees in the 35,000-hectare protected archeological complex that features the stunning Inca citadel. A statement was released in which he said the government is planning to plant one million trees in the protected zone around the Machu Picchu sanctuary, as per the reports. READ: Peru Bus Crash Kills 16, Injures More Than 40 Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra launched a campaign to reforest the Machu Picchu archaeological site in order to protect it from mud slides and forest fires https://t.co/XaxakRSvZt pic.twitter.com/Y3Lzj6Yz1P AFP news agency (@AFP) January 9, 2020 Plantation drive to prevent mudslides According to the reports, the historic site of the Inca empire faces increased risks of mudslides due to torrential rainfall in the winter and forest fires during the summer. The president ensured that reforestation of the site wont just protect the archeological site but would also save the flora and fauna in the region. He said the effort and commitment should be from the government, the region, the municipality and all the citizens who want to protect this world wonder. In our second year partnering with Progreso, we planted 1.2 million trees in Peru, making it the largest reforestation project in the region! pic.twitter.com/9FSKNrCZBp Ecosia (@Ecosia) February 22, 2019 READ: Sick Woman Campaigns For Medically Assisted Suicide In Peru Machu Picchu's rubbish crisis threatens UNESCO heritage site https://t.co/iTjgcZCGqA pic.twitter.com/Mg69SPT1Dk Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 3, 2020 Peru restricts tourist spots This is the second such initiative taken in the last eight months to protect Peru's most popular tourist destination. Earlier in May, Peru began restricting areas of the site from tourists in an attempt to prevent degradation. In 2017, the authorities started limiting the number of people who could visit the restricted site at a time. Presently the visitors travel to the site through Cusco Airport which is situated about 75 miles away. Despite the limited air travel and difficult trek, about 1.5 million people visit Machu Picchu annually, according to the reports. READ: Peru: McDonald's Fined $250,000 After 2 Workers Electrocuted To Death READ: Peru: Two McDonald's Employees Killed, Manager Blames Faulty Machines The national capital has been engulfed in protests over the last couple of weeks, and with state Assembly elections round the corner, the political temperature has also risen. Congress leader and former Delhi Lok Sabha MP Sandeep Dikshit spoke with Ashhar Khan on these issues. The last couple of days have seen protests not only in New Delhi but across the country. In fact you were also a part of one of these protests in New Delhi. Do you think that the government should reach out? As is evident, this government does not want to talk to or engage with anybody. We have seen that they brought a law that was unacceptable to many people. When they protested, mainly students, they were brutally lathicharged by the police. The police entered university campuses in New Delhi they entered and smashed the library of Jamia Millia Islamia. Similarly, in Aligarh also, police excesses are well known and for all for see. The death toll in Uttar Pradesh of protesters is perhaps the highest in the country. All this has been happening because a discriminatory law was passed and people were apprehensive and wanting the government to reconsider its decision. Instead of listening to the people or the students, it went ahead. So you can see for yourself: college campuses across the country are abuzz. I also joined one such protest but I was also picked up but released subsequently. But what is alarming is that this government has shown no inclination or willingness to reach out or have discussions with protesters. Hence, the protests are going on. Hope this government listens and better sense prevails on it. The demand of people like us opposing the current CAA is very simple rather than identifying religions of people, which is against the spirit and nature of our Constitution and the values of the freedom movement, the act could have just stated all people who are religiously persecuted in their nations would get the benefit of eased norms of citizenship. This line would have given benefits to all minorities in neighbouring countries and excluded others. There has been violence in JNU also. But the Delhi police has named the universitys students union leader too, who was injured. Your comments? The attack on JNU was barbaric to say the least. I hold the administration of JNU completely responsible for this attack. Also, when the attack was going on, what was Delhi police doing? We had seen Delhi police moving around with alacrity when they were beating up students and protesters earlier. The press conference by Delhi police on Friday evening was even more shocking their report of investigation of the June 6 JNU incident it is a shoddy investigation to say the least because out of nine people, two are from the ruling party and it clearly indicates that people who are victims of the incident they have been named as accused. What we have seen in the police report, what we have seen in the investigation: the polices investigation is clearly influenced by the ruling party, by the government, by the home minister and people around 40-50 persons masked people with lathis, rods and weapons, they entered the JNU campus, they beat up the students, they created a mess in JNU and then very easily they are coming out in front of the police, in front of the eyes of Delhi police and the police has so far not been able to identify such masked people. It is a matter of shame thats the least I can say. The Supreme Court has said that suspension of Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be indefinite. How do you see this step, especially with regard to Jammu and Kashmir? If we go with global indicators, perhaps India will be amongst the top countries where Internet shutdowns keep happening all the time. Also, the blatant use of section 144 to keep the protesters away is being used indiscriminately. In UP there was no Internet in several cities as it was shut down by the government. Now the issue here is that several businesses and essential services are run on the Internet. So you cannot have a perpetual lockdown. Similarly, in Jammu and Kashmir also the shutdown cannot be in perpetuity. The court has also said that any order suspending the Internet issued under the suspension rules must adhere to the principle of proportionality and must not exceed beyond the necessary duration. The Supreme Court in its order clearly states that freedom of speech and expression and freedom to practice any profession or carry on any trade, business or occupation over the medium of the Internet enjoys constitutional protection. Hence, we welcome this order. The Delhi Assembly elections are round the corner. How do you see the chances of your party? The ruling AAP has thoroughly exposed itself. It is nothing but a big PR exercise going on and on and on. It has not carried out any original developmental work. Instead, it has only inaugurated the projects that were started at the time of the previous government. Just show me one new road or flyover they have built in the last five years. They talk about Delhi government schools: Schools of the Delhi government have always been good if you just look at the record of the previous Congress governments of the state it will be clear to you. As far as the BJP is concerned, it has got nothing to offer absolutely nothing. There is major infighting amongst the leaders of the Delhi BJP. The only thing they are hoping for is polarisation so that they can go ahead with their divisive politics. So the Congress will surely be in a position to form a government. The results will surprise everybody. How are you so sure that the Congress will do well? In the last Assembly elections you got zero seats? That was a different election and the two elections cannot be compared. This time round people have seen what they voted for. We have new state unit president, the party is on the move, our cadres at the booth level are energised. There is a huge rush of candidates seeking tickets from the Congress because people know that the party will come to power. We as a party are going to people telling them about the false promises that were made to them. What has the Congress got to offer to people in this election? The number of hospitals, schools, flyovers we built far outshine anything the AAP has done. We will ensure that the pollution levels come down, which is one of the most important things affecting the lives of everybody. The people of the city know that the Congress has fulfilled its promises earlier and it can do the same now. All the claims being made by the AAP in the areas of education and health are hugely exaggerated and we will expose them. Since you are so confident, does the party have a chief ministerial candidate in mind? Well, you know very well that in our party it is the elected MLAs who elect their leader when there is no sitting chief minister seeking re-election. Becoming a certified teacher in Louisiana involves multiple steps, and students can fullfil many of them through online bachelor's and master's degree programs. Learn more about how to become a certified teacher through online certification programs and find out which schools in the state offer them. View Schools Individuals who want to become teachers in Louisiana can do so via the traditional route, which can involve earning an online bachelor's degree, or through an alternate route that involves earning an online education master's degree. Some of the possible specialization areas for teachers pursuing these teacher certification programs include early childhood education, special education, elementary education, gifted education, and secondary education. How Does Someone Become a Certified Teacher in Louisiana? The first step to becoming a certified teacher in Louisiana is to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and complete a teacher preparation program. Students enrolled in one of these programs take classes in general education, professional education, and in an area of focus for their certification. These programs also require students to complete 180 hours of field experience, student teaching, and either an internship or residency. After earning a bachelor's degree, candidates will need to take a series of test to become certified. The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam measures general knowledge, and the Praxis Subject Assessment evaluates a potential teacher's knowledge in a specific area. There is also a school leadership series of exams, but these are only for individuals who plan to be in administrative or leadership roles within a school. Is There Anything I Should Know About Earning an Online Teacher Certification Bachelor's Degree? Before a student can gain admission into a bachelor's degree program for teaching, they will need to take either the SAT or ACT and have their scores sent to the school that they wish to apply to. Applicants will also typically need to hold a 2.0 GPA or higher in their high school coursework and submit copies of their high school transcripts for consideration. Once admitted, an online bachelor's degree program for teaching can take between 120 and 125 credit hours to complete. Curricula may consist of online and on-campus coursework in addition to on-site teaching experiences that qualify graduates for certification. The average length for a bachelor's degree program is four years. What Schools in Louisiana Offer Bachelor's Degree Teacher Certification Programs Online? There are a few schools in the state of Louisiana that offer an online bachelor's degree program in teaching, and some of these schools include: The University of Louisiana Monroe offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Grambling State University offers Bachelor of Science degrees in areas including elementary and secondary education. Nicholls State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and Teaching. Are There Any Alternate Routes to Becoming a Certified Teacher? There are three alternate routes available for individuals who did not complete a teacher education bachelor's degree program. In one of these routes, students complete a master's degree program that ends with students earning both their certification and a master's degree in education. Is There Anything I Should Know About Earning an Online Teacher Certification Master's Degree? Students who enroll in a master's degree program in teaching will typically need to take around 30-39 credit hours of coursework, which is earned from a combination of online classes and on-site internship and practicum experiences. These programs can be completed in as little as 15 months, though program duration can vary depending on the specific school and program a student selects. Before applying for admission into a master's degree program, candidates will need to already hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Applicants will also typically need a minimum 3.0 GPA in their previous undergraduate coursework. Some programs also require applicants to have two years of teaching experience. Are There Any Schools in Louisiana with Online Master's Degree Programs for Teaching Certification? A variety of schools in Louisiana offer online master's degree programs for teaching. A few of these schools are: For three years there has been a crippling weariness with political paralysis in the North. Those with the capabilities to do better found themselves consistently thwarted by those who seemed like they couldn't care less. Stormont became the world's most elegant and record-breaking white elephant. So while news the inertia is finally ending is welcome, it would be inappropriate to celebrate an end to something that ought never have happened. Historically, the Good Friday Agreement trusted the levers of power to the hands of the people. No party had a right, therefore, to undermine what was a singular achievement ending decades of bloodshed. Yet we became so used to pictures and no sound from the North, the political vacuum was almost accepted as normal. The descent into political sloth deepened dangerously. Dissidents stepped in to exploit it to their advantage. Indeed it probably took the censure of the people in the last elections for key players to snap to their senses. Last year senator George Mitchell - so instrumental in putting the Good Friday Agreement together in 1998 - warned after the death of Lyra McKee: "We have to encourage the political leaders of Northern Ireland, in a realistic way, to deal with their problems, but not to create the impression that Northern Ireland is unique." All societies have social problems and political difficulties that must be dealt with, he added. But a sense of entitlement and indulgence had become endemic in the North. Both the DUP and Sinn Fein became overly used to insisting on doing things their way. The bigger picture hardly merited consideration, the art of compromise lost as an 'I win, you lose' attitude took hold. A terrible sense of helplessness at the intractability developed. Frustration at the refusal of leaders to face responsibilities was best captured in the comments of Fr Martin Magill at the funeral of Ms McKee. He earned a standing ovation after calling out politicians in the congregation, asking: "Why in the name of God did it take the death of a brilliant 29-year-old woman to bring them all together under one roof?" Why indeed. Living in peace must now be a given. With Brexit hanging in the air so long, and with Stormont in cold storage, a palpable sense of anxiety was shamelessly ignored. But the North's Assembly and Executive were created to serve the people. They were not brought into existence for political parties to play power games. Recognition of Irish and British identities is important. But it is also critical the chronic lack of political representation which left so many communities feeling left out must never be repeated. If power-sharing is to have real meaning, then democracy cannot be switched on and off, nor the plug pulled on Government based on partisan political self-interest. The first state park set to open in North Texas in more than 20 years is currently under development. It will offer a robust trail system with 4,400 acres of former ranch land perfect for hiking, mountain biking, camping, horseback riding and fishing. Located 75 miles west of Fort Worth and east of Abilene, the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park has been a project of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department since it first acquired the land in 2011. More than $30 million is still needed for roads, utilities, campsites, facilities and a headquarters building, according to Stephanie Garcia with TPWD. "The Legislature has appropriated $12.5 million towards these costs, and the department plans to leverage those funds along with funding from the Texas Department of Transportation and private philanthropy raised by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to make this park a reality," Garcia said. A public use plan that will guide the development of the park (which includes facility programming and layout plans for public visitation) is nearly complete, Garica said. The TPWD created the plan based on input from previous public hearings, according to the TPWD website. Road work is projected to begin this fall, followed by buildings and landscape development in late summer 2021. An opening date for the park has not been set yet, but the public can still access some of its amenities. Tucker Lake is currently open inside the park and a fishing license is not required to cast a reel there. The 90-acre lake does not have a boat ramp and boats only with electric motors are allowed. ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: Record-breaking vote shows consensus and need for more Texas state parks [Opinion] Once completed, the park will offer a stunning respite into the "hill country of the north" with several 1,400-foot peaks, two creeks framed by pecan and sugarberry, and live oak, post oak and cedar elm trees that provide the ultimate outdoor paradise. The park will boast accommodations for four different forms of camping that includes RV, equestrian, tent, and backcountry, Garcia said. In 2019, voters approved Prop 5 to allow direct funding to state parks and historic sites through sporting goods sales tax starting in 2021. Funding for Palo Pinto was approved prior to this amendment, Garcia said, but funds are still needed. To support the creation and maintenance of Palo Pinto State Park, click here to donate. Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com (Newser) Queen Elizabeth II ended 2019 with a public plea for global harmony after a rocky year. She's starting 2020 trying to heal disharmony within her own family after Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, decided to "step back" as senior royalsand announced the news without consulting the monarch, the AP reports. As the British media went into meltdown, the royal matriarch moved quickly to take back control, summoning her son and heir Prince Charles and grandsons Prince William and Harry to a crisis meeting to sort things out. Elizabeth, who assumed the throne in 1952, has weathered family crises before, and is determined not to let her restless grandson and granddaughter-in-law weaken the House of Windsor or undermine the monarchy. story continues below After initial talks between courtiers to the senior royals over the couple's unorthodox declaration of independence, Buckingham Palace said Saturday that the queen would meet Monday at her Sandringham estate in eastern England with Charles, William, and Harry to agree on "next steps." The palace said "a range of possibilities" was on the table, but the queen was determined to resolve the situation within "days not weeks." Harry's next scheduled public appearance is a rugby event at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. Meghan, meanwhile, has flown to Canada, where the couple and their 8-month-old son, Archie, spent a six-week Christmas break. They announced this week they plan to "balance" their time between the UK, and North America, with Canada their likely base. (Read more Royal Family stories.) California's Adult Use of Marijuana Act, or Proposition 64, legalizing marijuana was passed in 2016. However, legal marijuana sales at dispensaries still only account for about one-quarter of all sales in the state. In a bid to change that, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans on Friday to streamline the regulatory system, and he expressed a willingness to consider changes to existing cannabis tax rates and the number of taxes imposed on growers, distributors, and marijuana retailers. The governor's plan includes consolidating licensing functions currently performed by the Bureau of Cannabis Control, Department of Food and Agriculture, and Department of Public Health into a newly created Department of Cannabis Control. He also wants to shift the responsibility for collecting marijuana cultivation taxes to the first distributor from the final distributor and retail excise taxes to the retailer from the distributor. These moves could simplify the process for marijuana businesses operating in California, such as retailer MedMen Enterprises (OTC:MMNFF) and encourage marijuana entrepreneurship. However, the issue of California's hefty tax rates could be a drag on legal sales for a while. It's estimated state and local taxes increase the cost of legal marijuana at Californian retailers by about 45%, putting licensed retailers at a significant disadvantage when it comes to competing against black-market sellers, who don't pay taxes. According to California's Cannabis Advisory Committee, that's one reason why legal sales in California were only about $3.1 billion, while illegal sales totaled $8.7 billion in 2019. If California lowering its tax rates shifts more sales to legal retailers from the black market, then it could result in more total tax revenue collected by the state, which is likely an important reason why Newsom seems willing to keep an open mind when it comes to reforming California's marijuana tax code. As many as 150 students including 64 girls on Saturday left on a week-long 'Bharat Darshan' tour from Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Mukesh Singh flagged off the students for the tour from District Police Office at Samba. The students were selected from across the district and are accompanied by 10 officers of district Police Samba including one gazetted officer, a police spokesman said. He said the students will be visiting Delhi and Hyderabad and will explore the places of historical importance and tourist interest. "All the touring students will experience their maiden journey by Air when they will depart from New Delhi to Hyderabad and vice versa as per tour programme," the spokesman said. The tour would provide the students new experiences and vast exposure that would be really helpful for them, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a record high of 31.88 million in 2019, but the growth was limited by a sharp fall in tourists from South Korea amid deteriorating bilateral ties, the tourism minister said Friday. The figure marked an all-time high for the seventh consecutive year but the margin of growth stood at 2.2 percent, remaining in single digits for the second straight year, according to Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba. The outcome clouded the outlook for the government to achieve its goal of attracting 40 million in 2020. While overall visitors are expected to increase in 2020 due to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, some previous host cities have seen a decline in tourists as they tried to avoid large crowds and sharp hikes in accommodation fees. With the number of flights connecting Japan and South Korea already cut on reduced demand amid the strained ties, major travel agency JTB Corp. has estimated the number of overseas travelers in 2020 will only reach 34.3 million. The government is scheduled to release a regional breakdown and other details of the tourism data on Jan 17. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of South Korean visitors has continued to register double digit falls of up to 65 percent since August last year. Previously, South Korean visitors made up roughly 20 percent of the total overseas tourists. Bilateral relations have soured since South Korean court rulings ordered Japanese firms in 2018 to compensate for wartime labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945. HARARE, Zimbabwe - Chinas foreign minister has arrived in Zimbabwe Saturday as part of a five-nation tour of Africa that seeks to promote the Asian giants economic and political interests on the continent. Wang Yi is set to visit a Zimbabwe tobacco farm and meet with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who will suspend his three-week annual leave to meet the Chinese leader. Chinas foreign minister often makes an African tour at the beginning of the year to emphasize the importance that Beijing places on the continent. Like in much of Africa, China has a strong presence in Zimbabwe, with investments spanning from energy to agriculture, mining and trade in wildlife. With Zimbabwes economy in a downward spiral, some analysts say that Wang will, behind closed doors, urge Zimbabwean leaders to improve the countrys economic performance and to honour their debt repayments to China. Zimbabwes longstanding ties with China increased in 2003 when it adopted a Look East policy after western countries imposed sanctions. Since then, China has become Zimbabwes biggest source of foreign direct investment and has ties to the Zimbabwe military, including the construction of a military university on the outskirts of the capital, Harare. China has also increasingly broadened its ties to include the construction of a new parliament building estimated to cost more than $100 million. It also provides humanitarian assistance such as donations of rice and other food items as well as technical assistance during natural disasters. Chinas growing involvement has been criticized by Zimbabwes opposition and others for allegedly exploiting local workers and the countrys natural resources. China has invested billions of dollars in major construction projects in Africa such as roads, railways and stadiums, for which many countries have accumulated large debts. In return, some African countries have given China access to natural resources, such as minerals. China has also protected some of Africas repressive rulers from international sanctions at the United Nations. Chinas investments often come without demands for safeguards against corruption, waste and environmental damage which has made them attractive to African leaders. Chinas outreach to Africa aims to build trade, investment and political ties with a continent often seen as overlooked by the U.S. and other Western nations. It has included many African countries in its so-called Belt and Road Initiative that aims to invest in infrastructure projects to boost trade. On his current tour through Africa, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang has already visited Egypt, where he promised to help the country combat extremist violence and grow its economy. Wang also visited geographically strategic Djibouti in the troublesome Horn of Africa. Djibouti is the site of Chinas first overseas military base and home to the United States only permanent military base in Africa. In Eritrea he is pledging support for a project to build roads in the country that is largely isolated from the rest of the world. Wang is also scheduled to visit Burundi where President Pierre Nkurunziza, under pressure for alleged human rights abuses, has previously described China as a best friend. Burundi is the beneficiary of Chinese assistance in areas such as education and construction of a state house. China is involved in the countrys energy and agriculture. Hong Kong: Michael Wong to visit Singapore Secretary for Development Michael Wong will visit Singapore between January 12 and 15 to learn about the countrys experience in urban planning and development as well as the adoption of innovative construction technologies. Mr Wong will meet senior officials of the Building & Construction Authority, the Housing & Development Board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. He will also call on Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan, and hold a lunch meeting with Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong. During his visit, Mr Wong will see building projects constructed with Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) modules to learn more about Singapore's experience in promoting the adoption of this innovative construction method, as well as the achievement of employing this method in uplifting the construction industry's overall performance. He will also visit off-site yards to gain a better understanding of the workflow and process of assembling free-standing integrated MiC modules. Under Secretary for Development Liu Chun-san will be Acting Secretary during Mr Wongs absence. This story has been published on: 2020-01-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Washington: Boeing's ousted chief executive officer, Dennis Muilenburg, is leaving the company with $US62 million ($90 million) in compensation and pension benefits but will receive no severance pay in the wake of the company's 737 Max crisis. Muilenburg was fired from the job in December as Boeing failed to contain the fallout from two fatal crashes that halted output of the company's bestselling 737 Max jetliner and tarnished its reputation with airlines and regulators. Departing Boeign CEO Dennis Muilenburg. Credit:AP The compensation figures were disclosed in a regulatory filing late on Friday, US time, during a difficult week for Boeing when it also released hundreds of internal messages - two major issues hanging over the company before new CEO David Calhoun starts on Monday. The messages contained harshly critical comments about the development of the 737 Max, including one that said the plane was "designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys." Advertisement Delighted stargazers captured stunning images on Friday evening as the first full moon of 2020, also known as the 'wolf moon', coincided with a lunar eclipse. Astronomical enthusiasts witnessed the celestial event, also known as a penumbral lunar eclipse, with the moon passing through the earth's shadow. The phenomenon, which began at 5pm, saw the moon move into the Earth's penumbra, or outer shadow, causing the earth's natural satellite to look darker than normal. The 'wolf moon' rises above Menwith Hill near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on Friday evening. The phenomenon, which began around 5pm, saw the first full moon of the decade passing through the Earth's outer shadow The moon setting over Stonehenge in Wiltshire, with an orange glow, ahead of Friday night's lunar eclipse. There are between two and five lunar eclipses per year and approximately a third of them will be a penumbral eclipse A weather vane seen silhouetted against the Moon in Almazan, Spain. There are three types of lunar eclipse: partial, total and penumbral and each occurs about a third of the time, according to experts The full moon pictured over a bird's nest on top of the historical military hospital wall in Edirne, Turkey. The next full moon, also known as the snow moon, will occur next month on February 9 The January full Moon is called a Wolf Moon as it is when the wolf packs were said to first emerge after a long winter in native American culture. But those expecting the moon to turn red, a phenomenon dubbed the blood moon, were disappointed. Ed Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said: 'Unfortunately, we won't get one of those until 2021, though there are another three penumbral eclipses to look forward to in 2020.' The next full moon will occur on February 9, which is also known as snow moon. There are three types of lunar eclipse: partial, total and penumbral and each occurs about a third of the time, according to experts. A total eclipse is where the inner part of the Earth's shadow (the umbra) lands on the face of the satellite and at the half way point the entire moon is in shadow. The full moon during the penumbral lunar eclipse is seen in Kathmandu, Nepal. In January, the full moon is labelled the 'wolf moon', as it is said to be when wolves emerge after a long winter The January Full Moon, called the Wolf Moon, rises over Glastonbury Tor. All four lunar eclipses in 2020 will penumbral, with the others happening in June, July and November. However they won't all be as visible as January's The phenomenon occurring over the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. A lunar eclipse is a specific event which happens when Earth lines up directly between the sun and the moon The celestial phenomenon pictured over the village of Klinovka, Simferopol District in Crimea. The next total lunar eclipse won't be until May 2021, but there will be an annual and total solar eclipse this year There are between two and five lunar eclipses per year and approximately a third of them will be a penumbral eclipse, say astronomers. The penumbra eclipses happen when the Sun, Moon and Earth are imperfectly aligned, causing the outer shadow of the earth (penumbra) to cast over the moon. This also blocks the sun meaning parts of the light cannot reflect onto the moons surface, making it appear darker in the sky. 'Since the penumbra is much fainter than the dark core of the Earth's shadow, the umbra, a penumbral eclipse of the Moon is often difficult to tell apart from a normal Full Moon', according to Time and Date. The Angel of the North pictured. In Tyne and Wear the weather unfortunately turned cloudy for astronomical enthusiasts who were hoping to see the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse at 7.10pm last night A magnificent shot of the wolf moon rising in Liverpool. Incredible images were taken overnight, with many getting up early to take pictures of the remarkably bright moon The first full moon of 2020 pictured in London, shown shining bright and reflecting down onto the River Thames below as it peeps out from behind the clouds, with St Paul's visible in the background A view of the event occurring over St Mary's lighthouse at Whitley Bay in Northumberland, on the night that it coincided with the penumbral lunar eclipse. The phenomenon can last for several hours A partial eclipse is where the umbra takes a chunk out of the moon, getting larger as it passes across the face - but never enough to completely obscure it completely. All four lunar eclipses in 2020 will penumbral, with the others happening in June, July and November. However they won't all be as visible as January's. The next total lunar eclipse won't be until May 2021, but there will be an annual and total solar eclipse this year. The annual eclipse will be in June and the total coverage will happen in December. Two men face federal charges after Boaz police recovered $90,000 in gift cards loaded using stolen information. Fubin Qiu, 22, of Houston, Texas, and Chen Zhen, 22, of Little Neck, New York, were arrested Jan. 8. According to police, the men had visited six states and got the cards from 12 different Walmart stores. The case has been turned over to the Secret Service and federal charges are expected. [Read: Irans only female Olympic medalist has defected from the country over lies and injustice.] The Iranian military's statement said the plane took the flying posture and altitude of an enemy target as it came close to an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps base. It said that under these circumstances, because of human error, the plane came under fire. The military said it would undertake major reform in operations of all armed forces to make sure that such an error never happened again. It said Revolutionary Guards officials had been ordered to appear on state media and give the public a full explanation. In a statement of his own, Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, tried to place some of the blame on the United States, saying on Twitter that the disaster was caused by U.S. adventurism. The militarys statement said there had been information suggesting the United States was preparing to aerially target sensitive defense and key sites and multiple targets in our country, and this led to even more sensitive defense posture by our antiaircraft units. The State Department had no immediate comment late Friday about Irans admission of responsibility. Suspicions that an Iranian missile had brought down the plane were raised immediately after the crash Wednesday morning just hours after Iran fired missiles at two bases in Iraq housing American forces. The Iranians asked the National Transportation Safety Board to help with the investigation, and the State Department granted waivers to allow the American agency to help. A senior administration official said Friday that he thought the Iranians wanted American investigators there to keep up the appearance that they did not know what had caused the crash. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss these matters publicly, said the Iranian military had poor command and control, and that this was reflected in what had happened with the airplane. Communications among officials and between units are often lacking, he said, and confusion can be the norm. Western analysts often overestimate the capability of parts of the Iranian military, he said. From 2013-2017, the number of people imprisoned in Australia for drug crimes increased faster than people imprisoned for any other type of crime. Individuals suspected of selling or using drugs in Australia make up 15% of all prisoners. Like the United States, people of color in Australia are far more likely to be refused bail, instead being detained on remand awaiting trial. If you are a serious sex offender and part of the system, however, youll be given that bail no problem, and freed to commit more crime. Such is the case with a firefighter arrested this week for allegedly setting at least 17 fires causing massive damage. Since September of last year, the world has watched as fires blazed across the beautiful Australian landscape, killing dozens, destroying hundreds of homes, and reducing millions of hectares of land to ash. Tragically, it is estimated that at least a billion animals have been killed as well. The fires have burned so hot and so fast that there has been significant mortality of animals in the trees, but there is such a big area now that is still on fire and still burning that we will probably never find the bodies, Nature Conservation Council ecologist Mark Graham told parliament recently. Nearly half a billion animals have died in the Australian bushfires, 5 million hectares burned, at least 11 people dead. #NSWfires #NSWbushfires #bushfirecrisis pic.twitter.com/xxxetoNl2x Andrew Backhouse (@Andytwit123) December 30, 2019 As officials frantically searched for those who may be setting these fires, their investigation led them back to one of their own. Police were able to link the firefighter to all 17 of the blazes as he wore a GPS tracking ankle bracelet as part of his bail conditions. After the 27-year-old was arrested this time, however, hes finally being denied bail based on the seriousness of his crimes. According to reports, detectives investigating suspicious bushfires under Operation Paringa arrested the man after raiding his home on Tuesday. The still unnamed firefighter had been granted bail despite multiple alleged sex offenses, which police referred to as serious. The attorney representing the firefighter denies his clients involvement in any of the fires and argued the prosecutions case was obviously circumstantial and that the firefighter had actually been battling the bushfires he has been accused of lighting, according to the report. However, on Wednesday, the judge struck down the firefighters application for bail after receiving 33 pages of alleged facts compiled from data collected by his tracking device. Now, he will not be granted bail again and is not due in court until February. Australian authorities have taken legal action against 180 people for the fires across the country since November but the consensus is that most of the fires are caused by drought conditions. According to the New South Wales Police, not all of the legal actions taken are for arson either. Since Friday 8 November 2019, legal action which ranges from cautions through to criminal charges has been taken against 183 people including 40 juveniles for 205 bushfire-related offences. Of note: 24 people have been charged over alleged deliberately-lit bushfires 53 people have had legal actions for allegedly failing to comply with a total fire ban, and 47 people have had legal actions for allegedly discarding a lighted cigarette or match on land. In the case of the firefighter, however, his 17 alleged fires couldve been prevented. If his sexual assault case was indeed as serious as they say, allowing him to roam freely and only tracking him after the fact, was not a very good idea. Sadly, however, it is par for the course when it comes to sex offenders. Sex offenders across the globe often time receive the most insultingly lenient sentencesespecially those who work for government. As TFTP reported, in April of 2016, Dennis Hastert, former Speaker of the House under Clinton and Bush and admitted child rapist was sentenced to only 15 months in prison after he was caught paying his victims to keep quiet. However, he was released in 2017 two months before finishing his already insultingly lenient sentence. Hastert was sentenced, not for raping children, but for illegally structuring bank transactions in an effort to cover up his sexual abuse of young boys. Hastert was an admitted serial child rapist, yet because he is a well-connected politician and former Speaker of the House, this vile mans victims received no justice and he barely did 13 months in a club med prison. In fact, Hastert attempted to sue his victims for speaking out after he paid them to stay silent about their abuse. As the Free Thought Project has previously reported, the problem of child sex trafficking goes all the way to the top in the UK as well. Sir Edward Heath, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was found by the police chief to be a pedophile. Just like what happens in the US, his vile crimes against children were allegedly covered up by the establishment. Washington not only protects sex abusers but they use your tax dollars to silence their victims. Sadly, most people ignore at least half of all the abuse because blowhards in the media try to turn sex abuse into a partisan issue. Those on the left ignore the crimes of their party, just like those on the right claim sex abuse is a liberal issue. But as weve shown, there is no difference between a blue sex offender and a red one. Veteran filmmaker Robert Zemeckis might be making a comeback to sci-fi genre with Warner Bros' "Ares". The 67-year-old director is in talks with the studio to helm the movie that has an original script from "Captain Marvel" co-writer Geneva Robertson-Dworet, reported Deadline. The Oscar winner is best known for making critically-acclaimed movies such as "Back to the Future"trilogy, "Forrest Gump", "Contact" and "Flight", among others. "Ares" follows an astronaut who survives his space capsule's crash landing in an African desert but begins to suspect his mission was in service of a conspiracy that hides a a secret with world-changing ramifications. If he comes aboard the project, Zemeckis will also produce it along with Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey, his partners at ImageMovers. Dan Lin & Jonathan Eirich of Rideback and Kristin Winkler are also producing the movie. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Barack Obama set the refugee cap at 110,000 in 2016, his final year in office. Resettlement agencies have until Jan. 21 to submit to the administration their funding proposals, with the consenting letters from state and local governments. Mr. Trump has made the restriction of both legal and illegal immigration a central mission of his first term. In addition to cutting the number of refugees allowed into the country, he has also restricted the ability of those who approach the southwestern border to obtain asylum. The administration is also considering adding additional countries to Mr. Trumps travel ban, according to three people familiar with the discussions. Mr. Abbotts refusal of refugees could have far-reaching effects. More than 16,700 refugees resettled in Texas from October 2015 to September 2019, more than any other state, according to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a resettlement agency. Krish OMara Vignarajah, the chief executive of that agency, said Mr. Abbotts decision would jeopardize the safety of families around the world. Nearly 2,500 refugees started to rebuild their lives in Texas last year, many of whom have additional family members in harms way seeking to join them in safety, Ms. Vignarajah said in a statement. These families have been torn apart by violence, war and persecution but we never thought they would be needlessly separated by a U.S. state official. Many communities have said they would open their doors to refugees, including 42 states and at least 90 local governments, according to a spokesman for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, which has been tracking the number of letters consenting to refugee resettlement. Mr. Abbott issued the fourth refugee rejection under the executive order. Leaders in Appomattox County, Va., and Beltrami County, Minn., also rejected refugees, although neither county is a destination point for refugees, according to Ms. Vignarajah. The mayor of Springfield, Mass., which has a sizable refugee population, also said he will reject refugees. Its time for other much more affluent communities to take on their fair share, Mayor Domenic Sarno told The Republican newspaper, saying that Springfield is at capacity. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. USA (11-JAN-2020) The custom challenge coins are the coins or medallion which is given to the person who do their best performance in their work like, military officers, commandos, navy, air force, and some other posts. These coins are given as an award or for promotional purpose to the army challenge holders. These challenge coins are made of so many different types and sizes like, round coins, square coins, designer coins and some other different types. Every country made their own design of these challenge coins for their all army posts. The challenge coins are made of solid bronze, brass metal, zinc alloy or some other materials. 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Website : https://challengecoins4u.net/ Soldiers and their families will have fewer places to go for free tax help this season, Military.com has learned. Last fiscal year, the Army ran about 60 tax centers, staffed by civilian temporary tax preparers, legal staff and volunteers, using tax preparation software provided by the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. But after former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis redirected funding toward mission readiness and lethality in 2018, the service delisted tax centers as a mission-essential task of U.S. Army Installation Management Command, a U.S. Army Europe spokesman said via email last month. The tax centers that are still open will have varying hours to be determined by local commanders, an IMCOM spokeswoman said. Related: Two More States Stop Taxing Military Retired Pay "Tax center operations are a local commander's program and, as such, local commanders make individual decisions on the size and scope of tax operations at each individual installation based on their own unique needs," she said. "For FY 2020, each individual installation has already made a plan that accommodates local needs." Plans to completely phase out funding for the tax centers have not been finalized yet, she added. In December, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, announced it would provide tax help only to the families of fallen troops. And U.S. Army Europe said it's closing all 11 of its tax centers effective immediately. "Staffing a tax center with many Soldiers for the duration of the tax filing season is difficult to justify when tax preparation software programs and online filing have reduced the demand for tax preparation services," U.S. Army Europe Judge Advocate Col. Ian Iverson said in a statement. Two years ago, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii closed its tax center, citing a similar problem. Military OneSource offers service members a no-cost filing service and includes access to tax consultants and e-filing software. Those making less than $69,000 can file free through the IRS. The IRS will grant troops on duty outside the U.S., including those deployed and those stationed out-of-country, an automatic two-month extension to file and pay any amount due without requesting an extension. However, there will be interest due on any taxes not paid by April 15. -- Dorothy Mills-Gregg can be reached at dorothy.mills-gregg@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DMillsGregg. Read More: Russian Ship 'Aggressively' Approached Navy Destroyer in Arabian Sea, Officials Say Maseru (Lesotho) (AFP) - A court has issued an arrest warrant for the prime minister's wife after she failed to turn up for questioning over the 2017 murder of his previous wife, police said Saturday. The announcement came just days after senior officials in the ruling party called for Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to resign, accusing him of obstructing the investigation into the killing. Lipolelo Thabane was gunned down by unknown assailants on the outskirts of the capital Maseru in June 2017, two days before her husband's inauguration. In a letter that only became public in court documents this week, Lesotho's police chief Holomo Molibeli asked the prime minister to answer questions regarding his estranged wife's killing. Thabane subsequently tried to suspend him but went back on his decision this week after Molibeli challenged it in court. Thabane's current wife Maesaiah Thabane was summoned for questioning on Friday to "shed some light into the ongoing investigations", deputy police commissioner Paseka Mokete told AFP. But she failed to show up, prompting a court to issue a warrant for her arrest. "We got at the State House at around 12 midday (on Friday) but were denied access by the guards at the gate," Mokete told AFP on Saturday. "When we were allowed entry... she was nowhere to be found," he added. Attorney general Haae Phoofolo later told police that Maesaiah Thabane would be handed over on Monday. Phoofolo did not respond to AFP requests for comment and the prime minister's spokesman Relebohile Moyeye did not answer to calls. Meanwhile, Maesaiah Thabane's whereabouts remain unknown. Lesotho's high court on Saturday rejected her application to suspend the arrest warrant, and the case is scheduled to be heard next week. Mokete added that other "prominent people" would be summoned for questioning over the murder. This is just the latest development in a story that has gripped the tiny poverty-stricken country, which is ringed by South Africa. Story continues At the time his first wife was killed Thomas Thabane, now 80 years old, had been embroiled in bitter divorce proceedings with her. Molibeli's allegations only became public this week in legal documents the police commissioner filed challenging the move to suspend him. His letter to the prime minister was dated December 23. Lesotho's ruling party has urged Thabane to resign over the allegations, calling him a "threat to the nation". Amid the citys changing culinary scene, these old-school restaurants remain centers of home-style cooking, local hospitality, and Southern pride Nashvilles dining landscape is one of the most dynamic in the country. Nearly one new restaurant opens a week, according to culinary tour operator Karen-Lee Ryan, founder of Walk Eat Nashville. Celebrity chefs Jonathan Waxman, Maneet Chauhan, Ford Fry, Richard Blais, and Sean Brock have all opened restaurants in the city, as have many new hotels, contributing to its moniker of Nash Vegas. But there is one category of restaurants that has remained consistently timeless: the meat and three. For the uninitiated, meat and three refers to a hearty meal consisting of a meat or other protein served with a choice of three vegetables. Usually served at lunch for under $12, it is the ultimate dining deal. Over time, meat-and-three restaurants have become community gathering spots for politicians and businessmen to talk shop over a quick lunch, students and laborers seeking affordable food, friends and families enjoying home-style fare, and curious tourists eager to try Nashvilles real deal dining. A catfish option from Arnolds. (Courtesy of Arnolds Country Kitchen) The Original Mom-and-Pop Many meat and threes are family-owned. One of the best known is Arnolds Country Kitchen, established in 1982, which was named an Americas Classic by The James Beard Foundation in 2009. Khalil Arnold, the affable son of founders Jack and Rose Arnold, explained that meat and threes originated as a way to feed farm laborers at a time when lunch was the main meal of the day. Country music has also played a supporting role for meat and threes: many became canteens for musicians and songwriters. The walls of Arnolds are lined with photos of appreciative country music performers, from newcomers to celebrities like Dolly Parton. Pucketts Grocery of Leipers Fork, meanwhile, started in 1953 as a general store with a small counter kitchen to serve local hunters, fishermen, and travelers visiting the Natchez Trace trail nearby, according to Claire Marshall Crowell, daughter of current owner Andy Marshall. Spicy Chocolate Pie from Arnolds Country Kitchen. (Courtesy of Arnolds Country Kitchen) Swetts, owned by the same African American family for more than 62 years, started as a tavern. When customers noticed the home-cooked meals Walter and Susie Swett fed their 10 children each night in the back corner table, they began asking for food with their drinks. The food at these restaurants is true country cooking. Meat options are the likes of fried chicken, meatloaf, and slow-cooked ribs and brisket, while the sides may be cooked collard and turnip greens, stewed okra and tomatoes, squash casserole and starchy mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and candied yams. Menus offer daily specials, often based on whats available from local farms. The line outside Arnolds Country Kitchen. (Courtesy of Arnolds Country Kitchen) Changes and Challenges While meat-and-three restaurants are found throughout other parts of the South, Nashville remains their epicenter. One reason is its location in middle Tennessee, which has long been a crossroads for truckers, traveling salesmen, and tourists. However, while Nashvilles exploding hospitality industry is a boon to the city, it has also created challenges for mom-and-pop restaurants like the meat and threes, including a labor shortage of restaurant workers, escalating food costs, and local property taxes. How can restaurants whose business model is to serve affordable, fixed-price meals survive the increasing costs of doing business? Nashville food writer Jennifer Justus bemoaned the closing of The Pie Wagon, a local meat-and-three institution since 1922, in her article The Past, Present, and Future of the Nashville Meat-and-Three (Nashville Scene) in May 2018. With so many new restaurant openings, she asks, Are we even a meat-and-three town anymore? But meat and threes remain a source of Southern pride, and Nashville residents want to preserve their place in the citys dining community. The original Pucketts Grocery. (Courtesy of Pucketts Grocery) The Table of Wisdom on Pucketts menu covers. (Courtesy of Pucketts Grocery) Hospitality companies have stepped in to help. In 2017, Copper Kettle & Cafe was acquired and renovated by a Tennessee restaurant management company after its founder passed away. This year, Elliston Place Soda Shop, one of the citys oldest restaurants with a meat-and-three menu, was sold to a local restaurant developer and closed for renovation. In the end, Justus surmises, Maybe meat-and-threes are like good country recordswe sometimes worry about them going away, even as good ones come along or persist. Customers wont notice any concerns during a lunch visit, when the lines still start forming just before 11 a.m. On average, places like Arnolds Country Kitchen and Pucketts can serve upwards of 500 customers a day. A New York City restaurateur who joined me for lunch at Pucketts almost fell off her chair with surprise upon hearing those numbers, and seeing the $10.99 meat-and-three options. That price is less than the cost of a single cocktail in New York. As long as there are hungry customers seeking authentic Southern hospitality and rib-sticking country cooking, the meat and three will continue to flourish, the epitome of Nashvilles warm culinary welcome. If You Go Here are a few examples of Nashvilles meat and threes to visit. Days and hours of operation vary. Arnolds Country Kitchen Lines form at 10:30 a.m. for lunch at this red concrete building emblazoned with the name Arnolds. Jack and Rose Arnold opened the restaurant in 1982 and now manage it with their three sonsKhalil, Mon, and Franzand daughter, Rose Emily. The siblings can usually be found working behind the cafeteria-style serving line as customers push their trays along, while matriarch Rose is out and about greeting customers, many of them longtime regulars. Popular dishes: roast beef with homemade gravy, buttermilk fried chicken, spicy fried chicken livers, Southern green beans, squash casserole, and chocolate pie with meringue. 605 Eighth Avenue South Nashville, Tenn. 615-256-4455 ArnoldsCountryKitchen.com Pucketts Grocery & Restaurant In addition to the original Leipers Fork location, Pucketts has outposts in downtown Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Pigeon Forge, Columbia, and Chattanooga. Pucketts menu cover depicts a painting of group of friends who still gather regularly for lunch and conversation, whom the owners affectionately refer to as the Table of Wisdom. Standout dishes: slow-cooked pulled pork, roast chicken, baked beans, mashed sweet potatoes, and blueberry cobbler with Hattie Janes frozen custard (a local company started by family member Claire Marshall Crowell). 500 Church Street Nashville, Tenn. 615-770-2772 (plus other locations in Tennessee) PuckettsGro.com Swetts Restaurant Called a pillar of the local African American community by Southern food writer and documentarian John T. Edge, Swetts opened in 1954 and is still operated by the Swett family. The restaurant is located in an unassuming brick building, but the food inside is anything but basic: simmered pork chops, fried chicken, stewed okra, and a smokehouse offering of tender ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and chicken wings. 2725 Clifton Avenue Nashville, Tenn. 615-329-4418 SwettsRestaurant.com Copper Kettle Cafe & Catering Owned by a restaurant management company since 2017, this cafeteria-style restaurant still draws crowds for its coconut chicken, meat loaf, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole. Sedrick Turner, a company officer, shared that the new owners had to make changes that loyal customers initially resisted, such as swapping canned vegetables for fresh, to keep up with the changing times. 4004 Granny White Pike Nashville, Tenn. 615-383-7242 CopperKettleNashville.com Melanie Young writes about wine, food, travel, and health. She co-hosts the weekly national radio show The Connected Table LIVE! and hosts Fearless Fabulous You! both on iHeart.com. Twitter@connectedtable Left students on Saturday protested against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan. The students, chanting 'Azadi' and 'Shame shame' broke three barricades put up near the stage of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad's sit-in at Rani Rashmoni Avenue and demanded explanation from Banerjee for meeting Modi, who they said is behind CAA and NRC. Banerjee rushed to the stage and tried to pacify the protesting students. The TMCP students raised counter slogans chanting 'Bande Mataram' and 'Down with BJP and its cohorts'. Police rushed to the site, which is near the Raj Bhavan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Omans ruler, the British-educated Sultan Qaboos bin Said, has died, state media has reported. Aged 79, he was the Middle Easts longest-ruling monarch. Sultan Qaboos seized power by overthrowing his father in a 1970 palace coup and pulled his Arabian sultanate into modernity while carefully balancing diplomatic ties between adversaries Iran and the US. The state-run Oman News Agency announced his death on its official Twitter account. We do not have any conflicts and we do not put fuel on the fire when our opinion does not agree with someone Sultan Qaboos Oman state TV later said that Haitham bin Tariq Al Said is Omans new sultan. sultan. reported that authorities have an open letter by Sultan Qaboos naming his successor. The sultan was believed to have been in poor health in recent months, and travelled to Belgium for a medical check-up last month. The royal court declared three days of mourning. The reclusive sultan reformed a nation that was home to only three schools and harsh laws banning electricity, radios, eyeglasses and even umbrellas when he took the throne. Under his reign, Oman became known as a welcoming tourist destination and a key Middle East interlocutor, helping the US free captives in Iran and Yemen and even hosting visits by Israeli officials while pushing back on their occupation of land Palestinians want for a future state. We do not have any conflicts and we do not put fuel on the fire when our opinion does not agree with someone, Sultan Qaboos told a Kuwaiti newspaper in a rare interview in 2008. Whoever (replaces the sultan) is going to have an immensely, immensely difficult jobGary A Grappo, a former US ambassador to Oman Omans longtime willingness to strike its own path frustrated Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, longtime foes of Iran who now dominate the politics of regional Gulf Arab nations. How Oman will respond to pressures both external and internal in a nation Sultan Qaboos ruled absolutely for decades remains in question. Maintaining this sort of equidistant type of relationship is going to be put to the test, said Gary A Grappo, a former US ambassador to Oman. Whoever that person is is going to have an immensely, immensely difficult job. And overhanging all of that will be the sense that hes not Qaboos because those are impossible shoes to fill. Authorities never disclosed what malady the sultan faced, but a December 2019 report by the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy described him as suffering from diabetes and a history of colon cancer. Sultan Qaboos spent eight months in a hospital in Germany, returning to Oman in 2015, with the royal court only saying that the treatment he received was successful. In December 2019, he travelled to Belgium for a week for what the court described as medical checks. On December 31, 2019, the royal court described him as being in a stable condition. Sultan Qaboos cut a fashionable figure in a region whose leaders are known for a more austere attire. His colorful turbans stood out, as did his form-fitting robes with a traditional curved khanjar knife, the symbol of Oman, stuck inside. You can see the sultan's fingerprints. They're just everywhere The sultans willingness to stand apart was key to Omans influence in the region. While home only to 4.6 million people and with smaller oil reserves than its neighbours, under Sultan Qaboos the country routinely influenced the region in ways others could not. Omans oil minister routinely criticises the policies of the Saudi-led OPEC oil cartel. The capital Muscat hosts meetings of Yemens Houthi rebels, locked in a years-long bloody war with Saudi Arabia. Sultan Qabooss outward-looking worldview could not have contrasted more sharply than that of his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur, under whose rule the sultanate more resembled a medieval state. Slavery was legal, no one could travel abroad and music was banned. At the time, the country, which is nearly the size of Poland, had only 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) of paved roads. Yet Sultan Said let his son Qaboos, born in Salalah on November 18, 1940, travel to study in England. His time abroad included schooling at Britains Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and training with the Scottish Rifles Regiment in what was then West Germany. The UK became frustrated with Sultan Said, who had grown increasingly eccentric after surviving an assassination attempt and as communist rebels kept up their offensive in the sultanates Dhofar region. A July 23, 1970 palace coup ended up with Sultan Said shooting himself in the foot before going into exile in London. Sultan Qaboos took power. Yesterday, Oman was in darkness, he said after the coup. But tomorrow, a new dawn will rise for Oman and its people. Sultan Qaboos quickly moved toward modernising the country, building the schools, hospitals and roads his father did not. You can see the sultans fingerprints, Grappo said. Theyre just everywhere. Sultan Qaboos was briefly married to a first cousin. They had no children and divorced in 1979. The Sydney Opera House was illuminated with the pictures of those fighting the raging bushfires in Australia as a show of solidarity on January 10. The pictures were portrayed onto the iconic building which displayed firefighters and those affected by the tragic and devastating bushfires. A colourful selection of photographs taken by those documenting the brave efforts of firefighters, volunteers, and rural people were featured. READ: Citizens Want Volunteer Firefighters To Be Nominated As Australians Of The Year Tonight, we are illuminating the Sydney Opera House sails to show our support for everyone affected by the Australian bushfires. We want to send a message of hope and strength, and importantly to thank the emergency services and volunteers for their incredible efforts and courage pic.twitter.com/QGrRbRlDMh Sydney Opera House (@SydOperaHouse) January 11, 2020 Opera House illuminated to show solidarity: CEO The Sydney Opera House Twitter handle posted a picture which managed to garner over 800 likes. The CEO of the Sydney Opera House, Louise Herron, said that everyone involved with the venue simply wanted to express their gratitude and support for those involved. The CEO further added that they are lighting up the Opera House to show their collective support for everyone affected by these devastating fires and to express their deepest gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers for their immense support. READ: Australia: Police Arrests Couple For Stealing Bushfire Charity Box American firefighters arrived in Sydney American firefighters who arrived in Sydney, Australia to help battle the devastating wildfires got a warm welcome and a spontaneous and lengthy round of applause. A video posted by Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons shows the travellers at Sydney's international airport cheering and clapping as the group of US firefighters arrived. Sean Snyder, an assistant fire management officer for the US Forest Service in Talladega, Alabama also volunteered for the assignment, which is suppose to last at least 30 days. Bushfires in Australia continue to rip through large areas of the country. So far, the inferno has killed at least 25 people across the state. It has been described as the worst bushfire season Australia has seen in decades. Had it not been for firefighters, the situation would be so much worse. Australian citizens now want the volunteer firefighters to be collectively nominated for the Australian of the Year award. READ: Lewis Hamilton Donates $500,000 For Welfare Of Animals In Australia Bushfires READ: Australian PM Scott Morrison Criticized In Protests Over Bushfire Crisis WASHINGTON - For more than three weeks, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., engaged in an odd standoff that probably did more to demonstrate their respective power than it did to determine the final outcome. Pelosi, in demanding how McConnell runs President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, always had the weaker hand because the Senate leader has such a strong grip on his majority. But McConnell, in repeatedly mocking Pelosi's delay in sending the impeachment articles across the Capitol, failed to dent any support within her own caucus. As days turned to weeks, each leader dug in further, talking only through the media. After the House passed two articles of impeachment Dec. 18, the two never once met in person to negotiate. The impasse ended Friday when Pelosi announced the House would vote in the coming days to send the articles and a team of House members to prosecute the case. House Democrats had no idea when she would make the move, giving her their implicit trust and exerting no pressure on her to give in to McConnell. "Not in the least," said Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky. Republicans said McConnell felt a similar lack of pressure, internally or externally. "Generally, the answer is he doesn't feel much pressure on big moments," said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a lieutenant in McConnell's leadership team. Pelosi, 79, and McConnell, 77, are throwbacks to a different era when powerful figures in Congress could dictate outcomes. Washington may go many years before two such powerful figures run either end of the Capitol, let alone at the same time. She is the most powerful House speaker in at least 25 years and, some historians have argued, possibly since Sam Rayburn, D-Texas, ran the House in the 1940s and 1950s. He is the most powerful majority leader in at least 30 years and, some have argued, possibly since Lyndon Johnson, D-Texas, ran the Senate in the 1950s. Their personalities are night and day, but they have had similar goals. She won her first House race in 1987 and never sought any higher office, methodically working her way up the ladder and taking the Democratic caucus reins as minority leader in 2003. He won his first Senate race in 1984 and took every tough job before taking over as Senate minority leader in 2007. They're the perfect distillation of the raucous House and staid Senate: Pelosi, an impassioned liberal who recently declared her motto is "resting is rusting"; McConnell, the slow-walking conservative who overcame polio as a child and went on to write an autobiography titled "The Long Game." They reached this moment after plenty of failure and whispers about their capability. McConnell remained stuck in the minority after overseeing three straight election disappointments, capped off by many preferred candidates losing in GOP primaries. He appeared out of touch with conservative activists. When she faced a third straight loss for House Democrats, in 2014, Pelosi lashed out at critics, pointing to McConnell's previous string of defeats. "Aren't you getting a little old, Mitch, shouldn't you step aside?" she said, mimicking a question a reporter should ask him. "Have you ever asked him that question?" Finally, after circling each other in leadership posts for more than 15 years, the 2018 midterm elections left the Senate in GOP hands and delivered the House to Democrats: House Speaker Pelosi vs. Senate Majority Leader McConnell. Their strategic moves start by getting a unified caucus behind them, then getting ready to just stand their ground. "The Senate lends itself to patience, generally. McConnell's an incredibly patient, closely held guy," Blunt said. McConnell put that to the greatest test when he refused to consider any nominee by President Barack Obama to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court after the justice died in February 2016. Pelosi reclaimed the speaker's gavel last January in the middle of a 35-day government shutdown, refusing to negotiate over Trump's demands for border wall funding. He eventually crumbled, giving her a victory that forged a bond with more than 60 freshman Democrats, many of whom were initially unsure Pelosi was the right fit for the modern speakership. "She has the unfettered trust, respect and admiration of the House Democratic Caucus," said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., a member of her leadership team. Almost half of the GOP senators won office in the past five years, a younger crowd loyal to someone who they know only as majority leader. McConnell and Pelosi have fiercely devoted supporters inside their respective caucuses, but they also benefit from legends who produce a good bit of fear in the rank and file. "You saw what happened with Adam Smith," Yarmuth said. Smith, D-Wash., is the House Armed Services Committee chairman who Thursday morning suggested it was time to give in and send the impeachment articles to the Senate. Less than two hours later, before even hearing from Pelosi, he immediately issued a long clarification pledging his full support. "I looked at the story and I said, 'Whahhhhh. That's not what I should have tried to convey,' " Smith explained later that day. Before issuing his correction, he sent the statement to Pelosi's office so she knew he was not undercutting her position. "Nobody threatened me with anything. I saw the reporting and did not think that was what I should have said, so I corrected it," he said. Some Senate Democrats, unsure of exactly what Pelosi's strategy was, also broke ranks and said they were ready for the trial to start, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who hails from Pelosi's San Francisco. By lunchtime Thursday, Feinstein clarified her position, supporting Pelosi. McConnell saw those small cracks in the Democratic armor and ordered his troops to jab at the division. Republicans poked fun at Pelosi - who said during her impeachment speech that the House would be "derelict" if "we do not act now" - for delaying the trial over procedural demands for witnesses. She sent signals that the end was near on this skirmish. "No, I'm not holding them indefinitely. I'll send them over when I'm ready. That will probably be soon," she told reporters Thursday. As he left the Capitol on Friday, McConnell gloated a bit in having won this battle with his adversary. "Well, we've been anxious to get started for the last - how many weeks has it been now? And we'll get about it as soon as we can," he said. Iran "deeply regrets" the accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner earlier this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a tweet on January 11. "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake," he wrote on Twitter. "My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences." Ukrainian aircraft crash| Human error says Iran military statement; President Rouhani tweets deep regrets, condolences The investigation will continue, Rouhani wrote in a separate tweet. All 176 people aboard the airliner were killed in the crash shortly after takeoff. When you have a conflict, that means that there are truths that have to be addressed in each side of the conflict. And when you have a conflict, then its an educational process to try to resolve that; you have to get people on both sides of the conflict involved so that they can dialogue - Dolores Huerta, author and activist. When His Majesty King Mswati III dispersed regiments last week at Ngabezweni Royal Residence, he emphasised on the need to and the importance of maintaining peace and engaging in dialogue, if faced with challenges. He hit the nail on the head by pointing out that for the economy of the country to perform well, it is imperative that a peaceful environment obtains in the country. retrogressive As a country, we would - like an ostrich - be burying our heads in the sand if we continue ignoring the glaring fact that all is not well in many spheres in this beautiful kingdom of ours. Socially, economically and yes...politically, we are gradually but frighteningly being in the grip of dangerous tentacles of a retrogressive, mess, which requires urgent addressing before we are all immersed into a cesspool of anarchy. The economy is not rosy. People are dying of hunger. There is an escalating shortage of crucial drugs in government-owned health care centres that is running rampant and a lot of other woes. Almost everyone, except for those that are benefitting from the present system of governance, is living a life of hardship, economic stress and, especially those living in rural areas, in dire, heart- wrenching poverty. Such negatives and a myriad of other challenges have resulted in mounting resentment against, and hatred for, our government. It becomes seriously and urgently imperative that we heed the words of our King and those in our midst who are concerned - that we engage in dialogue (not the hoodwinking type of dialogues we are used to, whose sole intent is to placate rising tensions) - with the aim of deriving tangible outcomes at the end of the day. People have reached the tether of their tolerance. A growing number of citizens of the country are calling for dialogue that may lead to change. The present system of governance has continued to fail the people. Borrowing from the words of former United States President Barack Obama, who said: Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones weve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek... Quoting His Majesty the King verbatim, as reported in last weeks edition of this newspaper: Once you lose peace, there will be disorder. Well....the King could not have said it any better! That there is peace - true peace - in this country, especially lately, would be the lie of the year! Taking into consideration what took place in the country last year, that is, in terms of civic, labour and sadly, students protests, one need not be a nuclear physicist to discern that something urgent needs to be done to address the ills that are affecting our country - before it is too late. Resentment against and intolerance at the manner our government has been running the country on behalf of the king and nation, has been gradually but incessantly growing. It has now reached a level where some citizens have come out of the cocoon of induced fear and silence, boldly calling for dialogue and change - politically. It is an open secret that the recently launched Political Party Assembly (PPA) has requested a political dialogue with the Monarch, through his representatives, over certain issues, among which is multiparty democracy. Such request for dialogue comes after a series of marches and demonstrations that rocked the country, more especially last year. availability The recently ended year will go down in history as one the years where we experienced unprecedented protests, which saw civil servants engaging in a series of protests, more especially over the contentious issue of the cost-of-living-adjustment (CoLA), which has been denied public civil servants for the past three years. Not to be left out in the marches and protests were tertiary students who also took to the streets over a variety of issues, including non-availability of their allowances. Sadly, during some of the marches, the brutality of State security agents continued to rear its ugly head. In their bid to crush the protests, State security agents resorted to the use of excessive force, resulting in some marchers, including those who were not part of the protests, getting injured. Sadly, some ended up with injuries that were handicapping. Controversial political raids were conducted towards the end of last year on the homesteads of some leaders of the PPA such, as president of the Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA) Jan Sithole, Ngwane National Liberation Congress (NNLC) President Sibongile Mazibuko, Wandile Dludlu, who is the Secretary General of the proscribed Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President Mbongwa Dlamini. Corruption - that incorrigible of human attributes - continued to run rampant. In spite of promises made by our at times inept and nonchalant government, to address this scourge, it continued unabated. The only government body that we had high hopes in to play a pivotal role in addressing this nemesis that derails development in any country, turned out to be a toothless dog - not by design though, but through lack of adequate resources and support from government. Beneath the superficial veneer of peace in the country, a simmering cauldron of anger and resentment at the many ills engulfing the country, such as corruption, lack of individual and national prosperity, nepotism, wastage of public funds on white elephant projects, poor service delivery by government, etcetera, has been gaining momentum. civility The growing and united numbers of dissenting voices have all been clamouring in one voice - calling for long yearned for change. People have had enough of the innumerable number of failures of the obtaining political hegemony. Peace can and will never be achieved unless all parties in the conflict engage in dialogue. As a nation, it would be folly of us to despise the power of dialogue. Jane Mcgreevey hit the nail on the head when he said: We are losing sight of civility in government and politics. Debate and dialogue is taking a back seat to the politics of destruction and anger and control. Dogma has replaced thoughtful discussion between people of differing views... As a one-party State, we should be taking advantage of the pros of such a state, that is, if embraced transparently. In a nutshell, these are unity and cohesiveness. A united nation is a very potent weapon against the wiles of the devil, who thrives on sowing division among individuals and nations. Our propensity as a nation, especially our leaders, to embrace and be influenced by the broadcasted, evil airwaves of Satan, has seen a mounting, deep hatred for authority. People are openly being defiant of our leaders and this has manifested itself in the abuse of social media platforms, where unpalatable insults are hurled at our leadership - something we strongly condemn. engagement As much as we do not condone the at times deliberate and haughty shortcomings of some of our leaders, using derogatory language to convey resentment is not the way. The need for engagement with all dissenting voices has become imperative. Our leaders need to understand that we are no longer living in medieval times, where blind obedience characterised respect and people silently succumbed to the violation of their fundamental human rights. Respect - no matter how difficult it is to accept - is earned. You cannot be a true leader and hope to be adored by those under your authority if you lack a show of respect for the rights of the people you lead, who respect you. Peace is attained or achieved if there is mutual respect - hence the need to heed the Kings advice. Our uniqueness as a one-tribe nation in the past, coupled with our adherence to Christian values, has seen us remaining a peaceful country in the past. Sadly, the pomposity and corrupt acts of some of our leaders has seen our loving God turning His back on us. There is hatred for authority among ourselves. We have discarded our former spirit of Ubuntu and have now replaced it with greed, nepotism, persecution of dissenting voices. Our leaders are not treating emaSwati they way they should. The wealth of this country is not equally distributed and corporate giants are putting a stranglehold on the economy. There is a worrying and escalating rise in the price of basic commodities. Some of these essentials our people cannot do without. Escalating electricity tariffs, an imminent increase in public transport costs, etcetera, are pushing the grassroots people deeper into the cesspool of poverty. People are swimming in debt with no respite in sight. Suicide statistics are rising. Stress levels are perplexing. People are increasingly being violent. Women, including minors, are bashed and raped. We urgently need dialogue. Let us save this country from imminent anarchy. Pride and looking down upon our fellowmen must come to an end. We have one country and no other. Let us be patriotic. Christs Second Coming is around the corner. Unity is strength...so they say - and rightly so. Shalom! Alex Nxumalo 76058449 There is so much more ghostwriting being done since I began writing V.C. Andrews over 32 years ago. Recently PW reviewed The Silhouette Girl, and the review ended with Andrews fans should be satisfied. What greater compliment could a ghostwriter receive? He or she is keeping the style, treatment, characters, and plot concepts authentic enough for the fan base to support the title. But what is ghostwriting? What is required? When my agent, Anita Diamant, who represented Andrews, proposed I try to keep the books alive, I studied every published Andrews novel to capture her essence, syntax, vocabulary, and unique approach to character. I picked up on how she used dialogue, setting, and surprise. When I first began the assignment, I was writing far more graphic novels under my own name, the highlight being The Devils Advocate, which became a major motion picture. At one point, I actually wrote on two different computers to embed the differences in writing for Andrews and my other writing work and in a sense became multipersonality. Writing from the POV of a young girl wasnt alien to me. My first published novel, Sisters, released by Stein and Day, was from the point of view of a young woman. I love using the line from Shakespeare in Love when asked how I can do that: Its a mystery. In a sense it is, but there really isnt a big mystery to successful ghostwriting. You literally need to absorb everything the writer wrote and become a good mimic. You have to be able to subordinate your instinct to change it, and when you arrive at a story line, you have to question whether it is something the writer would have thought of or found intriguing. You also have to imagine, based on what you know, what would intrigue the writer if he or she had gone on. For that you might very well have to get into the writers life, learn as much as you can about what forces developed his or her talent and respect them. After a while, if youre successful, you wont feel youre mimicking. Youll feel its you, especially if, like me, youve done it for over 32 years. And then the pride will sink in and the ambition will double. You now have an obligation to keep the writer alive. You will try harder to get film adaptations. And that is just what I did. I wrote a script to adapt Rain, and it was produced with Faye Dunaway, Robert Loggia, and Brooklyn Sudano (Donna Summerss daughter) in the featured roles. I pounded the pavement with producer Dan Angel in Hollywood, and we generated what became 10 straight Andrews films at the Lifetime Network, with potential for more in the works. And Ive revived Flowers in the Attic with more novel sequels, the current one being Beneath the Attic, branching out among the secondary characters and family historythe family being the notorious Foxworths. Because I was a director of dramatics and had published plays, I considered Flowers in the Attic for the stage, and now a stage play is in development. There are a few personal factors that have made this possible and successful. I taught film studies for more than 20 years and had a deep understanding of film adaptations of novels. Getting The Devils Advocate and eight additional titles adapted familiarized me with the Hollywood machine. Pitching an Andrews story was more complicated because it was ghostwritten, but now that there are more than 146 million copies of books in the series in circulation (print copies plus e-book sales) and at least one title has been published in just about every country that has a publisher, including China, I had more opportunity and motivation to find film opportunities. Its very exciting when it works, and to make it work, you have to have had the cooperation and support of your publisher. The Andrews novels have outlasted a few publishers, but everyone who assumed the mantle joined in the effort until we are where we are today, still successfully publishing 40 years after Flowers in the Attic was released and took and the world market by storm. Ghostwriting is definitely an art form; it has its own rules and methods. After a while, youll look at your work and yourself and think, Im a ghost who gives life to history. Andrew Neidermans next two V.C. Andrews novels, Out of the Attic (Feb.) and Shadows of Foxworth (June), will continue the history of the Foxworth family. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 14:12:54|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Vassily Nebenzia, Russian permanent representative to the United Nations, gestures to make a statement during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 10, 2020. The UN Security Council on Friday re-authorized the cross-border aid mechanism for the Syrian people, which expires at midnight, after heated discussion. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday re-authorized the cross-border aid mechanism for the Syrian people, which expires at midnight, after heated discussion. The 15-member council adopted a resolution, prepared by Belgium and Germany, which re-authorized two of the existing four crossings on the Syria-Turkey border under the mechanism for six months. The meeting to hold the vote was postponed for about three hours, as "the text might be still being worked on" till the last minute, according to British Permanent Representative to the UN Karen Pierce, who spoke to reporters during the delay. Since 2014, the Security Council has authorized the delivery of aid through four border crossings, two in Turkey and the other two in Iraq and Jordan seperately. The exact number of Syrians relying on the mechanism remains controversial. Belgium, Germany and their supporters said over 4 million Syrians get aid from across the border, but Russia contended that there was only about 1 million, citing a secretary-general's report. Friday's vote came after the council failed to re-authorize the mechanism on Dec. 20, 2019 as a result of division among members. Germany, Belgium as well as Kuwait (a council member in December) tabled a draft that would also preserve a third crossing in Iraq and would approve a year-long renewal. Russia tabled a rival text that in essence sought Friday's re-authorization. But neither draft was adopted on Dec. 20. At the insistence of Germany and Belgium, the adopted resolution asked the UN secretary general to report by the end of February on the possibility of using alternatives to the Iraqi crossing to ensure that aid reaches the Syrians in need through the most direct routes. Belgium's Permanent Representative to the UN Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve said the Iraqi crossing handles humanitarian aid, in particular medical supplies, for some 1.4 million people in Syria's northeast. But Russia refuted that those people's needs have for long been covered by deliveries from within Syria, which was reflected in the UN secretary-general's report. Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said after the vote that the Jordanian crossing has not been used since July 2018, and the Iraqi crossing stopped operating last year. He said the situation has changed "dramatically" on the ground, and the renewed mechanism should reflect the change. Zhang Jun, permanent representative of China to the UN, said China always has reservations regarding the establishment of a Syrian cross-border humanitarian relief mechanism. "China has consistently advocated that in taking any action, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country concerned and the will of its government must be respected," he said. "Cross-border humanitarian relief is a special relief method adopted under specific circumstances. It should be evaluated and adjusted in a timely manner in light of the developments on the ground," he added. Zhang called on all relevant parties to step up cooperation with the Syrian government and prioritize providing humanitarian assistance from inside Syria. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Afghan terrorists, some of whom may have already entered India, are the biggest threat to peace in Jammu and Kashmir, said sources, adding that security forces are on high alert. The government is taking several steps to secure the borders along Pakistan, including installation of no-cut steel-fencing to stop infiltrations. The BSF, which secures Indias International Border with Pakistan, has also recently completed an exercise to fully map and identify vulnerable spots all along the border. Latest measures include strengthening Indian defences along Pakistan, mapping of infiltration prone areas along the two borders, and erection of new steel fence along vulnerable patches, the sources said. According to intelligence agencies, the Pakistani Army has recruited about 60 war-toughened Afghan fighters who would be pushed across the border to carry out attacks on security forces in the region. A security official said, Afghan terrorists are the biggest threat to Kashmir peace at the moment. Some foreign terrorists have already entered. They are better fighters, hence their involvement is a big concern. The official said that terrorists who are being freed from Afghan war theatre are being pushed to Kashmir. According to a security assessment, the security agencies are also keeping a close tab on the activities of cross-border terror modules and terrorists as they anticipate some incidents of attack on security forces deployed in the Kashmir valley and around the Jammu area. No-cut fencing along borders To stop infiltration, the Centre is installing no-cut steel fencing at borders. BSF sources said that such a fence is being erected at a 60-km border stretch near Amritsar in Punjab. This fence which will cost about `2 crore for a kilometer is also being tested on a pilot-basis at a 7-km stretch in Assams Silchar along Indias border with Bangladesh. Sultan Qaboos died at aged 79 OMAN: Omans Sultan Qaboos, who died on Friday aged 79, transformed the former Arabian Peninsula backwater into a modern state and sought-after mediator while shielding the sultanate from a region in turmoil. The intensely private sultan the longest-reigning ruler in the modern Arab world left no apparent heir. It is not clear who will succeed Qaboos, whose country has a distinct method of choosing the next ruler. According to the Omani constitution, the royal family shall, within three days of the throne falling vacant, determine the successor. If the family does not agree on a name, the person chosen by Qaboos in a letter addressed to the royal family will be the successor. Qaboos was born on November 18, 1940, into the centuries-old Al-Said dynasty in the southern provincial capital of Salalah, in an isolated country on the margins of the modern world. Older Omanis recall the capital Muscat had no electricity or running water and the gates of the medieval city were locked at dusk. The young Qaboos was sent abroad for his education to Britain, attending the elite Sandhurst Royal Military Academy from where he graduated in 1962. He went on to join a British infantry battalion in Germany, returning home to bide his time under the close watch of his father, Sultan Said bin Taymur. On July 23, 1970, Qaboos deposed his father in a palace coup, pledging a new era for the nation. Oman is strategically located on the Strait of Hormuz the narrow seaway through which much of the worlds oil supply passes and between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. Qaboos channelled revenues from fledgling oil exports into infrastructure, taking the country from having just a handful of primary schools and some eight kilometres (six miles) of paved roads to a modern state with well over 1,000 schools and a massive highway network. By PTI GWALIOR: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday accused Left organisations of creating an "atmosphere of violence" at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The BJP leader was addressing a rally organised by the Janjagran Manch in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) at GYMC Ground here. Referring to the recent violence at the JNU campus, Adityanath said, "Leftist groups created an atmosphere of violence by resorting to lies, but Delhi Police has unearthed the conspiracy they had hatched to disrupt the examination process at JNU." It was time the people were told the reality by conducting an awareness campaign, which will also dispel the "confusion" the opposition was creating over the CAA and the JNU incident, he said. Terrorism and separatism, which was reaching its end in the country, was now getting a new lease of life (through anti-CAA protests and incidents like those at the JNU campus), the UP chief minister claimed. The Constitution gives rights to people, but people should also perform their duties, he said. Violence broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University on the evening of January 5 as a group of masked persons armed with sticks attacked students and teachers. Delhi Police on Friday released pictures of nine suspects and claimed that JNU Student Union president Aishe Ghosh -- who was injured in the violence -- was one of them. Left-leaning student organisations, which are opposing a hike in hostel fees at JNU, had called for a boycott of the semester registration process. The ministerial-level debate, held at the UNs headquarters in New York on the occasion of the UNs 75th anniversary, was an important part of Vietnams presidency of the UN Security Council in January, which is also the first month of its council membership. In his speech, Minh underlined the special importance of respect for and adherence to the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and security to help humankind steer clear of a new world war and promote dialogue to seek solutions to hundreds of conflicts. He stressed that Vietnam considers adherence to the UN Charter and international law the most important means to nurture sustainable peace, bring about prosperity, and build a law-based world order with fair, equitable and friendly relations among countries. At the debate, the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement compiled under the chair of Vietnam. On the same day, Minh had meetings with countries leaders and foreign ministers that took part in the debate. In his meeting with Urmas Reinsalu, Foreign Minister of Estonia, a country that is also a non-permanent member of the UNSC for 2020-2021, Minh suggested the two countries continue to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in trade and investment, and closely coordinate at the council, thus contributing to the UNs peace and security activities. Reinsalu said that his country supports Vietnams priorities to address conflicts and cyber security, and improve the working methods of the UN. Estonia attaches importance to strengthening its relations with Vietnam and other ASEAN members, especially as Vietnam acts as the chair of the group this year. He urged the two countries to expand cooperation in the fields of strength such as agriculture and digital technology. Meanwhile, Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto said his country treasures its ties with Vietnam, and hopes to enhance multi-faceted cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation. He called on the two sides to accelerate the implementation of projects invested by Hungary in Vietnam. For his part, Minh said after the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) are approved, they will contribute to promoting trade ties between Vietnam and the EU in general, and Hungary in particular. At the meeting with Michelle Muntefering, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, the two sides discussed measures to push trade and investment relations, especially tapping opportunities when the EVFTA and the EVIPA are ratified. They also underlined the need to maintain peace, stability, aviation security and safety in the East Sea. In a meeting between Minh and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves, the two sides agreed to consider negotiating a framework agreement to create a foundation for cooperation between the two countries. Deputy PM and FM Minh conveyed Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs invitation to Gonsalves to visit Vietnam. Charles Dickson has pubs in his blood. He is directly descended from Peter Yates, who opened the first Yates Wine Lodge in 1884. The oldest pub chain in the country, Yates still exists today and was run for almost 20 years by Dickson's late father, a scion of the founding family. So it is perhaps fitting that Dickson is now at the helm of pubs and property firm Barkby Group. Inviting: Barkby Group owns quality pubs and was last week admitted to the Aim market Barkby was set up as a cluster of gastropubs, offering high-quality but reasonably priced food and rooms. Initially listed on London's growth-focused NEX exchange, the company was last week admitted to the Aim market, following a reverse takeover (when a private firm buys a quoted one) by Dickson's family business Tarncourt. Dickson now chairs the combined group and Barkby's former chief executive, Rupert Fraser, is managing director. The shares are 29p and should increase materially, as both men are ambitious, they have proven entrepreneurial skills and operate in fast-growing sectors of the market. Dickson, an accountant by training, established Tarncourt in 2006, following the untimely death of his father. Initially a family investment business, Tarncourt has been transformed into a successful mini-conglomerate, with a property development group, a wholesale coffee firm and investments in two promising start-ups. Transcend makes compostable straws, coffee cups and lids. VivoPlex has developed a medical device that can help women with fertility issues. Fraser spent more than 25 years in banking and private equity, including several years investing in firms that owned and managed hotels, offices and shopping malls. Dickson and Fraser have known each other for at least a decade and talks between the two started in spring last year, so they have had ample time to form a robust strategy for growth at the enlarged Barkby Group. Today, the company operates seven popular pubs in Sussex and the Cotswolds, including the award-winning Five Alls at Filkins in Oxfordshire. With their focus on food, welcoming service and decent accommodation, the pubs are popular venues for cosy meals and minibreaks. Barkby is run by Charles Dickson, left, and Rupert Fraser, right Looking ahead, Dickson plans to double the portfolio over the next couple of years, with outlets strategically located in areas that are both relatively affluent and are attractive tourist destinations. The coffee business, Workshop Coffee, was founded by Dickson's brother in 2011, and today operates four cafes in London and a flourishing wholesale business, specialising in luxury coffee. Customers include five-star London hotel Claridge's, trendy club group Soho House and Qatar Airways. Turnover has been increasing by about 25 per cent a year and the aim is to create one of the UK's largest speciality coffee brands. The commercial property business is the largest division within the group, it is highly profitable and should deliver substantial growth as well. Many parts of the commercial property sector have been associated with tough times, but Barkby's business is rather different. It finds and develops sites but only starts work once tenants have been secured and the sites have been pre-sold to long-term property investors. So Barkby incurs minimal risk, especially as Dickson has developed strong relationships with firms such as Greggs, Aldi and McDonald's, which are always on the lookout for good new properties. Most of Dickson's sites are along the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, an area of significant investment from the Government and private firms, and there is a robust pipeline of projects in the years ahead. The synergy between the property business, pubs and coffee division is fairly clear. Location is a crucial ingredient for success in pubs as Dickson's father used to tell him when he was young and it is also a critical element in the commercial property trade. The coffee and pub businesses also share a focus on quality and service and could benefit from joint sourcing. Transcend Packaging and VivoPlex do not fit naturally into this mix. They were opportunistic investments made by the Dickson family before the Barkby deal, but they could yield significant rewards to current shareholders. VivoPlex has developed a wireless device designed to improve IVF success rates. It has made encouraging progress and further updates are expected in the next few months. Transcend has already signed a deal to supply McDonald's with compostable paper straws and is expected to start producing coffee cups and lids soon (which could be used in the Workshop cafes). Barkby will probably sell its holdings in these firms over the next few years, which could generate substantial returns for investors. Dickson has also amassed a highly experienced board, including Jonathan Warburton, famous for appearing on TV to advertise his family firm's wares. Warburton is not just a media man. He built the Warburton business into the second-biggest grocery brand in the UK behind Coca-Cola and still chairs the group. Midas verdict: Some observers may find Barkby hard to understand, but Dickson is highly driven, and determined to turn it into a sizeable, prosperous and dividend-paying business. At 29p, the shares could provide an exciting ride for the adventurous investor. Dickson is also highly incentivised to make this venture work, as he and his family own more than 60 per cent of the stock. The fourth man convicted of killing two Germantown, Maryland, teens the night before they were supposed to graduate from high school in 2017 was sentenced Friday to 100 years in prison, WTOP reports. Roger Garcia was convicted of second-degree murder and gun charges last month in the deaths of Shadi Adi Najjar, 17, and Artem Ziberov, 18, who were found in a running Honda Civic on Gallery Court in Montgomery Village in June 2017. Garcia was given the maximum sentence on all counts: 30 years for each murder charge and 20 years for each handgun count. Najjar and Ziberov were students at Northwest High School on June 5, 2017, and had been lured to the spot in Montgomery Village, thinking they were selling spare tickets to their graduation the next day. Najjar was shot four times; Ziberov, 10. The police found 30 shell casings at the site. The other three men convicted in the case Jose Canales-Yanez, Rony Galicia and Garcias brother, Edgar Garcia Gaona have been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. In court documents, prosecutors said Garcia fired at least six of the shots and was instrumental in luring the teens to the spot, friending Najjar on Snapchat about a week before and setting up the false sale of the graduation tickets. Without [Garcias involvement], they never would have gone there, Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy said in a news conference Friday after the sentencing. Only this defendant was initially aware that Shadis selling a graduation ticket created an opportunity for the ambush, the prosecutors said; none of the other three accomplices in these murders could have accomplished the creation of this connection. The documents also said Ziberov was an acquaintance of Najjars, who had nothing to do with the robbery, but the murderers went ahead and decided to murder Artem anyway. Almora (Uttarakhand) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): A case has been registered against one person for allegedly posting the objectionable videos of children on social media. It is registered under the Information Technology (IT) Act on Saturday. "We got Compact discs related to child pornography sent by an international agency, from Central Government. We traced the location (Almora) with the help of Internet Protocol (IP) Address. We took immediate action and registered a case," Ankush Mishra, Deputy Superintendent of Police (SP) Cyber Crime division told ANI. The accused has been charged with Section 67B of the IT Act by the Police, who posted the pornography material on social media between January 5 and May 2 last year. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the children in the video are from another country. Earlier, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) had asked the state government to direct the Uttarakhand police to register a case against the miscreant. After the case was registered a report was then sent to NCRB. The accused will be questioned by the police soon to unearth more facts. (ANI) Iran's exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi says the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is responsible for the downing of a Ukraine Airlines Boeing, which killed all 176 people onboard. Three days after the airliner crashed on a flight from Tehran to Kyiv, the Islamic Republic admitted that it was "erroneously" shot down by an anti-aircraft missile. The last heir apparent to the Iranian throne, 59-year-old Prince Reza, insisted in a tweet on Saturday that shooting down Ukraine's passenger plane was a "crime against humanity," not "human error", as Irans government says. The prince tweeted that the tragedy is the result of an order Khamenei issued in June 2017 to his supporters to "fire at will" against presumed enemies. However, under a barrage of criticism at the time, he downplayed his comment, saying that he meant that "Iranian Cyber Space Officers" were authorized to freely attack the "enemy" whenever needed. Nonetheless, close allies of Khamenei have repeatedly referred to his remark, asserting that the Islamic Republic forces were entitled to fire at will. In his January 11 tweet, Prince Reza lambasted Khamenei, noting that the leader who has ordered firing at will, was directly responsible for the outcome of his decree. "Enough is enough. Khamenei and his regime must go," Prince Reza tweeted. In recent anti-Islamic Republic protests across Iran, chants rang out in praise of the last royal family. The New South Wales south coast has now been re-opened to tourists after unprecedented bushfires devastated many communities in the region. Areas not directly impacted by bushfires have been given the green light to open for business from Sunday, NSW Police, Rural Fire Service, Transport for NSW, and local councils jointly determined. Many of the affected areas rely on the tourist trade, particularly during summer season. Communities in the New South Wales south coast have been re-opened to tourists after bushfires (pictured are boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage behind Lake Conjola, Australia, Junuary 2, 2020) Tourists seek refuge on the beach at the community of Lake Conjola as bushfires swept through the region on New Year's Eve 'People who wish to travel to these areas are encouraged to contact their destination operators or accommodation providers to ensure they are operating before they set out,' NSW Police said in a statement. While visitors can return to the region they have been reminded to be aware of road closures and to be respectful of residents who may have lost their homes in the bushfires by avoiding fire affected areas. Some bushfires continue to burn on the coast west of the Princes Highway, however, weather conditions are expected to be favourable to firefighters this week. National Parks are to remain closed until February 1. To the west of the region intense firestorms tore through the Snowy Mountains and Southern Highlands on Friday night. Four firefighters were injured and one man suffered burns defending his property. The Conjola National Park after fire swept through the area in early January The man was transferred to Concord Hospital in Sydney where he underwent surgery on Saturday. The four firefighters, who were overrun while battling the Adaminaby blaze, were treated by ambulance officers in the field and released. Authorities had fears homes could be destroyed in the blazes - adding to the more than 2,000 homes already destroyed in NSW and Victoria - but damage to homes was avoided. More than 3,500 firefighters were deployed throughout Friday night as 90km/h wind gusts fan firefronts. Busfires near the town on Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast in early January A mega-blaze formed as the Green Valley fire merged with the East Ournie Creek fire and the massive 312,000 hectare Dunns Road blaze. NSW Premier Gladys Berijiklian told reporters on Saturday authorities were relieved to have made it through the night with minor damage. 'There is no doubt in my mind that that level of professionalism and preparedness allowed communities to survive another long and difficult night,' she said. A house gutted by bushfires is seen in the town of Lake Conjola in New South Wales on January 1, 2020 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 Temples are a good place for personal acquaintances, which can later turn into love, chairman of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) said in the Church and Peace program on Russia-24 TV channel. Of course, the temple is the Lords house, and it would be strange to come to a church for a bride only. On the other hand, for the Orthodox Christians the very atmosphere of the temple is natural not only for personal acquaintance but also for finding love, " the metropolitan noted, TASS reports. Religion is such a strong force that it percolates every aspect of life in human society. This is to the extent that, even among atheists, religion lurks in the background of their activities. The centrality of religion has convinced scholars like Louis Berkhof, John S. Mbiti, John S. Pobee, and Geoffrey Parrinder to conclude that human beings (sometimes focusing strongly on Africans) are incurably religious. Certainly, some scholars, notably Okot pBitek and Kwasi Wiredu, have challenged the idea that Africans are notoriously religious. They maintain that Africans are rather pragmatic in their pursuit of religion. While there is some truth in the assertion that Africans are religiously pragmatic, there is no equivocation that religion still holds sway in the lives of human beings. It is important to also bring some clarity about the religiosity of human beings. Those who deny the inherent religious proclivity of human beings have a narrow understanding of religion. They usually limit religion to its esoteric aspect. They hardly look at religion as a superstructure or philosophy (worldview, if you like) that (re)shape the life of people. Thus, while religion has the supernatural bent, religion is equally a force that shape the worldview (how people view the world) of people. The idea that religion is only about the supernatural is a product of the nineteenth century: it was a century that saw radical (humanist and atheist) scholars seeking to discredit religion (particularly Christianity). The fruit of their scholarship contributed to foregrounding secularism in theory. The attempt to separate religion from politics (secularism) and to situate human beings in a straitjacket dichotomy of religion and non-religion marked the beginning of the crisis in terms the role religion plays in the public sphere. By the 1960s, religion had progressively lost its stronghold in shaping the moral landscape of life. The mid-twentieth century was unique in de-centralising religion from the public sphere. But regardless of the extent to which religion has been mortgaged from the public sphere, there is no vagueness that the stakes are high when issues of religion stray into public discussion. And it is to refute the compartmentalisation of life into sacred and profane that informed Karl Barths assertion that Christianity is a relationship with God, not religion. Since the efforts by Christians (with some form of support from the state) to construct a national cathedral, issues of religion in the public sphere have gained unprecedented attention. Many people continue to harp Ghanas supposed secular constitution to demand from the state to disengage from matters of religion. It is important to state that as early as the 1950s, Nkrumah, as part of nation-building, proposed to construct Ghana as a secular state. Indeed, this was against the backdrop that the Anglican Church (because of Ghanas historical connection with England) was to be the officiating church at all state functions. Even so, Nkrumahs appropriation of secular rhetoric was part of his own idiosyncrasies to build national unity in the face of religious plurality. His most philosophical book, Consciencism, was one of his own creative efforts at synthesising Ghanas triple religious heritage Islam, Christianity, and indigenous religions. Given the centrality of consciencism in Kwame Nkrumah's philosophical outlook and his own appropriation (and parodying of the Christian Bible) of religion, it is clear that the idea of 'secularism' was part of the nebulous concepts that burdened post-colonial states in Africa. It must be pointed out that since the time of Kwame Nkrumah, virtually every president of Ghana has consulted one religious leader or the other. Nkrumah was eclectic in his appropriation of religion: he consulted spiritualists, Muslims, Christians, and indigenous practitioners. There were times he was engaging the service of Nana Akua Oparebea (b. 1900 d. 1995), the priestess of Akonnedi at Larteh. Kofi Abrefa Busia, was a lay preacher with the Methodist Church, who was also deeply religious. There are credible accounts of his high level of spirituality which made it possible for him to survive multiple assassination attempts on his life by Kwame Nkrumah. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, like Nkrumah, was eclectic in his religious appropriation. Hilla Limann also had religious functionaries supporting him (even though some felt he was a humanist). Jerry John Rawlings favoured the Afriknia (Africa kanea Africas light). In the 1980s, it was only the leader of the Afrikania Mission, Osofo Vincent Kwabena Damuah, who had a monopoly over the national radio station to propagate his religion which was nothing short of reviving ancestral cult. J.A. Kufour deployed religion to win the 2000 elections. During the 2000 elections, he was presented as a humble and god-fearing man with a vision to save Ghana from oppression and suppression. John E.A. Mills was noted for his engagement with Pentecostal Christians. He was advertised as a man of peace. He is on record to have almost converted the seat of government to a prayer shrine. John Dramani Mahama (John 3:16 was his teaser) and Akufu Addo (I Samuel 17:47, The battle is the Lords) have also used religion to achieve a political end. The functional role of religion in Ghana is such that it gives people hope, in the face of perplexity and grinning poverty. But, perhaps, the most important role of religion is seen on the eve of every new year. New year prophecies, have since the 1990s, become a major character of the Ghanaian religious cosmogony. On 31st night, most Ghanaians Christians and non-Christians, throng the church space with the hope of transitioning into the new year. There are many reasons why 31st December is such an important day in the lives of Ghanaians. This is because it is the penultimate day to a new year and people are certainly unsure of what the new year holds to offer them. Addition to that is the human penchant to peep into the future. The fear of the unknown future is one of the reasons why human beings have devised all sorts of antics and strategies to know what lies ahead in life. The flirtation with 31st December could also be remotely linked to the December 31, 1981 coup in Ghana, staged against Dr. Hilla Limann by Jerry John Rawlings and his comrades. Have we developed a paranoia as a result of the coup and in the process fetishised 31st December? Machiavelli said that human beings desire to know the future and yet when they are in the future, they desire for the past. In other words, the concept of time past, present, and future remains one of the defining limitations on human beings. Human beings have solipsism that traps them in the present. The past cannot be relived, but it is relied upon to reflect the present and also peep into the future. While the past is part of the storehouse of time, and the present is an existential reality, the future is simply unknown. It is known to only God. In fact, in Isaiah 44:7, God defined his divinity by appealing to many things (his creation) and also his control over time. His control over time shows that He and human beings do not occupy the same space (to cite the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas). God lives in and out of time simultaneously. Man lives only in time. But because human beings only live in the present, the desire to know the future increases the anxiety level of humanity. It is for this reason that divination as occultism and cultic practice featured in virtually all human society. When I was growing up in Maamobi (Accra) in the 1980s, we had a Muslim spiritual functionary living right behind our compound house. And his alleged spiritual prowess saw politicians and high-ranking state officials and businessmen and women moving in and out of his shrine in search for spiritual answers. Politicians and businessmen and women consulted him to know what lied ahead of them. These religious seekers made it possible for we the children to eat massa and deep-fried meat virtually every week (since religious seekers are often asked to do sadaka gift-giving for ritual purposes). In indigenous religions, the quest to know the future gave rise to abisa among the Akan. While the practice of abisa is a universal phenomenon in indigenous religions, I am using the Akan for the sake of convenience. Abisa was part of the efforts of human beings to explore the will of the divine. It is an effort to peep into the future to guide the present. Students, workers, patients, politicians, and traders all consult religious functionaries for abisa. The abisa brings the divine close to human contact. It helps human beings to manipulate the system of the world. One bizarre way my colleagues and I attempted to predict (abisa) our Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) questions in 1998 was a suggestion by one of our mates, Joseph Kennah, that we should consult a lottery caster. In Christianity, the cognate of abisa is prophecy. Prophecy featured prominently in the theocratic governmentality of ancient Israel. The nation of ancient Israel had national prophets who were responsible for telling the mind of God to the administrators and the people. As national prophets, they could rebuke kings whose administration run roughshod against the will of God. The prophets also provided military guidance. Through their interaction with God, they were able to guide warriors on war strategies. In the inter-testament period, wrongly referred to as four hundred years silence, a few individuals in the Jewish history rose who claimed to use rituals to foretell the future. But a few years before the birth of Jesus Christ, there were ad hoc and spontaneous prophets, who were operating. We know of Zacharia, the father of John the Baptist. We also know about Prophet Agabus in the life of Paul. But the extent to which prophecy constituted part of governmentality had waned since the Jews were under the rule of imperial Rome. The entry of Jesus Christ into human history marked the ultimate revelation of God to humanity, while the canonised Bible marked the ultimate revelation and concretisation of God's will for humanity. If anyone wants to know about God's mind concerning an issue, one is directed to read the Bible. But, there are times God continues to speak to people on some specific issues. These issues may include marriage, health, political leadership, and business. But the caveat is that these revelations should cohere with what the Bible says. But in the face of specific revelations, it is political prophecies that have assumed ultimate importance in Ghana. This is because man (in a generic sense) is a political being (to paraphrase Aristotle). Politics administration of resources to satisfy human needs is at the core of our existence. Without politics, nothing will run. Given the centrality of politics, which is also about power and how it is regulated, political prophecies remain contentious in Ghana. The vexatious nature of political prophecies is based on the partisan bent some of these prophecies take. The key exponent of political prophecies including Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, Archbishop (elect) Elijah Salifu Amoako, and more recently Nigel Gaisie. There are many more other such prophets, but this year, these trio have received maximum attention because of their contradictory predictions about who will win Ghanas 2020 general elections. While Salifu Amoako and Owusu Bempah are convinced that the New Patriotic Party (NPP), under the leadership of Nana Addo Danquah Akufu Addo, will retain power (with Salifu Amoako predicting 53 percent margin for the NPP), Nigel Gaisie thinks that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by John Dramani Mahama, will win the elections. The differences in prediction (prophecies) have caused the irk of some other pastors to run unchecked with insults. One such pastor, also a prophet, is Kofi Oduro. Kofi Oduro took to his church space to lambast and lampoon the political prophets in Ghana. He used very unsavoury words like prostitutes, sex maniacs, corrupt, and hypocrites to characterise the political prophets. In response, Salifu Amoako and Owusu Bempah have equally descended mercilessly on Kofi Oduro. Owusu Bempah has also used unprintable words to expose Kofi Oduro. In the end, Ghanaians find themselves in a quagmire of religious verbal assaults. Social media has mediated the extent to which the insults and counter-insults are publicised. It is, therefore, easy for Ghanaians who are frustrated with these prophets to join the fray to cast aspersions against Christianity in general. In the whirlwind of all this, my position is that the quest to know the future will continue to be with us and signify our humanity. Knowing the future can lead human beings to engage in all forms of occultic practices, including numerology, astrology, palmistry etc. But, regardless of how we seek to know the future, it is important for political prophets to respect each others unique prophecies. This is precisely because none of them controls the world. All of them may have the right to claim that God spoke to them, but we need to democratise the charisma and the gifts of the prophets, such that it is pointless to attack prophecies. Everyone should have the right to prophesy since it is part of ones constitutional right. One of the points at which prophecies could be controlled is when its content explicitly portends danger to the peace of Ghana. Until then, we should treat all these prophecies as part of humans quest to unveil the future. Since God alone controls the three dimensions of time, we should just stay cool and count on Him to rule His world. In the end, whether NPP or NDC wins 2020 elections, Jesus Christ is still the King of the universe. Satyagraha Charles Prempeh ([email protected]), African University College of Communications, Accra VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winshear Gold Corp. ("Winshear" or the Company") (TSX-V: WINS) reports that on January 10, 2020 it delivered to the Attorney General of Tanzania a Notice of Intent to Submit a Claim to Arbitration (Notice of Intent) in accordance with the 2013 Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (Bilateral Investment Treaty or BIT) between Canada and Tanzania. Winshear has thereby formally notified the Tanzanian government that there exists an investment dispute between Winshear and the Government. The dispute arises out of certain acts and omissions of the United Republic of Tanzania in breach of the BIT and international law, relating to the Companys investment in the SMP Gold Project located in SW Tanzania. The Company commenced exploration activities on the SMP Gold Project in 2006. Subsequently, the Company, through its Tanzanian subsidiary, applied for and was granted 4 Retention Licences which covered the mineral resource areas. Retention Licences were valid for a period of 5 years and could be extended for a second period of 5 years before applying for a Mining Licence. In 2017 the Government of Tanzania announced wide-ranging and severe amendments to the Mining Act 2010, which, inter alia, abolished the legislative basis for the Retention Licence classification with no replacement classification. On 10 January 2018 Tanzania published the Mining (Mineral Rights) Regulations 2018. Under Regulation 21 of said Regulations, Tanzania cancelled all retention licences issued prior to 10 January 2018 at which point they ceased to have any legal effect. The rights over all areas under retention licences, including those under the SMP Retention Licences, were immediately transferred to the government of Tanzania. On 19 December 2019, the Mining Commission of Tanzania announced a public invitation to tender for the joint development of areas previously covered by Retention Licences, including the SMP Retention Licences (the 19 December Tender). Story continues The abolition of the SMP Retention Licences and the removal of the rights to the land conferred thereunder has rendered the Project valueless. Thus, as a direct consequence of the legislative, regulatory and other measures by Tanzania, the Company has lost completely its investment. The Notice of Intent is necessary in order to preserve the Companys rights to initiate arbitration should a resolution with the Tanzanian government not be reached. The filing of the Notice of Intent initiates a six-month consultation period between the parties during which time they are to attempt to amicably settle the dispute. If no amicable settlement is reached in that six-month period, the Company may then initiate international arbitration proceedings against Tanzania in accordance with the BIT. Winshear confirms that it is taking all necessary actions to preserve its rights and protect its investments in Tanzania. The Companys desire is for both parties to reach a mutually acceptable outcome. If such an outcome is not achieved within the next six months, the Company expects it will have no alternative but to pursue its claims before an international tribunal and seek full compensation for damages the Company has suffered as a result of Tanzanias acts and omissions. Winshear has retained international arbitration counsel to advise. The Company will consider any other actions necessary to ensure its rights are preserved. For more information please contact Irene Dorsman on (604) 210-8751. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard D. Williams Richard D. Williams, P.Geo 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. The White House is considering dramatically expanding its much-litigated travel ban to additional countries amid a renewed election-year focus on immigration by President Donald Trump, according to six people familiar with the deliberations. A document outlining the plans - timed to coincide with the third anniversary of Trump's January 2017 executive order - has been circulating the White House. But the countries that would be affected if it moves forward are blacked out, according to two of the people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the measure has yet to be finalized. The White House is considering dramatically expanding its much-litigated travel ban to additional countries amid a renewed election-year focus on immigration by President Donald Trump, according to six people familiar with the deliberations People protest Donald Trump's travel ban from Muslim majority countries at the International terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles a day after the ban was announced Trump, who had floated banning all Muslims from entering the country during his 2016 campaign, sparking protests and a legal challenge to the ban which was introduced in January 2017 It's unclear exactly how many countries would be included in the expansion if it proceeds, but two of the people said that seven countries - a majority of them Muslim - would be added to the list. The most recent iteration of the ban includes restrictions on five majority-Muslim nations: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as well as Venezuela and North Korea. A different person said the expansion could include several countries that were covered in the first iteration of Trump's ban, but later removed amid rounds of contentious litigation. Iraq, Sudan and Chad, for instance, had originally been affected by the order, which the Supreme Court upheld in a 5-4 vote after the administration released a watered-down version intended to withstand legal scrutiny. Trump, who had floated a banning all Muslims from entering the country during his 2016 campaign, criticized his Justice Department for the changes, tweeting that DOJ 'should have stayed with the original Travel Ban, not the watered down, politically correct version they submitted to S.C.' The countries on the proposed expansion list include allies that fall short on certain security measures. The additional restrictions were proposed by Department of Homeland Security officials following a review of security protocols and 'identity management' for about 200 countries, according to the person. White House House spokesman Hogan Gidley declined to confirm the plan, but praised the travel ban for making the country safer. Several people said they expected the announcement of the new iteration of the ban to be timed to coincide with the third anniversary of Trump's first, explosive travel ban, which was announced without warning on January 27, 2017 - days after Trump took office The initial January 2017 order sparked an uproar, with massive protests across the nation and chaos at airports where passengers were detained 'The Travel Ban has been very successful in protecting our Country and raising the security baseline around the world,' he said in a statement. 'While there are no new announcements at this time, common-sense and national security both dictate that if a country wants to fully participate in U.S. immigration programs, they should also comply with all security and counter-terrorism measures - because we do not want to import terrorism or any other national security threat into the United States.' Several of the people said they expected the announcement to be timed to coincide with the third anniversary of Trump's first, explosive travel ban, which was announced without warning on January 27, 2017 - days after Trump took office. That order sparked an uproar, with massive protests across the nation and chaos at airports where passengers were detained. The current ban suspends immigrant and non-immigrant visas to applicants from the affected countries, but it allows exceptions, including for students and those who have established 'significant contacts' in the US. And it represents a significant softening from Trump's initial order, which had suspended travel from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days, blocked refugee admissions for 120 days and suspended travel from Syria. People gathered to protest against the travel ban at O'Hare airport in Chicago on January 28, 2017 - a day after it was announced Protesters also rallied in front of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York for days after the ban was announced Airports across the country, including LAX Airport in Los Angeles, were filled with protesters John Wider holds a sign that reads "Welcome Muslims" as he walks through the International arrivals section at Los Angeles International Airport in June 2017 - six months after the ban was introduced That order was immediately blocked by the courts, prompting a months-long effort by the administration to develop clear standards and federal review processes to try to withstand legal muster. Under the current system, restrictions are targeted at countries the Department of Homeland Security says fail to share sufficient information with the U.S. or havent taken necessary security precautions, such as issuing electronic passports with biometric information and sharing information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories. Under the existing order, Cabinet secretaries are also required to update the president regularly on whether countries are abiding by the new immigration security benchmarks. Countries that fail to comply risk new restrictions and limitations, while countries that comply can have their restrictions lifted. The discussions come as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prepares to transmit to the Senate the articles of impeachment the Democratic-led House passed against Trump late last year, launching a formal impeachment trial just as the 2020 election year gets underway. Trump in December became just the third president in history to be impeached by the House. The Republican-controlled Senate is not expected to remove him from office. Trump ran his 2016 campaign promising to crack down on illegal immigration and spent much of his first term fighting lawsuits trying to halt his push to build a wall along the southern border, prohibit the entry of citizens from several majority-Muslim countries and crack down on migrants seeking asylum in the U.S., amid other measures. He is expected to press those efforts again this year as he ramps up his reelection campaign and works to energize his base with his signature issue, inevitably stoking Democratic anger. Just this week, a coalition of leading civil rights organizations urged House leaders to take up the No Ban Act, legislation to end Trumps travel ban and prevent a new one. The bill introduced last year by Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., with Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., in the Senate, would impose limits on the presidents ability to restrict entry to the U.S. It would require the administration to spell out its reasons for the restrictions and specifically prohibit religious discrimination. Angola, IN (46703) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 26F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 24F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Defence experts on Saturday backed Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane over his remarks concerning Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said the armed forces have the capability to take back territory illegally occupied by Pakistan. Maj Gen (retd) GD Bakshi said that the Army chief has made a "statement of fact". "The Army chief has made a statement of fact that the Indian parliament had passed a clear resolution that all of Jammu and Kashmir including PoK is a part of India. If the government of India orders Indian armed forces to recapture that area, Army Chief has clearly said that forces will obey and carry out these orders. They are capable of retaking PoK and they will do it as soon as ordered," Maj Gen GD Bakshi told ANI. "Indian Army works on the orders of the civilian government and such orders when passed, will be fully implemented. This is the statement of fact that Army chief has made," he added. Wing Commander (retd) Praful Bakshi said rules of engagement of Army were absolutely clear. "They are only waiting for a green signal to carry out operations in PoK to take it back," he said. The Army chief had said during the customary Army Day press conference that there was a parliamentary resolution that entire Jammu and Kashmir region is a part of India. He said when Indian Army gets orders, it will take appropriate action to take back territory under illegal occupation of Pakistan. (ANI) London (AFP) - The British government announced Friday that it has formally requested the extradition of the wife of a US diplomat who left the country after being involved in a car accident that killed a teenager. "Following the Crown Prosecution Service's charging decision, the Home Office has sent an extradition request to the United States for Anne Sacoolas on charges of causing death by dangerous driving," a Home Office spokesman said. "This is now a decision for the US authorities." The case of Anna Sacoolas, 42, has been a thorn in London's close relations with Washington, stirring up debates over the limits of diplomatic immunity in cases unrelated to national security. It has been a political headache for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is cultivating trade relations with Washington in a bid to offset the potential damage of Britain's withdrawal from the EU. Briton Harry Dunn, 19, died on August 27 when his motorbike collided with a car driving on the wrong side of the road near an airbase in Northamptonshire, central England, which is used by the US military as a communications hub. Sacoolas admitted in October to being the driver, but has cited immunity while refusing to return to Britain to face justice, as Dunn's parents demand. Last month the US State Department said it was "disappointed" that Britain had charged Sacoolas, asserting that in Washington's view she does enjoy diplomatic immunity in the case. Dunn family spokesman Radd Seiger said the extradition request was a "monumentally large step in the right direction" and that the grieving parents were "happy" and "relieved" at the development. He added that was "100 percent" sure that Sacoolas would return to the UK. US President Donald Trump has called the crash a "terrible accident," saying it was common for Americans in Britain to have a hard time driving on the left side of the road. Huawei P20 Pro EMUI 10 update will roll out in India this month, Europe will get it in March Huawei released the Android 10-based EMUI 10 stable update for the Y9 Prime (2019) in India yesterday, and now we learn that the next smartphone in line to get a taste of stable EMUI 10 in the country is the P20 Pro. While replying to a user on Twitter, Huawei's Indian branch revealed that the stable build of EMUI 10 for the P20 Pro will be released in the country this month. The company didn't share the exact date of the rollout but said that the release is expected in mid-January, meaning it should start seeding sometime next week. However, European users of the P20 Pro will have to wait more since Huawei's German branch said that the rollout is slated to begin in March, and it will take up to four weeks to cover all the units. Machine translated from German We'll report the rollout of Android 10-based EMUI 10 once it begins, and if you get a pop-up on your device for the update, let us know by sending a tip through here. Source 1, 2 (in German) | Via The Congress on Saturday demanded immediate withdrawal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and stopping forthwith the process of National Population Register, accusing the government of using brute majority to impose its "divisive" and "discriminatory" agenda. Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the "sinister" purpose of the controversial citizenship law was to divide people on religious lines, and asserted that the NPR was not a benign exercise but "disguised NRC". Addressing the crucial meeting of the Congress Working Committee, Gandhi also demanded that a comprehensive high-powered commission be constituted to enquire into the incidents of violence during anti-CAA protests. While Rahul Gandhi was not present at Saturday's CWC meeting, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and top leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, AK Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge, Ambika Soni and K C Venugopal attended the meet. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, when asked about Rahul Gandhi's absence, said, "Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is currently travelling and will be available from tomorrow (Sunday) morning onwards". After over two hours of deliberations on the issues of student protests, the amended citizenship law and NRC, the economic and agrarian crisis in the country, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the mounting tensions between US and Iran in the Gulf, the meeting adopted a resolution and a statement was also issued by the party. "The CWC demands that the Citizenship Amendment Act should be withdrawn and the process of NPR be stopped forthwith," the party said in a statement. Expressing "deep anguish", the CWC said it condemned the "insensitive" response of the government and the "blatant use of state power" to silence the voices of dissent. "The BJP government has used its brute majority to impose its divisive and discriminatory agenda in an insensitive manner. CWC cautions the government that its pursuit of divisive agenda with the sole objective of polarisation may give short term political dividends, but will create deep fissures in society undermining national unity and social stability," the party said. That presents a serious challenge to internal security and makes India vulnerable to hostile external forces, it said. Sonia Gandhi said the CAA is a "discriminatory and divisive" law. "The sinister purpose of the law is clear to every patriotic, tolerant and secular Indian: it is to divide the Indian people on religious lines," she alleged. "At first, the government thought that the NRC exercise could be carried out throughout the country. After the disastrous results of the Assam NRC, the government has hit upon the idea of NPR. Let us not be under any illusion that the NPR is a benign exercise. In form and content, NPR 2020 is a disguised NRC," she said. She also said that as a party in government in several states, Congress must take a wise and uniform decision on NPR. The party later said the government has not only failed to deliver on its promises, but has also aggravated a grim situation by its "insensitivity, flawed policies and a divisive agenda". "The callous and undemocratic attitude of the BJP government is a matter of serious national concern. The ill-conceived CAA has led to spontaneous nationwide protests. It has raised bonafide questions regarding its Constitutional validity and political morality," the party said, adding that the law and proposed NRC have created fear and anxiety among religious and linguistic minorities, tribals and the poor. The resolution adopted by the CWC said the Modi government has "unleashed the entire might of the brute state power to suppress, subjugate and stifle the voice of the youth and students across the country. Prime Minister and the BJP government have betrayed the trust of the youth". It further said: "The Modi government is systematically attacking the culture of creative thinking and learning, of questioning the hierarchy and of inculcating the culture of assimilation and cohabitation. The BJP government realizes that students and the young cannot be divided through its sectarian agenda. Hence, a designed conspiracy has been unleashed to attack the centres of creative and independent thinking". Sonia Gandhi said as students protests are gaining momentum, it is clear that the government is digging in its heels. "Not a day passes without the Home Minister, and on some days the Prime Minister himself, making provocative statements," she said in a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We have no faith that either the UP state government or the LG of Delhi will bring the culprits to justice. We therefore demand that a comprehensive high-powered Commission should be constituted to enquire into the incidents connected with the anti-CAA protests and justice to the affected persons," Gandhi said. She hit out at the government over the state of the economy and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it has neither the wisdom nor the will to take measures to stop downslide in the economy. Gandhi said while people in J&K are denied fundamental rights, government makes farcical claims of normalcy and arranges guided tours for diplomats, referring to the visit of 15 envoys including US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster to J&K. The party's top body also called for lifting of curbs and restoration of civil liberties in Jammu and Kashmir. On chinks in opposition unity, Surjewala said this is not a fight of political parties or a Congress vs BJP contest. "So, it is no one political leader or not one political party's fight and I sincerely hope that political leaders across the spectrum would see this obvious truth." Expressing concern over the economic situation in the country, the CWC called upon the government to reveal its roadmap for reviving the economy, investor confidence and job creation. It also expressed deep concerns over the recent developments in the Gulf region where tensions have spiralled between the US and Iran over the killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the situation in the Middle East with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper during a phone conversation, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday. "The situation in the Middle East region was discussed," the ministry said in a statement. Tensions soared in the Middle East after a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 3 killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. Iran fired missiles on Wednesday in retaliation, striking military bases which house U.S. troops in Iraq's western province of Anbar. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted afterwards that "we do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression." U.S. President Donald Trump said that no U.S. casualties resulted from Iran's missile attack, adding that the United States would impose additional sanctions against Tehran. RTHK: India blows up luxury high-rises for rule violation Two luxury waterfront high-rises in southern India were reduced to rubble in controlled explosions on Saturday in a rare example of authorities getting tough on builders who break environmental rules. The 19-floor H2O Holy Faith complex of 90 flats overlooking Kerala state's famous lush backwaters was the first to go down, collapsing in just a matter of few seconds. A thick grey cloud of dust and debris cascaded down after officials detonated explosives drilled into the walls of the building, which had been occupied for several years until the Supreme Court ruled last May that it was constructed in violation of coastal regulations. Minutes later, the twin towers of Alfa Serene separated by a narrow stretch of backwaters tumbled down with an ear-splitting noise. The remaining two complexes will be razed on Sunday. A crowd of onlookers who flocked to nearby terraces and roads watched the demolition, after officials onboard helicopters conducted aerial surveys. India has seen a construction boom in recent years but developers have often ridden roughshod over safety and other regulations, and with the connivance of local officials. The inhabitants of the razed apartment blocks in the well-off Maradu district of Kochi city had bought their 343 flats in good faith and now face a lengthy legal fight to recoup their money. Some had invested their life savings. Sirens went off on Saturday warning people gathered for the demolition to remain at a safe distance while ambulances and fire engines stood on standby. Over 2,000 residents living in the neighbourhood were evacuated as a part of safety measures. The demolition capped a saga that began in 2006 when a local governing body granted permission to private builders to erect the high-rises. But last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the builders were in breach of rules about construction in an ecologically sensitive coastal zone, calling it a "colossal loss" to the environment. Kerala is famed for its backwaters, brackish lagoons and lakes that run parallel to the Arabian Sea creating an environmentally fragile region. In 2018, the state was battered by its worst floods in almost a century that killed more than 400 people. Experts blamed the disaster on the government's eagerness to build houses, hotels and resorts with little regard for coastal planning regulations. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-01-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's president, looks on during a news conference at the Presidential Palace in Taipei, Taiwan, on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has won a second term, signaling strong voter support for her tough stance against China. Tsai defeated two challengers in Saturday's election Han Kuo-yu of the rival Nationalist Party and James Soong of the smaller People First Party. Han told supporters in the southern port city of Kaohsiung that he had called to congratulate Tsai on her victory. Voters chose Tsai's tough stance against China over Han's arguments for friendlier ties with Beijing, which considers self-governing Taiwan a renegade province to be brought under its control, by force if necessary. China's communist leaders have taken an especially hard line against Tsai since her 2016 inauguration, infuriated by her refusal to endorse its claim that Taiwan and the mainland belong to a single China. Her victory will likely deepen that deadlock and ratchet up pressure from Beijing. Taiwan's independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen appeared headed for a landslide victory and a second term on Saturday with more than 70% of precincts reporting election tallies. Results from the Central Election Commission showed Tsai, with 58% of the vote, holding a healthy lead over her closest challenger, Han Kuo-yu of the Nationalist Party, who had 38%. A third candidate, James Soong, had 4%. The mood was jubilant at the headquarters of Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei, the capital, with supporters cheering as her tally climbed. At a gathering in Kaohsiung, where Han is mayor, it was much grimmer, with some wiping away tears. The self-governing island was expected to know later Saturday whether Tsai had triumphed with her tough stance toward China. Taiwan has developed its own identity since separating from China during civil war in 1949 but has never declared formal independence. Beijing still claims sovereignty over the island of 23 million people and threatens to use force to seize control if necessary. "I hope every citizen can come out and vote," Tsai said after casting her vote in Taipei. "You should exercise your rights to make democracy stronger in Taiwan." Han voted in Kaohsiung, where he is mayor. For many in Taiwan, months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory, have driven home the contrast between their democratically governed island and authoritarian, communist-ruled mainland China. Tsai portrayed the election as a chance to protect Taiwan's democracy. "Let us tell the world with our own votes that Taiwanese are determined to defend sovereignty, determined to guard democracy and determined to persist in reforms," she said at a rally late Friday. The Nationalist Party's Han has said Taiwan should be more open to negotiations with China, in contrast to Tsai, who has dismissed Beijing's overtures. At his last rally, attended by hundreds of thousands of people in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, he focused on practical issues such as improving education and the economy. "I want to attract massive investments. I want products to be exported nonstop," he said. The Hong Kong protests have undermined support in Taiwan for the "one country, two systems" approach Beijing has championed for governing both that former British colony and Taiwan. Fears of Chinese interference in Taiwan's politics and an uptick in the economy helped Tsai regain an edge after a dire electoral setback for her Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, 14 months ago. "The reason why I vote for her is for upholding the value of Taiwan's freedom and democracy and that should not be affected by the other side of the strait (China)," Lucy Ting, a college student, said at Tsai's rally on Friday. The Nationalists have struggled to find candidates who can fire up their pro-China supporters and win over young Taiwanese who increasingly favor the DPP. A second term for Tsai is expected to draw more diplomatic, economic and military pressure from Beijing on the island, in a continuation of Chinese President Xi Jinping's campaign to compel her administration to endorse its insistence that Taiwan is a part of China. Tsai has refused to do so, maintaining that Beijing has no claim over Taiwan, although her government has repeatedly called for the reopening of talks between the sides without preconditions. Since its transition to full democracy beginning in the 1980s, Taiwan has increasingly asserted its independent identity from China even though it is not recognized by the United Nations or any major nation. The island of more than 23 million people exercises all the roles of a sovereign nation, issuing its own passports, maintaining its own military and legal system and serving as a crucial hub in the global high-tech supply chain. If reelected, Tsai will face challenges in trying to reform the government and economy and push through unpopular cuts in generous civil service pensions. Someone has paid $3.74 million for the star of the most celebrated car chase in film history the 1968 "Bullitt" Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen over the streets of San Francisco. It's the largest price ever paid for a muscle car. The iconic Ford crossed the auction block Friday at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Fla., during the world's largest collector car auction. The winning bid was $3.4 million, but auction fees ramped the total up to $3.74 million. The buyer's name was not disclosed McQueen's legendary car was long thought to be lost and rusting away in some forgotten junkyard. But in 2017, nearly a half century after it disappeared, it resurfaced. Actually, it was never lost; it just kept a low profile. In 1974, a New Jersey insurance executive named Robert Kiernan was shocked to see the car offered in a classified ad in Road & Track magazine, according to Vanity Fair. The 390-horsepower V-8 in Ford's Highland Green paint still had the original movie camera mounts and a hole in the trunk for a smoke machine. Kiernan paid $6,000 so he could use the souped-up piece of cinematic history as his daily driver. "It was unbelievable I mean, we had seen the movie, and then to see the car," Kiernan's wife, Robbie, told CBS News. McQueen eventually tracked down the car and twice tried to buy it back, but Robert Kiernan wasn't interested. Vanity Fair's Brett Berk writes that Kiernan drove the Mustang for about six years, adding 30,000 miles to the odometer before the clutch gave out in 1980. He then retired it to a garage on the family's property. Kiernan, who died in 2014, never drove it again. But with the film marking its 50th anniversary in 2018, Kiernan's son, Sean, decided to get the car in driving shape again. But it still retains the original finish, now an oxidized patina with a smattering of rust spots. ALSO: Is the Dodge Demon a muscle car so powerful it can pop wheelies a danger to other drivers? There were actually two identical Mustangs in the 1968 film. The Kiernans' was the "hero car," which is shown throughout the film and was driven by McQueen mostly in casual driving scenes. The other car was the "jump car," or jumper car, used for the dramatic chase scenes. That's the Mustang you see catching air on a steep section of Taylor Street between Vallejo and Filbert streets, and landing violently as it careens downhill. The jump car was recently found in a scrap yard in Baja California, according to the Los Angeles Times. It has been restored. As for the "hero" Mustang, Robert Kiernan's decision to hold on to the car and not sell it to McQueen turned out to be a wise move. The car was expected to fetch between $3 million and $5 million. The selling price of $3.4 million might seem to be on the low side, but the classic car market has softened in the last two years. This article is an updated version of a story that previously appeared on SFGATE. Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate. Congratulations, xemdiemthidaihoc.edu.vn got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Xemdiemthidaihoc.edu.vn scored 63 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 23 Aug 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 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Type of server and offered services. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for xemdiemthidaihoc.edu.vn by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. 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 type of Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Even in Montreal, the city he calls home, Matthew Rankin is still considered a Winnipeg filmmaker, though he moved to the Quebec metropolis years ago. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Even in Montreal, the city he calls home, Matthew Rankin is still considered a Winnipeg filmmaker, though he moved to the Quebec metropolis years ago. Winnipeg-born filmaker Mathew Rankin laments the lack of current Canadian rascals. (Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press) That may have served as a feather in our cultural cap when Rankins first feature film, The Twentieth Century, won an award for best first Canadian feature at the Toronto International Film Festival last September. Rankin recalls one Montreal film reporter crowing that Montreal pretty much swept the awards at TIFF, but set "Winnipegger" Rankins win apart. But, as Rankin says, the comic, hallucinatory film depicting the formative years of future prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, was shot entirely in Montreal. That includes a scene set in Winnipeg that depicts the city in the late 1890s as a garbage-strewn hellhole largely populated by debased boot fetishists. "This is my first film without any Winnipeggers in it at all. Not even Rob Vilar," he says, referring to the local actor who serves as unofficial muse to many a Winnipeg filmmaker. (Vilar starred as Nikola Tesla in Rankins short film The Tesla World Light, among other credits.) Still, the Winnipeg connection persists, which is just as well since, commencing Saturday, the Winnipeg Film Group which helped nurture Rankins career is presenting the local premiere of The Twentieth Century, and showcasing many of his short films in the bargain, including I Dream of Driftwood, Cattle Call, Negativipeg, Mynarski: Death Plummet and Tesla World Light. Rankins Winnipeg fans are not likely to be offended by the films hilariously vile depiction of Winnipeg. It comes from a clear-eyed, warts-and-all love for the city. While The Twentieth Century offers up a decidedly cartoonish depiction of Mackenzie Kings rise to power, it still could be considered a historical document of sorts. (Canadian filmmakers are not exactly lining up to make Mackenzie King biopics, lets face it.) Rankin acknowledges a debt to his father, Laird Rankin, who died in 2017. The elder Rankin was, among other things, the executive director of Canadas National History Society and publisher of the Societys magazine, The Beaver (since retitled Canadas History). "He was very committed to Winnipeg culture and really believed in Winnipeg as a cultural capital," Rankin recalls. "I certainly absorbed a lot of my interest in history from him, as well as an interest in becoming a cultural citizen." Surreal 'biopic' of former PM delivers deadpan delights Click to Expand TIFF Mackenzie King (Dan Beirne) gets a whiff of what Canada is about in The Twentieth Century. Posted: 7:00 PM Jan. 10, 2020 A fabulist take on the formative years of William Lyon Mackenzie King, The Twentieth Century premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, where it screened in the Midnight Madness program and took home the Best Canadian First Feature Film award. How a movie about an influential Canadian prime minister might end up in the Midnight Madness slot rather than the Dull, Dutiful Drama category is all down to Winnipeg-raised, Quebec-based filmmaker Matthew Rankin, who rightfully describes this highly stylized, deliriously kinky historical comedy as a Canadian Heritage Minute from hell. Read Full Story His death, Rankin says, compelled "a realignment in my own life. It has brought me closer to Winnipeg." As for the films portrayal of the city as a nexus of grungy fleshpots, Rankin says it was partly inspired by the citys depiction in other films. "The film contains little micro-references to, I think, every Winnipeg film ever made," he says. "I think maybe that there is kind of a competition among Winnipeg artists about who can represent Winnipeg in the weirdest way possible. Its an ongoing game that Winnipeg artists play." Rankin cites particular inspiration in Noam Gonicks 2001 film Hey, Happy, a post-apocalyptic satire that used Garbage Hill (a.k.a Westview Park) as a principal location. "The idea of of the town dump that has been converted to a public park where you can have a picnic and go for tobogganing, its sort of a wonderful Winnipeg metaphor," Rankin says. "So I kind of riffed on that idea Winnipeg is presented as a sort of massive island rubbish heap in which a very old-world civilization has been carved out by troglodytes and fetishists. So its a little bit of a tribute to Noam Gonick." 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. Rankin says the film is also a deliberate contradiction to rosier depictions of the era as seen on a never-ending string of CBC shows from Road to Avonlea to Murdoch Mysteries that uncritically mythologize the past. Dan Beirne (in paper bag) as Canadas 10th prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King,. "There is this kind of government-formated version of the past which is very comforting and very nostalgic," he says. "Theres not even any satire that bites right now. The extent of our satire is Rick Mercer paint-balling with Jann Arden thats where it ends, " he says. "There arent any rascals." randall.king@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @FreepKing If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. France and Germany have failed to keep their pledges of spending at least 2 percent of GDP on defence, Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki said in an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt, published on Saturday. The 2 pct of GDP spending level is an official NATO recommendation for all its member countries. "If NATO suffers from something, then it is lack of involvement of some member states. France and Germany are among the countries that so far have not kept their own pledges to spend 2 pct of their GDP on defence. In such a situation, how is NATO supposed to meet expectations?" the Polish prime minister said. He also disagreed with French President Emmanuel Macron's opinion that NATO is "brain dead." Morawiecki said Eastern Europe has increased their defence co-operation. He expressed hope that Berlin will better understand the concerns of his region than Paris does, saying he is sceptical about France's efforts to normalise relations with Russia. A true normalisation of relations with Kremlin would require Moscow's withdrawal from the Crimean Peninsula that it annexed from Ukraine in 2014 and ending its infiltration of the breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. Morawiecki also criticised Russia's role in Syria and its strategic gas pipeline project, the Nord Stream 2, which is being built in collaboration with Germany and which bypasses Eastern Europe, making the region more vulnerable to energy blackmail from Russia. "We need to avert the worst scenario: Moscow should never be able to blackmail the EU with stopping gas supplies. We need to diversify our energy sources so that we don't become dependent on Russia," Morawiecki said. Asked about Poland's dependence on coal and a related potential conflict with the EU, which seeks climate neutrality, Morawiecki said that Poland had not chosen its energy mix, it was chosen for it by the Soviet Union, as the country was part of the Soviet bloc until 1989. "We agree with the basic goal that energy supplies in Europe must become more environmentally friendly. At the same time we ask our partners to acknowledge that Poland must walk a longer way to CO2 emissions neutrality than many other EU member states," Morawiecki argued. At an EU summit in late 2019, all member states, except Poland, provisionally agreed to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The Polish prime minister also expressed concerns about anti-American sentiment in some EU member countries. He said that without the US, Europe will not be able to counter Russia's hybrid attacks and growing Chinese influence. (PAP) jd/mr/ Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Saturday blamed outsiders for last Sundays violence inside the campus when a masked mob assaulted and injured many students and teachers. Jagadesh Kumars comments a day after Delhi Police said nine students, including JNU students union president Aishe Ghosh and several students from Left-wing groups, were behind the January 5 violence. Aishe Ghosh was one of those injured in the attack. This is a problem that many illegal students are staying in hostels. They could be outsiders. They may be participating in any possible violence because they have nothing to do with the university, Jagadesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The terror created by some of the activist students went to such an extent that many of our students had to leave the hostels. From the past several days, we have enhanced security in the campus to make sure that innocent students are not hurt, he said while interacting with students. Ghosh, Chunchun Kumar, Pankaj Mishra, Vaskar Vijay Mech, Sucheta Talukdar, Priya Ranjan, Vikas Patel, Yogendra Bhardwaj, and Dolan Samanta are the suspects, whose photosmostly from cellphone video grabs of the violenceand names were released by the police. Officials have said they will ask them to join the investigation for their involvement in different incidents of campus violence on Friday, Saturday and Sunday last week. The police version of the events, which is different from the prevailing narrative of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad or ABVP being responsible for the violence of Sunday evening, was immediately contested by JNUSU. Joy Tirkey, head of the polices special investigation team (SIT) probing the violence, said the students involved in the violence were from the Students Front of India (SFI), All India Students Federation (AISF), All India Students Association (AISA), and Democratic Students Federation (DSF). Tirkey did not name Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad or any suspect from the right-wing party, which has been accused of perpetrating the violence on Sunday evening. JNUSUs general secretary, Satish Yadav, denied the polices allegations. Police are trying to give a new turn to the case by naming all Left organisations in their distorted investigation. The members of Left organisations were beaten up by the ABVP, Yadav said. Police did not even use the words ABVP in the briefing. Its a politically motivated investigation and the briefing was held to name JNUSU members, he added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a video message after talking with the President of Iran President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Ukrainians regarding the crash of Boeing 737 in Tehran. The press service of the Office of the President reported this. Zelenskys address was announced after consultations with a group of Ukrainian experts who work on the site of the tragedy, and with international partners and after a telephone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. "In these difficult days, I want to say the following. I will return all the deceased to their families. They will be able to say goodbye to them. We honor their memory. All those guilty will be punished, Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainians after a telephone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Ruhani. As it was reported earlier, Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines, flight PS 752 with 176 passengers aboard crashed in Tehran, not far from Imam Khomeini airport. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani expressed his regret that missiles launched by his army by mistake led to the crash of Ukrainian plane in Tehran. "Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people," said Rouhani. He called a mistake that caused the tragedy unforgivable, and promised that the perpetrators would be identified and prosecuted. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Irans statement about a missile strike at Ukrainian Boeing 737, demanding to bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies of the dead and pay compensation for the catastrophe. **** Dear Ukrainians! I just had a phone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Ruhani. He makes his official apology to the entire Ukraine and relatives of those deceased and admits the fact that Iran had shot down a Ukrainian Boeing-737. Now I want and finally be able to tell you in detail about all the actions of the Ukrainian authorities, beginning from the tragic morning of January 8. Immediately after the plane crash, the emergency response center of the National Security and Defence Council has been created and began its work. The ambassador and consul of Ukraine in Iran arrived at the scene at Imam Khomeini International Airport. An extraordinary government meeting was held to decide to create and deploy a search and rescue group to Iran. It included 45 experts from the State Aviation Service, the National Bureau of Aviation Investigation and Civil Incidents, representatives from the National Security Council, Security Service of Ukraine, State Emergency Service, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ukrainian International Airlines. We have sent country's best specialists with extensive expertise. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine appealed to Iran, Canada, Sweden, and the United Kingdom to create an international investigative team. On January 9, at 3:30, our search and rescue team arrived in Tehran and began working on the site of the disaster in 2 hours. I had a conversation with the President of Iran regarding a clear and full interaction with our experts. They got access to fragments of the aircraft, flight recorders, radar records and flight operations officers at the flight control center. In the morning of January 9, the Secretary of the National Security Council voiced 4 major versions, including the possibility of a Ukrainian plane being hit by a missile. For prompt identification of the bodies, the DNA tests of the relatives were taken. including the relatives of a flight attendant, who reside on the temporarily occupied territory. I had consultations with our international partners - the Prime Ministers of Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Presidents of Iran and Afghanistan, and have underlined the need for joint actions to investigate the circumstances of this tragedy. Earlier this evening, statements from US, Canadian and UK leaders about the alleged downing of Ukraine's Boeing were aired. We urged all our international partners to provide data that would confirm this version. We worked systematically, without hysteria for one thing - to achieve the result, specifically to find out the truth about the circumstances of the plane crash. On January 10, I had a conversation with Secretary of State of the United States of America Michael Pompeo, I also had a meeting with US Charge d'Affaires in Ukraine Christina Quinn who provided me with important and useful for investigation information. Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Melinda Simmons also provided important information. I want to speak in praise about the work of Ukrainian experts in Iran. They have worked and continue to work dedicatedly, diligently and night and day. Their high professionalism and promptness, convincing preliminary findings and evidence found in Tehran did not allow to hide the truth. And today the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran has acknowledged the fact of the crash of the Ukrainian plane and admitted their fault in the plane crash. Undoubtedly this is also due to the support of international partners and the stubborn position of the international community. For this I express my sincere gratitude to the leaders of the USA, Canada, Great Britain, other countries, international organizations - on behalf of the Ukrainian people. Now a group of Ukrainian experts is continuing their work. A series of steps still needs to be taken to complete the investigation. They are currently trying to restore the plane. Returning to the conversation with the President of Iran. We agreed that he shall order to finish identifying the bodies of those deceased and prepare them to be returned to Ukraine as soon as possible in cooperation with Ukrainian experts. This should happen in the nearest future. We also agreed to start working on deciphering two aircraft cockpit voice recorders. We have agreed on full legal and technical cooperation, including the issue of compensation. We agreed that no one will get out of this. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine initiated a criminal case on the murder of Ukrainian citizens. The Government will provide financial assistance to the families of the victims. The country will also make every effort to obtain compensation from the airline, insurance companies and the Islamic Republic of Iran. I call on all our international partners of Ukraine, the entire world community, to stay united and persistent until the full and final investigation into all the circumstances of this disaster. We all need it. For the sake of a man who needs to feel safe in this turbulent world - on earth, water or in the air. Because a man and his life must be of the highest value to any government, any state, any politician. Dear Ukrainians! In these difficult days for everyone, I want to say the following. I will return all those deceased to their families and friends, they will be able to say goodbye. We honor their memory. All those guilty shall carry punishment. We will give back to not only a sense of security and justice to the Ukrainians but also the assurance that Ukraine will always protect you in any corner of the plane. **** (Translation from Ukrainian into English by 112.international) Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the steel ministry is looking at an aggregate investment of $70 billion in the eastern region of the country through accelerated development of the sector. Launching the 'Purvodaya' programme here, Pradhan said the underdeveloped districts in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, northern Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha have to be taken forward for development of the steel sector. The eastern region with rich mineral resources has a great potential for development of the steel industry, he said, adding that Bihar needs to be included in the list. According to the National Steel Policy announced in 2017, the government is aiming at a total production capacity of 300 million tonne by 2030 and out of which, around 200 million tonne is envisaged from the five eastern states, he said. Addressing an event organised by CII, Pradhan, minister of petroleum, natural gas and steel, said the region has rich deposits of coal, iron ore and bauxite. "As much as 90 million tonne of steel is produced in the east, out of the total production volume of 140 million tonne in the country," he said. The steel ministry's additional secretary Rasika Chaube said the eastern region has a "natural advantage and potential" to contribute to India's target of achieving an economy of $five trillion within 2024-25, adding that the sector has the capability to act as a catalyst. She said the 'Purvodaya' programme would also address the logistics and infrastructure bottlenecks in the eastern region. It also seeks setting up of greenfield plants and expansion of brownfield ones and constructing of clusters near the demand centres, Chaube added. "Task forces have also been set up for setting up pilot projects under the aegis of the steel ministry and inter-ministerial consultations will be held for the proposed clusters," she said. Coal India chairman and managing director Anil Jha said the miner has been focusing on minimising the imports of the fuel. "For this, we are looking to produce 900 million tonnes of coal by 2023-24 from the current level of 607 million tonnes," Jha said. SAIL chairman A K Chaudhary said the company has a strong presence in the east with five steel plants having production volume of 20 million tonnes while Indian Oil Corporation chairman Sanjiv Singh said the expansion of the gas and oil pipelines will boost demand for steel consumption. "Oil and gas has a strong linkage with the steel sector," he said. ALSO READ: Metal stocks rise as Trump says US-China to sign trade deal on January 15 ALSO READ: Tata Steel Europe stares at bleak future amid global and local concerns A Massachusetts correction officers union says an attack on a prison guard in Lancaster Friday was a direct result of criminal justice reforms that have made it more difficult for officers to do their jobs. The Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union released a statement Friday evening saying the assault that occurred on a correction officer at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster was due to relaxed rules and regulations promoted by inmates rights groups. At around 10:50 a.m. Friday a guard at the prison was surrounded and then assaulted by inmates in the prisons general population housing unit, a Department of Correction spokesperson said. Sources told MassLive it appears the inmates involved in the attack on the correction officer are members of the Latin Kings. The officer suffered a head injury and according to the unions press release, had undergone surgery at a local hospital. Two other guards who responded to help were also taken to area hospitals. Jason Dobson, Department of Correction Deputy Director of Communication, said six inmates were removed from the unit and the matter remains under investigation and the District Attorneys office has been notified. Inmates involved will face internal discipline, Dobson said. Union spokesperson Guy Glodis, former Sheriff of Worcester County, said in the release the Criminal Justice Reform Act, which was passed in 2016, has allowed inmates to manipulate the system and engage in violent action, increased gang activity, intimidation and assaults on officers and other inmates. A video released by the Department of Correction of the incident shows a correction officer talking with inmates before one of them punches the officer. Other inmates then pile on and begin attacking him before other officers raced to the scene to aid the officer. Information released by the department did not address the conditions that led to the attack. The Criminal Justice Reform Act shortened some long federal prison sentences and enforced rules to improve conditions for prisoners, among other things. In 2017 a major riot broke out at the prison following a fight between two prisoners. It resulted in 15 inmates being indicted. Another incident in August of last year resulted in the injury of five guards. The BJP asserted on Saturday that "no force on earth" can stall the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act and accused the Congress of duplicity over the law and the National Population Register process. The BJP's response came after the Congress Working Committee, the apex body of the opposition party, demanded in its meeting that the CAA be withdrawn and process of NPR be stopped forthwith. "The CAA has already come into effect and no force on earth can stall its implementation. In all its outreach efforts, the BJP has been highlighting the Congress' duplicity on CAA and NPR," BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said. He said the Congress had made a promise in Rajasthan election manifesto on citizenship for Hindu refugees. "Citizenship for Hindu refugees in Rajasthan and Gujarat was extended by the Manmohan Singh government on two occasions in 2005 and 2006," Rao said, adding Singh as leader of the opposition had demanded citizenship for religious minorities from Pakistan and Bangladesh. "On the NPR too, the Congress needs to explain why the NPR in 2010 was secular and acceptable while it becomes dangerous in 2020. On both CAA and NPR, the Congress is hypocritical. The BJP would expose the Congress party's double speak," Rao added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Saturday said that a new political party has become a necessity in Assam to oust the ruling BJP in the state. All parties must ensure the defeat of BJP as instead of addressing the people's demand for scrapping the Citizenship Amendment Act it has engaged in a show of strength by organising peace rallies in the state, he said. Hitting out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, the three-time chief minister said it has brought the entire country out in the streets to protest against the CAA and caused misery to the general people. The peace rallies by the BJP are an admission by the saffron party that under its rule peace in the state has been affected, Gogoi said. He said the people had trusted Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal but he has become a "puppet" of the Centre. "In his greed for power, Sonowal has back stabbed the people of the state ... The downfall of the BJP government in Assam has started and if he wants to survive, Sonowal must take steps to withdraw the Citizenship Amendment Act and prtect the indigenous people of Assam," he added. "A new political party has become a necessity. We (Congress) are not selfishly looking after our own interests as a new political party might inflict some damage on our party as well. But we are trying to protect the interests of the people of Assam," he said. "The BJP must go from power and all parties must ensure its defeat at the polls ... It is only if BJP is defeated in the state that we can ensure that CAA is not implemented in the state', Gogoi had said. Gogoi had earlier too called for all sections of the people to come together and had spoken of forming a new party if the need for it is felt to oust BJP from power. He also welcomed the Supreme Court's order for access to the internet Jammmu and Kashmir internet. "The Supreme Court has come to the rescue of the people of the country and to safeguard constitutional provisions along with freedom of speech," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 22:17:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the situation in Libya, the Kremlin said in a statement Saturday. "Vladimir Putin updated Mohammed Al Nahyan on the results of talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which took place in Istanbul on Jan. 8," the statement said. The two spoke in favor of accelerating efforts aimed at securing a prompt ceasefire in Libya and facilitating the peace process between the warring parties in the conflict, said the statement. Putin and Erdogan reached a consensus on Wednesday and urged to establish a ceasefire in Libya starting at midnight on Jan. 12. Libya has been mired in a civil war since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Several armed militias of different backgrounds have emerged and have been fighting each other to take power, although a peace deal was signed by the warring parties on Dec. 17, 2015 in the Moroccan city of Skhirat. Weather Alert SUB-ZERO WIND CHILLS LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING NW winds 10 to 20 mph will combine with temperatures in the upper single digits to the low teens late tonight into Tuesday morning. This will produce wind chills of -5 to -10 across the interior and 0 to -5 for coastal areas. If you need to be outside, be prepared for the wind and cold, and dress in layers and wear a hat, heavy coat, as well as gloves or mittens. Frostbite can occur in a short amount of time, so dress in layers and make sure all exposed skin is protected. Global oil demand could peak by 2030 with a rapid rise in electric vehicles, ride-sharing and self-driving vehicles. Trucks use 20% of the worlds oil and cars use 40%. This is from 1.5 billion cars. Total global trade is about $20 trillion out of a $90 trillion world economy. Oil and gas imports and exports are about $1 trillion of this trade. Currently, the impact is relatively modest. There was just over 5 million electric cars in the world at the end of 2018 and over 8 million electric cars at the end of 2019. An average car driving 21,000 miles with 30 mpg would use 700 gallons per year. This is about 17 barrels per year. 3 million electric cars would offset about 50 million barrels per year. This is about 136K barrels of oil per day. 13 million electric cars in the world at the end of 2020 would offset less than 1 million barrels of oil per day. The world has been increasing oil usage by about 2 million barrels of oil per day every year. It will take about 5-10 more years for electrification, ride-sharing and self-driving vehicles to offset 2 million barrels of oil per day every year. Most new cars and trucks would need to be electric cars for electrification to prevent the increase in oil demand. There is more offset from the electrification of buses, taxis or trucks. Buses and trucks are driven more and use more gas. They can use 10 to 40 times more fuel than a regular car. Taxis have 5 to ten times higher usage than a regular car. Ridesharing can help reduce fuel usage with carpooling rides but some places that had poor transportation increase the number of trips. The increased trips boosts economic activity and efficiency but there is an increase in fuel usage. Ridesharing can also generate extra fuel usage while drivers are roaming around without fares and driving to and from high demand locations at hotels and airports. In the 2030s, after peak oil demand is reached there will be the shifting of the global fleet of cars and trucks to electric. This would be new electric vehicles being added and old gas cars and trucks getting retired. This will enable almost all countries to become energy independent. China currently imports about 10 million barrels of oil per day out of the 14 million barrels of oil per day that they use. China, India, Japan and Europe could become energy independent around 2040 with mass electrification and the transformation of transportation. Saudi Arabia, Russia and other OPEC nations will see lower oil prices and the erosion of geopolitical power. The drop in energy dependence will also be accelerated if other countries are able to exploit natural gas via fracking and other means. Israel is using the recent Tamar natural gas deposit discovery to become energy independent and to begin exporting natural gas. China is developing shale gas in Sichuan. Zhao Wenzhi, an influential researcher at Chinas Academy of Engineering forecast that Chinas shale gas output could reach 280 bcm, or 23% of the countrys total gas output, by 2035. Zhao is president of Exploration and Production Institute at state giant PetroChina. In 2018, China produced about 10.9 bcm shale gas, less than 7% of the nations total gas output at 161 bcm. Chinas 2035 projected shale gas output would require companies drilling over 500 wells a year between 2019 and 2035. This would be double the 2018 level. Wang Xueke, a consultant at Wood Mackenzie, raised Chinas tight gas outlook to 85 bcm by 2040, up from an earlier forecast at 68 bcm. China has tough geology and technology challenges to master shale gas. However, this is strategically important. There will be massive funding to enable China to master natural gas. BAGHDAD - The U.S. rejected Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi's request to begin talks on the withdrawal of American troops, with the State Department saying it's open to discussing "force posture" in the country and the financial "partnership" between the two nations. "Any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership - not to discuss troop withdrawal, but our right, appropriate force posture in the Middle East," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement Friday. Abdul-Mahdi's demand during a Thursday phone call with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is the latest sign of eroding ties between the countries after the U.S. killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad. The drone strike on Qassem Soleimani, who oversaw Iran's foreign military operations, outraged Shiite politicians in Iraq, many of whom have close ties to Tehran. Their majority in parliament was enough to win a non-binding vote on expelling U.S. forces, though Sunni Arab and Kurdish legislators boycotted the session. If it happened, a U.S. pullout would bring an end to 17 years of American military presence in the Middle East nation following a 2003 invasion to oust Saddam Hussein. "His Excellency demanded that the U.S. Secretary of State send officials to Iraq to work out mechanisms to implement the decision of the parliament for the safe withdrawal of troops from Iraq," according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister's office. ADVERTISEMENT Pompeo told reporters at the White House Friday that Abdul-Mahdi "didn't quite characterize the conversation correctly." He said that "we are happy to continue the conversation with the Iraqis about what the right structure is" but "we're going to continue that mission." The U.S. statement on Friday said talks are underway with representatives of NATO about increasing the alliance's role in Iraq, "in line with the President's desire for burden sharing in all of our collective defense efforts." But it also carried the hint of a threat. "There does, however, need to be a conversation between the U.S. and Iraqi governments not just regarding security, but about our financial, economic, and diplomatic partnership," according to the statement. President Donald Trump responded angrily to the parliament vote, threatening to sanction Iraq and demanding reimbursement for investments made in the country over the past two decades if the government insists on U.S. forces leaving. After Iran on Wednesday fired a salvo of missiles at Iraqi bases where U.S. troops are stationed in retaliation for Soleimani's killing, both sides seemed to step back from the brink of open conflict. No Americans were injured in the missile barrage and Trump called Thursday for Iranian leaders to negotiate. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter that the missile attack "concluded" Iran's retaliation for Soleimani's killing. Even if Tehran refrains from further direct attacks, though, it might seek reprisals through more covert means, such as attacks by proxy militias or in cyberspace. Pentagon chief Mark Esper said early this week that he believes the Iraqi people and lawmakers still want the U.S. to maintain a presence in the country, though Abdul-Mahdi's statement would appear to contradict that position. U.S. forces in the country have increasingly focused on the fight against Islamic State, a battle in which they were at least nominally aligned with Shiite Iran's interests. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran soared after Trump in 2018 withdrew from the nuclear accord negotiated by his predecessor, President Barack Obama, and reimposed sanctions that have crushed the Islamic Republic's economy. ADVERTISEMENT Iran has responded by withdrawing from the nuclear deal in phases, while its proxy forces in Yemen, Iraq and Syria are seen as having been behind attacks on a range of targets including critical oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the region. Trump ordered Soleimani killed after a Dec. 27 rocket attack on a joint U.S.-Iraqi base near Kirkuk resulted in the death of an American contractor. The U.S. blamed the attack on an Iran-backed militia and killed its leader in the same strike that targeted Soleimani. The assassinations are the latest test for a nation that has seen almost nonstop upheaval since the U.S. invasion. Iraqis fed up with corruption and the slow pace of recovery from the wreckage left by the war with Islamic State took to the streets in October for protests that also targeted Iran's dominance of the country's politics. Iraq's top Shiite cleric on Friday denounced the "repeated violations" of the country's sovereignty and the government's inability to deter attacks. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said that no outside power should decide Iraq's fate. "The latest dangerous aggressive acts, which are repeated violations of Iraqi sovereignty, are a part of the deteriorating situation" in the region, he said, according to his representative, Ahmed Al-Safi. --- ADVERTISEMENT (Al-Ansary reported from Baghdad, Wadhams from Washington. Jennifer Jacobs and Jordan Fabian contributed to this report.) --- (c)2020 Bloomberg News Visit Bloomberg News at www.bloomberg.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Representative image Iran said Saturday it had unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian airliner that crashed this week outside Tehran killing 176 people, calling it an "unforgivable mistake". The statement sparked some relief that at least the immediate cause of the disaster would not be concealed amid international calls for a full accounting and compensation for the victims. Iran has invited the United States, Ukraine, Canada and others to join the crash investigation. Herewith are some of the remarks made by top leaders in response to Iran's statement on its responsibility for the crash. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that Iran punish those responsible, pay compensation and apologise. "We expect Iran... to bring the guilty to the courts," the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling for the "payment of compensation" and the return of remains. "We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction," Zelensky added He also urged "total access" to the full inquiry for 45 Ukrainian experts and in a tweet also sought an "official apology". Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with the country mourning the loss of many of its nationals, said closure and accountability were needed after Iran's announcement. He demanded "transparency, and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims. "This is a national tragedy, and all Canadians are mourning together," Trudeau's office said in a statement. Iran must "learn lessons" from the disaster, the chairman of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee said. "If decryption of the black boxes and the work of the investigation do not prove that the Iranian army did this intentionally, and there are no logical reasons for this, the incident must be closed. "Hoping that lessons will be learned and action taken by all parties," Konstantin Kosachev was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. French Defence Minister Florence Parly said it was "important to seize this moment to give space to discussions and negotiations" on the Iran nuclear deal. "The lessons that we should learn from the dramatic sequence of events that we have experienced... is that we must put an end to this escalation," Parly told France Inter radio. She reiterated the French position that everything must be done to salvage the landmark 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, which US President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018. Minister Heiko Maas said "it was important that Iran brought clarity to this issue. "Now Tehran needs to draw the right consequences in the continued appraisal of this dreadful catastrophe, and take measures to ensure that something like this cannot happen again," Mass told Funke media. Stefan Lofven said the "act should be condemned and Iran should assume all responsibility, including for the all persons affected. "Iran said the plane was shot down in error. This declaration constitutes the basis for a complete and transparent investigation which should shed light on all the circumstances surrounding the incident," a statement said. "We demand that Iran cooperates freely in the investigation and that the countries affected are allowed to participate using their national competencies and are fully informed about the investigation," he said. Foreign Minister Ann Linde tweeted that "the downing of a civilian plane even if it's not intentional must be condemned. We want Iran to fully cooperate in the investigation. Leaders from across the world pay their respects to Omans longest-serving leader who ruled for nearly 50 years. Omans Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, one of the Middle Easts longest-serving rulers who maintained the countrys neutrality in a volatile region, died on Friday. The 79-year-old leaders cousin Haitham bin Tariq Al Said was named as his successor in a smooth transition of power in the Gulf state. Oman has declared a three-day period of mourning and the countrys flag will be flown at half-mast for 40 days. With his death, the region lost a seasoned leader seen as the father of modern Oman, who balanced ties between two neighbours locked in a regional struggle, Saudi Arabia to the west and Iran to the north, as well as the United States. Oman played a crucial role in the negotiations that led to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which has been unravelling following President Donald Trumps 2018 decision to withdraw from it and reimpose crippling economic sanctions on Tehran. Under Qabooss leadership, the Sultanate also mediated talks between the warring sides in the continuing war in Yemen. Here are some of the reactions from leaders from around the world at the announcement of Qabooss passing: The United Kingdom British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was deeply saddened by the death of Qaboos. He was an exceptionally wise and respected leader who will be missed enormously, he said. I had the pleasure of meeting His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and was struck by his commitment to peace and understanding between nations and between faiths. Johnson noted that Qaboos left behind a profound legacy, not only in Oman but across the region too. Iran Irans top diplomat said the death of Sultan Qaboos was a loss for the region and expressed hopes that relations between the two nations will grow under his successor. We offer our dear neighbour Oman our condolences [and] we congratulate it for its selection of His Majesty Haitham bin Tariq as sultan, hoping our relations grow as they have before and that the future draws inspiration from the past, Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted in Arabic. Qatar Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said Qaboos was a great leader, characterised by wisdom, moderation and long-term vision, The Peninsula news website reported. The emir added that the late sultan had dedicated his life to serving his Oman and the Muslim ummah, and someone who rejected violence and extremism. The emir ordered a three day mourning period in the country, according to The Peninsula. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan offered his condolences, calling Qaboos a visionary. Oman has lost a beloved leader and Pakistan a close, trusted friend. May his soul rest in eternal peace, Khan said. I extend our deepest condolences to people of Oman on the passing of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary & transformed Oman into a vibrant, modern state.Oman has lost a beloved leader & Pakistan a close, trusted friend.May his soul rest in eternal peace Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 11, 2020 The United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (UAE) ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised Qaboos for his dedication to serving the Omani people, the countrys state news agency WAM reported. We express our sincere condolences to the Omani royal family and the people of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman on the death of the great late Sultan Qaboos. We express our full confidence that the people of Oman and its leadership will continue his blessed march serving the causes of the nation and advance the Arab joint action, WAM quoted Al Nahyan as saying. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said Oman and the Arab world have lost a wise leader and a [figure] of great historical stature. United States In the US, former President George W Bush issued a statement, saying he and former first lady Laura Bush are saddened by the sultans death. He was a stable force in the Middle East and a strong US ally. His Majesty had a vision for a modern, prosperous, and peaceful Oman, and he willed that vision into reality, Bush said, adding that he and his wife visited him in Muscat last fall. Turkey Turkey on Saturday extended condolences to Oman over the death of the longtime ruler. In a Twitter post, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: I wish Allahs mercy on Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said, who was a key figure for Omans welfare and development with his efforts as well as for the politics in our region. In a separate tweet, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu said: Heartfelt condolences to the brotherly people of #Oman who lost a visionary leader, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. May his soul rest in eternal peace. India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Qaboos was a beacon of peace for our region and the world. I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary leader and statesman who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation, Modi posted on Twitter. Modi said Sultan Qaboos was a true friend of India and provided strong leadership for developing a vibrant strategic partnership between India and Oman. I will always cherish the warmth and affection I received from him. May his soul rest in peace, he said. Prince Charles has rallied round his youngest son Prince Harry, who he fears has reached 'tipping point' as the fallout of his and Meghan Markle's decision to quit as senior Royals continues to rage. An insider claimed on Friday night the heir to the throne had vowed to support his son whatever the outcome of the turmoil currently engulfing the Sussexes. Meghan and Harry's bombshell announcement sent shockwaves reverberating throughout the Royal Family and forced crisis talks between the Queen, Charles and William, who was said to be furious with his brother for blindsiding them. Although Charles has been bunkered down in these discussions to develop a 'workable solution' to the couple's 'progressive' future, his primary concern is the welfare of his son. 'He [Charles] is absolutely clear in his mind that Harry is at a tipping point and has promised him he would do everything in his power to help him,' a source told the Mirror. Prince Charles has rallied round his youngest son Prince Harry, who he fears has reached 'tipping point' as the fallout of his and Meghan Markle's decision to quit as senior Royals continues to rage (pair pictured in Kensington in April 2019) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their intention to quit royal life yesterday - triggering intense discussions and a four-way conference call involving all four royal households 'Charles told him he would stand by him no matter what, but urged him to come up with a sensible plan that could be worked through in order to satisfy everyone.' Queen gives courtiers 72 hours to resolve Royal rift The Queen has ordered the new stripped-back roles of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to be resolved within the next 72 hours The Queen has ordered the new stripped-back roles of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to be determined within the next 72 hours. Her Majesty has reportedly also instructed officials to come up with a blueprint that could potentially apply to younger generations of the Royal Family. The Queen wants the crisis to last no longer than the six days that it took for Prince Andrew to announce his stepping back from royal duties after his car crash BBC Newsnight interview, the Telegraph reports. Her Majesty has reportedly also instructed courtiers to turn the crisis into an opportunity, and to hash out a 'workable solution' to the issue. According to the publication, the Queen has asked for a blueprint that is workable not just for Harry and Meghan but could also apply to following generations including Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Advertisement The Prince of Wales' concern for Harry was revealed as it emerged: The Queen laid down a 72-hour ultimatum for Palace officials to thrash out a solution for Harry and Meghan's future; The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are 'hopeful' talks about their role will be concluded swiftly; Meghan caught a BA flight to Vancouver to return to the island mansion where she stayed for Christmas and was believed to have left Archie with his nanny; A snap poll found 71 per cent of the public believe Harry and Meghan were wrong not to tell The Queen of their decision to quit in advance; Harry's biographer Penny Junor expressed fears the Prince was behaving wildly out of charachter; The Palace strongly denied ITV presenter Tom Bradbury's claim that Harry and Meghan were being 'driven out' of the monarchy; It emerged Meghan signed a voice-over deal with Disney in exchange for a donation to an elephant charity; Donald Trump said Harry and Meghan's decision was 'sad'; The Sussexes shared pictures of their secret trip to a Grenfell kitchen in West London the day before making the bombshell announcment. Harry has had heart-to-hearts with his father over the past few months where he made his dissatisfaction with his current role clear, the source added. But the second most senior Royal, 71, sees Meghan and Harry playing a crucial part in his vision for the monarchy when he takes the reigns. Another source close to the Prince of Wales said he believes the Sussexes are the monarchy's 'greatest asset' and has ordered officials to double down on efforts to keep the couple in the fold. The insider told the Mirror: 'There's a genuine fear from Charles that this could be the beginning of the end for Harry and Meghan's involvement with the family, and that in his words would be an "utter tragedy".' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who earlier this week revealed they would be stepping down as senior royals, returned to visit the women of The Hubb Community Kitchen The Queen, who spent Christmas at Sandringham with her family and usually stays at the estate until February, is embroiled in a full-blown crisis as senior royals including Princes Charles and William ordered their teams to find a 'workable solution' to Harry and Meghan's future roles Talks between Buckingham Palace and Sussex household officials to cement the couple's role going forward are believed to be making headway. Meghan and Harry are 'hopeful' that crunch talks determining their new stripped-back role in the Royal Family can be thrashed out 'sooner rather than later', a source revealed Friday night. Meghan and Harry 'hopeful' talks around their future will be concluded swiftly Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are 'hopeful' that crunch talks determining their new stripped-back role in the Royal Family can be thrashed out 'sooner rather than later', a source revealed tonight. The Duke and Duchess's announcement to 'step back' from their official duties and become 'financially independent' has thrown the Family into crisis, with the public demanding answers as to what their 'progressive' new role would be. The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William have held discussions to diffuse the situation and ordered Palace officials to quickly develop a 'workable solution' for Meghan and Harry's future. The three senior Royals closed ranks following Wednesday night's bombshell Instagram statement, but today a steely-faced Her Majesty broke cover to drive her car through Sandringham - a move choreographed to play down the crisis and show she was continuing her activities as normal. But behind closed doors, officials are working furiously to draw up a blueprint for Meghan and Harry's future role. A source close to the couple claimed Friday night negotiations between the Palace and the Sussex household are 'progressing well', in consultation with both the UK and Canadian government. They said: 'They, like everyone, are hopeful this can all be worked out, sooner rather than later. 'It is in everyone's interest for this to be figured out, and figured out quickly, but not at the expense of the outcome.' Advertisement The insider close to the couple negotiations between the Palace and the Sussex household are 'progressing well', in consultation with both the UK and Canadian government. They said: 'They, like everyone, are hopeful this can all be worked out, sooner rather than later. 'It is in everyone's interest for this to be figured out, and figured out quickly, but not at the expense of the outcome.' The revelation Charles plans to stand shoulder to shoulder with his embattled son no matter what came as the Prince's biographer said Harry was behaving wildly out of character. Penny Junor said that 'something is seriously amiss' with the Duke, who she said had morphed from a 'charming, cheerful, self-deprecating Jack the Lad' to a father weighed down by the emotions of parenthood who is on a path of self-destruction. Writing in the Daily Mail, she said: 'As a close observer of him as man and boy, I am worried about the new approach he is taking to life. The recklessness shown in his and Meghans seismic decision effectively to quit the Royal Family (except, seemingly, when it suits them) and forge their own "progressive" path while pursuing financial independence does not speak to me of a balanced or careful strategy, even if they have, as alleged, been plotting it for months. She added: 'The intense emotions of parenthood have surely been a factor. 'Harry made no secret of his desire for a family of his own, and his delightful rapport with childen showed what a devoted father he would become. His joy at Archies birth in May was wonderful to behold. 'Alarmingly, though, he has appeared determined since then on what might appear to be a trajectory of self-destruction and I do not use that phrase lightly.' The Queen, who is in Sandringham, wants the situation resolved as quickly as possible. Prince Charles (left), currently in Scotland, was also involved in the conference call along with Prince William (right), at Kensington Palace One source told the Mail yesterday that Harry had privately been consulting friends about his plans as far back as late spring I'm worried about Prince Harry... I fear something is seriously amiss and he's on a trajectory of self-destruction, writes his biographer PENNY JUNOR What an explosive week this has been in the aftermath of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs bombshell announcement that they wish to step back as senior royals. I share much of the anger, frustration and sorrow of the British public at their decision, which has been much-discussed over the past few days. But there is one aspect of this drama that concerns and saddens me: the behaviour of Prince Harry, and what appears to be him turning his back on the Royal Family. This is so out of character, and as his biographer who knows him better than many I fear something is seriously amiss. The Harry that the nation came to love, a charming, cheerful, self-deprecating Jack the Lad, has been missing for many months. As a close observer of him as man and boy, I am worried about the new approach he is taking to life. The recklessness shown in his and Meghans seismic decision effectively to quit the Royal Family (except, seemingly, when it suits them) and forge their own progressive path while pursuing financial independence does not speak to me of a balanced or careful strategy, even if they have, as alleged, been plotting it for months. Some people have expressed fears for the longevity of the marriage. In public, the pair still appear devoted to each other; yet I worry that they will find it difficult to adjust to their altered, ex-royal status Yesterday, the Mail revealed that Meghan had returned to Canada to be reunited with eight-month-old Archie, whom they had left with his nanny and a close friend. Surely it will not be long before Harry is back with them, if indeed hes not there already. He leaves his family the Firm in turmoil, desperate to contain the fallout after this shock announcement and, it seems, to appease the disgruntled Sussexes and keep them within the royal fold however they can. There is no question that Harry and Meghans desire to quit royal life threatens to damage the institution that his beloved grandmother, the Queen, embodies. What on earth has happened to the Prince the nation once held to its heart? The Harry that the nation came to love, a charming, cheerful, self-deprecating Jack the Lad, has been missing for many months. As a close observer of him as man and boy, I am worried about the new approach he is taking to life. He is pictured above in Wootton Bassett in 2010 The intense emotions of parenthood have surely been a factor. Harry made no secret of his desire for a family of his own, and his delightful rapport with childen showed what a devoted father he would become. His joy at Archies birth in May was wonderful to behold. Alarmingly, though, he has appeared determined since then on what might appear to be a trajectory of self-destruction and I do not use that phrase lightly. He is essentially rejecting his birthright, his closest family and a public role that he seemed to have embraced and flourished in. Everything, indeed, that helped transform a headstrong, troubled teenager into a fine soldier respected by his comrades, who saw military action twice and who became a hugely effective campaigner for wounded veterans. Harry has spoken about seeking counselling to deal with his ongoing grief about the death of his mother in 1997. The pair are pictured together visiting Thorpe Park in 1991 He has also distanced himself from longstanding, loyal friends. But perhaps the most alarming factor has been the apparent severing of his relationship with William, which has been tragic to behold. Everything, indeed, that helped transform a headstrong, troubled teenager into a fine soldier respected by his comrades, who saw military action twice and who became a hugely effective campaigner for wounded veterans. He is pictured in a polo match in 2003 Theirs was a bond as close as any two brothers could have. Their situation was unique: what they had been through, including the sudden death of their mother, Princess Diana, could not be shared with anyone else. They trusted each other with everything. Yet now they appear to be barely speaking. They reportedly did not see each other in private for a full six months after Harry and Meghans lavish wedding in May 2018. Prince William is said to be incandescent about Harry and Meghans decision an event that totally overshadowed Kates 38th birthday celebrations on Thursday. (And didnt that photograph yesterday of a grim Kate at the wheel of her car illustrate just how draining this crisis is proving on all concerned?) Harrys former Private Secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, must be tearing out his hair. He was instrumental in helping Harry through his most troubled years, and I know his great hope was to see the brothers shoulder-to-shoulder, twin pillars of the Royal Family, for decades to come. Yes, William and Harry have different strengths, but they complemented each other well. Something has gone badly wrong with that relationship. It is all too easy to lay the blame for this crisis on Meghan. Though she is a confident, thirtysomething actress, I think she has, not surprisingly, found it immensely difficult to adjust to life as a royal. These issues more likely have their roots in the fact that a besotted Harry has been doing his utmost to protect his wife. Palace deny 'driving out' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle The couple's close confidante Tom Bradby claimed the Palace told the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that there were plans for a 'slimmed down monarchy' and they 'weren't really a part of it' Palace aides have denied that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are being 'driven out' of the royal family and say the couple would be 'at the centre' of a potentially stream-lined monarchy. This comes after the couple's close confidante Tom Bradby claimed the Palace told the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that there were plans for a 'slimmed down monarchy' and they 'weren't really a part of it.' A palace aide told The Times: 'It is strongly disputed that the Sussexes are not at the centre of any future slimmed-down monarchy.' ITV News presenter Bradby yesterday insisted that it was 'certainly not true' to suggest the royal household was 'blindsided' by their decision to step down from senior roles within the monarchy. Mr Bradby - who has known the prince for more than 20 years - said it was only the timing of their bombshell announcement on Wednesday that angered Her Majesty. Advertisement True, Meghans relationship with her own family is peculiar. Only one of them, her delightful mother Doria Ragland, attended their wedding; while Meghan isnt speaking to her father or half-sister. Now Harry is visibly estranged from his own family in a not dissimilar way. How much of all this is due to Meghans influence, I wouldnt pretend to know. Regardless, Harry has long struggled with what it means to be a royal. We felt for him during those years when he wanted to be just plain Harry, when he was drinking too much and being photographed in one compromising situation after another. But he went into the Army, trained as an Apache helicopter pilot and came good in spectacular fashion. Then he realised that, because of who he was, he could do fantastic things for others. The most dramatic example came in 2013 when he walked to the South Pole with wounded veterans to show the world that there is life beyond injury. Back home, he set up the Invictus Games for wounded and disabled military veterans a mammoth undertaking, organised in less than a year. That was possible only because of his royal status. And when Harry courageously spoke out about his own struggles with mental health, he did more than any other initiative had to raise awareness and persuade others to seek help. I thought he had properly recognised both the royal title and the good he can do with it. Now he and Meghan want to act alone: against the world, it seems. Perhaps the most alarming factor has been the apparent severing of his relationship with William, which has been tragic to behold. Theirs was a bond as close as any two brothers could have I am baffled, too, by the sheer disrespect he has shown to his grandmother. He was always so close to the Queen. Hed even call her on her mobile! Her Majesty will put up with a lot, but one thing she hates is surprises: she likes to know what will confront her in the morning papers. But Harry and Meghan ignored this. Meghan and Harry reveal pictures from secret Grenfell kitchen trip The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to visit the women of The Hubb Community Kitchen Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have today revealed pictures of their secret visit to a Grenfell kitchen four days ago as she returned to Canada to be reunited with Archie. In the first glimpse of what their 'progressive' new role could look like, the couple met, embraced and laughed with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen in West London. This afternoon's post to their 10.4million Instagram followers made no mention of the storm raging in the upper echelons of the Royal Family, as the public clamour for answers in the wake of Wednesday night's shock statement continues to be met with a wall of silence. The six pictures were accompanied by the caption: 'These women came together in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy to cook meals for their families and neighbours who had been displaced from the fire. 'With funds from the successful cookbook, they have now been able to share their spirit of community with so many more. In September 2018, it was revealed Meghan had been secretly visiting the Hubb Community Kitchen to meet with the women who put together the 'Together: Our Community Cookbook', for which she wrote the foreword. The kitchen was opened in the aftermath of the 2017 Grenfell tragedy, and Meghan's support for the project is widely credited with spurring a surge of donations. Advertisement Coming on the heels both of Andrews disgrace and of the Sussexes decision to spurn Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham in favour of the comforts of an unnamed billionaires mansion on Vancouver Island, it is treatment that borders on the callous. The Queen has always loved and supported Harry, tolerating his misdemeanors. Yet now she is said to be hurt and furious at his behaviour. In my view, the turning point in this saga, which had been bubbling for most of last year, came in September with the couples visit to South Africa. They began so well, doing a cracking job highlighting the plight of deprived communities. After a rocky few months, following criticism over the unnecessary secrecy around Archies birth and christening, they appeared to have reset the dial of public opinion. And then they soured the whole thing, first by taking out a writ against the Mail on Sunday, the Mails sister paper; then by Harrys bitter verbal attack on the Press; then worst of all in that joint interview with ITVs Tom Bradby. To bleat about their inability to thrive while standing in a country where so many people are desperately trying merely to exist was appalling. I couldnt understand it. Harry, who loves Africa, knows how important his charity work is. There, he was surrounded by people who have nothing and yet all he and Meghan could do was whinge. On that same trip, Harry suggested that the Presss treatment of Meghan was akin to the treatment of his late mother. That was extreme: the two cases are not comparable at all. Any negative stories about Meghan for example, those that questioned her taking a private jet, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, to New York for a baby shower, have been relatively mild compared to those printed about the Princess of Wales (or Camilla Parker Bowles, for that matter). And, by now, Harrry should have recognised that one of the sacrifices he has to make, in return for the palaces and the prestige, is to submit to the scrutiny of the Press which also enthusiastically cheers all his good works. When Harry courageously spoke out about his own struggles with mental health, he did more than any other initiative had to raise awareness and persuade others to seek help. I thought he had properly recognised both the royal title and the good he can do with it Harry made no secret of his desire for a family of his own, and his delightful rapport with childen showed what a devoted father he would become. His joy at Archies birth in May was wonderful to behold In the past, he had a great relationship with most royal correspondents. Ive been on tours with him, watched him host receptions for journalists at Kensington Palace, and he has been utterly charming, even to those whom he knows have at times been less than kind. Meghan Markle signs a voiceover deal with Disney Meghan Markle has signed a voiceover deal with Disney in return for a donation to an elephant charity. The Duchess of Sussex recorded the voiceover before the royal couple left for their six-week break to Canada to celebrate Christmas. The signing was in return for a donation to Elephants Without Borders, an organisation dedicated to conserving wildlife and helps protect the animals from poaching, according to The Times. It comes after Prince Harry and Meghan announced on Wednesday their intention to step down as senior royals. And the arrangement with Disney hints at Meghan's future career plans, which could see the couple use their celebrity status to benefit chosen causes. If the couple decide to keep their royal titles while touting themselves for hire, their combined money-spinning potential could be greater than any A-lister in history. As superstars of the international circuit, they would be able to command six or even seven-figure fees just for turning up at an event. Advertisement Why turn against the people who were, at that moment, in Africa with him, eating out of his hand? Meanwhile, any idea that there was a sustained campaign against Meghan least of all one founded on racism, as even the New York Times suggested yesterday is nonsense. The Press and public were thrilled when he fell in love with her, and instantly fell in love with her, too. Meghan is probably the stronger of the two, but that does not mean Harry is weak. He is, however, emotional and that is perhaps the heart of the problem. Harry has spoken about seeking counselling to deal with his ongoing grief about the death of his mother in 1997. He added he has felt anxiety at royal events and, when he was 28, was once on the verge of punching someone. [I was] very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions, he said. Those experiences were the driving force behind the Heads Together mental-health charity that, as a member of the Fab Four William, Kate, himself and Meghan he helped found. Just two years ago a year after he met Meghan he revealed he was in a good place. Yet during that Africa tour, Harry told a young man that he sometimes felt overwhelmed by the worlds problems. Such were his worries, he added, there were days when he struggled to get out of bed. Her Majesty will put up with a lot, but one thing she hates is surprises: she likes to know what will confront her in the morning papers. But Harry and Meghan ignored this Given all this, I suspect I am not alone in feeling great concern about the Princes emotional state at this moment of crisis for his family. Some people have expressed fears for the longevity of the marriage. In public, the pair still appear devoted to each other; yet I worry that they will find it difficult to adjust to their altered, ex-royal status. Harry in particular may discover he has lost some of his power to influence and persuade. That will be difficult for him to accept. His former friends, meanwhile, are desperately hurt. Many would love to help him, yet he has isolated himself. That is not healthy. For prince or pauper, life is lonely without friends to lean on. Harry was the best-loved of all the royals after the Queen. We have never forgotten the little boy who walked so bravely behind his mothers coffin. He has had our hearts ever since. It is tragic to see all that goodwill tossed away. I hope the situation can be rescued, but right now reconciliation for this unhappy couple is a long way off. Above all, Harry must not burn any more bridges. One day he might need a family to welcome him home and a nation to take him back. At the annual meeting of the First State Bank and Trust Co. Board of Directors, Chuck Johannsen, president and chief executive office, was elected to chairman of the board and Kristy Pafford was promoted to vice president human resources. Johannsen came to the bank in 1988 as a consumer loan manager. He has since held the roles of assistant vice president-consumer lending & security officer, vice president-lending and security officer and executive officer, executive vice president and was named president in 2008. He took on the role of CEO in 2019. Johannsen earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kearney State College. He has graduated from the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado, National Commercial Lending School, Advanced Bank Management Forum at the Colorado School of Banking, Nebraska Bankers Association Leadership program and Nebraska Bankers Association/Kansas Bankers Association (NBA/KBA) Intermediate School of Banking. Johannsen serves on the board of the Fremont Health Foundation and the Greater Fremont Development Council. He is a past chairman of the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce, Fremont Area United Way, Greater Fremont Development Council and past district chairman of the Goldenrod Division of Boy Scouts. On the state level, Johannsen has served on the Nebraska Bankers Association Education Council. In 2017, Johannsen was honored by the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce with the Compass Leadership Award. Johannsen and his wife, Caryl, have three children and he is a member of St. Patricks Catholic Church. Pafford has worked at First State Bank & Trust Co. for nearly 20 years. Pafford started as a teller and customer service representative and then became a new accounts representative. She has since held the roles of lobby supervisor, new accounts representative, compliance assistant, assistant cashier, and assistant vice president-human resources. Pafford is a graduate of Leadership Fremont, the Nebraska Bankers Association Bank Operations School, the School of Banking Fundamentals and has earned a Supervisor Certificate from the American Institute of Bankers. She is a member of the Human Resource Association of the Midlands and the Society for Human Resource Management. Pafford attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She is a past executive member of the Fremont Area Managers Association, now supported by the Human Resource Area of the Midlands. She is active with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Dodge County where she serves as treasurer. She was recently elected to the Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors. Pafford and her husband Kurt are members of First Lutheran Church and have two daughters. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An investigation is underway after a woman was held captive in her Portmarnock home in Dublin. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the false imprisonment on Thursday. The burglary and false imprisonment happened at a house in the Strand Road area of Portmarnock on Thursday when five masked men burst in. They locked the woman, who was inside the home, into a room as they searched through the house. After they left, she remained locked in the room for a long time until a relative later found her. She was not injured. Gardai said in a statement that during the incident "five masked individuals entered the property and locked an occupant into a room as they searched throughout the house. "After the five individuals left, the occupant remained locked into this room for a considerable amount of time until later discovered by a relative." Gardai, in particular, are asking any road users who were on the Coast Road between Baldoyle and Portmarnock between half 6pm and 8pm on Thursday night to come forward. They can contact Malahide Garda Station or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111. Chandigarh: BJP swept the mayoral elections in Chandigarh with their candidates winning all three -- Mayor, Senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor seats on Saturday (January 11). BJPs Rajbala Malik has become the new mayor of Chandigarh, defeating Congress candidate Gurbaksh Rawat. A total of 27 votes were cast in the mayoral elections, out of which 22 votes went to Rajbala Malik while Ravikant Sharma became senior deputy mayor and Jagtar Singh Jagga became deputy mayor. BJP was also successful in stopping cross-voting. BJP MP Kirron Kher expressed happiness at winning all three posts and said that all BJP councillors are united. The BJP has 20 councillors, Akali Dal has one councillor and one was her own vote which added to the winning total for the party candidates. Kher said there was never any doubt of cross-voting and it was all created by the Congress. She also said that Congress should focus on increasing the number of its councillors instead of creating controversy. Live TV This will be Rajbala Malik's second tenure as a Mayor, she had earlier won in 2014 as a Congress candidate. Lawyer-turned-politician Malik said, "Whichever party I have represented I have always been loyal to it." She added that the city has to be number one in cleanliness and everything else. When asked about Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala recommending her name, Malik said, "I only know that councillors made me the mayor." Malik said, "Whether it's the financial crisis at the Municipal Corporation or issues related to street vendors, I will solve them all." She said public opinion will be taken at all turns and spoke about bringing work transparency. The senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor made the city's development a priority. Senior deputy mayor Ravikant Sharma said that the financial crisis of the Municipal Corporation will be solved while deputy mayor from Manimajra, Jagtar Jagga said that he will work for the development of the city. In the last two elections, due to factionalism among BJP councillors and cross-voting hurt them while Congress took advantage of it. This time it was a challenge for the BJP to stop cross-voting. Both Rajbala Malik and Heera Negi were in the running for the post of mayor, but just moments before the nomination was to be filed Rajbala Malik's name as the official candidate was announced. So, BJP was afraid of cross-voting from councillors supporting Heera Negi. Of the total 26 councillors in Chandigarh, BJP has 20 councillors, Akali Dal has one whereas Congress has five councillors. The MP has one vote too which means a total of 27 votes are cast. The term of the Mayor in Chandigarh is for one year. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday targeted Delhi chief minister and AAPs national convener Arvind Kejriwal, saying the city does not want a helpless CM who could not take a stand against the newly passed Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, even as students were beaten up for protesting against the new law. Referring to the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), in which many students suffered injuries as well as the police crackdown on students of Jamia Millia Islamia last month, Tharoor asked why Kejriwal despite being the CM could not pay a visit to these students or even speak on the issue openly. Kejriwal perhaps wants both pro and anti-CAA people on his side, which is why he could not take a strong stand on it. Why should anyone vote for him, if he could not even speak up over the issue? Tharoor said at a press conference on Friday. The Thiruvananthapuram MP attacked Kejriwal, saying the CM had been saying the Delhi Police is not under him, but who stopped him from meeting students? Senior AAP leaders did not respond to Tharoors comments. However, in one of his town halls last week, Kejriwal had said he did not visit protesters after the Jamia crackdown because of law and order issues. On the JNU violence, he said his government did everything that it could from arranging ambulances promptly to holding an urgent meeting with Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal over the law and order situation. On the CAA, Kejriwal had said, If we cannot provide employment, food and shelter to all our citizens, how can we think of rehabilitating people who migrate from the three countries. I urge the government to take it [the law] back. Tharoor along with other Congress leaders launched the partys campaign for getting feedback from citizens for the partys manifesto for Delhi polls. The campaign was launched with the slogan Dilli Ke Dil Ki Baat Congress Ke Saath by party leaders, including Delhi Congress chief Subhash Chopra and others. Taiwan on Saturday voted in presidential and parliamentary elections that will be closely watched by Beijing, which claims the democratic island as its own, in the shadow of anti-government protests in Hong Kong. China and the Hong Kong unrest have become major elements in the election as Beijing has ramped up efforts to get Taiwan to accept its rule, both through military intimidation and an offer of the one country, two systems model. Speaking in Taipei, the capital, first-time voter Stacey Lin, 20, said she had voted for President Tsai Ing-wen of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. I saw whats happening in Hong Kong and its horrible, I just want to make sure I have the freedom to vote in the future. She is the best among all the candidates to protect our democracy, Lin added. Both Tsai and main rival Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang, which favours close ties with China, have rejected the one country, two systems model, which provides for a high degree of autonomy, much as Beijing uses in Hong Kong. Tsai, voting in Taipei, spoke briefly to newsmen after casting her ballot, saying she hoped everyone exercised their right to vote and the process would be smooth. Only Taiwans people have the right to decide its future. Taiwan has denounced China for seeking to sway the election with misinformation and gestures such as sailing its newest aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait just before the vote, the president noted. However, China denied interfering. The current Mayor of Kaohsiung City Government, Han Kuo-yu said that he would reset ties with China to boost Taiwans economy, however would not compromise on defending its democracy. Han did not speak to newsmen after voting in his city. The polls closed at 4 p.m. (0800 GMT) and results are expected by evening. Tsai is due to hold a news conference at 8 p.m. (1200 GMT). Earlier in the day, people queued in long but orderly lines at many polling stations to cast their votes, with good weather likely to boost turnout. READ ALSO: Sam Chan, 30, who immigrated to Taiwan from Hong Kong in 2014 over fears of Chinas growing control of the Asian financial hub, said Tsai was the best to protect Taiwan. I immigrated to Taiwan to escape from the Communist Party, so I wont vote for pro-China political parties. A 67-year-old Chu Yu-min said she had voted for the Kuomintang, noting that Taiwan needs good relations with China. Taiwans economy depends on that. The economy has been bad for the past four years, this needs to change, Chu added. London: Prince Harry's wife Meghan has returned to Canada following the couple's bombshell announcement that they were quitting their frontline royal duties, it emerged Friday, as the monarch held urgent talks with her family to resolve the crisis. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent an extended Christmas holiday in Canada with their son before returning to break the news this week that they would "step back" from their royal roles. The Daily Mail newspaper reported that Meghan flew back on Thursday, having never intended to be in Britain long, and "may stay there for the foreseeable future." "I can confirm reports that the duchess is in Canada," the couple's spokeswoman told AFP, without confirming the Mail's report that Harry was likely to join his wife and eight-month-old son in Canada shortly. Several Canadian media reported Meghan had returned to Vancouver island off the country's Pacific coast, where the family spent the year-end holidays and where baby Archie had remained with his nanny. Senior royals were caught off guard by Wednesday's announcement that the Sussexes wanted to seek a "progressive new role" and divide their time between Britain and North America. In Washington, President Donald Trump weighed in, telling Fox News that he found the spat "sad." "I just have such respect for the queen. I don't think this should be happening," he said. Queen Elizabeth II's office issued a terse statement the same evening, saying there were "complicated issues that will take time to work through". But a palace source on Thursday said the queen had instructed aides to work "at pace" with Meghan and Harry and the government "to find workable solutions". The process was expected to take "days, not weeks", the source said. Media reports said the queen held a series of calls on Thursday involving Harry, his brother Prince William and their father Prince Charles, the heir to the throne. Harry and Meghan said they intended to continue to "fully support" the queen and "collaborate" with senior royals. They also want to keep their home on the queen's Windsor Castle estate as their British base, while aiming to become financially independent. But questions are being raised about what this means in practice, as their security is paid for by the state and they receive funds from the queen and from Charles. Finding a Role William and Harry have always held a special place in many Britons' hearts because of their mother, Diana, who was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997. With their wives, Kate and Meghan, they have been viewed as the modern face of the royal family, hailed for bringing fresh energy to the institution. But the younger prince, who has struggled with his role, last year revealed he has been growing apart from his brother, who as second in line to the throne is increasingly pursuing a different path. Harry has been open about his mental health issues and he and Meghan last year admitted to struggling with the spotlight following their wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018 and Archie's birth a year later. The couple have also lashed out at negative news coverage, some of which Harry says was racist in light of Meghan's biracial heritage. They have recently taken several newspapers to court a highly confrontational approach by royal standards. Royal media expert Peter Hunt, who has interviewed Harry several times, told AFP that he thought the prince feared "the media might play a part in him losing her" through their critical reporting. "Prince Harry's relationship with the media went bad and has got progressively worse ever since his mother died," he added. The decision by the couple, who recently registered the trademark Sussex Royal, to effectively resign their royal roles follows a turbulent year for the Windsors. Harry's uncle Prince Andrew announced he was retiring from public duties after a disastrous TV interview about his friendship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. There was one bright spot for Harry, though: if he ever moved to Canada, a majority of Canadians would welcome him as the country's next governor general, a poll found. Sixty one percent would support Harry replacing the current holder of the post who represents Queen Elizabeth II in the former colony when her term expires, according to the poll. Hyderabad: From retired policemen and government employees to young self-employed businessmen, the Karvy fiasco has affected people from all over the country. Scores of investors have contacted Deccan Chronicle over the past couple of days to express their grief and anger about the situation. Even investors living in Oman have reached out, fearing that their money might be lost to possible financial malpractice by the Hyderabad-based stock broking firm. It may be recalled that Karvy has been accused of misusing client faith by pledging their securities as collateral in banks for obtaining loans. It has been accused of misappropriating Rs 2,000 crore in this manner. On November 22, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) blocked Karvy from accepting new clients and taking shares in delivery. Since then, however, even old clients of the company have not been able to gain control over their own shares. Payouts have been kept pending for a vast majority of the investors. Vijay Kumar Dham retired as an assistant commissioner of police in Delhi police a few years ago. As a policeman, Dham might have met numerous victims of financial crimes. Little did he know that he would become one. I never trusted the stock market or even mutual funds. My friends convinced me into investing with Karvy. At least `10 lakh of my familys money is blocked with them, he said. The money is invested under name of Dhams wife. Dham said some of his friends told him to use his clout as a former cop to reach out to Karvy management. I have not done anything like that. But the world used to come to us to solve their problems. Today, I find myself helpless. Karvy management is completely unresponsive and are very opaque, he said. Rahul Kumar, a young investor from Gurgaon, has as much as `2.6 lakh of his money blocked. He has invested through Karvys Sonipat branch. I first invested in Karvy when I was a student in college 10 years ago. Today, I have shares worth `2.6 lakh. I have been requesting a payout since November 2019, but I havent received anything yet. I have emailed them countless times since then, but no one has replied to me. The whole matter has been very distressing to me, he said. Kumar said he has already lost money due to drop in his share prices. I wanted to sell them a few days ago, but was unable to because of this mess. I have sent them many mails already but no one is responding. Ashok Kumar Ghose from Pune has shares worth almost `16.5 lakh (calculated at current share prices) blocked. I have major holdings in Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever and ITC shares. They should be in my demat account but they are currently in the Karvy pool account, so I am unable to access them, he said. Ghose said he placed a sell order on some of his shares, worth another `5 lakh, on November 23. This payout has not been honoured yet. Ghose wanted to use this money to pay for his wifes recent medical expenses. I have been calling Karvys Pune office almost everyday. I am a senior citizen. You can imagine the stress and anxiety that comes with running around in circles, he said. Sekhar from Kakinada is a small-time inter-day trader by profession. He is struggling to get a payout of `1.3 lakh from Karvy to pay for his cousins open heart surgery. Trading is how I pay for my familys daily expenses. How can I survive if all my money is stuck with Karvy, he asked. Elis Gupta, a bank manager in his mid-twenties, is struggling in the same situation. His shares do not reflect in his demat account. The only proof of his ownership is through NSDL certificates. Shares worth almost `1.6 lakh are stuck with Karvy. They are not being credited to my demat account. The uncertainty over whether I will ever see this money again has shaken me up, he said. In his email to Karvy, to which he hasnt received a satisfactory reply yet, he asked the company to credit all these shares to my demat account as it is causing me mental harassment. Subin, a Keralite working in Oman, reached out to Deccan Chronicle to convey his anxiety about the matter. A trader with Karvy for over a decade with a portfolio worth `3.7 lakh, he said most of his shares are still in the pool. This fiasco has cost me a lot. I recently bought a few shares but their prices tanked soon after. I wanted to sell them but they are still in the pool account and not my demat account. I am left helpless since I am unable to sell them. The panic among the investors is palpable. Over the past few days, they have formed WhatsApp groups to discuss a plan of action. In a group named Karvy victims, a member said, Waiting is the only option. Experienced members are suggesting to file complaints with SEBI. They assured that it is only a matter of time before the shares return to them. Others asked to tweet with the hashtag #ghantibhajao (ring the bell), hoping that this would wake the world up to their situation. Investors who have lost money or have their shares locked because of this Karvy scandal can contact DCforKarvyInvestors @gmail.com Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui said Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Myanmar next week will further enrich the content of and start a new era of China-Myanmar relations. Luo made the remarks at a press briefing on Xi's upcoming visit. At the invitation of President U Win Myint of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Xi will pay a state visit to Myanmar from Jan. 17 to 18. This will be Xi's first overseas tour this year, and it will also mark the first visit to Myanmar by a Chinese president after an interval of 19 years, said Luo, noting that the visit also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Myanmar is a friendly neighbor of China. At present, the two countries share high-level political mutual trust, in-depth economic cooperation, and close coordination on international and regional issues, said Luo. He said that China-Myanmar "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship gains vitality with the passage of time and enjoys lasting charms, and the two countries have high-level people-to-people exchanges. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 70 years ago, the two countries have constantly developed ties on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual assistance, and have established a model of harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. According to Luo, during the visit, Xi will attend a series of state events held by his Myanmar counterpart, hold talks with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and attend a bilateral cooperation document exchange ceremony and a banquet held by Aung San Suu Kyi. Xi will also meet with Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing, exchange views with the leaders of Myanmar's parliament and political parties, and attend, together with leaders of Myanmar, activities marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties and the launching ceremony of the China-Myanmar culture and tourism year. The two sides will also issue a joint statement. Luo said the two sides will summarize the experience of exchanges between the two countries, chart the course for future development, further enrich the content of bilateral relations, make efforts to build a community of shared future for China and Myanmar, and start a new era of China-Myanmar relations. The two sides will also discuss deepening high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and promote the transition of the China-Myanmar economic corridor from conceptual planning to substantive construction, to achieve progress in major connectivity projects. Moreover, the two sides will also expand people-to-people exchanges to cement a social foundation for the development of ties. Xi's upcoming visit will uplift the positioning of political relations, deepen connectivity cooperation, advance the construction of the China-Myanmar economic corridor, and promote China-Myanmar relations to a higher level, said Luo. WALEWALE, Ghana - Night and day, he thinks of his donkeys. Are they still in the fields, munching on hay? Or has someone stolen them once again, wrecking his business for some foreigner's cash? "My donkeys are my everything," said Hardi Rafik, 25, a brickmaker who relies on animal muscle. "Now I must always guard them." To Rafik and others in Ghana's rural north, donkeys have long provided the cheapest method of transport, dependably hauling goods from village to village. To Chinese merchants here, donkey hides - a key ingredient in traditional medicines - command big money abroad from producers of skin creams, fertility elixirs and energy drinks. These competing demands have fueled a dramatic tug of war between people who call donkeys the economic heart of their households and vendors catering to China's exploding market, with some animal rights groups urging the Ghanaian government to label the beasts as endangered. Half of the world's donkeys could disappear in the next five years if Chinese consumption of the gelatin boiled from their hides does not slow down, according to a November report from the Donkey Sanctuary, an animal charity in England. Donkey populations in Ghana and Kenya, hot spots in this skin trade, are on track to be "devastated" in the near future, the researchers warned. Beijing's tightening relationship with African nations has wrought shiny new roads, schools and power plants in a stream of infrastructure deals. Less explored is the way Chinese influence is scrambling more basic ways of life, such as a family's ability to fetch buckets of water in the countryside. In the remote farming town of Walewale, people say hundreds of donkeys have vanished in recent years - or worse: Some animals have turned up skinned and left for dead. Residents blame thieves motivated by a growing payday: The typical price of a donkey in the area has jumped from about $70 to $130. Authorities in this West African nation outlawed the trade of donkey skins three years ago, but animal advocates say the problem persists because enforcement has been shaky. At least nine donkey slaughterhouses legally operate in Ghana's north. They are supposed to dispose of old or sick animals - the meat is sold at markets across the country - but owners often peddle the hides to Chinese buyers, managers told The Washington Post. Those deals have unleashed ugly consequences. On top of animal thefts, young foals and pregnant mares are being led to their deaths to keep up with the demand, experts say. Populations of the mammal have dropped by 37% in Botswana, 28% in Brazil and 53% in Kyrgyzstan since 2007, the authors of the Donkey Sanctuary report estimated, delivering "a hugely damaging impact" to poor communities. China's donkey population, they noted, has plummeted 76% over the past three decades. Similar data is lacking for Ghana, but experts say donkeys are being slaughtered at an alarming rate. "If we don't take care, the animal will go extinct," said Amal Mohammed Kariyama, spokesman for RISE-Ghana, a nonprofit focused on rural issues. Researchers who have studied the economic importance of donkeys in Nigeria and Ethiopia say the creatures are central to supporting rural life, largely because they are inexpensive and sturdy. Losing just one can be devastating. Donkeys are known to rarely fall ill - which is why Chinese herbalists value their hides. They represent vitality. Apiibolga Akasiede, who runs a slaughterhouse in a town about 50 miles northeast of Walewale, said his workers did not skin the animals until the Chinese demand emerged. "The Chinese only want the skin," Akasiede said. "We sell the skin to them and sell the meat to the market." Volume depends on the buyer's needs, he said, but his business can kill up to 20 donkeys per day. The hides sell for roughly $28 apiece. The operation is legal, he and other agents said, because the donkeys are purchased over the border from neighboring Burkina Faso. But activists and residents in northern Ghana say that kind of supply chain is loosely regulated. Hide sales, they say, bolster a black market that threatens livelihoods. People in Walewale once let their animals roam the fields before roping them up or guiding them into a stable at nightfall. Now paranoia clouds otherwise peaceful days, even after the slaughterhouse in town shuttered about a year ago. (Residents speculate that it ran out of donkeys, and the Walewale police declined to comment on the wave of thefts.) Farmers and merchants ask neighbors to keep an eye on their animals while they venture out. They also take regular breaks to look after them - a grim new routine that dampens productivity. "It spoils my work," said Haruna Mohammed, 45, a rice grower who checks on his donkey at least twice a day after losing one three years ago. Others could not afford to replace their animals. Haruna Rahim, 24, harvested corn before his two donkeys went missing in 2017. Anger gripped his voice as he recounted searching for them and the horror when it dawned on him. "I ended up with nothing," said Rahim, who could not move his crops without them. Now he tries to find odd jobs. Walewale was once full of donkeys - until "they stole all of them here," said Rafik, the brickmaker. He returned from town one day to find someone had skinned his animal. Rage stunned him. He and his brother sold clay blocks from their backyard for four months before they could buy another. These days, they share two. The donkeys grazed on a recent afternoon in the tall grass - tawny figures in a sea of green. Rafik placed his hand on a furry head. "This is Power," he said, "and that's Commander." He gave them names that invoke energy and strength, he said, because they carry the materials that build his community. The merchant keeps them in a stable by his house. When he wakes at night, he waits to hear the familiar braying. Then he can drift back to sleep. Engineer Ahmed Mohammed Shareef Al Khoori general director of the UAE Federal Transport Authority- Land & Maritime (FTA) held a meeting recently with Madiyar Menilbekov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UAE, at the FTA office in Abu Dhabi. Al Khoori welcomed the Kazakh delegation and discussed FTAs pioneering innovative projects and initiatives being implemented in accordance with the authoritys regulatory and oversight role to carry out the authoritys strategies in line with the nations leading vision. During the meeting, both parties discussed ways on how to enhance cooperation efforts as well as exchanged experiences on best practices with the sector. They also talked about drafting a bilateral memorandum of understanding focused on increasing the cooperation between the two countries on key initiatives. Al Khoori highlighted that the land and maritime transport sector in the UAE has been witnessing major progress in line with the strategic plans for land and maritime transport infrastructure. He further noted that FTA, through its strategic and operational plan, continues to effectively play its role in supporting local institutions and help them contribute to achieving the UAE Vision 2021, which embodies the national direction of these two vital sectors. The Ambassador of Kazakhstan reiterated during the meeting the strong relations between the UAE and the Republic of Kazakhstan and hailed the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. - TradeArabia News Service A deadly outbreak of tornadoes struck Alabama on Saturday with three confirmed fatalities in Pickens County, damaged schools in North Alabama and downed trees and widespread power outages across the state. The Pickens County Coroners Office confirmed the identities late Saturday of the three people killed near Carrollton: 51-year-old Tyrone Spain, 85-year-old Albert Barnett and his wife, 75-year-old Susan Barnett. All three died from blunt force trauma as a result of the storm that struck the Settlement community near Carrollton. Gut wrenching destruction out of #PickensCounty #Alabama after a #tornado tore through this afternoon near the city of Carrollton. This is why storm shelters are the best option. A mobile home stood NO chance in that path. Site built homes obliterated. #ALwx #LSMwx pic.twitter.com/TnxwdiwIiA Brett Adair (@AlaStormTracker) January 11, 2020 Pickens County Sheriff Todd Hall told local media that authorities were determining how many additional people were injured and that a search for more possible victims continued within the community, which he described as a mix of trailers and brick homes. A very nice neighborhood (that has been) established for a very long time, he said. [Our live updates] Hall confirmed that the fatalities occurred in two separate houses. WATCH: Pickens County Sheriff Todd Hall shares an update on the storm-related deaths in the Settlement community #alwx #WVTM13 @ChipWVTM13 pic.twitter.com/x39oWr65mq #WVTM13 (@WVTM13) January 11, 2020 In nearby Reform, a small town of about 2,000 people, Mayor Bennie Harton said his town was able to escape serious damage. The town is about 10 miles to the north of Carrollton. We are blessed to not have any type of damage to homes or to our citizens, Harton said. Our rescue squad is headed south to the Carrollton area where they had the three fatalities. They are headed down that way to try and help them. Folks, PLEASE take these warnings seriously! We have now confirmed 3 fatalities near Carrollton in Pickens County. #alwx NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 11, 2020 Daniel Martin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Birmingham, said a team will survey the damage in Pickens County on Sunday to assess the damage. He said that a tornado watch will last until 8 p.m. for areas roughly east of I-65. Tornado warnings have since expired for much of Alabama. Approximately 83,400 people were without power at 3 p.m., with 28,800 outages reported in Jefferson County. Downed trees and property damage are being reported statewide. In Union Grove, damage was reported at Brindlee Mountain Primary School. Major storm damage at Brindlee Mountain Primary School on Highway 240 in Union Grove just north of Arab. Extensive tree damage. pic.twitter.com/9Q48CAoEoX Paul Gattis (@paul_gattis) January 11, 2020 At Holly Pond High School in Cullman County, an awning was ripped off the schools building and windows were broken out of several school buses. It looks like a pretzel, said Phyllis Little, director of the Cullman County Emergency Management Agency, referring to the awning. She said she didnt think the damage will prevent the school from opening on Monday. In Mobile, the Carnival Fantasy cruise ship was supposed to depart the Alabama Cruise Terminal around 4 p.m. But because of weather conditions, the excursion has been delayed and the cruise ship remains at the Port of Mobile. The vessel was is scheduled to sail out on an excursion to Cozumel. The storm swept through coastal Alabama, but caused no noticeable damage. Three Huntsville paramedics suffered non-life threatening injuries after a tree crash onto their vehicle, according to WAAY-TV. The paramedics were transporting a patient on Balch Road north of Highway 72 West in Madison when the tree fell across the windshield of the ambulance, according to the station. This story was updated around 8:10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, to include the names of the three victims in Pickens County. Ahwanhee Hotel...or Majestic Yosemite Hotel View Photo Update at 7:40 a.m.: While there is still no word on what caused the mysterious stomach illness outbreak that stricken a dozen Yosemite National Park Officials, Federal officials relay cleanup of the affected areas is underway. Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman details that the U.S. Public Health Department indicates that it is working with Aramark, the concessionaire that operates Yosemites restaurants, snack shops and hotels, to clean up and disinfect food service facilities in the park, including the famous Ahwahnee Hotel. The park is reminding all employees and visitors to wash their hands frequently and stay home if they experience any symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness, advised Gediman in a statement. Aramark has not yet commented on the incident. Further information on the outbreak can be viewed below. Original post at 6:25 p.m.: Yosemite, CA A Dozen visitors to Yosemite National Park fell sick this month from a mystery illness. Federal health officials are inspecting the parks food service areas, including the Ahwanhee Hotel. The National Park Service and the U.S. Public Health Service launched an investigation after employees and visitors reported the problems, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Most were stricken with stomach issues. Federal officials reveal that currently, they have not identified the illness or the origin of the outbreak. Park officials gave this update on the condition of those who got sick, advising that they are getting better or already recovered. New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Saturday formed a five-member committee to look into the violence on the campus on January 5. The committee comprises Prof Shashant Mishra, Prof Santosh Vipula, Prof Mazar Asif, Sudheer Pratap Singh and Prof Bhaswati Das. JNU administration also issued a notice stating that if any outsider or an unauthorized student or guest is found staying in the rooms (of any hostel at the varsity), necessary action will be initiated against the resident student, as per administration rules. This move of the college comes keeping in concern the safety inside the university. To ensure proper implementation of the rule, the JNu administration has also taken a security audit of hostels to check the stay of outsiders and unauthorized students. Delhi Police, which is investigating into the matter, had on Friday released names of nine suspects, seven from Left including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh and two from ABVP, who were recognized through the CCTV footage. Live TV However defending herself, JNUSU president-elect Aishe Ghosh said, Whats the proof against me? She asserted that until and unless Delhi Police conducts a fair probe, she would continue to protest in a peaceful and democratic manner. Delhi Police can do their inquiry. I also have evidence to show how I was attacked, Ghosh said. JNU Vice-Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar on Saturday appealed to the students who are out of the station to come back because the academic session is starting. ON Friday, JNU administration had issued circulars stating that academic session will start in JNU from the January 13. Kumar also interacted with students on Saturday during which he said that some ''activist students'' backed by a group of teachers are the trouble brewers who have created an atmosphere of terror forcing students to vacate the hostel. ''The terror created by some of the activist students went to such an extent that many of our students had to leave the hostels. Our campus is known as a peaceful campus," the V-C said. On January 5, some masked men with sticks and iron rods entered the JNU campus and launched an attack on students and teachers, they entered students' hostel and vandalized campus property. Several people, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, JNUSU General Secretary Satish Chandra, and many teachers received grievous injuries. A 19-year-old college student says she was hospitalized in intensive care and nearly died after vaping on Juul and other e-cigarettes destroyed her lung tissue, causing her to come down with a 104-degree fever. Claire Chung, who lives in the Washington, DC, area, shared her harrowing story on Instagram on December 29, when she posted a photograph showing her lying in a hospital bed connected to intravenous tubes and a machine. For the past 3 weeks, I had a consistent high fever of 104 with no other symptoms whatsoever, she wrote in the post which eventually went viral. From this, we assumed the flu or a cold so after a couple weeks of taking [over-the-counter] meds with nothing helping, I went to get checked out further. Claire Chung, 19, posted an image on her Instagram on December 29 showing her hospitalized at Holly Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland Chung also posted images of the CT scans taken of her chest. The scans (bottom) show that her lung tissue was completely destroyed, according to doctors. The image on top shows what a healthy pair of lungs would look like Chung blames her use of Juuls and other e-cigarettes, saying she nearly died as a result After considerations of malaria, autoimmune disorders, and many many other tests, a chest x-ray showed what they thought was slight pneumonia in the lower area of my left lung. After being on two antibiotics for 48 hours, the fevers were still spiking to 104, so I went into the ER on Christmas morning. According to Chung's Instagram, she is a student at the Culinary Institute of America. She is seen left with an unidentified male Debate over how harmful vaping is leads to confusion E-cigarettes have the potential to benefit some people, by helping them quit smoking. But scientists still have a lot to learn about whether e-cigarettes are truly effective for quitting smoking and what the long-term risks are. Nicotine is already known to be highly addictive and harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine. Aerosol is inhaled into the lungs and can contain potentially harmful substances, including heavy metals like lead, volatile organic compounds, and cancer-causing agents. US health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are investigating an outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI). The mystery illness has swept across the states. Officials have identified Vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern. THC is present in most of the fluid samples collected from the lungs of ill people, and most patients report a history of using THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. 'Popcorn lung' is the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans, a condition which damages the smallest airways in the lungs and has been linked to people with vaping-related breathing problems. However, theres no good evidence that e-cigarettes could cause the lung condition, according to Cancer Research UK. The flavourings in electronic cigarettes may damage blood vessels in the same way as heart disease, according to research published in June 2018. The chemicals used to give the vapour flavours, such as cinnamon, strawberry and banana, can cause inflammation in cells in the arteries, veins and heart. They cause the body to react in a way that mimics the early signs of heart disease, heart attacks or strokes, the study by Boston University found. Other recent studies have also suggested smoking e-cigarettes could cause DNA mutations which lead to cancer, and enable pneumonia-causing bacteria to stick to the lungs easier. Researchers at New York University subjected human bladder and lung cells to e-cigarette vapor, which is marketed as being healthier than tobacco. They found the cells mutated and became cancerous much faster than expected and mice exposed to the vapour also suffered significant DNA damage. In another study, scientists at Queen Mary University, London, found vaping makes users more likely to catch pneumonia just like smoking tobacco or breathing in traffic fumes. The vapour from e-cigarettes helps bacteria which cause the condition to stick to the cells that line the airways, they said. The effect occurs with traditional cigarette smoke and those who are exposed to air pollution high in particulates from vehicle exhausts. An April 20202 study found vaping damages the arteries and blood vessel function much like smoking traditional cigarettes. The team studied measures of blood vessel function in e-cigarette and dual users who had been using e-cigarettes for at least three months. All e-cigarette users were former cigarette smokers. Advertisement I was hospitalized and given IV fluids and antibiotics. Between the emergency, infectious disease, and pulmonary departments, they exhausted all tests and options and still nothing was helping. A CT scan of my lungs was ordered and it revealed extremely disturbing results. Healthy lungs on a scan should be black. My 19-year-old lungs were completely hazy and white in the scans, entirely covering both lungs. I was taken by ambulance to be admitted into more intensive care. They couldnt determine whether the scans were showing fluid, blood, bacteria, infection, etc, so they were still unable to actually treat the cause of my symptoms. After conducting many more tests and a bronchoscopy, it was determined that there was no infection and that my lung tissue was just completely destroyed from using Juuls and vapes and oil cartridges. Not only is there severe damage in my lungs, but from when I started school to when I graduate, my only break was this month of December. That means if this had happened a couple of weeks earlier or a couple of weeks later, I would not have had access to healthcare and this would never have been caught. In that case, I would most likely be DEAD within the next month. Please take it from personal experience that this is NOT worth it from something as stupid as a nicotine device. The stories that youre hearing online are REAL. Death was a VERY real possibility, I am still hospitalized on a laundry list of IV drugs and steroids, I may have permanent scarring in my lungs, and its all because of Juuls and carts. DailyMail.com has reached out to Juul for comment. Earlier this week, Chung posted images of the CT scans of her lungs - juxtaposing them with a normal CT. My bronchial tubes are EXTREMELY inflamed beyond belief and all the white haziness (which should be black and clear on a healthy scan) is damaged tissue, she wrote. When the pulmonologist came to me with the results, he was in complete shock. He genuinely had no reaction other than Wow. This is a lung specialist who looks at diseased scans everyday for a living telling a NINETEEN year old girl that hes never seen anything like this before. Because there is no research on Juuls/carts/vapes, they could see all this damage but could not treat it. The doctors couldnt tell whether this was blood, fluid, bacteria, a virus, inflammation, etc. I could hear the tension and apprehension in every one of my doctors voices of not knowing whether or not they could help me or if I was going to live or die. The scariest part is that even with the extent of the damage, I never once felt any of it. Chung writes that she is still in the hospital as of this past Thursday. She is being given intravenous fluids and steroids I never experienced any shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, or ANY signs respiratory distress or issues. It is truly a SILENT killer. Just because you cant feel it doesnt mean its not happening. You dont understand regret until your doctors are staring you in the face telling you they dont know if they can save your life, knowing in your head that you willingly brought it upon yourself despite countless warnings to stop. So far, 57 Americans are believed to have died of vaping-related illness. The latest victim is a 15-year-old boy from Texas, according to officials. As of Thursday, 2,602 people have been hospitalized with lung illnesses linked to e-cigarettes in every US state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most of the victims are male and under the age of 35, with ages of those who died ranging from 15 to 75. Increases in the number of cases appear to have slowed, but the illnesses continue to be prevalent and severe. The 57 deaths have been confirmed in 27 states and DC, with Georgia, Illinois and Indiana having the highest number of vaping deaths at five each. Four deaths each have been confirmed in California; three deaths each in Massachusetts and Minnesota; and two deaths each confirmed in Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Oregon and Tennessee. Meanwhile, at least one death each has been confirmed in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington, DC. The CDC announced on Thursday that 2,602 people have fallen ill in every US state and 57 people have died in 27 states (red) and DC due to mysterious lung illnesses linked to vaping. There is one unconfirmed death in Texas. According to the CDC, about 83 percent of people who've fallen ill reported vaping THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana. By comparison, a mere 13 percent have reported exclusive use of nicotine-containing products. CDC officials say there are 'confident' that vitamin E acetate, a diluting agent used in many THC vaping products, is behind the illnesses. It was detected in 48 of 51 samples of tissues of patients with - what is being called - EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung illness). 'This is a serious clinical condition affecting young people across the country and it's completely preventable,' Dr Anne Schuchat, CDC principal deputy director, said in a press briefing last month. 'It is clear that the outbreak represents a new phenomenon and not a recognition of a common syndrome that had evaded our attention.' While vitamin E is safe as a vitamin pill or to use on the skin, inhaling oily droplets of it can be harmful. It's sticky and stays in the lungs, so much so that Dr James Pirkle of the CDC likened it to honey. Scientists theorized that the oil might be coating the lungs, triggering inflammation and damage. In fact, it causes burns that have been likened to those suffered by soldiers attacked with mustard gas during World War I. Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration's announced a ban on most flavored e-cigarettes in an effort to curb the rise of youth vaping. Only two flavors, menthol and tobacco, are being sold in stores. The CDC has not changed its warning against using these illegitimate products and continues to urge Americans who don't use e-cigarettes not to start. Although the agency says that smokers who have switched to vaping should not return to using combustible cigarettes, the CDC also advises vaping products should 'never be used by youths, young adults or women who are pregnant.' Iranians anguished after military admits shooting down Ukrainian jet originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Iranians are taking to social media to express their grief, shock and anger after authorities admitted that the Iranian military had "unintentionally" shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed near Tehran Wednesday morning, killing all 176 passengers and crew members on board. The official statement released by Iranian authorities said that "human error" led to the catastrophic crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. MORE: Iran says it 'unintentionally' shot down Ukrainian airliner "Call it 'human mistake' or meanness, or disgrace, whatever you name it. But I wish you would finish all of us. ... We cannot bear it any longer," Farnaz Miri, a journalist, posted to Twitter. "We are a bunch of walking-dead people with the life that you made for us. According to the Fars News Agency, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had asked members of the Supreme National Security Council on Friday to "explicitly and honestly" inform the people of what happened. Yet the honest accounting hasn't curbed people's shock and outrage, both for the killing of innocent people and for the decision to hide the fact for three days after the crash. "Did it take you three to four days until you realized you fired missiles? photographer Arash Ashournia asked on Twitter. PHOTO: An Iranian holds a newspaper with a picture of the debris of the Ukrainian plane that crashed in Tehran earlier this week, outside a news stand in the Islamic republic's capital on January 11, 2020. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images) The crash of Flight 752 occurred about three hours after Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at U.S. military bases in Iraq, in retaliation for the American drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, a top general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The government's statement blamed "US terrorist forces' military flights around the country" for "increased ... sensitivity in air defense complexes," which led to Iran's defense forces being "on the highest level of preparedness to respond to possible threats." Story continues MORE: Boeing 737-800 carrying at least 170 crashes in Iran after takeoff with no survivors Under those "critical conditions," Flight 752 was mistaken for a "hostile flight" after it turned toward a "sensitive military center," at which point the plane was "unintentionally hit" with an anti-aircraft missile, the statement said. Last week, after Soleimani was targeted by the U.S., Iranian state media reported a sense of unity among the Iranian people as millions mourned Soleimani across the country. Now, some feel that unity is at risk. PHOTO: In this Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, photo, rescue workers search the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP) "Shame on you for not being able to distinguish a fighter jet from a passenger plane ... Maybe you are right and these people were your enemy," one Twitter user wrote. "How can you justify this disaster?" The sense of questioning has even reached the parliament. "What have these people done wrong that we are their authorities?" parliament member Mohammad Reza Tabesh asked Saturday morning. "They have left their resources and the decision-making of the country in our hands to bring them honor, prosperity and peace." Tabesh said that keeping the truth secret was even more damaging to the country than the missiles and bombs. MORE: Trump addresses nation, de-escalates crisis over Iran's missile attacks Many Iranians are blaming the government for hiding the facts, with some pushing for top military commanders to resign. Yes, I believe resignation might be healing. Thousands of resignations. From top to bottom, wrote Maryam Abdi. The Islamic Association of Tehrans Amirkabir University of Technology invited the public to hold a vigil on Saturday at 5 p.m.local time in downtown Tehran. PHOTO: An Iranian woman lights a candle for the victims of the Jan. 8 Ukrainian plane crash, Jan. 11,2020. (Somayeh Malekian/ABC News) "It is our right to hold a funeral and vigil. There should be somewhere to shout all this anger," wrote Soheila Esmaeili. "Now we know that none of us will turn back to what we used to be. The vigil soon turned into a protest. By 5:30 p.m., there were hundreds of people, mostly students, at the vigil. "Down with this deceptive government," IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] does the crime, the leader supports," and "We havent given blood to compromise, or to obey the murderer leader," were phrases the protestors shouted throughout and they demanded the release of political students. As students began to push their way through the university's doors, anti-riot police started pushing students back. There were reports of tear gas being used on the protestors and warning shots fired. A Harrisburg man who was shot Thursday afternoon has died, according to Harrisburg police. Brian Hall, age not provided, suffered a gunshot wound around 4:15 p.m. Thursday in Harrisburg but died Friday at a local hospital as a result of his injuries, police said. Hall was shot in the 1400 block of South 15th Street, police said. Police have not said whether they have any suspects in the shooting. Police ask that anyone with information on the shooting contact them at 717-558-6900. A tip can also be submitted through the departments Crimewatch website. Read more on PennLive: Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 17:49:14|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close CANBERRA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The head of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has warned that the worse of the nation's bushfire crisis could still be yet to come. Angus Campbell, the Chief of the Defence Force, promised that the ADF was "going to be part of the story of rebuilding this country", telling troops who have been deployed to help with bushfire recovery efforts that they would be "in it for the long haul." "Australians are helping Australians and that is an incredibly comforting experience for our people," he told soldiers at HMAS Albatross, one of the Royal Australian Navy's biggest bases. "We're still halfway through the bushfire season and we don't know if it's going to get worse in time, or better. "There are millions of hectares of forests destroyed, communities isolated, and people need to have that sense that we're reaching out and we're going to be part of the story of rebuilding this country." At least 27 people have died and thousands of homes have been destroyed in bushfires across the country since September. The government earlier in January announced that 3,000 ADF reservists would be deployed to help with the bushfire recovery in an unprecedented move. Campbell was joined on Friday by Linda Reynolds, the Minister for Defence. The pair toured HMAS Adelaide, Australia's largest warship, which has been stationed off the coast of Sydney coordinating evacuations. "No matter whether you're onboard or whether you're actually going out into some of the local communities, people will never ever, ever forget what you have done for them here," Reynolds told the troops. When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to bring his Gujarat Model to the rest of the country, everyone thought he meant the pro-growth reforms that had allegedly done wonders for the economy of his home state. But the events of last week suggest that the real Gujarat Model that Modi had in mind was something else entirely: Government looking the other way as private militants violently attack disfavored groups. It's a model that infamously resulted in the slaughter of more than 1,000 men, women, and children, mostly Muslims, over the course of a few days in 2002 when Modi was its chief minister. And now Modi has done a mini re-enactment at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), a prestigious college in the heart of New Delhi whose opposition has long irritated him. This is no doubt a warning shot to the growing youth resistance against his "papers, please" citizenship law. Here's what happened at JNU: Sunday evening, 40 to 50 hoodlums, mostly men but also a few women, faces partially wrapped in scarfs, armed with clubs, iron rods, and sledgehammers, stormed the campus. Eyewitness accounts and video footage suggest that several of these people were members of the ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad), a student union associated with Modi's party. They approached a group of students protesting a sudden, massive fee hike and began thrashing them. They bloodied the student president, Aishe Ghosh, and many others. Then, chanting that the students were traitors who deserve to be shot for opposing the administration, the attackers barged into dorm rooms and went on a rampage, taking care to spare rooms that sported ABVP posters. Muslim students were of course fair game. And so was a blind Hindu student, a Sanskrit scholar and a student of Hinduism no less, whose wall sported a picture of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, India's reformist founding father. (Ambedkar has fallen from grace in pro-Modi circles because he was a vigorous opponent of the caste system and other regressive Hindu practices and his thought is fueling the constitutional case against Modi's Hindu nationalism.) Story continues JNU's vice-chancellor, who is appointed by the central government, failed to mobilize campus security to stop the mayhem. Meanwhile, the Delhi police, which is under the command of the Modi government rather than local authorities, ignored the frantic calls of students for over an hour. There was a veritable battalion of cops standing right outside the campus gates, but not a single one of them went in to stop the attack. As if this is not shocking enough, the cops even stood by as ambulances were vandalized right in front of them. Modi hasn't said a word condemning the violence at JNU. No assailant has yet been charged or arrested. The police claim they're zeroing in on some suspects, but judging by how they have handled cow vigilantes lynching Muslims suspected of consuming beef, the culprits will face no more than a slap on the wrist. Incredibly, at the exact same time that the JNU students were getting bashed, the cops were preparing a rap sheet against some of them, including Ghosh, for allegedly vandalizing university computer servers the day before to stop students from registering. Ghosh denies that allegation. Meanwhile, a video that ABVP circulated and no less than the vice chancellor retweeted showing that the Sunday violence was triggered by a prior episode when a "lefty student" punched an ABVP member turned out to be the opposite: an ABVP supporter appears to be attacking a "lefty student." All of this law enforcement standing by as private militants allied with the ruling party go on a violent spree, criminalizing the victims, spreading disinformation to confuse the public was precisely Modi's modus operandi in Gujarat. But the ominous parallels with that grisly episode don't stop there. The Gujarat carnage was preceded by a long vilification campaign against Muslims, a strategy he is replicating in miniature against the university. Modi has long castigated JNU students and faculty as communists and traitors who want to break up the country never mind that last years Nobel Prize recipient in economics along with two of Modis own cabinet ministers hail from the university. His Home Minister and right-hand man, Amit Shah, known for his brass knuckles politics, has repeatedly said the university's "tukde tukde gang" meaning the gang that wants to dismember India piece by piece needs to be "taught a lesson." Modi popularized this moniker a few years ago when some of JNU's firebrand student leaders harshly protested the abrupt hanging of a Muslim man who had allegedly attacked the Indian parliament. Such statements signaled to Modi and Shah's most extreme supporters that they wanted the university targeted, without having to bother with actually giving orders to law enforcement authorities. Not that the duo is shy about doing so when necessary. A few weeks ago, cops appeared to vandalize Jamia Millia University, a Muslim university in New Delhi. But Modi's comrade, Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, went even further. His police showed up at Aligarh Muslim University and roughed up students protesting Modi's faith-cleansing policies that'll strip an untold number of Indian Muslims of citizenship. Over 60 students were injured, three critically. Several students have just disappeared. A Muslim female journalist who was covering a protest in nearby Lucknow was arrested and allegedly assaulted by police. But such tactics are backfiring spectacularly. The anti-government protests, especially on college campuses, are spreading like wildfire. Students at many elite colleges have gone on strike and are holding candle light vigils to protest the events at JNU and AMU along with Modi's nefarious citizenship law. A normal politician would back off in the face of such public opposition and extend an olive branch, especially given how quickly Modi's carefully cultivated squeaky-clean image is getting trashed in India and abroad. But Modi and Shah are doubling down. Previously, they had dubbed secularists defending religious freedom as "Muslim appeasers." Now, even moderate free-market conservatives or middle-of-the-road liberals expressing concern over the direction of the country are being branded as the radical left, Madhvan Narayanan, a veteran Indian journalist, told The Week. Why is Modi doing this? What's his end game? Many fear he is deliberately baiting protesters and fomenting widespread unrest to build an excuse to cancel elections in Delhi next month and put the city under the president's rule. His party is expected to lose handily just as it has done in other state elections in recent months, thanks to the growing dismay over his assaults on citizenship. There is even speculation that he is preparing to suspend India's constitution and declare an emergency, just as Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi notoriously did in 1975. That may or may not be the case. But one open question about Modi always has been whether he was pushing an extreme Hindu nationalist agenda to gain power or vice versa: pursuing power to push his agenda. His growing enemies list and the private and state violence he will apparently deploy against those on it suggests that the former might be the case. This means no one outside of Modi's band of merry brothers is safe in India anymore. All of India is Gujarat now. Dissent is out. Violence is in. As one poster at a protest noted: "First AMU. Then JNU. Next You." Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here. More stories from theweek.com The White House celebrated the '1st snow' of 2020 on an unseasonably warm, snowless Sunday The death of rock's master craftsman Fox & Friends' Steve Doocy wonders what would happen if the U.S. accidentally shot down a jet. Geraldo Rivera reminds him 'we did.' About 60 Islanders rallied on for peace in the Middle East at the Murphy Community Centre in Charlottetown on Saturday afternoon. The Island Peace Committee organized its own event in solidarity with the Canadian Peace Alliance in a day of action to oppose war and sanctions on Iran. Anti-war actions are set to take place around the globe. On Jan. 3, the United States conducted airstrikes at Baghdad's international airport in Iraq, killing several people, including Qassem Soleimani, a top military figure in Iran. The peace committee said it's calling on the federal government to denounce the killing of Soleimani, which has been condemned by some as a war crime and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty. Sarah MacMillan/CBC "I think it's really enough," said Ali Siadat, who came to PE.I. from Iran nine years ago. "I think we really need to find a pathway to have sustainable peace." Siadat spoke at the event and shared his grief of the last few weeks with the other attendees. "I'm hoping our government or any other person who is in power across the planet, all the countries across the world, I hope they would hear the voice of people who are saying, 'We don't want any other war. We want peace. We want people to feel safe and secure regardless of their location, of where they live.'" Sarah MacMillan/CBC The group made plans for the event about two weeks ago. That was before a plane crashed in Iran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board, many of them Canadians. Iran has announced it shot down the Ukrainian plane unintentionally. Leo Broderick, one of the event's organizers, said the committee is looking to get attention from the Canadian government. Sarah MacMillan/CBC "More than ever we need to see peace," he said. He said in addition to Saturday's gathering, the group will send a petition to the federal government. The group will be hosting another day of action on Jan. 17 at Province House in Charlottetown. More P.E.I. news Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may have a private meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, when he arrives in Kolkata for a two-day visit, but will not go to the airport to receive him, senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders close to the party chief said on Friday. Banerjee told her close aides that urban development minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim will be sent to the airport. The prime ministers plane will land around 3.30 pm and he will attend two back to back official programmes in Kolkata before visiting Belur Math in Howrah. He will return to Raj Bhawan after 8 pm and spend the night there. TMC leaders said Banerjee may meet Modi either at Millennium Park by the Hooghly river in the afternoon, where the Prime Minister will inaugurate a light and sound show, or around 9 pm at Raj Bhawan. The final schedule will depend on circumstances and their convenience, said a TMC leader. Mansukh Mandaviya, minister of state for shipping and chemical and fertilizers, met the chief minster on Friday and invited her to the 150th year celebration of the Kolkata Port Trust at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday morning to be inaugurated by Modi. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, with whom the TMC government is having a cold war for months, will also be present. Meanwhile, security has been tightened all along the route that the Prime Ministers convoy will follow in the city and Howrah because Left parties, Congress, far-Left groups, students, Muslim organisations and the student wing of the TMC have planned agitations in different parts of the city as well as the airport against the amended citizenship law. Several parties, including the CPI(M), plan to show Modi black flags and shout go back slogans. Officers of the Kolkata Police and Special Protection Group travelled the entire route twice on Friday to finalise security plans. The fire brigade has been pressed into service in Vadodara, an official from Vadu police station said, adding that relief and rescue operations are underway. Vadodara: At least five persons were killed and several injured in a blast at an industrial and medical gas manufacturing company in Padra taluka of Gujarat's Vadodara district on Saturday, police said. The explosion took place at around 11 am at Aims Industries Limited near Gavasad village in Padra, an official from Vadu police station said. The company manufactures industrial and medical grade gases ranging from Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide and various mixtures associated with it. While five persons died on the spot, several were reportedly injured and have been rushed to a nearby hospital, he said. The fire brigade has been pressed into service, he said, adding that relief and rescue operations are underway. Golden Globe winner Joaquin Phoenix who made headlines for his hyper-controversial film Joker, released in 2019, was arrested along with other climate change protestors. The Hollywood star was arrested on Friday, reports variety.com. Jane Fonda's last Fire Drill Friday protest in Washington, DC, saw the actor march with hundreds, including the likes of Martin Sheen, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Susan Sarandon, and give a speech about the effects of the meat and dairy industries on climate change. AP According to US Capitol Police, 147 protesters were arrested in total for the unlawful demonstration. Since October, Fonda and other actors, including Sam Waterston, Ted Danson, Rosanna Arquette, Sally Field, and Catherine Keener, have been arrested for civil disobedience, as they advocated for a Green New Deal, among other demands. Phoenix attended the protest, standing alongside Fonda on stage to deliver a speech. In her introduction, Fonda tagged Phoenix "one of the greatest living actors today." Here are a few pictures from the protests: AP "Something I think isn't oftentimes talked about in the environmental movement or in the conversation about climate change is that the meat and dairy industry is the third leading cause of climate change," he said. "I think sometimes we wonder what we can do in this fight against climate change and there's something that you can do today, right now, and tomorrow, by making a choice about what you consume." The remarks came days after Phoenix's acceptance speech for best actor - drama, at the 66th Golden Globes Awards, where he praised the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for "recognizing and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate change." "It is a very bold move making tonight plant-based. It really sends a powerful message," he said. The animal rights activist was the one who convinced the Hollywood Foreign Press to implement its first all-vegan menu at the Golden Globes. Martin Sheen also gave a speech during the protest. Each week, Fonda uses her Fire Drill Friday protests to advocate for a different cause. She has previously focused on the impact that climate change has on water and women, and has held weekly "teach-ins" with experts to discuss the global issues. AP This week, Fonda said the focus was on large financial institutions that allow for the fossil fuel industry, in particular, to thrive. David Drummond, the legal chief of Google parent company Alphabet, is leaving at the end of the month, following accusations of inappropriate relationships with employees. Alphabet did not give a reason for Drummond's departure in a short regulatory filing Friday. The company said last November that it was investigating sexual misconduct cases against executives. Claims against Drummond were included in the investigations. Last August, a former Google employee, Jennifer Blakely, published a report of her relationship with Drummond. Drummond has acknowledged a relationship with Blakely. But in a statement at the time, he said he never started" a relationship with anyone else at Alphabet. The company said Drummond is not getting an exit package as part of his departure. In a memo sent to employees, Drummond said that with founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin "now leaving their executive roles at Alphabet, the company is entering an exciting new phase, and I believe that it's also the right time for me to make way for the next generation of leaders." He did not mention the misconduct allegations. Caden Carver has grown up showing animals. He and his siblings, Berkley and Kelton Carver, know what it takes to raise animals and prepare them for the stock show ring. Caden knows not all kids get that experience and on Friday, when the Carver kids and countless others around the county are preparing to show their livestock animals in the Hale County Stock Show, another group of kids will get a chance to experience what its like. Eighteen area youth between the ages of 8 and 13 from the surrounding area will take part in the Kool Kid AGStravaganza on Friday morning. The event was created specifically for individuals with special needs. The Carver kids, along with members of other FFA and 4-H chapters, will be available to help show participants what raising and showing an animal is like through a series of simulation booths. On Thursday, Caden explained to The Herald that there are materials ready to show participants how to milk a cow (by using a liquid-filled glove), sheer a sheep (with shaving cream and a fake razor), create special frames and another special activity. Theyll get an opportunity to show a live pig in the ring, Caden said. The activities will be very hands-on, he said. The event will start at 9:30 a.m. with sign-ins. The rotations through each of the different simulation activities will begin at 10:15 a.m. The FFA and 4-H volunteers will be there to help every step of the way, Caden said. Angie Carver, the Carver kids mom, said she hopes this years event will result in more participation next year. The goal is to make this happen annually. The 18 participants signed up for it this year is perfect for helping those involved figure out how its all going to come together and how to improve the event in the future. The entire event is a culmination of efforts by several groups and individuals, according to Angie. Huffaker and Byers Farms will provide the pigs for the show. Aspen Geter, a local 4-H kid who raises bunnies, will provide some. Petersburg FFA created cow and lamb replicas for the hands-on activities. Delta Signs of Lubbock created a welcome banner and HF & C of Lubbock has provided pig brushes for the participants. Financial sponsors also include the Cotton Center Lions Club, Graphic Zone of Plainview, Street Community Gin of Kress, the Jackie Seago family and Caprock Metal Works of Lubbock. LOVE IN WINTERLAND (2020) 9 p.m. on Hallmark. This new romantic drama stars Italia Ricci as Alice, a finalist on a dating show in Los Angeles. During the last round of dates, the shows bachelor, Tanner (Jack Turner), invites Alice on a trip to her scenic Vermont hometown. There, she bumps into her high school sweetheart, Brett (Chad Michael Murray), who just happens to own the inn where the shows cast and crew are staying, and their reunion rekindles strong feelings. AUSTIN CITY LIMITS 11 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). After an 11-year hiatus, Jack Whites the Raconteurs returned last summer with a third album, Help Us Stranger. Its as if they never left. The singles Sunday Driver and Now That Youre Gone, one, a classic rock n roll hit, the other, a bluesy tune about a love lost, fit well into their previous records. The four-piece performs their new songs in this live performance, joined by the Austin-based funk duo Black Pumas. 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. SAGINAW, MI Police are investigating a second shooting on Saginaws streets in three days. In the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 11, police responded to Van Etten Street near Creswell Street on Saginaws East Side for a report of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they found a rented Kia in the road that had crashed into a tree, said Michigan State Police Special 1st Lt. David Kaiser. The Kias 19-year-old male driver had been shot in his left elbow, Kaiser said. The man was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Police had no suspects as of 9:30 a.m. Saturday. A prior shooting occurred on Thursday, Jan. 9. That evening, a 25-year-old man showed up at a local hospital seeking treatment for a bullet wound to his leg, Kaiser said. The man said he had been driving in the area of South 15th and Hartsuff streets on the citys East Side when someone opened fire on him from outside his vehicle, Kaiser said. Police went to the area and recovered a couple dozen shell casings, Kaiser said. The Major Crimes Unit, comprising Saginaw and MSP detectives, is investigating both shootings. New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia addresses a press conference at the launch of the party's official campaign song for Delhi Assembly elections, in New Delhi on Jan 11, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS New Delhi, Jan 11 : Aam Aamdi Party leader Manish Sisodia on Saturday said the BJP has insulted the people of Delhi by calling them "freeloaders" and said the saffron party is against the city government's free schemes to the people. He also urged people to listen to the BJP leaders carefully. "Elections are coming, listen to the statements of these leaders. They are calling you freeloaders. Voting for them means, higher price for education, electricity and bus rides. People should be very careful." Sisodia told the media that the BJP should apologise to the people of Delhi for calling them "freeloader". He said it is the duty of every government to serve the people. "We are here to serve the citizens of Delhi. By calling the public freeloader, BJP is insulting the parents who send their children to a government school. We won't tolerate this humiliation of our people," said Sisodia, who is the Education Minister. Sisodia said the remarks from a BJP leader was an "insult to people because taking free services from the governmnet does not mean people are freeloaders". "The BJP leaders have said that they are against the free electricity, water and travel for women in Delhi. By saying that people of Delhi are freeloader, they have insulted the public. "The people of Delhi are not for sale here but are the owners of the city. BJP President Amit Shah should apologise to the people of Delhi," Sisodia told media. He said the governments are here to serve the people. "People are paying taxes and the money from that are used for development. Getting free service from the government does not mean people are on sale. The BJP have been against our free schemes," Sisodia said. He accused that the BJP wants to give benefits only to the rich. "People are paying taxes and AAP is giving them free services. This is their right." Sisodia, who is also the Finance Minister, said people anyway don't have money as the economy is going down. "Why do you want to put more pressure on them?" He said the BJP is against free electricity, free water and free travel for women. "This can be their agenda as a party but they cannot insult the people of Delhi who are the beneficiaries of this pro-people policies." This comes after a verbal spat between AAP and BJP's Delhi unit chief Manish Tiwari who has promised five times more benefit to the voters than AAP has given in the past five years. Sisodia asked Tiwari to show the report card for those states ruled by the saffron party, after his "five-time" promise came. Dedicating to the nation four refurbished British-era buildings of the city, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the rich heritage of the country will be presented before the world. The country's history, written after Independence, has ignored various facets and it is not what we read or write for examinations, Modi said. In this age of violence, it is very important to awaken our national conscience, he said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to be present at the programme, but she did not go there. City Mayor and senior minister Firhad Hakim attended it. "Tradition and tourism have a direct link with our culture. To put India on the forefront, we will promote heritage tourism which also has the scope for employment generation. We want to make India a hub of heritage tourism," the prime minister said here. He said some of the old museums of the country like the Indian Museum, Kolkata, will be developed to international standards. "An Indian Institute of Heritage will also be set up with a deemed university status", the prime minister said while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of renovated heritage Currency Building, founded in 1833. It is a three-storied building, designed in Italian style, which initially housed a bank. It was named as the Currency Building when the government occupied a large portion of it for its Currency Department in 1868, according to the Archeological Survey of India, Kolkata. The other three refurbished buildings Modi dedicated to the nation are the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe Hall and the Victoria Memorial Hall. He said there should be gallery at the Victoria Memorial Hall reserved for patriots of Bengal like Kshudiram Bose, Rash Behari Bose, the triumvirate of Binoy-Badal and Dinesh, Rishi Aurobindo and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. "It is unfortunate, that during the British rule and even after independence, the history of our country that was written ad overlooked several important chapters," Modi said. Quoting Rabindranath Tagore, he said, "India's history is not what we remember and write for examinations. We have seen son killing father and siblings fighting against each other. This is not India's history." In this context, he wondered what the indigenous people of India were doing then. "It seems that they did not exist," the prime minister said. Modi, quoting Tagore again, said whenever a difficult time like a storm comes, it is needed to stand up and face it. "But those who see it from outside, will see the storm only." Amid the controversy over the amended Citizenship Act, the prime minister said "In this age of violence, it is needed to awaken national conscience. It is only from this that our culture, history and philosophy have emerged."Modi said people of the country have brought changes not with the help of military power, but through movements. "Politics and military power are short-lived. But the power of art, culture and history is permanent", he said. Exhorting Bengal's intellectual leadership, Modi said people like author Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, social reformers Keshab Sen and Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore had shown the world the power of India. He said Swami Vivekananda had said the 21st century will belong to India. "Myself and the government will support this and also try to learn from the people of Bengal". On another renaissance icon of Bengal, Raja Rammohan Roy, Modi said the country needs to follow his principles. "We will celebrate his 250th birth anniversary (in 2022) in a year-long programme. It is our duty to preserve our heritage and is one of the key aspects of nation-building, the PM said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A private school bus carrying 27 children on Saturday fell into a nullah in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district due to poor visibility, injuring 10, including an 8-year-old boy, police said. While nine injured were released after administering first aid, the boy was referred to BRD medical college, where his condition was stable, they said. According to the police, the bus was carrying students from Class 1 to 8. The driver has been arrested and a case registered against him. The accident occurred in Kaptanganj area of the district in the morning due to poor visibility, Superintendent of Police Kushinagar Vinod Kumar Mishra said. When the driver of the bus tried to negotiate a curve in order to save a motorcyclist coming from the opposite direction, the bus lost control and fell into the nullah (drain), he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a recent episode of How To!, a listener, Ashley, wants to propose to her boyfriend, Carter, but shes not sure how to go about it. Fortunately, Washington Post writer Caroline Kitchener has some experience in this area. She joined host Charles Duhigg for a conversation on busting this age-old gender norm. This transcript has been condensed and edited for clarity. Caroline Kitchener: Everything in our society tells us that the guy should propose. As much as gender roles and gender stereotypes have started to dissolve around weddings and the beginning of a marriage, they really havent. Men making these big grand gestures to women are just all over movies and TV. You just see it everywhere. And now on social media, so many people put their proposals on Instagram and Facebook, and its always the guy making a scavenger hunt, or just doing something, or gathering all of the friends and family together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charles Duhigg: Why do you think thats true? Why is it such a taboo for the woman to pop the question? Caroline: Ive written about this. I talked to a professor at Appalachian State University, Ellen Lamont, and she talks about something called symbolic gendering, which is this idea that as women become the equal of men in every other way, as we work more and were graduating from college at a higher rate than men, there are fewer opportunities for a woman to be pursued as opposed to do the pursuing. And so she talks about the proposal as this kind of thing that we cling to, to enact those traditional gender roles, when we dont see them anywhere else in our lives. Advertisement Charles: Its kind of like we get to hold onto the Disney movie by letting men propose and women say yes or no. Caroline: Right, exactly. I think, in the scheme of all of these antiquated traditions, it feels like a relatively harmless one. But I would love to see men propose 50 percent of the time and women propose 50 percent of the time, like whoevers feeling it in that moment. A proposal feels really significant to me. It sets the tone for the rest of your life. Its the beginning of the rest of your life. Advertisement Charles: Caroline, how did you propose? Caroline: I had a hundred candles all out, and I had the sign, and I actually had the ring that I stole from his underwear drawer where he had been keeping it. And that was how I asked. And then I had all of our friends together waiting to celebrate with us. Advertisement Advertisement Charles: So you planned a big thing. Caroline: I did. I planned a big thing. Advertisement Advertisement Charles: And the fact that you were a woman proposing to a man, did that change, do you think, how you thought about it, at all? Caroline: I mean, the only big logistical thing is, what do you give him? There is an item that is exchanged in a traditional male-proposes-to-female proposal. I asked a couple of people about that, and no one really had a good answer, and Google had no good answers. So what I ended up doing was just giving him the ring back and he put it on me. So Im curious, Ashley, what are you thinking youll do? Do you want to give him something? Advertisement Advertisement Ashley: Yeah. Im like, well, why do the women just get to have this flashy, sparkly thing? Why cant he have sparkly things too? And so its important for me to kind of gauge if he would want that. But he is the one who loves to cook most in our relationship, and hes wonderful at it. And part of me is like, do I propose with a KitchenAid mixer? Because hes wanted one for so long, and this is really important to me, youre really important to me, you really want a KitchenAid stand mixer. Advertisement Advertisement Charles: What I love about this is that if I was making a movie about 1950s gender relations and I wanted to show that a man was clueless, definitely the scene would include him proposing to his wife with a KitchenAid mixer. But on the other hand, if you give it to Carter, maybe that works. Advertisement Ashley: It might work. Charles: At the end of the day, a proposal is an offering, right? So put a ring on it, or give your man a watch or a KitchenAid mixer. Anything goes. Still, how will Carter feel if you are the one who proposes? Advertisement Ashley: I dont think itll be necessarily stealing his thunder. I dont think he dreamed of getting down on one knee and proposing to anyone. Im not going to ruin this childhood fantasy of his, and I think hell enjoy it. Caroline: Totally. Ellen Lamont, from her study, said that while the women felt it was very important for them to be asked, actually the men were far less bothered by the idea of the woman asking the men than the women were. To listen to the entire episode, click the player below or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Perth Scorchers defeated Brisbane Heat by 34 runs in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) at Perth Stadium here on Saturday. Chasing a mammoth target of 214, Tom Banton and Max Bryant built an opening stand of 35-run. Bryant (5) was picked by Jhye Richardson in the fourth over. Chris Lynn and Banton stitched a second-wicket partnership of 23-run. Skipper Lynn was sent back to the pavilion cheaply after scoring 14 runs by Chris Jordan, reducing the side to 58/2 at 5.3 overs. Matt Renshaw (1) failed to put big runs on the board and was dismissed by Joel Paris in the seventh over. Joe Burns joined Banton in the middle and built a stand of 24-run for the fourth wicket. The latter was caught and bowled by Fawad Ahmed in the 10th over. Banton amassed 55 runs off 32 balls including seven fours and two sixes. Paris scalped Ben Cutting (20) in the 15th over making it difficult for the team to chase the target. Jimmy Peirson (13) and James Pattinson (11) played brief knocks while Josh Lalor and Ben Laughlin remained unbeaten on 9 each. The side was only able to reach the score of 179/8 in allotted 20 overs. Richardson, Paris, and Jordan bagged two wickets each. Earlier, Scorchers won the toss and posted a giant total of 213 with a loss of three wickets. Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Bancroft unbeaten stand of 124-run guided the side to get past the 200-run mark. Marsh played a quickfire inning of 93 runs off 41 balls studded with eight sixes and three fours while Bancroft scored 41 off 29 balls. Josh Inglis and Liam Livingstone opened the innings for the side and built the stand of 39-run for the first wicket. The former was sent back to the pavilion by Josh Lalor in the fourth over after scoring 28 runs. Sam Whiteman joined Livingstone in the middle and stitched a brief stand of 27-run. Whiteman (4) failed to leave his mark on the scoreboard and was picked by Ben Laughlin in the seventh over. Livingstone (39) was caught at mid-off by Laughlin off Zahir Khan in the 11th over. For Heat, Lalor, Khan, and Laughlin dismissed one wicket each. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 20:23:53|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Tourists experience "undersea walking" at the Wuzhizhou Island in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 11, 2020. More than 83 million tourists from home and abroad visited southern China's tropical island province of Hainan in 2019, up nine percent year on year. Hainan's tourism revenue went up 11 percent over the previous year to 105 billion yuan (about 15 billion U.S. dollars) last year, according to the provincial department of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The JJP, which is in alliance with the BJP in Haryana, on Saturday announced that it will contest the Delhi assembly elections but put the ball in the saffron party's court on the question of alliance. The announcement was made after a meeting of the Delhi election committee of Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), chaired by Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala. Dushyant, who is also the Delhi in-charge of the party, announced that the JJP will contest the elections to be held on February 8 and will formally bring out its poll manifesto, the party said in a statement. After the meeting, Digvijay Chautala, Dushyant's younger brother and JJP's senior leader, said the party has been active in the national capital and it has also formed its units there. On the question of forming a coalition with the BJP,Digvijay said JJP is running the Haryana government in alliance with the saffron party and it respects the coalition 'dharma'. "If coalition talks with BJP will take place, the party will hold the meeting again but the final decision will be taken by party founder Dr Ajay Singh Chautala," he said. The party will fight for poor people, farmers and labourers in the polls, he said. The JJP, which entered into an alliance with the BJP in Haryana after contesting assembly elections against it, had fought the Lok Sabha elections in the state in alliance with AAP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of France Emmanuel Macron in a telephone conversation on January 11 have agreed to invite the French specialists for decoding 'black boxes' from the Ukrainian aircraft downed in Iran on January 8. "The heads of states agreed to invite French specialist for decoding 'black boxes' of the downed plane," a press service of the Ukrainian president reported. Macron promised to contribute to a comprehensive investigation of the disaster and bring to justice those responsible for this crime. He said that France had already launched a formal procedure to start an appropriate international investigation at ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). Zelensky, for his part, thanked his French colleague for condolences related to the plane crash. "The support of your state is very important for us at this tragic time. I am grateful for the willingness of France to help us in the investigation," he said. The parties also noted that such a quick truth finding of truth was the result of the clear work of the Ukrainian expert group in Iran and the consolidated support from the international partners. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 22:15:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- One of the first few Mandarin-English immersion schools in Britain officially opened in south London, joining the continuing zeal here and beyond for learning Mandarin. Petts Wood Mandarin-English Preschool, which opened Friday at Bromley in southeastern suburb of London, is also the very first Mandarin immersion preschool founded in partnership with a church in Britain, according to the school website. After three years of planning and preparation, the school draws expertise on Chinese immersion learning from Europe, the United States and China. It offers Chinese and English bilingual immersive education for children aged two to five. Xu Zhi, head teacher of Petts Wood, said the preschool offers up to 25 places and six children registered prior to the opening, with many families signed up for trial lessons in the next few weeks. "I had the idea of establishing a bilingual preschool since three years ago when I realized that more and more British families want an earlier start for their children's Chinese learning," Xu, who has run a successful weekend Chinese school in Bromley since 2006, told Xinhua. Many high school students in Britain also learn Chinese at school for two or three hours each week, but that is not enough and also a bit late for language learning, she added. Rigorous scientific research has shown evidence that bilingual education not only benefits children from a language learning perspective, but also in cognitive and intellectual development. The local community showed huge interests and support to the newly established preschool. Bromley Councillor Kim Botting, who has visited China for three times, is very optimistic about Britain-China education exchanges. While attending the opening ceremony Friday, Botting called the school a "wonderful and fantastic thing" for the community. Last November, inspector from the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) said the office was very happy to issue registration certificate to the preschool. In recent years Britain has seen rise of interests in learning and teaching Chinese as a second language. In 2015 , Britain's Department for Education launched a new 10-million-pound (13.1-million-U.S. dollar) initiative to expand Mandarin teaching in state schools across the country. Hundreds of pupils are taking part in the program, which aims to make at least 5,000 young people fluent in Mandarin by 2020. A Mandarin-English nursery named Hatching Dragons was established in London in 2015, accepting babies from as young as six-month to five. Two years later, the first bilingual English and Mandarin primary school was opened at Kensington, London. An aerial photo shows Boeing 737 MAX aircraft at Boeing facilities at the Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington on Sept. 16, 2019. (Lindsey Wasson/Reuters, File Photo) Boeing Supplier Spirit Aerosystems Says It Will Lay Off 2,800 Employees Boeings largest supplier announced it will lay off a significant number of its employees due to the suspension of the Boeing 737 MAX production following several high-profile accidents. Spirit AeroSystems, which makes fuselages for the MAX and other Boeing products, said on Friday that it would furlough about 2,800 workers at its Wichita, Kansas, facility. The difficult decision announced today is a necessary step given the uncertainty related to both the timing for resuming 737 MAX production and the overall production levels that can be expected following the production suspension, said Tom Gentile, Spirit AeroSystems president and CEO, in a statement. We are taking these actions to balance the interests of all of our stakeholders as a result of the grounding of the 737 MAX, while also positioning Spirit to meet future demand. Boeing 737 MAX jets were grounded around the world early last year after two plane crashes in less than six months left hundreds of people dead. But in its statement, Spirit said it has not yet received a notice from Boeing on how long the production suspension will last. Aerial photos showing Boeing 737 Max airplanes parked at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S. October 20, 2019. REUTERS/Gary He/File Photo When production resumes, the levels will be lower than previously expected due, in part, to the customers need to consume over 100 MAX shipsets currently in storage at Spirits facilities. In addition, Boeing has several hundred MAX airplanes built but not yet delivered to its customers, the firm wrote in elaborating on why it had to initiate the layoffs. In the coming days, the company will implement more workforce reductions at facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and McAlester, Oklahoma. Spirt didnt specify how many jobs would be impacted. Our goal is to support Boeing and a safe return to service of the MAX, said Gentile. We continue to work with Boeing to develop a new production schedule for 2020 with an eye toward minimizing disruption, maintaining the stability of our production capabilities, and best positioning Spirit for the future. When production levels increase sufficiently in the future, we look forward to recalling employees impacted by todays announcement. The MAX planes were grounded following the Ethiopian Airlines accident on March 10, 2019 that killed all 157 people on board. Months before that, in October 2018, a Lion Air plane crashed and killed 189 passengers and crew. Boeing is the largest manufacturing exporter in the United States, and hundreds of suppliers and vendors depend on it. In the meantime, the broader U.S. economy appears to be growing, and on Friday, the Labor Department reported that American employers added 145,000 workers in the month of December. In acknowledgment of the fact that Californias homeless crisis is deepening, Gov. Gavin Newsom has released an ambitious new plan that will add up to $1.4 billion in new spending to build more shelters, pay for homeless housing, and provide services and treatment to those struggling to stay off the street. Newsom also signed an executive order on Wednesday directing state agencies to identify all unused state lands that can be used for short-term emergency shelter. Possible facilities include decommissioned hospitals, Caltrans property near highways or state roads, and fairgrounds. The order also calls for using 100 modular trailers for temporary housing and the development of a multi-agency strike team to support local government agencies efforts at moving people off the streets. The state of California is treating homelessness as a real emergency because it is one, Newsom said in a statement announcing the order. Californias homelessness problem certainly counts as an emergency. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported last month that the states homeless population increased by 16% in 2018 an increase unmatched by any other state. The states homeless population in 2018 was about a quarter of the nations total homeless population. The voters definitely want action on this issue, too theyve approved billions of dollars for supportive and affordable housing programs up and down the state. Last fall, they named homelessness as the states top challenge in a Public Policy Institute of California poll. But homelessness has stymied many local and state leaders before Newsom, and there are no guarantees that hell find success. It will be all too easy for his order to get bogged down in red tape and neighborhood opposition. Last year, Newsom signed AB1197, which exempted homeless shelters and supportive housing development in the city of Los Angeles from CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) regulations. Its time for him to expand that principle statewide. As a companion to his homelessness efforts, Newsom should be looking closely at AB1907, a new bill from Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles. The bill will allow low-income housing projects and shelters to bypass CEQA, a state law that was designed to protect the environment but is all too often wielded as a cudgel by the opponents of development projects. The types of shelters built under this plan will also make a huge difference. By itself, a plan to give homeless residents short-term shelter on surplus government property isnt necessarily an effective or compassionate solution. In a far more aggressive way, President Trump suggested something similar when he promised to intervene in Californias homeless crisis last year. Without quality support and most importantly enough supportive housing for shelter residents to move into, all the plans in the world wont solve Californias homeless problems. 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. Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday said that six Army Apache attack choppers would be given to a unit on the western borders where there is a threat from armoured columns. "Six Army Apache attack choppers would be given to an Army unit on the western borders from where there is a greater threat from armoured columns," Naravane told media persons in the capital. General Naravane took over as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff on December 30, succeeding General Bipin Rawat who has become India's first Chief of Defence Staff. Naravane previously served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dearest Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Its 2 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon and you just completely ruined my column for tomorrow, which was an open letter on why you should leave the royal family. You ruined it because now youve come out and stated that is PRECISELY THE PLAN. Sweet baby Jesus. Here is what you just released in a statement: After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support. Wow. Just wow. This is unprecedented in modern royal history. Its as if Kylie decided to quit the Jenners. What youve just done, Harry and Meghan, is thumb your nose at the royal family and good on you! After spending Christmas with baby Archie in a rented manse on Vancouver Island, where you were free to come and go without the soul-sucking indignity of cameras and tabloid judgment, you had an epiphany. You saw the light. You decided its time to break free from royal shackles. And all I can say is: Its about bloody time. As I argued last year, more than once, you two should escape the lunacy of the stuffy, suffocating, stunting, regressive, woefully regimented expectations that plume from Buckingham Palace like toxic smoke bombs. Harry, you were born into this life. Meghan, you married into it. The pull of obligation is no doubt strong. But heres the thing: that obligation is a mirage. And now you see this. If Donald Trump can shatter all of the rules of the U.S. presidency, you two can surely go it alone and leave your senior royal duties behind. If anything, those duties are now an albatross around your necks. Your charity and global-outreach dreams would actually be easier to achieve if you were freed from the burdens of royalty. Harry, lets get real here, your interests and passions are not exactly polo and balcony waving. And, Meghan, do you really want to spend the best years of your life in a ridiculous hat as you hobnob with snooty high-society types who sip tea while rambling incoherently about Brexit or the absurd cost of private school (which they insist on calling public school)? No, you do not. The royal family was never your path to self-fulfilment. It was always destined to be a gilded cage that imprisoned your spirit. And all I can say is: Canada is where you belong. RELATED STORIES World Prince Harry and Meghan move to North America, step back from royal duties The hell with the royal family! I get that you have to say youll be splitting your time, but they dont deserve you. Screw them. They have treated your marriage like an unwanted third family car. Theres no room in the garage. They dont change your oil and filter. They dont care about your tire pressure. They just want you to rust out in the driveway, but be ready to start if and when needed. Whatever. So now that youve made this momentous decision, move to Canada. Not part time, but forever. In Canada, there would be no garage. There would only be a highway of endless opportunity. You could be who youve always wanted to be: free to affect change globally while cocooned inside a home base that is nurturing, not smothering; liberating, not stifling. You two have just made a consequential decision, and its the best one of your lives. You are finally free. Stepping back from your royal duties amounts to stepping into your future. As Ive written before, the royal family needs you more than you need them. But in their arrogance and haste, they never got you as individuals, nor as a couple. They always wanted you to play second fiddle when, in reality, you were destined to be lead guitar. And now the amps are yours to dial up to 10. Congratulations, Harry and Meghan. You are free. Your life starts now. And when ready, Canada is waiting to welcome you with open arms. Read more about: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) At least 14 Filipinos are flying home from Iraq this weekend the first batch to be repatriated by the government amid tensions in the Middle East. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Saturday said the Filipinos are now at the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, where they will be transported to Doha, Qatar. From there, they will board a commercial flight to Manila on Sunday. "This number may increase, however, as the Embassy continues to call on other OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) who wish to come home," Lorenzana said in a statement. READ: Airlines pledge free flights for OFW repatriation amid Middle East tensions Environment Secretary and Special Envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu earlier said at least 1,600 Filipinos in Iraq have expressed intent to avail of repatriation, but only a few of them have actually gone to the embassy. Data from the Department of Labor and Employment showed there are 2,191 OFWs in Iraq, while the Department of Foreign Affairs counted 4,204 Filipinos in the Middle Eastern country as of June 2019. Baghdad has been the battleground of United States and Iranian forces over the past week after US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. The Philippine government has raised the highest alert level in Iraq, which means mandatory repatriation of all Filipinos there. TIMELINE: US-Iran conflict and how it gravely affects Filipinos Trump on Thursday said Iran appears to be standing down, but Cimatu stressed that evacuation must be done as soon as possible to ensure the safety of all Filipinos in Iraq. Cimatu is now in Qatar from where he says he is evaluating the situation in Iran, Iraq, Libya, and neighboring areas. "The situation in the area is still unstable and our contingencies for massive repatriation are still in place," Lorenzana said. Kuwait is being monitored as well after it raised its security level to maximum, Lorenzana said. Earlier, the government downgraded the alert level in Iran and Lebanon, but the Philippine Coast Guard's biggest ship, BRP Gabriela Silang, is on standby in Malta ready to rescue Filipinos in case tensions escalate. The government is also working on evacuating Filipinos from Tripoli, Libya, where Alert Level 4 is in place, including areas within the 100-kilometer radius from the Libyan capital. It was first raised in May 2019 following clashes between government forces and rebels. Mumbai, Jan 11 : Filmmaker Kabir Khan, who is gearing up for the release of his web series "The Forgotten Army: Azaadi Ke Liye", based on Indian National Army (INA), says he wanted to make a film on the subject starring Shah Rukh Khan. He added that Shah Rukh didnt charged a fee for the voiceover he gave for the series. "Shah Rukh has very graciously given the voiceover. The series is based on true story, so there is an introduction of a few minutes before every episode along with real footage, where he has lent his voice. I talked about it with Shah Rukh earlier as well, when this was a film script. Back then, I wanted Shah Rukh to do the film. We even had a few meetings but we couldn't take it forward," said Kabir while promoting the series along with its lead actors Sunny Kaushal and Sharvari Wagh. Kabir added that Shah Rukh didn't charged a single paisa for his voiceover assignment. "When I was making this series, I thought I should ask Shah Rukh (to be the narrator) because Shah Rukh's father had an involvement with this army. His father knew General Shahnawaz Khan, who was an important part of INA. So, I knew he (Shah Rukh Khan) has sympathy and attachment with Azad Hind Fauj and I called him up. It's not an easy task to ask a superstar for a voiceover but Shah Rukh instantly agreed to do it. Usually, when you discuss a a film with Shah Rukh, it's a long process, but in this case Shah Rukh literally did the voiceover for us on the second day. I don't know whether he would like me to reveal this, but he didn't take a fee from us. I think the kind of attachment he has with Azad Hind Fauj reflects in his act." Incidentally, Shah Rukh did a cameo in Kabir Khan's 2017 release "Tubelight", starring Salman Khan. Kabir's new series is based on true events. The Forgotten Army tells the story of Lieutenant Sodhi (played by Sunny Kaushal) and his troop of brave men and women, who fought a heroic battle for the freedom of India as part of Azad Hind Fauj led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. While rumours about Shah Rukh Khan's next project have been flying ever since the release of his last film "Zero" in December 2018, he is yet to announce a new film as an actor. He produced the Netflix series "Bard Of Blood" in between, but is yet to confirm returning on the screen as an actor. "The Forgotten Army: Azaadi Ke Liye" streams on Amazon Prime from January 24. The series marks Kabir Khan's digital debut and is based on an earlier documentary by the director, also called "The Forgotten Army". The series also features Rohit Choudhary, Karanvir Malhotra, MK Raina, R. Badree, TJ Bhanu, and Shruti Seth. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Victoria Beckham has paid tribute to her late friend Ed Filipowski, writing that she is 'deeply saddened' by his death aged 58. The public relations executive passed away at his New York home on Friday following complications after a recent surgery. Ed was co-chairman and chief strategist of fashion PR agency KCD Worldwide who have represented brands including Givenchy, Tom Ford and Alexander McQueen. 'Deeply saddened': Victoria Beckham, 45, (pictured in Paris last November) has paid tribute to her late friend the PR executive Ed Filopowski who died at his New York home on Friday Victoria, 45, took to Instagram on Friday night to share her sadness at his death and send her thoughts to his grieving family. She wrote: 'This is heartbreaking. So deeply saddened to hear that Ed Filipowski passed away today. He was the kindest man and an incredible force in the industry. 'I am so lucky he was an integral part of my extended VB team family for many years. RIP Ed. I will miss you. Sending love to his family and all at @kcdworldwide'. Heartfelt: The pop star turned fashion designer said that Ed (pictured right with actor Paul Hermon and Vanity Fair west coast editor Krista Smith in 2013) was 'the kindest man' Tribute: Victoria revealed that Ed was part of her extended VB team in her Instagram post Ed joined KCD while it was called Keeble, Cavaco and Duka in the 80s and inherited the company alongside Julie Mannion a few years later. It was renamed and new branches created, including a runway production team who put together shows around the world including the Tonys. Among others paying tribute is Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour who praised the 'brilliant public relations executive' in a heartfelt statement on her website. Career: Ed (left with Vogue editor Lisa Love in 2014 and right with Paula Faulk in 2016) was co-chairman and chief strategist of fashion PR agency KCD Worldwide who have represented brands including Givenchy and Tom Ford She penned: 'Ed became godfather to so many designers over the years, from the great and the good to those who were just starting out. 'For someone who preferred to be behind the scenes, he was at the center of absolutely everything.' KCD Worldwide paid tribute to Ed with the same black and white shot, writing that they will always remember his 'visionary leadership' and legacy. They shared on Instagram: 'It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Co-Chairman and Chief Strategist Ed Filipowski. New Year, new destination! The Beckham family jetted to Morocco for a sun-drenched break together following the festivities to kick off 2020 'He leaves a legacy as a champion of the fashion industry with his unbridled optimism and spirit, and we will forever be grateful for his visionary leadership.' The sad news comes after Victoria returned to London following a break in Morocco with her family. During the sun-soaked getaway Romeo, 17, Cruz, 14 and Harper, eight, enjoyed a trip to the desert with their dad and even had a go riding cars on the dunes. However it was back to work for Victoria on Friday as she posed on her staircase in a monochrome look 'from a collection launching soon'. Over 30 frustrated passengers were left stranded outside Sligo MacDiarmada Station in the early hours of Sunday morning after a bus driver failed to show up to bring them to Dublin Airport. The incident occurred on Sunday, January 5th at 1am, leaving a number of passengers intending on travelling to the airport on the designated shuttle service without any way to get there. Among those waiting for the airport bus were French, German and American tourists, all planning to catch early morning flights after the Christmas break. Michael Clancy, father of one of the intending passengers said: "My son arrived at the station at 12.45am, bought a ticket from the vending machine and waited for the bus to open and load up. "The bus driver failed to show up, leaving the passengers at the station stranded and out in the cold." According to Mr Clancy, a number of those waiting at the station then had to take taxis at a considerable expense from Sligo MacDiarmada Station to Dublin Airport in order to catch their flights on time. "I had to drive to Dublin airport, and return in the middle of the night, so that my son would make his early morning flight," he said. Aside from a security guard to facilitate customers buying tickets and using the station's facilities, no Bus Eireann staff were present when the incident occurred. "The security guard although understanding, had no knowledge of when, or if the service would operate." said Mr Clancy. "One American gentleman was quite distressed at the thought of missing his early morning flight to the US." Many were left hoping the driver would turn up and were waiting before making alternative arrangements but got quite anxious as time wore on. There was no official announcement that the service wasn't running. All those intending on travelling to the airport were left feeling extremely angry, with a number of passengers taking to Twitter to express their frustrations. One Twitter user said: "How can you justify your failure to provide the scheduled 1.00am service from Sligo to Dublin Airport, therby stranding approx 30 people with flights to catch? "That is appallingly poor performance." Another Twitter user contacted the Bus Eireann page saying: "I have now missed my flight, thank you very much." Representatives from Bus Eireann in Sligo were contacted but did not respond before the time of print. WASHINGTON Boeing Co.s ousted chief executive officer, Dennis Muilenburg, is leaving the company with $62 million in compensation and pension benefits but will receive no severance pay in the wake of the 737 Max crisis. Muilenburg was fired from the job in December as the company failed to contain the fallout from a pair of fatal crashes that halted output of its bestselling 737 Max jetliner and tarnished its reputation with airlines and regulators. The compensation figures were disclosed in a regulatory filing late on Friday during a difficult week for Boeing when it also released hundreds of internal messages, two major issues hanging over the company before new CEO David Calhoun starts on Monday. The messages contained harshly critical comments about the development of the 737 Max, including one that said the plane was designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys. Designed by clowns: Boeing employees ridicule 737 Max, regulators in internal messages Boeing: The communications do not reflect the company we are and need to be, and they are completely unacceptable. Lawmakers blasted Boeing on Friday. Taiwans president Tsai Ing-wen is ahead of her closest challenger, Han Kuo-yu of the Nationalist Party, according to unofficial early election results. Supporters of each candidate gathered in Taipei and in Kaohsiung, where Mr Han is mayor, to await results as early figures were revealed by Taiwanese TV channels. The self-governing island is expected to know later on Saturday whether Ms Tsai has won a second term in office with her tough stance toward China, which considers the island a renegade province. Expand Close Han Kuo-yu (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Han Kuo-yu (AP) Months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong have left many in Taiwan sceptical about Chinas one country, two systems model for their self-ruled island. China and Taiwan separated during civil war in 1949, but Beijing occasionally threatens to use force to seize control if necessary. The city's finance chairman was relieved to learn Friday of new and much lower projected costs of the massive October snowstorm that downed more than 30,000 trees in Winnipeg. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The city's finance chairman was relieved to learn Friday of new and much lower projected costs of the massive October snowstorm that downed more than 30,000 trees in Winnipeg. A report presented to the finance committee said estimated cleanup and staff overtime costs from the storm would be about $7.6 million altogether or roughly $10 million when factoring in non-incremental costs already within the city's budget. In October, Mayor Brian Bowman had said the storm costs could be in the tens of millions. "It is a relief. And I can appreciate perhaps why some of the early numbers were so high," said Coun. Scott Gillingham (St. James). "There's so much unknown (when) you're in the midst of, our staff is in the midst of cleanup, in the midst of still assessing the impact of the storm." Cleanup costs largely fell to the public works department, which was responsible for tree pruning and debris pickups to the tune of about $6.9 million. Crews and machinery from Toronto, Saskatoon, Regina and Calgary also pitched in with help. Invoicing from other cities is still in the works, but estimated to cost Winnipeg about $900,000. Jay Shaw, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service assistant chief, said there were a few reported injuries related to the storm, including several slip and falls, a report of a dog being electrocuted, and a person being critically injured after a tree fell on their head and neck. More injuries were likely avoided thanks to helping hands from other cities, he said. "When you look at the regular day-to-day calls we would get for downed power lines, and then when you look at from what the storm response was, there was no way to safely mitigate that without additional help," Shaw said. The City of Winnipeg submitted an application for disaster financial assistance (DFA) to the province Oct. 28. Civic administration said it has not yet received a response, though there is no deadline for when a program could be announced. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A provincial spokesperson said by email the Manitoba government is still assessing impacts of the storm, and couldn't provide a timeline for when or if it will establish a DFA program. The spokesperson noted government will keep working with communities on recovery methods and consider any DFA applications, if such a program is set up. Shaw said the main lessons learned as a result of the Oct. 9-13 storm were to "think big" and "work with your partners." He expects future weather events to test Winnipeg's emergency preparedness even more. "As you know what's happening in Australia right now, we have Canadian (and) a conglomerate of different countries assisting in Australia with the wildfires," he said. "These disasters are getting larger and more complex. And Winnipeg is no different." jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @_jessbu Annette Zimmermann, Elena Di Rosa, and Hochan Kim in the Boston Review: A great deal of recent public debate about artificial intelligence has been driven by apocalyptic visions of the future. Humanity, we are told, is engaged in an existential struggle against its own creation. Such worries are fueled in large part by tech industry leaders and futurists, who anticipate systems so sophisticated that they can perform general tasks and operate autonomously, without human control. Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates have all publicly expressed their concerns about the advent of this kind of strong (or general) AIand the associated existential risk that it may pose for humanity. In Hawkings words, the development of strong AI could spell the end of the human race. These are legitimate long-term worries. But they are not all we have to worry about, and placing them center stage distracts from ethical questions that AI is raising here and now. Some contend that strong AI may be only decades away, but this focus obscures the reality that weak (or narrow) AI is already reshaping existing social and political institutions. Algorithmic decision making and decision support systems are currently being deployed in many high-stakes domains, from criminal justice, law enforcement, and employment decisions to credit scoring, school assignment mechanisms, health care, and public benefits eligibility assessments. Never mind the far-off specter of doomsday; AI is already here, working behind the scenes of many of our social systems. More here. After leaving The Post in 1990, he became a media consultant and started an investment firm that supported ventures in communications, marketing and the fine arts. He won several professional honors, was involved in several industry organizations and served as chairman of the Advanced Television Test Center and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He also was a champion poker player. Irans supreme leader has offered condolences and called for an investigation after his countrys armed forces acknowledged that they accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the 176 victims, and called on the armed forces to pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident. Iran shot down the passenger plane after it took off from Tehran, amid heightened tensions stemming from the US air strike that killed Irans top general, Qassem Soleimani. The military said it mistook the plane for a hostile target after launching a ballistic missile attack on two bases housing US troops in Iraq. The Iranian government had previously repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. All on board the passenger plane were killed. No-one was wounded in the missile attack on the bases. A military statement carried by Iranian state media said the plane was shot down after it turned towards a sensitive military centre of the Revolutionary Guard. An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander said his unit accepts full responsibility over the incident. Expand Close Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five University of Windsor students who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash (Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five University of Windsor students who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash (Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press/AP) In an address broadcast by state TV, Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, I wished I were dead. Ukraines president said Iran must take further steps, including an official apology, following the admission. Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his country expects assurances from Iran of a full and open investigation, bringing the perpetrators to justice. He added that Ukraine also expects the paying of compensation and official apologies through diplomatic channels. He expressed hope for the continuation of the crash investigation without delay. A team of Ukrainian investigators is already in Iran. Our 45 specialists should get full access and co-operation to establish justice, he said. "As long as I am President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon." pic.twitter.com/7lzGY5fWz3 The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) January 8, 2020 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said following Irans admission that his focus remains on seeking justice for the families of those who died. A total of 57 Canadians were killed in the crash. Mr Trudeau issued a statement on Saturday saying Canada is concentrating on closure, accountability, transparency and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims. He called the incident a national tragedy and said all Canadians are mourning together. He said Canada will continue to work with partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation, and the Canadian government expects full co-operation from Iranian authorities. Irans acknowledgement of responsibility for the crash was likely to inflame public sentiment against authorities after Iranians had rallied around their leaders after Gen Soleimanis killing. Expand Close Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five University of Windsor students who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash (Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five University of Windsor students who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash (Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press/AP) The general was seen as a national icon, and hundreds of thousands of people had turned out for funeral processions across the country. But the majority of the plane crash victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians, and the crash came just weeks after authorities quashed nationwide protests ignited by a rise in petrol prices. The shooting down of the plane and the lack of transparency around it, along with the restrained response to the killing of Soleimani, could reignite anger within Iran at the countrys leadership. On Saturday night, hundreds gathered at universities in Tehran to protest against the governments late acknowledgement of the plane being shot down. They demanded officials involved in the missile attack be removed from their positions and put on trial. Police broke up the demonstrations. Irans president Hassan Rouhani blamed the tragedy on threats and bullying by the US after the killing of Gen Soleimani. He expressed condolences to families of the victims, and he called for a full investigation and the prosecution of those responsible. A sad day, Irans foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Expand Close Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meets family of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US air strike in Iraq (AP/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meets family of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US air strike in Iraq (AP/PA) The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. The head of the airline said he was sure all along that that the company was not at fault. Evgeniy Dikhne said on Facebook: We did not for a second doubt that our crew and our plane could not have been the cause of this terrible, awful air catastrophe. They were our best guys and girls. The best. Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. Russian oligarchs are laundering millions of pounds in dirty money by bringing lawsuits in English courts, according to new research. Experts believe that the rich business leaders are manipulating the judicial systems by agreeing to sue each other or by setting up fake companies to sue themselves. Dirty money can then be paid out as damages after the judgement which then cleanses their ill-gotten gains. Russian oligarchs are laundering millions of pounds by bringing lawsuits in English courts, according to new research The findings were published as part of a report by Andrew Foxall, titled Russian Kleptocracy and the Rule of Law: How the Kremlin Underlines European Judicial Systems, which was posted online to the Henry Jackson Society earlier today. It explains how it is possible to bring proceedings against a company registered in a country where the owner is concealed. The oligarchs, who own all the shares in the company, can then concede in the company's favour during the hearing and allow the judgment to be entered against them. They can then transfer hefty sums of money to the offshore company and will have the backing of the legal judgement to justify why if it is ever questioned by tax of monetary authorities. Two individuals can also agree between themselves to carry out an operation that works in a similar manner. A total of 2,441 suspicious activity reports were filed by lawyers between 2018 to 2019, according to figures by the National Crime Agency British lawyers and academics have now claimed that law firms are acting as 'pin-striped enablers' who are bowing under the pressure of Russian manipulation. Mr Foxall, a former academic at Oxford and Queen's University, said: 'Commercial disputes in UK courts often involved Russian individuals the source of whose wealth is dubious to say the least.' A total of 2,441 suspicious activity reports were filed by lawyers between 2018 to 2019, according to figures by the National Crime Agency (NCA). These made up just 0.5 per cent of the total reports and caused the NCA to complain about the low numbers of suspicions disclosed. An updated EU law came into effect yesterday which is aimed at tackling money laundering by law firms making changes to their practices to 'keep the proceeds of crime out of the legal services.' Click the photo to watch the video. Video PlayerClose President Xi Jinping presented China's top science award to nuclear submarine designer Huang Xuhua and meteorologist Zeng Qingcun on Friday at an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements. The ceremony also awarded 296 research projects and 10 foreign experts. It was part of the country's continuous efforts to boost innovation. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) President Xi Jinping presented China's top science award to Huang Xuhua and Zeng Qingcun on Friday for their outstanding contributions to scientific and technological innovation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, granted award medals and certificates to them at an annual ceremony held in Beijing to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements. Xi shook hands with them and expressed congratulations. Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders, including Li Keqiang, Wang Huning, and Han Zheng, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, meet with representatives of the award winners before an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Other leaders, including Li Keqiang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng, were also present. Huang Xuhua, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is the chief designer of the country's first-generation nuclear submarines. Born in Guangdong Province in 1926, Huang later joined a research institute of the former China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and has been engaged in the research and development of nuclear submarines for about 30 years. He won the Medal of the Republic in 2019 for his outstanding contributions to the nation. "Nuclear submarines are a lifetime aspiration for me, and I have no regrets," Huang said. Zeng Qingcun, 85, is a famous meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). His theory of numerical weather prediction solved the problems of timeliness and stability in calculating multi-scale weather change processes and is the basis of the global numerical weather prediction technology. Zeng learned to do farm work and was aware of the difficulty in weather prediction when he was young. In college years, he was impressed by a severe frost that froze 40 percent of the wheat in central China's Henan Province. "If we can predict the weather in advance and take precautions, we can certainly reduce losses," he recalled. Zeng's visionary study on global climate change has brought him a host of accolades and international acclaim, including the world's top prize for meteorological work. Xi presents China's top science award to Huang Xuhua (R) and Zeng Qingcun (L) during the ceremony. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Friday's ceremony also honored 296 projects, with 46 winning the State Natural Science Award, 65 the State Technological Invention Award, and 185 the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Ten foreign experts won the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. Sci-tech Push On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Premier Li Keqiang extended congratulations to award winners and thanked foreign experts for their support of China's science and technology development. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has made brilliant achievements in scientific and technological development, with the past year witnessing a number of internationally leading advances. Li noted that China is striving to achieve the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2020. The premier stressed the importance of following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, further implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and accelerating the in-depth integration of science and technology with the economy, in a bid to maintain the economic growth within a reasonable range and promote the high-quality development. He called for the strengthening of basic research as the foundation of sci-tech innovation. "We will increase financial support and guide social forces including enterprises to increase investment," Li said, adding that the mechanisms for ensuring funds, evaluating achievements and rewarding talent shall all be optimized. China will support researchers in concentrating on their work without distractions and create more original achievements by respecting rules and tolerating failures, Li said. Those who dedicated themselves to the scientific work despite decades of obscurity shall be commended and awarded, he said. The premier also stressed that sci-tech innovation shall address the urgent needs of economic development and people's livelihood. China will accelerate the development of key technologies and transforming research achievements to products to help speed up industrial upgrading, he said. Research and development shall be intensified in major disease prevention and control as well as environmental management so that more people will directly benefit from technology and innovation, he said. The premier emphasized the role of enterprises in technological innovation and called for efforts to improve their ability and willingness to invest more in innovation by implementing tax and fee deduction policies as well as respecting and protecting their intellectual property rights. To expand international cooperation in innovation, Li pledged to facilitate scientists and technicians as well as enterprises from various countries to come to China for exchanges and development. Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council at the ceremony. [Xinhua/Yan Yan] Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the ceremony, with about 3,300 people attending. Before the ceremony, Xi and other leaders met representatives of the award winners. Diverse Achievements This year's ceremony highlighted major breakthroughs in basic research. Chemist Zhou Qilin, 63, and his team won the first-place prize of the State Natural Science Award for inventing a highly effective catalyst that has been widely used by giant pharmaceutical companies in drug production. Other research programs that were presented with the State Natural Science Award included studies on topological quantum materials, iron-based superconductors as well as the controllable growth and performance regulation of graphene. "Many perplexing problems look like technological ones. In fact, they are not backed by solid basic research. With no clear understanding of basic science problems, you cannot get original results," said Zhou. A batch of key technologies for industrial applications, such as the jetliner ARJ21 project, were also honored. Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the ARJ21 is China's first domestically developed turbo-fan regional passenger jetliner. Other awarded technologies applied in industries and large engineering projects included those for building large-scale tunnels and ensuring highway safety in geographically complicated and dangerous mountain areas, as well as for the automatic transmission hybrid power system for commercial vehicles. Awards were also given to animal studies, medical breakthroughs and agricultural technologies. Wei Fuwen, a CAS academician, and his colleagues won the second-place prize of the State Natural Science Award, for their research on giant pandas. They focused on the evolution of the ancient species and contributed to endangered species conservation. The team led by Sun Lingyun, a doctor at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in east China, won the State Technological Invention Award, for developing a stem cell treatment for lupus erythematosus. Other award winners related to diseases included studies on cross-species infection of the animal influenza virus in humans as well as the new pathogenesis and treatment of depression. Research programs associated with safe food and stable grain output, such as technologies for accurately detecting pollutants in agricultural products and cultivating new high-yield wheat varieties, also received awards. Innovation Nation Since the 18th CPC national congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core has decided to take an innovation-driven development strategy, underscoring that scientific and technological innovation provides strategic support for increasing production and boosting overall national strength. Xi and other leaders pose for a group photo with representatives of the award winners before the ceremony. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] As Xi has reiterated, innovation is the primary driving force for development. During the past few years, he has made a number of visits to scientific research institutes, universities, high-tech enterprises as well as high-tech industrial development zones, where innovation elements are the most active. China has spared no efforts in building a domestic innovation environment with systematic resolve. In May 2016, China published a guideline on a national strategy that maps out three major steps to promote the country's innovation-driven development. It pledged to build China into an innovative nation by 2020, an international leader in innovation by 2030, and a world powerhouse of sci-tech innovation by 2050. China's expenditure on research and development (R&D) has seen double-digit growth for three consecutive years, and since 2013, the country has remained in the second place in terms of R&D spending worldwide, according to data given by the National Bureau of Statistics in August. China's spending on R&D hit a record high at 2.19 percent of its GDP in 2018, up 0.04 percentage points compared with 2017. Meanwhile, China has been improving the incentive mechanism and policy environment, issuing a series of reform documents concerning the promotion of sci-tech development, transformation of sci-tech achievements as well as the national science award system. From 2000 to 2018, China awarded 636 projects the State Natural Science Award, 946 projects the State Technological Invention Award and 4,246 projects the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. The awarded projects included high-temperature superconducting materials, the manned space program, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, supercomputers and hybrid rice. (Source: Xinhua) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday accused Left organisations of creating an "atmosphere of violence" at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The BJP leader was addressing a rally organised by the Janjagran Manch in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) at GYMC Ground here. Referring to the recent violence at the JNU campus, Adityanath said, "Leftist groups created an atmosphere of violence by resorting to lies, but Delhi Police has unearthed the conspiracy they had hatched to disrupt the examination process at JNU." It was time the people were told the reality by conducting an awareness campaign, which will also dispel the "confusion" the opposition was creating over the CAA and the JNU incident, he said. Terrorism and separatism, which was reaching its end in the country, was now getting a new lease of life (through anti-CAA protests and incidents like those at the JNU campus), the UP chief minister claimed. The Constitution gives rights to people, but people should also perform their duties, he said. Violence broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University on the evening of January 5 as a group of masked persons armed with sticks attacked students and teachers. Delhi Police on Friday released pictures of nine suspects and claimed that JNU Student Union president Aishe Ghosh -- who was injured in the violence -- was one of them. Left-leaning student organisations, which are opposing a hike in hostel fees at JNU, had called for a boycott of the semester registration process. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, Jan 11 : Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Saturday demanded that the probe into the violence that erupted inside the JNU campus on January 5 that left more than 30 students injured and cascaded into a Pan-India student movement, should not be biased. Singh told the media that questions regarding the Delhi Police's probe into the matter have been for a number of reasons and the police must be cautious before framing charges against the students. "The JNU probe should be unbiased. The police have been in for criticism following the rise in crime, gang war, assault on lawyers and several other cases. They should not frame charges against the students," Singh said. The Delhi Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) violence, on Friday identified nine students, including JNU Students Union chief Aishe Ghosh, as suspects in the incidents in the varsity premises that left 36 injured. According to police sources, most of them are members of Left-wing student organisations. The Congress had accused the Delhi Police of carrying out a shoddy probe into the January 5 violence at the varsity under political pressure. While the BJP have been accused the Left for the violence. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-12 06:02:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Burundian Second Vice-President Joseph Butore (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bujumbura, Burundi, on Jan. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Teng) BUJUMBURA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Burundian Second Vice-President Joseph Butore met with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Saturday. Butore spoke highly of Burundi-China ties, stressing that in recent years, the bilateral relations are developing at a high level. He said, the two countries have seen frequent high-level exchanges, with fruitful cooperation in various sectors. No matter how its internal situation may evolve, Burundi will not change its friendly policy toward China, he said. Butore said Burundi is grateful to China for supporting its development and speaking up for it on international occasions, stressing that Burundi will firmly support China on issues involving China's core interests and major concerns. Burundi is willing to learn from China's experience in socio-economic development and governance and deepen exchanges and cooperation of the ruling parties of the two nations, he said, adding the country also wants to strengthen cooperation on sectors including agriculture, education and health with China. Butore added that the two sides should enhance communication and coordination in multilateral affairs. Wang said Burundi is a reliable and sincere friend of China, stressing that China highly appreciates Burundi's firm adherence to a friendly policy with China. China firmly supports Burundi's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty,independence and national dignity,as well as its legitimate rights and interests, and supports the country in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions, said Wang. No matter how the international situation may evolve, China is willing to be good friends, good partners and good brothers with Burundi, said Wang. The high level of mutual trust between China and Burundi has provided an important impetus for the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, Wang said, adding that China is willing to strengthen mutual learning on governance and continue to provide assistance and support to Burundi within its capacity. China would like to take agricultural cooperation as a starting point to enhance the endogenous driving force and sustainable development capacity of the Burundian economy,said Wang. Wang said, the two sides should also strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs to safeguard the common interests of developing countries as well as multilateralism, fairness and justice. Wang also held talks with Burundian Foreign Minister Ezechiel Nibigira on Saturday. A 100-year-old Galapagos tortoise who single-handedly saved his species by fathering 800 offspring is set for release. Diego, believed to be taken from the Galapagos Islands, was recruited along with 14 other adults for a captive breeding programme and will be returned to his native island of Espanola in March, the Galapagos National Parks service (PNG) said yesterday. Diego's contribution to the program on Santa Cruz Island, Southern California, was particularly noteworthy, with park rangers believing him responsible for being the patriarch of at least 40 percent of their 2,000-tortoise population. Diego (pictured), a giant 100-year-old tortoise, will be returned to his native island of Espanola in March, after single-handedly saving his species by procreating 800 offspring Diego is believed to be responsible for at least 40 percent of the 2,000-tortoise population in the park at Santa Cruz island in Southern California, according to rangers Jorge Carrion, the park's director, said: 'About 1,800 tortoises have been returned to Espanola and now with natural reproduction we have approximately 2,000 tortoises. 'This shows that they are able to grow, they are able to reproduce, they are able to develop.' Around 50 years ago, there were only two males and 12 females of Diego's species alive on Espanola, and they were too spread out to reproduce. Diego was brought in from California's San Diego Zoo to join the breeding program which was set up in the mid-1960s to save his species, Chelonoidis hoodensis. The PNG believes he was taken from the Galapagos in the first half of the 20th century by a scientific expedition. Now, Diego is returning to his original home 'almost eight decades after being extracted,' the park service said, adding that he had lived at the San Diego Zoo for several decades. Technicians from the Park Directorate measure and weigh the baby turtles that hatched this year in Galapagos. Diego weighs about 80kg and nearly 90cm long Mr Carrion said: 'He's contributed a large percentage to the lineage that we are returning to Espanola. 'There's a feeling of happiness to have the possibility of returning that tortoise to his natural state.' Diego weighs about 80kg, is nearly 90cm long and 1.5m tall, if he really stretches his legs and neck. Before being returned to Espanola, tortoises must go through a quarantine period to avoid carrying seeds from plants that are not native to the island. Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean, were made famous by Charles Darwin's studies of their breathtaking biodiversity. The story of Diego's prowess contrasts with that of Lonesome George, a different type of Galapagos giant tortoise, who had refused for years to breed in captivity. Hopes for his species, Chelonoidis abingdoni, faded when Lonesome George passed away in 2012 at more than 100 years old. US troops prepare to be deployed after al-Shabaab attack in Kenya - via REUTERS The Somali terrorist outfit al-Shabaab has threatened to strike at American targets around the world days after it mounted a deadly and unprecedented attack on US forces stationed in Kenya. Emboldened by the unexpected success of last Sundays assault on a military base in northern Kenyas Manda Bay region, the jihadist group, a franchise of al-Qaeda, promised further bloodshed against American soldiers and civilians alike. The attack, which exposed a troubling lack of security, leaves the Trump administration struggling to deal with a significant and growing military challenge at a time when it is already preoccupied by its face-off with Iran. The US Armys Africa Command (AFRICOM) has scrambled to respond to the attack, sending combat-ready reinforcements from the 101st Airborne Division to northern Kenya and stepping up airstrikes against al-Shabaab in neighbouring Somalia. But it has yet to explain how a lightly-armed detachment of Islamist fighters, probably numbering no more than 15, managed to cross into Kenya, advance unspotted on foot across 50 miles of bush before killing three Americans and wrecking six hi-tech surveillance aircraft. Although al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency against the Somali government and foreign forces stationed in Somalia for more than a decade, it was only in September that the group began to target the United States in earnest. The shift in emphasis is seen in part as retaliation for a surge in US drone strikes targeting the groups leadership since Donald Trump became president in January 2017. A Shabaab attack on American troops stationed at Baledogle near the Somali capital late last year failed to inflict casualties. Since then, however, Ahmed Diriye, the groups leader, has instructed all units, as well as affiliated East African groups, to concentrate almost exclusively on attacking the United States and its allies. British troops stationed in Somalia could well find themselves in the firing line, said Harun Maruf, co-author of Inside al-Shabaab: The Secret History of al-Qaedas Most Powerful Ally. Story continues Some 60 British army personnel are stationed in Somalia. Mr Maruf said a British military training facility in the southern town of Baidoa was a possible al-Shabaab target, although he also noted it was well protected by Ethiopian troops, by far the most effective African army operating in Somalia. The attack on Manda Bay, the deadliest in terms of American combat deaths in Africa since 2017, is likely to renew calls from Trump administration isolationists to reduce US troops numbers on the continent. al-SHabaab threaten to attack US bases across the world They argue that al-Shabaab is unlikely ever to attack the United States itself and that stationing US troops in East Africa is not just costly but merely serves to give the group a target. Stig Jarle Hansen, an al-Shabaab expert and author of Horn, Sahel and Rift: Fault-lines of the African Jihad warns that an a withdrawal from Somalia would, as in Syria, create a vacuum that might be filled by Russia, among others as well as allowing the potential rise of an extremist state in the country deeply hostile to the West. In the aftermath of the Manda Bay attack, Senior US officers in Africa were quick to emphasise the importance of keeping troops in place. Gen Stephen Townsend, AFRICOMs commanding officer, went so far as to deliver an implicit rebuke of Trump administration officials who thought al-Shabaab would never attack the United States itself. Al-Shabaab is ruthless and must be dealt with before the network expands its reach to other places, to include their stated desire to strike US citizens on the US homeland, he said. This al-Qaeda-aligned terrorist network has demonstrated an ability to conduct external attacks previously and will continue to do so unless they are countered where they reside. Someone in County Dublin has woken up as Ireland's newest millionaire. The winning ticket for last night's EuroMillions 'Ireland Only Raffle' worth 1m, was sold in the capital with the winning code IHNR69611. A National Lottery spokesperson said they hope to reveal the name of the winning store in the next couple of days. There was no winner of the 84m EuroMillions jackpot on offer, which now rolls on to 90m next Tuesday. The spokesperson said: "If you are the lucky ticketholders please be sure to sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe and contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 01 836 4444 and we will make arrangements for you to collect your prize. While the magazine is titled Twin Cities Business (TCB), last month, two of Rochesters own were honored in Minneapolis at a ceremony recognizing the TCB 100, a "timely whos who of Minnesota business and public policy." Lisa Clarke, executive director of Destination Medical Center, was honored in the "Overachiever" category. "Shes a high-energy cheerleader for the city but also has a reputation for a get-it-done focus," the magazine said. Brandon Sampson, co-founder of Limb Lab, was recognized in the "Pioneer" category. "The past six years since we started Limb Lab have really been exciting," he said. "We have been able to build a really talented team." ADVERTISEMENT Since its inception, Limb Lab, a prosthetic and orthotic company, has grown from three employees to 35. Additionally, Limb Lab now has six locations in the Midwest and has served clients from 49 states and nine countries. "Being recognized by Twin Cities Business magazine as one of the 100 People to Know in 2020, if nothing else, provided me an opportunity to reflect on all the things that have happened over these past six years and made me realize how truly grateful I am to have business partners that share a vision for offering an excellent experience to all of our clients," Sampson said. "We are so fortunate to have dedicated employees who care deeply, show empathy, and who encourage everyone they encounter on a daily basis. It truly is a team approach to creating functional, successful outcomes for all our clients." Each year, fourth-graders at Rochester schools are invited to participate in the "Help Make Rochester a Litter Bit Better" art contest. This year, 292 students from 18 Rochester schools submitted entries. The grand-prize winner was Bhavya Yerriboyinain Ms. Kristina Sorensens fourth-grade class at Washington Elementary. Bhavyas artwork will be featured on pledge cards that all fourth-graders will receive this spring just before the start of Litter Bit Better week in April. The cards will discourage youth from littering and encourage students to pick up litter. The cards will also remind students to tell others to not litter. Bhavya and her classmates also enjoyed a pizza party last month with Mayor Kim Norton. "I have to say thank you to the mayor for taking the time off her schedule to come see us and to give us an experience. I am also thankful for all the gifts and treats," Bhavya said. Ms. Sorensens class received a gift card for classroom supplies. Bhavya was "shocked and excited" when she learned she was the grand-prize winner. She is passionate about caring for the environment, and she plans to be an active participant when Litter Bit Better week rolls around this coming April. "I think it is important to save what we have left of this world, and I believe every small action makes a difference," she said. ADVERTISEMENT Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said it was a proud moment for the city that Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee acknowledged the performance of Delhi government schools. Banerjee on Saturday lauded the schools for "outperforming" their private peers and said outcomes in state-run schools can be better than the private ones. The economist said state agencies have been "generous" with resource allocation for education, which is visible in aspects like teacher salaries and the system, and the focus needs to shift to making them perform better. Kejriwal called Banerjee's comments a "proud moment for Delhi". "Such a proud moment for Delhi ... Nobel laureate Abhijit Bannerjee acknowledges the performance of Delhi's government schools. This year Class 12 results of Delhi government schools were at 96 per cent, while private schools were at 93 per cent," he said in a tweet. The comments from Banerjee, the MIT professor whose work on poverty alleviation won him the coveted Nobel Prize recently, came weeks ahead of the Delhi polls which will be held on February 8. The counting of votes will take place on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He recently admitted he 'got it wrong' in initially refusing to marry or have children. And Hugh Grant looked very well adjusted to married life on Friday as he arrived at JFK Airport in New York alongside his glamorous wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein. The Notting Hill star, 59, donned a light blue shirt and jeans as he walked alongside his stylish wife, 40, who opted for a chic jacket and handbag. Power couple: Hugh Grant, 59, looked very well adjusted to married life on Friday as he arrived at JFK Airport in New York alongside his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein, 40 Love Actually star Hugh looked every inch the Hollywood heartthrob as he walked alongside his wife, adding a jacket to his dapper ensemble. And Anna added to her look with her own pair of tight denim jeans, while her brunette tresses flowed over her shoulders. Hugh was clearly happy to be on the move at the airport as he gave a smile to watching fans. Hugh and Anna's outing comes after their wedding in May last 2018. The Notting Hill star donned a light blue shirt and jeans as he walked alongside his stylish wife, who opted for a chic jacket and handbag The couple had been dating on and off for six years before they tied the knot at a registry office in Chelsea after welcoming their third child. But, in an interview with Chris Evans on his Virgin Radio Breakfast Show, which aired in December, Hugh said he was at one point averse to the idea of both children and marriage. He was plugging his new Guy Ritchie movie The Gentlemen alongside co star Matthew McConaughey when he spoke about his wedding to TV producer Anna, saying that marriage was something he 'put off'. 'It was a very small affair, that's all,' he said, adding: 'It was very nice getting married. It was another thing I put off too many decades. Very nice. Very nice being married. Asked by host Chris why he put it off so long, the actor said he was simply 'wrong,' as he also was about not wanting children. 'Well, I was just plain wrong. I was wrong. And children, you know, I used to roll my eyes. People would say, oh Hugh you don't understand it, but they were right,' he explained. Hugh was once famous for his reluctance to marry. He split up in 2000 with his actress girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley after 13 years together. Hugh and Anna's first child, John, was born in 2012. They have since gone on to have a second child in December 2015 and a third in March 2018. The couple have not disclosed the gender or names of their youngest children. As well as his three children with Anna, Hugh also shares two children with ex Tinglan Hong: daughter, Tabitha, eight, and son Felix, six. : With no appointment yet to meet the BJP top brass in New Delhi to discuss the expansion of his ministry, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said he would discuss the matter with party president Amit Shah during the latter's visit to the state next week. "On January 17-18 Amit Shah is coming here (Karnataka). If he gives me time I will go (to Delhi), or else will talk to him here (when he visits) and take permission for cabinet expansion and do whatever possible in his presence," Yediyurappa told reporters here. The Chief Minister had said on Thursday that he would leave for New Delhi, probably on January 11 or 12, to discuss the cabinet expansion with the BJP high command and was waiting for an appointment from national leaders. Shah will be in the state next week to address a huge rally at Hubballi on January 18 as part of the BJPs nation- wide out-reach programme to create awareness among the people about the Citizenship Amendment Act. Yediyurappa had earlier indicated that the cabinet expansion was likely after Sankranti (January 15), but sources said it may be slightly delayed now as the Chief Minister is yet to hold discussions with the high command on the matter. With cabinet expansion on the cards, Yediyurappa has also hinted that he may not travel toDavosto attend the World Economic Forum meet later this month. As the Chief Minister has already made it clear that 11 of the disqualified JDS-Congress MLAs who got re-elected in the December 5 bypolls on BJP tickets will be made ministers, lobbying has been on within the party for the remaining ministerial berths. Currently there are 18 Ministers, including the Chief Minister in the cabinet that has a sanctioned strength is 34. However, with reports that the high command may not be keen on making all 11 re-elected legislators, whom Yediyurappa has assured would be made ministers, it remains to be seen how things turn out. The Chief Minister will not have it easy to carry out the cabinet expansion since he has to strike a balance by accommodating the victorious disqualified legislators as promised and also make place for old guards, upset at being "neglected" in the first round of the induction exercise. He also has to give adequate representation to various castes and regions and also deal with allocation of key portfolios. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This isnt a revolution. Its an evolution, and while that may lack the shock and awe of something like the shale boom, its long-term impact is extreme. This is the world of renewable energy, and three decades of progress shows a clear and undeniable pattern. Its hard to believe that weve been using solar and wind power for about thirty years now. The technology behind this type of renewable power generation may be even older, but the first data for solar and wind generation dates back only to 1990. Even more fascinating is the fact that Europe was not among the first adopters of solar and wind. The greenest continent today only ventured into the two in 1997. The energy world has changed in the past twenty years. Some renewable energy sources have been around forever. Take Iceland, for example, and its geysers. Iceland is the top global performer in renewable energy thanks to its geothermal resources. Or, there is Costa Rica: the tiny nation boasted 100-percent renewable energy generation for more than two straight months twice over two years. There is also the UK, which was rightfully proud of having more of its electricity generated from renewable sources than fossil fuels during 2019. Its perhaps worth noting that the biggest share of this zero-carbon electricity came from nuclear power26.5 percent of the energy mixand some renewable energy purists shun nuclear as an alternative to fossil fuels. Yet it is an emissions-free source of electricity nevertheless and deserves its place among zero-carbon generation sources. The list of examples demonstrating the worlds evolution in energy sourcing and use could continue. The important outtake of all these examples, however, is that when something makes economic sense, it will be used. This brings us to the topic of renewable energy costs and the role of these costs in the growing adoption of renewable power generation systems. Once upon a time in the 1990s, both solar and wind power was expensive, not to mention lacking in efficiency. In 1992, the highest efficiency rate for solar panels was 16 percent. This grew to 17.8 by 2012 and to almost 30 percent in 2016. Today, there are photovoltaic materials that can reach efficiency rates of over 40 percent. Meanwhile, costs fell from an average cost of solar panel installation in the U.S. was $8.50 per watt in 2009. Today, it is about $2.96 per watt. Related: Billions In Worthless Assets Plague The Oil & Gas Industry In wind, the efficiency improvements over the last 20 years have been a lot more spectacular because the technology allows for spectacular improvements. In the United States, the average generating capacity of new turbines in 2018 was 239 percent higher than in 1998, at 2.4 MW. This was the result of taller hubs and longer turbine blades. At the same time, installation costs have been falling. In 2018 a kW of installed capacity cost $1,470 in the U.S., down as much as 40 percent from 2009. This combination of falling costs, rising efficiency ratios and government support have been the key drivers of wind and solar. There have been reports about solar and wind becoming cost-competitive with coal in some parts of the world, yet government subsidies are still a big factor in investment decisions. A case in point is China, where Beijings moved to cut subsidies for new solar and wind capacity after it realized the subsidy tab had grown to a staggering $15.6 billion by 2017. Beijing is still paying that off, and is now requiring that wind and solar developers first prove that their projects are cost-competitive with coal-powered generation. Besides subsidies, pro-renewables legislation has also had a part to play in the energy transformation of the world over the last 20 years, especially over the last decade. The proliferation of social networks has made everyone more aware of topics such as climate change and emissions, and has spurred a lot of real-life protests against these. These protests, in turn, have pushed politicians to approve clean energy initiatives and set ambitious timetables for going 100-percent green. Everyone seems to have 100-percent green energy plans these days, including some of the worlds worst emissions offenders such as China and India. Europe is in the lead as regards clean energy ambitions, and while the U.S. has yet to catch up in terms of such ambitions, the share of renewable energy in the worlds largest oil producer is rising steadily. Related: The Middle East Oil Conflict That Could Be Bigger Than The Iran Crisis Unfortunately, reality begs to differ from the ambitions of politicians and the sincere desires for a cleaner future of millions of people. The world had total renewable energy capacity of 2.356 million MW at the end of 2018, up from 1.135 million MW in 2009, according to data from IRENA. Still, emissions are rising. These hit a record high in 2018 despite the growing adoption of renewable energy and are now expected to have broken this record in 2019. The culprits: China and India along with other developing nations with heavy industries that require cheap and reliable power, which most renewable installations cannot guarantee for lack of storage capacity. The good news, according to the Global Carbon Project that tracks emissions, is that despite the record-high level of emissions, the increase is slowing down. Fossil fuel-related emissions rose 2 percent in 2018 but are expected to have added just another 0.6 percent in 2019. The renewables revolution will likely never happen. What is happening, however, is a renewables evolution. Thats arguably a much more reliable way to change the ways in which the world sources its energy and the ways it uses it. Revolutions, as opposed to evolution, tend to eat their children, after all. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the demise of Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said of Oman, describing him as a beacon of peace for the region. Sultan Qaboos, the longest-reigning leader of the modern Arab world, died on Friday at the age of 79. I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary leader and statesman who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation, Modi wrote on Twitter. Sultan Qaboos was a true friend of India and provided strong leadership for developing a vibrant strategic partnership between India and Oman, the prime minister said. I will always cherish the warmth and affection I received from him. May his soul rest in peace, Modi said. The prime minister also said the Sultan was a beacon of peace for the region and the world. United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship President Eric Liguori, left, congratulates the RISE29 team of Mike Harris, Sharon Paynter and Dennis Barber during an award ceremony at the associations annual conference. RISE29, East Carolina Universitys student entrepreneurship program, received USASBEs Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation Award for the programs novel approach to rural entrepreneurship. | Photo: Mike Harris "When we first had the idea for the program, we knew we wanted RISE29 to become a national model for rural entrepreneurship. Were excited that other entrepreneurship educators from across the country saw the same potential in the program that we did. They have faith that RISE29 will serve as a blueprint to foster economic success in rural regions not only in North Carolina, but across the country." Mike Harris, director of ECU's Miller School of Entrepreneurship East Carolina University's student entrepreneurship program, RISE29 , was honored for its co-curricular innovation by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) at its annual conference Monday in New Orleans.RISE29 received the association's Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation Award, presented annually to the college or university whose entrepreneurship program encourages creativity, quality and sustainability, and produces an impact on the communities it serves.In its first year, RISE29 earned top honors over a field that included the country's No. 1 ranked entrepreneurship program by U.S. News & World Report.Mike Harris, director of ECU's Miller School of Entrepreneurship , and Sharon Paynter, assistant vice chancellor for economic and community engagement, co-led the program during its inaugural year.Harris said.Spurred by population loss, declining employment opportunities, and "brain drain" in eastern North Carolina, RISE29 began in February 2019 as part of a $1 million grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. Led by the Miller School of Entrepreneurship and the Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement , the program became the first university-wide initiative targeted at transforming students into emerging entrepreneurs.The program works hand-in-hand with local community leaders to identify community needs and pairs business clients with students to address those concerns. As a result, students that participate in RISE29 create new opportunities and sustain existing businesses in rural North Carolina that add value and complement existing ventures in the university's 29-county service area.During its first year, RISE29 recorded more than 18,000 hours of fieldwork with 36 business clients in Beaufort, Hyde, Martin and Pitt counties. In total, more than 140 students with backgrounds ranging from nutritionists and biologists to engineers and marketers participated in the program.Beaufort County Economic Development Director Martyn Johnson said.RISE29 leaders plan to expand the program to more counties in 2020, eventually servicing all 29 counties that help make up its name.said Sharon Paynter, assistant vice chancellor for economic and community engagement.RISE29 is part of a growing effort to advance entrepreneurship across ECU's campus. In 2015, the university established the Miller School of Entrepreneurship and last year announced a new undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship . The university has also developed the annual Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge and its residential, entrepreneurship-based Horizons Living Learning Community 4 reactions to United Methodist Church plan to split over homosexuality debate Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A group of United Methodist Church bishops and activists announced last week that they were supporting a proposal allowing congregations that hold to the biblical standard of marriage and sexuality to create their own denomination as a way to end the Church's long debate over LGBT issues. Over the past several years, the UMC has experienced intense debate over its official stance recognizing homosexuality as a sin, and prohibiting same-sex marriage and the ordination of non-celibate gay clergy. Known as the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation, the proposal would, among other things, allocate $25 million for theologically conservative Methodists to vote to leave the UMC and create their own denomination, tentatively labeled "traditionalist Methodist." The United Methodist Church and its members aspire to multiply the Methodist mission in the world by restructuring the Church through respectful and dignified separation, stated Article I of the Protocol in part. While the Protocol is still in the proposal phase, the measure has garnered much attention, partly because of the many church leaders across the theological spectrum who have signed it. Here are four reactions to the most recent proposal to split the United Methodist Church. They include support, opposition, and a belief that everyone should take a deep breath. 1 2 3 4 5 Next Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) Baliguian Vice Mayor Gani Esmali and two of his companions were shot dead in an ambush in Zamboanga del Norte Saturday morning. Police said more or less five unknown gunmen attacked Esmali's vehicle upon reaching Sitio Barazon, Barangay Sta. Maria in Siocon town at 11:20 a.m. The two other victims were identified as Police Patrolman Godelito Corbita Bongcac and Jaymalin Jalabi Tunggal. They were declared dead on arrival at the Siocon District Hospital while a certain Abduladjid Ibno Bairula survived. Authorities are now hunting down the perpetrators, who quickly fled on board a gray Toyota Hilux. Police said the suspects used high-powered firearms. A total of 49 fired cartridge cases of what is believed to be an M16 rifle and an extended aluminum magazine loaded with 19 live ammunitions were recovered from the crime scene. Esmali is the latest local government official to be ambushed. Just last December, Vice Mayor Akmad Mitra Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak was wounded in an ambush in the Maguindanao town. More than a dozen local officials have been killed under the Duterte administration, according to data released by the Department of Interior and Local Government in February 2019. Predator hunters in southeastern Montana are encouraged to learn the difference between a coyote, red fox and swift fox. That's because the swift fox is a species of concern and cannot be shot or trapped in the region. Swift foxes are much smaller than coyotes or red foxes and much less common, but there are some similarities that can be misleading if people dont know what to look for. Swift foxes are about the size of a house cat, smaller than red foxes and only about a fifth the size of coyotes. In winter their coats are buffy-gray above, and orange-tan on the sides, legs and lower surface of the tail. The chest and belly are buff to white and the tail is tipped with black. Coyotes can have coloring and tail markings similar to a swift fox but are much larger. Red foxes, by contrast, are reddish orange with some variations and have white-tipped tails and darker legs. Swift foxes also often have a darker, teardrop-like pattern descending from their inner eye alongside the nose. One of the greatest risks to swift foxes is being shot by people who mistake them for coyotes or juvenile coyotes, particularly in the spring. Swift foxes were once abundant on the Great Plains, but in the early 1900s numbers began to decline in response to government poisoning campaigns aimed at wolves, prairie dogs and ground squirrels. Swift foxes lost a prey source in prairie dogs and squirrels, and when wolves declined, they couldnt out-compete coyotes and red foxes for food. In 1969, Montana declared swift fox extinct locally. But due in part to transplant programs, sightings of swift foxes have increased in eastern and central Montana since the 1980s. Still, their distribution is spotty in southeastern Montana, and area wildlife biologists are trying to learn more about the elusive animals. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has spent the past couple of years capturing and collaring swift foxes and monitoring their movements to further their research. Anyone who spots a swift fox, either alive or dead, is encouraged to contact FWP so biologists can enter these observations into a database. In FWP Region 7, people can contact non-game biologist Brandi Skone at 406-234-0948 or bskone@midrivers.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 35-year-old New Jersey woman torched holiday decorations at an in-laws house in Port Richmond then spit at a police officer who attempted to arrest her, authorities allege. Yasmeya Weeks, who lives on Enterprise Avenue in Trenton, appeared at the womans house on Catherine Street near Heberton Avenue around 8:35 a.m. on Jan. 3, according to police and the criminal complaint. The suspect is an in-law of the woman who lives at the home, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. The resident told police that the suspect was yelling, screaming and threatening to burn the house down. Weeks threw an unknown liquid on ornaments that were hanging outside the front of the house, then used a lighter to set the ornaments on fire, the complaint alleges. Ornaments burned and were damaged as a result of Weeks actions, according to the complaint. When officers arrived, they saw two lighters in the suspects hands, police said. Weeks allegedly refused to comply with multiple requests for cooperation when officers tried to arrest her. She clinched her fists and stood in a fighting position, refused to give her hands, began flailing her arms and spat on a male police officer, the complaint alleges. Placed under arrest at 9:32 a.m., Weeks initially was removed to a hospital for evaluation. The FDNY was called to the house at 8:39 a.m. The incident, which prompted a response of about three units, was closed out at 9:05 a.m., an FDNY spokesman said. Weeks has been charged with misdemeanors, including arson, criminal mischief, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and harassment. Weeks, whose first name is spelled Yasneya in some public records, is due to appear in Criminal Court on Feb. 24. The court ordered a psychiatric exam for the suspect and a temporary order of protection for the victim. Weeks has been released on her own recognizance, according to public records. An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ethereum research scientist Virgil Griffith has now been released on bail, a day after he was formally indicted in North Korea case. Inner City Press reported the news on Thursday, saying that Griffiths bail was delayed for 10 days without any explanation. He was to be released on bail on Dec. 30. The Federal Bureau of Prisons, the agency under the Department of Justice responsible for the custody of incarcerated individuals, however, shows that Griffith is still locked up. Griffith was formally indicted on Wednesday for "conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He is accused of illegally traveling to North Korea and presenting at a blockchain conference despite the U.S. Department of States denial of permission to travel to the country. "Virgil should not have been indicted, Griffith's lawyer, Brian Klein, told CoinDesk, adding: We are going to vigorously contest the charge and look forward to getting all the facts in front of the jury at trial. If found guilty, Griffith faces up to 20 years in prison. A truck designed to withstand IED blasts in Iraq, armored Humvees and a Kiowa observation helicopter. It sounds like a military parade but those are all real pieces of equipment loaned to police departments in the Danbury area by the U.S. Department of Defense. A review of data from the Defense Departments 1033 Program shows 347 pieces of taxpayer-funded military gear - from dive equipment to rifles - loaned out to seven police agencies in and around Danbury. But many other departments in Connecticut, including the state police, have military hardware on loan. More Information Used military gear loaned to Danbury-area police include: - A truck designed to withstand IEDs in Iraq given to Newtown police - 33 rifles, mostly M16s, given to Brookfield police - Humvees given to Redding and Ridgefield police - 16 dive suits, dozens of rifles and night vision "thermal sights" given to Danbury Police See More Collapse The defense program drew nationwide scrutiny after police in military garb carrying semiautomatic rifles showed up to protests sparked by the 2014 killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man shot by police in Ferguson, Mo. When you acquire weapons of war, and you equip a police department for war its like how if you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail, said Melvin Medina, public policy and advocacy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut. After Ferguson, federal authorities scaled back some of the program, and many agencies said they would return equipment. Brookfield, Danbury, Redding and Ridgefield did return some of the gear, citing various reasons. But overall, police agencies in the region are hanging on to guns and other surplus equipment they say they need in an age of mass shootings and devastating storms. Some departments are actually acquiring new military vehicles, a review of the data shows. RELATED: Search the database of military gear handed out to Danbury area police agencies Why military gear? The program was born in an act from the early 1990s that allowed the federal government to give out equipment for law enforcement to use in counter-drug operations, but that definition was expanded in 1997. Scrutiny of the defense department passing off second-hand military gear to civilian police agencies led the Obama administration to ask for some of the gear back in 2016. But proponents see the program as a way to outfit police officers at low cost to taxpayers police agencies are loaned whatever equipment they borrow through the program, rather than paying full sticker price. Taxpayers have already paid for it one way or another, said James Purcell, chief of police in Brookfield. Local departments are only on the hook for the cost of transporting the equipment and some maintenance, Purcell said. We pay an annual fee to participate in the program, which I think just covers the administrative cost, he said. New Milfords police helicopter, Eagle Two, is one of three helicopters on loan from the defense department. The costs of operating and maintaining those aircraft are managed by a nonprofit organization. Newtowns armored truck Out of the seven city and town police departments that take part in the program in the Danbury region, Newtown has the largest ticket item a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) truck worth $575,000, according to public records. The vehicle, which records show was loaned to Newtown Police Aug. 15 of last year, was designed to protect troops traveling along IED-laden roads in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Newtown police say they acquired the truck through the program as a rescue vehicle in the aftermath of major storms. Its not being used for patrol, said Lt. Aaron Bahamonde, a spokesman for the department. He said the need for the vehicle became apparant after the macroburst storm in the spring of 2018, which leveled trees and washed out dirt roads around Newtowns lake communities. Officers damaged a patrol vehicle trying to get to a house fire after that storm, and had to abandon their car to run to the call on foot, Bahamonde said. Its more of a rescue vehicle, for sure, he added. But Medina questioned the need for heavily armored police vehicles in Connecticut at all. These are machines that are designed for landmines. I dont know of any landmines going off in CT, the ACLU spokesman said. Medina said the organization wants logs of how and when the vehicles are used to be made public so town residents can decide whether the need for an MRAP is justified. You hear all the time well its free, but whats the cost of maintenance? Medina added. Bahamonde said Newtowns MRAP has not needed any maintenance beyond gas and oil since they took delivery. Under-used, given back Other departments in the region have borrowed military and armored trucks, but then returned them once they realized the vehicles were seldom used. Purcell said Brookfield previously had an armored Lincoln Navigator, a family SUV upgraded with steel plate, but gave it to another police agency through the program. The vehicle was intended for protection details but it was never actually used, Purcell said. A Zodiac boat borrowed through the progam, used by the Brookfield police dive team, was also returned, the chief said. Purcell said he was aware of the perceptions around military vehicles used by local police. Im a cop, but Im also a civilian, right? And I dont want to minimize the perceptions of people looking at vehicles thinking theyre overly militarized but if the need for protection is there, you need it, Purcell said. Mass shootings Danburys police Chief Patrick Ridenhour said the change among police agencies is to some degree a reaction to mass shootings, starting with Columbine. Since then, he said, ordinary patrol officers have adopted some of the training of SWAT teams so they are able to respond if they are first on the scene at a mass shooting. I think you have to be cognizant of the fact that we are a civilian police force, were not an occupying military force, but I think weve seen several incidents over the years, even over the past several months, that indicate officers need to be prepared, Ridenhour said. Danbury police have a dozen military-style rifles through the program, as well as scuba suits and equipment for the dive team. A BearCat armored truck used by the SWAT team was purchased, rather than loaned through the 1033 Program, Ridenhour said. Redding and Ridgefield police both said they returned Humvees loaned to the departments. Redding Police Chief Mark ODonnell said his department gave their Humvee up because it was rarely used. For the times we used it, it was worth its weight in gold, he said. That included the aftermath of superstorm Sandy, when Redding cops used the military truck to scrabble up and over downed trees. It could also drive straight through floodwaters, ODonnell said. But it wasnt very comfortable to ride in it has metal seats and then you put a cushion on top of it, he said. Most of Reddings patrol vehicles are now all-wheel-drive, so those cars can handle most of the jobs the Humvee could have been useful for, ODonnell said. Rifles and thermal sights Redding also borrowed a collection of six thermal sights, valued at $12,000 each, from the Defense Department. ODonnell said those are night vision optics. When they were borrowed, the thinking was they could be used to find a suspect trying to escape in the dark, Reddings chief said. The truck ended up going to Norwalk police. Ridgefield, like Redding, also decided to return its Humvee because the department bought a truck, said police Major Steven Brown. He said Ridgefield police are also returned several rifles they borrowed through the program. Government records show Ridgefield took delivery of eight M16 rifles, valued at $120 each, in 2011. Brown said those were replaced with new rifles purchased by the department. The department also has one thermal sight, he said. While Brookfield no longer has an armored truck, Purcell said those vehicles are used by law enforcement for defensive purposes, not offensive. The purpose of the armored vehicle is to protect the officers sometimes that doesnt look pretty, he said. After Joaquin Phoenix took over the Golden Globes stage, he continued the celebration behind the bars. Phoenix bagged the crown for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for his divisive film "Joker" in the 2020 Golden Globes. He delivered a wild speech and tackled how he will promote sustainability by wearing the same tuxedo to every event in the awards season. However, his first step to conserve the environment was immediately shifted into something else after he got detained for participating in one climate protest. Phoenix Damaged His Wings Exactly three months after Oscars award-winning actress Jane Fonda started a climate change protest outside the East Front of the United States Capitol, Phoenix and Martin Sheen joined the group of activists who got detained on Friday. The group decided to hold the last leg for their D.C. protest, and the "Joker" actor was among the dozens of people who were arrested for obstructing a public building which, according to Washington Law, is an act of misdemeanor. The arrest came after the short speech the 45-year-old actor delivered about the impact of dairy and meat production on climate change. Phoenix began, "Sometimes we wonder what can we do in this fight against climate change, and there is something that you can do today and tomorrow, by making a choice about what you consume." The 45-year-old actor also pointed out that there are still some things he cannot avoid, like his need to get on the plane to arrive at the capitol as early as possible. Nonetheless, he pledged that he will change his eating habits as it is the only thing he can do for now. During the Golden Globes awards night, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association praised Phoenix for "recognizing and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate change." Where Did It All Started? In Oct. 2019, Jane delivered her speech to mark the beginning of her D.C. protest with the group "Oil Change International." However, the Capitol Police took her into custody and got charged with "crowding, obstructing or incommoding." Fonda, nonetheless, mentioned that they planned everything and that she would be participating in every rally every Friday throughout the year -- with the protest on Friday as the most recent and the final one. She also stated that she wanted to support young climate change protesters like Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teen climate change activist who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2019. Thunberg traveled from the United Kingdom to New York City in a solar panel-powered yacht to show the importance of reducing emissions. Fonda also mentioned Naomi Klein's best-selling book, "On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal," which inspired her to stand up for the community and speak about climate change. The capture reminded people of her rebellious liberal activism decades ago. Nonetheless, she still vowed to return to the Capitol and she did. Fonda was arrested numerous times throughout the protest but was able to tackle different topics, including the Green New Deal and protecting lands. With all these celebrities joining climate change protests, people hope that everyone will soon do their part and help each other for the betterment of the environment. ATHENS The bodies of 12 people were recovered from the Ionian Sea on Saturday after a migrant smuggling boat sank near the island of Paxos in western Greece, the Greek Coast Guard said. The authorities were alerted that the vessel was in trouble shortly after 9 a.m., when one of the migrants on board phoned the emergency services. No details were immediately available about the identities of the victims. The cause of the sinking was also unclear, according to the Coast Guard spokesman, Nikolaos Lagadianos. Weather conditions had been good, he said. But the boat may have been overloaded, he added, noting that about 50 people may have been on board. A large search-and-rescue operation was underway, the Coast Guard said, with six Coast Guard vessels scouring the area alongside two Air Force helicopters, a Navy helicopter and four fishing boats. The Coast Guard said that 21 people had so far been rescued. Gandhinagar: Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday challenged opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal saying that they should come forward for an open debate on Citizenship Amendment Act. Shah said that CAA is an act to provide citizenship and take away any citizens' rights, he added that the opposition is trying to misguide people in the matter. Shah further slammed opposition parties saying that their lie will not sustain for long as BJP workers are continuously running campaigns to educate people on the matter. Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance, Shah said that during Modi's tenure India observed progress in all the segments, adding that a new chapter has begun in India's development. He said people believe in Modi because of his constant communication with people. Shah said, ''Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started a new chapter in India's economic development. Since 1947 to 2014, we could make India a $2 trillion economy. From 2014-2019, the Narendra government within five years made it $3 trillion from $2 trillion." Live TV Talking about India's economy Shah said, "No economy in the world has made such a huge jump. Today, those who are commenting on a temporary phase, don't get disheartened by it ... I am here to tell you that $3 trillion is not our destination. In 2024, India will achieve its goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy," he said. On the other hand, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said that the new citizenship law (CAA) was 'discriminatory and divisive' and demanded a probe into the police excesses on anti-CAA agitators. ''A comprehensive high-powered commission should be set up to probe into incidents connected with the CAA protests and provide justice to the affected people,'' Sonia Gandhi said after chairing the Congress Working Committee meeting on Saturday. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who met PM Modi in Raj Bhawan at Kolkata on Saturday demanded that the CAA and NRC be withdrawn. Just after her meeting Banerjee joined a demonstration held by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad against CAA and NRC. Jack Fincham has candidly spoken about his battle with mental health and how he was took antidepressants to help with his 'bad anxiety' when he was younger. The Love Island star, 28, was prescribed medication after being diagnosed with a generalised anxiety disorder which lead to depression. Speaking on Movembers In The Barber Chair Podcast, Jack explained how he used to 'constantly fear something awful was going to happen' when he was a teenager. 'Scared': Jack Fincham has candidly spoken about his battle with mental health and how he was took antidepressants to help with his 'bad anxiety' when he was younger He said: 'I used to take anti-depressants when I was 19, 20. I used to have such bad anxiety. At the start, I didn't know what to do it was just an all-round panic. 'I was scared. I used to fear something awful was going to happen, constantly. I'd go to bed feeling it and wake up feeling it. 'That brought the depression on, because I thought when I would feel my normal, well my normal, again. It was like a cycle.' Jack told host Matt Johnson that he went to the doctors after telling his mother that he was 'scared' but things didn't get better straight away. Getting help: The Love Island star (pictured on the show) said he used to 'constantly fear something awful was going to happen' before her went to the doctors when he was around 19 He explained: 'I went to the doctors and got prescribed antidepressants but they said I could feel worse for a while, which panicked me anymore. 'And they did work but I thought I need to take control of my brain again. I would tell myself "this is your brain doing this, so you can make yourself feel better again". 'It took me a good few years to get back on track. People think you can get a magic tablet, but it doesn't work like that. They're a crutch. You've got to work with them.' Jack also said he had to take time off work because of his anxiety, but worried about telling his colleagues where he was. Former flame: Jack starred on Love Island's 2018 series where he was crowned winner with his his ex-girlfriend Dani Dyer, who he split from last year (pictured in happier times) He revealed: 'Back then I was a little bit embarrassed to say why I wasn't going to work. I had time off work but I didn't want to tell everyone in the sales office why. 'They all know now so I will always speak openly about it and it's good to check in with people, as they might have something on their minds'. When asked about other ways he's tried to help cope with his anxiety, Jack said that he's tried CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). He said: 'CBT I've done, and in general talking to someone. Even sometimes now I'll have a moment. Improving: After being prescribed medication, Jack said he started to get better but that 'it took me a good few years to get back on track' 'I build up this big situation and think if some terrible thing that might happen but when I say it out loud it helps me rationalise what's happened.' Jack also gave advice to anyone prospective Love Islanders ahead of the new season in South Africa kicking off on Sunday night. He said: 'Remember who you actually are, where came from and keep your original people around you. 'You're going to get loads of new friends, but keep the ones you've known for years who have always been your friend around you don't neglect them.' Jack has previously spoken about his mental health, telling British GQ magazine in March about his antidepressents. He said: 'I used to take citalopram, which is an antidepressant, and I also took beta blockers for anxiety, propranolol. 'It came sort of out of nowhere. I was just scared to go out of the house. I was worried about things that werent happening. I thought I was going mad.' Jack revealed he needed help, adding: 'At the start I didnt want to go to the doctors, I was just crying to my mum. 'I thought if I said it out loud to a doctor then it would make it real. I didnt want to believe that this was happening to me or why it was happening to me.' Brazil's Supreme Court lifts ban on Netflix film depicting Jesus as gay Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Brazil's Supreme Court decided Thursday that Netflix can continue streaming a controversial Brazilian comedy special that depicts Jesus Christ as a homosexual. The Supreme Court overturned a lower court judge's ruling from Tuesday that ordered Netflix to remove a controversial Brazilian comedy special despite international outcry and a petition signed by over 2 million people demanding its removal. Titled The First Temptation of Christ (most likely a play on words reminiscent of the controversial 1988 film The Last Temptation of Christ), the satirical special that first aired Dec. 3 ahead of Christmas was created by a Brazilian comedy group known as Porta Does Fundos. According to a report by BBC's Daniel Gallas from Sao Paulo this week, Judge Benedicto Abicair in Rio de Janeiro ordered Netflix to remove the film from its platform. On Thursday, however, the higher court's ruling struck down the lower courts ban with the President of Brazils Supreme Court, Justice Jose Antonio Dias Toffoli, stating that freedom of expression is a fundamental right of democracy. A piece of satire is not going to undermine the values of Christian faith, which has been around for more than 2,000 years, the courts president wrote. Netflix nor Porta dos Fundos have commented on the ruling. Jesus, who's hitting the big 3-0, brings a surprise guest to meet the family. A Christmas special so wrong, it must be from comedians Porta dos Fundos, reads the movies description on Netflix. The satirical film, which depicts Christ as a homosexual, did not go over well with many Christians and church leaders in Brazil and a petition was drafted calling on Netflix to remove the special. As of Saturday, it has garnered over 2,366,700 signatures. The Rio de Janeiro office of Porta dos Fundos, the creators behind the film, was attacked with firebombs on Christmas Eve. No one was injured. In fact, Resistance Units and supporters of the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) across the country have been celebrating his death. Many Iranians held private parties, ate sweet pastries, and posted on social media that they were grateful to the US for eliminating the mass-murderer who was responsible for so much of their suppression. Resistance Unit members in Tehran, Karaj, Borazjan, and Isfahan plastered up posters of resistance leader Massoud Rajavi and the opposition president-elect Maryam Rajavi bearing the quotes, the people and resistance of Iran are resolute in overthrowing this regime and hail to the martyrs. It is time to rise. While in Tehran, Karaj, Yasuj, Lordegan, Bandar Abbas, and several other cities, rebellious youth set fire to the regimes centers of repression and symbols of the regime, like posters of Soleimani. Resistance Units in Tabriz, Kermanshah, and Tehran, handed out leaflets containing messages from Massoud Rajavi that urged the regimes armed forces to surrender themselves to the people and stop fighting the overthrow of the regime. In yet more places, Resistance Units scribbled anti-regime slogans, like Down with Khamenei, hail to Rajavi, on buildings. They vowed to continue their uprising until the regime is overthrown. Resistance Units in Ahvaz and Isfahan put up banners of Maryam Rajavi, which explained that Soleimanis death has dealt a major blow to the regime. In Sari, Karaj, Tehran, and Isfahan, banners of Massoud Rajavi were plastered up, which called for the uprisings to continue and for the mullahs to be held accountable for their crimes. One banner read: The MEKs goal is for the [Iranian] people to rule [their country]. In Karaj, Resistance Units were particularly enraged over the visit of Ebrahim Raisi, the chief justice of the Iranian regime and a key figure in the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in 1988. They destroyed pictures of him and set fire to the entrance of a Basij base in protest. You should know that this resistance could carry a heavy price, with support for the MEK being punishable by death under the regime. Amnesty International reports that MEK supporter Gholamreza Khosravi was executed in June 2014 for merely donating a small amount of money to the Iranian regimes opposition satellite TV network Sima-ye Azadi (Voice of Freedom). New Delhi: Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday made a big statement on Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said that it would belong to India if the government wants. "There is a parliamentary resolution that entire J-K is part of India. If Parliament wants it, then, that area (PoK) also should belong to us. When we get orders to that effect, we'll take appropriate action," he said. On the need for re-balancing the force on both Pakistan and China border, the Army chief said that "re-balancing is required as there is a feeling that both northern and western borders require equal attention." He also termed the formation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) a very big step towards the integration of the three forces. Naravane said the Army will do anything to ensure its success. "The formation of the CDS and the creation of a department of military affairs is a very big step towards integration. We on our part will make sure that this is a success," the Army Chief said. Army Chief on if PoK can be part of India as stated by political leadership: There is a parliamentary resolution that entire J&K is part of India.If Parliament wants it,then,that area(PoK) also should belong to us. When we get orders to that effect, we'll take appropriate action pic.twitter.com/D7f7gJTalD ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 "Integration will also be within the Army and the integrated battle group is just one example of that. But I also want to assure everyone that in this process of integration we will take everyone along. Nobody will be left behind," he said. The Army chief's remarks come days after Gen Bipin Rawat took over as India's first Chief of Defence Staff with a mandate to bring in convergence in the functioning of the Army, the Navy, and the Indian Air Force and bolster the country's military prowess. He also asserted that allegiance to Constitution should guide "us in all times". "Justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity as enshrined in Constitution must guide us," he said.As the army, we swear allegiance to the Constitution of India...Justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution should guide us," he added. ALSO READ: Formation Of CDS Very Big Step Towards Integration Among 3 Services: Army Chief Manoj Naravane Addressing a press conference, General Naravane said the focus of the training will be on preparing the Army for future wars which will be network-centric and complex. "We are prepared to deal with challenges along the northern border," the Army chief said when asked about China enhancing military infrastructure. "We are initiating rebalancing of preparedness along the northern border, including moving advanced weapon systems," he said. He said the focus will be on integration within the Army and among the three services. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace doesnt think President Donald Trump or anyone else in his administration should be surprised that Congress and the American people are not taking their claims about an imminent threat from Iran at face value. Speaking to Fox News Bret Baier on Friday afternoon, Wallace said, I think to a certain degree, the administration has itself to blame. Because right away the president and Mike Pompeo, when he was doing all five Sunday shows this last week, was saying imminent, imminent, imminent. He said that understandably people want to know what imminent actually meant in this case. As the host laid it out, Trump first said Gen. Qassem Soleimani was targeting an American embassy and is now claiming there were plots against four embassies. I think if they had been a little more forthcoming right from the start, they might not have allowed this skepticism to build. And look, to a certain degree, I think the president has himself to blame, because who has been more critical and less sort of just trusting of the intelligence agencies than Donald Trump over the last three years? Wallace asked. So, you know, why shouldnt we be skeptical too? All of that being said, Wallace agreed with Baier that this entire episode has been a political win for Trump if the conflict with Iran does not escalate any further. But we dont know whats going to happen tomorrow, he said. And if they strike again, whether its directly or through a proxy and you begin to see tensions ratchet up, then some people are going to say, are we really safer or not? Fox News Host Hits Trump for Attacking Chris Wallace: Youre Not Entitled to Praise Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. The first time I saw the famous Fabienne Jean, she was limping toward me, slowly, but with the unmistakable elegance of the dancer that she was. Two years had passed since American donors and American media had turned Fabienne into a symbol of recovery from the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010. Well-wishers had promised her everything from a new house and an American visa to her own dance academy. At the time she was still hopeful; none of it, however, would come to pass. The last time I saw the famous Fabienne Jean, she was sitting idle in her basement apartment in Port-au-Prince, unable to work, unable to dance, still nostalgic about her brief encounter with American generosity. She took out her phone and flipped through photos. Did you see this one, Jacob? she laughed, showing me a photo of her posing on a Florida beach. Eleven months later, she was dead. There was nothing to indicate the flight was in danger, he said. American officials have a high level of confidence that a Russian-made Iranian air defense system had fired two surface-to-air missiles at the plane minutes after it took off for Kyiv, one United States official has said. The jet had crashed hours after Iran fired ballistic missiles at American targets in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the leader of a powerful branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and was bracing for a possible American response. But Irans failure to close its airspace and ground commercial planes was a key error, according to an American official. Some officials believe Iran may have left its airspace open to avoid telegraphing the precise timing of the airstrike, the official said. Ali Abedzadeh, the chief of Irans Civil Aviation Organization, urged caution at a Friday news conference, saying that investigators could not determine anything about the cause of the crash until they analyzed data from the so-called black-box flight recorders. No missile hit the plane, he said, and it was likely on fire before it crashed. But the Iranian air defense system used Wednesday is designed to explode near aircraft, creating shrapnel that takes a plane out of the sky, rather than directly hitting it. And footage verified by The New York Times appears to show a missile fired from Iranian territory exploding near where the jet crashed. State television in Iran aired footage that it said showed two black boxes recovered from the crash site. Processing their data could take more than a month, and the investigation could take up to two years, Hassan Rezaeifar, the head of the Iranian investigation team, said during the news conference. Normally, Iran has the capacity to download black-box data, but Mr. Rezaeifar said that the devices were damaged, making it difficult to extract information. We need special software and hardware which are available in our country, but if we fail to extract the data due to the damages of the black box, we will get help from other countries, he said, noting that Ukraine, France, Canada and Russia have all expressed willingness to help. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 17:53:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed Friday called on residents of the country's oldest Chinatown to be on high alert for crime ahead of the Chinese lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 25 this year. Addressing the 23rd Lunar New Year Crime Prevention and Public Safety Awareness Campaign in San Francisco's Chinatown, Breed advised people in Chinatown to "do a good job" of looking out for one another, especially senior residents, during their celebrations of the upcoming new year. She said public safety is paramount during Chinese New Year, reminding residents that Chinatown is facing challenges such as thefts, robberies and other crimes. As well as assigning more bilingual police officers capable of speaking Chinese and English to patrol the community, Breed promised the installation of more surveillance cameras in the area. William Scott, chief of the San Francisco Police Department, admitted there were public security challenges in the Chinatown area. He said San Francisco currently has its lowest rate of homicide since 1961, though the city has always been plagued by crimes of assault or car break-ins. "We've had a number of high profile incidents that have happened in this community over the course of this past year," he said, suggesting a few cases of robbery and assault of senior residents in Chinatown. Last July, two senior residents, both community leaders, were viciously assaulted while crossing a Chinatown street in broad daylight. Meanwhile, last November, two seniors were attacked and knocked to the ground by a group of four men at Chinatown's Portsmouth Square. Such crimes have aroused fear among seniors in the Chinese community, with many worrying about public safety being eroded in the area where they have lived for decades. T he Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said, has died aged 79 after suffering with cancer. The ruler of the Middle Eastern State has been in power since 1970, and the reins have now been passed over to culture minister Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the ruler, saying: I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Majesty." He added: He was an exceptionally wise and respected leader who will be missed enormously. He will be remembered for his devotion to the development of Oman inta a stable and prosperous nation, and as the father of the nation who sought to improve the lives of the Omani people. Sultan Qaboos took the throne after overthrowing his father, Said bin Taimur, in a British-assisted coup. Where his father ruled with an isolationist attitude, Sultan Qaboos was determined to modernise the Middle Eastern country. One of his first steps as a ruler was to abolish slavery, before setting about using Oman's oil revenues to bring the country into the 20th century. Roads, schools, hospitals and airports were built and a telecommunications network and electric grid were quickly established. Sultan Qaboos also introduced the Omani rial as the country's national currency, replacing the Indian rupee and Maria Theresa thaler. The Sultan was an avid classical music fan who regularly took his personal 120-member orchestra with him on his travels. Sultan Qaboos married his first cousin, Kamila, in 1976; however, their marriage ended in divorce just three years later. He had been suffering from colon cancer since 2017. The main opposition party in Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has also said that it will contest the elections in Delhi. It, however, is hoping to fight in alliance with the Congress on the lines of Jharkhand. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U), which is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, has announced to contest the elections alone in Delhi. The Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), the party of Bihar's former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, has devised a strategy to show some strength in Delhi's electoral ground. According to JD-U General Secretary K.C. Tyagi, the party is preparing to fight in at least 30 to 35 seats. He said the party supporters are already there and preparations for the elections have been going on for several months. Tyagi made it clear that there will be no alliance with anyone in Delhi. The party has entrusted Bihar Water Resources Minister Sanjay Jha with the responsibility of this election. The JD(U) is hoping to get a few seats here as a large number of people from Purvanchal are settled in Delhi. Recently, the party president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a rally in Delhi's Badarpur area. Sanjay Jha says Nitish Kumar's work in Bihar is also appreciated in Delhi, which will have an impact. He said that the number of seats to be contested has not yet been decided. The RJD, which is leading the opposition party in Bihar, has also made up its mind to find a foothold in the national capital. The RJD has said it will field its candidates in at least 12 seats, but at the same time the party is also confident of forging an alliance with the Congress. RJD spokesperson and MP Manoj Jha said: "The party leadership has got the green signal to contest the Delhi Assembly elections. The party has decided to field candidates on about a dozen seats." Manjhi's party may have suffered major defeats in Bihar and Jharkhand earlier, but is preparing to try its luck at Delhi's electoral battleground. HAM's spokesperson Danish Rizwan says the party has made up its mind to enter the Delhi's electoral fray, and is looking for good candidates. Assembly elections in Delhi will be held on February 8 and counting of votes will take place on February 11. - Taiwan has re-elected its female president, Tsai Ing-wen, for a second term as she won with a landslide victory of 8.2 million voted - With the landslide victory, she was able to secure 57% votes over her rival, Han Kuo-yu, who is very pro-China - Tsai has never believed in having a close relationship with China, telling the country to abandon its threat that it would reclaim Taiwan Taiwan has made history in its politics as it on Saturday, January 11, re-elected its female president, Tsai Ing-wen, for a second term. BBC reports that she won the election by a landslide as she polled a record winning of 8.2 million votes to defeat her rival, Han Kuo-yu. It should be noted that Ms Tsai is very much against a close tie with China, one of the things that differentiate her policy from Han. Han, on the other hand, believes that a close relationship will bring about many economic benefits. During her winning address, the president-elect told China to abandon its threat that it would take Taiwan back. Tsai has told China to back on its threat on Taiwan's sovereignty Source: UGC She said, with the re-election, the nation has shown the globe that it really values its democracy. Another thing worthy of note is that China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the end of the Chinese war, saying it would take it back by force if necessary. "Peace means that China must abandon threats of force against Taiwan. I also hope that the Beijing authorities understand that democratic Taiwan, and our democratically elected government, will not concede to threats and intimidation, a part of her speech said. The same media gathered that though the economy was on the high during her presidency, the reverse has been the case for exports and wage growth. READ ALSO: Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Kemi Badenoch, a Nigerian-born British politician of the Conservative party was re-elected as MP for Saffron Walden. She won the election by a landslide with a whopping number of 39,714 votes to defeat her opponent Liberal Democrat Hibbs who scored 12,120. Others who contested for the seat are Labour's Tom van de Bilt and the Green Party's Coby Wing who scored 8,305 and 2,947 votes respectively. 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 This is the first of two columns about the National Elk Refuge. Refuge managers are making changes to the supplemental feeding of elk and bison. Before explaining these changes in the next column, I tell how the refuge got to this point. Historically, elk migrated through the Jackson Hole country to winter ranges farther to the southeast. In the late 1800s, communities, ranches, fields and pastures replaced elk feeding areas. Fences and indiscriminate hunting disrupted the migration routes and elk began spending the winter in Jackson Hole. At one time, it is estimated the area elk herd numbered 50,000 animals. The winter of 1889-1890 was severe and about 20,000 elk died of starvation. More hard winters in 1909 and 1911 left less than 10,000 elk wintering in Jackson Hole. During the severe winter of 1909, elk invaded ranches, their haystacks and the streets of Jackson. Dead elk littered the ground everywhere. In 1909, supplemental feeding for wintering elk began when settlers raised $600 to buy hay. The next year, the state of Wyoming pitched in $5,000 for hay. In 1911, the U.S. Congress appropriated $20,000 for immediate feeding of wintering elk and in the next year, appropriated $45,000 and created the National Elk Refuge. The refuge gradually grew to a total of 24,700 acres. It is bordered by the town of Jackson to the south, Bridger-Teton National Forest to the east and Grand Teton National Park to the north and west. Over the years, the number of wintering elk has averaged 7,500. At first, hay was grown on the refuge for the supplemental feeding, but haying was discontinued, and alfalfa pellets began being used in 1975. In 1938, the Rotary Club built the first antler arch in Jackson. They gave a donation to the local Boy Scout troop in return for help in gathering fallen antlers off the refuge. In 1957, the Boy Scouts began a regular program of gathering dropped antlers on the refuge, as a service project to help the refuge. Antlers in the grass were hard on haying equipment. In 1968, The first public antler auction was held in Jackson. At first, the Boy Scouts kept the money obtained from the auctions, and there was not much of a market, mainly furniture and jewelry makers. As the antlers brought in more money, the refuge changed the agreement. The Boy Scouts kept 25% of the money for the gathering and the refuge kept 75% to help pay for the elk feeding. With the beginning of the Oriental antler market, the auction has mushroomed. In 2019, the auctions 52nd year, the Jackson District Boy Scouts and their leaders donated about 2,000 hours to the auction and gathered 10,320 pounds of antlers. The auction raised $186,227 and the Boy Scouts made $46,556 for their programs. The public cannot gather antlers on the refuge nor in Grand Teton National Park but can gather on the neighboring Forest Service land, beginning on May 1. People often go out early and pile up antlers, then at midnight on May 1, they drive out to retrieve them. In 1943, elk hunting was begun on areas of the Refuge. In 1965, the Jaycees began offering concession sleigh rides to the public to view elk up close. Later, the sleigh rides were managed by the Grand Teton Natural History Association. In historical times, bison lived in the Jackson Hole Valley but were killed off by the late 1800s. They returned in 1948 when 20 bison were brought from Yellowstone National Park for a wildlife park near the small town of Moran. In 1975, the herd then 11 animals, escaped the enclosure and the next year, the National Park Service decided to allow them to range freely in Grand Teton National Park. In 1975, the bison herd, then 18 animals, found the refuge and began wintering along its northern edge. This was allowed since they were eating native vegetation. But in 1980, they found the elk feeding line and began eating the supplemental elk food. Bison are disruptive and chase elk off their feeding lines so bison were soon given a separate feeding line. With this supply of winter food, bison numbers have grown to over 1,000 animals, and keeping bison and elk separated is getting harder. In 2007, a Bison and Elk Management Plan was completed and used to manage animals for the next 15 years in Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge. A new management plan has been created and the next column will talk about the planned changes for the next 15 years. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Kolkata, Jan 11 : Regretting that salient chapters in Indian history have not found place in the way the subject has been dealt with during the British rule and even after independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said there is no reference to what the common people were doing in different periods. "It is very unfortunate that during British rule and even after independence the drafting of the country's history ignored some salient chapters of our history. The history we read has no reference to what the common Indian people were doing during different times. Didn't they have any existence?" Modi asked after dedicating four renovated heritage buildings to the nation. The Prime Minister said lot of things connect to Indian history have remained in the wilderness, while some writers have confined it to mere tales of power struggle, violence and battles of succession. "Lot of things connected to India's history have remained in the wilderness. If you look at our history and tradition, you will find some people have confined our history to power struggle, violence and succession battles," he said. Modi said it was very important to keep the spirit of national consciousness alive and carry it to the coming generations in those periods of instability and amidst the environment of violence. "Decade after decade, century after century, who did this job? Our arts, literature and music, our intellectuals, saints and philosophers carried out this job," he said addressing the gathering at the Old Currency Building. He said the influence of saints and intellectuals could be found in every field of India. "These individuals, their ideals, and various manifestations of arts and literature, enriched our history in their own way. You know how great people led the biggest social reforms in India," he said. Describing politics and military power as temporary, the Prime Minister said on the contrary, popular ideas expressed through arts and culture are permanent. "So it is very crucial for India and Indians to preserve and maintain our own rich history and heritage, because that ir what sets us apart from other nations." Modi said one can learn something or the other from every culture in the world. "But we have to keep in mind that it doesn't cast a shadow over Indian culture," he said. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov held a working meeting with representatives of the security and defense sector on the crash of a Ukraine International Airlines plane in Iran, the NSDCs press service has reported. "The NSDC secretary informed that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a conversation with representatives of the Ukrainian expert group and thanked them for their work," the report says. Chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Ivan Bakanov reported on the progress of the work of the Ukrainian expert group. First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Serhiy Yarovyi informed that experts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and investigators of the National Police collected DNA samples of relatives of the dead and sent an electronic DNA-formula this morning to Ukrainian experts working at the scene of the tragedy in Tehran. "We expect the Iranian side to identify the bodies and return them to Kyiv," he said. According to First Deputy Prosecutor-General of Ukraine Vitaliy Kasko, work is ongoing on qualifying the criminal acts that led to the tragedy. The meeting also covered the issue of that Ukrainian experts are working on decoding the information contained in the black boxes from the UIA Boeing 737 plane. The NSDC secretary noted that the public will be promptly provided with information on the results of the crash investigation. Kolkata, Jan 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated an interactive light and sound show at the iconic Howrah Bridge -- Rabindra Setu -- through a glittering programme held in the picturesque Millenium Park on the banks of the Hooghly. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Minister of Shipping (independent charge) Mansukh Mandaviya were among those who attended the function. The 150-second show and sound is part of the various initiatives taken to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Kolkata Port Trust. The British era Howrah Bridge, which serves as a crucial gateway to the city, ferrying one lakh-plus vehicles and over 1.5 lakh pedestrians daily, was thrown open to the public on February 3, 1943, replacing a pontoon bridge linking Kolkata and Howrah. The steel colossus -- christened Rabindra Setu in 1965 after one of Kolkata's greatest sons, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore -- has become a symbol of the city over the decades, connecting the bustling eastern metropolis with the terminal Howrah station over the Hooghly river - a distributory of the Ganga. The cantilever bridge, where not a single nut or bolt was used, is now the sixth largest bridge of its kind in the globe. Supporters of Nationalist or KMT party cheer as their candidate Han Kuo-yu Han arrives to concede - AP Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen was re-elected for a second term with record-breaking support on Saturday, reaffirming the islands rejection of closer ties with Beijing in favour of a stronger assertion of Taiwanese identity. After leading the polls, the incumbent secured more than 8 million votes compared to her opponent, Han Kuo-yu, from the Kuomintang (KMT) party, who drew close to 5.5m. Ms Tsai, 63, - a trusted US ally - and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), had campaigned heavily on the need to protect Taiwan's democracy from Chinas threats to annex the island, frequently reminding voters that the crackdown on Hong Kongs pro-democracy protests could one day be Taiwan. With each presidential election Taiwan is showing the world how much we cherish our free democratic way of life and how much we cherish our nation, the republic of China, Taiwan, she told a packed press conference on Saturday evening, as thousands of supporters cheered outside her party headquarters. The results of this election carry an added significance because they have shown that when our sovereignty and democracy are threatened, the Taiwanese people will shout out determination even more loudly back, she said. Tsai Ing-wen speaks on stage after learning the result of the presidential election Credit: DAVID CHANG/EPA Ms Tsai urged Beijing to seek peace, and respect Taiwans democracy. China must abandon threats of force against Taiwan. Her opponent, Han Kuo-yu, 62, a populist mayor standing for the opposition Kuomintang party (KMT), who had focussed his election slogans on revitalising the economy by repairing the islands strained relationship with Beijing, urged the public to respect the results. Taiwan, an island of 23 million off the southeast coast of China, functions as a de facto independent nation with its own elections, currency and military. The majority of the population now identify as being Taiwanese. However, China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has pledged to take it over, by force if necessary. Beijing mistrusts President Tsai and used military and economic pressure to try to undermine her first term, while attempting to isolate Taiwan on the global stage. Story continues Turnout was high. For many of Taiwans 19m eligible voters, images of violence on the streets of Chinese-ruled Hong Kong a few hundred miles away heightened the sense of urgency to turn up to Saturdays poll. People are finding now that its not just all about the economy. You can tell with Hong Kong that people are saying our freedom is more important that economic performance. There has been an awakening in Taiwan, said Jimmy Yang, owner of a popular cafe in the capital, Taipei. For many within the politically engaged population, the desire for international recognition and defending Taiwans independent way of life appeared to take priority over domestic political concerns. While Taiwan, which presents a dynamic, democratic alternative to Chinese authoritarianism, enjoys firm informal backing from the US, UK and other regional allies, it only has official ties with 15 other states and nations. Ill vote for a leader who will make Taiwan known to the world, whether were talking about the economy, society or freedom, said Mrs Huang, 65, as she cast her ballot in Taipeis Songshan district. Democracy is the most important issue. Our freedom is precious. Im afraid of China, a young man also named Huang said as he left another city polling station. With no provision for proxy or postal votes, thousands of overseas Taiwanese citizens took costly flights home to vote. Cindy Chen, 34, a teacher in Korea, returned for the weekend to express her views on Taiwans status. Taiwan seems to be stuck in a position where politicians are too afraid to call ourselves a country and there seems to be no method to gain more independence, she said. Some people are afraid of possible conflicts that might come up between Taiwan and China if Taiwan presents itself independently, but Im more afraid of what could happen in the next few years, that it could be like the situation in Hong Kong, she added. The KMT and President Tsais critics have asserted that a second term would lead to further attempts by China to destabilise Taiwan. However, Joseph Wong, a professor of political science at the University of Toronto, said that the Chinese Communist Party had been left with limited options. Its hemmed itself in terms of strategic options unless it looks to do something drastic. Which, given Chinas many other concerns at this time, seems unlikely. I expect things will resume with the status quo, he said. President Tsais victory will be welcomed in Washington, which views her as a steady hand who will back US interests against Chinese expansion in the Indo-Pacific region. Tsai is a known commodity. Shes not strayed from her original position on international relations. While Han may have been more palatable to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], I think he would have been a bit more unpredictable, said Mr Wong. Catherine Chou, an assistant professor of history at Grinnell College, Iowa, said the vote confirmed reported trends of a unique Taiwanese identity, rejection of a one country, two systems style arrangement. She added: What Taiwan lacks is not functional independence or sovereignty but international recognition of its sense of self and its achievements. ATHENS, GREECEThe bodies of 12 people were recovered from the Ionian Sea on Saturday after a migrant smuggling boat sank near the island of Paxos in western Greece, the Greek Coast Guard said. Authorities were alerted that the vessel was in trouble shortly after 9 a.m., when one of the migrants on board phoned the emergency services. No details were immediately available about the identities of the victims. The cause of the sinking was also unclear, according to the Coast Guard spokesman, Nikolaos Lagadianos. Weather conditions had been good, he said. But the boat may have been overloaded, he added, noting that about 50 people may have been on board. A large search-and-rescue operation was underway, the Coast Guard said, with six Coast Guard vessels scouring the area alongside two Air Force helicopters, a Navy helicopter and four fishing boats. The Coast Guard said that 21 people had so far been rescued. The migrants were the first to drown in Greek waters this year. Their deaths follow scores more in recent years, although the rate of drownings here has fallen sharply since Turkey and the European Union signed a deal in 2016 to reduce migration. Saturdays sinking was unusual because it took place in the Ionian rather than the Aegean Sea, suggesting that the vessel was likely headed to Italy. Read more about: Overnight fears the historic Mount Buffalo Chalet could be burnt to the ground have been allayed, as blazes presented no immediate threat on Saturday morning. A sustained aerial bombing campaign and extensive protective measures stopped feared ember attacks on Ovens Valley towns such as Bright and Harrietville, and slowed the course of the fire over Victoria's highlands. Fire retardant dropped around the Mount Buffalo chalet to protect it from a fire front approaching from the south east. Credit:CFA The fire consumed about 1000 hectares on Friday, mostly after a strong south-westerly wind change in the evening brought gusts of up to 90km/h. "All the predictions were showing fire spread and embers into Bright, Harrietville and nearby and also around to Porepunkah if we had a major fire run over Mount Buffalo plateau," Ovens incident controller Paul Bates said on Saturday morning. Prince Harry is hoping to be reunited with his wife and son in Canada with a clear resolution to their current crisis. But although he and Meghan are desperate to get on with their new lives, they are prepared to thrash it out for as long as it takes to get the best possible result for themselves. The couple will not sign off on a deal they are even mildly unsure about, even if it means an extended period of time apart, aides suggested yesterday. They left their eight-month-old son, Archie, in the care of a nanny when they returned to London from Canada on Monday after a six-week sabbatical. However, Buckingham Palace sources confirmed the Duchess of Sussex (38) had only ever planned a brief stopover in the UK. She is understood to have taken a BA flight back to a gated waterfront mansion on Vancouver Island on Thursday. With no return flight booked and no official UK engagements in the diary, she could remain in Canada for the foreseeable future. The duke, meanwhile, is at home and determined to secure his family a "progressive new role" in the mould they decreed in the bombshell statement released on Wednesday. The 35-year-old is heavily involved in the negotiations being thrashed out behind palace walls, as are all senior members of his team. Royal insiders suggested talks could be far more protracted than others claimed. "This is their future and their lives," one source said. "It's not just going to be quickly signed off." As the royal households went into lockdown, under clear orders from the queen to get the job done, the celebrity world waiting to welcome the couple into its arms went into overdrive. PR experts have predicted they could earn millions on the international circuit, cashing in on their brand with guest appearances, lucrative sponsorship deals and endorsements. Six-figure bids have already been made for the first interview. It is understood ITV's 'This Morning' has submitted a bid for 100,000 (117,400), although an insider said: "It's just a starting figure." Gayle King (65), the CBS anchor and a close friend of Meghan's, is favourite to clinch an interview. Ms King attended Meghan's New York baby shower and visited the couple at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor after the birth of Archie. A television source told the 'New York Post': "It's hush hush, but there's no one else they would turn to." Meanwhile, there is talk of a collaboration with US chat show star Oprah Winfrey. The 65-year-old is said to have been advising them and has confirmed she fully supports their decision to go it alone. A source said: "The route they are likely to take is along the lines of an executive producer on an Oprah documentary series." Winfrey owns Harpo Productions, which made 'Finding Sarah', charting Prince Andrews' ex-wife Sarah Ferguson's "journey of self discovery" after she hit rock bottom in 2011. While royal sources have all but confirmed the pair will largely base themselves in Canada, it is not clear whether they intend to remain in British Columbia, move to Toronto, where Meghan lived for seven years while filming television drama 'Suits', or choose somewhere new. Former senior Scotland Yard officers have suggested the couple will most likely have to contribute to the costs of their security if they pursue a lucrative private career. A-listers set to play key roles in their new power base include Michelle and Barack Obama, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams and designer Misha Nonoo. Reports suggest Harry could follow a similar path to Mr Obama, focusing on philanthropy, speeches, book deals and documentaries. By PTI KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday faced protests by Left students for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegedly "diluting the fight against CAA". The Left students were protesting against her meeting Modi at the Raj Bhavan here and sharing the stage with the prime minister at a function later in the evening on the first day of his two-day visit to the state. They lanched a dharna at the Dorina Crossing at Esplanade and said it would continue as long as the prime minister is in the state. Members of SFI, AISA, IC of Presidency University students unions chanting 'Azadi' and 'Shame Shame' broke three barricades put up near the stage of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad's (TMCP) sit-in at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, not far from the Raj Bhavan, and demanded explanation from Banerjee as she rushed from a programme attended by Modi to the venue. They wanted to know why Banerjee met the PM, who, they said, is behind the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens and "diluted the fight" against it. "We were heading towards the Raj Bhavan. But we were prevented from doing so by the police near TMCP's dharna site on nearby Rani Rashmoni Avenue. When the CM arrived, we demanded an explanation from her," Subho Biswas, a student of Presidency University, claimed. An SFI leader Tapas Das said the protests would go on as long as Modi was in the city on Sunday. ALSO READ | Three reasons why BJP is defiant on 'non-negotiable' Citizenship Act "We demanded an explanation from Mamata Banerjee about her meeting the prime minister at the Raj Bhavan and sharing the stage at an official programme. There is a secret understanding between Mamata Banerjee and Modi. She has been exposed." "We will sit on dharna at the Esplanade crossing till the prime minister leaves the city tomorrow," he said. Banerjee, who was seen arguing with Left students, sought to clarify her stand and said it was her "constitutional obligation to meet the PM". "I am the only leader who met Narendra Modi and told him that the CAA, NRC and NPR cannot be implemented. We have been protesting from day one against CAA. The issue before both of us (TMCP and Left students' unions) is the same, so please don't deviate from it. "I request you all to protest in a democratic way. We should fight the anti-CAA battle together. We are fighting on the same issue," she told the Left students unions. She also asked the TMCP students, who were separated by a barricade put up by police, to remain calm and not retaliate. Banerjee was seen sitting on the dais surrounded by security guards and TMCP students raised counter slogans chanting 'Bande Mataram' and 'Down with BJP and its cohorts'. A senior Kolkata Police Police officer said Banerjee is still present at the sit-in venue and officers and extra policemen are present there. "We are alert," he added. Banerjee termed her meeting with PM Modi as a "courtesy visit" and said she has raised issues regarding the due financial assistance that the state is yet to receive from the Centre. "It was a courtesy meeting. I told him about Rs 28,000 crore that the state is yet to receive from the Centre. Including Rs 7000 crore, we are supposed to get for the cyclone Fani. "I acquainted him that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC. I also told him that protest is going on across the country against CAA, NRC and NPR." "I told him that there should not be any discrimination among masses and no citizens should be left out or tortured. I asked him that the Centre should rethink on the issues and withdraw CAA," she said. When asked what PM Modi said in reply, the TMC supremo said, "regarding the matter related to states, he said he will look into the documents and about these issues (CAA, NRC and NPR), he said he has come for a few government programmes. So if there is an opportunity he would speak on the subjects in New Delhi". The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state. ALSO READ | 'Won't allow Citizenship Act in Bengal': Mamata joins protest minutes after meeting Modi Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail and the BJP is pressing for its implementation. The meeting between the two leaders comes just two days after Banerjee had on Thursday said in the state Assembly that she would boycott an opposition meeting called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on January 13 over the JNU violence, the Citizenship Amendment Act and other "anti-people" policies of the Centre. Later while addressing party's anti-CAA rally at Rani Rashmoni Road, Banerjee referring to the gazette notification by the Union Home ministry regarding CAA, said the notification will be only on paper, it will never be implemented either in the country or in Bengal. "The CAA notification will only remain on paper but will never be implemented. We will not implement the CAA. This is unconstitutional, illegal and wrong," Banerjee said while addressing the rally. The Centre on Friday, in a gazette notification, announced that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will come into force from January 10. She said those who are in power at the centre should not do whatever they feel like just because they have the majority (in Parliament). "Those who are yet to understand the situation must wake up now. There is no point in sleeping while keeping your eyes open," she said at the rally. The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Banerjee drew sharp reactions from Congress and CPI(M), which said Trinamool Congress' "double standard" is now exposed. "Mamata Banerjee and TMC are now exposed. We have been saying this for a long time that TMC is a B Team of BJP in Bengal." "Now it has been proved. She doesn't want to fight BJP, rather she is helping the saffron camp in the state. This match-fixing is going on between both the parties," CPI(M) politburo member Mohammed Salim said. West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra too echoed Salim's views and said people of the state would "give a befitting reply to Banerjee for betraying their trust". The Trinamool Congress leadership refuted claims of "political match-fixing" and said the meeting between the two leaders was just a government-to-government meeting. "Let's get this straight. Today's meeting is government-to-government. And Trinamool Congress don't need certificates from anyone. We started this movement & now it is a peoples movement." "How many processions have you walked in? How many protests have you led? Stop giving advice sitting on a sofa," TMC leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O' Brien said in a statement hitting out at the rivals. By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Jan 12, 2020 - 00:32 | World, All The re-election of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, whose party favors independence from China, comes at a time when Japan has recently pledged to open a "new era" of ties with the Communist-ruled mainland. Following the outcome of Saturday's presidential election, Tsai of the Democratic Progressive Party is expected to push policies countering the "one country, two systems" framework that Beijing is threatening to impose on the self-governing island. But fears are growing in Taipei that Japan, a key trading partner of free and democratic Taiwan, might agree with Beijing on a new political document effectively expressing its support for China's strategy toward what it regards as a wayward province. As Chinese President Xi Jinping is keen to attain Beijing's goal of cross-strait reunification, the leadership "will definitely take a tougher stance against Tsai's government to thwart its attempt to curb the mainland's influence in Taiwan," a diplomatic source said. Tokyo's approval of such a document could "mean that Japan would accept the mainland's insistence that Taiwan is a part of China. That would threaten Taiwan and poison its nongovernmental, practical relations with Japan," the source added. Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since they split in the wake of a civil war in 1949. Beijing has since then endeavored to undermine Taipei's quest for international recognition. While Tokyo severed diplomatic ties with Taipei and established them with Beijing in 1972, Taiwan and Japan have continued to deepen economic cooperation at the initiative of the private sector. Taiwan is now Japan's fourth-largest trading partner. Despite Japan exercising "voluntary restraint" toward relations with Taiwan in the political arena, "the grassroots relationship between the two is very good," said Tai Wan-chin, a professor emeritus at Tamkang University in New Taipei City. For decades, Taiwan and Japan have expanded people-to-people exchanges in such fields as business, technology, culture and medical care, he said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, meanwhile, has striven to improve relations with China, often frayed over wartime history and territorial issues. Beijing for its part seeks better economic ties with Tokyo amid an ongoing trade dispute with the United States. At talks in Beijing late last month, Abe told Xi, "We want to build a relationship that is suitable for a new era for Japan and China," while the Chinese president said he is willing to raise "Sino-Japanese ties to a new level." Sources close to the matter said Abe and Xi agreed at the December meeting that Tokyo and Beijing will craft a new political document that will lay the foundation for their future relations -- the fifth of its kind since they normalized diplomatic ties. The new document is expected to be unveiled when Xi visits Japan in the spring as a state guest for the first time since he came to power in 2013, the sources said. Japan and China have developed their relations on the basis of the principles of the existing four political documents, respectively signed in 1972, 1978, 1998 and 2008. The latest one stipulates that the two nations would advance strategic and mutually beneficial ties. At a news conference during his stay in China on Dec. 24, Abe indicated his readiness to hammer out the fifth document, saying Japan and China "will step up efforts to bring results in each area." A person familiar with the Japanese government's thinking said, "The Foreign Ministry was reluctant to make a new document given the current situation in the region," referring to Hong Kong's months-long protests, China's increasing naval assertiveness and Taiwan. Abe, however, is "eager to make the fifth document as he has so far failed to secure major diplomatic achievements, although he became Japan's longest-serving prime minister. China has provided him with a window of opportunity," he said. The person added that it was Beijing which broached the creation of the fifth political document, thus sparking speculation in Taiwan that China will push for the inclusion of its hardline stance on cross-strait relations. Late last year, former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said his Japanese friend had told him that the fifth political document will incorporate Tokyo's support for the policy of China's one country, two systems in Hong Kong. If that is the case, Taiwan's interests would be seriously damaged, as China would be able to cite the new document in asking the Japanese government to adjust its relations with the island in the future, Chen was quoted as saying by the media. Over the past few years, Tsai said it has become clear that China's intimidation is aimed at forcing Taiwan to compromise on sovereignty, including Xi's recent proposal to explore a "Taiwanese version of one country, two systems." "It is impossible for Taiwan to accept the arrangement of one country, two systems," Tsai said in her New Year's address on Jan. 1, adding that the Hong Kong model of the framework is a proven failure as seen by the city's prolonged unrest. Xi's Communist Party tried to thwart Tsai's re-election by "every available means," said Tatsuhiko Yoshizaki, an expert on foreign affairs issues at the Sojitz Research Institute in Tokyo. Given its failure to stop her, China is set to "take stronger measures" against Taiwan, he added. Another diplomatic source said, "Under such circumstances, China may use Japan to get an excuse to press ahead with its reunification bid. Prime Minister Abe should be very cautious about endorsing the fifth political document." ==Kyodo The widow of the captain of a Ukrainian passenger jet shot down in Iran has said she urged him not to fly the plane amid fears of war in the country. Katerina Gaponenko said husband Volodymyr had thought his return fight from Kiev to Tehran would be cancelled as tensions in the region mounted following the US assassination of Qassem Soleimani. But when it was scheduled to go ahead the father-of-two, who flew for Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA), told his wife he had to do it. I asked him: Do not fly, do not do it. But he said: We cant backtrack, if it is not me, there is no one else. If it flies on schedule, I need to fly. I asked him to stay, she told Sky News. The captain who had 11,000 hours flight experience took the Boeing 737 into Iran on 7 January and was bringing it back the following day when it was shot out of the sky. All 176 passengers and crew on board the majority Iranians, Canadians and Ukrainians died instantly. Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Show all 18 1 /18 Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People and rescue teams are pictured amid bodies and debris All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off, Iranian state media reported ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran One of the engines State news agency IRNA said 167 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft operated by Ukraine International Airlines Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work at the scene AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Passengers' belongings West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Members of the International Red Crescent collect bodies of victims EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work amidst debris AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran A relative of a victim reacts at Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Part of the wreckage Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Officials inspect the wreckage EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran has now said it shot the plane down accidentally. The plane crash came several hours after the country had launched missile attacks on American air bases in neighbouring Iraq. Brig-Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Revolutionary Guards aerospace commander, has since said the force took full responsibility for the tragedy. But Ms Gaponenko said she did not understand why the Ukrainian authorities had allowed the flight PS752 to take place given the deteriorating security situation. She said: This flight was planned in early December when there was nothing to be concerned about in Tehran. But just before they flew, some hostilities started. We knew about America, about Iraq, we knew that there was no safety but we could not believe that the flight was not cancelled. It is a number one question. I am not interested in who is to blame. I am interested in why they [the authorities] allow this flight to continue. It was a suicide mission. The widow spoke as she visited a makeshift shrine at Kyiv Boryspil International Airport for her husband and 10 other Ukrainians mainly crew who were also killed in the crash. The widow said the tragedy was worst for the couples daughters, aged 11 and six. They dont understand why it happened, she said. They dont understand what is waiting for them in the future. They are waiting for their dad. They still have hope that he will come back. UIA vice president in charge of operations Ihor Sosnovsky said that Iranian authorities should have closed the airport. Close the airspace and shoot as much as you like ... It was absolute irresponsibility not to close airport, he said at a press conference on Saturday. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-12 06:43:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Burundian Foreign Minister Ezechiel Nibigira in Bujumbura, Burundi, on Jan. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Teng) BUJUMBURA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Burundian Foreign Minister Ezechiel Nibigira here on Saturday. Wang said Burundi is an "all-weather friend" of China in Africa, stressing that high level of political mutual trust is the salient feature of the bilateral relations which have also been demonstrated by firmly mutual support. China is willing to continue to strengthen exchanges at all levels with Burundi so as to elevate bilateral relations to a new stage, Wang said. Wang said China thanks Burundi for its support on issues involving China's core interests and major concerns, and it will support Burundi in defending its sovereignty,independence and legitimate rights. Wang said the two countries should further dovetail their development ideas and deepen pragmatic cooperation. He said China is willing to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation with Burundi under the framework of jointly building the Belt and Road and implementing the eight major initiatives proposed at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with a focus on infrastructure construction and agriculture. Wang said China encourages and supports qualified and credible Chinese enterprises to invest in Burundi, and will continue to provide help for Burundi's economic and social development within its capacity. Wang said the two countries share the same stance on major international issues, adding that they should continue to carry out their international coordination and jointly safeguard multilateralism and the legitimate interests of Africa and developing countries. Wang said China attaches importance to Burundi's concern in the Great Lakes region and is willing to play a constructive role for the region's peace and stability. Nibigira welcomed Wang to Burundi, which is one of Wang's destinations on his first visit in the new year,saying the move shows that China attaches great importance to Burundi-China relations. Nibigira said Burundi sincerely thanks China for its selfless help to Burundi and highly appreciates China's important role in international and African affairs. Nibigira said, no matter how its internal situation may evolve, Burundi is firmly committed to a friendly policy toward China and will continue to give firm support to China on all issues involving China's core interests and major concerns. Burundi is willing to speed up the joint building of the Belt and Road with China and implement related projects under the framework of the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC, Nibigira said. Nibigira said Burundi welcomes Chinese enterprises and their investments and is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various sectors. The fines relate to a dozen businesses. The Swiss Federal Court has ordered Russia to pay CHF80 million (US$82.1 million) in damages to 12 Ukrainian firms confiscated after the 2014 annexation of Crimea. In two decisions published on Thursday, January 9, the court rejected the appeals of the Russian state against the rulings made in a Geneva court last April, Swissinfo said. Read alsoUnder amicable deal, Gazprom agrees to non-return of its assets seized in Ukraine Naftogaz Russia claimed that the Geneva body was not fit to rule on the case, since doing so amounted to making a de facto ruling on the status of Crimea. It also claimed that the argument made by the Ukrainian firms, who said they should have been shielded by a 1998 Russia-Ukraine investment protection agreement, was not applicable. According to the supreme court, however, the competence of the Geneva judges is not in question. This had already been confirmed by a previous hearing in October 2018, a hearing which also dismissed the Russian argument about the 1998 agreement. The fines relate to a dozen businesses. This is the Impeachment Briefing, The Timess newsletter about the impeachment investigation. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every weeknight. What happened today Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to lawmakers that she would move next week to send impeachment articles to the Senate, a long-awaited step that would prompt just the third presidential impeachment trial in American history. She said that she would consult with House Democrats Tuesday on how to go ahead. The trial could begin as soon as Wednesday, based on Ms. Pelosis timeline. As of Friday, President Trump and his legal team were still sorting out who would defend him in the trial. And Ms. Pelosi continued to assemble her own team of managers to prosecute him. Once Ms. Pelosi finalizes the list of managers, they will be voted on, along with the sending of the articles. I have asked Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler to be prepared to bring to the floor next week a resolution to appoint managers and transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate, Ms. Pelosi wrote Friday. You asked, we answered In Thursdays newsletter, we asked readers to send questions about the impeachment process. Within hours, our inbox was flooded with hundreds of responses. We read through them all, selected a few that seemed to come up frequently, and enlisted our colleagues to help answer them. Helen in Germany asked: Who benefits more the longer this process is drawn out: the Democrats or the Republicans? SHERYL GAY STOLBERG, congressional correspondent: The delay has clearly helped Democrats; in the weeks since the House impeached President Trump, new evidence has emerged in the form of emails documenting the presidents decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine, and a potential witness John Bolton, the former White House national security adviser announced he would be willing to testify. That buttresses Democrats demands for documents and witnesses during the trial. But the delay has also benefited Republicans by allowing them to argue that impeachment cannot possibly be as urgent as Democrats have portrayed, given that they seemed in no rush to move forward. And the delay also created a kind of news vacuum, filled by the conflict with Iran, which diverted the publics attention from impeachment. Bill in Mississippi asked: What role does Chief Justice John Roberts play in these proceedings? Does he have any control over petitions by either side? And Don in San Diego asked: Because Senator Mitch McConnell openly declared that he and other Republican senators will coordinate with the presidents White House lawyers in an impeachment trial, can Chief Justice Roberts bar him (and possibly others) from participating in the trial? ADAM LIPTAK, Supreme Court correspondent: The vice president is ordinarily the Senates presiding officer. But he has an obvious conflict of interest when the presidents job is at risk, so the framers of the Constitution assigned the role of presiding over presidential impeachment trials to the chief justice. Historical precedents and the Senates rules suggest that the chief justices role is largely ceremonial, as his rulings can be overturned by a majority vote. Hollywood veteran Martin Sheen participated in a climate change protest here and recited Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's famous poem "Where the Mind Is Without Fear" while addressing the gathering. Sheen was part of "Fire Drill Fridays" the weekly protests against climate change, started by veteran actor Jane Fonda. Lauding Fonda for the campaign, Sheen said, "Clearly, the world will be saved by women. Thank God they outnumber us men." In the video of his speech, which is doing the rounds on social media, the "Departed" actor then referred to the verse from Tagore's collection of poems, "Gitanjali". This is not the first time that Sheen has invoked "Where the Mind Is Without Fear". He previously recited the poem in 2016, in a video urging Americans to vote, and to take action in favour of the betterment of their country. The poem, titled "Chitto Jetha Bhoyshunno" in Bengali, was originally published in 1910 and represented Tagore's vision of a new and awakened India. The English version, also penned by Tagore, came out in 1912 as a part of "Gitanjali". During the protest, Sheen along with "Joker" star Joaquin Phoenix, was arrested by the police Actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Susan Sarandon were also present. According to Variety, Capitol Police said it arrested 147 people who were charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding. All the protestors were later released. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BOISE Idahoans are invited to participate in a telephone town hall meeting at 1:30 p.m. Monday with Idaho President Pro Tem of the Senate Brent Hill and Speaker of the House Scott Bedke. AARP Idaho State Director Lupe Wissel will moderate the conversation and take questions from callers across the state. The general public and AARP members can participate by calling 866-767-0637 toll-free or register in advance at vekeo.com/aarpidaho. The call will also be live streamed at facebook.com/aarpidaho. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Both the Northern and Western borders with China and Pakistan respectively require equal attention presently, and it is in that context that the rebalancing is taking place, said Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday. "We have perspective plans and we continuously monitor and evaluate the likely threats and challenges which are going to develop. At one point in time, it was more towards the western front, but we feel now that both the western and northern fronts are equally important, and it is in that context that the rebalancing is taking place," the Army Chief said. Speaking on Army's preparedness for a two-front war, Naravane said, "In case of threat from both fronts, there'll be a primary and secondary front. Wherever there is a primary front, we'll deploy the bulk of forces. On the secondary front, we'll ensure we aren't found wanting. That's why we've dual front task forces." In response to a question from ANI about the importance of Siachen in this regard, the Army Chief said: " Siachen is very important to us. In fact, that is one area where one formation is looking after both the western and northern front. And that is what makes it strategically important. It is from there where collusion can happen." The Army Chief announced that there would soon be a hotline between Indian Director General Military Operations and the Chinese Western Command. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Manchester United host Norwich at Old Trafford today in 3pm Premier League action on Saturday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have not registered a single win in any competition in 2020 after being beaten by Arsenal 2-0, held to a draw in the FA Cup by Wolves and Man City defeating them in the first leg of Carabao Cup semi-final. The Canaries will be hoping to add another stumbling block for the Red Devils after preventing both Crystal Palace and Tottenham from registering three points with draws in the last couple of weeks. Sportsmail's Nathan Salt will provide live coverage of Man United vs Norwich including score, lineups and build-up. [January 10, 2020] Global Personal Safety Tracking Devices Market 2020-2024 | Evolving Opportunities with Amber Alert GPS Inc. and Angel Sense Ltd. | Technavio The global personal safety tracking devices market is poised to grow by USD 186.23 million during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of close to 13% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200110005353/en/ Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global personal safety tracking devices market 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 149-page research report with TOC on "Personal Safety Tracking Devices Market Analysis Report by Technology (GPS personal safety tracking devices and Bluetooth personal safety tracking devices), End-user (Children, Elderly, and Adults), Distribution Channel (Specialty stores, Department stores, Online retail, and Others), by Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America), and Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2024." https://www.technavio.com/report/personal-safety-tracking-devices-market-industry-analysis The market is driven by the increasing number of dual-income households with children. In addition, the growing popularity of two-way voice communication based personal safety tracking devices is also anticipated to drive market growth during the forecast period. The rate of urbanization has grown significantly in the recent years. This has led to an increase in the number of dual-income households, particularly, in the US and Canada. However, these households face the challenge of child care as both parents are employed and may notbe able to keep a constant check on the children. This has encouraged them to adopt technologically advanced devices such as personal safety tracking devices which enables parents to track their children's location. This, in turn, helps parents deliver on their professional commitments without stressing over the children's safety. Thus, the growing need among parents to attain optimum work-life balance and ensure their children's safety is expected to drive the sales of personal safety tracking devices 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 Personal Safety Tracking Devices Market Companies: Amber Alert GPS Inc. Amber Alert GPS Inc. offers safety tracking devices that feature voice functionality. Through the Amber Alert GPS Smart Locator, family and friends can receive safety alerts via email or text messages to their mobile phones. Angel Sense Ltd. Angel Sense Ltd. offers GPS enabled safety tracking devices. The company offers wearable GPS tracking devices, GPS tracking devices for individuals with autism. The company offers AngelSense Guardian which features auto-pickup speakerphone and audible alarm. BrickHouse Security BrickHouse Security has business operations under various segments, including GPS Tracking, Cameras, and Counter Surveillance. The company offers Spark Nano 7 GPS tracking devices and iTrail GPS Logger. Concox Information Technology Co. Ltd. Concox Information Technology Co. Ltd. operates the business under the following segments including Vehicle tracker, Personal tracker, Asset tracker, Tracking platform. The company offers Qbit personal safety tracking device and Q2 personal safety tracking device. Globalstar (News - Alert) Inc. Globalstar Inc. offers wireless communication devices for voice and data communication. The company offers personal safety tracking devices under its brand, SPOT. Some of the variants are SPOT X, SPOT GEN3, and SPOT TRACE. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Personal Safety Tracking Devices Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020 - 2024) GPS personal safety tracking devices Bluetooth personal safety tracking devices Personal Safety Tracking Devices End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020 - 2024) Children Elderly Adults Personal Safety Tracking Devices Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020 - 2024) Specialty stores Department stores Online retail Others Personal Safety Tracking Devices Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020 - 2024) APAC North America Europe MEA 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 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. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200110005353/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SPRINGFIELD Production of Illinois two most valuable crops fell by roughly one-fifth last year, according to final crop yield numbers released Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn and soybean growers saw production drop 18.6 percent and 20.4 percent respectively compared to 2018. Farmers harvested just over 1.8 billion bushels of corn, down from more than 2.2 billion the year before. Soybean production decreased from around 667 million bushels to just over 532 million. 2019 was the worst year for corn since 2012, when farmers produced about 1.3 billion bushels. Soybean production had its worst year since 2013, which saw 461 million bushels. Yield per acre was down 14 percent for corn at 180 bushels and 15 percent for soybeans at 54 bushels. Thats the lowest for corn since 2015 and the lowest for soybeans since 2013. Wetter-than-normal planting and growing conditions are to blame for last years stunted production, said Mike Doherty, senior economist at the Illinois Farm Bureau in Bloomington. We had the latest-planted corn crop at least in my history of 30 years as an ag economist here because of record-breaking spring rain, Doherty said. Ive never seen anything like it. January through June was the wettest first six months on record in Illinois, according to the state climatologists office. In April, the month when farmers begin to plant corn and soybeans, less than a week was suitable for planting. Illinois then saw its third-wettest May and wettest June in state history, forcing many farmers to plant most of their crop in the summer. Just about every time these farmers were turning around, they were being hammered with the worst field conditions that they had seen, Doherty said. Record spring rain and periods of untimely rain during the fall harvest season forced late harvests across the state. Only 93 percent of Illinois corn crop was harvested by the end of November, according to USDA figures, the lowest total in a decade. It was probably one of the most stressful growing seasons that most farmers can probably remember, said state Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha. Swanson grows about 1,600 acres of corn and soybeans on his farm in western Illinois. He has yet to calculate his yields but predicts considerably less than what we wanted or needed. In 2018, 100 percent of Illinois corn and soybeans were harvested by late November, according to the USDA. Swanson said he knows of some farmers in his district who still have crops yet to harvest. Despite the difficult year, Illinois farmers were able to harvest 97 percent of corn acres planted and 99 of soybean acres. Illinois also continues to be a national leader in those two crops, producing the most soybeans of any state and the second-most corn, behind Iowa. Nationally, soybean yields were down 20 percent from 2018. The top 16 soybean-producing states saw production drop between 8 percent in Kansas and 42 percent in South Dakota. Only Delaware, North Carolina and Pennsylvania saw increases. Corn yields dropped only 5 percent nationally. A number of top-growing states, however, saw significantly lower totals, including Minnesota, Indiana and South Dakota. The low yields reported across the country were not as bad as experts had predicted, Doherty said. He says government assistance like crop insurance programs and trade aid payments helped cushion the blow for farmers. Given the yield numbers we had in Illinois, we would have had particularly some counties where the entire county's economy would have been a disaster, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkey's car exports to China decreased by 12.73 percent in 2019, compared to 2018, having amounted to over $46.5 million, Trend reports referring to the Turkish Trade Ministry. According to the ministry, Turkey's car exports to China increased by 71.46 percent in December 2019, compared to December 2018, and slightly exceeded $5.4 million. Turkey's car exports decreased by 3.1 percent in 2019, compared to 2018, having exceeded $30.5 billion. Car exports accounted for 17 percent of Turkey's total exports in 2019. Turkey's car exports increased by 2.9 percent in December 2019, compared to December 2018, and amounted to over $2.5 billion. Car exports accounted for 16.5 percent of Turkey's total exports in December 2019. Turkey's foreign trade turnover amounted to over $33.2 billion in November 2019. Turkish exports grew by 0.1 percent in November 2019, compared to November 2018, amounting to just over $15.5 billion. Turkey's imports increased by 9.7 percent in November 2019, compared to the same month of 2018, and exceeded $17.7 billion. Turkey's foreign trade turnover exceeded $340.5 billion in the first 11 months of 2019. Turkey ranks sixth in Europe in car production. Ford, Fiat, Renault, Toyota, Honda, Opel, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and MAN are assembled in Turkey. Turkey also manufactures local brands of buses such as BMC, Temsa and Otokar. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu If the British royal family has evolved into little more than a soap opera, then the scriptwriters could hardly have come up with a more dramatic storyline. Without warning seemingly to anyone the characters known as their royal highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have quit, announcing they are to step back from the royal role. Viewers could almost hear the EastEnders-style doof-doof as the news broke. The Sussexes, indeed, seem to be producing a spin-off series with the working title The Sussexes, billed as a progressive new role within this institution. Theyve even set up a new-age website to help new viewers follow events sussexroyal.com. For many years, Haryana had the dubious distinction of having the most skewed sex ratio in the country. But things have turned around for good. Haryana has set a new benchmark in the male-female sex ratio as the state has witnessed a remarkable increase of 52 points in sex ratio at birth during the last five years. As per the latest figures, the sex ratio of the state has increased from 871 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2014 to 923 girls in 2019. Interestingly, the increase is even higher than the target set by the Government of India under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao guidelines. Sharing more details in this regard, Nodal Officer Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao program Dr. Rakesh Gupta said it is a matter of great pride that under the able guidance of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the State had gone up by leaps and bounds viz-a-viz the sex ratio. He said that five years back in January 2015, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the BJP campaign from the historic city of Panipat, nobody could have ever imagined that as a state like Haryana which was struggling from decades over this the issue could ever witness such improvement. However constant and dedicated efforts done by the State Government have finally borne fruit and still more has to be done in this direction. According to the state government, a total of 5,18,725 births were registered during 2019, including 2,48,950 female births and 2, 69,775 male births. The majority of Haryana districts, which had a low sex ratio of below 900 for decades are now placed better with a sex ratio of more than 920. Panchkula and Ambala have attained the distinction of 950-plus births 963 and 959, respectively. Mahendragarh district of Haryana, which since decade was known to have the lowest sex ratio has also seen a massive improvement of 172 points to reach 917 in 2019, while, in 2014, the sex ratio of the district was even less than 800 (745). In 2019, more than 2,500 girls were saved in Mahendragarh district alone. He also said that during the last 5 years more than 730 FIRs were registered including 185 FIRs in neighbouring states of UP, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand and around 2000 culprits arrested in this crackdown against female foeticide. Over 200 prosecution cases under PC-PNDT Act are undertrial in various courts against the offenders. The DSP of Virudhunagar was attacked by afour member gang at nearby Narikudi on Saturday asindirect election to the posts of Panchayat Union chiefs was going on, police said here. The gang, who were hiding behind some sand barricades, attacked DSP Venkatesan on his arms and elbow with sickles, entered the polling office and ransacked it, they said. Earlier, they pelted stonesto divert the attention of the public. Venaktesan managed to walk out of the office by covering his injuries with some strips of cloth. Police said two of the gang members had been arrested. DMK and AIADMK are in a close race in the seven wards. The attack on a higher police official came two days after a Sub-Inspector was shot dead while he was on duty at a checkpost bordering Kerala. The indirect election to the posts of heads of the local bodies in Tamil Nadu was held on Saturday. Earlier, the polls to rural civic bodies in 27 districts in Tamil Nadu on December 27 and 30 saw the opposition DMK and its allies edging out the ruling AIADMK combine to second spot. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boris Johnson is set to take the UK out of the European Union at a time when a majority of voters want to stay, according to a new poll. The BMG survey for The Independent found that with less than three weeks to go before Brexit Day on 31 January, voters are split by the highly symbolic margin of 52-48 per cent in favour of Remain the reverse of the result of the 2016 referendum. Participants also expected Brexit to be bad for the economy, the NHS, the unity of the UK and Britains place in the world over the next two years. Almost three in 10 (29 per cent) expected to be personally worse off as a result of EU withdrawal, while just 15 per cent expected their finances to be improved. And more than four out of 10 want the chance to vote on rejoining the EU within the next decade 18 per cent saying a second referendum should be held within a year, 15 per cent in one to five years and 9 per cent in six to 10 years. Ten per cent said no new referendum should be held for 11 years or more, and 28 per cent said there should never be another one, while 20 per cent did not know. There was little sign of enthusiasm for leaving the EU at the end of 2020 without a trade deal, with just 11 per cent backing this option, against 39 per cent favouring a deal on future trade relations and 27 per cent continued membership of the single market. Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Show all 76 1 /76 Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Crowds march through central London Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters gather in Parliament Square Led By Donkeys Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Mayor of London Sadiq Khan joins protesters PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters fill Parliament Square in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A demonstrator marches EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters push a float depicting Dominic Cummings using Boris Johnson as a puppet during the Final Say Brexit march in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters react after the result of the vote on the deal delay was announced at the House of Commons REUTERS Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A demonstrator carries his dog draped in EU flag AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Thousands of people taking part in a People's Vote march AFP/Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters use their flags to shelter from the rain Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters march towards Parliament Square Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit demonstrators carry placards and EU flags AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Sir Oliver Letwin MP in Parliament Square, London, during an an anti-Brexit, Let Us Be Heard rally, after it was announced that the Letwin amendment, which seeks to avoid a no-deal Brexit on October 31, has been accepted PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Thousands of people taking part in a People's Vote march UK BROADCASTERS POOL/AFP via Get Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A protester with "Bollocks to Brexit" stickers on his head Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Demonstrators march EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Britain's main opposition Labour Party shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the EU Keir Starmer, shadow Home Secretary Dianne Abbott, shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell, shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry speaks on stage in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit supporters cheer outside parliament AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A EU supporter waves flags REUTERS Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit supporters AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters shout and chant demanding a final say Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Police look towards protesters Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Pro-Brexit protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march People taking part in an Anti-Brexit, Let Us Be Heard march head to Parliament Square in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march People taking part in an Anti-Brexit, Let Us Be Heard march in Trafalgar Square PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit supporters cheer outside parliament AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march People taking part in an Anti-Brexit, Let Us Be Heard march past Trafalgar Square PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters shout and chant Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Cory (7) sits on his father's shoulders as protesters march towards Parliament Square Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march People attend the 'Together for the Final Say' march EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters march towards Parliament Square Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks on stage PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A woman in EU costume EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters fill Parliament Square in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters hold an Independent banner Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters hold an anti-Brexit placard by The Independent stall during the Final Say Brexit march in London Tom Richell Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters in Parliament Square, London, PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Demonstrators hold placards and EU flags AFP/Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march An anti-Brexit protester joins in the Final Say Brexit march on 19 October AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters march in London REUTERS Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Sir Patrick Stewart and Paul McGann join in the Final Say Brexit march in London on 19 October PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters march Reuters Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A demonstrator shouts into a megaphone as she marches AFP via Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A dog dressed in an anti-Brexit placard is walked in the Final Say Brexit march in London EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters march REUTERS Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A morris dancer takes part in the Final Say Brexit march in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Whippets are dressed in EU flag clothing during the Final Say Brexit march in London AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters march towards parliament in the Final Say Brexit march in London on 19 October 2019 PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march An anti-Brexit demonstrator takes part in the Final Say Brexit march in London AFP/Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters call on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal Reuters Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march An anti-Brexit protester Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate in London during the Final Say Brexit march on 19 October AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters push a float depicting Dominic Cummings using Boris Johnson as a puppet during the Final Say Brexit march in London AFP/Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters march towards parliament from Park Lane in the Final Say Brexit march in London on 19 October 2019 PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Marchers visit The Independent stall during the Final Say March in London Tom Richell Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march An anti-Brexit protester holds a sign calling for a Final Say during a march in London EPA The prime minister is attempting to forge a Canada-style free trade agreement with Brussels within this very tight timescale, but has vowed to leave without a deal rather than extend his deadline. Mr Johnsons 80-seat majority in the 12 December election has been taken as a mandate to make good on his campaign promise to get Brexit done. But the vagaries of the UKs first-past-the-post electoral system mean that, by a margin of more than 1 million, more British voters backed parties calling for a second EU referendum than supported those arguing for withdrawal without a confirmatory vote. The BMG survey is the latest in a series of mainstream polls stretching back more than two years which have found a consistent majority for Remain. Asked what they expected the impact of Brexit to be over the coming one to two years, some 52 per cent said it would weaken the Union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, against just 13 per cent who said it would be strengthened. Some 45 said they expected the UK economy to be harmed, against 29 per cent who predicted improvement. And 39 per cent said the UKs standing in the world would decline, compared to 28 per cent who said it would rise. Some 29 per cent predicted a harmful effect on their personal financial situation, while 15 per cent expected it to improve. And 38 per cent said Brexit would be bad for the NHS over the next couple of years, against 25 per cent who expect it to be beneficial. - BMG questioned 1,508 British adults between 8 and 10 January. Please take a biscuit and remember to vote! Go home and vote this Saturday! At the Taipei National University of the Arts, students were handing out cookies bearing the Chinese words for Safeguard Taiwan and Democracy and freedoms to passing students and staff, urging them to vote in Saturdays presidential and legislative elections. But the students themselves have no right to vote on the self-governing island. They and the cookies have travelled 700km from Hong Kong, a city embroiled in social unrest since June. The biscuits on offer this week at the Taipei National University of the Arts. Photo: Kimmy Chung The students were already enrolled at the school when the anti-government movement kicked off in their hometown, sparked by proposed extradition legislation which has since been withdrawn. When they returned to the Taiwan campus in September, they hoped to contribute to the movement even while abroad. About 30 of them formed a concern group, holding various activities hoping to focus their classmates attention on the struggle in Hong Kong. We scored a landslide victory in the district council elections in Hong Kong. I hope Taiwanese people will not underestimate the vote in their hands, said a core member, who gave her name as Y. No matter who they vote for, we just want to remind them to exercise their rights, said the fifth-year theatre student. In Hong Kongs local council polls in November, record voter turnout helped pro-democracy candidates sweep nearly 90 per cent of seats, taking control of 17 of 18 districts. The biscuits made by another group of Hongkongers, who wanted to spread their message to Taiwan were quite well received, with some local students offering encouragement to the movement in Hong Kong. A group member who called herself C, a fourth-year student of fine art, said Taiwanese voters should treasure the right to elect their president, especially when Hong Kong voters can only directly elect district councillors and about half of the legislatures members. Story continues We just hope Taiwanese people can take their responsibility and make the right choice. We envy the electoral system here in Taiwan, as universal suffrage is something Hongkongers have longed for. Who is satisfied to be ruled by an appointed puppet? she said. C was referring to Hong Kongs Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, elected in 2017 by a 1,200-member committee dominated by pro-Beijing politicians and business elites. Taiwans leader, Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, has been using the campaign slogan Hong Kong today, Taiwan tomorrow in her fight to retain the presidency, playing up the Hong Kong protests as a cautionary tale of Beijings encroachment. In Tsais latest campaign video, her team also pointed to the plight of Hong Kong youngsters, urging Taiwanese people to stand with democracy and freedom. Recent opinion polls have shown Tsai leading her rival Han Kuo-yu, mayor of the southern city of Kaohsiung from the mainland-friendly Kuomintang, and James Soong Chu-yu, chairman of the smaller People First Party. Y and C said they saw a subtle connection between Hong Kong and Taiwan, two places not far apart geographically, and which both use traditional Chinese characters, as opposed to the simplified figures used on the mainland. I am a Hongkonger. I have seen how Hong Kong has degenerated. Dont give a chance to the Chinese Communist Party Banner on display in Taipei Y noted that, apart from linguistic similarities, both places are dealing with the influence of Beijing. As a result, she said, many Taiwanese students cared about the situation in Hong Kong, and six or seven had joined their concern group. In September, the group created an artwork named Lennon Ship, a model yacht about three metres long and three metres tall, made from wooden boards. Its sail bore the popular pro-democracy slogan Revolution of our times. The students said the boat referenced the Be water philosophy of the Hong Kong protests and served as a movable Lennon wall adorned with artworks, pictures and messages of support for the anti-government movement. One of the ships creators was a group member who gave his name as R, who also marked Chinas National Day on October 1 by organising a protest in which 60 students carried the boat up a hill on the campus. Tsai Ing-wen hopes to hold onto her presidency on Saturday. Photo: EPA It sounds impossible for a boat to sail onto the hilltop. But, with unity, imagination and perseverance, we succeeded. We believe the Hong Kong movement will succeed too, he said. The Hongkonger, who is studying for a masters in film studies, said he drew inspiration for the protest from the 1982 German film Fitzcarraldo, whose protagonist leads a group of people in moving a steamship over a steep hill in the Amazon to exploit rubber trees that are inaccessible because of the landscape. Lennon Ship is now on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei. The students were not alone in urging Taiwanese people to vote. In addition to online posters created by Hongkongers, and calls by different groups, Hong Kong actor Chapman To Man-chat posted a video message on Thursday, urging Taiwanese people to treasure, and use, the democracy they have. On Wednesday, two Hongkongers were spotted holding up a banner with a similar message on the streets of Ximending, a busy shopping district in Taipei. I am a Hongkonger. I have seen how Hong Kong has degenerated, the banner read. Dont give a chance to the Chinese Communist Party. Youngsters, please vote. In the city on Friday night, tens of thousands attended a campaign rally for Tsai. Among a group of Hongkongers there was a youngster who gave his name as Gary, and held a black flag bearing the words Liberate Hong Kong; Revolution of our times. He said: We want to tell the Taiwan voters about what is happening in Hong Kong; to not let Taiwan become the next Hong Kong. More from South China Morning Post: This article Hong Kong anti-government protests: the city students championing democracy ... in Taiwan first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Ulster Says Yes. Not a wholehearted yes, not a "let joy be unconfin'd" yes or a "let's do a happy dance" yes - more an "ach, all right" resigned sort of yes. But that's an advance on Ulster Says No. And perhaps "ach, all right" is appropriate since the deal gives language status to Ulster-Scots. So, yes to compromise and power-sharing - yes to Stormont back in business after three years of the shutters being down and a 'gone fishing' sign dangling off the front door. The usual "sell-out" reaction has frothed from some unionist quarters, but this has been a harder deal for nationalism to back. However, the alternative is to be branded unco-operative and for fatigued citizens to trudge through another election. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said yesterday her party was anxious to return to business in the Northern institutions. "Now we build complete power-sharing," she warned - a reference to the failures of good faith which led to collapse three years ago. The job was to be co-operative and collegiate, she said. "Are we able for that? Absolutely. I hope every other political party and political leader is in the space that we are in today." So, in the end, accommodation happened, mainly from the nationalist side judging by watered-down proposals for the Irish language and tinkering with rather than reforming the Petition of Concern. In fairness, unionism budged a bit too because some are threatened by the Irish language having a legal position in the Northern state, as it now does. But the DUP said yes more quickly than Sinn Fein, which tells its own story. The deal has no standalone Acht na Gaeilge, which Sinn Fein was pushing for, giving Irish equal status with English as promised in the St Andrew's Agreement of 2006. And there is a potential unionist veto on recommendations from the new Irish Language Commissioner. The First Minister has to agree to any proposals from the commissioner - a test of Arlene Foster's claim there is space for both identities in Northern Ireland. But she could use it as a trust-building opportunity, and if she behaves in a spirit of generosity it will pay dividends. The nationalist side was disappointed at the failure to include bilingual signs on public buildings and roads - making Irish visible as well as legal. However, there is a right to use Irish in the Assembly with translation facilities available and we must presume "curry my yoghurt" jibes won't be tolerated. Many people in the Republic are amazed at the passion felt about an Irish language act in the North, but its importance hinges on respect and parity of esteem for Irish identity. There will also be an Ulster-British or Ulster-Scots Commissioner as a conciliatory gesture. Dr Niall Comer, president of Conradh na Gaeilge, called it a "historic advancement for our community and for those who wish to use the language". Doing a hard sell, Tanaiste Simon Coveney said "we have found a way for the Irish language in Northern Ireland" and he has a point. But it's far below what was promised in the St Andrew's Agreement. Overall, it can be filed under the constructive ambiguity category. Still, it's a start. Other shortfalls include the cash-for-ash scandal remaining unsettled - no whisper of the report being published - but there are safeguards for oversight of ministerial conduct and that of their special advisers who had too much power. The bribe of a serious amount of capital spending will help to sweeten compromises. The Irish Government is contributing some 110m over three years for projects such as the A5 upgrade and Border greenways, and there is talk of a high-speed rail link between Dublin and Belfast and onwards to Cork, although upgrading the Enterprise train seems more practical. Sinn Fein was highly motivated to sell this deal to its base. The party is facing into a general election in the Republic, probably next month, and it won't want to be accused of an inability to power-share in the North. Not least because it wants to power-share in the Republic. A new concept of Ulster-British identity is referenced in the deal and is now tripping fluently from Ms Foster's lips. Britishness is already a hybrid identity, never mind refining it yet again. Still, it might reassure some who feel under threat by the increasing prospect of Irish reunification and the inescapable proof of British indifference to the North. Ulster-Irish would be a more sensible construct for unionism. Incidentally, the Taoiseach claims that resistance to Fine Gael's idea for an official commemoration for the RIC, grumpily shelved, pushed back prospects for a united Ireland. In fact, the visceral response of the Irish public could equally be interpreted as support for unity. In the four weeks following the UK general election, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Julian Smith used his time effectively, working hard with Mr Coveney - who has had his shoulder to the wheel consistently and is an asset to his party - to produce this agreement. It couldn't have happened without support from both governments. But the British government wasn't on board until after the DUP's whip hand at Westminster was amputated. The draft document - New Decade, New Approach - was tabled by the Irish and British governments on Thursday night and basically tries to second-guess potential problems and offer solutions. Mr Smith pointedly waved the cash inducement flag: "The money is there," he said. And to ensure that the public knew who to blame if the deal was rejected, he repeatedly reminded people that MLAs were paid for the past three years. As another nudge along paths of righteousness, it was suggested that the financial package on offer would end the nurses' strike in the North by offering immediate pay equality with their counterparts in Britain. Nurses began their third day of industrial action yesterday. The Petition of Concern, designed to protect minorities but abused as a veto to block progress, was ripe for reform but that hasn't happened yet. It's been remodelled but loopholes haven't been closed off. Nevertheless, some good ideas are contained in the deal, such as longer cooling-off periods if collapse looks imminent again and a party leaders' forum where potential issues of political tension can be flagged. An Office of Identity and Cultural Expression is intended to promote reconciliation - recognition of the abject failure to deliver this essential condition. From the Sinn Fein side, this deal doesn't look substantially different to the previous one, but the party recognises it is crucial to return to Stormont. One development worth celebrating, however, is the Emma DeSouza factor - the Derrywoman whom officialdom tried to part from her American husband. The deal accepts that Irish citizens need no longer go through the Kafkaesque nonsense of declaring themselves British and then relinquishing their Britishness before claiming EU citizen rights to be with their families. Finally, her yes to Jake is respected. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Sat, January 11 2020 The only comfort for the family of the United Kingdoms most prolific rapist may be that the coverage of Reynhard Sinaga was mostly in the UK, rather than in his home country. Indonesians expressed shock at the news that Reynhard, a PhD student in Manchester, was sentenced to life for 159 counts of rape or sexual assault against 48 men between January 2016 and June 2017. Police suspect he raped many more. No prior report had surfaced of the police investigations or the subsequent trial of the 36-year-old, reportedly the son of a wealthy family in Depok, West Java. Apart from the knowledge that anyone, including a harmless looking student, could rape not one but scores of victims before being arrested, the news was surprising because in Indonesia, other predators apart from the criminal would have been on the hunt much earlier; predators tasked with satisfying the insatiable appetite for salacious news. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Madurai: The government on Friday announced that Jallikattu competitions will be held from January 15 to January 31 in Madurai district. Madurai District collector had on Thursday said that those below the age of 21 will not be allowed to participate in Jallikattu to be held at Palamedu and Alanganallur. Those willing to participate must enrol themselves at designated centres and get their fitness certificate after a required health check-up. With only a few days left for the festival of Pongal, the bull owners have started training their herd for the Jallikattu which is immensely popular in Tamil Nadu. The bulls are given special treatment and are trained for the race the year-round, but with the festival fast approaching extra attention is being given to them. Around 2,000 bulls are likely to take part in various Jallikattu events all across Tamil Nadu during the Pongal festival. Democratic presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg began a bus tour through Texas at Market Square on Saturday as part of his strategy to skip primaries in early-voting states in hopes of winning in Super Tuesday states like Texas. Over a hundred people packed inside the Viva Villa restaurant early Saturday to see the former New York City mayor, who was joined by Judy Sheindlin Judge Judy one of Bloombergs earliest and highest-profile campaign supporters. While Bloomberg and Sheindlin took aim at President Donald Trump, Bloomberg was presented as a viable, moderate candidate with a lengthy track record of success in business and government. America probably still needs a little tweaking, but this is the greatest country on Earth, Sheindlin said to the crowd. In an apparent swipe of more leftist Democratic candidates, she added that the nation doesnt need a revolution. And those that are touting the revolution in this country are wrong. Bloomberg opened his remarks by acknowledging Gov. Greg Abbotts decision this week not to accept new refugees into Texas for fiscal year 2020. The America that I know, and the America that you know, just doesnt close its door to refugees, he said about Abbotts decision, which was prompted by a new rule from President Trump allowing states to decided whether to take in refugees. As president, I would immediately rescind President Trumps policy, and I would end his disgraceful attempt to demonize and scapegoat refugees and immigrants. Bloomberg touted his achievements in New York City, including implementing stricter background checks for gun buyers, reducing the number of uninsured people and raising life expectancy in the city. America is not New York I understand that, he said. But a lot of things that we did in New York showed that we know how to put a team together and focus on making peoples lives better and improving this country. But he also continues to face criticism from Democrats on the left who argue Bloomberg, worth an estimated $50 billion, exemplifies the outsized impact that ultrarich Americans can have on the political process. A handful of audience members at the event sported Mike 2020 merchandise, but many others said they were undecided and seeking to learn more about the candidates. Im between (Sen. Amy) Klobuchar and Bloomberg, Nick Dominguez, 40, said. He said he has shied away from more liberal candidates such as Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, but said the most important thing is a candidate who will work toward bringing America back together. Were so divided right now, he said. Some voters Saturday questioned whether Bloomberg, 77, would have the stamina to complete the contentious race, while others said they want to see him debate the other candidates on stage. But Bloomberg points to the Democratic party rules for the debate, which require candidates to meet a minimum polling and donor threshold. Because his campaign is self-funded and doesnt accept public donations, Bloomberg says he cant make the debate and will carry his message directly to voters. I can afford it myself; theres no reason why the public should have to reach in their pockets, Bloomberg said. I hope the party changes its rules. Id gladly participate in the debates. But if they dont, thats OK too. Bloomberg, founder of the eponymous business information and media company, has eschewed the traditional presidential primary strategy, which calls for candidates to focus on winning in early states Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire where primary elections will take place in February. Instead, Bloomberg has gone all-in on winning in the 14 Super Tuesday states, such as Texas and California, where primaries are on Tuesday, March 3. Since entering the election in late November, Bloomberg has spent more than $200 million in advertisements nationwide and over $67 million in 2020 alone. The rest of the field, by comparison, has spent a total of $222 million on ads this election, according to Advertising Analytics. The strategy is to skip those relatively small, early states, and hope by March to generate enough support for the late-entering candidate via advertising and campaigning to win the larger states. Recent polling for the Democratic primary race in Texas shows Bloomberg in fifth-place in the state, with 5 percent of the vote. He is currently behind former Vice President Joe Biden, Sanders, Warren, and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and polling site FiveThirtyEight gives Bloomberg less than a 1 percent chance of winning the Texas primary. The site gives Biden a 45 percent chance of wining the states Democratic primary. Judge Judy first expressed support publicly for Bloomberg in early November. The popular 77-year-old TV personality also is from New York City. Shes one of the most watched people on television, averaging about 10 million daily viewers, according to Nielsen. A staffer said the Bloomberg campaign is opening 17 field offices in towns across Texas and opened a statewide headquarters in Houston. The campaign opened its nationwide efforts by hosting 150 events across the country Saturday. Sheindlin and Bloomberg traveled to Austin later Saturday morning and ended the day at a campaign stop in Dallas. diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net House Speaker Nancy Pelosi misinterprets congressional responsibilities about war and peace. In challenging President Donald Trumps bold order to kill the worlds number one terrorist, Irans Qassem Soleimani, Speaker Pelosi misfires on Congress foreign policy and military responsibilities. Congress is mandated in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution To declare war...make rules concerning captures on land and water. It is authorized to raise and support armies It also is authorized to provide and maintain a Navy and to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces; it can provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions. Lastly, Article 1, Section 8 authorizes Congress to provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia (National Guard) and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States Thats a lot. Yes, Congress has deep and exclusive mandates on military organization, funding and some management of U.S. military forces. What it does not have is the ability to use military forces. Only the President can use them; he does so as Commander in Chief. He (or she) does not generally need Congressional permission to use the military. In fact, Congress has prohibited some uses; e.g. laws that prohibit the use of the federal military to enforce civilian laws. It also prohibited sending draftees outside the Western Hemisphere in 1940. Article II of the Constitution, Section 2 clearly states The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the Army and the Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States Section 3 of Article II gives the President the authority to commission all the (military) officers of the United States. The Senate has the authority to advise and consent to some appointments such as admirals and generals in Article II, Section 2; the President shall have the power, by and with the consent of the Senate(to) appoint...all other officers of the United States. As outlined here, nowhere in the Constitution is permission, or mandate that states Congress can make war, or order a Seal Team into a foreign country to rescue hostages, assassinate terrorists, kidnap individuals or destroy military targets. The Congress can buy and fuel killing machines like drones and pay people to control them in installations Congress pays for, but it cant order the drone operator to kill anyone. Nor are there any words that allow Congress to appoint officers of the American military. Only the President can, albeit some appointments must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Only the President can nominate military officers, even if his name is Trump. Also, only the President can order troops, planes, missiles, drones and aircraft carriers into action, any action. The same is true of foreign policy, an essential factor in the use of the military. On foreign policy, Article II, Section 2 the President is charged with the exclusive power to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senate present concur...and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate...shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls In Article I, Section 8, Congress is mandated to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several states but is not authorized to regulate anything but commerce with foreign nations. Thus, on trade with foreign nations, for example, Congress can apply tariffs, order inspection of foreign goods and allowance of such inspected goods and even quantities of foreign goods but it cannot negotiate a treaty allowing such goods into the U.S. Only the President can negotiate a treaty but if the treaty allows for quantities, quality, etc. such as the original North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada, or its successor NAFTA 2 AKA USMCA, Congress must vote for passage or rejection of the agreement on an up or down vote because it regulates commerce. Congress can advise the President to add or deduct provisions of such an agreement but it cant negotiate it. The question posed by Speaker Pelosi that Congress needs to be consulted by President Trump for action like the killing of Iranian terrorist Qassem Soleimani is inavlid. Congress-persons have their constitutionally-defined jobs and the President has his. The question is not new. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 sent the Great White Fleet of 16 U.S. Navy battleships on a worldwide show of U.S. naval strength against the public wishes of some Congressmen. In one story, Roosevelt told Congress he already had the money and for them to try and get it back. In another, Congress had appropriated only half the funds necessary to finance the cruise. Roosevelt sent the ships anyway, saying that if Congress wanted the Navy back, it could provide the rest of the money. In this Iran-killing case, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi should be seen, not heard. Photo credit: Andrew Van Huss Contreras is a former U.S. Marine; author of WHITE ANGLO SAXONS (WASPS) & MEXICANS; he formerly worked for the New American News Service of the New York Times Syndicate TEHRAN, Iran, Jan.11 Trend: Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company did not cancel any flights, following the escalation of tensions between the US and Iran, which eventually resulted in crash of a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane, Trend reports, via ILNA. "We were obliged to carry out routine flight schedule and were unaware of these issues," Managing Director of Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company Siavash Amir Makri said, insisting that the country's air traffic control center should order flight cancellations. We cannot cancel or delay flights due to security conditions in the country unless ordered to do so by a higher level authority, Makri said. "We are obliged to carry out routine flight schedules, and we were unaware," Makri insisted. A Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane with 167 passengers (including Iranian and foreign citizens) and 9 crew members on board crashed Jan. 8, after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. The plane was heading for Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. The plane took off at 06:12 (GMT+3:30), and at 06:18, it lost connection with the dispatcher center. The plane crashed at 6:22. Following the investigation, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran released a statement saying that the Ukrainian aircraft was unintentionally shot down by Iran, due to a human error. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 19:44:27|Editor: zh Video Player Close TOKYO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left Tokyo for a five-day trip to the Middle East on Saturday, aiming to help ease tensions in a key region for resource-poor Japan. During his visit, Abe will hold talks with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, according to Japanese officials. These countries are seen by Japan as important players in stabilizing the situation in the region. "Based on the friendly relations Japan has built with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, I will call on the leaders to seek stability in the region through talks and rational measures," said Abe. The visit precedes Tokyo's dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Forces (MSDF) personnel and hardware to the region to conduct "information-gathering" operations. The MSDF's operational areas include the Gulf of Oman and part of the Arabian Sea. Abe said he wants to explain and garner support from the three countries for the dispatch to the region since it is vital to ensure the safety of Japanese commercial ships operating there. The prime minister is scheduled to return to Japan on Wednesday. Iran said on Saturday it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian plane killing all 176 aboard and voiced deep regret, after initially denying it brought down the aircraft in the tense aftermath of Iranian missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq. Wednesday's crash heightened pressure on Iran after months of friction with the United States and tit-for-tat attacks. A U.S. drone strike had killed an Iranian general in Iraq on Jan. 3, prompting Tehran to fire at U.S. targets on Wednesday. Canada, which had 57 citizens on board, and the United States both said they believed an ... The iron grip the United States maintains over the global financial system and its propensity to use that power to promote its national interests was reportedly at play this week after Iraqs parliament voted on January 5 to urge caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to expel all foreign troops from the country. The Wall Street Journal reports the Trump administration warned Iraq that if it kicks US forces out of the country, Washington could respond by shutting down Baghdads access to a key account Iraqs central bank holds with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York an account that is crucial to the management of Iraqs oil revenues and its overall financial stability. More than 200 central banks, governments and international official institutions hold accounts with the New York Fed, thanks to the outsized role the US dollar plays in global financial transactions. The New York Fed provides these foreign account holders with a range of banking services to facilitate cross-border payments, manage dollar reserves, and access banking channels to help stabilise markets during times of acute financial stress. The WSJ notes that if Iraq were to lose access to its New York Fed accounts and the funds in them, including profits from oil sales, that could trigger a shortage of foreign exchange vital to the functioning of Iraqs already fragile economy. The US Department of State warned Iraqs prime minister over the potential loss of access to New York Fed accounts in a phone call on Wednesday, according to an official in his office, the WSJ reports. Spokespeople for Iraqs prime minister, the countrys central bank and the Iraqi embassy in Washington did not respond to the WSJs requests for comment, while the US Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board declined to comment. Following the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a US air attack, Iraqs parliament voted to urge Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi to work towards expelling the more than 5,000 US troops stationed in the country. US President Donald Trump threatened to slap sanctions on Iraq should it carry out the non-binding resolution. On Friday, Abdul Mahdi signalled his intention to press ahead with it, saying he asked Washington to send a US delegation to Iraq to discuss steps for the withdrawal of US troops. The request was flatly rejected by the US state department. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at the White House on Friday: We are happy to continue the conversation with the Iraqis about what the right structure is. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 19:20:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam visited on Saturday the wife of a 57-year-old construction worker set on fire by a rioter and transferred donations of 300,000 Hong Kong dollars (around 40,000 U.S. dollars) to her. "I also expressed my sympathy and I hope Lee will recover as soon as possible," Lam posted on her Facebook and said the money was the second batch raised by the construction sector, following previous donations of 100,000 Hong Kong dollars. The man surnamed Lee was poured with flammable liquid and set ablaze on a footbridge in Ma On Shan on Nov. 11, following an argument with rioters who were trashing facilities in a metro station. Suffering from burns on almost half of his body, Lee was still in hospital after several medical operations. "The horrific scene of Lee being tortured is still fresh in my mind," Lam said. "Rioters cannot tolerate other people disagreeing with them and they 'lynched,' threatened, beat and even burned innocent residents." The assaults of rioters on ordinary residents were rampant. A 70-year-old street cleaner died in November after being hit in the head by a brick hurled by a rioter when a large group of masked rioters were wildly attacking residents attempting to remove road blockages. Lam also denounced rioters who silence other people by doxxing and vandalism and said that partial coverage that glorifies violent accidents is outrageous. Fulfillment of 13th Five-Year Plan projected; anti-poverty campaign nears successful end A key meeting presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Tuesday reaffirmed the importance of upholding Party leadership over work in all areas and aspects. During the daylong meeting, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee heard reports from Party organizations of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate. Xi delivered a speech at the meeting. There was also a report from the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. In upholding Party leadership, the primary requirement is to firmly uphold the authority of the Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, a statement released after the meeting said. Party leadership and the authority of the Central Committee are the fundamental reason why the country has been able to take solid and assured steps forward over the years in the face of a challenging and complex situation both within and outside China and in light of various risks, the statement said. The CPC Central Committee's receiving of reports from the Party organizations of the five State bodies and the Secretariat each year is an important part of the Party's leadership mechanism, it said, adding that the practice must be upheld and refined so it can be transformed into efficient State governance. Efforts by the Party organizations of the five State bodies were acknowledged. They were applauded for carrying out the decisions and plans of the Central Committee, discharging their duties in the overall work of the Party and country, adopting concrete measures to enhance the building of Party organizations and fully implementing their responsibilities for strict Party governance over the past year. The Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee was also commended for ensuring the implementation of decisions and plans from the Central Committee, improving Party regulations and mechanisms and guiding the work and reform of people's organizations. This year will see the conclusion of the task of building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, as well as the fulfillment of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), and Party organizations from the five State bodies must closely align themselves with the Central Committee in terms of political stance, direction, principle and path, the statement said. Australia's unprecedented bushfire crisis has exposed the vulnerability of phone and internet networks, prompting Communications Minister Paul Fletcher to warn telecommunications giants to prepare for increasingly severe disasters. As dozens of mobile towers went dark during this summer's catastrophic bushfires, people have been cut off from contact with emergency services and in some cases unable to pay for essential supplies. Telcos have scrambled to bolster their networks and respond to the outages, rolling out satellite trucks, portable reception towers and restoring disabled mobile base stations. Telstra is working to get telecommunications back up and running in fire-ravaged communities in Victoria. Telstra revealed its network experienced "critical damage" as 36 mobile towers were knocked out in bushfires in rapidly-changing conditions, but more than half of those were now back online. Mr Fletcher welcomed the rapid responses by Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and the government-owned national broadband network (NBN) but said questions need to be asked about the long-term resilience of telecommunications infrastructure critical to Australians' safety during emergencies. South-east Australia is being ravaged by wildfires in what is one of the worst calamities to hit the continent. The fires have destroyed at least 14.5 million acres, and over billion animals and at least 25 people have been killed by these fires. Parineeti Chopra took to Instagram to raise alarm over these bushfires, stating that this was a climate change caused disaster. Sharing pictures of herself with kangaroos and koala bears, Parineeti penned a heartfelt caption, emphasizing on the need for action against climate change. She wrote, "I feel like it was yesterday when I was with these beautiful babies. I travel to Australia so often as tourism ambassador; it is the most beautiful country and I cannot believe what is happening there! Make no mistake - this is because of climate change!!! This is on us. We need to fix so much, NOW. #Australia" (sic). Not just Parineeti, but other celebrities such as Alia Bhatt, Dia Mirza, Diana Penty, and Kunal Khemu had also taken to their social media platforms to express grave concern over the fires. Alia had shared a link to a fundraising platform, whereas Diana had reposted a message by young climate activist Greta Thunberg. Dia had shared an image of a firefighter rescuing a koala bear. Hollywood celebrities such as Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Aniston, Kylie Jenner, Phoebe-Waller Bridge and many others have donated millions of dollars to fight the Australian bushfires. ALSO READ: Confirmed: Parineeti Chopra Is NOT Removed As 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' Ambassador! ALSO READ: Vicky Kaushal, Parineeti Chopra And Sidharth Malhotra Slam Delhi Police's Crackdown In Jamia Millia! Mumbai, Jan 11 : At least eight persons were killed and several others injured when a massive blast followed by a fire ripped a chemical factory at Boisar in Palghar district, nearly 100 km north of Mumbai, on Saturday, officials said. Top Palghar district administration, police and fire brigade officials have rushed to the spot for the rescue operation, while Fire Brigade teams from Boisar MIDC industrial area and Tarapur Atomic Power Station are engaged in dousing the flames. As per local witnesses, the intensity of the explosion was so severe that it was audible in a 35-km range and one building in the factory collapsed. Besides, many homes in the immediate vicinity were shaken and people ran outside thinking it was an earthquake, as power lines also failed. The exact cause of the explosion-cum-blaze which occurred around 7 p.m. is not immediately available. Sydney, Jan 11 : Novak Djokovic took Serbia into the finals of the ongoing ATP Cup after dismissing World No. 5 Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 on Saturday. With the win, the Serbian ended a two-match losing streak against the 23-year-old Russian, who had beaten Djokovic twice in three games in 2019 (Monte-Carlo, Cincinnati). In an exciting match by all standards, Djokovic raced through the opening set, winning 64 per cent (7/11) of his first-serve return points against Medvedev. However, the 2019 US Open finalist rebounded in the second, breaking Djokovic three times, including in the 12th game, to force a deciding set. Medvedev started the third round strong until the fifth game when, with both players at net, Djokovic ripped away and won the set and the match to take Serbia into the finals. "Exciting, exhausting, joyful, dreadful all at once. At one point, we both refused to miss from baseline, so it was a lot of rallies and it was very exhausting. Very physical battle, but also mental battle," Djokovic was quoted as saying by the tournament website after the match. "He showed why he's one of the best players in the world, why he's Top 5. This kind of consistency and this kind of solid game from back of the court, big serves got him to where he is. He deserves to be there. "Definitely one of the most exciting matches I have played against him or any other top player last few years," he added. Earlier, Dusan Lajovic defeated Karen Khachanov 7-5, 7-6(1) to put Serbia 1-0 ahead in the semi-final tie. Moscow: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Libyan peace talks will be held in Berlin, as Turkey and Russia appealed to Libya's warring factions to enter a ceasefire. During a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, Merkel said: "We hope that the joint efforts by Russia and Turkey will lead to success, and we will soon send out invitations for a conference in Berlin." Merkel stressed that the United Nations would lead talks if a meeting were to take place in Berlin, and that Libya's warring parties would need to play a major role to help find a solution. The aim was to give Libya the chance to become a sovereign and peaceful country, Merkel said. Putin expressed support for the process, saying it was a 'timely' idea and necessary to bring the conflict in Libya to an end. Earlier this week Turkey and Russia urged Libya's warring parties to declare a ceasefire on Sunday. Turkey backs Fayez al-Serraj's Tripoli-based, internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and has said it will send military advisers and possibly troops to reinforce its support, while Russian military contractors have been deployed alongside General Khalifa Haftar's eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA). In response to being asked whether he was aware of the presence of Russian mercenaries in Libya Putin said: "If there are Russian citizens there, then they are not representing the interests of the Russian state and they are not receiving money from the Russian state." She's reportedly worth a cool $200million. Reese Witherspoon flaunted her luxury taste while out in LA on Saturday. The Morning Show actress/executive producer, 43, was effortlessly chic while running errands in a classic black mock turtleneck and blue jeans. Fashionable: Reese Witherspoon looked chic while out running errands in LA She dressed things up with a gold chain around her neck and tasseled Oxfords on her feet. But the most upscale part of Reese's look was the Gucci bag she carried. The upscale leather piece retails for $3980. Fancy: She carried a nearly $4k Gucci bag during her time out Classic: The Morning Show actress/executive producer, 43, looked effortless in a classic black mock turtleneck and blue jeans Last weekend Reese lived it up at the Golden Globes. And she earned a very special party gift afterwards. After the Legally Blonde actress revealed she asked super-couple Beyonce and Jay-Z for a glass of their personal champagne during the awards celebration, the couple reached out to her to give her her own bottle. She took to Instagram to show off the special Armand de Brignac champagne, as the note from the power couple, before indulging in a glass of the champagne with her mom Betty. So cool: Reese Witherspoon shared on her Instagram stories an exciting package she received - a bottle of her own Armand de Brignac champagne - gifted to her by Beyonce and Jay-Z Reese kicked off the clip with the large gift in her kitchen; the package had a ribbon around it and a bouquet of flowers sat nearby. She captioned it: 'Y'all! Came home to the best surprise from @beyonce and Jay-Z...' 'I just got home from New York and the most beautiful flowers were here and a case of Ace of Spades champagne,' she said while beaming ear to ear, with a card in her hand. 'And I'm about to read the note,' she said with a giggle.' Reese opened the note and read it aloud: 'More water' signed Jay and B. So happy: The 43-year-old actress showed off the incredible gift as well as the note from the power couple, before indulging in a glass of the champagne with her mom Betty Surprise! 'I just got home from New York and the most beautiful flowers were here and a case of Ace of Spades champagne,' she said while beaming ear to ear, with a card in her hand Views: Reese kicked off the clip with the large gift in her kitchen; the package had a ribbon around it and a bouquet of flowers sat nearby She captioned this segment with '"More water..." haha OOPS!,' tagging the champagne on Instagram @armanddebrignac. In the next clip, Reese was joined by her mom Betty. She captioned it: 'It's 5 o'clock somewhere right??' with a poll with the choices 'YES!!!' and 'TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE.' Reese opened the bottle and exclaimed to her mom: 'It's 11:30 and we're drinking champagne!' she said, bursting into laughter. So excited: 'And I'm about to read the note,' she said with a giggle,' Reese said Cheeky: Reese opened the note and read it aloud: 'More water' signed Jay and B Good sense of humor: She captioned this segment with '"More water..." haha OOPS!,' tagging the champagne on Instagram @armanddebrignac Betty responded with: 'If you think it's too early to drink...' before Reese cut her off and said 'Who cares? It's from Jay-Z and Beyonce.' 'Right, that's ok. Let's have it for lunch. Brunch,' Betty said. Reese took the wrapping off the top and prepared to pop the bottle, to which Betty warned her: 'Now this is the explosion. Don't look at it,' she said, while leaning back. Reese popped the bottle with a grin on her face; the cork flew across the room and Betty looked on in shock. In the next clip, Reese and Betty sipped the champagne. Reese said: 'It's really good,' and Betty added: 'Delicious. Woah.' Wow: Reese took the wrapping off the top and prepared to pop the bottle, to which Betty warned her: 'Now this is the explosion. Don't look at it,' she said, while leaning back It's a yes: In the next clip, Reese and Betty sipped the champagne A winner: Reese said: 'It's really good,' and Betty added: 'Delicious. Woah' Reese quipped: 'Put her in a commercial' to which Betty said: 'Yes. Grandma gets drunk,' adding a wink. The movie star thanked the Carter's for the champagne once more, and told her mom: 'Mom what do you say?' Betty said: 'Cheers! Thank you. Happy New Year.' Reese ended it with: 'It's a good way to start the New Year.' The mother of three wrote: 'The verdict is in... Betty approves #AceOfSpade' as the caption. Yum: Reese quipped: The movie star thanked the Carter's for the champagne once more, and told her mom: 'Mom what do you say?' Good times: Betty said: 'Cheers! Thank you. Happy New Year' On Sunday, Jennifer Aniston took to her Instagram stories to reveal that Reese asked Beyonce and Jay-Z for a glass of their champagne. They had brought two bottles of their own champagne, carried by their bodyguard, to the awards show. They brought Armand de Brignac, which is also known as Ace of Spades; the champagne retails for $300 a bottle. Jay-Z purchased Armand de Brignac in November 2014 through one of his companies, according to the New York Times; the champagne is made by the Cattier house, which was established in Chigny-les-Roses, France in 1763. . @Beyonce and Jay-Z just walked in. They're waiting until Kate McKinnon finishes speaking to take their seats. Is their bodyguard carrying bottles of alc for them? pic.twitter.com/eeB7NPHW4g Amy Kaufman (@AmyKinLA) January 6, 2020 So amazing: On Sunday, Jennifer took to her Instagram stories to reveal that Reese asked Beyonce and Jay-Z for a glass of their champagne - which they brought two bottles to the awards show with armored guards Guests at the Golden Globe Awards were served with Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2009 and also Moet Rose Imperial magnums. Jennifer posted a pic of her with Reese and producer Kristin Hahn as the stars posed with their glass of champagne from the artists. Jennifer captioned it: '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.' Jennifer shared a second snap where she enjoying a sip of the champagne, tagging Reese and Beyonce. Reese and Jennifer sat at the table behind Beyonce and Jay-Z at the Golden Globes Sunday in Los Angeles. Cheers: She shared a second snap where she enjoying a sip of the champagne, tagging Reese and Beyonce Ashford House played host to Nollaig na mBan on Sunday as 68 women from Ashford, Rathnew, Wicklow town and elsewhere sat down for a three-course meal followed by some live music. The 12th and final day of Christmas, January 6, is traditionally known in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan or Little Christmas. Cork native Margaret Higgins organised her first Wicklow Nollaig na mBan celebration three years ago and the event has grown from strength to strength since then. 'It's very much a tradition back in Cork and most of my friends there would celebrate it. I've lived in Wicklow for 30 years, but I decided to start Women's Christmas three years ago. The idea was to bring everyone together and, I guess, word of mouth has spread,' said Margaret. 'We had 68 women in attendance on Sunday, which is our biggest gathering yet. We had some lovely food and then enjoyed some music from the Piano Man, who are a father and son duo. 'We had a wonderful time and look forward to marking the occasion again next year, hopefully with an even larger attendance,' said Margaret. A lack of flexible working hours on offer from traditional firms has led to more working mothers working for themselves in order to allow them to manage childcare. New research into the subject has found that one in 10 mothers who have gone back to work after maternity leave, ditches their job and sets up their own business, with many citing a lack of flexibility as one of the main reasons for doing so. A fifth of those who became self-employed in this way launched their new ventures between 2017 and 2019, as the constant improvements in technology and telecommunications made working from home a more practical option. One in ten mums who went back to work after maternity leave has set up their own business The research, which was commissioned by telecommunications provider Onecom, surveyed over 400 mothers in the UK who had jobs before they had children and then went back to work over the past 20 years. Of those who remained at their workplaces - in both full-time and part-time positions - 45 per cent still felt their employers did not give them the flexibility they needed to meet their duties at work and as mothers - including the opportunity to work from home. On top of this, 29 per cent said that the nature of their job had altered when they went back to work, be this because of a new job title, the postponement of a promotion or changes to their role. However, almost 80 per cent of the mumpreneurs interviewed said they launched their own businesses because they were unable to find the flexibility they needed anywhere else. One in four also said improving technology and telecoms helped make the decision to go solo easier while one in 25 said they were encouraged by the availability of cheap debt and loans which they needed to fund a new business. Parysa Hosseini-Sech of Onecom said: 'The pace of progress in telecoms and cloud computing means there are unprecedented levels of flexibility around how people work and from where. 'We are seeing a lot of companies now embracing this and offering more flexibility, but many women are still choosing to set up their own business after having children to get the full flexibility and balance they need. 'We feel more employers can take greater advantage of new technology to help ensure mothers returning to work after their maternity leave have the flexibility they so clearly need as working mums and to retain them in their talent pool.' Almost 80 per cent of the mumpreneurs interviewed said they launched their own businesses because they were unable to find the flexibility they needed anywhere else Thinking of going self-employed? If you're considering striking out on your own, then good for you. Before you launch headfirst into it however, there are a few things you'll need to think about. Because self-employment, while offering flexibility and freedom, can also present some serious financial challenges - especially when it comes to saving for retirement and buying or moving house. This is Money has long backed British entrepreneurs, small businesses and the hard-working self-employed which is why we are running two campaigns to support them. Self-employed and saving into a pension Self-employed and saving for retirement This is Money believes: 1. Government should consult on including a prompt to contribute to a self-invested personal pension for all individuals filling out a self-assessment tax return within the tax return. 2. NEST, the Government-backed pension scheme, is currently trialling 'side-car saving'. This allows savers to contribute to their pension and benefit from tax relief, but if they need early access to some of their savings, they are given this without penalty. This should be extended to Sipps, to allow the self-employed more flexible saving behaviour. 3. Government should match contributions made by self-employed individuals to their pension to account for the contributions they 'lose' by not being employed and eligible for auto-enrolment. A report published by investment firm Fidelity last year revealed that almost two-thirds of people who work for themselves in the UK have never saved into a pension - leaving them at risk of running out of cash later in life. Despite there being pension products that could help them save for retirement, two in five self-employed workers say they've never heard of them. The report also suggested this was a particular problem for women, with three in five self-employed women believing they're not saving enough to be able to support themselves when they retire. This is why we are campaigning for meaningful change to support saving for the self-employed. Maternity and money If you're gearing up to take time out of work to have children, then being aware of the effect it can have on your pension before you start maternity leave can help to insulate you. Women already generally save less into pensions over their lifetimes, partly due to career gaps while having children, partly due to higher proportions of women working part-time. In the first of the new The Women and Money podcast series, This is Money's knowledge and product editor Sarah Davidson and Fidelity International's Maike Currie, talk career breaks and maternity leave. Self-employed and need a mortgage? The self-employed also face a looming crisis when it comes to home ownership due to mortgage lenders' failure to understand their finances. According to mortgage broker Trussle, a reluctance from banks and building societies to consider the myriad of employment types within the self-employed bracket is creating a 'computer says no' attitude to mortgage applications. Despite having the savings and income needed to pay a deposit and keep up repayments, self-employed workers may be refused a mortgage or offered a smaller loan than employed borrowers simply because their income does not fall into a 'standard' bracket - a monthly salary in other words. That's what This is Money is hoping to change. To find out more, read the full campaign story here. Newsfrom Japan Naha, Okinawa Pref., Jan. 11 (Jiji Press)--Two P-3C patrol planes of the Maritime Self-Defense Force departed the MSDF Naha base in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on Saturday for an information-gathering mission in the Middle East. The mission was approved at a cabinet meeting late last month before tensions in the region shot up following the U.S. assassination of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani. While the opposition camp was demanding the government cancel the MSDF deployment plan, Defense Minister Taro Kono on Friday ordered the Middle East mission. "Peace and stability in the Middle East is essential for peace and stability in the world," Kono told the planes' crew members before their departure. "I want you to work hard with courage and pride." The air surveillance unit has about 60 MSDF members. It will be replaced in about three months. It will start the mission Jan. 20 after arriving at a base in Djibouti and having drills. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Croatia announced on Friday that it intended during its presidency of the Council of the European Union to facilitate the launch of negotiations on accepting North Macedonia and Albania as member states BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th January, 2020) Croatia announced on Friday that it intended during its presidency of the Council of the European Union to facilitate the launch of negotiations on accepting North Macedonia and Albania as member states. Earlier in the day, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had a closed-door meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. The Croatian government also had a joint session with the European Commission delegation, during which the former promised to tackle demographic issues, as well as matters relating to Brexit and financial planning during its six-month tenure at the helm of the council. "Regarding the expansion [of the EU], 20 years after the [2000] EU summit in Zagreb that opened the doors to the EU for Croatia, we would like to give a new impetus and, if possible, allow and unblock the situation regarding opening membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania," the Croatian government said on Twitter. North Macedonia and Albania were supposed to begin the entry talks with the EU last year but were blocked by France. In November, Paris began circulating a memo proposing that the approach to accepting new members states be changed to introduce, among other things, more complicated acceptance procedures. Bangladesh on Saturday rebuffed the "misleading" reports regarding the cancellation of the visit of State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shariar Alam to participate in the Raisina Dialogue to be held here. Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said: "We have noticed few misleading news items published in different media regarding the supposed visit of State Minister for Foreign Affairs to participate in Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi organised by Overseas Research Foundation (ORF)." The Ministry further clarified that Alam's visit coincides with his visit to the UAE to accompany the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. "Ministry would like to convey that State Minister Shahriar Alam was invited as a speaker in Raisina Dialogue, which coincides with his visit to UAE to accompany the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. As such State Minister Alam could not avail the participation," it stated. Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry stated that a regret letter, in this regard, has already been sent to the ORF. "It may be noted that there was no bilateral engagement scheduled during the visit. The inability of his participation has no other connection," it said. Earlier in the day, diplomatic sources had said that Bangladesh Deputy Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam will not take part in the Raisina Dialogue 2020 slated to be held from January 14 to 16 in New Delhi. Sources had said that Alam cancelled his participation in the conference as he would be accompanying Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her visit to Abu Dhabi. The Raisina Dialogue is India's annual flagship platform on the geo- and geo-economics. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. Alam is the third Bangladesh leader from Dhaka in recent weeks to cancel a visit to India. Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had cancelled their scheduled visits to India. After Momen cancelled his visit, the MEA had said that any speculation that the development was connected with the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill was "unwarranted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The prestigious British Museum in London has acquired a unique watercolour depicting a traditional musical performance in mid-18th century northern India after successfully raising the 440,000 pounds required to buy the rare painting. Trumpeters by Nainsukh of Guler (1710-1778), described by experts as a delicate miniature of a rarely found calibre, had been blocked for export by the UKs ministry of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in 2018 in the hope of preventing its departure from Britain. With the support of the UKs Art Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) and the Brooke Sewell Permanent Fund, the British Museum announced this week that the masterpiece has now joined its collection and has gone on free display in the museums Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery of China and South Asia. Nainsukh, whose name translates as Delight of the Eyes, is one of Indias greatest courtly artists, and this outstanding painting showcases his gift for complex composition and precise observation, said Imma Ramos, curator at the British Museum. It was painted at the height of his career while he was working for the ruler of Jasrota, Raja Balwant Singh. Its jewel-like colour, intricate detail and poetic mood suggest it would have been seen up close and studied at leisure, enjoyed privately or among guests. We are delighted that it is now in a public collection for the first time, where it can be enjoyed by visitors for its beauty, and help further study of South Asian art, Ramos said. The painting, thought to have been created between 1735-40, depicts a traditional musical performance in northern India. It shows seven musicians playing Pahari horns with long pipes known as turhi, their cheeks puffed out with the effort. It is an unusual example of the artists work, combining aspects of Nainsukhs early work with some of his later achievements. It has been in a private collection since being purchased by the prominent British artist Winifred Nicholson (1893-1981) during a tour of India, Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1919-20. After Nicholsons death, it remained with her family and has now entered a public collection for the first time at the famous London museum. The decision to defer the paintings export licence followed a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, administered by the UKs Arts Council. They made their recommendation on the grounds that the painting is of outstanding aesthetic importance and of significant use in the study of Indian history. This beautiful work has enormous historical value and will be admired by visitors from around the world as it goes on display at the British Museum, said UK arts minister Helen Whately. Export bars are put in place to save masterpieces like this one for the nation, and Id like to say a massive thank you to everyone whose generous support made this acquisition possible, she said. Nainsukh is the most famous and highly regarded artist of the Pahari or Hill style of painting, which developed in the Punjab hills of north-west India. He is famous for his sensitively observed portrayals of people and places, conveyed through highly original and dynamic compositions. Three other masterful paintings by Nainsukh of Guler are in the collection of the British Museum since they were donated in the 1940s. Together these paintings can be seen and studied alongside the British Museums extensive South Asia collections, allowing for further understanding of the full scope of the Pahari painting tradition. Sir Peter Luff, Chair of the NHMF, noted: This miniature watercolour is a stunning example of Pahari art. The Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund agreed it was imperative to save The Trumpeters for the nation and keep it on public display so that art enthusiasts and historians can enjoy and engage with the painting for generations to come, he said. The NHMF was set up in 1980 to save the most outstanding aspects of British heritage, in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 21 times, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Jan. 11, 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 One of the world's largest energy market operators - Statkraft - has just completed a 30 million project on the Kerry-Limerick border. The Norwegian company, which has operations - or a 'business profile' at least - in 16 countries, completed the seven wind turbine and battery storage project near Gortdromagouna and Tubbertureen, located to the north-east of Listowel. The turbines have a capacity to generate upwards of 23MW of electricity, which is sufficient to power close to 17,000 homes according to the company. The battery facility can meanwhile store 11MW of electricity at any given time, to release power to the national grid when demand requires. The project marks the first of its kind in Ireland by the Norwegian multinational, which also plans to invest a total of 1.5 billion in the national renewable energy market by 2025. The Statkraft company also obtained renewable energy company 'Element Power' two years ago in a key acquisition. It's believed that Statkraft plans to develop a project in the near future involving a 1 billion wind-farm off the coast of Dublin that could generate approximately 500MW of power. The issue of wind farms and battery storage facilities in north Kerry and the Kerry/Cork border remains a contentious issue with local groups protesting a number of live plans over fears for health and safety and the impact on property, especially with regards to battery storage units. Last month, permission for 14-turbines between Gneeveguilla and Ballydesmond in Cork, was refused by a High Court decision following an objection from Sliabh Luachra Against Ballydesmond Wind-farm Committee. Kerry County Council is currently awaiting national guidelines on the future development of wind-farms in the county. Arizona may be best known for its sweeping landscapes and desert climate, and according to one new report, the Southwestern state is also home to three of the best cities to land a new job in 2020. Personal finance site WalletHub released its ranking of the year's best cities for jobs, which stacks 180 U.S. cities against each other and scores them based on 31 key indicators. Locations were weighed based on a "job market" ranking, which accounts for job opportunities, employment growth, starting salary, unemployment rate, job satisfaction and other factors. Each city was also given a second "socioeconomic" ranking to score how well workers actually live there. These factors include median household income, average commute to work, housing affordability and whether each city was well equipped for raising a family, dating or enjoying recreational activities. The No. 1 city to find a new job in 2020 is Scottsdale, Arizona, according to WalletHub. Jobs site Glassdoor lists 67,809 open positions in the city, particularly in high-growth (and high-paying) industries such as health care, computer software and information technology. The U.S. Census Bureau puts the median household income of Scottsdale at $84,601 per year a fair amount higher than the national median household income of $63,179, as of 2018. WalletHub also highlighted Scottsdale as a good city for college students as well as for renters in 2019. On Tuesday, January 14, voters from Lebanon, Dauphin and York Counties will venture to the polls to vote for a State Senator to represent their interests in the 48th Senatorial District. I believe the choice is clear who best shares the values of residents of Central Pennsylvania and that candidate is myself . . . Republican Dave Arnold. As District Attorney of Lebanon County for the past 14 years, I have worked tirelessly as an advocate and voice for crime victims, having personally prosecuted some of the most dangerous members of our society from murderers to drug dealers and child abusers. I am a lifelong resident of Central Pennsylvania who believes in the values shared by so many in our community. My opponent, a liberal college professor, does not. I believe in the sanctity of life, as evidenced by my endorsement from the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. My opponent has said he supports taxpayer-funded abortions. I received an A rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) as I believe in protecting the 2nd Amendment rights afforded to us by the Constitution of the United States, My opponent received an F from the NRA and is vehemently anti-gun. Recently during a candidates night forum at the Lebanon County Courthouse, my opponent explicitly stated he does not support the elimination of property taxes. I do. The beliefs echoed by my opponent have no common ground with so many of our residents here in Lebanon, Dauphin and York Counties. Frankly, they are troubling and mirror the ideas shared by left-wing zealots such as Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. For the hardworking and honest people of Central Pennsylvania, the choice is clear who shares the common values instilled by our parents and grandparents. The beliefs taught to us by our ancestors who first settled in this wonderful place we call home are ingrained in my being and soul. My opponent does not share any of these values we hold so dear. On Jan. 14, I would be honored to receive your vote as the next State Senator for the 48th Senatorial District so I can continue to protect the values we share and fight for them on a daily basis. David J. Arnold is the Republican candidate for the 48th Senatorial District. Alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, in a video played during his trial in an Ikeja High Court on Friday said from a short distance, he can estimate the financial value of his victims. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the video was played in the courtroom during the cross-examination of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) Idowu Haruna, a police inspector, by Mr Emmanuel Ochai, the defence counsel to Victor Aduba, one of Evans co-defendants. In the video, the alleged kidnap kingpin, was sitting on a sofa and confessing to Mr Haruna about various kidnappings he masterminded. He gave the details of his alleged victims who mostly paid ransoms in six-figure foreign currencies with the exception of two alleged victims who paid ransoms of $1million and $2.3million each. In the video, Mr Haruna, who is also a member of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) asked Evans how he mapped out strategies to kidnap his alleged victims. Evans, while smiling, replied simply when you see someone that has money you will know. Evans in the video told the IPO that he knew that the individuals he and his alleged gang members kidnapped will pay the ransoms even if it involving selling their property to raise the funds. Evans explained that through a contact who was in prison, he was able to procure arms for his kidnap operations. He said in the video that a pharmaceutical boss, Donatius Dunu, who had already paid a ransom of 223,000 Euros had not finished paying the ransom in full before escaping and alerting the police. READ ALSO: Evans said Mr Aduba, who is a dismissed Army Officer, accompanied him during kidnap operations noting that Aduba was involved in the botched kidnap attempt of Vincent Obianodo, the Chairman of The Young Shall Grow Motors. He however admitted in the video that Aduba did not participate in the kidnap of Mr Dunu. After the video was played, Mr Ochai told Mr Haruna that Evans never identified Aduba (sixth defendant) as a participant in the kidnap of Mr Dunu. Responding Mr Idowu said, According to information the victim (Dunu) gave to police, kidnappers that came to abduct him were in army camouflage. This corroborated the information provided by the kidnap kingpin that most of the kidnapping he carried out were with the participation of the sixth defendant and that the sixth defendant did not participate in the kidnap of Dunu. Following the cross-examination of Mr Haruna, the prosecution closed its case against Evans and his five co-defendants. Earlier during the trial, Mr Idowu while being led in evidence by the state prosecutor, Adebayo Haroun, explained how Evans spent the ransoms he allegedly received from his victims. The investigation carried out revealed that the ransoms collected by the first defendant was used in purchasing a house at Fred Shoboyede Road, Magodo, where he was arrested. He purchased a second house at Emmanuel Keshi St., Magodo and another property in Accra, Ghana. He used part of the ransom to establish himself in the haulage business and some of the trucks he bought with the ransoms were recovered by police. He also bought some landed property in Anambra State, Mr Haruna said. Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba over the alleged kidnap of Dunu who is the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Ltd. The six defendants were arraigned on August 30, 2017 on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping. According to the prosecution, they allegedly kidnapped Mr Dunu along Ilupeju Road, Lagos on February 14, 2017 and collected 223,000 Euros (N100 million) as ransom from his family. Four witnesses including Mr Dunu had testified during the trial on behalf of the state. Advertisements (NAN) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2020) - Silk Energy Limited (CSE: SILK) (the "Company") announces the resignations of directors Jay Vieira and Herb Brugh, effective January 10th, 2020. The Company wishes to thank Messieurs Vieira and Brugh for their contributions to the Company and wishes them success in their future endeavours. New Directors The Company is pleased to announce that Bryan Emslie has been appointed as a director of the Company effective as of January 10th, 2020. Mr. Emslie has over 35 years of experience in the evaluation of oil and gas reserves and preparation of economic evaluations for purposes of annual reporting, reserve certifications, reserves audits, due diligence reviews and acquisition and divestitures. He spent most of his career as Senior Vice President of McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. in Calgary and was President of McDaniel International Ltd., the international oil and gas evaluation arm of McDaniel, during which time he traveled extensively throughout the world. Mr. Emslie traveled throughout the major oil basins of Kazakhstan on many occasions and prepared oil and gas reserves and resources evaluations for over 100 different properties in Kazakhstan for over 30 different clients. Mr. Emslie's regional Kazakh experience and knowledge of all of the major oil basins will be a major asset to the Company as it reviews new potential oil and gas assets in Kazakhstan. With Mr. Emslie's appointment, the Company's board of directors now consists of Mr. Emslie, Steve Kappella, Yerkin Svanbayev, Charles De Chezelles, and Aigerim Svanbayeva. For further information, please contact Steve Kappella, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, at info@silk-energy.com The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept 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/51334 A mother who staged the kidnap of her own daughter has been trying to broker a deal to sell the image rights of her upcoming wedding to a paedophile handyman. Karen Matthews, 44, initially broke off her engagement to Paul Sanders after she discovered he had been ailed for abusing a vulnerable girl. However, friends of Matthews claim the couple are back together and act like a pair of 'loved up teenagers'. Karen Matthews, left, is trying to broker a deal to sell image rights of her wedding to paedophile handyman Paul Sanders, right, who was jailed for abusing a vulnerable girl Matthews is hoping to cash in on her upcoming nuptials by securing a deal for photographs with a glossy magazine. However, her plan is unlikely to succeed as there are strict laws preventing convicted criminals from receiving cash from the media in order to benefit from their notoriety. Matthews, who faked the kidnapping of her daughter Shannon, has shared details of her plan with friends. One friend told The Sun: 'Karens got pound signs in her eyes again. She reckons her pictures are worth tens of thousands of pounds and all she has to do is get a mate to sell the information and then she can pick up a load of cash. Matthews, right, staged the kidnap of her daughter, Shannon, left, in order to cash in on a 50,000 reward for her safe return 'Shes deluded because she doesnt think that any media outlet will smell a rat if they get one of her mates on from Dewsbury. Itll be obvious shes going to benefit.' The friend claims Matthews wants to move to the seaside on he south coast with Sanders. Matthews was branded the 'Britain's vilest mother' after she staged the kidnap of her daughter Shannon in 2008 in bid to cash in on the 50,000 reward. The youngster was being held in a flat belonging to her then lover. Matthews was jailed for eight years but was released after just four in 2012 - but was ordered to stay clear of her native Dewsbury. Search for young artists - The search to find the young artists who will excel in this year's Texaco Children's Art Competition has begun. Last year eight students from Drogheda won prizes in the event which is now in its 66th year and widely acknowledged as the longest running arts sponsorship in Ireland. The closing date for entries is Friday, 28th February 2020 with judging to take place in March. Winners will be announced in mid-April, with prize-giving to follow in May. Details are available through Texaco service stations and online at www.texacochildrensart.com IBTS say thanks to Starinagh The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) would like to thank all 60 Donors who attended the recently held clinic in Teach Raitneach, Starinagh, Collon. A special thank you to Local Voluntary Organiser, Jim Mooney, Slane Red Cross and to Linda Dillon for their help and support prior to and during the holding of the clinic. A breakdown of the total figures shows that 7 former donor and 6 new donors attended the clinic. (Newser) A drumming rock legend has died. Rush's Neil Peart, who the CBC notes was "revered by fans and fellow musicians as one of the greatest drummers of all time," passed away Tuesday at age 67 in Santa Monica, Calif., per a statement issued by a family spokesperson, after being diagnosed with brain cancer more than three years ago. The Canadian band, made up of fellow members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, announced his death Friday afternoon on social media "with broken hearts and the deepest sadness," asking fans who wanted to help to make a donation to a cancer charity or research group. Peart was also behind much of the lyrics for the band's songswhich NBC News notes were "heavily influenced by science fiction, philosophy, and classic literature"and was known for the elaborate drum and percussion setup that surrounded him as he performed. story continues below Peart started drumming as a teen after getting "a pair of sticks, a practice pad, and lessons," he said in a 2005 interview. He teamed up with Lee and Lifeson in 1974, and Rush soon attracted a worldwide following, selling millions of records. The band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994, and into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Peart's death brought reaction from big names in music and politics. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted that "we've lost a legend," while fellow Canadian rocker Bryan Adams offered his own condolences. Paul Stanley of Kiss and Slash of Guns N' Roses also had messages to share. "Rest in peace brother," Rush's statement ended. Peart is survived by his wife, Carrie, and his daughter Olivia. He had another daughter, Selena, who died in a 1997 car accident at age 19; his first wife, Jackie, died shortly after Selena from cancer. (Read more obituary stories.) IUSF protest met with open door View(s): On Thursday, university students discussed with Higher Education authorities the issues of the Mahapola scholarships, at the Presidential secretariat, sans the tear gas and baton charges that happens during protests. Hundreds of students marched to the Presidential Secretariat over six demands including an increase in Mahapola scholarship grants. The student representatives were called for discussions, but they were skeptical of the outcome as they feared the authorities were buying time instead of solving the issues. We will take to the streets if the issues are not resolved, said Inter university Students Federation (IUSF) student representative, Gihan Weerasekara. After receiving information about the protest, the President told security officials to allow the students into the premises without any hindrance, the Presidents office said. As the President and the President Secretary were engaged in an official duty, the Additional President Secretary and Higher Education Ministry officials were instructed to hold discussions, the Presidents office said. The officials conveyed the students demands to the President Secretary and received instructions. It was decided the outstanding Mahapola scholarships and bursary money for November and December should be paid by Monday (January 13). Attention was also given to the possibility of immediately solving other demands related to the Mahapola scholarship scheme. This includes granting scholarship money to students who have not met the requirement of 80 percent attendance, bringing Mahapola and bursary allowances to an equal level, solving issues in the Sabaragamuwa University, increasing the income ceiling of parents to Rs. 700,000 when considering scholarships applications and increasing working peoples salaries. The Presidents Office said officials agreed to providing a written document with the matters discussed. A meeting held once a month or every fortnight to discuss issues affecting the students was also proposed. The student representatives said they will speak with the student unions and come to an agreement about this. The Presidents Additional Secretary Rohana Abeyratne, Higher Education Ministry Secretary Anura Dissanayake, University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunga and other officials participated. In a Facebook post, President Rajapaksa said he allowed the student representatives into the Presidential Secretariat for a discussion, contrary to the usual tear gas and baton charges that greeted student protesters before. He said urgent measures to resolve the issues were being taken. The President also mentioned the follow up meetings that were proposed to discuss the students issues. - Sandun Jayawardena Pix by Amila Gamage Clouds from a passing shower move across the Dallas skyline and the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge on Jan. 10, 2020. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via AP) 3 Dead in Louisiana as Severe Storms Sweep Southern US DALLASAuthorities in Louisiana said Saturday that at least three people have died in connection with a severe storm that is sweeping across parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast. The Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office said on its Facebook page that the bodies of an elderly couple were found near their demolished trailer by firefighters. A search for more possible victims was underway. The Sheriffs Office also said the roof of Benton Middle School was damaged and that water damage from the sprinkler system has flooded many rooms. In Arkansas and Missouri, tornadoes destroyed homes and also caused damage in Oklahoma. The national Storm Prediction Center said Friday more than 18 million people in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma were at an enhanced risk of storms Friday, including from strong tornadoes, flooding rains and wind gusts that could exceed 80 miles per hour, the speed of a Category 1 hurricane. The area included several major Texas cities including Dallas, Houston, and Austin. The storms also unleashed downpours that caused widespread flash flooding. Dallas police said one person died when a car flipped into Five Mile Creek west of downtown Dallas about 7 p.m. 8:20am This band of snow/sleet moving through Denton and Gainesville is causing minor accumulations in North Texas this morning. Share your reports and photos with us! #dfwwx pic.twitter.com/5nSa7Oxmw5 NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) January 11, 2020 Earlier in the afternoon, a tornado destroyed two homes near Fair Play, Missouri, about 35 miles northwest of Springfield. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said no injuries were reported. Shortly before 3 p.m., a tornado stripped the shingles from the roof of a home near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, about 60 miles southeast of Tulsa. No injuries were reported there either. What the NWS described as a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado roared through parts of Logan County, Arkansas, about 45 miles east of Fort Smith on Friday night. At least three homes were destroyed by the Arkansas tornado, said Logan County Emergency Management Coordinator Tobi Miller, but no injuries were reported. Downed trees and power lines were widespread, she said. Miller said the tornado skirted her home in Subiaco, Arkansas. She said she heard but couldnt see the rain-wrapped twister in the dark. Ahead of the storms, Dallass Office of Emergency Management asked residents to bring in pets, outdoor furniture, grills, and anything else that could be caught up in high winds to reduce the risk of flying debris. 6:47pm NEW Tornado Warning for far northwest Dallas county. Storm is moving NE towards the Farmers Branch area. #dfwwx https://t.co/Y78XQWVNFK NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) January 11, 2020 Such strong winds are a key concern in an area at greatest risk: A zone that includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas, the Storm Prediction Center warned. Weather service meteorologists in northern Louisiana said that such a dire forecast for the area is only issued two to four times each year, on average. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said boats, helicopters, medical, and rescue teams had been placed on standby in case they are needed. I ask that all Texans keep those in the storms path and all of Texass first responders in their prayers as they deal with the effects of this storm, Abbott said in a statement. Wicked weather also will pose a threat to Alabama and Georgia as the system moves eastward on Saturday, forecasters said. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Friday the state was making necessary preparations ahead of the potential weather. At the state level, we continue to closely monitor this storm system, while making all necessary preparations, Ivey said in a statement. I encourage all Alabamians to do the same, stay weather aware and heed all local warnings. On Alabamas Gulf Coast, Baldwin County canceled school activities including sporting events for Saturday. The weather service warned of flooding and the potential for 10-foot-high (3-meter-high) waves on beaches, where northern visitors escaping the cold are a common sight during the winter. Heavy rains also could cause flooding across the South and part of the Midwest. Many streams already are at or near flood levels because of earlier storms, and heavy rains could lead to flash flooding across the region, forecasters said. Parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana were under flash flood warnings or watches on Saturday. By Terry Wallace and Jeff Martin Richard Leonard said the review will allow Labour to plan for future elections (PA) Scottish Labour has agreed to conduct a review of the losses it sustained in the general election, despite talk the party was poised to support a second independence referendum. Reports previously suggested Richard Leonards party could be more willing to consider supporting a second referendum if it was in the form of a multi-option ballot, featuring a federal alternative. However there was no formal proposal on the issue discussed at a meeting of Scottish Labours executive committee in Glasgow on Saturday, and it will instead be the subject of an away day in the near future. The meeting did approve the election review, with its findings expected in March. I know that the process we have agreed to today will allow us to listen and learn and that we will stand together to fight and win againRichard Leonard, Scottish Labour leader Ian Murray is now the only Labour MP in Scotland after his re-election in Edinburgh South, as the party suffered heavy losses on December 12. After Saturdays meeting, Mr Leonard said: Representatives of all sections of our party constituency delegates, trade unions, socialist societies and elected representatives agreed to consult on the outcome of last months general election. As part of that, our policy on federalism will be developed to ensure that it resonates with people across Scotland. The result of this consultation will form the basis of the approach Scottish Labour will take as we look forward to putting our positive case before the people of Scotland at the 2021 Holyrood election. As I set out shortly after last months election, I want Scottish Labour to hold a swift, evidence-based review of the result and the lessons we must learn as a party. Expand Close Linda Stewart, pictured with previous Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, will lead the election review (David Cheskin/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Linda Stewart, pictured with previous Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, will lead the election review (David Cheskin/PA) We must in particular consider our position on the constitutional questions which dominated the general election campaign namely Scotlands constitutional future and our relationship with the European Union drawing on our tradition as the party of devolution. He also announced Linda Stewart, a former chair of Scottish Labour, and academic Professor David Conway will help lead the review. Mr Leonard added: Over the next few weeks, the review team will take evidence from election candidates and party activists to inform their conclusions. The review team will then report back to the March meeting of Scottish Labours executive, which will examine the political and organisational lessons which we must draw. Scottish Labour members, activists, staff, elected representatives and affiliates worked exceptionally hard during the general election campaign, and I am deeply sorry that it did not pay off with a better result. Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has confirmed his willingness to surrender to the SNP over #IndyRef2 If you want to end the division, tell them here:https://t.co/l3AYrQtKVU pic.twitter.com/XrHfTxjqtb Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) January 10, 2020 But I know that the process we have agreed to today will allow us to listen and learn and that we will stand together to fight and win again. But Scottish Conservative MSP Miles Briggs called it another humiliating result for Richard Leonard. He added: He was pushing for his party to give in to the SNP on indyref2, but hes been stopped by his own executive. This just goes to show the chaotic state that Scottish Labour are in at the moment. They are all over the place when it comes to Scotlands place in the union, and the infighting will only continue. The only thing that is clear after this is that you cant trust Labour to stand up to the SNP and their plans for indyref2. SNP Westminster deputy leader Kirsty Blackman MP said: This is a huge blow to Richard Leonard, who appears to be Scottish Labour leader in name only having been fatally undermined by his own partys executive committee. Expand Close A pro-independence march was held in Glasgow on Saturday (Davy Tolmie/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A pro-independence march was held in Glasgow on Saturday (Davy Tolmie/PA) Scotland is about to be dragged out of the EU against our will by a Tory Prime Minister we didnt elect, after a decade of Tory austerity governments that we didnt vote for. If in the face of that devastating reality Labour sides with the Tories again and seeks to deny the people of Scotland a choice over our future, they will sink even further into irrelevance. The SNP won a landslide victory at the general election on a cast-iron mandate to hold an independence referendum. We will work across parties and society to ensure the democratic right of the people of Scotland to choose our own future is respected. Expand Close Kenny MacAskill (David Cheskin/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kenny MacAskill (David Cheskin/PA) The Labour executive meeting came as newly-elected SNP MP Kenny MacAskill, a former member of the Scottish cabinet, called for a coming together of parliamentarians and others around the issue of indyref2. He wants politicians from both Holyrood and Westminster to be involved, as well as trade union bosses and others similar to the Scottish Constitutional Convention set up to campaign for devolution in the days of Margaret Thatchers premiership. The meeting also coincided with a pro-independence march in Glasgow which organisers said involved 80,000 people. Ghosn 'very comfortable' after Lebanon questioning: lawyer Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn's news conference in Beirut By Laila Bassam and Chang-Ran Kim BEIRUT/TOKYO (Reuters) - Carlos Ghosn's lawyer said he was "very comfortable" with legal proceedings in Lebanon on Thursday, after the fugitive ex-Nissan boss was questioned over an extradition request from Japan where he faces financial misappropriation charges. Ghosn fled Japan to Lebanon, his childhood home, last month as he awaited trial on charges of under-reporting earnings, breach of trust and misappropriation of company funds, all of which he denies. His dramatic escape has raised tension between Tokyo and Beirut at a time when Lebanon is seeking an international bailout to help it tackle a deep financial crisis. Ghosn slammed the Japanese justice system at a two-hour news conference on Wednesday, prompting Japan's Justice Minister to launch a rare and forceful public response. After questioning in Beirut about Japan's Interpol warrant, two judicial sources said the prosecutor had imposed a travel ban, a step Carlos Abou Jaoude, a Beirut-based lawyer for Ghosn, described as procedural to broadcaster Al Jadeed. Lebanon has no extradition agreement with Japan. "He (Ghosn) is very comfortable with the path," Jaoude told another broadcaster, MTV, adding that Ghosn was also comfortable in himself "especially after what he went through". One of the judicial sources said authorities had asked Japan for its file on Ghosn, including the charges against him, and would not question him again until the information is received. Ghosn would surrender his French passport on Thursday, he said. Ghosn said later he was more comfortable with the Lebanese judiciary than that of Japan. "I will fully cooperate," he told broadcaster LBCI. Japan's Justice Minister Masako Mori said Ghosn's allegations that he had had "zero chance" of a fair trial in Japan were unfounded. "Defendant Ghosn was looking to justify his unlawful exit from Japan by propagating a false recognition of our justice system," she said at the second of two news conferences, the first of which was held shortly after midnight. Story continues "I felt that we needed to respond immediately to broadcast a correct understanding to people around the world." Ghosn told LBCI her comments were "ridiculous". "Today my concern is clearing my name and reputation because all the accusations against me are fabricated," he told Al Jadeed. TRIAL IN LEBANON? Ghosn's arrest after his private jet touched down in Tokyo in November 2018 shook the global auto industry and jeopardized the Renault-Nissan alliance of which he was the mastermind. The Brazilian-born executive said on Wednesday he was prepared to stand trial anywhere he could get a fair hearing but also that he was ready to stay for a long time in Lebanon. A source close to the 65-year-old has said his legal team is pushing for him to be tried in the country. Ghosn said, however, that he did not want to put pressure on Japan-Lebanon bilateral ties, two days after Japan's ambassador to Lebanon requested greater cooperation from President Michel Aoun in dealing with the case. The decision by Lebanon's prosecutor, Judge Ghassan Ouiedat, after Ghosn's questioning at Beirut's Justice Palace requires Ghosn to keep the authorities informed of his place of residence, the judicial sources said. Ghosn was given the same instruction after accompanying questioning over a formal legal complaint filed by a group of Lebanese lawyers who accuse him of "normalisation" with Israel over a visit he made there in 2008. Ghosn said on Wednesday he had made the trip as a French citizen and an executive of Renault to sign a contract with a state-backed Israeli firm to sell electric vehicles, and had been obliged to go because the board had requested it. He said he had apologized for the trip and had not meant to hurt the people of Lebanon, which deems Israel an enemy state. During the visit, Ghosn met Ehud Olmert, who was Israel's prime minister at the time of the 2006 war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. Nearly 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, died in the 2006 war and 158 people died in Israel, mostly soldiers. (Additional reporting by Nadine Awadalla, Tom Perry and Eric Knecht; writing by Tom Perry; editing by Philippa Fletcher) The national career Air India cancelled as many as four flights to Dubai on Sunday due to heavy rain and water logging at the airport. The decision came after one Air India flight had to be diverted to another airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and another took five hours to reach the parking bay after landing due to the waterlogging at Dubai airport. The cancelled flights are: AI 995/996- Delhi -Dubai- Delhi, AI 983/984- BOM - Dubai- BOM (between Mumbai and Dubai), AI 951/952, from Hyderabad to Dubai and 905/906, from Chennai to Dubai. Several Air India passengers stuck at Dubai airport complaint of infrequent and insufficient updates from the career. Air India quoted Dubai Airport to say operations continued to be hampered due to rains. Operations at DXB continue to be hampered by the knock-on effects of todays heavy rainfall resulting in a number of flight delays, cancellations & diversions. We continue to work closely with our partners to restore full operations & minimise inconvenience to our customers, the tweet said. Dubai Airport said some flights were diverted to Dubai World Centre (DWC). It also informed passengers about congestion on roads and asked them to allow significant extra time and use Dubai metro to reach the airport.. Air India announced that the disruptions in flights to Dubai were likely to continue for the next 24 hours. Air India flights to and from Dubai are affected due to todays heavy rainfall. More rain is expected later this evening and the disruption is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Please stand by for updates, said a tweet by the airline late on Sunday night. The cancellation of flights was announced at around 10:30 pm. It led to people seeking more information. What about the passengers stuck on AI 910 since 10 am? There is no information given at all about this flight!!! tweeted one Ashutosh Vaidya. AI 910 is Air Indias daily flight between Dubai and Mumbai. It was reported to be delayed by close to four hours on Saturday. Another person was seen complaining about conflicting information about another Dubai-Delhi flight run by the airline. How about AI 916? Your ground staff said the flight is canceled whereas google shows that the estimated departure is at 8:40 am tomorrow. Plz suggest, Akhilesh Pandya asked in a tweet marked to Air India. The situation was best summed up by the ordeal faced by Air India flight 905 between Chennai and Dubai, which took nearly five hours to reach the parking bay in Dubai after landing. AI 937 from Calicut to Dubai couldnt land due to water logging and was diverted to Al- Makhtoum (UAE) airport. Dubai is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates and is the worlds busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is also the fifth-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic and the sixth-busiest cargo airport in the world. Iran has admitted that its military "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people on board. The incident happened due to "human error" after the plane flew close to a sensitive site belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, said a state TV report. Mistaken for a "hostile target", the jet was hit by a missile, it said. The Ukrainian flight, en route to Kyiv, came down near Imam Khomeini Airport shortly after take-off. Iran had previously rejected suggestions that one of its missiles brought down the plane near the capital, Tehran, on Wednesday. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani expressed regret over the "human error" which caused the tragic crash of Ukraine Airlines plane and said those who committed such an unpardonable mistake will be sued and investigated. The Iranian nation and the families of the victims will be informed of the results of the probes, the president said in a statement. "In an atmosphere of threats and intimidation by the aggressive American regime against the Iranian nation after the martyrdom of General Qasem Soleimani, and in order to defend ourselves against possible attacks by the American Army, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran were on full alert, unfortunately leading to this terrible catastrophe which claimed lives of dozens of innocent people because of human error and an erroneous shooting," the statement noted. "My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences," the President said stressing that the tragic event is not an issue that cannot be put aside easily. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be in full consular cooperation to identify and return the bodies of victims to their families, he said. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced 20 felony counts of Medicaid Fraud were filed this week against Steven Clark, president and owner of EDM Treatment Center in Saginaw. An investigation conducted by the Attorney General's office identified a former employee of the treatment center who was not licensed to provide counseling services to patients of the clinic. The official complaint alleges that Clark, 70, of Saginaw, knew this employee was not licensed, yet allowed her to provide counseling services anyway. Clark then billed Medicaid for those services under his own provider identification number. Undoubtedly, this is the worst fall in sales since the industry body started recording monthly and yearly sales data in 1997. All vehicle segments reported de-growth last year as low consumer sentiments, weak rural demand and economic slowdown took a toll on demand in worlds fourth largest auto market. PUNE: Automobile sales hit the worst-ever decline in two decades in 2019, with an unprecedented slowdown hampering vehicle offtake across segments. All vehicle segments reported de-growth last year as low consumer sentiments, weak rural demand and economic slowdown took a toll on demand in worlds fourth largest auto market. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, or Siam, on Friday said overall wholesale of vehicles during the year across categories, including passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, saw a decline of 13.77 per cent in 2019 at 2,30,73,438 units against 2,67,58,787 units in 2018. Undoubtedly, this is the worst fall in sales since the industry body started recording monthly and yearly sales data in 1997. The previous lowest was recorded in 2007 when overall sales had declined by 1.44 per cent, Siam said. Similarly, total passenger vehicle sales during 2019 declined by 12.75 per cent to 29,62,052 units as compared with 33,94,790 units a year ago. This is the worst performance in the segment since 2013 when sales witnessed a dip of 7.49 per cent. Two-wheeler sales also saw a dip of 14.19 per cent last year to 1,85,68,280 units from 2,16,40,033 units in 2018. Likewise, total commercial vehicle sales saw a dip of 14.99 per cent to 8,54,759 units from 10,05,502. Challenges remain for the auto industry despite the government bringing in several growth enablers. GDP growth rate remains an area of worry as the commercial vehicle segment is clearly linked to it, Rajan Wadhera, president at Siam, said. Besides, low demand from rural areas remained a matter of concern, he pointed out. In passenger vehicles, utility vehicles are driving sales as other segments are not performing that well, Wadhera said. On the 2020 outlook for the auto industry, which is Indias third largest employer, he said it is going to remain tough due to the impending changeover to the BS-VI emission regime. We expect prices of commercial vehicles to go up by 8-10 per cent due to BS-VI norms and it is going to impact demand, Wadhera said. Similarly, passenger vehicles would see cost increase in range of 3-7 per cent, he said. He said if the economy grows at 6-7 per cent, the auto sector could see a return to high growth. The auto industry body also said the positive sentiment that was witnessed during the festive season has not sustained with retail sales in December coming back to negative. In December, domestic passenger vehicle sales declined 1.24 per cent to 2,35,786 units in December from 2,38,753 units in the year-ago period. MONSEY, N.Y. - The number of residents seeking to own handguns has risen sharply in a New York community shaken last month by a machete attack that injured five men during a Hanukkah celebration. The Journal News reports 73 pistol permit applications have been filed with the Rockland County Clerks Office since the Dec. 28 attack at a rabbis home in Monsey, a hamlet in the town of Ramapo northwest of New York City. That compares to 51 applications the office received during the eight weeks prior to the stabbing, County Clerk Paul Piperato told the newspaper. Sixty-eight of the new applications came from Ramapo residents, including 31 from Monsey. Its definitely because of this incident, Piperato told the newspaper, referring to the attack. In some way, shape or form, they want to defend themselves. Chief William Barbera of the Rockland County Sheriffs Department says an application is the first step in a months-long process. Applicants are required to be fingerprinted and undergo a background check and firearms training before the paperwork is submitted to a licensing officer. An academy run by veterans of the Israeli Defence Forces has been providing weapons training in Ramapos synagogues since the machete attack, The Journal News reports. Its trainers have been advising Jewish residents to seek unrestricted pistol permits. The goal is to be able to carry at synagogue and not to just possess at home and take to the range, said Yonatan Stern, the academys director. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to step back as senior royals (Andrew Milligan/PA) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hope talks over their future roles in the royal family can be concluded sooner rather than later, a source has said. Harry and Meghans plans to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and split their time between the UK and North America were the subject of urgent meetings begun in earnest on Friday after directions from the Queen and other senior royals. It is understood the meetings were progressing well with the UK and Canadian governments consulted. Speaking about the duke and duchess, the source told PA news agency: They, like everyone, are hopeful this can all be worked out, sooner rather than later. It is in everyones interest for this to be figured out, and figured out quickly, but not at the expense of the outcome. Harry and Meghans plans were announced in a bombshell statement on Wednesday that rocked the royal family and were said to have left the Queen and other senior royals hurt. Broadcaster Tom Bradby, a friend of Harry and Meghan, claimed the couple were made aware, while away in Canada for six weeks, that the monarchys focus in the future would be on those at the top of the line of succession. The ITV News At Ten anchor, appearing on a news programme on his channel, said: It had been made clear to them in their absence there was going to be a slimmed-down monarchy and they werent really a part of it. He said there had been a lot of arguments, adding: Certainly the rest of the family find Harry and Meghan very difficult and, from Harry and Meghans point of view, theyre just being driven out as they see it. But the Times reported that palace officials had stressed Harry and Meghan had always been central to the monarchys plans, with one aide quoted as saying: It is strongly disputed that the Sussexes are not at the centre of any future slimmed-down monarchy. An opinion poll for the Daily Mail found 76% of people said Harry and Meghan should sacrifice their Metropolitan Police protection after they step back from their senior royal roles, and 73% said the same for taxpayer funded security measures. A total of 60% of people questioned said the monarch was treated badly, while in his first comments on the crisis, US president Donald Trump told Fox News Laura Ingraham that it was sad for the Queen. In a clip posted by Fox News on Friday Mr Trump, who has lavished praise on the Queen before, said: I think its sad. She is a great woman. She has never made a mistake. If you look she has had like a flawless time. I just have such respect for the Queen, I dont think this should be happening to her. It is understood that a day-long series of meetings and phones calls were held by officials and royal aides trying to work up proposals for the Sussexes future roles. The timetable for finding workable solutions remains days rather than weeks. Expand Close Meghan has returned to Canada (Chris Jackson/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Meghan has returned to Canada (Chris Jackson/PA) In another development Harry and Meghan appeared to signal their intentions to forge ahead with building a life in Canada after Meghan returned to the country and reports indicated Harry will join her soon. The couple had only recently arrived in the UK after spending an extended festive break in the Commonwealth country but the duchess is now back with baby son Archie who remained behind, reportedly looked after by a nanny and friends of Meghan. The couples may be creating a second home for themselves away from Britain but a source said it was business as usual and it is understood a normal programme of UK royal events is planned for the coming months. Harry and Meghans Instagram account returned to publicising their appearances, with pictures released showing the couple during a private visit on Tuesday to the Hubb Community Kitchen in North Kensington, west London, run by a group of Grenfell supporting women whose recipes were featured in a cookbook backed by Meghan. Harry is expected to join his wife after attending a Buckingham Palace event at the end of next week, the Telegraph reported, but he is likely to be in the country when a way forward for the couples future role is announced. Speaking about Harry and Meghans future public engagements a source said Were operating under business as usual, weve got a programme and a schedule. The couple attended a diary meeting with their team earlier this week, where they chatted through their engagements up until June. The Member of Parliament for the Odododiodio constituency, Edwin Nii Lante Vandepuye has taken a swipe at the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa over her outfits insistence on compiling a new voters register despite several resistance. He said Jean Mensas position puts Ghana on a path of chaos and destruction. Speaking on The Big Issue on Saturday, he said the chairperson must move away from a posture of arrogance and rather embrace engagements and dialogues with election stakeholders on the matter of getting a new register. Nii Lante Vanderpuye and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) are among those speaking against the planned compilation of a new register stating among other reasons the very limited time the country has to hold general elections in 2020 and the cost involved. The Electoral Commission has also in series of media interviews defended the plan, citing claims of a bloated register and obsolete electronic voting system. They also say the new system to be developed to accompany the register will be advanced in technology and includes a facial recognition ability. Jean Mensa, Chairperson of Electoral Commission The Chairperson herself, Jean Mensa has indicated that the Commission will go ahead to compile a new register whether or not the NDC and other critics support it. But Nii Lante Vandepuye says the EC boss must reconsider her posture to ensure that peace prevails. I think this particular EC Chair is pushing Ghana down the path of destruction. Her intransigence, her arrogance and her pride and attitude does not look well for someone who heads a very vital institution like the Electoral Commission. If you head an institution like the EC, your demeanor, utterances and posture should not be the one that engenders consultation and attract people to want to have a meeting with you, he said. He further stressed that the NDC and the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voter Register will not rest until the EC reconsiders the decision which in his view has the ability to destroy the peace in the country. I want her to know that people fought to secure the democracy, the peace and tranquility we are enjoying in this country, and we shall not allow her to plunge this country into abyssIf we have a discussion and you say you dont care what we say, then you are not looking for peace, he said. Meanwhile, hundreds of people backed by the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voter Register staged a demonstration in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, on Saturday, to protest the ECs decision. The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said similar demonstrations will be held in the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions to press home their demands for the EC to rescind its decision. ---citinewsroom New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration has constituted a five-member team to look into the violence that took place in the campus on January 5. The decision comes after JNU vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar met some representatives of the students on Saturday. Kumar blamed outsiders for the violence that took place inside the campus. "This is a problem that many illegal students are staying in hostels. They could be outsiders. They may be participating in any possible violence because they have nothing to do with the university," Jagadesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. "The terror created by some of the activist students went to such an extent that many of our students had to leave the hostels. From the past several days, we have enhanced security in the campus to make sure that innocent students are not hurt," he said. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has identified 37 students from a WhatsApp group created during the January 5 violence on the JNU campus, sources said. Those identified are students who were in favour of the semester registration process and wanted to enrol themselves, the sources said. On Friday, police said the WhatsApp group, 'Unity Against Left', believed to have been created while the violence escalated on the JNU campus, was under the scanner. The Delhi Police on Friday had named nine students as suspects in the violence in the varsity campus but did not name any group yet for the brutal attack by masked goons on students and teachers that left 36 injured. It means question still remained on the identity of the masked people photographed at Sabarmati hostel at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday and terrorising the campus for three hours with sticks, rods and sledgehammers. The police also claimed that the January 5 violence was a fallout of the online registration process and that tension was brewing in the university since January 1. The officer said Ghosh and eight others were involved in an attack at the Periyar hostel on January 5. Those identified are Dolan Samanta, Priya Ranjan, Sucheta Talukdar, Aishe Ghosh, Bhaskar Vijay Mech, Chunchun Kumar (an alumni) and Pankaj Mishra. The other two suspects named by police are Vikas Patel and Yogendra Bharadwaj. Police sources said the two are from the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Both Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump came into office with the desire to end the long wars America had been fighting in the Middle East. Both had been opposed to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. President Obama chose the standard isolationist approach: withdraw U.S. forces from combat and appease adversaries. He pulled all American troops out of Iraq in 2011 and signed a "nuclear deal" with Iran in 2015 based on a generous supply of carrots. This approach proved, as usual, a failure. Non-intervention does not create peace. It creates a power vacuum that others seek to fill, with consequences the U.S. cannot ignore. President Obama ended up recommitting troops to Iraq in 2014 to confront the ISIS Caliphate and provide support for "moderate" forces in the Syrian Civil War that were attempting to overthrow Bashar al-Assad, an ally of Iran. The Syrian gambit was half-hearted and could not match the strength Iran could bring to the battlefield even before Russia directly intervened in 2015. Turkey took control of the Free Syrian Army in 2016 with a more determined attitude and a more effective buildup of proxy forces. President Trump inherited a complex situation which he believed was costing too much, for dubious results. As a practical leader, he wants results and his instinct is to act decisively. He stepped up military operations to defeat ISIS primarily using Kurdish troops backed by heavy airstrikes. But he understood that Iran was the major threat to the region. In his Jan. 3 statement announcing the drone strike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, he declared "the Iranian regimes aggression in the region, including the use of proxy fighters to destabilize its neighbors, must end, and it must end now." Tehran's Hezbollah army, based in Lebanon, was fighting in Syria. Its Quds Force was organizing Shia militia groups in Iraq to dominate its neighbor and was active in supporting the Houthi uprising in Yemen bordering Saudi Arabia. Gen. Suleimani was the leader of all these Iranian operations and had the blood of hundreds of Americans on his hands. Eliminating him was clearly legitimate. President Trump had also continued to support the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran's proxies in Yemen (started under President Obama) despite strong Congressional opposition from Democrats and some libertarian Republicans. In April 2018, the U.S. led air and missile strikes against Syrian chemical weapons facilities with the support of British and French forces. President Obama had failed to launch such attacks in 2013 when Syria had crossed a "red line" by using chemical weapons against civilians. The Assad regime threatened retaliation, but U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley declared that the U.S. was "locked and loaded" and would respond to any Syrian attacks---and none came. This was the first step towards a new strategy that plays to American strength without tying American forces down in prolonged ground wars and "nation-building." The concept is called "punitive expeditions" and is as old as military history itself. Rather than fight on the enemy's terms, the U.S. can seize the high ground of escalation dominance. Anyone who provokes the United States must expect to have an unprecedented cataclysm visited upon them. The concept of proportionality with its endless "tit-for-tat" exchanges that weaker enemies can perpetuate is to be abandoned. The result aimed for is to be lopsided and very destructive, with the ability of the enemy to recover crippled. This is the message President Trump sent to a Tehran regime that had vowed revenge for Suleimani. It is better to deter wars than to fight them by making anything but peace look suicidal to opponents. This may not always be as easy as "push-button warfare." Punitive operations may require taking the war to the enemy on the ground in a more comprehensive manner than air strikes. At the high end, the adversarys infrastructure must be crippled, hidden arsenals destroyed and leaders tracked down. But the objective is not occupation, and certainly not nation-building. The purpose is just the opposite; punishment for bad behavior on a scale beyond the calculations of any rational regime. President Trump has used this strategy several times. When Turkey moved into northern Syria last October, President Trump withdrew American troops from their path. There are strategic benefits from stronger Turkish-Sunni forces occupying territory liberated from Assad. Concern for the safety of the Kurds, who had fought valiantly at America's side, was met by a direct threat from President Trump who tweeted: "As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I...consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey." There was strong bi-partisan support for this stance. Though not a military threat, it was an expression of American escalation dominance in an area of Turkish vulnerability. Turkey limited its advance to only 20 miles. U.S. troops then secured oil fields in the area, their presence backed by the specter of devastating firepower. Just before Christmas, North Korea threatened to send a presumed hostile "Christmas gift" to the U.S. as part of its campaign to force the lifting of sanctions as a precondition for renewed de-nuclearization talks. The Trump administration made it known that it would respond to any provocation. "The United States will take action as we do in these situations, said National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien. If Kim Jong Un takes that approach, well be extraordinarily disappointed and well demonstrate that disappointment. No "gift" was sent. Kim remains deterred from conducting nuclear and long-range ballistic missile tests. It was a show of force that brought Pyongyang to the table originally and it will take continued pressure to move the talks forward. In the current Iran crisis, the missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq which Tehran declared where revenge for Suleimani's death did only minor damage and inflicted no casualties. The attacks were minimalist and ineffectual (perhaps on purpose). The Iraq regime had to save face and do something it could sell to a people whose anger it had stoked. But it dared not risk doing something that would bring down the punitive levy of massive U.S. retaliation. The debate within the regime was lost by the hardliners who talked of offensives across the region, including against the Gulf States and Israel, and even of strikes on the American homeland which have always unleashed Armageddon in reply. In contrast, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted, We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression. Trump's stance was deemed credible. Iran dodged a barrage of bullets by firing a blank. Tehran is not the only regime that found restraint better than violence and was deterred. Just days before the crisis, China and Russia held joint naval drills with Iran. The Chinese Communist newspaper Global Times reported "The trilateral drill is the first of its kind at a time when Iran is facing unprecedented sanctions from the US." Yet, after the drone strike, Beijing called for restraint on all sides. While blaming the U.S. for "adventurism" and highlighting "antiwar" sentiment in America, the Chinese were also aware that a wider war would harm them as well. Sen. Lindsey Graham had called for the destruction of Iran's oil refineries whose largest customer is China. As Global Times noted, "Chinese purchases of oil from the Middle East lead the world by volume, which means China is far more dependent on the region's oil than the U.S. China also has large investments in Iran, Iraq and many other Middle Eastern countries." Beijing will use its substantial influence in Tehran to dissuade escalation; its support for Iran tempered by its own interests. And other countries will do the same. Iran is ruled by theocrats so rationally will not always win. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the missile attacks were not enough. It may take additional lessons to acquaint the hardliners with reality. And it will be lessons others will see as well and do the math. America's power is overwhelming in the hands of a President who is willing to us it. It is the program for peace through strength. William R. Hawkins is a consultant specializing in international economic and national security issues. He is a former economics professor who has served on the staff of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. Image credit: USAF Staff Sgt. Alexx Pons // public domain Google and its Chrome browser will reportedly be giving Windows 7 users a bit of a reprieve after Microsoft officially stops supporting the OS for non-enterprise users as of January 14. Thats because the company plans to provide support for its browser a full year and six months after that. So Chrome, at the very least, will continue to be safe to use even as the edge browser and OS itself isnt anymore. In fact, thats actually the minimum that the search giant plans to provide support. The company says that it will extend support until at least July 15, 2021. That should mean that all of the updates to Chrome, including the three that are currently scheduled for February 4, March 17, and April 28, will arrive on time too. How does this keep Windows users safer? Chromes ability to keep Windows 7 users safer than they might otherwise be could easily depend on whether or not Google continues pushing updates. It almost certainly will but theres no real guarantee either. Advertisement Thats because Google hasnt explicitly said those updates will arrive. Regardless, the search giants focus has squarely centered on privacy and security over the past several updates. That includes not only the recent addition of a built-in password protection system. It also includes deeper changes to site isolation, changes that prevent malicious redirects, and other security bolsters. Setting aside work to ensure privacy and phishing protections, Google is also looking to make the entire web safer. Its doing that by pushing away from legacy TLS and toward DNS-over-HTTPS secured connections. As of Chrome 79, thats actually being tested on a small subset of users. Starting this month, the company has planned to start marking sites using legacy TLS as not secure too. All of that means that not only is Google actively improving Chrome and the way it protects users. Its also empowering users to be more aware of how safe their browsing experience is. So, even if Windows is less secure, using Chrome will make it just that much more secure for users still on Windows 7. Advertisement Google isnt advocating Chrome as a permanent solution for Windows 7 The continuing support of Chrome should, under a plethora of circumstances, help Windows 7 users stay a bit safer. But Google is suggesting that Enterprise users should make the move to Windows 10 in the interim. As explained by Microsoft, PCs running Windows 7 will keep working but without any updates on the underlying operating system. That includes security updates. As Windows is currently the largest of the operating systems, it has the widest surface area for attacks. While a significant number of those stem from downloads via the web and browser, not every attack does. And not every attack is stoppable using Chrome alone. Windows Enterprise Edition users can pay for extended support. In fact, that can be extended up to the year 2023 in some cases. But Google Chrome isnt going to stop all attacks or even necessarily most of them. So a full system upgrade to Windows 10 is probably the best option in the long run. New Delhi, Jan 11 : At a time when many humans are striving towards saving the flora and fauna on the planet, 100-year-old Diego too has chipped in to contribute to this noble cause. The giant tortoise has used his legendary libido to help scientists save his species from the verge of extinction, and is now all set to return to the wild on the Galapagos Islands, BBC reported. Diego was among the 14 males selected to take part in a tortoise breeding programme on the Santa Cruz Island in California, US. Diego's sex drive was said to be one of the main reasons for the success of the programme. Of the more than 2,000 giant tortoises bred since the 1960s under the programme, the centurion tortoise fathered an estimated 800. After the end of the programme, Diego is all set to return to his native island of Espanola in March, the Galapagos National Parks service (PNG) said. Of the 1,800 tortoises on the island, Diego is believed to have fathered at least 40 per cent of them. Around 50 years ago, only two males and 12 females of Diego's species lived on Espanola. To save the species -- Chelonoidis hoodensis -- Diego was brought from California's San Diego Zoo. Diego is at present quarantined before his return to Espanola, one of the oldest parts of the Galapagos. The Galapagos Islands, 906 km west of continental Ecuador, are a Unesco World Heritage site, visited by hundreds of tourists who wish to see its biodiversity. WASHINGTON The U.S. Navys plans for unleashing robot warships on the worlds oceans may need some work, according to a new study. The way the Navy describes its planned large unmanned surface vessel, or LUSV, is as an external missile magazine that can significantly boost the number of missile tubes fielded for significantly less money than buying Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which cost nearly $2 billion per hull. The problem? China is pumping out warships like its going out of style: A recent photo of a Chinese shipyard taken by an airline passenger showed nine destroyers under construction and an aircraft carrier. In 2018, China surpassed the U.S. Navy as the worlds largest naval force. That has led the U.S. Navy to aggressively push toward an LUSV equipped with a vertical launching system, or VLS, to get the punch of a missile-shooting frigate for less money. Congress slows the US Navys roll toward a robot-ship future We cant continue to wrap $2 billion ships around 96 missile tubes in the numbers we need to fight in a distributed way against a potential adversary that is producing capability and platforms at a very high rate of speed, the U.S. Navys top officer, Adm. Michael Gilday, said in recent comments. The Navy has discussed equipping the LUSV with the ability to house sailors, but the vessel would be largely designed as an unmanned platform, which would save money because of there likely wont be a need for structure that supports human habitation. Sailors supporting an LUSV might use a port-a-potty and eat MREs rather than building an at-sea septic system and galley, for example. But therein lies the problem with the LUSV, according to a new study from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments: What do you do with those vessels, that the Navy intends to buy in numbers, when youre not trading missiles with China? Before the Navy gets too far down the road of fielding an optionally manned LUSV, the Navy should just pony up for a more expensive but more useful corvette that, in the event of war, could be unmanned and used as the envisioned external missile magazine, the study said. Story continues The Navys planned LUSV would also be an approximately 2,000-ton ship based on an [offshore support vessel] design, the study read. In contrast to the optionally manned LUSV, the DDC [corvette] would be an optionally unmanned vessel that would normally operate with a crew. By having small crews, DDCs could contribute to peacetime training, engagement, maritime security, and deterrence. In other words, for every scenario short of war, there would be a small warship that can execute normal naval missions missions that ideally deter conflict from occurring in the first place. US Navy looks to ease into using unmanned robot ships with a manned crew The corvette would maintain a small crew but would still be able to operate autonomously if need be, the report explained. Instead of procuring an optionally manned LUSV that may be difficult to employ throughout the spectrum of competition and conflict, CSBAs plan introduces a similarly designed DDC that is designed to be, conversely, optionally unmanned and would normally operate with small crews of around 1524 personnel, the report read. DDCs primarily armed with offensive weapons would serve as offboard magazines for force packages. This is different from the idea put forward by Navy officials over the past year. In June, at a conference of the American Society of Naval Engineers, the head of Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants told the audience his vision is to keep the ship as autonomous as possible, de-emphasizing the crews role. From my perspective, the optional manning that might be on one of these USVs is not there to operate the vessel, Capt. Pete Small said. The vessel itself is autonomous. You dont need people there to drive the ship, the people are there potentially for the employment and safekeeping of the payloads. So were keeping a narrow view on what optional manning is with respect to our USVs. The difference, it appears, is philosophical: The Navy is developing an optionally manned ship; CSBA and lead author Bryan Clark are proposing an optionally unmanned ship. It may seem like a small difference, but building a ship designed from the ground up to support humans is a major difference from a boat that can accommodate a few humans if the operators want to. The good news is that no matter what the Navy decides, it has some time. The first two LUSVs, for which Congress appropriated funds in the 2020 budget, are part of the services effort to build prototypes for experimentation and integration of maritime technologies. The service will not, however, be allowed to integrate vertical launching system cells as planned. Is there misalignment? The CSBA study didnt just take issue with the direction of the large unmanned surface vessel, but also with the composition of the whole surface fleet. The study found that the destroyer-heavy surface fleet is completely misaligned for both its peacetime and wartime missions, and things that were once strengths have become vulnerabilities. Destroyers packing heavy-duty air defense radars will betray their position to high-end adversaries, like China and Russia, who employ advanced electronic detection equipment. Furthermore, weighting the fleet toward large surface combatants means the Navy is focusing too much on manning and maintaining their assets to perform peacetime missions, which often dont require all the capabilities of a destroyer. Instead, the Navy should lean on the proposed corvettes and medium unmanned surface vessels something akin to the Sea Hunter drone developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to reduce the risk of adversaries detecting the large manned combatants. New concepts for surface fleet missions ... will increasingly rely on unmanned systems to perform sensing operations because unmanned systems can achieve the proximity or distribution to use passive sensors effectively or employ active sensors at acceptable risk, the study read. The study called for a fleet of 74 large surface combatants by 2048, down from the current 104 requirement, and keeps the 52 small surface combatant requirement of the 2016 Force Structure Assessment. The study also said the Navy requires a total of 96 corvettes and 110 medium unmanned surface vessels. Inverting the fleet from a destroyer-heavy, manpower-intensive fleet to a smaller, more adaptable force, bolstered by cheaper ships and more offensive punch, would ultimately increase the number of vertical launching system cells available to the fleet by 1.4 times the current projected number, the study found. Entrepreneur Network As a new mother, Peipei Zhou had a need: She wanted to sing to her son in Chinese. Growing up in Shanghai, her mother sang classic songs, and Zhou wanted to pass along the tradition. Unfortunately, she had forgotten many of the nursery rhymes. By organizing local singalongs with fellow Asian American families, she learned her community had the same need. This was the initial inspiration for Bao Bao Learns Chinese (available on Amazon), an interactive sound book for children wanting to learn Mandarin. Bao Bao Learns Chinese features three songs from the East, and three from the West. With the press of a button, youll hear Zhous voice singing the tunes while you and your little one sing along, following in Mandarin or Pinyin. Zhou believes children everywhere can learn Chinese, and shes worked over the last year and a half to make that vision come to life. As a mom, wife, daughter, board member and full-time employee at Facebook, Zhou says she sacrificed a lot of sleep to bring her book to market. The book was an instant success in the ever-growing Mandarin-learning community. Since her launch, Zhou has been steadily expanding distribution from just online to including retail. The next chapter for Bao Bao Learns Chinese is a second book in the series, due out in Spring of 2020. If you love ice and snow, then this is the place to be! Worlds largest ice and snow festival, called the Harbin Ice and Snow World, has opened in China which features a lot of spectacular sculptures. The festival opened its doors to public on January 5 and will stay open late February. In addition to the gigantic ice castles, other highlights include an exquisite snow Buddha statue. Visitors can also check out the work done by sculptors from 12 different countries, who compete in the festival. Check out some of the most beautiful pictures from the festival: #1. China's annual ice festival in Harbin is one of the biggest ice and snow festivals in the world. AFP #2. In 1999, the first Ice and Snow World opened to the public to celebrate the new millennium. AFP #3. Every year the park has to be rebuilt with new snow and ice sculptures. Reuters #4. This year 43 brides and grooms took part in a "mass ice and snow wedding". Reuters #5. The workers toiled for hours on the ice each day in the weeks before the festival, cutting out thousands of pieces of ice in 12-hour shift. Reuters #6. The Harbin festival, has drawn millions of people over the years to one of China's coldest cities. AFP #7. People visit a snow sculpture on the opening day of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. AFP #8. The Harbin winter festival has been an annual affair since its inception in the early 1980s. Reuters #9. Fireworks light up the sky behind ice sculptures on the opening day of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. AFP #10. The winter ice festival is a key source of tourism revenue for the city of Harbin. Reuters #11. A man takes pictures of ice sculptures ahead of the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. Reuters #12. An ice sculpture is lit during a light show on the opening day of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. Reuters #13. Artists and workers put finishing touches on one of the sculptures. AFP #14. People visit a snow sculpture prepared for the upcoming Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. Reuters #15. This year is the 36th edition of the Harbin Ice Festival. Reuters #16. Harbin ice festival park covers an area of 80 hectares. Reuters #17. Fireworks marked the festival's opening on Sunday night as tourists wandered between colourfully illuminated ice sculptures in the city. Reuters #18. China expects 340 million people to visit snow and ice attractions in the 2021-2022 winter season, up from 224 million in the 2018-2019 season, Xinhua reported Monday. Reuters It will be a proud day for Ireland's Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Ms Geraldine Byrne Nason, on Friday (10th), when she is honoured with the Freedom of her home town. It will be held in Our Lady's College in Greenhills, her former school. The former highest ranking female civil servant in the country, the ambassador has gone on to serve in places from Vienna to Helsinki and in August 2017, she was appointed as Ireland's permanent representative to the UN in New York. Before that she served as Ireland's Ambassador to France and Monaco. "I have always admired the roles which Geraldine has filled throughout the years of service both at home and abroad as one of Ireland's most senior Civil Servants. And more importantly Geraldine has never forgotten where home is and her love of the town is well demonstrated through her many visits to her family in Drogheda" said Mayor Paul Bell. 'I proposed Ambassador Byrne Nason to the elected members having met her through my work in Brussels when she represented Ireland as Ambassador to the European Union. The mayor says it promises to be a special day and he paid tribute to Louth CC and CEO Joan Martin for their part in hosting the event. She alleged that on December 28, at about 7.30 pm, while she was in a penthousem Rishi along with his friend Nikhil Reddy barged in under the influence of alcohol. Hyderabad: A 21-year-old model who lodged a complaint with the Jubilee Hills police three days ago claiming that she was raped by two persons alleges that police are not moving on the matter. According to the complaint, she came to the city in 2019 and was staying in a hotel at Yellareddyguda under the Jubilee Hills police station limits. During her stay, she developed friendship with the hostel owners son Rishi. She alleged that on December 28, at about 7.30 pm, while she was in a penthousem Rishi along with his friend Nikhil Reddy barged in under the influence of alcohol. When she asked them to leave the place. the two accused sexually abused her. She stated that Nikhil Reddy videographed the assault. After that they left the place. On December 29, she told the police, Rishi called her and assured that he would marry her. When she refused, Nikhil Reddy threatened her against approaching the police. Nikhil Reddy threatened to release the video on social media if she did so, she said. Despite the threat, she lodged a complaint three days ago. Asked about her charge, Jubilee Hills detective inspector A. Ramesh said, We have booked a rape case and taken the accused into custody and are questioning them. A through probe will be conducted. By Trend Kazakhstan and Malaysia expressed mutual interest in the further deepening of the bilateral political cooperation, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The interest was expressed during bilateral meeting between Kazakhstans Ambassador to Malaysia Bolat Imanbayev and Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Saifuddin Abdullah, held in Malaysia. During the meeting, the diplomats discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation on topical issues of bilateral cooperation. Imanbayev noted that Nur-Sultan attaches great importance to the promotion of bilateral relations with Kuala Lumpur to the level of comprehensive partnership. In turn, Abdullah noted that during the period since establishment of the diplomatic relations between Nur-Sultan and Kuala Lumpur, a strong and trusting cooperation has been set. Diplomats also expressed mutual interest to further deepen the bilateral political cooperation and maintaining the regular political contacts at the higher and highest levels. Talking about economic relations, diplomats noted the desire of the two countries to deepen bilateral cooperation with an emphasis on trade, economy and investment. The parties also expressed satisfaction with the annual growth of mutual trade, which, increased five times during nine months of 2019 compared to the same period of 2018 year and exceeded $600 million. The diplomats also discussed main issues on international agenda, prospects for cooperation in international and regional organizations, including United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Congress president on Saturday termed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act a "discriminatory and divisive" law whose "sinister" purpose was to divide people on religious lines, and asserted that the NPR in form and content was "disguised NRC". Addressing the (CWC) meeting here, she said thousands of young men and women, especially students have realized the "grave harm" that implementation of the new Citizenship law will cause. They have taken to the streets braving the cold as well as police brutalities, Gandhi said. "We demand that a comprehensive high-powered commission be constituted to enquire into the incidents connected with the anti-CAA protests and give justice to the affected persons," she said. As the students' protest gains momentum, it is clear that the government is digging in its heels. Not a day passes without the home minister and on some days the prime minister himself making provocative statements, the Congress president said. "The situation in some states is alarming, turning the states into police states, notably in Uttar Pradesh and the Union Territory of Delhi," she said. Coming down hard on the Population Register (NPR), Gandhi told Congress top brass not to be under any illusion that it was a "benign exercise". "In form and content, NPR 2020 is a disguised NRC," she said. Gandhi also hit out at the government over the state of the economy and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. "It is a matter of anguish and concern that the people in Jammu and Kashmir continue to be denied their fundamental rights while the Government makes farcical claims of normalcy and arranges guided tours of diplomats," she said. Apart from Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, top party leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, A K Antony, K C Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jyotiraditya Scindia were among those present at the meeting. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met here on Saturday to deliberate on issues such as the amended citizenship law, the proposed nationwide implementation of the NRC and violence in university campuses, including JNU. The Congress top brass meeting, chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi, will also deliberate on the state of the economy at the meet at the party's Akbar Road headquarters. Apart from Sonia Gandhi,former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, top party leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, A K Antony, K C Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jyotiraditya Scindia were among those present. The CWC, the party's highest decision-making body, is likely to come out with a resolution highlighting its future strategies on these issues, sources said. The leadership will give shape to the Congress's strategy in the wake of widespread student protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR), sources had said earlier. The Congress has come out against the amended citizenship law and supported students' agitations in various campuses in the country. Also read: Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha to take out march against CAA-NRC Also read: Creation of CDS 'very big step' towards integration of forces: Army Chief Naravane By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA/KURNOOL: Agitations in support of Executive Capital in Visakhapatnam and for Judicial Capital at Kurnool are gathering steam. On Friday, Visakhapatnam and its neighbourhood reverberated with slogans in support of the proposal to shift the capital to the City of Destiny during the rallies taken out by Tourism Minister Avanti Srinivas and YSRC leaders. ALSO READ| Clashes break out between villagers and police in Amaravati Rallies, led by minister Muttamsetti Srinivasarao and YSR Congress leaders, were taken out in Gajuwaka, Pedagantyada, Anakapalle, Chodavaram, Madhurawada, and other places. Addressing the rally at Isukathota, Srinivasa Rao said Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy made an announcement regarding plans to make Visakhapatnam as executive capital to ensure the development of North Andhra, which remained backward for several decades. However, it was strange that the TDP leaders from the region opposing the decision, he said. Earlier addressing a rally at Gajuwaka along with MLA Tippala Nagireddy, the minister said Chandrababu was trying to foment trouble and dividing people on caste and regional lines. 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. A 21-year-old Missoula man was arrested on drug and theft charges after a stolen pistol and a variety of illegal drugs were found in a backpack and case following a traffic stop. Maxwell I. Matana appeared Wednesday before Ravalli County Justice Jennifer Ray on four felony drug charges and two misdemeanor counts, including theft and possession of burglary tools. The charging affidavit said Mantana was a passenger in a vehicle traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 93 near Florence that was pulled over for speeding at about 10:20 p.m. on Jan. 4. During the traffic stop, the Montana Highway Patrol officer noticed the smell of marijuana. The two men in the car denied having any marijuana in the vehicle, but both admitted that they smoked marijuana earlier that afternoon, though later changed their story and said one of their girlfriends had been smoking marijuana in the car earlier, according to the affidavit. After obtaining consent from the driver to search the vehicle, the trooper asked Matana to identify items that were his. Matana said that a black backpack and a locked black case belonged to him. He told the trooper there three guns in the locked case, but could only describe one. Matana denied the troopers request to search the case. After smelling marijuana on Matana, the affidavit said the trooper asked him if he had any marijuana on him. Matana stated I dont think so before pulling a small bag of marijuana out of his front pocket, according to the affidavit. The trooper also noticed a white bottle and card in a mesh pouch on the side of the backpack that read MDMA, a name for an illegal drug. At this point, the Ravalli County Dispatch Center aired a shots fired call from Hamilton. All available troopers were requested to respond. The trooper seized the backpack and case pending a search warrant before leaving the scene. After obtaining a search warrant, the trooper found a loaded Ruger LCP pistol that had been reported stolen from Butte, five bags of marijuana, two bags containing methamphetamine, two cakes of hashish, a bag of psilocybin mushrooms, four brownies suspected to contain THC and a lock pick set, according to the affidavit. On Jan. 7, the trooper contacted Matana and requested they meet to return the non-contraband items. The trooper met Matana at a gas station in Victor. Matana came wearing a body camera. He was arrested for criminal possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to distribute. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 2 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Union Home Minister on Saturday alleged that the falsehood being spread by the opposition parties against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) has resulted in anarchy in the country. He also challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Communists to show him any provision in the CAA, which would take away the citizenship of Muslims in the country. Maintaining that security was the Narendra Modi government's top priority, the minister said that when India conducted surgical strikes and air strikes, it became the third country after the US and Israel to do so. "The opposition does not have any other issue, so they are spreading misinformation and falsehood on CAA. This has resulted in anarchy in the entire country," he said. His statements come in the wake of violent protests in parts of India over the CAA, the Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Population Register (NPR). "Persecuted minorities have to come to India to save themselves. However, the previous governments did not give any facilities to these migrants thinking that it would make others unhappy," he said at the inauguration of various projects of the Gujarat Police here. "Rahulbaba, Mamata, Kejriwal and Communists are spreading lies that CAA will take away the citizenship of Muslims. I challenge them to show me any such provision in the Act," Shah said. "I urge the BJP workers to visit every household and bust the lies and misinformation being spread against the CAA. Since there is no alternative to Modiji in politics at present, the opposition is resorting to falsehood," he added. "We have the power to make people understand the truth. After our campaign is over, people of the country will understand the importance of the CAA," the BJP chief said. He also claimed that there was no violence in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and not a single person has died there due to it. "Some leaders from the opposition had claimed in the Parliament that there will be bloodbath (if special status of Kashmir is revoked). Such statements are on record. But people gave a befitting reply to such leaders. Not a single person has died there ever since Article 370 was abrogated," he said. Shah said that after Narendra Modi took charge as the country's PM, he brought a clear division between the foreign policy and the security policy, unlike in the past. "We told the world that we want peace with everybody, but if we are attacked, we will not tolerate it. Terrorist attacks were frequent in our country...But after Uri and Pulwama attacks, surgical strikes and air strikes made our intentions clear. India became the third country after the US and Israel to do it," Shah said. India carried out surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC on September 29, 2016. It came 10 days after a major terror attack on an Army camp in Uri in Kashmir. In February last year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) struck a terror training camp in Pakistan's Balakot area, days after the Pulwama terror attack. On the launch of various projects aimed at strengthening security in Gujarat, Shah said the ruling BJP has ended the previous system, wherein political leaders had a nexus with criminals. He also urged the people of Gujarat not to forget the "lawlessness" of the previous (Congress) governments. "Atrocities on Dalits, curfew, scarcity of food in tribal areas have become a thing of the past in Gujarat today. I urge the people to identify those behind spreading lies and misinformation," Shah said. Praising the Gujarat Home Department and the state police force for effectively tackling crime, he said the governments can make maximum use of technology to curb crimes. Shah had earlier served as the minister of state for home in Gujarat when present Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister of the state. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here for the first time after the formation of his government in the state. "I met Prime Minister Modi for the first time after the formation of the government. In the coming days, I will once again meet him and share the state's problems with him. The Prime Minister has assured that the rights of tribals will be protected," said Soren while speaking to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Modi. "During the meeting today, I told the Prime Minister to take special care of Jharkhand. It is is a backward state. Ahead of the Budget Session, we have also demanded a tribal university in the state," he said. Hemant Soren, the working president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was recently sworn-in as the 11th Chief Minister of Jharkhand after the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance won a comfortable majority by securing 47 seats in the 81-member House in the assembly elections held in December last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Congress MLA from Suwasra in Mandsaur district, Hardeep Singh Dang on Saturday supported the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) but said that it needed to be seen separately from the National Register of Citizens (NRC). "If we see CAA and NRC separately, there is no harm if someone who is unhappy in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan gets facilities here. But this should also be considered that they are asking people, whose generations were born and raised in India, to furnish documents under NRC," Dang told reporters here. "The whole politics revolves around the fact that the people are mixing up both CAA and NRC," he clarified. Congress MLA further said that he along with Jyotiraditya Scindia had also supported the Centre's move to abrogate Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, last year. His statement comes on the day when the Congress Working Committee (CWC) demanded that the CAA should be withdrawn and the process of National Population Register (NPR) should be stopped, in a meeting in New Delhi. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (ANI) Addressing the Congress Working Committee meet, Sonia said thousands of young men and women, especially students have realized the'grave harm that implementation of the new citizenship law will cause New Delhi: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday termed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act a "discriminatory and divisive" law whose "sinister" purpose was to divide people on religious lines, and asserted that the NPR in form and content was "disguised NRC". Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Sonia said thousands of young men and women, especially students have realized the "grave harm" that implementation of the new citizenship law will cause. They have taken to the streets braving the cold as well as police brutalities, Sonia said. "We demand that a comprehensive high-powered commission be constituted to enquire into the incidents connected with the anti-CAA protests and give justice to the affected persons," she said. As the students' protest gains momentum, it is clear that the government is digging in its heels. Not a day passes without the home minister and on some days the prime minister himself making provocative statements, the Congress interim president said. "The situation in some states is alarming, turning the states into police states, notably in Uttar Pradesh and the Union Territory of Delhi," she said. Coming down hard on the National Population Register (NPR), Gandhi told Congress top brass not to be under any illusion that it was a "benign exercise". "In form and content, NPR 2020 is a disguised NRC," she said. Sonia also hit out at the government over the state of the economy and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. "It is a matter of anguish and concern that the people in Jammu and Kashmir continue to be denied their fundamental rights while the Government makes farcical claims of normalcy and arranges guided tours of diplomats," she said. Apart from Sonia, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, top party leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, A K Antony, K C Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jyotiraditya Scindia were among those present at the meeting. Ahead of the Opposition party meeting in Delhi next week, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet here on Saturday afternoon to discuss the current political situation in the country. The meeting is scheduled for 3.30 pm at party headquarters. The Congress has called the meeting of Opposition parties on January 13 in Parliament Annexe to discuss the emerging situation and incident of violence against students. The Opposition parties are meeting for joint strategy on the issue of Anti-CAA protests and alleged police brutality against the students. The CWC will likely discuss the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and protests against it. The party has already supported the protest and showed solidarity with the demonstrations which are being spearheaded by student bodies. Sources say that Congress will come up with a detailed plan on this issue and a statement regarding ongoing unrest in the country and high handedness of the Government. The Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has already condemned the violence and had sent a fact-finding team to the JNU. Sonia Gandhi in her statement had demanded a judicial enquiry into the JNU violence which took place on Sunday. She had said that the entire party stands in solidarity with the students. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States carried out a secret operation in Yemen that targeted, but failed to kill, an Iranian military official last week, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday. The strike was carried out on the same day that the United States killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The timing could suggest that the United States had sought to take out a broader swathe of the Iranian military leadership when it killed Soleimani, citing an imminent threat from him. ALSO READ: ... The influx of genuine Mexican flavors has continued to blossom across South Philadelphia, expanding from its east side nexus near the Italian Market to several new options now west of Broad Street. In the past months alone, Ive savored handmade sopes cradling chorizo at the new La Cocina Del Cafe (1500 S. Broad St.) and a tasty chicken stuffed with huitlacoche and topped with creamy poblano sauce at Taqueria Morales (1429 Jackson St.), which just opened in the former Gennaros Tomato Pie space. One of the most notable meals, however, was at a west side Mexican pioneer, Cafe y Chocolate, that relocated from its longtime home at 20th and Snyder to the old Chaat & Chai space across from the Melrose Diner. A recent visit to Arturo Lorenzos slender but lively new 36-seat address reminded me why his Mexican brunch concept was a hit to begin with. Lorenzo who serves one of South Phillys more interesting Mexican menus for dinner at La Mula Terca (dont miss the lamb birria) has long showcased Mexicos early-day specialties at Cafe y Chocolate, from the signature cups of cinnamony Mexican hot chocolate spiked with espresso to huevos rancheros, a double-stacked variation called motulenos, and hearty tamal Azteca. Few things satisfy in a more elemental way, though, than good chilaquiles, largely because they rely on the quality of two essentials: tortillas and salsa. They are one of the worlds great leftover-breakfast classics, repurposing day-old tortillas in morning treasure. Anyone whos sampled the excellent guacamole at Cafe y Chocolate (always fresh, never chilled, chunky, and well-seasoned) knows the freshly fried chips are top-notch. But the salsas here in which those crispy chips simmer to a hearty softness are what make this rendition so good. Diners can choose from green or red salsas or mole poblano. For this dish, at least, Im partial to the salsa roja because it draws a punchy-yet-complex spice from its blend guajillo and pasilla chilies, but also has enough saucy acidity from plum tomatoes to cut through the earthiness of the masa. Add an egg and swipe those chilaquiles through the epazote-scented refried black beans on the side, and you have a complete breakfast for around $10 that is infinitely more than the sum of its parts. Chilaquiles, $9.50 ($1 extra for an added egg), Cafe y Chocolate, 1532 Snyder Ave., 267-639-4506; cafeychocolatepa.com Gandhinagar, Jan 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Saturday surgical strikes and air strike on Pakistan were extraordinary steps and infiltration from across the border had become difficult. Launch cyber security projects for public safety, in his Lok Sabha constituency, Shah said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had proved wrong all propagandists who were predicting blood bath in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A. Shah launched VISWAS (Video Integration and State Wide Advanced Security) and Cyber AASHVAT (Assured Assistant Services to Victims at Shortest Time) aimed at minimising and countering cyber crimes. The BJP chief said due to several initiatives and excellent law and order situation, Gujarat was progressing faster compared with other states and lauded the state's contribution in national exports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as the Chief Minister created a conducive atmosphere for allround growth of the state, he said and added, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat had continued the momentum. "With the new projects of VISWAS, more than 7,000 CCTV cameras will be put up at over 150 locations in the state. It will be a giant stride in achieving public safety while empowering the police to arrest criminals at unparalleled speed," according to an official statement. As sure as there was a grand stretch becoming visible in the evenings as the New Year dawned, there is a feeling in the air that an election is in the offing this spring. The political and media chatter is that the country may go to the polls sooner rather than later, and the ballot boxes may be out as early as February and Taoiseach Leo Varadkars publicity round over the Christmas break did little to dispell this. However, it has to be remembered that this is the government that the pundits said would not last in the first place when it came to power back in 2015. Truth be told, it suits neither party to go to the polls, and they would likely be happy to continue as is for the forseeable future, if it was not for the law of the land compelling them into an election. Also read: 2019 Longford local elections will live long in memory Homelessness, the housing crisis and the health service will, of course, be major election issues. But so, too, will climate change, both on a local and global level. Australia is currently on fire, a natural disaster caused, experts say, by global warming. Ireland has long had a historical and cultural affinity with Australia and many of our citizens have spent years working and living there. Longford families have loved ones there many have sons and daughters who are in the country on working holiday visas. When they see pictures and videos and read stories of people in a wealthy Western country huddled on beaches to avoid death by fire in one of the greatest environmental disasters of our time, it really hits home. That worry will be combined with the general rising tide of environmental consciousness amongst voters to ensure that politicians will be tasked with hard questions on the doorsteps. The local elections of last May showed that voters have the appetite to elect both Green and green representatives those of other parties with strong environmental credentials. It will be interesting to see if and how that vote translates to the national stage. Also read: 2020 a big year for government's Just Transition talk Every day, millions of new medical images containing the personal health information of patients are spilling out onto the internet. Hundreds of hospitals, medical offices and imaging centers are running insecure storage systems, allowing anyone with an internet connection and free-to-download software to access over 1 billion medical images of patients across the world. About half of all the exposed images, which include X-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans, belong to patients in the United States. Yet despite warnings from security researchers who have spent weeks alerting hospitals and doctors' offices to the problem, many have ignored their warnings and continue to expose their patients' private health information. "It seems to get worse every day," said Dirk Schrader, who led the research at Germany-based security firm Greenbone Networks, which has been monitoring the number of exposed servers for the past year. The problem is well-documented. Greenbone found 24 million patient exams storing more than 720 million medical images in September, which first unearthed the scale of the problem as reported by ProPublica. Two months later, the number of exposed servers had increased by more than half, to 35 million patient exams, exposing 1.19 billion scans and representing a considerable violation of patient privacy. But the problem shows little sign of abating. "The amount of data exposed is still rising, even considering the amount of data taken offline due to our disclosures," said Schrader. If doctors fail to take action, he said the number of exposed medical images will hit a new high "in no time." Researchers say the problem is caused by a common weakness found on the servers used by hospitals, doctors' offices and radiology centers to store patient medical images. A decades-old file format and industry standard known as DICOM was designed to make it easier for medical practitioners to store medical images in a single file and share them with other medical practices. DICOM images can be viewed using any of the free-to-use apps, as would any radiologist. DICOM images are typically stored in a picture archiving and communications system, known as a PACS server, allowing for easy storage and sharing. But many doctors' offices disregard security best practices and connect their PACS server directly to the internet without a password. Story continues These unprotected servers not only expose medical imaging but also patient personal health information. Many patient scans include cover sheets baked into the DICOM file, including the patient's name, date of birth and sensitive information about their diagnoses. In some cases, hospitals use a patient's Social Security number to identify patients in these systems. Lucas Lundgren, a Sweden-based security researcher, spent part of last year looking at the extent of exposed medical image data. In November, he demonstrated to TechCrunch how easy it was for anyone to view medical data from exposed servers. In just a few minutes, he found one of the largest hospitals in Los Angeles exposing tens of thousands of patients' scans dating back several years. The server was later secured. Some of the largest hospitals and imaging centers in the United States are the biggest culprits of exposing medical data. Schrader said the exposed data puts patients at risk of becoming "perfect victims for medical insurance fraud." Yet, patients are unaware that their data could be exposed on the internet for anyone to find. The Mighty, which examined the effect on patients, found exposed medical information puts patients at a greater risk of insurance fraud and identity theft. Exposed data can also erode the relationship between patients and their doctors, leading to patients becoming less willing to share potentially pertinent information. As part of our investigation, we found a number of U.S. imaging centers storing decades of patient scans. One patient, whose information was exposed following a visit to an emergency room in Florida last year, described her exposed medical data as "scary" and "uncomfortable." Another with a chronic illness had regular scans at a hospital in California over a period of 30 years. And one unprotected server at one of the largest military hospitals in the United States exposed the names of military personnel and medical images. But even in cases of patients with only one or a handful of medical images, the exposed data can be used to infer a picture of a person's health, including illnesses and injuries. In an effort to get the servers secured, Greenbone contacted more than a hundred organizations last month about their exposed servers. Many of the smaller organizations subsequently secured their systems, resulting in a small drop in the overall number of exposed images. But when the security company contacted the 10 largest organizations, which accounted for about one-in-five of all exposed medical images, Schrader said there was "no response at all." Greenbone privately shared names of the organizations to allow TechCrunch to follow up with each medical office, including a health provider with three hospitals in New York, a radiology company in Florida with a dozen locations and a major California-based hospital. (We're not naming the affected organizations to limit the risk of exposing patient data.) Only one organization secured its servers. Northeast Radiology, a partner of Alliance Radiology, had the largest cache of exposed medical data in the U.S., according to Greenbone's data, with more than 61 million images on about 1.2 million patients across its five offices. The server was secured only after TechCrunch followed up a month after Greenbone first warned the organization of the exposure. Alliance spokesperson Tracy Weise declined to comment. Schrader said if the remaining affected organizations took their exposed systems off the internet, almost 600 million images would "disappear" from the internet. Experts who have warned about exposed servers for years say medical practices have few excuses. Yisroel Mirsky, a security researcher who has studied security vulnerabilities in medical equipment, said last year that security features set out by the standards body that created and maintains the DICOM standard have "largely been ignored" by the device manufacturers. Schrader did not lay blame on the device manufacturers. Instead, he said it was "pure negligence" that doctor's offices failed to properly configure and secure their servers. Lucia Savage, a former senior privacy official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said more has to be done to improve security across the healthcare industry especially at the level of smaller organizations that lack resources. "If the data is personal health information, it is required to be secured from unauthorized access, which includes finding it on the internet," said Savage. "There is an equal obligation to lock the file room that contains your paper medical records as there is to secure digital health information," she said. Medical records and personal health data are highly protected under U.S. law. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) created the "security rule," which included technical and physical safeguards designed to protect electronic personal health information by ensuring the data is kept private and secure. The law also holds healthcare providers accountable for any security lapses. Running afoul of the law can lead to severe penalties. "As Health and Human Services aggressively pushes to permit a wider range of parties to have access to the sensitive health information of American patients without traditional privacy protections attaching to that information, HHSs inattention to this particular incident becomes even more troubling." Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) The government last year fined one Tennessee-based medical imaging company $3 million for inadvertently exposing a server containing over 300,000 protected patient data. Deven McGraw, who was the top privacy official in the Health and Human Services' enforcement arm the Office of Civil Rights, said if security assistance was more available to smaller providers, the government could focus its enforcement efforts on providers that willfully ignore their security obligations. "Government enforcement is important, as is guidance and support for lower resourced providers and easy-to-deploy solutions that are built into the technology," said McGraw. "It may be too big of a problem for any single law enforcement agency to truly put a dent in." Since the scale of exposed medical servers was first revealed in September, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) called for answers from Health and Human Services. Warner acknowledged that the number of U.S.-based exposed servers had decreased 16 servers storing 31 million images but told TechCrunch that more needs to be done. "To my knowledge, Health and Human Services has done nothing about it," Warner told TechCrunch. "As Health and Human Services aggressively pushes to permit a wider range of parties to have access to the sensitive health information of American patients without traditional privacy protections attached to that information, HHSs inattention to this particular incident becomes even more troubling," he added. Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights said it does not comment on individual cases but defended its enforcement actions. "OCR has taken enforcement action in the past to address violations concerning unprotected storage servers, and continues robust enforcement of the HIPAA rules," said the spokesperson. "We will continue doing our best to improve the global situation of unprotected systems," said Schrader. But he said there was not much more he can do beyond warn organizations of their exposed servers. "Then it's a question for the regulators," he said. Then Virginia will begin Phase 1 of the project, which includes construction of about 23 miles of new track in the Interstate 95 corridor in Northern Virginia. This will allow the state to add more trains by 2026. Phase 2, which includes completion of the Long Bridge, 14 more miles of new track and the addition of more Amtrak and VRE trains, is scheduled to be finished in 2030. US authorities have described an extradition request from the UK for the suspect charged in connection with the death of a teenage motorcyclist as highly inappropriate. The Home Office submitted the request for Anne Sacoolas, 42, on Friday after she was charged with causing Harry Dunns death by dangerous driving last month. The 19-year-old died after his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year. Mrs Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official, claimed diplomatic immunity after the collision and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy. Anne Sacoolas was recently pictured driving (Picture: ITV) The US Department for State said its position was Mrs Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity, stating a request to extradite somebody with immunity would be an abuse. A spokesman added the United States has a strong law enforcement relationship with the UK and, in particular, a strong track record of close cooperation on extradition matters but, under the circumstances of this case, they strongly believe that an extradition request would be highly inappropriate. Confirming the request, a spokesman for the Home Office said: Following the Crown Prosecution Services charging decision, the Home Office has sent an extradition request to the United States for Anne Sacoolas on charges of causing death by dangerous driving. This is now a decision for the US authorities. Charlotte Charles, mother of Harry Dunn, joined by Dunn's father Tim Dunn at a news conference in New York last year (Picture: PA) Mr Dunns family spokesman Radd Seiger said they were pleased an extradition request had been lodged and added they felt it was a huge step towards achieving justice for Harry. He said: Despite the unwelcome public comments currently emanating from the US administration that Anne Sacoolas will never be returned, Harrys parents, as victims, will simply look forward to the legal process unfolding, as it must now do, confident in the knowledge that the rule of law will be upheld. After a meeting with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel, Mr Dunns mum Charlotte Charles and dad Tim Dunn, pressed repeatedly for a meeting with the Prime Minister. Story continues The familys local MP, Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, has written to Boris Johnson to request a face-to-face meeting. Harry Dunn died after his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27 (Picture: Family) The family have initiated various legal proceedings against the Foreign Office, the US government and Mrs Sacoolas herself after their lawyers disputed the granting of diplomatic immunity. READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Anne Sacoolas charged over death of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn Harry Dunn crash suspect Anne Sacoolas filmed behind the wheel in the US Harry Dunn death: Hundreds of bikers ride to remember crash victim Mrs Sacoolas lawyer Amy Jeffress has said her client will not return voluntarily to the UK to face a potential jail sentence and described the incident as a terrible but unintentional accident. Mrs Sacoolas was criticised by the Dunn family after she was filmed behind the wheel in the US in December. Police in Palm Beach arrested an Iranian national who was flush with weapons and cash. When Masoud Yareioell Zoleh was arrested, he had just crossed over the Flagler Memorial Bridge, which is situated less than five miles from President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Although on foot, Zoleh was also found to have a car parked at Palm Beach International Airport. When a Palm Beach Daily News reporter appeared on the scene, law enforcement officials first said the arrested man was homeless or, at least, had no known address. However, law officials soon updated the story to report that Zoleh had on him $22,000 (an amount inconsistent with homelessness), a machete, a pickaxe, and an Iranian passport. Zoleh's arrest came only a few days after Palm Beach police were called out on Monday to Mar-a-Lago to assist the Secret Service with...something. What the something was is unknown, for the Palm Beach report is redacted and does not even name the person involved. Neither the Secret Service nor the White House would comment on Monday's event. Going back farther in time, on Sunday, before the president was to fly out of Palm Beach International Airport after having spent the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, a Marine who had been dishonorably discharged for sex offenses was able to make it past two airport checkpoints before getting arrested. He did so by falsely claiming to be a member of President Trump's helicopter crew. The Palm Beach Daily News points out that with President Trump's regular presence at Mar-a-Lago, the security issues over the past few days aren't the only ones that have occurred recently. Just as Zoleh was Iranian, we know of two Chinese nationals who were found in suspicious proximity to Mar-a-Lago: 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. Protecting a president, especially one who is on the receiving end of non-stop threats from both genuinely dangerous people and from laptop Twitter warriors inside and outside Hollywood, is a full-time job. As per the current compact, exclusivity fee payments for December are due Jan. 20, while Januarys payment is due Feb. 20. Gaming tribes pay between 4% and 10% in exclusivity fees. Three of the councils five member tribes are plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit pending in the Western District of Oklahoma, seeking a declaration that the compacts automatically renewed. Hoskin, whose tribe is one of the three plaintiffs, said the Cherokee Nation has not had any new conversations with the state since the lawsuit was filed. Matthew Morgan, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and the chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said to his knowledge, there have not been additional compact talks between any gaming tribes and the state since the lawsuit was filed other than conversations between tribal regulators and representatives from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services compliance unit. We are looking forward to the day when we can move past this and move into more productive discussions, he said. This matter is really coloring all other matters of state-tribal relations. It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. 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 Moho Resources Limited (ASX:MOH). What Is Insider Buying? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. 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. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year. See our latest analysis for Moho Resources Moho Resources Insider Transactions Over The Last Year While no particular insider transaction stood out, we can still look at the overall trading. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! ASX:MOH Recent Insider Trading, January 10th 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 Moho Resources For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Insiders own 18% of Moho Resources shares, worth about AU$405k. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders. So What Do The Moho Resources Insider Transactions Indicate? The fact that there have been no Moho Resources insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders own shares in Moho Resources and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can access this interactive graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow for free. Story continues 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. US Congressman Scott Perry on Friday voiced strong support for the Indian government's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution, saying that the move has allowed the government to address the stagnant economy and high youth unemployment plaguing the Jammu and Kashmir region by providing economic opportunity and sound governance. Perry joined five other US congressmen, namely Republicans Joe Wilson, Pete Olson, Paul Gosar, George Holding, and Francis Rooney, who in the past have voiced their support for the move. In his statement at the US House of Representatives, Perry said that he stands with India in its aspiration to provide equal economic, social, and political opportunities to all citizens. "As part of this pursuit, two-thirds of the Indian Parliament voted last year to change the status of Jammu and Kashmir. This vote allowed the Government of India to address the stagnant economy and high youth unemployment plaguing the region by providing economic opportunity and sound governance," Perry said. The Congressman said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have battled economic depression and forces of extremism and radicalisation for a long time and that the regional stability provided by the government with the move will give these people "a better way forward and hope for the future." Perry is a fourth-term Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania who serves on two important House Committees - Foreign Affairs and Transportation and Infrastructure. By virtue of being part of the Foreign Affairs sub-Committee on Asia and the Pacific, he is a close observer of dynamics in the region and the instability wreaked by state-sponsored terrorism. On March 27, last year, he had introduced House Resolution 261 to condemn the Pulwama terrorist attack and stated, "Pakistan has a long history of harbouring terrorists and terrorist sympathizers, despite continued American efforts to root out bad actors in the region. Actively choosing lax enforcement has cost innocent lives and emboldens radicals to perpetuate similar attacks. Enough is enough; now's the time to hold the Pakistani government accountable." Several Republicans in the past have voiced their support on the government's move on Kashmir, including Joe Wilson, a tenth-term congressman from South Carolina. Other Congressmen include Pete Olson, who, in November, last year, said that the move "creates equality for all citizens". Paul Gosar, a fifth-term Congressman from Arizona, in a strong statement submitted for the House record on 23 December 2019, had said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi " has made it clear that this change was necessary to facilitate peace and economic prosperity. I applaud Prime Minister Modi and the Parliament for their leadership on ensuring the stability of Jammu-Kashmir. Madam Speaker, I would also like to commend the Trump Administration's continued work with Prime Minister Modi to ensure peace within the region." Congressman George Holding, a Republican from North Carolina, was the first to issue a statement in support of the move on 31 October 2019. "Article 370 might have worked well for those with political connections, but it denied economic opportunities for the people. It also created a polarizing environment that was exploited politically." He said further, "The Modi Government had to make a decision on whether to continue with the old policy or to pursue progress by changing the region's legal status," Holding had said. In his statement on "recognizing the critical US-India relationship", Congressman Francis Rooney, had noted that "India faces many regional and geopolitical threats. Islamic insurgents are a constant threat, spreading terror throughout Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in India. We should support the government in Delhi in the continued fight against terror. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 15:45:03|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is narrowly leading in the Democratic presidential primary field in Iowa, with the Iowa Democratic caucuses kicking off the 2020 presidential nominating calendar next month, according to a new poll released Friday. The Des Moines Register/CNN poll, widely considered the most authoritative in Iowa, shows that Vermont's Sanders garners the support of 20 percent of likely Democrat caucus-goers. Sanders, 78, is trailed closely by another progressive, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who registers 17 percent in the survey. Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, a fast-rising moderate, along with former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who's leading comfortably in national polls, rounded out the top four, with 16-percent and 15-percent support, respectively. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota notched 6 percent in the poll, putting her in the fifth place, while entrepreneur Andrew Yang finished just below her, with 5-percent support. The poll surveyed 701 likely Democratic caucusgoers in Iowa on Jan. 2-8, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points, suggesting the race in the Hawkeye State remains wide open. The poll is good news for Sanders, who increased his standing by 5 percentage points since the last Des Moines Register poll in November. That survey showed Buttigieg surging to the front of the pack with 25-percent support. David Axelrod, director of the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics, said Friday that the loyalty and enthusiasm of Sanders' supporters is "impressive." "It's reflected in his even larger lead among those most certain to caucus," Axelrod tweeted. "Still a debate and three weeks to go but he is in a strong position headed into the final turn." Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, tweeted Friday that he believes it is still a "close 4-way race at top." The poll was released hours after U.S. author Marianne Williamson, a long-shot candidate, announced that she's ending her bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination against President Donald Trump in November. "With caucuses and primaries now about to begin, however, we will not be able to garner enough votes in the election to elevate our conservation any more than it is now," Williamson said in a message to supporters. "The primaries might be tightly contested among the top contenders, and I don't want to get in the way of a progressive candidate winning any of them," she said. "As of today, therefore, I'm suspending my campaign." Williamson's exit shrunk the Democratic primary field to 13 candidates. The 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 3, as the first nominating contest in the Democratic presidential primaries for the 2020 presidential election. The seventh Democratic primary debate is scheduled for next week and is set to be followed by three more debates in February. SAN MARCOS, Texas Michael R. Bloomberg on Saturday did not rule out spending a billion dollars of his own money on the 2020 presidential race, even if he does not win the Democratic nomination, and said he would mobilize his well-financed political operation to help Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren win in November if either is the party nominee, despite their sharp policy differences. Mr. Bloombergs plans would effectively create a shadow campaign operation for the general election, complete with hundreds of organizers in key battleground states and a robust digital operation, ready to be inherited by the party nominee regardless of who that nominee may be. Already, Mr. Bloomberg has spent more than $200 million on advertising, putting him on pace to spend by early March about the same as what President Barack Obamas campaign spent on advertising over the course of the entire 2012 general election. If Mr. Bloomberg fails to win the nomination, future spending would be redirected toward attacking Mr. Trump. Washington, Jan 11 : The US government further restricted air travel between the United States and Cuba, in an effort to press Havana harder. "Today, at my request, the US Department of Transportation suspended until further notice all public charter flights between the United States and Cuban destinations other than Havana's Jose Marti International Airport," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. Public charter flight operators will have a 60-day wind-down period to discontinue all affected flights, according to the statement. "Today's action will further restrict the Cuban regime's ability to obtain revenue," it added. The United States has suspended all scheduled air service to Cuban airports except for the international airport in Havana. US-Cuba ties have deteriorated under the administration of President Donald Trump. Washington repeatedly alleges that Havana has been supporting Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro government, which the US government openly seeks to oust from power. The UN Security Council voted Friday to renew cross-border aid to Syria but under pressure from Russia it scaled back a program that has been helping millions in the war-ravaged country since 2014. The assistance is now being prolonged for six months and deliveries will be made from only from two points along Syrias border with Turkey. After a series of concessions by Western countries since late December, a resolution extending the aid was passed by 11 votes in favor and four abstentions: Russia, China, the United States, and Britain. Until now, the aid had been extended yearly and deliveries were made from four points along the border. The existing mandate was to expire Friday. Belgium and France expressed disappointment over the scaling back of the aid. Eleven million Syrians need humanitarian assistance, said Belgian ambassador Marc Pectseen de Buytswerve. Russia, a key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saw international authorization of cross-border aid shipments as breach of sovereignty, and that is a reality, a western diplomat said. This diplomat said Russia wanted to force recognition that Damascus had largely retaken control of territory inside Syria a year ago, admitting that Moscow was in a strong position in the face-off with western countries. The western concessions to Russia keep the program alive but on a reduced scale. The aid is vital for almost three million Syrians living in the northern Idlib region, where fighting and bombardments have increased in recent weeks. The resolution extends cross border aid until July 10. It does away with two entry points, one along the border with Turkey and the other on the frontier with Iraq. The latter helped 1.3 million people in northeast Syria. At the insistence of Germany and Belgium, the council asked Secretary General Antonio Guterres to compile a report by the end of February on finding an alternative to the aid spot on the Iraqi border, which is the town of Al Yarubiyah. On December 20, Russia -- backed by China -- vetoed a proposal to extend aid for a year from three border spots: two along the border with Turkey and the Iraqi one. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described the Russian and Chinese veto as shameful and told Moscow and Beijing you have blood on your hands. Washingtons negotiating position had been less than subtle however, one diplomat told AFP, starting out with a demand for five crossing points that could be bargained down to its desired number of three, then two. The US also wrongly assessed that Moscow would not resort to a veto, which it did, the same source said. The British ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, said the councils vote Friday let down the people of Syria. Its an inadequate response for the Syrian people. And its an inadequate response to what the UN have been asking for, she said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Friday four million Syrians are being supported by cross-border operations, 2.7 million of them in the northwest and another 1.3 million in the northeast. Amnesty International said in a statement Friday that the aid shipments were vital to people living in the northern region of Idlib, close to the Turkish border, which has been subjected to renewed fighting and bombardments recently. Cross-border delivery of humanitarian aid has offered a lifeline for millions of civilians in northern Syria, who for years have suffered as a result of severely limited access to basic services such as clean water and vital health care, said Lynn Maalouf, Amnestys Middle East research director Oprah Winfrey is stepping back from a documentary headed for the Sundance Film Festival that centers on sexual misconduct allegations against Russell Simmons. The high profile documentary will premiere at Sundance later this month. It was also due to be released on Apple TV+ but Winfrey said that that is no longer the case after she stepped back as executive producer on the project. . 'I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+,' Winfrey said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. 'First and foremost, I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard. 'In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision.' The high profile doc about Russell Simmons is set to premiere at Sundance later this month and was expected to be released on Apple TV+ afterwards. Oprah was the executive producer on the project Winfrey specifically mentions that filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering wanted to premiere the film at Sundance before she felt it was 'complete.' Winfrey specifically mentions that filmmaker Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering wanted to premiere the film at Sundance before she felt it was 'complete' 'I will be working with Time's Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment,' Winfrey concluded in her statement. The film explores the allegations pertaining to Simmons, specifically those of Drew Dixon - who made claims against the music mogul in a New York Times interview in 2017. Dixon claims that Simmons raped her in his apartment in 1995 while he was her boss at a music label. Dixon quit the company soon after the alleged incident. Dick and Ziering released their own statement, sharing that they intended to move forward with the documentary's release. 'Revealing hard truths is never easy, and the women in our documentary are all showing extraordinary strength and courage by raising their voices to address sexual abuse in the music industry,' they said. 'While we are disappointed that Oprah Winfrey is no longer an Executive Producer on the project, we are gratified that Winfrey has unequivocally said she believes and supports the survivors of the film. The film explored the allegations pertaining to Simmons, specifically those of Drew Dixon - who made claims against the music mogul in a New York Times interview in 2017 'The #MeToo experiences of Black women deserve to be heard, especially against powerful men, so we will continue with our plans to bring the film to The Sundance Film Festival. 'The film, more than two years in the making, will be our eighth film to premiere at Sundance. The film is a beacon of hope for voices that have long been suppressed, and an inspiration for anyone wanting to regain their power power.' Time's Up Foundation president and CEO Tina Tchen released a statement calling the women in the documentary 'brave.' Oprah has declared that she still supports the women who have come forward 'We believe them,' Tchen declared. 'We support Oprah Winfrey in maintaining that the victims' stories deserve to be heard on their own terms. Too often, black women are silenced, disbelieved, or even vilified when they speak out. 'On top of that, for years, these women have been attacked by powerful forces surrounding Russell Simmons illustrating how difficult it is to speak out against powerful men. And how important it is for powerful men to be held accountable for their actions. 'As Oprah made clear in her statement, any decision by her and Apple regarding this documentary does not change the underlying facts. We assert Time's Up's unwavering support for these survivors. We are in awe of their courage and strength. We will continue to fight for them, and we will continue to fight for a future where black women are truly heard and believed.' Simmons has vehemently denied all the allegations brought against him. = Deena Theresa By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seventeen-year-old Isabel Wijsen would describe herself as an outgoing girl whos into dancing, reading and cooking for her family at night. To the outside world, however, Isabel is an activist and the co-founder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags (BBPB), a movement that says no to plastic bags, spread over 29 countries. Hailing from Bali, Isabel and her sister Melati founded the same when they were 10 and 12 years old, respectively. Almost seven years into the campaign, their battle against plastic pollution turned victorious when plastic-based materials were banned in Bali last June. For their efforts, they were featured on Instagram as part of its 20 people to watch out in 2020. With Keralas ban on single-use plastic effective from January 1, Isabels visit couldnt be more timely. She is in the state for the two-day National Climate Change Conference 2020 at Cusat, Kochi, organised by Thiruvananthapuram-based initiative Bring Back Green on January 17, in which key speakers include ecologist Madhav Gadgil and conservationist Rajendra Singh. The sisters had their aha moment after a class on inspiring leaders. Having being born and raised in Bali, a 100metres away from the beach, nature was a huge part of our upbringing. Plastic, largely, harmed our environment. It was on the beachside and the rice paddy fields. Seeing it build-up, we asked ourselves a question. Who is going to do something about this? Often we forget that we can be that somebody and after that lesson in class, we thought why must we wait until were older?, says Isabel. They delved right into it. Two years into their campaign, they had an INK Talk in Mumbai. Upon a visit to Mahatma Gandhis house, they were motivated by his non-violence practices. The sisters decided to go on a hunger strike from dawn to dusk so that they could reach out to the government. The successful strike saw them meet the governor on the second day. We created a solid relationship with the government where we now have clear communication and willingness to work together. Because after years of campaigning, you realise that to create real change you have to work together with stakeholders, organisations, activists, schools and private sectors. As we were young, they could see that our intention was genuine and not profit-driven, she says. Alternatives first Governments need to prioritise the availability of alternatives before a ban is enforced, as per Isabel. Back in time, our countries used newspapers and banana-leaves as wrappers. Sometimes its not just about looking forward to alternatives but its also about returning to our roots. Reusable alternatives are the way; cause you need to create a new alternative in such a manner that 10 years down the lane, you shouldnt worry about the same being dumped everywhere, she explains. At a time when the youth are increasingly taking over charge and questioning leaders in power about the depleting resources on the planet, Isabel and Melatis efforts have extended beyond environmental concerns. They want to harness the power of the youth through their upcoming project Youthtopia. Authorities arrested a 43-year-old San Francisco man accused of violently trying to rape a woman who fought him off twice in one incident in 2018, officials said Friday. Richard Fabian Silverio was arrested Thursday afternoon after detectives with the San Mateo Sheriffs Office investigated the reported assault and identified him using a DNA sample, according to the sheriffs office. He was arrested on charges of attempted rape, assault with intent to commit rape, kidnapping and false imprisonment. He will first arrive in Tehran on Sunday, after which Qureshi will visit Riyadh on January 13 and then travel to Washington on January 17, Dawn news quoted a senior diplomatic source as saying here on Saturday. Islamabad, Jan 11 (IANS) Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is scheduled begin his three-nation trip to Iran, Saudi Arabia and the US on Sunday, aimed at offering Islamabad's held in defusing the ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf. The Minister will hold talks with his counterparts in the three countries to convey Pakistan's desire to help in de-escalating the situation. Qureshi has made a number of telephonic contacts with his counterparts over the situation. He also spoke to the Russian and Iraqi Foreign Ministers. Since the tensions escalated after the killing of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in a US drone attack on January 3 in Baghdad, Pakistan has reaffirmed its resolve not to become a part of any conflict in the region, while renewing its offer to mediating in the Middle East crisis, Dawn news reported. While briefing the Senate on Monday, Qureshi made it clear that Pakistan would not become party to the ongoing conflict, adding that Islamabad's "soil will not be used against any other state". On Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated that Islamabad would not become part of anyone else's war but would try to resolve differences between warring states, adding that Pakistan would try its best to resolve confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as between Tehran and Washington. ksk/ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cast doubt on Iran's claim that it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner on Wednesday. Trudeau said the shoot-down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 'is one of the issues that we certainly need better answers to,' during a news conference on Saturday. 'I am, of course, outraged and furious,' Trudeau said of the crash, adding that whether the tragedy was an accident or not still needs to be determined. Asked whether he was confident it was an accident, Trudeau replied: 'This is one of the issues that we certainly need better answers to. And that's why this first step of admission of responsibility is an important one by Iran but there are many other questions like that one that will need clear answers to in the coming days and weeks.' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cast doubt on Iran 's claim that it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner on Wednesday Trudeau said the shoot-down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 'is one of the issues that we certainly need better answers to,' during a news conference on Saturday Trudeau said the shoot-down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 (pictured) 'is one of the issues that we certainly need better answers to,' during a news conference on Saturday Rescue workers search the scene where the Ukrainian plane crashed in after taking off from Tehran's international airport early Wednesday In total, 176 people, of whom 57 were Canadians, were killed when Iran blasted the flight out of the sky apparently thinking it was an incoming cruise missile. 'Canada and the world still have many questions,' Trudeau said at a news conference in Ottawa. 'Questions that must be answered.' Trudeau said he contacted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani of Iran to let him know that his country's admission that its own armed forces unintentionally shot down a flight 752 is an important step towards providing answers for families. However, the prime minister insisted 'more steps must be taken.' 'A full and complete investigation must be conducted,' he said. 'We need full clarity on how such a horrific tragedy could have occurred.' A missile operator opened fire on the Boeing 737 because his communications jammed, and he thought he had only seconds to take out an incoming cruise missile, a Revolutionary Guards commander has said. Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, said on Saturday the operator mistook the Ukrainian jetliner for a US cruise missile responding to Iranian ballistic missile attacks, which is why he made the split second decision on whether or not to open fire. 'I wish I had died, and I wouldn't have seen such an incident,' Hajizadeh said somberly at a press conference. He claimed that a 'request had been made to clear the sky from civil flights at that time, but it did not happen due to reservations.' Trudeau, through a spokesman, issued a statement on Twitter after the Iranian admission, saying the crash was a 'national tragedy' for Canadians. Trudeau, through a spokesman, issued a statement on Twitter after the Iranian admission, saying the crash was a 'national tragedy' for Canadians Among the dead were a 23-year-old doctoral student at a California university, who was traveling with her sister and their mother. The family had moved to Canada from Iran about seven years ago. Sara Sabat, 23, who was enrolled at Alliant International University in San Diego, was visiting family in Iran with her sister and mom when the Boeing 737 went down minutes after take off from Tehran's international airport early Wednesday. Her sister Saba, 21, and their mother, Shekoufeh Choupannejad, were from Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. Saba's long-time boyfriend remembered her and Sara as 'best friends'. Daniel Ghods-Esfahani told the CBC in Edmonton that he was comforted they died with their mom, who was an obstetrician and gynecologist in her 50s. 'Given the tragedy of the situation, I take some comfort from the fact that, in that last moment, the three of them were together,' he told the news outlet. Sara Sabat, 23, who was enrolled at Alliant International University in San Diego, was among those killed in the crash. She was traveling with her sister and their mother. The family had moved to Canada from Iran about seven years ago. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-12 02:21:06|Editor: ZX Video Player Close by Zhang Qi DUBLIN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Two Irish students will represent their country in the upcoming 32nd European Union (EU) Contest for Young Scientists slated for September 2020 in Santander, Spain. The two won the top prize for their joint project at a four-day national young science and technology exhibition which ended here on Saturday. Cormac Harris and Alan O'Sullivan, both 16, were declared top prize winners of the 56th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) amid cheers from some 2,000 people attending the awards ceremony in the packed hall of Royal Dublin Society on Friday night. The BTYSTE is an annual science and technology competition for Irish secondary school students, which was first introduced by two local physicists in 1965 with the aim to encourage students' interest in science. The two teenagers won the top prize for their joint project entitled "A statistical investigation into the prevalence of gender stereotyping in 5-7 year olds and the development of an initiative to combat gender bias" after the majority of a grand jury comprising about 80 judges voted in favour of them for the top prize which also includes a prize money of 7,500 euros (about 8,300 U.S. dollars). "Despite awareness of the lower percentage of females relative to males pursuing study and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, we still do not understand exactly why this is the case," said Professor Joe Barry, head judge of the Social and Behavioural Sciences Group category of the exhibition. "Cormac and Alan's findings are important as intervention typically focuses on girls, but the project recognizes the need to focus on all children, boys and girls, from a young age, in order to combat the development of gender stereotyping," said Barry. A total of 550 projects, involving 1,100 students from nearly 250 secondary schools across Ireland, have been given entries to the exhibition which was opened by Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Wednesday. The projects displayed at the exhibition covered a broad spectrum of scientific areas, including biology, physics, chemistry, computing, social sciences, environment, mathematics, materials, engineering and medicine, said organizers, adding that over 60 percent of them are related to climate change and environment. Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition, the prime minister said he was "really blown away" by the work of the new generation, by their imagination, determination and vision for the future. He encouraged all the participants to keep innovating, creating and using their imagination to build a better Ireland and a better world. The exhibition, which will return to Dublin next January, attracted over 50,000 visitors, said Shay Walsh, managing director of BT Ireland which organized the event. Hemas Hospitals employee excellence at Annual Awards Night View(s): Pioneering healthcare provider Hemas Hospitals recognised the immense contribution of its staff cadre at the annual Hemas Hospitals Awards 2018/19, held recently at the Golden Rose hotel in Boralesgamuwa. The event, which was organised by the groups HR department and spearheaded by Hemas Hospitals and Laboratories Managing Director and President, Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Dr. Lakith Peiris, was being staged for the third consecutive year. Employees from the groups Wattala and Thalawathugoda hospitals as well as its network of laboratories were presented with accolades in multiple categories which celebrated their significant role in the companys success over the past financial year, the company said in a media release. Today is very special for all of us. We have dedicated the entire day to the Hemas Hospitals network to appreciate the deep dedication shown by our greatest resource, to the progress of our hospitals and the laboratory network. I can say without the slightest hesitation that all of you gathered here are our pride and strength, said Dr. Peiris, speaking at the event. Among the winners, Employee of the Year awards went to Senith Welihinda from Hemas Hospital Wattala, Anushka Wanshapoorna from Hemas Hospital Thalawathugoda and Umesh Kanthan from the Hemas Laboratory Chain. Additionally, Service Excellence Awards went to the Phlebotomy Team from Hemas Hospitals Wattala, Janaka Silva from Hemas Hospital Thalawathugoda and Dhanushka Baddegama from the Hemas Laboratory Chain. Meanwhile, Sayuri Kalpani Thisera from Hemas Hospital Wattala and Shyamali Aluthwatta from Hemas Hospital Thalawathugoda took home awards in the Best Nursing Caregiver category, the release said. In the group award categories, the Most Innovative Project prize was awarded to Hemas Hospitals Live Track project while the Six Sigma Quality Improvement project was named as the LEAN Project of Year. The Pharmacy Process Revamping project in Thalawathugoda bagged the Project of the Year title while the accolade for Cost Management Project of the Year went to the Proactive Workforce Management project. The Special Accomplishment of the Year granted recognition to all employees who played a key role in the group winning 18 External Awards both locally and internationally over the past six months. The Special Recognition for the Year meanwhile celebrated all employees who volunteered to be a part of the Crisis Management and Special Task Force teams of the business. The Highest Performing Business Unit of the Year accolade went to Hemas Hospital Thalawathugoda while the award for the Business Partner of the Year went to the Marketing team headed by Nishantha Jayamanne. (Newser) Iran announced Saturday that its military "unintentionally" shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing US troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a "hostile target" after it turned toward a "sensitive military center"of the Revolutionary Guard, the AP reports. The military was at its "highest level of readiness," it said, amid the heightened tensions with the US. story continues below "In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit," the military said. It apologized and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies. It also said those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. The majority of the plane crash victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians, but Iranian officials had repeatedly ruled out a missile strike, dismissing such allegations as Western propaganda. Irans President Hassan Rouhani blamed the shootdown on "threats and bullying" by the US. Iran's acknowledgement of responsibility is likely to renew questions of why authorities did not shut down the country's main international airport and its airspace after the ballistic missile attack, when they feared US reprisals. (Read more Iran stories.) CE mark approval enables global availability of dd-cfDNA measurement for monitoring transplant health SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CareDx, Inc. (CDNA), a leading precision medicine company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of clinically differentiated, high-value healthcare solutions for transplant patients and caregivers, announced that it has received CE mark approval for its AlloSeq cfDNA kit, making it broadly available to transplant patients and clinicians. AlloSeq cfDNA is an innovative kit based solution, run on next generation sequencing (NGS) platforms, that enables measurement of dd-cfDNA in labs outside of the US. CareDx launched AlloSeq cfDNA during the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) Congress. AlloSeq cfDNA provides a measure of organ injury that can help monitor transplant patient outcomes. With the CE mark, we can begin our pan-European dd-cfDNA registry and studies with CareDx, said Dr. Phil Mason, Transplant Nephrologist, Oxford. Implementing AlloSeq cfDNA in my laboratory was easy, and with minimum training my staff was able to precisely measuring donor-derived cfDNA in our transplant recipient samples, said Jean Villard, MD, PhD, Geneva University Hospital. Transplantation is global, and CareDx is committed to providing best-in-class solutions for all transplant patients, said Peter Maag, CEO at CareDx. We are excited to announce this milestone of broad commercialization of AlloSeq cfDNA. About CareDx CareDx, Inc., headquartered in Brisbane, California, is a leading precision medicine solutions company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of clinically differentiated, high-value healthcare solutions for transplant patients and caregivers. CareDx offers products, testing services and digital healthcare solutions along the pre- and post-transplant patient journey, and is the leading provider of genomics-based information for transplant patients. Story continues For more information, please visit: www.CareDx.com CONTACTS: Sasha King Chief Marketing Officer, CareDx Inc. 415-287-2393 sking@caredx.com Investor Relations Greg Chodaczek 646-924-1769 investor@caredx.com It would be safe to say Jenny Slate is well-known. A New York Times bestselling children's author, actress with screen and film credits both indie and blockbuster, and a comedian who, since her tenure on Saturday Night Live, has performed widely. In 2019, roughly two weeks after Netflix premiered her hybrid stand-up special meets mini-documentary Stage Fright her sort-of memoir, Little Weirds, was released. Between the two, it seems if Slate was known, she was asking to be known better. Jenny Slate's book is a collection of odd and lovely vignettes. Credit:Chris Pizzello Over the phone, Slate on a long drive across the east coast, me in my living room in Melbourne, I ask her what she intended to create with Little Weirds, a 240-page collection of odd and lovely vignettes. Im not sure exactly what I intended to write except for that I intended to write something. Crafted in the wake of a divorce, the divisive 2016 US Presidential election, and the #MeToo movement, Little Weirds jumps from hallucinatory, wild prose to furious commentary on misogyny, then right back to poetic musings on making a sardine sandwich. With the psychic pain of heartbreak and the absurdity of the realities of being a modern woman at the heart of both Stage Fright and Little Weirds, Slate agrees her work can be both sad and sweet: I tend to often be fascinated by or fixated on the ways in which things can be both mighty and melancholy, ways in which there can be sorrow without pessimism. Britain is in the final stages of setting up a security force to wage offensive cyberwarfare against terrorist groups, hostile states and organised crime groups that are threats to the country, The Independent has learnt. The American assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani has added urgency to the progress of the specialist unit, amid risks of a cyber conflict that could affect the UK. The National Cyber Force (NCF), operated by the Ministry of Defence and GCHQ, will be the first organisation in Britain dedicated solely to offensive action against adversaries abroad. A government spokesperson said the MoD and GCHQ have a long and proud history of working together in the national interest and continue to tackle the real threats that the UK faces from a range of hostile actors. There is no evidence that the Iranians plan to target the UK in response to the killing carried out by Donald Trumps administration. But militant groups may decide to carry out strikes autonomously, security sources point out. 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 It also remains the case that a cyberattack is not necessarily nation-specific. A hit on an American bank at commercial hubs such as the City of London or Frankfurt would have a highly damaging ripple effect. Around 76m is due to be invested in the force in the first year, with command and control shared between the MoD and the Government Communications Headquarters in Cheltenham. Recruitment is projected to take place from the armed forces and intelligence services, as well as academia and the private sector. The NCF will operate alongside the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which primarily concentrates on defensive cyber activities to protect government departments, strategic infrastructure and industry. The need for an organisation such as the NCF has been increasingly recognised in security and military circles due to the rapid rise of extremist propaganda, allegations of Russian interference in western elections and referendum campaigns, disinformation following the Salisbury poisoning, and attacks on public and private institutions by hacking gangs. Iran was blamed in 2012 for targeting Wall Street banks with denial-of-service attacks, knocking their websites offline in retaliation against US sanctions. In 2015, Turkey blamed Tehran for cyberattacks that hit its electricity grid, shutting down power for 40 million people. Two years ago, dozens of parliamentary accounts in the UK were breached in attacks linked to Iran. And earlier this year, Tehran was blamed for data hacks of American businesses. The Iranian government has firmly denied the allegations. Recommended What a Boris Johnson government means for foreign policy and defence The NCF is expected to expand its activities to crime networks involved in gun and drug smuggling, as well as people trafficking, which often augments the earnings of extremist groups. Offensive cyber action had been carried out on an ad-hoc basis against Isis in Syria and Iraq. Setting up the NCF has been delayed, say western officials, by distractions caused by uncertainties over Brexit and frequent changes of ministers and secretaries of state in the MoD. Certain operational details are yet to be finalised, but the plan is set to be given the go-ahead in the near future. Last year, then-defence secretary Penny Mordaunt spoke of a 22m boost to create new cyber operations centres but gave no indication that they would be conducting offensive operations. Her successor, Ben Wallace, is believed to be a strong proponent of the NCF. Speaking to the Nato Parliamentary Assembly in London in October, he warned that responses to cyber [attacks], disinformation, assassination, corruption by hostile parties have not been good enough. The defence secretary continued: We are neither nimble enough nor deterring enough and that is where we must aim our investments. British writer Alexander McCall Smith on his best-selling series, R.K Narayans influence on his writing, and additional responsibility to not misappropriate the cultures he sets his novels in In the canon of detective fiction, the name of private investigator Mma Ramotswe is a peculiar fit. To begin with, she is far removed from an abstruse life of the West and makes a home in a bucolic Gaborone in Botswana. Neither are her mysteries extraordinary no homicides or high-profile heist, instead wayward daughters, missing husbands, philandering partners, and curious conmen form her cases. Her modus operandi is not essentially forensic nor does she delves herself in each case with acute objectivity of an erudite detective, and yet Mma Ramotswe is one of the most loved fictional detectives to have captivated the imaginations of readers far and wide for more than 20 years now. In the universe created by British writer Alexander McCall Smith in his beloved book series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, the witty, warm, cunning, resourceful, intuitive, and empathetic Mma Ramotswe is conventionally an unconventional heroine. And a lot of it has to do with the puppeteer of her life Smith himself whose writing takes him far away from the genre that it is often classified under. I am turning the crime genre on its head and using it to write about society, people and place. Right from Agatha Christie, conventional crime novels are almost always concerned with homicide and the investigation of crime is led by someone who may or may not be a member of the police force, but thats not really in my books, says Smith whose heroine is often dealing with life-problems of people in her humble society. Over the years, Mma Ramotswe has taken her loyal readers on a safari of human nature, and with Smiths latest book of the series, To the Land of Long Lost Friends, the Botswanas finest detective is all set to lend her skills to help a family acquaintance whose daughter is involved with a charismatic preacher. With To the Land of Long Lost Friends being the twentieth in the series, the prolific writer, who has written more than 40 childrens books, is reminded of the time when he wrote the first in 1998. I worked at the University of Botswana for a year when I was on a sabbatical from my job in Scotland, and thats when I first got interested in the country. This led me to write what I thought was going to be a short story about Botswana and it became a full-length novel, and then it became 20 novels. It just goes to show how long it can be in the beginning when you are planning to write a short story but in fact, you are writing a very long series, reveals Smith for whom the books are his love-letter to the southern African country. In recent years, Smith has become a regular delegate at Indias premiere literature festivals. However, the 71-year-old novelist reveals that he shares an older and deeper connection with the sub-continent as one of the most loved Indian writers has influenced his writing tradition. One of my major influences, especially in writing the Botswana books was R. K. Narayan. He was absolutely a brilliant writer and I think he should have won a Nobel Prize for Literature. His Malgudi novels are lovely, says Smith. Marked by simplicity and subtle humour, Narayans ability to magnify all the worldly lessons of life in the daily humdrum of a small rustic town impressed Smith, which further went to echo in the latters Botswana books. He created life out of small things and I love doing that in my books. People having an argument about a teacup can say everything about life its all about the small things. In a very small space, you can say a lot about what it is to be human, you dont have to spread it on pages, says Smith. Hence, one can now discern that Mma Macutsies obsession with her lace handkerchief is not just a fascinating hook but also an extension of her ideas about life. That handkerchief is very symbolic of her idea of beauty and the possibilities that one might transcend the grubbiness of every day, so that little handkerchief is a big symbolic robe, confirms Smith who also counts Jane Austen, W. H Auden and the 20th Century Jane Austen Barbara Pym as his other influences. Smith, who is also an Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh, has other book series 44 Scotland Street to his name, and is currently penning down the second of The Department of Sensitive Crimes series which is set in Sweden. Further, several of his short stories have taken him to Australia, New Zealand and the far corners of the Commonwealth. As a British writer, Smith accepts that he has to assume additional responsibility to not misappropriate the carefully preserved culture which often gets exoticized under the European lens. I have never thought of concealing the fact that the Botswana novels are very positive and are written in admiration of a country. Its a big responsibility to write about your own society or someone elses society. You have to be very careful that you dont misunderstand things and that you dont do injustice to situations, he affirms before concluding that there should free expression and exchange of ideas nonetheless. As the number of people in County Cork employed by Enterprise Ireland topped 25,130, new data revealed that there has been a 45-per-cent increase in the number of jobs in companies backed by the agency in the county since 2010 This figure means that well over 10 per cent of newly created Enterprise Ireland-backed jobs are located in Cork. Clean tech jobs rose by nine per cent in that period, while life sciences posts were up six per cent; electronics, five per cent; and international services, four per cent. The announcement by Business, Enterprise and Innovation Minister Heather Humphreys was welcomed by local Fine Gael election candidate, Councillor John Paul O'Shea. "This comes at a time when more people are working that ever before; the unemployment rate currently stands at 4.8 per cent," explained Minister Humphreys. "Nearly 220,000 total jobs have been created since the start of 2016. "Also, more than six out of every 10 new jobs have been created outside of Dublin. "Fine Gael is not being complacent about this progress however, and we have put in place Future Jobs Ireland, an all-of-Government plan to prepare Ireland for the digitalisation of the workforce. "The Government is also continuing to prepare business for Brexit, which will pose great challenges to businesses here across many sectors. " The challenge of Brexit is still front and centre, she said, pointing out that Enterprise Ireland was continuing to work on a one-to-one basis with its exports clients on planning for the departure of the UK from the European Union at the end of this month. "We will soon be entering into complex trade negotiations between Brussels and London." she said. "Ireland is coming to these talks in a strong position but there is still a lot of uncertainty, and it would be a mistake to underestimate how challenging the process will be. "Great progress has been made on Brexit preparedness by Enterprise Ireland clients so far - two-out-of-three have taken steps to reduce their dependency on the UK market, and 125m in funding and supports was approved for Enterprise Ireland's most Brexit-exposed clients over the two-year period between 2018 and 2019. "This strong regional performance is important because we cannot reach our full potential as a country without successful regions," she said. "It is for this reason that I have prioritised supporting regional enterprise as Minister and will continue," the Minister added. Masthead for the Kansas Ag Stress Resources site at kansasagstress.org. Graphic: Kansas Department of Agriculture By Lisa Gutierrez 28 December 2019 KANSAS CITY, Missouri (The Kansas City Star) He fought it as long as he could. Mick Rausch didnt know what was wrong until he finally hit a wall he could no longer climb on his own. It was 10 years ago. His brother younger by just a year and three days had recently died. A late-spring frost damaged his wheat. He was depressed. His wife knew it. He didnt. He thought surely there was something wrong with her. And finally it escalated, said the 65-year-old retired dairyman who lives in Sedgwick County west of Wichita. One day he was out in the shed checking the drills used to sow the wheat when he lay down and fell asleep right under them, for three hours. He went back to the house and told his wife that she was right. Theres something wrong. We need to get help, he said. He still gets the occasional funny look when he challenges a taboo among his fellow farmers and shares that he takes antidepressants. The tendency among farmers, he said, is you just dont like to talk about your difficulty. You put your head down and go to work and deal with it. Danielle and Jacob Stenger are raising their two children Colten and Delaney on a farm near Milford Lake outside Junction City, Kansas. Danielle is a proud ambassador for farming in the state and applauds the Kansas Department of Agricultures efforts to help farmers in mental health distress. Photo: Danielle Stenger The Kansas Department of Agriculture has decided thats just not healthy anymore. This month the agency introduced a website to encourage stressed-out farmers and ranchers to talk. The increase in suicide rates among farmers and ranchers is alarming, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said in a statement announcing the new website. We must do everything in our power to curb this trend and provide our farmers and ranchers alternatives to suicide. KansasAgStress.org leads farmers to local and national sources of help, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-8255 (TALK). [] The new Kansas website offers support for all the members of a farm family, from teens to aging adults, with specific attention paid to veterans who are farming and bringing to the field their own unique set of mental health needs. Stress is inherent in living off the land. Weather is Public Enemy No. 1. In recent years, though, market uncertainties, natural disasters and ongoing trade wars have created crushing mental stress, state agriculture officials say. [Natural disasters should be climate disasters. FIFY Des] The toll on the farm is just as ugly as in the cities and suburbs: anxiety, substance abuse, broken marriages, emotional distress. [more] Kansas farmers die by suicide at an alarming rate. State steps in to help them cope Met Eireann has issued three weather warnings - including two orange alerts - as Storm Brendan makes its way towards Ireland. The forecaster issued an orange wind warning for Cork, Kerry Limerick, Waterford and Wexford. Met Eireann said this afternoon that gusts of up to 130 km/hr can be expected, as Storm Brendan tracks to the northwest. Adapted from Christine Leunen's novel Caging Skies, Jojo Rabbit is a daring comedy drama, which boldly recounts one episode of suffering and redemption during the Second World War through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy, who claims the Fuhrer as an imaginary friend. New Zealand writer, director and star Taika Waititi confidently walks a tightrope between heartbreak and hilarity, employing his quirky brand of humour to witness the rise of fascism and its devastating consequences. Jojo Rabbit will undoubtedly divide audiences as it turns the pages of one of the darkest chapters of 20th-century history. The central concept is deeply objectionable and Waititi's pointedly outlandish portrayal of Hitler as a bile-spewing buffoon - as imagined by a boy who has never met the leader in person - has the power to offend. A stellar lead performance from young London-born actor Roman Griffin Davis illuminates every frame of this challenging and morally complex journey of self-discovery. He beautifully captures the naivete of an impressionable tyke, who has hungrily devoured every syllable of Nazi propaganda and regurgitates it in the hope that unerring loyalty might be rewarded with early promotion to Hitler's Special Guard. By the film's closing frames, his childhood innocence lies in tatters. The diminutive hero is Johannes Betzler (Davis), who lives in Germany with his mother (Scarlett Johansson). The youngster is an enthusiastic member of the Hitler Youth and undergoes training with best friend Yorki (Archie Yates) at a camp run by Captain Klenzendorf (Sam Rockwell), his second-in-command Finkel (Alfie Allen) and Fraulein Rahm (Rebel Wilson). The captain orders Johannes to kill a helpless wild animal as part of his learning but the boy refuses and is cruelly dubbed 'Jojo Rabbit' by fellow recruits. Jojo turns to his imaginary comrade, Adolf Hitler (Waititi), to overcome this setback. Returning home, the boy talks excitedly about a German victory over the Allies. 'No more politics,' pleads Frau Betzler. 'The dinner table is neutral ground, it's Switzerland.'. Soon after, Jojo discovers a Jewish girl called Elsa Korr (Thomasin McKenzie) hiding in a crawl space adjoining the bedroom of his late sister. The boy intends to notify authorities but Elsa points out that Jojo's mother would be executed for harbouring a Jew so the boy is compelled to hold his tongue. Jojo Rabbit is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, which navigates some tricky and delicate changes in pacing and tone, including an unexpected sucker punch to convey one character's fate. I willingly bought into the satire and sentimentality of Waititi's vision, which affirms the enduring strength of love to light a path through the darkness. 'I think you'll find metal is the strongest thing in the world,' cheerfully counters Jojo. He will learn. Sesa Sen By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Negotiations for a trade agreement between India and Canada is set to pick up pace as the slowdown-hit country looks for a speedy revival, said Andrew Smith, Minister (Commercial), High Commission of Canada in India. Speaking to Express, Smith said, the two nations are in discussion for enhancing bilateral trade for over a decade now. In 2019, however, the talks were put on the back-burner as India became very ambitious with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) - the biggest regional trade partnership, the world could have seen. Now that RCEP has ended, for the time being, the two nations are likely to begin negotiations but chances of finalisation of trade agreement dont seem to take place soon," he said. However, bilateral trade is growing rapidly. Two-way trade between the two nations grew by 61 per cent in the last five years to USD 9.4 billion and we are on track for another 15 per cent increase to reach USD 10.5 billion this year, Smith said, adding the aim is to double it and take it to USD 25 billion in the next five years. Admitting that trade is relatively low when compared to the size of each of our economies, he pointed out Canadian investments into India has been booming having reached almost USD 50 billion in the last five years and we believe trade will follow investment soon. Nearly 2,000 Canadian companies are currently doing business in India and the government is working to bring the next set of companies to invest in the country. Under BRAND CANADA initiative, Canadian companies will travel to ten cities between January-March 2020, in an effort to bring both countries closer through investment. The idea is to introduce Canada to the tier-2 cities with strong economic centres that will contribute to making India a $5 trillion economy by 2025. These regions also have a lot of small and medium enterprises which are perhaps a better match for most of the Canadian size companies, Smith said. The investments are expected to fuel-in sectors like clean energy, agri-food, climate change and digital industries. The first event is scheduled for January 13, 2020, in Gurugram and will move to cities like Indore, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Pune, Baroda, Bhubaneswar, Ludhiana and Visakhapatnam. QUETTA, Pakistan - Pakistani officials raised the death toll from a mosque bombing in the countrys southwest to 15 people on Saturday, as the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. The powerful explosion ripped through a mosque in Quetta, the provincial capital of Baluchistan province, during the evening prayers on Friday. It killed a senior police officer and 13 others. The bombing also wounded another 20 worshipers. Quetta police chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said another victim of the mosque bombing died of serious wounds in the city hospital raising the death toll to 15. He said two other victims were in critical condition. The Islamic State group said the attack a suicide bombing it had carried out targeting Afghan Taliban. The IS posted its claim on a IS Pakistan Telegram channel. Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi in a statement denied any of his groups members had been present at the mosque. A number of militant groups operate in Baluchistan province, where a secessionist group has waged a low-level insurgency for years. Pakistans government claims it has quelled the insurgency, but violence has continued. Baluchistan shares a long border with Afghanistan and Iran. Pictured: Darryn Frost, who fought off the London Bridge attacker with a narwhal tusk A brave civil servant who fought off London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan with a narwhal tusk has accused Donald Trump of 'feeding terror' with his actions in the Middle East. Darryn Frost, 38, grabbed the artefact from the wall in Fishmongers' Hall, at the north end of the bridge, as Khan killed two and injured several more in a knife rampage during a prisoner rehabilitation event on November 29. Mr Frost, a South African who works in the Ministry of Justice communications department and has lived in Britain for 14 years, was filmed fighting Khan, who was running at people with knives taped to his wrists. Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Frost said Trump's decision to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on Baghdad airport would cause 'the next generation of terrorists' to rise. The US strike has heightened tensions in the Middle East, with Iran launching missile attacks on at least Iraqi bases housing US forces in Al Asad and Irbil days later in retaliation. He said: 'The next generation of terrorists will rise as a direct result of these actions and we must condemn them now'. Mr Frost has previously described how he grabbed the ornamental tusk from the wall during the November attack and used it against Khan as another man kept the terrorist at bay with a wooden chair. Mr Frost, 38, grabbed the artefact from the wall in Fishmongers' Hall, at the north end of the bridge, as Usman Khan killed two and injured several more in a knife rampage 'When we heard the noise from the floor below, a few of us rushed to the scene,' he said. 'I took a narwhal tusk from the wall and used it to defend myself and others from the attacker. Another man was holding the attacker at bay with a wooden chair'. 'I ran down the stairs, stood next to the man with the chair, and the two of us confronted the attacker.' Following the attack, which claimed the lives of Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones, the civil servant has launched Extinguish Hate. The campaign aims to promote 'relentless kindness and understanding' as an 'antidote to extremism' rather than 'extreme punishment or intolerance'. The London Bridge attack claimed the lives of Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt (left) and Saskia Jones (right) Forensic officers investigate the scene of the London Bridge terror attack on November 30 'Their deaths have created a drive within me to challenge hatred and intolerance,' Mr Frost said. 'What feeds terror is actions like this where people in power act as judge, jury and executioner across borders and jurisdictions. Who is Trump that he can have this sort of impact across all our lives? 'Khan may have come from this country so people may not understand why he was extreme. The people who influenced him are likely to be the people who have lost loved ones because of our actions abroad.' Footage from the London Bridge attack shows Mr Frost pinning Khan to the ground before he is pulled away by a police officer and the terrorist is shot dead seconds later. Speaking previously about the attack, he said: 'He had knives in both hands and, upon seeing me with the narwhal tusk, pointed at his midriff he turned and spoke to me, then indicated he had an explosive device around his waist. Mr Frost said Trump's decision to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on Baghdad airport would cause 'the next generation of terrorists' to rise 'At this point, the man next to me threw his chair at the attacker, who then started running towards him with knives raised above his head.' Mr Frost then passed the tusk to his unarmed comrade before racing back upstairs to find another to use. When he returned, he found the first tusk 'shattered across the floor' and saw people fleeing the building. He said: 'Along with others, I pursued the attacker, tusk in hand, on to the bridge. We called out to warn the public of the danger and, after a struggle, managed to restrain him to the ground.' Mr Frost added: 'At that point I was trying to isolate the blades by holding his wrists so that he could not hurt anyone or set off the device.' Why you need a plant for your desk Just being able to stare at a bonsai or cactus can calm you down and make work less stressful View(s): View(s): Having a bonsai tree or cactus on your desk to stare at while working can keep you calm and make your job less stressful, researchers say. Japanese experts studied whether a small plant could really improve mood at work, given nature is known to improve general wellbeing. Office workers were given an indoor plant, such as a bonsai, cactus or a kokedama, for four weeks and told to care for it. Both their level of daily anxiety and heart rate two measurements of stress were compared before and after the experiment. Results showed stress levels significantly decreased among volunteers when they had a plant on their desk. The researchers at University of Hyogo in Awaji said having a plant offers workers a distraction from the stress of nine-to-five life. Lead author Dr Masahiro Toyoda said: At present, not many people fully understand and utilise the benefit of stress recovery brought by plants in the workplace. To ameliorate such situations, we decided it essential to verify and provide scientific evidence for the stress restorative effect by nearby plants in a real office setting. Sixty three office workers in Japan volunteered to be involved in the study. They had little exposure to greenery during the day. Each was offered the choice of one plant a kokedama, san pedro cactus, echeveria, bonsai, air plant or foliage plant such as parlor palm. The participants were directed to take a three minute rest while sitting at their desks whenever they felt fatigued during the day. All the participants took part in two phases of the study, with the first being a control period that lasted one week and did not involve plants. The second lasted for four weeks, and allowed volunteers to look after the plant they chose for their desk. In the control study, all 63 volunteers would simply stare at their desktop during the three-minute rest. In the intervention phase afterwards, they stared at their plant. The researchers measured the participants psychological stress using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory twice at the end of the control phase and at the end of the intervention phase. The results showed that average scores of anxiety were reduced from 47.9 after the control phase without plants to 46.2 after the intervention phase with plants. The results may not seem striking, however the researchers claimed in the journal HortTechnology that they are mathematically significant. Twenty-seven per cent of participants saw their heart rate drop during the intervention phase when they stared at their plant, the results revealed. In comparison, the rate was five per cent when the volunteers stared at their desktop without having a plant. Dr Toyoda and team say a plant provides distraction from work thoughts but objects on the desk, such as a phone, computer screen or notepads, do not. They wrote: This natural object incorporates elements that may induce comfortable feelings, such as vitality, beauty, affection, and so on, which is speculated to be helpful in getting away from work-related thought. Gazing at a plant creates separation from stressors and provides the participants opportunities to remove themselves from the strain of work, if only for a few minutes each time. Courtesy Daily Mail In an effort to rehabilitate and protect Machu Pichu, Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra announced Thursday a campaign to plant 1,000,000 trees in the protected zone around the Machu Picchu sanctuary. Machu Picchu means "old mountain" in the Quechua dialect. In a report by Remezcla, the area around Inca empire's most iconic site faces increased risks of mudslides due to heavy rainfall in the winter and forest fires during the summer. According to the president, reforesting the land safeguards the archeological site and at the same time, ensures preservation of the area which is home to vast fauna and flora native to the area. As the effort was launched, Vizcarra said it affirms the "commitment from the government, the region, the municipality and all the citizens who want to protect this world wonder." This reforestation campaign isn't the first effort initiated by the government preserve Machu Picchu. In 2017, the country started limiting the amount of tourist who could enter the treasured site at a time. The following year, the government has already begun restricting areas of the site from tourists in an attempt to prevent further degradation. However, these efforts to protect Machu Picchu initiated by the government have been criticized by conservationists and archaeologists, who expressed their worries and claimed that the efforts are not enough and are actually contradicting to other state actions. Last year, the Peruvian government has broken ground on a multibillion-dollar airport. The controversial Chinchero International Airport is expected to connect Machu Picchu more easily with the outside world. Defenders of the ancient site fear both the impact pollution from the air terminal to the rural region and historic site and that it will attract more tourists that will densify the area. This prompted nearly 100,000 people, including archaeologists, historians and anthropologists, to sign an online petition blocking plans for the airport and demanding the government to find it a new home. "The airport planned to be built in Chinchero, Cusco, endangers the conservation of one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the world," the petition says. "An airport in the surroundings of the Sacred Valley will affect the integrity of a complex Inca landscape and will cause irreparable damage due to noise, traffic and uncontrolled urbanization." At present, most visitors travel to Machu Picchu through Cusco airport, which is about 75 miles away. The Guardian reported that despite the limited air travel and difficult trek, about 1.5 million people visit the site annually. According to Chicago Tribune, the site has faced damages due to visitors climbing on the walls, littering and even defacing the structure. Meanwhile, government officials have assured the public they are approaching the project "with transparency and with the highest-quality standards." Minister of Transportation Edmer Trujillo told the local press the construction of the airport adheres to construction laws. They also argue the airport is a necessity that cannot be held back any longer. Juan Stoessel, vice president of Cuzco's tourism agency, said that Cusco airport is "poorly located within the city, impossible to be expanded and will reach its limit of operations in three or four years." In 1983, UNESCO declared Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site by. It was built by the Incas in the 15th century in what is now known as South America, 100 years before Spanish colonization. Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday demanded an immediate report on the suicide bombing at a Quetta mosque during Friday prayers that killed at least 16 people and left 19 others injured in the restive Balochistan province, terming the incident as a condemnable 'cowardly terrorist attack'. Karachi: Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday demanded an immediate report on the suicide bombing at a Quetta mosque during Friday prayers that killed at least 16 people and left 19 others injured in the restive Balochistan province, terming the incident as a condemnable "cowardly terrorist attack". The Islamic State terror group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide bomb blast inside the mosque in Quetta's Satellite Town area. The terror group, in the claim posted on the IS Pakistan Telegram Channel and in messages to some foreign wire services, said it has carried out the attack targeting some Afghan Taliban member. Taliban spokesman, Qari Muhammad Yousuf, denied that any Afghan Taliban member was present inside the mosque. The suicide blast which occurred at a time when about 60 people were offering sunset (Maghrib) prayers killed 16 people and left 19 others injured, Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said in a late night statement. The deadly blast came three days after a bomb explosion claimed two lives in Quetta. Reacting to the incident, President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the blast and expressed grief over the loss of lives and prayed for the peace of the departed souls and early recovery of those injured. "I have demanded an immediate report on the condemnable cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta targeting a mosque & people at prayers. Have asked prov govt to ensure all medical facilities are provided to the injured. Martyred DSP Haji Amanullah was a brave & exemplary officer," Imran said on Twitter. He added that the best possible treatment would be given to the injured. The nature of the explosion, which occurred inside the mosque during Maghrib prayers in Ghousabad neighbourhood, was not known. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amanullah was among the 16 people killed in the incident, Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema said. According to some media reports, the slain police officer was the likely target. Last month, unidentified gunmen killed the DSP's son in Quetta, The Express Tribune reported. Twenty others were also injured in the blast, the report said. The mosque, which is located in a densely-populated Pashtun-majority area, was being searched by the bomb disposal squad and security personnel. TV footage showed debris and shattered glass spread on the floor of the mosque. Pakistan military's media wing ISPR said that troops of the Frontier Corp (FC) Balochistan reached the site and carried out joint search operation with the police. "Every possible assistance be given to police & civil administration. Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim," the ISPR quoted army chief General Qamar Bajwa as saying. Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal Khan condemned the incident and expressed grief at the loss of lives. Reacting to the incident, Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove condemned it, saying "terrorists were scared of Pakistan's development". "Internal and external enemies are making failed efforts to create panic and unrest in the country," he said in a statement. He said that "defeated terrorists will never be allowed to succeed". Talking about the casualties in the incident, Langove said the toll might rise as condition of some of the injured was critical after they were shifted to the Civil Hospital for treatment. The blast occurred three days after two men were killed and over a dozen injured in a blast near a vehicle of the security forces in Quetta. In May, a bomb blast at a mosque in the provincial capital Quetta killed two people, including a prayer leader and injured 28 others. In August, an explosion took place inside a mosque during Friday prayers in the city. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday evening amid protests against the amended citizenship act across the state capital. Post the meeting, Mamata said she told the PM that Bengal is against citizenship law, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register. She said she asked the PM to withdraw CAA and NRC. Protests had started in different parts of Kolkata hours before the Prime Ministers arrival, especially along the route his convoy is going to take. Watch | Mamata Banerjee meets PM Modi, say she asked for CAA, NRCs withdrawal Youths, political parties and various apolitical outfits shouted slogans against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and carried banners that said, Go Back, Modi. Black flags were visible everywhere. By 3pm, members of the Left-backed students unions started gathering in huge number outside the Kolkata airport. One of Banerjees ministers, Siddiqullah Chowdhury, who is also a leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, has organised rallies in Kolkata and Murshidabad district. Chowdhury will lead a Jamiat rally in Murshhidaba against CAA. The Congress, on its part, accused Banerjee of having a tacit understanding with Modi. She boycotted the all-party meeting against citizenship law that Sonia Gandhi convened in Delhi on January 13 but fixed an appointment with Modi on January 11. Her real intentions are out in the open, said Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra. Change in programme Modi, who was received at the airport by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, mayor Firhad Hakim and the BJP state unit president Dilip Ghosh, wanted last-minute change in his two-day tour. He has expressed his wish to spend the night at Belur Math and not Raj Bhawan as planned earlier. And, monks at the math in Howrah district said they were making preparations for Modis stay. According to the new tentative schedule, the Prime Minister will attend two official programmes in Kolkata and return to Raj Bhawan where he will meet leaders of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party and also hold a meeting with Mamata Banerjee. Modi will then go to Belur Math to spend the night. TMC leaders said Banerjee may meet Modi either at the Millennium Park by the Hooghly River, where the Prime Minister will inaugurate a light and sound show or at Raj Bhawan. The final schedule will depend on circumstances and their convenience, they said. Before reaching the city, Modi had tweeted about his plans. I am excited to be in West Bengal today and tomorrow. I am delighted to be spending time at the Ramakrishna Mission and that too when we mark Swami Vivekanandas Jayanti. There is something special about that place, Modi said in a tweet in Bengali. In another tweet, he said he would miss Atmasthanandaji Maharaj, the president of Ramakrishna Math, who died at the age of 98 last year. Yet, there will be a void too! The person who taught me the noble principle of Jan Seva Hi Prabhu Seva, the venerable Swami Atmasthananda Ji will not be there. It is unimaginable to be at the Ramakrishna Mission and not have his august presence! he said. On Sunday morning, Modi is likely to take part in rituals marking the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. He will then attend the 150th-anniversary celebration of the Kolkata Port and fly back to Delhi. by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, January 10, 2020 Publishers of journalism worldwide give the highest marks to Twitter for combating misinformation and/or disinformation, according to the 2020 edition of an annual study by the Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford. The findings, which are based on a survey conducted in December 2019 of 233 journalism publishers from 32 countries, found that 41% of them think Twitter is doing an adequate job of combating disinformation on its platform. That's a significantly higher percentage than the No. 2 platform, Google, and even a wider margin over YouTube and Facebook. Only 17% of the publishers give credit to Facebook for its efforts, which may not be surprising, given negative news coverage surrounding Facebook's lax controls and controversial policies. Google and Twitter also ranked highest in terms of the percentage of publishers saying digital platforms were doing enough to support journalism -- especially Google. "Googles higher score is reflective of the large number of publishers in our survey who are current or past recipients of Googles innovation funds (DNI or GNI), and who collaborate with the company on various news-related products," writes the report's author, Nic Newman, senior research associate at Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. "Facebooks lower score," he adds, "may reflect historic distrust from publishers after a series of changes of product strategy which left some publishers financially exposed. In the last year, however, Facebook has stepped up its commitment to journalism, with several new product initiatives as well as a commitment to invest around $300m in journalism-related initiatives over the coming years." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- State officials say a Staten Island man admitted in December to illegally hunting deer on Staten Islands South Shore. John Anderson, 36, admitted to shooting a deer with a bow and arrow at around 11 a.m. Dec. 12 in Annadales Blue Heron Park, according to a Thursday media release from the Department of Environmental Conservation. DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officer Michael Wozniak initially spotted a deer with an arrow sticking out of its neck while responding to a complaint. He tracked the deer, following its blood trail, but needed to discontinue due to inclement weather. He later spotted Anderson acting suspiciously near where the injured deer was seen, and began questioning him. During questioning, Anderson allegedly provided Wozniak with a home address, but the wrong identification, according to the media release. Wozniak, accompanied by Environmental Conservation Police Officer Ryan Grogan, went to the address and continued questioning Anderson. DEC declined to share that address. According to the departments media release, Anderson confessed to shooting the deer while target shooting with a recurve bow. The officers seized both the bow and additional arrows from the home for evidence. They issued Anderson a $1,000 fine for hunting without a license, and for taking the antler-less deer in a closed area without a permit. He was also issued an additional $1,000 suspended penalty that will be affected if Anderson violates any further state Environmental Conservation law in the next two years. Attempts to reach Anderson via public records were unsuccessful Friday night. The NYPD did not have information on an arrest. A series of federal, state and local regulations make most forms of hunting in the five boroughs effectively illegal. The Advance recently reported on two dead deer with missing antlers. A deer carcass was spotted Tuesday on a sidewalk in Sunnyside, with an open head wound in place of its antlers On Dec. 21, another dead deer was found with a puncture wound near its hind legs and missing antlers in the woods of New Springville, raising concerns with some in the neighborhood about possible hunting. A Mariners Harbor man admitted in March 2015 to illegally poaching deer on Staten Island. It was believed to be the first deer poaching case in modern New York City history. Another man was arrested in May 2017 after hitting a squirrel with a bow and arrow at his home in Eltingville. Authorities at the time charged the man with torturing and injuring animals, reckless endangerment and violating a state Environmental Conservation law. The city relaunched its deer-vasectomy program in early December, and contractor White Buffalo is continuing the work through January. The Parks Department said 98% of the Islands male antlered deer were sterilized since the program started, while fawn births have dropped by 77 percent. Borough President James Oddo and the state Department of Environmental Conservation have been working to bring a controlled cull to state-owned property only, like Clay Pit Pond Park. However, it does not look like the city plans to be a partner in the effort unless it thinks the vasectomy program isnt working. Earlier in December, Mayor Bill de Blasio said hes seen consistent progress in the Islands vasectomy program and that he would stand by his administrations current approach until we think the policy is not working. Turkey to build 500 homes in Albania After the earthquake at the Adriatic coastal city of Durres on Nov. 26, Turkish President had said Turkey will support the victims. The construction of hundreds of houses in Albania has began after a devastating earthquake hit the Adriatic nation in November, Turkey's Minister of Environment Murat Kurum said Friday. PERMANENT RESIDENTS TO COVER THE WOUNDS "We have started to prepare the construction of 500 houses and additional social equipment," said Kurum after meeting Albanian President Ilir Meta as part of an official visit to the capital, Tirana. Kurum said Turkey's President Erdogan wanteed construction of the permanent residences to cover the wounds of Albanians after the earthquake. He added the reason for his visit is to talk about the evaluation phase of the projects, sign protocols and inform authorities. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) state aid agency delivered 500 food packages and 500 blankets to quake victims. Updated at 11:05 p.m. A teen was arrested Friday after police say he shot into an empty car at a Hillsboro apartment complex, drove away and later crashed into another driver while trying to elude officers. Austin Schnell, 19, of Albany is accused of unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree criminal mischief, unlawful possession of a firearm, attempting to elude police, reckless driving, fourth-degree assualt and reckless endangering. The crash injured one of Schnells four passengers, as well as the woman driving the other car, according to Hillsboro police. The two injured people are expected to survive. The shooting was reported a little after 4 p.m. at the Quatama Crossing Apartments in the 600 block of Northeast Autumncreek Drive, and the shooter was seen driving away after in a Subaru Outback, police said. No one was injured. The Subaru was spotted by a Hillsboro officer about a mile away on East Main Street, and the driver sped off as the officer got out of his patrol car, police said. The Subaru then crashed into the drivers side of a Toyota 4Runner at the Northeast Century Boulevard intersection. Police havent said what caused the shooting. -- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. New Delhi: Section 144, which prohibits an assembly of four or more people in an area, has been imposed within the 200 meters of Maradu high-rises during the final demolition of the building. The restriction came to effect at 9:00 am on January 11 and will continue till the end of the demolition. The area will be demarcated using red flags. This decision was taken in a high- level meeting convened by Ernakulam District Collector S Suhas to finalise the plans for the demolition. As part of the safety measures, 2,000 individuals living in the vicinity of the apartments will be evacuated. On Saturday, the implosion is scheduled for 11:00 am in H2O Holy Faith and 11.05 am in Alfa Serene flats. On Sunday, the implosion is scheduled for 11:00 am at Jain Coral Cave and at 2:00 am at Golden Kayaloram flats. As per instruction issued, Section 144 will be declared and imposed in the evacuation zone of all the flats to be demolished. House to house search will be carried out for ensuring 100 per cent evacuation of people residing in the zone. People may witness the implosion from any place outside the evacuation zone. "The residents in the evacuation zone have been asked to switch off the electricity and all the appliances before leaving their homes. They are advised to close all windows and doors to protect their home from dust. All traffic -- airborne, waterborne, land-based is prohibited in the evacuation zone. Since all buildings have been charged with explosives, nobody shall fly drones in the evacuation zone from immediate effect. Any violation is extremely dangerous and shall attract legal action," the advisory stated. Based on the warning siren sequence, traffic diversions shall be regulated. People may return to their homes once police remove barricades from the roads leading to the evacuation zone, as per the advisory. This comes after 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, filed a case in Kerala High Court on Tuesday. The petitioners requested the Kerala High Court 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. (With IANS inputs) Even if youre moving to a city where the tenant pays the agents fee, check with your employer. Many employers may cover that cost, Mr. Pullman said, since it saves them the cost of putting you up in temporary housing while you hunt for a place yourself. Agents can help negotiate your rent and the lease terms, making up for the cost of their fee. Just make sure you hire someone with good reviews from past clients; Yelp is a good place to start, but if you know anyone in the city, word-of-mouth can go a long way. Narrow down your neighborhood Every city has its own flavor, but within any big city, youll find distinct neighborhoods, some of which may be better suited to you than others. Once you know what you want in an apartment, youll need to start narrowing down your search by location. If youre working with an agent, they can give you a wealth of information about the area. But if youre going it alone, youll need to do some due diligence. Most big cities have their own subforum on sites like Reddit (for example, /r/Seattle or /r/Charlotte), where you can ask people what neighborhood might fit your needs and budgetary constraints. If you have friends in the city, give them a call and ask about their experiences. (Even if you dont think you have friends in a given city, do a search on Facebook first type friends in Denver into the search bar and you might be surprised to find an old friend who moved there without you realizing.) If youre moving for work, your new co-workers may be able to point you in the right direction. Once you find a few areas you think might be a good fit, take your search a little deeper. Find the neighborhood on Google Maps and drag the yellow Street View guy to take a virtual tour. Google Maps can also give you an idea of your public transportation options, especially when it comes to your commute. Trulia provides great crime data with heat maps that show you riskier streets, and Walk Score will tell you how many restaurants, grocery stores and other attractions are nearby. Some of these things may be more important than others to you, but you get the idea: You dont necessarily want to lock yourself into a neighborhood just because someone else said they liked it. You need to see if its a good fit for you. Make a list of must-haves It always helps to know what you want before you start the apartment search, but its doubly important when moving to a faraway city. If you take a long weekend to visit the city and look at apartments, you arent going to be flush with time to debate whether you really want in-unit laundry or a complex with its own gym. Come up with your list of must-haves and nice-to-haves now so you know whats nonnegotiable later. TWIN FALLS Suspects in a counterfeiting ring were caught after they passed two fake $100 bills at a convenience store Monday then invited a clerk to party with them, police say. Police arrested Equalette Marie Ballesteros, 34; Matthew Islas Rodriguez, 22; Nicole Marie Perez, 34; and Richard John Hernandez, 28, on Tuesday. Ballesteros, Rodriguez and Perez face felony counterfeiting-related charges in Twin Falls County District Court, and Hernandez is facing the same, plus burglary charges, in Jerome County District Court. Twin Falls Police Officer Denis Suljevic arrived Tuesday at a hotel on Pole Line Road in Twin Falls to investigate a report of a couple passing counterfeit bills at the Oasis Stop N Go on Addison Avenue East, court documents say. The two, who paid for separate purchases Monday with counterfeit $100 bills, told a clerk at the Oasis they were staying at hotel and asked if she wanted to party with them. The man, who was driving a black pickup with California plates, gave the clerk his cellphone number, Suljevic said in a statement. Suljevic found Ballesteros sitting in the pickup at the hotel parking lot and Rodriguez walking away from the pickup, he said. The officer recognized Rodriguez from the surveillance video from the Oasis and arrested him, but Ballesteros was not the woman in the video. When Suljevic ran a check on Ballesteros, he found she had an outstanding warrant from Oregon and arrested her. Another officer later found a counterfeit bill on Ballesteros, Suljevic said in his statement. Staff at the hotel told Suljevic that four people had stayed in the room Monday night, Suljevic said. The staff then gave him a printer that the suspects had left in the room. While looking for the other two suspects, Suljevic and Detective Ken Rivers went to the Greyhound Bus Station on Blue Lakes Boulevard North and found Perez the woman in the Oasis video and Hernandez, who was wanted by the Jerome Police Department for passing counterfeit money. Jerome police took Hernandez into custody and Perez was booked in the Twin Falls County Jail, Suljevics statement said. The four are believed to be from California and remain in jail in lieu of bonds. Hernandezs preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 15; the preliminary hearing for Ballesteros, Rodriguez and Perez is set for Jan. 17. Love 4 Funny 14 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 12 A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to eleven months in prison for stealing over 5,000 from a Sligo restaurant. Romeo Stanescu with an address of North Circular Road, Dublin was before Sligo District Court for the theft of 5,624 from Eala Bhan on Rockwood Parade on June 18th last. Stanescu, a Romanian national, also pleaded guilty to entering Cordners Shoe Shop as a trespasser likely to cause fear and to entering Strollers private store room likely to cause fear in others on the same date. At a previous court sitting it was outlined at 11.20am gardai received reports of a man trespassing at two shops in the town. On speaking with the proprietor of Strollers and Cordners Shoes gardai were informed that at 11.10am a man was found in the store room of Cordners Shoes. He said he was lost and wanted to buy some shoes. He subsequently left without purchasing anything. Earlier, at 10.33am Stanescu entered Strollers and went behind the counter before being met by staff. CCTV was reviewed and it emerged it was the same man. At 12.30pm a burglary was reported at Eala Bhan. Proprietor, Anthony Gray told gardai he noticed money missing from the premises at 12.30pm and on reviewing CCTV it showed Stanescu walking into the restaurant at 10.28am, going behind the counter and removing keys. Stanescu was then seen making his way to an office where he stole the restaurant's takings. The earlier court heard the restaurant was not open to the public at the time but was open to allow for deliveries and for staff. The CCTV was of 'excellent quality' and an image of Stanescu was circulated. Gardai were informed that the man was linked to a similar offence in Dublin. The information was circulated to garda stations from Sligo to Dublin. Stanescu's car was stopped in Mullingar and the cash was located in the vehicle. He was brought to Mullingar Garda Station where he was later charged and the money was recovered. The court heard Stanescu received three months in prison for a burglary which he committed in May 27th last, a six-month sentence for a burglary which took place on May 31st, a consecutive four-month sentence for a burglary on May 29th last and in 2013 a burglary charge was taken into consideration. Representing Stanescu, solicitor Ms Laura Spellman said her client instucted her that he had a gambling problem and this was partly why he committed the offence. Sergeant Derek Butler informed the court Stanescu had seven previous convictions, five for burglary, one for no insurance and another for using a false insurance disc. Stanescu received two five-month prison sentences for the last two convictions. Ms Spellman said her client had been in custody on these matters since June 19th last. Judge Kevin Kilrane described matters as 'serious' sentencing him to eleven months in prison, backdated to June 19th for the theft offence. In relation to the offence committed at Strollers, the defendant received a one month prison sentence also backdated to June 19th. The other matter was taken into consideration. Judge Kilrane also disqualified Stanescu from driving for ten years as he used his car during the course of the events. A suspect was arrested Thursday in a killing that was one of four reported in the District on the first weekend of the new year, according to authorities. Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh has said that he takes full responsibility for the crash of the Ukrainian plane, the Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday. "I personally accept full responsibility for unintentional downing of Ukrainian plane," the agency quoted the general as saying on Twitter. Earlier on Saturday, Iranian authorities admitted that the Boeing was shot down by mistake by the Iranian military. Nearly 62 years have passed since I wrote my first newspaper column. Admittedly, I had marginally fewer readers (three thousand on the Penarth Times as opposed to more than three million on the Saturday Mail), plus pimples and black hair instead of wrinkles and white hair. A few other things have changed, too. The Today programme on Radio 4 was a stripling just five years old which had only just ventured into the tricky world of current affairs from the safe territory of topical talks. Remember how cross people got during the election over some of Boris Johnsons dubious jokes and references? Girly swots for instance? Great indignation among Westminster circles. It turned out the rest of the country didnt care a jot We didnt even have a word for what we now call the media. This vast agglomeration of individuals and organisations clamouring for our attention, desperate to sell us their views or just sell themselves, simply did not exist. Let alone social media. The internet made it all possible. And we have gained a lot. Many thoughtful people with sensible things to say have been given a pulpit. But I reckon weve lost even more. What might have become a great global symphony of voices, rich and varied, has been drowned by the shrill and the judgmental and sometimes the downright threatening. There is a case for saying people in the public eye who cant stand the heat should simply get out of the kitchen Ive never sent a tweet but theres a stronger case for making our public discourse reasonably civil. Because there is something much more worrying going on here. The barriers against the tyranny of woke should be manned by organisations such as the BBC. They have a privileged position as interpreters of the national conversation and they must ensure they are listening to it. All of it Relentless, instant rushing to judgment is costing us our national sense of humour. Self-censoring is becoming a reflex action. Humour is being driven underground or at least onto WhatsApp groups. We are entering an era of joke prohibition. This might seem an almost trivial thing to single out, but if we lose the right to laugh at each other, we lose something even more precious: the right to offend. At the heart of Orwells dystopia in Nineteen Eighty-Four was the Ministry of Truth. It controlled what you said and, ultimately, what you thought. John Humphrys is pictured above on Radio 4's Today show. The policing of language and meaning to engineer a different society, indeed a different kind of humanity, is something that all supporters of free speech should be on their guard against Free speech the ability to ridicule official diktat and fashionable views is what keeps our broad, tolerant culture alive. Above all, perhaps, on the BBC. One example from my final days on the Today programme: The former Brexit Secretary, David Davis, was my 8.10 interviewee. The last item in the news bulletin was about a tango competition in Argentina; a leading couple were disqualified because of a punch-up. Half listening, I registered there was something absurd about a tango competition descending into a brawl. David then joked that he hoped our interview would not end in the same way. I responded that I didnt want to tango with an SAS trained killer. A chuckle, and we moved on. But the Twittersphere did not. How dare Humphrys make light of domestic violence! Does he really think its a matter for mirth! In a court of law, the motivation and purpose of the accused significantly affects the verdict. On Twitter, context is irrelevant. Another example of the self-appointed guardians of conversation versus real people: Michael Gove came on a special programme in front of a live audience to mark the 60th anniversary of Today. We were talking about the nature of the political interview. Gove said: Sometimes, I think that coming into the studio with you, John, is like going into Harvey Weinsteins bedroom. Another guest, Neil Kinnock, joined in: John goes way past groping. There was a slight intake of breath from the audience, then laughter. Comedy on the edge. Nicola Sturgeon was the first to tweet that rape is not a laughing matter. Apologies demanded of all of us. Why not move Nick to Manchester? In one fell swoop you counter the charge of London bias, include the north of England in the national conversation and, with it, a little northern humour and realism Lets examine why the audience laughed. It was the ridiculous notion of me chasing Michael Gove around a hotel room. Thats what was funny. No one was laughing about women being abused. The response which inevitably led to newspaper headlines thought otherwise. Men making jokes about anything that involves women is off limits. I got into trouble again last year for straying outside my permitted territory. There had been complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority about a television advert which included a shot of a mother sitting with her babys pram in a park. They werent from viewers not one complained but the virtue signallers said it demeaned women by showing them in this context. I asked my interviewee how. I dared to suggest that, on balance, most women are probably better at caring for babies than most men. And thats demeaning? Its hard to think of a more crucially important role in any society than bringing up children. A generation ago, that would have been an entirely uncontroversial point to make. But I was condemned as a dinosaur. Yet the personal correspondence from listeners was on my side. The same goes for gender. Imagine, even ten years ago, any serious figure in public life being vilified because they believe that with some rare medical exceptions men and women are born biologically distinct. The policing of language and meaning to engineer a different society, indeed a different kind of humanity, is something that all supporters of free speech should be on their guard against. Relentless, instant rushing to judgment is costing us our national sense of humour. Self-censoring is becoming a reflex action. Humour is being driven underground or at least onto WhatsApp groups. We are entering an era of joke prohibition The barriers against the tyranny of woke should be manned by organisations such as the BBC. They have a privileged position as interpreters of the national conversation and they must ensure they are listening to it. All of it. Instead, they have let themselves be captured by the metropolitan conversation obsessed by identity, shutting down more diverse views from other parts of the country. Remember how cross people got during the election over some of Boris Johnsons dubious jokes and references? Girly swots for instance? Great indignation among Westminster circles. It turned out the rest of the country didnt care a jot. They are relaxed about jokes. They have a higher threshold over what is offensive. They find the conversation in BBC circles ridiculously woke. So how might the BBC deal with this? Well, let me offer a suggestion only partly tongue-in-cheek. When I joined Today, my regular sidekick was the great Brian Redhead. He was a proud northerner who always said the programmes job was to drop a word into the ear of the nation. The whole nation. He had co-presented the programme from Manchester for some years before moving to London. We now have another proud northerner presenting Today: Nick Robinson who, as it happens, was a very close friend and huge admirer of Brian. Why not move Nick to Manchester? In one fell swoop you counter the charge of London bias, include the north of England in the national conversation and, with it, a little northern humour and realism. What about it, Nick? As for this column, if occasionally you find my thoughts offensive . . . well, good. I turned down the honour of meeting an HRH My first reaction to the big announcement of the week was: So what? Does anyone really care where two rich, entitled young people choose to live or spend their time? My second was to remember sitting on the board of Save The Children when our meetings were chaired by Princess Anne. She was pretty scary: ruthlessly efficient, well informed and utterly dedicated. She still is. Shes been the charitys president for 50 years. Cards on the table: Im not exactly a passionate monarchist. Of course, the Queen has done a sterling job and the direct succession matters, but can someone please tell me why we must make such a fuss over the rest of the Royal Family? John Humphrys is pictured above with Princess Anne in 1990. The Royal discussed her work as president of Save the Children. Shes been the charitys president for 50 years I was a bit baffled the other day to get an email inviting me to present an award at some royal event and in return receive the honour of being presented to an HRH whose name barely registered with me. How exactly is that an honour? Id have been expected to bow to someone I neither knew nor respected. I declined. In fairness, they did not seem surprised. But if we must have lots of HRHs, can they please be like Anne? She insisted her children should not be treated with the same absurd (and very expensive) deference as her brother Andrews. She works hard and refrains from lecturing us on how we should lead our lives while doing precisely as she wishes. Harry and Meghans declaration of how they intend to control the Press was positively chilling in its presumption. Anne used to tell impudent hacks to naff off. Quite right, too. So, let us simultaneously praise her and give thanks to Harry and Meghan for making at least one contribution. They may have shown that the best way to be a progressive royal is to stop being royal. Kashmir: Two terrorists affiliated to Hizbul-Mujahideen have been arrested by security forces at Aanpoo Anantnag in south Kashmir on Saturday (January 11). Police also recovered arms and ammunition from their position. According to sources, a top Hizbul commander is among the two arrested. Syed Naveed alias Naveed Babu a resident of Nazneenpora area from Kulgam district of south Kashmir was handling Hizbul Mujahideen operations in the area since the last few months. Naveed has been involved in several attacks and crimes in south Kashmir. Live TV Police sources say Naveed has also involved the killing of non-local civilians and setting an apple laden truck following the abrogation of J&K special status. The sources have identified the second militant as Rafi Ahmad. More details awaited. How a President and a PM of Sri Lanka escaped assassination by five seconds By Nihal Seneviratne View(s): View(s): President J.R. Jayewardene had, only a few days before, on July 29, 1987, signed the controversial Indo-Sri Lanka pact with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India. Most observers take the view that Jayewardene fighting a JVP insurrection in the South and an LTTE insurgency in the North had little option but to sign this agreement railroaded on Indian terms very much. The LTTE was determined to win a separate state of Eelam for the Tamil people even at the expense of a long ferocious war spurning all Government efforts at coming to a peaceful solution offered to it. The JVPs second insurgency had created almost a near anarchy in the South. There was no possibililty of engaging in war on two fronts and Jayewardene signed the agreement which brought the Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) here. In signing this agreement, Jayewardene had not consulted his Prime Minister or his Cabinet colleagues, possibly only Minister Gamini Dissanayake had known about it. After signing the agreement at Republic Square that day, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was accorded a guard of honour. A naval rating who was part of the guard of honour assembled oppposite Presidents House, struck a heavy blow on Gandhis shoulder with the butt of his gun. Fortunately, Gandhi was not seriously hurt but possibly suffered only a few bruises. Immediately Indian security and Sri Lankan naval security personnel pushed the Indian PM forward to escape the severity of the blow and took the naval rating into custody. This single incident captured headlines all across the world. If the blow ended in the death of the Indian Prime Minister, the consequences would have been even too terrible to comprehend. Just two days later, President Jayewardene was due to attend a session of Parliament and before that to address his own UNP Parliamentary Group in Committee Room 1 to explain to the Members why he signed the agreement. Parliament was scheduled to sit the same afternoon for its regular business President Jayewardene had arrived at the Parliamentary premises that morning around 9 a.m. and was due at Committee Room 1, the longest committee room in Parliament with a seating capacity of almost 150. Around 9.45 that morning I received a message from the President that he wanted to see me. Initially I was reluctant to go to the Committee Room as it was a meeting of only UNP Government MPs and I felt it was not prudent and correct for me in my position as Secretary General of Parliament to attend such a meeting. But since it was the Head of State and Government summoning me, I felt obliged to go. Both President Jayewardene and Prime Minister Premadasa were seated at the polished table with Premadasa on the Presidents right and Chief Government Whip Vincent Perera on his left. More than 100 government ministers and MPs were seated facing the President, the PM and the Chief Government Whip. When I went there, he inquired from me what business was due to be taken up that afternoon. Fortunately, I had taken along the Order Paper for the day and together we went through the 25 items of Government business listed on it once this was over, I went back to my office on the second floor. Not even haf an hour later, my peon rushed into my room saying excitedly Sir, the Prime Minister is calling for you. In blissful ignorance of what was in store I rushed to the ground floor. At the very entrance to the lift I met Prime Minster R. Premadasa with his national dress partially raised, excitedly exclaiming to me, Nihal a bomb has exploded in the Committee Room. Search the room and have the Police surround the building. As I rushed into the Committee Room, I saw President Jayewardene being hurriedly escorted out of the room and the building to a vehicle parked outside the Members entrance. When I went to the Committee Room, it was in complete shambles with the room full of smoke and splintered glass from the doors and shrapnel all over the place. Some members were lying prostrate on the floor trying to protect themselves. I then saw Minister Lalith Athulathmudali on a stretcher, bleeding heavily and being rushed to an ambulance which I had arranged to be at the Members entrance. He was rushed immediately to the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital through the back entrance of Parliament. For security reasons this gate was closed but we kept it open on sitting days as it was only a mile away from the Sri Jayewardenapura Hospital. Sadly, the only casualty that day was MP Keerthi Abeywickreme, MP for Akmeemana, as a result of being hit by shrapnel on his temple. His widow later told me that she had asked him to be careful, but he had replied that he was only going to Parliament which was safe and for her not to be worried. As at that time I did not know how the explosion had occurred. I immediately rang my University colleague Frank de Silva, IGP, and asked him to come immediately and to provide adequate security by surrounding the precincts of Parliament to prevent anyone from leaving. I then ordered the Parliament Sergeant-at-Arms to ensure that no Member or staff member or visitor be allowed to leave the building. At that time an MP told me that someone had thrown the bomb from a backdoor of the Committee Room and said all he saw was a hand with long white sleeves throwing something at the head table. Immediately I ordered the 950 Parliament staff on duty that day not to leave the building. Even after the Police contingent arrived, no one was sure whether it was a bomb and how it exploded or whether it was some other missile. I, for one, then began speculating whether it could be one of my own 950 staff or whether it was even a member of the Presidents staff who had accompanied him and did not know whom to suspect. |The IGP in his conversation with me mentioned that it may have been a gunshot from a pistol and then asked me to get everyone that day to have both their hands checked for possible traces of gun powder remaining on their hands. A search for a weapon was then undertaken by the Police. Everyones hands were scanned for gunpowder traces and no one was allowed to leave the building. It was past 9 p.m. when the meticulous checking was over. A few members then told me that all they saw was this hand clothed in a white sleeve throwing something onto the polished table at which the President and the Prime Minister sat. It was almost midnight when I left the building. The very next morning I asked the Sergeant-at-Arms to check whether all the staff had returned to work. All were present except for 4. One was in hospital, two were on approved leave but one was missing and that was Ajith Kumara, a sweeper I had recruited. Police searched his house around Kadawatha and found it closed. Neighbours then had told the Police that the chief occupant had left the house at night taking his family with him. So all suspicion then centred on him and Police started a nationwide search for him. After a few days we were able to pull the pieces of the puzzle togther. It transpired that Ajith Kumara had come that morning with a hand grenade hidden in his shoe. The police at the entrance had missed it. The Presidents Security had checked all the rooms and doors leading to the Committee Room, locked it on. It then transpired that Ajith Kumara using a false key he had made had opened the room and hidden behind a big painting standing on the ground. It transpired then that he had opened the door leading to Committee Room and aiming at the President flung the hand grenade. The grenade ricocheted off the polished table at which the three VIPs sat and landed under the chair Lalith Athulathmudali was sitting on in the front row. The grenade had then exploded blasting a large hole on the ground and severely injuring Laliths entire back. When he was recovering at the Sri Jayewardenpura Hospital I called on Lalith and chatted for a while. He was full of praise for Dr. K. Yoheswaran, an eminent surgeon who operated on him, saving his life. He told me he had particularly wanted Dr Yoheswaran to undertake the complicated surgery which was done so successfully. Later on, after Lalith recovered, he walked into my room and discussed the incident with me. He told me that Ajith Kumara had made the fundamental mistake of hurling the grenade after the pin was released. With Laliths deep knowledge of defence matters and arms, he said that after the pin is pulled out, one has to count, one thousand, two thousand, three thousand and then throw the grenade. If this had been done, the grenade would have exploded on the polished surface and all the VIPs would not have survived. So the President, the Prime Minister and the Chief Whip escaped instant death by just five seconds. Instead the grenade ricocheted off the polished table and injured Lalith so badly. Six months had passed by and the Police were still looking for one of the most wanted men in Sri Lanka for nearly assassinating the President and the Prime Minister. It so happened that the Police in the Kegalle district had come to a paddy field searching for those distilling kasippu, a local brew. Ajith Kumara had been in a village shed and on seeing a Police team, he had fled. The Police, seeing a person fleeing, gave chase and arrested him. All that time, they did not know at all that they had caught the most wanted fugitive from justice. When the Police contacted me, I was able to confirm that the person caught was none other than Ajith Kumara himself. A week later, Ajith Kumara was brought under heavy security to Parliament. He then had confessed to his crime and explained in detail how he had brought the grenade in his shoe and how he had hidden behind the painting, and after the Presidential Security had checked that very room, used a false key he had had made surreptitously to enter the room. He confessed to throwing the hand grenade. Two days later, Speaker E.L. Senanayake and I were summoned to appear before Cabinet. The Speaker diplomatically refused to go saying that it was incorrect for him to appear before Cabinet. That left me with no option but to go before the Cabinet. I nervously walked in since I had never before been summoned like this I felt like the Christian being thrown to the wolves in Roman times. I knew they would cross-examine me as to how I recruited Ajith Kumara, so judiciously I went with a Police CID report which had cleared him and allowed him to be recruited. Armed with the file I sat before the entire Cabinet in the middle. Minister Montague Jayawickreme pounced on me asking how I recruited him and I politely showed the clearance file issued by the CID. Many other questions were fired at me and I politely answered them. I was then allowed to leave. It later transpired that after the clearance report had been issued by the Police, the JVP had secretly recruited him as they found in him the ideal person to carry out the mission of assassinating the President and the Prime Minister since he was already working in Parliament and had access. A few days later, I had a request from Mrs Jayewardene herself; to see the room in which her husband escaped assassination by seconds. She was accompanied by two grandchildren, Ravis two sons. They inspected the polished table from which the grenade had bounced off. I was moved by her presence and the gracious lady moved on without making any comment. This saga has had a strange ending. When Ajith Kumara was produced as an accused before Court, his counsel took up the defence that the Police relied only on his confession and he was acquitted. Regrettably the Attorney Generals Department had mishandled the prosecution and the Judge acquitted Ajith Kumara who left the Court a free man. Only history will record how a President and the Prime Minister escaped death by a few mere seconds. (The writer is a retired Secretary General of Parliament) (TNS) Top executives of U.S. voting machine makers told lawmakers Thursday they would accept federal regulations requiring the companies to disclose how they handle cyberattacks as well as reveal details of ownership and sources of components.Tom Burt, CEO of Election Systems & Software, John Poulos, CEO of Dominion Voting Systems, and Julie Mathis, CEO of Hart InterCivic, told Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., chairwoman of the House Administration Committee that they would accept a broad set of regulations governing their companies.Lofgren told the executives there were no federal reporting requirements about disclosure on key business practices by the three largest makers of voting equipment.Lofgren said the companies should disclose cybersecurity practices including how they respond to incidents; details of cyberattacks they suffer; personnel policies including how employees are screened to ensure no insider attacks occur; details of foreign shareholding; and information on where the companies obtain their software and electronic components.Company executives told lawmakers their machines contain components made in China, including programmable logic devices that are the heart of any computing device, as well as capacitors and touch-screen glass. None of their components were sourced from Russia, the executives said.Security experts also have been concerned about remote access software on voting machines that could be hacked by adversaries.Executives of all three companies told lawmakers they discontinued making machines with such access after 2007, but some Hart and Dominion machines have the capability to plug in an external modem that can transmit vote tallies after polls close, the executives said.The hearing was the first time top executives of voting machine vendors have appeared before Congress since the 2016 election to answer questions on the security of their machines. In that years presidential election, U.S. intelligence agencies concluded Russian operatives attempted to break into the voter registration databases of 21 states and succeeded in penetrating the systems in a handful of states. No voting machines are known to have been breached and officials have said no votes were altered.Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III found evidence Russian intelligence agents breached and managed to plant malware in equipment by VR Systems of Tallahassee, Fla., which makes poll books and election management computers. The company does not make voting machines and denied it was hacked. The FBI is reportedly probing the case but has not offered any details.ES&S, Hart and Dominion together account for 80% of the machines used by voters across the United States to cast ballots.A successful cyberattack against any of these companies could have devastating consequences for elections in vast swaths of the country, Elizabeth Howard, counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, told the House committee. And yet the vendors of the machines have received little federal or congressional oversight.Unlike makers of a variety of consumer and industrial products who must comply with federal safety standards, voting machine makers thus far have eluded scrutiny, she said. Even colored pencils are subject to more federal regulation than voting systems.The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, created in the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election, has authority to disburse federal grants to states to help them buy voting machines and other election machinery. The commission sets standards for voting machines but has no authority to issue rules or impose requirements on states.In 2005, the agency published its first set of standards for voting machines, known as Voluntary Voting System Guidelines and updated it in 2015. But none of the vendors or the machines were certified against the updated 2015 standards, which means election officials are likely using the 2005 standards, Commission Chairwoman Christy McCormick told lawmakers last year.In December, Congress approved $425 million in federal grants to help states boost election security measures. But the amount was less than half the $1 billion many House Democrats sought. In spring 2018, Congress approved an earlier batch of $380 million for election security. Florida Mom Has Two Sets of Twins in One Year By giving birth to two sets of twins in one year, a Florida mom from West Palm Beach feels like she won the jackpot. Alexzandria Wolliston had a bigger chance of winning the lottery than being able to deliver two sets of twins in one year, doctors told her. But she won the twin lottery by giving birth to twins twice, four boys all in one year, she said to WPTV.com. She expressed her happiness over her twins talking to WPTV.com and said she felt that her four boys; Mark, Malakhi, Kaylen, and Kaleb were her jackpot. First, she gave birth to Mark and Malakhi in March 2019. Two months later, in May, she unexpectedly learned another set of twins was on the way. She welcomed Kaylen and Kaleb on Dec. 27, 2019. Oh, yes, I feel like I hit the twin lottery, Wolliston told WPTV. Wolliston also has a three-year-old daughter. Her daughter helped her in getting ready for the birth of her sets of twins, she told the local TV, according to The Associated Press. She described her daughters pregnancy as worse comparing to the twins. She was actually worse than them. So she was like having two babies in one, Wolliston said. Wolliston found out that both of her grandmothers lost twin boys during childbirth. I always say that I feel like my grandmothers gave me their kids because two sets of twinsand their twins passed away, she said. I feel like they just sent them down for me, she said, according to AP. Kaylen and Kaleb were scheduled to be delivered by C-section, and Wolliston said she was raring to bring the boys into the world. Im ready. My body is like done. My body is like, Take them out now! she said according to the New York Post. Wolliston delivered the second set of twins weeks earlier, so they were cared for in the intensive care unit. She received Kaleb from the hospital on Monday and also hopes to bring Kaylen home soon. Wolliston also created a GoFundMe account, saying that people have been requesting to donate to her babies. She thanked those who donated and said on Friday on Facebook she has received Over $800 in donations so far and peopleespecially womenfrom all over the world praised and congratulated her for her blessing. Her extraordinary experience also got attention from media reporters throughout the country as well as abroad. For the time being, Wolliston does not want any more babiesshe is happy with her five kids. Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs, heavy industries and public enterprises Arjun Ram Meghwal on Saturday said the Congress and its allies are carrying out a misinformation campaign against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with the BJP going to people telling them the reality and bust lies. Addressing a press conference before leading a pro-CAA march as a part of the BJPs nationwide campaign, Meghwal said the Act doesnt snatch the citizenship of any person. Instead it is for providing citizenship for members of six religious minorities facing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. CAA is neither divisive nor it is against the Constitution as is being alleged by those opposing it. The National Population Register (NPR) has just one column for disclosing the birthplace of ones parents and there is nothing wrong in it, he said. Every state, including those opposing the CAA, is constitutionally bound to implement the CAA and they refuse to do so the Centre will have to look for alternate mechanism to get it done, he added. Taking a dig at the Congress government in Punjab, the Union minister said the party came to power by making false promises to people. The Congress had promised to set up at least a new industry every month in the state besides waiving all loans of farmers but failed to do so. The state government also didnt fulfill the promise of providing 51, 000 to girls from poor sections at time of marriage and shut down the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant in Bathinda, he said. Mohammed Amin MBE was a Conservative Party member for over 36 years, but is now a Liberal Democrat. He is writing in a personal capacity. In my 15 July 2019 ConservativeHome article I dont like the term Islamophobia. But since were stuck with it, heres my own definition. I concluded with a promise: I am not expressing a view in this article about under what circumstances, if any, Islamophobic acts or discrimination should become criminal acts: that will be for a later piece which I hope ConservativeHome will carry. With apologies for the delay, I am writing to keep my commitment. A short history Long-standing readers will recall that I have been trying to kill off the word Islamophobia since my 26 July 2012 piece Islamophobia a trap for unwary Muslims but without success. Too many Muslim opinion formers regard preserving the word as sacrosanct, even though they have gradually realised that the 1997 Runnymede definition was a failure. Since 2017 we have seen several revised definitions, each with its own failings. The most recent one, which has been widely accepted by many organisations which, in my view, have applied insufficient critical thought to the question, is the one published in November 2018 by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims. The various definitions are reproduced in full in my article The word Islamophobia should be abandoned. The Government has, rightly, rejected the APPG Definition, but has promised to come up with its own definition of Islamophobia. It is welcome to save itself effort and cost by adopting mine! Why many Muslims fixate on the word Islamophobia In the last seven years, I have often asked myself why so many Muslims are so wedded to the word Islamophobia. I think it comes down to something that I would describe, somewhat bluntly, as antisemitism envy. (As the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) explains, antisemitism is the correct spelling.) Muslims see the almost universal condemnation of antisemitism. They contrast this with widespread failure to tackle anti-Muslim bigotry, and conclude that it derives from disputes over the word Islamophobia. I suspect that if they were polled, many British Muslims would answer Yes to the question Is antisemitism a criminal offence?, and would want Islamophobia similarly criminalised. They would contend that at present the law is applying a double standard. A closer look at the law Popular beliefs are often wrong. The criminality of antisemitism is no exception. There are relevant offences on the statute book. For example: Public Order Act 1986 s(18)(1): 18(1) A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, is guilty of an offence if (a) he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or (b) having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby. Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 Schedule inserting new section 29B in the above act: 29B(1) A person who uses threatening words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, is guilty of an offence if he intends thereby to stir up religious hatred. However, the above legislation nowhere uses the term antisemitism, or its variant spellings anti-semitism or anti-Semitism. Indeed, I have used the Governments website to check all legislation from 1980 to 2019 inclusive for the word antisemitism or its above variants. There are only three hits, on the word anti-Semitism. All of them are EU material (reproduced on the UK Government website) intended to help reduce antisemitism by promoting training, information dissemination etc. None creates any criminal offences, so I have avoided cluttering up this article with citations. To summarise, the law has no place for the word antisemitism. Literally, UK law does not use the word. How is the word antisemitism used? Antisemitism is rightly regarded as abhorrent. Accordingly, any employer would regard a member of staff expressing antisemitic views to colleagues as harmful to workforce harmony, and would regard the public expression of antisemitic views by staff as severely damaging to the employers business. All large, and many small, employers will have staff codes of conduct prohibiting such behaviours. If an employer is going to prohibit something, they need to say clearly what they are prohibiting, both so that staff know what they must not do, and to protect the employer from future unfair dismissal claims. That is where it helps to have a concise word, antisemitism, to refer to the prohibited conduct. Furthermore, to avoid the employer having to create its own staff-handbook definition of antisemitism, it is extremely helpful if the employer can point to an existing definition which can be incorporated by reference. (In this staff handbook, the definition of antisemitism is that published by the IHRA.) Better still if the definition used has wide acceptance. The same point applies to other codes of conduct, including media codes and codes of conduct for Government employees, where the Government is really no different from a private sector employer. Similarly, internal codes of conduct for political parties, although the Labour Party struggled for some time before it accepted the IHRA definition. That is why the IHRA definition of antisemitism is useful. It is nothing to do with the criminal law. Why has the word Islamophobia not achieved similar acceptance? In my view it is not because the Government, or society at large, cares more about mistreatment of Jews than it does about mistreatment of Muslims. The reason is the promotion by Runnymede in 1997 of a definition of Islamophobia that was fundamentally flawed and unacceptable, and the inadequacy of all subsequent definitions. Apart from mine! Given the troubled history of the word, I do not believe that any definition of Islamophobia will receive widespread acceptance until it has the Governments imprimatur. To repeat, that does not mean criminalising Islamophobia. However, it does require the Government to prohibit Islamophobic behaviour in its manuals for Government employees, with the Government endorsing a specific definition of Islamophobia. Once that is done, the controversy that has rumbled on since 1997 can end. In an uneasy moment, Asheen Phansey was trying to be funny. Amid recent tensions between Washington and Tehran, during which President Donald Trump threatened to target 52 sites "important to Iran & the Iranian culture," Phansey suggested that Iran's supreme leader might want do the same and get specific. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "should tweet a list of 52 sites of cultural American heritage that he would bomb," Phansey, an adjunct professor and administrator at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, wrote on Facebook earlier this week. "Um . . . Mall of America? . . . Kardashian residence?" He would later describe the post as a "bad attempt at humor," telling Boston news outlets that he was only poking fun at the nation's relative lack of ancient culture. But his apology couldn't save his job: The business school announced Thursday it had fired him. "This particular post from a staff member on his personal Facebook page clearly does not represent the values and culture of Babson College," the college said in a statement. For his part, Phansey expressed regret that Babson did not come to his defense - and instead fired him "just because people willfully misinterpreted a joke I made to my friends on Facebook," he said in a statement to the Boston Herald. The incident marks the most recent instance of college professors drawing flak for their commentary on current events, particularly as questions of academic freedom and free speech play out in an increasingly volatile era of politics and policy. While decades of First Amendment case law prevents officials at public universities from restricting what their employees can say, or punishing them for expressing their views, private schools like Babson enjoy much greater leeway on the matter. So when academics have made controversial posts on social media about any number of news items - mass shootings, the death of former first lady Barbara Bush, or North Korea's imprisonment of Otto Warmbier - their posts have resulted in a range of disciplinary outcomes. Yet, Phansey may be the first administrator to be disciplined for his Facebook posts. Just a few months after receiving his MBA from Babson in 2008, he began working as an adjunct professor in the university's graduate program. In between teaching courses about marketing and sustainable entrepreneurship, he also helped develop curriculum for an undergraduate class combining biology and business. In February 2019, he made the jump from the tech world to campus full-time, joining Babson's administration to lead the school's sustainability initiatives. As Trump initially floated the possibility on Saturday of retaliatory strikes against Iran, drawing widespread condemnation, Phansey chimed in on Facebook. (Trump has since backed away from the possibility of war with Iran.) His post drew attention almost immediately, first boosted online by a Massachusetts tabloid-blog hybrid that is alternately devoted to supporting the New England Patriots and investigating "social justice warriors." The blog wrote that echoing Trump's threats would cost Phansey his job, but that a Facebook post encouraging Iran was likely to get the professor tenure. Needless to say, the opposite was true. On Wednesday, just one day after the blog post, Babson said it had launched an investigation into the matter and suspended Phansey with pay. Through a public relations firm, Phansey told local news outlets on Wednesday that, as a "born and raised" American, he "regretted" the post, which had merely been his attempt at making a humorous juxtaposition: Where Iran has centuries-old churches and mosques, he said, the U.S. is home to a gargantuan mall in Minnesota and multimillion-dollar homes for reality stars. "I am completely opposed to violence and would never advocate it by anyone," he wrote in a statement to the Boston Herald. "I am sorry that my sloppy humor was read as a threat. I condemn all acts of violence . . . I am particularly sorry to cause any harm or alarm for my colleagues at Babson, my beloved alma mater." Less than 24 hours later, he was fired. In other cases where professors have mixed mentions of Trump, or his politics, with suggestions of violence, colleges have made similar moves. In 2017, the University of Tampa fired a visiting sociology professor who tweeted that Hurricane Harvey was "instant karma" for the state of Texas going for Trump in the presidential election. In New Jersey that year, a similar fate awaited a gender studies adjunct at Montclair State University, who was stripped of two courses after he posting to Twitter that Trump was a "f------ joke" and should be shot to death. And at Drexel University in Philadelphia, a politics and global studies professor was placed on leave - and then resigned two years ago - after a series of controversial tweets in which he said "Trumpism" was to blame for the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. As he reflected on his own firing, Phansey seemed to pick up on that trend. "Beyond my own situation, I am really concerned about what this portends for our ability as Americans," he told the Herald, "to engage in political discourse without presuming the worst about each other." A JUDGE has ordered a Traveller to remove a fence which is very dangerous to traffic and his mobile home from a site. Timothy Reilly Jnr, of Garrienderk, Kilmallock, pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with an enforcement notice under the Planning Act. He said he would leave the site immediately if he got a council house. In setting out the case, Will Leahy, solicitor for Limerick City and County Council, said there had been a number of complaints. He said there is a mobile home on the site and a fence has been erected. The fence interferes with sightlines. It is unauthorised development. None of it has planning permission. There have been a number of complaints. There are fears of an accident due to the fence, said Mr Leahy. Pat Campbell, of the council, said the site in question is located on the outskirts of Charleville. It is a residential area with a row of houses. He has built a high fence on top of a ditch. It is on quite a bad bend. It is blocking the view of oncoming traffic. It is very dangerous, said Mr Campbell. After he became aware of complaints, he visited the site and issued an enforcement notice in May 2019 to Mr Reilly Jnr to remove a mobile home, caravan, fence, sheds, outhouse and concrete hardcore. The enforcement notice was not complied with, said Mr Campbell. The only thing that has been removed was the caravan, said Mr Campbell. Mr Reilly Jnr took the stand. He said he has three young children and put the fence up to keep them off the road. He said he has two other children who visit at weekends. There was rubbish being dumped on the ditch as well, said Mr Reilly Jnr. He accepted it was an unauthorised structure. Mr Reilly Jnr said the caravan was for summer holidays but he got rid of it. He said if he got a council house he would vacate the site straight away. Mr Leahy asked Mr Reilly Jnr where he was living prior to Garrienderk. He said he was living with relatives in a three bedroom mobile home including nine children. Where else would you like me to go? asked Mr Reilly Jnr. Mr Leahy said there is the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. Mr Reilly Jnr said he is a Traveller. Ive gone to see houses multiple times but Ive never got a call back, said Mr Reilly Jnr. Mr Leahy said it is the same excuse if I get a council house I will leave the site. You cant set up a halting site, said Mr Leahy, Mr Reilly Jnr said: We have nowhere to go. We have no problem leaving if we had somewhere to go. Judge Marian OLeary said the fence is outrageous. It is not authorised and it is dangerous for the public, said Judge OLeary. Mr Reilly Jnr said he will take it down but he still has nowhere to go. I have to convict. The fence is dangerous. You cant take the law into your own hands, said Judge OLeary. Mr Leahy said Mr Reilly Jnr is entitled to HAP payments. I contacted the housing officer regarding what Mr Reilly Jnr said about it being impossible to get private rented accommodation because he is a Traveller. We do not accept that, said Mr Leahy. Judge OLeary said Mr Reilly Jnr was in breach of the Planning Act. She convicted him and directed the accused to comply with the enforcement notice. Im giving you very little time to comply with the timber fence. I want the fence down immediately. The timber fence to be removed within one week of todays date, said Judge OLeary. Mr Leahy said the councils costs are 2,433 and legal costs stand at 1,059. Judge OLeary adjourned the case back to Kilmallock Court on February 18. TEHRAN, Iran, Jan.11 Trend: Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called for honest and transparent display of information to people over unintentional human error that caused the crash of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane, Trend reports citing Fars News Agency. Khamenei ordered urgency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council and reviewing the issue of the country's anti-missile system that eventually shot down the plane. Following the investigation, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran released a statement saying that the Ukrainian aircraft was unintentionally shot down by Iran, due to a human error. Iranian president Hassan Rouhani expressed regret over the tragic incident. "Iran's armed forces were on alert after the assassination of Qassem Soleimani and the US threats, so an unfortunate human error led to huge tragedy and innocent people have died," said Rouhani. A Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane with 167 passengers (including Iranian and foreign citizens) and 9 crew members on board crashed Jan. 8, after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. The plane was heading for Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. The plane took off at 06:12 (GMT+3:30), and at 06:18, it lost connection with the dispatcher center. The plane crashed at 6:22. The JNUSU accused the Delhi police of shielding ABVP members and also questioned the authenticity of the videos and pictures being used by the police as evidence. The Jawaharlal Nehru Students' Union on Saturday alleged that the Delhi Police was informed about a mob's presence inside the campus much before the violence on 5 January but the cops ignored the messages. The students union also accused the Delhi Police of furthering the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) version of events. Addressing a press conference at the Sabarmati Lawns in the JNU campus, Aishe Ghosh, who was was among the 35 students and teachers injured in an attack by a masked group, claimed that security guards were unavailable on 4 January. "Security guards were not available the entire time," said Aishe Ghosh. "Plainclothes police have been present on campus since 1 December, as requested by the administration. Why did the police in civil clothes not have any information regarding the attack?" she asked. The students union leader also alleged that the police had failed to respond to their messages."The police was informed at 3 pm and the messages were read at 3.07 pm but the messages were ignored," the students union alleged, said a PTI report. Saket Moon, JNUSU vice president, added the attack on 5 January was planned. "At around 4.30 pm, ABVP activists, also from Delhi University, began entering the campus. Professors associated with the RSS were also involved. The activists began entering the university through various gates and this has been recorded on camera," he claimed. Students union leader Md Danish alleged that the masked attackers then started pelting stones, following which students entered the Sabarmati Hostel. The attackers selectively targeted students, he further claimed. "Attackers targeted specific rooms in the Sabarmati Hostel and even threw students from the balcony, but did not touch the room of an ABVP activist," added representatives of the union, said a PTI report. The students' union also said that the ABVP members had hit women students even on 4 January and when JNUSU general secretary Satish Chandra Yadav had intervened, they had attacked him as well. JNUSU general secretary Satish Chandra Yadav alleged that the administration and the police are shielding the ABVP members. "In any investigation, the press conference is always held after the conclusion of the investigation. However, in this case, the police held a press conference while the investigation is still underway because the ABVP was getting exposed. Hence the police held a press conference to save the ABVP and named Left-affiliated organisations instead. But not once did they name the ABVP," he said. The student body also questioned the authenticity of the 'viral' videos and pictures being used by the Delhi Police as evidence. The Delhi Police had on Friday released pictures of nine suspects in the JNU violence case and claimed that Ghosh, a member of the Students' Federation of India, was one of them. Ghosh countered the university administration's claims that the university servers were damaged to prevent students from registering for the new semester and claimed that the registration process had continued even on 5 January. "The administration is claiming that the servers were damaged by the students on 4 January. They are also saying that the CCTV footage could not be accessed because the servers were down. But registrations were taking place on 4 Jan. If not, how did I receive a mail from server communications on 5 January?" she said. The students' union also addressed the issue of the hostel fee hike, with Ghosh asserting that she will not pay the increased hostel fees. "We will never pay hostel fees and will continue fighting," said Ghosh, adding that students would pay the academic registration fees of Rs 120. She also said the JNUSU condemn the hostel audit being conducted by the administration and urged the elected representative of hostels and students to boycott any such checking of hostels without their permission. Earlier in the day, the JNU administration had announced that the varsity has undertaken a security audit of hostels to check the stay of outsiders and unauthorised students, as advised by the Delhi Police on 7 January. Ghosh also lashed out at JNU vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, accusing him of not communicating with the students nor visiting the campus while the attack was underway. "Servers are more important to you than the safety of your students," she said in a reference to Kumar. There is no question of co-operating with the VC, asserted Ghosh while calling for his resignation. "Sacking the vice-chancellor is the only option," she said. Following the press conference, the union released a chronology of events which took place on 4 and 5 January on its Twitter handle. We have put out every minute detail of the events that unfolded on Campus since 4th January. We have highlighted the complicity of the Delhi Police and the VC in the #JNUTerrorAttack (2/2) #DelhiPoliceWithABVP #VCHatao pic.twitter.com/hzTvgyCE6G JNUSU (@JNUSUofficial) January 11, 2020 The JNUSU also released two videos supporting their version of events. However, Firstpost has not been able to independently verify their authenticity. Video evidence of point #2 in the chronology of events. ABVP activists attacking Vivek outside SIS on 4th. This video has sadly been shared by Prasar Bharati and our VC claiming that left was indulging in violence. The truth is the exact opposite.#DelhiPoliceWithABVP #VCHatao pic.twitter.com/nJK5s2UQBa JNUSU (@JNUSUofficial) January 11, 2020 Evidence of #2 in Chronology: The VC's stooges, who unfortunately happen to be faculty members at JNU, are seen hanging around, participating in and instigating violence as the ABVP activists attack students. #VCHatao#DelhiPoliceWithABVP pic.twitter.com/bMgif09QIJ JNUSU (@JNUSUofficial) January 11, 2020 On 5 January, a group of masked men and women stormed the campus and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods by hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. At least 35 students, teachers and staff were injured in the violence. With inputs from PTI It is alleged that this defendant arranged to meet his victim via an online dating application and once they were alone, sexually abused him, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sourabh Gupta (The Jakarta Post) Washington, DC Sat, January 11, 2020 09:58 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321be14c 3 Opinion North-Natuna-Sea,Natuna,South-China-Sea,traditional-fishermen,history,maritime-border,Indonesia,China,UNCLOS Free In a replay of their face-off dating back to March 2016, Indonesia-China maritime ties are once again embroiled in rising tensions over Chinese traditional fishing practices in the exclusive economic zone adjacent to Indonesias Natuna regency. Just this time around, instead of two trespassing Chinese vessels, as many as 63 trespassing vessels have been spotted across 30 locations within Indonesias waters, backed by the presence of Chinese coast guard ships. This encroachment is not a matter that can or should be taken lightly. Beijing claims that these South China Sea waters are its traditional fishing grounds and that the vessels are exercising their legal and legitimate rights. Jakarta insists contrarily that it enjoys exclusive and untrammeled sovereign rights and jurisdiction over these North Natuna Sea waters and that the Chinese vessels are engaged in illegal poaching. Jakarta is prima facie correct to assert that Beijing cannot enjoy any historic rights traditional fishing rights being a form of historic right within the Natunas exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The international tribunal in the Philippines versus China case judged that such rights were superseded in the EEZ of a foreign coastal state with the entry into force in November 1994 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). On the other hand, the matter is not as clear-cut as many commentators would have us believe. Far from being preposterous, the concept of "historic rights" (including traditional fishing rights) and "traditional fishing grounds" sits comfortably within the four corners of international maritime law. As the tribunal in Philippines vs China had itself observed, such rights belong to and are governed by the other rules of international law that are preserved by the UNCLOS. So long as these traditional fishing rights are exercised over a long period of time without interruption or opposition", they can override conceptions of sovereignty, be exercised nonexclusively by artisanal fishermen of that vested foreign state, and do not require the consent of the coastal state for their exercise. It was on this basis that the tribunal judged the territorial sea of the Scarborough Shoal, where China is the coastal state just as Indonesia is in the Natunas, to be the traditional fishing ground for Filipino artisanal fishermen. Their access as a matter of right to these fishing grounds was not contingent on Chinas consent although they do have to defer to Beijings regulatory prerogatives in these Scarborough waters. Where Chinas current practices in the Natunas departs from the tribunals ruling is that the latter had circumscribed this traditional fishing right to the territorial seas of the Scarborough Shoal. The coastal state's EEZ were deemed out-of-bounds for the exercise of this historic right. But even this territorial sea/EEZ zonal distinction is not settled law. In two notable cases since the entry into force of the UNCLOS, international tribunals have ruled otherwise. In Mauritius vs United Kingdom, the court observed that the other rules of international law which governs traditional fishing rights and is preserved by the UNCLOS apply for all intents and purposes equivalently across the territorial seas and the exclusive economic zone. The court in Eritrea vs Yemen went even further, judging that the traditional fishing regime [ ] was not qualified by the maritime zones specified under the [UNCLOS] [] and operates throughout those waters beyond the territorial waters of each of the Parties. A future court may yet pare back the Philippines vs China distinction between the territorial sea and the EEZ insofar as the exercise of this traditional fishing right is concerned. China will be reluctant to cede this facility during the interim, if at all. So what does this all amount to and where does Jakarta go from here? First, the face-off must be resolved and the encroachment reversed expeditiously and peacefully. The situation cannot be left to linger. Diplomacy and deterrence are of the essence. Next, as unwelcome as the situation is, undue alarmism is neither helpful nor necessary. It is instructive to be attentive to the inferred claims that Beijing is not making in this instance. It is not challenging the territorial dispensation of the Natuna Islands. It is not contesting Indonesias sovereignty in the Natunas territorial sea. It is not claiming sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the Natunas EEZ, be it for commercial fisheries or oil and gas development purposes. It has, in fact, never challenged Jakartas hydrocarbon rights in these waters, unlike the case in Manilas and Hanois EEZ which had, in turn, spurred the judges in Philippines vs China to strike down Beijings infamous "nine-dash line" because it constituted, in their view, an infringing exclusive claim to sovereign rights and jurisdiction. Finally, even this limited and nonexclusively exercised traditional fishing rights claim might be too much for Jakarta to countenance, particularly in light of the rampant poaching by many states in its waters. It would be fully within its rights to reject it. On the other hand, there is little harm in sitting across the table and thrashing the issue out with Chinese counterparts. Creative solutions could be on the anvil. In exchange for a nominal annual quota for its artisanal fishermen, the Chinese coast guard could cede its jurisdictional presence in Indonesian waters. Reciprocal access to Chinese waters could also be sought. UNCLOS articles on semi-enclosed seas, after all, enjoin bordering coastal states to coordinate the management, conservation and exploitation of the living resources of the sea. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's government has been a responsible custodian of Sino-Indonesian relations. Beijing too shares a heavy obligation to be markedly more transparent with its maritime claims. Bilateral relations are too important to be deflected by the politically charged but materially modest encroachments in the waters adjoining Natuna regency. The sooner the matter is consensually resolved, the better it will be for all. __________ Resident senior fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies in Washington, DC Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Assad regime airstrikes kill 17 civilians in Idlib At least 17 civilians were killed in airstrikes Saturday by the Bashar al-Assad regime in northwestern Syria, said a local civil defense agency. Regime warplanes have targeted Idlibs city center, Maarrat al-Numan and Saraqib districts and 11 villages in the morning hours, said the White Helmets. SEARCH EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING At least seven people were killed in the city center, six in the village of Binnish, four in the village of Al-Nerab, including two children while 50 others were injured. Following the airstrikes, civil defense teams launched search and rescue efforts. Turkey announced Friday that a new cease-fire in Idlib rocked by violence -- though acts of aggression are already officially banned -- is set to start just after midnight on Sunday, Jan. 12. Separately on Thursday, Russias Defense Ministry announced a cease-fire in the region taking effect at 2.00 p.m. local time (1200GMT). Turkey and Russia agreed in September 2018 to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited. The Syrian regime and its allies, however, have consistently broken the terms of the cease-fire, launching frequent attacks inside the zone, killing at least 1,300 civilians since the agreement. The de-escalation zone is currently home to some four million civilians, including hundreds of thousands displaced in recent years by regime forces from throughout the war-weary country. Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to UN officials. Georges Duboeuf, who transformed a quaint Beaujolais harvest ritual celebrating the years first wine into the global phenomenon of Beaujolais Nouveau, in the process turning his familys small business into a worldwide powerhouse, died on Jan. 4 at his home in Romaneche-Thorins, France. He was 86. His son, Franck, said the cause was a stroke. Mr. Duboeuf was already a successful Beaujolais merchant in the 1970s when he set out to mass-market the local tradition of making primeur, a quick, joyous wine born of the years new grapes. Many wine regions enjoyed a similar harvest ritual, a festive local practice among friends and colleagues. Beaujolais was an especially enjoyable wine to drink young. It was fresh and easy in a way that, say, young Bordeaux, with tannins that could be unpleasantly astringent, was not. A thriving local market existed for the young wine. It expanded to the Paris bistros in the 1950s, when distributors began to compete in a race to see who could deliver the first bottles to the capital. Cork County Council has been urged to 'fast track' traffic plans for calming measures at a North Cork road junction, once famously "one of the most dangerous in Ireland", following the latest in a string of accidents there. The call came following a serious collision between two cars at Ballymacquirke Cross on the N72 between Banteer and Kanturk on Christmas Eve. Denis Withers, the PRO of Banteer Lyre and District community Councils, said the latest incident had prompted the local community to ask when action would finally be taken to improve safety at the junction. "In one particular incident last year, two trucks collided at the cross, leaving one man seriously injured and another with minor injuries. "It was only pure luck that no other cars were in the area at the time as it would have resulted in multiple fatalities," said Mr Withers. Debate has raged for years at council level for years over the need for new safety measures at the junction, with thousands of people signing a petition calling for action. Various measures proposed have included improving signage and sight lines; installing traffic-calming ramps; and, at one stage, the idea of building a flyover at the junction was even mooted. In March of 2018, the council's then director of road services, Tom Stritch, confirmed that, following discussions with TII, it had been decided that a roundabout at the junction was the preferred option. The decision was warmly welcomed, with hopes high that work on the roundabout would commence within a matter of months. However, fast forward to January 2020 and work has yet to start on the structure, much to the frustration of the local community. There was some good news last December after it was announced that 150,000 had been allocated for the design, planning and land acquisition to accommodate the roundabout, and that RoadPlan had been appointed technical advisor to the project. The council's current director of road services, Padraig Barrett, said it was his hope that a planning application for the roundabout would be lodged with An Bord Pleanala early this year and, "all going to plan", machines would finally be on the ground by the end of 2020. However, Mr Withers has said this timetable was not acceptable, calling on the council and TII to prioritise the project and "make good on their promises and make it happen sooner". "The local Community Council held a public meeting on this subject in March 2018 and are still waiting for action to happen on the ground. Why does it takes years and years to get some action taken to avoid fatalities at this most dangerous junction," asked Mr Withers. "We have had many narrow escapes at the junction, and there were eight or nine serious accidents there in 2019 alone. In 2018, we were promised some action before now, but it's gone to the end of 2020 now, which is not acceptable to the local community," he added. (Newser) Las Vegas firefighters have discovered what officials described as an illegal, homemade gas station in a backyard, the AP reports. Las Vegas Fire and Rescue shared images online of the makeshift gas station discovered by firefighters Tuesday showing two yellow tanks in the corner of a walled yard with a gas pump nozzle on the end of hose. The hose was long enough to reach from the yard to the street for "possible curbside fill ups," the department said in a social media post. story continues below "This is not only illegal in the city, it is a hazard to neighbors (and) first responders who may respond there for an emergency, like a fire," the department said. The backyard station may be part of an illegal trend involving people who purchase gasoline with stolen credit card information before emptying the fuel into storage containers at private homes, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officials said. The city's code enforcement office is investigating the case and citations are possible for the homeowners, authorities said. (Read more gas stations stories.) Iran's admission that it was responsible for the January 8 downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet, which killed all 176 people on board including many Iranians and Iranian-Canadian citizens, has led to anger and accusations of recklessness and incompetency against the country's leaders. A January 11 Iranian military statement said the Ukraine International Airlines flight was mistaken for a "hostile target" after it turned toward a "sensitive military center" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The military was at its "highest level of readiness," it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. WATCH: Anger And Demands For Justice As Iran Says It Shot Down Plane Tehran's admission of guilt could undermine the massive display of unity at the multi-city funeral of top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the United States on January 3, and which the Iranian authorities claimed sparked a revival of the 1979 revolution. On January 11, amateur video posted on social media showed protesters gathered outside Tehran's Amir Kabir university chanting "dishonorable," an apparent reference to Iranian leaders, while calling for justice over the shooting down of the plane. "Resignation is not enough," angry protesters chanted. "A trial is necessary." Some Iranians have asked why planes were allowed to fly over the Iranian capital hours after Iran launched a missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq, which could have prompted retaliatory action by the United States. Lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said authorities should have suspended civilian flights due to the "war conditions" the country faces. "Weve seen in various wars that when the smallest missile is fired, airports are immediately put on standby and flights suspended," he was quoted as saying on January 11 by Iranian media. Others have called for accountability and the resignation of officials responsible for the downing of the plane. There was also criticism of what was widely seen as an initial attempt by the Iranian authorities to cover up the cause of the tragedy. Officials had been initially defiant in the face of multiple allegations by Western officials and a growing body of evidence from investigators that an Iranian missile had hit the Ukrainian plane. "What is obvious for us, and what we can say with certainty, is that no missile hit the plane," Ali Abedzadeh, the head of Iran's national aviation department, had told reporters on January 10, just hours before Tehran admitted guilt for the deadly incident. Speaking on January 11, the aerospace commander of the IRGC, Amirali Hajizadeh, accepted full responsibility for the tragedy and said he will obey whatever decision might be taken regarding the consequences. "I would prefer to die rather than witness such an incident," Hajizadeh told reporters, while adding that a communications failure had caused the disaster at a time when the countrys armed forces had been on high alert in case of retaliatory strikes by the United States. Ehsan Bodaghi, a parliamentary reporter for the official government daily Iran, said two sets of officials -- those responsible for the shooting of the plane, as well as those who "told lies to fool the public" -- should resign and face justice. Calls For Transparency On the popular news site, Asriran.com, journalist Jafar Mohammadi wrote, "If the Ukrainian plane was hit with one missile, public trust was hit with thousands of missiles." "Human error is acceptable but dishonesty with the people never," Mohammadi said. "As an Iranian citizen, dont I have the right to ask for the resignation of the commander of the IRGC and other responsible officials? journalist Ali Aslan Shahla asked on Twitter. Another journalist, freelancer Mojtaba Fathi, said that "[the authorities] were supposed to take a harsh revenge on America, not the people." The tragedy also led to calls for regime transparency, including over a violent November 2019 crackdown on antiestablishment protesters that according to Amnesty International killed more than 300 people. "I hope the authorities learn a lesson from this bitter incident and stop covering up the [November] death toll," Emadedin Baghi, a journalist and human rights activist, said on Instagram. Reformist politician Mostafa Tajzadeh, an acting interior minister under former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, apologized to the Iranian people over the state "lies." "I must admit I couldnt believe all the lies, secrecy, and deceit in the Islamic republic. Why and how did we reach this point?" Tajzadeh said on Twitter, adding that hes "deeply" sorry. Many Iranians drew parallels with the 1988 downing of Iran Air Flight 655 by a U.S. Navy missile that killed all 290 people on board and which ramped up tensions between the two countries. Just two days before the Ukrainian plane tragedy, Iranian President Hassan Rohani recalled the 1988 shooting down in a tweet issued after a threat by U.S. President Donald Trump that he would target 52 sites in Iran, the same as the number of U.S. hostages held in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, if Tehran retaliated to the killing of Soleimani. "Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655 Never threaten the Iranian nation," Rohani wrote on Twitter, which is banned in Iran, on January 6. The downing of Flight 655 is commemorated every year in Iran and often cited as a crime and is a major source of grievance against the United States. On Twitter, a video clip of a 1991 speech by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was making the rounds where he blasted the United States for the 1988 tragedy while dismissing the U.S. response. Washington has expressed regret for the crash and described it as a "terrible human tragedy" but has never formally apologized. "You hit a plane with some 300 passengers, then you say: 'we made a mistake.' How dare you make [such] a mistake. What does it mean, you made a mistake?" Khamenei said in the speech. Writing on Twitter, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif suggested that the United States had contributed to the January 8 tragedy. "Human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster," Zarif said while expressing Irans "profound regrets, apologies" over the disaster. Relations between Tehran and Washington have deteriorated following the May 2018 withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal and the reimposition of crippling economic sanctions -- and, most recently, the U.S. drone killing of Soleimani and Irans retaliation. Both sides have said that they are not seeking a war. By SA Commercial Prop News Leonardo developer, Legacy Group canceled the contract with construction group, Aveng in a dispute about delays. The developer of the R3 billion Sandton skyscraper, the Leonardo, has shown the troubled construction company, Aveng, the exit door after terminating its contract. The Leonardo is a mixed-use development and Africa's tallest building, developed by the Legacy Group and Nedbank, designed to house 254 apartments, a three-floor penthouse and five floors of office space, as well as shops and restaurants. In a dispute about delays, Aveng said on Thursday that it had received a notice terminating its role in the construction of the Leonardo, which it has been a part of since it won the contract in 2015. But the firm says its not going to take this lying down, because it believes the termination is ill-conceived and is a breach of contract between it and the Leonardo owners. "Aveng has received a notice purporting to terminate the contract for the construction of the Leonardo in Sandton from Seventy Five on Maude (Pty) Limited, which is part of Mr. Bart Dorresteins Legacy Group," said Aveng in a statement published on the Stock Exchange News Service (SENS). The company said the Leonardo owners have also called on the construction guarantee, a surety bond that Aveng put up when it signed the contract. This has put Aveng in the red by R87.4m. This will worsen an already dire situation for the company, which has lost more than 99% value of its share price in the past three years and has been recording annual losses since 2014. The Leonardo's record height and proximity to key areas of interest such as the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Sandton City has made it a highly anticipated project, but it suffered delays. Aveng said despite those delays, it does not believe it should be stripped off the contract because "responsibility and consequence" are being disputed. Avengs position is that the grounds for termination relied on by the employer are incorrect, inaccurate and ill-conceived, and are accordingly denied. Furthermore, Aveng is of the view that the employer is itself in material breach of the contract, which precludes the possibility of a valid termination," said Aveng. The construction firm said it intends to recover its damages resulting from the termination because it considers the Leonardo to be "practically complete" for its intended use. As for the call on the construction guarantee, the company said it is seeking advice on what recourse it has because it considers the action as improper too. Aveng, a former construction giant, is quitting the troubled local construction industry, which is a shadow of itself as a result of a lack of government infrastructure spend. The group has sold a number of noncore assets after a review of its strategy in 2018. The sold assets include Aveng Grinaker-LTA Construction which the group sold to the black-owned Laula Consortium in 2019 for R100m. Gardai investigating an "incident of burglary and of false imprisonment" are appealing for information. The incident occurred at a house on the Strand Road area of Portmarnock, Dublin yesterday. Shares of AMAG Pharmaceuticals AMAG slipped 2.84% after it announced that its president, who is also the chief executive officer and a member of its board of directors, will step down from the post once a successor is named. Further, in order to lower its operating expenses, the company announced plans to divest Intrarosa (prasterone) and Vyleesi (bremelanotide), two sexual health treatments for women. Shares of AMAG have lost 22.2% in the past year compared with the industrys decline of 2.7%. The company foresees significant future commercial potential in its pipeline candidates ciraparantag and AMAG-423 and thus, decided to divest the womens healthcare drugs. The company also provided preliminary 2019 guidance and expects total revenues of $324-$329 million. It expects Feraheme revenues in the range of $167-$169 million and Makena sales of $120-$123 million. Intrarosa sales are expected to be $21 million in 2019. In addition to the CEO transition, chief financial officer Ted Myles will assume the additional role of the chief operating officer, effective immediately. The company also provided guidance for 2020 and expects revenues of $230-$280 million. The financial guidance includes a reduction in operating expenses of more than $100 million for 2020 compared to 2010. After divesting Intrarosa and Vyleesi, the expenses will reduce and the company will be more streamlined and focused on Ferahemes growth, support the development of two of its pipeline assets and deliver positive adjusted EBITDA. The 2020 revenue guidance reflects a range of potential revenue scenarios for Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection), given the uncertainty caused by the FDA Advisory Committee meeting and soft fourth-quarter results. We remind investors that in October 2019, AMAG announced that the FDAs Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee analyzed data from the PROLONG trial on Makena. The drug is approved to reduce preterm birth in pregnant women, who have had a prior spontaneous preterm delivery. Story continues Nine of 16 advisory committee members voted to recommend the FDA to pursue the withdrawal of Makena from the market, while the rest voted in favor of keeping the product in the market under an accelerated approval and requesting a new confirmatory trial. The company will remain committed to working with the FDA to maintain patient access to Makena and managing Makena-related expenses so that the product is cash flow positive. The company is making these decisions to generate sustainable, long-term shareholder value and increase profitability. AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Price AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Price AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. price | AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Quote Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider AMAG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks in the medical drugs sector are Amarin Corporation Plc AMRN, Emergent Biosolutions, Inc. EBS and Audentes Therapeutics, Inc.BOLD, all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Amarins loss per share estimates have narrowed from 9 cents to 2 cents for 2019 in the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in three of the trailing four quarters by 109.17%, on average. Emergents earnings per share estimates have increased from $3.39 to $3.58 for 2020 in the past 60 days. Audentes loss per share estimates have narrowed from $4.17 to $4.13 for 2019 and from $4.45 to $4.33 for 2020 in the past 60 days. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> 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 AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMAG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (EBS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Amarin Corporation PLC (AMRN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Audentes Therapeutics, Inc. (BOLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Ankara and Baku will jointly fight against illegal visits and illegal economic activity in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, a diplomatic source in Turkey told Trend. Along with this, warning information will be regularly disseminated in the Turkish media, according to the report. As part of the joint fight against illegal visits to the occupied Azerbaijani territories and illegal economic activity in this territory, regular information exchange will be carried out between the relevant agencies of Azerbaijan and Turkey, the source said. The source added that products illegally manufactured in the occupied Azerbaijani territories wont be allowed to be imported into Turkey. 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. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for the suspension of the proposed hike in electricity tariff, saying the increment should not be allowed until estimated billing is criminalised. The speaker expressed worry over the ability of power distribution companies to provide uninterrupted power supply after tariff hike, adding that there is no guarantee the Discos will not continue with the nefarious practice of bills estimation. Mr Gbajabiamila then urged the National Assembly to ensure that the proposed new electricity tariff, when eventually implemented, was cost-reflective. In a series of tweet on Friday, the speaker also disclosed that he would meet with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and other stakeholders in the power sector over the matter. Mr Gbajabiamila has already sponsored a bill seeking to make it criminal for electricity service providers to deny consumers meters or estimate their bills. Introduced in the 8th National Assembly and revisited by the current 9th House, the bill is awaiting third reading. Increment Last December, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced the immediate review of electricity tariffs in the country from January 1. The order was issued to the 11 electricity distribution companies (DISCos). Signed jointly by the Chairman of the Commission, Joseph Momoh, and the Commissioner for Legal, License & Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, the order spelt out the various tariff reviews for all categories of consumers except those consumers classified as residential (R1). The reviews ranged from 59.7 per cent for consumers in Ikeja to 77.6 per cent in Enugu. Under the new order, electricity consumers in Ikeja who used to pay about N13.34 per kWh since under the 2015 MYTO when the last review was carried out will from January 1 this year pay N21.80 per kWh, same as their R2 counterparts. Their counterparts in Enugu, who used to pay about N17.42 per kWh will, under the new order, pay about N30.93 kWh from January 1. Their R2 and R3 counterparts who paid about N19.31 and N27.11 per kWh since 2015, will now be paying N34.28 and N48.12 per kWh. Residential (R2) and R3 consumers in Ikeja, who have been paying N13.34 and N26.5 per kWh since 2015, will now be paying N21.30 and N21.80 per kWh. Residential consumers are those categorised as those using singe phase and three-phase meters and electricity consumption of about 50 kWh in premises with flats exclusively for residential purposes. READ ALSO: The affected DISCos include Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Jos Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and Yola Electricity Distribution Company. The federal government, in reaction said it will continue to subsidise the gap in electricity cost to consumers pending the hike in April. Gbajabiamila wades in Tweeting via his verified handle, @ femigbaja, Mr Gbajabiamila on Friday wrote that the increase should not be whimsical with no empirical basis. There is no guarantee that after any electricity tariff hike, the Discos will not continue with the nefarious practice of bill estimation or provide uninterrupted power supply, he tweeted. I believe @nassnigeria should ensure that any increase in electricity tariff, if at all, should be cost-reflective and not just a whimsical increase with no empirical basis. Also, any such increase should only be made after the proposed amendment to the law criminalising estimated billing is signed into law. I intend to meet and discuss this sequence and other conditions with the Attorney General of the Federation and other relevant authorities. Nigerians react In his reaction, a twitter user accused the distribution companies of attempts to sabotage the system, throwing his weight behind the speakers suggestion. The DisCos are trying everything to sabotage the system, Demola Adefajo, tweeted. Ive paid for meter since December. Ikeja Electric is yet to supply meter. There are others who have paid earlier but no response from @IkejaElectric Another user, Paul Daniel, said that: Meter should be free. It remains the property of the discos. This 419 must stop. Tweeting via @slimcfaDuz, one user said that if there would be increment, then there should be 24 hours uninterupted supply. Advertisements He wrote: We condemn any increase in electricity tariff. If there should be any at all,the DISCOS should ensure us 24hrs uninterrupted power supply. It should be practical. Another user, @caxim04, noted that: Our government should not put cart before the horse. The new law must be in place before tarrif hike. That will be fair to all. Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday said that if Indian Army gets an order then it will take appropriate action to reclaim Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) New Delhi: Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday said that if Indian Army gets an order then it will take appropriate action to reclaim Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). He pointed out that a Parliamentary resolution states that the entire Jammu and Kashmir region is a part of India. "There is a parliamentary resolution, that entire Jammu and Kashmir region is a part of India. If Parliament wants it, then that area (PoK) also should belong to us. When we get orders to that effect, we will take appropriate action," the Army chief said while speaking to the media in Delhi. He also said all the complaints filed against Army officers in the Kashmir valley have been proved to be unfounded. The Army chief emphasised that the "judgment call" of the commander on the ground has to be respected. "The judgment call of the commander on the ground has to be respected. All the complaints that have been filed have proved to be unfounded," the Army chief said while addressing a press conference ahead of Army Day on 15 January. The Army Chief was asked to comment on the complaints filed against the Army personnel deployed in the Kashmir valley in the last couple of years. To a query on the shortage of staff in the Army, General Naravane admitted that there is a shortage of officers but said that it is because the Army has not lowered the standards for selection of officers. "There is a shortage of officers but it is not because there is lack of people applying for it. We have not lowered the standards for selection of officers in the force," the Army chief told the reporters. The Army Chief also spoke on the induction of female jawans and said that the training of the first batch of 100 female jawans had started on 6 January. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said the students of St. Stephen's College, who walked out of their classes to show solidarity with the students of JNU, have reignited the "historic tradition" of the college. The college students boycotted classes on Wednesday in solidarity with JNU students, who faced violence on the university campus, and in protest against the amended citizenship law. Addressing a gathering at the launch of the college's Centre for Advance Learning and the flagship Public Policy and International Relations programme, Tharoor said one must not forget that Mahatma Gandhi had given the call for the non-cooperation movement from the campus of St. Stephen's College. Hitting out at the central government, the Congress leader, who is also an alumnus of the college, said it was unfortunate that the ruling dispensation saw protests as "a threat". Recalling his college days, Tharoor said when he was the president of the students' union there was Jai Prakash Narayan-led movement in the 1970s, which culminated in what became the Emergency in the following years. "A number of my fellow students asked me if we could participate (in the JP movement). I told them that we are non-political union and it would not be right for us as a union to participate as we did not belong to Delhi University Students' Union," he said. He said he, however, asked his fellow students he would not stand in the way of any individual member going to participate in rallies, but not on behalf of the college students' union. If any individual student decides to participate in protests, he or she can go, and if he or she stays back, he or she can do so, the Lok Sabha MP said. "Ultimate idea is have principles, have values, but do within the framework of what is possible... I think in many ways those who did walk out for march and protests reignited the historic tradition of the college..." he said. The Congress leader alleged that the ruling dispensation has chosen to try to intimidate and clamp down via police in JNU "shamefully through thugs, proxies such as ABVP". At the event attended by the college's supreme council chairman Warris K Masih, principal John Varghese and others, the 'Chair in Public Policy' was established in the college. Varghese said the college has brilliant alumni. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 23-year-old doctoral student at a California university, along with her sister and their mother were among 176 people killed when a Ukrainian jetliner was shot down by Iran, it has been revealed. Sara Sabat, 23, who was enrolled at Alliant International University in San Diego, was visiting family in Iran with her sister and mom when their Boeing 737 went down minutes after take off from Tehran's international airport early Wednesday. Her sister Saba, 21, and their mother, Shekoufeh Choupannejad, were from Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. Among the dead from the crash were 57 Canadians. Scroll down for video Saba Sabat (left) and sister Sara (right) were 'best friends'. They were among 176 people killed when a Ukrainian jetliner was shot down by Iran Mom Shekoufeh Choupannejad was a gynecologist and obstetrician in her 50s Iran claimed that a missile operator opened fire on Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 because his communications jammed, and he thought he had only seconds to take out an incoming cruise missile, a Revolutionary Guards commander has said. Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, said on Saturday the operator mistakened the Ukrainian jetliner for a US cruise missile responding to Iranian ballistic missile attacks, which is why he made the split second decision on whether or not to open fire. 'I wish I had died, and I wouldn't have seen such an incident,' Hajizadeh said somberly at a press conference. He claimed that a 'request had been made to clear the sky from civil flights at that time, but it did not happen due to reservations.' For days, Iran vehemently denied that it was responsible for downing the passenger plane, and accused the US of spreading malicious propaganda and lies for suggesting such a scenario. Hajizadeh claimed that the country's top military leaders were not initially aware that their own air defense system had shot the plane down, leading to confusion. Now the country has come clean, but still blames 'US adventurism' for the fatal 'error'. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani still extended condolences to the families of those killed in the incident, and promised that those responsible would be prosecuted. Rescue workers search the scene where the Ukrainian plane crashed after takeoff from Tehran's international airport early Wednesday Saba's long-time boyfriend remembered her and Sara as 'best friends'. Daniel Ghods-Esfahani told the CBC in Edmonton that he was comforted they died with their mom, who was an obstetrician and gynecologist in her 50s. 'Given the tragedy of the situation, I take some comfort from the fact that, in that last moment, the three of them were together,' he told the news outlet. Sara was about to start a clinical psychology program at Alliant, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The school in San Diego's Scripps Ranch section was just finishing up its winter break this week when word came of her death. The news sent shock waves through out the campus, reports the Tribune. Sara Sabat, 23, was visiting family in Iran with her sister and mom when their Boeing 737 went down minutes after take off Saba, 21, (pictured) was from Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. Among the dead were 57 who died in the crash 'We extend our deepest sympathies to family and friends of Sara Saadat,' Alliant said in a statement issued Friday. 'We know that the entire Alliant community is affected when tragedy strikes any one of us, and we are here to provide support during these trying times.' The faculty at Alliant was so stricken with grief, none were available to comment. The school is expected to hold a memorial service for Sara, who was in her first year. Her younger sister was an undergraduate in her last year at Alberta University. She was planning to go to medical school. Her boyfriend said the family moved from Iran to Canada seven years ago. The family eventually moved to Edmonton. An older brother now lives in Toronto, Ghods-Esfahani said. Their father is in Iran. He met Saba three years ago through mutual friends. 'I've never seen a bond between siblings or friends as close as they had,' Ghods-Esfahani said, referring to her and Sara. Daniel Ghods-Esfahani, Saba's long-time boyfriend (pictured) said the family moved from Iran to Canada seven years ago Daniel Ghods-Esfahani lost his long-time girlfriend Saba Saadat in Wednesday's plane crash. "In light of what has happened, it is my passion to pursue everything that she [Saba] was passionate about," he told CBC News: https://t.co/uYijFZPHhR #yeg pic.twitter.com/lnuLYzFr98 CBC Edmonton (@CBCEdmonton) January 9, 2020 The sisters were passionate about helping immigrants and people in the LGBTQ community he told the CBC. He said he hopes to continue their legacy. 'In light of what has happened, it is my passion to pursue everything that she [Saba] was passionate about,' he said. 'Part of that is incorporating everything that she cared about, everything that she stood for and everything that she wanted to accomplish in her life, and be able to honor that on her behalf.' Two US soldiers have been killed and two others injured in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan, the United States military has said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which an Afghan official said happened in the Dand district of Kandahar province in the south of the country. The US military did not immediately identify those killed. More than 2,400 US troops have been killed in Afghanistan since the invasion in 2001 following the 9/11 terror attacks. Another 20,000 have been wounded. The latest attack comes amid stalled efforts to restart peace talks. Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan Show all 10 1 /10 Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan Donald Trump laughs with US troops after serving them Thanksgiving dinner at Bagram airbase during a surprise visit to Afghanistan AFP via Getty Images Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan It was the president's first visit to Afghanistan AFP via Getty Images Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan As is traditional with senior politicians, he was happy to help serve the troops his vice-president Mike Pence did the same for US forces in Iraq a few days earlier AFP via Getty Images Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan Mr Trump gets stuck in. He told troops he had only been able to have a mouthful of mashed potatoes and no turkey before being dragged off to address them AFP via Getty Images Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan The president applauds as his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani addresses troops AFP via Getty Images Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan Mr Trump said that he was willing to restart talks with the Taliban REUTERS Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan He told US troops: "The Taliban wants to make a deal. And we are meeting with them and we say it has to be a ceasefire and they didn't want to do a ceasefire and now they want to do a ceasefire, I believe. It will probably work out that way." AFP via Getty Images Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan Mr Trump was accompanied on his trip by his national security adviser, Robert O'Brien. While it was his first trip to Afghanistan since becoming president in January 2017, he has been to a warzone once before when he visited troops in Iraq AFP via Getty Images Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan The president told troops that he had flown 8,331 miles to be there to tell them the US has never been stronger. He said: "There is nowhere I'd rather celebrate Thanksgiving." AFP via Getty Images Trump makes surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops in Afghanistan Mr Ghani and Mr Trump holding talks at Bagram airbase. Tens of thousands of Afghan civilians and more than 2,400 American service members have been killed since America's longest war began 18 years ago AP In November Donald Trump made a surprise Thanksgiving visit to US troops at Bagram airbase, his first trip to Afghanistan. While there he held talks with Ashraf Ghani, the Afghan president, and said he was looking to hold talks with the Taliban, three months after abruptly declaring that he had withdrawn a previously unannounced invitation to Taliban leaders to meet him at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. That followed the killing of a US soldier in a Taliban attack. He said: "We say it has to be a ceasefire and they didn't want to do a ceasefire and now they want to do a ceasefire, I believe. It will probably work out that way." At the time the Taliban said it was interested in holding talks. Last week there were reports that the radical Islamist group was discussing a possible ceasefire, which the US peace envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, has been pressing for. A break in fighting would give a window in which the US and the Taliban could then forge an agreement to withdraw all of America's troops. However, the latest US military deaths will provide a fresh obstacle to the resumption of talks. AP contributed to this report Boaters will have a new place to dock their watercraft in Clear Lake this summer. The Clear Lake City Council unanimously approved a $94,200 bid from Pier Genius of Woden to replace the longtime fixed post and plank dock with a floating dock at the Sea Wall and Main Avenue boat ramp location. I think this is going to be a really nice project and a big positive for the people of Clear Lake, said Randy Miller, Clear Lake Parks and Recreation director. The project, which was budgeted for fiscal year 2020, has been on the Clear Lake Parks and Recreation Departments radar for several years due to safety concerns. The dock a popular gateway into downtown during the warm weather months has needed constant repairs in recent years due to heavy usage, so the Park Board asked Miller to explore options to improve safety and maintain accessibility. The bid from Pier Genius, owned by Jesse King of Clear Lake, was among two the council discussed during a workshop on Dec. 17. Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory said the council was impressed with both bids but it felt Pier Genuis proposal fit the current needs of the city better. The new dock system will feature an anti-sway floating tube frame, concrete tile decking, a seasonal storage transition wheel kit and lighted bumpers. Its double-bay configuration will accommodate up to 15 boats as well as increased load capacity to withstand 65- to 70-mph winds. Weve got an opportunity to add on to some of the improvements that weve made in the last five, 10 years down there from the seawall improvement projects, the splash pad and now I think aesthetically this dock is going to look fantastic quite simply, Miller said. Also at the meeting, the City Council also approved Peterson Constructions nearly $1.1 million bid for the second phase of the City Beach enhancement project, including construction of a new splash pad, restroom facility and sun shade shelter. Second Ward Councilman Bennett Smith, who announced his candidacy for the Iowa House of Representatives earlier this week, thanked the council and city staff for their continued efforts to make Clear Lake a better place for its residents, businesses and visitors. I think thats a very important and proactive kind of approach to maintaining your community and sustaining it and having the potential for growth, he said. Its really exciting to see whats going on with this. The floating dock is expected to be delivered and installed no later than June 1, Flory said, and the City Beach enhancement project is anticipated to be completed by June 22, weather permitting. Photos: Clear Lake Yacht Club Sailing School 2019 Reach Reporter Ashley Stewart at 641-421-0533. Follow her on Twitter at GGastewart. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's aerospace division, speaks at Tehran's Islamic Revolution and Holy Defence museum, during the unveiling of an exhibition of what Iran says are US and other drones captured in its territory, in the capital Tehran on Sept. 21, 2019. (Photo by Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images) Irans Guard Accepts Responsibility for Plane Shootdown An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander says his unit accepts full responsibility for the accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane. In an address broadcast by state TV on Saturday, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, which killed all 176 passengers on board, I wished I were dead. Irans armed forces say they mistook the passenger plane for a hostile target in the tense aftermath of Irans ballistic missile attack on two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. That attack was retaliation for the killing of Irans top general, Qassem Soleimani, in an American airstrike in Baghdad. Iran on Saturday acknowledged that its armed forces unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned toward a sensitive military center of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its highest level of readiness, it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. Debris at the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran on Jan. 8, 2020. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo) In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit, the military said. It apologized and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies. Those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted, the statement added. Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the victims and called on the armed forces to pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement saying the crash investigation should continue and the perpetrators should be brought to justice. He said Iran should compensate victims families, and he requested official apologies through diplomatic channels. Irans acknowledgement of responsibility for the crash was likely to inflame public sentiment against authorities after some Iranians had rallied around their leaders in the wake of Soleimanis killing. The majority of the plane crash victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians. Iranian officials had repeatedly ruled out a missile strike, dismissing such allegations as Western propaganda that officials said was offensive to the victims. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. The United States and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos verified by The Associated Press. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lowered the nations death toll from 63. This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility, and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission, said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face. Irans acknowledgement of responsibility was likely to renew questions of why authorities did not shut down the countrys main international airport and its airspace after the ballistic missile attack, when they feared U.S. reprisals. It also undermines the credibility of information provided by senior Iranian officials. As recently as Friday, Ali Abedzadeh, the head of the national aviation department, had told reporters with certainty that a missile had not caused the crash. On Thursday, Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei dismissed reports of a missile, saying they rub salt on a painful wound for families of the victims. Debris is seen from an Ukrainian plane which crashed as authorities work at the scene in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 8, 2020. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo) Iran had also invited Ukraine, Canada, the United States, and France to take part in the investigation of the crash, in keeping with international norms. The Boeing 737 was built in the United States and the engine was built by a U.S.-French consortium. Ukraines president said its team of investigators, who are already on the ground in Iran, should continue their work with full access and cooperation. The military statement, issued by the Joint Chiefs of the Armed Forces, said Guard officials had been ordered to provide a detailed explanation to the public. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the supreme leader on Friday morning had ordered top security officials to review the crash and announce the results. Fars, which is close to the Guard, appeared to deflect blame. If some individuals, in any position, were aware of the issue but made statements contradicting the reality or hid the truth for any reason, they should be named and tried, it said. Others speculated that the security forces may have concealed information from civilian authorities. Concealing the truth from the administration is dreadful, Mohammad Fazeli, a sociology professor in Tehran, wrote on social media. If it had not been concealed, the head of civil aviation and the government spokesmen would not have persistently denied it. Concealing the truth for three days is dangerous, he added. By Nasser Karimi and Joseph Krauss The Delhi Police has reportedly identified some 37 people who were part of 'Unity Against Left' one of the several WhatsApp groups that were created on January 5, the day on which armed masked men and women attacked students and faculty members inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. The group which is now deleted had 60 members, mostly students. Earlier on Friday in a press conference, the Delhi Police had said that they had identified nine people including Yogendra Bhardwaj, who the cops said was one of the admins of 'Unity Against Left'. Bhardwaj is a PhD student in JNU. The others identified by the police from photos and videos making rounds are JNU students union president Aishe Ghosh, Chunchun Kumar, Pankaj Mishra, Waskar Vijay, Sucheta Talukdar, Priya Ranjan, Dolan Sawant, and Vikas Patel. However, later Delhi Police changed Vikas Patels name to Shiv Poojan Mandal. Out of these with the exemption of Bhardwaj and Patel, all the others are affiliated with leftist student organizations. Bhardwaj and Patel are members of the BJP-linked Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad or ABVP. Asserting that it will positively cooperate with the police in the probe, the ABVP said Patel and Bhardwaj are its members but were not involved in the violence. The students' outfit said it will share evidence with the police that they were not involved in the violence. "Patel and Bharadwaj are scared after the incident. The Left activists have been putting up posters with their names on those and have created difficulties for them. They were not involved in the violence," the ABVP said. DCP (Crime) Joy Tirkey said that no suspects have been detained till now, but the cops plan to begin the interrogation of the suspects soon. The development also comes after Akshat Awasthi, a first-year student of the French degree programme at the JNU confessed to a television channel that he led an army to attack students on that day. Awasthi who claimed to be an ABVP supporter said that he mobilized that days attack by accumulating 20 ABVP members from inside and 20 outside. He has also confessed that he had a stick in his hand and he could be seen in one of the viral videos. ABVP has however distanced itself from Awasthi and said he was not a member of the organization. On Sunday, a mob of masked men stormed the campus and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones, and iron rods by hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. The attack was coordinated on 4-5 WhatsApp groups including Unity Against Left, Friends of RSS, among others. Numbers traced by screenshots that got leaked showed that several ABVP members and JNU chief proctor Dhananjay Singh were part of the groups. On Saturday, a poster was put up inside JNU calling four people Tapan Bihar (Assistant Professor CPS), Prakash Chandra Sahoo (Assistant Professor CSSS, Warden, Sabarmati Hostel), Dhananjay Singh (Chairperson CES, Chief Proctor JNU) and Abhinav Prakash (ex-student, CESP, JNU, Assistant Professor DU) "Traitors of JNU, Architects of Violence." Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Hollinshead brought the girl to Medina Espinosas parents house in Beaver Dam on March 23. According to the criminal complaint, Medina Espinosas mother told police Hollinshead felt that she had a moral obligation to allow the child to see her grandparents. Medina Espinosas mother and Hollinshead exchanged text messages to set up the March 23 visit. Hollinshead arrived at the home between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. A short while later, Medina Espinosa arrived at the home with gifts for the girl, according to the complaint. The girl ran up to Medina Espinosa and his mother returned to the kitchen, where Hollinshead had remained. Medina Espinosas mother told police that she heard several gunshots coming from behind her and then saw Medina Espinosa toss a gun in the sink. Medina Espinosas mother told police that she ran toward him and then saw Hollinshead lying on the floor. She told investigators that she grabbed her sons arm and screamed, What are you doing? She said he did not reply to her and had no expression on his face. He then went to his daughter, who had started crying, while his parents called 911. Sambalpur (Odisha) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday alleged that the Jawaharlal Nehru has become a hub of 'tukde-tukde' gang, which includes Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Left and Communists. "The JNU has become a hub of tukde-tukde gang, which has Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Left and communists," Singh told media reporters here. Cornering opposition parties for protesting against the CAA, the Union Minister asked them, particularly Congress whether Rohingyas and Pakistani infiltrators should get Indian citizenship and not the Hindu and Sikh refugees from the neighbouring country. "I would like to ask the Congress and the tukde-tukde gang whether Rohingyas, Pakistani infiltrators should be given citizenship? And should Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan be denied citizenship?" he said. Stressing that the members of the minority community are being attacked in Pakistan and many temples have been demolished there, he said, "Muslims in India should not panic as the CAA will not take away anyone's citizenship. However, those infiltrating into the country would not get it." He claimed that confusion over the CAA is due to protests by some parties like the Congress, who have been trying to "spread false information about the new act and create disturbance in the country." Protests have been happening across the country ever since the law received the presidential assent last month. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan Kerala and West Bengal government have said that CAA will not be implemented in their states. The newly-enacted law grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (ANI) Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (R) and Vice President-elect William Lai (L) celebrate her re-election victory at campaign headquarters in Taipei, Jan. 11, 2020. UPDATED at 3:15 P.M. ET on 2020-01-11 President Tsai Ing-wen swept to a landslide victory in Taiwan's presidential elections on Saturday after she vowed to defend the island's way of life against threats, infiltration and saber-rattling by China. "Together, we have protected this free land and this bastion of democracy," Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Tsai said as her Kuomintang (KMT) opponent Han Kuo-yu conceded defeat with a congratulatory phone call, ushering in her second term in office. "Taiwan has shown the world how much we treasure our free and democratic way of life, and how much we cherish our nation: Taiwan, the Republic of China," said Tsai, who beat Han by 8.17 million votes to 5.52 million, garnering more than 57 percent of the total vote, with an estimated turnout of 75 percent. Tsai went into the election warning that Beijing's ambition to rule the democratic island under the "one country, two systems" framework used in Hong Kong, would spell the end of its democratic way of life and its hard-won freedoms. Just days before polling day, her ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) used its majority in the island's Legislative Yuan to pass a law banning Chinese infiltration and influence in Taiwan's political life. As well as thanking her supporters, Tsai thanked those who didn't vote for her, promising to take on board their criticisms of her performance during her second term. "I also want to thank all of our young people," she said. "I know that some of you flew back from overseas just to vote for me, and other couldn't get seats, so they stood on trains all the way back to the south to vote." Tsai, who has been a vocal supporter of mass pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong since June, said the very act of marking the ballot paper was "the responsibility of democracy and the taste of freedom." The DPP also hung onto a slightly reduced majority in the Legislative Yuan elections, gaining 61 seats to the KMT's 38. National identity Tsai also used her victory speech to set out her terms for talks with Taiwan's powerful neighbor, China, which has refused to rule out the use of force to annex the island. "The people of Taiwan hope that the international community can see our insistence on democratic values and respect for our national identity, and that Taiwan is treated fairly in terms of international participation," Tsai said, in a reference to her foreign policy platform. "Taiwan, Republic of China, is an indispensable member of the international community," she said. "Countries should treat Taiwan as a partner, not as an issue." Tsai called on the Chinese Communist Party to treat the island as an equal and sovereign state, rather than insisting that it is an "inalienable" part of China. "China must abandon threats of force against Taiwan," she said, as well as accepting that the island's fate would be decided by its 23 million people. Only then could dialogue about the future relationship begin, she said. "When our sovereignty and democracy are threatened with loud words, the people of Taiwan will be even louder in their insistence," Tsai said. "I ... hope that the Beijing authorities understand that democratic Taiwan, and our democratically elected government, will not concede to threats and intimidation." The election followed half a year of protests in Hong Kong, which underscored to Taiwan's voters the erosion of democratic progress and civil liberties in Hong Kong under the "one country, two systems" model that China wants to use to rule Taiwan. Tsais firm rejection of increasingly aggressive rhetoric from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who called on the island to "unify" with China, by force if necessary, appears to have reversed huge losses for the DPP in local elections 14 months ago. Funding, fake news and disinformation But she told journalists at a news conference that she expects pressure from China to continue, and even worsen. "As the president of Taiwan, I must conduct cross-straits relations based on public opinion in Taiwan," she said, adding: "We will do our part as a member of the international community, and we are committed to maintaining the status quo of stability in the Taiwan Strait." Tsai repeatedly said that Taiwan's 23 million people -- who are ruled under the KMT-founded 1911 Republic of China that fled to the island in 1949 after losing the civil war -- have no wish to give up their sovereignty. During the campaign, security agencies and analysts revealed how China had poured funding, fake news and disinformation into Taiwan ahead of the crucial poll. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Taiwan "for once again demonstrating the strength of its robust democratic system, whichcoupled with a free market economy and a vibrant civil societymakes it a model for the Indo-Pacific region and a force for good in the world." Pompeo also thanked Tsai for "her leadership in developing a strong partnership with the United States and applaud[ed] her commitment to maintaining cross-Strait stability in the face of unrelenting pressure." China's Global Times newspaper, a tabloid linked to Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily, struck an ominous warning note in an editorial on Saturday. "Han lost the election, but the forces supporting him [are on the] rise," the paper warned. "The fact that the Chinese mainland is getting increasingly stronger and the Taiwan island is getting weaker is an inevitable reality." Taiwan was part of Japan for 50 years before being handed back to the 1911 Republic of China at the end of World War II, and has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, nor formed part of the People's Republic of China. The country began a transition to democracy following the death of KMT supreme leader Chiang Ching-kuo in January 1988, starting with direct elections to the legislature in the early 1990s and culminating in the first direct election of a president, Lee Teng-hui, in 1996. Reported by Chen Mei-hwa for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Police recover a stolen car following a pursuit ending in the Leeson Street area of west Belfast on January 10th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police recover a stolen car following a pursuit ending in the Leeson Street area of west Belfast on January 10th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police recover a stolen car following a pursuit ending in the Leeson Street area of west Belfast on January 10th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) A 17-year-old has been charged with a number of offences after two stolen cars were recovered following a police pursuit across Belfast. During the incident one of the cars rammed a police vehicle after it was cornered in order to make an escape. No police officers were injured. On Friday morning two cars were taken from the Cregagh Park East area of east Belfast at around 8.45am. Police alerted local patrols, the auto crime team, dog section and air support. Two people were arrested. On Saturday morning the 17-year-old was charged with a number of offences including aggravated vehicle taking causing damage to another vehicle, failing to stop, failing to report, failing to remain, no insurance and no driving licence. He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday 11th January. As is normal procedure all charges are reviewed by the PPS. A second 17-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident remains in police custody assisting officers with their enquiries. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jean-Louis de La Vaissiere and Fiachra Gibbons (Agence France-Presse) Paris Sat, January 11, 2020 07:08 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321b891f 2 Art & Culture Notre-Dame,Notre-Dame-Cathedral,architecture Free French architects want the roof of the fire-ravaged Notre-Dame cathedral to be rebuilt in wood and not in metal or concrete. One of the heads of the country's biggest architects' body said reconstructing the roof in anything other than the original wood would be a mistake. The intervention by Eric Wirth of the Guild of French Architects comes amid controversy over French President Emmanuel Macron's wish for the spire of the 13th-century monument to be given a "contemporary" touch. "The most modern and ecological material today is wood," Wirth said Wednesday, which, as well as being more fire-resistant than the alternatives, also traps carbon, he insisted. His comments come after the army general put in charge of the restoration, Jean-Louis Georgelin, dismissed reports that the massive roof would be redone in oak as nothing more than "lobbying" by the wood industry. "There will be a study, and all possible options will be examined," he said. But Wirth took him to task, telling French MPs at a parliamentary hearing that "talking about lobbying on a subject like this does not honor the edifice." Price was not an issue, he argued, "the money is there". Read also: No Christmas mass at Notre-Dame for the first time since Napoleon Beware 'brilliant solutions' So far pledges totalling 922 million euros (over $1 billion) have been received, ranging from a single euro offered by an American child to 200 million euros by French luxury goods billionaire Bernard Arnault. Wirth said a wooden roof like the original would also guarantee the structural integrity of the cathedral, which is still threatened by the risk of collapse nine months after the devastating fire last April. "The cathedral has been there for 800 years. Had it been built in concrete or steel it would not still be there," he added. "Even with all the (chemical) protection treatments, given the intensity of the blaze... the steel would have held for half an hour and then it would have twisted, pulling on the walls and everything would have collapsed. "We have to be sceptical of seemingly brilliant solutions" which involve metal or concrete rafters, Wirth warned, which vaunt their lightness. Gothic cathedrals like Notre-Dame "stand up structurally because there is a large mass on the vaulted ceiling... they only work because the roof is heavy." What is more, "we are lucky to have all the information we need to rebuild an identical roof already there digitally," Wirth said. However, Wirth warned that rebuilding the roof may take longer than the five-year target set by Macron. He said it was useful as an "objective but not an imperative". Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 23:15:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed the situation in Libya during a phone conversation, the Kremlin said Saturday. The two leaders "had a thorough exchange of opinions on the situation in Libya with due account of agreements reached in Istanbul on January 8," it said in a statement. The two sides also spoke in favor of the cessation of hostilities and initiating a peaceful settlement of the conflict, the statement said. On Wednesday, Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on a common stance on Libya and urged to establish a ceasefire in Libya starting midnight on Jan. 12. Libya has been locked in a civil war since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Several armed militias of different backgrounds have emerged, and have been fighting each other to take power, although a peace deal was signed by the warring parties on Dec. 17, 2015 in the Moroccan city of Skhirat. Avan Motors, one of Indias fastest-growing electric scooter manufacturer, is forging ahead on its mission towards becoming the countrys most preferred future mobility company. In line with this mission, the forward-looking company has rebranded itself as Nexzu Mobility from January 2020. The company has collaborated with Almond Branding, a leading strategic branding agency from Mumbai that has helped the brand to transform its brand name, logo and identity. With the revamp, the company has also expanded its products portfolio by adding 2 new e-scooters and 3 e-cycles and changed the overall market proposition. Almond Branding used its proprietary Brand Nomenclature process to coin a new Brand Name that will stand true to the ethos of the company. The company with its strong focus on technology and consumer centricity has been striving to bring the most innovative offerings to the consumer. To drive the fact that this company will bring the NEXT innovation for U, the new brand name proposed was NEXZU. Nexzu Mobility will be Bringing the Next revolution for the Gen Z spirit in U. In doing so, the Brand Name is also captuting the Brand Promise of Smart Mobility - to take You to your Next destination closer to your next goal in life. The new name is accompanied with a new vibrant Brand Logo Identity. The Nexzu Logo combines two important brand elements: The circular Nexzu symbol and the stylish Nexzu wordmark. The circular symbol with pathway-inspired stripes forming an N is representative of the strong foundations in Mobility and the spirit of continuous innovation. The Wordmark typeface embodies the Brand Promise of Smart Mobility in a visual depiction. The razor edge shaped elements representing forward movement and futuristic approach along with negative spaces depicting pathways represent the true spirit of futuristic Mobility. The brand colour Black captures the bold, smart and future-led approach while a touch of blue adds to its technology and customer-focused angle. In what is being deemed as the most critical part of the brand refresh, Avan Motors has changed its suffix from Motors to Mobility. The underlying idea behind this particular transformation is the upcoming expansion of its ambit from an electric two-wheeler brand to a holistic solution-provider in the electric mobility segment. Almond Branding went on to develop a consistent Visual Vocabulary for Nexzu so that all consumer touchpoints - right from the website to the dealer spaces, all spoke the same brand language. The angular structure of the new Visual Identity encompasses energy, forward movement, growth and futuristic approach. The Design Language crafted by Almond is strict enough to maintain consistency across, as well as fluid enough to adapt itself to various mediums from social media posts to print collaterals to billboards. Commenting on the development, Shashwat Das, Founder Director Almond Branding, said, The mobility space is going through a constant metamorphosis. We were creating a brand not for today, but for the future. Moving from being just a Motors company to enter the over-arching Mobility space was the ultimate goal. The team at Almond Branding did a thorough research to understand the current mobility ecosystem and also to mine out relevant consumer insights. We also reviewed the values and ethos of the company so that the new brand is based on the ideals that the company has always stood for. Commenting on the revamp, Rohit Goidani, Brand Manager, Nexzu Mobility, said, It is our pleasure to share Avans new identity with the world. As Nexzu comes into force, we want to reiterate that customer-centricity will remain at the heart of all our endeavors. We will continue to create innovative new products that will delight our customers in both B2C and B2B spaces and subsequently revolutionize the countrys electric mobility space. Almond Branding has been one of the most trusted partners since the inception of this rebranding exercise. We were impressed by their expertise and the work for other leading brands and they truly recreated the magic for us aswell. I believe their strength lies in their thorough research and consumer understanding. The team is very meticulous in their craft and takes on an extremely scientific approach to Branding, which really worked for us. Pankaj, Business Head Nexzu Mobility, added, The evolution of an award-winning brand such as Avan Motors is a significant event not just for us but for our existing customers who have also evolved during our journey. We are grateful for all our stakeholders who trusted Avan Motors with their mobility needs and gave us the impetus to continue growing and innovating. It is only because of our prized partners like Almond Branding and customers that we have been able to create a reputed, reliable, and revolutionary brand. Together with Nexzu, you are building a robust roadmap for the growth of electric mobility in India and a sustainable future for all! Afghan military official said incident took place in Dand district where two others were wounded. Two United States service members have been killed and two others wounded after their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistans southern province of Kandahar, the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission have said in a statement. The service members were conducting operations on Saturday when their armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in an attack which was claimed by the Taliban. In a tweet, a spokesman of the group said a vehicle of American invaders was hit near Kandahar airport, claiming that the armoured vehicle was destroyed and all on board were killed. 200109165736421 Last year, 20 US service members died in Afghanistan in combat-related incidents. In accordance with US Department of Defense policy, the names of the service members killed in action will be withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete, the NATO Resolute Support Mission said in a statement. A senior Afghan military official in Kandahar said the incident took place in the district of Dand. Despite a winter lull in fighting due to heavy snowfall in the mountains, where the Taliban typically rest and regroup ahead of their annual spring offensive, roadside bombs continue to hit Afghan forces and their foreign allies. There are currently approximately 12,000 US soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, down from a peak of roughly 100,000 in 2011. Of those, almost 8,000 are participating in NATOs Resolute Support training and assistance mission making up close to half its overall contingent. The US and the Taliban have held talks on and off for two years in an effort to find a political solution to the 18-year war. Polling took place on Thursday and the votes were counted on Friday. (Photo Credit: File) Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Friday won a by-election to ward no 141 of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in suburban Mankhurd, said officials. Polling took place on Thursday and the votes were counted on Friday. Sena candidate Vithhal Lokare defeated his nearest rival, Dinesh (Bablu) Panchal of the BJP, by a margin of 1,385 votes, they said. Lokare secured 4,427 votes, while the BJP candidate got 3,042. A total of 18 candidates were in the fray. The bypoll was necessitated after Lokare, who was the sitting Congress corporator, resigned and joined the Shiv Sena in August 2019. Lokare later contested the October assembly poll from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency on Sena ticket but lost to Samajwadi legislator Abu Azmi by a margin of 25,000 votes. With todays result, the tally of the ruling Shiv Sena increased to 95, which includes six former Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporators who joined the party in 2018. The BJP stands second with 83 corporators including an independent and an Akhil Bhartiya Sena corporator, followed by the Congress (29), NCP (8), Samajwadi Party (6), MIM (2) and MNS (1). Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said that the government has withdrawn decision to grant bar license to hotels and restaurants on 30-foot-wide roads. "Government withdraws decision to grant bar licence to hotels and restaurants on 30-foot-wide roads. The decision has been taken to respect public sentiments. We will take strict action against liquor shops that are found open after 8 pm," said Gehlot. Earlier today, Gehlot condemned the violence that took place in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) recently and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer on the violence. "What happened inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University is a subject of concern and condemnation. This kind of incident has never been seen before in the university's history. Till now the police officials should have been suspended. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer on the JNU violence and should know where the country is heading," Chief Minister told the reporters here. "The Home Minister should speak about how the masked people entered the educational institution when the police were there. They have to take action against it," he added. This comes after masked mob of miscreants entered the university campus and attacked the students and professors with sticks and rods on January 5. More than 30 students, including Ghosh, were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. The Delhi Police Crime Branch investigating the case of violence in JNU had identified and released photographs of nine suspects, including that of Aishe Ghosh. Meanwhile, Gehlot came out in support of the movie 'Chhapak' and said, "I am happy that the movie has been made tax-free for the people of Rajasthan as well. People have welcomed this decision. The movie will educate people. People should enjoy the movie." (ANI) Photo: The Canadian Press Anthony Joseph Raine is shown in a photo from the Facebook tribute page "R.I.P. Anthony Joseph Raine." A judge is to bring down a decision today at the trial of a man accused in the death of his son found outside an Edmonton church. Joey Crier, and his then-girlfriend Tasha-Lee Doreen Mack were each charged with second-degree murder in the 2017 death of 19-month old Anthony Joseph Raine. Dalyce Raine stood outside an Edmonton courthouse Friday in the bitter cold, unable to speak. She wiped away tears under her sunglasses. She had just heard that Joey Crier, her son's father, was convicted of manslaughter in the toddler's death. Anthony Joseph Raine, who was 19-months old, was found dead outside the city's Good Shepherd Anglican Church in 2017. "It was murder, in my opinion," Luci Johnson, a court advocate who sat through the trial with the boy's family, said outside court while standing next to Raine. "They were high on drugs. What they did to that little guy ... it's not right." Crier and his then-girlfriend Tasha-Lee Doreen Mack were each charged with second-degree murder in the death. Court of Queen's Bench Justice David Labrenz found Crier guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter because he said the Crown wasn't able to prove who committed the fatal assault. The court heard Crier won't be sentenced until after a charter challenge over the time the man spent in custody and a Gladue report is completed. The pre-sentence report can be requested when an offender is of Indigenous background. "What's the purpose of justice if you can't get justice?" Johnson said. "How many weeks and months and years are going to go by before there is accountability for Anthony? "When they talk about justice being swift, where's the swiftness? His mom is missing another Christmas. It's going to be another Easter. It's going to be another birthday that she's going to miss with her little warrior." Mack was also found guilty of manslaughter in a separate trial, but the Crown is appealing that verdict and asking for a new trial. She has not yet been sentenced. Video entered into evidence in court showed Crier and Mack pushing a stroller around the church three days before the boy's body was found propped up against an outer wall of the church. A passerby noticed the boy and ran into the church distraught and crying. Women in the church who ran outside to help testified about finding Anthony covered in a blue patchwork quilt. They weren't able to find a pulse. The women saw bruising on his face and saw blood coming out of his ear. Following an extensive investigation, police arrested Crier and Mack. The court heard they had used methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana in the weeks before the child's death. Medical experts testified Anthony's cause of death was related to head trauma. Dr. Elizabeth Brooks-Lim, a forensic psychologist and chief medical examiner, said he had recent bruising and swelling on his face, blood in his right ear canal and bruising to his arms and chest. He also had a skull fracture, and a rib fracture that was at least a week old. She concluded that the head trauma "was consistent with recent blows to the front and back of the head, and the presence of the skull fracture was indicative of a significant degree of force." Johnson said it's been difficult for Anthony's family to sit through the trials. "Brutal," she said. "How could somebody do something to such a sweet little warrior? "There's a time and place where (Crier) will get his own. In our Cree beliefs, he will get his own. He's gonna have to answer to the Creator." During his visit, Modi will attend sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust and hold a meeting with Mamata. Kolkata: The ruling Trinamool Congress students wing as well as Left Front activists have begun their protest separately against the amended Citizenship Act in various parts of West Bengal ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the state starting on Saturday. Trinamool Congress students' wing, TMCP, began their dharna against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) on Friday at Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata. TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to spend an hour with the TMCP agitators during the day. She is scheduled to meet the prime minister in the evening. The Left Front activists staged protests on Saturday against the new citizenship law in various parts of North 24 Parganas district. West Bengal: Students' Federation of India protests against PM Narendra Modi's visit to Kolkata. PM Modi will be on a two-day official visit to Kolkata from today, where he will take part in various programmes including 150th anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust. #CAA pic.twitter.com/F0crHgW6hc ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 Modi's visit comes at a time when West Bengal has been witnessing widespread protests against the contentious Citizenship Act. Left Front activists, carrying placards with 'Go Back Modi' written on it, took out rallies at Dum Dum area which is just 1.5 kilometres from the airport, where the prime minister lands in the evening in the city. "We will continue our protest unless and until the Act is withdrawn. We don't want Narendra Modi to come to Kolkata as it will vitiate the atmosphere of our state," a protester said. Several organisations, both political and civil, have planned protest rallies across the city against the CAA and the NRC. During his visit, Modi will attend sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust and hold a meeting with Mamata. Apart from attending scheduled programmes, the prime minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with Banerjee at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday evening. The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with Mamata's Trinamool Congress opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation. The prime minister will dedicate to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall. The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic galleries and refurbished them with new exhibitions, while curating the old galleries. Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Saturday and Sunday. The prime minister and the chief minister will share dais at the programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present. He is likely to stay at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, on Saturday night. The West Bengal administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the visit. Congress workers and some students organisations are also scheduled to hold protests across the city against the CAA and the proposed countrywide NRC. It's a 'one in a million' shot but a Swords native and her husband have welcomed three special New Year's babies in the form of identical triplets. Annmarie Byrne-Ryan and David Ryan welcomed their three sons into the world just on New Year's Day at the Rotunda. Byrne-Ryan, who is originally from Swords, told RTE's Morning Ireland that the babies are all 'doing well'. 'I've yet to see the three together. David's been up and down, back and forward to the NICU ward taking loads of pictures, keeping me updated. So I'm anxious myself to get down to see them,' she said. The triplets were due to arrive on January 8 but had other ideas, forcimg mum to make an early morning trip to the Rotunda Hospital. Speaking of finding out she was pregnant with triplets, AnnMarie that it was "very much a shock'. 'Because it wasn't planned. We got married at the end of April and went on honeymoon to Dubrovnik in May, and where most people come back with fridge magnets, myself and David brought home triplets," Byrne-Ryan said. 'So we were in shock about that and we didn't even know we were having them obviously until I had a bit of a bleed nine or ten weeks in and we came into the hospital and we found out then. She added it was 'even more of a shock to find out they were identical'. 'We found out later down the line that they were identical, I think it was maybe three or four months,' she told the RTE programme. AnnMarie added that she has just one ovary, after having the other removed when she was 18. 'So they were baffled with this as well,' she said. The couple told RTE that they have plenty of support around them from family and friends. Both parents each have an 18-year-old child from previous relationships and together, they also have a two-year-old son. 'We're blessed, absolutely blessed. It's going to be tough, but we've plenty of support from both families so we'll just have to do it,' AnneMarie said. Also speaking to RTE Morning Ireland, Master of the Rotunda Fergal Malone said the mother of the triplets is 'very impressive and she's doing so well'. Malone said that identical triplets are 'incredibly unusual'. He said: 'It's probably no more common than one in a million or even less. The embryo splits once into two identical twins, and then one of those splits yet again into now an identical triplet. So not only one split but two splitting to achieve identical triplets is incredibly rare,' he said. Minister for Health Simon Harris congratulated the couple over Twitter. He said: 'Wow. Congrats to Annmarie and David and to all the staff at the Rotunda hospital - one in a million chance - three identical triplets! That's going to be one busy home.' 'Every good wish to the family and congrats and thanks to the brilliant midwives and doctors,' the Minister for Health added in his Tweet. We have survived another Christmas and New Year festivities. How many more ahead? No one knows the answer to that question. In my first years teaching I would ask the new children in first year what was the only thing we knew with certainty would happen all of us. There would always be silence. Then I would tell them that we would all die. You certainly could not say that in a classroom today. Looking back on it, it may well not have been the wisest question to ask 13-year-olds. I think many would say Christmas and the New Year season can be high in emotion. And of course that means the good and the bad. This Christmas I celebrated three Masses. There were over 800 people at the Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve. The following day I celebrated Mass in hospital, where the chapel was filled to capacity, and then later at midday I was back in the parish church for another Mass. And this time there were over 500 people in the church. I don't think I have ever seen a church so full for Mass as I did this Christmas. At all three Masses there was a genuine sense of people in communion, praying together, expressing their belief in Jesus Christ. People were there because they wanted to be present. I doubt if anyone was forced or frog-marched to the church or chapel. And I for my part tried to celebrate all three Masses in a prayerful and meaningful manner. We had music and community participation. After the Gospel I attempted to throw light on the Scriptures. I spoke for no more than six minutes. I said it at the Masses and say it here again, it was a privilege to be a celebrant at Christmas Mass. People are interested in hearing about the Word of God. Our Christian communities want to be challenged by the wonder, the mystery, the goodness of God. But they certainly don't want to be shouted at, nor do thy want to be spoken down to or patronised. Some months ago a wise lawyer said to me that there are fanatics across all groups in society and unfortunately they can sound plausible, but fortunately most times they run out of steam. Right now I have the impression the church is in a perfect place for fanatics to hold sway, for us to allow their ranting and roaring to be heard. The faith of the people that I experienced this Christmas gives me hope that all forms of fanaticism will not win the upper hand.Of course the church is in crisis but preaching 35-minute sermons at Mass, telling people that Jesus had no brothers and sisters is not going to help the church in its crisis. I mention those two instances because people came to me and told me about them. And in both cases the people, good, Christian people, were upset and annoyed with their experiences. Nor do I understand why priests celebrate Mass in Latin. We seem far too often to miss the point that the church is the people of God. The church is the last place in this wide-world of ours where there can or should be a place for elites. The church is a church of sinners, even for fanatics, provided no one takes them too seriously. Maybe a good new year's resolution would be for us not to take ourselves too seriously. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is investigating the reported satellite phone signals traced from a village near Kangeyam in nearby Tirupur district. The signals were picked up from a village near Kunnathur by INS Parundu, an Indian Naval air station located near Uchipuli in Ramanathapuram district, and officials alerted DRDO, police said. A team from DRDO is at Kunnathur to trace those using the satellite phone, police said, adding use of such phones is banned in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Sabha had passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, on December 2, 2019 and Rajya Sabha had passed it on December 11, 2019. Protesters participate in a rally against the National Register of Citizens, Citizenship Amendment Act and National Population Register in Hyderabad on Friday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice on a plea by the Centre seeking the transfer all the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that are pending before different high courts. The CAA provides for the grant of Indian citizenship of Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, Buddhists and Jains facing persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The law under challenge excludes Muslims. A bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Surya Kant issued notice to all the petitioners who have approached the high courts challenging the validity of the amended citizenship law as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought their transfer to the apex court. As Mr Mehta urged the court that all the matters be heard by the top court as it was already seized of a batch of the petitions challenging the CAA, CJI Bobde said that they would like to be benefited by the views of different high courts on the issue. CJI Bobde had on Wednesday (January 8) said when Solicitor General had mentioned the matter for hearing, We are of the prima facie view that high courts should hear petitions challenging the CAA and in case there is a conflict, we may look into it. The top court had on December 18, 2019, had sought a response from the Centre on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the controversial Act. The top court will hold a further hearing on January 22, 2020 when it will also consider the plea for the stay of the amended citizenship law, which has been described by the petitioner as being contrary to the provisions of the Constitution. The Centre has opposed the stay of the controversial law contending that the statute under challenge could not be stalled as there was an assumption of constitutionality in favour of the statute passed by Parliament. Broadly, the petitioners opposed to the CAA have contended that it was contrary to the secularism in the preamble of the Constitution, violative of the fundamental rights guaranteeing equality before law (Article 14), prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, caste, language, colour (Article 15) and the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. It has also been contended that the law under challenge is violative of the basic structure of the Constitution as secularism, equality before law, prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth and the protection of life and personal liberty are part of its basic structure. Lok Sabha had passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, on December 2, 2019 and Rajya Sabha had passed it on December 11, 2019. The gazette notification of Citizenship (Amendment) Act was issued on December 12, 2019, which said that it would come into force from the date that may be notified by the Central government at a later date. Police have linked Reynhard Sinaga to more than 190 potential victims in total - 70 of whom they have not yet been able to identify The mother of prolific rapist Reynhard Sinaga has said she desperately urged him to return to his devout Christian family in Indonesia. Sinaga, 36, is believed to have attacked at least 195 men and was convicted of drugging 48 of them and filming himself sexually violating them while they were unconscious in his Manchester flat. The gay Christian student was jailed for 60 years and must serve a minimum of 30 years in custody before he can be considered for parole. Sinaga's mother, Normawati, from Depok, a city within the Jakarta metropolitan area in Indonesia, still struggles to believe her son was capable of such evil crimes, in an interview with The Sunday Times. 'We are a good Christian family who do not believe in homosexuality. He is my baby,' she said. Sinaga's mother, Normawati (left), from Depok, a city within the Jakarta metropolitan area in Indonesia, still struggles to believe her son, Reynhard Sinaga, was capable of such evil crimes. Also pictured is his father, Saibun Normawati told how her son, a former Leeds University postgraduate student and eldest of four, was a 'gentle boy' who had a passion for reading. She described how her son had a privileged upbringing, funded by the family's company of palm oil plantation and refinery, and would accompany her to church every Sunday morning. 'He didn't really go out much. He was more interested in studying,' she said. Normawati revealed how her son could play the piano 'pretty well' and added: 'He was a quiet boy. He didn't really enjoy performing in the church. But I made him do it.' Sinaga hunted for drunk young men around nightclubs near his flat in Manchester (above) 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. He chose to live close to the gay village and the Canal Street area of Manchester 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. He 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. 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 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'. His mother repeatedly begged her son to return home to help run the family business because her husband was growing old. Yet Sinaga, who aimed of becoming a lecturer, refused his mother's pleas and said he 'felt comfortable living in Manchester'. Despite Sinaga not saying so, one factor is likely to have been Indonesia's attitude to homosexuality. In 2014 the northern province of Aceh passed a law to punish anyone having gay sex with 100 lashes. 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. Her son was finally caught in June 2017 when an 18-year-old victim, who he had met outside Factory nightclub, had regained consciousness during his attack. 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 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 The six-foot tall, 13-stone teenager, told the court how he woke up with his trousers around his ankles with Sinaga molesting him. He battered the rapist, beating him so badly he suffered a bleed on the brain and had to be taken to hospital. Initially the victim was mistakenly arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, but Sinaga left an iPhone 4 in his back pocket which contained sickening videos of him raping drugged men. Greater Manchester Police called Normawati to tell her that her son had been arrested for a 'serious crime' and was in hospital. Upon visiting her son in hospital she described seeing bruises covering his face, neck and parts of his body. Normawati expressed her anger at the time of seeing her son in such a state despite an Indonesian diplomat telling her that Sinaga was accused of rape. 'Imagine a small Indonesian man being beaten up by a big, tall westerner,' she said. 'I wondered if the other person had made up the story.' She said her son was 'not the type of boy' who liked to fight and was never involved in fights as a child. A Ukrainian plane shot down by Iran was misidentified as a cruise missile, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said on Saturday in a broadcast on Iranian state television. The plane was shot down by a short-range missile, aerospace division head Amirali Hajizadeh said. Hajizadeh accepted full responsibility for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner. I wish I could die and not witness such an accident, aerospace division head Amirali Hajizadeh said. Iran said on Saturday its military had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian plane killing all 176 aboard, saying air defences were fired in error while on high alert in the tense aftermath of Iranian missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq. Iran had previously vigorously denied bringing the plane down. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who until Saturday kept silent about the crash, said information should be made public. Wednesdays crash heightened international pressure on Iran after months of friction with the United States and tit-for-tat attacks. A US drone strike had killed a top Iranian military commander in Iraq on Jan. 3, prompting Tehran to fire at US targets on Wednesday. Canada, which had 57 citizens on board, and the United States had both said they believed an Iranian missile brought down the aircraft although they said it was probably an accident. Canadas foreign minister had told Iran the world is watching. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote on Twitter, promising that those behind the incident would be prosecuted. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. Experts said mounting international scrutiny would have made it all but impossible to hide signs of a missile strike in an investigation and Iran may have felt a policy U-turn was better than battling rising criticism abroad and growing grief and anger at home. Many of the victims were Iranians with dual nationality. LAS VEGAS Washington is one American power center. Silicon Valley is another. But if any national policymakers entertained the idea that most of the tech industry lives in constant dread of D.C. with voters complaining about privacy and CEOs forced to testify before Congress they would have gotten a wake-up call at this years CES. The nations largest technology conference drew more than 170,000 people to Las Vegas this week, showing off the kinds of disruptive or data-hungry technologies that worry the industrys critics and vex regulators. People dined on synthetic meats, played with cryptocurrency apps, demoed Star Trek-like home body scanners and kicked the tires on Alexa-commanded cars. And through it all ran a carefree, even triumphalist streak a display of spending and celebrity appearances in which techs travails in the capital were barely a blip. Of the national policy debate, theres still a feeling that its kinda far away, said Zach Graves, the head of policy at the right-of-center tech advocacy group Lincoln Network, calling Washington too slow-moving and too ignorant of how tech works to merit much concern. Theres still a little bit of the attitude of Build it, disrupt, and deal with the regulation later. The conference did feature CES first-ever discussion of breaking up the big tech companies an idea getting a lot of debate, thanks to politicians like Elizabeth Warren, that once would have seemed unthinkable. But that proposal lacked any real champions. It would have been even more lively if a break em up advocate was also on the panel, said Information Technology and Innovation Foundation President Robert Atkinson, who spoke at Thursdays session on the topic and argued against breakups. That panel, along with similar sessions on issues like privacy, artificial intelligence and blockchain regulation, was held on the Las Vegas Convention Center's sleepier upper floors, away from the glitz and buzz of the multistory showroom halls where people poked, prodded or swooned over products like sweat-analyzing skin patches, a DNA-powered wrist strap that warns wearers about poor food choices and smartwatches for kids promising parents real-time location tracking. Thats not to mention the Twitter and Amazon parties where Snoop Dogg played DJ and Guy Fieri mixed cocktails. Story continues Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, one of the top-ranking federal officials to speak at the conference, came not with threats of onerous regulations but with an announcement of non-binding guidelines for self-driving cars. And in an interview, she said the government should avoid overestimating its own wisdom about what technologies will prevail decades from now. It's very important that we let the private sector flourish and we let the consumers decide which technologies they want, Chao told POLITICO. It is not a good idea for the federal government to choose winners or losers and for us to think we can look 20 years in the future and decide which technology is the best technology. The tech world emissaries gathered in Las Vegas view building the future as their role, and theyre launching products and apps faster than Washingtons lawmakers and regulators can keep up. Some also argue they can address concerns like privacy more effectively than the feds could. Those included Dean Patrick, growth and marketing manager at IoTeX, a Menlo Park-based company focused on using blockchain to create privacy-respecting internet-connected devices, such as the new security camera UCam. He maintains the company already uses higher standards than any of the proposed federal privacy rules on the table in Washington. As for the role Washingtons debates are playing in the minds of others in the tech industry, said Patrick, it's just not aligned with how technologists think. The industry is Move fast and break things. Shoot first and ask questions later." Congress is still deadlocked on what a federal privacy law should look like, despite a series of massive data scandals, and its still refighting the 1990s debate about giving law enforcement access to peoples encrypted communications. Meanwhile, companies like Uber have prospered while plowing past legal niceties such as taxi regulations, and Facebook for all the bipartisan flak its facing in Washington saw its stock price surge 54 percent last year. Washingtons presence was felt at the conference, but this was no D.C. wonk-fest. Of the more than 1,100 speakers listed on the events website, the agenda included no members of Congress and only two congressional aides, although some U.S. lawmakers attended, including a visit Friday from Nevada Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto. At least 34 executive branch officials were listed as speakers or panelists at CES, according to a POLITICO review, including two Cabinet members, first daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump and leaders of the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Policy discussions are a critical part of the CES program and we invite all members of Congress and policy officials at all levels of government, said Michael Petricone, senior vice president of the Consumer Technology Association, the organization putting on the conference. He said this weeks summit welcomed over 230 officials from across the world. But some of those officials were on hand to make their own sort of product pitches not to wage war on the industry. They included U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios, who touted the White Houses new draft policies on federal agency regulation of artificial intelligence. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillettes scheduled talk this week canceled for unexplained reasons had a theme that sounded celebratory, promoting the U.S. as The Greatest Innovative Nation. FILE - This July 24, 2019 file photo shows Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak speaks during a news conference at the summer meeting of the National Governors Association in Salt Lake City. Sisolak is expressing outrage and vowing to tighten marijuana licensing oversight after reports that a foreign national contributed to two top state political candidates last year in a bid to skirt rules to open a legal cannabis store. Sisolak declared Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 there's been And the politicians here largely celebrated tech as an economic boon, not as a threat to U.S. democracy or Americans privacy. Speaking at a conference dinner Wednesday night, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak lauded the fact that the Las Vegas Convention Center at nearly 2 million square feet, already one of the worlds biggest conference halls was being expanded to house future iterations of the event. Technology is the future in our state, said Sisolak, a Democrat elected last year. Some of the interactions here reflected how little Washington seems to matter. Mignon Clyburn, until very recently a central figure in the D.C. telecommunications policy world, served as a panel moderator, noting to the crowd at one point, "For those who I don't know, I wore another hat a couple years ago as a Federal Communications commissioner. Try as Clyburn did to draw out her panelists on the question of whether federal regulators should take on issues such as discriminatory applications of artificial intelligence, she got little traction. Im not a policy expert, said Bernard Coleman, the global head of diversity and inclusion at Uber. Another sign of the disconnect between Washington and tech: Back in the nations capital, the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei has drawn heavy criticism as a potential threat to U.S. national security. The Trump administration has tried to keep Huawei out of 5G rollouts around the world and is seeking to prosecute the companys chief financial officer on charges of violating sanctions against Iran. But at CES, Huawei is a hot gadget maker. Its booth on the showroom floor was mobbed by conference goers this week, with much excitement focused on the Mate X, a phone yet to be released in the United States that folds out into a nearly square tablet. Noland is on parole in Missouri after pleading guilty to a 2016 Bridgeton burglary and theft case , according to online court records. He also was sentenced to three years in prison for robbery in St. Louis in 2010. Madison County court records show Mills was charged in November with two counts of drug possession. Her preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled for Jan. 31. Court records on Friday didnt list an attorney representing Noland or Mills in the murder case. Cynthia Mills told the Post-Dispatch that her stepdaughter and Thomas had dated on and off for years. She said Thomas worked nights cleaning office buildings. Thomas was staying with Kristine Mills at the home on Benton but Mills moved out a few weeks ago to live with Noland, Cynthia Mills said. She said her stepdaughter had stopped by the home with Noland on Wednesday to get her cat, not expecting Thomas to be there. She claims that Noland is the one who killed Thomas. Theres not a hateful bone in Krissys body, Cynthia Mills said. I want the world to know that she is not a bad person. Police have not revealed details of the killing. Court records show Thomas was charged previously with domestic battery involving Mills. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Merkel says construction of Nord Stream 2 needs to be completed 21:40, 11.01.20 8230 The statement comes following her meeting with Putin on Saturday. CHATSWORTH, Calif.AVN Media Network today announced Kim Airs will serve as host of the 2020 O Awards. The ceremony takes place at 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas during the AVN Novelty Expo, presented by Satisfyer. Kim Airs is a sexuality educator, sex toy expert, public speaker, blogger and sex industry writer who combines her clear, concise sex education with a healthy dose of humor. She puts others at ease with her honest and straightforward approach to a healthy sex life. Airs founded one of the countrys first female and couples friendly sex toy store, Grand Opening!, when she left her job at Harvard to sell rubber dicks to girls. For more than 25 years, Airs has worked in every aspect of the adult novelty world and has loved every minute of it. Shes been featured in Boston Magazine, Marie Claire, Playboy, Playgirl, the Daily Mail, on HBO and many other media outlets. And, oh, she enjoys sharing a good dirty joke or two. We couldnt be more excited to have Kim on stage, presenting O Awards for us, said Sherri L. Shaulis, senior editor of pleasure products for AVN. Shes been a hit on stage at past ceremonies when she presented a few categories here and there. Her sense of humor, knowledge of the industry and relationships make her the perfect host for this event. The O Awards ceremony is open to all manufacturers, retailers and distributors who are registered as trade attendees of the AVN Novelty Expo. For more, or to register, visit NoveltyExpo.com. 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 View Results 3 1 of 3 Ben Margot/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Show More Show Less 3 of 3 In Yosemite National Park, people are reportedly falling ill left and right with stomach flu-like symptoms. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, at least a dozen people have reported gastrointestinal symptoms, launching an investigation by The National Park Service and the U.S. Public Health Service into the origin of the illness. Federal health officials are now thoroughly inspecting the park's food service facilities, including at the famous Ahwahnee Hotel, which was recently downgraded from four to three out of five diamonds in AAA's rating system. Boeing (Representative image: Reuters) During the approval process for 737Max planes in India in 2017, Boeing executives used terms such as "fools" and "stupid" for the Indian aviation regulator DGCA, according to internal documents released by the company. In early 2019, regulators across the world banned flying 737Max planes after two fatal accidents involving the aircraft that killed 346 people. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also ordered grounding of these planes in March last year. The latest batch of internal Boeing documents were provided to the US aviation regulator FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and US Congress last month and released on Thursday. In one of the conversations, a Boeing executive is recorded as stating, "The DCGA in India is apparently even stupider, if that's a word. I am drinking obviously." In another conversation, a Boeing executive says the following about DGCA: "I just Jedi mind tricked this (these) fools." SpiceJet is the only Indian carrier having 737Max aircraft in its fleet. The budget airline grounded 13 such planes in March last year. When contacted regarding this matter on Friday, a senior DGCA official responded, "On the specific issue of simulator training, we have made our stand clear and shall have it and that too in India under our eyes." On the other conversations among Boeing executives, the official told PTI, "We respect his views and shall improve to come up to expectations." According to the documents accessed by PTI, on December 12, 2017, two Boeing executives had a discussion around 8.35 pm (local time) using text messages regarding the approvals of 737Max plane by DGCA in India. In one of the conversations regarding 737Max approvals, the first Boeing executive states how officials of a regulator - which is not the DGCA - are "idiots". The executive then adds, "The DCGA in India is apparently even stupider, if that's a word. I am drinking obviously." The second executive responded,"Sounds about right!" An hour later, two executives were recorded discussing the 737Max approvals - using text messages - by the DGCA in India. However, it is not clear if these two executives, who are discussing this matter, are the same ones who were talking about the matter earlier. In this second conversation, the two Boeing executives are discussing a call that one of them had with the DGCA regarding 737Max approvals. The first executive is recorded to have said, "I just Jedi mind tricked this (these) fools. I should be given $1000 every time I take one of these calls. I save this company a sick amount of $$$$." The second executive then asked what did the first executive convinced the DGCA of. The first executive responded, "To simply produce an email from me to the DGCA that states all the airlines and regulators... accept only the Max CBT (computer based training)." The first executive further said, "To make them feel stupid about trying to require any additional training requirements." In 2017, the DGCA was enquiring if it is necessary to have a mandatory simulator-based training for pilots that will fly 737Max planes in Indian airspace. Since the ban of 737Max plane in India by the DGCA in March 2019, the regulator has made it clear to Boeing that simulator-based training must be conducted for all pilots of 737Max planes and only then a green light would be given. When asked about the aforementioned conversations of December 2017 among its executives, Boeing India said, "These communications do not reflect the company, we are and need to be, and they are completely unacceptable. We regret the content of these communications, and apologise to the DGCA, SpiceJet, and to the flying public for them." "We have made significant changes as a company to enhance our safety processes, organisations, and culture," it said. The language used in these communications and some of the sentiments they express, are inconsistent with Boeing values, and the company is taking appropriate action in response, Boeing India said, adding that this will ultimately include disciplinary or other personnel action, once the necessary reviews are completed. "We have been a long-standing partner of India's aerospace sector for more than 75 years. We remain focused on contributing to the growth of that enduring relationship in the region," it said. Perched high up in the leafy branches sit some of the most magical Texas tree house retreats with breathtaking views of the Hill Country countryside below. If you want a whimsical, lofty escape far from the hectic hum of the city, weve found 10 Texas tree house rentalsfrom luxury hotels to affordable cabins. With a fresh new year underway, its a perfect getaway to recapture that childhood dream of staying in a secret, canopied tree house, hidden away from the world. All change: the Queen is said to be not best pleased with Harry and Meghans decision More than 20 years on, the image of a bewildered, forlorn Prince Harry, a solitary child, being made to walk behind the funeral cortege of his mother, alone and watched by millions, says more about the untimely death of Diana - and, indeed, Harry himself - than any other image you could summon. On the 20th anniversary of her passing, I wrote in this paper of Harry saying that walking behind his mother's coffin, aged 12, was something "no child should be asked to do". Harry revealed he had sought counselling a decade later to help deal with his sense of utter loss. And he spoke of the awfulness of the paparazzi, still snapping away at his mother as she lay dying in the back of the Mercedes in that Paris underpass. The prince despises the Press, has never forgiven the media for their intrusion - indeed, their continued intrusion, judging by the screaming headlines about how dare he and Meghan step down from their royal duties without telling anyone. The tabloid Press, in particular, has been on Meghan Markle's case since day one. Many royals go through periods of negative Press coverage, but the American actress has had a particular bull's-eye on her back - and not through any fault of her own. (Though, mind you, telling her security people at Wimbledon to order spectators in the stands not to take her picture was pretty high-handed.) As a woman of mixed race and a feminist, Meghan Markle has become an icon of sorts and also, sadly, something of a hate-figure. As an American, she has exported the Windsor brand back to a land that traditionally has looked crooked at blue bloods and hereditary rulers. And like that other American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, she has emboldened her royal husband to break away from his family. And I think it of little surprise that their announcement comes so soon after the scandal surrounding Prince Andrew. Her own family was somewhat dysfunctional, the Windsors so much more so and a dysfunction too far for Meghan. The tabloids have accused Prince Harry's wife of being selfish, of upsetting her sister-in-law, Kate, of coming between Harry and Prince William. She's been all but cast as the Yoko Ono of the royal family. The frenzied criticism of Meghan is not about racism, as some, particularly the US media, have argued. It's about sexism - ergo, one Piers Morgan - and a resentment of her for speaking up, for somehow not giving Harry the lead when they make an appearance together, for soaking up too much of the spotlight and having the temerity to reinvent the kind of do-good work that royals do. By contrast, Kate Middleton is more traditional, doesn't speak much publicly and, when she does, she echoes what William says. At the end of the day, it would be all-too-simple to blame their going on the media's perceived hounding of Harry and Meghan. As an aside, I am reminded of Prince Harry, as he walked towards the journalists covering his and Meghan's tour of Australia in 2018. He was in no mood to make friends, when he quipped: "Thanks for coming, even though you weren't invited." No, the real reason for their going is simple enough: the rigidity of royal life is not for them. The unofficial motto of the late Queen Mother was simple: "Never complain, never explain." It was an attitude influenced by her blue blood - in which a stiff upper lip was highly regarded - and the sense that the royal family must maintain its mystery in order to propagate and survive. It is a motto that Harry and Meghan have roundly rejected. The couple's announcement this week that they will "step back" as senior members of the royal family is a telling moment in the centuries-old soap saga of the monarchy. The unorthodox couple have come to symbolise a new type of royal: unashamedly political, emotionally open, socially conscious. Their joint statement said they wanted to carve out a "progressive new role" for themselves within the royal family, but a second statement from Buckingham Palace said that such a "different approach" had yet to be signed off. The Queen is not amused. And we haven't even begun to discuss the huge financial implications of their going, what with all those ongoing security details. Homeowners are clamoring to power through blackouts that have become a regrettably frequent part of life in California. The cost of solar panels and batteries has fallen. And a new California law now requires all new homes to produce as much energy as they consume, starting this month. That mix of incentives has led to a surge in interest among homeowners who want to add solar arrays and batteries to their homes, and the companies offering those packages have noticed. Sunrun, which sells solar panels primarily through long-term lease agreements, in October saw traffic spike 1500% to the page on its website which explains how to power through blackouts, shortly after PG&E cut power proactively to thousands of people hoping to prevent wildfires. During the October blackouts, Sunruns California customers with solar and battery systems kept their lights on for more than 36 hours on average, and one Sonoma County family powered their home for nearly six straight days. Interest has by far gone through the roof, said Evelyn Huang, chief customer experience officer at Sunrun. When weighing whether to buy, lease or subscribe to a solar energy system, its worth considering whether there are hidden costs or pitfalls. Buying is best: If you have the cash, most experts agree that buying a solar system outright is a better investment than leasing or taking out a loan. Customers should check electric bills to estimate monthly energy use when deciding what size system to buy and calculate federal or state incentives. Make efficiency upgrades such as buying new windows or energy-saving appliances before choosing a system to help avoid purchasing an array thats larger than necessary. A good solar company will help calculate the appropriate size. Solar panels can cost $20,000 or more, and solar companies and others are increasingly offering loans to help alleviate the upfront cost. The solar loan market grew 40% in early 2019 from the same time last year, according to Wood Mackenzie. The federal investment tax credit, which covered 30% of the cost of the system until the end of 2019, will fall this year and next and will expire for residential customers in 2022. Leases can save money, but beware of pitfalls: Leasing a solar energy system may be an attractive option for people who want to use renewable energy but dont have the cash to buy a system. Sunrun estimates that customers who lease panels save 10% to 40% on their electric bills. Customers can choose a fixed monthly rate or start out with a lower monthly payment that increases over time. Leases at Sunrun typically last about 25 years. Lease companies also handle repairs, and if the system doesnt perform, the customer doesnt pay, said Thomas Plagemann, chief commercial officer at Vivint Solar. But as prices fell and loan options increased in recent years, leases declined. About 28% of residential solar systems are owned by third parties, down from 62% in early 2014, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Usually it ends up being more expensive over the life of the project (to lease), said Brett Simon, senior energy storage analyst at Wood Mackenzie. Its economically more efficient if you have the capital to just buy a system. Lease customers dont always save money, and entering into a lease agreement can complicate home sales. That was the case for Steve Hebert in Hillsboro, Ore., who began leasing solar panels from Solar City in 2016 before the company was bought by Tesla. When Hebert recently decided to sell his house, his real estate agent told him it would be difficult because of the solar lease. The lease could be transferred to a potential buyer, but some wouldnt want to take it on. Hebert tried to find out what it would cost to buy out the rest of the lease agreement and found out he wouldnt be able to buy it outright until he was five years into the contract. He wanted to find out more but had difficulty getting a Tesla representative on the phone. I feel like Im probably at a wash or paying more than I was before solar, Hebert said. I love that I can feel good about running my AC in the summer but I regret this whole thing. When solar costs were very high, leases took off, but as prices have fallen leases have become less attractive, said Ricardo Rodriguez, research analyst at Navigant Research. It just creates an extra hassle there, and especially if you just moved to your first house, you probably dont expect to live there for 20 years, he said. Subscribe and save? Everything from diapers to cars can be bought with a subscription, and now you can add solar panels to the list. Palo Altos Tesla is among the companies offering solar subscriptions and will install a small, medium or large system on your roof that provides energy to your home for a monthly fee. Customers, who are still hooked up to their electric utility, pay for any additional electricity that they pull from the grid. Beware of fees to uninstall a system. Tesla was charging a $1,500 fee to remove leased solar panels, but has since stopped charging that fee, a spokesman said. Cathy Bussewitz is an Associated Press writer. - Olivier Giroud has agreed personal terms to join Serie A giants Inter Milan - But Inter Milan will have to offer Chelsea a convincing deal for them to have Giroud - Giroud joined Chelsea from Arsenal and he was in the squad that won the Europa League title last season - Tammy Abraham is currently leading Chelsea's attack this season and the Englishman has been doing well France international Olivier Giroud has reportedly agreed personal terms to join Italian club Inter Milan from Premier League giants Chelsea. The former Arsenal striker is currently having lack of active game time this season at Stamford Bridge and he feels he should leave England for a move to Italy. READ ALSO: Toni Kroos: Real Madrid star scores directly from corner during Spanish Supercopa clash READ ALSO: MP Moses Kuria arrested for assaulting female media commentator Tammy Abraham has been Chelsea's first choice up front this season, and the England international has been impressive for the Blues. According to the report on Sky Italia, Giroud has agreed a 2 and a half year provisional contract with Inter Milan. READ ALSO: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: Angel Correa scores winner in 3-2 defeat for Catalans Antonio Conte's side will now have to make an official bid to Chelsea and hope that the Blues won't turn down their request. Chelsea on the other hand have also been linked with some players this January 2020 after their transfer ban was lifted. The Blues currently occupy fourth position on the Premier League standings with 36 points after 21 games. READ ALSO: Ndege iliyowaua abiria 176 iliangushwa na kombora, vyombo vya habari Marekani vyaripoti Chelsea are determined to make severe changes to their squad and latest reports indicate the club is already looking at Lyon forward Moussa Dembele ahead of a potential switch to Stamford Bridge. Blues boss Frank Lampard is keen to bolster his squad after the club's transfer ban was recently lifted as he pushes for a top-four finish this season. 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 Please give me a job - Stephen Kinyanjui | Tuko TV: Source: TUKO.co.ke Tehran [Iran], Jan 11 (ANI): Iran on Saturday admitted that it "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian International Airlines passenger plane that crashed near Tehran earlier this week, killing all 176 people aborad, state media reported. In a statement, the general staff of Iran's armed forces blamed the incident on the "human error", Press TV reported, as cited by CNN. Shortly after the development, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that the armed force's investigation showed the downing of the Boeing 737-800 was the result of "human error at (the) time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism (that) led to disaster." "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of (the) internal investigation by Armed Forces. Human error at (a) time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations," Zarif tweeted. On Wednesday, a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crashed in the vicinity of Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport shortly after takeoff. All 176 people on board were killed, including citizens of Iran, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Canada, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Tehran had earlier cited technical malfunction as the reason for the plane crash, while the US, UK, and Canadian officials have said they believe the Ukrainian aircraft was downed by a missile fired by Iran, possibly by mistake. (ANI) Representative Image The ruling Congress on January 10 captured the mayoral posts in all 10 municipal corporations in Chhattisgarh. Elections for 151 urban bodies, comprising 10 municipal corporations, 38 municipal councils and 103 nagar panchayats, were held on December 21, and the Congress had managed to win 1283 of 2834 wards. The BJP had won 1131 wards. Of the 10 municipal corporations, the Congress had got a majority in Jagdalpur, Chirmiri and Ambikapur. In seven others, namely Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg , Rajnandgaon, Raigarh, Dhamtari, Korba, the Congress managed to install its mayor after garnering support from Independents. In nine of these corporations, the Congress had won more wards than the BJP, with the latter having an upper hand only in Korba. The Congress' Rajkishore Prasad was elected mayor of Korba on Friday, getting 36 votes against 33 by the BJP's Ritu Chourasia. The BJP had won 31 wards in the 67-member civic house while the Congress had 26, but the latter got the support of eight corporators from the BSP, CPI(M), JCC(J) and Independents. Mayoral polls for the rest nine corporations were held earlier on different days. It was the first time mayors in the state were chosen indirectly, by corporators rather than the electorate. In the 2014 polls, the BJP and Congress had won mayor posts in four corporations each, while two were bagged by Independents. State Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said people had reposed faith in the Congress government while senior BJP MLA Dharamlal Kaushik accused the Bhupesh Baghel dispensation of misusing official machinery to win the polls. The Rangers have signed infielder Yadiel Rivera to a minor league contract, according to their executive vice president of communications, John Blake. The deal includes an invitation to big league spring training. Texas will be the third MLB organization for the 27-year-old Rivera, previously a member of the Brewers and Marlins. Rivera appeared in the majors in each of the past five seasons, but he struggled mightily to make his mark, evidenced by his dismal .178/.248/.221 line with a single home run and a feckless .043 ISO over 188 plate appearances. Strikeouts have been a significant problem for Rivera, who has fallen victim to the K just under 31 percent of the time during his brief MLB action. Although Rivera has hit better in Triple-A ball, he hasnt exactly crushed pitching there. In 1,358 PA at the minors top level, Rivera has slashed .243/.280/.352 with 22 homers. Rivera did bat a fairly productive-looking .293/.310/.477 in 312 PA with the Marlins Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans last season, but his output was 16 percent below average in the offensively charged Pacific Coast League environment, according to FanGraphs wRC+ metric. Furthermore, Riveras strikeout and walk rates were abysmal. He went down on strikes at a 26 percent clip and collected walks just 1.9 percent of the time. The owner of the world's largest collection of Royal memorabilia has slammed Prince Harry as an 'absolute fool' for for shunning his frontline duties. Anita Atkinson runs a royal museum from her farm in Crook, County Durham. She has branded the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step down from the roles as senior royals as a 'disgrace'. The 63-year-old grandmother also drew parallels between Prince Harry and King Edward VIII, who abdicated in order to marry Wallis Simpson, also an American divorcee. Anita Atkinson, owner of the world's largest collection of Royal memorabilia, has slammed Prince Harry as an 'absolute fool' for for shunning his frontline duties She has branded the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step down from the roles as senior royals as a 'disgrace' She said: 'I can't believe it. I've not heard anything like it in my life. 'I'm sorry Prince Harry was born into the Royal family and does not like it but he better crack on with it. 'If everything we're hearing is right and he didn't consult the Queen that is an absolute utter disgrace. 'His grandmother has dedicated her whole life to the country and the Commonwealth. 'To have her grandson behave in this way is really very offensive to the whole nation. It's a disgrace. 'What on earth does he think he's doing? He is the son of the Prince of Wales and he can't just step down. The 63-year-old grandmother drew parallels between Prince Harry and King Edward VIII, who abdicated in order to marry Wallis Simpson, also an American divorcee 'Prince Harry is a security risk and a target for terrorists, what does he think is going to happen? 'He is an absolute fool if he thinks he can lead a normal life. Life's tough sometimes and we've got to get on with it. 'It may as well be Ed Sheeran living in Frogmore Cottage. Meghan and Harry only do what they want to do.' Mrs Atkinson is a self confessed 'royal nut' whose dedicated collection involves more than 7,000 pieces including jugs, tea towels and flags spanning 200 years. Mrs Atkinson is a self confessed 'royal nut' whose dedicated collection involves more than 7,000 pieces including jugs, tea towels and flags spanning 200 years She recently converted an old dairy barn on her land into a museum to house her collection which she has collected over the past 40 years. She also regularly visits schools to impart her extensive knowledge of the Royals to children. Harry and Meghan announced on Wednesday that they would be giving up their positions as senior royals and would instead be moving to North America. It is thought that the pair had not informed the rest of the family, including the Queen, before announcing their intentions to the British public via a social media post. Mrs Atkinson added: 'I think William and Kate are in absolute despair about Harry and Meghan. 'Everyone is blaming Meghan, saying she will be trouble but he is his own man. 'Harry doesn't know what normal life is. He's got absolutely no idea. She recently converted an old dairy barn on her land into a museum to house her collection which she has collected over the past 40 years 'He thinks he does, but he does not. It's not possible for members of the Royal family. 'They live in palaces with people doing everything for them. They do not know what real life is. 'People have huge huge sympathy for the Queen and Prince Charles and Prince 'Harry has been stupid. He's not the sharpest tool in the box. 'They're not setting a very good example to that little baby by giving up. 'That's not showing a child you have to stick to things. 'When you grow up there are things you don't want to do but you have to. You just have to get on with it.' The city of joy now has a whole new reason to be joyful as it gets the tag of being India's safest city. According to reports, Kolkata earned the top spot owing to the lowest rate of offences recorded. The city has featured on the list of safest Indian cities for two years in a row now. Instagram The 2018 National Crime Records Bureau report states that Kolkata has a score of 152.2, on the scale that measures known recorded offences per lakh people. The report also mentioned that Kolkata is closely followed by Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai, on the list of safe cities in the country. Kolkata saw 14 rapes in 2018, compared to 15 in 2017. With the total number of crimes committed against women dropping from 32,513 to 30,394. In comparison, Delhi registered 416 cases of murder and 473 murder attempts, and Mumbai registered 164 murders and 280 attempts. Kolkata Police Commissioner, Anuj Sharma, said: "Focused attention of the state government towards creating infrastructure and additional manpower, creation of new police stations, upgrade of vigilance, both human and technological, among other things have helped greatly in the prevention and detection of crime." Twitter "Various community-relevant programmes have brought the public nearer to the police in the city by creating confidence and by creating awareness. This has led to better policing in the city." The black mark on Kolkata's report card was that it again remained on the list of the only three cities to record two acid attacks in 2018, apart from Delhi and Chennai, reports NCRB. Apart from this, if you have plans to move cities within India, Kolkata should now feature on your list. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.11 Trend: Azerbaijan is in the list of best countries of 2019, which was prepared by the U.S. News & World Report, BAV Group and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Trend reports citing usnews.com. The list, which contains rankings and subrankings on various categories, includes 80 countries. Azerbaijan ranked 35th in Movers and 45th in Power ranking. The Top 5 countries in the ranking are Switzerland, Japan, Canada, Germany and the UK. The study and model used to score and rank countries were developed by BAV Group and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, specifically professor David J. Reibstein, in consultation with U.S. News & World Report. A set of 65 country attributes terms that can be used to describe a country and that are also relevant to the success of a modern nation were identified. Attributes by nation were presented in a survey of more than 20,000 people from across the globe. Participants assessed how closely they associated an attribute with a nation. Couples in Spain currently have 20 hours of spiritual guidance before having a church wedding, which bishops say is not enough - Rubberball Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue - and two to three years of religious training before the marriage, according to the Spanish Catholic church, which wants couples to prepare more thoroughly before tying the knot. The countrys Catholic hierarchy has designed a two-to-three year course for engaged couples to take before their nuptials in a bid to tackle Spain's high divorce rates. At the moment, couples only have 20 hours of spiritual guidance before having a church wedding in Spain. Marriage training cannot be done in 20 hours. To become a priest requires seven years in the seminary, so how can we say its 20 hours to become a husband, wife, father and mother? remarked Mario Iceta, the bishop of Bilbao and chair of the Spanish Episcopal Conferences (CEE) family committee, on presenting the initiative. Bishop Iceta said that when he had served as a parish priest, he would ask couples why they thought they were present on the short marriage course, and some replied that they were there to get permission to marry in church. Wrong. You are here because according to the statistics, 40 per cent of marriages are broken after five years, and 60 per cent after 15 years, the bishop said at the presentation on Thursday. Divorce was illegal until 1981 in Spain, but now its rate of 57 divorces per 100 marriages is one of the highest in the European Union. Entitled On the path together, the new course is divided into 12 subjects, ranging from the beauty of sexuality to spirituality in the couple. Couples will be expected to attend fortnightly sessions over a period of two to three years, during which time chastity is recommended. Breaking News Human error: Tehran admits to shooting down Ukrainian plane by mistake Pentagon Accuses Iran Of Shooting Down A Ukrainian Plane - Evidence Is Flimsy By Moon Of Alabama Reuters asks: "Who Ya Gonna Believe Me Or Your Lying Eyes?" The trustworthy (not) news agency tweeted this yesterday: bigger The crashed South African plane is pretty obviously a total loss but Reuters says that there is "no sign of major damage". Reuters is a British agency and Brits do have a special kind of humor: "Tis but a scratch" and "Just a flesh wound" says the black knight (vid). The Reuters tweet was not a mistake. The story on Reuters' website (screenshot) carries the same picture and headline. The capture under the picture says: Congolese aviation workers stand next to the wreckage of C-130 Hercules South African military plane that crash-landed at the Goma airport in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo January 9, 2020 REUTERS/Djaffer Al Katanty The text of the article says: GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - A South African military plane crash-landed on Thursday at the Goma airport in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a U.N. spokesman said. Videos on social media showed smoke rising from the airplane but two sources at the airport, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there did not appear to be major damage to the plane. Reporting by Fiston Mahamba and Hereward Holland; Writing by Aaron Ross; editing by John Stonestreet At least five Reuters people contributed to the story. The claim by the two sources it cites is obviously false. It still made it into the story and even into the headline. Twenty four hours later, even after it was mocked on Twitter, the story is still up. Consider the above when you read reports in which anonymous officials allege that Iran shot down the Ukrainian flight PS 752 over Tehran. That may have happened. But that is only one possible explanation for the accident. The crash may have been caused by technical or other issues. Rumors and assertion from anonymous official are not evidence. Neither are videos of unknown provenance. The U.S. is waging an economic war on Iran and it has the will and the ways and means to fabricate such allegations. We will only know for sure what happened when the real evidence has been investigated by the designated authorities. Some of the comments to yesterday's piece on the accident disagreed with my warning that the purported evidence of a shoot down is yet insufficient and that other causes are very well possible. They should consider the warning from the top of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): ICAO is in contact with the States involved and will assist them if called upon. Its leadership is stressing the importance of avoiding speculation into the cause of the tragedy pending the outcomes of the investigation in accordance with Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). The warning was repeated yesterday: ICAO continues to call for diminished speculation on the possible causes of the accident until the Annex 13 investigation is permitted to be concluded and its official results are confirmed. Meanwhile the bodies have been removed from the crash site and the debris has been been collected and sorted by type. This morning the head of the Iranian Civil Aviation Administration gave a press conference (vid) based on what the officials currently know. My impression is that he is a serious and reasonable person. The Aljazeerah English live translation was not good. None of the questions were translated but some of official's points were understandable: Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter As far as it is known the plane was not hit by a missile. Judgment must be held back until all the technical information is available. After the take off the pilot contacted the airport control tower for permission to climb to 26,000 feet. The permission was given. Two minutes later a fire broke out on the plane. There was no communication after that but the pilots may have been too busy. The cockpit voice recorder will give more answers. Twelve groups have been formed to investigate the accident and the accident site. U.S. officials have asserted to have documents or other evidence that shows a missile incident. If they have such they are required to step forward and present it to the investigation. Video shows that the burning aircraft flew for 60-70 seconds. If the aircraft had been hit by a missile it would have dropped immediately and there would be a very large debris field like it happened with flight MH17 in Ukraine. All countries affected by the accident can name a liaison person or take part in the investigation. Then followed an explanation for the delayed departure of the plane: The plane arrived the night before the flight. Both pilots went to the hotel for rest but only for three hours. The passengers were mostly holiday guests who carried a lot of luggage. The boarding process took a long time. The weather condition at that time were also not suitable. The pilot requested extra fuel. The number of passengers, the luggage and the extra fuel added up to more than the plane can carry. The pilot ordered to off-load some luggage. All this was a normal process that can happen on any flight. It is then said that the investigation may extend a long time, even longer than the usual one year. Depending on their condition the extraction of data from the blackboxes may also take a month or two. The press conference ends with a request for calm and for support of the investigation. Footage of the unopened blackboxes was aired on Iran TV. They seem to have minor outer damage but I am confident that the permanent memory within them is intact. Investigators and observers from several countries and from Boeing have joined their Iranian colleagues and will help to find the causes of the accident. Ukrainian investigators have arrived and have been at the crash site. There are laments (ukr) from anonymous Ukrainian officials that the Iranians "bulldozed" the debris: "Debris is being raked by bulldozers; is Iran interested in a quality investigation?" - source in the interdepartmental commission of Ukraine. The Iranians used a wheeled front loader to help collect the heavy parts of the debris. That is hardly bulldozing. bigger There are also laments that the collection process is too fast and may damage some parts. Well, the plane crashed and there was a large fuel explosion. There will hardly be any undamaged parts. The crash site of the Ethiopian MAX that came down last years was also cleaned within three days. Sorting the parts into big heaps (structure, engines, electronics) before driving them off for storage and analysis is unlikely to cause additional damage. Meanwhile in the Ukraine one can still find parts of flight MH17 at very the place where that plane came down. This article was originally published by "Moon Of Alabama" - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here Hanoi Police on Friday launched a criminal investigation into a disturbance that killed three police officers in an outskirts neighborhood in Hanoi the previous day. Three police officers were killed after being attacked by a group of people armed with grenades, petrol bombs, and knives in Dong Tam Commune, My Duc District on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement published on its website on the same day. One of the attackers was also killed and another injured in the incident, the statement reads. The officers were tasked with guarding a project to build security walls around Mieu Mon Airport, a local military airfield, when they were attacked by the mob, the ministry said. On Friday, the investigation unit of Hanoi Police launched criminal proceedings against the case to investigate three charges including "murder," "illegally storing and using weapons," and "resisting on-duty officers." Around 30 people have been arrested for the investigation. Officers also seized eight grenades, 38 petrol bombs, 20 liters of gasoline, 12 bayonet-fitted iron tubes, three boxes of flares, one taser gun, one machete, and one hammer from the attackers. The public security ministry's spokesperson To An Xo on Friday confirmed the person who died resisting on-duty officers is 80-year-old local Le Dinh Kinh. A report by the Hanoi Police said when his body was examined, Kinh was holding a grenade in one of his hands. A number of the arrested told investigators Kinh is the ringleader and mastermind of the disturbance case in Dong Tam. Xo added that the situation in Dong Tam is now "stable" and competent units have resumed building the walls around the Mieu Mon Airport. The ministry said that except for the three killed police officers, all personnel working at the construction site at Mieu Mon Airport are safe. The ministry also advised people against listening to "distorted rhetorics" on social networks regarding the incident, adding that it would promptly update the people on any information relevant to the case. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police has seized 275 gm of brown sugar and arrested three persons from West Bengal's Malda district, a senior police officer said on Saturday. Superintendent of Police, Alok Rajoria said acting on a tip-off a police team led by sub-inspector Soumyajit Mallik raided Baishnabnagar school ground on Friday night and detained three persons. The police team seized 275 gm of brown sugar, two mobile phones from the possession of the three persons, the SP said. A case has been lodged at the Baishnabnagar police station under the NDPS Act and the three arrested persons would be produced before a court on Saturday, the SP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For more than 24 hours, the political world eagerly awaited the release of the latest Iowa Poll. The Des Moines Register, one of the sponsors of the highly respected poll, had announced Thursday that a new edition, which would give a snapshot of the Democratic race in Iowas first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses on Feb. 3, would be released at 6 p.m. Eastern time the next day. And then, at 5:39 p.m. on Friday, Arjav Rawal just tweeted it out. Specifically, he posted a tweet with the new polls top four candidates, led by Senator Bernie Sanders at 20 percent, along with the margin of sampling error (plus or minus 3.7 percentage points). When the polls results were officially published at 6, Mr. Rawals figures matched them precisely. PARIS (AP) French rail workers, teachers, doctors, lawyers and others joined a fourth day of nationwide protests and strikes Thursday to denounce President Emmanuel Macron's plans to overhaul the pension system. Street protests were staged in Paris and other French cities as the government and labor unions pushed on with negotiations aimed at ending railway strikes over the proposed changes that started on Dec. 5. The Paris march started from the Republique square in the city center and was accompanied by a large police presence. The Elysee presidential palace was barricaded as protesters were due to head toward the area. Unions said the protest in the capital attracted 370,000 demonstrators, while French consulting firm Occurrence estimated a crowd of 44,000. By the time the demonstration winded down, 20 demonstrators and 16 police officers had been injured, according to the Paris police department. Officers made two dozens arrests amid occasional flares of violence, Paris police said. The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors as employees joined the protest. Paris Metro traffic was severely disrupted, except for one automated line running normally. The national rail company, SNCF, said about one-third of its workers were on strike Thursday, the 36th day of the strike by railway workers. Three high-speed trains out of five were in operation. Regional trains were also affected. and many schools were closed. Unions have also called on workers to block road access to major ports, including in the southern city of Marseille. Philippe Martinez, head of hard-left CGT union, said "there are many people on strike yet the government doesn't appear willing to discuss and take into account the opinion of unions. Talks between the government and labor unions resumed Tuesday but no compromise has been found. A new round of negotiations focusing on the financing of the new pension system is scheduled for Friday. Macron has asked his government to find a quick compromise with reform-minded unions. So far, the government is sticking to its plan to raise the full retirement age from 62 to 64, the most criticized part of the proposals. The changes aim to unify Frances 42 different pension schemes into a single one. Under specific pension schemes, some people, like railway worker, are allowed to take early retirement. Others, like lawyers and doctors, pay less tax. Unions fear people will have to work longer for lower pensions, and polls suggest at least half of French people still support the strikes. YEREVAN. Armenias Minister of Education, Science, Sport and Culture Arayik Harutyunyan and Deputy Minister Narine Tukhikyan carried out an awareness campaign in Yerevan today to preserve, use, and publicize the historical and cultural monuments of the country. "We are taking a symbolic step today," the minister told reporters. With the letter in the envelope, we inform the people that they are living in the monument building and inform them what their rights and responsibilities are related to that building. (...) we believe that this will significantly change the situation with monument buildings." Deputy minister Tukhikyan, for her part, noted that they started this awareness campaign from the communities, and carried it out in Syunik, Ararat and Vayots Dzor Provinces. "Now we are also working on legislative changes," she added. "And after the informing, we are inclined to further harshen the [respective] penalties in the related laws." Int'l travellers who test COVID positive at the airport will not be allowed to go to their destinations Who is Firhad Hakim? Know Kolkata's New Mayor Age, Education, Family and Other Details West Bengal govt suspends all flights coming from UK to Kolkata PM Modi visits Belur Math; unveils Dynamic Architectural Illumination of lights of Howrah Bridge India oi-Mousumi Dash Kolkata, Jan 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled the Dynamic Architectural Illumination with synchronised light and sound system of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge), as a part of 150th anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust. PM Modi arrived in Kolkata to take part in 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Sunday. West Bengal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the way to Belur Math by boat, after attending programmes in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/WnIYRXM9XD ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 During his Kolkata visit PM Modi visited Belur Math by a boat, after attending a programmes in Kolkata where he is interacting with respected saints and seers. #WATCH PM Narendra Modi unveils Dynamic Architectural Illumination with synchronised light & sound system of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge), as a part of 150th anniversary celebrations of #Kolkata Port Trust https://t.co/O4auAnxNcL ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 This PM Modi's first visit after the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed by the parliament. Amid the anti-protest CAA and NRC demonstrations going on across Bengal PM Modi arrived Kolkata today. The Port of Kolkata is a riverine port, located in around 203 kilometres (126 mi) from the sea, situated on the left bank of the river Hooghly. It is the oldest operating port in India, and was constructed by the British East India Company. It is a freshwater port with no variation in salinity. According to the reports, the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) manages two separate dock agglomerations, the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) and the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC). PM Modi calls on WB CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata On Sunday, the Kolkata Port Turst will celebrate it's 150th anniversary, hence all the political dignetaries will be present at the programe, including PM Mosi and WB CM Mamata Banerjee. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 11, 2020, 21:59 [IST] Longtime Homewood Fire Chief John Bresnan died unexpectedly while at work on Friday. The 59-year-old Bresnan, who has been the fire chief since 1992, was found unresponsive in his office. When he did not show up for an 11 a.m. meeting, those he was supposed to be meeting tried unsuccessfully to get him on the phone and then someone went into his office about 12:30 p.m. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and he was rushed to Brookwood Baptist Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Bresnan, a graduate of Erwin High School, joined the department in 1987. According to the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs, Bresnan was the longest standing profession fire chief in the state. His death was a hard-hit for those who worked with him, many of whom spent time together at the hospital following Bresnans death. Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer said Bresnans death was a shock. Chief Bresnan was a good man and a great leader in our fire department,'' McBrayer said. He served our city of Homewood and her residents with humility and distinction and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they go through a very difficult time. Hoover City Administrator Allan Rice, the former executive director of the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission and a former Hoover firefighter, said he and Bresnan have known each other since Rice was a young paramedic and Bresnan helped to train him. Johns always been just a good person, probably the smartest guy in the fire service in the state of Alabama, Rice said. And he was humble. You could meet him at a conference not realize he was a chief. Bresnan was a formerly a captain at the Center Point Fire District while also a firefighter in Homewood. Because he was a captain in Center Point, he was eligible to take the chiefs test and thats when he landed the top job in Homewood. He outscored everybody and went straight from a firefighter in Homewood to chief, Rice said. He was my mentor. Donnie West, the former Center Point fire chief, said he and Bresnan went to high school together and grew up side by side in the fire serve. Outside of work, they often went fishing together in the Gulf of Mexico. He was laid back, but when he spoke, you listened, West said. He strived for excellence, and will be dearly missed. "John was a fellow firefighter and paramedic years ago and true friend throughout our careers,'' said retired Hoover Fire Capt. Rusty Lowe. This is hard to believe and a terrible loss. One of the members of NASA's newest astronaut class graduating today (Jan. 10) might be the next to walk on the moon and perhaps might even be the first to set foot on Mars. The graduates, nicknamed the "Turtles," after a metaphor that Vice President Mike Pence employed when the astronaut class was originally announced in 2017, is NASA's 22nd class of astronauts to graduate from basic training and the first class of astronauts to graduate under NASA's Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024. In addition to its goal of returning humans to the moon, NASA's Artemis program encompasses the development and actualization of technologies for the Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway; NASA's Space Launch System rocket; the Orion spacecraft; and for missions that will send astronauts even further, to Mars and perhaps beyond. Related: What It's Like to Become a NASA Astronaut: 10 Surprising Facts The 13 astronauts (11 NASA astronauts and two Canadian Space Agency astronauts) who graduated today join the active astronauts in NASA's astronaut corps who are eligible to be assigned to fly on the first crewed mission to the moon since 1972. The crew may also have the opportunity to fly to Mars as NASA continues to push space exploration forward. "These astronauts could one day in fact walk on the moon as part of the Artemis program and perhaps one of them could be among the first humans to walk on Mars," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said today during the graduation. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said during the graduation, "When we get to the moon, it's because it happens here in the state of Texas." The next moon landing will be special not not only because it will be the first in so many decades but also because it will be the first crewed moon mission to include a gender-diverse crew. "Remember this," Bridenstine said, "in the year 2024, we are gonna take not only the next man but the first woman to the surface of the moon." The first astronaut class to graduate under the Artemis project, graduated today (Jan. 10). They stand here with senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. (Image credit: NASA/YouTube) The astronauts didn't hide their excitement to be part of this ambitious initiative. During a segment of the graduation program in which selected students were able to ask questions, Matt, a student from Wesley Elementary School, asked the astronauts about our future on the moon and how long we're going to stay. Newly graduated NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick answered, referring to the giant image of the moon that served as a backdrop on stage. "How can you not see this moon up here all day and not want to walk all over it?" Dominick said. "We're going to stay, and what that means is after you work hard in school, you're going to join us on the moon and join us on Mars." The silver pin is awarded to astronauts upon completion of basic training when they graduate into NASA's astronaut corps. The silver pin is switched out for a gold pin upon completion of their first spaceflight. (Image credit: NASA/YouTube) Before the astronauts were given their pins, signifying that they had officially graduated basic training, Bridenstine gave them a tip they might find useful if they get to walk on the moon one day. He told a story about NASA astronaut Alan Bean, who consigned his astronaut pin to a crater on the moon along with the pin of fellow astronaut Clifton Williams, who was killed in a plane crash. "If one of you are on the surface of the moon and you do find one of those pins, if you would leave it there, we would appreciate it," Bridenstine said. Bridenstine sent off the newly minted astronauts with a heartfelt message: NASA will "make sure that you not only go to the moon or to the International Space Station, and maybe one of you will go to Mars, but you will come home safely. We care about you, we love you." Follow Chelsea Gohd on Twitter @chelsea_gohd . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . Iran: We accidentally shot down Ukrainian airplane Iran said it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian plane due to human error in the aftermath of launching missile strikes against military bases in Iraq. Irans General Staff said Saturday that a Ukrainian aircraft was accidentally hit by an Iranian missile early this week that killed 176 people on board. IRANIAN PRESIDENT HASSAN ROUHANI OFFERED HIS APOLOGIES "Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations," said Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. "Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster," he said on Twitter. Video shows Ukrainian plane being hit over Iran WATCH The Fars News Agency said Friday the cause of the crash would be announced after a meeting of accident investigators, including experts from Iran and abroad. The US, Britain, and Canada said Thursday they had evidence suggesting an Iranian surface-to-air missile shot down the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet. The Boeing 737-800 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport just hours after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles targeting the US troops in Iraq in retaliation for the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the head of the IRGCs Quds Force, outside Baghdad International Airport in a drone strike. All 176 people onboard died in the crash, including Iranians, Canadians, Ukrainians, Swedes, Afghans, Germans and British citizens. Payday ringed on a calendar Im a big fan of forever assets the kinds of investments you buy once with the intent of never, ever selling. A big reason why is the simplicity it creates. I personally follow this plan for my real estate portfolio, which consists mostly of Canadas best real estate investment trusts (REITs). These REITs are stuffed with great pieces of property in prime locations. And I get the benefit of instant diversification and smart management. And, as a nice bonus, these REITs deliver some excellent dividends. Lets take a closer look at three of Canadas top REITs firms that can look poised to deliver consistent passive income for decades to come. Northview Apartment REIT Theres one simple reason why I continue to like Northview Apartment REIT (TSX:NVU.UN) a little more than its peers. The dividend yield is way higher than comparable investments. Northviews yield is 5.5%, while most of its competition pays investors dividends of 2-3%. Yes, I realize theres more to an investment than the distribution, but in this scenario, the payout is a decent proxy for value. Northviews dividend is higher than its peers because its price-to-earnings ratio is much lower. Some might argue this is due to pockets of weakness in Northviews portfolio, which currently stands at some 27,000 units. It has exposure to oil-rich parts of Alberta and some of the weaker parts of the Maritime provinces. But thats more than balanced out by parts of the portfolio with good economic fundamentals like its ever-growing presence in the Toronto area and northern Canada. Another great thing about apartments is growth potential is unlimited. Northview is expanding by both acquiring new property and developing its own. Recent improvements in the balance sheet mean these growth efforts could be boosted going forward, too. NorthWest Healthcare Properties NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT (TSX:NWH.UN) owns health-related real estate around the world. Assets include medical office buildings in Canada, clinics in Germany, hospitals in Brazil, and a smorgasbord of different properties in Australia and New Zealand. The total portfolio spans 149 different properties and more than 10 million square feet. Story continues This REIT also has outstanding growth potential. It works with various partners to develop property. It has acquisition potential in other markets, like the United States. And the company has partnered up with institutional investors in Australia a model thats proven so successful, NorthWest plans to do it again and again. Meanwhile, investors can sit back, relax, and collect their generous 6.8% yield a payout that is adequately covered by earnings. In fact, the payout ratio should get better over time as NorthWests portfolio gets bigger. Dream Industrial REIT Much has been written about the demise of the shopping mall, while some bearish pundits predict something equally as bleak for office space, as companies downsize by allowing more workers to do their job from home. Industrial real estate is a completely different scenario. In fact, with the growth in e-commerce, marijuana production, and other uses, its easy to see a very bullish future for this type of asset. Dream Industrial REIT (TSX:DIR.UN) is one of Canadas largest pure-play industrial REITs, with a portfolio spanning 209 properties and 21.8 million square feet of gross leasable area. Approximately one-third of the portfolio is located in the United States. Not surprisingly, with a strong economy, Dreams occupancy rate continues to increase. It has a 96.2% occupancy rate, which is an excellent result. The company has also benefited from an increase in the value of its real estate; in 2017, the portfolio was worth $1.6 billion. These days, the value is in the $2.3 billion range. Dream also pays a generous dividend, with the payout at 5.3%. The dividend is sound, too, with a payout ratio of 87% of funds from operations. Get paid To generate $500 per month from these three great REITs, youd need to buy 1,230 Northview Apartment REIT shares for a total investment of $36,432; 2,505 NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT shares for a total investment of $29,709; and 2,863 Dream Industrial REIT shares for a total investment of $37,562. Together, that works out to a total capital outlay of $103,703. Sure, that might seem like a lot. But its a worthwhile goal. And when that sweet passive income makes you more financially secure, itll be all worth it. More reading Fool contributor Nelson Smith owns shares of NORTHVIEW APARTMENT REIT and NORTHWEST HEALTHCARE PPTYS REIT UNITS. The Motley Fool recommends DREAM INDUSTRIAL REIT and NORTHWEST HEALTHCARE PPTYS REIT UNITS. 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 Strict measures will be in force at polling stations, but some fear it is still too risky given COVID-19 infections. A prototype of a self-driven industrial vehicle stole the show on the first day of the India Science Fest at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) held on Saturday. The self-driven industrial vehicle offers shifting of material from one place to another at the moment. Another exhibition will be organised on Sunday, January 12. At the exhibition held on Saturday, various organisations came forward to present innovative and futuristic experiments and prototypes of models which offer solutions to modern problems. Another highlight of the exhibition was a mutant fly which could possibly be a replacement for mice in pharmaceutical experiments, according to the exhibitors. Aspiring Minds, an assessment firm, is hosting the India Science Fest 2020 at IISER, Pune. This years major themes are artificial intelligence and neuroscience with additional focus on life sciences, astronomy, quantum physics, policy and popular fiction. The festival will host discussions, exhibitions, experiments, and more on topics related to the history of science, women in science, science and the arts, and Indias place in the world of science. Several hands-on demonstrations at the festival will include artificial-intelligence-generated art, autonomous vehicles, and brain-controlled helicopters, to name a few. The festival holds various workshops for students and adults. The festival is a non-profit initiative of Aspiring Minds and the brainchild of its co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO), Varun Aggarwal, who envisioned putting the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds of his tech-company to the most productive use for the society: to help the youth engage with the latest in Science from across the world, fuelling curiosity and demystifying the scientific career path. Indian science is a sleeping giant! We wish to wake it up, says Aggarwal. He added, We wish to bring students, professionals, and the general public face-to-face with the worlds top scientists, to hear about the latest discoveries and see cutting-edge inventions. This will be truly disruptive and influential in ways we cannot imagine. At the least, it will enthuse people about Science: how it can transform society and provide role models. Moreover, all of these scientists under a single roof for two days is a big asset. We wish to engage them in a variety of policy discussions and make connections for future collaborations. VS Ramachandran, Indian neuroscientist and one of TIME Magazines 100 most influential people of 2011; Manish Gupta, director of Google AI Research; Harvards Venkatesh Murthy; Indian prodigy of MIT Arnav Kapur, chairman of AICTE Anil Sahasrabudhe; filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar and the youngest CBFC member Vani Tripathi and celebrated comedian Nishant Tanwar and 50 other influential names would gather this weekend in Pune for the largest festival that India has ever seen. Self-driving Industrial Vehicle or Ati Sherpa: Navigates both indoors and outdoors Battery lasts 8 hours In place zero radius turn Handles rough floor 500 kg tow capacity on trolley and 150 carrying capacity Hong Kong: One dead from novel coronavirus According to the National Health Commission (NHC), one person has died among the 41 patients diagnosed with having the novel coronavirus infection, the Centre for Health Protection said today. The centre received notification from the commission this morning on the latest information concerning the cluster of pneumonia cases detected in Wuhan. It said after the preliminary determination that the pathogen of viral pneumonia with unknown cause is a novel coronavirus, national and provincial expert groups immediately revised and improved the protocols on diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of the viral pneumonia. The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission has arranged the samples of existing patients to be tested for nucleic acid of the pathogen, and the expert groups have made overall assessments on the patients hospitalised for observation and treatment, taking into consideration clinical picture findings, epidemiological information and laboratory test results, etc. As of January 10, a total of 41 patients have been diagnosed with having the novel coronavirus infection. Among them, two patients were discharged, seven are in serious condition and one died, while the remaining patients are in stable condition. No new cases have been seen since January 3. A total of 739 close contacts have been identified and 419 of them are healthcare workers. All have been put under medical surveillance and no related cases have been detected so far. The Mainland's investigation has neither identified any infection of healthcare workers nor definite evidence of human-to-human transmission. According to information from the NHC, epidemiological investigations revealed that the patients are mainly business operators at Hua Nan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, which has been closed since January 1, the centre added. In Hong Kong, the centres Port Health Division has strengthened port health measures and enhanced temperature screening of travellers with increased frequency of random checking at all boundary control points. An additional thermal imaging system has been put in place at the Hong Kong International Airport dedicated for temperature screening of travellers from flights arriving from Wuhan. Moreover, additional manpower has been assigned to enhance temperature screening of inbound travellers when the daily two high speed trains that stop at Wuhan arrive in Hong Kong. Fever patients with acute respiratory symptoms who had visited Wuhan within 14 days prior to the onset of the illness will be immediately referred to public hospitals for isolation, treatment and follow-up. The division has advised the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, the Airport Authority and relevant airlines to enhance cleaning and disinfection measures of the high speed trains and planes from Wuhan as well as the cleaning of West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and Airport Terminal Building. It also adopted various ways to enhance dissemination of health messages to travellers. Click here for more information. This story has been published on: 2020-01-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 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. ITS highly unusual for a Canadian poet to get the tsunami of attention received last week by Stephen Brown. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion ITS highly unusual for a Canadian poet to get the tsunami of attention received last week by Stephen Brown. Most poets toil outside the public limelight, but interest in Brown went viral on social media and his poetry was the focus of stories reported prominently by mainstream media from coast to coast, including both of Canadas national newspapers. He got the recognition thanks to Manitoba MLA Nahanni Fontaine, who prompted the extensive media coverage by her successful demands to have two of Browns poems removed from the parliamentary poet laureate website. Before outlining concerns about a legislator intervening in the art world, I should mention I am aware of and sincerely respect Fontaines extensive professional and personal efforts on behalf of the families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. But in this instance, before telling art experts their business, perhaps she should have considered the implications. When Fontaine intervened, Brown had just been returned to the near-oblivion in which he has penned his poetry for years. Fellow poet George Elliot Clarke, who admires Browns work, had planned to cite Brown at a Jan. 23 lecture in Regina, focusing on Saskatchewan poets in the context of truth and reconciliation. Controversy broke out when it was reported Brown and another man killed a First Nations woman 25 years ago, a heinous crime for which he went to prison. Amid protests, Clarke cancelled his lecture and Brown would have soon faded from his brief blip of media interest. By now, most people would be saying "Stephen who?" Except that, two days after the lecture was called off, Fontaine took to social media and gave interviews, citing as offensive one line, "I will follow her," from the poem Alejandra, which is about "la pornai," or a sex worker in ancient Greece. She interpreted this line to mean the writer was stalking a woman and said it was alarming, given Browns 1995 crime in Saskatchewan. Fontaine called on federal officials to remove two of Browns poems from the parliamentary poet laureate website, and thats when media coverage soared. The poems were removed after a recommendation by the parliamentary librarian and agreement from the Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons. Here are three concerns about Fontaines unusual intervention, listed in order from least important to most important. First, Fontaine has no jurisdiction in Saskatchewan, where the controversial lecture was scheduled and where the murder victim lived. As a provincial politician, she has no purview with the federal officials from whom she demanded action. She was elected to represent the riding of St. Johns, an inner-city area with enough crime and social problems to warrant the full-time attention of its MLA. Second, the experts who curate exhibitions of art such as poetry should be protected from legislators who judge the artist, and not the art. Lots of louts have created brilliant art. Its unfair to expect art curators to investigate and judge the personal lives of artists. Fontaine apparently disagrees, so if she insists on using her position of authority to override curators, its incumbent on her to offer guidelines that list specifically which personal failings should disqualify artists from public displays. Its not enough to second-guess individual examples after the curators have made their decisions. If curators are forced to consider the personal lives of artists, what criteria would Fontaine have them use? I hope archivists, gallery managers and librarians resist the current zeal to clean-scrub our culture. Thumbs-up to the Winnipeg Art Gallery for its 2017 exhibit of art by Pablo Picasso, even though he regarded women as "either goddesses or doormats," and "machines for suffering." Finally, and most importantly, the biggest danger is that Fontaines foray into art evaluation might dissuade other curators from displaying work by artists with a criminal past. Last October, I attended a dinner on behalf of the John Howard Society of Manitoba, and learned there are dozens of prisoners creating art at Stony Mountain Institution, Rockwood Institution and Headingley Correctional Centre. Reflecting the population of Manitobas penal institutions, most of these artists are Indigenous. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The best of their work has been displayed outside prisons in publications and public galleries, including the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery on the Canadian Mennonite University campus. Creating art can be therapeutic and rehabilitative for criminals. Reading and viewing their art can help the public better understand what led these people to commit crimes. But Fontaine said last week, "Canada has a responsibility to ensure that its cultural and heritage-based products reflect art that doesnt exploit the suffering of our most vulnerable, including Indigenous women." Alarmingly, the broad strokes of Fontaines brush would seem to include Manitobas many Indigenous criminal/artists, because the victims of their crimes are often Indigenous women. Perhaps Fontaine will realize she overstepped in her eagerness to support MMIWG families and her poetry suppression, although well-intentioned, shouldnt be repeated. If she persists, art curators and art patrons should resist her. Judge art for its value as art. Period. Carl DeGurse is a member of the Free Press editorial board. Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981, at 4.46am in Canoga Park, California. Sun in Leo, Moon in Libra, Ascendant/Rising sign in Cancer. It was only a matter of time before the inevitable restrictions imposed on the Duchess of Sussex within the confines of her new role as a British Duchess started to rankle, writes SALLY BROMPTON The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was a confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned, everything was perfect, declared Prince Harry following the official announcement of their engagement in November 2017. They were romantic words from an adoring Prince, but his new love was, in fact, far from astrologically perfect for him. Their synastry charts which astrologers use to compare compatibilities reveal many more planetary challenges than alignments. Foremost among them is an exact opposition between Harrys rising sign cautious and conscientious Capricorn and Meghans Mars, the planet that represents ambition, self-assertiveness, action and passion. Planetary challenges do not have to be negative as they denote areas which can be worked through together creating a stronger mutual understanding. But given that Meghans Sun is in fiery Leo, the sign that signifies leadership and stardom, while Harrys is in down-to-earth Virgo, the sign of duty, it was clear from the start that not everything would run smoothly when it came to the Californian soap stars new role as a leading member of the Royal Family. The sign of Leo is ruled by the Sun, the source of all life on Earth, and typical Leos expect everything and everyone to orbit around them. They crave attention, fame, applause and adulation. The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was a confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned, everything was perfect, declared Prince Harry following the official announcement of their engagement in November 2017 Their synastry charts which astrologers use to compare compatibilities reveal many more planetary challenges than alignments They are the natural performers of the Zodiac. They adore the limelight, the drama, the recognition. But given that Meghans Sun is in fiery Leo, the sign that signifies leadership and stardom, while Harrys is in down-to-earth Virgo, the sign of duty, it was clear from the start that not everything would run smoothly, writes SALLY BROMPTON But mere stardom is not enough. They need to be at the very top of their chosen tree. It is not just a matter of winning, but of being king or queen of whichever castle they have set their hearts on. It was, therefore, only a matter of time before the inevitable restrictions imposed on the Duchess of Sussex within the confines of her new role as a British Duchess started to rankle. In common with Harrys late great-aunt Princess Margaret, the Queens younger sister and also a Leo, Meghan resents playing what she sees as a lesser role in the Royal hierarchy. And the typical reaction of frustrated Leos, as depicted symbolically by the lion, the king of the jungle, is to throw off the real or invisible chains that bind them, and build a new kingdom of their own, complete with its own rules, goals, boundaries and commitments. But love is also of great importance in a Leos life, and in Meghans case this is reinforced by her Moon in romantic Libra, and Venus, the planet of love, in Virgo which is, of course, Harrys birth sign. So it was essential that she won Harry around to her way of thinking so that she could create a joint future for them and their baby son Archie based on her own ambitions and priorities. And with expansive Jupiter, structured Saturn and transformative Pluto all alongside the Moon in charismatic Libra in her birth chart it would have been comparatively easy to convince him. Significantly, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto are currently together once again, alongside the Sun and communicative Mercury, but in ambitious Capricorn on the axis of last Fridays Lunar Eclipse. Now the stars really are aligned for Meghan to forge a new life on her own terms. Gatwick Airport planes Aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty Images AirlineRatings revealed its picks for the world's 20 safest airlines in 2020. Asian-Pacific, Middle Eastern and European carriers dominated the list. US carriers accounted for only two entries on the list. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Despite recent events including the crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 and two Boeing 737 Max aircraft crashes in 2018, air travel via commercial airlines is still widely regarded as one of the safest forms of travel. In 2019, only 14 airliner aircraft suffered fatal crashes out of over 39 million flights, Forbes reported. AirlineRatings recently unveiled its list of the 20 safest airlines for 2020, which it creates with the help of industry professionals. The list takes into account more than just accidents with factors such as "safety, innovation, and launching of new aircraft" affecting an airline's ranking. Here's which airlines the website believes to be the safest in the skies this year. 20. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KLM Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images The airline recently celebrated its 100th birthday in November, making it the world's oldest carrier still in operation. One of the more notable pilots on its roster is the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander. A trained pilot, the Dutch royal secretly flew passenger services on the Fokker 70, with the airline holding true to its name, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. 19. Aer Lingus Aer Lingus Review Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider Operating a fleet consisting primarily of Airbus aircraft, the Irish flag carrier is in the midst of a rebranding campaign that will see its aircraft wearing new paint jobs (known as liveries). Removing much of the green that the Emerald Isle is associated with, The airline went the way of its European colleagues in favor of a white exterior, removing much of the green. 18. Lufthansa FILE PHOTO: Lufthansa airplanes are seen parked on the tarmac during a strike of cabin crew union (UFO) at Frankfurt airport, Germany November 7, 2019. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski Ralph Orlowski/Reuters Story continues The de-facto German flag carrier was one of the first airlines to place an order for the Boeing 777X, the next-generation successor to the popular Boeing 777 family. The new aircraft will debut a new business class cabin for Lufthansa, helping earn it a 5-star rating from Skytrax in 2017, the first European carrier to earn the title, according to the travel blog One Mile at a Time. 17. Finnair FILE PHOTO: A Finnair aircraft prepares to take off from Manchester Airport in Manchester, Britain September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo Phil Noble/Reuters Finnair is one of the oldest and northernmost-based airlines still in operation. The airline has recently been expanding its Asian presence in the past few years, growing routes to countries including China and Japan. 16. Swiss International Air Lines Swiss International Air Lines Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters The Swiss flag carrier was one of the first European operators of the Airbus A220 (formerly the Bombardier C Series) aircraft. Serving destinations across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Africa, the carrier also offers stopover programs for its passengers connecting through its primary hub in Zurich. 15. Royal Jordanian GettyImages 1132929397 Nicolas Economou/Getty Operating a small fleet of 24 passenger aircraft, according to planespotters.net, Royal Jordanian's operation is primarily centered around serving regional Middle Eastern and European destinations. Its short and medium-haul fleet is comprised of Airbus A320 family aircraft, the Embraer E170 and Embraer E190, fleet data shows, with its shortest route being Amman to Tel Aviv at 59 nautical miles. The airline long-haul fleet is centered around the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which operates flights from Amman to such destinations as New York, Montreal, and Bangkok. 14. SAS Scandinavian Airlines FILE PHOTO: A Scandinavian SAS airline passenger plane flies near the air traffic control tower after taking off from Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Roissy, near Paris, August 21, 2013. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo Charles Platiau/Reuters A long-time operator of Airbus widebody aircraft, Scandinavian Airlines is planning to deploy its newest aircraft, the Airbus A350-900 XWB, on the Copenhagen to Chicago route in late-January. 13. TAP Air Portugal TAP Portugal Airbus A330neo Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider Under new guidance from airline entrepreneur David Neeleman, the Portuguese flag carrier has acquired a slew of new aircraft including some from the Airbus A320neo family. The carrier became the launch operator of the Airbus A330-900neo when it took delivery of the aircraft in November 2018, deploying it to cities such as New York and Sao Paulo from Lisbon. Seeking to establish itself as a major European airline, TAP is growing and expanding its fleet and route network to match. The airline recently starting service to San Francisco and Washington, D.C. from Lisbon with announced routes to Montreal, Canada and Maceio, Brazil. 12. Virgin Atlantic Airways Virgin Atlantic Plane in Flight Nicolas Economou/Getty Images Virgin Atlantic is currently in the midst of a fleet renewal and expansion that saw it begin operating the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-1000 XWB while starting retiring older aircraft such as the Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340-600. The airline also has an order for the Airbus A330-900neo, in use with airlines such as TAP Air Portugal and Delta Air Lines. Seeking to be the United Kingdom's second flag carrier alongside British Airways, Virgin Atlantic has lobbied for London's Heathrow Airport to be more liberal in its slot system so it can launch more routes. Primarily a long-haul airline, Tel Aviv became the airline's closest destination from London and its only medium-haul route. 11. Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Airlines FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty The unofficial flag carrier of the Hawaiian island, Hawaiian Airlines provides both intra-island and medium to long-haul flights. The airline is also undergoing a fleet renewal and snubbed Airbus, whose A330-200 and A321neo aircraft it operates when it decided to go with Boeing and its 787 Dreamliner aircraft for its future needs instead of the Airbus A350 xWB. Hawaiian Airlines also utilizes the Boeing 717, an aircraft that has never suffered a fatal crash, according to Boeing, for its intra-island hops. The airline was also ranked as one of the most on-time airlines in the world, the only American carrier to be in the top 10 list. 10. Virgin Australia GettyImages 1135670740 Cameron Spencer/Getty The Australian carrier is an offshoot of the Virgin Group and is one of two remaining airlines that bears the Virgin name. The airline primarily serves domestic, Oceanic, and Asian-Pacific destinations with additional long-haul services to Los Angeles and Hong Kong. 9. Cathay Pacific FILE PHOTO: A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER plane lands at Hong Kong airport after it reopened following clashes between police and protesters, in Hong Kong, China August 14, 2019. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Thomas Peter/Reuters Though experiencing disruptions Cathay Pacific due to the protests in Hong Kong that spilled over into Hong Kong International Airport, the Skytrax rated five-star airline is still viewed to be one of the best in the world. The airline was among the first to take delivery of Airbus' newest aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000 XWB, and is now one of its largest operators, according to planespotters.net fleet data. 8. Alaska Airlines GettyImages 1170330119 Bruce Bennett/Getty Alaska Airlines is one of the largest American operators of the Boeing 737 family of aircraft, rated as one of the safest in the sky. Once operating an all-Boeing mainline fleet, the Seattle-based airline acquired a fleet of Airbus A320 family following its acquisition of Virgin America, which share a similar safety record, according to Boeing's 2017 statistical summary of commercial jet airplane accidents. 7. Emirates Airline FILE PHOTO: An Emirates Airline Airbus A380-800 takes off from Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike Christopher Pike/Reuters Emirates recently placed orders for some of Airbus and Boeing's aircraft at the 2019 Dubai Airshow including the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-900 XWB. The carrier is also the world's largest operator of the Airbus A380, keeping the program alive until 2021 when the final A380 will be delivered to Emirates. 6. Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 REUTERS/Tim Chong Singapore Airlines is the operator of the world's current longest flight between Singapore and Newark using a specially-configured Airbus A350-900 XWB. Its onboard premium cabins and its hub airport, Singapore's Changi Airport, are known for their extravagance. The airport features an indoor waterfall in a bio-dome-like section known as the Jewel. 5. Qatar Airways Qatar Airways plane Michael Probst/AP Qatar Airways operates one of the world's most modern fleets with the carrier seeming to place an order for nearly every new aircraft type. In addition to being the launch operator of the Airbus A350-1000 XWB, the airline recently took delivery of its first four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Passengers connecting through the airline's hub in Doha can also take advantage of the airline's stopover program which includes complimentary city tours. Its main airport, Hamad International Airport, recently announced an expansion project to increase the airport's capacity, despite being built and opened only in the past decade. 4. Etihad GettyImages 1081829778 Nicolas Economou/Getty One of the Middle East's big three carriers, state-owned Etihad Airways is still financially struggling and is reevaluating its business structure, the airline's CEO told Reuters. The airline had planned to take delivery of new Airbus A350-1000 XWB aircraft, Reuters reported, but deferred delivery of the new type to an unspecified date. The aircraft had been assembled and painted in Etihad's livery, only to be sent to storage in Bordeaux, France. Etihad had taken delivery of new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft assembled by Boeing's South Carolina plant, which it flies to destinations such as Rome, Italy, and Beijing, China. 3. EVA Air GettyImages 664260516 FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty The Tapei-based carrier is one of the first operators of Boeing's largest 787 variant, the 787-10 Dreamliner, and was one of the first airlines to feature a premium economy class, according to its website. Its long-haul fleet consists primarily of widebody Boeing aircraft with its former flagships the Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 747-400. 2. Air New Zealand GettyImages 1052230374 Fabrizio Gandolfo/Getty Air New Zealand's long-haul fleet has been engaged in fleet renewal for its long-haul that focuses on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of Boeing's newest aircraft. In a 2018 report, Boeing reported the aircraft as having no fatal accidents though the aircraft has been plagued by battery and engine issues. The airline currently flies the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner between Auckland and Chicago, the airline's longest and the deepest route into North America from an Oceanic country. 1. Qantas Qantas Boeing 747-400 Daniel Munoz/Reuters The airline was referred to by Airline Ratings in 2019 as having "amassed an amazing record of firsts in operations and safety and is now accepted as the industry's most experienced airline." The airline has never had a fatal crash, though that badge of honor was nearly jeopardized when an Airbus A380 flying from Singapore to Sydney suffered an uncontained engine failure. Read the original article on Business Insider Berlin: European foreign ministers say the escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran had risked progress against Islamic State militants, and they rallied behind their tattered nuclear deal, despite President Donald Trump's renewed call for allies to abandon it. The European Union has said that it will "spare no effort" to keep the 2015 deal alive, even though Tehran said it would no longer be bound by the agreement's restrictions on centrifuges and uranium enrichment following the Trump administration's killing of Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Quds Force. Activists of the National Council of Resistance of Iran shout slogans outside the European Council headquarters during a EU Foreign Ministers meeting on Friday. Credit:AP "It's not dead, we have to bring it back to life," Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said of the deal as he arrived for the emergency meeting with counterparts from the 28-member bloc in Brussels on Friday. Analysts say Europe is reticent to give up on the effectively dead deal as they attempt to maintain relevancy and lack any diplomatic alternatives. European leaders have struggled to come up with a unified and committed response, and they largely watched from the sidelines as the crisis of the past week unfolded. House Speaker Robert DeLeo says he plans to meet with legislators following news of the death of a two-year-old girl in Whitman. The girl, Lyric Farrell, was found unresponsive on Dec. 28 in an apartment. Farrell was taken to Brockton Hospital, then flown to Boston Childrens Hospital in critical condition. She later died on Dec. 31. WCVB reports the child had been recently returned to her mother from foster care by the state Department of Children & Families. Her mother, Shaniqua Leonard, 29, was arrested by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Plymouth District Attorneys office Thursday. In a statement, DeLeo said he plans to meet with, Rep. Denise Garlick, D-Needham, who is overseeing the Houses effort examining the foster care system and DCF, to discuss the incident. I was heartbroken to learn of the death of 2-year-old Lyric Farrell last month," he said. While the death of a child under any circumstances is painful, the death of Lyric allegedly at the hands of her own mother is utterly incomprehensible. DeLeo continued, "There is no higher priority for the House than to ensure that the Commonwealth satisfies its moral obligation to protect our most vulnerable citizens. While there are many questions still to be answered, we must take every step possible to fulfill our duty to the Commonwealths children. Leonard is being charged with reckless endangerment of a child, and is expected to be arraigned in Brockton District Court. The cause and manner of Lyrics death are yet to be determined. From anger to a profound sense of waste, family and friends of those aboard a downed jetliner have been left to process a range of emotions now knowing their loved ones were killed in what Iranian officials have called a horrific military mistake. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (730 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. From anger to a profound sense of waste, family and friends of those aboard a downed jetliner have been left to process a range of emotions now knowing their loved ones were killed in what Iranian officials have called a horrific military mistake. "We're in complete shock, we're full of so much emotion," said Nadia Eghbali, whose aunt, uncle and eight-year-old cousin who lived in Toronto died in the crash. "There's anger, there's so many things, we just don't know why this happened." Nina Saeidpour, whose friend Kasra Saati died in the crash, said Iran's admission stirred up "mixed emotions." Saeidpour, from Calgary, said Saati had travelled to Iran over the holidays for a reunion with his wife and two children. "In some ways we are happy that our government just came forward and said that they did it instead of hiding everything," Saeidpour said. "On the other hand everybody is again in shock about why such a thing should happen." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said an Iranian military investigation concluded "missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash." The admission came a day after Iran denied claims being made by Canada, Britain and the United States that Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by Iran, possibly accidentally. There were 57 Canadian citizens on the plane and 138 of the passengers were bound for Canada, many of them students and professors returning after spending the December break visiting relatives in Iran. The dead also included many citizens of Iran as well as people from Ukraine, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan and Germany. On Saturday night, hundreds gathered at universities in Tehran to protest the Iranian government's late acknowledgment of the plane being shot down. They demanded officials involved in the missile attack be removed from their positions and tried. Police broke up the demonstrations. Danny Gonzalez joined an advertising studio in Toronto last year on the same day as Alvand Sadeghi, 29, who died in the crash along with his wife, Negar Borghei, sister, Sahand Sadeghi, and five-year-old niece, Sophie Emami. "It's just an overall waste," Gonzalez said. "Everything that's related to war and people trying to kill each other for the sake of land or oil, it's always stupid. "One of the reasons why he picked to move to Canada was it's a place where multicultural people can live in peace." Mehrdad Taheran, whose friend Mehran Abtahi died in the crash, said he feels "very angry." Abtahi was a post-doctoral research fellow in civil engineering at the University of British Columbia. It is important that the information found in the black boxes is released, Taheran said. "It was a deadly mistake that killed many people." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday he was "furious" about the mistake and demanded compensation for the victims' families. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made similar calls. Canada may have a case for compensation on behalf of victims, but would almost certainly face hurdles in a country with which it has no formal diplomatic relations, said Lawrence Herman, an international trade lawyer in Toronto. "In general international law terms, a wrong was committed. And the state that commits that wrong is responsible for compensation," Herman said. "The question I have is whether the current regime in Iran would be prepared to recognize that obligation." If Tehran rejects the prospect of damages, Canada could try to seek recourse through the International Court of Justice, though that route can also be contested. Victims' families could also file civil suits against the government of Iran in a Canadian court, Herman said. "The Canadian government certainly seems to me to have a right to seek compensation for an act of state that caused damage. That does not foreclose parallel civil actions brought by injured parties." Reporters Salmaan Farooqui in Toronto, Christopher Reynolds in Montreal and Hina Alam in Vancouver contributed to this report. With files from The Associated Press. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2020. The investigation began in November 2018, when Old Dominion University in Norfolk got a call claiming someone armed with an AR-15 had hidden pipe bombs around campus. The police got a call a couple hours later from someone with a similar voice who said he had dialed accidentally and apologized. That call came from Kelleys number, listed in school records, according to the affidavit. Authorities said in the documents that Kelley was studying cybersecurity at the school until January, when he was expelled after facing state drug charges. AUSTIN Area property owners can learn about their septic systems and private wells during a free workshop Monday in Austin organized by Mower County Public Works. The workshop, held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Centers Ruby Rupner Auditorium, includes a presentation by Sara Heger, engineer in the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program of the Water Resources Center at the University of Minnesota. Snacks and refreshments will be provided along with free well-testing kits and septic system guides. Heger will talk about the basics of septic systems as well as cover topics relating to subsurface septic treatment systems, such as what is involved in a septic inspection, how often you should have an inspection, how to prevent winter freeze-up in tanks and the importance of soil under a drain field. Jeff Grugel of the Minnesota Department of Health also will discuss safe drinking water with private wells, including how and when to test your well water and which wells are at risk for contamination. Mower County Public Works staff will also be on-hand to provide information on the countys septic ordinance, policies, programs and compliance inspections. Attendees also can learn about low-interest loans available for septic systems. ADVERTISEMENT Mower Soil & Water Conservation District will have a table at the workshop to provide information on cost-share assistance available to Mower County landowners who have an abandoned or unused well that needs to be sealed properly. For more information, contact Valerie Sheedy of Mower County Public Works at 507-434-2639. North Korea's Korean Central News Agency released this photo of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, the Pukkuksong-3, Oct. 3, 2019. Yonhap U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said Friday that he recognized there was a risk of North Korea taking provocative action in light of tensions between the United States and Iran, but denied there was a direct correlation. At an event at the Brookings Institution, McCarthy was asked about the possibility of North Korea launching a provocation as the U.S. military focuses its operations on threats from Iran. "There's always a risk with that. I don't see a direct correlation right now," he said without elaborating. Since late last year, North Korea has suggested it could test an intercontinental ballistic missile to protest stalled denuclearization negotiations with the U.S. Michael Bloomberg reportedly has a long-term plan for his well-funded campaign. The billionaire former New York City mayor made a late entry to the 2020 race, but quickly jumped up in the polls thanks to the millions of dollars of self-funding he's been able to put into it. But if he doesn't end up topping the Democratic field, that campaign machine won't go to waste: Bloomberg will continue funding his staff to help whoever locks down the Democratic nomination, campaign officials tell NBC News. Bloomberg already has one of the biggest paid campaign teams out there, with more than 500 workers scattered across the U.S. He's also dominating the TV ad market, all while paying his staffers nearly double what some other campaigns are. Yet all that spending couldn't get Bloomberg on January's Democratic debate stage, and he's still a long shot to win the nomination altogether. But even if Bloomberg can't buy his way into this election, he'll still be paying for it through November, campaign officials said. All the staffers and digital assets Bloomberg pays for would be redirected to the nominee, building a "shadow field operation across the country," including in general election swing states such as Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin, NBC News reports. That doesn't mean Bloomberg is backing down in his fight for the nomination. "Mike Bloomberg is either going to be the nominee or the most important person supporting the Democratic nominee for president," Bloomberg's campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said. Read more at NBC News. More stories from theweek.com The death of rock's master craftsman The White House celebrated the '1st snow' of 2020 on an unseasonably warm, snowless Sunday Queen Elizabeth is hosting an emergency British royal summit with Prince Harry to settle public family rift Group of industrial workers in a refinery - oil processing equipment and machinery Many oil producers in Canada are holding in abeyance spending plans in 2020. With the congested pipelines, Alberta was left with no choice but to curtail production last year. Imperial Oil and Husky Energy are saying the curtailments have distorted market conditions. Hence, both companies are staying put. However, Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ)(NYSE:CNQ) or CNRL and Suncor (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU) are pushing through with spending this year but with caution. Despite the government production limits and full pipelines, these two big oil producers are confident of thriving in a weak market. Massive cash flow CNRL expects to spend $4.05 billion in 2020, which is $250 million more than the spending in 2019. The company also paid $2.8 billion to buy the assets of Devon Energy last year. This $49 billion oil and gas E&P company operates not only in Western Canada but in the United Kingdom North Sea and offshore Africa. It plans to add 60 drilling locations across Alberta and put three more additional rigs to work this year. One thing going for CNRL is its massive cash flow. The company uses the cash flow to pay down debt and buy back shares. Also, its current operating margin of +23.06 and its gross margin of +23.91 indicate that its generating significantly more profit (net of expenses) compared with market peers. CNRL has a healthy balance sheet. It has the financial muscle to spend on projects that could enhance margins. The 3.57% dividend the stock pays today is sustainable, given the payout ratio of less than 50%. Focus on value Suncor expects to spend between $5.4 billion and $6 billion in 2020. The company is allocating a higher budget for the adoption of digital technology and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Also, the company plans to concentrate on projects with higher yields, immune to volatile commodity prices, and with no pipeline constraints. The focus is on value rather than volume. Its ultimate goal is to achieve its $2 billion incremental free funds flow target by 2023. Story continues Just like CNRL, Suncor has a healthy balance sheet plus a robust asset base. This $65 billion energy giant can forego of volume growth in the meantime. The 68.5% institutional ownership in the stock indicates the confidence of large financial organizations and pension funds in Suncor. For retail investors, the 16-year dividend-growth streak as well as the dividend-growth rate of 14.55% over the last five years is the convincing reason to hold the stock. Its 3.95% dividend is likewise sustainable, as the payout remains in check at 51%. Ready for the challenges Canadian Natural Resources and Suncor remain the dominant oil companies amid uncertain conditions and industry headwinds. Both companies are executing well in so far as the respective acquisitions are concerned. More importantly, these two oil giants are shareholder friendly, pay decent dividends, and buy back shares. Should oil prices rise, analysts are predicting CNRL and Suncor to increase by 30.5% and 34.5%, respectively, in the next 12 months. You have the option to invest in two of the countrys biggest oil producers that have the confidence to overcome the difficult challenges ahead. More reading Fool contributor Christopher Liew 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 Five people were arrested here in two separate incidents and large quantities of poppy husk and illegal liquor seized from their possession, police said on Saturday. Ghaziabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani told PTI that on Friday at around 4 pm three persons ferrying 39.5 kg poppy husk in gunny bags were held at Loni border during routine checking. The accused, identified as Monees and Farukh, are from Bareilly district, he said. During interrogation, the two confessed that they used to bring the contraband from Bareilly and Raibareilly to supply in the National Capital Region and Punjab, the SSP said. In another incident, two men were arrested in Nandgram area after a large consignment of illegal liquor was found in their mini truck. The liquor bottles seized were only for sale in Arunachal Pradesh, the police said. A liquor smuggler was also nabbed near a mall in Tronica city at around 10 pm on Friday night, the SSP said. The man was identified as Nitesh from Gorakhpur, he added. All the accused have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and sent to jail, the officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Equal Rights Amendment failed to meet deadline, too late to ratify: Justice Department Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Equal Rights Amendment has failed to reach the necessary number of states to support ratification by its deadline, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Multiple state legislatures have considered legislation to give the ERA the necessary super-majority to be added to the U.S. Constitution. However, Assistant Attorney General Steven Engel issued a memorandum Monday explaining that the ERA has already failed to meet a previously determined deadline by Congress. Congress has constitutional authority to impose a deadline for ratifying a proposed constitutional amendment, Engel wrote. It exercised this authority when proposing the Equal Rights Amendment and, because three-fourths of the state legislatures did not ratify before the deadline that Congress imposed, the Equal Rights Amendment has failed of adoption and is no longer pending before the States. Engel added that even if one or more state legislatures were to ratify the proposed amendment, it would not become part of the Constitution, and the Archivist could not certify its adoption under 1 U.S.C. 106b. Kristen Waggoner of the conservative legal group the Alliance Defending Freedom expressed support for the DOJ's opinion, noting that the ERA not only falls far short of the requirements to amend the Constitution, but also undermines womens rights and opportunities. Women deserve to be treated with equality and fairness under the law, but thats not what the ERA does. If its proponents wish to convince the American people of its merits, they must follow the process laid out in the Constitution, Waggoner said Wednesday. Following that process by starting over respects the American people and the integrity of the Constitution. And thats good no matter what side of the aisle we find ourselves. Toni Van Pelt of the progressive group the National Organization for Women, denounced the DOJ's opinion, arguing that it was part of the Trump administrations ongoing opposition to womens rights and gender equality. Legislation is pending in Congress to remove the 1979 deadline which appears in the preface to the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1972 resolution. NOW and our grassroots activists are working hard to assure that this happens, Van Pelt said. The DOJ's opinion on the ERA came as the Commonwealth of Virginia, whose new legislative session included a Democrat majority, looked to possibly become the 38th and final state needed to pass the amendment. In 1972, Congress passed the ERA and sent it to the states for ratification with a seven-year deadline. Even with deadline extension to 1982, the ERA failed to get 38 states for ratification by three states. Conservative groups have long been opposed to the ERA, with recent concerns surrounding the belief that the ERA would be used to advance abortion and LGBT policy positions. Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel, told The Christian Post in an interview last year that he believed if the ERA passed, it could be used as a hammer against religious organizations, including churches, to provide abortion or abortion-inducing drugs or devices. I think also the ERA now would include an LGBT agenda that would conflict with churches and religious organizations with respect to biblical doctrines and beliefs of male and female in uniquely created and complementary sexes, Staver said at the time. So I think in both the abortion area and in the LGBT arena, the ERA Amendment would be a direct assault on religious liberty, against religious organizations and churches. Pro-ERA organizations like the Alice Paul Institute have argued that the deadlines previously imposed could be changed by Congress. Congress may be able to accept the validity of state ratifications that occur after 1982 and keep the existing 35 ratifications alive, according to the FAQ paper by the institute. Five states Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, Tennessee, and South Dakota have attempted to withdraw their approval of the Equal Rights Amendment. However, according to precedent and statutory language, a state rescission or other withdrawal of its ratification of a constitutional amendment is not accepted as valid. This week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel announced an important opinion on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), declaring the ratification expired and no longer pending in the States for action. In a Memorandum for the General Counsel of the National Archives and Records Administration, DOJ declares dead any effort by Virginia to become the 38th state as the new Democrat-controlled legislature pledged in its opening session. It also overrules congressional efforts to revive the ERA ratification by removing the deadline as proposed in legislation pending on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. In a statement to CP, Penny Nance, CEO and president of Concerned Women for America, said the "DOJs opinion declaring the ratification dead underscores what even Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has already concluded: if the ERA has any future, the process must start over. Concerned Women for America says, 'R.I.P ERA.' Women deserve fairness and equality under the law, but Congress should not waste its time on an ERA that could in fact undermine the progress weve made over the last 40 years. If legislators are truly concerned about women, they should spend their efforts focusing on measures to uphold the dignity and status of women as uniquely female, not turn back the clock on gains weve made and ERAse women. SIOUX CITY -- Nurses at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center are casting a pair of votes this weekend on whether to accept a proposed contract from hospital management, and whether to authorize a strike. According to a statement sent out Friday night by the nurses' union, the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 222, voting is taking place from Saturday through Monday. The nurses' bargaining committee is recommending the nurses vote "no" on the new contract, and "yes" on the strike authorization. Nurses at MercyOne have been engaged in heated contract negotiations with hospital management since at least June. Their current contract expired Sept. 1 and after 18 bargaining sessions over several months, the nurses and management remain at a standstill. In October, the nurses rejected a proposed contract by a reported 99 percent margin. The nurses say they're seeking a more appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio (or, as they often put it, "safe staffing ratios"), higher pay, better benefits and an improved strategy to handle turnover at the hospital. MercyOne, the nurses say, has too few nurses tending to too many patients, which can be unsafe for the patients and, at times, the nurses themselves. The ratio issue has been a key sticking point in contract negotiations. Some progress was made during the most recent contract bargaining session, held this week, but the nurses reported that management failed to address the staffing ratios. A federal mediator was brought in to help at last week's negotiations. In a phone interview Saturday, Jennifer Vondrak, a MercyOne RN-BSN and one of five nurses on the bargaining team, said the hospital has engaged in "unfair labor practices" by discouraging union members from discussing work issues with their colleagues at the hospital. "Myself included, nurses go to the hospital to talk to the hospital to talk to the other nurses about how it's going there, what's going on with the union, what's going on at the table, things like that, and we were kicked out," Vondrak said. "It is our right to talk to our coworkers about the union." In response to these latest developments, MercyOne sent the following statement: "MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center values our longstanding partnership with our nurses. We look forward to finalizing what we believe to be a fair and equitable agreement, as well as continuing to provide top quality, compassionate care to our patients, families and communities. "Out of respect for this process and our nursing colleagues, we have no additional comment at this time." A strike had been discussed at various points over the last several months, but at each turn the nurses described it as an option they wanted to avoid. "We think Mercy is literally trying to force us to go on strike. We don't want to strike, nobody wins in a strike. Especially not the patients that we love and care for," said Doug Kelly, an ICU nurse at the hospital, at a public meeting in November. "But, if that's what they want, we are here to take on this fight, and we are not backing down." According to an October statement on the nurses' union Facebook page, management told the nurses "they are not making any money and cannot meet the Nurses demands." Their page has become something of a community bulletin board for many of the nurses' grievances with management and individual MercyOne executives. In an interview Saturday evening, Kelly, who is also on the bargaining team, said he's hopeful that productive negotiations will resume at some point and the nurses will get the contract terms they've been after. "I think we'll get something that we can agree to, yes," he said. "But, how soon that's going to happen, depends on when they want to start listening to what the nurses (have been) trying to tell them for a long time. "We're having to work multiple extra shifts, we're working extra hours, your home life suffers, your physical and mental and emotional self suffers, and it's been going on for a long, long, long time," he added. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 4 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen said Beijing should stop making threats towards the island after voters resoundingly handed her a second term in office on Saturday. "Peace means that China must abandon threats of force against Taiwan," she said at a press conference in Taipei where she declared her election victory. "I also hope that the Beijing authorities understand that democratic Taiwan, and our democratically elected government, will not concede to threats and intimidation," Tsai added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Protesters outside a university in Tehran have called for justice after Iran admitted it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane on January 8. Resignation is not enough," protesters chanted outside Amir Kabir university on January 11 while demanding a trial for those responsible for the downing of the plane that killed all 176 people on board. Amateur videos posted on social media also showed protesters chanting dishonorable in an apparent reference to Iranian authorities, who finally admitted that a missile fired by its forces caused the crash. Irans semiofficial Fars news agency said some of the protesters ripped up photos of Qasem Soleimani, the poweful of the elite foreign arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps who was assassinated by the United States on January 3. Fars estimated the protesters numbered between 700 and 1,000. Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) website posted a video claiming to show tear gas being used to break up the protests in Tehran. Iranian police detained a British envoy to Tehran in front of Amir Kabir University for inciting antigovernment protesters. The envoy was released after several hours. Protests also broke out in Isfahan, Hamadan, Sari, Rasht, and Babol, according to posts on social media. They are the largest antigovernment demonstrations since November, when thousands of people took to the streets to protest an increase in fuel prices. Many Iranian were in shock and grief after Tehran admitted -- following days of denials -- that its military shot down the passenger plane. Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the aerospace division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), said on January 11 that his unit accepts full responsibility for the tragedy. In comments aired by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, I wished I was dead. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the 176 victims and called on the armed forces to "pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident. Nearly half of those killed were Iranian citizens while many others were ethnic Iranians living in other countries. With reporting by Reuters and Fars Efforts to encourage tourists to visit fire-hit communities have been welcomed by tourism operators, but visitors have been warned about the lingering effects of the bushfire crisis. The Go With Empty Eskies campaign on social media urges people to plan a road trip to towns affected by the bushfire crisis - such as those on the NSW South Coast - once they are declared safe. Holiday makers made the best of a tense situation at Currarong in Jervis Bay on New Year's Eve. Credit:Nick Moir Go with empty eskies, empty cars and low fuel, its founder, Tegan Weber, said. Motivational speaker Turia Pitt launched the Spend With Them Instagram account to support small businesses affected by the bushfire emergency. By PTI NEW DELHI: The naval version of Tejas aircraft on Saturday made its first landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, in a major milestone in the development of the aircraft. Military officials involved in the "arrested landing" of the aircraft said the successful test has put India among a select group of nations having the capability to design a jet which can land on an aircraft carrier. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a tweet, said the successful landing of the aircraft on INS Vikramaditya is a "great event" in the history of Indian fighter aircraft development programme. He congratulated the DRDO and the Indian Navy for the successful test. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is involved in the development of the naval variant of Tejas along with Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and CSIR among others. "After completing extensive trials on the shore-based test facility, DRDO, ADA developed LCA Navy did an arrested landing on INS Vikramaditya successfully today at 10:02 AM," said a DRDO spokesperson. A similar test was carried out at a shore-based test facility in Goa in September last year. The naval version of Tejas light combat aircraft is in the development stage. Officials said the successful "arrested landing" of the prototype of the naval version of Tejas on the deck of INS Vikramaditya is expected to speed up the development of the jet for the Indian Navy. The Indian Air Force has already inducted a batch of Tejas aircraft. Initially, the IAF had placed an order with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 40 Tejas aircraft. In 2018, the IAF issued the request for proposal (RFP) to HAL for the procurement of another batch of 83 Tejas at a cost of over Rs 50,000 crore. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. HAL needs new orders to keep production going after 2021-22 HALs order books are empty beyond 2021-22 and new orders from the armed forces are critical for continuity in production. It needs fresh orders for fighter jets, trainers and helicopters fast to prevent a complete halt of production at its facilities. Read more here. Government appoints 2 joint secretaries, 13 deputies to assist CDS The newly-created department of military affairs, headed by the chief of defence staff (CDS), will be staffed with two joint secretaries, 13 deputy secretaries and 25 under secretaries. Read more here. Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha TV merger targets rebranding, better programmes The proposed merger of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV channels could lead to a rebranded new entity that will ensure live telecast from both Houses when Parliament is in session. Read more here. Why it is essential to have women at the table Women see things differently, have their own perspective based on their struggles to ascension. To exclude them from crucial meetings is to shut out the voices of nearly half of our population. Read more here. My best chance of qualifying for Olympics, says Sai Praneeth After missing out on two previous Olympic Games2012 London and 2016 Rio India shuttler B Sai Praneeth has just one target, 2020 Tokyo. Read more here. Suniel Shetty denies interfering with daughter Athiyas Motichoor Chaknachoor: Both producer and I know who is lying Producers of Motichoor Chaknachoor (2019) accused actor Suniel Shetty of interfering in daughter Athiya Shettys film, also starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui. But, instead of defending himself, he decided to stay mum on the issue. Read more here. New Mexico State Police introduced its new helicopter on Friday, while also honoring one of its fallen officers. The important part of this building is the lettering that is right outside of those doors. A great mans name will always be displayed there, State Police Chief Tim Johnson said as the Sgt. Andrew F. Tingwall Aviation Facility at Double Eagle Airport on Albuquerques West Side was dedicated. Tingwall was piloting a State Police helicopter in 2009 when it crashed during the attempted rescue of a lost hiker in the Sangre de Cristos during bad weather. Tingwall and the hiker were killed. After the hanger ceremony, officials showed off the agencys new helicopter, Able 7, a $12 million Airbus H145. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 11, 2020 13:14 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321c11ef 1 National smoke-free-zones,Yogyakarta,Malioboro Free The Yogyakarta administration is planning to turn the popular tourist destination of Malioboro into a smoke-free zone starting in March. The head of the public health division of the Yogyakarta Health Agency, Eny Dwiniarsih, said that the government is currently preparing the resources to implement the ban. "We are planning to introduce Malioboro as a smoke-free zone to the public at the end of March," she said as quoted by kompas.com on Friday. The administration is to also prepare a designated smoking area. However, Eny added that the smoking area would not be built near the sidewalk since that would be against Yogyakarta's regulations. The agency has approached stores along Jl. Malioboro and requested they add smoking areas to their places. "We have to inspect the stores to find out if there is a possibility of building smoking areas there. For example, they could be in their parking lots since they're still close to the pedestrian walks," Eny added. She also said there is no special requirement for a smoking area's design. However, she added that the area should be placed outdoors and be equipped with ashtrays and garbage cans to prevent smokers from littering. One of the places on Malioboro that already has a designated smoking area is the Malioboro Mall. "When we implement the smoke-free area on Malioboro, it is important to note that what we're prohibiting is cigarette promotion and smoking in random areas. We are still allowing cigarette transactions," Eny said. She also added that the agency would prepare a place to put out cigarettes before entering Malioboro. The head of the Yogyakarta Public Order Agency's control and operational division, Bayu Laksmono, said that Malioboro is categorized as a public place in Yogyakarta Bylaw No. 2/2017 on smoke-free zones. "Hence, we need a designated smoking space to accommodate smokers so they will refrain from smoking in random places," Bayu said. He added that he would dispatch his personnel to ensure implementation of the ban. "I heard that [road operator] Jasamarga will help, too," Bayu said. (dpk) (Island Government is a periodic roundup of Staten Island political and civic events.) STATEN ISLAND -- The Staten Island Republican Partys Executive Committee made a number of endorsements in the local Republican races this week. Top party leaders endorsed Richmond County Assistant District Attorney Michael Tannousis in the race for Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis soon-to-be-vacant 64th Assembly seat. Tannousis has also won the endorsement of the executive committees of the Brooklyn and Staten Island Conservative Parties. They endorsed incumbent Assemblyman Michael Reilly in his re-election bid for the 62nd Assembly seat. The Partys Executive Committee also endorsed lifelong Staten Islander and retired NYPD detective Paul Ciurcina, Jr. in the race for the North Shore Assembly seat, which Democratic incumbent Charles Fall now holds. Were proud of the strong, diverse candidates we are fielding for the November 2020 elections, said Staten Island Republican Party Chairman Brendan Lantry. Our Republican Committee will work tirelessly over the coming days, weeks, and months to grow the Republican conferences in Washington and Albany so they can combat the spread of socialist, progressive policies that aim to slow economic growth and handcuff our men and women in law enforcement. LANZA TO HOST FREE LEGAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS The Veterans Civil Legal Services Project will return to Republican State Sen. Andrew Lanzas district office in early February. Lanza has been hosting one-on-one legal clinics for veterans since 2018 with the help of New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG). Veterans, current service members and military-connected family members are invited to schedule a free appointment with a NYLAG attorney on civil legal issues. Veterans can meet with an attorney on Feb. 4, from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ODDO TO HOST ANNUAL DIRECT CONNECT SUNDAY JAN. 26 Borough President James Oddo will host his annual Direct Connect Sunday open house on Sunday, Jan. 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Tottenville High School. During the event, Oddo will interact with constituents one-on-one and talk about projects his office is working. Members of Oddos staff will also be on site to talk to constituents about any concerns or questions they might have. His office will also have a display of plans and initiatives the borough president championed in 2019 as well as his agenda for 2020. When I took office in 2014, we threw the doors of Borough Hall open to welcome the public in, Oddo said. We continue to build on that concept by bringing our annual open house to new locations and inviting groups from the community to talk about their work. If you have a particular quality-of-life issue or just want to find out more information on the work were doing, I encourage you to join us at this informative event. KYODO NEWS - Jan 11, 2020 - 18:35 | All, Japan A volcano on a southwestern Japan island erupted Saturday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, with no immediate reports of injuries. Rocks were thrown about 300 meters from the crater of Mt. Shintake on Kuchinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture following the eruption around 3:05 p.m., the agency said, adding it had not confirmed any pyroclastic flow. [Japan Meteorological Agency] No evacuation order was issued. As of the end of last month, 100 people were registered as residents on the 36-square-kilometer island. It was the first eruption on the island since Feb. 2 last year. The agency maintained the alert level for the volcano at 3 on a scale of 5, which asks climbers to refrain from scaling the mountain, after raising the level from 2 in October following a major earthquake. The agency warned of possible flying rocks and pyroclastic flows within about a 2-kilometer radius of the crater. In May 2015, all residents of the island were evacuated to Yakushima Island, some 12 km to the east, after explosive eruptions from the volcano. Kuchinoerabu Island is located some 130 km south-southwest of the city of Kagoshima. Sarah Paulson has revealed that she will be returning for the next season of popular TV series "American Horror Story". Paulson, who has made an appearance in every season of the show, gave its ninth installment a miss as she was busy with showrunner Ryan Murphy's Netflix series "Ratched". But now, the 45-year-old actor confirmed to Deadline that she will coming back for the tenth season. "I did ask Ryan if the question was asked to me, could I say that I was coming back, and he said 'yes' you could say. So, yes I will be back on 'American Horror Story'," Paulson said. When asked whether she will resume her duties as a series regular on the show, the actor said, "God willing." The long-running anthology was recently renewed for three more season by the network FX. Paulson will also appear on the next installment of Murphy's another hit series "American Crime Story". Titled "Impeachment", the new season is based around Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 12:07:44|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's index of export container transport saw an overall increase in December, according to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE). The average China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) climbed 3.2 percent month on month to 841.46 points last month, said the SSE. In December, the sub-index for the Persian Gulf/Red Sea and European routes increased by 13.7 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively. Bucking the upward trend, the Australia/New Zealand and West Africa routes saw their sub-index down by 4.6 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively. In 2019, the index averaged 823.53, up from 817.8 points for 2018. The CCFI tracks spot and contractual freight rates from Chinese container ports for 12 shipping routes across the globe, based on data from 20 international carriers. The index was set at 1,000 on Jan. 1, 1998. When you normalize the Addams family, you ruin the Addams family. And thats what happened in the animated venture that still bears the name, The Addams Family. For a good third of the film, we get introductions, tours and slight parlor tricks before the plot shows up. Then, a design guru named Margaux Needler (voiced by Allison Janney) realizes the Addams home is an eyesore for folks hoping to live in a planned community called Assimilation. Theres supposed to be a huge outcry against folks who stand out but, quickly, residents realize the Addamses actually fit in. End of story. Sure, theres a subplot with Pugsley (Finn Wolfhard) prepping for an Addams-level bar mitzvah but it never rises to a level of interest. Instead, this is a lot of visual stuff that borrows heavily from the original TV series. Needler the new wild card is both reality star and conniving entrepreneur. You know directors Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon are attempting to comment on something but they dont outwardly say it. Instead, The Addams Family exists in a very gray world where even Charles Addams humor is watered down. Wednesday (nicely voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz) strikes up a friendship with Needlers daughter and finds common ground. Theres a good song about blending in and a lot of work for Thing to do. But when Lurch starts playing pop tunes on the organ, you wonder if a committee didnt throw out ideas just to see what might fit or fill. At the end of the show, theres a sing-along to the TV theme show, but its so tacked on you dont really want to bother. An animated Addams Family should have borrowed ideas from the original magazine cartoons and, perhaps, copied their look. An early idea to do this in stop-motion animation might have been good, too. But resembling umpteen films without a specific eye is like sitting through Popeye cartoons until you can get to Scooby-Doo. Theres no real pull. Janney emerges as a good voice artist; Oscar Isaac is an OK Gomez. And Charlize Theron is never more than Charlize Theron as Morticia. Rather than buy the franchise, producers should have insisted on a better premise. That, alone, could have given this two snaps up. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Staying in? We've got you covered Get the recommendations on what's streaming now, games you'll love, TV news and more with our weekly Home Entertainment newsletter! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New Delhi: In one of the massive milestones for the Indian Navy, the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas conducted a successful landing on the decks of INS Vikramaditya on Saturday morning. It was the first time that an indigenous fighter aircraft landed on an aircraft carrier. Sources in the Indian Navy, the developmental LCA (N) MK1 achieved an important milestone today with the successful arrested landing on board the Indian Navy aircraft carrier Vikramaditya. With this feat, the indigenously developed niche technologies specific to deck based fighter operations have been proven, which will now pave the way to develop and manufacture the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter for the Indian Navy, the sources said. The Naval Light Combat Aircraft made its first successful landing on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-developed fighter aircraft is expected to attempt its maiden take off from the carrier soon. https://t.co/6n4ntkQXul pic.twitter.com/M1YMfMd6pk ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 Trail and success Giving out the details, the DRDO tweeted, after completing extensive trials on the Shore Based Test Facility, DRDO, ADA developed LCA Navy did an arrested landing on INS Vikramaditya successfully today 11 Jan 2020 at 10:02 hours. Commodore Jaideep Maolankar did the maiden landing. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also lauded the men and women tirelessly working for the project. Extremely happy to learn of the maiden landing of DRDO developed LCA Navy on INS Vikramaditya. This successful landing is a great event in the history of Indian Fighter aircraft development programme. Congratulations to Team @DRDO_India & @indiannavy for this achievement. (sic), tweeted Singh. INS Vikramaditya in Arabian Sea region The INS Vikramaditya that was used for the arrested landing has been deployed in the Arabian sea region. The deployment comes at a time when China and Pakistan are holding a nine-day mega naval exercise in the region, a move seen as New Delhi sending a clear signal to its two neighbours. Top officials of the Naval headquarters were on board the aircraft carrier when it was deployed in the strategic mission earlier this week, military sources told PTI. Pakistan and China on Monday launched a major drill in the North Arabian Sea with an aim to increase inter-operability and strategic cooperation between their two navies. The exercise 'Sea Guardians' is taking place in the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. Key platforms of both China and Pakistan, including submarines, destroyers and frigates, are part of the exercise. Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, with MiG29K fighters on board, has been sent with a strategic objective, the sources said without elaborating. A Navy spokesperson said Deputy Chief of Naval Staff M S Pawar reviewed INS Vikramaditya's operations in the Arabian Sea. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin attended the official inauguration of the TurkStream pipeline project. The ceremony came amid mounting war tensions across the region after the US assassination of General Qassem Suleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, and the missile retaliation on US bases in Iraq by Tehran. Erdogan and Putin came together for closed-door discussions, including on growing war tensions in Syria and Libya. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin [Credit: http://en.kremlin.ru] Putin came to Istanbul on Tuesday night after visiting the Syrian capital, Damascus, to discuss the situation in northern Syria, including in Idlib province, where Turkey has deployed troops and provides support to Islamist militias against President Bashar al-Assads government. According to an official statement, the 930-kilometer TurkStream project consists of two lines with a total capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year. The first will carry 15.75 bcm of Russian gas through the Black Sea to Turkey every year, and the second will carry the same amount from Russia to Europe via Turkey. The second line, supplying Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary, was planned to open this year. TurkStream will bypass current pipeline routes through Ukraine, as does Nord Stream 2, a planned undersea pipeline directly linking Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. The opening of this strategic pipeline reflects improving relations between Turkey and Russia, despite threats from Washington. The TurkStream deal was sealed in October 2016 in Istanbul, just three months after the failed Washington- and Berlin-backed coup against Erdogan on July 15. The coup failed because Erdogan, alerted by Moscow, was able to make a timely appeal to his voters to take to the streets to defend him. The Turkish government later began to discuss buying the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system from Russia. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 adopted last month by the US Congress imposes sanctions on Turkey because of the S-400 system and the TurkStream. Washington saw them as two important, unacceptable strategic steps bringing Turkey closer to Russia at US expense. While Turkish officials hailed the pipeline for allegedly making Turkey a new regional energy hub, Turkish consumers will still pay more than Europeans for the same gas. Citing comments by Kerim Has, a Moscow-based analyst, Al-Monitor stated: 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. Russia initiated economic sanctions after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet over Syria in November 2015. Although relations between the two countries were increasingly rebuilt and developed after the coup, Moscow has not softened its opposition to bilateral agreements until now. Speaking at the ceremony, Russian President Putin called TurkStream an extremely important and unique gas transfer system that will help boost cooperation even more... The successful realization of TurkStream shows the remarkable outcome of Turkish-Russian strategic partnership. Referring to US aggression against Iran, Putin stated, We are living in a difficult world. Unfortunately, there are some acts that aim to escalate tension in our region. He added, But Turkey and Russia present a very different example. Putin refrained from openly condemning US aggression and chose not to comment on Iranian strikes on US bases in Iraq. Erdogan called the project historic and said, I am sure that in the future Russia and Turkey will implement many more mutually beneficial projects both in energy and other areas. In a clear sign of fear among the Turkish ruling elites, who face an economic crisis and growing class tensions at home, over the latest developments in the region, Erdogan spent most of his time discussing the dangerous situation in the Middle East. Nobody has the right to throw the entire region, especially Iraq, into a ring of fire for the sake of his or her own interests, he said. After almost uninterrupted US-led imperialist wars and interventions in the Middle East since the Stalinist dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Erdogan called for de-escalation, stating, As Turkey, we do not want Iraq, Syria, Lebanon or the Gulf region, where more than 30 percent of maritime energy trade takes place, to become battlegrounds for wars of tutelage. Turkey nonetheless supported the US invasion of Iraq and was directly involved in the regime-change war in Syria, as well as assaulting US-backed Kurdish nationalist forces in both Iraq and Syria. In its statement, the IRGC warned all US allies that they would be a target of military retaliation if attacks on Iran were launched from bases in their countries. This clearly includes Turkey, a NATO ally of America, which hosts US soldiers and nuclear weapons at the strategic Incirlik air base. In December, Erdogan responded to US sanctions on Turkey by threatening to close Incirlik. 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. Erdogan also raised the conflict over eastern Mediterranean energy reserves. There is no chance of realizing any project in the Eastern Mediterranean that excludes our country, he said, after a rival regional energy deal was signed by Israel, the Greek Cypriot regime and Greece on last Thursday. That deal came after agreements signed between Turkey and Fayez el-Sarrajs Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli at the end of November, covering military assistance and a delineation of maritime boundaries. While Ankara claims hydrocarbon reserves under the eastern Mediterranean via the Turkish Cypriot regime and Libya, almost all the major regional powers oppose the Turkish claims. As in Idlib province in Syria, the Turkish and Russian governments are supporting opposite sides in the Libyan conflict. While Ankara backs the UN-recognized GNA regime in Tripoli, Moscow supports General Khalifa Haftars Libyan National Army, which is linked to a rival government based in Libyas eastern port city of Tobruk. Moscow opposed the Turkish military deployment to Libya decided by the Turkish parliament last week. Erdogan has declared that Turkish soldiers will not fight alongside Islamist fighters in Libya, but will develop the operation center there. So far, 35 Turkish soldiers have reportedly been deployed to the North African country. After a bilateral meeting between Erdogan and Putin following the TurkStream ceremony, in a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu declared that the two countries are calling for cease-fire in Libya by midnight on January 12. With the starting of this new year, NatureFresh Acti Heart, the newest offering of Cargills edible oils business in India, has launched a digital campaign #StartAHeartResolution. This time of the year, social media is flooded with conversations around New Year resolutions for the next year, such as learning a new skill, travelling more or spending less etc. However, sticking to one is a different story altogether. Built around this very premise, the campaign by NatureFresh Acti Heart looks to encourage consumers to adhere to their New Year resolution by picking one which is easy to stick to that is to take care of their heart. Positioned as a cooking oil that takes better heart care, NatureFresh Acti Heart aims to educate consumers on the importance of taking care of their heart early. This will go a long way in helping consumers start their new year with a resolution to take care of their heart, one they can stick to, all year long. The highlight of the campaign is an interesting AV that comprises of three montages all depicting relatable scenarios showcasing how difficult it is to maintain our New Year resolutions. However, we can choose to begin the New Year by starting a heart resolution with NatureFresh Acti Heart which is easy to keep. The videos feature three protagonists and their alter egos talking to each other. Using relevant instances that people experience in their day to day lives such as resisting the urge to eat a pizza, delaying your exercise regimen or the inability to work out, the campaign uses the phrase Kal Se Pakka as an emotion that we all face in our daily lives when it comes to sticking to our goals. The brand, thus, persuades the consumers to take the right decision when it comes to their health and food choices in the next year. Given how difficult it is to stick to a New Year resolution, the brand through this campaign asks consumers to start with an easy one that is to switch to NatureFresh Acti Heart and #StartAHeartResolution. Speaking on the launch of the digital campaign, Subin Sivan, Marketing Head, Cargills oils business in India said, December and January are the months where a lot of conversation happens around New Year resolutions. Considering how digital ecosystem thrives on topical content, this posed as a perfect opportunity for the brand to engage with the consumers in a relevant manner. We all know that sticking to your resolution is not quite as easy as making one. This forms the basis for the new ActiHeart campaign, which captures micro-moments in our lives when we struggle with our resolutions. In order to encourage consumers to stick to their resolutions, the campaign encourages them to start easy with a heart resolution in 2020 by switching to a better heart oil, #StartAHeartResolution with Nature Fresh ActiHeart. Commenting on the campaign, Karthik Nagarajan, CCO, Wavemaker said, This Nature Fresh campaign for New Year came as a welcome challenge to us, as not many clients take the plunge to stay culturally relevant to the audience. The ask was to showcase the brand fit in the consumers daily life and build brand awareness so that the campaign has a high recall value. Instead of going the broader way of keeping health or fitness resolutions, we narrowed it down by inviting them to take an easy resolution to #StartAHeartResolution with NatureFresh Acti Heart. The colloquial phrase Kal se pakka used by the protagonists in the films certainly resonates with the people. Co-curating such interesting pieces of work at Cargill helps push the envelope to achieve greater milestones. The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, on Friday, gave out 70 new vehicles to the military and security outfits for surveillance operations. At a crowded event in Maiduguri, Mr Zulum handed the vehicles to all heads of security organizations comprising the Nigerian Army, police, and volunteers in the civilian JTF and local hunters. The governor made this gesture amidst the worsening security in the state. Boko Haram and its ISWAP splinter faction have, in the past weeks, stepped up attacks on highways and communities. The insurgents have recently concentrated on attacking the Kano-Maiduguri highway, which had been the only relatively safe route leading to the state. Several travellers, including security personnel, have been killed or abducted on the route. A convoy of the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Olusegun Adeniyi, was Tuesday unsuccessfully ambushed by the insurgents along Kano-Maiduguri highway. On Thursday, about seven travellers were ambushed and abducted by the Boko Haram gunmen, on the same highway. The governor, earlier in the week, had a faceoff with the army when he accused soldiers of extorting money from travellers without national ID cards. He also accused the army of attempting to illegally evacuate villages without recourse to due process. Following an emergency security meeting which held on Thursday, all parties reiterated their commitments for a better collaboration against the insurgents. The governor, on Friday, thereafter, inaugurated a security rapid response squad for enhanced tackling of the decade long insurgency. During the event that held at the Shehu of Bornos palace, the governor released 70 newly acquired Hilux vans, which were handed over to all security outfits. The governor had also released 160 surveillance vehicles to security agencies and volunteers fighting the insurgents, between June and September 2019. Mr Zulum, at the event, assured citizens of his administrations commitment to the security of lives and property. I have said a number of times that this administration will not hesitate to take any measure or make any sacrifice in order to ensure peace and security returns to our state, he said. As the chief security officer of Borno State, it is my constitutional and moral responsibility to do whatever I possibly can in trying to secure the lives of citizens and doing that, is the whole essence of government in the first place, Mr Zulum said. Borno governor gives army, police, others 70 vans He called on all traditional and community leaders to re-dedicate themselves to mobilising participation in vigilance and generating local intelligence. Hide no insurgent The governor, a professor of irrigation engineering, also used the occasion to warn residents not to harbor insurgents and those perpetrating criminal activities. We cannot succeed in winning a lasting peace if we do not give maximum support to our security operatives, by giving them information about the identities of culprits and their hideouts, he said. On no account should we protect or hide anybody with the evil intention of destroying our state, adding that the consequence of conspiracy is grievous. Borno governor gives army, police, others 70 vans The governor also seized the occasion to applaud the military, other security establishments, and volunteers for their sacrifices in battling Boko Haram in Borno. The states Commissioner of Justice, Kaka Lawan, had earlier explained that the launch of the rapid response squad was in line with the multilateral approaches adopted by the government in tackling Boko Haram. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday expressed its grief over the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who ruled Oman for five decades. In a statement the foreign affairs department said, The Filipinos all over the world join the Omani people in mourning the death of Sultan Qaboos. The foreign affairs department said that the late monarch was a benevolent host to thousands of Filipinos who have made Oman their second home. DFA also remembered the late Sultan of Oman as the leading player in promoting peace and security in the Middle East. Omans state media announced that the sultan died on Friday, but did not mention the cause of his demise. He was 79. "It is with hearts filled with faith in Allah and his Providence, and with great sorrow and deep sadness that ... His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, who passed away on Friday, 10th of January 2020, after establishing a comprehensive renaissance over the past 50 years since he assumed power," Oman News Agency quoted the ruling royal family council as saying. A three-day period of national mourning has also been declared, the state media added. Sultan Qaboos presided over an absolute monarch but was seen as progressive since he assumed power, which he seized from his father, in 1970, CNN reported. Under the Omanis 1996 Constitution, the royal family must determine the next Sultan of Oman within three days of Qaboos death. If they fail in doing so, a letter penned by Qaboos will be opened before government officials, revealing his choice for his successor, CNN said. JARL focus is on Younger Generations and Women In his New Year statement Japan Amateur Radio League President Yoshinori Takao JG1KTC says JARL continues to focus on acquiring new members of Younger generations and Women He also said "The succession of amateur radio, which is a useful means of communication, to the next generation and the development of human resources in the radio field are considered to be important social missions of the Japan Amateur Radio League." He noted that during 2019 the JARL had requested Deregulation of the licensing system and sought permission for to allow hands-on operation of an amateur radio station by unqualified persons. Read Greetings from Japan Amateur Radio League President in Google English at https://tinyurl.com/JapanJARL The Costa Sur Power Plant is one of the largest and most damaged power plants in Puerto. The head of the power plant said that its restoration could take more than one year. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake and series of aftershocks have cost damage to its main structures, not to mention its one of the largest power plants in the world. The earthquake was considered the worst this century and it even led to an island-wide power outage. The Costa Sur Power Plant is located in the Southern town of Guayanilla, near the epicenter of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that devastated and destroyed lots of properties and even led to the death of one person. According to Jose Ortiz on Thursday, head of Puerto Rico's power authority, the Costa Sur could remain offline for up to one year. According to NBC News, Puerto Rico would rely on its other power plants to meet the electric demand of the Puerto Ricans. Meanwhile, Ortiz said that they already requested temporary generators from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to meet the demand of its consumers affected by the earthquake. Costa Sur Plant, the damaged power plant, has been providing about a quarter of the total homes and businesses on the island. Ortiz said in an interview, "Costa Sur is a disaster and there are structural damage and damage to equipment. Repairs could take months, perhaps up to one year. It's unsafe to be there right now. It's life-threatening. Yesterday, when we were inspecting it with the people from FEMA, we had to leave when an aftershock started." The island's power authority said on Friday that it has restored its power to 1.5 million customers or around 80 percent. According to the United States Geological Survey there were more than 120 aftershocks felt by Puerto Rico after the earthquake that happened two days ago. Moreover, in a report from the island's largest newspaper, the water boilers used to generate electricity at the power plant came off their bases during the earthquake. Some of the structural damages in the power plants are the cracks that prompted oil spills and there are some metal and concrete that fell off the machines. Some of the residents of the southwestern part of the archipelago saw the worst damage and shared their experience during the earthquake. One said that he felt like he was reliving aftermath of the Hurricane Maria. The power outage caused by the hurricane is the world's second-longest blackout. Carlos Camacho, a resident who lives near the epicenter, said: "This feels like another blow that we didn't see coming, another Maria in less than three years and I don't even have more tears to cry." Camacho is one of the displaced residents and is now living in a makeshift tent. These people either lost their house or are afraid to go back to their house, as it might collapse anytime due to the continuing aftershocks. Hundreds of buildings collapsed due to the earthquake and aftershocks. The Escuela Agripina Seda, which serves more than 250 middle school students, was also destroyed. CLEVELAND, Ohio The Ohio Department of Education has blocked a loophole that would have given millions in tax dollars to charter schools with bad grades by using another. The department on Friday announced the 63 charter schools that did qualify to share in the $30 million fund that Gov. Mike DeWine and the state legislature created this summer as a bonus to help the best charter schools in Ohio. Most of the decisions were clear cut. Four Breakthrough schools received $1.7 million from the new fund, five Constellation schools received $1.7 million, and several others in Northeast Ohio were recognized because of their strong grades on state report cards, as DeWine and charter supporters intended. But the department rejected some large applications for the money, with a decision that is drawing complaints. Some had worried that provisions in this summers state budget bill would open the door for schools with poor grades to receive money solely because their operator ran schools in other states that had received a federal grant. At the top of that list were 33 schools, including several in Cleveland, run by the for-profit Accel Schools chain. As The Plain Dealer reported Sunday, those schools failed to meet Ohios academic criteria but might have qualified for $15 million or more because an Accel-run school in Colorado Springs won a federal charter school expansion grant a few years ago. But the department today rejected Accels application for those schools, citing details of Accels corporate registrations in Ohio that fail to connect Ohio operations with those of Accel in Colorado. Because Accel is not registered as a business that also operates in other states, the department ruled it is not eligible for the money. Another 10 Accel schools here in Ohio that had strong grades qualified for $4.1 million from the fund. Accel founder Ron Packard said the ruling is unfair and while schools in different states may have different corporate registration, they are all Accel subsidiaries. We believe we were improperly denied the funding, Packard told The Plain Dealer. We meet all of the qualifications stipulated in the code. Packard said he and staff would scrutinize the departments decisions for all schools. The department had no comment on its decisions, outside of its notification letters to schools. The Concept charter school chain, best known in Ohio for its Horizon Science Academy schools, also had applied for money for several of its schools using that out-of-state provision. That application was denied for the same reason as Accels: Concept Schools NFP was not registered as doing business in other states, along with Ohio. Like Accel, some Concept schools, like Noble Academy Horizon Science Academy Denison Middle, qualified for money because of good grades on state report cards. Thats how the fund should work, said Chad Aldis of the Fordham Foundation, a pro-charter advocacy organization. Schools in Ohio, he said, should win the money if their grades are good enough, not based on what out-of-state schools do. At the end of the day, whats important is that every school in Ohio has the opportunity to demonstrate that it meets the rigorous requirements that the state has established, Aldis said. Any school thats operating in Ohio, we believe, should meet the states performance requirements. Breakthrough co-founder John Zitzner, who has campaigned for more money for his schools for several years, was still studying the list of recipients to see if more of his schools should have qualified. He was pleased that the fund has started but had one disappointment: So many schools qualified that the amount of money going to each school was reduced about 11%, he estimated, from the $1,750 the budget bill had called for. Its unfortunate that there isnt enough money in the fund to provide the $1,750 that was the desire of the administration, he said. A slate of endangered House Democrats is coalescing behind Joe Biden for president as the Iowa caucuses approach a surge of support triggered by fears that Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren at the top of the ticket would cost them their seats. More than a dozen swing-seat freshmen have taken part in at least one private call session with Biden, Amy Klobuchar or Pete Buttigieg in recent weeks. A handful have already gravitated toward the former vice president, and more are expected to follow before Democrats start voting on Feb. 3, according to interviews with 15 lawmakers, aides and campaign strategists. Others are still hearing out Klobuchar who held her own call with a dozen members on Monday night and Buttigieg. Both candidates are pitching themselves as middle-of-the-road Democrats who can stem the leftward surge of the party. Im looking at all the moderates in the race, said Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.), who holds a GOP-leaning district in upstate New York. If were going to campaign on issues like Medicare for All and free college for everybody, were not going to have a winning message in 2020. House Democrats in battleground districts are anxious for a moderate to lead the ballot in 2020, warning that a self-described socialist like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) or liberal icon like Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) could hurt their own chances in the fall and help reelect President Donald Trump. Most won over independents and moderate Republicans to flip long-held GOP districts in 2018. Some say a more liberal nominee threatens to shatter their electoral coalitions, and they have the data in their districts to prove it. A number of Democratic centrists some of whom hold seats Trump carried by sizable margins have studied internal polling showing Biden outperforming other Democratic contenders in head-to-heads with Trump in their respective districts. "The wrong person at the top of the ticket and Im not saying who that is there would be down-ballot carnage all across the country, and I think that people are starting to recognize it, said Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), a national co-chair of the Biden campaign. Story continues Unlike in 2016, when most Democrats rallied around Hillary Clinton, most have so far stayed on the sidelines of the party's primary fight, anxious of drawing battle lines that could further divide their district or attract a primary challenge from the left. But an increasing number of centrists are quietly engaging with campaigns, particularly Biden, through conference calls and staff-to-staff contact, in the run-up to Iowas caucuses. Biden is leading the congressional endorsement race among the presidential hopefuls. He has 33 in total, including five Democrats in Trump-won House or Senate seats, the most of any presidential contender. Democratic Reps. Elaine Luria of Virginia, Abby Finkenauer of Iowa and Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania all of whom hold seats Trump carried in 2016 backed Biden this month. On a November call with Biden, some freshman members cited internal polling that showed the former vice president as the most formidable candidate in their swing-seats. A number of battleground Democrats commissioned a round of polling in the late summer and fall that tested Biden and other candidates against Trump. Biden performed more favorably, according to sources familiar with the surveys, though they cautioned that some tests had very small sample sizes and that Bidens dominance is not unexpected given his high name ID. I am definitely concerned that someone who's more on the fringes would have a hard time winning our state themselves, and I want a Democratic candidate to win Pennsylvania and win the presidency, said Lamb, who endorsed Biden last week and is going to campaign with him this month in New Hampshire. Asked if Warren or Sanders the top two candidates in a new Iowa poll released Friday could win his district, Lamb said: I think it would be really hard. Democrats are also looking seriously at Klobuchar, who pitched her own ability to carry districts where Trump won in 2016 in her Monday night conference call. The calls aren't the only contact between moderate Democrats and like-minded presidential candidates. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg will meet with the over-100-member New Democrat Coalition next week, and the group is also in the process of setting up meetings with Biden and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), according to multiple people familiar with their outreach. Biden, in particular, forged personal ties with many newly elected freshmen during the 2018 midterm elections, campaigning for more than 20 House candidates in states like Pennsylvania, Iowa, Michigan, South Carolina and Nevada. Rep. Ben McAdams. Bidens electability is a key message for his campaign. His wife, Jill, singled out freshman Rep. Ben McAdams (D-Utah) during a fundraiser in Salt Lake City this week, telling donors that his reelection would be easier with a presidential nominee that "every Democrat can run with, not run away from. McAdams has not endorsed but said he would like to see a moderate candidate leading the party. Asked if Sanders or Warren could hurt his chances of winning a deep red seat, he suggested he would need to distance himself from a nominee with their profile. My ideas are different than theirs. he said. So as long as people understand that Im going to be independent of any candidate and really be true to my district, I think thats most important. For Democrats, the endorsement calculus is personal. Throwing in their name early for a candidate could help curry favor or gain a position in a Democratic administration. But some Democratic consultants say privately they see little upside to making an early endorsement, warning members will be tied to the eventual nominee even if they supported another contender in the primary. Members of Congress largely appear to be giving more careful consideration to endorsements this time around, unlike in 2016 when lawmakers flocked to Clinton and largely underestimated Sanders staying power. Moderates see another lesson from 2016: Clinton won the popular vote nationwide but came up short in purple states that ultimately sealed Trumps victory. U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham addresses the South Carolina Democratic Party's convention on Saturday, June 22, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. In 2018, Cunningham became the first Democrat to flip a South Carolina congressional seat in decades. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) A lot of us that come from districts where Trump won recognize the importance of bringing people together, said Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.), who also has not backed anyone in the presidential race. And I think those people who won those districts are probably more drawn to who can reach across the aisle. Progressives, however, have long fought back the notion that a Democratic nominee must pick up support from independents and even Republicans in order to beat Trump. They argue that robust voter turnout turning out the kinds of numbers that Sanders and Warren have seen at events across the country will be key to winning back states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. Klobuchar's congressional allies, like freshman Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), argue the opposite. I tell people all the time, enjoy reading your national polls, but care about six of them," Phillips said, arguing that the race would instead come down to a few battleground states mainly in the Midwest. "Thats what this next election is about." Were no longer a country that is really fighting for their respective bases," said Phillips, who organized the call with Klobuchar and his colleagues this week. "Its fighting for the diminishing number of people who really do vote on both sides of the aisle." Laura Barron-Lopez contributed to this report. Maryland leaves it up to companies to report how much revenue the firms earn from digital ads on devices that either have an Internet Protocol address in the state or is known or reasonably suspected to be used here. If that revenue exceeds $1 million, the legislation would require companies to file a state tax return estimating how much they owe in digital advertising taxes. The companies would have to keep records of advertising sales. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will impose new economic sanctions against 17 Iranian metal producers and mining companies in the aftermath of a recent missile attack against American military forces in Iraq. The sanctions also target a network of three China- and Seychelles-based entities and a vessel involved in the purchase, sale and transfer of Iranian metal products. OFAC said it will work with its counterparts at the Department of State to add further sanctions against persons operating in or transacting with other sectors of the Iranian economy, including construction, mining, manufacturing and textiles. The Trump administration said Iran's metals industries generate "billions of dollars annually" for the Iranian regime and contribute to the country's nuclear weapons development. "These sanctions will continue until the regime stops the funding of global terrorism and commits to never having nuclear weapons," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement. Iran launched missile attacks on Tuesday in response to the Trump administration-approved killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani near the Baghdad airport late last week. The new sanctions target the Mobarakeh Steel Co., which is considered the biggest steel producer in the Middle East and the biggest direct reduced iron producer in the world. The company produces more than 50% of Iran's steel in all markets, OFAC said. Other Iranian steel companies to be sanctioned include Saba Steel, Hormozgan Steel, Esfahan Steel, Oxin Steel, Khorasan Steel, South Kaveh Steel, Iran Alloy Steel, Golgohar Mining and Industrial , Chadormalu Mining and Industrial, Arfa Iron and Steel, Khouzestan Steel and Iranian Ghadir Iron & Steel. Sanctions will also apply to Oman-based Reputable Trading Source, which is owned and controlled by Iran-based Khouzestan Steel Co. These companies will be placed on OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List. U.S. persons and companies are generally prohibited from conducting business with individuals or entities on the list. Story continues Iranian aluminum and copper companies to be added to the SDN List include the Iran Aluminum Co., which accounts for about 75% of the country's aluminum output; Al-Mahdi Aluminum Corp.; National Iranian Copper Industries, the largest copper producer in the Middle East; and ore trader Khalagh Tadbir Pars Co. OFAC has placed China-based trading company Pamchel Trading Beijing Co. Ltd. on the SDN List for allegedly buying "tens of thousands of metric tons of steel slabs" each month from Iran's Esfahan Mobarakeh Steel Co. Seychelles-based Power Anchor Ltd., which was also added to the SDN List, works as a "front company" to Pamchel Trading to "obfuscate the true Iranian end user for metals-related materials shipped to Iran," OFAC said. In addition, the Treasury agency added Zhejian, China-based Hongyuan Marine Co. Ltd. and its vessel Hong Xun for transporting steel slabs for Esfahan Mobarakeh from Bandar Abbas, Iran, to China. Taking aim at Iran's political leadership, OFAC announced that it is adding to the SDN List Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council; Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, deputy chief of staff of Iran's armed forces; and Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij militia of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Asked during a televised White House press conference on Friday morning about the effectiveness of economic sanctions against Iran, Mnuchin said, "We have 100% confidence" that the sanctions are "cutting off" the regime from billions of dollars in funds. The Trump administration began strengthening unilateral economic sanctions against Iran after withdrawing the U.S. from the multilateral Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the Iran nuclear deal, in May 2018. Trump has repeatedly faulted the effectiveness of the 2015 treaty. U.S. sanctions against Iran have previously taken aim at Iran's oil and gas sector, another major source of funding for the Iranian regime. Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay 0 See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. A man has died in hospital following an alleged assault in Moe last week. Police said a group of men allegedly confronted and seriously assaulted the 31-year-old man they believed was acting suspiciously outside a Mitchells Road home at about 5.30am on January 5. He was airlifted to hospital where he died on Friday afternoon. Three men have been charged over the incident. A 41-year-old Moe man and a 19-year-old Orbost man have been charged with intentionally cause serious injury and intentionally cause serious injury in circumstances of gross violence. (TNS) Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo made the right decision to put the brakes on legalizing electric bikes and scooters in New York State.Legislation that passed both legislative houses did not adequately address safety or regulation. The governor had to reach for his veto pen in light of those missing details and mounting evidence from other cities and states and countries showing accidents, sometimes fatal, involving both.These devices are becoming ubiquitous in major cities and, as any fad goes, there is a cool factor. All that ends when these devices collide with cars or trucks. The potential danger grows further when they are used on sidewalks and pedestrians are at risk of injury.To Cuomos point, not many riders wear helmets, and there should be provisions in any legislation mandating such, along with guidelines on intoxication levels while operating what are, in fact, motorized vehicles.These concerns and others should be addressed with the full understanding that, yes, times have changed. This is an increasingly app-driven society. It is true that these devices can provide a useful last-mile solution in areas where public transportation is scarce and that e-scooters and electric bikes are more environmentally friendly than cars and trucks. But that doesnt absolve policymakers from the need to consider safe ways to integrate this increasingly popular transportation mode into public thoroughfares.Companies such as Bird and Lime, both California-based, would love to enter into the New York City major market. The same goes for Buffalo, where some riders have been spotted downtown.The governor has said that he remains open to allowing the companies to operate in the state but among the regulatory items he wants to see is a lower speed limit, restrictions on where the e-bikes and e-scooters could be used, a prohibition against operating while impaired by drugs or alcohol and mandatory front and rear lights. Its not too much to ask.He cited a recent study published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology reporting that head injuries have tripled in the past 10 years in relation to the use of e-bikes and e-scooters. An alarming two-thirds of the victims were not wearing helmets. Consider the tourist who decides to download the app and hop on the e-bike or e-scooter. He is likely not carrying around a helmet.The governor cited the tragic accident in which a 16-year-old boy was killed by a tow truck in November while riding an electric scooter in Elizabeth, N.J.The vetoed legislation would have allowed electric scooters on city streets, required the devices to top out at a maximum speed of 25 mph and banned their use on sidewalks. It also would have allowed for municipalities to determine how to regulate the devices. However, Cuomo is right to push for greater safety. A law should be passed authorizing the use of these devices, but lawmakers first need to offer more specifics on how they plan to keep New Yorkers safe. For Europe's rebel leader, when your enemies are ganging up it's time to make a powerful new friend. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has consistently thumbed his nose at the European Union, which has criticized him for cronyism and undermining the rule of law in his country. But through an unlikely alliance with French President Emmanuel Macron, it might be Orban helping force the EU to change its ways. When it comes to how to approach Vladimir Putin's Russia and Donald Trump's U.S., the common ground is growing. The relationship could prove pivotal in 2020 as Britain leaves the bloc and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has served as a bridge between east and west, takes more of a backseat. Indeed, shifting alliances threaten to make a renewed effort to bring Orban to heel all but redundant. He faces potential expulsion from the European People's Party, the largest group in the European Parliament, after former European Council chief Donald Tusk took over its leadership and vowed to purge it of populists. The EPP may vote next month on whether to boot out Orban's Fidesz party but it may no longer mean a costly isolation. "Orban and Macron come from very different places but both seek to disrupt the status quo," said Daniel Hegedus, a fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. "There's now talk of an Orban-Macron axis in Europe." Orban, the anti-immigration proponent of "illiberal democracy," and Macron, who is bidding to become the continent's main power broker, are the standard-bearers for two very different visions for Europe. Yet the camaraderie on display in October when Orban was received by an honor guard at the Elysee Palace in Paris was unmistakable. An hour was scheduled for the meeting and it ended up lasting more than two. That was a sharp contrast to Macron's early days in office. During his presidential campaign in 2017, he called out populists like Orban for using the EU as a "supermarket," taking its funding but leaving democratic commitments on the shelf. Macron also made a point of skipping Budapest on his first tour of eastern Europe and he replaced his ambassador to Hungary after the latter called Orban's policies a "model" for Europe. Orban, 56, dismissed Macron, 42, as the "new kid" on the bloc who didn't understand the region. When Orban paid a visit to the Italian nationalist Matteo Salvini in August the following year, Macron said "if they want to see me as their main opponent, they're right." A few weeks later he called a European Parliament vote censuring Orban as a first step in the fight against "illiberals" in the region. Last year, though, saw a convergence of interests as Macron sought to broaden his alliances across the continent. In the European Parliament during the summer, they linked up in backroom deals in Brussels to retain the supremacy of national leaders to elect the head of the next EU executive, rejecting the EPP choice for president of the European Commission. Orban's aides see common ground on some of the biggest issues facing Europe, including how to manage relations with Russia and the U.S. The Hungarian leader has long argued for a detente with Putin over the EU's objections. For Macron, the new entente between the two men says something about his change in tactics in Europe. He's stopped with this "us against them" approach to confront what Merkel and Tusk have called the forces of darkness. The French president is dispatching his foreign minister to several eastern European countries early this year. His calls to toughen environmental policies and to force countries within the border-free Schengen zone to take on more migrants or risk expulsion will likely face pushback from in the region. "They may have different points of view in detail, but both feel that the EU needs to agree on a common approach on how we deal with China, Russia or the U.S.," Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga said in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt last month. The two men have both shown they have a keen eye for political opportunity. Both have disrupted the status quo at home and want to wield more influence abroad. When Orban first came to power in 1998, he was the young, fresh-faced leader who represented the new Europe that emerged after the end of the Cold War less than a decade earlier. When Macron formed a new party to snatch the French presidency, he won similar accolades as the man to help steer European politics away from the nationalism that threatened to undermine the EU. The question is how another adept political operator fits into the equation. Tusk, the former Polish prime minister and European Council president, is marshaling the EPP to fight for the political center ground. He called on members in a fiery speech in Zagreb in November to disavow populism, which was widely interpreted as an ultimatum aimed at Orban. Orban's Fidesz party was already suspended in March for its opposition to liberal democracy and courting of far-right leaders. Macron, whose En Marche also isn't a member of the EPP, criticized the group at the time for being too soft on Orban. The EPP has asked a trio of "wise men" to assess Fidesz and the panel submitted its report to Tusk, Hungarian newspaper Nepszava reported on Friday. Orban has said he would quit the EPP before a formal ouster could take place. "The issue of Orban and the EPP is nested inside a much bigger battle for power and influence in the EU," said Richard Youngs, a Madrid-based analyst at Carnegie Europe, "with Macron shaking things up." Lal Bahadur Shastri, who gave the slogan of aJai Kisan, Jai Jawan,a was the second prime minister of independent India. (Photo Credit: File) New Delhi: Nation on Saturday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 54th death anniversary. Shastri, who gave the slogan of Jai Kisan, Jai Jawan, was the second prime minister of independent India. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu paid tribute to former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri. I join the nation in paying my humble tributes to former Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji on his death anniversary today. He served the country with distinction and was known for his simplicity, honesty & humility (sic), Naidu tweeted. Today, on his 53rd death anniversary, we bring to you some interesting facts about Lal Bahadur Shastri: Shastri was not the real surname of Indias second prime minister. He got the title of Shastri after the completion of his graduation from Kashi Vidya Peeth in Varanasi in 1925. Lal Bahadur Shastri, who served as the Prime Minister during the Indo-Pak war in 1965, stopped drawing his salary after India faced food scarcity. Lal Bahadur Shastri went to jail for taking part in Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement. (Image Credi: IANS) Shastri introduced the provision of female drivers and conductors in public transportation when he was the Transport Minister. He accepted a Khadi cloth and spinning wheel as dowry at his wedding. Shastri introduced the rule of spraying jet water to disperse the crowd instead of lathi charge, during his tenure as the Minister of Police. Shastri took part in the Salt March, for which he was jailed for a period of two years. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. As part of a continued effort to reduce its contribution to global warming and the harmful effects it has on climate, the city of Helena recently hired a sustainability coordinator. Patrick Judge recently took over the part-time role in addition to his work as an adjunct professor at Carroll College, teaching a course titled "energy and the environment." "The two jobs certainly complement each other," he said. "It's great to teach the theory in the classroom and try to apply it in the real world." Judge said the city has made great strides over the last decade or more in reducing its carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. City leadership commissioned the formation of a "Climate Change Task Force" that in 2009 produced an action plan. The task force looked at data from the past 10 years and determined the city had reduced greenhouse gasses and energy usage by 20% over that time. The plan listed 38 recommendations for the city to further its sustainability plans, the first of which was to hire a sustainability coordinator. Enter Judge. "I'm excited to build on what's already been done," he said. "We want to lead by example." Judge said his plan for the immediate future includes fully populating the city's citizen conservation board, a 14-person board made up of engineers, conservationists, educators and at-large citizens tasked with "supporting, recommending, reporting on and monitoring sustainability measures" undertaken by city government. The board was revived in 2017 through a pair of climate-action-related resolutions passed by the city commission. There are currently three vacancies on the board: an earth science field educator, a business or building industry representative and a citizen at large. Another recommendation made in 2009 was for the city to double down on its efforts and reduce emissions and energy usage by another 20% by this year, which Judge said the city was close to achieving. City Manager Ana Cortez said the new hire positions the city well to become a leader in sustainability, but that it takes more than just one city to affect lasting change. "Regions make a difference. States make a difference. We're not alone in this," Cortez said, referencing Missoula and Bozeman's similar efforts. "This is an opportunity for the city to catch up. Missoula and Bozeman have been at this a long time." Missoula County hired Diana Maneta as its sustainability coordinator more than two years ago. Maneta said her office has done much to rope community stakeholders, business leaders and NorthWestern Energy into a larger discussion about how to solve the pressing issues facing the region, such as drier summers, reduced water supplies and increases in wildfires. "We're really pleased that both Helena and Bozeman joined the discussions," she said. "There's so many things we can collaborate on." Missoula County has since jointly committed with the city of Missoula to providing 100% clean energy to the entire urban area by 2030, something Helena officials are considering as well. Part of Missoula's plan to achieve that lofty goal includes working closely with NorthWestern Energy to determine joint clean energy projects. "I think we're making good progress in our discussion with NorthWestern Energy," she said. "I take what they're telling us in good faith, that they want to work with us." The state's largest utility has long claimed 60% of the power it delivers is already derived from green energy sources. Maneta added that with so many communities in the region staring down the barrel of climate change, there are more reasons than ever to come together collaboratively. Judge echoed Maneta's sentiments and said he is looking forward to bringing myriad local nonprofits, environmental organizations and community partners together to further the city's efforts. While Helena has done much in the way of sustainability, Judge said there is always more that can be done as technology advances and becomes more cost effective to implement. "It looks like the city has continued meeting those goals," he said. "There is a lot of good news, but there is also a lot of room for improvement." Cortez confirmed the new position is only part time, the salary of which is coming from the general fund, but that there is interest among city leadership in making it a full-time job. "There's more stuff out there we would love to hear about," Cortez said. "What more can be done? There's always a new box to check." Love 17 Funny 13 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 26 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Not one to shy away from a little self-congratulation, Donald Trump has suggested he was overlooked for last year's Nobel Peace Prize which went to the leader of Ethiopia for ending a war. The US President, speaking at a campaign rally, did not mention the East African country by name, but said: 'I made a deal, I saved a country, and I just heard that the head of that country is now getting the Nobel Peace Prize for saving the country... as long as we know... I saved a big war, I've saved a couple of them.' Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accepted the prize in December for making peace with longtime rival Eritrea and other reforms. Donald Trump has suggested he was overlooked for last year's Nobel Peace Prize which went to the leader of Ethiopia for ending a war. He is pictured at a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio this week Mr Trump almost never comments on Africa, and some critics have said his administration has neglected African issues. Many Ethiopians were puzzled by Mr Trump's remarks. Some said his talk of a deal must have referred to the new peace with Eritrea. But one senior Ethiopian official said the remarks referred to preventing further tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt over a massive dam that Ethiopia is completing on the Nile river. Egypt says the dam threatens its water supply but Ethiopia says it is needed for development. Ministers from the countries, plus Sudan, are expected to meet in Washington on Monday to report on the failure of their latest round of talks. 'He was talking about Egypt and Ethiopia,' the official with Ethiopia's foreign ministry said. The official asserted that Egypt's president lobbied Mr Trump over the disputed dam project, leading to the US taking a role in the discussions. 'President Trump really believes he avoided a war as such ... but that was not the case,' the official said. PM Modi to inaugurate 11 new medical colleges in Tamil Nadu on Jan 12 Why is #GoBackModiFromBengal trending on twitter India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Kolkata, and people from West Bengal on Twitter are asking him to go back. #GoBackModiFromBengal has started trending on Twitter amid the widespread protests against the Centre over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, National Register of Citizens (NRC), National Population Register (NPR) and also the assault on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students. #GoBackModi, the hashtag that caught the attention of the social media world in April 2018 has become a 'regular' occurrence to see these days. Twitter abuzz with the hashtag #GoBackModi in English, Tamil whenever the Prime Minister is in Chennai. Your goons have hurt our daughter. Every drop of blood she bled was ours. #GobackModi. You have no place in our land. #GoBackModiFromBengal pic.twitter.com/7lVfoPsEZZ Aparna (@chhuti_is) January 11, 2020 Other than a few sons of cows and EVMs, none loved our Modiji. #GoBackModi #GoBackModiFromBengal pic.twitter.com/hEIqxkM9PC Arjun Ramakrishnan (@aju000) January 11, 2020 Year 1928: People were angry and out on road with banners and shouting Slogan "SIMON GO BACK" Year 2020: People are angry and out on Road with Banners and Shouting Slogan "MODI GO BACK" 90 years down the line India Still fighting the Tyranny#GoBackModiFromBengal Nr_w (@Nehr_who) January 11, 2020 Bengal has no place for divisive politics, communal hatred or fascism. People of Bengal have always rejected politics of hate and polarisation. #GoBackModi #BengalRejectsModi #GoBackModiFromBengal pic.twitter.com/lCkdUM5mJ5 West Bengal Congress (@INCWestBengal) January 11, 2020 You can never understand the holiness and philosophy of Sri Sri RamaKrishna Paramhansa Dev#GoBackModiFromBengal pic.twitter.com/fpG6aAtXlP Sourav Roy (@roydbornfree) January 11, 2020 Her departure, she said, stemmed from creative differences with the filmmakers. In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, she said, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision. Apple declined to comment. Ms. Winfreys decision to leave the project came a month after Mr. Simmons questioned her involvement in the film in an open letter to her, posted on Instagram, that started with the words Dearest Oprah. The post appeared on Dec. 13 next to a photograph of Ms. Winfrey interviewing Mr. Simmons about his 2014 book Success Through Stillness" on the OWN program Super Soul Sunday. In the post, he said he found it troubling that you choose me to single out in your recent documentary. After conceding that he had already admitted to being a playboy, Mr. Simmons, who has faced at least a dozen accusations of sexual misconduct, said that he had never been violent or forced myself on anyone. The day before Mr. Simmonss Instagram post, the rapper 50 Cent used his own Instagram account to post a 2014 image of Ms. Winfrey and Mr. Simmons posing happily together with the comment, I dont understand why Oprah is going after black men. Ms. Winfreys departure is a blow to Mr. Dick and Ms. Ziering. The filmmakers had chronicled stories of sexual harassment and abuse even before the #MeToo movement came to prominence. For the new documentary, which also addresses black womens relationship with the #MeToo movement, they spent two years tracking down Ms. Dixon and other women with accusations against Mr. Simmons. We all live in Maharashtra and every child should read and write Marathi properly: Pawar (Photo Credit: PTI) Pune: Pune Lamenting that many students cannot read and write Marathi, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Friday that the government was thinking of making Marathi compulsory in all schools till class 10. He was speaking at a felicitation program at Baramati, his Assembly constituency. The number of children studying in English-medium schools is increasing and they speak very good English. But they are not able to read and write Marathi properly, Ajit Pawar said. Very soon we are going to take up one issue, and that is to make Marathi a compulsory subject in schools, be it Urdu-medium, Hindi-medium or English-medium, from class 1 to Class 10, Pawar said. Mother-Tongue Should Be Conserved We all live in Maharashtra and every child should read and write Marathi properly, he said. Some students may feel that their marks in class 10 and 12 will suffer if they are forced to study an additional subject, he said. But I would like to tell them, do not think of only percentage. Our mother-tongue should be conserved, the deputy chief minister added. He also said that the condition of police quarters in the state was very bad, and the government will take steps to improve the situation. The government will provide houses of 500 square feet to police personnel, he said. Pawar also appealed party workers not to come to Mumbai to meet him unless there was important work. I have still not received official residence. At the place where I am staying, we have to accommodate people in the dining room, in bedroom. My wife Sunetra told me that I will not live here till a bigger house is allotted, he said in a lighter vein. The state is in a difficult financial situation, we are witnessing a decline in the growth rate. Gold prices are going up, fuel prices are going up because of the Iran-US stand-off and rupee is depreciating. At the same time we have to help farmers and make them eligible for a new crop loan for the Kharif season, he said. Earlier, the NCP leader was accorded a grand welcome in the town as he was visiting Baramati for the first time after becoming deputy CM. ISTANBUL - In Iran's account, the missile operator had 10 seconds to decide whether the plane was a threat. The decision was made. And a surface-to-air missile streaked toward the passenger jet. Iran's admission Saturday that "human error" brought down Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 added fresh details to what Western officials had concluded - a missile was to blame for Wednesday's disaster that left all 176 people aboard the Kyiv-bound flight dead. What comes next is how Iran will respond to demands to allow a full and open investigation and for authorities in Tehran to bring the perpetrators to justice. Pressure was not just from Ukraine and other nations whose citizens were aboard the Boeing 737-800. Protests flared on the streets of Tehran, where apparent student-led rallies decried the missile mistake and chanted rare denunciations against military chiefs: "Resign, resign, resign." Iranian officials said military personnel targeted the plane as it turned toward a "sensitive military site" shortly after departing Tehran's international airport before dawn. The statement was a stunning about-face for Iran after days of rejecting Western assertions that a surface-to-air missile brought down the plane. Now, leaders in Tehran face new challenges. Ukraine has led demands for compensation and accountability, which could force Iran to appease the international community with a rare public reckoning over a military action. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged the nation's military to conduct a thorough inquiry. At home, the tragedy quickly brought protests back onto the streets in another show of anger. In November, protests erupted around the country after an increase in gasoline prices, leading to deadly clashes with security forces. Many Iranians on the plane were students in Iran or studying abroad in Canada. Campuses in Iran became a gathering place for grief and rage. At a vigil Saturday at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, crowds chanted "down, down, Khamenei." At Amirkabir University of Technology, a crowd yelled slogans against Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps - a dramatic contrast to the widespread mourning after a U.S. drone strike in Iraq killed the leader of the Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Iran struck back for Soleimani's death with ballistic missiles against an Iraqi base with U.S. personnel four hours before the Ukrainian plane burst into a fireball. President Donald Trump, in a tweet also posted in Farsi, addressed the "brave, long-suffering people of Iran." "We are following your protests, and are inspired by your courage," he wrote. In Tehran, Britain's ambassador to Iran, Robert Macaire, was detained by Iranian security forces after attending what was planned as a "vigil" for those who died in the crash. Macaire left when protests broke out, according to an official familiar with the incident who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive diplomatic matter. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that Macaire was held for more than an hour before being released. Britain's foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, denounced it as a "flagrant violation of international law." "The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment," Raab said. "It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards." The General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces apologized for what it said was "human error that caused the crash" of the Boeing 737-800. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, offered "profound regrets, apologies and condolences." But he also appeared to link the missile launch and the hyper-tense atmosphere in the region. "Human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster," he tweeted, adding a red broken-heart emoji. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Revolutionary Guard's aerospace division, said the unit accepted responsibility for the shoot-down, describing a communication breakdown and a missile operator who had 10 seconds to decide whether the passenger jet was a threat. "I wish I was dead," Hajizadeh said on state TV about his first reaction when told about the missile mistake. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expected Iran "to bring those responsible to justice." "This morning was not good, but it brought the truth," Zelensky wrote on Facebook. Later, he said that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani agreed on "full legal and technical cooperation, including compensation." "We agreed," Zelensky said in a videotaped message, "that no one would slip away" from the investigation into the missile firing. In a separate statement, Rouhani called the missile launch an "unforgivable mistake," and he said officials must "address the weaknesses of the nation's defense systems to make sure such a disaster is never repeated." For Iran, the incident brought the flip side to a similar tragedy. In 1988, the U.S. guided-missile cruiser USS Vincennes fired a surface-to-air missile that mistakenly brought down an Iran Air passenger jet over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard. In a televised news conference, Hajizadeh said defense systems were "on their highest level of alert" that morning following Trump's threats to strike 52 sites across Iran - and that additional defense batteries had been stationed around Tehran. He said authorities interviewed the individual operator of the antiaircraft system that brought down the plane. "His communication system was disrupted," Hajizadeh said. "He had 10 seconds to decide whether to shoot or not." Hajizadeh said Saturday that the Civil Aviation Authority should not be blamed: "All of the responsibility is with us." 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 flight was mostly Iranians, Canadians and Ukrainians, and 138 of the passengers were headed to Toronto. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement that the downing was "a national tragedy." Trudeau - after a call with Rouhani - said there still needs to be a "full and complete investigation" and possible compensation for the families of the victims needs "to be part of the mix." Iran's admission, however, is an "important step," Trudeau told reporters. On Facebook on Saturday, the director of Ukraine International Airlines, Evgeny Dykhne, said, "We didn't doubt for one second that our crew and our plane could not cause this terrible plane crash." Zelensky's office put out photos Saturday of shrapnel damage on the plane, an indication the Ukrainians had evidence that might have pushed Iran into its public admission. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said Ukrainian investigators quickly determined a missile strike brought down the plane. "We came to this conclusion before the Americans and Canadians," Danilov told The Washington Post. "Because we were working there - there are no Americans and Canadians there. There are our experts who confirmed our fears that it happened in this particular way." "Look," he added, "we have people working in Iran. You want us to say this so that they kicked our people out, that we weren't able to work there?" Still, Ukrainian authorities could face questions over allowing the airliner to take off despite the threat from Iranian missiles. More than two hours before the flight took off, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice prohibiting U.S. carriers and commercial operators from flying in the airspace over Baghdad, the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Ukraine's aviation authorities did not issue a similar notice for its carriers at the time - nor did Iran's Civil Aviation Organization close the airspace over the country. At least three other aircraft were in flight near Tehran at the time of the downing, according to civil aviation monitors. Ukrainian authorities came under criticism in 2014 for their failure to close the airspace over the conflict zones of Donetsk and Luhansk after the July 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. That passenger airliner was downed by a missile shot from a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile system from rebel territory in eastern Ukraine. The attack on the Boeing 777, which was passing over the conflict region while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killed all 298 people aboard. A joint investigative team from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine identified a Russian military unit in charge of the antiaircraft missile system and has pursued prosecution of Russian and Ukrainian citizens allegedly involved. But Russia has continued to deny involvement in the incident. - - - Khurshudyan reported from Moscow. The Washington Post's David L. Stern in Kyiv and Paul Sonne and Carol Morello in Washington contributed to this report. Amit Shah to visit Ram Lalla, Hanumangarhi temple today, to address 3 public rallies in UP Targeting Akhilesh, Shah asks why Lord Ram had to live in a tent BJP has power to make people understand: Amit Shah on Citizenship Law India oi-PTI Gandhinagar, Jan 11: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that the "falsehood" spread by the Opposition on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) has created anarchy in the country. He said the new law is meant to give citizenship to people and not to take it away. Shah asked the BJP workers to launch a door-to-door campaign to make people understand the provisions of the new legislation. "The opposition does not have any other issue, so they are spreading misinformation and falsehood on CAA. This resulted in anarchy in the entire country," Amit Shah said while addressing a function to inaurgurate various projects of Gujarat police in Gandhinagar. General Naravane: Army ready to bring PoK into India if Parliament orders| OneIndia news 'Main Amit Shah bol raha hun: IAF officer arrested for impersonating home minister The act is meant to give citizenship to persecuted minorities from three neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and not to it away from anybody, he said. "We have the power to make people understand the truth. I urge BJP workers to go to each home and make people understand the benefits of the Act. After our campaign is over, people of the country will understand the importance of the CAA," he said. He also said that maximum use of technology can help curb crimes. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 11, 2020, 15:24 [IST] The UK government's bill for Britains exit from the European Union (EU) on January 31 finally cleared the House of Commons on Thursday as MPs voted for it 330 votes to 231. The EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill, or the Brexit Bill, passed its third reading in the Commons with a majority of 99 for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had won a landslide election last month with a promise to leave the 28-member economic bloc by the latest end-January deadline. It marks a historic moment for the bill which has been repeatedly defeated in Parliament in its various forms in the past, creating parliamentary gridlock over Brexit. The bill will now go to the House of Lords on Monday for voting before royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II to become law. It is my sincere hope that their lordships will now give due regard to the clear majorities we have seen during the committee stage and establish their endorsement of this bill in a similar, timely, fashion, said UK Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay after the Commons vote. This bill will secure our departure from the European union with a deal that gives certainty to businesses, protects the rights of our citizens and ensures that we regain control of our money, our borders, our laws and our trade policy, he said. Meanwhile, Johnson kick-started the process for achieving a new trade agreement with the EU when he met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Downing Street on Wednesday evening. He wants to strike a Canada-style free trade agreement (FTA) with the bloc post Brexit. However, Von der Leyen, who took over from Jean Claude Juncker last year, has warned that it would not be possible to sort out every aspect of Britain's future relationship with the EU before the December 31, 2020 transition period deadline. In a statement released after the first face-to-face meeting between Johnson and the new EU President, 10 Downing Street said the discussions had been "positive". "The PM (Johnson) was clear that the UK would not extend the Implementation Period beyond December 31, 2020, and that any future partnership must not involve any kind of alignment or ECJ (European Court of Justice) jurisdiction, the statement noted. "The PM said the UK was ready to start negotiations on the future partnership and Canada-style FTA as soon as possible after January 31," it added. (Image Credit: PTI) It may not be a bad idea to suggest the United States example regarding citizenship. Who knows, the American-formula may have some appeal. The paternal grandparents of President Donald Trump were German immigrants. His mother was born in Scotland. Just as notion of recognising people by their dress has been propagated, it wouldnt be surprising if language is picked up next. Where would those in largely western attire and more comfortable with English than local languages be deported to? And what proof would be provided to other nations of these being their citizens? Notwithstanding this limitation, as a part of the annual New Year resolutions exercise, I am deliberating on where to procure a birth certificate for officials when and if they do ever turn up demanding them. Parents are no longer around. All this scribe and her sibling are aware of is the hospital, where we began our life. Am 200 per cent certain that hospitals name bears little appeal for present party in power at the Centre and in the state where it is located. It is Kamala Nehru in Allahabad, the city now known as Prayagraj. And this spells another dilemma. Even if we had birth certificates, the officers are least likely to view them as genuine. The name of city, in present circumstances, may be viewed as false. Ok, assuming they have no problems with citys name, how do we convince them about date and place of our birth? Which person can verify his/her own birth and also be sure that it is true? We dont have birth certificates. Whatever the date entered by parents at time of admission to school has to date been considered as proof of our date of birth. A possible option is for governments to ask hospitals across the country to provide them with a record of persons born before 1971. The credible point, perhaps hopefully, would be correct entry of parents names. This scribe would not have too much problem with this formula for in all probability less than 10 babies born in Kamala Nehru Hospital and/or other hospitals in Prayagraj have this family name. However, those with other surnames may not be so lucky. But let this be governments headache to ensure whether persons born here before 1971 are Indian citizens or not. With respect to another key issue that of parents place of birth, what do we do in case of their not being alive? Lively discussions with parents never ever focussed on their birth certificates. All we have been aware is that of hailing from Uttar Pradesh. It would be all more troublesome for people of our parents generation to produce proof of their parents birth. The older a person is, more problematic would be the exercise of providing proof of his/her parents birth-certificates. Nobody would have been around if their parents werent there. If only this simple explanation worked. It wouldnt be a bad idea to try and confuse officials asking for our parents birth certificates by politely questioning on how we can provide the same, when we werent around to get theirs made. Am not aware about how popular surrogacy, etc. was in earlier days. It may have been known by some other traditional term. To date, have not heard of DNA tests being earlier conducted, precisely prior to 1971, to verify parentage. This is just being mentioned lest some new law is introduced about DNA tests being made compulsory. Well, at present, digging out nonexistent birth certificates seems as impossible as conducting DNA tests of those who are not around. It may not be a bad idea to suggest the United States example regarding citizenship. Who knows, the American-formula may have some appeal. The paternal grandparents of President Donald Trump were German immigrants. His mother was born in Scotland. Former President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and his father in Kenya. In fact, a significant number of Americans trace their origins to the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. The recent decades have witnessed increase in Chinese and people from other Asian countries, including India and Pakistan taking American citizenship. Just think, who would be left behind in the USA if birth certificates of parents and grandparents were given importance there? Yes, the question is not of others opting for Indian citizenship but of India granting citizenship to some minority citizens being oppressed in a few neighbouring countries. Perhaps, the government needs to be a little more specific. Through what process the question of which citizens belonging to certain minorities being oppressed in a few countries is going to be proved? It may assume the nature of a sensitive diplomatic issue. The preceding point draws attention to yet another aspect. If something is happening beyond Indian borders, in external territories, should it be considered as an internal issue a concern of the home ministry or the external affairs ministry? If it concerns illegal immigrants, the defence ministry remains answerable for security lapses allowing their entry. Maybe, the ministers and the officials of the three ministries should deliberate seriously on this. It may not be a bad idea to form another ministry, exclusively devoted to this issue, that of oppression of minorities in a few countries. The new ministry would need to draw lines regarding what is considered as oppression and what is not. Besides, the central government needs to be extremely cautious about the diplomatic missiles it may face regarding oppression of minorities within its own quarters. It may not be a bad idea for the government to ink its New Year resolutions in this direction, unless, of course, it is opposed to these as being non-Indian. Our new decade, only 10 days old, has already shown signs of distinctiveness. Most obvious, perhaps, is that it has offered two seasons in one, with signs of early spring in deep winter. Sanders and Warren had the best news. Photo: Getty The much-anticipated latest edition of Ann Selzers gold-standard Iowa Poll (for the Des Moines Register, CNN, and Mediacom) of the recently under-surveyed First-in-the-Nation Caucus State showed the four leading national candidates tightly bunched and in a position to do well. In first choices among likely caucusgoers, Bernie Sanders leads with 20 percent, followed by Elizabeth Warren with 17 percent, Pete Buttigieg with 16 percent, and Joe Biden with 15 percent. Compared to the last Iowa Poll in November, Sanders has gained 5 percent and Warren one percent; Biden is exactly where he was; and Mayor Pete the November leader has lost nine points. When you add in second preferences (important in Iowa because caucus supporters of candidates who fall short of a 15 percent viability threshold in any one location are then reallocated in a second vote), Warren has 33 percent, Sanders 32 percent, Buttigieg 31 percent, and Biden 27 percent. The close nature of the contest confirms what CBS/YouGov indicated in the only other Iowa survey since mid-December, which had Biden, Buttigieg, and Sanders in a literal tie, with Warren seven points back. The results are obviously good news for Bernie Sanders, who has been getting a lot of it lately, and arguably even better news for Elizabeth Warren, who hasnt. Its the first state or national poll in a while where shes actually made gains from autumn polling. And aside from confirming the strength of her well-regarded Iowa organization, it indicates she doesnt seem to have aroused the kind of doubts about her policies and her electability that are bedeviling her elsewhere. Her favorability/unfavorability ratio is best in the field (70/24). Its also good new for these two senators that they are in good shape in Iowa shortly before an impeachment trial may take them off the campaign trail for weeks (except on late evenings and Sundays). For Mayor Pete, his showing was hardly a disaster, but its the second day in a row when new early state polls showed him with sizable losses (Fox News polls in Nevada and South Carolina placed him at 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively). And while Biden stood pat in the Iowa Poll, the findings contradict the impression that hes been slowly building strength everywhere. The candidate who has to be most disappointed in this poll is Amy Klobuchar, who is at the same 6 percent (with a slightly higher 8 percent in second-choice support) she was in November, despite her well-regarded performance in the December candidates debate. Today a New York Times assessment of the race made a claim that shed better hope is widely shared in the political media: Political officials widely believe that there are five tickets out of Iowa this year, instead of the typical three. A fifth-place showing isnt a lock for Klobuchar; Andrew Yang got 5 percent in the Iowa Poll, which gave him a second qualifying poll for the January 14 debate in Des Moines. Unfortunately, thats two short of what he needs, and midnight tonight is the qualifying deadline. Cory Booker, whose 3 percent is precisely where (or even above) he has been in Iowa Polls dating back to March, has never been able to capitalize on his initially strong organization in the state. And the heavy early state TV investments of yesterdays big poll winner, Tom Steyer (who made the Des Moines stage with double-digit showing in those two Fox News polls of Nevada and South Carolina) hasnt seen to impress Iowans; hes at 2 percent in the Selzer poll, down a point from November. A lot of observers are placing emphasis on this finding from Selzer: Also note: per new CNN/DMR poll, only **40%** of Iowa caucus-goers say they've made up their mind. By contrast, per CNN, 59% had made up their minds by this point in 2016. pic.twitter.com/T5r97XzWbe Ariel Edwards-Levy (@aedwardslevy) January 10, 2020 I would ingest that with a grain of salt. Iowans take their first-in-the-nation responsibilities seriously, and may not admit theyre certain if theres any doubt. In addition, 2016s binary choice between Clinton and Sanders was not remotely as much of a head-scratcher as this still-large field. Still, there is indeed some history of late precaucus turbulence in Iowa, as Steve Kornacki points out: With three weeks to go until Iowa, the new Des Moines Register poll shows the four top candidates within five points of each other. Three past IA Dem races looked similarly jumbled with multiple candidates in the Register poll -- here's how they shook out: pic.twitter.com/akFBFmHXED Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) January 10, 2020 So a lot of movement remains possible in a place where retail politicking matters a great deal, while caucus-night organization matters most. North Korea has received birthday greetings to its leader Kim Jong Un from U.S. President Donald Trump, but their personal relationship is not enough for a return to talks, according to a statement published on Saturday by state news agency KCNA. While Kim could personally like Trump, he would not lead his country on the basis of personal feelings, Kim Kye Gwan, an adviser to the North Korean foreign ministry, said in the statement. "Although Chairman Kim Jong Un has a good personal feelings about President Trump, they are, in the true sense of the word, 'personal'," he said. "We have been deceived by the United States, being caught in the dialogue with it for over one year and a half, and that was the lost time for us." North Korea will not discuss proposals such as those Trump made at his last summit with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February 2019, the adviser said. North Korea will not give up its nuclear facilities for partial sanctions relief, and will only return to talks when the United States makes concessions, he added. "The reopening of dialogue between the DPRK and the U.S. may be possible only under the condition of the latter's absolute agreement on the issues raised by the former, but we know well that the U.S. is neither ready nor able to do so," he said. The abbreviation DPRK refers to the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The adviser also warned South Korea to steer clear of relations between the North and the United States. South Korea should not intervene in the two nations' ties as if seeking "to play a mediator role," he said. On Friday, a South Korean official said Trump had asked the South Koreans to pass a message of birthday wishes to North Korea. "It is somehow presumptuous for South Korea to meddle in the personal relations between Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un and President Trump," said the North Korean advisor. The North had already directly received from Trump a letter with the greetings, he added. "But they seem not to know that there is a special liaison channel between the top leaders of the DPRK and the United States," the adviser said. By Saritha Rai and Lulu Yilun Chen Oyo Hotels is firing thousands of staff across China and India, people familiar with the matter said, adding to growing signs of trouble at one of the largest startups in SoftBank Group Corp.s portfolio. The company has let go of 5% of its 12,000 employees in China partly due to non-performance while dismissing 12% of its 10,000 staff in India, one of the people said. It plans to shed another 1,200 in India over the next three to four months, the person added. Oyo is undergoing a restructuring, trimming redundancy in China and India, leading to thousands of dismissals, according to the people, who requested not to be named because they arent authorized to talk to media. We continue to be one of the best places to work for and one of the key reasons for this has been our ability to consistently evaluate, reward and recognize the performance of individuals in a meritocratic manner, and enable them to improve their performance, Oyo said in a statement. Oyos downsizing is another setback for Masayoshi Sons SoftBank, whose portfolio has been buffeted by recent trouble at WeWork and slumping share prices at Slack Technologies Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc. The billionaire has called for greater financial discipline among the founders in his portfolio, spurring job cuts at smaller outfits such as Zume Pizza Inc. Other SoftBank investees, including Getaround, Wag Labs Inc., Fair and Brandless Inc., have had to cut staff or changed business models once it became apparent revenue and profits were not living up to their once-grand ambitions. Adding to Oyos challenges, hotel owners in China have been protesting in front of the companys offices, accusing the startup of violating contractual agreements. The growing turmoil may complicate SoftBanks efforts to raise a successor to the Vision Fund, the worlds largest pool of startup investments. Oyo will enhance communications with hotel owners and develop owner loyalty this year, the company said in the statement. We will launch the VIP owner program, and contact owners regularly, to ensure that the interests and needs of theirs and ours are equally taken into account. Son has been a keen supporter of Oyo founder Ritesh Agarwal, helping fund the hotel companys fast international expansion. Oyo had been growing at a rapid clip, but its reputation has suffered due to customer complaints about bad experiences along with grievances about poor or unfair treatment from several of the more than 20,000 hotel owners in its chain. Oyo is one of SoftBanks current crown jewels, said Michael Norris, research and strategy manager at Shanghai-based consultancy AgencyChina. Issues in China, Oyos largest market, continues the Vision Funds woes. It would make raising a similar-sized second Vision Fund a challenge, he added. SoftBanks Vision Fund has so far invested about $1.5 billion in Oyo, pushing its valuation to $10 billion. The company also counts Airbnb Inc., Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners as backers. It promoted its real estate business chief, Rohit Kapoor, to CEO for India and South Asia in December to shake up the business. In its aggressive effort to acquire market share, Oyo offered hotel stays for as cheap as $4 a night, according to one person familiar with its practices. The company also stocked up on rented room inventory by signing exclusive deals and guaranteeing income to hotel owners. Its now allegedly reneging on those guarantees, the cause of the protests outside its Chinese offices, one person said. Pyongyang, Jan 11 : A top North Korean official said on Saturday that nuclear talks with the US can resume only when it fully accepts Pyongyang's demands. Kim Kye-gwan, the Foreign Ministry Adviser, also stressed that the North would never engage in a negotiation to exchange its core nuclear facility for partial sanctions relief as it did in the no-deal Hanoi summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in February 2019, reports Yonhap News Agency. "It can be said that the reopening of dialogue between North Korea and the US may be possible only under the condition of the latter's absolute agreement on the issues raised by the former, but we know well that the US is neither ready nor able to do so," the North's state-run KCNA news quoted the Adviser as saying. "We know well about the way we should go and will go on our way," he added. Kim Kye-gwan added that "there will never be such negotiations as that in Vietnam, in which we proposed exchanging a core nuclear facility of the country for the lift of some UN sanctions in a bid to lessen the sufferings of the peaceable people even a bit". Calling the relations between the leaders of the US and the North "not bad", the former negotiator said that the North received Trump's personal letter congratulating the North Korean chairman on his recent birthday. But he said it would be "absent-minded" to anticipate the North's return to dialogue because of the leaders' friendly relations. The US and the North last held their working-level nuclear talks in Sweden in October 2019, reports Yonhap News Agency. But the negotiation ended fruitlessly with Pyongyang accusing Washington of having come to the table empty-handed. Since then, the North has ramped up pressure on the US to show flexibility to break the logjam in the negotiations with provocative saber-rattling and rhetoric. The US has continued to signal that the door for dialogue remains open. John Ghazvinian, an Iranian-American journalist and historian, is Interim Director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He was stopped by U.S. authorities at JFK airport last week, as the Trump administration stopped and questioned many people of Iranian descent as they entered the country, even U.S. citizens like him. Read more Shortly after John Ghazvinians flight from Cairo landed at JFK International Airport in New York last week, federal customs agents pulled him aside for additional questioning. A plainclothes officer asked if he had family in Iran, which he does. Then she asked: What did Ghazvinian think about the conflict between Iran and the United States? I dont really see the relevance of that, Ghazvinian, an Iranian-born U.S. citizen, said he answered. It feels a little political. The officer dropped the subject and waved him on. Ghazvinian is interim director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and the author of a new book that examines American-Iranian relations since the 1700s. The officer was polite, Ghazvinian said in an interview. But it felt like a weird question for sure in that setting. Its the kind of interaction that has jangled the nerves of Iranians in the Philadelphia area and beyond during days of rising and falling geopolitical tensions, following the Trump administrations drone-strike killing of a top Iranian general. Theyre concerned they could become targets of harassment, and their livelihoods put at risk. And they fear their tax dollars could help fund American military operations that hurt or kill family members in Iran. All I can say is that the community is shaken, said Roya Salehi, chairperson of the immigrant-advocacy group Grannies Respond, founded in 2018 by several New York state grandmothers outraged over the separation of migrant children and parents at the Mexican border. She noted that dozens of Iranian Americans were detained and questioned last week while trying to cross into Washington state from Canada, which certainly reinforced worst predictions of what may come next. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, asked specifically about Ghazvinian being stopped in New York, issued a statement: 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. Leaders of the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which works to advance civil rights and enhance understanding of Islam, have been checking with the Iranian community to see if they need help amid the tension. For some its already too late. Arash Hosseini, who holds a new doctorate in civil engineering after graduating from Temple University last month, said two job offers disappeared after the drone strike. One company told him it had State Department contracts, and worried his Iranian citizenship could become a hindrance. During an interview with a third firm, Hosseini said, he was asked about his political views. It was a bit tragic for me, he said, declining to name the employers. The United States and Iran are like my two hands. One is the country where I was born, and the other is the country that gave me the opportunity to grow. READ MORE: The Virgin Mary in handcuffs: A viral image humanizes the immigration debate For now the conflict seems to have stopped short of war, though analysts warn that tit-for-tat retaliations could resume. The killing of Qasem Soleimani escalated the struggle between Washington and Tehran for influence in the region and frightened Iranians here. Many of us still have family members and loved ones back in Iran, said Sarah Siah, board president of the Iranian Cultural Society of America in Gladwyne. None of us favors another bloody war in the region that may cost the lives of many innocent people. We hope and pray for peace and stability. The Philadelphia region is home to a small number of Iranians, an estimated 4,200 who were born there or have Iranian ancestry. Nationally, the Iranian American population is estimated at 500,000 to one million, about half of whom reside in California. They compose what may be the most highly educated ethnic group in the country. More than 57% of Iranians over age 25 have at least a bachelors degree, almost double the percentage of the U.S. population. Mohammad Shahhosseini and his wife are both studying for graduate degrees at Penn State and rattled by the news of hostilities. I talk to my family two or three times a week, normally, said Shahhosseini, who is working toward a fine arts degree. During the past week, I try to call them each day, every day. He and his wife, who studies architecture, have been comforted by supportive text messages from professors and colleagues. You guys are not alone. We are here, they said, which is so nice, Shahhosseini said. As a group, Iranians are relatively new arrivals to the United States. Thousands fled here in the late 1970s amid the Islamic Revolution that overthrew the shah, a close U.S. ally, and installed clerics led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The defining event of the two nations bitter, 40-year relationship remains the 1979 Iranian seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, and the subsequent 444-day captivity of 52 American hostages. Death to America became Irans rallying cry. The hostage crisis helped make Jimmy Carter a one-term president, and marked the modern start of aggressions. In 1987, the U.S. launched Operation Earnest Will to protect oil supplies moving through the Persian Gulf amid the Iran-Iraq war, sparking exchanges of gunfire in the shipping lanes during the so-called Tanker War. The next year, the Navy warship Vincennes shot down a civilian Iranian passenger plane over the Strait of Hormuz, killing all 290 on board, after mistakenly identifying the airliner as a fighter jet. Iranians were enraged. Many still believe the attack was deliberate. In the 2000s, Irans nuclear program was badly damaged by a cyberattack believed to have been carried out by U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies. Proxy battles between American- and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, which Soleimani had been instrumental in directing, continue today. READ MORE: In Pennsylvania's conservative heartland, a historic cloister examines the immigrant experience Trump administration officials say they killed Soleimani to prevent an imminent attack that would have endangered American lives in the region, but declined to provide details of the underlying intelligence. Its stressful on so many levels, and unclear how this will impact our lives, said Zahra Fakhraai, who fears for her mother, sister, and other family in Iran. There are lives at stake. The lack of empathy is heartbreaking, from all sides. Its tit-for-tat for politicians. But for people, its their lives. Fakhraai grew up in an Iran at war with U.S.-backed Iraq, a time when death and destruction became commonplace. She remembers her grade-school exhilaration when the fighting ended, and the rare chocolate delicacy of a Kit Kat bar, unimaginable in wartime, came into her hands. Fakhraai later earned a masters in physics, moved to Canada, and got her doctorate. And now, as a lawful permanent U.S. resident, she is an associate professor of physical chemistry at Penn. Shes relieved that the sides seem to have de-escalated, but no one knows how long that may last. Ghazvinian, the Penn Middle East Center director, thinks the killing of the general wont lead to full-scale military conflict but to more low-grade, imperfectly managed provocations. In reality, the United States has been at war with Iran for many years, said Ghazvinian, author of America and Iran: A Passionate Embrace, from 1720 to the Present. There has rarely been a moment of true peace in the past three decades. Staff writer John Duchneskie contributed to this article. An Ensley man has been arrested in connection with the holdup of a Bessemer Dollar General. Bessemer police on Friday announced the arrest of Anthony Wesley Jones, 30. Officers responded Thursday to a report of a suspicious person in the 2900 block of Dartmouth Avenue, said Lt. Christian Clemons. Based on the description provided by the 911 caller, they detained a man later identified as Jones. Store employees told officers they remembered Jones entering the store earlier in the day. When he returned, he had a scarf partially covering his face and holding a handgun. Thats when they summoned police and Jones was taken into custody. Investigators learned his gun had been stolen out of Birmingham. Jones is charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree receiving stolen property and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm. He is currently being held on $50,000 bond. Anyone with additional information on the case is asked to call Bessemer Police Department at 205-425-2411 or the Tip Line at 205-428-3541. The police will be doing DNA tests. "The bodies were so badly burnt, their bones scattered that it was difficult to tell the exact number of the deaths. And the identities will also be known after the DNA tests," said Kanpur Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohit Aggarwal. Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 11 (IANS) The horrific bus accident in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj district that took away over 20 lives as victims were charred to death will require forensic analysis to identify not just the victim bodies, but also the number of the dead. Police said 25 passengers were rescued from the burning bus, who were receiving treatment at local hospitals. Aggarwal said that more than 20 people were feared dead in the accident. The sleeper bus, from Farukhabad was headed to Jaipur via Gursahaiganj in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh, collided with a truck on the GT Road. The accident was so severe that the oil tank of the truck exploded, setting both vehicles on fire. District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar said that there were 43 passengers in the bus. However, some eye-witnesses said that there were more passengers in the bus. They said that some youths from the nearby village tried to rescue people, but were pushed back by the menacing flames. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the deaths and sought a detailed report from the District Magistrate of Kannauj. The Chief Minister announced a relief of Rs two lakh each to the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. hindi-dpb/in Any press is good press, right? Wrong. Some press could cause your business to tank before you can even get a word in. And Im not just talking about big companies.These days, bad press can be anything from a social media post or negative customer/employee review to an article in a local newspaper, and it can affect the smallest of small businesses. There are a number of triggers that can spur bad press. Some of the top offenders are workplace-related incidents, including labor-law violations, ethical violations or fraud. Unless you want a rotten reputation and high penalties, avoid these workplace fiascoes like the plague. Related: 6 Top Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Make FLSA Violations Do you adhere to minimum-wage law? How about overtime laws? If you want to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and avoid penalties, you need to. Failing to pay your employees at least the minimum wage or skimping on overtime pay not only will cost you some talented folks, but it could also make for unwanted headlines like, John Doe Pays Workers Below Minimum Wage! or, John Doe Forced to Pay Back Thousands in Overtime Wages! Yikes. When it comes to causing this workplace fiasco, thats a pass from me. I dont want to be known as the cheapskate who breaks laws. To avoid this workplace disaster, you need to educate yourself. Some employers accidentally make this mistake by failing to read up on minimum wage or overtime laws. Lets start with minimum wage. You may know that the federal minimum wage has been consistent at $7.25 per hour for years, but that might not be the minimum wage you need to follow. Theres more than a handful of states (about half, to be exact) who set a higher minimum wage than $7.25, and state minimum wage law trumps federal if its a higher rate, friends. Keep in mind that the buck doesnt stop there. If youre in an area with a local minimum wage thats higher than the state or federal minimum wage, you have to pay the highest rate. Pay attention to state and local minimum-wage rates. They tend to increase from year to year. Onto the other side of the coin -- overtime wages. You must give overtime pay to any nonexempt employee who works more than 40 hours in a workweek. Overtime pay is 1.5 times the workers regular hourly rate. And heres where some employers get into trouble: employee misclassification. Some employers, either purposely or accidentally, classify employees as exempt when they should be nonexempt. An exempt employee earns above the FLSA salary threshold; is paid on a salary basis; and has executive, administrative, or professional job duties that are considered exempt. If your employee doesnt meet all three requirements, you have to pay them overtime. And due to a DOL new overtime law, the salary threshold just increased for 2020 from $23,660 per year to $35,568. Be it on purpose or accident, trust me when I say you dont want an FLSA-related workplace fiasco gracing your business with its presence. Discrimination Employees who work 40 hours per week spend a quarter of their lives at work. And I bet you have some employees who work 60-70 hour weeks from time to time, too. With so much time spent in the office, we owe it to our employees to cultivate a healthy environment that makes them feel safe and secure. For starters, theres no room for discrimination of any kind in the workplace. Discriminating against your coworkers (or not doing anything when someone else does) for their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information is banned by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Discrimination can take many forms in the workplace, including unfair hiring practices, pay gaps, harassment, and unfair treatment. So, treat your workers fairly and equally. Build a company culture of respect, not misguided contempt. Tax Evasion Tax evasion. Millions in unpaid taxes. Fraud. These are words you never want associated with your business. I dont care how smart you think you are, tax evasion will catch up with you. There are countless cases that prove you cant get away with this workplace fiasco. Because this is a list of employee-related issues, Im going to focus on payroll-tax evasion. To briefly recap, you have to withhold taxes from your employeess wages and contribute some taxes. Then, youre responsible for remitting taxes to the IRS and other tax agencies. Some employers try to evade their payroll-tax responsibility by paying employees cash under the table. Others withhold taxes from employee wages and pocket the liability instead of remitting them to tax agencies. There have been too many small businesses that have been shut down from failing to pay payroll taxes. Avoid the whole fiasco by educating yourself on your payroll responsibilities, using reliable payroll software and remitting collected taxes (if you opt to handle it yourself). Related: What to Do When You're Getting Bad Press Workplace Harassment Rude comments, bullying, inappropriate behaviors, threats and physical violence can all fall under the workplace-harassment category. HR-related workplace fiascoes are huge. They not only jeopardize the health, safety and security of your workers, but they also can obliterate your employer brand if you ignore the warning signs. Years ago, I had an employee who threatened to beat up another employee. I knew she was very serious and also capable of causing problems, especially because she participated in cage-match fighting on the weekends. I knew I had to fire her. To do so, I decided to err on the side of caution instead of chancing a physical altercation. (After all, Im not stupid enough to have an impromptu cage match in the middle of my office.) So, I called the local police department and asked them to escort her out of the building. You may not be able to guarantee that altercations like this wont happen in your workplace, but you can be darn sure to do everything in your power to avoid them. Always do your due diligence when hiring someone. Do a background check. Get to know the person. And the moment you catch wind of a vocal or written threat, take action. Related: Follow The Leader: Omar Jackson, Partner, Berkeley Assets How to Stay Focused When You Feel Overwhelmed Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved While maintaining that both Northern and Western frontiers are equally important for India, General M.M. Naravane on Saturday said whenever government gives the go-ahead, his force is ready to take away Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Making it clear that accordingly rebalancing of deployment of the forces and weapons are being carried out, the General commenting on Pakistan occupied Kashmir said: "If Parliament wants that area should be taken we will definitely do so and action will be taken accordingly." The Indian Army chief's comments came at the annual press conference, where he said there was a parliamentary resolution that entire erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir is part of India. Whenever the government directs it will be done. Naravane stressed: "If that be the mandate so be it." Last year in October, the then and now the country's first Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat had said that the territory is illegally occupied by Pakistan. "The territory is not controlled by the Pakistani establishment, it is controlled by terrorists. Pakistan administered Kashmir is actually a terrorist controlled country or a terrorist controlled part of Pakistan," Rawat stated. In September 2019, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had said that is a part of India. "We expect one day we will have physical jurisdiction over it," he said. On August 5, 2019, Home Minister Amit Shah had asserted in Lok Sabha that and Aksai Chin are part of Jammu and Kashmir and that Kashmir Valley is an integral part of the country. Moving a resolution for abrogating some provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019, Shah had said "Kashmir is an integral part of India, there is no doubt over it. "When I talk about Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin are included in it," he said. On border issue with China, India have had several rounds of talks. General Naravane said their priorities are to maintain peace and tranquility on the border. "We are conscious of the fact there are threats from the both side," he said. On his recent visit to Siachen, General Naravane said: "As far as land borders are concerned this is where (Siachen) the two countries -- (China and Pakistan) are the closest. So the chance for collusivity is the most. Here and in Shaksgam valley." About the China border, he said: "We have to balance our requirement. On northern border we are going in for capacity building, roads, habitats, storage for weapons by moving advanced weapons towards eastern side." The year 2020 is going to be another important year for the firm and it continues to be optimistic about mid- to long-term prospects, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and Chief Executive Martin Schwenk said. (Photo Credit: File Photo) Mumbai: Mercedes-Benz India on Friday said it remained the market leader in the domestic luxury car segment for the fifth straight year in 2019, selling 13,786 units. However, this was 11.3 per cent lower from 2018, when it had sold 15,538 units. In the December quarter, the Pune-based company clocked sales growth of 3.3 per cent, selling 3,781 units -- its highest ever quarterly volume, it said in a statement. The company also sounded bullish about 2020 and said it will continue with its product offensive, which will begin with the launch of an all-new GLE on January 28. The company said it could maintain its pole position on the back of a record 54 per cent growth in its performance vehicles segment led by the CLA, GLA and GLS models, whose new generation variants will be available from Q2 of 2020. Mercedes will also be the first luxury car maker to completely transition into BS-VI portfolio with petrol and diesel models shortly. "Amidst strong macroeconomic headwinds, our volumes in Q4 also grew by 15.41 percent from Q3 2019, taking the overall volume to 13,786 units in 2019, down 11.3 percent from 2018," the company said. Against this, rival BMW saw its volumes dip 13.8 per cent to 9,641 units in 2019 from 11,105 units in 2018. The German carmaker despatched 9,000 BMWs and 641 Minis in the year. Besides, its two-wheeler brand BMW Motorrad sold 2,403 motorcycles last year. The third German player Audi is yet to disclose its sales numbers. Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and Chief Executive Martin Schwenk said, "We are satisfied with our performance in 2019 despite facing strong macroeconomic headwinds, specifically in the first three quarters. We were able to positively influence customer sentiment with our solutions and achieved the new best ever Q4." The year 2020 is going to be another important year for the firm and it continues to be optimistic about mid- to long-term prospects, he added. The company had an overwhelming response to its entire BS-IV portfolio and it is now ready with the all-new BS-VI range, ahead of the deadline, he said. This year the market will witness a strong product offensive from Mercedes-Benz, beginning with the new GLE, followed by some of the most significant product introductions from its global portfolio, including those without any predecessors, Schwenk said. Canada's Department of Justice said a executive arrested in Vancouver could be extradited to the United States, because her offense is a crime in both countries, according to documents released Friday. chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who was originally detained on a US warrant in late 2018, faces an extradition hearing in Vancouver that begins on January 20. The accuses Meng of lying to banks about violating Iran sanctions. However Meng's lawyers maintain that she cannot be turned over to the United States, because in order for that to happen, her offense would have to meet a "double criminality" standard -- meaning it is a crime in both countries. Violating US sanctions against Iran, they say, is not a crime in Canada. However in the documents filed in Vancouver Friday, which were widely cited by media, Canada's attorney general said the "essence" of her banking interactions amounted to fraud, which is a crime in the country. The first week of Meng's extradition hearing will be devoted to the question of double criminality. Meng, who lives under house arrest at her mansion in Vancouver, denies the US allegations and says Canadian authorities violated her rights during the arrest. Her detention at the Vancouver airport in December 2018 caused an unprecedented diplomatic rift between Canada and China, which demands her release. Just nine days later China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, whom it accuses of espionage. Many countries have phased out production of nuclear energy because of concerns related to nuclear waste and the risk of nuclear accidents. A new study explored the impact of the shutdown of roughly half of the nuclear power plants in Germany after the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan. The study found that the resulting reductions in nuclear power were replaced primarily by production from coal-fired sources and reductions in net electricity exports. The authors show that the switch to fossil fuel-fired power resulted in considerable increases in pollution at an estimated annual social cost of about $12 billion. The study was conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University; the University of California, Berkeley; the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). It was published as an NBER working paper. "Although numerous reports have recommended that nuclear power be part of the global solution to climate change because it produces minimal carbon emissions, many countries have slashed their share of energy production from nuclear sources, primarily due to safety concerns," explains Akshaya Jha, assistant professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College, who contributed to the study. "One might conclude from this that the expected costs of nuclear power exceed its benefits. But few studies have quantified the full range of economic and environmental impacts of phasing out nuclear production." In their study, researchers sought to document the short- to medium-term impact of the phase-out of nuclear power in Germany on multiple market and environmental outcomes. In particular, the study focused on the shutdown of 10 of the 17 nuclear reactors in Germany between 2011 and 2017, following the Fukushima accident. Germany plans to shut down all of its remaining nuclear reactors by 2022. Researchers examined hourly data on power plant operations, including electricity demand, local weather conditions, and energy and fuel prices. They also developed a machine learning framework that predicted the quantity of electricity produced by each power plant in Germany under two scenarios--one with the nuclear phase-out and one without it. The study found that nuclear energy production due to the phase-out of the nuclear plants was replaced primarily by coal-fired production and by imports of electricity from surrounding countries. The move from nuclear power to fossil fuel-fired power resulted in substantial increases in emissions of global and local air pollution. In addition, electricity prices rose due to the phaseout of nuclear plants, so electricity producers benefitted but German consumers had to pay more, the study found. Researchers estimated the social cost of the phase-out in the initial years at approximately $12 billion per year, with more than 70 percent of the cost coming from the increased risk of mortality (an estimated 1,100 excess deaths annually) associated with exposure to air pollution emitted by burning fossil fuels. Closing nuclear plants had benefits: reducing the risk of nuclear accidents and decreasing the costs associated with storing nuclear waste. But even the largest estimates of the benefits of the nuclear phaseout were likely far smaller than $12 billion a year. "It's clear that German citizens care deeply about climate change yet are distinctly anti-nuclear," says Stephen Jarvis, a PhD candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, the study's lead author. "Concerns about air pollution have tended to receive less attention in this debate, perhaps because the risks associated with nuclear power are much more prominent than the costs of air pollution associated with fossil-fuel-fired production." Among the limitations of the study noted by the authors are that plant-level data on electricity production were unavailable prior to 2015, and economic factors that changed during the course of the study may have affected findings in ways independent of those studied. "Policymakers around the world face a difficult tradeoff," says Olivier Deschenes, professor of economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who also contributed to the study. "As countries shift away from nuclear production, despite the substantial increases in operating costs and air pollution costs that could be associated with this policy, it is essential for policymakers and academics to convey the relative costs of climate change and air pollution versus nuclear accident risk and waste disposal to the voting public." ### The research was supported in part by the Library at the University of California, Berkeley. Summarized from a working paper of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), The Private and External Costs of Germany's Nuclear Phase-Out, by Jarvis, S (University of California at Berkeley), Deschenes, O (University of California, Santa Barbara, and NBER), and Jha, A (Carnegie Mellon University). Copyright 2019 Stephen Jarvis, Olivier Deschenes, and Akshaya Jha. All rights reserved. Brusthom Ziamani, 24, pictured, held Sharia law courts in his cell at HMP Whitemoor to keep Muslim prisoners under his control A convicted jihadi who allegedly attacked two prison officers during suspected terror attack inside prison is claimed to have held a sharia court in his jail cell. Brusthom Ziamani, 24, and a fellow inmate, equipped themselves with fake suicide belts and used makeshift knives to attack prison officers inside HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire. One officer suffered stab wounds to his head, chest and face when prisoners used their improvised weapons on Thursday morning. In total, four prison officers were injured during the attack. It is alleged the pair shouted 'Allahu akbar' during the violent assault. One former inmate at HMP Whitemoor told the Daily Telegraph that Ziamani was known to try and radicalise fellow inmates and recruit them to his extremist cause. The source, who is described as a white convert told the paper: 'When I arrived in prison I was quickly met by Ziamani and allowed into his inner circle. 'He once tried to organise a coup against the prison system and attacked a prison officer. He would also hold sharia courts in his prison cell for infractions such as drinking.' Scotland Yard counter-terrorism officers are investigating and Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon confirmed on Friday that it was being treated as a terror attack. One of the suspects in the incident at the 458-capacity Whitemoor prison has been named in reports as convicted terrorist Brusthom Ziamani, 24, while the second is said to be a Muslim convert jailed for a violent offence. Ziamani, a follower of radical preacher Anjem Choudary, 52, was found guilty of planning a terror attack in 2015 over a plot to behead a British soldier. Ziamani is accused of launching a terror attack with a fellow inmate inside HMP Whitemoor Both attackers were wearing belts with 'various items crudely attached', the Metropolitan Police said. Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, said: 'I have received a full briefing on this cowardly and vicious attack and there is no doubt in my mind that, but for the bravery of staff, then this morning we could have been talking about a death of a prison officer at Whitemoor Prison. 'This was an extremely serious attack on hard-working staff.' Ziamani, pictured, was 19 when he received a 22-year jail sentence, wihch was later reduced to 19 on appeal A Prison Service spokesman said the incident was 'quickly resolved by brave staff', adding: 'We do not tolerate assaults on our hard-working officers and will push for the strongest possible punishment.' The Met said it was 'deemed appropriate' for the investigation to be carried out by counter-terrorism officers. A statement said: 'The incident itself was quickly contained and dealt with by prison staff and, from our inquiries thus far, there is nothing to suggest any continuing threat inside or outside of the prison system linked to yesterday's incident. 'Both the prisoners suspected to have been involved in the attack remain in prison. No arrests have been made at this time.' Ziamani was 19 when he was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 22 years in prison, reduced to 19 on appeal, after he was arrested while carrying a 12in knife and a hammer in a rucksack. The court was told that he had researched the location of Army cadet bases in the south-east of the capital. Earlier, he had shown his ex-girlfriend weapons, described Fusilier Lee Rigby's killer Michael Adebolajo as a 'legend' and told her he would 'kill soldiers'. Ziamani was arrested carrying this hammer and a 12-inch knife in a backpack As India corrected a historical wrong, Pak bar association bars non-Muslims from contesting polls International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Islamabad, Jan 11: The Multan bar association has passed a resolution forbidding non-Muslim lawyers including the Ahmadis to take part in the Bar Council elections. The resolution was presented by the lawyers of the district bar association of Multan. The lawyers contesting the elections would need to produce an affidavit to prove their faith in Islam, according to a report in Naya Daur. This comes in the wake of India amending the citizenship law to give rights to persecuted minorities. The Bill gives rights to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from the countries mentioned above. Former officer with the Research and Analysis Wing, Amar Bhushan tells OneIndia that the Hindus need a home. There are many Hindus who are living in India from the days of partition, without rights. Where can they go other than India. This is a much welcome Bill, Bhushan also adds. General Naravane: Army ready to bring PoK into India if Parliament orders| OneIndia news Pakistan: 15 killed, 20 injured in blast at mosque in Quetta The new law provides citizenship to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Several such persons are living in India since the time of partition and are without any legal rights. The Modi government says that this law is aimed at correcting a historical wrong. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 11, 2020, 13:11 [IST] Iranians students chant slogans as they demonstrate following a tribute for the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 in front of the Amirkabir University in the capital Tehran, on Jan. 11, 2020. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images) Iranian Protesters Take to the Streets in Fury after Tehran Admits Downing Ukrainian Flight Protesters chant Khamenei is a murderer illegitimate ruler in fresh protests seeking his resignation Protesters took to streets in Tehran chanting Khamenei is a murderer and Khamenei is an illegitimate ruler on Jan. 11 after the Iranian military admitted to shooting down the Ukranian plane that carried at least 130 Iranian citizens. The news of the protesters openly chanting slogans against Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, whom Iran designates as the Supreme Leader was confirmed by Al Markazia, a Lebanese Central New Agency. Faranak Amidi, a Womens Affairs Journalist with the BBC World Service, shared a video from one of the protest sites on her Twitter on Saturday. The protesters in the video chanted in chorus: Today is a day to mourn. The abandoned Iranians are mourning today. . . pic.twitter.com/ER4Y1aZsUe Faranak Amidi (@Faranak_amidi) January 11, 2020 The protests on Saturday afternoon began as mournful gatherings for the Iranian lives lost in the crash and soon turned into people chanting death to liars and seeking Khameneis resignation, reported the Daily Mail. Protests at the Amirkabir University chanted Down with the dictator and shame on IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard], let the country go while at the Sharif University protesters said, commander in chief, resign! It referred to Khamenei. Protesters in Rasht in northern Iran chanted you have no shame according to a video shared on Twitter. : ! !@ordoyekar pic.twitter.com/TZHCO1rlsr (@ordoyekar) January 11, 2020 In another Twitter video from a candle vigil site at an engineering school in the province of Shiraz, the protesters were singing a revolutionary song My Grade-School Friend, which encourages people to rise up against tyranny. President Trump expressed his support for the protesters on Twitter, writing: To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my government will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely. Your courage is inspiring. : . . . Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020 Daily Mail reports that riot police tried to disperse the protesters by using tear gas during the night. Irans Revolutionary Guard on Saturday acknowledged that it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 people aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations and mounting evidence that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. No one was hurt in the attack on the U.S. bases. General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards aerospace division, said his unit accepts full responsibility for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, I wished I was dead. He said he raised the possibility to his superiors that his forces shot down the plane as early as Wednesday morning because the simultaneous occurrence of the launch and crash was suspicious. The admission undermined the credibility of information provided by senior officials, who for three days had adamantly dismissed allegations of a missile strike as Western propaganda. Iranians students demonstrate following a tribute for the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 in front of the Amirkabir University in the capital Tehran, on Jan. 11, 2020. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images) Esra Serim, a Turkish Middle East expert based in France, told The Epoch Times in an email that Khamenei has offered an investigation into the crash but it will not be enough for the families of the victims. They would make an appeal for an international investigation. In addition to this, the Iranian government has obviously fallen into its own trap by shooting the passenger plane. This accident would likely lead to an increase in the recent domestic tensions against the regime, said Serim. Sam Bazzi, the founder of Hezbollah Watch, a project that scrutinizes Khomeinis absolute guardianship, said the protests indicate a popular revolt in the making. The regime has for a long time accorded a certain level of divinity to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, only for him to be left bare by the Ukrainian airliner incident. When an absolute ruler starts losing his prestige and standing, a popular revolt is not an unexpected outcome, he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Sat, January 11, 2020 10:08 731 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321bee45 2 Entertainment Nicholas-Hoult,Mission-Impossible,Tom-Cruise,sequel Free Director Christopher McQuarrie revealed on social media Thursday that English actor Nicholas Hoult ("Tolkien," "The Favourite") will join Tom Cruise in the next two installments of "Mission: Impossible." The seventh and eighth installments of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise will see Cruise return in the role of Ethan Hunt, an agent of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). Details of Hoult's role have not yet been revealed. Read also: Ready, set, action: Places to go for movie enthusiasts McQuarrie will write and direct both films, which will be shot back-to-back. The first film will release July 23, 2021 and the second is due out on August 5, 2022. Rebecca Ferguson will also reprise her role as former MI6 agent Ilsa Faust. Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff and Shea Whigham have also been cast. Hoult will next be seen in "Those Who Wish Me Dead," Taylor Sheridan's upcoming neo-western thriller film, due out in October 2020. His other upcoming projects include Hulu miniseries "The Great," where he will play Russian emperor Peter III opposite Elle Fanning's empress Catherine. Sonora, CA Police are asking for the publics help to capture a Sonora man that armed with a firearm robbed the Walmart store and warn he is considered dangerous. The mugshot in the image box is 26-year-old JoeMicael Savaii, who police say is a former employee of the store. Investigators say that around 1:30 a.m. on Friday Savaii walked up to the manager on duty and showed him a black handgun in his pocket. Sgt. Curtis Hankins details, The manager knew him by name. He did threaten the manager to not call the police or to say it was somebody else. In the video surveillance, the officer recognized him from prior contacts also. Sgt. Hankins recounts that at gunpoint Savaii ordered the manager to take him to the money count area of the store. He then stole an undisclosed amount of money and walked out of the store. Sgt. Hankins adds, He told the manager to stay in the office for at least ten minutes before he called anybody. When the manager thought the time was up, he made sure it was safe and the guy was gone then called 911. No one was injured during the incident. Savaii was seen fleeing the scene in a white four-door sedan with an unknown rear plate and no front plate. Sgt. Hankins relays that detectives believe he remains in the area and maybe hiding out with friends. Savaii had worked at the store up until two weeks ago, according to Sgt. Hankins, who did not know whether he was fired or quit. Police described him as of Samoan descent standing six feet tall and weighing 260 pounds. He is of muscular build and has long black hair that he often pulls back into a ponytail. Sgt. Hankins advises the public that if Savaii is spotted not to approach or contact him as he is considered armed and dangerous, instead call 911. WOODRIDGE Leaders of a U.S. Army Reserve unit that controls thousands of soldiers across the western United States have mishandled at least two sexual assault complaints by not referring them for outside investigation, according to victims, their advocate and documents obtained by The Associated Press. Amy Braley Franck, a civilian victim advocate with the 416th Theater Engineer Command, provided the AP with documents that show the command launched internal investigations into at least two complaints rather than refer them to the Armys criminal investigation division as required by military policy and federal law. In a third case, they placed an alleged victim on a firing range with someone she had accused of sexual harassment, causing her to fear for her safety. Commanders also have failed to hold monthly sexual assault management meetings, as required by DOD policy since 2006. And they ran the company without a sexual assault response coordinator for nearly a year and suspended Braley Franck after she alerted the Army to the internal investigations, she said. I cant with a clear conscience say, Oh, yeah, report your sexual assault. Well take care of you, Braley Franck said. The 416ths spokesman, Jason Proseus, said Army Reserve leaders take sexual misconduct seriously. He declined further comment, saying the matter was under investigation. He didnt explain what matter was under investigation or by whom. The Army Reserve Strategic Communications chief spokesman, Lt. Col. Simon Flake, said the Reserve doesnt want to compromise the investigation or influence the outcome by commenting further. The Illinois-based 416th Theater Engineer Command provides technical and engineering support for U.S. military forces. It serves as headquarters for nearly 11,000 soldiers in 26 states west of the Mississippi River. Braley Franck said she has discovered multiple sexual assault administrative shortcomings and policy violations since she joined the 416th in February as a victim advocate. Her duties include supporting victims and connecting them with services. She said the division went 10 months without a sexual assault response coordinator. Such coordinators ensure victims receive services such as medical care and counseling, help victims navigate the military criminal justice system and oversee victim advocates. No one held a sexual assault management meeting during her tenure until this month, even though the DOD has required such meetings to be held monthly since 2006 to ensure a coordinated response and that victims are protected and can access services. She said she has learned of at least two instances in which 416th commanders improperly initiated internal sexual assault investigations. Federal law and Department of Defense policy require that commanders refer sexual assault complaints to criminal investigators in their respective branches. Thats intended to prevent commanders from brushing aside allegations involving their own people and to ensure that experienced investigators handle cases, said Rachel VanLandingham, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who teaches national security law at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. Commanders who dont follow proper channels can face reprimand, removal from command or a court martial, VanLandingham said. Internal sexual assault investigations cost the Wisconsin National Guards top commander his job in December. Gov. Tony Evers demanded Adj. Gen. Donald Dunbar resign after a federal investigation determined he had been launching internal probes rather than forwarding complaints to the National Guard Bureau. In the first 416th case, Capt. Joseph Runhke of the 739th Engineer Company within the 416th investigated allegations from two soldiers that a male specialist had sexually assaulted a female private during a lunch break at the companys base in Granite City in September 2017 and again outside the womans workplace in Springfield the following April. In a memo Braley Franck provided to the AP, Runhke wrote that the woman told him both encounters were consensual, adding that the specialists tenure was almost up and trust would improve once he was gone. Under DOD policy and federal law, Army criminal investigators should have conducted the investigation. The second case involves Spc. Sara Joachimstaler. The AP usually doesnt identify sexual assault victims, but Joachimstaler gave permission to use her name. She told her commanders that a sergeant repeatedly touched her leg during a car ride in March 2019 and groped her a month later while using her to demonstrate how to tie a rope around someone. She said her commanders did nothing. Lt. Anthony Perkins, her units executive officer, wrote in a memo that he notified his commander in April about Joachimstalers allegations and was told the commander would take care of it. In the memo, which Joachimstaler shared with AP, Perkins wrote that he reminded his commander that he had to report such complaints, but the commander refused to do anything and warned Perkins to back him up or he would be removed. Joachimstaler took her complaints to the 416ths inspector general but said she felt that offices investigator, Maj. John Hill, tried to minimize her allegations. She told him in June that she wanted to take her complaints elsewhere. Hill sent Braley Franck a memo later that month asking her to initiate an investigation, a violation of the DODs ban on internal investigations. Braley Franck referred both the third-party and Joachimstaler cases to the Armys Criminal Investigations Division in June. A judge advocate ultimately concluded there was no probable cause to believe the alleged perpetrator committed an offense in the third-party case. Braley Franck said Joachimstalers case still is under CID investigation. Christopher Grey, a spokesman for the Armys Criminal Investigation Command, said in a statement that he couldnt comment due to an ongoing investigation. He didnt elaborate. Suspected armed bandits on Saturday kidnapped the wife of a lawmaker, Haruna Dangyatin, who represents Miga constituency at the Jigawa State Assembly. The police spokesperson, Audu Jinjiri, told PREMIUM TIMES the suspected gunmen stormed the lawmakers residence at 5 a.m and abducted his wife. The police identified the victim as Zahrau Haruna. She was abducted at her country home at Dangyatin commumity in Miga Local Government Area, Mr Jinjiri said. The police also said the three gunmen did not take away any valuable. READ ALSO: The police spokesperson said the states police commissioner, Usman Gomna, has ordered the deployment of personnel and efforts are on to rescue the victim. Jigawa, like many other states, has been ravaged by the activities of kidnappers and bandits which has stretched the capabilities of the police. A senior commander of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday he takes full responsibility for the Ukrainian airliner crash near Tehran that claimed the lives of all 176 people aboard. "I take full responsibility and I will obey whatever decision is taken," Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said, as cited by Al Jazeera. "I would prefer to die rather than witness such an incident," he added. After initially denying reports that it had caused the crash of a Ukrainian airliner, Iran today admitted that it "unintentionally" shot down the plane. Hajizadeh said that the plane was mistaken for a cruise missile, and was brought down using a short-range Iranian missile. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eco Oro Minerals Corp. (CSE:EOM) (the Company or Eco Oro) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an investment agreement (the Investment Agreement) with Trexs Investments, LLC (Trexs), pursuant to which Trexs and other Eligible CVR Holders (as defined below) will be entitled to participate in a private placement (the Private Placement) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to US$20,000,000. Pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement, the proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to, among other things, repay all outstanding obligations owing by the Company to Trexs under its previously announced US$6,500,000 demand promissory note (the Note) and for general corporate purposes, including working capital needs. Overview of Private Placement Under the Private Placement, the Company will issue up to US$20,000,000 of contingent value rights certificates (2020 CVRs) to holders of the Companys previously issued contingent value rights certificates (Existing CVR Holders) who are eligible to participate in the Private Placement on a prospectus exempt basis (Eligible CVR Holders). Eligible CVR Holders will be entitled to participate in the Private Placement on a pro rata basis as set out in the Investment Agreement. Holders of the 2020 CVRs will be entitled to receive an amount of money from the proceeds of the Companys arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Colombia (the Claim Proceeds), with the amount they are entitled to receive (the 2020 Total CVR Amount) to be based on the amount of time between closing of the Private Placement and payment of the Claim Proceeds. Because the 2020 Total CVR Amount will be funded by the re-direction of amounts to which Existing CVR Holders and holders of other similar rights would otherwise be entitled, the Private Placement will not have any impact on the amount of Claim Proceeds (if any) retained by the Company. Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, the Private Placement will be completed in two tranches: (i) a first tranche of up to US$17,001,276 of 2020 CVRs to be completed on or about January 13, 2020; and (ii) a second tranche of up to US$2,998,724 of 2020 CVRs to be completed on or about February 3, 2020. Board Approval As certain Eligible CVR Holders who are also significant shareholders of the Company and certain directors of the Company will or may be participating in the Private Placement, the transaction would ordinarily be subject to the minority approval requirements set forth in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). The Board of Directors, including its independent members, have determined, in light of the Companys circumstances, that the Company is eligible to rely on the exemption from minority approval requirements provided by Subsection 5.7(e) of MI 61-101. Company Profile Eco Oro Minerals Corp. is a publicly-traded company and its arbitration against the Republic of Colombia is its core focus. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including statements with respect to the completion of the Private Placement and the use of proceeds from the Private Placement. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon the current belief, opinions and expectations of management that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and other contingencies. Many factors could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE Eco Oro Minerals Corp. For further information: Paul Robertson, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 604 682 8212, TF: +1 855 682 8212. CO: Eco Oro Minerals Corp. Hours after Iran admitted that it had shot down the Ukranian jet on January 8, amid tensions with the United States, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Iran must issue an official apology. This comes after Iran's military on state television said that the incident happened due to "human error." Zelensky, in a strongly-worded statement, added that Iran has to prosecute those responsible for the action, return the bodies of the deads and will have to pay compensation. Earlier, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, taking to Twitter, has said that it is an "unforgivable mistake." He also said that "investigation on this great tragedy continues." Zelensky has said: "The morning brought the truth. Ukraine insists on full admission of guilt. We expect Iran to prosecute, return the bodies of the dead, pay compensation, and make official apologies. The investigation should be complete, open and ongoing without delay or obstruction. But we insist on a full admission of guilt. We expect Iran to conduct a full and open investigation, bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies of the deceased, pay compensation and issue official apologies through diplomatic channels. We hope that the investigation will continue without artificial delays and obstacles. Our 45 professionals need full access and engagement to establish justice." Read the full statement by Iran's military issued on state TV, here Iran's admission A military statement carried by state media said that the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned toward a sensitive military center of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its highest level of readiness amid the heightened tensions with the US. In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit. It apologised for the disaster and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent such mistakes in the future. The responsible parties would be referred to a judicial department within the military and held accountably, the military said. Rouhani's full statement Noble people of Iran With the utmost regret and sorrow, hours ago I was informed of the outcome of the General Staff of the Armed Forces investigation into the Ukrainian passenger plane crash. In the atmosphere of threats and intimidation by the aggressive American regime against the Iranian nation after the martyrdom of General Qasem Soleimani, and in order to defend ourselves against possible attacks by the American Army, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran were on full alert, which unfortunately led to this terrible catastrophe taking the lives of dozens of innocent people because of human error and mistaken shooting. The Islamic Republic of Iran is deeply sorry by this disastrous mistake, and I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this tragic incident on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and instruct all related organs to take all necessary measures to compensate and sympathise with the bereaved families. I also express my deep condolences and sympathy of the Iranian government to the nations, governments and families of non-Iranian victims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be in full consular cooperation to identify and return the bodies of victims to their families. This painful accident is not something that can be easily overlooked. Further investigation is needed to identify all the causes and roots of this tragedy and prosecute the perpetrators of this unforgivable mistake and inform the honourable people of Iran and the families of the victims about it. It is also necessary to adopt the required arrangements and measures to address the weaknesses of the country's defence systems to make sure such a disaster is never repeated. Again, I extend my condolences to the families of the victims of this painful accident, praying for those who lost their lives and wishing their bereaved families patience and rewards. Full Statement: Iran says it 'unintentionally' shot down Ukraine jet amid tensions with US Ukrainian aircraft shot down A Ukrainian aircraft with at least 176 people aboard crashed on January 8 due to technical glitches just after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport, according to Iranian media reports. As per the reports, all 176 passengers on board the PS752 airliner had died. A spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, Reza Jafarzadeh had told the media that rescue teams were immediately sent to the spot near the airport where the aircraft belonging to Ukraine International Airlines crashed but they could not assist since the place was ablaze. Ukraine International Airlines plane crashes in Tehran; all 176 aboard dead According to media reports citing Ali Kashani, a senior public relations official at the airport, the plane was heading towards Kiev and had 167 passengers and nine crew on board. The Boeing 737 took off early Wednesday morning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook post that he would cancel the rest of his trip to Oman and would return to Kiev due to the crash. This came amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran after US airstrike killed Iran's second most important person - commander of Quds Force of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qasem Soleimani. While Iran vowed to take "revenge", and shot a missile at US airbase in Iraq, US President Donald said that Iran and the US can work together for world peace, pointing ISIS as a common enemy. However, on Friday, the US imposed new sanctions on Iran. 'Deeply regret': Iran's Prez Rouhani apologises for military's downing of Ukrainian jet Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 09:32:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Artists from northwest China's Gansu Province perform during a dance and music gala in Dakar, capital of Senegal, Jan. 9, 2020. As part of the "Joyful Spring Festival" celebrations for the upcoming Chinese New Year, a dance and music gala was held here on Thursday evening. (Photo by Louis Denga/Xinhua) If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here The Restaurants Association of Ireland are delighted to announce that the nominations for the 12th annual Irish Restaurant Awards 2020 are now open. The public can choose their favourites across 21 categories including Best Restaurant, Best Casual Dining, Best Chef, Best Seafood Experience, Best World Cuisine and more. Head over to the Restaurant Association of Irelands Instagram page now to enter our Competition, where you could win dinner for two in 2020s Best Restaurant, as well as an overnight stay in a hotel. The Restaurants Association of Ireland celebrated the launch on Wednesday, January 8 in Dax Restaurant, Dublin. Nominations can now be made via www.irishtimes.com/irishrestaurantawards until 12 noon on Wednesday, January 22. The Irish Restaurant Awards showcase the true talent that Irelands hospitality industry has to offer by acknowledging outstanding performers in the sector. Growing steadily from its humble beginnings back in 2009, the awards are now a five-month long process consisting of online public nominations, judging panels, mystery guest inspections and regional and national events. In 2019, the awards received 90,000+ online public nominations. This number is expected to grow exponentially with the continued support of our media partner, The Irish Times. Last year, the Irish Restaurant Awards consisted of a roadshow of four regional events Kildare, Monaghan, Limerick and Sligo with over 2000 guests in total. The final event was held in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road and saw 1000+ guests sit down for a six-course gala dinner cooked by 5 renowned chefs (previous award winners). Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association commented; The aim of the Irish Restaurant Awards is to recognize excellence within the Irish hospitality industry. The restaurant industry is the biggest employer within the Irish tourism sector, employing over 74,000 people and these awards are a celebration and acknowledgement of the hard work put in by restaurateurs year round. This year, there are 21 categories in which the general public can nominate. These categories are made up of 16 Main award categories and five National award categories. Main categories: Best Restaurant Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Foodservice Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by AIB MS Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored by Frylite Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Just Eat Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Elavon Best Newcomer Sponsored by Monin Best Customer Service Sponsored by Dolmen Insurance Brokers Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Gilbeys with Bibendum Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Best World Cuisine Sponsored by Stafford Lynch with San Pellegrino Best Cafe Sponsored by Illy Best Kids Size Me - Best Free From Sponsored by Peroni Libera Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times Pub of the Year Sponsored by Jameson National Categories Best Cocktail Experience Sponsored by Coca Cola HBC Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant Sponsored by Wild Irish Game Best Cookery School Sponsored by Avonmore Best Seafood Experience Sponsored by Musgrave Best Digital Marketing In the first stage of the judging process, online nominations are given a weighting of 20%, while the remaining 80% is made up from a regional judging panel assessment. Both of these results are combined and reviewed by an independent auditor (BDO) to give an overall county winner per category. These winners will be announced at a number of regional events held in March. Each county winner then goes forward to the Regional and All-Ireland stage whereby they will then each receive a mystery guest inspection. They will be assessed on their menu, customer service, and the overall dining experience from the moment the booking is made until the customer receives the bill. Full details on the judging process can be found on the official Awards website www.irishrestaurantawards.com. National Categories will not receive a mystery guest inspection. They will be judged by the National Academy with the exception of Best Cocktail Experience which will be judged by the Bartenders Association of Ireland at a live competition. The All-Ireland final of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2020 takes place on Monday, May 18 in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road. By Sangmi Cha and Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has received birthday greetings to its leader Kim Jong Un from U.S. President Donald Trump, but their personal relationship is not enough for a return to talks, according to a statement published on Saturday by state news agency KCNA. The comments come against the backdrop of stalled denuclearisation talks following a flurry of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea in 2018 and early 2019. While Kim could personally like Trump, he would not lead his country on the basis of personal feelings, Kim Kye Gwan, an adviser to the North Korean foreign ministry, said in the statement. "Although Chairman Kim Jong Un has good personal feelings about President Trump, they are, in the true sense of the word, 'personal'," he said. "We have been deceived by the United States, being caught in the dialogue with it for over one year and a half, and that was the lost time for us." North Korea will not discuss proposals such as those Trump made at his last summit with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February 2019, the foreign ministry adviser said. The North will not give up its nuclear facilities for partial sanctions relief, and will only return to talks when the United States makes concessions, he added. "The reopening of dialogue between the DPRK and the U.S. may be possible only under the condition of the latter's absolute agreement on the issues raised by the former, but we know well that the U.S. is neither ready nor able to do so," he said. The abbreviation DPRK refers to the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Saturday's comments show how ties between leaders are sometimes only marginally useful for diplomacy, said Mason Richey, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. "At least one member of the U.S.-North Korea diplomatic 'bromance' is mature enough to admit that personal feelings are just that," Richey added. Story continues "Kim Kye Gwan's statement doesn't close the door on diplomacy any more than it already was, but he underlined how the U.S. and North Korea have fundamentally different strategic interests with almost no meaningful overlap." WARNING TO SOUTH KOREA The North Korean adviser also cautioned South Korea to steer clear of ties between the North and the United States, saying it should not seek "to play a mediator role". On Friday, a South Korean official said Trump had asked the South Koreans to pass on birthday greetings to North Korea. For South Korea to meddle in personal relations between Kim and Trump was "presumptuous", the North Korean adviser said, adding that the North had already directly received from Trump a letter with the greetings. "But they seem not to know that there is a special liaison channel between the top leaders of the DPRK and the United States." South Korea's presidential Blue House declined to comment. The North's comments come after South Korean President Moon Jae-in's administration signalled it wanted to renew "independent" economic engagement with the North, Richey added. "This is another slap in the face, which Moon seems determined to accept ad infinitum." (Reporting by Sangmi Cha and Josh Smith; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It's hard to escape the irony. A large downtown Winnipeg building designed to house the city police officers who uphold the law is allegedly built on a foundation of fraud on the scale of millions of dollars. Beyond the precise legal language in a 57-page statement of claim filed Jan. 6 in Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, as well as the hundreds of pages of affidavits and supporting documents, the City of Winnipeg paints a damning picture of the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters construction scandal. At its heart, the city is now saying its former chief administrative officer, in partnership with construction heavyweights, was instrumental in a scheme to defraud taxpayers. Those allegations haven't been proven in court, nor have statements of defence been filed. The city took the unusual step of suing after Manitoba prosecutors decided not to proceed criminally and the province refused to hold a public inquiry. The construction scandal has played out for more than a decade. In its early days, no one knew what twists and turns would unfold. The City of Winnipeg paints a damning picture of the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters construction scandal. (Ken Gigliotti / Free Press files) "It's going to be a great thing for downtown. At the end of the day, it's a 600,000-square-foot facility we could never build for this kind of money." then-Winnipeg chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl, Dec. 8, 2011 Truer words have perhaps never been spoken. According to the city's statement of claim, at some point during the construction, a total of roughly $400,000 was paid in kickbacks to Winnipegbased Triple D Consulting Services Before it erupted into a scandal, the project began innocently, when the outer facade of the service's former headquarters, the Public Safety Building, began breaking off. Instead of costly repairs to the PSB, city council decided in 2009 it would be more cost effective if it purchased the former Canada Post building warehouse and tower on Graham Avenue for $31.6 million. Council also budgeted $105 million for the renovations of the building that would become the future WPS headquarters. By the end of 2011, the entire $137.1-million contract was awarded to Caspian Construction by then-chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl. (Earlier in 2011, council had awarded a $50,000 construction-management contract to the joint venture of Caspian Construction and Akman Construction, but Akman later backed out.) The contract Sheegl signed when he became Winnipeg's top bureaucrat had him agree "to act honestly, in good faith, and in a manner not in conflict with, but in the best interests of the city." That was the narrative delivered to the public, but the city says in its court documents "a scheme" was already in play behind the scenes. Even before the city issued its request for proposal for Phase 1 of the construction management services on Nov. 18, 2010, it says many of the key players listed in the court documents got together and "designed, orchestrated and implemented a scheme to defraud the city." The contract Phil Sheegl signed when he became Winnipeg's top bureaucrat had him agree "to act honestly, in good faith, and in a manner not in conflict with, but in the best interests of the city." (Joe Bryksa / Free Press files) They included the principals of Caspian Construction president Armik Babakhanians, director Shaun Babakhanians, and officer manager Pamela Anderson along with Peter Giannuzzi, secretary, director and shareholder of Fabca-PMG construction company, but also at the time a Caspian employee, and Ossama Abouzeid, president of Dunmore Corp., an investment and holding company. The damning scenario painted by the city alleges participants decided they would create fraudulent and inflated sub-trade quotes, as well as invoices "so as to wrongfully inflate the cost of the project." They also allegedly decided to change "actual, bona fide sub-trade quotes and/or invoices" to increase the project cost and that all of these bogus documents would be approved. Kickbacks were woven in, as the group determined they would all receive "secret commissions and other benefits," the court documents say. The group also agreed on who else would receive these payments Sheegl, his companies, and other unknown people "in return for their participation and complicity in the scheme," the city says. --- The City of Winnipeg's case is based, in part, on a paper trail. "It is hard for me to imagine why there isn't a public inquiry. We're talking about millions of dollars in public money and taxpayers want answers." Todd MacKay, prairie director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Sheegl agreed on Dec. 10, 2010, to meet with Armik Babakhanians and Anderson at Caspian's headquarters. Six days later, Sheegl sends Babakhanians what he calls "a blind copy of a confidential email. Please be careful with it. It's part of my strategy to get this done for you." Later, Babakhanians emails Sheegl saying: "We really want this project." He receives the response: "I know and you know I will do everything I can to help us all succeed here together." Armik Babakhanians (Trevor Hagan / Free Press files) Caspian and Akman submit a proposal to the city's bid request on Jan. 18, 2011. Less than a month later, the city chose this "joint venture" bid, with Caspian ultimately being assigned the sole contractor June 14 after Akman backed out. Just a month after Sheegl was promoted to CAO in May 2011, he chose, without a competitive bid process, Dunmore and hired Abouzeid as the project director to help the city create a guaranteed maximum price contract. Sheegl and Abouzeid then began negotiations with Armik and Shaun Babakhanians, which resulted in Caspian bringing to the city a proposal for a guaranteed maximum price of $137.1 million. Nine days later, Caspian sent a $200,000 cheque to one of its subcontractors, Mountain Construction, which is also named in the city lawsuit. About the same time, Mountain sent a $200,000 cheque to Sheegl-controlled company FSS. Armik Babakhanians also paid Sheegl, or an Arizona corporation owned by Sheegl, $327,000 for a partial interest in a property. Four months later, Sheegl, acting on the city's behalf, awarded the construction contract to Caspian. The City of Winnipeg now believes it was persuaded to choose Caspian after kickbacks were paid to Sheegl and his companies, as well as other unknown people. While the construction costs went over budget during the five years of work, eventually hitting $210 million, the city says the original guaranteed maximum price was already "wrongfully inflated." That includes the updated agreement, signed in December 2013, which raised the cost of the project to $156 million because of changes the city wanted, and even the work done after the building was damaged by flooding caused by heavy rain in August 2014. Some invoices were small, but they left a trail. Caspian submitted a bill for work done by McEwen Brothers for a total of $21,061; an original bill from McEwen shows the work cost $10,035. The word "true" was handwritten on the original bill; "inflated" on the higher bill. Sheegl, acting on the city's behalf, awarded the construction contract to Caspian. (John Woods / Free Press files) The damning scenario painted by the city alleges participants decided they would create fraudulent and inflated subtrade quotes, as well as invoices "so as to wrongfully inflate the cost of the project." Similarly, an original bill from Wolfrom Engineering for $3,910 was labelled "true," but a second submitted bill for $15,290 said "inflated". And while Tiger Ventures, which performed some of the demolition of the building for Caspian, said it charged $2.3 million for the work, Fabca submitted invoices totalling $20.7 million for demolition work. (The city does say it doesn't know if other companies could have been involved in the demolition as well.) Invoices also came in, and were paid, for renovation work which was later believed to have been done to the homes of both Armik and Shaun Babakhanians. According to the city's statement of claim, at some point during the construction, a total of roughly $400,000 was paid in kickbacks to Winnipeg-based Triple D Consulting Services, a company whose president and owner was Anderson (Caspian's office manager), as well as consulting companies owned by AAR employee Peter Chang and GRC Architects employee Patrick Dubuc. The city believes kickbacks were paid to unnamed others, as well. In the end, the City of Winnipeg is left with not knowing at this time whether it was the alleged scheme that pushed the project's costs wildly over budget, or whether the original budgeted figure was already inflated. "This is one of the items we hope to gain further clarity on as part of our legal action," civic spokeswoman Felicia Wiltshire said Friday. 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. Todd MacKay, prairie director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said he can't understand the province's motive for not calling a public inquiry. "It is hard for me to imagine why there isn't a public inquiry. We're talking about millions of dollars in public money and taxpayers want answers," MacKay said. "These types of boondoggles are expensive, so at least you need to get answers so it won't happen again." However, MacKay said he is at least glad a lawsuit has been filed. "We need our elected officials to stand up for taxpayers money and Mayor (Brian) Bowman seems to be doing that," he said. "It would be nice if the province joined in hand." kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca They recently returned from a blended family vacation to Aspen, Colorado. But the outings continued for Chris Martin and girlfriend, Dakota Johnson, 30, on Friday, enjoying a casual date night at the movies. The on-and-off duo were spotted at a Calabasas movie theater with the 42-year-old's son, Moses, 13. Family outing: Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson were spotted spending some time with his son Moses, 13, at the movies in Calabasas on Friday night Chris dressed casually in a black zipper hoodie on top of a white T-shirt. He teamed the look with black track pants, sneakers, and accessorized with a matching monochrome cap. Dakota walked arm-in-arm with her man during the outing. Casual: Chris dressed casually in a black zipper hoodie on top of a white T-shirt The Fifty Shades actress dressed very similarly in a black hoodie and joggers combo. She opted for Gucci sneakers and accessorized with a pair of thick framed glasses. Dakota's brunette hair was styled out naturally and she appeared to be wearing very little to no makeup. Moses walked along with the adults in a brighter colored hoodie and lighter trousers. Father-son-time: Chris was a doting father as he walked with his arm around Moses's shoulders Not seen with them was Chris' eldest child, daughter, Apple, 15. He shares both his kids with ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow. Chris, Dakota, Gwyneth, 47, her new husband, Brad Falchuk, 48, and the kids all enjoyed a ski trip together in Colorado to ring in the New Year. While Chris and Gwyn called time on their relationship back in 2014 and finalized their divorce two years later, they remain to be very close friends. Gwyneth revealed in 2018 that she talks to Chris 'every single day.' She told ES Magazine at the time that while their 2016 divorce was 'difficult', they were not in a great place. Close: Gwyneth has previously confessed she still speaks to her ex-husband every single day (pictured January) Pals: Chris is very close friends with his ex wife, Gwyneth Paltrow's new husband, Brad Falchuk 'I think we've managed to really stay a family,' she told the publication. 'Chris is a very close friend. I see him every day, I talk to him every day. And it [the divorce] was very difficult, but I think you see in the children that they got through it, so I am proud of us, I really am.' She continued to celebrate the fact that they had managed to put their children first through the tough time. 'We kept to our commitment that we would put the children first.' Her confession comes after the Goop founder rang in 2019 in the Maldives with her kids, Chris, Dakota, as well as her new husband Brad Falchuk and a group of family friends. 'It was a very modern honeymoon,' actress turned lifestyle guru Gwyneth laughed as she was interviewed on Live With Kelly and Ryan in January. The modern family all jetted out before Christmas and spent the festive break altogether. Gwyneth and Chris tied the knot in 2003, but later announced their separation, telling fans they were 'consciously uncoupling' in 2014. The Coldplay frontman has been dating Dakota on-and-off since 2017. I was conscious of the Greek historian Thucydidess prompt to write the history of which you are a part. Philip K. B. Lundeberg was a 22-year-old ensign when a U-boat torpedoed his ship, destroyer escort USS Frederick C. Davis. It was the last U.S. Navy warship lost in the Battle of the Atlantic. Only three officers and 74 sailors from a crew of 192 survived. The experience proved seminal for the budding historian. Studying at Harvard after the war, Lundeberg collaborated with historian (and rear admiral) Samuel Eliot Morison on a book in Morisons classic 15-volume History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Lundeberg went on to teach at Minnesotas St. Olaf College and at Annapolis before joining the Smithsonian as its curator of armed forces history. A curator emeritus at age 96, Lundeberg reflects here on cheating death to launch a career teaching millions about American naval history. He died on October 3, 2019, as World War IIs February 2020 issue was being completed. Phil Lundeberg at age six, with a model ocean liner. A pivotal experience during World War II gave direction to his lifelong interest in naval history. (Smithsonian Institution Archives, Negative number SIA2007-0162) Phil Lundeberg at age six, with a model ocean liner. A pivotal experience during World War II gave direction to his lifelong interest in naval history. (Smithsonian Institution Archives, Negative number SIA2007-0162) What was your preparation for serving aboard Frederick C. Davis? While I was an undergraduate at Duke University, I went into the U.S. Navy V-12 College Training Program. I graduated Duke in February of 44, then got orders to New York Naval Reserve Midshipmens School at Columbia University. I was there for four months, studying when I should have been eating in order to get through. After midshipmens school, I was sent to Miami, to the Sub Chaser Training Center, and then to the Fleet Sonar School in Key West. I went aboard Frederick C. Davis at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in November of 44. I discoveredtypical of Navy experiencethey already had a sonar officer, so I ended up being assistant first lieutenant and damage control officer. Its crew was a gung-ho group. The people I worked with were the rugged boys of the deck force, known as deck apes. The engineers were snipes; the people in communications were bridge pussies. What was the ships mission when it was attacked? The ship had returned stateside in September 44 after heavy fighting in the Mediterranean. There had been newspaper reports about the threat of German rocket missile attacks on New Yorkvengeance attacks; New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia warned his citizens about this. The U.S. Navy said the attacks could come from long-range aircraft or from disguised merchant ships or submarines. The navy laid on Operation Teardrop. This involved two huge barrier groups positioned north to south across Atlantic sea-lanes. Each consisted of 20 destroyer escorts and two escort carriers to intercept suspected U-boats coming from Norway. The Germans had dispatched nine U-boats, in the latestand finaliteration of Operation Seewolf: not a rocket mission but an effort to reestablish the U-boat offensive in American waters. Three U-boats had already been sunk when we encountered U-546 in the mid-Atlantic, northwest of the Azores, on April 24, 1945. Lundeberg aboard the USS Frederick C. Davis shortly before it was torpedoed. (Courtesy of Phil Lundeberg) Lundeberg aboard the USS Frederick C. Davis shortly before it was torpedoed. (Courtesy of Phil Lundeberg) Where were you during the attack? I had been on watch the previous night, and wed been receiving radar and sonar contacts indicating sub activity in the vicinity. After my watch, I went down to the wardroom and slept on the couch. My friend Bob Minerd, a classmate at Columbia, said: Phil, why dont you go back aft and get some real sleep? I did and was sleeping directly over the ships screws [propellers], which is where the torpedoan acoustic, sound-homing torpedonormally would have hit. Why didnt it? Well, our ship had come around to investigate this particular sound contact. The torpedo headed for the screws, but because the boat turned, it hit midships. The ship jackknifed. There were three of us in the after officers quarters; two of us survived. Bob Minerd was the only officer up forward who made it. What did you do next? I started trying to dog down watertight doors and checked depth charges to make sure they wouldnt explode. The ships decks were soon awash. When I abandoned ship, I literally walked into the water. I managed to get out to a life raft. We had a lot of injured people. Nobody sat; youre holding onto loops on the side of the raft, and youre lucky to have your head out of the water. A couple of the depth charges went off and everybody got a blast up their rectum. We were in 40-degree water for about two hours, most of us in shock. The other ships in the barrier group had to deal with the U-boat before rescuing us. It turned out there was a second U-boat in the area; if that U-boat had been as aggressive as U-546, none of us would have been picked up. I was finally rescued by the destroyer escort USS Hayter. We survivors were taken back, ultimately, to Boston. So, you lived some momentous history before studying, writing, and teaching it. Yesbut I also grew up on the academic circuit. My father, Olav Knutson Lundeberg, was a teacher of Romance languages. In 1931, he was called down to Duke University, and he spent the rest of his career teaching there. I was very fortunate being at Duke. I came out of the service and went back to Duke for graduate school. I completed a masters degree in history and ended up going to Harvard for a doctoral program. The historian Samuel Eliot Morison, who had returned to teaching there after serving in the navy, liked a paper I did on naval engagements off the Chesapeake Bay in 1779 and 1781. I was still in the Navy Reserve, so I asked if I could have two weeks duty in his office in Washington to do a monograph on Operation Teardrop. His staff liked the study so much they persuaded me that I should do my dissertation on the latter half of the Battle of the Atlantic. I had taken German at Duke and Harvard; I did the detailed research that would end up in Morisons series in Volume X: The Atlantic Battle Won, May 1943-May 1945. I worked as someone who had survived and had information as a participant. I was conscious of the Greek historian Thucydidess prompt to write the history of which you are a part. What was your impression of Morison? Morison was one of the most amazing American historians we had in the last centurya tremendously prolific historian and writer. I had interesting experiences with him. For example, in concluding Volume X, Morison came up with the characterization that Hitlers navy died with a whine and a whimper. I said, Wait a minute. Admiral, the German navy in World War II that I encountered was fighting to the bitter end, even knowing that the war was over. He accepted that and came up with a more felicitous assessment. Lundeberg collaborated with admiral and historian Samuel Eliot Morison (center, above); Lundeberg is second from left. (Smithsonian Institution Archives/Accession 008-003, Box 1/Philip K. Lundeberg Papers) Lundeberg collaborated with admiral and historian Samuel Eliot Morison (center, above); Lundeberg is second from left. (Smithsonian Institution Archives/Accession 008-003, Box 1/Philip K. Lundeberg Papers) What was your direction after Harvard? I realized that I should be doing naval history, so I joined the faculty of the Naval Academy. I enjoyed teaching midshipmen a great deal because they were well-rounded young people. Eventually, I got word from Morisons assistant that Morison thought I should pursue a job in naval history at the Smithsonian. That was in early 1959. The idea of doing armed forces history in a national historical museum appealed to me. Fortunately, I came into a staff that was made up entirely of people who had been in military service. We had a basis of appreciation for our subject that was personal, which made for a unique camaraderie. From a historians perspective, how do you reflect on your experience aboard Frederick C. Davis 75 years ago? The sinking of my ship is an example of what I call a microhistory: the documented experience of survivors of a terminal event like the sinking of a ship or the wiping out of a battalion. Survivor interviews and memoirs create a core of information that captures the popular imagination. But they also create questions, new angles, new sources, new insights for historians. They help achieve understanding. This article was published in the February 2020 issue of World War II. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Ramakrishna Mission during his two-day visit to West Bengal to mark Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary on January 12. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Ramakrishna Mission during his two-day visit to West Bengal to mark Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary on January 12. "I am excited to be in West Bengal today and tomorrow. I am delighted to be spending time at the Ramakrishna Mission and that too when we mark Swami Vivekananda's Jayanti. There is something special about that place," PM Modi stated a tweet. In 1897, after preaching Vedanta extensively in America and Europe, Swami Vivekananda had established the Ramakrishna Mission with the twin ideals of "Atmano Mokshartham Jagad hitaya cha", i.e. "for the freedom of the self and for the good of the world". The first monastery was built in a small rented house near Kolkata. The Prime Minister, however, rued the fact that late Swami Atmasthananda, who was the 15th president of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission, will not be there during his visit. "There will be a void too! The person who taught me the noble principle of 'Jan Seva Hi Prabhu Seva', the venerable Swami Atmasthananda Ji will not be there. It is unimaginable to be at the Ramakrishna Mission and not have his august presence!" he said. Swami Atmasthananda, who took his last breath in 2017, had encouraged PM Modi to join politics. In his youth Modi reportedly wanted to become a monk, he was advised otherwise by Atmasthananda. Modi had expressed grief when he passed away. "The demise of Swami Atmasthananda Ji is a personal loss for me. I lived with him during a very important period of my life," Modi had said following his demise. Prime Minister Modi will be inaugurating a light and sound show in Kolkata at the Millennium Park on Saturday evening. He will also unveil a plaque of 150 years of commemorative installation at the site of original Port Jetties and will inaugurate the upgraded ship repair facility of Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock along with other inaugurations on Saturday. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is at loggerheads with the centre over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and has targeted Prime Minister Modi over it, is likely to share the dais with him at an event here today. Local fashion to take bigger strides with CFC View(s): Launched just before Christmas, the Colombo Fashion Council (CFC) aims to promote, inspire and represent the best fashion and design talents in Sri Lanka to reach greater heights. With the number of students pursuing fashion as a career growing rapidly, an increasingly innovative fashion industry has opened up. CFC aims to pave the way for the industry to tap into these potential talents and encourage them to develop their skills. The Colombo Fashion Council will comprise industry powerhouses and role models who have made significant contributions in their diverse fields of expertise in fashion. Secretary Sri Lanka Apparel Brands Association and, the CEO of LiCC Jeans Yasotharan Paramanathan, senior fashion consultant Damayanthi Wedage, designer Indi Yapa Abeywardena, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett, Ransley Burrows, Director Programming of TV Derana, Sharmila Dharmarasa Fonseka, choreographer and pageant trainer Brian Kerkoven, model Chulpademendra (Chula), fashion photographer Dylan Seedin and fashion marketer and President of Colombo Fashion Council Prassanna Pathmanathan comprise the CfC team. If one is passionate about fashion and desires to work in the fashion industry, they need to not only be creative and artistic, but also well educated. CFC offers services such as knowledge acquisition and sharing, fashion incubation and promotion as well as fashion training and consultancy, Prasanna said. CFC hopes to hold annual fashion shows and contests, both locally and internationally, as well as rewarding talents by offering sponsorships, job opportunities and publicity within the industry. Additionally, CFC hopes to organise initiatives that include introducing international fashion shows and events, award ceremonies, while showcasing the Sri Lankan talent of models and fashion designers to compete on the international stage. CFC offers 3 membership categories Student, Associate and Lifetime membership. Members will be provided benefits including invitations for seminars, workshops and training, opportunities to apply for international collaborations through the Council, facilitation to attend international conferences on trends, design techniques, price benefits on business consultation, branding and market research as well as facilitation for co-branding with other local and international fashion brands. For more see www.colombofashioncouncil.lk DUBLIN (BCN) A judge on Thursday suspended the criminal proceedings against a San Francisco man charged with murder for the fatal stabbing of a 49-year-old man on a BART train at the transit agency's South Hayward station in November. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Stuart Hing issued his ruling after defense lawyer Mark McGoldrick expressed doubt about the mental competency of Jermaine Brim, 40, who is charged in connection with the death of 49-year-old Oliver Williams of Oakland on Nov. 19. Brim is scheduled to return to court on Monday for a mental competency hearing before another judge, Superior Court Judge Michael Gaffey. Another major development in Brim's case on Thursday is that the Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed an amended complaint in which it added the special circumstance of committing a murder during an attempted robbery to the charges he already faced. McGoldrick objected to the amended complaint but Judge Hing allowed it to be filed. If the court appoints psychiatrists to examine Brim and they agree he is incompetent to stand trial he would be placed in a state mental institution to get treatment aimed at restoring his competence. If Brim is restored to competence he could still stand trial at a later date. If he's convicted of murder with special circumstances he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. BART police said Brim, who had walked away from a San Leandro hospital sometime before the stabbing, and Williams got into a physical confrontation at about 1 p.m. on Nov. 19 after Brim tried to steal shoes from another passenger who apparently was asleep and Williams intervened when he saw the attempted theft. Police said Williams produced a knife during his confrontation with Brim but Brim was able to control the knife and allegedly used it to stab Williams multiple times. Williams suffered multiple stab wounds to his neck and was pronounced dead at 1:09 p.m. on Nov. 19. At about the same time Hayward police notified BART police that a man matching the description of the suspect had been spotted near Tennyson Road and Mission Boulevard, near the South Hayward station, BART police Officer Ronald Rodriguez wrote in a probable cause statement. Witnesses told police that the stabbing suspect, who hadn't yet been identified, was trying to wash blood off his body and clothing at a gas station at Tennyson Road and Mission Boulevard, according to Rodriguez. The suspect then ran over to an auto dealer next door, grabbed the keys for a car from salesman Steven Castro and attempted to steal the vehicle, but it didn't start, Rodriguez wrote. He then ran into the street, stopped a vehicle and tried to take that car but was unsuccessful, Rodriguez said. Officers were then able to arrest and identify Brim. A BART spokesperson said Brim had been labeled as a "missing person at-risk" after disappearing from the San Leandro hospital but didn't say when Brim left the facility. In addition to murder with special circumstances, Brim is charged with attempted second-degree robbery for trying to steal property from Williams, second-degree robbery for taking property from an unnamed victim, attempted carjacking for trying to take the car from Castro and attempted carjacking for his second attempt to steal a car. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. A Chau Restaurant | Photo: Anh Tuan N./Yelp Craving Thai food? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Thai spots around Louisville, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to meet your needs. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1. Thai Noodles Photo: BRYAN A./Yelp First on the list is Thai Noodles. Located at 5800 Preston Highway, the Thai spot, which offers noodles and more, is the highest-rated Thai restaurant in Louisville, boasting 4.5 stars out of 175 reviews on Yelp. 2. Simply Thai PHOTO: SUZANNE B./YELP Next up is Rock Creek Lexington Road's Simply Thai, situated at 323 Wallace Ave. With four stars out of 370 reviews on Yelp, the sushi bar and Thai and vegetarian spot has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Sala Thai PHOTO: JOHN C./YELP Sala Thai, located at 8125 Bardstown Road, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Thai spot 4.5 stars out of 103 reviews. 4. A Chau Restaurant Photo: KHIEM L./Yelp A Chau Restaurant, a Vietnamese and Thai spot in Southside, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 78 Yelp reviews. Head over to 5103 S. Third St. to see for yourself. 5. Tea Station Asian Bistro PHOTO: TEA STATION ASIAN BISTRO/YELP Last but not least, there's Tea Station Asian Bistro, a local favorite with four stars out of 148 reviews. Stop by 9422 Norton Commons Blvd. to hit up the sushi bar and Chinese and Thai spot the next time the urge strikes. 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. A gospel choir sang Amazing Grace as hundreds gathered to remember Diane Ford, the mother of Premier Doug Ford and his late brother Rob, the former mayor of Toronto, following her death last Sunday at 85, following a battle with cancer. She was always the familys guiding light, the premier told mourners who braved heavy rain Saturday on their way into the Toronto Congress Centre on Dixon Rd. We never made any decisions without her. The funeral took place in the same convention hall where Ford celebrated his triumphant 2018 election victory, returning the Progressive Conservatives to power after 15 years in opposition. The crowd ranged from dignitaries including Lieutenant-Governer Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and former premier Ernie Eves to ordinary citizens; many toward the back of the cavernous room watched on giant TV screens. Ford said he was truly grateful for the turnout, sounding emotional at times during a 21-minute eulogy in which he also talked about his mothers passion for gardening and a heavy foot that landed her the occasional speeding ticket. There were Ontario cabinet ministers, MPPs and MPs from the major parties, Mayor John Tory, former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion, retired Maple Leafs star Tie Domi, Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique and veteran Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner, who bowed out of an appointment to the top OPP job last March amid controversy over his ties to the Ford family. Fords one-time chief of staff Dean French, who left the government last June in a cronyism scandal, was seen walking with campaign advisor Chris Froggatt after the service. Potential federal Conservative leadership rivals Peter MacKay and MP Erin OToole, who was representing outgoing federal Conservative Andrew Scheer, were also in attendance. Diane Ford, a mother of four and grandmother to 10, showed her stripes as matriarch even when she was in the emergency room after her son was elected last year, said Joe Gorman, director of public affairs at the new Humber River Hospital. It was all about, OK Doug, get to work I knew who the true boss of the Ford family was. Former premier Mike Harris paid tribute to her for nurturing the political careers of three generations not just sons Doug and Rob, but her husband Doug Sr., who was an Etobicoke MPP from 1995 to 1999, and grandson Michael Ford, now on Toronto city council after being a Toronto District School Board Trustee. When someone decides to seek public office, it becomes a family outing whether or not everyone likes it, or whether or not everyone wants it. Very few spouses and very few parents embrace their role like Diane did. Her support and advice, I know, served her family, her city and her province in a unique way, Harris said. Just imagine what she would have achieved if she had run for office herself. Harris credited her for remaining incredibly strong after the devastating loss of Rob to cancer in 2016 after his tumultuous term as mayor, during which she fiercely defended him despite repeated scandals over his alcohol and drug addiction. As a parent, we all have struggles and challenges with our children. But few have had to face those challenges in a public way that Diane did. She never wavered in her unlimited love and support for her children in particular, Harris added. I expect she was even more blunt in the privacy of her own home. Michael Ford praised his grandmother as a pillar of support, while Stephanie Ford, the daughter of Rob and Renata Ford, brought tears to some eyes by asking her grandmother to give a big kiss to poppy and daddy for me and thanking her for delivering school lunches with smiley face notes. The premier noted how his mothers sprawling backyard was the home for the annual Ford Fest for years and estimated she met and greeted as many as 250,000 attendees over the years. He fondly recalled a time years ago when she and Doug Sr. got wind of a secret party their children were planning at the house. The couple staked it out from a nearby plaza and returned to kibosh 45 minutes after the festivities began. Mom, I love you, Ill always love you. And thank you for everything youve done for us. Look after dad and Rob up there in heaven and I know the three of you are already planning Robs re-election campaign to be mayor of heaven. Read more about: If truth is the first casualty of war, dissent is the second. The United States has a long, ignominious history of attacks - both physical and rhetorical - on critics of its conflicts. Loyalists during the American Revolution were sometimes tarred and feathered. Southern sympathizers in the North during the Civil War were arrested and held without trial. Critics of America's involvement in World War I were arrested and deported. Anti-Vietnam War protesters were investigated and harassed by the FBI and attacked by police and blue-collar workers ("hard hats"). Such excesses were not repeated during the Iraq War, thankfully, but antiwar advocates were still routinely slandered. The most common claim was that opponents of the invasion were, as Glenn Reynolds (a.k.a. Instapundit) wrote, "objectively on [Saddam Hussein's] side, and not neutral." After Hussein's capture in 2003 - which was as celebrated as Qasem Soleimani's death is today - James Taranto of The Wall Street Journal claimed that "the Angry Left" was "pretty bummed." I was guilty of some over-the-top rhetoric myself. I wrote a strained opinion article in early 2003 arguing that antiwar protesters made conflict more likely by encouraging Hussein to hold out against U.S. demands. I now cringe when I read that column, because of course the antiwar protesters were right and I was wrong: The invasion of Iraq was a terrible idea even though Hussein was a terrible person who deserved what he got. Instead of learning from past mistakes, President Donald Trump and his unscrupulous supporters appear intent on repeating them by labeling all critics of his confrontation with Iran as traitors and supporters of terrorism. After Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., complained that he was not given advance notice of the drone strike that killed Soleimani, pardoned felon Dinesh D'Souza wrote, "Neither were the Iranians, and for pretty much the same reason." Trump then retweeted this vile suggestion that Democrats were equivalent to anti-American terrorists. This week, Trump claimed that "elements" of the Democratic Party are "openly supporting Iran" - another noxious falsehood. Both Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo falsely argue that the current crisis was created by President Barack Obama. Rep. Paul Gosar, R.-Ariz., jumped in with a Photoshopped image of Obama shaking hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani even though the two men never met. His defense: "No one said this wasn't photoshopped." What a license to lie! When he's caught, Gosar can simply say, "No one said this wasn't false." Competing for the title of the most dishonest McCarthyite in Congress are Rep. Douglas Collins, R-Ga., who said Democrats are "in love with terrorists" and "mourn Soleimani more than they mourn our Gold Star families," and Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., who accused Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., of being part of a "squad of Ayatollah sympathizers . . . spreading propaganda that divides our nation and strengthens our enemies." But while dismaying and appalling, their vile comments are hardly surprising coming from such rabid Trump apologists. We expect better from former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley. Fat chance. Seemingly eager to shred the last remnants of her dignity, she said: "The only ones mourning the loss of Soleimani are our Democrat leadership and Democrat Presidential candidates." This is offensive and false. What most Democrats actually said was that Soleimani's demise was a good thing (Joe Biden: "No American will mourn Qassem Soleimani's passing") before going on to raise well-warranted doubts about whether it's wise, as Biden put it, to toss "a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox." Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., admittedly, went over the line by comparing the killing of Soleimani to Russian President Vladimir Putin "assassinating dissidents." But Republicans have no standing to criticize him after giving Trump a pass for excusing Putin's killing of dissidents by saying, "You think our country's so innocent?" Likewise, Haley's lame defense of her indefensible statement ("Leading Democrats are aggressively arguing that we would be better off if Qasem Suleimani was still alive today. That is effectively mourning his death.") falls apart, as my Washington Post colleague Aaron Blake notes, because Trump expressed regret about Saddam Hussein's overthrow. Does that mean Trump mourned Hussein's death? And of course it's pretty rich that Collins accuses Democrats of dishonoring Gold Star parents when the only person who has insulted them is Trump. The Republican position seems to be that it's fine to attack and undermine a Democratic president in his conduct of foreign policy (as 47 Republican senators did in 2015 when they sent a letter telling Iran's leaders not to make a deal with Obama), but it's treason to question anything a Republican president does. Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs compared Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to Benedict Arnold for criticizing an administration briefing and said: "It is a shame that this country which is benefiting so much from this president's leadership does not understand their obligations to this leader who is making it possible." Theodore Roosevelt had a different view of what we owe the president. In 1918, he protested his successor Woodrow Wilson's attempts to criminalize wartime dissent: "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." So, by Roosevelt's definition, guess who is being "treasonable"? Hint: It's not Trump's critics. 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"The fire broke out in the around 5:00 am (0400 GMT) and killed six people," apparently residents of the home in the northwestern town of Oroslavlje, police spokesman Zoran Loncar told AFP. While there were no immediate reports of other casualties, police were still investigating, he added. Firefighters put out the blaze within an hour, the spokesman said. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic had travelled to the site, local media reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on Friday that the state will not accept any refugees this year, AP reports. Why it matters: Abbott is the first governor to take President Trump up on his executive order allowing state and local governments to block refugee resettlements. Other Republican governors have publicly welcomed refugees. In 2019, Texas received more refugees than any other state. Go deeper: Republican governors reject Trump's offer to ban refugees You know things are serious when Senior Royals in Buckingham Palace let it be known that they are hurt and disappointed over a decision made by one of their own. The revelation this week that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, intend to step back as senior royals and instead seek a way to become financially independent has received not only public challenge from the royal family but also a high degree of criticism from pundits and the press. The tone of reporting in the United Kingdom has felt very judgmental, with one of the main critiques being the couples lack of consultation with the wider royal family. However, over the past few months, the Sussexes have made no secret about their personal and professional struggles. In October, they issued an official statement in which the prince said he could no longer be a silent witness to his wifes private suffering. Markle continues to bear the brunt of the angry reaction, which some see as both misogynistic and racist. Despite the scandal over Prince Andrews relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the tabloids have nevertheless focused on her surprising choices: to wear jeans to Wimbledon; to ride on a jet with Elton John; or to guest edit Vogue magazine. The medias obvious problems in dealing with Markle as a progressive American woman of color with ideas and opinions is born out in the stinging criticism that has been directed at her over the step-down, in what some are calling Megxit. Prince Harry has been the first to compare the hounding of his wife to that of his mother, Princess Diana. He has made it clear that he cannot stand by and watch history repeat itself. This has led him to break protocol before, when he helped lead a campaign on mental health issues and opened up to his own need for counseling two decades after he lost his mother at the age of 12. Unsurprisingly, the general public has always had a great deal of sympathy for the prince. While there are some who are very critical of the couple for abandoning traditionaccusing them of dereliction of their taxpayer-funded dutiesothers like myself are more supportive of the Sussexes progressive stance. Their desire to prioritize one another, be financially independent, and champion causes close to their heart despite great sacrifice is praiseworthy. Many are hopeful that this will catalyze the modernization of the monarchy and facilitate it to further its positive contribution to the UKs and the Commonwealths public life. Christians should consider carefully our response to this latest episode with Harry and Meghan. The church and the royal family have more in common than we might at first imagine. Both are ancient institutions struggling with recent scandals of high-profile members failing to deal adequately with accusations of sexual abuse; accused of being biased against women and non-inclusive of people of color; and now apparently losing the allegiance of a new generation. For many years, the Barna Group has been analyzing generational engagement with churches. In his book, Faith for Exiles, David Kinnaman states that in 2011, 59 percent of young Americans who grew up Christian had stopped attending their churches. Less than a decade later, the number has now increased to 64 percent. Despite numerous initiatives to try and reverse the trend, we have not managed to sufficiently engage young adults with Christianity. This speaks to a major challenge to the mission of the church: for all the evangelistic initiatives, for all the church planting, for all the populist fears of immigration diluting the Christian populations majority, the biggest challenge to the Christian church is our inability to disciple our own children and help them transition from childhood faith to adult belief. Article continues below Harry and Meghans story highlights that transitioning tradition is not just a problem for the institution of the church. And like the royal family, the church needs to renegotiate how it holds on to the past and contextualizes for the present. For Christians, this necessarily involves working out the relationship between the unchanging gospel and our current culturea conversation that has been on the churchs agenda since the time of the New Testament, when the topics ranged from the eating of meat offered to idols to the question of circumcising Gentile believers. At the crux of these debates, Christians have had to wrestle with their own traditions and look behind and beyond them to discover what is essential to the gospel and what is culturally contingent. Too often we have been caught in the nexus that the great historian of Christianity, Jarislav Pelikan, expounded: Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. As Buckingham Palace has to ask the same questionsregarding what is essential to its identity, heritage, and mission in the worldI wonder if there is a living tradition that brings the best of what the royal family has to offer to serve our world today? One proposal may be the Queens Speech on Christmas Day. Millions of people across the UK have an annual tradition to tune in to the BBC broadcast at 3 p.m. on December 25th. And over the last few years, Queen Elizabeth II has been the most reliable of witnessesnever failing to point the British population to consider who Christ is and what he has done for us. (As viewers of The Crown on Netflix will understand, the queen has played a pivotal role in the UKs public life and her Christian faith has been enormously influential on her personally and professionally.) Although I believe there is still a place for the royal family and some of the values and traditions its members espouse, I also believe there should be room for a younger generation to forge its own path and bring its own strengthsand indeed weaknessesto a new form of leadership. Will it be possible for this new generation to use its talents to bring change, without having to face a crippling barrage of cruel criticism? Can that change hold onto the essence of the traditions, but recontextualize them for our day? I for one am cheering Harry and Meghan on. This young couple with a baby are facing a media storm of criticism and invasion of privacy, as well as public disapproval from their family, and need refuge and all the support they can get. I sincerely hope they can find this in the church. And I look forward to seeing how their decisions might help the royal family progress, and perhaps how it might even encourage the church as we Christians wrestle with important questions, champion new causes, inspire racial inclusion, and engage the new generation to lead our ancient institution into the future. Krish Kandiah is a UK-based speaker and author and founder of Home for Good, a fostering and adoption charity. Speaking Out is Christianity Todays guest opinion column and (unlike an editorial) does not necessarily represent the opinion of the magazine. At climate rallies last night, tens of thousands of people across Australia denounced the official response to the Australian bushfire emergency and called for the ousting of the federal Liberal-National Party Coalition government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The protests expressed the seething hostility of ordinary people to the refusal of successive Labor and Coalition governments to mitigate the impacts of bushfires, or to take any action to resolve climate change, the major contributing factor to the intensity of the current crisis. The rallies were held as fires continue to rage across vast swathes of the country. At least 26 lives have been lost, 2,130 homes destroyed and millions of hectares of bush and farmland burnt out. After decades of cuts to essential services, the fires have largely been fought by volunteers, while local communities are forced to deal with the fallout from the disaster themselves. Estimates of the rally attendance in Sydney ranged from 30,000 to 50,000. Tens of thousands demonstrated in Melbourne, despite heavy rain, while thousands more protested in Brisbane, Newcastle and other major cities. Protesters in Sydney In Sydney, high school and youth speakers pointed to various expressions of the crisis, including the deaths of potentially billions of animals and the unprecedented smoke haze blanketing the city. One young woman recounted her own familys flight from a blaze that almost destroyed her home. Speakers received the strongest response when they called for the removal of the government, denounced the dominance of the banks and the corporations over every aspect of social life and called for the development of a mass movement against climate change and environmental destruction. The organisers, however, including the Greens and the pseudo-left Socialist Alternative, sought to channel these sentiments behind impotent appeals to the parliamentary establishment. The Labor Party was mentioned just once, in passing. This was despite the fact that Labor leader Anthony Albanese has limited his public interventions to the most tepid criticisms of the Morrison government, in the interests of ensuring national unity. He has insisted on Labors ongoing support for the coal industry, which is responsible for massive carbon emissions. Labor, moreover, formed the federal government for 19 of the past 37 years. Between 2007 and 2013, the Labor governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard carried out sweeping austerity measures. Speaking in Melbourne, Greens member of parliament Adam Bandt limited the blame for the bushfire catastrophe to the coalition government, bemoaning the fact Scott Morrison ripped up the carbon price. The Gillard government, supported by the Greens, instituted a carbon tax, supposedly aimed at tackling climate change. In reality, under the governments own modelling, Australias carbon emissions were set to rise for decades to come. The march in Melbourne Nor did Sydney speakers mention the authoritarian demands from Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews for the protests to be cancelled, on the spurious pretext that they were diverting police resources from the bushfires. The reason is that the Greens, while occasionally posturing as an alternative, are campaigning for closer collaboration with Labor, including through the formation of coalition governments at the state and federal level. Federal Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi called for protesters to direct their attention to changing parliament, i.e., electing a Labor and Greens government which would not challenge big business and preside over continuing inaction on climate change. The Socialist Alternative speakers, who did not reveal their political affiliations, condemned big business and even capitalism. Their perspective, however, was limited to advocating more protest actions directed at placing pressure on the official parties. They spoke alongside the Greens, without mentioning that partys overtures to Labor, and hailed the corporatised trade unions, which have overseen the decimation of workers jobs and conditions. Campaigners for the Socialist Equality Party called for a turn to the working class, based on a socialist and revolutionary perspective. They explained that climate change and the bushfire crisis had revealed the incompatibility of capitalism with the most fundamental interests of ordinary people. To tackle the crisis, nothing less than the reorganisation of society, to meet social need, not private profit, was required. WSWS reporters spoke to some of the protesters. Arianna, a 23-year-old who works in childcare, attended the Sydney rally carrying a sign that read: My mothers property burned down while Scott [Morrison] was watching the fireworks. She told our reporters: My mother and her entire family is in Buchan [in Victoria]. She and her husband have lost a big part of their cattle farm. They will have to have the fences reconstructed. It will take years. Her mother-in-law has lost her home. Their house is insured but they cant insure the entire property because they cant afford it. The thing is that it takes so long to rebuild. By the time they rebuild, another fire season will have come along. My aunt has had to rebuild twice already. Theres no way to sustainably keep these communities going if this is the new normal. Arianna Arianna explained that her family has been unable to return to the farm to assess the damages, after it was burned before Christmas, because of the continuing fire danger in the area. So far all the support is coming from the community. Theyve set up centres where people can come and charge their phones and opened up their houses so that people can have showers and stay there. People who still have their fences are letting people keep their horses and cattle there. Their whole community is gone. I dont have any way to express my anger. My mums entire side of her family is down there. Theres really not any official support. The short answer to why the governments are doing nothing is greed. The rich and those in power have their own houses, their own air conditioners. They can fly away to Hawaii. Theyre not impacted. As long as they still have that money and power you cant kick them into showing empathy. Lauren (right) Lauren, a 22-year-old international relations and law student, explained: I chose this sign saying The many against the few because I think it speaks to the situation we are in. Its the big companies that are responsible for this. Its the few people who have the wealth that they want to protect, but the majority of working-class people value the environment more than being extremely rich. Abby Abby, who recently graduated from university in medical laboratory science, said: Lots of people come to these protests because were frustrated. There are conflicts of interest. I dont think its just Labor or Liberal. Its that Australian business depends so heavily on coal that it affects every aspect of politics. We have a lot of money for war and we dont have a lot of money for education and health. Its very frustrating. It seems that we are funding the wrong things and putting support behind the wrong things. Asked about the US threats of war against Iran, Abby stated: Unfortunately we have this close alliance with the US. What I feel really bad about is that the people in the Middle East are going to suffer even more. It shouldnt be their problem, its between a few people in the governments. They just need peace, and they want peace, but weve brought war to them. Theres a lot of fear-mongering and thats how the military keeps getting funded and supported. If China and Russia get involved, were all screwed. Its scary. Matt (left) Matt, a doctor, commented: The reason Ive come out is because Im completely disillusioned with how the government is handling the bushfire crisis. I think that we need to leadas people and citizensa push to renewable energy, because the government is entirely in the pocket of coal and energy businesses. I dont think theyre going to make any changes unless we push for it. I dont even think its about Scott Morrison, even though he is horrific. He just represents the entire institution that is regressive. I dont think Labor is any better either. We need more progressive politics. We need to send a message to all of the parties that we need more change. Asked about the health consequences of the crisis, Matt said: The medical fallout extends well beyond the impact of smoke from the recent bushfires. Global heating is completely changing the epidemiology of a lot of infectious diseases. Were facing an international housing crisis over the coming decades from rising sea levels. From a health spending perspective, the actual toll that we are going to see from climate change is unfathomable. Willow In Newcastle, 55-year-old retail worker Willow told the WSWS: Ive seen a huge change in my time. Im an environmentalist and I've been a Greens member for a long time but Ive become more dissatisfied with the parties out there and what theyre representing. The poor are not being represented. The rich are getting richer and richer, whilst the poor get more and more destitute. Its definitely time for a change. My eldest daughter just had to go onto the job seeker program. Shes a single mum and was one of those picked randomly to be cut off from government assistance, so her parenting payments stopped. She has major mental health issues and now shes expected to go out and look for all these jobs, which shes not going to find in this city. I want my kids to have a better future than what they are heading for right now. I want to start fighting for that better future for them. In Melbourne, WSWS reporters spoke to Tom and Declan, who are studying psychology and accounting at Monash and RMIT universities. Tom said: The problem does lie with the two-party system. There needs to be a complete overhaul. Labor and Liberal are the same party. Labor is gutless. They might say they stand for different things, but they never happen. Its time for a real change. Tom (left) and Declan (right) Asked about the governments announcement this week of some funding for the bushfire crisis, Declan said, Its too late. It should have been months and months ago in preparation for this. [The government] cutting funding for the fire services is such a joke. Tom added: Its negligence across the board and corporate interests. Morrison cut funding for food banks and now hes trying to take credit for them. The protesters held banners and cheered as dozens of police officers watched over the protest outside NagaWorld hotel and casino in Phnom Penh AFP/TANG CHHIN Sothy About 3,000 workers joined the rare walkout in front of the NagaWorld complex in the capital, one of around 100 casinos which have shot up - many in the last few years to serve a flood of Chinese customers - across the kingdom. The protesters held banners and cheered as dozens of police officers watched over the protest. The Hong-Kong registered owner, Nagacorp Ltd, has a 70-year lease on the casino and says it made a profit of US$245 million mainly from its Cambodia operations in the first six months of 2019. The company website boasts it is "one of the world's most profitable gaming companies" and enjoyed a turnover of US$1.4 billion in 2018. But workers, who earn between US$190-300 a month, say the rewards have not trickled down to them. "We are demanding a pay increase to US$500 a month for casino staff and US$300 for people who work in the hotel," trade unionist Chhim Sithar told AFP. The protesters are also demanding the reinstatement of a union president who was suspended by the company in September after she tried to protect a worker's rights. "The company made a huge profit in recent years," said Sithar, the suspended union official. Company management could not be reached immediately for comment. NagaCorp, which has the exclusive licence to operate in Phnom Penh until 2065, is building a third casino in the capital hoping to lasso in more VIP customers from China, who beat a ban on gambling in the mainland by going on overseas junkets. Cambodia is one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries and its citizens are officially barred from playing in the casinos. The country has a complex relationship with gambling. Over 60 have closed in southern Sihanoukville in recent months after Beijing asked its Cambodian ally to shut down online gambling by Chinese punters using the kingdom's casino's to bet for networks based in the mainland. Around 8,000 people have been laid off from their casino jobs in Sihanoukville, tens of thousands of Chinese gamblers have fled while some planned casinos have been left half-finished. Nope, this no sci-fi movie or some cheap video edit, it's just nature being at it's fascinating best. Samy Jacobsen, 41, was walking along the cliffs off Suouroy in the Faroe Island when he spotted an upwards flowing water column. Twitter Faroe Islands consists of 18 major islands and it falls under the Kingdom of Denmark and because of the rugged terrain, the climate in Faroe Islands remains windy, wet, cloudy, and cool. Samy Jacobsen filmed the vortex of spray climbing up the side of the 470-metre sea cliff, before billowing on to the clifftop. Exceptional video of the vortex forming along the cliff of Beinisvr - a 470 m high sea cliff, the highest sea cliff in Suuroy, the Faroe Islands on Jan 6th, 2020. We thank Helen Wang for the report, the video was recorded by her brother Samy Jacobsen - posted with permission. pic.twitter.com/FMALjZpvSt severe-weather.EU (@severeweatherEU) January 8, 2020 Greg Dewhurst, a senior operational meteorologist at the Met Office was quoted explaining,To us here in the operations centre it looks like a water spout (a spiralling pillar of air), which is a little like a tornado but it forms over the water. The cliff edge is helping to spin the wind around and we think this is why it forms quite quickly. The phenomenon occurs when a rotating column of air forms like a tornado over the sea or another body of water, and a cliff edge spins the wind in a circular motion. I have been a professional marine weather observer for 56 years having plied my work all over the world. I never observed this phenomena before...amazing...just amazing. Dick Crowell (@oldseadog46) January 8, 2020 As a result of this phenomenon a water spout, a whirling mass of fluid or air, is formed. Spouts generally occur in the tropics and subtropical areas. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, water spouts have the same characteristics as a land tornado. They are associated with severe thunderstorms and are often accompanied by high winds, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning. Kathmandu [Nepal], Jan 11 (ANI): The Central Committee Meeting of the ruling party - Communist Party of Nepal on Saturday evening decided to ask Deputy Speaker Dr Shivamaya Tumbahamphe to step down from the post. However, the meeting remained indecisive over who would be the House Speaker after the resignation of Krishna Bahadur Mahara following the accusation of attempted rape. "NCP has decided to stand in the fray for the post of House Speaker for which we will be asking Deputy Speaker Shivamaya Tumbahamphe to step down clearing up the way forward," Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Spokesperson of the ruling party NCP told reporters in brief. Shrestha did not mention about who will succeed over the post of House Speaker which has remained vacant for nearly three months. Deputy Speaker Tumbahamphe, on the other hand, has vowed to remain on the post ruling out any chance of resignation and is determined to chair the parliamentary meeting called for January 12. "I will preside tomorrow's parliamentary meeting as Deputy House Speaker. I will not resign from the post and I am not aware of the decision made by the Central Committee," Deputy House Speaker Tumbahamphe told ANI over the phone when asked about her response to the decision made by Central Committee Meeting held at Baluwatar on Saturday. This time the election for the Speaker is seen with much caution because of the constitutional provision which demands Speaker and Deputy Speaker to be representatives from different party and gender. "The election under clause (1) shall be so held that there is one woman as either Speaker or Deputy Speaker, and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be representatives from different parties," states the constitution. Outgoing speaker Mahara represented the then CPN (Maoist Center) and the current deputy speaker, Shivamaya Tumbahamphe, was from the former CPN-UML at the time of their election. Later, the two parties were merged to form the NCP. But the ruling party refused to make any changes to the two posts, arguing that they were no longer with any party as they had already resigned their party positions immediately after being elected speaker and deputy speaker. (ANI) London: The Queen has ordered that the row over the future roles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex be resolved within the next 72 hours amid speculation that Prince Harry could leave Britain as early as next week. The Queen, the Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of Sussex in 2018. Credit:AP The 93-year-old monarch told courtiers to solve the dispute by Tuesday evening, London time, ahead of Prince Harry's first public appearance since he and Meghan declared their intention to split from the royal family. The Queen has insisted the crisis should last no longer than the six days that elapsed between Prince Andrew's Newsnight interview and his stepping back from royal duties. The Queen also told courtiers to "turn a crisis into an opportunity" by producing a blueprint not only for her grandson and his wife, but future royal generations, in a move that affects Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, the children of Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. The intentions of the three ISIS-backed terrorists caught by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on Thursday were extremely dangerous. Syria is the stronghold of the ISIS. Zakir Naik, prime accused in carrying out several anti-national activities, has been living in Malaysia for many years after fleeing India. "Police teams of different states including Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana are interrogating the three militants arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police. The interrogation is underway in the presence of officers of R&AW and IB," a team member of Delhi Police Special Cell, who arrested the three terrorists during an encounter in northeast Delhi's Wazirabad, told IANS on Saturday. To nab the militants, five to six teams of Delhi Police Special Cell under Deputy Commissioner Pramod Kumar Singh Kushwaha were formed. The teams had been looking for the terrorists in Tamil Nadu and the Nepal-India border for the last few months. They also traced the calls of these terrorists many times. The well-trained terrorists did not stay in any city for more than two-three days, said sources. Sources said that the conversations about "Zakir Naik" and "Syria" alarmed the Delhi Police Special Cell teams. They arrested the IS terrorists in Wazirabad on Thursday. "Under influence of Zakir Naik, one of the arrested terrorists even shaved off his beard. They were planning a major terror attack in India to impress IS," a member of the police team told IANS on the condition of anonymity on Friday. The three suspects, identified as Khaja Moideen (52), Syed Ali Navas (32), and Abdul Samad (28), are also accused in the murder of KP Suresh Kumar, a Hindu leader. After being released on bail, they had fled in mysterious circumstances and wanted to get in touch with Zakir Naik and IS leaders. WASHINGTON Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered a triumphant message on Friday as the House moved on legislation, long sought by environmentalists, to force the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate toxic chemicals that can contaminate drinking water. The Trump Administrations E.P.A. is breaking its own promises every day that it delays and puts polluters ahead of the American people, she said before 24 Republicans joined all but one Democrat to pass the act, 247 to 159, on the chemicals, known as PFAS. In stark contrast, the House is taking action. But the measure, the PFAS Action Act, already has a veto threat looming over it, and its prospects in the Senate, like those of other House bills addressing environmental regulation and climate change, are slim to none. In the meantime, critical legislation passed in the Christmas rush last month was signed into law, with environmental provisions and climate change measures watered down or omitted altogether. If you really want to understand what Congresss true priorities are, you look at must-pass legislation you look at what they give up and what they double down on, said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York and one of her caucuss most outspoken climate advocates. And if you look at must-pass legislation, this Congress is engaged in climate denial. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Gordon Sondland swore under oath. To confirm the existence of an agreement between the Trump administration and Ukraine; to extortion -- the only way to describe that agreement. This is not debatable. Even Fox News (not Fox Commentary) has made facts crystal clear. The result. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats brought forward and successfully passed two articles of impeachment. What alternative did they have? Neither Democrats nor Republicans are happy. And my fellow Republicans in Congress are terrified. Why? Especially when evidence against Trump is overwhelming. It would seem a good many voters back home want Trump exonerated regardless of that evidence. After all, just look at the economy. And the flow of non-white people into the country is being thwarted. That is the crux of our problem. As long as the economy is good, many voters believe it just doesnt matter what the president does. Not too long ago. Trumps own lawyer William Consovoy argued to judges -- Trump can do anything. The president cant be investigated while in office. Consovoy argued Trump could murder someone on Fifth Avenue in New York without consequences. Trump is above the law. Think about that. What happens if that someone is you? And not in New York. On your own street. And its you and your family. Maybe because you opposed the president; or said something you shouldnt have. Happens in North Korea, Russia and elsewhere. Why not here? Oh, the rule of law you say. Not so. If the president is immune to prosecution. And not so. If we allow Trump to get away with extortion, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Pure and simple. All of this is frightening. We are heading off a cliff of no return when we Americans subvert the rule of law to anything or anyone, including a president who commits illegal acts. The way I see it, a full and fair investigation; continued as a Senate trial the way the Constitution outlines -- that is the only path forward, if we are to truly receive closure on this issue. The House heard from a pack of constitutional scholars and received a letter from 500 more. All made the case for congress to conduct a robust investigation. And after hearing from inarguably credible witnesses. And after reading Congressional reports, the clearer it becomes. Trump broke the law. Trump dangerously threatened U.S. interests abroad. These testimonies worried me about the stability of our relationships with foreign governments. We live in a dangerous world with dangerous weapons. Our country could be destroyed in a matter of minutes. I am particularly curious to hear what Ambassador John Bolton has to say. He is a crucial witness. And has offered to testify under oath to the Senate should they call him as a witness. Remember John Bolton is an exiled member of Trumps inner circle and is quite the warmonger himself. Regardless, it is clear that Trump is operating ad hoc without experience as his active bungling of the situation with Iran shows. Be damned the rules. I also do not understand. How or why Trumps personal lawyer is conducting our foreign affairs. Giuliani is not an ambassador. Was not appointed as such. Was not confirmed as such. Again. Trump and his cronies are not following our rule of law. Legal implications of Trump and Giuliani actions should not go unpunished. Our laws are not made lightly. We live in a democracy. Protected by those laws. Trump apparently believes otherwise. Only Congress, with our support, can keep Trump in check. Otherwise we are being penny wise and pound foolish. Ive been a Republican my whole life. But as any true conservative will tell you, that means Im an American first. The rule of law must not be taken lightly by any of us, especially our president. No doubt. Congress needs to save Trump from himself. And as the process heads to the Senate, Democratic and Republican Senators alike have a duty to America first. I implore each of them to do the right thing for country over political party. No matter where it ends up. Thats the job; even if it means personal sacrifice. Its clear to me, and undoubtedly to conservatives across the country, a failure to uphold the constitution at this moment in time will risk Americas future. Lets fix this problem now. The law is the law. I have come to believe that our president might have conveniently forgotten what it means to be the leader of the free world. If nothing else, Republican leaders in the Senate must take this moment as a timely opportunity to help him remember. Yes, Im a Republican. Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Shippensburg University trustee and founder of eLynxx Solutions. He can be reached at Bill.Gindlesperger@eLynxx.com Irans attack against two American bases in Iraq in retaliation for the US killing its top commander, Qasem Soleimani, left no casualties. The US president appeared calm on Wednesday when he said in a news conference that no US lives were lost and that the bases attacked in Iraq suffered only minimal damage. Donald Trumps speech was seen as the end of major tensions between Iran and the US. In return, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, declared a ceasefire in a tweet: Iran took and concluded proportionate measures. Trump, meanwhile, has not been pursuing a war that could reduce his chances for re-election. Trump ordered the assassination of an immensely powerful military commander whose name rang fear in the region and among allies of the US. Perhaps none of them can publicly cheer Soleimanis demise, but it goes without saying that privately they admired Trump for his action. For a number of reasons, not least its military shortcomings, the Islamic Republic could never confront America head-on. As a result, Iran decided to limit its attacks to the already vacated US bases in the same foreign country where its commander was assassinated. It has been reported that Iran informed US officials before the attack to make sure no American lives would be lost. Iran has other ways of seeking revenge and causing a nuisance for the US through the actions of its proxy militias in the region and threatening shipping from Bab-el-Mandeb to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, not to mention cyberattacks which could one way or another harm the US in the future. Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Show all 18 1 /18 Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People and rescue teams are pictured amid bodies and debris All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off, Iranian state media reported ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran One of the engines State news agency IRNA said 167 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft operated by Ukraine International Airlines Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work at the scene AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Passengers' belongings West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Members of the International Red Crescent collect bodies of victims EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work amidst debris AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran A relative of a victim reacts at Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Part of the wreckage Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Officials inspect the wreckage EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Even if Irans retaliation is not proportionate to the wrath and grief it feels, its fallout could amplify tension in the region and strengthen conservative and radical factions within the Iranian administration, perhaps even to the extent that a military figure might come to power in the upcoming presidential election. For Donald Trump, the assassination of Soleimani like the killing of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi before it counts as a major point scored as he heads into his re-election campaign. Trump can now say to his fellow Republicans and voters that he has not led America into a new war that despite significant tension with Iran, he managed to stick to his word. With Soleimani gone and Iran weakening, peace talks with the Taliban can resume and conclude quickly before the US election. Trump can ultimately claim that during his four-year term he has led America to better security and greener economic pastures. And thats what matters to the American voter. But for the Iranian people, the upshot of all this will be a more difficult life and further suppression in an increasingly authoritarian police state. Ayatollah Khameneis administration faces limited options. It is obvious that under the current circumstances, the Islamic Republic would never enter into negotiations with the US. It is therefore doomed to continue suffering under economic sanctions, which will put Iranians under further pressure as a result of which a new chapter in suppression will begin. Trumps envoy to the UN, Kelly Craft, has said that the US is ready to talk to Tehran with no pre-conditions. This position was repeated in Trumps Wednesday speech. But it is evident that Tehran will no longer deal directly or through brokers with a US presided by Donald Trump. To date, the people of Iran have paid the price of tension and differences between the two sides in economic hardship, humiliation, and diminishing spirits. Now, it seems that they will also be paying for Soleimanis blood. Since the generals assassination last Thursday, more than 200 people have been killed in related incidents. On Tuesday, more than 50 people lost their lives in a stampede during Soleimanis funeral in his birthplace, Kerman. And in the early hours of Wednesday, a few hours after Irans attack on US bases in Iraq, a civilian plane belonging to Ukraine airlines crashed on the outskirts of Tehran, killing at least 176 people 147 of them Iranian nationals, according to the Iranian authorities. While American, Ukrainian and Canadian officials soon said there is evidence that the plane had been hit by an Iranian air defense missile, Iran at first insisted the crash was caused by engine failure before eventually admitting it was indeed a missile strike. Such heartbreaking news can only add to Iranians grief and suffering. Soleimanis funerals, which officials had organised in various Iranian cities with the aim of gaining political advantage, fomenting mass resentment against the US and galvanising national unity, have largely fallen by the wayside in the wake of this attack against a civilian plane. The result is a confrontation with the international community as it seeks a transparent investigation into the incident. The crash has sent the Iranian administration into another crisis one in which Trump has played no role. Camelia Entekhabifard is the Editor in Chief of The Independent Persian From all the causes in this world to support... Reply Thread Link Im sitting this one out lmao, have fun everybody! Reply Thread Link I regret ever coming into this post, shoulda taken this comment and ran with it too lol. Reply Parent Thread Link What's the last thing you donated to, ONTD? I want links, share your charitable love! Edited at 2020-01-11 05:06 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link https://marinemammalcarecenterlosangeles.com/donate/ Marine Mammal Care Center is one of the few places in LA that treats injured seals/sea lions and their budget was just cut and theyre in danger of having to close if they dont raise enough. Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.raicestexas.org/ways-to-give/donate/ Donated to Raices as an x-mas present! Reply Parent Thread Link https://freedomservicedogs.org/ Edited at 2020-01-11 05:55 pm (UTC) donated to freedom service dogs in memory of a friends dad who passed right before the holidays. he was a veteran and the family has a service dog. Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.wires.org.au/donate/emergency-fund "Large areas of NSW and South East Queensland have been experiencing severe flying-fox starvation and dehydration events linked to the drought, this combined with heat stress emergency events over recent weeks, has already led to the loss of thousands of flying-foxes. With species such as Koalas and Grey-headed Flying-foxes already listed as vulnerable to extinction, the additional loss of life caused by emergencies like the fires and drought is even more devastating." Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation (WIRES) - Emergency Fund (due to the bushfires)"Large areas of NSW and South East Queensland have been experiencing severe flying-fox starvation and dehydration events linked to the drought, this combined with heat stress emergency events over recent weeks, has already led to the loss of thousands of flying-foxes. With species such as Koalas and Grey-headed Flying-foxes already listed as vulnerable to extinction, the additional loss of life caused by emergencies like the fires and drought is even more devastating." Reply Parent Thread Link I recently donated to this as well Edited at 2020-01-11 06:08 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/ planned parenthood action fund Reply Parent Thread Link well, I'm kinda poor. but I recommend donating to the Global Justice Center. Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.rainforesttrust.org/ Edited at 2020-01-11 06:28 pm (UTC) Rainforest trust Reply Parent Thread Link https://quickweb.westpac.com.au/OnlinePaymentServlet?cd_community=NSWRFS&cd_currency=AUD&cd_supplier_business=DONATIONS&action=EnterDetails NSW Rural Fire Service Reply Parent Thread Link I dont know what the last donation was (theyre mostly automatic withdrawals) but the next donation is for Planned Parenthood. Reply Parent Thread Link i mostly donate to some folks paypals when i can but autistic womens network https://awnnetwork.org/donate-to-awn Reply Parent Thread Link I'm a broke bitch, but around the holidays, I donate to https://resolve.org/ Reply Parent Thread Link Priorities Reply Thread Link good for them i guess Reply Thread Link If it encourages less men to sign up to kill brown people, good. Reply Thread Link Looks like it encourages people to creatively express their sad, sad feelings about signing up to kill brown people. Reply Parent Thread Link Mte Reply Parent Thread Link this Reply Parent Thread Link This is a really tone-deaf thing to say. The military preys on underprivileged people and then basically refuses to adequately treat their mental & physical injuries, but none of these people deserve to see a play or something? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i think its an opportunity to give these people an outlet, bc i know a lot of them are young, poor angry people that never considered there can be outlet to their feelings that doesnt involve violence. I dont really see a downside to this imo Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Maybe. However, Navy and Air Force personnel join for a plethora of reasons that don't involve combat, as a lot of the times, they (along with other personnel that enlist in the other branches) come from impoverished locations or from similarly bad backgrounds, simply trying to make a better life for themselves and/or their family. A large majority of the time, they have no idea that that's what's happening or are under this illusion by higher-ups that they're going to be ~American Heroes~ until it's too late. And when it's too late, they've already experienced taking a life or innocent lives, then place orders to leave, and depart with mental health issues acquired from being in the military along with shitty vet care. Or, they stay in, believing they'll let their family down if they leave, having no alternative for work, without any form of mental health aid. They can't just sit that shit out either, as they'd be imprisoned for it (or maybe worse). And when a minority (or impoverished person as well) is imprisoned, it's hard for them to get out of that cycle. Perhaps that's not what you meant, or perhaps you weren't talking about THOSE kinds of troops. Nonetheless, this would be a start to alternatives for people in the armed forces that have rage/anger issues that doesn't involve violence. Edited at 2020-01-11 06:00 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Uh. I guess. This just makes me hate him more. Reply Thread Link Haha Reply Parent Thread Link same Reply Parent Thread Link I really do spend too much time on Reddit. I thought this was related to AITA and was trying to figure out what the "F" was. Reply Thread Link LOL Am I the asshole, fucker? Reply Parent Thread Link Or Am I the Asshole Foundation To fund people trying to not be assholes. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link What an important cause Edited at 2020-01-11 05:30 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link thanks to whoever here mentioned his deranged subreddit, i can't look away Reply Thread Link Ikr? That's some Robsten level batshittery. Reply Parent Thread Link go on....i haven't been on ONTD in days Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.reddit.com/r/adamdriverfans/ they hate his wife and think he is in a secret relationship with Daisy? it's all very Robsten Adam called out on of them by name for being a creep! https://www.reddit.com/r/adamdriverfans/comments/dloq0d/a_message_from_the_mods_and_missuemisanthrope/ Edited at 2020-01-11 05:43 pm (UTC) they hate his wife and think he is in a secret relationship with Daisy? it's all very RobstenAdam called out on of them by name for being a creep! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Lmao what happened!!! Reply Parent Thread Link Same, they need to stop trying to drag Tom hanks into this mess and leave him alone Reply Parent Thread Link Same, its like a trainwreck. I just cant look away, those people are CRAZY. Reply Parent Thread Link He does have a sane subreddit, its just r/adamdriver. They regularly shit on the insane one. Edited at 2020-01-11 08:41 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link His stans are so weird. Reply Thread Link lol ANYWAY Reply Thread Link God she was so stunning in this movie. Reply Parent Thread Link Truly Reply Parent Thread Link definitely Reply Parent Thread Link SINCE FORMING a government in 2015, Polands right-wing populist Law and Justice party has systematically sought to neuter checks on its power, especially by the judiciary. Early on, it seized control of the Constitutional Tribunal; later, it revamped the system for choosing judges to give the party control, rather than judges themselves. Under pressure from the European Union, it has retreated from some steps, such as purging the Supreme Court. Yet now, having won reelection in October with 43 percent of the vote, Law and Justice is making another push to quash judicial independence. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 10:27:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Jan. 10, 2020 shows security members examine the blast site in Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Asad) A total of 14 people were killed and 20 injured in a mosque attack in southwest Pakistan. ISLAMABAD, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A blast hit a mosque in capital city Quetta of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Friday night, killing at least 14 people and injuring 20 others, a senior police officer said. The victims, including the deputy superintendent police of Quetta, were offering prayers inside the mosque when they were targeted by the explosion, Inspector General of Quetta police Abdul Razzaq Cheema told Xinhua. Sharing initial investigation reports with media, provincial Home Minister Zia Ullah Langau said that the blast was suspected to be carried out by a suicide bomber, adding that the security of mosques and other religious places have been beefed up in the province. The injured people have been shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta and several of them are in critical condition, the hospital's spokesman said. No group or individual has claimed the attack yet. Photo taken on Jan. 10, 2020 shows the damage inside a mosque following a blast in Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Str) Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the blast and directed hospital authorities to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people. He also sought a report of the incident from the relevant authorities, the Prime Minister's House said in a statement. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet that military troops have also joined the police in the search and rescue operation. "Every possible assistance be given to police and civil administration. Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim," the official quoted the country's army chief as saying. This was the second blast that hit the city in less than a week. Earlier on Tuesday, two people were killed and 18 others injured when an improvised explosive device was detonated near a security forces' vehicle in Quetta. A US military veteran had his prosthetic legs repossessed after the government department tasked with his care said they would not cover the cost. Jerry Holliman, 69, fought in both the Vietnam War as an 18-year-old specialist and volunteer, and in the Iraq War as a 53-year-old master sergeant, before being honourably discharged in 2010 after 40 years of service. But he told local newspaper the Clarion Ledger that a dispute over payment left him without the prosthetic limbs that would allow him to leave care and live independently in his own home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It was during his first tour he was exposed to Agent Orange the herbicide used by the US to kill vegetation which has been linked to a number of diseases suffered by soldiers who served in Vietnam. A survivor of both cancer and diabetes, Mr Hollimans right leg was amputated following a bout of gangrene in November 2018 while the left was taken the following April. He had hoped to regain his mobility in August when he received a pair of prosthetics from Hanger, a company with offices in Hattiesburg. 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 However, after attending rehabilitation through a nursing home and undertaking a few sessions with Hanger employees, Mr Holliman said he was told the Department of Veterans Affairs would not cover the cost of the prosthetics. The governmental wing had previously paid for him to have an electric wheelchair, but much of his home remains inaccessible for wheelchair users. On the day before Christmas Eve he was asked to sign paperwork for Medicare the federal health insurance programme for the elderly and people with disabilities while being told to put forward his own money as a co-payment. Instead, the veteran declined, saying the legs should instead be paid for by the VAs office in full. In response, a Hanger employee removed his legs. "Medicare did not send me to Vietnam," Mr Holliman told the newspaper. "I was sent there by my country ... with the understanding that if something bad happened to me, that it would be covered by the VA." The prosthetics were returned shortly after the veteran spoke to his local newspaper, according to reports, but he has since claimed the company will not make adjustments required so that he can use the legs properly adding that they are essentially useless to him without modifications. Meghan Williams, a spokeswoman for Hanger, said: It is our policy, in accordance with regulatory guidelines, to follow up with every patient we see and make necessary device adjustments through delivery and for at least 90 days afterwards. We are committed to empowering human potential, and want to see our patients regain their mobility and independence." Susan Varcie, a spokeswoman at the VA Medical Center in Jackson, said she could not comment on Mr Holliman's case due to privacy laws. Man gets 20 years rigorous imprisonment for step daughters rape India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Raipur, Jan 11: A fast-track court in Raipur has sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping his minor step-daughter. The court also awarded a similar sentence to the victim's mother for abetment to rape. Additional District and Sessions Judge (first fast track special court), Raipur Rajeev Kumar, convicted the 47- year-old man on Friday under section 376 AB (punishment for rape on woman below 12 years of age) and other relevant sections, special public prosecutor Morisha Naidu told PTI. Barabanki: 21-year-old gang rape victim hangs self; Mother says accused were pressuring her The court also imposed a fine of Rs 70,000 on him. General Naravane: Army ready to bring PoK into India if Parliament orders| OneIndia news His wife was convicted under IPC section 114 (abettor present when offence is committed) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court sentenced her to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and also slapped her with a fine of Rs 50,000, Naidu said. In her statement, the 10-year-old victim alleged that her step-father had repeatedly raped her between 2018 and April 2019 at their residence in Mana area. She also claimed that when she narrated her woes to her mother, she did not pay any heed. In April last year, the victim was shifted to a child home in Khamardih locality in Raipur by her mother. 23-year-old woman who set herself ablaze after filing rape complaint dies at Hospital The incident came to light in May 2019 after the girl narrated her ordeal to the superintendent of the child home during a counselling session, Naidu said. Subsequently, the child home's superintendent lodged a complaint with Pandri police station on May 5 last year, following which the case was transferred to Mana police station, she added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 11, 2020, 15:12 [IST] New Delhi: Six people were killed and 15 were injured in factory blast in Gujarats Vadodara on Saturday. The Vadodara fire department has sent a team of rescuers and fire engines at the spot. The factory is located in Padra area of Vadodra. As many as five ambulances are at the spot. Over dozen people have been successfully rescued from the blaze and rushed to a nearby hospital. The exact cause of the blast is being examined, the officials at the spot said. Out of 15 people injured in the factory blaze, seven people are said to be in critical condition. The rescue operation is still underway. Surat Blaze This is the second major incident of fire in Gujarat. On January 10, a head-on collision between a school bus and LPG tanker in Surat. However, a massive tragedy was averted as school children were rescued in time after a head-on collision with an LPG tanker in Gujarats Surat. The LPG tanker exploded after the crash and the bus also caught fire. But miraculously, all school students travelling in the bus were rescued in time. No loss of life or any injury were reported from the incident. The accident took place in early morning hours in Surats Olpad area when the LPG tanker crashed and overturned on the main road. The LPG tanker exploded due to the impact of the accident. the school bus also caught fire. But due to alertness of staff travelling in the bus, all school children were taken to safety immediately. Loud explosions could be heard from a distance. People are still in shock even as the fire department is trying to douse the massive flame. Coaching Centre Tragedy Last year, the city witnessed a massive fire that claimed 22 lives. A probe into the causes of devastating fire in Surat at a coaching class which claimed lives of 22 students highlighted various lapses on part of officials of the local municipal corporation as well as the builders. The probe also found that the structure where the coaching class was operated was prone to fire incidents. It had low ceilings, and tyres were used for sitting in place of chairs. The builders had hidden the fact that they had added fourth floor to the three-storey Takshashila Complex while seeking regularisation of the structure in 2013 by paying "impact fee". According to a top bureaucrat, the officials concerned did not conduct a physical inspection of the building before approving the proposal of the builder. The fire was triggered by a spark in the compressor of the air conditioner fixed between the first and second floors of the Takshashila Complex last Friday, and spread through a vertical display panel to the top floor with a dome structure where the coaching centre was located, as per a preliminary report submitted by Urban Development Department Principal Secretary Mukesh Puri to the state government Monday. Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-News VIA Metropolitan Transit will host a telephone town hall at 7 p.m. on Wednesday to listen to residents who wish to discuss the agencys new VIA Reimagined Plan, a 10-year program it is hoping will bring more, faster and smarter mass transit to the region. In a press release, VIA said it will host a series of tele-town halls throughout the year to inform the community about the details of the plan, including projects designed to create a better bus system, build an advanced rapid transit network, and develop smart transit solutions. Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan took to social media to laud Deepika Padukone for her stand in the JNU violence episode. He also spoke about Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa and said that despite harassment to his family he performed his duty. Rajan lauded both the personalities and said that for some people, truth, freedom and justice are not just lofty words but ideals worth sacrificing for in a Linkedin post. Without naming Padukone, Rajan said, "When a Bollywood actress registers her silent protest by meeting with the victims of the attack on JNU, even though she puts attendance at her latest movie at risk, she inspires us all to take stock of what is truly at stake." The movie he is referring to is her latest release Chhapaak, based on the life of acid-attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. In the blog post 'A Resolution for the New Decade', Rajan said that masked assailants running rampant and attacking students and teachers in one of India's leading universities is "worrisome". He also pointed out that the assailants were "entirely undisturbed" by the police. "When even elite universities become literal battlegrounds, accusations that the government is attempting to suppress dissent-even if by apathy rather than design-gain substantial credibility," he said. Talking about Lavasa whom he did not name, Rajan said, "When an Election Commissioner carries out his duties impartially despite the harassment it brings upon his family, he asserts that integrity has not been completely cowed." The former RBI Governor also applauded the protesters and said, "When young people of diverse faiths march together, Hindus and Muslims arm-in-arm behind our national flag, rejecting artificial divides stoked by political leaders for their own gain, they show that the spirit of our constitution still burns brightly." "These people show through their actions that they think truth, freedom, and justice are not merely lofty words, but ideals worth sacrificing for. It is they who are fighting today for the India that Mahatma Gandhi gave his life for. It is they, who never marched to win freedom, but today march to preserve it, who give us hope that Rabindranath Tagore's dream ..."into that heaven of freedom, My Father, let my country awake"... will continue to be a reality," said Rajan in the LinkedIn post. He said that our Constitution was not perfect but was made by individuals who faced the horrors of fratricidal partition and sought to bring out the best in a complex society. "What better resolution for the new decade than to re-dedicate ourselves to ensuring that this spirit burns strongly in each one of us? In these troublesome times, let us work together to make India that shining example of tolerance and respect that our founders envisioned, a beacon once more for a weary world. Let that be our task for the new decade," he said. Deepika Padukone received criticism and praise for standing in solidarity with protesting JNU students. As for Lavasa, soon after BJP came to power, investigations were initiated against five members of his family. Also read: Deepika Padukone visits JNU to express solidarity with students Also read: JNU Violence: Anand Mahindra condemns attacks on students; says culprits "must be traced and hunted down" A peace agreement with the Taliban would pave the way for the withdrawal of thousands of American troops from Afghanistan, a key campaign promise President Trump wants to keep. But the president and his commanders do not want it to appear as though they were being pushed out of Afghanistan by the Taliban or any other foe after 18 years of war. Following the incident, the health ministry advised people not to leave young children outside unattended. A baby froze to death in -7 degrees Celsius in Russia after his parents put him in a buggy to sleep and placed it in the balcony for five hours. Investigators have opened a criminal inquiry in to the death of the seven-month-old boy. According to local media report quoted in BBC, the boy was placed in the balcony to sleep in the fresh air in the far-eastern Khabarovsk region. While according to Russian news site Lenta, preliminary probe suggested the boy died due to hypothermia. Following the incident, the region's health ministry advised people not to leave young children outside unattended. Taking to Instagram, the ministry said: 'Always know where and with whom [your child] is. 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 is reported that in countries with colder climates, taking young children outdoors to sleep is not uncommon even during the winter as it is believed it can help avoid coughs and colds. (Photo: Peter Kenny / Ecumenical News)Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council Churches (L) and World Evangelical Aalliance general secretary, Bishop Efraim Tendero taking notes during a Nov. 4, 2015 meeting in Tirana, Albania. The World Council of Churches and the World Evangelical Alliance along with Pope Francis called this week for restraint and de-escalation to prevent the conflict between the United States and Iran worsening Iran had on Jan. 11 admitted that "unintentionally" shooting down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people on board in the dramatic events unfurling over the current conflict. On Jan. 3, the Geneva-based WCC urged "maximum restraint" following the U.S. air strike that killed General Qasem Soleimani, Iran's most prominent military commander at Baghdad airport in Iraq. Then in the aftermath of armed attacks by both the US and Iran, the WCC, whose member churches represent half a billion mainly Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant Christians, reiterated its call on Jan. 8 for "restraint and de-escalation" of the confrontation. "Further escalation and conflict between the United States and Iran can only serve short-term political interests, while threatening the permanent destruction of many lives, communities and precious cultural and environmental heritage," said WCC general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit. "I appeal to political leaders on all sides of this confrontation to put the interests of the people of the region ahead of their own interests, and to seek peace through dialogue and negotiation rather than confrontation." 'AGGRESSION BETWEEN US AND IRAN' On Jan. 10 from Deerfield, Illinois Bishop Efraim Tendero, the Secretary General of the WEA, serving some 600 million evangelicals, said it "deeply grieves the recent acts of aggression and violence" between the United States and Iran, in Iraq. "The WEA calls on the leaders of these countries, and their allies, to resist hostile rhetoric and to de-escalate the current crisis. We encourage dialogue that prevents further crises and leads to the removal of sanctions which disproportionally impact civilians," Tendero said in his statement. He noted that the violence playing out in Iraq further threatens the presence of Christians in the country, whose numbers since 2003 have drastically dwindled. "The protection of Christians and other religious communities in Iraq requires active support for peace and stability from the international community, and puts an onus on the United States and Iran to pursue de-escalation and dialogue. "Guided by our belief that each human bears the image of God and enjoys inherent dignity, and pursuant to our scriptural responsibility to be ambassadors of reconciliation, we further call on all citizens worldwide, especially evangelicals, to express political and ideological differences in a manner that does not demean, denigrate or de-humanize," said Tendero. He said, "Through prayer and peacemaking, we will continue to work for peace on earth, as it is in heaven." In his annual address to members of the diplomatic corps at the beginning of the New Year, Pope Francis said the heightening of tensions between Iran and the United States "risks... compromising the gradual process of rebuilding in Iraq, as well as setting the groundwork for a vaster conflict". "I therefore renew my appeal that all the interested parties avoid an escalation of the conflict and keep alive the flame of dialogue and self-restrain in full respect of international law," The Associated Press reported. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 20:04:29|Editor: ZX Video Player Close People light candles during a mourning ceremony for the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash, in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 11, 2020. On Wednesday, a Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane crashed near Tehran, killing all 176 people onboard. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the aerospace commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said Saturday that the IRGC accepts responsibility for the crash of the Ukrainian plane over Iran's airspace. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua) TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the aerospace commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said Saturday that the IRGC accepts responsibility for the crash of a Ukrainian plane over Iran's airspace. "We accept full responsibility for this act (shooting down the plane), and we will obey and carry out what decisions the authorities will make," Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. The Iranian commander said that since Iran was on "high alert" on Wednesday because of the U.S. threats of possibly hitting 52 spots in the country, the operator of the missile launch site was concerned about a possible "U.S. cruise missile." The passenger plane was mistaken for a "U.S. cruise missile," Hajizadeh said, adding that the missile operator also encountered some communication problems and "he made a bad decision, triggered the missile and hit the plane." Hajizadeh denied that some authorities, including those in the Iranian Aviation Organization, attempted to "hide" the truth. "They made comments based on their own knowledge," he said. Hajizadeh added that "the Iranian armed forces and the IRGC did not want to hide the truth either." On Wednesday, a Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane crashed near Tehran, killing all 176 people onboard. Iran's armed forces on Saturday admitted that the Ukrainian plane was "unintentionally" hit by Iran and "human error" was to blame. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: The black box of the Ukrainian passenger plane, crashed near the city of Parand in Iran's Tehran province on Jan. 8, will be sent to France to be deciphered, the Director General of the Accident and Incident Investigation Office of Iran Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) Hassan Rezaifar said, Trend reports via IRNA. Although all the possible ways have been tried to decipher the black box, it turned out impossible due to the lack of technology in Iran for such modern aircraft, Rezaifar said. Therefore, the black box could be damaged if opened in Iran, he added. Appeals were made to Canada and the US to send the necessary equipment to decipher the black box to Iran, but they turned them down, Rezaifar said. The CAO official noted that France has been chosen to send the black box, due to the fact that Iran has cooperation agreement with this country on deciphering black boxes. The Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) flight crashed just minutes after takeoff from Tehran on Jan.8, killing all 176 people on board. The Boeing 737-800 was headed for Kyiv, where 138 passengers were expected to take a connecting flight to Canada. Iran's Armed Forces General Staff issued a statement on Jan. 11 saying that the aircraft was shot down by the Iranian Air Defense System. Is Novo Nordisk A/S (CPH:NOVO B) 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 your dividends, it's important to be more stringent with your investments than the average punter. Regular readers know we like to apply the same approach to each dividend stock, and we hope you'll find our analysis useful. While Novo Nordisk's 2.1% dividend yield is not the highest, we think its lengthy payment history is quite interesting. The company also returned around 1.6% of its market capitalisation to shareholders in the form of stock buybacks over the past 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 CPSE:NOVO B Historical Dividend Yield, January 10th 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. Novo Nordisk paid out 50% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. This is a fairly normal payout ratio among most businesses. It allows a higher dividend to be paid to shareholders, but does limit the capital retained in the business - which could be good or bad. In addition to comparing dividends against profits, we should inspect whether the company generated enough cash to pay its dividend. Novo Nordisk paid out 53% 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 positive to see that Novo Nordisk's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. Story continues With a strong net cash balance, Novo Nordisk investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective. Consider getting our latest analysis on Novo Nordisk's financial position here. Dividend Volatility Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. Novo Nordisk 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 declined on at least one occasion over the past ten years. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was 1.20 in 2010, compared to 8.15 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 21% per year over this time. Novo Nordisk's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 21% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth. Novo Nordisk has grown distributions at a rapid rate despite cutting the dividend at least once in the past. Companies that cut once often cut again, but it might be worth considering if the business has turned a corner. Dividend Growth Potential With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share (EPS) are growing - it's not worth taking the risk on a dividend getting cut, unless you might be rewarded with larger dividends in future. It's good to see Novo Nordisk has been growing its earnings per share at 12% a year over the past five years. Novo Nordisk's earnings per share have grown rapidly in recent years, although more than half of its profits are being paid out as dividends, which makes us wonder if the company has a limited number of reinvestment opportunities in its business. Conclusion When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. Novo Nordisk's is paying out more than half its income as dividends, but at least the dividend is covered by both reported earnings and cashflow. We were also glad to see it growing earnings, but it was concerning to see the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. While we're not hugely bearish on it, overall we think there are potentially better dividend stocks than Novo Nordisk out there. Companies that are growing earnings tend to be the best dividend stocks over the long term. See what the 24 analysts we track are forecasting for Novo Nordisk 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. DETROIT After almost two years in Mexico, Jorge Garcia whose deportation in January 2018 became a national story after a Free Press report is back home in Michigan. Garcia, 41, arrived at Detroit Metro Airport last month on Christmas Day, hugged by his two children and wife shedding tears of joy, his family members said. "I'm really happy" to be back, Garcia, of Lincoln Park in suburban Detroit, said Friday. "The last year was very stressful, it got to the point where my blood pressure was very high, I was getting anxiety attacks. ... I see it like a nightmare ... something like a bad dream." Garcia was granted two waivers by U.S. immigration officials with the Department of Homeland Security, said his attorney Mayra Lorenzana-Miles. He is now a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., getting his official card this week, and is on a path to U.S. citizenship in a few years, she said. "Welcome Home Jorge," read a large banner inside a room at the Lincoln Park public library on Friday afternoon, where supporters gathered to celebrate his homecoming. The Free Press reported on Garcia's deportation on Jan. 15, 2018, capturing his emotional farewell at Detroit Metro Airport as tearful family members hugged him one last time before he was escorted through security by a federal immigration agent. After 30 years living in the U.S. with no criminal record, he was kicked out of the country. The Free Press story was picked up my numerous media outlets, prompting a national debate over immigration enforcement in the Trump administration. The Free Press later went to Mexico to report on Garcia's struggles in an unfamiliar country. Garcia was born in Mexico and was brought to the U.S. when he was 10 years old by an undocumented relative. He was too old to qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, missing the age requirement by just one year. Since 2004, he and his family have been trying to obtain legal status, hiring attorneys and following the law. Story continues Garcia was previously ordered removed from the U.S., but had gotten stays of removal. That changed after Donald Trump became president as authorities toughened immigration enforcement. In November 2017, Garcia was ordered to leave. ICE officials have defended his deportation, saying that Garcia was "an unlawfully present citizen of Mexico" who "was ordered removed by an immigration judge in June 2006." Garcia had no criminal record, worked as a landscaper, and paid his taxes, said advocates and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich. "He never got a traffic ticket," Dingell said at the homecoming celebration Friday. "He worked hard. ... He had never done anything wrong." Jorge Garcia, 41, left, listens as his wife Cindy Garcia, 47 sparks before a press conference was held with Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, to welcome once deported Jorge Garcia back to the U.S. and his family at the Lincoln Park Library Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Garcia got an interview in February at an American consulate office in Mexico, but was denied, said his wife, Cindy Garcia. His waivers were then approved in September, said his attorney. Cindy Garcia was hoping he would be home in time for Halloween or maybe Thanksgiving, but authorities kept on asking for paperwork such as medical history, she said. "The whole two years, we had PTSD, anxiety, depression," Cindy said. "It was anxious not knowing when he could come home, your hopes resting on the timeline of government officials," she said. "We just didn't know when" he could come home, she said. Finally, he was approved just a few days before Dec. 25. Cindy then bought him a plane ticket. "I was on my way to the airport" in Mexico City, Jorge said, recalling his trip back to the U.S. "But I was in denial. I was thinking it wasn't true." Deported after 30 years in US: Father still stuck in Mexico without wife and kids It wasn't until he got the necessary stamp after arriving in Detroit Metro Airport and seeing his family greet him that he finally did breathe a sigh of relief. Cindy Garcia said she had told the children they were going to the airport to pick up an uncle because she wanted it to be a surprise and because she was still uncertain whether he would make it. "I was surprised," said his son, Jorge Garcia Jr., 14, recalling the Christmas Day scene. "I started crying when I saw him." Being without a father at home for two years "felt weird," he said. "It's been hard, not having a dad." His daughter, Soleil, said: "When I first saw him, I was crying because I was happy." Ripped apart by deportation: The Garcia family struggles to cope Soleil had to celebrate her quinceanera (15th birthday), a rite of passage for many Mexican American teenage girls, without her father. There's a traditional father-daughter dance she had to do instead with a grandfather. "It was just very sad knowing that he wasn't here with us during certain events," she said. The Garcias thanked Dingell and the UAW Local 600, which Cindy is a member of and which was supportive of them. Dingell said "there are too many families that are being torn apart." Too old for DACA: Man who spent 30 years of his life in U.S. is deported Pastor Jack Eggleston of Unity Lutheran Church in Southgate spoke at the homecoming at the library, introducing the Garcias. "This has been a long ordeal," he said. "But the community has been aching with them." Cindy said the two years without Jorge was emotionally tough for the family, with her and the two kids going through tough moments. "My children have suffered," she said. "We screamed and yelled" at times, "but we got through this." Meanwhile, Jorge was living with an aunt about an hour from Mexico City but didn't have any social connections that could help him establish a new life. Now, Cindy said she intends to continue fighting for others who were in her situation. Cindy told the Free Press: "I am going to fight more than ever now for these broken immigration laws to be fixed so that no other family has to endure what we did because I know the feeling and I don't want any other children separated from their families because it's a hardship on the kids, on the parents, the whole family in general." Jorge Garcia, 41, prayed every day he lived his two year deported life in Mexico. He shows a pendant with the Lady of Guadalupe on one side and Jesus on the other. A press conference was held with Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, to welcome once deported Jorge Garcia back to the U.S. and his family at the Lincoln Park Library Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. While in Mexico, Jorge bought a chain and medallion with an image on the front of Jesus Christ and on back of Our Lady of Guadalupe, an iconic figure for many Mexican Catholics. He said his faith gave him strength over the past two years. "Basically, every day I was praying," Jorge told the Free Press. "I was praying for something to change. And it did." Follow Niraj Warikoo on Twitter: @nwarikoo This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Deported in 2018, Jorge Garcia is back home after two years in Mexico The staple UK meal has only just been discovered by Americans. [Photo: Getty] Beans on toast is somewhat of an institution in the UK. It makes up a staple part of the full English breakfast. Its the perfect compromise when youre too hungry for a snack but not hungry enough for a full meal. In our eyes, its a culinary all rounder but it turns out that not everybody agrees. We have a lot in common with our American friends, but it seems our love for beans on toast isnt one of them. READ MORE: The top 30 food British expats cant live without Americans will never understand how good beans on toast with cheese (pepper & chilli flakes) on top is. pic.twitter.com/vrQobHUNf5 Benny Rogers (@bennyrogers188) January 8, 2020 It all started with a simple tweet from Twitter user bennyrodgers188 with a picture of his beans on toast topped with cheese, pepper and chilli flakes. He captioned the photo: Americans will never understand how good beans on toast with cheese (pepper & chilli flakes) on top is. It didnt take long for Americans to pipe up with hilarious outrage at the photo. READ MORE: Best 2020 travel destinations Brits will never understand that bacon is meant to be crispy or that breakfast sandwiches are always to include cheese as a default, not an option pic.twitter.com/QuyLu12oCj Emily is voting for Gritty in 2020 (@EnergizerNYC) January 9, 2020 Bruv, you couldnt at least melt the cheese? Shaun, as I live and breathe (@Shaunlybee) January 8, 2020 Brits will never understand that bacon is meant to be crispy or that breakfast sandwiches are always to include cheese as a default, not an option. One woman said. Shes got a point. Cheese in a breakfast sandwich? Madness. Story continues Bruv, you couldnt at least melt the cheese? One confused Twitter user added. Fair point, fair point. In fact, so many people were incensed that he didnt melt the cheese that it stole focus from the actual point of the original tweet. READ MORE: A cheese themed hotel is coming to the UK this is like what you would eat in post-apocalypse just after the stores run out of food. "Let's just mash what's left in the pantry! Isaac (@btc_baller) January 9, 2020 Overall though, Americans were not impressed with his tweet, which attracted a lot of good-natured comments as well as thousands of shares. This is like what you would eat in post-apocalypse just after the stores run out of food. "Let's just mash what's left in the pantry! Another grossed out person said. Some were left intrigued by the concoction, which, in all fairness, doesnt photograph all that well. READ MORE: Deliveroo reveals worlds most ordered meals Cold or warm beans? One queried. Warm - if you were wondering. Do you eat it with a knife and fork or with your hands? Anothers vaguely interested post read. It works both ways. Given the popularity of the tweet, Benny Rodgers decided to send another little follow up message to fans and confused onlookers of the humble beans on toast. The responses Ive got to this are amazing. Hate it or love it. Youve all made me laugh. I cant reply to you all but Keep em coming & give this a try. Have a great day. Peace. Beans on toast isnt the only British dish that Americans havent had the privilege to try. Absolute classics like Ribena, Jaffa Cakes, Yorkshire Puddings and crumpets are all so ingrained into British culture that we yearn for them when we go abroad. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK: Footage appears to show a flash of light in the sky over Tehran before the plane crash. Photo: Nariman Gharib/AP US President Donald Trump's Doonbeg Hotel and Shannon Airport are not being targeted for revenge attacks, the Iranian ambassador to Ireland has said. Masoud Eslami made the remarks in the wake of the assassination by the US of Iran's Major General Qasem Soleimani last week. Dr Eslami said Soleimani was held in the same esteem in Iran as Irish revolutionary hero Michael Collins is here. He claimed Soleimani's assassination in Iraq was "outrageous state-sponsored terrorism" ordered by Mr Trump. Dr Eslami initially said he would rule out any Iranian retaliation targeting Shannon Airport "for the time being" but later moved to offer further reassurance to clarify neither the airport nor Mr Trump's hotel in Co Clare are targets. He said he could "absolutely" rule it out, adding: "I don't want to make a statement that brings worry or makes people worry about this but I can tell you that it is not in the interests of Iran. "Iran is not speculating to target this kind of facilities." He did urge the Irish Government "to reconsider the use of Shannon Airport to facilitate military action by the US, which has been an issue at local level, at national level in Ireland". On the prospect of an attack on Mr Trump's hotel in Co Clare, he said: "It has not been intended to threaten personal properties of Trump anywhere, and it is definitely not going to be the case in Ireland." Icons The US has defended the killing of Soleimani, insisting it was aimed at preventing future attacks against its forces and that he was responsible for the deaths of more than 600 US soldiers through proxies during the war in Iraq. Dr Eslami made a comparison between Soleimani and Michael Collins, saying it would allow a "glimpse of the sorrow tens of millions of people are feeling because of his loss". He argued both men were "icons of resistance and bravery" in repelling foreign intervention. Meanwhile, Iran yesterday denied Western allegations that one of its missiles downed a Ukrainian aeroplane which crashed outside Tehran, and called on the US and Canada to share any information they have on the crash, which killed all 176 people on board. Western leaders said the plane appeared to have been unintentionally hit by a surface-to-air missile hours after Iran launched around a dozen ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq to avenge the killing of Soleimani. "What is obvious for us, and what we can say with certainty, is that no missile hit the plane," said Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's national aviation department. "If they are really sure, they should come and show their findings to the world." Hassan Rezaeifar, the head of the Iranian investigation team, said recovering data from the black box flight recorders could take more than a month and that the entire investigation could stretch into next year. He also said Iran may request help from international experts if it is not able to extract the flight recordings. The ballistic missile attack on the bases in Iraq caused no casualties, raising hopes that the stand-off over the killing of Soleimani would end relatively peacefully, though Iran has sent mixed signals over whether its retaliation is complete. If the US or Canada were to present incontrovertible evidence that the plane was shot down by Iran, even if unintentionally, it could have a dramatic impact on public opinion in Iran. At least twelve migrants died off the coast of Western Greece on Saturday morning when their boat capsized in still vague circumstances. By John Carr The migrants' boat was believed to be carrying more than fifty people when it sank, apparently heading for Italy. The Greek Coast Guard rescued some, but others are unaccounted for, so the death toll is almost sure to rise. It remains a mystery what caused the boat to sink, as the sea in the area was reported to be calm and the weather generally favourable. The incident occurred southwest of the small Paxi islands. Where the boat was coming from is also not yet known. At the same time, local authorities on the East Greek islands are up in arms against the Greek governments plans to set up large roofed camps for the thousands of migrants that have flooded the larger islands and are living pretty much exposed to the elements. They argue that larger and more comfortable living spaces will only encourage more migrants to cross from Turkey with the total in Greece now past 80,000. During a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that both the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Register of Citizens (NCR) should be withdrawn. "While speaking to Prime Minister, I told him that we are against CAA, Population Register (NPR) and NRC. We want that CAA and NRC should be withdrawn," Banerjee informed media persons immediately after her meeting with the Prime Minister at the Raj Bhavan. She said the Prime Minister has ensured that "he will look into the matter." During the meeting, the Chief Minister also raised concerns about the funds allocated by the Centre concerning 'Cyclone Bulbul' that had hit the state in November. "We spoke on the funds that the state receives from the centre regarding Bulbul cyclone," she said. The meeting assumes importance as it is the first between the two leaders since protests erupted over the Citizenship Amendment Act in various cities across the country. The Trinamool Congress chief is at loggerheads with the BJP-led government over the Citizenship Amendment Act and she led several protests against CAA and NPR in her state.However, she has decided to stay away from the January 13 meeting of the Opposition parties convened by the Congress to protest against the Act over the "violence" by the Left and the Congress during the 24-hour general strike on Wednesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two recidivist felons who were hit with possible life sentences for burglary in 2019 would have been set free had they been arrested today under the new bail reforms, officials said during a legislative breakfast Friday, highlighting concerns about how the new laws will impact our borough. The event was hosted by District Attorney Michael E. McMahon at the College of Staten Island. Here you have someone that the courts and the law have deemed to be a persistent mandatory felon that judges have deemed should not get out of jail maybe ever again, and if they were to commit those crimes today, they would be released with no bail, said Mark Palladino, chief of the D.A.'s Trial Division. Palladino was referring to the cases of David Orama and Brad McPherson, who were sentenced to 16 and 17 years to life in prison, respectively, on burglary convictions. Orama, prior to his burglary arrest, had already been in contact with the criminal justice system. He was paroled in December 2010 after serving more than 30 years of a 15-year-to-life sentence for attempted murder, was arrested in Brooklyn in March 1978 for shooting at two cops attempting to arrest him for drug sales and was busted in Brooklyn in July 1974 for robbing a 79-year-old man of $9, a source previously told the Advance. McPherson, on the other hand, had faced previous convictions for attempted burglary, burglary and stolen-property possession. That just shows you in a dramatic fashion the impact this new legislation has, Palladino said. The new criminal justice reforms went into effect on Jan. 1, drastically changing they way bail is applicable to defendants. Under the new law, people accused of non-violent offenses, like criminally negligent homicide, second-degree burglary and robbery, among others, could be released without bail. The event Friday gave McMahon and his team the opportunity to discuss the new laws with officials. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn), Borough President James Oddo, and representatives for Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island), Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) and Assemblyman Mike Reilly (R-South Shore) also attended. McMahon shared his concerns over the new legislation multiple times, including in a commentary on SILive.com, defining it as a slap in the face to every family that has suffered the loss of a loved one to crime. VICTIMS AT STAKE Timothy Koller, chief assistant to the district attorney, said that the new discovery laws put victims and their identity at stake. The new laws require the D.A.s office to provide the names and contact information for victims and witnesses of crimes to defense attorneys, and allow defense attorneys to file a motion to visit the site of a crime even if that site is someones home. Are you incentivizing people to meet their obligation under their social contract that we have with each other and testify and say 'Yes, I saw something officer or call 911?" Koller said during the meeting. We need the participation of the community. McMahon agreed with Kollers sentiment, adding that now no one can stand up for the victims. They are put into a position when they have no rights, McMahon added. A FLAWED SYSTEM While Staten Island saw an 11% overall decrease in major crimes in 2019, a concern has risen in the community over crimes committed by minors. The NYPD recently adopted a new policy that would require the department to issue juvenile reports in cases where a minor allegedly acted violently and intentionally. In the scenario in which a minor is taken into custody for a crime and a juvenile report is issued, the district attorney would not be notified about it, keeping the office in the dark on a resolution of a case, officials said. It is a flawed system, said Andrew Crawford, the director of community partnerships for the district attorney. Both McMahon and Oddo penned a letter to the NYPD concerning the policy in November 2019 after the Advance reported on two incidents where a 15-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy suffered brutal beatings while on public transportation this year. The NYPD has not yet responded, Crawford said. More recently, a 15-year-old girl was sprayed with bleach and a hair removal product and punched in the head when she was attacked by a mob of teens during a melee near New Dorp High School, her mother told the Advance. Kano States executive council has sanctioned the constitution of a technical committee to look into the issue of professional misconduct and abuse of privilege by media organisations in the state. The states commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, said this on Saturday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the state executive council meeting. Mr Garba said the committee, which will be chaired by the commissioner for information, is to, among other things, organise a stakeholders meeting comprising the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Film Censorship Board, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Information, proprietors of radio stations, security agencies, party chairmen, and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to discuss their challenges and proffer solutions. Kano State has the highest media concentration in Northern Nigeria, mainly owned by private individuals. This gives opposition politicians an alternative to checkmate the government. Some officials of the government are, however, uncomfortable with the operation of some private radio stations, especially their coverage of governorship supplementary election and the granting of media access to opposition politicians, who criticise the governments programs and policies. The commissioner hinted that a sweeping reform is underway at the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, following executive approval for the amendment of the edict, establishing the board to streamline its activities. Mr Garba, who announced that a bill would be sent to the state House of Assembly to that effect, said the development followed the granting of license to the board by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to carry out Umrah (Lesser Hajj) services along with Hajj operations. READ ALSO: According to the commissioner, the states executive council has also approved the release of the sum of N78, 701, 027.62 million as contribution of the state government for the implementation of the year 2019 Health Work Plan, just as it sanctioned a Community Policing Summit for the state. He said the programme, which is a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dangote and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations, to improve child health outcomes is also intended to develop healthcare delivery services in the state. The Commissioner said the multilateral MoU is being carried out by the states Ministry of Health, Hospitals Management Board, Drug and Medical Consumable Supply Agency and the state Primary Health Care Management Board. The council has also given approval for the release of the sum of N58, 544, 000.00 million as counterpart funds on the activities of Hadejia Jamaare Komadugu Yobe Basin Trust Fund. The council, has given authorization for the conduct of Summit on Community Policing to further consolidate on the giant strides taken by the Ganduje administration to protect lives and property of citizens which earns the state the status of the most peaceful state in the federation, he said. The council, he said, also approved the sum of N71, 100, 000. 00 for the procurement of vehicles to conduct operations at Ruga settlements and grazing reserves in the state. On December 16, when I started receiving messages from friends about the violence unleashed by the police on the students of Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) who were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). Being a law student, I knew about the CAA and NRC issue and stand opposed to them as they are divisive, discriminatory and unconstitutional. But I never expected this kind of a brutal attack by the State on students protesting against it. The videos of the attack on students shook me from within. I could not believe that the police were behaving in such a barbaric manner with university students. Many of my friends at TISS, Mumbai, were in a similar state of shock and grief at these incidents. We could not sleep that night. We consoled each other, gave each other support, and sang songs of resistance and hope to fight against these dark times of despair. We decided that we must respond to these barbaric incidents and show that we stand in complete solidarity with the students of JMI and AMU and that we completely reject CAA-NRC/NPR. A call for boycott of classes and a protest march was given by the TISS Students Union and more than 2,000 of us marched in a completely peaceful and disciplined manner from our campus to Ambedkar Park in Chembur. After this incident, I got actively involved in this movement against the CAA-NRC/NPR as I realised that it is nothing short of an attack on the very idea of India and the Constitution. As students, it was our duty to fight back against this attack. Then came another shock: the January 5 attack on the students of JNU. This time, a group of students from all universities and institutions in Mumbai gathered at the historic Gateway of India in solidarity with the students of JNU and other universities that had faced violence on their campuses. I was among those who gathered initially at the Gateway for a candle light vigil. As we started discussing the attacks on our universities and the larger issues of the CAA-NRC/NPR, we realised we needed to urgently respond to these issues along with the people of Mumbai at large and thus gave the call for #OccupyGateway. Large numbers of students and citizens from across the city responded to this call and joined in occupying the Gateway of India. This unprecedented occupation of the Gateway lasted for more than 40 hours. The message was loud and clear: students across the nation stand united, the violent attempts to curb dissent will not work and we will continue to raise our voices and speak truth to power. Since coming to power in 2014, the present regime has been building a culture of hyper-nationalism. This laid the foundation for the new culture of blind obedience and worship and delegitimising of the culture of questioning the establishment. Suddenly, questioning or critiquing the government became equated with dissent against the nation itself. We became anti-national for questioning Narendra Modi and his government. The Modi government has always been at unease about the student movements across the nation. Its discomfort is genuine: Like any authoritarian government, it is terrified of being asked questions. It realises that students not only have the capacity to ask the right, and uncomfortable, questions but also the moral courage to do so, something the mainstream political parties and much of the media clearly lack today. Therefore, public-funded universities across the nation, including some of the best such as JNU, which have a history of challenging and critiquing governments, have been the constant targets of the Modi regime, and in a planned manner. The purpose of the governments propaganda attacks on JNU, etc., is to discredit them in the eyes of the general public and thus delegitimise the culture of dissent and questioning of the establishment. The government must have realised that it has made a huge mistake by underestimating the power of students. Even criminalization of dissent by thrusting sedition charges on them and the use of violence to intimidate them have not deterred the students. Each such attempt since 2014 has resulted in the student movement growing in numbers and scope. Students are now going beyond the narrow confines of student issues. They are engaging with a larger spectrum of issues ranging from those of caste, gender and religious discrimination to issues of farmers and workers and the environmental crisis. We are not only participating in large numbers but are also at the forefront of many citizen-led movements for social, economic and political justice. Where the political opposition has failed, students have stepped in to raise the issues of the common people and voice their anger against the Modi regime. We have repeatedly broken the silence created by the fear of speaking against the government. The current student movement against the CAA-NRC/NPR cuts across the false dichotomy of Hindu-Muslim and the political Left-Right debates. It transgresses regional boundaries and finds resonance in every part of the country. Student movements in India and across the world have always proved to be a ray of hope in a politically hopeless scenario. India has a magnificent history of the role of students in politics, starting from the freedom struggle. Those who seek to tutor and infantilise us by limiting our role to classroom study by not allowing us to engage with politics need to read an article Student and Politics, written by the great revolutionary Bhagat Singh in 1928 for a Hindi daily Kirti. He wrote They (students) should study, surely study! But along with it, they should also acquire political knowledge and when required, they should not hesitate to jump into the fray and dedicate their life to this work. Sacrifice their life for the cause. There is no other way to save the situation. (The writer is pursuing Master of Law in Access to Justice at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. He has been actively involved in the Save Aarey Movement and was one of the 29 arrested for protesting against the felling of trees in Aarey Colony last year) Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. A detailed analysis report of the Global Eubiotics Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments. Drivers Rising meat quality awareness Favorable regulatory scenario Growing demand for animal proteins Restraints Lack of awareness The comprehensive value chain analysis of the market will assist in attaining better product differentiation, along with detailed understanding of the core competency of each activity involved. The market attractiveness analysis provided in the report aptly measures the potential value of the market providing business strategists with the latest growth opportunities. The report classifies the market into different segments based on product, form, application and end-use. 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DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 9028057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Maharashtra Higher and Technical Minister Uday Samant on Saturday said there were plans to set up a university in the Konkan region as it was a long-pending demand of the people there. Currently colleges in Konkan's Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts are affiliated to Mumbai University. "There was a long pending demand of people from the Konkan that there should be a separate university in Konkan region. For students studying in Sawantwadi in Konkan, Mumbai University is almost 650 kilometres away and it is difficult for them to travel that far for any work," he said. Addressing a press conference, he said a committee had been set up for the purpose. Queried on varsity level students' polls, he said a segment was in favour while the other was not, adding that experts will be consulted by the state government to move ahead. The previous BJP-led Maharashtra government had last year decided to revive students elections, which were banned since 1993, and fresh polls were supposed to be held in 11 universities and affiliated colleges. However, they were kept in abeyance due to the October Assembly polls. Samant said "principally" everybody in the present government was of the opinion that the (previous government's) decision of students elections was not appropriate and should be changed. He said a separate academy for professors will be set up in Pune. Samant said the state government has decided to lift a stay on giving approvals to new libraries in the state. "Since 2012, no permission for new libraries have been given as there was a cabinet decision. We will lift the stay and start giving the permissions to new libraries," he added. Asked about a Congress leader's statement seeking cancellation of appointment of "pro-RSS vice chancellors", Samant said it was not appropriate for him to comment as appointments of VCs are done by the governor. He said focus would be on bettering the quality of education, building infrastructure and increasing skills of teachers. Samant was in Savitribai Phule Pune University to hold meetings with officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ANNE DRAGO, Stonington, Girls Basketball, Senior; Drago was named to the all-tournament team at the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament. In two games, she scored 38 points and had eight rebounds. DANTE WILK, Westerly, Boys Basketball, Senior; Wilk was named MVP of the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament after the Bulldogs beat Chariho in the title game. Wilk had a combined 35 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and eight steals in two tournament victories. TYLER LABELLE, Chariho, Boys Basketball, Junior; LaBelle scored 41 points in two games to earn all-tournament honors at the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament. LaBelle had 22 in a win against South Kingstown and 19 in a loss to Westerly. ADDIE HAUPTMANN, Wheeler, Girls Basketball, Senior; Hauptmann scored 32 points in two games in the Montville Christmas Tournament. She also had 20 rebounds, seven assists and eight steals. Vote View Results The announcement that the State was to hold what appeared to be a hastily organised commemorative event dedicated to the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Dublin Metropolitan Police has emphasised once again that civil war politics is not far from the surface. And while the event has now been deferred following an escalating to furious reaction from political representatives of most shades, the war of words may yet have an impact on weightier issues such as election timing. While a number of Fianna Fail TDs and MEPs and Sinn Fein's Pat Buckley came out strongly against the event, which had been scheduled for next week in Dublin Castle, the stronghold of British rule in Ireland until 1922, Fine Gael's candidates for the General Election in Cork North West were adhering closely to the Government line earlier this week. Cllr John Paul O'Shea said, in response to the questions posed by The Corkman, that he had not been invited to next week's event but would have 'no issue with attending' if he had been invited: "The RIC/DMP commemoration is not a celebration. It's 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. "We as a country should respect all traditions on our Island and be mature enough as a State to acknowledge all aspects of our past." In his response, Minister Michael Creed referred us to the statement issued on Monday by the Justice Minister and a spokesman confirmed this was the position of the Cork North West TD. In this statement Charles Flanagan acknowledged that there were real sensitivites involved but said the RIC had found itself on the wrong side of history. As the row escalated on Tuesday, the Government was forced into an embarrassing climbdown. "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," said Minister Flanagan. The Minister's suggestion in his statement that he had acted "under the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemoration" has been disputed by UCD historian Diarmuid Ferriter, a member of that group. Cork East TD and Minister for State at the Department of Justice David Stanton had not responded to our questions as we went to print. Leading the charge for those opposed to the proposed commemoration was Fianna Fail chief whip and Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan who said he had not received an invitation to the event but "would certainly not attend if invited". "I completely disagree with the Governments proposals, and I think that this commemoration is totally insensitive and inappropriate, " he said. "I have always had a great interest in this period of Irish history and in particular the events in the North Cork area. "The Irish people who sought independence and self governance endured huge suffering and brutality at the hands of the RIC, who were representatives of an oppressive Government desperately trying to prevent Irish independence and freedom. "I personally feel that this commemoration is wholly inappropriate and I am at a loss as to why this event was ever planned." His constituency colleague Aindrias Moynihan was as adamant that he would not attend the event either. "I haven't received any invitation. I don't agree with the Governments commemoration of the RIC, their Auxiliaries and Black & Tans on Friday week and won't be attending." Sinn Fein's Cork East TD Pat Buckley went a step further and echoed calls of his party leader urging the Government to cancel the event. "As a proud Corkman and Irish republican I would never attend such an event. "I would never support the state having such an event. "There is no equivalence between those who fought for freedom and those who for pay defended tyranny and brutality." Describing the event due to be attended by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, a former member of the RUC, as an 'affront to those who resisted British rule in Ireland during the Tan War, Deputy Buckley said that it was "citizens who suffered at the hands of those that enforced British rule in Ireland are who we should be commemorating, not the RIC or the Black and Tans". "The Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police were not merely police forces - as the Government seems to think - they had a specific role in upholding martial law and suppressing the will of the Irish people for self-determination and national independence. "This State commemoration should be cancelled outright. "In no other State would those who facilitated the suppression of national freedom be commemorated by the State." Fellow constituency TD, Kevin O'Keeffe of Fianna Fail, also expressed his opposition to the proposed commemoration and added that he would not attend even if he had received an invitation. "Some say there is 'PC' but this is pushing the goalposts out too far. "Last year we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the sitting of the 1st Dail and consequent to this historic sitting The War of Independence erupted and more so in 1920 when the Imperial Power tried to curb the outpouring of public support by suppression through its Forces under the guise be it the RIC, Dublin Metropolitian Police, Black and Tans, Auxiliaries or British Army." Newly minted MEP Billy Kelliher was also among those to say he would not attend the event if he were invited. "The Irish Government's proposals to commemorate the RIC are an attempt to distort the reality of our nation's War of Independence. "The General Election 1918 was a referendum on Ireland's right to self-determination. The Royal Irish Constabulary consistently acted against the express wishes of the Irish people." Among others surveyed but who had not provided responses were Deputies Sean Sherlock, Jonathan O'Brien and Mick Barry as well as MEP Deirdre Clune. Both Cork mayors, County and City, issued statements this week to dissociate themselves from the event. "I do not consider it appropriate to attend this particular function in light of the events that occurred throughout Cork City and County during this time," said Cllr Christopher O'Sullivan. City Mayor John Sheehan refused his invite on Monday. The Reale Womxn's Rally aims to host a more inclusive women's march Outside during 2019's Women's March. // Photo by Kelcie McKenney. In January 2018, Randy Fikki's daughter asked him why other cities in the U.S. were holding Women's Marches but not Kansas City. It had been a year since the original Women's March brought over 10,000 people to Washington Square Park, near Crown Center, to protest Donald Trump's inauguration. Election year organizing for these progressive ladies who hope to include a more diverse crowd of protesters beyond the typical cast of "Karens" and "Beckys" who despise the politics of Prez Trump nearly as much as they disagree with their husband who voted for him.Read more: A plume of smoke rises from fire in a huge wood chip pile at a mill in Eden, Australia on Jan. 11, 2020. (Rick Rycroft/AP Photo) 2 Aussie Wildfires Merge Into Inferno; Man Seriously Burned BURRAGATE, AustraliaTwo wildfires merged to form a massive inferno in southeastern Australia and a man suffered serious burns protecting a home, in a night of treacherous conditions during the nations unprecedented wildfire crisis, officials said Saturday. Authorities were assessing the damage after firefighters battled flames fanned by strong winds through the night and lightning strikes sparked new blazes in New South Wales and Victoria, Australias most populous states. Conditions were milder Saturday and forecast to remain relatively benign for the next week. In the scheme of things, we did OK last night, said Andrew Crisp, Victorias emergency management commissioner. New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters that officials were extremely relieved the fires were not more destructive overnight. A man suffered burns protecting a home near Tumbarumba in southern New South Wales and was airlifted to a Sydney hospital in serious condition to undergo surgery, Fitzsimmons said. Several firefighters received minor burns and one suffered shortness of breath, but they were not admitted to a hospital, he said. Firefighters at Burragate, Australia, gather outside the firehouse as they discuss a nearby fire threat on Jan. 10, 2020. (Rick Rycroft/AP Photo) With no heavy rain expected, the 640,000-hectare (1.58 million-acre) blaze that formed overnight when two fires joined in the Snowy Mountains region near Tumbarumba, close to the Victorian border, is expected to burn for weeks, officials said. The fire crisis in Australia has killed at least 26 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and scorched an area larger than the U.S. state of Indiana since September. Evacuation Orders On Friday, thousands of people in the path of fires fled to evacuation centers, while some chose to ignore evacuation orders and stayed to defend their homes. Evan Harris, who lives in the New South Wales rural village of Burragate, said police and fire crews told him he should leave his cottage because of the threat. He told them he wasnt going anywhere. Burragate was choked with smoke for several hours Friday and was directly in a fires path. A fire strike team and several members of the Australian Army arrived to try to save properties, and they were prepared to hunker down in a fire station if the flames overran them. Sheep graze in a field shrouded with smoke haze near at Burragate, Australia on Jan. 11, 2020. (Rick Rycroft/AP Photo) In the end, the winds died down and so did the fire. But crews worry the flames will flare up again during a fire season that could continue for months. Harris said he likes to live off the grid in his remote home, which is made from mud bricks. He has no electricity, instead using batteries to power the lights and a small wood burner to heat water. The cottage itself has a warm and cozy feel. And Harris feels like he has a point to make. If this house survives, I think it will be a bit of a wake-up call for people, he said. That maybe people should start building like this, instead of over-exorbitant houses. Harris prepared for the blazes by tacking sheets of iron over his windows and clearing the area around the house of grass and shrubbery that might have caught fire. He dug a hole away from the cottage to house his gas canisters. Harris said he was disappointed in the environmental destruction and that people should be paying attention to the more sustainable way that indigenous Australians previously lived. This is a result of the human species demanding too much of the environment, he said of the wildfires. By Nick Perry The 2020 World Life Science Conference will be held in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu province, from Nov. 13-15, it was announced at a press conference on Friday. Besides the China Association for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology, which sponsored the last conference in 2018, the National Health Commission of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering will be invited to join this time, said Wang Xiaoning, secretary general of the China Union of Life Science Societies. With a theme of "Life Science for Health and Sustainability," the conference will focus on the advances in cutting-edge life sciences, the trends in the development of biotechnologies, and health issues of public concern. Highlighting high-level academic exchanges and an exhibition of the latest achievements, the event is expected to promote exchanges and cooperation among developing countries and help make more breakthroughs in research and technological innovation, thereby contributing to global effort to address major illnesses, population ageing, environmental pollution and resources scarcity and promoting global sustainable development. A total of 3,000 attendees, including 200 from abroad are expected at the event. Esteemed scientists, including Nobel Prize winners, will be invited to give keynote speeches at the opening ceremony. This year's conference will also feature the First World Life Science Expo where celebrated institutes and unicorns from both home and abroad will be invited to showcase their achievements in life science, biotechnology and health. The conference will also feature 40 parallel sessions dealing with various hot issues ranging from gene editing, stem cells and regenerative medicine, immunotherapy and biotherapy, the prevention and control of chronic diseases, the prevention and control of public health emergencies, and population aging, as well as new advances in traditional Chinese medicine, agriculture and environmental sciences. Inaugurated in 2016, the World Life Science Conference takes place biennially. By Patrick Martin January 10, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The resolution adopted by the US House of Representatives Thursday evening directing President Trump not to go to war with Iran without congressional approval is a political fraud. It has two political purposes: to allow the Democratic Party to pretend it is opposed to war without actually imposing the slightest restriction on the military actions of the Trump administration; and to cement the ties between the Democrats and large sections of the military-intelligence apparatus who were clearly blindsided by Trumps decision to assassinate Iranian General Qassem Suleimani. The impotent character of the House vote is demonstrated by the decision of the Democratic leadership to introduce it as a concurrent resolution, a designation generally reserved for empty formalities, statements of opinion by Congress that do not go to the president for his signature and therefore do not have the force of law. While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, echoed by pro-Democratic media pundits, claimed that the Democrats would compel Trump to obtain congressional authorization before going to war, the resolution does no such thing. After passing the House by a near-party-line vote of 224-194, it goes to the Senate, where the Republicans have a 53-47 majority. If the Senate should approve it, the resolution would simply be published as a declaration of the wishes of Congress. For good reason, House Republicans sneered at the action as a vote on a press release. At her press conference Thursday before the vote, Pelosi claimed, Today, to honor our duty to keep the American people safe, the House will move forward with a War Powers Resolution to limit the presidents military actions regarding Iran. She tried to make a virtue out of the nonbinding character of the resolution, saying: This is a statement by the Congress of the United States. And I will not have that statement be diminished by whether the president will veto it or not. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The remarks by Democratic representatives in the course of a nearly three-hour debate combined denunciations of General Suleimani, killed by the January 3 missile strike ordered by Trump, with demands that Congress be allowed to participate as a full partner in such homicidal decisions in the future. Michigan Democrat Dan Kildee summed up this view, declaring: Its not even a question as to whether or not there was justification to take out Mr. Suleimani, because clearly there was. But who gives the justification, who authorizes military action in this country? They had no answer to the taunts of Republican speakers who noted that the Democrats had raised no such objections to the unilateral military actions of Democratic presidents, as when Barack Obama launched the war against Libya that ended in the murder of that countrys leader, Muammar Gaddafi, or interventions into Syria and Yemen, or the countless drone-missile killings during the eight years of his administration. While the House vote has been accompanied by much rhetorical posturing by Democratic representatives seeking to appeal to mass antiwar sentiment, the resolutions text is a straightforward defense of the national interests of American imperialism, including preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapons capabilitya goal that could be achieved only by destroying the countrys industrial and technical base. The resolution begins with a diatribe against Iran, declaring, The Government of Iran is a leading state sponsor of terrorism and engages in a range of destabilizing activities across the Middle East. Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was the lead architect of much of Irans destabilizing activities throughout the world. It is, in fact, the American ruling class that is the principal architect of destabilization and violence, responsible for the deaths of over one million people in Iraq alone since the 2003 invasion. Aside from the bogus appeal to antiwar sentiment, there was another political reason for the resolution. It was a gesture of support by the Democrats for sections of the national security apparatus who opposed the decision to assassinate Suleimani, not out of any moral qualms, but because the US military was not prepared for an immediate escalation of hostilities in the Persian Gulf region to the level of a full-scale war with Iran. This political alliance between the Democrats and the military-intelligence apparatus has been the basis of the drive to impeach Trumpnot for his many crimes against democratic rights, immigrants and the working class as a whole, but for his temporary freeze on US military aid to Ukraine, which placed a question mark over a longstanding operation by Washington to transform Ukraine into a launching pad for military provocations against Russia. In the Iran debate, this alliance was signaled by Pelosis selection of freshman Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan to introduce the war powers resolution. Slotkin is a former CIA operative who served three tours of duty in Baghdad, then headed the Iraq desk at the National Security Council in the Obama White House before moving on to the Pentagon, where her portfolio included facilitating drone warfarethe very method used to incinerate General Suleimani and the other victims of the January 3 attack. Another first-term national-security veteran, Andy Kim, who was an adviser to the US military in Afghanistan, then worked at the Obama National Security Council on Iraq policy, appeared at a House leadership press conference Wednesday. He seemed proud of the fact that the war powers resolution would have no practical effect. Referring to the use of military force, he said, There are lots of different avenues in which the president can proceed with different types of kinetic action. He concluded, There are no firm limits that are going to be able to completely restrain what he is willing to do. There is one additional political element in the passage of the war powers resolution on Iran: the role of the Democratic Party lefts, particularly the two congresswomen affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib. They both voted for the fraudulent resolution, which condemns Iran and declares that the US military has an inherent right to self-defense against imminent armed attacksthe pretext advanced by Trump. Ocasio-Cortez did not even speak in the debate, while Tlaib made a brief statement in support of the rule of law, but making no reference either to the assassination of Suleimani or to Iran and the Iranian people. This only underscores the reality that there is no way to fight the mounting danger of imperialist war through any section of the Democratic Party. This struggle must be waged by the working class, through the mobilization of workers and young people in an independent, mass antiwar movement based on socialist principles. This article was originally published by "World Socialist Web Site" - Copyright 1998-2020 World Socialist Web Site - The fire crisis in southeast Australia has claimed at least 26 lives, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. Opposition leader in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia on Saturday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging him to restore the 'Z+' security cover of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi which has been downgraded to 'Z' category. Saikia, in his letter made available to the media here, condemned the step taken by the Union Home Ministry to downgrade the security cover of the former Chief Minister and urged the BJP-led central government to reconsider its decision and immediately restore Gogoi's 'Z+' security cover. Earlier too, the NSG security cover for the former chief minister was reduced and CRPF security cover was provided instead, the Congress leader pointed out. "Prior to that, the security cover of former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson and AICC President Sonia Gandhi, Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi was reduced from SPG protectee category to 'Z+' category under CRPF personnel," he added. It must be borne in mind that after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the SPG Act was modified and security cover was provided to families of former Prime Ministers in view of threat perception to their lives, he pointed out. "This vindictive government has chosen to withdraw security cover of people who criticised the BJP for its various unconstitutional, unlawful acts and last month, the security cover of another former chief minister of Assam Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was also scaled down from 'Z+' with SPG to 'Z+' with CRPF," he said. "All this is being done on the basis of the BJP's brute majority in Parliament," he added. Tarun Gogoi had led Assam at crucial periods and was instrumental in restoring peace to the state and taking it along the path of progress through sheer determination but he is now being targeted by the government due to his active anti-CAB/CAA stand in recent months, Saikia said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two fourth-year students from Colaiste Choilm in Ballincollig have won the top prize at this years BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition for their project investigating gender stereotyping in younger children. The project by Cormac Harris and Alan OSullivan, both aged 16 and from nearby Ovens, was hailed by judges as a useable resources for primary school teachers to combat gender stereotyping. Both Alan and Cormac were stunned at their win, with Cormac stating: We were absolutely shocked we had no idea anything was going to happen. The pair claimed the top prize at the 56th hosting of the event after they conducted workshops with 376 children aged five to seven from a range of school settings. They set them different tasks, including choosing between gender-specific and gender-neutral toys, drawing and naming an engineer, and rating male and female competency at a number of gender-specific roles. Among the findings was that 96% of boys drew a male engineer while just over 50% of girls drew a female engineer, indicating that gender stereotypes emerge in young children and that they are particularly strong among boys. Cormac said as they were now choosing their Leaving Certificate subjects they noticed that their male peers were veering towards STEM subjects while many girls were selecting other subjects such as Art and Home Economics. We all got the same education so we were asking why is there this divide? Cormac said. The duo had entered the project in the Intermediate section in the Social and Behavioural Sciences category and received the top award from Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh, and Managing Director of BT Ireland, Shay Walsh. Alan O'Sullivan and Cormac Hayes. Picture: Moya Nolan Cormac and Alan will now represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists, which takes place in Spain in September. They will also attend the 62nd Annual London International Youth Science Forum later in the year, and they got the ball rolling with an appearance on last nights Late Late Show. Alan said he is interested in becoming a primary school teacher while Cormac aims to study computer science, and both paid tribute to their school and in particular the two double classes each week tailored towards BT Young Scientist work. Their science teacher, Karina Lyne, said of Alan and Cormac: They were just great kids to work with from day one. They did phenomenal work. Head Judge of the Social and Behavioural Sciences Group category, Professor Joe Barry, said: The project is particularly impressive in that Cormac and Alan also created very pertinent and useable resources for primary school teachers to combat gender stereotyping among young children. Minister McHugh praised Cormac and Alan on their fantastic project and said they were well-deserved winners. The award for Individual winner went to Oscar Despard, aged 17, a fifth-year student from Sandford Park, Dublin, for his project entitled Applying Data-Driven Experimental Analysis to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging. The individual runner-up award was presented to Ava Hynes, 14, a second-year student at Colaiste Treasa in Kanturk in Co Cork for her project entitled A statistical analysis of the impact of adolescent smartphone use on adolescent social anxiety and social isolation in the Social and Behavioural Sciences category at Junior level. Ten new bird have been discovered by scientists in the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi. In the past two decades on an average, fewer than six new birds species have been discovered, according to a report quoted by International media. The discoveries were published and categorised in the journals Science on January 10. 5 species and 5 subspecies Evolutionary biologist Frank Rheindt at the National University of Singapore had a slight suspicion that the remote islands held an unrecognisable wealth of birdlife. Following his inkling, Rheindt and his colleagues teamed up with Dewi Prawiradilagas group at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences in Jakarta for a 2013 expedition to investigate the islands birdlife and collect specimens for study in the lab. Read: Scientists Discover New Subspecies Of 'titi' Monkeys In Brazil Read: PETA Activist Laments The Plight Of Birds Injured By Kite Manjha Based on the birds physical features, DNA and variations in their songs, the researchers identified the five new species and five new subspecies. Some were visually striking, such as the fiery red-orange male Taliabu Myzomela honeyeater (Myzomela wahe) and the yellow-bellied Togian jungle-flycatcher (Cyornis omissus omississimus) with a cap of iridescent blue feathers on its head. Rheindt said that while researchers expected to find some new wildlife on the island they were totally unaware that it was going to be a bonanza of new species and subspecies. Read: Bali: Chained Monkeys Being Sold For $5, Netizens Heartbroken Read: 'Birds Of Prey' Trailer Finally Reveals A Comic-accurate Look Of 'Black Mask' Researchers have recently discovered a new species of monkeys in Southwest Brazil. The primates, which are a subspecies of titi monkeys, were first documented in 1914 but were assumed to be ashy black titi due to their dark fur. According to international media, the discovery was made by Mariluce Messias of the Federal University of Rondonia, who began studying titi monkeys back in 2011. She was studying how the rapid pace deforestation in the region affected the local monkey populations when she began to notice the differences in the colour of the skin of the species. Some of the primates were sporting reddish-brown patches on their back along with white splotch on their chests, the report revealed. MOSCOW -- Since he was arrested and charged with shooting eight fellow soldiers at an army base in October, Private Ramil Shamsutdinovs world has been limited to the walls of a pretrial detention center in a Siberian city and the courtrooms where his case is being held. From the beginning, the conscript and his relatives and supporters have sought to justify the shooting at a military base as an act of self-defense -- a response to brutal hazing of the kind that has been an intractable problem for Russias military. Now, with a probe into the incident ongoing, the 20-year old has expanded on his explanation of the incident in an apologetic letter from custody. "I regret the fact that I couldn't restrain myself and resorted to this extreme step, but I had no other choice, reads the handwritten letter, which was published January 9 on a social-media page in support of the conscript. I could no longer endure the humiliation. Shamsutdinov has been accused of opening fire on October 25, 2019 at the base in Russias Zaibakalye region, killing eight other soldiers and wounding two more. After his arrest, the Defense Ministry sought to portray Shamsutdinov as mentally unstable. From the outset, however, Shamsutdinov has said he was driven to act by persistent humiliation and violence at the hands of his officers and fellow conscripts. There was nowhere to run and no one to complain to, he wrote in his letter, and his survival instinct ultimately took over. Last month, military authorities opened a separate criminal investigation into Shamsutdinovs fellow soldiers, examining the bullying he alleged that he faced. In an interview with RFE/RL on January 9, Shamsutdinovs father Salimzhan said he left home as a decent lad with a desire to serve. He graduated from cadet school, did a lot of sport, and while his grades were not excellent he was generally a good kid. I didnt send him to the army to murder his fellow soldiers, but to defend the country, he said in a phone interview. Its the army that did this to him. Salimzhan said he hoped investigators would consider the circumstances around the shooting and that the judge will take them into account. Of course, he committed a serious crime, but considering why he did it, for what reasons, I dont think he deserves a life sentence, he said. A Persistent Problem Hazing in the Russian armed forces, a practice informally known as dedovshchina, has been the focus of human rights organizations for years. Despite efforts in recent years to discipline perpetrators and stamp out the chronic practice, activists and victims say it persists in units across the country. Critics say the practice has long been accepted as a necessary part of instilling comradery and discipline in units -- particularly for conscripts. Military service is still mandatory in Russia, with men between 18 and 33 required to serve one year, down from two years in the Soviet era. The requirement of serving, however, has been widely flouted in the past, for example, by wealthier families paying bribes to get out of service. In recent years, Russia has also sought to professionalize its armed forces, relying more heavily on volunteer, contract soldiers. In his letter, Shamsutdinov wrote that he never sought to avoid service like thousands of young men, but was committed to defending the Motherland. He said he had planned to build a life around the armed forces, but I didnt expect Id be sent into such hell. Defense lawyer Ruslan Nagiyev told RFE/RL last month that Shamsutdinov did not sleep for three days before the shooting because officers forced him to stay awake. Investigators have said that by ordering Shamsutdinov to serve watch duty, the officers violated an order from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who banned using conscripts in military missions and duties that last more than three days. According to this order, only personnel serving on a contractual basis can be used. Following the shooting, several Russian NGOs appeared to dismiss Shamsutdinovs version of events, and some officials blamed the influence of social media. Valentina Mordova, the chairwoman of the Zaibakalye branch of the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers, an NGO that offers legal advice to soldiers, said that she "absolutely" did not agree with this assessment. "The facts say otherwise. Hazing has been and will be there, unfortunately," Mordova told RFE/RL. And its presence is prompted not by virtual reality but by the society we are living in. Shamsutdinovs father, a veteran himself, said hazing of the sort his son endured was not widespread. He said his two other sons, who served at bases in the Caucasus and near St. Petersburg, always praised their officers. They had no problems at all, he said. But the officers make the base -- if theyre corrupt and depraved, the base will be too. Shamsutdinov also wrote in his letter that he was grateful to those whove waged a campaign in his support. He expressed regret for his actions and asked forgiveness from the relatives of his victims. I genuinely sympathize with families of the dead and ask you to forgive me, he wrote. If you can. In early December, Russian media reported that military base 54160, where the shooting took place, would be closed indefinitely. Families of Shamsutdinov's victims received monetary compensation, and the Defense Ministry reportedly asked banks to write off any outstanding loans that victims families may have had. CNN reported that Sheen and Joaquin Phoenix were among the 147 people arrested at Friday's climate action protest organised by Jane Fonda on Capitol Hill on January 10. Washington, Jan 11 (IANS) Hollywood actor Martin Sheen read Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore's poem 'Where the mind is without fear' at a weekly climate action protest organised by actress Jane Fonda. Fonda's weekly initiative 'Fire Drill Fridays' confirmed that the two actors were arrested this week, while the US Capitol Police verified that 147 people were arrested during Friday's protest on charges of crowding, obstructing or incommoding. Speaking after Fonda, the actor had words of praise for women. "Clearly, the world will be saved by women. Thank God they outnumber us men", Sheen commented. Sheen then quoted an Irish parable, the one he earlier quoted as one of his "four pieces of advice for the next generation" for Time magazine. Speaking to his audience, Sheen exhorted them to act for something that can 'lift up the nation to that point where the heart is without fear, and the head is held high'. Sheen recited the poem, without citing his source. Sheen recited Tagore's poem in 2016 too, while urging the American people to vote, and act for the betterment of their country. tsb/saurav/prs The viscount-in-waiting is heir to the 2,000-acre Lanhydrock estate in Cornwall A Love Island contestant and heir to a 15million fortune has been exposed as a trophy hunter who gleefully poses next to the corpses of the animals he kills. It has emerged that Ollie Williams has travelled to several foreign destinations to take part in hunts even shooting endangered animals. The 23-year-old, who is set to inherit the 2,000-acre Lanhydrock estate in Cornwall, has proudly had his photo taken standing over dead warthog and water buffalo among other animals. Love Island contestant Ollie Williams has travelled to several foreign destinations to take part in hunts even shooting endangered animals. He is pictured posing with a killed warthog The 23-year-old, who is set to inherit the 2,000-acre Lanhydrock estate in Cornwall, has proudly had his photo taken standing over several dead animals One now-deleted picture is of him with a giant eland a type of antelope which has been listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Another of the Viscount-in-waiting with a slaughtered beast is captioned: 'You've gotta love it when you put your binos up and see a bull like this on the other end!' According to the Sun, the snaps were taken to promote his hunting business, Cornish Sporting Agency. Another of the Viscount-in-waiting with a slaughtered beast is captioned: 'You've gotta love it when you put your binos up and see a bull like this on the other end!' It offered 'unforgettable sporting experiences' in Mozambique and South Africa, as well as bird shooting events in south west England. The agency's website was taken 'offline' in November 2018 but, according to Companies House records, Oliver Sebastian James Williams is still the company's active director. The shocking photos were posted on an Instagram account that was deleted before it was announced Ollie would be in the new winter series of Love Island in South Africa. The agency's website was taken 'offline' in November 2018 but, according to Companies House records, Oliver Sebastian James Williams is still the company's active director A source said: 'It's disgusting. These are vulnerable animals. Why would you do that, let alone try and promote it? He's so arrogant, so entitled and thinks he's God's gift to women.' A source close to Ollie claimed the animals were 'sick' and were 'culled' as part of conservation work, adding: 'It is categorically untrue to suggest Ollie is involved in hunting for sport. 'Ollie is a passionate conservationist and worked with an anti-poaching unit in Mozambique. 'Conservation is crucial to the survival of animals and as part of that work Ollie was involved in the culling of sick animals who were a threat to the health of the herd. 'There is a very big and important difference between trophy hunting and the conversation work Ollie has previously been involved in. 'At no point has Ollie organised or booked anybody to go to Africa to shoot game.' The new series of Winter Love Island starts on ITV2 Sunday night. Some good news for libraries to get 2020 rolling: The U.S. Senate this week confirmed the nomination this week of Kansas City Public Library CEO Crosby Kemper III as Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). And if youre wondering, yes, that happened fastKemper was nominated by President Trump in mid-November to succeed outgoing IMLS director Kathryn Matthew, whose four year term has ended. In a piece in his hometown Kansas City Star, Kemper said he was ready to serveand thanked the work of his colleagues for getting him to the post. I am honored, Kemper told the Star. This is really a tribute to the wonderful work of the board and staff of the Kansas City Public Library, and the place of leadership libraries in Kansas City have taken nationally. After three straight years of criticism from librarians for proposing to eliminate the IMLS, librarians have roundly praised the Trump Administration's choice of Kemper to lead the agency for the next four years. We are excited to work with a proven library leader to head the federal agency charged with equipping our nations 120,000 libraries as centers of lifelong learning, research and innovation, said ALA President Wanda Brown, in a statement. Confirming a new IMLS director so quickly shows the high regard in which elected leaders hold libraries as places of opportunity for all Americans. Mr. Kemper is the right leader right now to enable experts at IMLS to administer programs that benefit every single community, from its Grants to States to its specialized grants promoting workforce development to research collaborations between universities and schools to accessible content for people with print disabilities. Kempers confirmation means that the Kansas City Public Library needs a new executive director. KCPL officials told local reporters that the search is now getting underway for what should be a coveted post. Meanwhile, despite the nomination, its likely the Trump administration will, for a fourth consecutive year, propose to eliminate the IMLS when it releases its FY2021 budget proposal in March. And if it happens, ALA officials say ibrarians should take that proposal seriously, despite Kemper's appointment, and a recent increase in IMLS funding. The administrations budget proposal is their ideal budget, and we should never discount that, ALAs Kathi Kromer told PW in an interview this summer. I think one of the reasons we have seen such a strong rebuttal to the president from Congress on library funding is because our advocates have taken the administrations proposals seriously, and theyve made it a point to remind their elected officials of the importance of libraries in their community. Reserve Reading The Texas Library Association has announced Shirley Robinson as its new Executive Director. Most recently, Robinson was President and CEO of Texas Healthcare Trustees (THT), a statewide trade association serving more than 4,000 hospital board members. Members of the search committee and the executive board were impressed with Ms. Robinsons wide range of nonprofit association management knowledge and experience which is essential to lead an association in todays ever-changing environment, said TLA President Cecilia Barham, director, North Richland Hills Library. We are excited to welcome her to the library community. In a statement, Robinson said she is eager to get to work. I am inspired by TLAs members, the collaborative culture, incredible staff team, and board leadership," she said. I look forward to getting out across the state to continue learning about the members and their needs to advance the future of the library profession in the state of Texas. This year's TLA Annual Conference is set for march 24-27, in Houston. It's not all doom and gloom when it comes to the state of library e-books. This week, the Digital Public Library of America and BiblioLabs announced a new program that will offer libraries the ability to license a growing collection of more than 16,000 e-books, including independent author collections and titles from a number of major publishers, under "a simultaneous multi-use model," in other words, terms that allow for an unlimited number of patrons to borrow e-books at the same time. "This is a true collaboration that helps libraries compete for digital attention in a way that provides readers what they want in a simple, easy-to-use model," said BiblioLabs CEO Mitchell Davis, in a statement. "We are proud to be working with DPLA to offer an e-book model that is inclusive and does not financially punish libraries for succeeding at their mission to drive literacy and reading across a wide spectrum of readers. Make no mistake, there is a real appetite for indie e-books in public libraries, as evidenced by the success of BiblioBoard's Indie Authors Project (IAP). The inaugural IAP e-book collection, released in Summer of 2018 featured 50 select titles available through libraries via a simultaneous use model, and the results were impressive. In an interview, Stef Morrill, director of the Wisconsin Library Consortium (WiLS) said the success of that program helped open her eyes to the wealth of authors now working outside the traditional publishing channels. "It's very interesting to consider: what is really so different about this indie content? And, what does it mean to be published these days, especially with Amazon now publishing so many books?" Morrill told PW this summer. "The market is changing and it is changing fast, and the decisions being made by the major publishers in the e-book market are going to force libraries into some decisions." Also on the library e-book front, OverDrive this week released its circulation stats for 2019, which was another record year for digital lending in libraries. "A record 73 public library systems in five countries loaned over one million digital books to readers in 2019," notes an OverDrive press release, with total digital checkouts from libraries and schools up 20% over 2018, to 326 million lends. Among the factors driving circulation, OverDrive officials point to its app, Libby, which was named one of Popular Mechanics 20 Best Apps of the 2010s and one of PCMags Best Free Software of 2019. Meanwhile, Macmillan's embargo on new release e-books continues to draw local headlines. "Broad, open access to information is necessary for a functioning democracy, and no one should be excluded from participating in civic and cultural life just because they cant afford to buy a book, said Hopkinton (MA) Public Library Director Heather Backman in a report in the local Milford Daily News Some big news on the open access front this week: first, news that Germany's Projekt DEAL consortium has struck a potentially game-changing transformative agreement with publisher Springer Nature. "The entity of this transformative Open Access agreement is proof of concept for Projekt DEAL as a powerful framework for transition in scholarly publishing," said Horst Hippler, former President of the German Rectors' Conference and head of the DEAL negotiation team, in a statement. "It puts an end to hybrid APC payments by authors in parallel to library subscription payments; it operates with a reasonable PAR fee which allows institutional costs to shift gradually from recent licence spending to publication output over the term of the agreement; it enables greater financial control as pre-payments decrease each year. Most importantly, this agreement lays the groundwork for authors and research institutions to make Open Access the default in scholarly communication." Taylor & Francis has announced the addition of pioneering "open research" publisher F1000. In a statement, F1000 Research Managing Director Rebecca Lawrence said the deal will strengthen FG1000's "ability to innovate" in scholarly communications. "We will be super-charged with the resources not only to maintain our philosophy and collaborative partnership approach, but to grow, flourish and continue to innovate in support of our shared commitments to customers on speed, transparency, quality and impact. Science reports that academic journals in Russia "are retracting more than 800 papers" following a probe into unethical publication practices by the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)." The RAS commissions preliminary report documenting the problems and journals responses to them suggest that "Russian scientific literature is riddled with plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and so-called gift authorship, in which academics become a co-author without having contributed any work." From Roanoke.com, a piece on the Roanoke Countys libraries "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" program to promote kindergarten readiness and early literacy. "Parents can sign up online and track the number and titles of books they read to their kids. The goal is to reach 1,000 before children start kindergarten. Sarah Rodgers, the childrens division librarian, said parents can easily accomplish the goal by reading three books per day for one year or one book per day for three years." WSB-TV 2 filed this report on the Gwinnett County libraries plan to dump the Dewey Decimal System. WKYC reports Cleveland Public Library workers have voted to strike if a new labor agreement can't be reached. Have you had a First Amendment audit? From American Libraries, a story on a disturbing new trend in public facilities. "Individuals who arm themselves with video cameras, proclaim themselves First Amendment auditors, and enter police precincts, post offices, libraries, and other spaces under the auspices of the First Amendment right to free speech in order to record staff violations." The Week in Libraries is a weekly opinion and news column. News, tips, submissions, questions or comments are welcome, and can be submitted via email. "The situation in the Middle East region was discussed," the ministry said in a statement on Friday, Xinhua news agency. Moscow, Jan 11 (IANS) Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the situation in the Middle East with US Defence Secretary Mark Esper during a phone conversation, the Russian Defence Ministry said. Tensions soared in the Middle East after a US airstrike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3 killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. Iran fired missiles on Wednesday in retaliation, striking military bases which house US troops in Iraq's western province of Anbar. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted afterwards that "we do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression." US President Donald Trump said that no US casualties resulted from Iran's missile attack, adding that the United States would impose additional sanctions against Tehran. rt/ Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 21:43:39|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The number of livestock thefts has continued to increase significantly in Mongolia, the country's National Police Agency (NPA) said Saturday. "A total of 1,809 thefts of livestock animals were recorded across the country in 2019, up 65.1 percent from the previous year," the NPA said in a statement. Livestock theft has been one of the pressing issues for the herders of the nomadic country, where more than 230,000 herder households have livestock animals, and the number of livestock animals surpassed 70 million by the end of 2019, said the country's National Statistics Office. Attempts to make easy money and weak implementation of laws are said to be the main reasons for the increase in livestock theft. Most recently, 10 men were arrested on Tuesday night while slaughtering seven cattle of a herder in the central Mongolian Tuv province to sell the hides and meat of the animals. According to Mongolian law, a person who is found guilty of livestock theft will face a prison sentence of between six months to five years. The country's lawmakers are now working to strengthen relevant laws and regulations to crack down on livestock theft. Lindsee Leonardo KNOXVILLE, Tenn. A Tennessee mother arrested in connection with the bathtub drowning of her 11-month-old son now faces a murder charge, authorities announced Friday. Lindsee Leonardo, 32, of Knox County is charged with first-degree murder as well as aggravated child abuse after emergency responders rushed to her home to find the infant unresponsive Wednesday night. Leonardo told authorities she had left the boy in the bathtub in 4-6 inches of water along with her 23-month-old child, then "went outside to smoke a cigarette and have some 'me time,'" according to an arrest warrant. "(Leonardo) stated she was outside for about 10 minutes and listened to two songs on her phone," the warrant reads. "Defendant stated when she came back inside she went to the bathroom to find the 23-month-old had turned the water on and the bathtub was filled to the top." She reportedly found the 11-month-old floating on his back, not breathing, and the toddler standing in the tub. Leonardo called 911 and followed the operator's instructions for performing CPR. The baby was taken by ambulance to Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center , where he regained a heartbeat, the warrant states. The boy later was moved to East Tennessee Children's Hospital, where he died. The Knox County Sheriff's Office initially said Leonardo was charged with aggravated child abuse, then announced Friday she had been charged with first-degree murder. The agency did not immediately release information explaining the new charge. Leonardo remained jailed Friday in lieu of $350,000 bond. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Mother charged with murder in 11-month-old son's bathtub drowning Half of the worlds donkeys could disappear in the next five years if Chinese consumption of the gelatin boiled from their hides does not slow down, according to a November report from the Donkey Sanctuary, an animal charity in England. OnePlus arrived at its first-ever Consumer Electronics Show with an exciting new concept smartphone. The OnePlus Concept One is essentially a OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition with camera sensors that can be hidden under a glass. This glass can then switch from opaque to transparent when the camera app is turned on or off. As for how the tech functions, it is a standard electrochromic glass setup. Apart from the invisible cameras, the electrochromic glass also functions as a neutral density filter. An ND filter blocks light to capture a scene that would be too overexposed and bright in very bright sunlight. Mercedes-Benz built a concept car at CES 2020, inspired by James Camerons Avatar world. The concept car, Vision AVTR (Advanced Vehicle Transformation) was developed in collaboration with the team that worked on the 2019 film Avatar. The German automaker described the car as a living creature capable of interacting with the driver as well as his/her surroundings. The car uses bionic sensors to communicate with the driver, and theres no steering wheel, and so you literally become one with the vehicle. There are 33 bionic flaps on the back that communicate between the driver and outside world. The Vision AVTR truly seems like the automobile of the future. CES 2020 marked the dawn of the foldable PC. From Intel's Horseshoe Bend prototype to Dells Concept Duet, there were quite a few foldable PCs on display, but only one of them was ready commercially viable. The worlds first foldable PC, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold has got an official launch timeline. The X1 Fold has a 13-inch OLED screen that can fold and bend into different configurations. The Bluetooth keyboard on the X1 Fold is sold separately and magnetically latches onto the bottom half of the display. The Lenovo X1 Fold runs on Windows 10 Pro. However, a version of the device with Windows 10X will arrive when it launches midway through the year. The laptops at CES 2020 felt like a bit of a letdown after CES 2019 gave us the Alienware Area-51m and the ROG Mothership. But one Santa Clara-based chipmaker gave us plenty of reasons to be optimistic by unveiling the worlds first high-powered 7nm mobile processors and graphics cards. AMDs new Ryzen 4000 series was arguably one of the biggest highlights at the show front. The Ryzen 4000 U and H series arrive with several improvements over their predecessors and will finally bring the fight to Intel in the laptop market. AMDs Ryzen 4000 series brings eight-core, 16-thread mobile processors at never before seen prices. Moreover, the chipmaker also unveiled new mobile graphics based on the companys new RDNA architecture by announcing both the RX 5600 and 5700 series would arrive on gaming laptops in the first half of 2020. Samsung brought its first flagship killer smartphones (Galaxy Note 10 Lite and S10 Lite) and several TVs, including a 292-inch The Wall, to CES 2020, but the Neon was undoubtedly the most exciting and frightening innovation the South Korean tech giant displayed at the show front. NEON is a digitally generated avatar with speech and facial gestures that can visually look and emote like a human. It is being called an artificial human. While the idea behind NEON is that it might be used as a concierge or service representative, the technology and business model is nowhere near ready. Arguably one of the best innovations at CES 2020, the flying taxi attempts to tackle woes of traffic congestion. Hyundai Motor and Uber announced a partnership to develop a line of flying taxis for the Uber Elevate aerial taxi service. The two companies unveiled the S-A1, a full-scale model of the aircraft concept at CES 2020. The electrically powered personal air vehicle, PAV for short, is engineered to reach cruise speeds of 180 miles per hours with a cruising altitude of around 1,000 to 2,000 feet. It is designed to make trips up to 60 miles and can seat four passengers. Twitter announced that it would be building a feature that allows users to hide replies to their tweets. The new feature will transform the way conversations created on the platform by giving the user more control over by letting him/her permanently hide replies. Michelle Yasmeen Haq, a senior product manager, discussing the conversation on his Twitter account, said, We already see people trying to keep their conversations healthy by using block, mute, and report, but these tools dont always address the issue. Block and mute only change the experience of the blocker, and report only works for the content that violates our policies. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, better known as Meghan Markle, stunned the world (and apparently the royal family) when they announced on Wednesday that they would be "stepping back" from royal duties, splitting their time between Britain and North America, and seeking to become financially independent. But there was one group of people who weren't at all surprised--black people living in Britain. Some expressed relief that Markle (whose mother is African American) was finally out of the toxic atmosphere in which she'd been trapped. They wondered how she had stood it for so long. "Nobody should tolerate bullying and abusive behavior because of the color of their skin," Sanaa Edness, an immigrant from the Caribbean to Britain told the New York Times. Edness added that she'd experienced similar racism herself. What racism? Well, there was Rachel Johnson, prime minister Boris Johnson's sister, who commented that Markle had "rich and exotic DNA." There was the BBC commentator who tweeted an image of a couple holding hands with a chimpanzee and joked that it was the royal baby. There was the Daily Mail headline "Harry's girl is (almost) straight outta Compton," on a story that enumerated the recent crimes that have taken place near Markle's childhood home, and listed all the street gangs known to operate in the area, reminding the reader again and again that the neighborhood where she was born "couldn't be more different" from the tony environment in which Prince Harry was raised. Then there was the sense that, no matter what she did, Markle could never do anything right. At least according to some critics in the press, who earnestly insisted that it wasn't her race they objected to, it was some other thing that she'd done wrong. Like when she was roundly criticized for guest-editing an issue of British Vogue. Dan Wootton, executive editor of The Sun went on TV to say, outrage in his voice, that "Royals don't guest-edit magazines!" Except that they have a long tradition of doing just that. Prince Charles guest-edited Country Life twice. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, to whom Markle is frequently unfavorably compared, was praised for guest-editing the Huffington Post and she also posed for the cover of British Vogue. But just in case there was any doubt as to the true reason for objections to Markle, the Mail dug up her family tree and published it, writing, "Now that's upwardly mobile! How in 150 years, Meghan Markle's family went from cotton slaves to royalty." And then there are the other members of the royal family, who have met all this abuse with silence. "You never see them speaking out about the racism, standing beside her, defending her. She's been all alone," a black immigrant to Britain from South Africa told the New York Times. Are billions in revenue leaving with them? Prince Harry and Meghan "stepping back" from being senior royals has financial consequences. Some Britons (and especially the same tabloids that have been attacking Markle all along) have expressed outrage that the couple say they will perform fewer royal duties, which usually include such things as ribbon cuttings and visiting schools and hospitals, given that British taxpayers have been paying for their security and funded the multi-million-pound renovation of their home. But the hugely popular couple, social influencers with millions of followers, have been revenue generators too. By one estimate, the royal wedding (which the royal family paid for) brought about a billion pounds to the British economy. This included things like foreign tourists coming for the wedding and sales of wedding memorabilia. Since then, interest in the couple has remained high, translating into sales of products bearing their images and a boon for the retail and travel industries. But perhaps even more important, it raised the international standing of the royal family and of Britain itself. An estimated two billion people around the world watched the wedding, which many have compared to a fairy tale. After all, Edward VIII, the last royal to marry a divorced American woman, was forced to abdicate the throne as a result. Now here was the royal family and their millions of subjects embracing a beautiful and glamorous American commoner who was not only divorced but also biracial. It seemed to signal that the monarchy and the nation were evolving away from their xenophobic past. It did indeed seem like a fairy tale, one for modern times. But the fairy tale turned out not to be true. Polls seem to show that most Britons are angry with the couple for making their announcement without prior royal approval, even though the Sun was about to break the story, and even though they'd been attempting to negotiate a more orderly exit for over a month. To the non-British world, though, it makes the royal family, and the Britons who revere them, seem racist, churlish, and stuck in a past when they considered themselves superior to all other people on Earth. That's not a good look for a nation that wants to belong in the 21st century. And it's not good for business, either. Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill made her opening remarks to the restore NI Assembly today, she said as follows: Go raibh maith agat a Cheann Comhairle. This is a defining moment for politics here. From today the parties represented in this chamber undertake to cooperate in every way we can in order to rebuild public trust and confidence in, and engagement with, this Assembly and its Executive. Our mission must be to deliver on health, education and jobs for everyone across the whole community. I see no contradiction in declaring and delivering on our firm commitment to power sharing with unionism in the Stormont Assembly while also initiating a mature and inclusive debate about new political arrangements which examine Irelands future beyond Brexit. Similarly, there is no contradiction in unionism working the existing constitutional arrangements while taking its rightful place in the conversation about what a new Ireland would look like. We can do this while maintaining our independent distinct political identities and working in the best interests of all of the people. This is my firm commitment. After three years without functioning institutions with the five parties forming the new Executive, it is my hope that we do so united in our determination to deliver a stable power-sharing coalition that works on the basis of openness, transparency and accountability, and in good faith and with no surprises. I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of my dear friend and comrade Martin Mc Guinness taking up the position of deputy First Minister, and as joint head of Government I too pledge to follow the example of Martin by actively promoting reconciliation, and building bridges we can all cross to end sectarianism and bigotry. Resistance to equality caused the Executive to fall. A refusal to embrace citizens identity and rights left people frustrated, angered and divided. This cannot be repeated. Today we, each of us, are called on to lead. To build common cause for a society that makes room for, and gives respect to, every citizen. To deliver a power-sharing government that is truly grounded in fairness, inclusion. And that has the courage to lead from the front in these times of change. Our politics must embrace civic society - trade unions, voluntary/community sector, business, academia, farmers, business, churches, students - all must have a permanent place and space to advise, input and hold this Assembly and Executive to account. We must work together to solve the problems facing this society. We will apply the full powers and resources of the Executive and Assembly to address the major issues of the day facing those whom we all represent. I welcome the historic official recognition of the Irish language in this State. The guarantees for the language in law represents meaningful parity of esteem for the community from which I proudly come. Also, that the equality, mutual respect and all-Ireland approaches enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement are being embraced, and that we deliver on the promises of 1998 to a new generation of our young people. We have a basis in which to move forward in building a fair society and good government. We will institute necessary reforms across the board in order to get things done, but also get things right in this new administration where we have shared values, and policy objectives set out in a new Programme for Government. Yesterday nurses and healthcare workers had to take industrial strike action. The Executive will move immediately settle the ongoing healthcare workers pay parity dispute for those workers. The health service is in crisis and demands our urgent attention. Waiting lists are unacceptable. The health service needs reformed. We have a big job to do. As we face into the great uncertainties of Brexit, it is imperative that we redouble our efforts to develop and rebuild a modern, competitive and sustainable economy where we open doors to trade, investment, tourism and jobs. We need decent jobs, that value workers and protect their rights. We need to improve our competitiveness through investing in our public services and infrastructure. To conclude, As we approach the centenary of partition lets not refight battles of the past. It is time to bring people together. We can open doors and, We can let this future in. We must give people hope and our young people opportunity. It is my sincere hope that 2020 is a time of real change which reinvents the optimism and hope we have experienced before, but our young people have not. It is time now for parties to have courage, as we choose hope over fear and enter a new era of politics in this society. I wish all members, particularly new MLAs the very best in the time ahead and welcome and congratulate those appointed Ministers into Government. We have two years, lets make a difference. Go raibh maith agaibh A case was registered on Saturday against BJP's Khandwa MP Nandkumar Singh Chauhan and three party MLAs for holding a pro-Citizenship Amendment Act rally without permission, Madhya Pradesh police said. The case was registered in Kotwali police station against Chauhan, BJP MLAs Vijay Shah (Harsud), Devendra Verma (Khandwa) and Ram Dangore (Pandhana) and others, an official said. They were charged under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) for holding the rally without permission violating prohibitory orders imposed in Khandwa under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), said Superintendent of Police Shivdayal Singh. MLA Vijay Shah called the MP government's action as "dictatorial" and said all the participants in the rally were peaceful and supporting a Constitutional law. The CAA offers citizenship to persecuted minorities, except Muslims, who have entered Indian before December 31, 2014 from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brace yourself for more reported cases of the Omicron variant, unfortunately in children. The broad outlines of the story are true and based on the Battle of Sinhagad that took place on the night of February 4, 1670. It is to the films credit that it manages to turn even this act of saving a widow from burning herself over her husbands pyre into some sort of evil design. Rating: Cast: Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, Kajol, Sharad Kelkar, Luke Kenny, Neha Sharma Director: Om Raut Spawned by the rightward tilt of our times, as well as the regular meetings the Prime Minister has been having with Bollywood worthies, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior sets out to sing paeans to a subedar warrior in Shivajis army, and give him his due place in Bollywoods new pantheon of sanskari, Hindu desh bhakts who fought the Mughals. The express purpose is to toady to the guidelines wherein heroes are created only when they fight for their Mother Land against a specific kind of enemy meat-eating, lady-leering, Hindu-hating Muslim. The hero, of course, has to be a family-loving pious Hindu who, when called upon, will thump his chest and sacrifice his all for desh ki izzat. Director Om Raut and writer Prakash Kapadia, who obviously have these guidelines framed and hanging in their offices, have mounted an impressive war film where two groups of men in long, pleated frocks one, led by Tanhaji Malusare (Ajay Devgn), under the guidance of Shivaji, and the other, under the command of Aurangzeb (Luke Kenny), is led by Udaybhan Rathod (Saif Ali Khan) are at war with each other. The film opens in the mid-1600s, when India was a sweetly chirping sone ki chidiya, and envious, dishonourable foreigners arrived to take over its land and forts. Delhi was already taken, but that was not enough for the greedy foreigners. They were eyeing the Deccan, where a very young Tanhaji was being taught by his father to make swords and fight with them. Daddy gets killed in battle with Aurangzebs men and Tanhaji grows up to be a formidable warrior upon whom Shivaji, who has had to surrender his forts to the Mughals, relies. So when Aurangzeb sends his loyal guard-turned favourite soldier Udaybhan to take charge of the Kondhana Fort with the scary Nargis cannon, Shivaji plans to attack and free the fort. He doesnt ask Tanhaji, because Tanhaji is busy planning a child marriage at home. But, of course, Tanhaji gets to know and he dupes Shivaji into giving him permission to wage the good fight. His sweet wife Savitri (Kajol) approves. The broad outlines of the story are true and based on the Battle of Sinhagad that took place on the night of February 4, 1670. But Mr Raut and Mr Kapadia have, of course, felt free to twist and add whatever they felt like to serve the larger picture stitch together a mythical Hindustan that was Hindu, happy, humane with no social evils like caste, sati, child marriage... So while they leave out Yashwanti, the trained monitor lizard who scaled the wall, carrying a rope the Marathas had attached to her, and helped win the battle, they have added Nagin, a deadly cannon, as a sort of nod towards the Guns of Navarone, perhaps, or Aurangzebs favourite cannons Fateh Rahber (guide to victory) or Azhdaha-Paikar (Python Body) that were used in the Siege of Golconda in January 1687. Along with Nagin the cannon, Udaybhans entourage also has a special someone called Kamla (Neha Sharma), a widow he kidnapped up from atop her Sati pyre. It is to the films credit that it manages to turn even this act of saving a widow from burning herself over her husbands pyre into some sort of evil design. That he loves her and wants to marry her is of no significance. Because Udaybhan, a Hindu in the service of Aurangzeb, has become non-Hindu by association. He is also ruthless and eats tandoori crocodile. But Udaybhan is also smart and he fools Tanhaji into killing some innocent Marathas. Soon Tanhaji smartens up and lays siege to the fort. Tanhaji: The Unsung, whose plot is essentially a march towards the battle, is not a bad film. It is, in fact, quite entertaining when it is at war. The films action sequences, made sharp, urgent and cool by excellent editing by Dharmendra Sharma, are lyrical and seductive, including the human chess scene. The film also puts 3D to very good use. An arrow and a spear grazed my ear, and several men somersaulted and died in the row in front of my seat. Saif Ali Khan adds a special zing and thrill to the lead up to the climatic battle with his dashing evil swag. He is in top form here, and embraces the stereotypical villain wholeheartedly. He is so good that I found myself rooting for him. It helped, of course, that Ajay Devgn was mostly dull and boring. Tanhaji: The Unsung would have been a worthy film if it didnt have a twisted agenda that is laid bare when, in a scene where he is goading a group of men to stop being gaddar, Tanhaji says that under the Mughals Brahmin puja nahin kar sakte, Hindus cant chant Jai Shri Ram and yet, in the very next scene, in Udaybhans durbar, he sings and dances to Shankara Re Shankara... wearing many shades of saffron. A 5.4 magnitude aftershock hit Puerto Rico's southern coast on Friday afternoon, days after an earthquake shook the island and left much of it without power. A CNN crew said its truck moved during the aftershock, one of the strongest since Tuesday's 6.4 magnitude quake. The aftershock came as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is making aid available and assisting with damage assessment after the quake rocked the island before dawn on Tuesday. It was one of about 500 earthquakes of magnitude 2 or greater that have rattled the area since December 28, according to the US Geological Survey. The earthquake left one man dead, caused dozens of homes and other structures to crumble and left about two-thirds of residents in the dark. The US territory, still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017, expects to return power to all of its 3 million residents by Saturday, according to utility officials. Quake sends residents to sleep in their yards Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced declared a state of emergency and activated the Puerto Rico National Guard as she pleaded with residents to remain calm and prepare for aftershocks. For many, that has meant bringing mattresses, tents and tarps into their yards to sleep, for fear of what aftershocks could do to their already damaged homes. Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Puerto Rico's non-voting delegate to Congress, spoke at a news conference Friday with Vazquez and Florida Sen. Rick Scott after touring the damaged Costa Sur Power Plant. She said more than 6,000 people were staying in shelters. Vazquez said she had spoken with President Donald Trump to thank him for his support and to urge his prompt approval of a major disaster declaration. Myrna Delgado said she sought refuge outside her home when the first temblors started on December 28. She slept in a van and then at a stadium shelter in the southwestern city of Yauco. "I'm very nervous," she told CNN on Friday. "At night I feel very depressed. We don't have light at home. With the company of other people, at least we feel safe." Noelia de Jesus and her granddaughters are also among those in a shelter. They are also among the many who are looking for a place to stay for the third time, having lost their homes when Hurricane George struck in 1998 and again during Hurricane Maria. Luis Garcia, a resident of the southern coastal city of Guayanilla, said he was finding it harder to secure basics such as gas and food than after Hurricane Maria in 2017. The tremors may not be over The US Geological Survey (USGS) has modeled three forecasts of what may be in store for Puerto Rico over the next month. The most likely scenario, the USGS said, is that the aftershocks will continue to decrease in frequency; and though there may be medium and small quakes, there will not be another earthquake like Tuesday's in this sequence. USGS said the probability of this scenario is 84%. There a 14% chance of what is called a doublet, which is two large earthquakes of a similar size occurring in a similar location, the USGS said. Meaning there is a case in which the region could see another quake as powerful as 6.4 magnitude. Least likely is that Tuesday's earthquake could trigger an even larger one. While the probability is small, the impacts of that scenario would be devastating, the USGS said. "The USGS advises everyone to be aware of the possibility of aftershocks, especially when in or around vulnerable structures such as unreinforced masonry buildings," the agency said. Power out and schools closed As Puerto Rico waits to see what may follow, officials are aiming to restore power by the end of the weekend. Power has been restored to about 80 percent of Puerto Rico's 1.4 million utility customers across the island, Puerto Rico Electric Energy Authority said via Twitter on Friday, but the goal is for everyone to have power on Saturday. Three of the territory's major power plants are expected to be in service again by Saturday, with a fourth aimed at operating on Sunday, power utility CEO Jose Ortiz said. But the plant that supplies about a quarter of the island's power, Costa Sur Power Plant, suffered extensive damage and could be out of commission for a year, Ortiz said in an interview aired on "CBS This Morning." Officials are also working to reopen schools, which have canceled classes until crews can inspect buildings and ensure their safety for students. "Classes in the public school system won't resume until a total evaluation of all campuses," Education Secretary Eligio Hernandez Perez tweeted, adding that teachers and staff won't return to the schools until further notice. More than 500 police agencies have attended some type of training in the new protocol, and at least 77 agencies have implemented it. Thats a good start, but unfortunately there is still some resistance by those averse to change. They would do well to listen to the juror in the Sierra case about the need for judicious response: Back that car up. Use the loudspeaker. You could have kept the windows closed. Its hard not to think that if any of that had happened, a young man might still be alive today, his family might have been spared their grief, and a police officer sued for taking a life might instead have been hailed for saving one. Donald Trump Getty President Donald Trump has claimed in the last two days that Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, whom the US assassinated in a drone strike last week, was plotting to attack one or more US embassies when he was killed. Soleimani's plans, the president said, necessitated the strike against him and constituted an "imminent threat." But there's a glaring loophole in that claim. Specifically, if Soleimani was planning to attack one or more US embassies and it was evidence of an "imminent threat," why wasn't Congress informed about it when administration officials briefed them on the strike this week? Several Democratic lawmakers raised that point on Twitter and in television interviews on Friday, saying that Trump administration officials shared no information or intelligence with them during the briefing that indicated Soleimani was planning the embassy attacks as Trump claims. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. President Donald Trump made a series of claims this week about what he said were Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani's plans to attack US embassies. Those plans, the president said, necessitated a drone strike against Soleimani because he posed an "imminent threat" to American lives in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. Trump first raised the point Thursday afternoon. "We did it because they were looking to blow up our embassy," he told reporters. "We also did it for other reasons that were very obvious. Somebody died, one of our military people died, people were badly wounded just a week before." Later that day, he implied Soleimani was planning attacks on more than one US embassy. "Soleimani was actively planning new attacks, and he was looking very seriously at our embassies, and not just the embassy in Baghdad," the president said at a rally in Ohio on Thursday night. "But we stopped him, and we stopped him quickly, and we stopped him cold." Story continues On Thursday night, he told Fox News' Laura Ingraham four embassies were involved in the alleged plot, though he didn't specify which ones. There's a glaring loophole in these claims: If Soleimani was planning to attack one or more US embassies and it was evidence of an "imminent threat," why wasn't Congress informed about it when administration officials briefed them on the strike this week? Senior officials involved in planning and carrying out the strike have said they can't divulge more information about what led to the strike, including the underlying intelligence they said supported the measure, to protect sources and methods. Some suggested that Congress can't be trusted not to leak sensitive information about the operation to the public. But the president didn't hesitate to discuss Soleimani's alleged plans at his rally Thursday night or with Ingraham, a nationally syndicated radio and TV personality, in a clip that aired on Fox News on Friday. Some lawmakers have also expressed skepticism about the president's claims. "Let's be clear - if there was evidence of imminent attacks on four embassies, the Administration would have said so at our Wednesday briefing," Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut tweeted. "They didn't.So either Fox News gets higher level briefings than Congress ... or ... wait for it ... there was no such imminent threat." Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey made a similar point earlier Friday, saying on MSNBC that lawmakers were not given any information or intelligence suggesting Soleimani was planning an embassy attack at this week's briefing. Soleimani's assassination kicked off a series of escalatory actions from both Washington and Tehran that simmered down earlier this week after Iran fired several missiles at US bases in Iraq that resulted in no American casualties. Trump subsequently announced that "all is well" and that the conflict had been de-escalated. The Trump administration on Friday announced harsh new sanctions on Iran, indicating that tensions between the US and Iran haven't yet died down in fact, they may soon flare up again. The president's actions also led to harsh blowback from Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans who expressed concern that Congress had not been consulted or notified prior to the drone strike. To that end, the House of Representatives on Thursday passed a War Powers Resolution that would drastically curtail the president's ability to take further military action against Iran. It passed on a largely party-line vote, though eight Democrats voted against it, and three Republicans voted in favor of it. Read the original article on Business Insider Airport passenger arrested with $77,000 in US cash Mexico City, Mexico A passenger who intended to fly from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas was taken into police custody after he was found carrying more than $77,000 USD in cash. The arrest of the man and seizure of cash occurred in the Mexico City International Airport by members of the National Guard when the unidentified male passenger was unable to prove legal origin of the cash. Police said the passenger was in the waiting area when they noticed him acting nervous and attempting to evade airport security staff. A review of his carry-on luggage lead authorities to the discovery of the U.S. cash. The man, along with the money, was made available to the Federal Public Ministry Agent. Texas teen arrested for sending mass shooting threat to church during worship service livestream Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A 19-year-old has been arrested for sending a mass shooting threat to a Texas church during a Sunday morning worship service. The Liberty Police Department arrested Brady Michael Martinez of Kountze on Sunday afternoon on Charges of Terroristic Threat after he posted the mass shooting threat on Open House Ministries' Facebook page during their livestream. Martinez will be transported back to Liberty County where he will face these charges. There is expected to be charges coming in Hardin County as well for a similar incident on the same day, the Liberty Police Department said in a statement posted on its Facebook page Monday. In an earlier statement, the police department said they had conducted a Terroristic Threat Investigation connected to the threat Martinez sent to the church. Initial investigation determined that a male identified as 19 year old from Kountze, Texas area made a comment on Facebook during a church service live stream causing a scare, authorities said in an earlier statement. Officers with the city of Liberty Police Department and surrounding agencies arrived on scene and determined there was no active threat to the church members or public. In a video posted on their Facebook page Sunday, Open House Ministries commended both their own building security team and the response of the local police department in the situation. What happened this morning only happened because weve stirred the devil up, said pastor Donald Scott in the video. When you make him mad, hes going to show up and hes going to try to disrupt. Scott went on to declare that he and his congregation are going to go on and they are going to keep doing what were doing. In addition to the charges he's facing for the threat against Open House Ministries, Martinez faces misdemeanor charges for a similar incident against Crestwood Baptist Church in Hardin County, according to news station KBMT 12 News Now. The threat against Open House Ministries came just a week after a gunman entered West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas, and killed two people before being killed himself by a security guard. The gunman, identified as 43-year-old Keith Thomas Kinnunen, opened fire at West Freeway Church during a Dec. 29 worship service that was livestreamed on Facebook. After murdering two men, Kinnunen was shot by Jack Wilson, a 71-year-old firearms instructor who also served as a reserve sheriffs deputy. The events at West Freeway Church of Christ put me in a position that I would hope no one would have to be in, but evil exists and I had to take out an active shooter in church, Wilson said in a post on Facebook after the shooting. Im thankful to GOD that I have been blessed with the ability and desire to serve him in the role of head of security at the church. I am very sad in the loss of two dear friends and brothers in CHRIST, but evil does exist in this world and I and other members are not going to allow evil to succeed. Iran announced early Saturday that it had accidentally shot down the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet, The New York Times reports. The error was caused by the planes sharp, unexpected turn toward a sensitive military base, Irans military said. After days of tension since the jet crashed near Tehran on Wednesday, the same day that Iranian missiles struck American bases in Iraq, the admission was a stunning reversal. Iran initially maintained that mechanical issues had brought the Boeing airliner down International pressure had been building on Iran to take responsibility. American and allied intelligence assessments had already concluded that Iranian missiles brought down the plane, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, most likely by accident, amid the heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, the article reads. As reported, Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport at about 06:00 Tehran time (04:30 Kyiv time) on Wednesday, January 8. There were 176 people on board - 167 passengers (including two Ukrainians) and nine crew members (all Ukrainians). There were 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, ten citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany, and three citizens of the UK. ol For six decades, Dell Burkes Yellow Hotel brothel anchored Lusks main street. Burke was more than a madam, however. She donated to local charities and churches, paid for locals college educations and loaned the town money during the Great Depression. Burke is gone, and so is her Yellow Hotel. But those who knew her recounted their memories of Burke as a shrewd entrepreneur and a generous philanthropist in a new documentary about her life set to debut later this month. Documentary filmmaker Dennis Rollins captured her story through the people who knew her and her unique presence in Wyoming to help keep it from fading away. His film, Dell Burke and the Yellow Hotel, will run on Wyoming PBS at 9:30 p.m. March 30. Wyoming was home to many frontier brothels, but the Yellow Hotel and its owner were a different story, he said. Burke managed to run her business openly on a main street from 1919 to 1978. Some even say she owned most of Lusks power company and threatened to shut off the electricity when a sheriff tried to close the Yellow Hotel, Rollins said. The film features interviews with locals, actors portraying scenes from Burkes life and original music by Casper musician Cory McDaniel. This is going to be one of the few things that is going to be left to remind people of this great story how much she helped the town and how much she cared about the town, Rollins said. A Wyoming story Rollins was working on a separate project, the Wyoming Portraits series, when he happened across the story of Dell Burke. The filmmaker was in Lusk filming the Legend of the Rawhide pageant when he drove by the dilapidated Yellow Hotel. Hed heard some of its stories a couple years before while filming a family reunion in town. He found an open doorway and shot footage while exploring the building. In 2012, shortly after his visit, the town burned the building down because it was deemed a safety hazard. His are the last images of the hotel, he said. He later interviewed an elderly man about his memories of the hotel, just before the man died. I had a couple of things there that could never be captured again, and so that was kind of the impetus for me to say, You need to do something with this, Rollins said. Support from Wyoming actors and business owners made the documentary possible, Rollins said. Part of the film was shot at the Higgins Hotel in Glenrock, and the main street was blocked off and lined with 1950s cars. Everybody involved was doing this for free, Rollins said. They just did it because they thought it was a worthwhile project. Actors portray Dell Burke and the Lusk residents of her time. Actress Dawn Anderson Coates in the title role even wears Burkes clothes and drives her prized car, which Rollins now owns. He tracked down the New Yorker just hoping for a photo, but said he couldnt pass it up when he found out it was for sale. The scenes depicting her life show her making sure her employees didnt spread gossip about their clients and embarrass townsfolk. Burke kept a low profile, Rollins said. For example, when she arrived for the first time at her hairdresser, she asked if she needed to slip in by the back door. The hairdresser, interviewed in the film, told Burke to come in the front door like everyone else. You know, everybody that I talked to that knew her nobody had a bad word to say about her, Rollins said. The story of Dell Burke and the Yellow Hotel isnt one of a brothel, he said. I guess I would like people to watch this and enjoy it, first of all, but also to know that were trying to save a piece of Wyoming history that is vanishing, and theres not going to be people around to talk about it, Rollins said. And just to realize what a wonderful person she was and everything that she did for her community while operating a completely illegal business. History in music Casper musician McDaniel grew fascinated with the story after Rollins approached him about music for the film. He ended up writing 12 songs, a handful of them featured in the documentary. The music styles range from ragtime hearkening to the era when she opened shop to a rock tune celebrating the day she bought her new 1955 Chrysler New Yorker, McDaniel said. Rollins worked some of McDaniels songs lyrics into scenes, including one based on a true story the musician heard from a former Yellow Hotel patron. McDaniel was impressed with how Burke pulled off her business, which began before women nationally gained the right to vote, he said. Burke succeeded by her wit, fell in love with a man who died of a heart attack and and cared for her employees and the town, he said. Her character and life is a rich story containing comedy and tragedy every bit of life is in there, he added. The documentary captures that story and her personality, he said. I really wish I could have met her, McDaniel said. Follow reporter Elysia Conner on Twitter @erconner Love 14 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 5 Monroe, Mich. He flipped anxiously between news stations, bracing for an announcement of bombs falling and troops boarding planes destined for the Middle East. It was a nightmare he hoped he would never see again. Michael Ingram's son, Michael Jr., died in Afghanistan in 2010 at age 23. Every day since, Ingram has prayed for American presidents to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and bring every last soldier home. Instead, it seemed to him that the United States was edging perilously close to another one. The highest-stakes week of President Donald Trump's administration, when a standoff with Iran pushed the countries to the brink of war, was felt most viscerally by people like Ingram and in places such as Monroe. This blue-collar corner of southeast Michigan has buried young soldiers at a rate higher than in most other places of the country. Here, matters of war and peace are deeply personal. They may also be politically important come November. Monroe is a swing county in a swing state, part of a cluster of Rust Belt communities along the border of Ohio and Michigan that voted for Democrat Barack Obama but then flipped to help put Trump in the White House in 2016. Its assessment of his performance as commander in chief could decide whether he stays there next year. Conversations with people here, including many with veterans and military families, reveal how complex that assessment is. Trump's campaign promise to stop the "endless wars" resonated with many, but so did his pledge to answer aggression with relentless strength. Trump supporters in Monroe say they are not against military action. They just want to win and win quickly. They said they trust Trump will. A week that began with uncertainty and terror ended with Ingram, and others here, seeming to stand more resolutely behind Trump. Last week, Trump authorized the targeted killing of Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani. Iran responded by firing more than a dozen missiles at American bases in Iraq in its most aggressive assault since seizing the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979. As the bombs rained down, Ingram had been so tense that he remembered the exact moment Trump walked behind a podium to announce a detente that meant America was not going immediately into war: 11:22 a.m. Wednesday. "I was proud of Trump because I thought it was going to get a lot worse. I thought it was going to be bombing all night long, and I don't want anyone to die," Ingram said of the president he voted for three years ago and suspects he will again. His sentiment was repeated by others in this former union stronghold of about 150,000 people, where American flags fly from poles in lawn after lawn. The median household income nears $60,000, higher than the national average, even as the area has suffered some of the same blows to its manufacturing economy as other Rust Belt counties. Larry Mortimer, a 36-year-old veteran of the Iraq War, did not vote in 2016. He now considers himself undecided. But this past week pushed him closer to Trump, he said, because the president made America look tough. "It shows that if you pick on us, we're not going to let you get away with it," Mortimer said, "and in turn we're going to show force, we're not going to back down." Monroe County, population 150,000, has had six military casualties since 2001, putting it above the national per capita averages. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Places such as Monroe that have seen their sons and daughters die overseas at higher rates voted disproportionately for Trump, according to a 2017 study by researchers from Boston University and the University of Minnesota. Even when the authors accounted for other factors that could tilt the scales in Trump's favor lower college graduation rates, income level, racial diversity they found Trump did better than previous Republican candidates in communities that have shouldered a heavier burden for the war. Doug Kriner, one of the authors of the study, sees the connection as part of Trump's appeal to the forgotten men and women of America. Much of the country pays scant attention to the wars, while only a small slice of Americans go to fight. The research found those Americans responded to the politician who promised they would no longer be overlooked, Kriner wrote. Kriner, now a professor at Cornell University, saw a warning for Trump in his research: Trump risks turning off voters who embraced his pledge to avoid "stupid wars" and being viewed as "another politician who overlooks the invisible inequality of military sacrifice." "For most of the first three years, Trump barked loudly at times, but was quite restrained militarily," Kriner wrote in an email interview this past week. "But now his saber-rattling has crossed over into a dangerous escalation that risks a wider conflagration. I don't think voters in these constituencies where Trump made inroads are necessarily anti-war. But he might not seem like a breath of fresh air anymore, but rather more of the same." After voting twice for Obama, Monroe County swung hard toward Trump, selecting him by a margin of more than 20 percentage points. His victory here was critical to claiming Michigan and the White House. Andy Dybala went both times for Obama, embracing the Democrat's promise of a brighter, more peaceful world. But Dybala grew disheartened, in a large part because of continued military attacks a world away. Now he's the founder of the Bedford Trump Train, a canvassing group in a Monroe County township, working to get out the vote for Trump. "I don't want any of my fellow Americans to be over there dying, and I don't want any fellow earthlings to be in situations where they can't prosper because we're in war in their country," he said. "They're just going to hate us more." By Caitlin Johnstone January 10, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Democratic Party royal family member Chris Cuomo delivered a pearl-clutching, hand-wringing monologue on CNN last night about how appalling and outrageous it is for Republicans to accuse Democrats of having covert loyalties to a foreign government. Cuomo, who is the son of a Democratic New York Governor and the brother of another Democratic New York Governor, began his Closing Argument segment rationally enough, berating the 194 Representatives who voted against opposing Trumps ability to initiate an Iran war without congressional approval. Obviously the more resistance there is to Mike Pompeo manipulating the highly suggestible Commander-in-Chief into any more reckless warmongering against Tehran, the better. But then, without any coherent segue, Prince Fredo began babbling about Republicans leveling baseless accusations about Democrats having loyalties to Iran. "Shame on you and every Trumper and never-Trumper who voted against this."@ChrisCuomo addresses those who voted against the Iran War Powers resolution and those in the GOP who aim to divide the country when unity is a life and death matter. pic.twitter.com/kNMnXEeTdJ Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) January 10, 2020 Theyre in love with terrorists, we see Republican Representative Doug Collins saying in Cuomos clip. They mourn Soleimani more than they mourn our Gold Star families, who are the ones who suffered under Soleimani. Thats a problem. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Cuomo made some sputtering outraged face noises about Collins comments, then highlighted Republican Representative John Rutherfords tweet accusing Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal of belonging to a squad of Ayatollah sympathizers for her condemnation of Trumps indefensible assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Democrats were quick to condemn Rutherfords obnoxious accusation on Twitter. Cuomo also highlighted a tweet by Republican Representative Mark Meadows claiming that Democrats are falling all over themselves equivocating about a terrorist (which also drew angry Democratic backlash on the platform), and expressed astonishment at war crime fetishist Nikki Haleys ridiculous claim that The only ones that are mourning the loss of Soleimani are our Democrat leadership, and our Democrat presidential candidates. So on the right, stop spreading toxic gossip about who likes terrorists, Cuomo bloviated in a long-winded conclusion, making no mention at any time of the fact that Democrats have been spouting this exact same sort of toxic gossip for more than three years now. If only we had a word for this -- something-ism https://t.co/ubMlhdqGj2 Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) January 9, 2020 President Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy kicked it up even further than Cuomos examples, on Thursday openly accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of defending Soleimani with criticisms of Trumps drone strike assassination. I never thought there would be a moment in time that the Speaker of the House of Representatives would actually be defending Soleimani, McCarthy said, adding, Did you listen to what the Speaker just said? Soleimani was a bad person, but There is no but.' If only we had a word for this something-ism, quipped notorious Russiagater Jonathan Chait of McCarthys comments. The joke, obviously, being that [Kevin] McCarthy was practicing [Joe] McCarthyism by accusing political rivals of having loyalties to a hostile foreign government. This would be the same Jonathan Chait who authored what was arguably the single most bat shit insane Trump-Russia conspiracy article that ever made it past the editors of the mainstream press in a 2018 New York Magazine masterpiece titled What If Trump Has Been a Russian Asset Since 1987?, which was just as crazy and full of baseless speculation as the headline suggests. McCarthyite Russia hysteria was being mainlined into the veins of rank-and-file Democrats so aggressively at the time that Chait was subsequently granted a (serious, non-mocking) interview with Chris Hayes on MSNBC to expound upon his fact-free conspiracy theory. I somehow forgot to commemorate the recent one-year anniversary of one of the most important journalistic works ever: @jonathanchaits What If Trump Has Been a Russian Asset Since 1987? Shout-out to @chrislhayes for promoting this stellar reporting: https://t.co/05nInIwr1J pic.twitter.com/lVokshKidN Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) August 20, 2019 None of this, of course, is to defend any of the vile Republican comments listed above. Accusing political adversaries of being soft toward a targeted government in order to shut down dissent and pressure them to espouse a more militaristic position is absolutely despicable. Its a very typical right-wing tactic which is designed to shrink the Overton window of acceptable debate into the most hawkish and jingoistic ideological corner of political discourse possible. Which was why anyone to the left of Hillary Clinton found it extremely shocking and creepy when Democrats began making it their entire political strategy after their loss in 2016. Democrats baseless yet relentless accusations of Kremlin loyalty against political opponents, from Moscow Mitch McConnell to Putin Puppet Trump, have sucked all oxygen out of the room for progressive reform and created political cover for this administration to freely escalate cold war tensions with Russia more aggressively than any president since the fall of the Berlin Wall. So it has been a relief to see Democrats and liberal pundits like Cuomo and Brian Stelter set aside the jingoism and McCarthyism to actively protest the warmongering of this Republican administration. But Ill make you a bet right now, and I doubt anyone will take me up on it: I bet you it wont last. I bet you that in the coming weeks, after the dust settles from this past weeks horrifying ordeal with Iran, that the Democratic establishment and its allied media narrative managers will pace their herd into forgetting all about opposing the US war machine and set them right back on track with impotent nonsense about Russia, Ukraine, and impeachment proceedings that will never remove Trump from office The News Churn Memory Hole: How The MSM Lies Even When Telling The Truth "Its not enough to simply expose the truth. You must also fully, repeatedly and consistently expose the ones who are telling lies."https://t.co/OSW6eFQVAn Caitlin Johnstone (@caitoz) December 18, 2019 Mark my words, and mark your memory. Hold on to your memory of how scary this past week was and what a big deal its been, and then watch carefully as the narrative managers memory hole the entire thing like it never happened, even as the military situation between the US and Iran remains as precarious as ever. Let the contrast between your memory of what happened and their subsequent behavior inform you of what these people really are, and what they really stand for. Dont believe their sudden espousal of anti-war values and skepticism toward establishment war narratives. Ignore their stories about themselves and what they value, and watch their actions instead. It is a very safe bet that their words right now and their actions in the coming weeks will tell two very, very different stories. Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. https://caitlinjohnstone.com Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Saturday hailed the defence ministry's decision to set up an air defence command, saying its formation would help in preventing incidents like the IAF shooting down its own helicopter in Kashmir and Iran downing an Ukrainian passenger jet. Last week, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat issued directions to all stakeholders to prepare a roadmap by June 30 to create an Air Defence Command to enhance security of India's skies. Formation of an air defence command is a step in the right direction to ensure that such incidents do not occur, he said at a press conference on the eve of Army Day. "I am sure that if we put all our efforts, I can say with reasonable degree of confidence that such incidents will not happen as far as we are concerned," he said. On Wednesday, Iran shot down a Ukrainian aircraft, killing all 176 people on board. The downing of the plane came hours after Iran launched missile attacks on two US airbases in Iraq in retaliation to killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike. Iran Saturday said it "unintentionally" shot down the aircraft. On February 27, the IAF shot down one of its helicopter in Kashmir when Indian and Pakistani air forces were engaged in a dogfight. A surface-to-air missile of the Indian Air Force brought down the Mi-17 aircraft in Budgam in the Kashmir Valley, killing six IAF personnel on board the chopper and a civilian on the ground. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal had described the incident as a "big mistake". To a separate question, the Army Chief said the six Apache attack helicopters being procured by the Army would be deployed in formations guarding the border with Pakistan. He said the chopper would be deployed at locations where there is a threat of armoured columns. "Six Apache choppers would be given to an Army unit on the western borders," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It is a trying time for our country right now. On everyones mind is the ongoing bushfire threat. A crisis that has been afflicting towns and communities right across the nation. 26 people have already lost their lives. Though fears the tally could rise are ever-present. Especially as summer still has a long ways to go yet. No doubt there will be more devastation to come. More homes or livelihoods claimed by this catastrophe. Our thoughts, from everyone at Money Morning, goes out to any and all affected. Despite the ongoing threat though, it has been refreshing to see many Australians havent lost their sanguine perspective. Take these images shared by Murray Lowe from Kulnara in New South Wales for instance: You can read more about these images and Murray here, if you wish. It is a striking reminder of the resilience of our natural flora. A land that has endured disaster before and likely will in future. Just as we, the inhabitants, do so as well. Weve been through tough times before, and while theyre never easy, in the aftermath we always see renewal. And just like the plants that come back stronger and revitalised, so do we. Its what we do best. As both individuals, and as a society. Which is why these images are the perfect reminder for not just the fires, but also the state of business in Australia Fear up, consumption down See our local businesses, but especially retail, are also enduring hardship. The latest trade data posted on Thursday highlighted the ongoing conundrum. Record high exports to both the US and China has seen the surplus grow massively. From October to November, the final tally jumped 42% from $4.075 billion to $5.8 billion. Once again, resources are the catalyst for this trade surge. Iron ore, coal, gas, and other minerals paved the way for huge demand abroad. Thats in spite of relatively weaker prices too. However, more troubling is what is happening on the other side of the books. Its down 90% in 10 yearsbut is uranium about to surge 2,000% (again)? Find out in this FREE report While exports are booming, imports are slipping. Overall demand for goods and services from overseas fell by 3%. A stat works out to roughly $1 billion worth of trade. Similarly, consumption is also in freefall: down 7% during November. Equating to $610 million worth of lost sales for the business sector. Which may set the tone for a weaker quarter all round. Long story short, retailers are in a world of pain. You dont need any data to know that though. Just this week weve seen three companies publicly showcasing the tough times. Fashion chain Bardot is set to close 58 stores and cut 530 staff. Leaving them with just 14 outlets left and some 270 staff. Similarly, EB games is also set to close 19 stores over January. The first of what may be many closures in the months ahead. And then there was the big one. The total collapse of McWilliams Wines. After 141 years of operation, this family-owned business is no more. Having been handed over to administrators this week, what little value is left will be stripped and likely sold off. Suffice to say, retailers are struggling right now. But, just like the regrowth of our land, there is regrowth for business. The sprouts of regeneration are visible if you know where to look. Signs of growth E-commerce is the best avenue for growth in retail. I realise that isnt a revolutionary claim, but I feel the need the stress it once again. Online sales, despite their ubiquity nowadays, are still being overlooked by retailers. Any business hoping to thrive is ignoring the internet at their own peril. For the 12 months to November, online spending topped $30.14 billion in Australia. A 9.4% increase year-on-year. Quite the contrast to the dismal affairs of brick and mortar outlets. And yes, that is because online sales are only a small portion of total sales. But, it is growing bigger every year. As of November, 9.2% of all retail sales are now made online. A figure that is only growing by the day. Furthermore, I expect it will keep growing. Perhaps at even faster rate than it is currently. I firmly believe we havent reached peak e-commerce yet. It is an industry that still has room for innovation and improved efficiency. Things like: better utilisation of data, mobile and app integration, as well as virtual/augmented reality are just some of the ways online sales could be transformed. Not to mention the changes we may see to logistics. Such as drone delivery, driverless transportation or flying warehouses (yes, its a possibility). Because of this I wouldnt touch a retail company that doesnt have a confident online strategy. That doesnt mean they have to be online-only, but they would need some sort of digital presence. After all, the retailers who understand online sales are the ones currently thriving. Just look at some of the better performing, publicly listed retailers. JB Hi-Fi Ltd [ASX:JBH], Kogan.com Ltd [ASX:KGN], and Temple & Webster Group Ltd [ASX:TPW] are all powering ahead. Three e-tailers who know how to make the most of online sales. So, despite the upheaval of the retail sector right now, Im not all that worried. At least not long term. Yes some businesses will disappear, some of which may have long legacies. But, thats just the nature of business. Times change, and the old must make way for the new. The important thing is that we minimise the damage while nourishing the renewal. In the end, we will be stronger for it. Because no matter what, you cant stop the resilience of our land and our people. Regards, Ryan Clarkson-Ledward, Editor, Money Weekend Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee are likely to share the stage during a programme of the Kolkata Port Trust on Sunday in Kolkata in the first such meeting between the leaders since the Lok Sabha polls in May 2019, said PTI sources. All eyes will be on Modis two-day trip to West Bengal starting January 11, during which, there is a possibility of the two leaders meeting each other for talks. The coming together of the two leaders assumes significance since the Bengal CM has been at the forefront of the protests against Centres push to Citizenship Amendment Act and other enumeration schemes like the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). Modi government has accused the opposition, including Mamata, of misleading the people and inciting them to violence purely for vote bank politics. Bengal is among the states that have witnessed the most violence and destruction of property during these protests. Mamata herself has helmed several anti-CAA protests in the state and was among the first to announce her decision to block its implementation in the state. She was also among the first chief ministers to stall NPR work linked to the Census exercise. As far as we know, she (Banerjee) will attend a programme of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) on January 12, where the prime minister would also be present, a senior TMC leader told PTI. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Minister of State for Shipping had personally gone to the state secretariat on Friday to invite Banerjee to the 150th anniversary programme of KoPT on Sunday, said the agency. Banerjees decision to boycott a joint meeting of the opposition called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the JNU violence, the Citizenship Amendment Act and other contentious policies of the Centre, led to speculations over Mamatas political strategy. She even distanced herself from the Wednesday Bharat Bandh call by the trade unions and denounced the left for its alleged role in the violence and arson on the day. The BJP has emerged as TMCs main challenger in Bengal following its stellar show in the Lok Sabha polls, which had briefly triggered an exodus of TMC leaders to the saffron party. Analysts say Mamata has made a comeback of sorts with victories in recently concluded assembly bypolls. Modi and Banerjee had last met when the CM visited the national capital in September last year and made a courtesy call to the prime minister. The opposition CPI(M)-led Left Front has alleged that a possible Mamata-Modi meet shows where the CM stands politically. The TMC is actually a Trojan horse in the opposition camp, CPI (M) legislative party leader Sujan Chakraborty was quoted saying by the PTI. The BJP had last week taken potshots at Mamata for taking disciplinary action against TMC MLA Samaresh Das and another leader Siddeshwar Bera for attending the inauguration of a local fair with BJP state president Dilip Ghosh while referring to her possible meeting with the Prime Minister in the next few days. A hearty Saturday Salute goes to all the people who have signed up to work as census takers in Hall County. This is a big job that is very important to local government bodies and agencies and nonprofits that receive government funding. Its extremely important that the 2020 Census get an accurate count of the countys population and the census takers will be out going door to door, making sure people who dont immediately return their 2020 Census forms are counted. David Drozd, research coordinator at the Nebraska State Data Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said this week that the Hall County Census effort has been very well organized and has surpassed its goal for signing up census takers. The first Census forms will be mailed out in mid-March. Grand Island is a multi-ethnic community. Some folks may be recent immigrants and do not speak English and those individuals will either get a bilingual postcard or a form to fill out their Census information. Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - In a statement issued late Friday after the adjournment of the parliamentary session during which the House expressed no confidence to Tunisia's new government, the leader of the Islamist party, Rached Ghannouchi, attributed the failure to the Prime Minister-designate, Habib Jemli, saying he "was not faithful to the task entrusted to him" The last time that I ate at Ox, which was a couple of years ago, I fell into conversation with a man who has lunch there every Friday, at the same corner table. This struck me as a civilised habit, one I aspire to adopt in the future, albeit a little closer to where I live. He has stayed in touch on Twitter and occasionally lets me know about other good meals that he has had. Alain Kerloc'h, who owns Ox with chef Stevie Toman, tells me that on the rare occasion the man can't make it, his wife steps in and takes up the slot. Every restaurant needs customers such as these. On this occasion, we visited for lunch on a Thursday, so my friend was not there, but the room was pleasantly full and we sat at the table for four in the window. You wouldn't think that looking out on to a main road, with the river running alongside it but barely visible, the yellow Harland and Wolff cranes towering in the distance, would be particularly pleasant, but somehow it is. I love the dining room at Ox. I don't think that there's a restaurant in the country that has as high a ceiling, and the simple, modernist furniture is both good-looking and comfortable. A re-vamp of the kitchen means that the chefs are now more on show than they were before. I spot a young man, Matt Logan, whose food I've eaten on a few previous occasions, working away alongside Stevie. Alain says that every chance he gets, during his holidays, Matt is off staging in a different great restaurant in New York or Copenhagen. The kitchen crew look like a happy bunch, and the floor staff are delightful, too, relaxed yet wholly professional. The young Italian woman sommelier wears her knowledge lightly, while dispensing good advice. Having driven up from Dublin just for lunch, it seemed a shame not to go for the full tasting menu, which has several dishes in common with the set lunch. Gougeres are the perfect canape. Chapter One does an excellent version, filled with caramelly, nutty Coolea, today at Ox the filling is of strong-flavoured Coolattin cheddar and beer; there's mushroom in there, too, I think, or else the beer has mushroomy notes. A tiny pastry shell of beetroot and duck liver is another tasty morsel. Next comes a beautiful, luxurious dish that one of my companions describes succinctly as 'hot remoulade' - shredded celeriac with grapes and trompette mushrooms in an ethereal foam topped with a generous amount of shaved winter truffle. A tartare of wild Wicklow venison with St Tola and red cabbage dressed with punchy mustard, concealed under a translucent layer of paper-thin mooli radish, is bold and assertive. Scallops and romanesco come in a subtle bisque flavoured with bergamot and sea herbs, and then there's tender pheasant with intense parsnips and the bright green of Brussels sprout leaves. Stevie Toman once told me that the Northern Irish customer loves beef, and that it would be a brave restaurant that didn't have at least one beef dish on its menu. Here, the chateaubriand comes will outstanding smoked carrots, a rich puree of black garlic and a bone marrow jus. The flavours are rich and superbly savoury. By way of sweetness, there's brioche ice cream with clementine, chestnut and brandy, the flavours of winter, and the richness of chocolate with cherry and ginger - and a little gold leaf for good measure - with a light coconut ice cream. Petit fours are as delectable as everything that has preceded them - from dainty miso macarons to cranberry jellies and the rosemary-scented 70pc chocolate that reminds me of a very sophisticated Aero bar. We drink the exceptional Riesling Dirstelberg 2017, from winemaker and poet Agathe Bursin in Alsace (63), and the Morgon 2017 from Chateau de Grand Pre (57). The bill for four, with water, comes to 353.50 before service. If I lived locally, I too would be booking in for lunch on a weekly basis; as it is, my New Year's resolution is to take the train north more frequently. THE RATING 9/10 food 10/10 ambience 10/10 value 29/30 ON A BUDGET The bargain two-course lunch costs 22; three courses will set you back 28. ON A BLOWOUT The six-course tasting menu with matching wines is priced at 95. THE HIGH POINT Truly elegant, properly seasonal, Michelin-starred food served with buckets of charm in one of the most stylish and relaxed dining rooms on the island. THE LOW POINT It was tough on the designated driver. Iran announced early Saturday that it had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, blaming human error because of what it called the planes sharp, unexpected turn toward a sensitive military base, according to a statement issued by the countrys military. Tehran: Iran announced early Saturday that it had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, blaming human error because of what it called the planes sharp, unexpected turn toward a sensitive military base, according to a statement issued by the countrys military. The announcement reversed Irans claims that mechanical issues caused the crash of the aircraft on Wednesday, which killed all 176 people aboard. It had previously denied that Iranian military defenses had downed the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800. The Iranian military's statement said the plane took the flying posture and altitude of an enemy target as it came close to a Revolutionary Guard base. It said that under these circumstances, because of human error, the plane came under fire. International pressure had been building on Iran to take responsibility. American and allied intelligence assessments have said that Iranian missiles brought down the plane, most likely by accident, amid the heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Suspicions that an Iranian missile had brought down the plane began immediately after Wednesday mornings crash just hours after Iran fired missiles at two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces. Official Iranian news media had cited technical problems as the cause in the hours after the crash. Irans Civil Aviation Organization chief, Ali Abedzadeh, doubled down on that assessment Friday, saying nothing could be determined until the data from the black boxes was analyzed, and he characterized statements made by other nations as politically motivated. But by late Friday, officials were considering acknowledging that Iranian missiles brought down the jet, according to four Iranians familiar with the deliberations. The government was also weighing whether to blame faulty jet equipment. An Iranian report released Thursday said that the plane, bound for the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was in flames before it hit the ground but sent no distress signal. Video verified by The New York Times and published Thursday appeared to show a missile fired from Iranian territory hitting the plane, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. The video showed a small explosion as the plane flew above Parand, a city near the airport where it stopped transmitting its signal before it crashed. The plane turned back toward the airport before it crashed, other videos verified by The Times showed. When Iran began firing missiles early Wednesday in retaliation for the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani by the United States in Baghdad, international airlines rerouted flights away from Iran, and the Federal Aviation Administration barred American carriers from the airspace in the region. After the crash, experts raised questions about why Iranian authorities had not stopped flights in and out of Tehran. In Iran, a debate over how much blame the government bears threatened to destroy the national solidarity that followed the countrys conflict with the United States. Many Iranians said that their anger over the lack of accountability at the highest levels of government had quickly returned. On Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States and its allies had intelligence showing that the passenger jet had been shot down. We do believe that its likely that the plane was shot down by an Iranian missile, Pompeo said at a briefing at the White House announcing new sanctions against Iran. Were going to let the investigation play out before we make a final determination. Its important that we get to the bottom of it. Pompeo was the first US official to publicly confirm the intelligence assessments. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, citing a preliminary review of the evidence, called for a full investigation to be convinced beyond all doubt. The jetliner was carrying 57 Canadians among its 176 passengers and crew. We recognize that this may have been done accidentally, Trudeau said at a news conference in Ottawa. The evidence suggests very clearly a possible and probable cause for the crash. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine made clear on Friday that Western governments had not initially shared the evidence underpinning their assessments that Iran had brought down the Ukrainian jet, though later a spokeswoman said that U.S. officials had handed over more information. Ukrainian officials also analyzed the planes flight pattern Friday and determined it had stayed within the normal corridor for flights out of Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport, Ukraines foreign minister, Vadym Prystaiko, said at a news conference. State television in Iran aired footage that it said showed two black boxes recovered from the crash site. Processing their data could take more than a month, and the investigation could take up to two years, Hassan Rezaeifar, head of the Iranian investigation team, said Friday. Farnaz Fassihi c.2020 The New York Times Company But Barnes' optimism and his conclusion that the five-day week has become obsolete in the 21st century has been met with scepticism by Australian business. Loading Earlier this week, Australian Industry Group chief Innes Willox dismissed the idea of employees effectively working part time for a full-time wage as having "no merit". His comments came as foreign media reported on comments Finland's new Prime Minister Sanna Marin, 34, made last year in support of more flexible working hours. She has reportedly welcomed debate on the four-day week. "Any reduction to the standard 38-hour work week in Australia without a commensurate increase in productivity or a matching reduction in weekly pay would be very damaging for jobs, investment and productivity," Willox says. Economist and director of the Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work Jim Stanford also expressed doubts about whether the benefits of the four-day week, including increased productivity, would be enough to pay for itself in the eyes of employers. "I don't think many will think that is a profit-enhancing shift," he says. Some academics, including professor of gender and employment relations at the University of Sydney Marian Baird, also worry that the four-day week can be used to get five days of work in four. As many women who return to work from maternity leave have learned, the trade-off for getting more flexibility can often mean doing many hours of unpaid work at home. But Barnes insists that his model based on "100 per cent compensation for 80 per cent time at work on the condition that 100 per cent of agreed productivity is achieved" does not compromise business. "Had we not been able to prove the four-day week made the business more efficient and more profitable, it would not have been a viable proposition," he says. "The assumption that if you drop the time worked by a day, productivity will drop 20 per cent is factually incorrect. It assumes that people are 100 per cent productive 100 per cent of the time." And the potential extends beyond just improving productivity and the work-life balance of employees; a shorter week can also help narrow the gender pay gap and the environment by reducing the number of commutes to work. If everyone worked fewer hours, this would allow men to take on more unpaid domestic labour, which would help women work more paid hours. Eating food at an office desk is against the rules, as is having a meeting there, to avoid disturbing colleagues. "We are increasingly allowing work to intrude into people's lives, having emails arrive any time of the day or night and not recognising the environment in the way we work," Barnes says. At Perpetual Guardian, the "prize" of getting a free day off has been enough to motivate staff to make big efforts to remove distractions, including mobile phones, which are now stored in lockers. Eating food at an office desk is against the rules, as is having a meeting there, to avoid disturbing colleagues. Barnes says getting distracted at work is equivalent to a significant drop in IQ. Loading "We want time to socialise, but there is also a time of day when you put your head down and concentrate," he says. "Staff cry when they talk about what they do on their day off. You can't put a price on having more time with your grandchildren and your family. We are giving people the gift of time." Even in work-obsessed Japan, Microsoft found the four-day week improved productivity by 40 per cent after running a one month trial last year. A 2019 research paper from the Henley Business School at the University of Reading in the UK found that 250 businesses operating on a four-day week on full pay made an estimated annual saving of $175 billion (92 billion). Almost two-thirds of employers offering a four-day week reported an increase in staff productivity and an improvement in the quality of work produced. The researchers say the benefits included higher job satisfaction, less stress and a drop in absences related to sickness. The research highlights positive impacts on family life, mental health, physical fitness and the environment. "Fewer journeys to and from work provides a potentially large 'green' dividends with less fuel consumption and a reduction in pollution." But a four-day week may not work for all, according to the researchers, who found some businesses were concerned about the practicalities of ensuring they are available to customers across five days. Keith Pitt, founder and chief technology officer at software design company Buildkite, has a mix of staff working five days and four days, ensuring customers get service on any day. Pitt, based in Perth and his Melbourne-based business partner employ 17 staff who develop software in Sydney, Adelaide, the UK and Canada. "You have to think about your customers who are working five days a week," he says. Keith Pitt, founder and chief technology officer at software design company Buildkite. Unlike the New Zealand example, staff are paid for four, not five days of work. It has to be that way in fairness to staff who work five days. The constraints of a four-day week on computer programmers have eliminated a lot of wasted time and produce a different response to creative problem solving says Pitt, who built his own business while working four days for an employer and the fifth day for himself. "I was more productive for those four days a week and on the one day a week I spent building up the business," he says. Michael Honey, from Australian digital design business Icelab, has allowed staff to opt into a four-day week for a decade. Honey, who previously worked in the advertising industry, known for long hours and burn-out, says each work day at Icelab is eight hours, not 10. Icelab director Michael Honey said he simply wanted a three-day weekend every weekend for himself and his employees. Credit:Jay Cronan "We don't think people should come to work on a Friday. We've got enough productivity to make it possible," Honey says. "We are fresher and have more opportunity to think about things and can have better lives. "It can't be done for everybody. Our particular business model makes it possible." Emma Dawson, executive director of the think tank Per Capita, has reviewed a range of research studies that support the view that the four-day week generally does not result in a decline in productivity. In response to coal industry strikes in 1974, the UK government under Edward Heath enforced a three-day workweek from January to March, which had the unexpected result of boosting productivity. Economic reports from HM Treasury for the first quarter of 1974 showed Britains industries experienced a much lower downturn in productivity than feared. "Against a predicted productivity fall of 40 per cent, the actual drop was just over 10 per cent," Dawson says. "Managers reported that the unexpectedly high level of output was due to a significant increase in labor productivity which meant they were getting the equivalent of 4.5 days of work out of three." Dawson believes a four-day week could potentially spread available work more evenly through the economy. A quarter of Australian workers want to work fewer hours, and one in five are underemployed and would like more. "By reducing the standard full-time week, the number of productive hours could be shared more evenly among workers," she says. Loading Despite improvements in productivity, workers have been unable to bargain for a fairer share of capital and labour. Wages growth is stagnating and technology, while making us more productive, has equipped us to work longer hours from home. "It is 90 years since John Maynard Kaines predicted that we would all be working 15 hours per week by the end of the century," Dawson says. "We are a lot more productive and standards of living have increased, but we are still working really long hours and the share of profit has been split unevenly. Profits have increased for shareholders much more than has the return to labour in wages. Worry about foreign capital domination In the first nine months of 2019, the venture capital inflow into Vietnamese fintech businesses accounted for 36% of total capital, 0.4% higher than in 2018. However, this amount may decrease in future. The State Bank of Vietnam now plans to restrict the percentage of foreign investor capital to intermediary payment service providers at 49%, for both direct and indirectly owned companies. Representatives of the intermediary payment company True Money said that such capital restriction is not appropriate, because intermediary payment services are new services, and these companies are still in their investment phase and are suffering losses. The ten-year license period is too short for them to recover all the capital. Domestic investors are less interested in this sector and tend to shy away, while such regulations will also affect foreign investors as well, in the future. VNPT EPAY said that it is necessary to consider the impact on the development of intermediary payment companies when applying this regulation, while proposing to clarify the concept of indirect ownership on the basis of compliance with the regulations of Investment Law. Currently, intermediary payment agencies are actively making recommendations, because most of these domestic companies have foreign partners holding a majority of the charter capital. For example, at VNPT EPAY, UTC Investment Group and Korea Omega Investment Corp owns 70% of shares. At Ngan Luong, MOL Access Portal Sdn. Bhd owns 50% of the shares. At True Money e-wallet, which was formerly a project of 1PAY JSC, born from the cooperation of MOG Vietnam and Ascend Thailand, 90% of capital has come from Ascend. Actually, foreign investment flow is also increasingly pouring into these intermediary payment companies. Typically, Softbank Vision Fund and GIC Fund of Singapore poured nearly USD 300 mn into VNLIFE Group, the parent company of VNPAY. Currently, VNLIFE has joined the group of "unicorns", which are private start-ups with valuation of USD 1 bn or more. In early 2019, a well-known fintech company called M-Services which is owned by MoMo wallet, also successfully raised USD 100 mn in Series C funding round from global private fund company Warburg Pincus. Previously, this company received an investment of USD 5.8 mn from Goldman Sachs and USD 28 mn from Standard Chartered Bank. Options for foreign investors In fact, the maximum ownership by foreign investors in credit institutions is 30% and in public companies it is 49%, while the majority of fintech enterprises exceed this limit. The State Bank of Vietnam explained that the reason for the present situation was that there are no regulations on conditions of foreign investors investing in intermediary payment companies. Therefore, investment registration agencies such as the Department of Planning and Investment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City accepted proposals by some intermediary payment service providers to transfer shares to foreign investors with different ratio, based primarily on recommendations from these units. In the Government draft decree on non-cash payments made in July 2018, the State Bank of Vietnam mentioned two options to manage this issue. Option one offers no limit on ownership of foreign investors in intermediary payment service companies and depends on each enterprise making their own decision in this matter. Option two approves foreign investor contribution of capital to intermediary payment companies, but specifies ownership percentage. In the draft decree, the State Bank of Vietnam has clearly specified a limit of 49% on conditions for foreign investors in terms of funding organizations to ensure clarity and transparency. As payment made to intermediary companies involves banking, more caution is required to safeguard the national monetary policy. Mr. Pham Thanh Duc, General Director of MoMo e-wallet, shared that in terms of state management, this regulation is necessary to protect Vietnamese fintech founders who hold controlling stake in enterprises. As Mr. Duc suggested, all businesses, including MoMo, are still in start-up stage, so they still face risks, and need much technology and capital from foreign investors. This capital can withstand more long-term risks than domestic short-term investment. Therefore, till the next two years, it is necessary to create conditions for businesses to develop and grow and the State may even consider controlling foreign investment in such fields. Dr. Nguyen Tri Hieu said that the percentage restriction to support intermediary payment companies will ensure the security of the monetary system. If the monetary security is seen as ensured for the next three years, the rate may be extended to over 49%. Translated by Mathew Hung Bao Tran I came out of that briefing with the belief that they were just going to kill Soleimani as sending a message to the Iranians. They suggested they had authority to do that without an imminent threat, Murphy said. They were getting very specific questions about an imminent threat, and they werent able to answer the questions. Medable Inc., the end-to-end platform for digitally enabled and data-driven clinical trials, today announced that Andrea Sanchez, Vice President Legal SaMD securedCIPP/E Certification. A member of the State Bar of Texas and J.D. from Baylor Law School, Andrea earned the ANSI-accredited Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) credential through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). "As an attorney and privacy professional, Andrea already brings significant privacy and data protection capabilities to Medable. Recognition of Andrea's knowledge and expertise via the CIPP/E credential further demonstrates Medable's own commitment to privacy and data protection globally, and in particular, data protection in the EU.," said Perry Robinson, Chief Legal Compliance Officer at Medable. Medable currently serves customers across the globe and continues to expand its service offerings in the clinical trial space and in its leadership position in the digital trial space. In addition to the CIPP/E credential, Andrea holds the CIPP/US credentialThe CIPP is the global standard in privacy certification. Developed and launched by the IAPP with leading subject matter experts, the CIPP is the world's first broad-based global privacy and data protection credentialing program. The CIPP/US demonstrates a strong foundation in U.S. private-sector privacy laws and regulations and an understanding of the legal requirements for the responsible transfer of sensitive personal data to/from the U.S., the EU, and other jurisdictions. TheCIPP/E is the first professional credential specific to European data protection professionals that is part of a comprehensive, principles-based framework and knowledge base in information privacy. The CIPP/E encompasses pan-European and national data protection laws, the European model for privacy enforcement, key privacy terminology and practical concepts concerning the protection of personal data and trans-border data flows. Andrea joins the ranks of professionals worldwide who currently hold one or more IAPP certifications. About Medable Medable is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Medable is on a mission to get effective therapies to patients faster by dramatically reducing the time from therapeutic development to market realization with digital data capture and real-time analytics that remove the complexities of clinical research to dramatically reduce trial timelines. Medable is pioneering a new category of life science technologies that replace the stagnant and siloed data of traditional ePRO, eCOA, EDC, and eSource with an intelligent and unified end-to-end (E2E) platform for clinical trial execution. Medable's end-to-end digital trial platform allows patients, healthcare providers, clinical research organizations and pharmaceutical sponsors to work together as a connected and empowered team in clinical trials and research. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200110005577/en/ Contacts: Investors Medable investors@medable.com Media Letitia Rodley, VP Marketing Media@Medable.com BRAINERD, Minn. -- The body of the 34-year-old Brainerd woman, last seen Tuesday, Jan. 7, at a residence in Barrows, was located Friday in a wooded area near where she was last seen, Crow Wing County Sheriff Scott Goddard said. The sheriffs office conducted a drone search Friday for the woman, Jenna Kaye Bartylla. Barrows is an unincorporated community about five miles southwest of Brainerd. Family members reported Bartylla missing Wednesday. Her father Bruce Bartylla said she is chemically dependent and is unstable at this time. She was last seen with known methamphetamine addicts in Brainerd, who have refused to give any information on her whereabouts, according to her father. Goddard said the Minnesota Criminal Bureau of Apprehension is assisting the sheriffs office in the death investigation. Bartyllas body was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiners Office to determine the cause of death. Goddard could not comment on how the woman died or if there are any possible suspects. However, the sheriffs office believes the public is not in danger. ADVERTISEMENT More details will be released once available, officials said. "At this point, we have no indication of foul play," Goddard said in a news release. "However, we are not done processing the scene. Currently my investigators are still trying to locate witnesses in this case. "This is not the outcome we had hoped for in this case. Our prayers and thoughts are with Jenna's family and friends." By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 10, 2020 | 03:07 PM | HOPKINSVILLE According to the Hopkinsville Police Department, 17-year-old Jonathan Michael Williams was last seen in the Pennyrile Apartments area on Thursday. Williams is a white male, 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 125 pounds. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a gray sweater with "State Cross Country" written across the front, and several names on the back. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Williams is asked to contact the Hopkinsville Police Department at 270-890-1300 Local Law Enforcement are asking for the public's help locating a missing juvenile. This upcoming Monday, Jan. 13, Midland City Council will recognize a $160,000 gift from the Patricia and David Kepler Foundation to add a finishing element to the downtown streetscape. The feature, which will sit at the corners of Main Street and M-20, includes two lighted 10-foot high "gateway monuments" and a four-foot high Downtown Midland lighted sign. Construction materials include glass, masonry brick, and metal with a patina finish. The youth wing of opposition Congress on Saturday urged the state government to initiate a probe into a civil aviation official's activities and dismiss him from his post for allegedly stashing public money in his bank account. A principal consultant in the civil aviation wing of General Administration Department (GAD), J Lalhmingliana, deposited public money worth more than Rs 1 crore in his bank account, a statement issued by the Congress' youth wing said. Lalhmingliana had deposited over Rs 16.72 lakh, which was received as fees for chartering helicopters and Rs 39.7 lakh from a consultancy firm, in his personal account on April 9 last year, it said. He again deposited Rs 45.35 lakh, received from a consultancy firm, and Rs 1.2 lakh from an MLA as chartering fee on April 10. Therefore, the total amount the officer had deposited in his bank account is about Rs 1.02 crore, the statement said. The statement also said it is a serious matter and outright corruption. "We ask the government to probe the case, slap corruption charge against the official and sack him from his post at the earliest," the statement signed by Congress youth information and publicity secretary, Ngurdingpuia Pachuau, said. On April 26 last year, the Congress' youth wing had file a complaint with the state Lokayukta chairman following which the corruption ombudsman on May 4 had instructed state's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to initiate a preliminary probe against Lalhmingliana. The Bureau was asked to submit its report within one month. The Congress' youth wing had also submitted separate complaint to Chief Minister Zoramthanga on the same day, asking him to look into the case. Congress' youth wing president Dr Lalmalsawma Nghaka said so far we have heard nothing from the government though the complaint was filed eight months ago. He alleged that the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) government has prevented the ACB to proceed further. Questioning the legal validity of Lalhmingliana's appointment as principal consultant of the civil aviation wing, Nghaka said that the government order, which accorded Lalhmingliana the right to exercise power as head of department, violates the fundamental rules and financial rules as civil aviation is only one of many wings under the GAD, which is headed by a commissioner and a secretary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We received a public commitment today, Rodriguez said. Weve received private commitments from the mayor that shes on board with ending the carve-outs. She campaigned on it, and the same is true for me. I campaigned on it, I publicly committed to it today. So Im going to hold myself accountable, and I know the mayor will as well, to work with us on the carve-outs once the litigation gets past us. iran ukraine crash AP Photos/Mohammad Nasiri Following multiple reports that Iran was behind the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, Iran's claim that it wasn't responsible appears to be faltering. An Iranian aviation official said it was "scientifically impossible" that their missile hit the plane because the aircraft was flying well short of the more than 30,000 feet at which most commercial aircraft fly. But US and Canadian intelligence sources reportedly obtained evidence showing two surface-to-air missiles from Iran that struck the plane. The suspected missile system, the SA-15 "Gauntlet," is designed to operate in low to medium altitudes. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Following allegations from multiple government sources that Iran was likely responsible for shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on Tuesday, Iran's claim that it is "scientifically impossible" for one of its missiles to have downed the plane appears to be faltering. US and Canadian intelligence obtained evidence of two Soviet-era surface-to-air missiles used by Iran to strike the plane, which was carrying 176 people, CNN reported. US officials said they saw Iranian radar systems lock on the aircraft before it was shot down, according to CNN. The crash came as the Iranian military launched a barrage of missiles at US and coalition troops on military bases in neighboring Iraq. All passengers 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, and 11 Ukrainians, as well as Swedish, Afghan, German, and British nationals were killed when the plane crashed outside the Iranian capital of Tehran shortly after takeoff. Iran, which has denied responsibility, said Wednesday that it launched an urgent investigation but would not relinquish the plane's flight recordings. "We will not give the black boxes to the manufacturer and the Americans," Ali Abedzadeh, the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization chief, said, according to The Guardian. "It's not yet clear which country the black box will go to for the investigation." Story continues Iran plane crash Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images One Iranian aviation official said it was "scientifically impossible" that their missile struck the plane because the aircraft's altitude was 8,000 feet, far short of the more than 30,000 feet at which most commercial aircraft fly. But the missile system suspected of being used, the SA-15 "Gauntlet," is designed to operate at low to medium altitudes. According to the Russian state-sponsored news outlet Sputnik, the system has a tracking range of 15 miles, and the missiles it fires can reach an altitude of up to 33,000 feet. Iran made a $700 million purchase of the missile-defense batteries from Russia in 2005. The same Iranian aviation official also said other civilian aircraft were flying at the same altitude, seeming to suggest that the lack of other hits undercut allegations that an Iranian missile downed the plane. The SA-15 system, which can fire up to eight short-range missiles, according to Sputnik, can lock on to several aircraft or inbound missiles. In addition to Iran's denials, the regime made inflated claims about its capabilities in recent days. Following the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' firing of 15 missiles at US and coalition forces in Iraq, Iranian officials falsely said it had killed 80 people. US officials denied that any troops were wounded or killed during the strike. Read the original article on Business Insider Question: This is a photo of an antique key-wind brass clock that has been in my family for several generations. It stands at about 10 inches tall, has beveled glass on all four sides and both the front and back can be opened. The face is porcelain and is marked with the letter "A" in a square and has Roman numerals. On the lower portion of the face are the words "Manufactured by Ansonia -- New York -- United States of America." Also on the back are the words "Ansonia -- New York." It is an eight-day clock and strikes on the hour and the half-hour. I have the original key, and it is in good working condition. Our clock has survived all these years, and I would never part with it, but I would like to know more about its history and value. Answer: You have a brass mantel clock that was made by Ansonia Manufacturing. Anson Phelps started out in Derby, Connecticut, in the mid-1800s. The factory moved to Brooklyn, New York, around 1879. By the early 1900s, Ansonia was one of the major clock manufacturers in the United States. In addition to mantel clocks, they produced carriage clocks, figural clocks, kitchen and shelf models. Ansonia did not survive the Great Depression and sold their assets to the Soviet government. Your Ansonia mantel clock has a crystal regulator and double barrel pendulum and was made around 1910. It would probably be worth $500 to $650. Q: Enclosed is the mark that is on a set of dishes that I have. The set is in perfect condition and includes four cups and saucers and four dessert plates. They are decorated with burgundy boarders, birds with long tails and flowers. The birds are red, blue and yellow. What can you tell me about my dishes? A: Myott Son and Co. made your dishes. The pottery was founded by brothers Ashley and Sydney Myott in 1898. They were located in Staffordshire, England. Based on your description, your dishes are examples of Myott's Chelsea Bird pattern. In 1949, a devastating fire destroyed their pattern books and records. Twenty years later, an American corporation bought the pottery. In 1976, they merged with Alfred Meakin Ltd. They were bought out by Melton Modes and subsequently were taken over by the Churchill Group. Your dessert set was made around 1930 and might be worth $100 to $150. Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P. O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters. COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Five UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) officers in Kenya were dismissed in recent years because they were involved in corruption, a spokeswoman confirmed on Friday in Geneva. The UNHCR reacted to a report by the German magazine Stern, which alleged that staff members in Africa had charged refugees around 2,500 dollars for issuing documents to secure them a coveted spot in permanent resettlement programmes in wealthier countries. The money was paid to receive forged application documents from UNCHR staffers, such as medical certificates. Besides the five cases in Kenya in 2016 and 2017, which have been referred to national prosecution authorities, there is a similar possible resettlement corruption case in Uganda, UNCHR spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly told dpa. Complaint and feedback mechanisms have been strengthened across the board in both Kenya and Uganda to make sure that refugees know that UNHCR services are free, and to inform them where they can report misconduct, Pouilly said. The UN Refugee Agency has also stepped up its disciplinary measures around the world, resulting in a 60-per-cent rise of disciplinary actions against staff members in 2017 and 2018. The UNHCR estimated that 1.4 million refugees last year were in need of resettlement. However, countries only offered to take in 55,000 people under this programme, which is designed to ease the burden on poor host countries that shoulder most of the worlds refugee influx. (dpa/NAN) Iran is facing mounting international criticism and growing protests at home after admitting to unintentionally downing a Ukrainian passenger jet this week, killing all 176 people on board, having initially denied responsibility. The plane was shot down early Wednesday in the capital Tehran, just hours after Iran launched a missile attack on US bases in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani. Irans Revolutionary Guard revealed on Saturday that it knew hours later that its air defences had caused the crash, but for days after the incident, numerous Iranian officials denied mounting claims that the plane was probably downed by a missile. As time passed, however, the evidence became too overwhelming to deny. Videos posted online by witnesses showed the plane apparently being struck by a fast-moving object, before plummeting to the ground. The head of the guards aerospace division said his unit accepted full responsibility for the accident in an address broadcast on state TV on Saturday. Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Show all 18 1 /18 Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran People and rescue teams are pictured amid bodies and debris All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off, Iranian state media reported ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran One of the engines State news agency IRNA said 167 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft operated by Ukraine International Airlines Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work at the scene AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Passengers' belongings West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Members of the International Red Crescent collect bodies of victims EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Rescue teams work amidst debris AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran A relative of a victim reacts at Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Part of the wreckage Iran Press via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran West Asia News Agency via Reuters Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran Officials inspect the wreckage EPA Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing 737 comes down near Tehran AP Explaining the events that led to the missile launch, general Amir Ali Hajizadeh said his forces had beefed up defences and were at the highest level of readiness, fearing that the US would retaliate. An officer made the bad decision to open fire on the plane after mistaking it for a cruise missile, he added. Irans president Hassan Rouhani said his country deeply regrets this disastrous mistake, and promised that those behind the incident would be prosecuted. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families, he wrote on Twitter. Despite the belated admission, many in Iran have expressed anger at the countrys leadership for days of denial and obfuscation, at a time when the families of the victims were searching for answers. The attempted cover-up appears to have all but extinguished a moment of national unity that came in the wake of the US killing of Soleimani, the 62-year-old leader of Irans Quds Force, whom many viewed as a national hero. Up to 1,000 protesters chanted slogans in Tehran against the authorities on Saturday, the semi-official Fars news agency said in a rare report on anti-government unrest. Demonstrators ripped up pictures of Soleimani, while on Twitter videos showed protesters demanding Mr Rouhani step down over the disaster. In Twitter messages, angry Iranians condemned the government for the attempted cover-up, and video clips on social media showed a large protest at a university in Tehran, where students chanted Death to the dictator in protest at the governments handling of the plane crash. Unintentionally? What does it mean? They concealed this huge tragic news for days just to mourn for Soleimani. Shame on you, said Reza Ghadyani, in Tabriz city. It is the second time in recent months that protests have targeted the Iranian leadership. In November, young and working-class Iranians took to the streets to protest against fuel price rises. The protests turned political, with demonstrators burning pictures of senior officials and calling on clerical rulers to step down. Somewhere between 300 and 1,500 protesters are believed to have been killed in the crackdown that followed. The Iranian governments handling of the incident has sparked anger in the international community, too. British prime minister Boris Johnson has joined growing calls from the international community for an international investigation into the crash. Four British nationals were among those killed in the disaster, along with 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians. On Saturday Mr Johnson said Iran's admission was an important first step and that it was "vital that all leaders now pursue a diplomatic way forward" to avoid conflict. We now need a comprehensive, transparent and independent international investigation and the repatriation of those who died. The UK will work closely with Canada, Ukraine and our other international partners affected by this accident to ensure this happens, he added. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau says his government now expects full cooperation from Iranian authorities in the investigation into the incident. He said: "What Iran has admitted to is very serious. Shooting down a civilian aircraft is horrific. Iran must take full responsibility. Canada will not rest until we get the accountability, justice, and closure that the families deserve." The Ukrainian prosecutor generals office, meanwhile, said it is investigating possible willful killing and aircraft destruction in its probe of the crash of a Ukrainian airliner in Iran. A senior Trump administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Iran had made an "awful mistake", adding that "Iran's reckless actions have again had devastating consequences". It comes as Donald Trump on Friday doubled down on his insistence that the killing of Soleimani the incident that presaged the downing of the jet had been necessary. As Democrats and other critics questioned claims from the Trump administration that Soleimani was plotting imminent attacks on US interests, he told Fox News that four US embassies had been at risk, including the one in Baghdad. It was in Baghdad that the 62-year-old Iranian military leader was assassinated last week by a US airstrike, carried out by a Reaper drone. Hundreds of students of Karakoram International University in Gilgit Baltistan boycotted classes and blocked a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route on the Karakorum Highway as protests against the government's decision to hike tuition fee entered its third month. The troubles have compounded for students with the administration not allowing them to take their university exams. The University position has only worsened the three-month-long impasse where no side is ready to budge. Strict actions, however, have not been able to dampen student's morale and are only intensifying the movement. Anti-administration rallies and marches are being organised in every corner of Gilgit Baltistan. A protesting student of Karakoram International University said, "We request all authorities to let us study. We are the foundation of society and have the responsibility of taking it forward. We request you to resolve our issues and not disturb us in our studies. We want to take the exams. We are already suffering due to harsh winters and this disturbance has further extended our troubles". As per the scheme, the students of masters and M. Phil were not supposed to pay any tuition fee for their courses but the administration changed the rule overnight and asked them to pay a hefty fee as soon as they entered their second semester. Students have two fundamental demands: The Rollback of the increment in the fee and reinstatement of the fee reimbursement scheme. Another protester said, "I want to address this to Imran Khan: Your order was rolled back in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATF) because there is PTI government there. It was not done here because they don't have a government here. Do you call it a change?" "This is injustice and we urge him (Khan) to immediately roll back his decision. We are not going to give up and will continue these protests until March. They are ruining the career of the youth. So want him to sanction us the grant and reinstate the scheme," the protester added. Back in 2011, in order to improve the poor state of education, Pakistan's People Party (PPP) had taken the decision to make the higher free for all students in occupied Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Given that Dermot Bannon has spent the last 13 years telling us all how to turn our unsatisfactory houses into dream homes, surely it would be fascinating to see him redesigning his own house? Well, it wasn't, as this week's first instalment of the two-part Room to Improve: Dermot's Home (RTE1) demonstrated. Since it first aired in 2007, the selling point of Room to Improve has always been Bannon's interaction with his clients: how he has mostly ended up getting his own way, or occasionally hasn't - mainly down to the women clients, who, unlike their more docile male partners, have sometimes had minds of their own and have insisted on him doing it their way, But in this current mini-series, Bannon has no one to argue with other than himself, and it makes for dreary viewing. Mind you, he could have sought the support and advice of his wife Louise and three children, to whom he paid emotional tribute at the outset, but they were nowhere to be seen throughout the whole hour. That's their prerogative, of course, but it sat oddly with the film's declared domestic intent and left the viewer wondering if Louise had any personal input into what, after all, would end up as the whole family's new Drumcondra home. Instead, the only female contribution came from long-time collaborator Patricia Power, a quantity surveyor who, from the start, raised another puzzling aspect of the enterprise by insisting that Bannon's planned revamping would cost 700,000 rather than the 350,000 he had envisaged. So how, after 13 years of dealing with and often blithely disregarding the budgets of other people, did he not know that? Perhaps he was too wrapped up in the agony and ecstasy of being Ireland's best-known architect, though it was the agony he mainly conveyed: "I've lost all sense of belief in what I do. I've lost trust in myself. I'm very tired, I'm very stressed. It's freaking me out." To which the viewer could only retort: Oh, just get on with it. But he didn't, instead flying off to Oxford to pay homage to "award-winning" Irish architect Niall McLaughlin. They had a long, solemn conversation about architecture, inspiration and what have you, but what it had to do with redesigning the Bannon home remained a mystery. Back in Drumcondra builder Graham Byrne was left twiddling his thumbs, telling Bannon that the work was 16 weeks behind schedule. "How?" asked Bannon. "You," replied Byrne. At the end of the hour, Byrne observed that "most normal people would just get bored at this stage", which was certainly my reaction to this self-indulgent, self-absorbed twaddle. Otherwise on RTE it's been a week of commemoration and celebration, the former elicited by the sudden death of Marian Finucane and the sad passing of Larry Gogan, the latter through the reincarnation of Mary Kennedy on Dancing with the Stars (RTE1) just after her retirement as presenter of Nationwide. Video of the Day Why, we even got an hour-long tribute to her on Mary Kennedy: As Seen on TV (RTE1), the encomiums mostly coming from herself as she surveyed her decades of service to the national broadcaster, with lots of archive footage to remind us of lifestyle shows she'd presented that we might otherwise have entirely forgotten. There was more substance to the night assembled by BBC2 in honour of the late Clive James, though neither Postcard from Sydney nor Postcard from London have weathered well since their first screenings in 1991. James was a great essayist and critic but I always thought him an uneasy presence on television, where his propensity for blokeish jokiness tended towards the laboured and the casually sexist. And while there was a mild fascination to be had from watching these visits to his native city and to the one where he found fame, documentary techniques have advanced so radically that the films couldn't help but look dated and curiously flat. There's been nothing flat about The Trial of Christine Keeler (BBC1), which lovingly recreates the London in which the young Clive James began to make his mark - though there's no record that he ever met the young woman who was about to bring down a government. This has been a splendid series, with a stand-out turn from Sophie Cookson, and there's been a blend of comedy and tragedy reminiscent of A Very English Scandal, which had marvellous playing from Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe. There are three more episodes to come and they're to be savoured, and you might like, too, Godfather of Harlem (RTE2), if only for its cast. This latest American acquisition concerns real-life drug king Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), who returned from a lengthy 1960s incarceration in Alcatraz to resume control of the territory that had been wrested from him by the Italian mafia. The script isn't the most nuanced and the violence is often gory, but the supporting players in this 10-parter include Vincent D'Onofrio, Paul Sorvino, Giancarlo Esposito and Luis Guzman, and they'll keep you watching. Or you might try Wisting (BBC4), yet another Scandi noir on the Beeb's most enterprising channel. This Norwegian effort features dogged cops trying to locate an American killer of young women, and while it doesn't avoid the cliches of such crime , it's well acted and strikingly filmed. Hela Clothing recognised as Most Inclusive Employer of the Year in Ethiopia View(s): Hela Clothing, a global apparel manufacturer with factories across Kenya, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka, was recently awarded the Most Inclusive Employer of the Year by the Ethiopian Centre for Disability and Development (ECDD) at the Inclusive Employers Forum. This award was in recognition of Helas efforts to nurture a culture of inclusivity within their workforce that is further exhibited in their hiring, promoting and retention policies. In a media release, while commenting on the award, Manique Jayasooriya David, Group General Manager Human Resources and Administration, said, This award is further validation of our belief that our strength lies in our diversity. We have always prided ourselves in being an equal opportunity employer and as such have nurtured a culture that is respectful and inclusive. We have also set procedures and programmes in place to ensure that we empower our team members as well as take care of their health and needs. This includes transparent decision making, clear-cut career paths, opportunities to upskill, free meals, free transportation, free onsite medical care, and many more. According to the World Report on Disability jointly issued by the World Bank and World Health Organisation, 17.6 per cent of the Ethiopian population lives with disabilities while 95 per cent of all persons with disabilities in Ethiopia are estimated to live in poverty with many depending on family support and begging for their livelihoods. Having commenced operations in Ethiopia in 2017, Helas Ethiopian operation quickly grew to employ 1600 people and account for over two thirds of the countrys total knit womens underwear exports. In 2019 the factory reached the milestone of producing over one million units per month with a target to increase to two and half million units per month by 2021. The Ethiopian Centre for Disability and Development (ECDD) is an Ethiopian civil society organization established in 2005. The ECDD works collaboratively with other organisations to promote, facilitate and build capacity for disability inclusive development in Ethiopia. Hela Clothing is a US$200 million company that provides sustainability focused apparel supply chain solutions. The company works closely with global brands, from design to delivery, in the intimate, sleepwear and kids product ranges. With 10 factories across three countries and a workforce of 15,000 across the globe, Hela leads the industry in ethical and sustainable working environments. Its a look of love and it seems to confirm the whispers that Oscar-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan and screen hearthrob Jack Lowden are more than just movie co-stars. Saoirse, star of hit film Little Women, and Jack, her on-screen husband in 2018 movie Mary Queen Of Scots, were spotted strolling hand-in-hand after a trip to the Co-op store near her flat in West London. And as she turned admiringly to her boyfriend as he carried the shopping, Saoirse couldnt help but break into a smile. Saoirse and Jack strolling hand-in-hand after a trip to the Co-op store near her flat in West London Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden in Mary Queen of Scots in character on set with Saoirse in the title role while he played the queens husband, Lord Darnley Our exclusive picture comes just weeks after the 25-year-old Irish star had attempted to scotch suggestions that she was in a relationship with Lowden, 29. They shared steamy sex scenes in Mary Queen Of Scots, with Saoirse in the title role while he played the queens husband, Lord Darnley. The rumours had begun just over a year ago when the pair were seen looking extremely close at a party after a screening of the film in New York. But Saoirse denied Mr Lowden was her boyfriend. Asked if they were in a relationship in an interview last month, she replied: Noooo Pressed further on whether they were dating, she added only: Just no Jack has also been tight-lipped about his friendship with Ms Ronan, saying last February: Oh, Im not going to talk about that. I dont like talking about that side of life. Saoirse grew up in County Carlow and Dublin and her name, pronounced Ser-sha, means freedom in Irish. It first became a popular Christian name for Irish girls in the 1920s, a period dominated by Irish independence. The pair shared steamy sex scenes in Mary Queen Of Scots, with Saoirse in the title role The star is currently favourite to win the Best Actress Oscar next month for her portrayal of the iron-willed Jo March in the new film adaptation of Little Women, the much-loved classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. The role earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Bafta awards. Lowden is carving his own promising career, with roles in war epic Dunkirk and the BBCs adaptation of War & Peace. Washington, Jan 11 : US President Donald Trump said that the "imminent threat" from Iran might involve planned attacks on four US embassies, US media reported. "We will tell you that probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad," Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Friday when asked about what had been specifically targeted by Iran. "I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies," Trump added, Xinhua news agency reported. Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, was killed last Friday in US drone strikes near Baghdad airport. The killing of Soleimani drew skepticism from some US experts and Democratic lawmakers, who argued that Trump's decision was "provocative and disproportionate," and might trigger an uncontrolled conflict between the United States and Iran. With over 1,600 personnel on board, Vikramaditya is literally a Floating City, with MiG 29K as the main offensive aircraft. The Arabian Sea provides entry to the Indian Ocean where China currently has built a logistics base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. New Delhi: At a time when Chinese and Pakistan navies are carrying out a nine-day mega naval exercise in Arabian Sea, India has deployed its aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya in the region, sending a clear signal to the neighbouring nations. Infact, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS) Vice Admiral M.S. Pawar embarked INS Vikramaditya during the week to review its operational readiness. He reviewed carrier operations in the Arabian Sea. Yes, INS Vikramaditya has been in water for a week now, said sources. The flying preparedness of the aircraft was also reviewed. DCNS was extremely pleased to witness the Intense Air Operations with High levels of motivation and will to win, that were evident onboard the Queen of the Battle, said officials. He expressed confidence that INS Vikramaditya will live up to the name and remain victorious in battle. The Arabian Sea region is strategically important for India as major ports including Kandla, Okha , Mumbai, Nhava Sheva (Navi Mumbai), New Mangalore, and Kochi are located there. Pakistan and China on Monday launched a major drill in the North Arabian Sea with an aim to increase inter-operability and strategic co-operation between their two navies. According to reports China has deployed destroyer, frigate, a supplement ship, and submarine rescue ships. With over 1,600 personnel on board, Vikramaditya is literally a Floating City, with MiG 29K as the main offensive aircraft. The Arabian Sea provides entry to the Indian Ocean where China currently has built a logistics base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. As per reports, joint exercises are expected to be the first of many to come, as China and Pakistan have now developed a series of joint exercises covering the navy, army and air force, the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) Daily. Indian Navy which is circumspect of Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean is not inviting Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in its largest multilateral maritime exercise Milan 20 for which invitation has been sent to 41 countries. According to sources Indian has not invited China for Milan as Indian Navy does not want the presence of Chinese ships in Indian ocean as they could in future try to misuse it to build legitimacy to be in the area. Tomorrow they will start saying that we have been coming here for years. So we want to avoid such a situation, said sources. In September last year, Indian Navy forced PLA ship to return after it entered Indias exclusive economic zone in the Andaman Sea. Contributed Photo / Department of Justice / Contributed Photo A Michigan man has been charged with child exploitation offenses after he allegedly coaxed a Connecticut teen into sending him sexually explicit content, according to officials. Jason Keller, 34, of Dearborn Heights, Mich., was charged on an indictment with one count of enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and one count of receipt of child pornography, a news release from U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham said. Boeings troubles run deep. The 737 Max, its newest and most important jet, has been grounded since March after two deadly crashes killed 346 people. The cascading crisis has disrupted the global aviation industry, cost the company billions of dollars and led to the ouster of its chief executive. Yet the steady drip of bad news and embarrassing revelations culminating in Thursdays release of 117 pages of damning internal communications has revealed something more disturbing than one poorly designed plane. The very culture at Boeing appears to be broken, with some senior employees having little regard for regulators, customers and even co-workers. Perhaps most tellingly, the documents show Boeing employees repeatedly questioning the competence of their own colleagues, and the quality of the companys engineering. This is a joke, a Boeing employee, referring to the 737 Max, said to a colleague in 2016. This airplane is ridiculous. [January 10, 2020] PLANTRONICS 72 HOUR DEADLINE ALERT: Former Louisiana Attorney General and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Remind Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Plantronics, Inc. - PLT Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have only until January 13, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Plantronics (News - Alert), Inc. (NYSE: PLT), if they purchased the Company's securities between July 2, 2018 and November 5, 2019, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Plantronics and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-plt/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by January 13, 2020. About the Lawsuit Plantronics and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On November 5, 2019, the Company disclosed a channel inventory cut of $65M "by reducing sales to channel partners," fiscal 2020 guidance reductions in revenue between $1.72B and $1.81B and adjusted EBITDA between $282M and $323M, as well as the departure of its Executive Vice President of Global Sales. On this news, the price of Plantronics' shares plummeted nearly 37% on unusually heavy trading volume. The case is Bassuk v. Plantronics, Inc., et al., 3:19-cv-07481. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200110005491/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 16:11:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A glittering cultural event was organized by the Chinese embassy in New Delhi on Friday night to commemorate the beginning of the Lunar New Year and the 70th year of diplomatic ties between China and India. Artists from the China Oriental Performing Arts Group gave splendid dance-and-music performances, much to the delight of the audience comprising both Chinese and Indian nationals. Two Indian lawmakers Sonal Mansingh and Narendra Jadhav from the parliament's Upper House Rajya Sabha, also graced on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong said, "I hope this culture fest will help you learn more about China and come to love Chinese culture. Today's performance will unveil the series of celebrations for the 70th year of diplomatic ties between China and India. A number of events will be held in this regard. The year 2020 also marks the China-India cultural and people-to-people exchanges." He further said that the Chinese Year of the Rat would soon begin, and that the Rat had a special significance in the cultures of both the countries. "The Chinese Lunar Year of the Rat will arrive in two weeks. In Chinese culture the Rat represents intelligence and vitality while in India it is the mount of Lord Ganesh and represents wisdom and talent. On the occasion of this auspicious event I wish China and India peace, prosperity and happiness. I also wish both the countries friendship like a Dragon and Elephant tango can bring peace and development to the region and to the world at large." "We should follow the strategic guidance of our two leaders, strengthen strategic communication and enhance political mutual trust so that the consensus reached by the two sides can be translated to all levels of society and translated into tangible actions and outcomes," added the Chinese envoy. The federal government will put $76 million into emergency mental health services for bushfire-affected communities, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison pointing to the widespread trauma caused by the unprecedented crisis. The "initial" mental health funding will go to counselling sessions, extra psychological treatment under Medicare, expanded access to telehealth remote counselling, specialist trauma care for emergency services personnel, local community wellbeing programs and Headspace youth centres in significantly impacted communities. These bushfires have been unprecedented in their scale, coverage and duration. They have caused tragic loss of life and physical damage, that have scarred our landscape. But as I have witnessed in connecting with people on the ground in fire-affected communities, they have also taken a traumatic emotional toll on our people," said Mr Morrison. "We need to ensure the trauma and mental health needs of our people are supported in a way like we never have before." The clock is ticking on the 2020 census and the 7,000 temporary paid positions that still need to be filled in New Mexico as the federal government builds an army to take on the herculean task of getting everyone counted an effort it embarks on every 10 years. The Albuquerque-area census office has hired about 6,860 workers who will cover the northern half of New Mexico; the Las Cruces Area Census Office has hired 4,983 covering the southern half. The additional 7,000 workers will be hired from counties throughout New Mexico the majority of the work will consist of census takers people who knock on doors when households neglect to return their surveys. To get these part-time, flexible positions filled, the U.S. Census Bureau is sweetening the pot, offering up to $17.50 an hour. The agency is also stressing that those receiving public assistance such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families can work part time and continue receiving those benefits. The deadline to apply is Feb. 29. The census starts officially on April 1. This will be the first year census responders will have the option of completing the survey online or over the phone. The physical counting of non-responding households starts in May and lasts until early July. Theres a push to get the positions filled and to get as accurate a count as possible because the stakes are so high. If New Mexico has an undercount, then we could lose funding from important programs, which we all benefit from, said Suzan Reagan, senior program manager of the Data Bank at the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams office said in a news release last week that an undercount of 1% would deprive New Mexico communities of hundreds of millions of dollars for education, health care, roads and housing over the next decade. Census data is also used to ensure accurate representation at all levels of government, from the U.S. House of Representatives and state Legislature to city councils and county commissions. Its also used to determine how many electoral votes each state has, which is how the president is elected. But getting an accurate population count in a rural state such as New Mexico is no easy task. According to the Governors Office, 43% of the states population about 900,000 people live in hard-to-count areas, places that are hard to locate, or they are individuals who are hard to interview or hard to persuade. A report from the Leadership Conference Education Fund, a coalition of civil and human rights groups, found that New Mexico ranks the highest, at 78.5%, for Native Americans who live in hard-to-count areas. The coalition estimates there are almost 215,600 Native Americans living in New Mexico. In addition to being remote, some of the most undercounted communities, Reagan said, are minority, high-poverty communities with large proportions of people who speak English as a second language. Reagan said some of the reasons people dont participate include not wanting the government to know about them, worrying about their confidentiality or not understanding the importance of being counted. The Census Bureau does not share private data with other government entities, such as the CIA, the FBI or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Nationwide, the Census Bureau is attempting to hire up to 500,000 temporary, part-time census takers, the agency has said. Locally, Bernalillo County is 62% of the way toward its recruiting goals for the census. Dona Ana and Luna counties have the highest percentage of their recruiting goals met 81% for both according to Census Bureau data. At 17%, Guadalupe County has the lowest percentage of recruiting goals met. The U.S. Government Accountability Office website estimates this years census will cost close to $16 billion. The average cost of counting housing units increased from about $16 per unit in 1970 to around $92 per unit in 2010, in part because the nations population is more difficult to count, according to the website. The 2010 census recorded 2,059,179 people in New Mexico. People have been out on the streets to protest against the attack on their citizenship and to defend the Constitution. Hyderabad: In a democracy, people elect their government. With the CAA-NPR-NRC package, the Modi government is empowering itself to select the people and voters of their choice and reject the others, said youth representatives from Young India, an umbrella group of more than 100 student organisations from across the country. The group on Saturday launched a petition on which signatures would be collected while they campaign against the CAA. They said the combination of the CAA, the NRC and the NPR puts the poor, migrant workers, tribals and minorities at the mercy of corrupt and communal government officials who can declare people doubtful citizens, strip them of voting rights and send them to detention camps, said the student representatives. Mr N. Sai Balaji, former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru Students Union (JNUSU), who was at the meeting, said, Non-Muslims who may not have the prescribed documents to prove their ancestry will be first made to declare themselves as refugees. They may then regain their citizenship under the CAA, if they prove they are refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan. People have been out on the streets to protest against the attack on their citizenship and to defend the Constitution. We dont understand why the government is not understanding, a student said. On January 20, the students proposed to take out a rally from the Ambedkar statue at Tank Bund to Dharna Chowk, Indira Park. Lets Get Bent: Honey, not vinegar Hello and welcome to my first article for 2020! I dont know about you but 2019 seems to fly by so fast, I may have suffered some whiplash! On contemplation of my year that was, I have one little quote that I want to adhere to more this year and I believe the whole world could perhaps learn to pay attention to it, after the events of last year on the whole: You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar Health By Kim White Saturday 11 January 2020, 02:00PM Remind yourself of the positive things in your life that you wish to cultivate. I tend to be quite a blunt and honest person and although I dont believe these are terrible qualities, I do feel that sometimes I start off on a new situation in a negative state as I forget to sprinkle a bit of sweetness into my greeting. So this year, I wanted to start off my monthly yoga articles with a little advice for your Yamas and Niyamas or another way to describe it, your social and moral conduct. Yamas and Niyamas are two other important aspects in the practice of yoga that do not concentrate so much on your muscle flexibility but definitely focus on the flexibility of the attitude you give out to the world on a day-to-day basis. When we give out kindness and happiness to our community we are creating great karma for ourselves and those around us. A positive person inspires others to be the same way and the whole idea of paying it forward will continually create a pleasant community and environment. Having a positive mantra to repeat daily will remind you to be the Honey. I like to encourage myself and those around me to be the example in this crazy world, instead of being the cause of ill will and negativity. Look yourself in the mirror daily and remind yourself of the positive things in your life that you wish to cultivate this year. Write a list of little things that make you happy and emulate them for your family and friends and dare I say it Strangers. At the end of each day, contemplate the way you proceeded through that day. How were your reactions today? Is there room for improvement? What great things do you want to repeat again? what lessons did you learn this day? What bad habits do you want to eliminate? Gather all this information up on a daily basis to set your goals for the following day. If you stick to this idea of being present and conscious each day, one day at a time, you WILL see some positive changes. Proceed through your day with more honey vibes than vinegar to attract more sweetness in your own life. Start the year, the way you wish to end it. Happy stretching Metta Kim oxo One of the main motivations that drives Kim to teach yoga is her desire to keep true, real yoga alive; the propagation of yoga for yoga. She strives to achieve this through teaching and helping people fall in love with yoga every day. She gives you her yoga mind and yoga heart to guide anyone wishing to traverse the beautiful journey that is yoga. Teaching group classes, private classes, yoga intensives and retreats across the island. Monthly subscription is also available on her online yoga channel at KimWhiteYoga.com and you can also listen to her yoga podcast Lets Get Bent. Representative image German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday for talks set to focus on flashpoints in the Middle East. Merkel and Putin shook hands at the start of the meeting which the German leader said would cover topics including turmoil in Libya and the Syria conflict as well as Ukraine's war with pro-Russian separatists. "There is a lot to discuss," said Merkel, adding that "talking with one another is always better than talking about one another." Putin thanked the chancellor for visiting and said they would focus on "the hottest" topics. The leaders were set to give a press conference afterwards. Germany and Russia said ahead of the talks that they would cover the confrontation between Washington and Tehran over the US killing of a top Iranian general and turmoil in Libya. The visit by Merkel was her first to Russia since May 2018 when the leaders met at Putin's Black Sea residence. Putin visited Syria and Turkey this week and is keen to stress his role as a regional powerbroker. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who accompanied Merkel, said a "key reason" for the meeting was the escalating crisis in Libya, where Berlin is acting as a mediator in a conflict he has warned could become a "second Syria". "We are involving Europe and those players who are influential there, for that we need Russia," Maas told Germany's NTV television. "For us, it's not too far to fly to Moscow to discuss that with Putin." Merkel is to invite Putin to a Berlin conference on Libya later this month, diplomatic sources told AFP. Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a ceasefire in Libya on Wednesday, although they are seen as supporting opposing sides in the conflict. While Turkey has sent troops to support the UN-backed Tripoli government, Moscow is accused of backing mercenaries supporting strongman Khalifa Haftar in his fight against the government. Haftar said he would fight on despite the call for a ceasefire. The Kremlin has said the talks will also cover the "escalation of tensions" in the Middle East after the US killed top Iranian commander General Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike close to Baghdad. Putin warned the killing could "seriously aggravate the situation in the region". Iran, an ally of Moscow, responded with missile attacks on Iraqi bases housing American troops. It also accidentally brought down a Ukrainian passenger plane with missiles after mistaking it for a hostile target. While Germany condemned the tit-for-tat violence and urged Tehran to end a "spiral" of conflict, Putin said using force would "not contribute to finding solutions to the complex problems in the Middle East". Tehran has announced a further rollback on its commitment to a 2015 nuclear accord following the United States' unilateral withdrawal in 2018. Russia and Germany are among world powers still backing the deal. The Moscow meeting with Merkel also comes after Putin in December took part in talks on the Ukraine conflict in Paris in the "Normandy format" hosted by Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. This was his first face-to-face meeting with his recently-installed Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. The war with Moscow-backed separatists broke out after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and has killed more than 13,000 people. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko tweeted on Friday that he had spoken to Maas about the Ukraine conflict and was "waiting for news" to emerge from the talks. The story of Mourinho and Liverpool Standard Sport's Liverpool Correspondent, David Lynch, outlines the history between the now Tottenham boss and the Merseyside giants. And, depending on who you believe, things could have been very, very different... Just how the story of Jose Mourinho and Liverpool Football Club truly began depends a lot on who you ask. In the summer of 2004, the Portuguese was not only, as he put it, both a European champion and a Special One, but also one of the hottest properties in world football on the lookout for a first major move. His availability came at a particularly convenient time for those in charge at Anfield, with Gerard Houlliers six-year reign having reached a disappointing conclusion. After leading FC Porto to a shock Champions League success at the expense of far wealthier competition, Mourinho was a logical candidate for the vacancy on Merseyside. The Reds boasted a glorious history, but not quite the money to back up their aim of returning to those halcyon days, and this charismatic upstart from Setubal seemed the perfect fit to help overturn those odds. Unfortunately, Liverpools ties with its trophy-laden past were more than just teary-eyed nostalgia. The Merseyside clubs successes had come about thanks to a particular approach, and those at the helm were yet to see the value of diverging from that even in a vastly different era. And so they decided that, in creating one of modern footballs most iconic moments in sprinting down the Old Trafford touchline months earlier, Mourinho had marked himself out as unworthy of a move to Anfield. As then-chief executive Rick Parry later recalled: One of our core values was respect. Seeing Mourinho celebrate like that reinforced my initial belief. Was he really a Liverpool manager? Did he characterise the clubs values? Inevitably, Mourinhos camp remember things slightly differently. They instead suggest that their client rejected an offer from the Reds in order to join Chelsea on account of Roman Abramovichs greater enthusiasm for getting a deal done. Of course, as is so often the case, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. It is not hard to imagine that Liverpools old-fashioned approach caused them to move too slowly in the chase for Mourinho; equally, it is easy to believe that a slavish adherence to Boot Room values convinced them that the Portuguese wasnt the right man, too. But, whatever the reasons for the 56-year-olds failure to end up at Anfield, what could have been a love affair has since descended into a bitter feud - a process that began remarkably quickly. One of Mourinhos first meetings with Liverpool - the 2005 League Cup final - saw him striding the touchline shushing opposition supporters following a late equaliser that teed his team up for victory. And the antagonistic relationship between the two parties hit new heights later that season when Rafael Benitezs team claimed the most unlikely Champions League semi-final win over a side that went on to finish 37 points ahead of them in the Premier League. Mourinhos departure from Stamford Bridge in 2007 prompted a suspension of hostilities but, little did either side know, the worst was yet to come. Seven years later, Chelsea claimed a win at Anfield that not only denied Liverpool a first League title in what would then have been 24 years, but also marked a low point in relations with the man in the opposition dugout. The players in the away dressing room that day recall their manager manically urging them not to be the clowns at a celebratory circus by lying down and simply taking defeat. In the end, the visitors claimed a 2-0 victory that ensured Liverpools long wait for the championship is still ongoing 30 years on from their last win. Meanwhile, Mourinho had shown Liverpool that they were wrong to overlook him, even if, with his legacy as one the greatest managers of all-time already secured, he didnt need to. Unfortunately for the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss, in the five years since a moment that represents the Reds nadir in this long-running rivalry, the tables have turned significantly. Not only did Jurgen Klopps men ensure Mourinho was sacked from his last job as Manchester United boss with a 3-1 win last term; they arrive to take on his Tottenham side as reigning world and European champions. Whats more, even should the Portuguese reproduce his 2014 Anfield masterclass this Saturday, it would ultimately have little effect on the Reds hope of finally ending their League title drought. In fact, a win for the visitors would only increase the pressure on Spurs manager, who faced accusations that his time at the elite level might be up after failure at Old Trafford, and has endured something of a mixed start to life in north London. Military vehicles are parked inside Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, February 2019. Camp Humphreys is home to United States Forces Korea headquarters. Yonhap The United States Senate unanimously adopted a resolution this week recognizing the importance of the U.S. alliance with South Korea, Congress' website showed Friday. The resolution, introduced in April by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, passed the Senate by unanimous consent Wednesday. It notes that the two countries "enjoy a comprehensive alliance partnership, founded in shared strategic interests and cemented by a commitment to democratic values." It also praises the contributions of Korean-Americans in the U.S. CHICO, Calif. - Chico police arrested a 45-year-old man for burglary early Friday morning. David Markoe was arrested for burglary, resisting a peace officer, assaulting a Police K-9, and violating the terms of his PRCS. The burglary happened at 1661 Forest Avenue around 8:10 a.m. on Friday. A security guard reported a male suspect broke into the clubhouse and was still inside at the time. Police arrived and set a perimeter around the portion of the clubhouse. Police said they noticed that a window had been broken from an exterior door where the suspect gained entry to the clubhouse. Police said they gave verbal commands to the suspect for 20 minutes, however, he refused to come out. Officer Martin and his K-9 partner Aron then entered a restroom where the suspect was located. The suspect was bitten by Aron but refused to be arrested. He then kicked K-9 Aron multiple times during the arrest, the officer eventually used a taser on the man. Markoe was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries. He was then transported to the Butte County Jail for booking. There were no other injuries resulting from this incident. KYIV, Ukraine Irans stunning admission that its forces errantly downed a Ukrainian jetliner reversing three days of denial did little to quell growing fury inside the country and beyond on Saturday as the deadly tragedy turned into a volatile political crisis for Tehrans leaders and overshadowed their struggle with the United States. Ukrainian officials criticized Irans conduct, suggesting that the Iranians would not have admitted responsibility if investigators from Ukraine had not found evidence of a missile strike in the wreckage of the crash, which killed all 176 people aboard. Protests erupted in Tehran and other Iranian cities as dumbfounded citizens found a new reason to mistrust Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, and other officials. Protest videos even showed some shouting, Khamenei is a murderer! and anti-riot police tear-gassing violent demonstrators. Mr. Khamenei said he had ordered subordinates to be honest about Irans responsibility for the disaster. Both he and President Hassan Rouhani said they had not learned the true cause until an internal military investigation was completed on Friday. But that assertion raised new questions about how the two top leaders in the hierarchy Mr. Khamenei is the commander in chief could not have known. (@FahadShabbir) UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th January, 2020) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Guatemala to protect the rights and ensure the safety of the International Commission against Impunity in the country (CICIG) former employees, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. "The Secretary-General calls on the Guatemalan authorities to protect the rights and ensure the safety and security of former CICIG staff, as well as justice operators and human rights defenders who work in support of the rule of law in Guatemala," Dujarric said on Friday. Dujarric, in the statement, also said that the UN chief had been informed on the issuance of a report by Guatemala's congressional committee on the CICIG's contribution to eradicating corruption and impunity in the country and trusts that the government will respect UN personnel's privileges and immunities under international law. CICIG is an international body that was established in 2006 as a result of Guatemala and the United Nations signing a treaty-level agreement. On January 7, 2019, the agreement was terminated by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, who claimed that CICIG participated in illegal acts and abused authority and gave its staff 24 hours to leave the country. UN rejected the termination, and Guatemalan highest law court ruled against Morales' decision. CICIG's term expired in September 2019. Ghosn 'very comfortable' after Lebanon questioning - lawyer Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn's news conference in Beirut By Laila Bassam and Chang-Ran Kim BEIRUT/TOKYO (Reuters) - Carlos Ghosn's lawyer said he was "very comfortable" with legal proceedings in Lebanon on Thursday, after the fugitive ex-Nissan boss was questioned over an extradition request from Japan where he faces financial misappropriation charges. Ghosn fled Japan to Lebanon, his childhood home, last month as he awaited trial on charges of under-reporting earnings, breach of trust and misappropriation of company funds, all of which he denies. His dramatic escape has raised tension between Tokyo and Beirut at a time when Lebanon is seeking an international bailout to help it tackle a deep financial crisis. Ghosn slammed the Japanese justice system at a two-hour news conference on Wednesday, prompting Japan's Justice Minister to launch a rare and forceful public response. After questioning in Beirut about Japan's Interpol warrant, two judicial sources said the prosecutor had imposed a travel ban, a step Carlos Abou Jaoude, a Beirut-based lawyer for Ghosn, described as procedural to broadcaster Al Jadeed. Lebanon has no extradition agreement with Japan. "He (Ghosn) is very comfortable with the path," Jaoude told another broadcaster, MTV, adding that Ghosn was also comfortable in himself "especially after what he went through". One of the judicial sources said authorities had asked Japan for its file on Ghosn, including the charges against him, and would not question him again until the information is received. Ghosn would surrender his French passport on Thursday, he said. Ghosn said later he was more comfortable with the Lebanese judiciary than that of Japan. "I will fully cooperate," he told broadcaster LBCI. Japan's Justice Minister Masako Mori said Ghosn's allegations that he had had "zero chance" of a fair trial in Japan were unfounded. "Defendant Ghosn was looking to justify his unlawful exit from Japan by propagating a false recognition of our justice system," she said at the second of two news conferences, the first of which was held shortly after midnight. Story continues "I felt that we needed to respond immediately to broadcast a correct understanding to people around the world." Ghosn told LBCI her comments were "ridiculous". "Today my concern is clearing my name and reputation because all the accusations against me are fabricated," he told Al Jadeed. TRIAL IN LEBANON? Ghosn's arrest after his private jet touched down in Toyko in November 2018 shook the global auto industry and jeopardised the Renault-Nissan alliance of which he was the mastermind. The Brazilian-born executive said on Wednesday he was prepared to stand trial anywhere he could get a fair hearing but also that he was ready to stay for a long time in Lebanon. A source close to the 65-year-old has said his legal team is pushing for him to be tried in the country. Ghosn said, however, that he did not want to put pressure on Japan-Lebanon bilateral ties, two days after Japan's ambassador to Lebanon requested greater cooperation from President Michel Aoun in dealing with the case. The decision by Lebanon's prosecutor, Judge Ghassan Ouiedat, after Ghosn's questioning at Beirut's Justice Palace requires Ghosn to keep the authorities informed of his place of residence, the judicial sources said. Ghosn was given the same instruction after accompanying questioning over a formal legal complaint filed by a group of Lebanese lawyers who accuse him of "normalisation" with Israel over a visit he made there in 2008. Ghosn said on Wednesday he had made the trip as a French citizen and an executive of Renault to sign a contract with a state-backed Israeli firm to sell electric vehicles, and had been obliged to go because the board had requested it. He said he had apologised for the trip and had not meant to hurt the people of Lebanon, which deems Israel an enemy state. During the visit, Ghosn met Ehud Olmert, who was Israel's prime minister at the time of the 2006 war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. Nearly 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, died in the 2006 war and 158 people died in Israel, mostly soldiers. (Additional reporting by Nadine Awadalla, Tom Perry and Eric Knecht; writing by Tom Perry; editing by Philippa Fletcher) In Iowa, like other early states, many voters are undecided explicitly because theyre considering what the candidates have to say, what they propose to do and how their narratives reveal how they might govern. Theyre proving to be concerned with far more than identity politics. And while its not the same thing, you can see echoes of the evangelical communitys support for Trump in the way Democratic primary voters are willing to look beyond gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation in candidate selection. Why, for example, would anyone have presumed that young voters were likely to support the youngest candidate or that Latino voters would only back a Latino candidate? Hyderabad: Chief Ministers K. Chandrasekhar Rao of Telangana state and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of Andhra Pradesh are likely to have a one-on-one meeting at Pragathi Bhavan on Monday. Till Saturday night, no official information was available in both states regarding the meeting of the two Chief Ministers. When asked, an official said, Till now we have no information about the Chief Ministers meeting, except for reading about it in the media. In the past also, Mr Rao and Mr Reddy had met alone while the officials of both states were waiting outside. Sources said that the two CMs were meeting on the directions of the Central government to discuss the pending issues related to the AP Reorganisation Act and bifurcation of the state. The Centre has told the two states to come to an understanding on the outstanding issues. Both governments have held discussions several times but many issues are still unresolved. The division of employees of power utilities still hangs in the balance. The bifurcation of assets and liabilities of institutions listed in the 9th and 10th Schedules of the bifurcation Act still has to be addressed. As usual, political issues are likely to come for discussion when Mr Chandrasekhar Rao and Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy meet. There are chances that the AP Chief Minister will brief Mr Chandrasekhar Rao about the decision to have three capitals. They may also discuss the financial assistance from the Centre as part of tax devolution and under other heads. The CMs are likely to discuss the sharing of waters of the Godavari and the Krishna. Both governments had decided to take up the projects to link the rivers on their own. Once TS and AP come to an understanding on sharing of the waters, they can take up new projects without any problem. United States congratulates Dr. Tsai Ing-wen on her victory in Taiwans presidential election Washington, DC - Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State: "The United States congratulates Dr. Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election in Taiwans presidential election. We also congratulate Taiwan for once again demonstrating the strength of its robust democratic system, whichcoupled with a free market economy and a vibrant civil societymakes it a model for the Indo-Pacific region and a force for good in the world. "The American people and the people on Taiwan are not just partners, we are members of the same community of democracies, bonded by our shared political, economic, and international values. We cherish our constitutionally protected rights and freedoms, nurture private sector-led growth and entrepreneurship, and work to be positive forces in the international community. "The United States thanks President Tsai for her leadership in developing a strong partnership with the United States and applauds her commitment to maintaining cross-Strait stability in the face of unrelenting pressure. Under her leadership, we hope Taiwan will continue to serve as a shining example for countries that strive for democracy, prosperity, and a better path for their people." She recently joked that I'm A Celeb's Extra Camp, which she presented for one series, was 'probably' cancelled because of her. And Emily Atack looked stony-faced as she left BBC studios in London on Saturday after appearing on Radio 5. The TV presenter, 30, cut a stylish figure in a chic houndstooth coat which featured shoulder-pads and two buttons on the front. Style: Emily Atack, 30, looked stony-faced in a houndstooth coat as she left BBC studios in London on Saturday following the axe of I'm A Celeb's Extra Camp Emily paired the long jacket with black skinny jeans and a stylish black jumper with a ruffled neckline. She accessorised her look with a pair of oversized sunglasses and added a little extra height to her frame with some heeled black boots. The brunette beauty wore her locks tied back into a low ponytail and left the front part of her hair free so it could frame her face. For her appearance on BBC Radio 5 with Scott Mills and Chris Stark, Emily added a slick of makeup including a touch of pink lipgloss. Fashion: Emily accessorised with large sunglasses and a belt with a gold circle in the middle Chic: The TV presenter paired her statement jacket with a black jumper which boasted a ruffled neckline and a ribbed pattern throughout it She carried two bags as she left the studio, including a red snakeskin holdall in her hand which perhaps held a change of clothes for her later yoga session. Taking to Instagram Stories, Emily shared that went to an exercise class after her appearance on the show and then for a Prosecco-filled lunch. It comes after Extra Camp was axed due to its expensive running costs for a non-prime time slot. Work it: Emily's coat boasted shoulder pads and two black buttons on the front as well as pockets Emily referenced the end of the show on her Instagram Story on Thursday, where she joked that co-host Adam Thomas was blaming himself over the decision. However she playfully added 'it's probably because of me!', before optimistically adding that they will all be moving on to new things. Adam wrote on Instagram: 'Ok so this isn't awkward ... imagine your first ever presenting role on a show that's been running for years... you do one show and it gets cancelled!! [sic] Little details: The star's boots featured tortoiseshell heels and she carried a red snakeskin print bag, perhaps containing a change of clothes for a yoga class The former Emmerdale star continued: 'You can't write it, haha aww not gonna lie wish I could have had another go at it... but that's life! What a job what an experience at least I can tell my kids I was once a presenter!' Before the news broke an ITV source told The Sun: 'ITV have been discussing the future of Extra Camp for some time and it's not a decision they've taken lightly as they are very fond of it. 'But bosses are focusing on growing ITV2's prime-time offering on the channel and Extra Camp, sadly, isn't a part of that. Busy day: After appearing on the radio (left) Emily went to a yoga class (right) before enjoying a lunch complete with prosecco 'The show is quite expensive to make and, in the current climate, they've had to make a tough commercial decision.' The show was first fronted by presenter Louise Loughman, before tragic It girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson took over alongside Mark Durden-Smith. Other key appearances include Matt and Emma Willis, Caroline Flack, Joe Swash and Scarlett Moffatt. Yesterday the First Circuit became the first federal court of appeals to hear oral argument on the constitutionality of the warrantless placement of a secret video camera on top of a utility pole after the ACLUs 2018 victory in the Supreme Court case Carpenter v. United States. Carpenter represents a growing recognition that we have a right to be free from long-term surveillance that catalogs the whole of our physical movements, even in a public place. Yesterdays oral argument in United States v. Moore-Bush focused on Carpenters impact on a persons expectation of privacy against the placement of a video camera directed at a home for eight months without any judicial oversight. The Supreme Court has long viewed the home as the core of Fourth Amendment protection. But new technologies are testing the boundaries of our right to privacy in our most private space. A video camera placed on a utility pole across the street from your house, for example, can document and record every time you leave your home, what you do in your front yard or driveway, and all of your visitors. Undetected, a camera like this can capture children playing in the front yard, the precise time of day a family leaves each week to worship, a local Girl Scout ringing the doorbell, and visits from friends and family. During the investigation at issue, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms placed a camera on a utility pole across the street from an unsuspecting family in Springfield, Massachusetts. For eight months, this camera captured every car and person who visited the home, amassing an enormous database of digitally searchable personal and private information that would otherwise be unknowable to the government. In June, a Massachusetts federal district court judge ruled in this case that the governments warrantless pole camera surveillance violated defendants reasonable expectation of privacy, suppressing eight months of footage. Judge Youngs opinion expressed concern that the invasive nature of long-term surveillance can chill associational and expressive freedoms and reveal intimate and private details that one might not want exposed to the world. Its one thing for a police officer to sit outside your house all day and watch who comes and goes. Its quite another for a police officer or federal agency to install a camera that automatically tracks and catalogues all of this activity. While it takes significant time and police resources to physically monitor a home, approximately $200,000 in wages for one officer over eight months, it takes virtually no resources for police to install the camera and let the technology do all the work. Digital is different, as the Supreme Court recognized when it held in Carpenter that police must get a warrant before tracking our historical cell phone location data. If a person need not abandon their use of a cell phone to avoid leaving behind a trail of historic location data, people surely need not refrain from leaving their home and to avoid exposing their familial, political, professional, religious, and sexual associations. Thankfully, Judge Young, relying on Carpenter, recognized that difference applies to pole cameras, too. The ACLU filed a friend-of-the-court brief in yesterdays First circuit case to highlight the privacy invasion and the societal consequences that results from unchecked long-term surveillance. We are particularly concerned that a ruling allowing for eight months of warrantless video surveillance in this case will have negative impacts for low-income and middle-class families, who cant afford to buy their way to privacy rights. In Massachusetts, this will especially impact families of color. Fourth Amendment protection is not just for those who can afford to erect tall fences, live in a gated community, or buy acres of land on which to live in secluded homes. The national wealth gap between the richest and poorest is larger than it has been in fifty years. In Massachusetts, the wealth gap is explicitly racial. While the median family wealth of white families living in the Boston area in 2015 was $247,500, it was $3,020 for a Puerto Rican family, $8 for a Black family, and $0 for a Dominican family. Notably, the privacy invasions enabled by a pole camera watching the outside of your home for eight months will continue to become more severe as technology facilitates new methods of tracking. Today, government agents can remotely control pole cameras to pan, tilt, and zoom from the comfort of a law enforcement office thousands of miles away. Some modern cameras are reportedly able to identify a face from 1,000 feet and read a serial number from 100 feet. In Bostons Logan Airport, a camera was installed nine years ago that could clearly see any object a centimeter-and-a-half wide from roughly 500 feet. Law enforcement is not only able to remotely capture high definition images with todays technology. Now, agencies can also use automation software to rapidly process months (or even years) worth of video footage, making months worth of video easily searchable and digestible. A technology called BriefCam, currently used by the Springfield Massachusetts Police Department, allows agencies to analyze footage and identify anything from the specific color of clothing people are wearing, vehicles, the presence of animals, bicycles, and more, indexing them for later review in a matter of minutes. Law enforcement agencies across the world are likewise experimenting with biometric surveillance technologies such as face tracking, enabling the automatic searching of video data for the presence of specific people. Gone are the days of old-fashioned visual surveillance. Instead, surveillance technology is eroding not only our privacy rights but the sanctity of the home. The law must keep pace with rapid changes in technology to ensure that people today have the same level of privacy they had when the Fourth Amendment was adopted. Leaving people at the mercy of advancing technology is not a viable option. This blog post was written by ACLU of Massachusetts Fellow Kristin Mulvey. The post Can the cops record your property for eight months without a warrant? First Circuit set to decide appeared first on Privacy SOS. A Laois councillor wants to stop the Government's plan to ban the advertising of holistic therapies like reiki and acupuncture as treatments for cancer. Cllr Aisling Moran has asked Laois County Council to write to Minister for Health Simon Harris to amend the proposed Treatment of Cancer (Advertisements) Bill 2018 which is set to exclude any non medical treatments from advertising as cancer treatments. What this bill is trying to achieve in the main is correct. There are plenty of people out there that take advantage of people when they are at their most vulnerable. Weve all heard of the guy who claims they can cure a cancer in weeks by praying it away. Advising sick people not to have the surgery, eat this shrub and I can cure you, she said at the December meeting of Laois County Council. In some cases medical drugs are the only proven cure. But some natural medicines work alongside them and can help stop nausea, maybe help ease the pain. Our citizens have the right to choose what form of treatment they would like to use alongside conventional medicine. This allows registered doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists but no acupuncture, reiki or holistic treatments. Leaning towards conventional medicine seems a step backward, she said. Cllr Moran suggested that the change in law will facilitate pharmaceutical companies to get all income from sales of cannabis if it is legalised. I also find it interesting that the introduction of this bill coincides with the rise in use of medicinal cannabis in Ireland, and the possible legalisation of this Natural product. If this Bill is passed it means the only group that will be able to produce or sell this product will be the pharmaceutical industry, Cllr Moran said. She tabled her motion to the meeting. Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded. This is relevant given the bill is before the Dail by Kate OConnell. The concern I want to flag is that this bill has the potential to squeeze out medical herbalists with masters and degrees who are registered, she said. However, Cllr Aidan Mullins had a concern. I accept that pharma industries are driving medications and people are left on them for life. My only concern, Im not qualified to oppose this, but my reading of the bill is this is advertising related to treatment of cancer. To prevent claims of being able to cure or treat cancer. There are others preying on people, he said. Cllr Moran pointed out that the bill will also recommend applications for other serious illnesses. They are stopping natural products being used anywhere on any illness, she claimed. The elimination of General Qasem Suleimani heading Al Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps in an American drone attack at Baghdad, draws a parallel with the earlier killings of Abu Bakar al Baghdadi, the chief of ISIS in a raid by US Special Forces in Syria last year and of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a SEALs operation at Abottabad in Pakistan way back in 2011. These three militant leaders termed by the US as 'International Terrorists' represented Islamic radicals who had declared the Americans as their sworn enemy and engaged in a no holds barred 'proxy war' against the US. They belonged to the two different streams in Islam -- Sunnis and Shias -- that had produced extremists wedded to taking on the US-led West for political, ideological and historical reasons. It began with the Emirate of Afghanistan under the Al Qaeda -- Taliban leadership -- installed by Pakistan in Kabul in 1996 -- showing its fangs against the US -- its subsequent ouster by the latter in fact laid the turf for the 9/11 attack. In the 'war on terror' that followed under the US-led 'world coalition' against the global terror of Islamic radicals, the Pak-Afghan belt swayed by Al Qaeda-Taliban axis and the Syria-Iraq region dominated by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS) emerged as the battlegrounds of this combat. The Sunni extremists of the Al Qaeda and IS carried the historical memory of the 19th century Jehad that the Wahhabis had carried out against the Western encroachment on 'Muslim lands'. They had given a call for restoration of the Islamic fundamentals of the times of the Pious Caliphs which, they contended, had been allowed to get 'diluted' in the mix of un-Islamic practices. In the post-revolution Shiite Iran, the Ayatollahs similarly enforced the values of Caliph Ali that among other things intrinsically glorified the 'virtue' of poverty and detested what would become the present day capitalism. At the same time, however, the origin of Shiism in the Kharijite revolt against Ali had produced an irreversible mutual hatred between the extremists of the two sects that is reflected in their current political relationship as well. Sunni Islamic radicals are anti-West but they also go after the Shias wherever they can find them -- reports coming in regularly of Taliban attacking Shias in Pak-Afghan region prove the point. This all makes it easy to understand that the geo-politics of West Asia is largely conditioned by the ascendancy of radical Islam in the Muslim world in the post-Cold War era. Pakistan's collaboration with Taliban in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from that country, shelter provided to Al Qaeda leadership by Pakistan on its own soil and the dubious role of Pakistan in the 'war on terror' should be mentioned as the principal reasons why this rise of radical forces became possible in the first place. The US attack on Saddam Hussain heading a Baathist dispensation in Iraq in 2003 made Syria-Iraq region -- with its anti-US regimes -- a second theatre of radicals where ISIS would come up under al-Zarkawi, who had earlier been active in Afghanistan. ISIS attracted many combatants from the Pak-Afghan belt of Al Qaeda as well. Shiite Iran under Ayatollahs -- bracketed by US President George Bush with Iraq in his 'axis of evil' statement -- was independently rising as a force against both US and Israel with the militant Hazbollah under its patronage extending its wings in Lebanon and Iraq. On the other hand a number of Muslim and Arab countries under the umbrella of Saudi-chaired Organisation of Islamic Conference(OIC) -- though running a harsh Islamic regime -- remained on the right side of the US. The picture in the Muslim world thus presents a three-way divide with radical Shiites and Sunnis directing their guns against US and also against each other and a significant cluster of Muslim states politically aligning themselves with America. India could be a mere watcher of the scene but for the fact that Pakistan -- a prime mover of OIC -- has been conducting a 'proxy war' against us using cross border terrorism as its instrument and mobilising both radicals and other Islamic outfits against India for that purpose. India has stakes in the developments in West Asia, including the Gulf for both economic and security reasons. India's foreign policy has been successful in getting US under President Donald Trump to abandon the artificial divide between 'good terrorists' and 'bad terrorists' that Americans earlier made at the cost of Indian interests. The challenge for India is to keep Indo-US friendship at a level where the American policy does not hyphenate India with Pakistan again and to build bilateral relations further with countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel independently of one another -- and also un-linked from the ascendant Indo-US friendship. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership India is following this policy to our advantage -- what is helping in this is a certain confidence that the Prime Minister brings to bear on his projection of India as a promotor of international peace -- the voice of sanity and a balancing power. Today the broad picture is that even as the prospects of an open warfare receded post-Cold War, the world transited to an era of proxy wars, cross border conflicts and 'covert' offensives. Conventional battle has given way to the 'asymmetric warfare' in which terrorist attacks on military and non-military targets are resorted to as a cost-effective means of wearing down a superior enemy. Gen Qasem Suleimani apparently had a free run in Iraq planning such operations against the US bases in that country and the drone strike to take him out was ordered by President Trump himself after pro-Iran militants tried to lay seize of the US Embassy in Baghdad. It may be mentioned that terrorists are indoctrinated in the 'cause' they were working for and a strong motivation for standing for the cause is provided by the war cry of Jehad that Islamic radicals and other extremists have raised -- making the Muslim world a festering home ground for faith-based terror in the process. India has been at the receiving end of terror attacks carried out by Pak ISI-instigated militant outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish e Mohammad and Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent(AQIS). Indian diplomacy should work on the democratic world to get it to denounce the medievalism that used religion as a tool of war and should likewise, persuade OIC chaired by Saudi Arabia to take a clear stand against countries invoking Jehad for sorting out political disputes in today's times. India has the second largest Muslim population in the world and has to work for this outcome considering the fact that Pakistan had become a rogue state providing safe haven to terror outfits having linkages across the Islamic spectrum. India cannot question the right of the US to neutralise leaders of terror outfits for America's own security and defence but it can promote wise counsel for peaceful resolutions rooted in a declared rejection of terrorist violence as an instrument of combat. Strategic analysts are looking, from their own angles, at the possible turn of events after the assassination of the Iranian General -- carried out by the US in what was a security operation against a leading terrorist known to be the kingpin of covert attacks on Americans. Iran has threatened retaliation on a big scale but has not gone beyond firing a few missiles on a US base in Iraq so far. It is cognisant of a crippling military response from the US -- if it crossed a line. It is significant that Iran is anti-US and pro-Syria politically -- which is reminiscent of the Cold War divide -- while it considers ISIS as an enemy in terms of religious contradiction. General Suleimani was reportedly acting like an advisor to President Bashar al Assad -- in parallel to Russian approach of friendship towards Syria. Iran however, has a civilisational past and it should handle its ideological and political differences with others without getting entangled into a warfare that invoked religion for its sustenance. India has to watch out for the impact of a deteriorating Iran-US relationship on the world at large and retrieve its own economic interests in the region. India now has a say on the world stage and our diplomacy should be able to put into play India's balancing role -- helped by its non-aligned outlook. (The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau. The views expressed are personal.) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mercedes-Benz will build smart-branded electric cars with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in the Chinese city of Xian from a base with annual capacity of around 150,000 vehicles, a senior official from its German parent Daimler AG said on Saturday, Trend with reference to Reuters reports. Daimlers Executive Vice President in China Leng Yan made the comments to Reuters on the sidelines of Chinas EV100 forum in Beijing, an annual event where senior auto industry executives meet to discuss policies and the market. Geely and Mercedes-Benz said on Wednesday they would each invest 2.7 billion yuan ($388.8 million) in a China-based venture to build premium and intelligent electrified vehicles under the Smart brand. Like Mercedes-Benz, Smart is a Daimler marque. The firms said at the time that the venture, which will be based in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo, will have manufacturing capacity in China and sales operations in China and Germany. Geely, which holds a 9.7% stake in Stuttgart-based Daimler, is building car plants in Xian, according to construction bidding documents on its website. Daimler, which partners with BAIC Group to make luxury Mercedes-Benz cars in Beijing, also builds trucks with BAICs unit Beiqi Foton Motor. Smart delivered about 116,800 vehicles worldwide in 2019, Daimler said in a Jan. 9 statement. Tokyo, Japan - A scientist from Tokyo Metropolitan University and coworkers have discovered that a specific insulin-like peptide called ILP2 regulates the size of "weapons" in Gnatocerus cornutus beetles in different nutritional environments. They found diminished mandible size when expression of the peptide was suppressed, and that it was specifically expressed in the "fat body", where beetles store nutrients. This has important implications for understanding how striking growth occurs in different environments for different organisms. From deer antlers to beetle horns, the animal kingdom is full of examples of exaggerated ornaments and weapons which derive from sexual selection. Their growth and size may vary significantly from one specimen to another and give rise to distinct mating tactics like fighting, sneaking, or dispersing to areas with less competition. This variation is often correlated with body size or "condition" in a relationship known as positive allometry. Despite the importance of condition dependent growth of these features, the mechanism behind how the environment affects the complex development of these observable features remains poorly understood. Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) and growth factors (IGFs) are found in a wide range of both invertebrates and vertebrates, like humans, and are thought to play common roles related to growth and metabolism. Recent work into the genetics of insects has revealed a wide variety of ILPs playing different functional roles. Examples include fruit flies which have 8, pea aphids with 10 and silkworms with over 40. Yet, despite some understanding of what ILPs do in model organisms like fruit flies, we know little about their function outside of the lab, in particular, how their molecular function contributes to phenotypic complexity, or the diversification of traits in a particular natural environment. Thus, a team led by Yasukazu Okada from Tokyo Metropolitan University examined the broad-horned flour beetle, G. cornutus. Found in grain stores and factories, male flour beetles have exaggerated mandibles for male-male combat; large beetles have larger mandibles, and past work has found it is linked to better nutrition as a larva. This makes it ideal for studying the molecular basis for conditional growth. The team examined the beetle's genome, and found five different ILP genes, labeled GcorILP1 to 5, all encoding for a different ILP (ILP1 to 5). Firstly, they found that sufficiently fed larger larvae showed an elevated expression of ILP2 at the pre-pupa stage, while "poorly" fed smaller larvae did not. They also found that the same peptide was specifically expressed in the fat body; smaller larvae expressed less of the peptide as a consequence of having less fat. Furthermore, by using a technique known as RNA interference to impede the expression of ILP2, they found a direct correlation between so-called GcorILP2 "knock-down" (KD) and diminished mandible size, not to mention less of a correlation with how well the larvae were fed. This is the first discovery of how a specific ILP is connected to sexually selected exaggerated traits under different conditions. It clearly demonstrates how the functional diversity of ILPs has led to particular peptides playing very specific roles and is an important step in elucidating how the whole insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway affects complex development mechanisms and evolution. ### This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers 18H04815, 19H04913, 18K0641700, and the Yamada Science Foundation. on Saturday reported a 3 per cent decline in global sales, including that of Jaguar Land Rover, at 97,348 units in December. Global wholesale units of all Tata Motors' commercial vehicles and Tata Daewoo range last month stood at 34,526 units, down 15 per cent, from December 2018, the company said in a statement. The company's global sales of all passenger vehicles were at 62,822 units, up 5 per cent from December 2018, it added. Global sales of JLR stood at 50,001 units. Jaguar wholesale units for the month were 12,742 vehicles, while Land Rover wholesale stood at 37,259 units. Nasdaq100 (NQ) Trying to Bounce Off Weekly Chart Upchannel Support Tradable Patterns - 1 hour ago The Nasdaq100 (NQH22) is consolidating yesterdays reversal off downchannel support (on the 4hr and daily chart), but remains vulnerable in todays European morning. Significantly, although NQ is... NQH22 : 15,722.50 (+0.73%) QQQ : 380.11 (+0.07%) US Mint begins shipping quarters honoring Maya Angelou AP - Mon Jan 10, 6:14PM CST WASHINGTON (AP) The United States Mint said Monday it has begun shipping quarters featuring the image of poet Maya Angelou, the first coins in its American Women Quarters Program. $SPX : 4,670.29 (-0.14%) $DOWI : 36,068.87 (-0.45%) $IUXX : 15,614.43 (+0.14%) 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 : 116.23 (+0.88%) CTK22 : 113.99 (+0.81%) 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 : 761-4 (unch) ZWPAES.CM : 7.2051 (+0.47%) KEH22 : 778-0 (unch) KEPAWS.CM : 7.5951 (+0.45%) MWH22 : 915-2 (+0.11%) 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 : 602-2 (+0.42%) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.8670 (-1.13%) ZCK22 : 603-4 (+0.37%) ZCZ21 : 588-6s (+0.77%) ZCPZ21US.CM : 5.7930 (-0.49%) New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government offered to drop money-laundering charges against him and provide with a "safe passage to India" in return for his support to the government's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution. In a statement issued by Naik's PR team on Saturday, the Islamic preacher said that he was approached by a representative of the Indian government in September, who offered him the said deal on Kashmir, which he refused. "Three and a half months before, the Indian officials approached me for a private meeting with a representative of the Indian government. When he came to Putrajaya (a Malaysian city), in the fourth week of September 2019, to meet me, he said that he is coming after personally meeting and under the direct instructions of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the Home Minister of India Amit Shah," Naik said in a video statement released by his Mumbai-based PR team. Naik, who has been living in Malaysia for the last three years, is facing charges of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities in India. He is also facing probe both in India and Bangladesh in connection with the terror attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on July 2016. "(The representative) said that he wanted to remove the misconceptions and miscommunications between myself (Naik) and the Indian government, and wants to provide me a safe passage to India," he added. "He (the representative) said that he would like to use my connections to better the relationship between India and the other Muslim countries." "The meeting lasted for several hours. He told me that he wanted me to support the BJP government when they revoked Article 370 in Kashmir. And I flatly refused," he added. Naik said that after he refused the offer, he was further asked to not make public statements against the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The controversial preacher's claim came almost a month after Speaker of Maldivian Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed, during his visit to India, said that "Zakir Naik wanted to come to the Maldives, we did not allow him." Naik further said that he believes that the Indian Muslim leaders who issued statements in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act or the National Registrar of Citizens must have been "blackmailed, pressurised or forced" to do the same. Naik statement came in response to social media posts by academic Shaikh Yasir Qadi, which made similar claims. (ANI) Influencers play a crucial role when it comes to shopping decisions as their reach continues to grow. SHEIN India, a fast-moving fashion brand has recently initiated an Influencer campaign titled Campus Ambassador to generate brand awareness, loyalty, and visibility among the consumers. The campaign also aims to target and engage the young college-going enthusiast and provide them an opportunity beyond academics to develop the soft skills of communication, marketing, and networking. SHEIN India started the Campus Ambassador program in Mumbai with 30 Ambassadors in 15 colleges, slowly widening the horizons to Pune, Delhi, and Bangalore respectively. Currently, they have a workforce of 100 Ambassadors working for the brand for as long as they are students in a college. The Campus Ambassadors helped SHEIN to promote the sales and discounts within their respective colleges and introduced the brand to them. They were also provided with a special coupon code for their users. All of these ambassadors, with the help of SHEIN, hosted a party for their buyers, in the first week of December and announced their contribution to the brand. This campaign was solely executed by the campus ambassadors both online as well as offline. More than 100 parties were executed in 4 cities by Ambassadors targeting a crowd of 2000 attendees and generating at least 800 posts with the pointed hashtag. SHEIN India will continue to initiate more such innovative ideas and engage influencers for their future endeavors. Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne to lead an international group of investigators on the downing of Ukrainian plane by the Iranian military near Tehran. This is stated on the Government of Canada website. It is reported that the International Group held a conference call. Participants in the conversation were also representatives of Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan and the UK."All participating countries agree on the need for a full and transparent investigation into the causes of the fatal crash so that families and loved ones can get the answers they deserve," the statement said.In addition, it is noted that in the coming days and weeks the countries of the international group will continue to remain in close contact and work closely together. They will continue speaking to other international partners to ensure transparency and accountability following this tragic event. As we reported earlier, Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines, flight PS 752 with 176 passengers aboard crashed in Tehran, not far from Imam Khomeini airport. Iranian Tasnim News Agency informed about that, pointing out that the reason for the crash was a "technical malfunction." On Saturday morning, January 11, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran announced that the Ukrainian aircraft was hit by a missile launched by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani regrets that missiles launched by his army by mistake led to the crash of Ukrainian plane in Tehran. He also promises that the perpetrators will be identified and punished in court. Its a lie, but its fun, a Seattle police officer remarked to his partner as they approached a West Seattle home in search of a suspect in a hit-and-run collision. His comment referred to a ruse he planned to use in their pursuit of a man who had fled the collision. When the two officers reached the home, they spoke with a woman who said the man used her address to register his car. She told the officers he wasnt there but she would get his phone number. The officer who had devised the ruse he described as fun then set it in motion, unleashing events that spiraled into unforeseen tragedy when the man took his own life days later. Now, a police watchdog has found that the officers action shocked the conscience and contributed to the mans death. The two officers had not been involved in investigating the collision, which occurred in another precinct and involved several vehicles. They were asked to go the home after the address was tied to the fleeing drivers vehicle. They were told no one was injured, which made the hit-and-run a misdemeanor. But as the woman searched her phone for the suspects number, the officer with the ruse plan told her they were looking for the man because he was involved in a hit-and-run that left a woman in critical condition. A summary report on the 2018 incident was recently released by the Police Departments Office of Police Accountability (OPA). The officer told her the injured woman might not survive. The woman was clearly emotionally affected by the news, police body-camera video showed, according to the OPA report. After the officers left, the woman tracked down the hit-and-run suspect, told him what the police had said and advised him to get an attorney. Initially, he didnt appear overly concerned, saying he didnt think he had been involved in a collision that left anyone injured, the woman later told the OPA. But he began to worry that he might have hit a pedestrian without realizing it, the OPA report said. He became increasingly despondent over the possibility he had killed someone, the woman told the OPA. She said he had been a heroin addict for nearly 20 years and had prior legal troubles. Shortly after, the man died by suicide, according to the OPA report. In the subsequent investigation, Andrew Myerberg, the OPAs civilian director, determined that the ruse was, at least in part, the cause of the mans death. Myerberg found that the officer who told the woman the false story had violated department standards regarding professionalism and discretion, concluding his conduct shocked the conscience. The officer, who is not named in the report, insisted he had done nothing wrong. Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best upheld the findings, suspending the officer for six days without pay. Police declined to immediately release Bests disciplinary action report containing her rationale for the decision, as well as other records requested by The Seattle Times, saying they were subject to public-disclosure procedures. A department spokesman declined to disclose the name of the officer. The man who died was also not named in the OPAs report. As part of his findings, Myerberg recommended that the department provide training on ruses, including when they are appropriate and when they shock fundamental fairness. He said the department should consider using the case as an example of the consequences of an inappropriate falsehood. In a written statement Thursday, the department said, Chief Best agreed with OPAs findings and disciplined a Seattle Police Officer with six days off without pay for using a ruse during a hit-and-run criminal investigation. The officers actions did not meet SPDs standards of acceptable use of discretion and were not consistent with the standards of professionalism or training. The statement added: In 2019, the Seattle Police Department provided in-service training to all sergeants, officers and detectives on the appropriate use of ruses during criminal investigations. At the time of the mans death in June 2018, the woman first approached by the officers, along with others who knew him including a friend, his roommate and his mother all believed he had killed someone, according to the OPA. Shortly before the man took his life, the friend had read the riot act to him after learning of the hit-and-run and the assertion by police that a woman had been critically injured, according to the report. The friend told the man he could go to jail for a long time, and on the last occasion they saw each other, the suspect was crying. The man left a bag of personal effects in his garage, with a note to his friend that read, If you dont see me, keep this stuff. His roommate recalled that the man couldnt remember the collision and was freaking out, the report says. She said he spoke about being in trouble with the police and needing to get a lawyer, and asked if it was normal to think about suicide. But when those people began looking into the matter after the mans death, including obtaining body-camera video, they determined he had not injured anyone in what amounted to a minor fender-bender, and that the officers initial statement to the woman was knowingly inaccurate. The woman reported the matter to the OPA in March. The woman, the suspects friend and the roommate asserted the officers use of the ruse was wholly inappropriate and that it directly contributed to the mans suicide. According to the summary report, the officers partner told the OPA that when she heard him tell the woman about a critically injured victim, she momentarily thought she had misread the notes for the call. As she and the officer walked away, she said she asked him if she had misread the call. He told her he had used a ruse, the report says. In her opinion, the partner told the OPA, there was no need to use a ruse to get information, since the woman was cooperative. The officer told the OPA he had received training on ruses at the police academy and said while theyre generally permissible, they couldnt shock fundamental fairness. He said he didnt know whether injuries had occurred in the collision, and while he was sure he had read the call notes, he could not remember what they said, according to the summary report. In contrast to his partner, he described the woman they had contacted as evasive and kind of impeding the investigation. The officer told the OPA the ruse was reasonable and appropriate, and that it was needed in response to an ongoing threat to public safety. While the officer told the OPA it was regrettable the man took his own life, he insisted he wasnt responsible and said he had not abused his discretion or acted unprofessionally. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear the curative petitions filed by the Nirbhaya convicts on January 14. Two convicts Mukesh Singh and Vinay Kumar Sharma had filed the curative pleas after a Delhi court issued death warrants against them. A curative petition is the last legal remedy available to a convict apart from mercy plea. A five-judge bench of Justices NV Ramana, Arun Mishra, RF Nariman, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan will hear the curative pleas. According to the black warrant, four convicts in the sensational 2012 Nirbhaya Gang gangrape and murder case will be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar jail. 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). The plea filed by Mukesh claimed that it was Ram Singh who was the main culprit in the case and Nirabhaya died of the wounds inflected by him. It claimed that Mukesh did not play a serious role in the incident. It also cited the numbers of rape and muder cases where Supreme Court or various High Courts have turned the death sentence into life imprisonment. The plea also said that Mukesh's case was affected by media and political pressure. It called for an open hearing of the curitive petition. News Nation has also accessed the plea filed by Vinay Kumar Sharma. In his petition, Sharma asked the top court to, allow the present curative petition and set aside the final common judgmentpass any other or further order(s) as this Honble Court may deem fit in the facts and circumstances of the present case and in the interest of justice and equityand for this act of kindness, the petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray. Sources said the jail authorities will approach the Uttar Pradesh prison authority asking for a hangman from Meerut to carry out the executions. The four convicts will be kept in isolated cells and will not be allowed to interact with other prisoners. Their family members, however, can visit them any time, the official said. 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 jail, probably the only one in the country making manila rope, supplies several types of ropes to different jails. Clergy, feminists blast New Yorks commercial surrogacy bill as 'dangerous,' gravely immoral Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Following an unsuccessful attempt to legalize commercial surrogacy last year, New York state has reintroduced legislation that would allow the practice, which is drawing criticism from religious leaders and feminist groups. New York state Assembly Bill 1071 and its companion in the state Senate, Bill 2071, would lift prohibitions on surrogacy and allow for embryos created in a lab via in vitro fertilization using sperm and eggs that might or might not be from the couple procuring surrogacy services to be transferred to the womb of a surrogate. The surrogate mother would then, per legal contract, give up all rights to the child after it's born. Some religious leaders say the bill poses a danger to women and benefits those who are financially well-off. The surrogacy legislation is designed mainly to benefit wealthy men who can afford tens of thousands of dollars to pay baby brokers, at the expense of low-income women, said Kathleen M. Gallagher, director of pro-life activities for the New York State Catholic Conference, according to Catholic News Agency. The Catholic Church has decried surrogacy and artificial reproductive technologies that involve the "dissociation of husband and wife, by the intrusion of a person other than the couple (donation of sperm or ovum, surrogate uterus)," describing the practices as "gravely immoral" in its Catechism. The Catholic Church is not alone in its opposition to the New York bill. "No New Yorker should regard putting womens bodies up for sale as a civil rights advance, no matter whom it allegedly benefits. Women arent property," Natasha Chart, board chair of the radical feminist group Women's Liberation Front, told The Christian Post in an email on Friday. "The draconian contracts commonly used by the commercial surrogacy industry, the infliction of emotional trauma on birth mothers by controlling or dissatisfied clients, and the routine abandonment of children who arent what the clients were expecting, are all reasons why a growing number developing nations have forbidden this type of commercial exploitation of their female citizens." She added: "When countries like India have banned this after many years of trouble and hard experience with wealthy surrogacy tourists, we should be extremely suspicious of the motives of alleged progressives trying to introduce it as a civil rights advance in New York. Whose rights are they concerned with, I wonder? Because it doesnt sound like they were thinking about the women and children involved at all." The renewed push in New York comes after a failed attempt to scrap existing laws on surrogacy in 2019. The legislation passed in the state Senate but was never brought up for a vote in the Assembly. Surrogacy is increasingly being seen as falling under the LGBT rights umbrella, but the money factor has troubled some progressive lawmakers who might otherwise be supportive. It is pregnancy for a fee, Deborah Glick, a New York Democratic assemblywoman and the first openly gay member of the state Legislature, told The New York Times in June. And I find that commodification of women troubling. The debate has pitted some feminists against progressives and LGBT activists in the state. A letter sent to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, which was signed by feminist icon Gloria Steinem and a coalition of other women's rights advocates, asserted that women would be harmed by the legislation. "Our opposition to this bill emerges from our conviction that the legalization of commercial surrogacy contracts in New York state will undermine womens control over their bodies, thwart womens reproductive rights, render women vulnerable to reproductive trafficking and exploitation, and further subordinate and harm women, especially those who are economically disadvantaged, in our state," the letter sent last June states. TAIPEI, Taiwan - Tsai Ing-wen was reelected as Taiwan's president by a landslide Saturday in a victory that signalled strong support for her tough stance against China among voters determined to defend their democratic way of life. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A supporter holds a doll in the image of of Han Kuo-yu, Taiwan's 2020 presidential election candidate of the KMT or Nationalist Party, during a campaign rally in southern Taiwan's Kaohsiung city on Friday, Jan 10, 2020. Taiwan will hold its presidential election on Jan. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) TAIPEI, Taiwan - Tsai Ing-wen was reelected as Taiwan's president by a landslide Saturday in a victory that signalled strong support for her tough stance against China among voters determined to defend their democratic way of life. Tsai, from the Democratic Progressive Party, soundly defeated Nationalist Party candidate Han Kuo-yu, receiving 57.2% of the vote to Han's 38.6%, with virtually all of the votes counted. She wasted no time in warning communist-ruled China, which views Taiwan as a renegade province, not to try to use threats of force against the self-governed island. Today I want to once again remind the Beijing authorities that peace, parity, democracy and dialogue are the keys to stability," Tsai said in her victory speech. I want the Beijing authorities to know that democratic Taiwan and our democratically elected government will never concede to threats." Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang delivers a speech and talks about Hong Kong during a rally of Taiwan's 2020 presidential election candidate, Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Taiwan will hold its presidential election on Jan. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) "I hope that Beijing will show its goodwill," she said. Taiwan's voters have shown that when our sovereignty and democracy are threatened, the Taiwan people will shout our determination even more loudly. Taiwan has developed its own identity since separating from China during civil war in 1949, but has never declared formal independence. Beijing still claims sovereignty over the island of 23 million people and threatens to use force to seize control if necessary. Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said that China would firmly protect its territorial integrity and opposes any separatist schemes and Taiwan independence, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. China is willing to work with the Taiwanese people to advance the peaceful reunification of the country," he said. Taiwanese people line up to cast their ballots at a polling station in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) In a setback for Beijing, Tsai managed to win in areas that traditionally have gone to the China-friendly Nationalists in central and southern Taiwan. Her party also retained its majority in the 113-seat Legislative Yuan, though the vote was closer there. She said the results of the election, with turnout estimated at 74%, proved that Taiwanese are committed to defending their democracy and way of life. Given China's efforts to isolate Taiwan during Tsai's first term, her victory will likely bring on still more deadlock and pressure from Beijing, she acknowledged. At around the same time Tsai was giving her victory speech, Xinhua issued a brief report saying she had won reelection as leader of the Taiwan region. That language was in keeping with the governments refusal to recognize Taiwan as an independent political entity and its leader as a head of state. Taiwanese President and presidential election candidate Tsai Ing-wen casts her ballot at a polling station in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. The future of Taiwans democracy is on the line as the self-ruled islands 19 million voters decide on whether to give independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen a second term. (Chang Hao-an/Pool Photo via AP) Barring a surprise breakthrough, the Chinese leadership is likely to persist in ramping up pressure on Taiwan. In the past two years, it has cut off all formal ties with her government, restricted visits by Chinese tourists, excluded Taiwan's representatives from international gatherings and lured away more of the island's dwindling diplomatic allies, leaving it with just 15. In recent months, Beijing has held military exercises across the Taiwan Strait, sailed both of its aircraft carriers through the waterway dividing Taiwan from the mainland and flown air patrols around the island. An editorial issued by the Communist Party's Global Times newspaper after the election accused Tsai and her party of tricks and fear mongering. The reelection of Tsai will increase the uncertainty across the Taiwan Straits," it said. Yet no matter how much uncertainty there is across the straits, the fact that the Chinese mainland is getting increasingly stronger and the Taiwan island is getting weaker is an inevitable reality." A supporter of Nationalist or KMT party candidate Han Kuo-yu watches election returns in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. Unofficial early results from Taiwanese television networks showed President Tsai Ing-wen leading her closest challenger, Han of the Nationalist Party, in Saturday's presidential election, possibly putting her on the way to winning a second term. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Tsai's overwhelming victory shows a public increasingly unified in the face of Chinas pressure and threats, something her challenger Han appeared to acknowledge after the results were in. No matter what, the most important thing is that we unite as one Taiwan, Han told supporters at a rally after conceding the loss. Months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory, have driven home to many in Taiwan the contrast between their democratically governed island and authoritarian mainland China. While Han and the Nationalist Party have said Taiwan should be more open to negotiations with China, Tsai and her Democratic Progressive Party insisted that the protests showed that the one country, two systems approach Beijing has championed for governing both Hong Kong and Taiwan is unworkable. Nationalist or KMT party candidate Han Kuo-yu Han speaks as he concedes defeat in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has won a second term, signaling strong voter support for her tough stance against China. Voters chose Tsais tough stance against China over Han's arguments for friendlier ties with Beijing, which considers self-governing Taiwan a renegade province to be brought under its control, by force if necessary. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Chinese President Xi Jinping has sought to compel Tsai's government to endorse Beijing's insistence that Taiwan is a part of China. Tsai has refused to do so, maintaining that Beijing has no claim over Taiwan while calling for a reopening of talks between the sides without preconditions. At the same time, Tsai is unlikely to adopt a more militant stance in favour of outright independence, said Shelley Rigger, a visiting researcher with National Taiwan Universitys College of Social Sciences, adding that Tsai also is not likely to soften toward Beijing. I think Tsai Ing-wen has been moderate because shes committed to a course of action that maximizes both Taiwans security and flexibility," she said. Since its transition to full democracy beginning in the 1980s, Taiwan has increasingly asserted its independent identity from China even though it is not recognized by the United Nations or any major nation. Saturday's election was its seventh presidential vote since the island began a transition from martial law under the Nationalists to democracy. The island exercises all the roles of a sovereign nation, issuing its own passports, maintaining its own military and legal system and serving as a crucial hub in the global high-tech supply chain. In her victory speech late Saturday, Tsai urged the rest of the world to respect Taiwan's commitment to democracy and consider the island a partner, not an issue." Tsai, who holds a doctorate in law from the London School of Economics, has emphasized strong relations with the United States to help counter Chinas attempts to isolate Taiwan diplomatically. The U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as a country, but it is its main supplier of military equipment. 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. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Tsai on Saturday, saying in a statement, The United States thanks President Tsai for her leadership in developing a strong partnership with the United States and applauds her commitment to maintaining cross-Strait stability in the face of unrelenting pressure." On the domestic front, Tsai faces challenges in trying to reform the government and economy, reduce inequality, create jobs and raise wages. We will work even harder to build on our achievements of the past four years," Tsai said in her speech. We will constantly remind ourselves our administration must be clean, confident and efficient. She added, Of course we will work to keep our country safe and defend our sovereignty." ___ Associated Press journalists Ralph Jennings, Ken Moritsugu, Tassanee Vejpongsa, Emily Wang and Yves Dam Van in Taipei contributed to this report. Taijing Wu in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, also contributed. Is it a fools errand to try and put together a list of the 10 best, or most important, or most impactful, Manitoba books of the decade? By what measuring stick can these 10 titles be sized up awards received? Critical acclaim? Widespread recognition or sales figures? Cultural impact? Staying power? Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2020 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Is it a fools errand to try and put together a list of the 10 best, or most important, or most impactful, Manitoba books of the decade? By what measuring stick can these 10 titles be sized up awards received? Critical acclaim? Widespread recognition or sales figures? Cultural impact? Staying power? With a new decade upon us, here are 10 books by Manitoba authors that have helped shine a light on the local literary community, that have told stories about people in our community and around the world and that demonstrate Manitoba continues to be a hot spot for profound fiction and non-fiction in this talent-rich country. These 10 titles are sure to still resonate with readers a decade from now. After Light By Catherine Hunter (2015) Catherine Hunter is one of those rare writers who is known equally for her fiction as she is for her poetry. And while she made the short list of the Governor Generals Literary Awards for her most recent book, the 2019 poetry collection St. Boniface Elegies, her previous title is just as noteworthy. While Hunters fictional output has skewed towards the suspense/mystery genre, After Light is more a work of historical fiction. The novel, her fourth, moves between Canada, the U.S. and Ireland, detailing the ways in which numerous generations of one family grapple with the effects of poverty, war and trauma over the course of the 20th century. "She skilfully interweaves the stories of three generations," read the Free Press review of After Light. "Each generation sees its brightest hopes dashed through circumstances beyond its control... Hunters fictional family has touches that will resonate with Winnipeg readers." And while the book didnt nab many awards, it garnered four nominations at the 2016 Manitoba Book Awards, including for best fiction and the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award, and earned Hunter a spot as a finalist in the best women writer category at the 2016 High Plains Book Award. Detachment: An Adoption Memoir By Maurice Mierau (2014) Maurice Mierau (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) After establishing his career and reputation predominantly as a poet and editor, Winnipeg writer Maurice Mierau turned to non-fiction specifically, the story of raising two adopted brothers from Ukraine in the midst of his then-new marriage. Woven into Detachment: An Adoption Memoir was Mieraus own family history, tracing his Mennonite roots back to Ukraine after struggling with wife Betsy to grapple with his anxieties and perceived shortcomings. When the two traveled to Ukraine and decided to adopt brothers Peter and Bodhan, then five and three years old, respectively (and living 140 kilometres apart), they then faced a number of hurdles and roadblocks to bringing the boys home to Winnipeg. The Free Press review called Detachment an "ambitious memoir a fascinating and tragic story. There are many journeys in this book, both physical and emotional But its the story of the two boys that engages the emotions." For Detachment Meirau was awarded the Alexander Kennedy Isbister award for non-fiction at the 2015 Manioba Book Awards, as well as the $20,000 Kobzar Literary Award, awarded every two years by the Shevchenko Foundation in recognition of a Canadian writer who most effectively presents a Ukrainian-Canadian theme in his or her writing. Five Wives By Joan Thomas (2019) Joan Thomas (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files) Shortly after her 2014 novel The Opening Sky was published, Joan Thomas was awarded the $25,000 Writers Trust Engel/Findley award for a writer in mid-career. With Five Wives sees Thomas is at the peak of her career. The book fictionalizes the lives of family members of five Evangelical missionaries killed while on a real-life mission dubbed Operation Auca in the Ecuadorian rainforest. The Free Press review called it an "engrossing, thoughtful read, and a fresh testament to Thomass narrative powers and her ability to locate a human pulse under the often-deafening drumbeats of religious and cultural tradition." Prior to the books release in September 2019, Thomas ruminated on writing a fictional account of true events. "Its kind of a gift to a writer when you dont have to invent everything, when theres a story already there," she said. "In some ways its a little bit confining, but I kind of love it it gives you the infrastructure for the whole story." After being announced as the winner of the 2019 Governor Generals award for fiction for Five Wives, Thomas reflected on what it meant to win the $25,000 prize. "I think one of the reasons this award means so much is that I so love the work of Manitoba writers who have been recognized before me Miriam Toews, and Sandra (Birdsell) being nominated numerous times, and Carol Shields. I remember how pleased I was for the recognition of their books... it feels amazing to be in that camp." Little Fish By Casey Plett (2018) Casey Plett (Arsenal Pulp Press) Casey Plett may have moved to southern Ontario from Winnipeg a few years back, but her debut full-length fiction Little Fish, written while living here, is rooted in this city and shows a writer with plenty of promise. Little Fish chronicles the life of a 30-year-old transgender woman named Wendy living in Winnipeg who uncovers evidence that suggests her devout Mennonite grandfather, a farmer in rural Manitoba, may have also been transgender. She was shortlisted for the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award at the 2019 Manitoba Book Awards, and won the 2019 Lambda Literary Award for transgender fiction, an award Plett also won in 2015 for her short-story collection A Safe Girl to Love. But the biggest fish Plett reeled in for her novel was the 2019 Amazon Canada First Novel Award, which came with a $60,000 prize. "Im just so grateful my book was published and got some attention," said Plett following her win. "Its extraordinarily special to me that this story about this woman who is a lot of things that society isnt terribly approving of, and that isnt given recognition like this. When I first was writing the book I wasnt quite sure how the content would be received, how the characters would be received." North End Love Songs By Katherena Vermette (2012) Katherena Vermette (Joe Bryksa / Free Press files) Katherena Vermette could have just as easily made this list for her debut 2016 novel The Break, also the winner of the Amazon Canada First Novel Award in 2017. But it was North End Love Songs, the 2012 Governor Generals award-winning collection of poetry, that earned her widespread acclaim and opened doors that would lead to her writing fiction, graphic novels, childrens books and more. "(North End Love Songs) was a very small thing that went into the world," Vermette said in a 2016 around the time The Break was launched. "It was this really small book that was supposed to do what small books do." It did so much more. North End Love Songs, Vermettes first solo collection of poems, offers vivid depictions of past and present in Winnipegs diverse neighbourhood, its flora and fauna (especially birds) and the voices of Indigenous women. Of the collection the Governor Generals award judges citation noted the book " attends to the demands of Indigenous and European poetics, braiding an elegant journey that takes us from Winnipegs North End out into the world. We enter the undocumented lives of its citizens and celebrate them through Katherena Vermettes beautiful poems." Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related. By Jenny Heijun Wills (2019) Jenny Heijun Wills (Supplied) The Korean-born Winnipegger (via southern Ontario, Boston, Montreal, etc.) hasnt been a fixture on Manitobas literary scene for long, but quickly made a splash with last years memoir Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related. The book is a series of vignettes about Heijun Willss childhood; born in Korea, she was adopted by a white Canadian family as a baby. Older Sister chronicles her journey back to Korea to reconnect with her birth family and piece together her history. Of the book the Free Press review noted "While reflecting on that which families, in various incarnations, might owe to each other, Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related forges and mourns familial bonds in necessarily relatable and devastatingly exceptional ways." In November, Heijun Willss memoir won the $60,000 Writers Trust of Canada Hilary Weston prize for non-fiction. Of the book the jury said, "Finely observed, meticulous and candid, this memoir offers its subjects no easy redemptions, only the chance to grow together towards greater understanding." In response to the win, Heijun Wills told the Free Press, "I wanted to write something that was deliberately fractured because that felt a bit more reflective of what I experienced and what I continue to experience. I wanted to write something that began with the reunion as opposed to a story that ended with the reunion." The Reason You Walk By Wab Kinew (2015) Wab Kinew (John Woods / Canadian Press files) As the leader of the Opposition for the NDP in the Manitoba Legislature, these days Wab Kinew spends most of his time dealing with a wide range of issues that affect many Manitobans. But before he got his start on Broadway, Kinew chronicled his relationship with his father in a frank debut memoir that garnered attention beyond the provinces borders. The Reason You Walk covers the year 2012 as he tried to connect with his accomplished, ailing and distant father Tobasonakwut, who died in December of that year. The author recalls struggles in his formative years as he searched for a clearer path forward, his forays into martial arts and music, and the issues faced by young Indigenous Manitobans. Forgiveness, healing and reconciliation proved to be core themes throughout The Reason You Walk, which won the McNally Robinson Book of the Year award in 2016 and was a finalist for the $25,000 RBC Taylor Prize. Stranger By David Bergen (2016) David Bergen (Phil Hossack / Free Press files) David Bergen is no stranger to picking up awards for his novels; his 2005 book The Time in Between won the Giller Prize, hes taken home numerous Manitoba Book Awards and in 2018, he was awarded the Writers Trust of Canada Matt Cohen Award for his lifetime contribution to Canadian literature. In his most recent novel, Stranger, Bergen takes readers to Guatemala to tell the story of Iso, a young woman working at a fertility clinic for rich foreign women who becomes pregnant by an American doctor, has her baby taken from her and then must make her way to the U.S. to try to find the child. The Free Press review noted, "Passages in which Bergen lights on the connection between mother and child are profoundly moving... Bergens skill is most evident in his light handling of almost unbearable levels of complexity." Stranger made the Giller Prize long list, and was a finalist for the Margaret Laurence award for fiction at the 2017 Manitoba Book Awards. His next book, Here the Dark, is a collection of short fiction and a novella that will be published in March by Biblioasis. The Water Beetles By Michael Kaan (2017) Michael Kaan (Phil Hossack / Free Press files( Michael Kaans debut novel, The Water Beetles, was one of three novels written by Manitobans in the past decade to nab the Amazon Canada First Novel Award (along with Casey Pletts Little Fish and Katherena Vermettes The Break). In addition to that prize Kaan won the top fiction prize and book of the year awards at the 2018 Manitoba Book Awards, and earned a spot on the short list for the Governor Generals award for fiction. Set in December 1941, Kaans novel tells the story of a young Hong Kong boy who flees to the countryside to evade the Empire of Japan as they invade during the Second World War. Told from a childs perspective, the book is based loosely on Kaans fathers diaries and stories. "Im thrilled very excited and very honoured," said Kaan of the nomination. "You hope to get recognition for your writing, but I wasnt expecting this. Its been great receiving all these congratulations from people. Im a newcomer to all of this stuff." When We Were Alone By David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett (2016) David Alexander Robertson (John Woods / Canadian Press files) Winnipeg author David A. Robertson has made a name for himself as a prolific writer of books for children, teens and young adults; his Reckoner trilogy wrapped up in 2019 and he already has a pair of book slated to be published this fall. It was his collabroration with British Columbia illustrator Julie Flett, When We Were Alone, that cemented his place as a writer to watch in Manitoba. The book follows a young girl who learns about her Indigenous heritage from her grandmother from the beauty of long braided hair and colourful clothing to the horror of residential schools. Of the win Robertson said, "Its not our story to me its the story of survivors, and I think that means even more to me. I was so grateful [Flett] was able to work on this book with me... I remember when I talked about the book for the first time with her... envisioning what the images were going to look like, we were crying, it was such a powerful moment that I felt like something special was happening." In addition to a memoir, Black Water, slated to be published this September by HarperCollins, that same month Puffin/Penguin Random House will publish The Barren Grounds, the first book of Robertsons new Misewa Saga. books@freepress.mb.ca Special thanks to Morley Walker, the Free Press books editor for the first half of the decade, for his feedback on this list. PM Modi to inaugurate 11 new medical colleges in Tamil Nadu on Jan 12 Modi-Shah congratulated on passage of new citizenship law by Gujarat Assembly India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Ahmedabad, Jan 11: The Gujarat assembly passed a resolution congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for amending the Citizenship Act. The resolution, which was opposed by Congress MLAs, claimed that persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan were not offered Indian citizenship in the past because of "policy of appeasement". Last month the legislative assembly of Kerala, where a CPM-led LDF government is in power, passed a resolution demanding to scrap of the controversial Act, becoming the first state in the country to do so. On govts plea to transfer all petitions relating to citizenship law, SC issues notices On Friday, during a heated discussion on the resolution in the Gujarat assembly, Congress MLA Imran Khedawala displayed a poster against CAA and the National Register of Citizens written in his own blood. The House was also adjourned for fifteen minutes following a ruckus. Tehran plane crash: Iran admits it hit civilian aircraft by mistake | OneIndia news The resolution, moved by minister of state for home Pradeepsinh Jadeja, said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have shown far-sightedness by taking a bold and historic decision to amend the Citizenship Act by which Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis of three neighbouring countries will be able to get Indian citizenship. "Policy of appeasement of earlier governments had kept such people devoid of citizenship and other rights," it added. The "nationalist government of the BJP" brought in the new law to help these persecuted minorities, it said. Some "anti-nationals" and political parties opposing it were silent on the persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan, and spreading rumours that the CAA will take away the citizenship of the members of the minority community in India, the resolution said. While tabling the resolution, minister Jadeja said the CAA was only about granting citizenship to the religious minorities of three countries. Should be against citizenship law: Indore admin tells Jain community which sought permit for rally "I want to assure that no Indian will lose citizenship. This Act is not at all unconstitutional. It will alleviate the pain of persecuted minorities," he said. "Ten people sitting on a protest in Delhi is not a protest. People are being misled. Even the Congress has joined hands with the 'Tukde Tukde Gang'. Congress was concerned about Rohingya Muslims. But why you never thought of wiping the tears of migrant Hindus all these years," he asked. Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani linked the CAA with National Register of Citizens and National Population Register. "CAA will destroy the secular spirit of our Constitution. CAA is linked with NRC and NPR. People are afraid that they may lose their citizenship," said Dhanani. "For granting citizenship to a few foreigners, you want to strip crores of our own people of citizenship," the Congress leader said. Sharad Pawar flags off 3,000-km Gandhi Shanti Yatra against Citizenship Law After the discussion continued for around two hours, the resolution was passed by a majority vote. The CAA, which has led to widespread protest in the country, promises citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Muzzafarnagars Rupa faced the acid attack inside her own home her step mother-in-law attacked her and even her father did not stand with her or save her. Deepika Padukones latest release Chhapaak salutes the spirit of those like Rupa who fight all odds with little support and emerge winners, even after having faced acid attacks. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, Chhapaak is the story of acid attack survivor Malti (essayed by Deepika) who reclaims her life. Chhapaak is loosely based on Delhis Laxmi Aggarwal and also features Vikrant Massey. We profile few of those champions who not only braved the social stigma in a comparatively less-privileged environment of our smaller towns and cities. Also read: Joker star Joaquin Phoenix arrested in climate change protest in Washington Rupa was attacked in 2005 and has been associated with groups supporting and helping women who have faced similar attacks. I only had my uncle for support. He stood with me throughout, Rupa says. After staying inside the house for almost nine years, covering her face even from her own family members, Rupa found support in a group of women and began stepping out. She is now an independent woman, earning for herself and takes pride in her face. I have realised this is my identity now. I am not ashamed of my face anymore, she says. Lucknows Mehrunnisa was in college when a neighbour attacked her with an entire bottle of acid. He used to follow me and I had complained about him to my family who scolded him. One day, he just came close to me and threw the acid on me. I had near-fatal injuries. Because of the societys attitude towards women like us, I did not come out of my house for long, she says. She is now working with Sheroes Cafe in Agra and credits the NGO with instilling confidence in her. Anmols case is even different as she was just two-month-old when acid was thrown on her. Her father attacked her mom and the acid also destroyed her face, giving her major injuries. Anmol says that someone brought her to a hospital and her mother succumbed to the injuries while she kept fighting for five years in the hospital. Anmol does not know who her parents or family are. But I have been lucky, all the hospital staff took care and ensured I was treated well till the age of five. It was only later that I was sent to an orphanage because they felt I could make a better life for myself if I study, Anmol says. Aged 19, she calls herself a social media influencer who earns her living through brand associations and content creation for platforms like Instagram and Likee. Anmol, however, is not your conventional social media star she is an acid attack survivor who also had to struggle with poverty and a lack of home. Anmol started an NGO to help acid attack survivors get proper treatment but left the organisation soon. Many people got associated with it and began treating it as business. The cost of surgery for acid attack survivors is such that if you remove 20%-30% from the donations, there is practically nothing left. I could not continue with such mentality, she tells HT. Shabnam, who hails from Agra and works at the Sheroes Cafe, says she cried a lot while watching Chhapaak. More than her own plight, she was reminded of the hardships that her family faced due to the attack on her. I feel bad that they had to see such days because of me. Had I not been in that family, they would have never faced all these things. She worked with a contractor and did embroidery work for him and he attacked her after she did not reciprocate his advances. Reminded that the attacker is to be blamed, not her, Shabnam says, I know, my parents keep telling me. After I came to Sheroes, I began coming out in the open. Earlier, even if I stepped out, I would cover my face. Now I do not care for what people say and simply do all that I want. Follow @htshowbiz for more Interact with the author @swetakaushal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An official was killed on Thursday when armed men ambushed troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) an official has said. Many other air force troops were also injured in the ambush which was successfully repelled, NAF spokesperson Ibikunle Daramola said. Many of the attackers were also reportedly killed. Mr Daramola said over 70 armed bandits attacked the troops at Ungwan Yako along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State. The gallant troops were able to fight their way through the ambush to the side of Birnin Gwari killing several bandits in the process, he said. Birnin-Gwari and surrounding communities have suffered several attacks by armed bandits leading to the death of hundreds of people. Many people have also been kidnapped for ransom by the bandits. See the full statement by Mr Daramola, an air commodore, below. Troops of the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment, Birnin Gwari, on Thursday, January 9, 2020, foiled an ambush set up by over 70 armed bandits at Ungwan Yako along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State. The gallant troops were able to fight their way through the ambush to the side of Birnin Gwari killing several bandits in the process. Read also: Unfortunately, one NAF personnel paid the supreme price in the process while some sustained varying degrees of injury. The deceased airman, Aircraftman Mukhtar Ibrahim, is scheduled to be buried today in accordance with Islamic rites while the injured personnel are currently receiving treatment at the NAF Hospital in Kaduna. The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf all officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the family of the fallen hero and prays that the Almighty grants his soul peaceful repose. The CAS has urged all NAF personnel to remain resolute and continue to work assiduously, in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies, to rid the Northwest of all criminal elements. IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA Air Commodore Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. To keep it practical, we'll show how Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated's (NYSE:RBA) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. Based on the last twelve months, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers's P/E ratio is 35.75. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 2.8%. View our latest analysis for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio? The formula for price to earnings is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers: P/E of 35.75 = $43.79 $1.22 (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each $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 Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. The image below shows that Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has a higher P/E than the average (26.4) P/E for companies in the commercial services industry. NYSE:RBA Price Estimation Relative to Market, January 10th 2020 That means that the market expects Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will outperform other companies in its industry. Shareholders are clearly optimistic, but the future is always uncertain. 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 Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. And as that P/E ratio drops, the company will look cheap, unless its share price increases. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers saw earnings per share improve by -7.4% last year. And its annual EPS growth rate over 5 years is 6.5%. Story continues A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank The 'Price' in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash). While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores. How Does Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers's net debt is 8.2% 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 Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers's P/E Ratio Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has a P/E of 35.8. That's higher than the average in its market, which is 18.9. With modest debt relative to its size, and modest earnings growth, the market is likely expecting sustained long-term growth, if not a near-term improvement. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If the reality for a company is better than it expects, you can make money by buying and holding for the long term. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision. But note: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20). 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. Thousands of protesters marched in Algiers on Friday against the regime, vowing to keep up the movement that has rocked Algeria for nearly a year. The unprecedented protest movement that erupted in February 2019 has continued to demand the dismantling of the political system and its representatives who have been in power for several decades. While protesters joined the march in large numbers, the crowd was markedly smaller than the massive demonstrations in early 2019 that forced the resignation of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, or those ahead of the December presidential poll rejected by the movement. Ahead of the march, baton-wielding police broke up a crowd of demonstrators in the heart of Algiers chanting anti-regime slogans. Police had been deployed in force in the centre of the capital and several protesters were arrested, witnesses said. "The Hirak (protest movement) must continue until the complete removal of the 'gang' -- these traitors who sold out the country and hurt the future of our youth," protester Farida Loukam told AFP after she was violently shoved as police tried to tear away her anti-government banner. Despite the initial dispersal, the march went ahead and ended amid calm around 1700 GMT. Thought exact numbers are difficult to ascertain and there are no official figures, similar marches drew large crowds in at least 15 other Algerian cities, according to local journalists and social media. In Algiers, protesters marching in a winter drizzle shouted "civil state, not military state" or "generals in the trash", referring to the military establishment that holds sway over Algerian politics. "It's you or us, we will not stop," they chanted as they unfurled a giant banner painted with portraits of those detained for activities linked to the protest movement. Some 76 people who were detained and awaiting trial or had already been convicted were released last Thursday, the majority in Algiers. These releases account for about half of the roughly 140 "Hirak prisoners" counted by the CNLD prisoners' rights group, which identifies and supports detainees. "Algerians continue to protest against the regime because they have understood that it's the only way to force change," Ouheb Hamidi, a 38-year-old financial consultant, told AFP. The demonstration comes a week after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced the formation of a new government. A former prime minister under Bouteflika, 74-year-old Tebboune was elected president on December 12 after a vote marked by record abstention and boycotted by the protest movement. "President Tebboune was designated, not elected, in a vote that was massively boycotted by the people. We do not ascribe any legitimacy to him," said protester Mohamed Halzoum. A 26-year-old Singaporean man has been arrested in Perth, Australia A man has been charged in Australia over trying to import a silicone sex doll made to look like a child. The 26-year-old Singaporean national, who is in the city of Perth on a student visa, was arrested on Thursday following the search of a home. Australian Border Force officers had earlier intercepted a parcel sent from China at a Perth air cargo depot on Christmas Eve. The parcel was x-rayed and allegedly found to contain a silicone female child-like sex doll. The 26-year-old Singaporean national, who is in the city of Perth on a student visa, was arrested on Thursday following the search of a home The 26-year-old, who is in Australia on a student visa, has been charged with one count of importing goods, in contravention of Section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901. The man has been granted conditional bail and is due to face Perth Magistrates Court on January 17. 'Child-like sex dolls are an emerging form of child abuse material that the ABF is determined to prevent from crossing our border,' ABF Acting Commander Nicholas Walker said on Friday. Australian Border Force officers had earlier intercepted a parcel sent from China at a Perth air cargo depot on Christmas Eve (stock photo) 'Dolls that are manufactured for a sexual purpose that depict a child under the age of 18 are classified as "objectionable goods" and are prohibited from being imported into Australia.' Last month, another 26-year-old man was arrested by Border Force officials at Perth's Airport for allegedly trying to import parts of a child-like sex doll. While returning from a holiday in Thailand, the man was stopped by police who seized a phone in his possession. Officers said the forensic examination of the phone uncovered hundreds of child abuse photos. Last month, another 26-year-old man was arrested by Border Force officials at Perth's Airport for allegedly trying to import parts of a child-like sex doll 'ABF officers at the Sydney Gateway Facility intercepted a parcel from Hong Kong on 17 September which was addressed to the man's residential address,' an ABF statement read. 'It'll be alleged the parcel contained the bottom half of a silicone female child-like sex doll.' The man was charged with attempting to export a prohibited import and importing tier two goods, or child abuse material. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in the Perth Magistrate's Court on December 13. According to information provided by federal prosecutors on Thursday, the surveillance video from outside Jeffrey Epsteins cell during what is claimed by authorities to have been his first attempted suicide on July 23 was deleted and not preserved as previously reported. According to filings by Assistant US Attorneys Maurene Comey and Jason Swergold in White Plains District Court north of New York City, the FBI has determined that prison officials inadvertently preserved video from the wrong tier within the MCC [Metropolitan Correctional Center] and as a result, video from outside the defendants cell on July 2223, 2019 no longer exists. Jeffrey Epsteins final mugshot [Source: Department of Justice] The revelation about the missing surveillance video was made in connection with the case of Epsteins cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione, who is facing quadruple homicide charges from a 2016 drug deal gone bad. A former police officer from Westchester County, New York, Tartaglione was arrested and charged in December 2016 with intent to sell five kilograms of cocaine and the gangland-style murder and subsequent burial of the bodies of four men on his rental property in the village of Otisville in Orange County, New York. While prison authorities quickly cleared Tartaglione of any wrongdoing from the July 23 incident, Epstein had maintained that the former police officer and bodybuilder assaulted and attempted to strangle him to death. On that day, Jeffrey Epstein was found on the floor of his cellby Michael Thomas, the same prison guard who discovered Epstein unresponsive on the morning of August 10with a strip of bed sheet wrapped around his neck which had been bruised. The US Attorneys filing said the reason why the video from the wrong tier of the prison was preserved was because the MCC computer system listed Tartaglione in a different, incorrect cell. Meanwhile, the FBIs review of the prison video backup system showed that the correct surveillance video from July 23 no longer exists and has not since August 2019 as a result of technical errors. Jeffrey Epstein cell mate on July 23 Nick Tartaglione a former police officer who has been charged with a quadruple murder in a drug deal gone bad The video in question was the subject of controversy previously when, in documents filed in the same Tartaglione murder case, prosecutors said on December 19 that the footage had not been preserved. A day later, prosecutors and Tartagliones lawyer Bruce Barketwho originally requested that the video be preserved on December 18reported that it was not in fact missing. According to Barket, the reason why the phantom video is so important to the Tartaglione case is because he planned to use it as proof of the former police officers good character during his clients murder trial. Instead of trying to kill the elite millionaire investment advisor charged with sex trafficking, Tartaglione has maintained that he saved Epsteins life after his supposed suicide attempt. Marc Fernich, one of Epsteins lawyers, said the latest video evidence fiasco, only adds to the unanswered questions and deepens the air of mystery surrounding [Epsteins] death, feeding the perception that the public will never really know what happenedand that the powers that be arent really interested in finding out. Fernich added, Nothing about Jeffrey Epsteins prosecution and death in federal custody surprises or could surprise me at this point. The Bureau of Prisons and the Manhattan US attorneys office declined media requests to answer questions about the latest developments. Jeffrey Epstein, the wealthy New York City socialite and Wall Street investment advisor, was in jail since his arrest on July 6 on multiple counts of sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for sex. When a request for bail was denied by Judge Richard M. Berman of the US Court in the Southern District of New York on July 18because the accused was a serious flight riskEpstein was sent to jail at the MCC awaiting trial. Epstein was known to have had relationships with many wealthy individuals and representatives of the political elite and royalty internationally. Many of these figuresamong them Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Elon Musk and Bill Gateswere either close friends of Epsteins or were regular guests at lavish social events at his Manhattan mansion or private island in the Caribbean over many years. Given these extended high-profile connections, reports of Epsteins supposed initial suicide attempt on July 23 were greeted by the public with widespread skepticism. When Epstein was subsequently found dead in his cell on August 10 and the New York Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson ruled quickly the death was suicide by hanging, these suspicions grew dramatically. Then, as more facts about the circumstances and facts surrounding his jail cell death emerged, the likelihood that Epstein was murdered became increasingly the only logical explanation. Among these facts are that the prison guards who were assigned to watch Epstein on the night of August 910since he was on suicide watch following the alleged episode of July 23did not actually check in on him until 6:33 a.m. because they were allegedly sleeping, browsing the internet and falsifying records of their cell checks. These two guards, Michael Thomas and Tova Noel, have been charged with federal conspiracy offenses in connection with their actions on August 910. Due to the pending case against the guards, federal authorities have blocked the release of any additional information about Epsteins death to his attorneys or the independent investigation being conducted on behalf of Jeffreys brother, Mark Epstein. Other facts include that the cellmate who replaced Tartaglione was suddenly removed during the day on August 9 and video footage captured by two cameras outside of Epsteins cell on August 910 was reported by authorities to be damaged and unreadable during the subsequent investigation. Also, as determined by forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden during the autopsy, Epstein had multiple broken bones in his neck and broken blood vessels in his eyes and face that are consistent with homicidal strangulation rather than with suicide. Epsteins legal team had said that their client was in good spirits, was busy and focused on his defense strategy and showed no signs of suicidal behavior prior to his death. The CBS television program 60 Minutes, broadcast on Sunday, January 5, added to the suspicions by publishing photos taken by the New York Medical Examiners Office of the jail cell and autopsy in the aftermath of Epsteins death. The photos, which do not include any pictures of Epstein as he was found on the morning of August 10 as per standard prison procedure, directly call into question the conclusion of suicide by the medical examiner. The latest revelations that the video from July 23 is permanently lost lends further credence to the explanation that Jeffrey Epstein was murdered rather than killed himself. It is by no means unreasonable to suspect that Tartaglione was involved in the effort to kill Epstein on July 23 and that the machinations of prison authorities and the FBI over the missing surveillance video are part of a scheme to substantiate a false narrative of what took place on that day. Meanwhile, it is likewise not unreasonablebased upon all the evidence contrary to the finding of suicideto suspect that Epsteins death on August 10 was indeed a murder. There is plenty of motivation for those in positions of wealth and power to silence Epstein and prevent him from spilling the beans on those who participated in his sex trafficking activities. The US Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr recently moved, in cooperation with the corporate media, including the New York Times, to assert that the death of Jeffrey Epstein as a suicide is case closed and also falsely accuse anyone who questions this dubious conclusion to be engaged in spreading conspiracy theories. In reporting on the missing July 23 surveillance video, the Timeswhich has yet to mention the CBS 60 Minutes segmentquotes Attorney General William Barrs assertion that Epsteins death was a suicide resulting from a perfect storm of screw-ups. The Times also completely backs the Department of Justice case that is pinning Epsteins death on the two prison guards. Watertown, NY (13601) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 7F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 4F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. With the killing of Qassem Soleimani, Iranian supreme leader Khamenei lost his most important handler and lever in the Middle East. Khamenei did not say anything at the funeral; he just cried. At great expense, Khamenei drove around the casket of this butcher of people, who also made six million Syrians homeless, to the cities of Mashhad, Ahwaz, Qom, Tehran, and Kerman. Government propaganda for the funeral of this criminal was reminiscent of Hitler's fascist propaganda in June of 1942 for Reinhardt Heydrich, the main organizer of the Holocaust. Like Heydrich, Soleimani was a cruel executioner. Tricks for gathering the crowds for Soleimani's funeral were despicable. The Iranian regime attempted to convert the funeral into raw materials for propaganda. The regime asked students at Iran's University of Sanaye to attend Khamenei's prayer for Soleimani at the University of Tehran, in order to get passing marks in their courses. Government centers, schools, and colleges were closed. A formal statement offered to pay for the free trip, breakfast, lunch, and dinner in order to bring a larger crowd to the burial ceremony in Shiraz. A witness from Varamin, south of Tehran, said: "The crowd you see at the funeral is because the regime has closed all schools and offices. Thousands of servings of food were given to the hungry people, and the hungry people ate the food and left early, and there was no one left to pray. Regime officials said we made a mistake; we had to have the ceremony first and then have given the food." In Mashhad, the government ordered that all businesses, markets, and malls around the shrine of Imam Reza should be closed for half a day or a full day. The Ferdowsi's market in Mashhad was closed until 3 P.M. If the shop was open on Mofateh Street, the owner would be warned. The Ministry of Education instructed all teachers that students should compose an essay on Soleimani and must light candles and cry in classrooms. One of the people in Mashhad said: "By Saturday, January 4, the crowd had been transported to Mashhad by bus from different villages. From our village, which is 240 km away from Mashhad, they brought 150 families in buses promising them 3 meals a day and free accommodation." At 11 P.M. on Saturday, January 4, on Ahmadabad Street in Mashhad, the regime gave out photos of Soleimani and asked people to put the photo on the windshield of their cars, but the majority threw the photos out of their windows. Most of the personnel of Rajaii Shahr Prison were dispatched to the funeral of Soleimani on Monday, January 6. That same Monday, a school principal in Tehran telephoned his staff and told them, "Whoever is in the funeral of Soleimani should get himself a Selfie, he/she will have both an afterlife reward and a 200 Tomans from school." In Kerman, many posters and banners were circulated at intersections across the city, none of which were approved by the people, who were opposed to this circus. People were happy with the death of Soleimani. The regime has tried hard to portray Soleimani as a "national hero" and said that "Soleimani did not receive a rial or a dollar for his missions." While everyone knows that Soleimani in Iran had a huge network from the IRGC to the municipalities, the Endowment Organization to the Red Crescent, the Ministry of Defense's Quds Force, and even an independent financial network, he could distribute cash and distribute weapons to his forces within 24 hours. He was the number-one man in regional diplomacy in the Islamic Republic. He was a drug-dealer and fed the Quds terrorist force with drug money. Even as the regime's elaborate and expensive ceremonies unfolded, an announcement by the families of martyrs of the uprising that they would hold a mourning ceremony on December 25th brought 400,000 of armed forces into the streets to stop people from participating in the ceremony. However, in various Iraqi cities, the slogan of the curse on Soleimani, "I am Iraqi," was heard in the streets of Baghdad, Karbala, and Nasserieh. On Sunday, the 5th of January, Iraqi revolutionary youths, along with students in southern cities and provinces, began a strike against the illegitimate government and mercenaries of the Iranian regime. Khamenei's mercenaries, who tried to glorify Soleimani and Abu Mahndes by driving around an empty casket, met with youth resistance. Hashed al-Sha'abi mercenaries fired on people in Nasserieh, killing one youth. Al-Arabiya reports after the killing in Nasserieh, people set fire to the Hashed al-Sha'abi office in Dhi Qar. The youths also burned the car of the Iranian mercenaries. Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman died Saturday, according to the country's Diwan of Royal Court. He was 79, Anodolu agency reports. A three-day national mourning period was declared. The National Security Council called for the royal family to meet to designate a new ruler, in accord with Article Six of the Constitution as the sultan did not appoint a successor. The council, chaired by Sultan bin Mohammed Al Numani, gathered after the sultans death, will continue until a new ruler is named. It is around noon at Mirchi & Mime in Mumbais Powai area and the restaurants employees are busy preparing for service. In no time, the place will bustle with diners, including expatriates who live in the vicinity and frequent the place for the love of its authentic north Indian food. As the guests saunter in, they are greeted by warm and friendly staff. One is taken in by the quirky and novel decor with wooden pots, pans, and forks in multiple shades of brown juxtaposed against pearly white walls. The experience at the restaurant, which employs speech and ... Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the country's air defenses mistakenly shot down a Ukranian passenger jet Wednesday, killing all 176 aboard. It was thought to be a cruise missile, he said, describing the crash as an "unforgivable mistake." The downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 on Wednesday came just hours after Iran carried out missile strikes on two airbases housing US forces in Iraq. The strikes were a response to the killing of senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad on 3 January. Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 BBC analyst Lyse Doucet says such an admission of culpability is "highly unusual". Chrome 80 will include a new quieter UI that blocks notification permission requests from websites under certain conditions. A notification permission request pops up when you visit a web portal like Digit for the first time so you stay informed about topics that interest you in the future. But even we agree that they can turn annoying when theyre presented repeatedly, especially to the wrong audience. Thats why Google is incorporating a quieter UI for such requests in the upcoming 80th version of its popular browser, Chrome, on both PC and mobile. When enabled, it will block websites from asking you for permission to send regular notifications. Whats more, Google may automatically enable it for you in some cases. Google has outlined its plan to create a quieter, distraction-free browsing experience on Chrome in its most recent Chrome blog post. In it, the search engine giant specifies that the new quieter UI in Chrome 80 can be enabled manually in Settings on both PC and mobile. But it also states that the quieter UI may be enabled automatically for you if two conditions are met: you often deny websites the permission to send you notifications and the website requesting it has very low opt-in rates. When your Chrome browser updates to version 80 in early February (this should happen automatically), you will see the new Notifications section appear under Site Settings in Settings. The option marked Sites can ask to send notifications will be enabled by default. The sub-option marked Use quieter messaging just below is what will be enabled automatically if you repeatedly turn down notification permission requests across websites. You can, however, change these settings at any time. In addition to explaining how the new quieter UI works, Google says in its blog post that it intends to enable additional enforcement against abusive websites using web notifications for ads, malware or deceptive purposes later in the year. Google only recently resumed the rollout of the stable version of Chrome 79 after recovering from a rollout catastrophe that reportedly destroyed about 15 per cent of its stored user data. The company later said it was able to recover all the lost data. You can read more about that here. Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) will pay all insurance payments and compensations to the families of killed passengers of crashed plane of Tehran-Kyiv flight in accordance with the international rules, UIA President Yevhen Dykhne reported at a briefing in Boryspil airport on Saturday. "All compensations and insurance payments that are defined by law and are in the airlines' area of responsibility will be made in accordance with all international rules and the insurance contracts that we have," said Dykhne. He also said that the UIA backs the position of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that Iran should pay compensation. Previously, Zelensky said that Ukraine expected Iran to assure that it is ready for a full and open investigation, the prosecution of those guilty, the return of bodies, compensation payments and official apologies via diplomatic channels. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: Bihar-born Syed Mustafa Hussain (45), who once was a small-time pharmacist in Patna, is now wrecking havoc on those involved in the trading of adulterated and spurious medicines across the country. He began his crusade against the fake drug mafia from 2008 motivated by the-then drug controller JP Singh and started informing the police against whosoever were found in the racket which poses serious threat to the lives of millions of people in Bihar and outsides. "For me, saving the life of a poor patient is more holier than anything and I have dedicated my life to this causes," he said adding that he doesn't deter even after being intimidated umpteen times in the past and more often than not. Initially, started from 2008, he was getting the hideouts and places of spurious medicines and drugs trading through the concerned department and police but the response wasn't as fast as expected. "Ultimately, I set up a company named as Brand Protection Services Pvt Ltd , headquartered at Delhi and started wrecking havoc on the suppliers and manufacturers of spurious medicines and drugs," he told the media. He made a chain of raids conducted in Patna-based localities of spurious drugs with the help of police and the department, wherein he once was a small time pharmacist and selling medicines. Impressed over Hussain's crusade against drugs mafia and marketing rackets of spurious medicines, a number of branded pharmaceutical companies approached and assigned his company for detecting duplicate and spurious brands of those companies products. He got a collosal assignments of 150 different pharmaceutical companies and by now, he has lodged FIRs against more than 500 such businesses nationwide, who are involved in the rackets of spurious medicines and drug trading. "Around 200 racketeers of spurious medicines have been jailed so far after being their illegal activities detected and raided through my company since 2008 to now," he said. He said that the nationwide rackets are still thriving with impunity in the country in the business of spurious medicines sales and supply. "From Delhi, Patna and Kolkata to many other parts of country, such rackets of spurious drugs survive and there is a need to launch a nationwide consolidated drive against them from all levels and all sides," he said. He has requested the government of Bihar to provide him adequate security and support to raid outside the Bihar also. Hussain's crusade against mafia of spurious medicines has been lauded by many ministers and government officials including Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. He also provides financial support to the families of many divyang children and 50 students for doing medical and engineering courses every year, distributes warm clothes across the country as humanitarian services besides chasing the mafia of spurious medicines. "Whatever I earn from services,I feel divine to share a major chunk of earnings for the welfare of needy and poorest among poor people," he told media. Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone's film 'Chhapaak' has been declared tax-free in Rajasthan. The film has been facing the wrath of a certain section of people after Padukone visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a masked mob on January 5. The decision to declare the film tax-free in Rajasthan was taken on Friday night. "The move of exempting the film from tax has been welcomed by people. The film will educate people," Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot told reporters on Saturday. 'Chhapaak', directed by Meghna Gulzar, presents the story of acid attack survivor and activist Laxmi Agarwal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Laytown/Bettystown: Meath Development Plan - The Draft Meath County Development Plan 2020-2026 is now on public display at Duleek Library and Council Offices. It will remain on display until 4pm on Friday March 6th 2020. The new plan will cover the period from 2020 to 2026 and it will shape how our county, towns and villages develop during that time both economically and residentially. It's really important we have our say in our future so make a submission - visit https://consult.meath.ie//meath-draft-county-development-p Contact me Ring Iris on 0864033557 or email irismaryg@gmail.com with items of interest in the area. Meath Climate Academy Meath County Council is pleased to announce the launch of their 'Meath Climate Academy' programme. This initiative, the first of its kind in the country, will see a series of climate action training workshops delivered to a number of stakeholders. The first free workshop 'Citizen Climate Leader Training', will take place on Saturday, January 25th at Buvinda House, Navan. Those interested in attending are invited to book their place as soon as possible. It is proposed that the training will inform people on the climate crisis, climate justice and climate action and empower citizens to take their own climate action, start a climate conversation in their communities and inspire others into action. To book your place contact the Climate Action Team at climateaction@meathcoco.ie or call 046 9097203. Give blood in Bettystown Every day, patients in hospitals throughout Ireland require blood transfusions. Each and every week 3,000 donations are needed in Ireland. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) provides the blood and blood products needed in hospitals to help these patients. Blood transfusions may be required for routine surgical procedures and cancer treatment. The average adult has between 10 and 12 pints of blood. A blood donation is just 470mls - less than one pint. If you are fit and healthy, aged 18 to 65 (between 65 and 70 years if you have donated in the last 10 years), over 7st.12 lbs (50kg) and have not donated in the last 90 days, please make a special effort to come along. Please eat at least a light snack in the 3 hours before donating. A total of 2,403 units were required in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda during 2018. If you'd like to help save a life, there is an opportunity to give blood at the IBTS mobile clinic located in Scoil Oilibheir Naofa, Bettystown on Thursday 16th January, 2020 From 5:00pm to 8:30pm. Please Note Day This Visit For further details, please contact our lo-call Donor Information Line 1850 - 73 11 37 or Finbar Gethins, Area Manager at our Ardee Regional Office, 041 - 685 9994 or www.giveblood.ie Mornington Meath Development Plan The Draft Meath County Development Plan 2020-2026 is now on public display at Duleek Library and Council Offices. It will remain on display until 4pm on Friday March 6th 2020. The new plan will cover the period from 2020 to 2026 and it will shape how our county, towns and villages develop during that time both economically and residentially. It's really important we have our say in our future so make a submission - visit https://consult.meath.ie//meath-draft-county-development-p Ardcath/Clonalvy Whist Drives The whist drives have resumed and continue each Monday night in Bennett's. All are welcome. Free IT classes Free six- week Basic iPhone, iPad, Tablet and Smartphone class taking place in Duleek Library in January. Please call the library on 041 9880709 to book your place. Meath Development Plan The Draft Meath County Development Plan 2020-2026 is now on public display at Duleek Library and Council Offices. It will remain on display until 4pm on Friday March 6th 2020. The new plan will cover the period from 2020 to 2026 and it will shape how our county, towns and villages develop during that time both economically and residentially. It's really important we have our say in our future so make a submission. The Pokemon world is full of creative characters and unique designs. Avery and Klara are the latest characters to join the distinct cast. Twitter artists, with impressive speed and talent, were quick to show their support for the new characters with their own creativity. Weve scoured Twitter for some of the best fan art for both Avery and Klara. The images are in no particular order. All of the artists are incredibly talented, and wed hate to rank them against each other. Instead, were showcasing their lovely creations. First up from Twitter user @NerdvolKurisu. Their unique style captures both characters with creative posing and charming catchphrases. We especially love the limited use of color to highlight important aspects of the characters features and aesthetics. The chosen phrases added extra personality and acted as references to the new rivals preferred Pokemon types. More work from this artist can be found at their Twitter, linked above, and their Instagram. Klara seems to get a lot of love from the community. And rightfully so. This piece by Twitter user @chocomiru02 captures the soft, fluffy design associated with the new Poison Type rival. Artwork for Klara from Pokemon Sword and Shield! pic.twitter.com/Vk48fhxits -chocomiru- (COMMS: Full) (@chocomiru02) January 10, 2020 The artists style is charming; it captures a childlike innocence that is perfect for Pokemon. The soft lines and gentle, painterly effect help emphasize the characters fluffy coat. The character, posed by making a heart shape with her hands, adds some extra personality and gives the appearance of a photograph or portrait. If youre interested in more of this artists work, more of their art can be found on Twitter. The beauty of a release like this is in the different interpretations of the characters. Various artists view them in different ways, and it makes seeing all the art far more interesting. Twitter user @MrGenzoman has its own rendition of Klara. We love the way this character is posed. The fluid lines and the opposing tilt from the shoulders and hips add extra visual interest to full-body characters. The shadows are also very effective at adding texture and shape. Plus, that cute wink from Klara is delightful. If youd like to see more of this artists work, they can also be found on Instagram, DeviantArt, and Tumblr. Now onto Avery. Our next featured piece is by Twitter user @erikensa. avery looks so silly that i cant believe i got the wrong version of Pokemon sword and shield pic.twitter.com/pBtOEXPRPQ Eri @ hiatus (@erikensa) January 10, 2020 Avery isnt as popular as Klara just yet, but his fashion-challenged design earned some fans. Were a fan of both Avery and Erikensas use of colored and blended lines, a white outline to separate from the background, and the gentle pink background. The lighting accents Averys frankly gorgeous hair, both in the fanart piece and in Game Freaks original design. If you enjoy this artists work, they can also be found on Weebly and Tumblr. Our final feature is by @Defiant_Drills. Pokemon Company parted the clouds and gave me this blessed lad #PokemonSwordShield pic.twitter.com/r2GE7ArKfp Certified Avery Stan (Gatsby) (@Defiant_Drills) January 9, 2020 Sticking with the Avery theme, were glad to see Avery getting some love. The artist, Gatsby, has a painterly style that we love. The use of sharp lines and blurred areas to bring the focus to Averys face is creative and highlights the characters eyes. The artist leaned into Averys psychic theme with the glowing Poke Balls around his hat and in his hand. And of course, we cant forget Averys flawless hair, shown wonderfully here as it adds to the color contrast. If youd like to see more from this artist, they can also be found on Tumblr and Twitch. Thats all for our featured fanart. If youd like to see more, we encourage you to browse the various galleries from the artists above or to check the various tags for Klara and Avery and other Pokemon fanart. The new expansion pass is available for purchase now, and part one, the Isle of Armor, comes to the Nintendo Switch in June. The new political party would comprise mainly disgruntled members of PDP, including former ministers and legislators who have quit the party or were thrown out of it for their alleged anti-party activities recently or earlier. (Photo: PTI) SRINAGAR: A new political party is likely to be launched soon in Jammu and Kashmir as an alternative to conventional regional political organisations such as National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the run-up to the elections of the Union Territory (UT), which the government proposes to hold later this year. The new political party would comprise mainly disgruntled members of PDP, including former ministers and legislators who have quit the party or were thrown out of it for their alleged anti-party activities recently or earlier. The sources said that these leaders and activists have held a series of meetings in twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu during the past couple of weeks to deliberate over the proposed venture. The group is being headed by former minister Syed Altaf Bukhari, who is known to be very close to the corridors of power in Delhi. He has been in the forefront of supplementing the governments covert effort to encourage mainstream politicians, including former ministers and lawmakers to team up and initiate political activities is such fashion that would break the political stalemate which persists in J&K since August 5, 2019 when it was stripped of its special status and split up into two UTs by the Centre. The proposed enterprise is seen by local watchers also as conscious attempt by those at the helm of power to isolate J&Ks impervious mainstream political parties particularly NC and PDP which have, so far, remained steadfast in their political outlook and have ruled out joining any political process unless and until J&Ks statehood and special status are restored. Bukhari, a business tycoon-turned-politician, was a year ago expelled from PDP for his anti-party activities. His fresh effort to turn the tables on the PDP leadership seems to have come off as per his own wish and plan. A fairly large number of his former colleagues in the PDP have joined him and are likely to form the essential ingredient of the new proposed political party. The PDP, after cancelling Bukharis membership in January 2019, accused him of backstabbing, subverting peoples interests and of making attempts at breaking the party by hobnobbing with its rivals. Though he chose to remain discreet and did not react any harshly then, he is now getting back at the PDP and, at the same time, trying to bring to fruition his own political ambitions. Meanwhile, the PDP appears to be a sinking ship. During past one week, more than a dozen of its leaders and prominent workers were either expelled from the party for going against interests of J&K and party ideology, or they left it reportedly to join the Bukhari bandwagon. More are planning to walk out of it, the sources said. The PDP has been facing hard and turbulent times since losing power. Several prominent faces, including former ministers and legislators quit the party immediately after the BJP pulled out of the coalition government headed by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in June 2018. While some observers had likened it to rats are first to leave a sinking ship, Mufti had shrugged the exodus off by saying, This is election time (when) people do go and come (in parties). Those elections were never held, and on August 5, 2019 J&K was bifurcated into two UTs- Ladakh and J&K. Girish Chandra Murmu, the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, recently gave enough hints of the Assembly polls in the UT being held soon. He said, Election will come. It is a Union Territory with a legislature. It will not continue like this (under Centres rule). The PDP is faced with fresh exodus. Even partys patron and former deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh has openly criticised Mufti, who is under preventive detention since August 5, over her certain political annotations and actions both as party president and Chief Minister, indicating his inclination. While Delhi is infamous for crimes against women, it is Assam, which has topped the chart for rate of crime against women in the country for the second consecutive year, as per the 2018 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures. Rate of crime against women in Assam stood at 166 for 2018, almost three times the national average rate of 58.8 and marginally above Delhis crime rate of 149.6. Haryana was placed third on the list of shame with a crime rate of 107.5 against women. Crime Rate is calculated as the number of crimes recorded per one lakh population. In 2018, a total of 27,728 crimes against women were registered in Assam (in 2017 it was 23,082), which was 7.3% of all crimes against women in India that year. A senior state police officer, however, said there was a silver lining to the cloud. The figures dont portray a nice picture for Assam with regards to safety of women. But we need to keep in mind that the numbers could be a reflection of most victims in Assam turning up to file reports and the promptness with which police registers cases, said the senior police officer on the condition of anonymity. In 2017, the rate of crime against women in Assam was 143.3 against the national figure of 57.9. Delhi came second with a rate of 133.3, followed by Telangana at 94.7 and Odisha at 94.5. Assam also recorded 66 instances of rape and murder - the highest joint figure for the two categories in the country for 2018. Madhya Pradesh came second with 46 cases and Uttar Pradesh third with 41. In 2017, the Assam reported 27 cases, which was the second highest after Uttar Pradeshs 64 cases. The number of cases registered is just the tip of the iceberg and the worrying thing is that the cases are increasing every year, said Polly Vauquline, head of women studies at Gauhati University. She also supported the theory that women in Assam are less hesitant to file cases of sexual abuse. The figures are also a sign that women from Assam feel more empowered to report crimes against them. And also the fact that they have more support from family, community and women groups to register cases, she added. Assam also topped the list for cyber crimes against women in 2018 with 295 cases. Odisha came second with 208 cases. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Press Release 10 January 2020 Finalists announced for 2nd UNWTO Global Tourism Startup Competition in partnership with Globalia Final phase to be held on 20 January, on the eve of FITUR Entries from 150 countries received Advertisements The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in association with Globalia, the leading tourism group in Spain and Latin America, has selected the finalists of the 2nd Global Tourism Startup Competition, an initiative that the two entities have been working on since 2018 when its first edition was held. In the competitions first two editions, Wakalua, the global tourism innovation hub powered by Globalia, in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization, has received proposals of nearly 5,000 startups from 150 countries. The countries with the highest number of projects submitted have been Spain, followed by India, the United States, Portugal, Nigeria and Colombia. The second edition features startups in a more mature stage, with 10% having had more than EUR 500,000 in turnover in 2018. The finalists will present their projects at the Wakalua headquarters in Madrid. Seven will win awards in their respective categories. Sustainability Building on the success of the inaugural competition, this new edition continues to identify new companies that will lead the sectors transformation. The aim and common denominator is to achieve a sustainable and profitable future through technology and innovation. This initiative is supported by partners such as Turismo de Portugal, Telefonica, Amadeus, Intu Costa del Sol, IE Africa Center and Distrito Digital Valencia, among others. These partners will participate actively in the final decision and in the subsequent promotion, financing rounds and implementation of the pilot projects with the winners: Categories This annual competition is one of the flagship projects of Wakalua, the tourism innovation hub powered by Globalia in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization. Wakalua will host the winning startups for further development, providing support in order to establish links with leading companies in the sector. Innovation consulting firm Barrabes.biz is also a partner making this project possible. Deep Tech, rethinking location and geolocation: With the backing of Amadeus, the aim in this category is to select the best startup that simplifies trips for customers or suppliers using location systems. Solutions that combine location data with artificial intelligence can be used to identify tourism regions, associate them with nearby airports, optimize, and offer opinion mining, among others. Smart Mobility: In partnership with Telefonica, this category features projects that improve the quality of travel and that facilitate the mobility of users using any transport system. The objective is to reduce economic, environmental and time costs. Smart Destinations: With the collaboration of Distrito Digital Valencia, solutions will be identified to improve the sustainability and profitability of destinations from the economic, environmental and socio-cultural perspectives by leveraging technology to help foster innovation and accessibility in an increasingly globalized world. Disruptive Hospitality: Intu Costa del Sol will analyse companies that contribute to optimizing the total experience of travellers by combining the best solutions in the world of retail, shopping centres, food, leisure and hotels, so that, through personalized services and digital connectivity, every trip can be as efficient and effective as possible. Rural Development: Globalia will place special emphasis on rural areas with the objective of transferring knowledge and innovation, and improving their viability and competitiveness. With the overall objective of promoting a shift towards an increasingly low-carbon economy, this category also seeks out companies devoted to risk management and animal welfare, as well as the restoration, preservation and improvement of ecosystems. Innovative tourism solutions: Turismo de Portugal will present an award for the best innovation project outside the above categories. Special award for sustainability: In addition, the UNWTO and Globalia will present a special sustainability award with the aim of giving more visibility to projects that are committed to more efficient and sustainable tourism. Lastly, the IE Africa Center will recognize 2 projects in terms of social impact in Africa, awarding them with the Social Innovation Retreat scholarship, Sun Cycles Namibia and Enjoy Agriculture Senegal, presenting their initiatives. The winner of the Travel Tech 4 Good accelerator, in collaboration with the Tui Care Foundation and Enpact, Halla Travel, will also present its startup. Finalists by category: About Globalia Globalia is the leading tourism group in Spain and Latin America, with an annual turnover close to 4 billion euros in 2018. With a presence in more than 60 countries and 15,000 employees, Globalia provides services to all sectors of the world of tourism. It comprises a number of independent companies that are leaders in their markets, including Air Europa (airline), Halcon Viajes (travel agencies), Travelplan (tour operator), Be Live (hotel chain) and Groundforce (airport handling). We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Dubai Media Office issues statement. The Dubai government on Wednesday issued a statement, rubbishing the rumours floating on certain sections of international media that Dubai was not a safe place to visit following purported threats from an Iranian official. The Dubai Media Office said that these are only rumours and not based on any official source from any Iranian institution or official. It also warned media organisations to not publish such rumours, and urged them to publish only accurate news. "Dubai Media Office confirms that the rumors being circulated regarding security threats targeting Dubai are fake and haven't been issued from any official source in the Iranian government. We urge everyone to refrain from circulating fake news and spreading rumors," a statement said. Dubai Media office confirms that the rumors being circulated regarding security threats targeting Dubai are fake and havent been issued from any official source in the Iranian Government. We urge everyone to refrain from circulating fake news and spreading rumors. Passionate conservationist Bill Oddie hasn't been seen regularly on television presenting the wildlife shows he loves since he was controversially sacked by Springwatch 11 years ago. But now he's back with a new series celebrating the incredible range of wildlife across Britain, and the dedicated people fighting tirelessly to protect it. Based in Northumberland's spectacular Kielder Forest, Wild Animal Rescue sees Bill and his co-presenters Steve Backshall, Springwatch Unsprung's Lindsey Chapman and The One Show reporter Miranda Krestovnikoff kept busy helping animals that live in and around the forest and beyond, and meeting the experts who spend their lives caring for the wildlife and helping ensure its survival. Passionate conservationist Bill Oddie hasn't been seen regularly on television presenting the wildlife shows he loves since he was controversially sacked by Springwatch 11 years ago 'It's a fair bet to say most wildlife, whether it's animals, birds, plants or insects, probably in most parts of the world, is in trouble,' says Bill. 'We know what a lot of those troubles are, but to know is not to do, unfortunately. At this stage, we have to create spaces or build reserves to help the situation. 'The encouraging thing is that a lot of organisations all over the world, and particularly in Britain, are doing this now so we can be reasonably proud of ourselves for the time being.' Among them are conservationist Ben Jones who's fighting for the Scottish wildcat, which at up to 50 per cent bigger than a domestic cat is the largest species of wildcat on these shores. Once hunted for its thick fur coat and culled to protect livestock, it is now Britain's most endangered mammal with estimates down to as low as 30 individuals in the Scottish countryside. Conservationists are fighting for Britain's most endangered mammal the Scottish wildcat (left) with estimates down to as low as 30 individuals in the countryside. Right, the red squirrel The battle is now on to create a captive population of pure Scottish wildcats at the Aigas Field Centre near Inverness in the hope that they can eventually be released back into the wild. Six months ago two healthy kittens were born and Ben hopes they will prove invaluable to the species' survival. Then there's the hedgehog officially Britain's favourite mammal which has fallen in numbers from an estimated 36 million in the 1950s to well below one million today as a result of modern farming methods, fewer hedgerows and increased urbanisation, which has decimated their habitat and food supplies. But there are people out there doing what they can to help, like Joan Lockley, the founder of West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue, who has taken in some 8,500 injured hedgehogs over the past 18 years. She rehabilitates them where possible and releases them back into the wild. Bill's passion has been missed by many, but he's keen for there to be no comeback fanfare And let's not forget the beloved red squirrel. 'At Kielder, red squirrels are a success story,' says Bill. 'I know this because I've been connected with the Northumberland watchers for a long time. 'When I first went up there some years ago there weren't any red squirrels, they'd been forced out by the greys. Not that the greys are aggressive, but they compete. The Wildlife Trust up there has set up this feeding station which is a bit like a seesaw. BILL ODDIE BY NUMBERS 1963 - His first professional TV job was writing for satire show That Was The Week That Was, while studying at Cambridge University 5 - The number of hit singles he had in comedy trio The Goodies in the 70s The number of hit singles he had in comedy trio The Goodies in the 70s 1 - Birdwatcher Bill was one of the first to bag a British sighting of the Asian migratory bird Pallass reed bunting, in Scotland in 1976 3.4m - The record audience in 2004 for his show Britain Goes Wild, the forerunner of Springwatch 2013 - His one-man tour in Australia, An Oldie But A Goodie, was a sell-out success Advertisement 'I couldn't help laughing as they put peanuts on it. The red squirrel is fine. He's very little and he'll just stand there and have a peanut. But when the heavier grey squirrel gets on it tilts and he falls through a sort of trapdoor. It's not harmful, but it is quite effective.' Bill's passion has been missed by many, but he's keen for there to be no comeback fanfare. He's simply glad to be doing what he loves again. As well as being Britain's foremost bird lover, Bill was also famous as a presenter of the BBC's hugely popular Springwatch and Autumnwatch until he was dismissed just before Christmas in 2008. It was a bolt from the blue that sent him into a spiral of melancholy, which only added to his personal history of depression. 'I'd been on TV solidly for about 15 years because I'd been doing a few other things as well. Then I was called into the office and told, "We won't be asking you to do the series next year", which is a euphemism for, "You're fired",' says Bill, who was invited back as a guest presenter for the tenth anniversary episodes in 2014. 'I thought, "What the heck?" Basically I just burst into tears, and I'll be honest I went straight into a depression for about two or three months.' It was a terrible time for Bill, who was in and out of hospital. He recognises that his mental health problems could be genetic as his mother Lilian was in an asylum for most of his childhood. Thankfully he was finally diagnosed as bipolar, which explains the spells of excessive energy and over-confidence followed by sudden dark slumps and deep despondency. 'It used to be called manic depression,' says Bill, who's now 78. 'Whenever I've had a depression I've been gloomy and inactive and can't move, so I stay in bed and barely speak. Bill was also famous as a presenter of the BBC's hugely popular Springwatch and Autumnwatch until he was dismissed just before Christmas in 2008 'But the other side of manic depression can be quite enjoyable as it can be productive. I think a few people had noticed this when I was working, writing or performing because I would work very quickly and be a bit impatient with people who couldn't keep up. 'That's why, if I could give practical advice, I'd suggest to anyone who feels they may be bipolar and thinking of going to see their GP, for God's sake go with your partner, if you have one, because they will notice things you haven't.' A key sign for Bill that he was in depression was when he felt unable to go out and enjoy nature. 'I knew I was getting depressed when people said, "Bill, why don't you just go out?" and I would say, "I don't care, I don't want to go out, I don't want to see birds." 'It was a sign that things were not well. However, any therapist will say get outside and enjoy nature as it will lift you a bit. I've seen that happen. 'I was doing a recording once with people with various mental difficulties and they were all working away in the forest, weeding things and so forth. They enjoyed it and it made a difference as they were actually doing something.' And now Bill's back in the wild too, with more heartwarming stories in which we learn how we can all help animals that are struggling. 'One of the nicest things I've been told was when an elderly lady wrote to me and said, "I'm 93 and have been watching the TV and you took me for a walk. I went with you to that place",' says Bill, with a smile. 'And that's what you can all do come with us on this journey of conservation to help our wildlife survive for the next generation and beyond.' Wild Animal Rescue will air at 11:15am and 19:00pm next week, Monday to Thursday on Channel 5. Int'l travellers who test COVID positive at the airport will not be allowed to go to their destinations Who is Firhad Hakim? Know Kolkata's New Mayor Age, Education, Family and Other Details PM Modi calls on WB CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata India oi-Mousumi Dash Kolkata, Jan 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who arrived in Kolkata on Saturday amid the massive protest across West Benagal regarding National Register of Citizens (NRC), Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Population Register (NPR) met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the city. PM Modi arrived in Kolkata to take part in 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Sunday. Mamata told PM Modi to rethink on the issue of amended Citizenship Act and urged him to withdraw CAA, NRC and NPR. Mamata termed her meeting with PM Modi as "courtsey visit" and said she has raised issues regarding the due financial assitance that the state is yet to receive. Mamata addresed the media after the meeting and said PM Modi told her to come to New Delhi and discuss the matter. "It was courtsey meeting. I told him about the Rs 28,000 crore that the state is yet to receive from the Centre," Mamata told PTI. He was received by WB Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, state municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim, Bengal unit BJP president Dilip Ghosh including other senior BJP leaders at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata. During PM's arrival hundreds of protesters showed demonstrations were seen protesting outside the airport gate number one despite strict security. This time it is twice thst PM Modi and the TMC supremo as well as his biggest critics Mamata Banerjee are likely to share stage. "Double standards" of the Left Front, Congress: Mamata over WB violence during bandh Mamata has always been the strongest opposition to PM Modi, she has taken out sereal protest march against Modi-led BJP government's NRC, CAA and NPR. LIMERICK has been put on alert for the approaching Storm Brendan which is set to hit the county on Monday. Met Eireann has issued a series of weather warnings ahead of the arrival of the storm on at the start of this week, with every county in Ireland affected. A Status Orange wind warning has been issued for Limerick from 7am until 3pm on Monday. A similarly severe Status Orange wind warning will be in place in Wexford, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo and Waterford. "As Storm Brendan tracks to the northwest of Ireland, southerly winds veering southwesterly will reach mean speeds of 65 to 80 km/h with gusts of 110 to 130 km/h, highest in coastal areas," forecasters said. "There is a significant risk of coastal flooding due to the combination of high spring tides and storm surge." That warning is valid from 7am to midnight on Monday. Elsewhere, a Yellow Wind warning will be in place for Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon and Tipperary. "Winds veering southwesterly will reach mean speeds of 50 to 65 km/h with gusts of 90 to 110 km/h," Met Eireann said of this warning. It is valid from 7am until midnight on Monday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Jan. 10 that his countrys investigators have been given access to the flight data recorders that were recovered from the wreckage of a Ukrainian plane that went down in Iran, killing all 176 people on board. Our team has gained access to the black boxes, we plan to begin reconstruction of the conversations in the near future, Prystaiko said. Prystaikos comments came as allegations grow that an Iranian anti-aircraft missile shot down the plane. Prystaiko said investigators also have been given access to the recordings of air-traffic controllers at the Tehran airport. Although investigators have been to the crash site, he said there are certain pieces that up until this time have not been found or gathered. Ukraines national security service said it is now considering two possible causes of the plane crasheither terrorism or an anti-aircraft missile hit. Service director Ivan Bakanov said that although Western claims of a missile are attracting the most attention, there are still questions to be answered, including the flight range of the presumed missile and the nuances of operating the launch mechanism. He said the possibility of a terrorist attack is being carefully studied. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo became the highest-level U.S. official to directly pin the blame on Iran, after Canadian, Australian, and British leaders announced similar intelligence conclusions Thursday. We do believe it is likely that that plane was shot down by an Iranian missile, Pompeo said on Friday. Pompeo said an investigation would continue into the incident and that once it was complete he was confident that we and the world will take appropriate action as a response. Leaders said the plane appeared to have been unintentionally hit by a surface-to-air missile. The Trump administration on the same day announced a new wave of sanctions on Iran following this weeks missile strikes by the Islamic Republic on U.S. bases in Iraq. Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the new sanctions will target eight senior Iranian officials involved in destabilizing activities in the Middle East as well as Tuesdays missile strike. The strike by Iran came in retaliation for the U.S. killing of a senior Iranian general in a drone strike. Mnuchin said President Donald Trump will issue an executive order imposing sanctions on anyone involved in the Iranian textile, construction, manufacturing or mining sectors. They will also impose separate sanctions against the steel and iron sectors. The death of a 61-year-old man due to pneumonia from a mystery virus in the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Saturday has put the world on high alert against another new life-threatening illness. Seven of the 43 others diagnosed with the disease are in a critical condition, but no new cases have been reported since January 3. To protect the world still smarting from the lightning spread of devastating viral diseases such as H1N1, Zika and Ebola, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued this years first international travel and trade alert on January 10 that advised all international travellers to report symptoms of fever with breathlessness and difficulty breathing, especially if they have travelled from China. On January 9, China announced that the cluster of pneumonia cases reported in December in Wuhan in the Hubei Province of China was caused by a new coronavirus. Only six viruses from the coronavirus family infect humans, which would make the new one the seventh to cause human disease. The coronavirus viruses cause diseases ranging from the common cold to very severe and life-threatening illness from Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome that caused 851 deaths since it was identified in 2012, and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed 774 of the 8,098 people infected in an outbreak that started in China in 2002. Though currently there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, we need to remain vigilant. WHO has shared with all Member States technical guidelines on surveillance, testing as well as infection prevention and control practices for suspected cases. WHO is in close contact with national authorities in the region and will extend all possible support to ensure core capacities are geared up for addressing potential cases that may come to countries, said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO regional director, South East Asia Region. Unknown threat Some countries in the region, including Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand, have started screening passengers travelling from China for pneumonia symptoms at airports. The health ministry reviewed the situation with WHO experts on Wednesday and plans to start providing travellers with risk-reduction information at airports and other ports of entry, travel agencies and conveyance operators. We are waiting and watching as entry screening at ports of entry like airports, seaports, train stations and border check-posts are not cost-effective. It is resource-intensive but offer little benefit, said a health ministry official, who did not want to be named. Though no pneumonia have been reported outside Wuhan, which has a population of 11 million, WHO said there is need for caution as the city is a major domestic and international transport hub with heavy population movement. Travel in the region is expected to significantly increase during the Chinese New Year in the last week of January, which increases the potential of infected travellers carrying to other parts of China and the world. New viruses are formed when mutate to jump species and cause infection in humans. SARS jumped from the civet cat into humans, MERS from dromedary camel, H1N1 from pigs, and Ebola from bats, just to name a few. The Wuhan City cases have been linked to the South China Seafood Wholesale Market, where some of the patients worked as dealers or vendors. The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market deals with fish and other seafood, including sea mammals, along with chicken, bats, rabbits and snakes. Signs of trouble The clinical signs of the new lung infection are mainly fever, with a few persons reporting difficulty in breathing. Clinical signs include chest x-rays showing bilateral lung infiltrates (markings) associated with pneumonia and tuberculosis. With no infection among health care workers treating the patients, preliminary information suggests there is no significant human-to-human transmission, but till the mode of transmission is clearly established, its best to take precautions to stay safe. The WHO advises people travelling in or from affected areas (currently Wuhan) to avoid close contact with people with acute respiratory infections; wash hands frequently, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment; and avoid close contact with live or dead animals. In case of respiratory symptoms before, during or after travel, travellers must seek medical attention and share their travel history with the doctor. The WHO advises against travel or trade restrictions on China based on the information currently available on this event, said Dr Singh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON You are here: Arts "Happy Chinese New Year", a series of cultural event to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival (or Lunar New Year), kicked off in downtown Berlin on Friday. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Germany Wu Ken wished everyone "a happy Spring Festival", while taking stock of development of bilateral ties in recent years. He stressed that cultural and tourism exchanges between the two countries play increasingly crucial roles in bringing people from two sides closer, and sound people-to-people ties lay the very foundation for bilateral relations. The gala featured singing, dancing, and music performed by the art troupe from southwest China's Guizhou Province, bringing about the musical traditions of ethnic minority groups living there. Guizhou, with a population of about 36 million, has been home to many ethnic minority groups. The event also provided visitors with opportunities to learn Chinese calligraphy and paper-cutting. German girl, Cordula, told Xinhua while waiting in the line for a calligraphy work of her phonetically-translated Chinese name, that it's the second year she took part in the "Happy Chinese New Year" events and that she found the ethnic dancing "spectacular". The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 25 this year. * Caretaker Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi discussed with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo by phone the recent the US-Iran conflict in Iraq and the need to prevent escalation leads to open war, the Iraqi government said Friday. * Iran's state TV on Saturday quoted the Iranian military as saying that it "unintentionally" shot down the Ukrainian jetliner on Wednesday, in which all the 176 passengers and crew members on board were killed. Iranian armed forces said they mistook the Ukrainian jet for a hostile plane, according to the state TV. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Twitter that Iran "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake," and offered his condolences. * Ukraine wants the "black boxes," or the flight data recorders, of the Ukrainian passenger plane which crashed near Tehran to be sent to Kiev for analysis, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said Friday. * Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin said the US presence in the region is illegitimate and should end immediately, a local media outlet reported Friday. * The UN Security Council on Friday re-authorized the cross-border aid mechanism for the Syrian people, which expires at midnight, after heated discussion. The 15-member council adopted a resolution, prepared by Belgium and Germany, which re-authorized two of the existing four crossings on the Syria-Turkey border under the mechanism for six months. * All parties must respect the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and resort to diplomacy and negotiations when resolving the latest Middle East tensions, the French foreign minister said on Friday. * At least 15 people died and more than 25 injured in a mishap involving a passenger bus and a truck late on Friday night in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, confirmed a local police official to Xinhua over phone. * An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 jolted 110 km southwest of Raoul Island, New Zealand at 22:54:26 GMT on Friday, the US Geological Survey said. The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 29.8401 degrees south latitude and 178.8287 degrees west longitude. * The UNICEF urged on Friday Lebanon to give priority to children amid the ongoing economic crisis in the country, the National News Agency reported. * The Lebanese army said on Friday that 14 soldiers were injured in the clashes a day earlier with protesters who closed roads in a town north of Tripoli against increased power rationing, the National News Agency reported. The soldiers were injured by stones and petrol bombs protesters threw at them. Prime minister Justin Trudeau calls deadly plane shooting a 'national tragedy,' Canadian crash team en route to Iran to investigate originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a crash team was en route to Iran to participate in the investigation of the plane crash that killed 176 people, including 57 Canadians. The crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 Wednesday occurred about three hours after Iran fired multiple missiles into Iraq, targeting U.S. military sites in retaliation for the American drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, one of its top generals. MORE: US tried to kill Iranian commander in Yemen same night as Soleimani strike: Officials Iran has admitted that it unintentionally shot down the plane, which was was mistaken for a "hostile flight" after it turned toward a "sensitive military center." The plane was "unintentionally hit" with an anti-aircraft missile, according to an official Iranian statement released early Saturday morning local time. PHOTO: Iranians light candles for the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 during a gathering in front of the Amirkabir University in the capital Tehran, Iran, Jan. 11, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images) Trudeau asked Iranian President Hassan Rouhani that Canada be included fully in the investigation -- from the black box to DNA identification, and that consular access be provided "Earlier this morning I spoke with Iranian president Rouhani," Trudeau said in a press conference Saturday. He called Irans admission of "unintentionally" shooting down the plane "a very important first step toward providing answers for the crash victims' families, though he also said there are still many questions "that must be answered." "A full and complete investigation must be conducted," Trudeau said. "We expect the full cooperation of Iranians," he added. PHOTO: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a news conference in Ottawa, Jan. 11, 2020. (Blair Gable/Reuters) Trudeau said the team would also support the families of the Canadian victims. Three visas have been approved to send lead members from a Canadian crash team -- the country's version of the U.S.' National Transportation Safety Board -- to Tehran. The team is expected to arrive at 4 p.m. Saturday local time. Story continues The prime minister also called for a de-escalation in U.S.-Iraq tensions after speaking to President Trump he said in a press conference on Saturday. MORE: Iran says it 'unintentionally' shot down Ukrainian airliner Rouhani, meanwhile, expressed his regret in a post to Twitter. "Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people," Rouhani said, writing in English. "Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake." "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences," he added. ABC News' Joshua Hoyos, Marc Nathanson and Justin Doom contributed to this report. Chennai, Jan 11 : Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said India's ancient culture and humanitarian value are the legacy that needs to be protected by taking them to the future generations. Speaking at the 173rd Aradhana Festival of Thyagaraja at Thiruvaiyaru in Tamil Nadu Naidu said: "Our culture and values are our identity. It is what makes us unique. It is what has earned us the respect of the whole world." Stressing the need to protect them, Naidu said: "The most effective way to ensure this is to take the treasures of our culture to future generations. They must know of the stalwarts like Saint Tyagaraja and must be proud of their glorious cultural inheritance. They must draw inspiration from its brilliance and unite to chart a path forward for the nation." Thyagaraja was a great composer of Carnatic music. He has composed several devotional songs mostly in praise of Hindu God Lord Rama. Naidu said, schools and educational institutions must strive to sensitise children to the diverse elements of our culture. "Our future generations must never forget their roots. But they also must not be confined by it," he remarked. Pointing out that 'art unites hearts' Naidu said music is among those elements of Indian culture that has a great potential to unit people and understand each other. Naidu said Thyagaraja the most revered 18th Century Trinity of composers - the others being Shyama Sastry and Muthuswami Dikshithar. "The majestic Pancharathna Krithis - the five gems in five ragas are sung with utmost devotion by all musicians coming together from various parts of India and the World in the Annual Aradhana. Brindavan was erected over that spot and his disciples started performing the Aradhana every year on Bahula Panchami day at the Samadhi," Naidu said. (Newser) Uneasy about the new decade? Well, it already has is own possible scamabout writing the date on checks. Media stories are warning people not to abbreviate the year "2020" as "20" in case crooks alter the number to look like an earlier or later year, Slate reports. CNN and USA Today are among news outlets quoting police departments and experts about the concern. "This is very sound advice and should be considered when signing any legal or professional document," the East Millinocket Police Department in Maine said on Facebook. "It could potentially save you some trouble down the road." story continues below Let's say a criminal finds an uncashed 2020 check with the date "1/1/20"; that could be changed to "1/1/2021" and still be cashable next year. Or a shameless creditor given checks starting "1/1/20" could change one to start paying in "1/1/2019" and claim the debtor had missed an entire year of payments. Ira Rheingold, a consumer advocate, says there's far more worrisome fraud out there, but this one is getting airplay since "people are bent out of shape because our numbers are turning over." Still, it looks like a valid issueand the fix is easy. "Write this: January 15, 2020," says USA Today. "Not this: 1/15/20." (Read more fraud stories.) Filipinos in Iraq question Dutertes evacuation plan while Indonesians in Mecca say they have not heard from Jakarta. An earlier version of this story stated that more than 1,000 Filipinos showed up at the embassy in Beirut on January 9 to sign up for free repatriation. That happened earlier in December, following earlier protests in Lebanon. A separate repatriation order was issued by the Philippine government on January 8. But the order had been withdrawn a day after. It was early on Wednesday when the music at a bar near the United States consulate in Erbil abruptly stopped. They suddenly shut down all the establishments still open at that time, and ordered us all to leave immediately, recalled Mark, a Filipino migrant worker who asked to be identified only by his first name for safety concerns. A commotion ensued, with people running towards every direction, Mark said. Meanwhile, at a military facility nearby, alarms rang out to warn of an impending attack. Iran on Wednesday launched missiles at bases in Iraq hosting US troops in retaliation for the assassination last week of its top military commander, Qassem Soleimani, near Baghdads international airport. Washington said Tehran fired 16 short-range ballistic missiles, with at least 11 striking Ain al-Assad airbase in Anbar province and one hitting a facility in Erbil, the capital of Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region. As he hurried back to his apartment, about five minutes drive from the facility, Marks immediate thought was how he and other Filipino workers could escape the violence. He immediately bundled his backpack and alerted other Filipinos to get ready. Then he realised, they had nowhere to go. Despite an earlier request for guidance, Philippine embassy officials in Baghdad have failed to provide them with information such as where to assemble in case of an evacuation order, Mark said. The assassination of Irans Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad has triggered fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East region [Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office via AP] The assassination of Soleimani and Irans retaliatory missile strikes have created many unintended consequences, including the prospect of mass evacuation of millions of migrant workers in the Middle East. The Philippines and Indonesia are among the leading exporters of human labour in Southeast Asia, deploying tens of thousands of migrant workers to the Middle East every year. There are an estimated 1.2-2 million Filipino workers in the Middle East, almost half of whom are in Saudi Arabia. Similarly, there are as many as 1.2 million Indonesians in the region, with most working in the kingdom, according to the Jakarta labour advocacy group, Migrant Care. Order to evacuate Amid the escalation in tensions and insecurity across the region, Manila and Jakarta are scrambling to figure out how to safely bring their citizens home. Interviews conducted by Al Jazeera with several migrant workers based in different Middle Eastern countries paint a picture of evacuation plans in disarray, or virtually non-existent. On Thursday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte created a taskforce to coordinate the governments evacuation plan. A day earlier, he had ordered a mandatory evacuation of all Filipino workers in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran, only to be contradicted by his own labour secretary, who on Thursday said the order only covers Iraq. There are an estimated 30,000 Filipinos in Lebanon; some 6,000 in Iraq; and another 1,600 in Iran. In an earlier exchange on social media, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin had assured Al Jazeera that a repatriation plan was in place. Dutertes special representative to the Middle East, Roy Cimatu, a former general, was dispatched to Baghdad on Thursday to lead the evacuation there. As of Wednesday, there were already 1,592 Filipinos, out of 6,000, who signed up for immediate repatriation, Cimatu said, adding that gradual evacuation had already started right after Soleimanis killing. In a video posted online, Vice Consul Jomar Sadie, officer in charge at the Philippine embassy in Baghdad, also said that Filipinos in Iraq, including those in its Kurdish region, are assured that the Philippine government is prepared to repatriate them. Failed contingency plan Mark, the Filipino migrant worker who witnessed the chaos in Erbil, however, said embassy officials in Baghdad failed to provide [a] basic contingency plan for them. They know that there are a lot of us working here. But they did not bother to provide any information as to where we can assemble for pick up, or if they have transportation available, Mark said. Every year, the Philippines deploys tens of the thousands of Filipino workers in the Middle East [File: Rolex dela Pena/EPA] I called the other Filipinos in Erbil, and they also told me that they dont know where to go. Rolando Antisoda, another Filipino working in Erbil, was also critical of Philippine government officials, expressing frustration at the lack of quick response from embassy officials. Even a simple phone call, it takes them forever to answer. In an interview with ABS-CBN television network, Sunshine, a Filipino manicurist who works in Baghdad, said she does not trust embassy officials there to help them. She said she and 60 other Filipino employees were prevented by their company to evacuate until they pay $8,000 each to their employer. Al Jazeera contacted Vice Consul Jomar Sadie for his response, but he did not pick up the call. Al Jazeera managed to contact the embassys Administrative Officer Jerome F Friaz, but he declined to comment and directed all queries to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila. Another Filipino diplomat, not assigned in the Middle East, insisted to Al Jazeera in a private message that there is always a contingency plan, but officials are careful in releasing information to avoid panic and paranoia among the affected Filipinos. In Lebanon, Eljean Ello, a domestic worker, told Al Jazeera that she and her fellow workers never received word from embassy officials about any evacuation, and that they only heard about Dutertes announcement from the news. The order of mandatory evacuation in Lebanon, however, was rescinded a day after. Filipinos in Iran also told Al Jazeera that while they received an alert from the embassy, there was no mention of an evacuation. We are safe here Meanwhile, Indonesian migrant worker Rajis Khana, who lives in Mecca, told Al Jazeera he had never heard from the Indonesian consulate about the latest escalation in the region but said he was confident that the tension would not affect Saudi Arabia. Mecca is safe because its the holy city. Also, its far from Iraq, he said. Rajis, who has been working as a driver in the Gulf for 12 years, said other migrant workers shared the same sentiment. In 2015, Jakarta banned the deployment of women workers to 21 Middle Eastern countries. By 2018, the country announced that it was poised to lift the ban. Deployment of male workers, meanwhile, has been going on for decades. Most of the 1.2 million Indonesians migrant workers in the Middle East are employed in Saudi Arabia [File: Mast Irham/EPA] Wahyu Susilo, executive director of Migrant Care, warned that if the conflict escalates, Indonesian President Joko Widodo might be forced to also order the evacuation of the more than 1.2 million workers in the Middle East. So far, the Indonesian government has not ordered an evacuation. Wahyu said there are as many as 10,000 Indonesian migrants working in Iraq, and most of them are undocumented. Migrant Care urged the Indonesian government to immediately register the workers, and possibly establish a crisis centre to handle a possible influx. If its too ambitious to fly them back, the best thing that Indonesia can do is to open a crisis centre, Wahyu said. Al Jazeera has reached out to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizsyah, but he has not responded to the request at the time of publication. In Tehran, the Indonesian embassy issued a letter urging its citizens to take precautions. Avoid places which are crowded or prone to conflict as well as places suspected to be targets. Only bring necessary items and prioritise your and your familys safety in the event of an evacuation, the embassy said in a statement posted on the foreign ministrys website. In a separate statement published on the Antara News website, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said it is prepared to evacuate Indonesian citizens in Iran. We are ready, so everything is completed, she said. There are 400 Indonesians living in Iran, while there are 800 officially residing in Iraq. It is unclear why the evacuation order only covers Iran. As for Rolando Antisoda, one of the Filipinos working in Erbil, he told Al Jazeera that he will likely defy Dutertes mandatory evacuation order. It is better for us to face threats of incoming missiles than let our families back home go hungry. If we go home, how are we going to feed them? With additional reporting by Febriana Firdaus in Indonesia A group of Iranian demonstrators on Saturday demanded the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down as protests hit central Tehran after its military mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian plane, killing all 176 people on board last week. "Commander-in-chief [Khamenei] resign, resign," videos posted on Twitter showed hundreds of people chanting in front of Tehran's Amir Kabir University. Earlier on Saturday, Iran said its military had shot down the Ukrainian plane, calling it a "disastrous mistake". The military claimed air defences were fired in error during an alert which was imposed after Iranian missile struck US targets in Iraq. Iran denied for days after Wednesday's crash that it brought down the plane, although a top Revolutionary Guards commander on Saturday said that he had told authorities about the "unintentional" missile strike the day it happened. The Iranian leadership had last faced mass protests in November following the rise in petrol prices. The death of graduates from top universities migrating to Canada on the Ukrainian flight has struck a nerve with protesters. Many protesters felt their future is ruined in a country facing high unemployment. The plane crash has further heightened international pressure on Iran after months of friction with the US and tit-for-tat attacks. Khamenei, silent until now about the crash, said information should be made public, while top officials and the military issued apologies. A US drone strike killed top Iranian military commander Qasem Suleimani in Iraq on January 3, prompting Tehran to fire at US targets on Wednesday. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), in a rare step on Friday, apologised to the nation and accepted full responsibility for the plane crash. In a statement, the military said that the plane flew close to a sensitive Revolutionary Guards site at a time of high alert. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She's set to host this year's Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, which will kick off next week. And Stacey Dooley looked excited ahead of her return to the dance floor as she appeared for rehearsals in London on Friday evening. The television personality, 32, wore her ginger tresses in a chic updo as she stepped out in a full-length coat. Style: Stacey Dooley, 32, looked excited ahead of her return to the Strictly dance floor as she appeared for rehearsals in London on Friday evening The TV presenter, who won Strictly in 2018, accessorised with pearl earrings which she displayed as she emerged from a taxi. Once on the street, Stacey beamed as she showed off her ensemble, which she added to with a cream handbag. Stacey is currently in a relationship with Kevin Clifton, who she met after partnering with him on Strictly in 2018. Glamour: The star wore her ginger tresses in a chic updo as she stepped out in a full-length coat Jewelled: The TV presenter, who won Strictly in 2018, accessorised with a pair of bunched pearl earrings which she displayed as she emerged from a taxi The dance partners went on to win the competition before announcing their romance. Stacey and Kevin first embarked on a romance in April, and are said to have moved in with each other a month later. The media personality settled into the dancer's flat after leaving the home she shared with her former partner in Brighton. In the work department, Stacey is set to host the Strictly Come Dancing's 2020 arena tour. The documentary maker will dust off her dancing shoes to front the 32-date event this year, which kicks off next week in Birmingham. Happy: Stacey looked delighted she stepped out of her taxi in a pair of comfortable trainers Stacey will be joined on stage by a selection of celebrities and professional dancers from the much awaited 17th series of the award-winning BBC One show, with judging and casting announcements to be made over the coming months. Despite winning the series last year, Kevin admitted he's finding it tough coming to terms with his early exit from Strictly. The reigning champion off the BBC series was kicked out of the competition earlier this month after his Charleston with Anneka Rice failed to impress the judges or the voting public. LEBANON, Ore. -- The man who set pool chemicals on fire inside the Lebanon Walmart in May 2019 has been sentenced. Joel Reynolds Jr. of Lebanon will serve seven-and-a-half years in prison. He is not eligible for alternative sentencing programs. Reynolds must also complete three years of post-prison supervision. RELATED: MAN ARRESTED FOR ARSON IN LEBANON WALMART FIRE In October 2019, he pleaded no contest to one count of first-degree arson. Police said when they arrived to the store, employees had already started evacuating. MORE: CHEMICAL FIRE AT LEBANON WALMART RESULTS IN HAZMAT RESPONSE They said fire damage was mostly contained to one aisle, but the smoke contaminated a large portion of the store's interior. They later determined several chemicals had been mixed, which then ignited. Detectives said they quickly identified then 49-year-old Reynolds as the suspect. They arrested him without incident. Police said they've had multiple contacts with Reynolds. In 2018, they arrested him for theft at Walmart and he was trespassed from the store. New Autonomous Vehicle Guidelines to Ensure US Leadership in AV Development Trump administration's light-handed approach to foster U.S. innovation The White House and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced guidelines for autonomous vehicle manufacturers this week that seek to encourage car makers to set voluntary standards while prioritizing safety and security. While prioritizing safety, the planEnsuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies 4.0 (pdf), also known as AV 4.0, is designed to promote U.S. leadership and innovation in the field by ensuring a consistent regulatory approach. AV 4.0 will ensure American leadership in AV technology development and integration by providing unified guidance for the first time across the Federal government for innovators and stakeholders, said U.S. Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao, at the CES innovation fair in Las Vegas. According to the USDOT, AV 4.0 establishes federal principles for the development and integration of automated vehicles via three core focus areas: to prioritize safety and security, to promote innovation, and to ensure a consistent regulatory approach. It also outlines ongoing Administration efforts supporting AV technology growth and leadership, as well as opportunities for collaboration including federal investments in the AV sector and resources for innovators, researchers, and the public. AV 4.0 brings all of the important work happening on automated vehicle technologies across the federal government under one unified approach. The federal principles released today help foster an environment for innovators to advance safe AV technologies, and put the U.S. in a position of continued leadership in the future of transportation, said U.S. Chief Technology Officer, Michael Kratsios. In her keynote speech, Chao said that Automated vehicles have the potential to save thousands of lives annually and improve quality of life through reduction of traffic congestion, increased productivity and environmental benefits. Chao also maintained that AVs could improve mobility for both the elderly and persons with disabilities. The takeaway from AV 4.0 is that the federal government is all-in for safer, better, and more inclusive transportation aided by automated driving systems, she said. Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies: Automated Vehicles 4.0. (U.S. Department of Transportation) Innovation Regulation? Since his inauguration, President Trump has pursued a consistent policy of deregulation. According to the White House, Under the Presidents leadership, the Administration has cut 8 and a half regulations for every new rule, far exceeding his promise to cut two regulations for every new one. The White House says these deregulatory efforts will help save American households as much as $3,100 per year. The USDOT has held back on extensive regulations for the AV industry. Chao said that the AV 4.0 guideline recognizes the value of private-sector leadership in AV research, development, and integration. However, Chao also stated that This kind of innovation requires appropriate government oversight to ensure safety, open markets, allocation of public resources and, of course, protection of the public interest. Exactly what form of government oversight remains undefined for AV4.0 technology, though the guideline does hint at improving cooperation across branches of government and jurisdictions. #CES2020 officially kicked off this morning! Were glad to be back at the show for the second year in a row. We are operating our #AutonomousVehicles on the public streets of Las Vegas this week! pic.twitter.com/lHXjzHXlLm Yandex (@yandexcom) January 7, 2020 Safety in the Testing Phase Some bodies view federal (and state) regulation as an essential component of government oversight, and especially in the current phase where AV technologies are being tested and have yet to reach levels of maturity and safety that would make them suitable for widespread market introduction. Robert Sumwalt of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) gave testimony before a U.S. Senate committee on highly automated vehicles in November. When speaking of Advanced Driving Systems (ADS), Sumwalt said he sees enormous potential in the ability of ADS to mitigate or prevent crashes on our roadways. A promise of the upcoming ADSs is that such systems will be safer than a human driver. Until that promise is realized, the testing of developmental ADSwith all its expected failures and limitationsrequires appropriate safeguards when conducted on public roads. Unfortunately, there has been an absence of safety regulations and federal guidance regarding how to adequately evaluate an ADS, which has prompted some states to develop their own requirements for AV testing. The NTSB is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in other modes of transportationhighway, rail, marine, and pipeline. It was thus called on to investigate the tragic death of a pedestrian killed by an Uber Technologies testing vehicle in Tempe, Arizona, in 2018. Among several others, one factor that contributed to the incident, the NTSB found, was the Arizona Department of Transportations insufficient oversight of AV testing. According to the NTSB, the test vehicle involved in the Tempe incident was a Volvo XC90 that Uber ATG had modified with a proprietary developmental automated driving system. It was not a self-driving car. We are not there yet. The crash vehicle could drive on pre-mapped routes with an attentive human operator. But as has been widely reported, the vehicles operator was not paying attention at the time of the crash. Difficulties in Human-Automation System Interaction While fully autonomous vehicles are currently being tested, most autonomous vehicle systems currently available require a human operator. According to the NTSB, however, Humans are not wired to monitor highly reliable, highly automated systems for extended periods of time. In an accident report (pdf) related to automation of airplane flight systems, the NTSB refers to a scientific article from 2010, which states that Human factors research has demonstrated that system operators often become complacent about monitoring highly reliable automated systems when they develop a high degree of trust in those systems and when manual tasks compete with automated tasks for operator attention. However, while safety is a chief concern surrounding AVs as they are developed and tested, safety is also among their primary benefits. According to Staff Sergeant Terence McDonnell of New Yorks State Police, The vast majority of traffic crashes today are caused by human error. So by greatly reducing or eliminating these errors, theoretically, the number of crashes and the number of resultant injuries and fatalities should greatly decline. According to Chao, Safety must always be number one, and it is at the U.S. Department of Transportation. A woman reacts during a news briefing following the crash of the Boeing 737-800 plane, flight PS 752, on the outskirts of Tehran, at the Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev, Ukraine January 8, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko Ukraine International Airlines president Yevhenii Dykhne speaks during a news briefing following the crash of the Boeing 737-800 plane, flight PS 752, on the outskirts of Tehran, at the Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev, Ukraine January 8, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko Flowers and a memorial poster are placed outside the Iranian Embassy to commemorate the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 plane crash, in Kiev, Ukraine January 8, 2020. The words on the poster read: "Tehran-Kiev. We mourn" REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko A memorial poster and flowers are placed outside the Iranian Embassy to commemorate the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 plane crash, in Kiev, Ukraine January 8, 2020. The words on the poster read: "Tehran-Kiev. We mourn" REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko Passengers' belongings are pictured at the site where the Ukraine International Airlines plane crashed after take-off from Iran's Imam Khomeini airport, on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran January 8, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Rescue team works among debris of a plane belonging to Ukraine International Airlines, that crashed after take-off from Iran's Imam Khomeini airport, on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran January 8, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Red Crescent workers check the debris from the Ukraine International Airlines plane, that crashed after take-off from Iran's Imam Khomeini airport, on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran January 8, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Security look at passengers' belongings at the site where the Ukraine International Airlines plane crashed after take-off from Iran's Imam Khomeini airport, on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran January 8, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Victims of the Ukraine International Airlines crash in Iran, University of Alberta professors Mojgan Daneshmand and Pedram Mousavi Family photo/Handout via REUTERS People look at a memorial at Borispil international airport in Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Flowers and candles are placed in front of portraits of the flight crew members (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a candle light vigil for victims of the Ukraine International Airlines plane crash, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, in Ottawa, Ontario. The civilian Ukrainian jetliner crashed near Tehran late Tuesday, killing all 176 people on board. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP) An airport employee looks at the tributes inside Borispil international airport in Kyiv, Ukraine for the flight crew of the Ukrainian 737-800 plane that crashed on the outskirts of Tehran (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Friends and faculty members gather for a memorial service for the five University of Windsor students who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash (Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press/AP) FILE PHOTO: Debris of a plane belonging to Ukraine International Airlines, that crashed after taking off from Iran's Imam Khomeini airport, is seen on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran January 8, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS European airlines should avoid Iranian airspace until further notice, the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said on Saturday following Iran's admission that its armed forces inadvertently shot down a Ukrainian airliner earlier in the week. The advice expands on an earlier EASA recommendation that national authorities bar airlines from overflying Iran below 25,000 feet. It was issued "in light of the statement from Iran that its armed forces accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger aircraft", EASA said. Iran had earlier admitted unintentionally shooting down the Ukrainian aircraft which crashed near Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. The Iranian government had previously denied accusations that it was responsible, but President Hassan Rouhani has now said missiles were fired "due to human error" and described it as "unforgivable" and a "disastrous mistake". US officials had already said the plane appeared to have been unintentionally hit by a surface-to-air missile near Tehran on Wednesday hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq to avenge the killing of its top general, Qassem Soleimani, in an American air strike. All 176 people, including at least four believed to be British nationals, on board Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752 from Tehran to Kyiv were killed when the plane came down moments after take-off. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a "hostile target", adding that the military was at its "highest level of readiness" amid heightened tensions with the US. President Rouhani wrote on Twitter: "Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. "Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake." He added: "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences." Mr Rouhani blamed the tragedy on "threats and bullying" by the US after the killing of Gen Soleimani. Foreign minister Javad Zarif said it was a "sad day", adding: "Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster." Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that his country expects "assurances" from Iran of a "full and open investigation, bringing the perpetrators to justice". He said Ukraine expected the "paying of compensation" and "official apologies through diplomatic channels". The majority of the plane crash victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians, while at least four of the victims are believed to be British nationals. British citizens Sam Zokaei, Saeed Tahmasebi Khademasadi and Mohammad Reza Kadkhoda Zadeh were identified as among the dead on Wednesday. Iran had ruled out a missile strike by its air defences and initially suggested the cause was a fire in one of the plane's engines. Iranian ambassador to the UK Hamid Baeidinejad told Sky News on Friday that he was "clear" and "confident" that the Iranian military was not responsible for the downing of the plane. On Saturday morning, he apologised on Twitter for "conveying such wrong findings". By Online Desk Minutes after holding a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday attended a sit-in demonstration organised by Trinamool Congress students' wing against the CAA and NRC. The TMC supremo took centre stage among the agitating students who raised slogans against the amended Citizenship Act and the NRC at the Rani Rashmoni Road here, a few metres away from the Raj Bhavan, where she met the PM. She said at the dharna that CAA notification will be only on paper which her government will not implement in the state. Earlier, after meeting Modi, the TMC president had said she told PM to rethink on the issue of amended Citizenship Act and urged him to withdraw CAA, NRC and NPR. Modi told her to come to New Delhi and discuss the matter, she told reporters after a meeting with the PM at Raj Bhawan. Banerjee termed her meeting with PM Modi as "courtesy visit" and said she has raised issues regarding the due financial assistance that the state is yet to receive. "It was a courtesy meeting. I told him about the Rs 28,000 crore that the state is yet to receive from the Centre." "I also told him that protest is going on across the country against CAA, NRC and NPR. I acquainted him that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC. I asked him that the Centre should rethink on the issues and withdraw CAA," she said. Earlier, Modi landed in the city amidst protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act outside the airport. Modi on his arrival was greeted at the NSC Bose International Airport by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, city Mayor and state Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and other senior BJP leaders. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not present at the airport. The PM's visit comes at a time when West Bengal has been witnessing widespread protests against the contentious Act. ALSO READ | ABVP takes out march in Delhi University against 'Left violence', supporting CAA Hundreds of protesters holding black flags demonstrated outside Kolkata airport gate number one crossing. The police had put up a barricade to prevent them from crossing over to the airport side. From the airport, he took a chopper to the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) and from there left for the Raj Bhavan. As his convoy emerged outside the sprawling RCTC, protesters stood at the AJC Bose Road flyover flank and waved national flags and black flags and shouted slogans against CAA. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail and the BJP is pressing for its implementation. SFI activists assembled near Jadavpur University, Golpark, College Street, Hatibagan and Esplanade areas of the city with placards which read 'Students Against Fascism.' They burnt effigies of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah protesting against the "divisive Act". The Left Front activists staged protests on Saturday against the new citizenship law in various parts of North 24 Parganas district. ALSO READ | Left parties created atmosphere of violence at JNU: Yogi Adityanath The prime minister will dedicate to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata -- the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall. The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic buildings and put up new exhibits while curating the old galleries. Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Saturday and Sunday. The prime minister and the chief minister will share the dais at a programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present. Modi is likely to spend the night at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, on Saturday night. The West Bengal administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the visit. Heavy deployment of police personnel was made in different crucial points of the city namely Dharmatala, College Street, Golpark, Hatibagan, Jadavpur, Central Avenue owing to planned protests by several organisations affiliated to the Congress and Left Front parties against the CAA and the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens. (With PTI inputs) At his first campaign event of the new year, President Donald Trump boasted before a crowd of supporters in Toledo, Ohio of having executed Iranian Gen. Qassem Suleimani. Touting the record $738 billion military budget passed last month with overwhelming Democratic support, Trump presented the cowardly murder of the top Iranian military commander as a demonstration of American power. He mocked constitutional limits on his authority to unilaterally wage war around the world. Trump spoke on Thursday night at the Huntington Center in Toledo, a facility that holds 8,000 people, a relatively small crowd for a Trump rally. His fascistic bluster could not conceal the fact that only days before, millions had marched in Iran, Iraq and other parts of the Middle East to commemorate the murdered general and denounce US imperialism. President Donald Trump speaking during a rally [Credit: C-Span] Countless millions more in the United States and around the world have recoiled in shock and horror over the criminal state assassination of a high government official, recognizing it to be a war crime and act of war that threatens to plunge the entire Middle East, and perhaps the entire world, into a new war, with incalculable consequences. After boasting of having taken out ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi last October, Trump delivered a rant against Suleimani, typical of the rhetoric coming from leading Republicans and Democrats alike. Calling the general the worlds top terrorist, Trump declared: For years the sadistic mass murderer Qassem Suleimani planned and executed attacks against American targets, killing and wounding thousands of US service members and many, many thousands, and even hundreds of thousands, of other people. As the leader of Irans terrorist Quds Force, Suleimani spread death, destruction and mayhem across the Middle East and far beyond. Such rhetoric will not fool millions around the world who know that the charge of spreading death, destruction and mayhem across the Middle East and far beyond is an infinitely more apt description of Trump and the US presidents and military commanders who have preceded him over the past three decades. It is they who are responsible for the destruction of entire societies and the death, wounding and displacement of millions in the region. Trump singled out Suleimanis role in the end-of-year protests against the US embassy in Baghdad, boasting that he had ended the threat to the US facility quickly by dispatching US military forces. This was the anti-Benghazi, he said, referring to the 2012 siege of the US consulate in the Libyan city that led to the death of US personnel. We got there very quickly. This was the exact opposite. In fact, the siege of the US embassy lasted two days, as US-trained Iraqi security forces refused to oppose the Shia militias. It ended only when the militia leaders, likely under orders from Suleimani, ordered the crowds to disperse. Trump went on to claim that Suleimani was looking very seriously at our embassies and not just the embassy in Baghdad. No such claim was made by US officials in classified briefings to Congress earlier this week, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was obliged to partially walk back Trumps assertion. The US president then proceeded to denounce the Democrats for their half-hearted and impotent criticisms of the drone missile assassination, stating: And yet now I see the radical left Democrats have expressed outrage over the termination of this horrible terrorist. Crazy Bernie [Sanders] has condemned the US military strike on Suleimani, the worlds top terrorist and we have Bernie and Nancy Pelosi all involved trying to say how dare you take him out that way. You should get permission from Congress. You should come in and tell us what you want to do. You should come in and tell us so that we can call up the fake news thats back there and we can leak it. Having just depicted Suleimani as a crazed murderer of Americans, Trumps charge that the Democrats would have leaked the planned attack in order to protect him amounts to an accusation of treason. While Trump was talking about the killing of Suleimani, a man in the crowd shouted, Kill them all. Trump replied, We stopped him quickly and we stopped him cold. The speech featured all of the fascist tropes that have become standard fare in Trumps stump speeches: promotion of the military, the police and the ICE immigration Gestapo; attacks on the press; attacks on abortion rights; boasts about building his border wall with Mexico; rants against socialism; and, above all, racist agitation against immigrants. This included the following violent incitement: Far-left radical politicians support deadly sanctuary cities, demonstrating their contempt, scorn and disdain for everyday Americans and the American family. These jurisdictions release dangerous violent criminal aliens out of their jails directly onto your street where they are free to rob, attack and kill American citizens They [the Democrats] want open borders Innocent Americans are being brutalized and murdered by illegal alien criminals. Trump attempts to project an image of US invincibility under conditions where American capitalism is confronting intractable contradictions internally and internationally. The murder of Suleimani initiates a process that leads inexorably to another major war in the Middle East that will prove even more disastrous than the failed US interventions over the past three decadesin Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen. Under conditions of a growing upsurge of working class resistance within the US and around the world, the ruling class is seeking to deflect class tensions outward, against an external enemy. Trumps provocations against Iran are an expression not of strength, but of the weakness and decline of US imperialism. That, however, does not make the drive to war and dictatorship less dangerous. Trumps biggest asset is his nominal political opposition, the Democratic Party. He delivered his speech just hours after the Democrats passed a toothless resolution in the House of Representatives billed as a measure to impose congressional restraint on Trumps war-making powers. The bill, however, is a political fraud that does nothing of the kind. Brought before the House by former CIA and Pentagon analyst Rep. Elissa Slotkin, it is in the form of a non-binding concurrent resolution, which does not go to the president for his signature and does not have the force of law. The Democrats impeachment drive is not over Trumps war-mongering, his pogrom against immigrants, or his unconstitutional arrogation of quasi-dictatorial powers. It is over his temporary suspension of military aid to Ukraine, seen by the CIA and sections of the military and foreign policy establishment as a threat to the long-running drive to transform Ukraine into a staging ground for war against Russia. The Democrats are no less petrified than Trump and the Republicans by the growing movement of the American and international working class, the mass opposition to war and the increasing support for socialism. Their role is to suppress the opposition of the working class and enable the military-intelligence establishment to create more optimal conditions for war against Iran and more formidable obstacles to US global hegemony such as Russia and China. Kern Countys oil industry has learned the hard way that it may help to present a human face when debating regulations. January 11 : Shahid Kapoor Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor after delivering a stellar performance in Kabir Singh, the Hindi remake of Telugu hit film 'Arjun Reddy', is all set to star in another hindi remake titled Jersey. The actor while shooting a scene at the Mohali Stadium on Friday got injured, he was hit by a ball on his mouth. As per the reports, Shahid was playing perfectly fine and rehearsing before the shot, when the ball unexpectedly came and hit him on the lower lip and cut open a wide gash where blood started gushing out. He was immediately taken for treatment and a doctor was rushed to see him. To close the wound, stitches were sutured by the doctor. His wife Mira Rajput left for Chandigarh to be by his side, she stated, He is fine now. But the injury was a deep cut so he had to get 13 stitches. Mira has rushed to Chandigarh now on hearing the news. Theres nothing to worry anymore, The actor will take a break for the next few days as he has a heavily bruised lower lip. He will resume filming after the swelling subsides and the wound is healed. Jersey is an official remake of the 2019 Telugu film with the same title into Hindi. The movie is directed by Goutam Tinnanuri and produced by Dil Raju, Allu Aravind and Aman Gill under Sri Venkateswara Creations and Geetha Arts, and stars Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur. It is scheduled to release on 28 August 2020. Foundations of Amateur Radio As radio amateurs we learn which frequencies we're allowed to transmit on, where stuff lives and who has priority when there's a signal on the frequency you're operating on and when you need to contact your regulator if you hear an illegal station on the air. Some of that information arrives in your brain by way of the education process that eventually becomes your license after a test. Depending on which country your license is valid, determines which region of the International Amateur Radio Union your activities fall. Here in Australia, I'm part of the IARU Region 3, together with the rest of the Asia - Pacific region. In the Americas you're part of Region 2 and Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Northern Asia fall into Region 1. As amateur population sizes go, Region 2 and 3 each cover about 40% of all radio amateurs. Region 1 is about 20%. Each of these IARU regions has a specific band-plan that is updated regularly as member countries adapt and negotiate different frequencies for different users. The band-edges might not change that often, but bands come and go, segments are added and removed as needs change. For example, here in Australia or VK, the 6m band has been changing because analogue TV has been changing. Information about band-plans is not easy to come by. For example if I look at IARU Region 2, their documentation is pretty sparse. I've never managed to actually load their website and by the looks of it, neither has the Internet Archive. Given that Region 2 is all of the Americas and represents pretty much two fifths of all amateurs on planet Earth, that's a big hole. There is some availability in Region 1 and 3, but those too leave to be desired. There does not appear to be any formal method of archiving or naming and the transient nature of the Internet all but guarantees that historic information like this is being lost at a high rate. Even with those limitations in mind, there is plenty of information to be found. Let's look at Australia, for no other reason than that I was able to pull some of the historic information out of the bit-bucket. You might be surprised to learn that there is much more change under the hood that far exceeds the band edges and segment changes. The Wireless Institute of Australia publishes the Australian Amateur Band Plan. Using the Internet Archive I was able to count that between November 2007 and November 2019 there were at least 25 different versions of that band plan published, for example in 2008 alone there were at least five different versions. I managed to download 11 of those band plans which show the introduction of the 2200 meter band, the 630 meter band, changes to mode frequencies, DX frequencies, the allocation of emergency frequencies, changes to FM bandwidth from 6 kHz to 8 kHz on bands below 10m, the formalisation of WSPR frequencies, JT65, FT8 and JT9. Now I must point out that the information I'm presenting here is incomplete. There are many more changes, just in VK alone. I'm relying on the Internet Archive which only sampled the WIA website 162 times between March 2008 and January 2020. Within those pages there were only 11 copies of the actual band plan and I've only compared three of them, August 2009, March 2015 and October 2019, and of those only a few changes that stood out. And this is for Australia alone. This is on the HF bands. I've not even looked at the veritable feast of changes associated with the VHF and UHF bands, let alone the cm, mm and higher bands. Even with this massive disclaimer, my point should be pretty clear. A band-plan is a living document. It changes regularly. Likely much more often than you realise. I'll leave you with one burning question. When was the last time you got yourself a copy of the band-plan? Seriously, when was it? I'm Onno VK6FLAB This article is the transcript of the weekly 'Foundations of Amateur Radio' podcast, produced by Onno Benschop, VK6FLAB who was licensed as radio amateur in Perth, Western Australia in 2010. For other episodes, visit http://vk6flab.com/. Feel free to get in touch directly via email: cq@vk6flab.com By ANI NEW DELHI: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government offered to drop money-laundering charges against him and provide with a "safe passage to India" in return for his support to the government's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution. In a statement issued by Naik's PR team on Saturday, the Islamic preacher said that he was approached by a representative of the Indian government in September, who offered him the said deal on Kashmir, which he refused. ALSO READ: Zakir Naik tried to cross over to Maldives but failed, says Speaker Mohamed Nasheed "Three and a half months before, the Indian officials approached me for a private meeting with a representative of the Indian government. When he came to Putrajaya (a Malaysian city), in the fourth week of September 2019, to meet me, he said that he is coming after personally meeting and under the direct instructions of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the Home Minister of India Amit Shah," Naik said in a video statement released by his Mumbai-based PR team. Naik, who has been living in Malaysia for the last three years, is facing charges of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities in India. He is also facing probe both in India and Bangladesh in connection with the terror attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on July 2016. "(The representative) said that he wanted to remove the misconceptions and miscommunications between myself (Naik) and the Indian government, and wants to provide me a safe passage to India," he added. "He (the representative) said that he would like to use my connections to better the relationship between India and the other Muslim countries." "The meeting lasted for several hours. He told me that he wanted me to support the BJP government when they revoked Article 370 in Kashmir. And I flatly refused," he added. Naik said that after he refused the offer, he was further asked to not make public statements against the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The controversial preacher's claim came almost a month after Speaker of Maldivian Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed, during his visit to India, said that "Zakir Naik wanted to come to the Maldives, we did not allow him." Naik further said that he believes that the Indian Muslim leaders who issued statements in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act or the National Registrar of Citizens must have been "blackmailed, pressurised or forced" to do the same. Naik statement came in response to social media posts by academic Shaikh Yasir Qadi, which made similar claims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to spend Saturday night at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, in the neighbouring Howrah district, officials of the Mission said. If Modi spends the night at the Math, probably he will be the first PM of the country to do so. Former PM Indira Gandhi and a number of other prime ministers had paid a visit to the Math several times, but never stayed overnight there. As per the earlier itinerary, Modi was scheduled to spend Saturday night at the Raj Bhavan here. "There is a slight change in the schedule. Earlier, the PM was not scheduled to stay here. But now we have been told by the Special Protection Group (SPG) in-charge of his security that the PM may spend the night in our Math. "If he stays here he will be hosted at the International Guest House inside the Math premises," a senior official of the Mission told PTI. The decision of the PM's spending the night there at the Math could have been taken considering the fact that the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, founder of the Ramkrishna Mission, falls on Sunday, the official said. "As told by the SPG, the PM may meditate probably at the Swamiji's temple here at the Math tomorrow in the morning before leaving for his pre-scheduled programme," he said. A prayer meeting is also being organised at the Math on Sunday morning and the PM may attend it, the official said. During his visit to the Math, the PM is scheduled to meet president Swami Smaranananda after paying his respect to Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Saradha Devi and Swami Vivekananda, he said. "The PM will be given prasad when he arrives here. And if he stays at night he will be given bhog. There will be no special treatment. The bhog and prasad will be the same we serve to other bhakts (devotees)," the official said. The enitre Math will be taken over by the SPG group and no common visitor will be allowed to get inside the premises, he said. "From this evening, the SPG will be in total command of the Math. They will be taking all the decisions whether to allow any visitor inside the premises or not," the Mission official said. The camaraderie and mutual respect between Modi and the Ramkrishna Mission order, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897, goes back to mid sixties when a teenager Modi inspired by the teachings of Vivekananda had arrived at the Mission Ashram, Rajkot branch in Gujarat and expressed desire to join the order. Swami Atmasthananda, who later went on to become fifteenth president of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission, then heading the Rajkot branch in 1966, had advised him that sanyas was not for him and he should work among people and not in seclusion. During those days, Modi used to regularly meet Athmasthanandaji Maharaj and sought his spiritual guidance. Although Modi after spending some time there went back, but the relationship with Swami Atmasthananda and the Ramkrishna Mission remained intact. Whenever Modi used to visit Kolkata, even during his days as Gujarat chief minister, he would travel to the Ramkrishna Mission. In 2013, during his tour to Belur Math, he went to Ramkrishna Mission and had sought blessings from Athmasthananda. In 2015, during his trip to the city as Prime Minister, Modi had called on ailing Swami Atmasthananda at Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan, a hospital run by the Mission in south Kolkata and enquired about his health. After Atmasthananda's death in 2017, Prime Minister Modi had termed it as a "personal loss". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement At least 11 people have died, more than 1,200 flights have been canceled and hundreds of thousands were without power in seven states on Saturday as a massive winter storm system dumped snow, freezing rain and hail from Texas to Michigan. Hurricane-force wind gusts, golf-ball-sized hail and 2 to 5 inches (5-13 cm) of snow fell on Friday night and early Saturday as storms pushed from Texas through the Southeast and Great Lakes into Maine, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. More snow with accumulations between 6 to 12 inches was expected through Sunday in parts of Illinois, Michigan, northern New York and New England. 'The real danger comes from the wind and ice accumulation,' said NWS forecaster Bob Oravec in College Park Maryland. More than half an inch of ice was predicted to cake highways and roads across the South and Northeast from Saturday night to Sunday morning, he said. 'The ice and wind will make driving treacherous, and trees can snap and knock out power and do other damage,' he said. Meanwhile, New York is experiencing unseasonably high temperatures for this time of year with a mini heatwave this weekend. On Saturday there is expected to be highs of 64 degrees, while on Sunday this will leap to 66 degrees, making the Big Apple feel more like Spring and tying the record for the hottest January 12 ever - set in 2017. According to AccuWeather.com, the warm air is being pushed up from the South by the storm hitting the Mississippi Valley. Temperatures will dip to 49 degrees on Monday. Scroll down for video Incredible drone footage shows the extent of the devastation in Louisiana where a tornado razed several homes, killing three people Three people died when a tornado hit Carrollton in Pickens County in western Alabama At least 10 people have died as extreme weather batters seven states. A tornado devastated homes along Settlement Road near Carrollton in Pickens County, Alabama killing at least three people Larry Jones stands on what remains of a porch from one of the houses that was destroyed. Jones' home was spared but he stands in the wreckage of his neighbors' houses Pictured above family member searches through the remains of the home on Saturday that was destroyed in Benton, Louisiana People clean up the classrooms of Benton Middle School, which lost its roof from Friday's severe weather The damage caused by the severe weather in Bossier, Louisiana, is seen above on Saturday morning as the clear-up begins Severe storms are sweeping the South, bringing high winds, unrelenting rain and the threat of tornadoes The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Mississippi early Saturday. Homes were damaged or destroyed in Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas on Friday, but no injuries were reported. Downed trees and power lines were widespread Storm-related deaths were reported in Texas due to icy weather, in Alabama from a deadly tornado and in Louisiana, where winds were so strong that a trailer home was lifted off its foundation and carried several hundred feet. A man drowned in Oklahoma and the storms even touched the Midwest with at least one death on an icy highway in Iowa. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power from Texas to Ohio, parts of highways were closed in Oklahoma and Arkansas due to flooding and hundreds of flights were canceled at Chicago's international airports. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared a state of emergency to assist crews working to restore power around the state. Two first responders were killed and another was critically injured in Lubbock, Texas, Saturday morning after they were hit by a vehicle while working the scene of a traffic accident in icy conditions, officials said. Police officer Nicholas Reyna, 27 (left), and firefighter Lt. Eric Hill, 39 (right) were killed after they were hit by a vehicle while working the scene of a traffic accident in icy conditions Police Officer Nicholas Reyna, 27, who had been with the department for one year, died at the scene. Firefighter Lt. Eric Hill, 39, was taken to a local hospital where he later died. Firefighter Matthew Dawson, 30, was hospitalized in critical condition. Lubbock Police Chief Floyd Mitchell called it an 'extremely tragic day' for the city. Another person had died in Texas on Friday night when a car flipped into a creek in Dallas as severe thunderstorms passed through. A man drowned near Kiowa, Oklahoma, after he was swept away in floodwaters, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Saturday. Randall Hyatt, 58, of Wardville, was overwhelmed by rushing water while getting out of his stalled truck. The Iowa State Patrol said roads were caked with ice early Saturday when a semitrailer on Interstate 80 overturned, killing a passenger in the truck east of Iowa City. Another three people died when a tornado hit Carrollton in Pickens County in western Alabama. Pickens County Sheriff Todd Hall told reporters at the scene that they were still searching the Settlement community for more possible victims. The area has a mix of trailers and brick homes, he said it was 'a very nice neighborhood (that has been) established for a very long time'. Hall confirmed that the deaths occurred in two separate houses. The bodies of an elderly couple were found near their demolished trailer. The winds were so strong the home of the couple, who were the in-laws of a parish deputy, was moved 200 feet from its foundation. Local media reported that Raymond Holden, 75, also died in Louisiana about 1am on Saturday after a tree fell his home, crushing him. His wife, who was with him at the time, was not hurt. Enough to make you melt: People buy ice cream from a truck parked by the National Mall in Washington DC on Saturday Groups of people were seen frolicking on the beach and kiteboarding in South Boston as they enjoyed the unusually warm weather on Saturday Shorts weather: New York is experiencing unseasonably high temperatures with highs of 64 degrees expected on Saturday. A woman is seen riding a bicycle in Manhattan on Saturday Heat is on: Temperatures on the East Coast will head into the 60s this weekend, making it feel more like spring than winter Three storm-related deaths occurred when a tornado hit Carrollton in Pickens County in western Alabama - seen above A tornado devastated homes along Settlement Road near Carrollton in Pickens County, Alabama About 91,000 customers were without power in Alabama on Saturday evening, according to Alabama Power. PowerOutage.us said Georgia had about 105,000 power outages Saturday evening, with tens of thousands of outages also reported in Mississippi and Louisiana. Outages were reported from Texas to Michigan. In Tennessee, Memphis Light, Gas and Water said about 23,000 customers were without power Saturday morning. Damage was widespread throughout Shelby County, Tennessees most populous county that includes Memphis, including downed trees and power poles, some of which will need to be replaced, according to the utility. The bulk of the nation's flight delays and cancellations were at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, with more than 1,000 flights canceled and hundreds more delayed, according to flightaware.com. Tornadoes damaged or destroyed some buildings in Arkansas and Missouri, forecasters said. NWS said more than 18 million people in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma remained at risk of tornadoes and flooding rains. Oravec said that hurricane-force wind gusts of about 75 mph (120 kph) hit the southeast. As the system pushes eastward, rain should end overnight in many southern states, but the Northeast and New England can expect severe weather to last for another day. Several people were killed in Louisiana, including an elderly couple found near their trailer home Saturday by firefighters. Damage in Bossier is seen above Gabe Massengill, 11, of Baldwyn, Mississippi surveys the damage to his aunt's home after a tree crashed into a storage unit on the property during a severe storm Two people were killed when the storm destroyed a trailer home in northwestern Louisiana late Friday, according to the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office. Local media reported that a third person died after a tree fell on a home in that state. A family member searches through the remains of the home that was destroyed from Friday's severe weather in Benton, Louisiana A worker blows snow off the field before the FCS championship NCAA college football game between North Dakota State and James Madison, Saturday in Frisco, Texas 'Go Bison' is seen written into the snow on the back window of a car before the FCS championship NCAA college football game between North Dakota State and James Madison in Frisco, Texas Hail is seen above in Texas on Friday. Golf-ball-sized hail and 2 to 5 inches (5-13 cm) of snow fell on Friday night and early Saturday as storms battered the region Parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana were under flash flood warnings or watches on Saturday. Damage is seen in Bossier, Louisiana on Saturday morning The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reported Saturday morning that portions of several highways in the southeastern part of the state were closed due to flooding. Damage is seen in Bossier, Louisiana on Saturday morning According to PowerOutage.us, Louisiana and Mississippi had more than 54,000 power outages. Damage is seen in Bossier, Louisiana on Saturday morning New highs: Unseasonably warm weather will sweep the East Coast this weekend On Alabama's Gulf Coast, Baldwin County canceled school activities including sporting events for Saturday. The weather service warned of flooding and the potential for 10-foot-high (3-meter-high) waves on beaches, where northern visitors escaping the cold are a common sight during the winter. Many streams already are at or near flood levels because of earlier storms, and heavy rains could lead to flash flooding across the region, forecasters said. The Sheriff's Office in Bossier, Louisiana, also said the roof of Benton Middle School was damaged and 'that water damage from the sprinkler system has flooded many rooms'. Additionally, lightning from Friday's stormy weather is suspected of causing two house fires in the North Texas cities of Burleson and Mansfield. Officials said no one was injured. Parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana were under flash flood warnings or watches on Saturday. A bungling jewellery robber has been jailed for seven years and four months for snatching 21,000 of gold rings and earrings during a fiasco caught on CCTV. Andrew Elliott, 32, was captured on film ransacking trays of trinkets at Ital Gold jewellery shop in Haringey, north London, in April last year. He and two accomplices had struck while shop assistant Valentina Ivanova was alone in the Green Lanes store. Ms Ivanova was manhandled, put into a headlock and dragged to the ground before breaking free, pressing the panic button and locking herself in the toilet. The robbery turned into a farce when the defendant and a second suspect panicked and kicked the security door when they found themselves briefly trapped. Elliot pleaded guilty to the jewellery robbery / Metropolitan Police The third man managed to open the door which locked again before he too could escape. He banged on the door and eventually a member of the public, who knew nothing of what had happened, held the door open so he could get out. Prosecutor Tayo Hassan told the court the robbers made off with gold jewellery worth nearly 21,000, causing 5,000 of damage. Afterwards, Ms Ivanova said she felt scared and shocked and more nervous of dealing with customers. Elliott, from Luton, was caught after police identified a distinctive tattoo on his neck reading I still stand strong. During the robbery, he disguised another tattoo on his cheek by wearing sunglasses, the court heard. These two men are still at large He was on licence at the time of the jewellery shop raid and had previous convictions for other robberies. Earlier this year, Elliott, from Luton, pleaded guilty to robbery and appeared at the Old Bailey to be sentenced by Judge Mark Dennis QC. Judge Dennis said: This was a planned and organised robbery, however much of a fiasco the latter part of it turned out to be. He told Elliott he was his own worst enemy, having committed the robbery just months after being released on licence. He said: In many ways, looking at your past you would appear to be your own worst enemy. You need to understand just how frightening this was for your victim. Imagine yourself being set upon by three determined adults in a confined shop as we have viewed on CCTV. The judge imposed a sentence of seven years and four months in jail plus three years on extended licence. Police have renewed their appeal to the public for help to identify the two accomplices who remain at large. Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, from Scotland Yard, said: From the on-set of this investigation, I advised the public that all I needed was a name of the suspect, such was the strength of the CCTV. This was clearly the case, assisted by Elliotts botched execution of the robbery and his bizarre attempt at attempting to conceal his identity which included his amateurish disguise to the garish tattoos on his face and neck. This dangerous and violent criminal was left with no choice but to admit his guilt. While I am pleased to see one of the robbers paying the price for his part in this robbery, I remain focused on identifying and apprehending the two remaining suspects. A meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) began here on Saturday amid efforts by the party to sustain momentum of its attack on the government over the Citizenship Amendment Act, NPR and NRC and slowing down of economy. The meeting is being chaired by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and attended by senior leaders including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and former union ministers Mallikarjun Kharge, P Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad. The CWC meeting is being held ahead of meeting of Opposition parties on January 13. The Opposition parties are likely to chalk out a joint strategy against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the wake of protests held in different parts of the country and alleged police brutality against the students. The opposition parties have targeted the government over the violence in the JNU campus. CWC is the highest decision-making body of the Congress. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) France's government defied trade unions yesterday by including a contested clause on raising the retirement age by two years in its draft legislation, amid signs that weeks of street protests and strikes may be losing momentum. President Emmanuel Macron's proposed reform to streamline France's complex pension schemes is the biggest overhaul of the system since World War II and is central to his ambition to make the labour force more competitive. But it has infuriated trade unions which argue the reform will erode hard-earned benefits and leave pensioners worse off. The bill says the retirement age for a full pension will be progressively raised to reach 64 "for the 1965 generation who will retire from 2027". From keeping tabs on the 'General' to running informants in major criminal operations, resolving tense hostage situations and prosecuting cases before the district courts, few careers appear as exciting in the rearview mirror as a garda's. That's just a smattering of the experience of newly retired Keel native Donal Ashe, who left the service at the end of 2019 as an Inspector. In his time he has worked under some of the most austere circumstances ever to encumber a police force in western Europe, from the '80s to the recent recession. But it is sweeping changes to An Garda Siochana nationwide, not least within the Southern Policing Division of which Kerry is a constituent, that is causing the soft-spoken policeman greatest concern on leaving the force. "Change will always happen and you have to deal with it, but I'm not too sure about the current re-organisation of An Garda Siochana that's underway," Insp Ashe told The Kerryman. It's proposed to split the Southern Division of Limerick, Cork and Kerry - overseen since time immemorial by a Cork-based Regional Assistant Commissioner - in a way that would leave Kerry as a single division. "That's my real worry as Kerry would be one of the smallest divisions in the entire country, left entirely on its own," he said. "In those circumstances I would worry that the force in Kerry would not be able to have its voice heard, and I think it will suffer as a result, unable to get the resources other divisions would get. "The Commissioner [Drew Harris] is saying you need 600 to 800 members per division for it to be self-sufficient. There are only 340 members or so in Kerry." Other sweeping changes are proposed, including the possibility that Superintendents in each of the districts of Kerry will not only be responsible for their area but for a separate category of policing, from crime to community policing and so on. Donal leaves the force with a wealth of experience to his name. 1983 was a big year for him as he married his wife, Mary (with whom he has three sons, Kieran, Donal and Emmet) and passed out from Templemore. But his first posting left him distinctly underwhelmed, stuck in Donnybrook for the first 18 months: "It was boring and disillusioning, it was protection posts and special beats all associated with diplomats and political threats," Donal explained. Tallaght changed all that. Posted there in 1985, it's where he really cut his teeth as a cop. "It was wild," Donal recalled. With sweet Fanny Adams in resources, Donal and colleagues were tasked with policing the crime-ridden sprawl from a tiny station in the centre of the old village - all at the height of the joyriding craze in the capital. "The change from Donnybrook was unreal, it was a real baptism of fire and you would be dealing with everything from burglaries to murders, and the joyriding was mad there at the time. But we coped the best we could." It was in Tallaght the personable Kerry man developed his people skills, including that most important people skill of all for a garda - making contacts. His first three months in Tallaght were spent serving summonses: "At the time the Tallaght Bypass site was given as an address to the courts by lads before the law right across the country, so we'd have to go in and figure out who was who... I was able to develop great contacts as a result of what I learned there," Donal added. During the mid-to-late '80s he was in the Central Detective Unit - a precursor to the National Bureau of Investigation - and the stakes got higher again: "Our task was to monitor the 'General' Martin Cahill and I got to know his whole gang, including the likes of John Gilligan." The detectives sat on them day and night, following each member of the gang when they moved, trying to build cases and foil their criminal plots: "You couldn't let them walk all over you; you had to stand up to them and while it could be tough at time we had great support." In one memorable episode, Donal blew the lid off a post office heist racket run by another well-known figure of Dublin gangland: "I had him before the Special Criminal Court... I got info from a contact that there was stuff in the house and searched it, uncovering 5,000-worth of stamps taken in a robbery as well as an electronic incendiary device, similar to one used in a Post Office robbery some days earlier where they had strapped it to the chest of an employee threatening to blow them up if they didn't hand over the money." Following his CDU work, Donal was at turns in Special Branch - part of the team that worked the Arklow 'Bomb Factory' case - until his promotion to Sergeant in 1993, after which he worked transport in HQ as well as the anti-racketeering squad, set up to probe the Provos' links to organised crime. By the time he came back to Kerry he was a hardened city cop. November 1995 saw him posted to Ballylongford. "It was a big shock altogether, a lot quieter than what I was used to by then, but a lovely village with fine people. From Ballylongford I went into Listowel as SIC (Sergeant-in-Charge) for 12 years. I really enjoyed Listowel, it is a great place to work, with very nice people there. It has its challenges no more than any other place, and is at the centre of a large territory," he said. Donal was again promoted in 2007, to Inspector, moving to Anglesea Street station in Cork, where he started to cut his teeth in the courts prosecuting cases, and where he was responsible for a large degree for policing the busy nightlife in the Leeside city: "It was all very enjoyable I have to say, and I was transferred to Tralee in 2007, which I found to be another great town to work in." When asked as to the toughtest individual situations of his career, Donal spoke of one highly-stressful hostage situation: "I remember one event where someone was armed and threatengin a hostage they had tied up at knifepoint. "It was very tense, and you enter into that situation knowing you can take it that if it goes wrong there will likely be an inquiry into how you dealt with it. "It went on for some time, but with the help of colleagues we eventually managed to distract him and we broke down the door and were able to get him away. The relief was unreal." Donal is far from such circumstances now, enjoying life in his native Keel, where he's been since the return from Dublin and where he is an integral member of the community with a strong involvement in the GAA: "I've no hard plans of yet; I'll take a few months to consider things and will be busy involved in the club, and I keep sheep too, 60 ewes at the moment, so I'll still have plenty to do." Renowned Nigerian novelist and traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu, Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ike, is dead. The literary icon died on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikwe Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Anambra State, at age 88 after a brief illness. A close friend who spoke on the condition of anonymity told PREMIUM TIMES that the late novelists health had deteriorated ever since his only sons death in 2016. His son, Ositadinma Ike, had married a daughter of a Benin Chief, Osarunwense Eghosa, but the marriage hit rock bottom at the last days of Ositadinma. Though blessed with a son named after the late novelist, Chukwuemeka Junior, family disagreements meant the Ike family no longer had access to Chukwuemeka Jnr. after their sons death. The event was said to have saddened the writer who longed to see his only grandchild and heir. When I saw him during the last Christmas, he was really heart-broken and was in deep trauma over his inability to meet his grandchild, the close associate told PREMIUM TIMES. There was a public appeal made by Mr Ikes close friends who worried over Mr Ikes broken heart to find the whereabouts of Chukwuemeka Jnr. Until his death, the boys whereabouts remained unknown. Mr Ike is survived by his wife, Adebimpe Ike. Embittered A lawyer and close associate to the late novelist, Abel Odo, said he was embittered by the shocking news. He described the loss of his friend as rather heart-shattering and that he would be missed greatly. A former President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and professor of English at the University of Ibadan, Remi-Raji Oyelade, expressed sadness over the the novelists death, saying he would be remembered for his memorable novels. The don described Me Ike as a literary administrator who coordinated the Nigerian Book Foundation for many years._ He was very supportive of the arts; even as the Eze of his people, Prof Ike continued to connect with Nigerian writers as individuals and as groups or associations. And he was a great alumnus of UI, Mr Oyelade told PREMIUM TIMES. Former PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also shared his grief on the death of the novelist. Mr Abubakar on Twitter said: I mourn one of Nigerias prolific novelists &traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu in Anambra State, HRH (Prof) Chukwuemeka Ike (the Ikelionwu IX). He will be remembered for his classics:Toads for Supper &Sunset at Dawn among others. May he rest in peace. Profile Born on April 23, 1931 in Ndikelionwu, Anambra State, Mr Ike was part of the golden set of pioneer African writers and drew motivation from the late novelist, Chinua Achebe. He began his writing journey from school days at Government College, Umuahia, where he wrote fearlessly in the school magazine, The Umuahian. His first story ever written, A Dreamland was published in The Umuahian and set his foot on the literary space. He would later explore the space more when he entered the University College, Ibadan. Quickly noting his writing acumen, Mr Achebe adopted him into the literary circle of the time that wrote about politics on campus and nationally. His literary output was well praised with profundity in mirroring African and Igbo cultures. Advertisements Such is seen in his authored works like Toads for Supper (1965), The Naked Gods (1970), The Potters Wheel (1973), Sunset and Dawn (1976), Expo 77 (1980), The Bottled Leopard (1985), Our Children are coming (1990). Aside from writing, he served as an academic in different roles such as a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, registrar at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and visiting professor at the University of Jos. He was also a former registrar of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), the first Nigerian to hold the position. Press Release January 9, 2020 Dispatch from Crame No. 698: Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Reaction to Sec. Guevarra's ludicrous suggestion that she knows that the evidence against her is "Strong" Secretary Guevarra claims that the probable reason why I haven't applied thus far for bail in my drug cases is because the evidence for the prosecution is strong. That is pure hogwash! First of all, I would like to thank SOJ Guevarra for exposing himself as one of the many faces of my ongoing persecution. His failure to correct the abuses committed by his predecessor, his continued defense of the railroading and persecution that was perpetrated against me, and his own duplicitous actions and statements regarding the so-called "evidence" they have against me has made it clear that he is an active player in my continuing unjust detention and political persecution. If only Secretary Guevarra pursued real drug lords with the same vigor as he does the cases against me - lining up no less than 15 "prosecutors" to handle my cases, as opposed to the dismal handling of the cases of Peter Lim and other real big-time drug lords - perhaps he would not only have some credibility as an SOJ. As it is, the stark and obvious contrast only betrays his real marching orders from his principal - not to put an end to the drug problem, but to use the strong arm of the criminal justice system to maliciously discredit vocal critics of the President like myself so no one is left to stand up for the Filipino people and for the truth. The truth being that illegal drug operations are continuing as "business as usual", our country is slowly being overrun by hostile foreign interests, and corruption is rampant in the bureaucracy. As to his claim that the evidence against me is "strong", how can a fake charge, a pure invention, have strong evidence? Lies orchestrated from criminal convicts and other so-called "prosecution witnesses" with dubious reputation, are never strong evidence. Other than that, me and my lawyers cannot further comment on the matter of bail, lest we telegraph our legal moves to the prosecution - which is likely the reason for SOJ Guevarra's public baiting statement. This is not a question of whether the evidence against me is "strong" or "weak" under the law. When the Strong Arm of the State is being used to rewrite the rules, twist the law, and present ever-evolving testimony from perjured witnesses, while at the same time withholding other evidence, the real question that needs to be asked: what Law or what Constitution are you applying and defending? Show more Show less Building a tech startup is not easy, especially in countries with less-established tech industries. Nevertheless, many global entrepreneurs are determined to succeed, and the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is their chance to prove themselves to the rest of the industry. VOA's Tina Trinh met with startup founders from Senegal, Ukraine and Thailand. Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], Jan 12 : A 19-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl after taking her to a secluded room on the pretext of celebrating his birthday. A complaint regarding this was registered with Narayanguda police station following which the accused was nabbed. According to the victim's father, his daughter did not return home after going out with one of her friends on the night of December 29 and only came back the next morning. Upon questioning, she did not reveal anything to her parents and was sent to Bharosa centre for counselling. She later informed that her friend Rohit, aged 19 years took her to a room on the pretext of celebrating his birthday and sexually assaulted her, officials said. In this regard, a case has been registered under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act. The accused was sent to judicial remand after the arrest. The family of a Houston mother who was gunned down in front of them at her birthday party is suing to claim the estate of the ex-boyfriend police say killed her. Carolee Taylor sustained severe mental anguish and physical pain in the moments leading to her killing, a wrongful death lawsuit complaint filed Thursday in Harris County Circuit Court claims. Her mother, daughter and other family members also suffered immeasurable mental anguish when Taylor was dragged out of her birthday party, berated and shot multiple times by Albert Simon, the complaint says. Simons extreme and outrageous conduct is the cause severe emotional distress, the lawsuit says, and Taylors family is seeking an undetermined amount for damages from the now-dead murder suspects property. They also demand a jury trial. On Christmas Eve as about 15 people gathered for Taylors birthday, the womans uncle saw Simon pull up to his home in the Stonegate subdivision and brandish two firearms, Simons arrest warrant affidavit for murder says. Simon forced his way into the home and demanded to talk with Taylor, the warrant says. He made her leave the house by gunpoint and shot her to death on the porch. Her family discovered her body as Simon fled, police say. He was found on Dec. 28 at Hermann Park and fatally shot by police as he reached for a bag with a semi-automatic firearm. During the time Simon was on the run from authorities, the civil lawsuit alleges the man was in contact with his attorney and appeared to be preparing for his own death. It appears that Albert Simon had instructed his attorneys to attend to his estate in some manner prior to his death and that he was preparing for his death by making funeral arrangements while on the run from authorities, the lawsuit says. The civil action includes a request by the plaintiffs Taylors mother and daughter for a judge to implement a temporary injunction prohibiting Simons family from having access to his personal belongings. The injunction would be in place long enough for the plaintiffs to examine any documents relevant to the case and to assess the value of Simons assets. The lawsuit lists several bank accounts and financial transactions in Simons name that were evidence in this 2014 divorce. He received $1.2 million from a party called Pipeline Inspection Company. Civil court records show Simons then-wife filed for a divorce in October 2014. The court filings show that a Harris County judge granted the wife a temporary restraining order in November 2014. Simon was convicted of stalking a woman in December 1993 in Harris County, court records show. Taylors family and friends said the womans bright, bubbly charm will be missed by many. Her death was the 41st domestic violence-related homicide in Harris County in 2019. Houston has the highest rate of intimate partner femicides in the state, recent analyses by the Texas Center on Family Violence show. Advocates say the regions increasing need for services for domestic violence survivors is outpacing available resources. hannah.dellinger@chron.com Nora's parents Meabh and Sebastien during the search for the tragic teenager. Photo: Royal Malaysia Police / AFP Nora Quoirin had been missing for 10 days in the Malaysian jungle before she was found dead. Photo: Lucie Blackman Trust/Family handout The parents of Nora Quoirin, the teenager found dead after going missing for 10 days in the Malaysian jungle while on a family holiday, have demanded answers after it was ruled an inquest would not be held into her death. The 15-year-old's French-Irish parents Sebastien and Meabh Quoirin have been pleading for answers ever since her body was found 2.5km from a holiday resort where the family had been staying in Dusun in August last year. Inquests are routinely held in the UK if the cause of death is found to be from something other than natural causes. However, Malaysian authorities classified Nora's death as "no further action" (NFA), according to the Lucie Blackman Trust charity, which is supporting the London teenager's family. Vulnerable The Quoirins said they were "shocked" by the decision, particularly considering there remained many unanswered questions around how the vulnerable teenager - born with the brain defect holoprosencephaly - came to leave her room and venture into the jungle, and whether she was alone at the time. In a statement, Nora's parents said: "We cannot believe nor understand why any modern economy would label such a harrowing and mysterious case NFA without full process, and the total refusal to communicate with us is both insulting and unfathomable." The Quoirins said an initial post-mortem examination found Nora died from gastro-intestinal bleeding and an ulcer, likely brought on by starvation and/or stress, but that the full findings had yet to be presented. "The AGC's (Malaysian Attorney General's Chambers) decision prevents justice being done," they added. "As we have stressed from the beginning of this case, it is crucial to understand how Nora came to be found where she was. As a vulnerable child, with significant physical and mental challenges, we strongly refute any conclusion that Nora was alone for the entire duration of her disappearance. "We have repeatedly asked the police to clarify answers to our questions in this regard - and we have been repeatedly ignored. "This stands in stark contrast with the promise of transparency that we received from the deputy prime minister and other prominent officials we met in Malaysia." Matt Searle, chief executive of the Lucie Blackman Trust, accused Malaysian authorities of "effectively closing down" the case. "The idea that Nora went off on her own seems incredibly unlikely," he said. Investigation "This family need answers and at least deserve an investigation to the greatest lengths available. "We are urgently seeking answers from various authorities. Nora's death needs to be explained." Nora's family last month asked the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs for assistance in their quest for answers over the teenager's death. "The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to provide ongoing consular assistance in this case," a spokesman said. "In line with department policy, we will not be commenting further." Nora's funeral service was held last September at St Brigid's Church in south Belfast, the church where she was baptised. Californians, being tougher than we look, have always found ways to survive our economic busts. Its the booms that bring us to our breaking point. This essential truth is being missed in the way we talk about life in todays California. Right now, politicians and media alike are juxtaposing the hallmarks of Californias current boom with our deep problems as if they represented a contradiction, and a puzzle. How can a place be so wealthy and innovative and progressive, they ask, and yet so poor and calamitous and ungenerous at the same time? California Is Booming, the New York Times asked in a recent headline, Why Are So Many Californians Unhappy? The answer to that question is actually straightforward: So many of us are unhappy precisely because California is booming. This is not a paradox, because our successes and our problems are intertwined. It is all our winning in jobs, in innovation, in our quality of life that produces so much defeat. Thats why the 2010s, a California comeback that the Orange County Register has called The Redemption Decade, has made many things here worse. Its a truism that more economic activity is supposed to help more people rise, but that is no longer true here. Californias tendency to turn everything from housing to health to housing into an investment, full of speculation, has made everything, even our booms, volatile and risky. The signature effect of the now-concluding decade of boom is, of course, homelessness now ranked by Californians as the states No. 1 problem. When the economy grows here, so does homelessness. Why? In this decade, our boom in jobs and income among the wealthy and middle class created more housing demand. But we couldnt produce enough housing to keep up with demands. Californians, desperate for places to live, looked to previously distressed neighborhoods that had become more attractive as the economy improved and crime declined. As new people moved in and paid higher rents, they forced out poorer longtime residents, some of whom ended up on the streets. Meanwhile, the states environmentally friendly laws, which have produced major successes such as our cleaner air, have also empowered NIMBYs who oppose new housing, as well as the transportation projects that could facilitate commutes between affordable housing and good jobs. Booms also exacerbate Californias already significant income gap. Rising wages have been good for our most successful, high-income workers, but they also fuel cost-of-living increases for middle class and poor families, whose gains have not kept up. These higher costs are why California ranks at or near the top on national poverty measures, and why the state has seen an exodus of middle- and low-income people. When this state really soars, it feels like its flying away. This is dangerous to the states future. By presenting lower-paid workers with precarious living costs and long and unhealthy commutes, we are strangling peoples ability to advance in their lives (not to mention further damaging Californias faltering roads). California booms are dangerous in other ways, too. Our state has made its costliest policy mistakes during good times, often to help people deal with skyrocketing growth and its downsides. Most famously, as housing prices surged in the late 1970s, voters eager to cut soaring property taxes approved Proposition 13, without considering all the ways that ballot initiative would make it harder to govern California in years to come. But that is hardly the only example. Our local governments now face massive fiscal challenges because of the unsustainable costs of legislation, approved during the tech boom of the late 1990s, to boost the pensions of public employees. And todays investor-owned utility crisis, which is literally sparking fires across the state, has its roots in poorly conceived deregulation during that same late 90s boom. When the booms are this tough, its not hard to find Californians who remember our busts fondly. In previous decades, the states growth was fueled by busts in citrus, oil, aerospace and the first tech wave. These downturns created moments when things were cheap enough to take a risk, start a business, and snap up a piece of the California dream. Governments also tend to treat citizens better during busts. The state was far more generous with subsidies and tax breaks for businesses during the Great Recession; today it is busy imposing more regulations and costs. That recession also saw the federal government take big steps that assisted Californians, via the economic stimulus legislation and Obamacare. But, today, during the boom, our state and its people find themselves under attack from the same federal government precisely because our boom and its successes are seen as a threatening counter-example to the presidents reactionary policies. The other bad news about California good times is that future booms are likely to be even tougher. Over the years, all of our booms have changed our character as a state. Once, we were a place of arrival, a destination for new immigrants and the young and ambitious. Back in those days, our busts allowed for surges of new residents. But now, the cost of entry for newcomers has become prohibitively high. That means we are less a state of immigrants and more a state of longtime Californians struggling to hold on. Perhaps our state and its governments should stop encouraging booms our de facto policy for decades and instead pursue more policies that reduce our natural volatility. But that will require us to think of California as a place where we want to spend our lives, rather than a stock exchange of bungalows and beaches. So, happy new year, and good luck finding shelter from the boom. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. The passenger jet that crashed minutes after taking off in Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board, was one of 19 flights that took off from the citys international airport in the hours after Iran launched missiles at military bases in neighboring Iraq that housed American troops. Despite the crash and the attacks, flight activity at Imam Khomeini International Airport that day was startlingly similar to activity in recent weeks, according to data from FlightAware, an industry tracking firm. Comparing Wednesday morning flights departing from Imam Khomeini airport 12 a.m. 12 a.m. 12 a.m. 1 a.m. 1 a.m. 1 a.m. 2 a.m. 2 a.m. 2 a.m. 3 a.m. 3 a.m. 3 a.m. 4 a.m. 4 a.m. 4 a.m. 5 a.m. 5 a.m. 5 a.m. 6 a.m. 6 a.m. 6 a.m. 7 a.m. 7 a.m. 7 a.m. 8 a.m. 8 a.m. 8 a.m. 9 a.m. 9 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 12 p.m. Ukraine International Flight 752 took off. It crashed minutes later. Iranian missiles began to strike two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. Wed., Jan. 8 Two flights after Flight 752 were canceled. Iran Air Flight 721 took off soon after the crash. 12 a.m. 1 a.m. 2 a.m. 3 a.m. 4 a.m. 5 a.m. 6 a.m. 7 a.m. 8 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m. 11 a.m. 12 p.m. 12 p.m. Flight 752 Wed., Jan. 1 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 25 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 18 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 11 Iranian missiles began to strike two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. Ukraine International Flight 752 took off. It crashed minutes later. Wed., Jan. 8 Two flights after Flight 752 were canceled. Iran Air Flight 721 took off soon after the crash. 12 a.m. 1 a.m. 2 a.m. 3 a.m. 4 a.m. 5 a.m. 6 a.m. 7 a.m. 8 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m. 11 a.m. 12 p.m. Flight 752 Wed., Jan. 1 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 25 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 18 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 11 12 a.m. 2 a.m. 4 a.m. 6 a.m. 8 a.m. 10 a.m. 12 p.m. Iranian missiles began to strike two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. Ukraine International Flight 752 took off. It crashed minutes later. Wed., Jan. 8 Two flights after Flight 752 were canceled . Iran Air Flight 721 took off soon after the crash. 12 a.m. 2 a.m. 4 a.m. 6 a.m. 8 a.m. 10 a.m. 12 p.m. Flight 752 Wed., Jan. 1 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 25 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 18 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 11 12 a.m. 2 a.m. 4 a.m. 6 a.m. 8 a.m. 10 a.m. 12 p.m. Iranian missiles began to strike two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. Ukraine International Flight 752 took off. It crashed minutes later. Wed., Jan. 8 Two flights after Flight 752 were canceled. Iran Air Flight 721 took off soon after the crash. 12 a.m. 2 a.m. 4 a.m. 6 a.m. 8 a.m. 10 a.m. 12 p.m. Flight 752 Wed., Jan. 1 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 25 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 18 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 11 Wednesday, Jan. 8 12 a.m. 3 a.m. 6 a.m. 9 a.m. 12 p.m. Iranian missiles struck two bases in Iraq. Ukraine International Flight 752 took off. It crashed minutes later. Flights: Two flights after Flight 752 were canceled. Iran Air Flight 721 took off soon after the crash. Wed., Jan. 1 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 25 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 18 Flight 752 Wed., Dec. 11 Flight 752 Source: FlightAware Why flights resumed so soon after the military strikes remains unclear. The flight that crashed Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the ninth one to take off from the airport after the attacks had begun. Iran suggested soon after the crash that mechanical failure might have been the cause, but on Saturday the countrys military announced that it had shot down the plane by accident, citing human error. Not long after the attacks on the bases, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a restriction on all American carriers, banning them from flying in the regions airspace. A spokeswoman for Austrian Airlines said its flight to Vienna scheduled for 3:45 a.m. took off because there were no additional security constraints in place from the Tehran airport or other authorities, though the airline did cancel flights into Iraq after news of the missile strikes. Flights departing from Imam Khomeini airport the morning of Jan. 8 Frankfurt Moscow Vienna Kyiv UKRAINE Flight 752 to Kyiv crashed minutes after it took off at 6:12 a.m. Istanbul Baku Missiles from Iran hit military bases in Iraq starting at 2:15 a.m. Tehran Baghdad IRAN IRAQ To Hong Kong Doha Dubai Frankfurt Moscow Vienna Kyiv Flight 752 to Kyiv crashed minutes after it took off at 6:12 a.m. UKRAINE Istanbul Baku Missiles from Iran hit military bases in Iraq starting at 2:15 a.m. Tehran IRAQ IRAN To Hong Kong Doha Dubai Frankfurt Moscow Vienna Kyiv UKRAINE Flight 752 to Kyiv crashed minutes after it took off at 6:12 a.m. Istanbul Baku Missiles from Iran hit military bases in Iraq starting at 2:15 a.m. Tehran Baghdad IRAQ IRAN To Hong Kong Doha Dubai Frankfurt Moscow Vienna Kyiv UKRAINE Flight 752 to Kyiv crashed minutes after it took off at 6:12 a.m. Istanbul Baku Missiles from Iran hit military bases in Iraq starting at 2:15 a.m. Tehran Baghdad IRAN IRAQ To Hong Kong Doha Dubai Source: Flightradar24. | Note: Flights before 8:30 a.m. local time on Jan. 8 are shown. Danielle Lupton, an assistant professor of political science at Colgate University, suggested that Irans focus at the time was likely on retaliating against the United States for killing Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, a powerful Iranian commander. If youre shutting down all of your airspace, you might not want to do that tactically, because its a pretty big signal to your opponent, Ms. Lupton said. The traffic pattern at the airport that morning, with the exception of the crash, was much like patterns the previous four Wednesdays. On Jan. 1, 20 flights took off before noon. On the Wednesday before that, there were 26. This Wednesday, Flight 752 took off nearly an hour behind schedule. A Ukrainian official on Friday said the delay was caused by the unloading of cargo from the plane. The two flights that were scheduled to take off right after the Ukrainian jet were canceled, according to FlightAware. Both were bound for Istanbul. But at least eight flights operated by Iran Air flew out of Imam Khomeini airport in the hours after the crash, the data shows. Other airlines whose flights took off shortly after the crash included Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Mahan Air, another Iranian carrier. Flight 752 crashed just a few miles from the airport. Ukrainian officials said on Friday that they had analyzed the planes flight pattern and determined that it had stayed within the normal corridor for flights out of the airport. Flights that took off before Flight 752 Flights that took off after Flight 752 TEHRAN Site of crash The last signal was received two minutes after takeoff. UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 752 Imam Khomeini International Airport Flight 752 departed at 6:12 a.m. 2 MILES Flights that took off before Flight 752 Flights that took off after Flight 752 TEHRAN Site of crash The last signal was received two minutes after takeoff. UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 752 Imam Khomeini Intl. Airport Flight 752 departed at 6:12 a.m. 2 MILES Flights that took off before Flight 752 Flights that took off after Flight 752 Site of crash TEHRAN The last signal was received two minutes after takeoff. UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 752 Imam Khomeini International Airport 2 MILES Flight 752 departed at 6:12 a.m. Flights that took off before Flight 752 Flights that took off after Flight 752 Site of crash TEHRAN The last signal was received two minutes after takeoff. UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 752 Imam Khomeini International Airport 2 MILES Flight 752 departed at 6:12 a.m. Source: Flightradar24. | Note: Flights before 8:30 a.m. local time on Jan. 8 are shown. Iran said the plane turned toward a sensitive military base, leading Iranian missiles to bring it down. Video verified by The Times appeared to show the plane heading back toward the airport when it crashed. The protocol is that the government that owns the airspace is responsible to notify everybody if there is a change in the security of the airspace, said John Cox, an accident investigator and head of an aviation consulting firm. If there are missiles flying around, the government has the responsibility to let everybody know. In a statement, a Lufthansa Group spokeswoman said all of its airlines, including Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines, were canceling flights into or out of Tehran through Jan. 20 as a precautionary measure. President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded Saturday that Iran punish those responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner, pay compensation and apologise, The Daily Star reports. "We expect Iran... to bring the guilty to the courts," the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling also for the "payment of compensation" and the return of remains. Tehran admitted Saturday that it accidentally downed the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane, killing all 176 people on board on Wednesday, shortly after launching missiles at bases hosting US forces in Iraq. "We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction," Zelensky added He urged "total access" to the full inquiry for 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an "official apology". At a talk I delivered in Northern England in March 2018, I proposed that the best response to falsified accusations of antisemitism, which are often lobbed against pro-Palestinian communities and intellectuals everywhere, is to draw even closer to the Palestinian narrative. In fact, my proposal was not meant to be a sentimental response in any way. Reclaiming the Palestinian narrative has been the main theme in most of my public speeches and writings in recent years. All of my books and much of my academic studies and research have largely focused on positioning the Palestinian people their rights, history, culture, and political aspirations at the very core of any genuine understanding of the Palestinian struggle against Israeli colonialism and apartheid. True, there was nothing particularly special about my talk in Northern England. I had already delivered a version of that speech in other parts of the UK, Europe and elsewhere. But what made that event memorable is a conversation I had with a passionate activist, who introduced himself as an advisor to the office of the head of the British Labor Party, Jeremy Corbyn. Although the activist agreed with me regarding the need to embrace the Palestinian narrative, he insisted that the best way for Corbyn to deflect anti-Semitic accusations, which have dogged his leadership since day one, is for Labor to issue a sweeping and decisive condemnation of antisemitism, so that Corbyn may silence his critics and he is finally able to focus on the pressing subject of Palestinian rights. I was doubtful. I explained to the animated and self-assured activist that Zionist manipulation and misuse of antisemitism is a phenomenon that has preceded Corbyn by many decades, and will always be there as long as the Israeli government finds the need to distract from its war crimes against Palestinians and to crush pro-Palestinian solidarity worldwide. I explained to him that while anti-Jewish racism is a real phenomenon that must be confronted, antisemitism, as defined by Israel and its Zionist allies, is not a moral question that is meant to be solved by a press release, no matter how strongly-worded. Rather, it is a smokescreen, with the ultimate aim of distracting from the real conversation, that being the crimes of military occupation, racism, and apartheid in Palestine. In other words, no amount of talking, debating or defending oneself can possibly convince the Zionists that demanding an end to the Israeli military occupation in Palestine or the dismantling of the Israeli apartheid regime, or any genuine criticism of the policies of Israels right-wing government are not, in fact, acts of antisemitism. Alas, the activist insisted that a strong statement that would clarify Labors position on antisemitism would finally absolve Corbyn and protect his legacy against the undeserved smearing. The rest is history. Labor went into a witch-hunt, to catch the true anti-Semites among its members. The unprecedented purge has reached many good people who have dedicated years to serving their communities and defending human rights in Palestine and elsewhere. The statement to end all statements was followed by many others. Numerous articles and arguments were written and made in defense of Corbyn to no avail. Only a few days before Labor lost the general election in December, the Simon Wiesenthal Center named Corbyn, one of Britains most sincere and well-intentioned leaders in the modern era, the top anti-Semite of 2019. So much for engaging the Zionists. It doesnt matter whether Corbyns party lost the elections in part because of Zionist smearing and unfounded anti-Semitic accusations. What truly matter for me as a Palestinian intellectual who has hoped that Corbyns leadership will constitute a paradigm shift regarding the countrys attitude towards Israel and Palestine, is the fact that the Zionists have indeed succeeded in keeping the conversation focused on Israeli priorities and Zionist sensibilities. It saddens me that while Palestine should have occupied the center stage, at least during Corbyns leadership years, it was still marginalized signifying once again that solidarity with Palestine has become a political liability to anyone hoping to win an election in the UK and anywhere in the West as well. YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. During the period from January 5 to 11 the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire regime in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact nearly 125 times by firing more than 700 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions, the defense ministry of Artsakh told Armenpress. The Artsakh Defense Army forces continue maintaining the ceasefire regime and confidently fulfill their military duties. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Donald Trump has renewed his threats to forcibly steal oil from Syria, a move which experts say would amount to a war crime. The president defended his decision to leave a small number of American troops in the war-torn nation after a general withdrawal in October by claiming they were only there to secure Syrias oilfields. They say he left troops in Syria... do you know what I did? I took the oil, he said during a Fox News interview. The only troops I have are taking the oil, they are protecting the oil. When the interviewer, Laura Ingraham, attempted to correct Mr Trump by insisting the soldiers were not there to take the oil but to guard the facilities, the president cut her off. Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Show all 14 1 /14 Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Trucks full of women and children arrive from the last Isis-held areas in Deir ez-Zor, Syria Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Zikia Ibrahim, 28, with her two-year-old son and 8-month-old daughter, after fleeing the Isis caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Men who fled the last Isis-held area of Syria line up to be questioned by American and Kurdish intelligence officials Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate A young girl pulls her belongings after arriving Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate An SDF fighter hands out bread to women and children after they arrive Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Sita Ghazzar, 70, after fleeing from the last Isis-held territory in Syria Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate A family from Russia who recently fled the last Isis-held area of Syria Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent I dont know, maybe we should take it, but we have the oil. Right now, the United States has the oil. We have the oil. This is not the first time the erratic former business tycoon has publicly mused about stealing Syrias oil reserves. In October, shortly after his abrupt withdrawal of US forces and abandoning of their Kurdish allies in the region, Mr Trump said he wanted an American oil firm to fly in to tap Syrias oil on behalf of the government. What I intend to do, perhaps, is make a deal with an ExxonMobil or one of our great companies to go in there and do it properly, he said. However, such a move would likely constitute pillage and looting, actions which have long been designated as illegal under international law and the rules of war. The Geneva Convention, which the US is a signatory to, explicitly prohibits the looting of property during conflict, defining it as a war crime. The president appears to believe that the US can sell the oil, based on his statements in the past about Iraqi oil and Libyan oil ... thinking that we can loot countries, Benjamin Friedman, policy director at think tank Defence Priorities and adjunct professor at the George Washington University, told The Independent last year. US troops guard Syrian oil fields I am sure people in the White House have tried to explain to him that is not how it works. Taking the profits from the sale of Syrian oil for the US treasury would be illegal. That would probably qualify as pillaging under the law. Ironically, experts say Syrias oil fields are not much of a prize anyway. Even before the country descended in a chaotic civil war, it only produced about 380,000 barrels of poor-quality oil a day. In 2018, after its production was several hampered by the conflict, it produced about the same amount of oil as the state of Illinois. Before he entered the White House, Mr Trump had said several times that the US should have taken the oil from the other Middle Eastern nations its armed forces had intervened in, including Iraq and Libya. Some commentators have speculated that defence officials desperate to persuade the president to permit some US forces to remain in Syria as a counter-balance to Isis and the Assad regime were forced to appeal to his oil obsession to gain his approval. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. Dianne Polson of Hampton Hargate, Peterborough was jailed for 40 months in August 2019 having admitted using her admin role at Canopy UK Direct Limited to fraudulently refund money onto her bank card A mother who stole 75,000 from a family firm almost causing it's collapse has been ordered to refund the company. Dianne Polson of Hampton Hargate, Peterborough was jailed for 40 months in August 2019 having admitted using her admin role at Canopy UK Direct Limited to fraudulently refund money onto her bank card. Polson said she used the money to pay for living expenses as well as fund her online gambling habit. The 45-year-old's deception was uncovered by an auditor who examined the company's accounts and noticed a suspicious number of customer refunds over a three-year period. Polson issued the refunds using customer names to her own bank card. Judge Sean Enright made a Proceeds of Crime Act ruling this week against Polson during a hearing at Peterborough Crown Court. He ruled Polson must repay 2,595 from her available funds within the next 12 weeks. The rest of the debt will remain owed by Polson indefinitely until it is repaid in full. Following her arrest, Polson told police she was struggling financially, but stressed she had not purchased anything extravagant with hte cash. Peterborough Crown Court, pictured, ordered Polson to refund the company starting with 2 After she was jailed, specialist financial investigators from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit continued to determine Polson's 'ill-gotten gains'. DC Robin Gray said: 'This POCA hearing today helps again highlight that crime doesnt pay and has made sure that Polson has begun to be stripped of the profit she made from her deception. 'Polson had absolutely no consideration for others as she stole from her own employer. Her actions caused her colleagues a lot of distress and nearly caused the business to close completely.' By David Shepardson (Reuters) - U.S. and European aviation safety regulators will meet with Boeing this week in an effort to complete a 737 MAX software documentation audit - a key step toward the grounded plane's eventual return to service. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) both confirmed on Tuesday that they will meet in the Seattle-area with Boeing before heading to a Rockwell Collins facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in an effort to complete the audit. Documentation requirements are central to certification for increasingly complex aircraft software, and can become a source of delays. In 2008, EASA nearly derailed Europe's Airbus A400M military transporter over software documentation following a failed audit. In early November, EASA and FAA met with Boeing at the Rockwell Collins facility in Cedar Rapids and did not approve the audit. Instead, they sought revisions to the documentation of the 737 MAX software fix and flagged a number of issues, Reuters reported. In mid-January, Boeing will halt production on the best-selling plane, which has been grounded since March following two crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia that killed 346 people in five months. Boeing said on Monday it was reassigning 3,000 employees to other jobs as a result of the temporary halt. Reuters has reported previously that the FAA is unlikely to approve the plane until at least February and perhaps until March or later. Boeing said in November that regulators had requested the "information be conveyed in a different form, and the documentation is being revised accordingly." Boeing did not immediately comment on Tuesday. In September, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said the agency had told Boeing it is "better to be very methodical and very detailed rather than try to rush a partially completed product and then say, 'We'll get back to you with the rest of it.'" Aviation software audits frequently uncover inconsistencies or omissions in documentation but rarely lead to changes in the underlying software or system, according to an industry official. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler) Toronto police want to inform the public of flooding and road closures in the GTA as Toronto braced for a freezing rainstorm that rolled into the city this weekend. The Don Valley Parkway has been closed southbound due to overflow from the Don River, as well as Bayview Avenue and Pottery Road as there is considerable flooding at the intersection, Kipling Avenue and Gardiner Express saw large puddles in the road way and Bermondsey Road and Eglinton Avenue East saw large pooling of water across the entire intersection. Police ask that drivers and pedestrians stay vigilant. So far police say a number of cars have reported damage but no major injuries have been caused due to extreme weather. Environment Canada put in effect a rainfall warning for Toronto with up to 60mm of rain anticipated for Saturday evening. Sunday will see freezing rain changing to snow and ending in the morning then a mix of sun and cloud. Strong southwest winds of up to 80km/h are forecast to herald the end of the rainfall Sunday morning. Meanwhile, areas north of the city are forecast to receive significant ice build-up starting from freezing rain Saturday afternoon, with ice accumulation of up to 25mm possible in some areas around Barrie, Collingwood, Midland and Orillia. Environment Canada is warning against travel in these areas, warning of icy road conditions and extended and widespread utility outages. Rainfall warnings have been put out for all of York, Durham, Peel and Halton regions in the GTA. Freezing rain warnings are also in effect in York and Durham regions including for Newmarket, Georgina, Uxbridge, Beaverton as well as the town of Caledon in Peel. The rainfall in Toronto, which is set to break the record for Jan. 11 25mm, set in 1980 has greater potential to cause flooding because frozen ground has a reduced ability to absorb the rainfall and the melting ice, Environment Canada warned. In a statement, the City of Toronto said crews are on standby to respond to flooding calls and asked residents to help prepare by clearing the citys storm drain grates of debris. Residents are asked to assist in clearing catch basins on their streets, where safe to do so, if they become clogged, as clogged catch basins can result in street flooding and potentially in basement flooding, the statement said. It is recommended that drivers turn on their lights and maintain a safe following distance to help with visibility. Environment Canada also warned of localized flooding in low-lying areas. With files from Osobe Waberi Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi Read more about: A man is dead after an overnight shooting in Scarboroughs Morningside neighbourhood, Toronto police say. The shooting took place in the area of Ellesmere and Neilson roads and Military Trail around 2 a.m. Saturday. In a tweet, police said they responded to reports of shots being fired at or near a home when they found a man suffering very serious gunshot injuries. He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He later died in hospital. Police said the homicide squad is now investigating the shooting. The man is Torontos second homicide victim of 2020. Last year was the citys bloodiest on record for overall gun violence, with 292 people injured or killed in shootings, more than in any year in police data that goes back to 2004, even adjusted for population growth. Despite a more than 20 per cent increase in the number of shootings over the previous year, 2019 saw seven fewer people killed by guns than 2018. With files from Star staff The wildly misjudged decision to commemorate the actions of the RIC during the War of Independence backfired on the Government in spectacular fashion. While the centenary of the Civil War will require a sensitive approach, in this instance, the Government took the need for balance to an extraordinary level. The level of public anger over the now deferred event was easy to understand and should have been foreseen by the State. The decision to 'honour' a tool of British tyranny was viewed by many as a gross affront to the memories of all those who fought and died for Irish freedom. Though the RIC's 'Black and Tan' reserves and its Auxiliaries were responsible for the worst British atrocities, the regular RIC was a key part of the apparatus of oppression. In Kerry, the RIC ruthlessly suppressed all opposition to British rule, imposing a reign of terror on the county that is remembered to this day. It should be noted that there were exceptions and numerous RIC members - who thought of themselves primarily as Irishmen - were willing to help the IRA by passing key information to the rebels. Indeed, after the war, Kerry IRA intelligence officer Tadhg Kennedy noted that, at one point, 'practically all of the (Kerry) RIC were on our side'. There is also the example of the so-called 'Listowel Mutiny' in 1920, when five constables quit after the RIC's Munster commander urged them to adopt a 'shoot first, questions later' approach to policing. For all those willing to help the IRA, there remained many in the Kerry RIC - including numerous Irishmen - dedicated to the Crown and relentless in their opposition to the cause of Irish freedom. The RIC's part in the War of Independence wasn't the only reason for this week's public outrage. Long before the arrival of the 'Tans', the RIC was responsible for the brutal repression of the people during the Famine; the Land War and the Great Lock Out. While it might be suitable to recognise the actions of those RIC men who supported the fight for independence - and to at least acknowledge all that died - a blanket commemoration for the entire force felt grossly inappropriate. Chipotle Mexican Grill's (NYSE:CMG) stock almost doubled in 2019, landing the fast-casual burrito maker at No. 3 in the top five best restaurant stocks of the decade. But this performance has not been without a lot of drama -- the last four years have been a gut-wrenching ride for shareholders. Bad news started in September 2015, with a store closing because customers got sick from norovirus. But things went from bad to worse with an E. coli incident in November 2015, and additional episodes of customers getting sick extending into 2016. The stock tanked, and has only recently recovered, climbing to all-time highs. Let's take a look at seven charts that show how these events impacted the business and give a picture of where the company is today. 1. A decade of market-beating returns The first half of the 2010s was an incredible rocket-ship ride for shareholders: The stock blasted up almost 600% from January 2010 to June 2015. But when customers started getting sick, the stock plunged. Between management's slow response to the crisis, plentiful press coverage of the events, and social media backlash, shares were affected for an extended period. Investors saw the first glimpse of hope when the board of directors announced Brian Niccol as the new CEO in February 2018. Let's look at how top-line revenue has performed during this tumultuous period. 2. Four years of revenue Revenue in late 2015 and early 2016 was impacted by customers who stopped showing up to eat. The impact was swift and dramatic, with Q1 2016 dropping 32% from Q3 2015 (which was before the events). From 2016 on, revenue has been on a slow upward trajectory. But that event had a lasting impact on the top line, as the most recent quarter's number is only 15% higher than it was four years ago. This is not the spicy performance investors had been enjoying in the previous four years (2011 to 2015), when annual revenue doubled. This extra-mild growth is especially disappointing since Chipotle has many more stores today. 3. Adding stores throughout the crisis Despite the food-safety problems, the company never stopped adding stores. But it did slow store growth to focus on new safe-cooking procedures and reestablish operational discipline. By 2018 there were fewer than 100 stores opened, marking the lowest number of adds in the previous 10 years. The most recent quarter is the first time in three and a half years when store additions accelerated as a percentage of the total. This may be because management is gaining confidence in individual store performance. 4. Same-store sales are improving The company defines comparable same-store sales as "the change in period-over-period sales or paid transactions for restaurants in operation for at least 13 full calendar months." This is a good measure to understand whether individual store traffic is improving. At first glance, the fact that the last nine quarters in a row have seen better comps would seem exciting, especially since the last two quarters were in the double-digit range. But the declines from the end of 2015 through 2016 have made this an easy hurdle to jump. A better metric to judge the state of the recovery is average restaurant sales. 5. Average restaurant sales is a key metric Average restaurant sales peaked at $2.53 million in Q3 2015, and haven't returned to that number since. Management defines this metric as "the average trailing 12-month sales for restaurants in operation for at least 12 full calendar months." Because it's a 12-month look back rather than just a three-month view, this metric is slower to change quarter to quarter. For investors and Chipotle management, this is a key measure of the health of the brand. The last six quarters have seen sequential improvements, indicating not only that traffic is stabilized but also that the actions management has taken are making an impact. Investors should be excited about the marked improvement, but should also note that the average store has 15% less revenue than it did four years ago. Management is focused on improving store traffic with technology. 6. Digital ordering is a growth engine Mobile ordering has been available for burrito lovers since 2009, but it only became a priority for management in late 2016. A change in the mobile ordering process to allow faster pickup times in February 2017 showed that Chipotle was serious about making it easy for customers to order online. The company has continued to drive improvements in digital, and rolled out its long-awaited reward program nationally in March 2019. Management believes it has only started to tap into what's possible with its digital efforts. This initiative is important for investors to watch for two reasons: It's improving store traffic, and digital orders are more profitable. 7. Store-level margins improving Not only was Q3 2015 a high watermark for average store sales, but it was also a record for store-level operating margins. Store-level margins are the percentage of average store revenue left after subtracting costs for running the restaurant (including occupancy, labor, and food). This number hit a high of 28% in Q3 2015, with costs coming in at a low 72%. Margins suffered through 2016, with reduced traffic and additional costs for food-safety initiatives. Costs have been slowly getting back in line, but are still 7 percentage points above where they were four years ago. CFO Jack Hartung said on the last conference call that if the company was able to get store sales back to $2.5 million, it could see store-level margins hit 25%. This would be another 4-percentage-point improvement from today, and close to the historical high. The bottom line for investors Chipotle's results are slowly trending in the right direction, but the stock has risen to a nosebleed price-to-earnings ratio of 78. This lofty P/E means that investors have high expectations for results, and any quarter when they don't measure up, the stock could get punished. Given where the company is starting 2020, it's doubtful that investors will see Chipotle reappear in the top five list of best restaurant stocks during the coming decade. Ghosn's appearance is his first in public since he smuggled himself from Tokyo to Beirut. Nissan's fugitive ex-boss, Carlos Ghosn, on Wednesday described his detention conditions in Japan, from which he fled last month in a daring escape, as a "travesty" against human rights and dignity. Ghosn held a news conference in Beirut, his first appearance since fleeing Japan last month ahead of his trial for alleged financial misconduct. The former auto industry titan also dismisses all allegations against him as untrue, saying "I should never have been arrested in the first place". Ghosn's appearance is his first in public since he smuggled himself from Tokyo to Beirut, arriving in the Lebanese capital where he grew up and is regarded by many as a national hero. Ghosn's daring and improbable escape has perplexed and embarrassed Japanese authorities after he skipped bail and managed to flee the country despite supposedly rigorous surveillance. Media reports have said that 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. He flew to Istanbul and was then transferred onto another plane bound for Beirut, where he arrived on December 30. On Wednesday, Tokyo prosecutors raided a Japanese lawyer's office where Ghosn had visited regularly before he fled. Japanese media reports said prosecutors had likely seized the computer to track down how Ghosn escaped and who might have helped him. Lebanese authorities have said Ghosn entered the country on a legal passport, casting doubt on the possibility they would hand him over to Japan. Lebanon last week received an Interpol-issued wanted notice - a non-binding request to law enforcement agencies worldwide that they locate and provisionally arrest a fugitive. Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition treaty, and the Interpol notice does not require Lebanon to arrest him. Ghosn, who is Lebanese and also holds French and Brazilian passports, was expected to go on trial in Tokyo in April. In statements, he has said he fled to avoid "political persecution" by a "rigged Japanese justice system". He also said that he alone organized his departure from Japan and that his wife, Carole, played no role. On Tuesday, Tokyo prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn on suspicion of perjury. That charge is not related to his escape. Lebanon's justice minister said Tuesday that Lebanon has not received any request related to that warrant. Japanese justice officials acknowledge that it's unclear whether the Ghosns can be brought back to Japan to face charges. Ghosn's former employer, Nissan Motor Co., said it was still pursuing legal action against him despite his escape, adding that Ghosn engaged in serious misconduct while leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance. Ghosn denies all the charges. SANTA ANA, Calif. - An Uber driver with a conviction for sexual battery has been charged with sexually assaulting a drunk woman he picked up outside a California police station, authorities said. Amir Attia, 43, of Tustin was arrested Wednesday in connection with the July 2018 assault in Orange County. The 25-year-old woman, who had been arrested after a traffic accident for driving under the influence, told investigators that Attia picked her up outside the station then repeatedly stopped the car and sexually assaulted her, prosecutors said. Ridesharing services provide a valuable service in preventing intoxicated people from getting behind the wheel, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. It is tragic that this predator used his clients state of intoxication to victimize her. Attia is charged with two felony counts of sexual penetration and two misdemeanour counts of sexual battery. He could face up to six years in prison if convicted. He remained jailed Friday, and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney. Attia has a 1993 conviction for sexual battery, authorities said. What the rider reported to police is deeply troubling. We removed the drivers access to the app in 2018 after we learned of this disturbing incident, Uber said in a statement. Meanwhile, a ride-share driver was arrested Thursday in connection with the attempted rape of a woman in San Francisco. Richard Silverio, 43, of San Francisco was working for the undisclosed ride-share company and off-duty when he offered to pick up a woman and drive her from San Francisco to San Carlos on New Years Day in 2018, according to the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office. He then tried to rape her at knife-point but she twice fought him off and finally escaped, authorities said. DNA was used to connect Silverio to the crime, investigators said. Its unclear whether he has an attorney. The Macungie, Pennsylvania Mack Truck assembly plant announced it would lay off 305 workers on Wednesday. The laid-off workers are members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. Mack Trucks public relations manager, Christopher Heffner told media that the layoffs would be effective at the end of next month, February 28. We regret having to take this action, but we operate in a cyclical market, and after two years of extremely high volumes, we have to adapt to reduced market demand. A used Mack truck that is available at a lot in Evans City, Pa. [Credit: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic] The company is projecting a sales decline of at least 30 percent this year, a trend which is mirrored industry-wide. This is due partly to the industrys primary customers succumbing to the effects of higher fuel costs, hikes in insurance coverage premiums, and less demand for shipping as the President Trumps trade tariffs caused the economy to decelerate. The move comes only months after the UAWs betrayal of the weeks-long Mack Truck strike late last October. The union has been exposed as the bribed tool of management by an expanding federal corruption probe, which has implicated former UAW President Dennis Williams, forced the resignation of his successor Gary Jones, and has now implicated Jones interim replacement Rory Gamble. The extent of the unions integration into company management was such that even General Motors called the UAW a wholly owned-subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler in a recent lawsuit. The UAW worked deliberately to isolate the 3,500 workers by keeping 3,000 workers on the job at the New River Valley factory in Dublin, Virginia run by Volvo Truck, Mack Trucks parent company. The UAW accomplished this divide-and-conquer strategy well in advance by keeping workers at Volvo and Mack on separate contracts with different expiration dates. Moreover, the UAW did nothing to unite Mack Truck workers with the 48,000 GM workers who were on strike at the same time. The UAW shut down the GM strike two weeks earlier, enforcing major concessions on the use of temps, leaving Mack Truck workers even more isolated. When the Mack Truck strike began to have an impact, revealed when Volvo was forced to idle the NRV plan due to lack of parts, the UAW quickly shut down the strike, and forced through a concessions contract that had been reached behind closed doors. The shutdown of the strike paved the way for a wave of layoffs at Volvo-Mack. In November, Volvo Truck laid off 700 workers at the NRV plant. The UAW did nothing to oppose these layoffs, and there has been little mention of the layoffs on the UAWs web site or on its social media accounts. The conclusion that should be drawn by workers is that, as far as the UAW is concerned, they are on their own. There has been a cascade of mass layoffs of workers across the truck manufacturing industry in the last two months of 2019. Daimler Trucks North America, the makers of Freightliner and the Western Star brand of trucks, laid of 900 workers at its two UAW affiliated factories in North Carolina on October 14. In December, Navistar, which manufactures International Trucks and has 12,300 employees worldwide, announced that it would cut its workforce by an additional 10 percent, for a total of a 25 percent reduction in its workforce in 2019. The layoffs took place at its Springfield, Ohio and Escobedo, Mexico factories, and has resulted in the loss of the second shift at both of its factories. Even though the layoffs will violate the UAW contract by reducing daily production below 90 trucks per day, the UAW has done nothing to oppose them. In comments to local media, UAW Local 402 president Chris Blizard, whose local covers the Springfield Navistar plant, attempted to rationalize the firings by claiming, None of the workers who will be laid off this week have been with the company for more than 14 months. This past December 17 Navistar reported profits of $102 million, which was down from last years $188 million over the same period. The engine manufacturer Cummins plans to trim 2,000 of its 62,610 workers worldwide in the first quarter of 2020, as it cuts costs in response to lower demand for truck engines and parts. Another indication of the economic downturn is the increase of trucking industry bankruptcies. Several hundred trucking firms went under in 2019, including larger companies like New England Motor Freight (NEMF), Celadon Group and Falcon Transport. These cuts underscore the need for Mexican and American workers to unify and to protect their interests against the multinational corporations that exploit them, and work together to bring about an international socialist reorganization of society. The author also recommends: Corruption investigation targets newly installed UAW president Rory Gamble [10 January 2020] Scramble to fill vacant Supreme Court seat By Ranjith Padmasiri CJ, AG nominate different persons, while President gets request for nominee from Unofficial Bar -- Judicial Service Commission to probe allegations against judges in Ranjan's tapes View(s): View(s): Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and Attorney General Dappula de Livera have recommended two separate persons to sit on a vacant Supreme Court seat amidst a judicial service inquiry into taped conversations between judges and an MP and a string of Commissions of Inquiry into alleged misdeeds of the former government. Court of Appeal President Yasantha Kodagoda has been nominated by the Chief Justice to fill the vacancy created in the Supreme Court by the sudden demise of Justice Prasanna Jayawardena, while Additional Deputy Solicitor General and Bribery and Corruption Commission Director General Sarath Jayamanne has been nominated by the Attorney General. The Sunday Times also learns that a request has been made to the President to appoint someone from the Unofficial Bar to fill Justice Jayawardenas seat as the late Justice was appointed to the Supreme Court from the Unofficial Bar. Accordingly, names of three Presidents Counsel from the Unofficial Bar have also been forwarded to the President. Another in contention is former Court of Appeal Judge Deepali Wijesundara, who was the most senior judge on the Appeals Court bench prior to her retirement last month. A suitable name will be forwarded by the President to the Constitutional Council for approval. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya leads the Council. Meanwhile Chief Justice Jayasuriya has directed the Secretary to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to call for explanations from two sitting judges and a retired judge who allegedly discussed pending cases with former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake. The judges whose explanation has been sought are High Court judges Gihan Pilapitiya and Dhammika Hemapala and retired judge Padmini N. Ranawaka Gunatillake. The move came after the High Court Judges Association and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, among others, called for an inquiry into the issue where the judges had spoken to Mr Ramanayake. The Chief Justice met with JSC members Justice Sisira de Abrew and Justice Buweneka Aluvihare this week before issuing the directive. The JSC also believes that investigating authorities will submit any other names which transpire during investigations into the telephone recordings of former state minister Ramanayake. Retired Supreme Court Judge Jagath Balapatabendi will head a Commission of Inquiry that will probe the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU). The appointment of this Commission has been gazetted together with another one to probe the divesting of Edirisinghe Trust and Investments (ETI). Another Commission of Inquiry, to be headed by State Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, will probe complaints from State Sector employees of transfers and promotions carried out for political reasons. A day after two unarmed civilians were killed by the Pakistani Army in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Saturday that they would deal with the situation appropriately in a military manner. "We do not resort to such barbaric activities and fight as a very professional force. We will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner," the Army Chief responded to a question by ANI on the same. Two civilians, identified as Mohd Aslam and Altaf Hussain were killed, and two others were critically injured after the Pakistani Army carried out an attack on them in the Poonch sector. Indian Army sources said that the Army carried out an attack on five unarmed civilians who crossed over fencing on LoC in the Poonch sector but were within Indian territory. Sources in Poonch said the civilians had crossed the LoC fencing for grazing their cattle when they were attacked by the Pakistan Army. The LoC in recent times has seen frequent ceasefire violations by the Pakistani side. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two of the four apartment complexes in Maradu in Keralas Kochi were demolished in a controlled implosion on Saturday after the Supreme Courts order in May last year for violating the Coastal Zone Regulation (CZR) norms. The two buildings in the Maradu apartment complexes, spread in at least 800,000 square feet area, were razed within seconds, in one of the largest demolition drives in the country involving residential buildings. #WATCH Maradu flats demolition: H2O Holy Faith apartment tower demolished through controlled implosion #Kerala pic.twitter.com/fKbciLGH14 ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 The first to come down like a pack of cards was the H20 Holy Faith complex, a 19-floor building with 91 apartments. Alfa Serene with 67 houses on 17 floors, 800 meters away, was the next to be demolished. A portion of the H20 Holy Faith building fell in the backwaters as rubble of almost the height of a five-storey building settled on the ground. Firemen used water cannons to control the dust and fumes which enveloped the whole Maradu apartment complexes area after the building came down. Officials said the H20 Holy Faith complex was razed using 212.4kg of explosives at around 11:19am. The first explosion was successful, Utkarsh Mehta, the managing director of the main contractor Edifice Engineering, said. Explosives were placed in 1471 holes in the 70-metre high building, officials of Edifice Engineering said. South Africa-based Jet Demolitions is the other big company involved in the demolition. A special pooja invoking Lord Ganesha to remove all hurdles was held earlier in the morning to ensure smooth operation, said the companies involved in the operation. Authorities have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which bans the assembly of more than four people at any place. Police have tightened security in Maradu, on the outskirts of the port city of Kochi as top police and civil officials camped in the area. Green activists said the demolitions will be a lesson for land encroachers who misuse water bodies. However, homeowners feel they are paying for someone elses sin. Many fear that the latest demolition drive will trigger a series of such actions in Kochi where violations of CRZ norms are rampant. On Sunday, two 17-storeyed residential buildingsJain Coral Cove with 122 flats and Golden Kayaloram with 40 flatswill be demolished. According to experts, the last big demolition drive was in Tamil Nadus Chennai in 2016 when an 11-floor building was pulled down. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dear Jill, How can I locate coupons for a specific brand of coffee? I dont see them in the newspaper. Any suggestions will be accepted. Jay D. Dear Jill, I would like to know why there are no coupons in the paper the week I need them. I buy floor-cleaning wipes at the end of the month, and some months I find coupons for them, some months not. Sometimes these coupons come out in the middle of the month, and that doesnt work for me. Mara N. As much as we might like to have coupons available for all of our favorite brands and products, the system simply doesnt work that way. Manufacturers and their marketing teams determine what kinds of coupons to issue. Together, they decide on coupons values, the dates the coupons campaigns will be valid, and how the coupons will be released: on paper or electronically. Its important to remember that coupons are a privilege, not a right. Manufacturers dont have to offer coupons at all for their products. They arent created or offered around our shopping schedules. Coupons are tools designed to incentivize a purchase. Theyre intended to reduce the selling price of an item enough to entice shoppers to buy that product over a competitors. Brands offer coupons for a variety of reasons. In-store displays and prime end-cap product locations are often tied to larger marketing campaigns that also include coupons. A brand may wish to move product off shelves due to a packaging, formula or logo change. The brand may also be creating a counter-offer to a promotion their competitor is engaging in. ADVERTISEMENT For example, if one brand of laundry detergent launches a high-value coupon campaign to promote their new-and-improved variety, a competing brand of detergent may also issue a high-value coupon for their product. The other brands coupon may prevent shoppers from being swayed to the competitors improved formula. Instead of thinking, "Ill try that because there is a $3 coupon," the shopper may decide, "Ill stick with the brand I know, because right now they have a good coupon, too." If a product sells well and does not need coupons to boost its sales or draw in new customers, we may not see coupons for it at all. For example, a well-known brand of lip balm, invented in the 1930s, sold with no advertising (and no coupons!) for nearly 70 years. Its loyal consumer base purchased the product regularly, regardless of price a manufacturers dream! When this brand decided to expand its product lines and marketing efforts in 2006, it finally began offering coupons for its products to raise awareness of its new varieties and flavors of lip balms. If youre searching for coupons for a desired product, and youre not seeing them in one area, look to another. For example, if you cannot find a specific coupon in recent newspaper inserts, try browsing your stores app for an electronic coupon offer. Or, head to the manufacturers website to see if they are offering any printable coupons for the product. Some manufacturers require you to register for a free account to print coupons for their brands. However, if youre loyal to a particular brand, this can be a good way to stay notified of any new coupon offers, too. (One of my favorite tips when registering for coupons is to use a free email account service. That way, all of my coupon-related emails go to the same account and it doesnt interfere with personal emails.) Again, coupons are not a right. No one owes us coupons for coffee, floor cleaner, or any other products we use and purchase. To save the most money, shoppers need to be willing to time their shopping around both sales and available coupons. If you notice that your favorite beverage brand has finally issued a rare, elusive coupon, pair that with a sale before the coupon expires so that you can take advantage of the additional savings. ADVERTISEMENT Demanding a fair probe into the alleged police high-handedness during anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said her party will stand behind those arrested for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Priyanka, during a visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency Varanasi, met activists held during protests against CAA, and BHU students at Shrimath (monastery) on Panchganga Ghat. They (protesters) were holding a peaceful agitation, Priyanka said and accused the government of acting against the Constitution. The Congress leader also met activist couple Ekta Shekar Singh and her husband Ravi Shekhar, who were arrested. Ekatajis little daughter was waiting for her. Injustice was meted out to them... I am proud that they struggled and raised their voice for their country... During her interaction at BHU, students told Priyanka how Section 144 remained imposed in the city for almost the whole of 2019. The government is adamant on trampling freedom of speech. she added. On allegations that the Opposition parties, including Congress, were instigating the people over CAA and NRC, she said, These are the students. They are not rioters. Meet them and listen to the series of incidents that happened with them for protesting against CAA. She further demanded a fair inquiry under supervision of a sitting or retired high court judge. Barely five days after winning the 'Best Actor' award at the Golden Globes, Joaquin Phoenix has made headlines yet again for getting arrested at fellow actor Jane Fonda's climate change protest at Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. The actor was invited to the weekly protests - which aimed to raise awareness for the cause through a civil disobedience movement. Phoenix went onstage in front of around 300 people, giving them the following address. The speech was short and unplanned with Phoenix choosing to highlight the importance of food choices and the hand of America's meat and dairy industry as a significant contributor to the ongoing global warming crisis. Sometimes we wonder what can we do in this fight against climate change, and there is something that you can do today and tomorrow, by making a choice about what you consume, Phoenix said. There are things I can't avoid. I flew a plane here today, or last night rather, but one thing I can do is change my eating habits, he added. Despite the well-meaning sentiment, reactions on social media were largely mixed. Some criticised Phoenix for being unspecific and somewhat inaccurate about his message. Climate change is real but get your facts straight in what the largest contributors to it are!!! Clint Ellis (@ClintEllis9) January 11, 2020 While others called him out for using a private jet to fly into D.C. - a practice that he criticised just this week during his Golden Globes speech - "We don't have to take private jets to Palm Springs for the awards and back," Phoenix had said. ...after lecturing ppl for flying to climate change events, Phoenix flies from CA to DC to get arrested at a CLIMATE EVENT. Terrible #duplicity #Hypocrite IntegrityCounts (@3mdive) January 10, 2020 While most of them criticised Phoenix I can't stop commenting everytime I see this today. He is absolutely out of his mind Accountant4trump (@Acountant4Trump) January 10, 2020 Let me know when these woke actors go and protest the pollution in China and India. I'll wait. Tony Semeraro (@Redeemed54) January 10, 2020 They flew in to get arrested. And will fly back on private jets...but okay whatever gets you thru the day. Maureen (@maureen7579) January 10, 2020 Some shared their commiserations We are arresting people for protesting? Benjamin Bradshaw (@benjbradshaw) January 10, 2020 freedom to protest ha r/Sino (@SinoReddit) January 10, 2020 Besides Phoenix, veteran Hollywood star Martin Sheen also turned up for the protest and got arrested by the police. Actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Susan Sarandon were also present. The actors and around 147 others were detained by the police for 'crowding, obstructing or incommoding' - all of them were later released. Maharastra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday questioned the BJPs campaign in schools to teach students about the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a criticism dismissed by the opposition party as dirty politics. The young Shiv Sena leader tweeted a day after a few BJP leaders visited a school in Mumbais Matunga area to spread awareness and correct misinformation about the law, which has sparked protests across the country. The BJP had organised a talk at Dayanand Balak Vidyalaya on Bhimani street from 10am to 11am on Friday for students of Classes 8, 9 and 10. To campaign abt an Act in schools is ridiculous. What is the need for such political campaigning justification, if there is no ill intent? Politicisation of schools mustnt be tolerated. If politicians want to speak in schools, speak on gender equality, helmets, cleanliness! Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) January 11, 2020 The newly-appointed environment, tourism and protocol minister also suggested what the Bharatiya Janata Party or any other political leader should do to contribute towards students education. To campaign abt an Act in schools is ridiculous. What is the need for such political campaigning justification, if there is no ill intent? Politicisation of schools mustnt be tolerated. If politicians want to speak in schools, speak on gender equality, helmets, cleanliness! Aaditya Thackeray tweeted. His party had supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha but took a sharp U-turn in the Rajya Sabha by abstaining from voting for the new law when it was presented in Parliament in December last year. The BJPs spokesperson Madhav Bhandari accused Thackeray and others of playing dirty politics over the act. CAA is not a political thing. These people are trying to politicise a national issue that should have remained out of dirty politics. They are playing dirty politics. CAA is a national duty. Each and every nation loving person should join this campaign, Bhandari said. We have launched a campaign in the entire nation. We are reaching person to person, he added. Facing protests across the country, the BJP is pulling out all stops to dispel doubts about the provisions of CAA and has started a door-to-door campaign that will reach out to three crore families to clear perceptions about the act. The BJP has asked every member of the party to personally reach at least 10 citizens of the country and create awareness about CAA. Bhandari said, The leaders individually will choose by their convenience how to create this awareness. According to the BJP leaders who organised the event, students were given information about CAA and any misinformation they had was corrected. Students were also given postcards pre-addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and encouraged to post them after writing their true feelings about CAA. Nehal Shah, the BJP corporator from the Matunga area who was one of the events organisers, said they plan to take the outreach beyond schools in the city. This is the first school we have taken up but we will do all of Mumbais schools and colleges in the upcoming days. We are not doing this as BJP workers but as citizens. Before this, we have done it in in societies and at joggers parks, Shah said. She said the party is not asking them forcefully to support CAA but wants them to make an informed decision. It was surprising to see that such young students understood what is CAA and they are in support of CAA, she added. When so many students around the country are protesting against CAA, from JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia, these school students knowledge and perspective were refreshing. There were five students who spoke. They were students from a different religion. Few were Muslims, some were Hindus, he added. Sumita Singh, another organiser, pointed out that among the students in the school, which has 25% Muslim pupils, who spoke only two were Hindus. Those who are creating havoc in the country by sneaking into our country will be targeted. This is what we need to spread awareness about. The new generation needs to have correct information about CAA, they are curious but are misguided. Once they understand CAA, they are very accepting of it, Singh said. Singh is Arya Samaj chairperson and approaching schools operated under the trust. Shree Dayand Vidyalayaa in Kandivalis Charkop will host the campaign on Monday. On Tuesday, it will be organised at Dayanand Vedic Vidyalaya at Mulund. To the Times: Theres an old joke about the passengers on an airborne plane who complained that the engines were just too loud, so would the pilot please shut them off. Guest Columnist Ken Hemphills nicely written Boeing jobs are nice, but military spending still a concern (Jan. 9) reminded me of that joke. For armchair generals, may I recommend James F. Dunnigans How To Make War, which provides citizens, soldiers and journalists a guide as to how wars are fought. In its fourth edition, this classic now includes an array of new subjects, including cutting-edge cyber-war. Past editions were chillingly accurate in assessing and predicting the outcome of all the major conflicts in the past two decades; it should be consulted before submitting letters about military spending. These days we spend less than 5% of our GDP on defense. At the height of World War I, our Department of Defense consumed 21% of the GDP. In 1944, generals had more than 40% of our GDP at their discretion. In 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower budgeted 15% of the GDP. And by 1961, Eisenhower coined the phrase military-industrial complex not so much as a warning, but to explain to the American electorate the U.S.s austerity in executing the war in Vietnam, via a steady stream of 10% of the GDP, instead of wartime boom-and-bust. Still, folks in Delco witnessed Boeings post-war layoffs in the 70s, and an ill-suited segue into Trolley-copter manufacture. Boeing-Vertol, as it was called then, still employed more people than it does now. Anyone at Boeing (should they be allowed to talk) can tell you every penny is accounted for. Overhead has been sliced to near zero; 100% of its waste stream is recycled. Older workers are traded in for new models, especially in the non-union, white-collar sector. The modern factory is now agile and can be shipped to the most advantageous site. Databases can be easily moved to anywhere else in the country, as any hapless IT professional can attest. Nevertheless, Boeing Philadelphia can be justifiably proud. Its produced the best hardware, software and databases, coordinated into the finest logistics chain in the history of humankind. Nearly 40% of our military budget does not go toward guns, ships or even 21st century cyber-weapons. It goes toward pay, housing, food, medical care and secure retirement of our fellow citizens. The advantages of a well-fed army have been known since the time of the ancients. Should we be taking lessons from the Chinese or the Russians as to how to care for troops? Actually we have: back in the 80s, Russian troops in Afghanistan keeling over from dysentery taught us to spend a little of our military budget on pallet-loads of bottled water, to great effect. Avionics costs more than asphalt. Shouldnt we be looking beyond just the price tags? Have political stunts (ie, government shutdowns) interfered with carefully constructed efficiencies in the supply-chain? What is the science behind the science fiction, and how does one separate smoke-and-mirrors marketing from solid technological advances? (Trade journals are a good place to start.) Lastly, if theres anyone who is addressing climate catastrophe in Delaware County, it is Boeing Helicopters. Their manufacturing plants, on both sides of Route 291, are in the flood-prone areas adjacent to the Delaware River and Crum Creek. Theyve spent time, money and resources to protect valuable aircraft and manufacturing facilities through a comprehensive plan of floodgates, catch-basins with native plants, and low-maintenance permeable surfaces. The big, park-like campus serves as wildlife habitat and forms a continuum with the Tinicum preserve and migratory fly-way. I may have lost one of those high-paying positions mentioned, but maybe its a gain for Delaware County as I am now able to speak freely. Our defense needs can be supplied from Delco. Or from some other part of the country or by some other contractor. But as long as Im living here in Delco, Ill continue to be a cheerleader for one of our largest employers. 3 1 of 3 Contributed photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Contributed photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 FALLS VILLAGE The David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village will host a book talk with author Adelia Moore. whose recently published book, Being the Grownup, offers help and guidance in bringing up children in todays world. Moore will present her talk on Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. Copies of the books will be available for purchase. To reserve a seat, call the library at 860-824-7424. David M. Hunt Library, 63 Main Street, Falls Village. A Yarmouthport man was sentenced Friday in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug ring that sold hundreds of grams of fentanyl and heroin throughout Cape Cod, prosecutors said. Kevin Fraga pleaded guilty in November 2017 to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a statement. The 26-year-old will serve 45 months in prison and five years of supervised release, the statement said. Fraga and three others connected to the drug ring were charged in August 2017 for shipping large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin from Boston to Cape Cod, according to prosecutors. The Yarmouthport resident and his brother, Alex Fraga, were arrested on Aug. 16, 2017 after officers seized a significant amount of the drugs from Kevin Fragas car and from the home he shared with his brother, prosecutors said. Kelvin Chales and James Ramirez, who allegedly supplied the drugs to the Fraga brothers, were arrested two weeks later. Fentanyl pills and powdered fentanyl were found in multiple locations in Dorchester, including a stash house, Ramirezs home and a safety deposit box at Santander Bank, according to the U.S Attorneys office. Ramirez previously pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 5. Chales is expected to plead guilty on Jan. 30, the U.S. attorneys office said. Back on September 28, someone hacked into an electronic billboard along Interstate 75 in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Michigan, causing the video display to show a hardcore porn clip to passing motorists, turning the stretch of freeway into an adult drive-inor, actually, drive-bycinema for about 20 minutes. Surveillance cameras captured images of what appeared to be two young, white men whose facial features were mostly obscured with hooded sweatshirts and spectacles. But after more than three months, the two porn pranksters have been identified and arrested. The two alleged culprits are both teenagers, one 16 years old, the other 18. But police have not yet released the name of either accused billboard hacker. Auburn Police Department Lieutenant Ryan Gagnon said that the pair were apparently clever enough to identify the particular billboard in question as vulnerable to hacking. While most electronic video billboards are controlled from a remote location, the Auburn Hills display was operated from a laptop computer housed in a small shed beneath the roadside billboard. "That is unclear how exactly they thought about this or why they chose this, other than you can obviously see a shed underneath the sign and maybe curiosity piqued their interest whether or not they could get in, maybe that ran the billboard," Gagnon told The Detroit Free Press. "You look at any other billboard and there is no shed underneath it." The teens also appeared to be aware that the shed remained unlocked, because after employees working for the billboards owner, Triple Communications, were forced to remove locks to the shed that had frozen, they simply neglected to replace them. A six-foot fence around the shed had been previously damaged and had not been repaired either, allowing the pranksters to get past the fence and into the shed, where they remained for about 15 minutes starting at 10:49 p.m. on September 28enough time, apparently, to load the porn clip onto the laptop that fed video to the digital billboard. The 18-year-old suspect has been charged with trespassing, according to a Detroit News report. The 16-year-old, who had no previous criminal record, has been placed in a juvenile diversion program. If he completes the program without incident, he will come out without any charges on his record. Photo By Auburn Hills Police Department VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2020 / YDX Innovation Corp (TSXV:YDX)(OTC:YDRMD)(FSE:A2PB03) ("YDX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Financing"). In connection with the closing, the Company sold an aggregate of 1,538,460 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.195 per Unit, for gross proceeds of $300,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable into one additional Share at a price of $0.285 per Share for a period of two years from the date of issuance. Proceeds from the Financing will be used for general working capital. The securities issued under the Financing, and the Shares that may be issuable on exercise of the Warrants, are subject to a statutory hold period expiring on May 11, 2020. About YDX Innovation YDX Innovation Corp. (TSXV- YDX :: www.ydxinnovation.com) is a technology company that develops products and services and is an expert in immersive technologies like Augmented and Virtual Reality, eSports events and Interactive Exhibitions. Currently three divisions are part of the YDX Family: Arkave VR Arena - https://sales.arkavevr.com/ - a gaming platform that brings the most immersive Virtual Reality experience to Location Based venues with a highly scalable business model. The Company will release an exclusive game with Disney featuring Mickey Mouse. The release date is set for Q1 2020. YDreams Global - www.ydreamsglobal.com - have developed over 1,300 interactive experiences for clients all over the world such as Disney, NBA, Adidas, Cisco, Nokia, Nike, Mercedes-Benz, Coca-Cola, Santander, AmBev, Qualcomm, Unilever, City of Rio and Fiat. Game On Festival - www.gameonfestival.com - is a new event under development by the Company that combines eSports Tournaments with a large Interactive Exhibition about the videogame industry and its history. More Information: Daniel Japiassu Director and CEO dj@ydx.rocks (604) 704-6466 contact@ydxinnovation.com | www.ydxinnovation.com | www.youtube.com/ydreamsglobal 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. SOURCE: YDX Innovation Corp View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/572755/YDX-Announces-Closing-of-Non-brokered-Private-Placement While Conway has gone after Foxx for her handling of the controversial Jussie Smollett case while he tries to link her to Burke, Fioretti has been challenging the signatures on her petition to try to get her kicked off the ballot. Tulsa police have identified the woman who died while in custody of the citys jail on outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Detention officers found Lawanda Ward, 46, unresponsive about 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 6, according to a Tulsa Police Department news release issued late Friday afternoon. Tulsa police officers booked Ward into the jail about 7 p.m. Jan. 2. She was booked on six misdemeanor warrants and later held on an additional warrant. Emergency responders and a detention officer transported Ward to a hospital after she was found unresponsive in the cell. Medical personnel pronounced her dead at the hospital. Tulsa police initially reported that Ward had surrendered to the jail. However, Tulsa Police Lt. Shane Tuell said in the news release that it was later confirmed that officers arrested and booked Ward on the outstanding warrants. Ward reportedly complained of not feeling well when she was booked, but Tuell previously said EMSA paramedics checked and cleared her the same day. Tulsa Police Department officials requested that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations conduct a full independent investigation of this incident, according to the news release. Peter Boamah Otokunor is the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 11.01.2020 LISTEN The leadership of the Inter-Party Resistance against a New Voters Register ( IPRNA) is awed with the massive turnout of people to the Tikusayi demonstration in Tamale, Saturday. To say we are impressed with the number will be an understatement because if you look at the number of people that have poured onto the streets this morning, its overwhelming. We are indeed overwhelmed and that is what we wanted to achieve, member of the group, Peter Boamah Otokunor who is also the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), told JoyNews. The Inter-Party Resistance against a New Voters Register (IPRNA ) is a coalition of opposition parties including; the NDC, All Peoples Congress (APC) and Peoples National Convention (PNC). They embarked on the demonstration to protest the Electoral Commissions decision to compile a new voters register for the 2020 general elections. Parliament late la st year approved the sum of GH444,846,663 for the election management body to compile a new voters register which is part of the Commissions activities ahead of the year 2020 general elections. However, the group is unconvinced by the ECs defence for the creation of a new register. According to them, the use of tax payers money to compile a new voters register, after two Commissioners had earlier said the current electoral roll was credible, will be a waste of national resources and an attempt to perhaps, rig the 2020 elections. According to Otokunor, the decision to hold the demonstration in the Northern region was significant, as the Northern region was one of the underdeveloped regions in the country. The region lacks major basic amenities like roads, hospitals and schools as well as has a high number of unemployed youth. The Deputy NDC General Secretary said the funds for the new voters registration exercise could instead be used to bring some sort of development to people from the north, including the completion of abandoned school projects among others. We wanted to make a very loud statement to the government and to the Electoral Commission, particularly because this is the Northern region and if you consider the northern part of the country that is where you see more of the underprivileged people. So, if youre going to pay the limited taxpayers resources on a needless expedition then there will be a need for the people of the Northern region to make a very loud statement, and I think this is very significant owing to the fact that the EC and the government are playing recalcitrant in this matter. ---Myjoyonline Washington: President Donald Trump said Friday that he thinks Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was planning attacks against four US embassies before he was killed last week. "I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies," Trump said in an excerpt of an interview due to air later on Fox News. "Probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad." The remarks added some detail to a series of often vague claims made by US officials when asked why Trump, who faces an impeachment trial and a tough reelection fight, ordered the high-risk operation to kill Soleimani. Soleimani, the architect of Tehrans overseas clandestine and military operations as head of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, was killed on Friday in a U.S. drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport. While many Iranians have rallied in recent days to show grief over the death of Soleimani, regarded as the countrys second most powerful figure after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, others worry his death might push the country to war with a superpower. U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites very hard if Iran attacks Americans or U.S. assets. The body of Iranian-backed Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in the attack with Soleimani, was also flown to Ahvaz, according to IRIB. Gov. Phil Murphys chief counsel will join U.S. Sen. Cory Bookers team in Washington for President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, the governor announced. Matt Platkin, whos worked as the Murphy administrations top attorney since the governor took office, will resign from his position in the administration next week. Hell return after the impeachment trial has concluded. Matt is among the smartest and most ethical people Ive ever met in my life," Murphy said in a statement. "I cannot think of a better person to advise Senator Booker as the impeachment trial begins, he said. "And at this somber and critical juncture in American history, I cannot imagine having better champions for the people of New Jersey than Senators Menendez and Booker. Platkin worked on Bookers 2013 Senate campaign as a policy adviser. Murphys office hasnt yet said who will fill Platkins role as acting chief counsel while hes gone. Murphy got behind Bookers White House bid in February 2019. He was among four dozen New Jersey Democrats to endorse his campaign. Since then, he opened his home to raise money for Booker and spent two days in Iowa to stump for him on the campaign trail. Trumps impeachment trial could begin as soon as next week. Hes widely expected to be acquitted of the charges that he abused power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, then obstructed Congress in its investigation. No president has ever been removed by the Senate. The U.S. House of Representatives impeached Trump in December on the charge that he abused the power of his office by pressuring Ukraines new leader to investigate Democrats, using as leverage $400 million in military assistance for the U.S. ally as it counters Russia at its border. Trump insists he did nothing wrong, but his defiance of the House Democrats investigation led to an additional charge of obstruction of Congress. The website New Jersey Globe first reported on Platkins temporary departure. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. LCA Tejas' lands on Indian Navys aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya for the first time India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 11: The naval variant of the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft Tejas on Saturday successfully landed on aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. This is the the first time an indigenous fighter aircraft has landed on an aircraft carrier. With the landing, India became the sixth nation after Russia, US, France, UK and China to have mastered the art of an arrested landing and ski-jump take-off on the deck of a carrier. In September last year, Tejas had successfully carried out an "arrested landing", a key performance demonstrating its ability to land on board an aircraft carrier, making it a major milestone in development of the naval variant of the fighter jet. "With this feat, the indigenously developed niche technologies specific to deck-based fighter operations have been proven, which will now pave the way to develop and manufacture the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter for the #IndianNavy," the Indian Navy tweeted. "After completing extensive trials on the Shore Based Test Facility, DRDO, ADA developed LCA Navy did an arrested landing on INS Vikramaditya succesfully today 11 jan 2020 at 10:02 hours. Commodore Jaideep Maolankar did the maiden landing," the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tweeted. Tehran plane crash: Iran admits it hit civilian aircraft by mistake | OneIndia news Defence minister Rajnath Singh hailed the DRDO and the Indian Navy after Saturday's successful test. "Extremely happy to learn of the maiden landing of DRDO developed LCA Navy on INS Vikramaditya. This successful landing is a great event in the history of Indian Fighter aircraft development programme. Congratulations to Team @DRDO_India & @indiannavy for this achievement," Singh tweeted. India has a requirement for 57 deck based fighters for its carrier operations. During the meeting, victim's family gave some startling information to the top cops about the police negligence and after which a special task force was constituted to probe the murder. The government also suspended four police officers including Bisarkh Police Station in-charge Manoj Pathak, Inspectors Vedpal Singh Tomar, Rajendra Kumar Singh and phase-3 Kotwali's Garhi police station in-charge Man Singh. Commissioner of Meerut Division Anita C. Meshram and IGP of Meerut Zone Alok Singh met the victim's family on Friday. Some of the officers have also been line attached. Meerut division Commissioner and IGP Meerut reached Gaurav Chandel's house on Friday where family members accused the local police of inaction. Gaurav Chandel, who was the regional manager of a private firm, and a resident of Greater Noida west, was murdered on the night of January 7, 2020 after being robbed near his house. When the family members reached the police station to lodge the missing complaint, they found policemen sleeping. The police asked them to come next day. However, in the meantime, the family members themselves found the body of Chandel at 4 a.m. and informed the police. (Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in) Recently, a Reddit user posted about the Device Care feature found in all Samsung phones and tablets. As verified by Samsung itself, Device Cares storage element is powered by +360. For those of you unaware, +360 represents the Chinese anti-virus company Qihoo 360 . Their software has been accused of being a spyware that constantly interacts with the Chinese servers.Qihoo 360 has gained notoriety for being actively indulged in privacy-related scandals in the past. However, not much is known about its role in the Samsung gadgets.The Reddit user has warned Samsung and Android users about the risks associated with handing over personal data to a scandalous company. They added that the Storage scanner on our phones have full access to our personal data and if the Chinese government requests for this data, it must be provided to them as stated by the Chinese laws and regulations.Although it isnt known yet what kind of data the Storage module forwards to the Chinese servers, it was confirmed during the features launch that it indeed interacts with numerous servers based in China.Several customers of Samsung have brought up the issue on official forums and submitted requests to have Qihoo 360 software taken out of Device Care.As for Samsung, the company has yet to issue a statement regarding this subject. Stay tuned to get updated once the South Korean MNC opens up on this matter.As spotted by another Reddit users, Samsung has commented on the issue in the official Samsung Members app (Korea) and explained that "It does not use any function of 360 Security app, but outsourcing only database checking for unnecessary files."Read next: Hackers Are More Interested In Hacking Apple iPhones and Instagram Accounts Than Other Devices and Apps: Study A study on Saturday comes up with intricate factors about the link between puberty and several high-risk diseases. The paper was published in the journal 'Cell Stem Cell' where the first-ever genome-scale analysis of the puberty process in humans, researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah (U of U) outline distinct and critical changes to stem cells in males during adolescence. The scientists further outlined how testosterone, and the cells that produce testosterone, impact stem cells in male reproductive organs. This study is believed to add to a foundation of knowledge that may yield insights into critical areas of human health, including infertility and cellular changes that lead to cancer and other diseases. The study was led by Bradley Cairns, PhD, cancer researcher at HCI and professor and chair of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah, in collaboration with colleagues Jingtao Guo, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Cairns lab at HCI, James Hotaling, MD, associate professor of surgery at the U of U, and Anne Goriely, PhD, associate professor of human genetics at the University of Oxford. Puberty spurs numerous developmental changes in humans and other mammals. Hallmarks of puberty include physical characteristics easily visible to the naked eye, like rapid growth. These physical and hormonal changes signal the process of a maturing body preparing for reproductive years. In the testis, the male reproductive organ that makes and stores sperm and produces testosterone, puberty introduces monumental changes at a cellular and physiological level. Thanks to new genomic technologies, researchers are able to examine the expression of thousands of genes in each individual cell in an entire organ, providing unprecedented insights into cellular behaviour during puberty. Several types of cells within the testis regulate reproductive health. Like the human body that changes along the path from infancy to adulthood, these cells undergo major changes as the body matures. These cells include spermatogonial stem cells that ultimately generate sperm production and niche cells that help form parts of the testis, such as the seminiferous tubule, a tube-like structure within which sperm is formed. In this study, researchers characterized how, just prior to puberty, spermatogonial stem cells first expand significantly in number. These stem cells progress toward meiosis, a special type of cell division that splits the number of chromosomes from the parent cell in half, and also separates the male X and Y sex chromosomes to create cells that, after fertilization of eggs and considerable subsequent development, will ultimately result in either male (Y-containing) or female (X-containing) children. Late in puberty, these stem cells commit to creating mature sperm, which includes a tailpiece for motility. The researchers showed how two of the cells that form the stem cell niche and chaperone this process--the myoid cells and Leydig cells--derive from a common precursor, and mature during early puberty. A major novel insight of this study was the first-ever genomic analysis of the testis of adult transfemales (individuals assigned male at birth, but who self-identify as female). For these individuals, gender confirmation surgery is preceded by hormone therapy that induces long-term testosterone suppression, enabling the examination of testis lacking testosterone. By using samples donated after surgery, researchers uncovered critical insights into the role of testosterone in maintaining testis development. Genomic analysis of the cells from the testis of trans females showed that stem cells and other cells revert to earlier stages of development when compared to samples from male adolescents. Thus, Cairns and his colleagues identified that testosterone is critical to maintaining the mature state of the testis: if testosterone is no longer present, the testis reverts to an earlier developmental state. The major changes that occur in humans during puberty give rise to numerous functions in normal development, like reproductive health and fertility. But, when these processes go awry, confounding challenges can result. Infertility is a relatively common health issue. About 50 per cent of the time, the underlying cause is attributed to the male reproductive functions, which often include errors that occur during puberty. The team hopes these insights into how cells develop will help yield insights into what happens when developmental issues during puberty cause changes that result in infertility. The study also informs understanding of cancer and other diseases that arise due to errors in cellular processes. "The majority of the time, testicular cancers arise when stem cells in the testis are misregulated," said Cairns, adding, "We want to understand how these changes can cause testicular tumours; however, we need to know what should normally happen before we can identify ways to prevent or more effectively treat these cancers." In juveniles, cancers and reproductive health intersect via a medical process called oncofertility; that is, the study of how to retain fertility in adolescent and young adult cancer patients whose reproductive health and fertility may be impacted by their cancer, or as a result of side effects of cancer treatment. " Some chemotherapy can result in young men with cancer not being able to have children--the chemotherapy can cause changes to their stem cells," said Cairns. "My hope and expectation is that our research will provide a foundation for creating options to support the reproductive health of young men affected by cancer through a better understanding of how these stem cells survive, are supported, and develop," he concluded. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian Envoy to India Nikolay Kudashev has said he did not receive an invitation from the Indian government to be part of the group of envoys which paid a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir this week. He also said there were no hiccups in the deal to supply a batch of S-400 air defence missiles to India in the wake of fresh threats by the US to not go ahead with the multi-billion dollar deal. "I have never seen an official invitation to be part of this team. This was not a private journey My colleagues (other envoys) got the invitation. It was their sovereign decision to travel. If I have one (an invitation), I would consider it," he told reporters. A group of 15 envoys, including the US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, visited Jammu and Kashmir this week where they interacted with select political representatives, civil society members as well as the military top brass. The visit by the envoys was the second one of a foreign delegation to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 on August 5. Earlier, Delhi-based think tank International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies took 23 EU MPs on a two-day visit to assess the situation in the union territory. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter of India and not an issue in Indo-Russia relations, Kudashev said on the sidelines of an event on Friday. "Quite frankly, we believe that the situation there (Kashmir) is strictly an internal matter of India. Russian diplomacy is not in the habit of commenting on internal developments of our friendly partners. If anyone (who) has any questions on Kashmir can travel there we do not have any questions," he added. Asked about the S-400 air defense systems deal between Russia and India and the US stance on it, he said Russia truly appreciates India's position as far as the S-400 deal is concerned. "India's commitment is there to implement it and to continue it. As far as we are concerned, there are no issues with us," Kudashev said. He also said the delivery of the first batch of missiles will come by the end of this year or early 2021. "There are no issues on the payments. No complaint as far as I can understand. The contract is being implemented safely," he added. His remarks come days after a senior US official said the Trump administration does not want to degrade India's defence capabilities. The official asserted that there will be a case-by-case analysis on where punitive measures under the CAATSA could be applied on countries buying significant military equipment from Russia. India and Russia signed the USD 5 billion S-400 air defence system deal in October 2018, after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Responding to a question on implications of India going ahead with its decision to purchase S-400 missile defence system from Russia, the official had said, "I know India has expressed valid concerns... they don't want to have a sustainment line completely shut down... That's the last thing we want to do with a significant partner. We don't want to degrade their defence capabilities". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Renowned British architect takes audience on a journey of knowledge By Sashini Rodrigo View(s): View(s): The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Members Sri Lanka presented People, Personalities & Presentation a guest lecture by Archt. Richard Brindley visiting from the UK. Brindley is renowned for his lectures at the Architectural Association (AA) & Bartlet and his impactful tenure as Executive Director in the RIBA from 2003 to 2015. The lecture was held on January 4 at the Jubilee Hall in Galle Face Hotel a historic location for architecture in Sri Lanka, as it was where the Ceylon Institute of Architects (CIA) was born in 1957, which subsequently became the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) in 1976. The traditional oil lamp was lit by a few of the distinguished guests, including speaker Archt. Richard Brindley, guest of honour Archt. Mary Arnold Forster, chief guest Chairman of the Urban Development Authority Archt. Harshan De Silva, Chair RIBA Members Sri Lanka Archt. Nela De Zoysa and more. The welcome address delivered by Nela De Zoysa was equal parts nostalgia as she reminisced on the beginnings of the SLIA and its 50th anniversary in 2007, as well as fond remembrance for one of the dearest and distinguished members of the RIBA, the recently departed Deshamanya Roland Silva. This was followed by another touching eulogy for Roland Silva by President of the SLIA Archt. Veranjan Kurukulasuriya. Following a comprehensive introduction of Brindleys work and accomplishments by Ms. De Zoysa, Brindley took to the stage. If Richard set his mind on something, he made it work, Ms De Zoysa observed, which was precisely the ethos that his presentation aimed to instil, with knowledge garnered through his own experience and study. The aptly named People, Personalities and Presentation focused on areas that included understanding people (clients as well as yourself), knowing behaviour and dealing effectively with different personalities, working well with others and effective teamwork and leadership, as well as making successful presentations while engaging and influencing others. Through the exploration of concepts such as the pillars of emotional intelligence, personality types like the Myers Briggs personality indicators and key points of giving presentations such as body movement, words and voice tone and modulation Richard Brindley took his audience on a powerful and effective journey of knowledge that is applicable to any field. The overwhelming interest and enthusiasm of the audience was evident in the robust Q&A session that followed, and carried on into the networking session afterwards. Showcasing the best in Jewish cuisine, from traditional dishes to new twists on old favorites and celebrating Jewish culture and community, while raising funds for Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque. Nosh (Yiddish): noun: a snack or light meal verb: to eat a snack, to eat lightly What's Your Favorite Nosh? Savory brisket? Pastrami sandwich? Matzoh ball soup? Lox & bagels? Whatever you nosh, you'll nosh it at ABQ NoshFest - a celebration of Jewish food and more. Join us as we gather Albuquerque's finest & most popular restaurants whose chefs will prepare and serve their favorite Jewish and Israeli foods. Some will serve a signature item from their restaurant menu, and some will offer a new item exclusively for the second annual ABQ NoshFest. Either way, we promise that you'll nosh it like never before. Children of all ages are welcome at the ABQ NoshFest. Kids 9 and under are FREE. You'll want to check out the ABQ NoshFest Kid's Zone, open from Noon - 4pm. Advanced tickets are $6.50. All tickets sold at the door will be $8. Food tickets sold separately at event. Protestors took to streets in Tehran chanting Khamenei is a murderer and Khamenei is an illegitimate ruler on Jan. 11 after the Iranian military admitted to shooting down the Ukranian plane that carried at least 130 Iranian citizens. The news of the protestors openly chanting slogans against Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, whom Iran designates as the Supreme Leader was confirmed by Al Markazia, a Lebanese Central New Agency. Faranak Amidi, a Womens Affairs Journalist with the BBC World Service, shared a video from one of the protest sites on her Twitter on Saturday. The protestors in the video chanted in chorus: Today is a day to mourn. The abandoned Iranians are mourning today. . . pic.twitter.com/ER4Y1aZsUe Faranak Amidi (@Faranak_amidi) January 11, 2020 The protests on Saturday afternoon began as mournful gatherings for the Iranian lives lost in the crash and soon turned into people chanting death to liars and seeking Khameneis resignation, reported the Daily Mail. Protests at the Amirkabir University chanted Down with the dictator and shame on IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard], let the country go while at the Sharif University protestors said, commander in chief, resign! It referred to Khamenei. Protestors in Rasht in northern Iran chanted you have no shame according to a video shared on Twitter. : ! !@ordoyekar pic.twitter.com/TZHCO1rlsr (@ordoyekar) January 11, 2020 In another Twitter video from a candle vigil site at an engineering school in the province of Shiraz, the protestors were singing a revolutionary song My Grade-School Friend, which encourages people to rise up against tyranny. President Trump expressed his support for the protestors on Twitter, writing: To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my government will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely. Your courage is inspiring. : . . . Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020 Daily Mail reports that riot police tried to disperse the protestors by using tear gas during the night. Irans Revolutionary Guard on Saturday acknowledged that it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 people aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations and mounting evidence that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. No one was hurt in the attack on the U.S. bases. General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards aerospace division, said his unit accepts full responsibility for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, I wished I was dead. He said he raised the possibility to his superiors that his forces shot down the plane as early as Wednesday morning because the simultaneous occurrence of the launch and crash was suspicious. The admission undermined the credibility of information provided by senior officials, who for three days had adamantly dismissed allegations of a missile strike as Western propaganda. Esra Serim, a Turkish Middle East expert based in France, told The Epoch Times in an email that Khamenei has offered an investigation into the crash but it will not be enough for the families of the victims. They would make an appeal for an international investigation. In addition to this, the Iranian government has obviously fallen into its own trap by shooting the passenger plane. This accident would likely lead to an increase in the recent domestic tensions against the regime, said Serim. Sam Bazzi, the founder of Hezbollah Watch, a project that scrutinizes Khomeinis absolute guardianship, said the protests indicate a popular revolt in the making. The regime has for a long time accorded a certain level of divinity to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, only for him to be left bare by the Ukrainian airliner incident. When an absolute ruler starts losing his prestige and standing, a popular revolt is not an unexpected outcome, he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times The buzz surrounding Imtiaz Alis Love Aaj Kal sequel, starring Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan, is already sky-high, even before the title has been announced. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Kartik opened up about romancing Sara on screen and the moniker SarTik (an amalgamation of Sara and Kartik) that has been lovingly given to them by fans. Jab se Sara ne Koffee With Karan pe bola hai, tab se main wait kar raha hoon ki hum dono kab ek movie mein dikhenge. I think woh tab se apne aap mein ek curiosity hai. Bohot zyada curiosity rahi hai and I hope ki we will live up to that. (Ever since Sara Ali Khan took my name on Koffee With Karan, I am waiting for us to be seen in a film together. I think since then, there has been a lot of curiosity about our pairing and I hope we will live up to that), he said. Kartik added, The kind of fan frenzySarTik jo ek word create hua hai, its something which has never happened before the film. Ek frame mein screen pe dekhne se pehle hi yeh chalu hua hai. I love these a lot and I hope ki sablog They wont be disappointed! (Never has it happened before that fans created a moniker like SarTik even before seeing a pair together on screen. I love these a lot and I hope that everyoneThey wont be disappointed!) Also read: Kartik Aaryan praises Deepika Padukone for visiting JNU, says Its a bad atmosphere right now, strict action needs to be taken Talking about working with Imtiaz, Kartik said that his entire thought process as an actor has changed after the film. Jis tareeke ki woh film hai, woh bohot relatable film hai. Im romantic at heart, toh mujhe bohot achchi lagta hai, jo Imtiaz sir ki duniya hoti hai. (The kind of film it is, it is very relatable. I am a romantic at heart and I really like the world created by Imtiaz in his films), he said. Speculation is rife that Kartik and Saras romance spilled off screen during the making of the Love Aaj Kal sequel. However, after a brief relationship, the two are said to have called it quits last year. The Love Aaj Kal sequel, tentatively titled Aaj Kal, also features Randeep Hooda. It is scheduled to hit the theatres on Valentines Day (February 14) this year. Follow @htshowbiz for more ALBANY Decades ago, Perry Junjulas was diagnosed with AIDS, and he thought it was a death sentence. It didnt matter if you were a white man of privilege with a million dollars in the bank or a homeless man on the street, Junjulas said. You were both going to have the same outcome. You were going to both die of AIDS. As the medications and treatments became more advanced, all of a sudden people started to experience what Junjulas referred to as the Lazarus effect. A lot of us that were on schedule to die didnt, and we got better, Junjulas said. Junjulas is the executive director of the Damien Center, a resource center for those who live with or are affected by HIV (human immunodificiency virus), and AIDS (acquired immune difficiency syndrome, which can be caused by HIV infection). When the Damien Center first opened in 1988 it focused on making people fighting HIV/AIDS as comfortable as possible while transitioning to the end of life. However, over time, the center has evolved to meet the needs of people who are living their lives with HIV/AIDS. Today, the organization is working to create programs to help the most vulnerable populations with HIV/AIDS such as the homeless or those living in poverty to make getting better possible. Over the last 20 years, HIV tends to be connected to other social determinants of health, Junjulas said. For instance, if someone is struggling with HIV theyre usually struggling with poverty, homelessness or unsafe housing with severe trauma, mental health issues or substance abuse disorders, he said. All of these factors make it hard to get to the doctors and take their medications and do all the things they would really need to do to help themselves, Junjulas said. In recent years, the Damien Center has greatly expanded it services. For years, the center was located 12 South Lake Ave. in a 3,600-square-foot facility, but then in August 2013, Junjulas received a call at 6 a.m. that the building was on fire. He immediately drove over and from blocks away he could already see smoke. The building was severely damaged. We had a couple choices back then. We could have said job well done, lets go back home, or we could recognize how many people are still coming in looking for a meal and basic support, Junjulas said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Now the organization is housed in a 26,000-square-foot space at 728 Madison Ave., and has 20 apartments for people who were formerly homeless and struggling with HIV. Its longstanding meal program continues and in 2018 the Damien Center served more than 45,000 hot meals. There is also a full service pharmacy and free veterinarian care for pets. The center now has an employment program to help people go back to work, Junjulas said. Although they have a bigger space now, Junjulas said there is still a dire need for housing. He said a safe place to live is crucial for people who are fighting the virus. I need more housing. Thats one of my next projects, Junjulas said. For people who dont have housing, its 1980 again. Turkey's Assyrian Community Says Arrest of Priest 'Second Brunson Case' Assyrian Associations Federation Chairman Evgil TArker said the arrest of Sefer BileAen, an Assyrian priest known in his community as Father Aho who was the sole caretaker of the Mor Yakub Monastery in Turkey's southeastern proivnce of Mardin, was outside the bounds of sanity and called for his release. "If the state releases Father Aho, it will add a good deed to its house. Otherwise, it would place Assyrians against itself, which won't be good," TArker was quoted by the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya news agency as saying. "We may not have a [U.S. President Donald] Trump of our own, but Turkey will have a second case of Pastor Brunson," TArker continued, referring to American cleric Andrew Brunson who spent 21 months in a Turkish prison on charges related to the failed coup attempt in 2016 and was released in 2018 following U.S. pressure. Turkish gendarme forces on Thursday detained BileAen and nine others including members of the Assyrian community, and the priest was arrested on Friday on charges of aiding and abetting terrorists. The reason for BileAen's arrest was testimony by a member of People's Defence Forces (HPG), the armed wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), who said BileAen provided HPG members with bread and water when they would go to the monastery, according to Mezopotamya. The state must take into consideration BileAen's status, TArker said. "As men of god, priests have to comply when somebody asks for help, no matter what their religion, race, language or ideology," he added. Turkey's Assyrian community was subjected to massacres and displacement during the events of 1915, after which a majority of the community sought refuge abroad. During the 1990's, the height of Turkey's conflict with the PKK when thousands of villages in the country's southeast were evacuated, much of the remaining Assyrians were forced to abandon their villages. When developments in recent years allowed the community's return, BileAen arrived at the Mor Yakup Monastery and undertook its restoration after spending decades in ruins, TArker said. The monastery was opened again in 2013. "Thousands of tourists visited the monastery in 2019, with undeniable effort by Father Aho," TArker said. "Now the monastery will close its doors again and be abandoned to its old fate." "If you arrest this priest like this now, that clearly means you want locks on the monastery's doors," TArker added. New Delhi: Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane said on Saturday that if ordered, Indian Army would take appropriate action to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He said that Army is re-balancing its deployment along the western and northern borders to deal with any kind of threat that might emerge from Pakistan or China. He said that Siachen is the closest point for collusion between China and Pakistan and therefore it is important to keep that area in "our possession. He said that counter-insurgency is a short term threat but a long-term threat will always be conventional war and that is what we are preparing for. Gen. Naravane said that despite provocation by the Pakistan army and its Border Action Team at the Line of Control (LoC), Indian Army will never resort to any barbaric activity and will uphold international norms. Pakistans Border Action Team is suspected to have decapitated a porter, who was among two civilians killed along the LoC in Poonch district on Friday, and taken away the head. As far as PoK is concerned, many years ago there was a parliamentary resolution on it that the entire erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir is part of India. If Parliament wants that area should also belong to us and if we get orders to that effect, then definitely we will take action on it, he said. He said that Army has to balance its deployment to cater to threat both from the west and the north. For dealing with the northern frontier we are going in for more capacity building which include creating roads to the forward areas, creating capacity in terms of habitat, storage for ammunition, moving some of our more advanced weapon system towards the eastern side, he said. He said that with this Army will be able to meet threat from any direction and it is prepared for the challenge. Gen. Naravane said the Indian Army is aware of the fact that there is threat from both China and Pakistan. In case of simultaneous threat from both directions, there will always be a primary front and a secondary front. Wherever our primary front is, bulk of our forces and resources will be concentrated to deal with that threat. On the other front, we will adopt more deterrent posture so that we are not found wanting on either of them, he said. He said that this is why we have a dual task formation and these formation are ready to move from West to East and East to West to cater to the emergent threat. He said that following Wuhan Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President, both armies are resolving small differences locally and dont allow it to get serious and therefore there is peace at Northern border. Gen. Naravane said that Siachen is important for us as that is the only area where one army formation is looking after both Western and Northern frontier. That is what makes it so strategically important. We must not lose sight that is from where the collusion can happen. And therefore the importance of being on our guard and importance of keeping that area always in our possession, said the Army chief. He said that creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff is a very big step towards integration of the three forces and said the Army will ensure its success. He said that decision of the CDS to set up an air defence command would help in preventing the recent incident where Iran shot down an Ukrainian passenger jet. Meanwhile, welcoming Army chiefs statement, the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah said the force should be ordered to take back PoK. When the Army is prepared, why wait? the dargah deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan said. The parliament should order the Army to take back PoK, he tweeted. A rubbish bin set on fire by protesters in a demonstration against planned pension reforms (Francois Mori/AP) The French prime minister has told the unions behind a crippling railway strike that he is open to backing down on controversial proposals to raise the full pension age to 64. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe wrote to unions one day after the French government and labour representatives engaged in talks that had seemed to end in stalemate after more than a month of strikes and protests. Expand Close Riot police officers charge protesters amid a demonstration in Paris against proposed pension reforms (Francois Mori/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Riot police officers charge protesters amid a demonstration in Paris against proposed pension reforms (Francois Mori/AP) Mr Philippes letter said the plan to raise the age of eligibility from 62 to 64 the unions major sticking point in wide-ranging pension reforms is open to negotiation. It was the first time the French government overtly indicated room for movement on the retirement age issue. The overture could signal hope for ending Frances longest transport strikes in decades. However, Mr Philippe said any compromise is contingent on first finding a way of paying for the pensions system in a country where a record number of people are aged over 90. On Saturday, protesters in Paris marched through the streets to denounce the French governments overall pension changes. Expand Close A group of women chanted slogans against French President Emmanuel Macron as part of the protest (Francois Mori/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A group of women chanted slogans against French President Emmanuel Macron as part of the protest (Francois Mori/AP) In scenes that have become all too familiar to Parisians, demonstrators set fire to a kiosk near Bastille square in the centre of the city as a minority of demonstrators in the march got rowdy. Police fired tear gas briefly as minor scuffles broke out. Two days earlier, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets nationwide to denounce the governments pension proposals. The unions have planned further action for next week to keep up pressure on the government. Noel Carey RIP - Kilmacanogue lost another of its famous sons on December 30 with the passing of Noel Carey. Noel slipped away peacefully surrounded by his loving family in the care of the staff of St Anne's Ward at St Vincent's University Hospital. He will be sadly missed and remembered with love by his partner Jane, son Graham, daughters Margaret and Avril, daughter-in-law Sharon, grandchildren, brother-in-law Ned, extended family, neighbours and friends. A large crowd attended his funeral Mass to say a final farewell which took place last Thursday in St Mochonog's Church followed by interment in adjoining cemetery. Hollywood have 'The Terminator' but in Kilmacanogue, Noel was 'The Alternator' as he was the man to visit to repair batteries and alternators and in his spare time, he was also some dancer. He fought a brave battle with illness for many years but that did not stop him from living life to the full. Deepest sympathy to all his beloved family, neighbours and friends from us all in the community of Kilmacanogue. Farewell Noel, rest in peace. GAA club AGM The annual general meeting of Kilmacanogue GAA Club will take place this Thursday (ninth) at 7.30 p.m. in the clubhouse. All are welcome to attend this very important meeting. 50th birthdays There were great celebrations in Sugarloaf Crescent last weekend as neighbours Keith McDonald and Theresa Griffin celebrated turning 50 years young. Keith was whisked off to the Shelbourne Hotel for a romantic evening with his lovely wife Nuala and a very special birthday wish for a wonderful father comes from son Adam and three daughters Alex, Anna and Chloe and everyone in Kilmacanogue (including the Man United fans Keith). Then on Saturday, Theresa Griffin celebrated her 50th with a surprise party in her house organised by her daughter Casey. She is pictured with her three daughters and some of her nieces and nephews (we would want two pages to get all in) and a great evening was had by all. A special word of congratulations comes from that fantastic husband of yours Damien (well that's what he said anyway), and three lovely daughters Casey, Rachel and Amy, the extended Griffin and Molloy families and us all in the village. Here's to the next 50 Theresa and Keith. Darts competition The annual Kilmac Darts Competition drew to a close over the Christmas and was a great success once again. James McDonald has tried (and failed) over the past few years but finally got victory this year to become the 2019 Champion. It was a fitting end to efforts and he moves to Galway completely in the new year. While great fun in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the competition also raised over 500 for our senior citizens and Breda Connolly is pictured receiving same on behalf of all the Dart players. Well done to James, Arthur Smith, Thorsten Farber, Paddy and Patrick Harvey and everyone involved in this great competition and well done James on your success, you have played the Bridesmaid part long enough, finally became the bride. History Society The members of the Kilmacanogue History Society are eagerly looking forward to their first lecture of 2020 which will take place on Tuesday, January 14, at 8 p.m. in the Glenview Hotel. Marc McMenamin is the guest speaker and the title of his talk is, The Codebreaker. This fascinating story outlines how a gifted polymath and cryptographer, was drafted by Irish intelligence services to track the movements of a prolific Nazi spy, Hermann Gortz. It set in motion one of the most remarkable episodes in Irish history. What followed was a high-stakes game of cat and mouse that would wind its way through the capital and its suburbs, reverberate through the corridors of power, test the sympathies of those in high society, and even expand to jeopardise the Allied war effort. Codebreaker is a riveting and deeply researched account of an extraordinary period of history - when Dublin became a hotbed of Nazi intrigue and the fate of an independent Ireland settled on the shoulders of an unassuming employee of the National Library. The speaker himself, Marc McMenamin is a journalist and documentary maker. A specialist in exploring uncharted corners of Irish history, he is the maker of several acclaimed radio documentaries, including Good Cop/Bad Cop, exploring the life of controversial former NYPD officer Peter Daly, and Richard Hayes, Nazi Codebreaker. This presentation will take you back to the secret world of espionage in Ireland during World War II and is a fascinating opener to our 2020 season. Looking forward to seeing all our members and friends on the night. Fugitive New Mexico dad wanted by FBI after allegedly killing son's mom originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Days after Isela Mauricio-Sanchez was found strangled to death inside her home in Roswell, New Mexico, the manhunt for the alleged killer intensified after a federal arrest warrant was issued. Jorge Rico-Ruvira allegedly fled Mauricio-Sanchez's home on Tuesday with their 3-year-old son Osiel Ernesto Rico in tow and is believed to be heading to Mexico, police said. Roswell Police Department charged Rico-Ruvira with first-degree murder and issued a warrant for his arrest on Wednesday as an Amber Alert was issued for Osiel. PHOTO: An Amber Alert was issued for missing 3-year-old Osiel Ernesto Rico, Jan. 7, 2020. (Roswell Police Department) The child -- 2 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing approximately 40 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes -- is still missing. MORE: Missing 3-year-old's father is wanted for murder in death of boy's mother, police say On Friday, the FBI filed a federal arrest warrant for the alleged killer father and has charged him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, officials said. Wanted by the #FBI: A federal arrest warrant charges Jorge Ernesto Rico-Ruvira with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. Anyone with info: call the FBI (505) 889-1300, Roswell Police (575) 624-6770, or New Mexico Department of Public Safety 1-800-457-3463. @AMBERAlert pic.twitter.com/zum47ZiMgm FBI Albuquerque (@FBIAlbuquerque) January 11, 2020 Rico-Ruvira, 32, is described as 5 foot, 8 inches tall, 150 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. MORE: Amber Alert issued for missing 3-year-old boy after mother found dead He is believed to be driving a 2003 maroon GMC Yukon SUV with New Mexico turquoise centennial plate MNF231, police said. PHOTO: Police are searching for Jorge Rico-Ruvira. He is believed to be driving an unknown year maroon GMC Yukon SUV with an unknown license plate number. (Roswell Police Department) Maurico-Sanchez's death was ruled a homicide and is believed to have been strangled to death, according to a spokesman from the Roswell Police Department. She was 27. Story continues The couple had a history of domestic violence with the most recent incident in October 2019 where Rico-Ruvira allegedly choked the woman. He was charged with aggravated battery against a household member, police said. PHOTO: Jorge Rico-Ruvira in an undated photo. (Roswell Police Department ) Authorities are urging anyone with information to call the FBI (505) 889-1300, Roswell Police (575) 624-6770, or New Mexico Department of Public Safety 1-800-457-3463. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-11 17:22:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close PYONGYANG, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said here on Saturday that dialogue with the United States can resume only when it fully accepts Pyongyang's demands. "It can be said that the reopening of dialogue between the DPRK and the U.S. may be possible only under the condition of the latter's absolute agreement on the issues raised by the former, but we know well that the U.S. is neither ready nor able to do so," Kim Kye Gwan, advisor to the DPRK's Foreign Ministry, said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. Denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled since top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump failed to reach an agreement during their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam in February last year. Kim Kye Gwan said there will never be such negotiations as those in Vietnam, in which "we proposed exchanging a core nuclear facility of the country for the lift of some UN sanctions" in a bid to lessen the sufferings of the people. "There is no need for us to be present in such talks, in which there is only unilateral pressure, and we have no desire to barter something for other thing at the talks like traders," he added. He further acknowledged that the top DPRK leader has received birthday congratulations from Trump, saying personal relations between the two leaders were not bad, though it was "absentminded to think of either making us return to the dialogue with the U.S. by taking advantage of such relations or creating an atmosphere for it." "We have been deceived by the U.S., being caught in dialogue with it for over one year and a half, and that was lost time for us," he said. "What is clear is that we will never lose our time again, being taken in by the U.S.' tricks as in the past," the advisor added. Kate Umbers, a biologist at Western Sydney University who studies the Australian alpine grasshopper, is especially worried about the fate of the nations 250,000 insect species, of which only about one-third have been named. The current fire season is deeply, deeply troubling far worse than anything Ive ever experienced in my life, she told The New York Times this week. Its really quite frightening in an ecological sense. But while they have raised alarm about the scale of destruction, in nearly every case, experts cautioned that it was still impossible to know exactly how many animals have died. Many of the estimates grabbing headlines rely on assumptions about existing population sizes and the effect of natural disasters on them. And they do not give credit to animals survival instinct. Some experts have cast doubt on the idea that numbers are even helpful at all. So can you feel sad? Of course. But there is always more to the story. Will 10,000 camels be killed? Thats the plan, yes. But its not because of the fires. Officials in Australia drew international headlines this week when they said they planned to cull up to 10,000 feral camels after many of the animals, tormented by the drought and extreme heat, have increasingly emerged out of the arid desert to raid local communities for food and water. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is to address protesters at a no war on Iran rally in London. Despite the apparent ratcheting down of tensions between the US and Iran, demonstrators are set to march on Trafalgar Square demanding there should be no new conflict in the Gulf. The protest follows the killing of the senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike on January 3. Tehran responded with a series of limited missile strikes on US bases which caused no casualties but has signalled it does not want to see any further escalation. The assassination of General Soleimani was a provocative act that has taken us terrifyingly close to a new warLindsey German, Stop the War The US in turn has indicated that it was not planning any further military action although it has imposed additional economic sanctions on Iran. The British Government has defended the right of the US to act in self-defence while calling on both sides to de-escalate. Nevertheless, the Stop the War coalition and CND which are organising the protest argue the situation in the region remains critical. Stop the War convenor Lindsey German said: The assassination of General Soleimani was a provocative act that has taken us terrifyingly close to a new war in the Middle East. The situation remains critical. We need to mount maximum pressure on our Government and on the Trump administration to prevent further escalation. Expand Close Diane Abbott is expected to join Jeremy Corbyn at the rally (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Diane Abbott is expected to join Jeremy Corbyn at the rally (Stefan Rousseau/PA) CND general secretary Kate Hudson said: US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the re-imposition of crippling sanctions on the Iranian economy and the US extra-judicial killing in a sovereign state are all steps to war. The danger of war remains high and the Prime Minister must exert every influence to ensure a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Unless the sanctions are lifted, war and nuclear proliferation are a real threat. Britain must do more to alleviate the sanctions and push to salvage the Iran nuclear deal. Mr Corbyn who has described the killing of General Soleimani as an illegal act is expected to be joined at the rally by his long-time ally, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott. Other speakers slated to address the demonstration include the musician Brian Eno and comedian Tez Ilyas. Students of history may be interested in this 2006 letter from the Fijian Commissioner of Police to the NZ Commission of Police, asking him to reconsider arresting Commodore Frank Bainimarama, when he visited NZ, before he launched his coup. I wonder if Howard Broad consulted Ministers before he made his decision not to act. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr New Delhi, Jan 11 : The Cadbury company has promised to donate profits from the sale of Caramello Koala, Freddo Frog and Furry Friends chocolates to help Australia's bushfire affected wildlife, a media report said. The company announced the 'Freddo and Friends for Bushfire Relief' initiative, pointing out that 100 per cent of profits from the sale of these items would go to wildlife foundations across that country for the next week, Mail Online reported. "The impact on families, homes and environment is truly devastating. Like all that have been affected, our precious and much-loved native wildlife has suffered incredibly," the company said and maintained that a minimum of $500,000 will be donated to support wildlife rescue, treatment and habitat restoration projects. Cadbury also promised to donate food supplies to Foodbank Australia and emergency services personnel. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that about 1.25 billion animals have perished in the bushfires across Australia. In all, 26 people have so far lost their lives, and eight million hectares of land got burnt by the infernos. Even as donations pour in from across the world, many celebrities, including Chris Hemsworth, Nicole Kidman and Kylie Jenner have donated money for the survivors. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has pledged $4.3 million for bushfire relief, while TV talk show hostess Ellen DeGeneres has launched a $5 million fundraising campaign. Egypt's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry reopened on Friday the Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria after fully restoring the 14-century Jewish place of worship, Xinhua reports. The inauguration ceremony was attended by a number of Egyptian officials and foreign diplomats. "The restoration of the synagogue is a message to the world, a message of tolerance and acceptance of the others. It is a message that Egypt is restoring its heritage form different eras for mankind," Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anany told Xinhua. The Egyptian government started the renovation work in 2017 and the overall cost of the restoration stood at 64 million Egyptian pounds (4 million U.S. dollars), according to the ministry. The synagogue was established by the Jewish community in Alexandria in 1354. It was rebuilt in 1850 after it was damaged during the French invasion of Egypt in the 18th century. The synagogue, built on an area of 4200 square meters, has two floors: a floor for men and the other for women. After the completion of the restoration, the synagogue was equipped with the latest fire alarm and lighting systems. Magda Haroun, president of Egypt's Jewish community, said she was extremely excited to see the synagogue being refurbished and reopened. "It is great that Egypt is really taking care of Jewish heritage," said Haroun. Growing old is a natural phenomenon that we must all gracefully accept, but it can become a problem in the absence of proper care, love and support from family. Thanks to the the marvels of medical science, life expectancy is expected to increase further, from 67.5 in 2015 to 75.9 over the next three decades. In India, the current senior citizen population of 130 million is expected to more than double to 300 million to constitute 20 per cent of the population . With a rapidly growing 60-plus population, India is faced with the Herculean task of providing basic senior-friendly urban ... 3.5k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Donald Trump as president of the United States, is calling on the top law enforcement agency in the country, the FBI, to be prosecuted for fraud. Trump tweeted: FBI Director apologizes for FISA Errors (of which there were far to many to be a coincidence!). @FoxNews Chris, what about all of the lives that were ruined because of the so-called errors? Are these dirty cops going to pay a big price for the fraud they committed? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020 It is not a coincidence that Trump is calling for the prosecution of the FBI one day after it was reported that they are investigating Russian efforts to attack the 2020 election with a disinformation campaign against former vice president Joe Biden. Trumps motives are easy to see through. The president is still trying to discredit the first Russia investigation because he needs Russian interference to help him win this years presidential election. Trump has been smearing law enforcement, not because they are dirty cops as he loves to claim. Even his own IG report found that there no political motives in the FBIs Russia investigation. There was also no FBI bias or spying on the Trump campaign. Donald Trump is the only convicted fraudster in this conversation. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Technavio has been monitoring the global hair styling products market since 2018 and the market is poised to grow by USD 4.2 billion during 2019-2023, 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/20200110005325/en/ Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global hair styling products market 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 137-page report with TOC on "Hair Styling Products Market Analysis Report by Product (Hair styling spray, Dry shampoo, and Other hair styling products), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), Geography (Americas, APAC, and EMEA), and the Segment Forecasts, 2019-2023". https://www.technavio.com/report/global-hair-styling-products-market-industry-analysis The market is driven by innovation and portfolio expansion leading to product premiumization. In addition, the increasing demand for natural and organic hair styling products is anticipated to boost the growth of the hair styling products market. Growing purchasing power and rising disposable income across the world have increased the consumer spend on premium haircare products. In addition, with the rising consumer demand for innovative products, vendors are increasing their R&D efforts to introduce new products made of superior quality ingredients and new technologies. These products can also be used for professional treatment of hair-related issues and are thus priced higher than regular hair styling products. This is resulting in product premiumization as well as the expansion of product portfolios of vendors which in turn, is expected to drive the growth of the global hair styling products market. Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third forfree. View market snapshot before purchasing Major Five Hair Styling Products Market Companies: Henkel Henkel operates its business through segments such as Adhesives technologies, Beauty care, and Laundry and home care. The company offers a wide range of hair styling products under the brands, Schwarzkopf and Syoss. Kao Corporation Kao Corporation operates the business across segments such as Beauty care, Human health care, Fabric and home care, and Chemical. The company offers a wide range of hair styling products under different brands such as Asience MEGURI, and Essential. L'Oreal L'Oreal operates its business across segments such as Professional products, Consumer products, L'Oreal luxe, and Active cosmetics. The company offers a wide range of hair styling products under different brands such as L'Oreal Paris, Garnier, NYX, Niely, Kiehl's, L'Oreal Professionnel, Kerastase, Redken, Matrix, Mizani, Pureology, and shu uemura art of hair. Procter Gamble Procter Gamble operates the business across segments such as Baby, feminine, and family care, Beauty, Fabric and home care, Healthcare, and Grooming. The company offers a wide range of hair styling products under different brands such as Head Shoulders, Aussie, Herbal Essences, Old Spice, and Pantene. Unilever Unilever operates the business across segments such as Personal Care, Home Care, Foods, and Refreshment. The company offers a wide range of hair styling products under different brands such as Clear, Dove, Dove Men+ Care, Sunsilk, Seda, Clinic Plus, TONI&GUY, Indulekha, and Ayush. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Technavio has segmented the hair styling products market based on the product, distribution channel, and region. Hair Styling Products Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2019 2023) Hair styling spray Dry shampoo Other hair styling products Hair Styling Products Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2019 2023) Offline Online Hair Styling Products Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2019 2023) Americas APAC EMEA 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 are: Global Hair Wigs and Extension Market Global hair wigs and extension market by product (human hair wigs and extension and synthetic hair wigs and extension) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). Global Hair Color Spray Market Global hair color spray market by distribution channel (offline and online) 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. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200110005325/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com A man in his 50s was arrested and questioned by gardai over an alleged rape that took place on board a passenger ferry in Rosslare on Christmas day. Gardai are investigating the incident which is said to have occurred on board an Irish Ferries vessel which was docked in the Europort at the time as there were no ferry crossings on Christmas Day or St Stephen's Day. Detectives made the arrest after they received a complaint from a woman in her 30s claiming that she went to sleep in her cabin and woke to find the man having sex with her without her consent. It is reported that the woman and her alleged attacker had attended a Christmas party on board the ship, which was attended by more than 50 people. Gardai did not receive a complaint from the woman immediately and when she did contact them, they discovered the ferry had sailed from Rosslare to Pembroke in Wales. Police were contacted at the Welsh port where the ship was due to dock and police officers met the ship on arrival and boarded the vessel. Police technical experts in the overseas port carried out a forensic examination of the woman's cabin and took a number of items as evidence from the cabin, among them bed clothes, which will now be forwarded to gardai to assist them in their investigation. Meanwhile, gardai arrested a suspect in his 50s, whom the woman had identified to them, and he was brought to Wexford Garda Station. He was questioned under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act for several hours before being released without charge. A Garda spokesman said gardai would prepare a file on the matter which they hope to forward to the DPP in the coming weeks. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican and staunch President Donald Trump ally, pushed other Republicans to vote in favor of limiting the president's authority in the military confrontation with Iran, drawing ire from the president and other Republicans in Congress, according to aides and emails. "Reclaiming Congressional power is the Constitutional conservative position!" Devin Murphy, the legislative director for the Florida Republican, wrote to all Republican offices around 11 a.m. Thursday, underlining the text, according to the email obtained by The Washington Post. The message, arguing for Republicans to buck the president, ended: "We WILL be voting in favor of H. Con. Res. 83, and hope you will do the same!" It was a risky move that surprised the president and showed rare fissures in a Republican Party that Trump has firmly controlled. Trump fiercely complained about Gaetz after aides informed Trump that his office had sent the email backing the resolution, which was pushed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Trump's team lobbied heavily against the nonbinding resolution. "The Trump administration was disappointed in the congressman's vote and is hopeful that as the president's foreign policy continues to unfold, he will reconsider his points of view," Eric Ueland, the head of legislative affairs for the White House, said in an interview. Gaetz and a spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gaetz, R-Fla., has been called "the Trumpiest Congressman in Trump's Washington," a judgment that he features proudly and prominently on his campaign homepage, along with quotes depicting him as "Trump's Best Buddy," "Trump's Ultimate Defender" and "Rising star of the Trumpian right." The 224-to-194 vote, which came a day after the administration's senior national security officials briefed lawmakers about the strike that killed a top Iranian commander, fell largely along party lines, with three Republicans and a Republican-turned-independent endorsing the resolution. Eight Democrats opposed the measure, which instructs Trump "to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government or military" unless Congress declares war or there is "an imminent armed attack upon the United States." Gaetz was one of three Republicans to support the measure. Other Republicans did not respond well to the overture from Gaetz's office, according to correspondence reviewed by The Post. A representative for Rep. Liz Cheney, the Wyoming Republican known for her hawkish views, responded to the email from Gaetz's office and said: "As an FYI, my boss, Ms. Cheney, will be standing with and supporting President Trump and voting against this unconstitutional, partisan resolution." A representative for Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., called Gaetz's email "a dig at the administration's lawful use of authority to kill the biggest single terrorist of the post-Cold War era." "If the position is that a nonbinding resolution is somehow reclaiming Congressional authority then it demonstrates how far we have truly fallen. In the meantime, this entire farce today deserves no conservative consideration," the legislative director for Perry wrote. An aide to Rep. Jackie Walorski simply sent all Republican offices Trump's tweet urging Republicans to vote against the resolution. A senior White House official said it was "super uncool" and "quite unwise" for Gaetz to push for limits on the president's authority. This person added that White House officials would not be returning Gaetz's phone calls, text messages, "smoke signals or his kneelings in the snow." Whether Trump takes revenge on the congressman, who has made hundreds of television appearances backing the president and is a frequent visitor at the White House, remains unclear. Trump is often transactional, current and former aides say, and there is likely a path for Gaetz to return to the proverbial tent. Gaetz, a lawyer whose district in the Florida Panhandle includes thousands of military and ex-military constituents in and around major military bases, is serving his second term in the House. He spent much of the day Friday defending his vote and praising Trump, saying his vote was about principles and not the president and citing friends of his in the military who were killed overseas. "This resolution offers no criticism of the president, no critique," he said on the House floor. "It doesn't criticize the president's attack on [Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem] Soleimani. I take a back seat to no member of this body when it comes to defending the president," he said. The email argued that Gaetz supported Trump but that Republicans should consider principles and not just their loyalty to the president. Describing the resolution, Gaetz's office used Trumpian punctuation: "It simply seeks to reclaim some of the Article 1 authority that we've ceded to the Executive over the past 20 years. (Sad!) It states that only Congress has the authority to declare war, and that Congress has not authorized military force against Iran." - - - The Washington Post's Fred Barbash and Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report. United Nations: India has paid its 2020 annual dues ahead of schedule to the cash-strapped world body earning its thanks. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres`s Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Friday thanked India for sending the payment. India paid on Friday the full amount of $23.4 million for this year for the general budget due only at the end of the month. India is the fourth country to pay up for this year and is the largest contributor so far. Very few countries pay their dues by the January-end deadline and there is a large list of countries in arrears from past years. Of the 193 members, 47 have not paid last year`s dues creating a cash crunch, according to Dujarric. Guterres has called it "the worst cash crisis facing the United Nations in nearly a decade." The UN is on an austerity mode curtailing several services and even the escalator at the Secretariat. The UN could not produce the full summary of the Security Council debate on Thursday at the end of the day because of the cutbacks. The General Assembly last month approved this year`s UN budget of $3 billion for its worldwide operations, a small increase from last year`s $2.9 billion outlay. It also switched to a system of annual budgets from the two-year budgets that had been in force. The UN has a separate, far larger budget for peacekeeping operations with a different fiscal year that runs July to June. It is $6.5 billion for the current year. Gov. Gavin Newsom announces $222-Billion state budget View Photos Update at 4:15 p.m.: Mother Lode Republican State Senator Andreas Borgeas reacted with concern for the big price tag for Governor Gavin Newsoms proposed fiscal year budget. As announced today by the governor it adds $5 million in spending and that expenditure is a big problem charges Boreas, who issued the following statement: The Governors proposed budget increases spending to an alarming $222.2 billion, said Senator Borgeas. We have seen Californias $21.5 billion surplus in Fiscal Year 2019-20 drop to an estimated $4 to $7 billion surplus in FY 2020-21, according to the Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) 2020 Fiscal Outlook. Should current trends continue, California may enter a recession in the next fiscal year. Therefore, Californias fiscal approach should be prudent and responsible, remembering that investments in infrastructure, disaster preparedness, transportation, housing and water are our most immediate concerns. In regard to wildfires, climate change and emergency preparedness Borgeas stated: The Governors investment in hiring more firefighters is a positive step towards reducing the threat of wildfires. However, protecting Californians from wildfire threats must also include forest management, home hardening, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) streamlining for emergency preparedness, and greater oversight of Investor Owned Utilities. The states record revenues can help communities in wildfire prone areas by offering tax credits for home hardening, forest management, and the reissuance of insurance policies. Original post at 3:05 p.m.: Sonora, CA Governor Gavin Newsom has released a $222-billion budget proposal for the new fiscal year. The Democratic governor submitted his 2020-21 State Budget proposal to the Legislature on Friday. Newsom defends against criticism from national naysayers in the wake of devastating wildfires, widespread power outages, and a soaring homeless population. He argues that California will continue to lead the nation when it comes to innovation. Californias economic growth has fueled the nations economy. As 2020 begins, Californias economy is the strongest in the nation and the fifth-largest in the world, stated Governor Newsom. Were eliminating debts, paying down pension liabilities, growing our reserve funds the largest ever at $21 billion and one out of every seven new U.S. jobs is in California. The governor is seeking a continued progressive agenda. His proposed budget increases spending by 2.3% or about $5 billion but also boosts state reserves for any economic downturn. Despite the progress weve made, there are deep, structural challenges that threaten our states future and demand our urgent attention. These problems our widespread affordability crisis, expanding homelessness crisis and catastrophic wildfires have been decades in the making and wont be fixed overnight. California is doing more than ever to tackle these challenges and this budget builds on that work with new investments and ideas to take on these longstanding issues. Newsoms budget promises reduced medical costs, climate change programs, wildfires, more restructuring of the criminal justice system and help for the homeless. On the issue of homelessness, were investing over a billion dollars yet again to address the issue that defines our times, according to Newsom. The governor also wants an expansion of education programs including giving $20,000 stipends to teachers at high needs schools for four years to the tune of $100 million. Saying it is worth the money, he adds, Its not that complicated. Train your teachers, make them the best, the brightest, incentivize. Another area funded in his budget extends health care to 27,000 older low-income immigrants who are in the country illegally. After releasing his draft budget, the California Farm Bureau Federation praised the governor for following through on his pledge to elevate issues affecting its members. President Jamie Johansson stated, The governors budget reinforces his commitment to rural California. The proposals contained in his draft budget reflect his concerns for the future of farmers, ranchers and the rural areas they support. As reported by Vicem Chairman Bui Hong Minh, after 120 years of development, Vietnams cement sector has now expanded its scale to over 100 million tonnes, with an annual export volume of 30 million tonnes. In 2019, Vicem raked in revenue of more than VND36 trillion (US$1.55 billion), posting profits of VND3.3 trillion (US$142.76 million), he said. Speaking at the event, Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha lauded Vicems development over recent years, emphasising that the corporation has effectively implemented the Governments directions in the task of guiding, regulating and stabilising the domestic market. To meet the requirements in the cause of innovation, industrialisation and modernisation, he asked Vicem to continue investing in the development of production capacity in accordance with the market planning and requirements, in addition to accelerating innovation and the application of scientific, technical and managerial advances, to thoroughly save resources, energy and fuel, and to protect the environment. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (third from left) presents the Government's Emulation Flag to Vicem. (Photo: VGP) An 11-year-old boy was behind a deadly school shooting in Mexico, local officials have announced. The youngster, named by the state governor as Jose Angel Ramos, arrived at his classroom on Friday in the school in Torreon, in the northern Mexico state of Coahuila, and told a fellow pupil: Today is the day. He then asked permission to go to the toilet before returning armed with two guns, the governor Miguel Angel Riquelme said. After he had shot dead a teacher and wounded six others, the sixth-grader fatally shot himself. Those injured five students and a teacher have been taken to hospital but would be discharged soon as their injuries are not life-threatening. 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 episode has shocked Mexico, which does not often see mass shootings in public places and where access to legal firearms is tightly controlled. The mayor of Torreon, Jorge Zermano, told local television: Its a tragedy. Its very, very sad that a boy of 11 can come to school with two guns. Mr Riquelme said Jose Angel did not have any behavioural problems at the school, a small private establishment called Collegio Cervantes. Recommended Star Wars honours hero student killed saving classmates in shooting His mother had died and he was at the time of the shooting living with his grandparents. On the day of the shooting, Jose Angel was wearing a t-shirt with the logo Natural Selection, the name of a video game where players battle to shoot and kill an invading alien species. Mr Riquelme suggested the 11-year-old had been influenced by video games and may have even tried to recreate it in real life, although studies show there is no evidence playing violent games impacts real world behaviour. The president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, offered his condolences to the relatives of the victims and said more needed to be done to strengthen family life and prevent such events from happening in future. A candle is lit during a vigil outside the school in Torreon (Reuters) Other officials said they would intensify a programme which sees every school pupils backpack searched each day as they enter the building. Although school shootings are rare in Mexico, the incident was reminiscent of another attack at a private school in Monterrey, 200 miles to the east of Torreon, in January 2017. There, a student at a private high school opened fire, killing a teacher and wounding two pupils before shooting himself dead. Danya Mendizabal, whose daughter is in 4th grade at Colegio Cervantes, said she was shocked by the killing. Colegio Cervantes has always distinguished itself as a very safe school of middle class kids, she said. The US and Australian governments are preparing a destabilisation campaign against the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, following his diplomatic recognition of China last September. The Pacific states diplomatic switch from Taiwan to China was a repudiation of Washington and Canberra. American and Australian officials had exerted considerable efforts to dissuade Sogavare from aligning with Beijing and reacted with fury to the decision. Vice President Mike Pence cancelled a scheduled meeting with Sogavare at a United Nations meeting, while Republican Senator Marco Rubio tweeted on September 17 that the US must push back against Beijings bullying and efforts to isolate Taiwan. He added that he would begin exploring ways to cut off ties with #SolomonIslands including potentially ending financial assistance & restricting access to U.S. dollars & banking. The day after Rubios threat to crash the Solomon Islands economy, the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs discussed the Pacific countrys diplomatic switch during hearings on US Interests in East Asia and the Pacific and the FY20 Budget. Republican congresswoman Ann Wagner described the Solomon Islands recognition of Beijing as a demoralising event and declared that the Sogavare government had just undermined US strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. She asked the US Agency for International Development official Gloria Steele whether Solomon Islands would receive American aid money in 2020. Steele said that we are reassessing our assistance to Solomon Islands. Wagner emphatically replied, good. The Sogavare government aims to capitalise on Chinas growing economic power and the international infrastructure projects being developed under its Belt and Road agenda. The Pacific country remains among the most impoverished in the world, with many of its 600,000 people remaining dependent on subsistence agriculture and lacking access to basic infrastructure, including electricity, transport and communications systems. At the same time, the Solomon Islands hopes that Beijing will serve as a counter-weight to Australian imperialismWashingtons junior partner and South Pacific hegemonallowing it greater room for diplomatic manoeuvres. In July, as the diplomatic switch to China was being prepared, Sogavare spoke with the Little Red Podcast. In remarks that he later protested had meant to be off the record, Sogavare said: To be honest, when it comes to economics and politics, Taiwan is completely useless to us. The prime minister explained that during a previous term in office, in 2006, Australia had sabotaged his governments decision to have Solomons police receive weapons training. I sent 40 police officers to go and train in Taiwan, he said. And you know what Australia did? The foreign affairs minister himself went to Taiwan and says: Stop the training, that area is ours. What Im saying is [that] if this was China, they wouldnt give a damn to Alexander Downer if he goes there and says: You stop, get out of here. Theyd say: Get the hell out of here. This is a sovereign decision made by a sovereign government. Sogavare expressed his admiration for the ability of Fijis military-dominated government to defy Australian diktats issued in recent years. Take Fiji, he said. They can flex their muscles and [say], You behave yourself. I have another friend [China] here. There is no reason to expect that the US and Australia will respect international law and accept the Solomon Islands recognition of China as a sovereign decision of its elected government. Around the world, US imperialism is on a violent rampage, attempting to offset its declining international economic standing by utilising its military superiority, with brazen disregard for legal and diplomatic norms. Washingtons efforts to counter Chinas growing challenge to its domination of the Asia-Pacific include denying the Asian power naval access to the Pacific Ocean. After World War II, US imperialism claimed the vast ocean as an American lake and worked with its junior allies, Australia and New Zealand, to ensure that no rival power gained any significant economic, infrastructure, or military foothold in the region. This is now under threat from China. In Solomon Islandswhere in 194243 the US fought the Battle of Guadalcanal, one of the bloodiest campaigns waged against Japanthe Sogavare government has signed onto Chinas Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Chinese firms are being invited to exploit the countrys gold and nickel reserves. The American media reacted with alarm to an agreement by the authorities in the province of Tulagi to lease a large island to a Chinese company to develop into a special economic zone. The agreement was rescinded by the Solomon Islands government. US officials in Solomon Islands have responded by stoking regional separatism, threatening to reignite the civil war that displaced tens of thousands of people between 1999 and 2003. In August, a team of American officials travelled to Malaita and met with the provinces separatist premier, Daniel Suidani. The contingent included members of the Department of State, Department of Defence, Department of Trade, as well as embassy and aid personnel. US intelligence agencies were no doubt also represented in the group. Unusually, the visit to Malaita was not accompanied by a single press release or social media post. A few weeks after the US visit, when Sogavare officially announced the diplomatic switch to Beijing, Malaitan Premier Daniel Suidani declared that he did not recognise the decision and would work to block Chinese investment in the province, the countrys most populous. Suidani issued an anti-communist, evangelical Christian appeal and helped organise a pro-Taiwan demonstration in Malaitas capital, Auki. He has vowed to accelerate his push to establish the island province as a separate nation. With extraordinary recklessness, the Trump administration is backing Suidanis campaign as a means of undermining the Sogavare government. American and Australian aid money is being used to finance a new port and supporting infrastructure at Bina Harbour, in western Malaita. This has been presented as supporting passenger and commercial ferry services but may have longer term military implications. Another American government delegation is due to again visit the province next month. Suidani boasted of US support in an interview with Reuters in November, explaining: Weve asked the US and Australia to be part of Malaita security so they can look after the province from Chinese developers. There has been no official response from Washington or Canberra to this unspecified appeal to contribute to Malaita security. The Australian government spent nearly $3 billion on its neo-colonial Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) takeover of the Pacific country between 2003 and 2017. The operation included a highly provocative campaign in 200607 to remove Sogavare as prime minister. This involved the illegal rendition of the then attorney general of Solomon Islands, Julian Moti, to Australia on trumped-up sexual assault allegations. Australias High Court subsequently permanently barred any criminal proceedings against the international lawyer, and the government was forced to issue a formal apology and pay Moti compensation. That Canberra is now readying a reprise of the regime change operation against Sogavare was indicated by an article in the Australian last month, headlined Solomons PM Sogavare urged to sack nephew adviser and consider quitting over cash request. Billed as an exclusive by Ben Packham, the newspapers foreign affairs and defence writer, the piece contained a series of unsubstantiated allegations against Sogavares chief-of-staff, Robson Djokovic, and Julian Moti. The Australian alleged that, in 2016, a consultancy company associated with Djokovic proposed to act on behalf of Axiom Mining, an Australian company that has since been kicked out of Solomon Islands, in exchange for a $700,000 consultancy fee. Julian Moti allegedly presented the offer. This was presented in the most sinister light, with the Australian falsely claiming that its story had rocked Solomon Islands politics. The article prominently quoted the countrys opposition leader Matthew Walewho is very close to Canberra and has opposed the diplomatic recognition of Beijingalleging corruption perpetrated at the highest level of government. No credence whatsoever should be lent to these allegations, given their source. Journalists at the Australian functioned as stenographers for the Australian government and foreign affairs department during the 200607 destabilisation campaign in Solomon Islands. They appear to be playing the same role now, as Canberra desperately seeks to maintain its role as the US-delegated gendarme of the South Pacific by again forcing Sogavare out of office. The author recommends: Australian High Court blocks frame-up charges against Moti [8 December 2011] WikiLeaks cables reveal US role in Australias regime change in Solomon Islands [14 September 2011] The victim of a hit-and-run whose mother turned detective to find CCTV of the crash has said the sentencing of the driver meant she could 'move on'. Gail Thompson was shocked when her daughter, Amber Carter-Thompson, 28, ended up in hospital with a broken tibia after a minicab driver crashed into her and drove off. Ms Carter-Thompson, from Sevenoaks, Kent, was crossing Wellingborough Road in Northampton at about late at night in April last year when the driver knocked into her. Amber Carter-Thompson (left), 28, was hit by a minicab which drove off after the crash, leaving her with a broken leg. Her mother, Gail Thompson (right), was forced to take matters into her own hands and track down CCTV footage of the crash when police didn't do anything for a week Ms Carter-Thompson, from Sevenoaks, Kent, was crossing Wellingborough Road in Northampton (pictured) late at night last April when the driver knocked into her She was taken to hospital in an ambulance, where police told her she could expect a phone call from them in the next couple of days. When they didn't call, her mother decided to take matters into her own hands and track down CCTV footage of the hit-and-run to catch the offender. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance and a cast was fitted on her leg (pictured) Arthur Desborough, 87, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and failing to stop. Desborough of Ashley Way, Northampton, was fined 633 and given eight points on his licence by town magistrates. Northamptonshire Police said the CCTV footage allowed them to identify the driver. Ms Carter-Thompson, from Sevenoaks, Kent, told The BBC: 'I am glad the court case is over so that I can move on from the ordeal. 'Accidents happen and I hold no grudges. 'I am grateful that I continue to have fantastic support from friends and family.' At the time of the incident in a post on Facebook her mother pleaded with anyone in the area who may have seen the crash. She said: 'Did anyone on the Wellingborough Road, Northampton, at about 10pm on Friday night see a minicab hit my daughter and drive off? 'She's now in hospital with a fractured tibia and has to have an operation to set it. 'Please share and catch this scumbag.' The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Friday it was seeking to fine Boeing Co $5.4 million (4.14 million), alleging it failed to prevent the installation of defective parts on 737 MAX airplanes. The FAA alleged Boeing "failed to adequately oversee its suppliers to ensure they complied with the company's quality assurance system, ... Boeing knowingly submitted aircraft for final FAA airworthiness certification after determining that the parts could not be used due to a failed strength test." The FAA proposed a $3.9 million civil penalty against ... Taiwanese re-elected President Tsai Ing-wen by a landslide on Saturday, a stern rebuke to China which has tried both military threats and economic inducements to get the island to accept its rule, and potentially ushering in further tension with Beijing, Trend reports citing Reuters. China and the months of anti-government unrest in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong took center stage in the campaign. Tsai held out Taiwan as a beacon of hope for protesters in the former British colony, and firmly rejected Beijings offer to Taiwan of the one country, two systems model. China claims Taiwan as its sacred territory, to be taken by force if needed, a threat Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated year ago, though said he preferred a peaceful solution. One country, two systems, which provides for a high degree of autonomy, much as Beijing uses in Hong Kong, has never been popular in Taiwan, and is even less so now after the months of protests in Hong Kong. China made itself even more unpopular in Taiwan in the run-up to the election by twice sailing its newest aircraft carrier through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, denounced by Taipei as an effort at military intimidation. We hope that the Beijing authorities can understand that a democratic Taiwan with a government chosen by the people will not give in to threats and intimidation, Tsai told reporters after her victory. Beijing needs to understand the will of Taiwans people, and that only Taiwans people can decide its future, she added. Tsai beat her main opponent Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang party, which favors close ties with China, by more than 2.6 million votes. In total she won almost 8.2 million votes in all, more than any Taiwan president before since the island held its first direct presidential election in 1996. Speaking in the southern city of Kaoshiung where he is mayor, Han, who had to fend off constant accusations from Tsai on the campaign trail that he and his party were puppets of Beijing, said he had called Tsai to offer his congratulations. No matter what happens, I still hope to see a united Taiwan after we wake up, Han said, accompanied by a swell of mournful music on stage. I urge President Tsai Ing-wen to focus on giving people a life where they can live safely and happily. Han did not mention China in his concession speech and canceled a planned news conference. He had said Taiwan could only be safe and prosperous if it had good relations with Beijing. People have been stirred up by the Hong Kong situation and that deceived many people into voting for Tsai, said Han supporter Huang Lu-lu, 38, clutching a Taiwan at what was supposed to be a victory rally for Han in Kaohsiung. After his brief speech, the glum crowds dispersed, some crying. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the demise of renowned historian Dr. M Chidananda Murthy at the age of 88 due to prolonged illness. Taking to Twitter, he said, "Dr. M Chidananda Murthy was a doyen of culture and literature. His passion towards Kannada language was noteworthy and so were his efforts to preserve unique aspects of our rich history. His demise is saddening. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti." Chidanadamurthy passed away earlier in the day in Bengaluru. He breathed his last at around 4:oo am. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Congress leader Siddaramaiah and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy also condoled the demise of the scholar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukraine plane crash Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Iran admitted early Saturday that it shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet that had just left Tehran. However, its foreign minister immediately said that the US also bore responsibility. In a tweet published moments after the admission, Javad Zarif blamed the error on "a time of crisis caused by US adventurism." The jet was shot down hours after Iran launched missiles at US troops in Iraq, itself a retaliation for the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Iran's foreign minister blamed "US adventurism" for causing the Iranian military to shoot down a Ukrainian passenger plane with 176 people on board. Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter that the United States created the conditions in which Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps accidentally launched a missile at Ukrainian Airlines flight 752. The jet was shot down, leaving no survivors, not long after Iran launched a missile bombardment at Iraqi military bases housing Iraqi, US, and coalition troops. The strike caused no casualties. It was a response to US President Donald Trump ordering the assassination by drone strike of General Qassem Soleimani, who was the most prominent and revered commander of Iran's military. Iranian officials initially blamed the crash on mechanical error aboard the plane, which was operated by Ukrainian International Airlines and was on its way to Kyiv. However, not long after dawn in Tehran, officials in Iran published the conclusions of a preliminary investigation in which Iran's armed forces admitted shooting down the jet, and apologized. Read the original article on Business Insider Advertisement The Iranian missile operator who shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing 176, opened fire because his communications jammed and he thought he had only seconds to take out an incoming cruise missile, a Revolutionary Guards commander has said. Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, said on Saturday the operator had mistaken the Boeing 737 for a U.S. cruise missile responding to Iranian ballistic missile attacks, and only had ten seconds to decide whether or not to open fire. 'I wish I had died, and I wouldn't have seen such an incident,' Hajizadeh said somberly at a press conference. He claimed that a 'request had been made to clear the sky from civil flights at that time, but it did not happen due to reservations.' For days, Iran vehemently denied that it was responsible for downing Flight 752 from Tehran to Kyiv on January 8, accusing the U.S. of spreading malicious propaganda and lies for suggesting such a scenario. On Saturday night, furious protests broke out across Tehran demanding the resignation of the Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei over the spectacular blunder and cover-up. At least 130 Iranian citizens were killed in the incident. Hajizadeh claimed that the country's top military leaders were not initially aware that their own air defense system had shot the plan down, leading to confusion. Now the country has come clean, but still blames 'US adventurism' for the fatal 'error'. Scroll down for video 'I wish I had died, and I wouldn't have seen such an incident,' said a somber Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the Guards' aerospace commander, at a press conference. Iran admitted that it shot down Flight 752, thinking the plane was a missile Hajizadeh displays a diagram showing how the air defense operator believed the civilian flight was a cruise missile inbound for a key Revolutionary Guards base, and fired on it when he was unable to reach headquarters after comms jammed Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 plane wreckage is seen in a picture from investigation team released today Part of a missile is seen at the crash site. The debris of the Boeing 737 was removed from the crash site near Tehran before Ukrainian investigators arrived, sparking fears of a cover-up. An object, said to be the Ukrainian jetliner flying in sky at the moment of explosion, was also seen (right) People pay tribute near portraits of crew members of the Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday, after Iran acknowledged Relatives of one of the flight crew members of the Ukrainian 737-800 plane that crashed on the outskirts of Tehran, stand at a memorial inside Borispil international airport outside Kyiv on Saturday Slide me Satellite images show the crash site before and after the crash that killed 176 people 'The delay in releasing information was not aimed at hiding the issue but it is the routine drill that the General Staff should study the case (first); and all information was collected on Friday morning after studies and what had happened became clear then,' Hajizadeh said. On Saturday night in Tehran, angry crowds gathered chanting 'death to liars' and calling for the country's supreme leader to step down over the tragic military blunder, video from the scene shows. What began as mournful vigils for Iranian lives lost on the flight quickly turned to outrage and protest against the regime, and riot police quickly responded with tear gas in an attempt to break up the protests. Flight 752 was carrying 176 people, at least 130 of them Iranian citizens, when it was shot down. There were no survivors. Iran for days claimed that a technical failure caused the crash, before admitting on Saturday that its own surface-to-air missiles brought the plane down. Iran was on high alert at the time, hours after launching ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq in a strike that caused no casualties. That missile strike was in retaliation for a U.S. operation that killed powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani Iranians protest against the government after a vigil held for the victims of Flight 752 turned into an anti-government protest outside Amirkabir University in Tehran, Iran Iranians shout slogans against the government after a vigil held for the victims of the airplane of Ukrainian International Airlines that crashed near Imam Khomeini Airport turned into an anti-government protest outside Amirkabir University The regime quickly cracked down on the protests with tear gas and water cannons On Saturday afternoon, candlelight vigils at universities in Tehran for the victims of Flight 752 began to turn to protests against the regime. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani extended condolences to the families of those killed in the incident, and promised that those responsible would be prosecuted. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake... My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences,' Rouhani said in a statement on Saturday. He said that 'the terrible catastrophe should be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible for this unforgivable mistake will definitely be identified and prosecuted'. A military statement published by the country's state TV said it mistook the aircraft for an enemy target and 'unintentionally' fired at the plane on Tuesday, killing 176. Iran's foreign minister blamed 'US adventurism' Officials said the plane 'took the flying posture and altitude of an enemy target' as it neared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps base and soldiers did not recognize it as a passenger airliner. The statement read: 'Under these circumstances, because of human error, [the plane] came under fire.' But the country's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said 'US adventurism' was to blame for Iran shooting down the plane, a week after an American drone killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. Zarif wrote: 'A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. 'Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.' Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei also offered condolences to the families, as he called for an investigation and ordered the military to address 'shortcomings' on Saturday morning. Video of the crash show the Boeing 737 flying through the night sky when it suddenly explodes into flames before falling to the ground several feet below Pictured: an official inspects a piece of plane debris in Tehran, Iran, the morning after the Ukrainian passenger plane was 'unintentionally' shot down Iran had denied for several days that two missiles downed the aircraft. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft. The crash site has since been cleared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed French specialists would help decode the black boxes of the plane, Zelenskiy's office said today. Macron told Zelenskiy in a telephone call France had started a formal procedure to launch an international investigation into the crash, Zelenskiy's office said in a statement, adding that Macron had agreed to visit Kiev. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces. Iran denied for several days two of its missiles downed the aircraft, but the US and Canada said they believed Iran shot it amid mounting tensions with the US. Ali Rabiei, an Iranian government spokesman previously said the claim Iran fired at the plane was a 'big lie' and the accusations were 'psychological warfare' against Tehran. He said in a statement: 'The United States is making the pain of the families worse. 'It is unfortunate that the psychological operation of the US government and those supporting it are adding insult to the injury of the bereaved families and victimising them for certain goals by propagating such fallacies. 'No one will assume responsibility for such a big lie once it is known that the claim had been fraudulent.' Officials also pushed back against the Western account, saying the plane would have exploded if it was truly hit by a missile. The wreckage of the Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 was littered with holes (pictured) in new photographs Pictured: Emergency crews and rescuers stand near a massive piece of place debris on Wednesday Holes are seen in the Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 plane wreckage in a picture from investigation team released today Loved ones gathered at The University of Windsor on Saturday to attend a memorial service dedicated to five students among 63 Canadians, who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash Among the large number of deceased Canadians, 82 Iranians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three Britons died when the Ukrainian passenger plane was downed by two missiles Iran officials had instead pushed the idea the plane suffered a technical malfunction mid-air, which caused it to crash. The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization said: 'The plane, which was initially headed west to leave the airport zone, turned right following a problem and was headed back to the airport at the moment of the crash. 'The plane disappeared from radar screens the moment it reached 8,000 feet. The pilot sent no radio message about the unusual circumstances. 'According to eyewitnesses, a fire was seen on board the plane which grew in intensity.' Iranian President Hassan Rouhani publicly addressed the revelation on Twitter, saying an internal investigation has found the missiles were launched and the country regrets the 'disastrous mistake.' 'Armed Forces' internal investigation has now concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake,' he wrote. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences.' A rescue worker at the site shows photographs which were recovered at the crash site On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that American lives were possibly saved after it issued a notice barring U.S. civilian planes from flying over Iran and Iraq. Rescue workers at the site recovered the bodies of victims on Wednesday (above) Ukraine International Airlines President Yevhenii Dykhne said on Saturday he never doubted that the airline had not caused the crash of its passenger plane in Iran. Eleven Ukrainians, including nine crew members, died in the plane crash that killed 176 people on Wednesday, according to Ukrainian government figures. Dykhne wrote a statement on social media after Iran said it had mistakenly shot down the plane. It said: 'We didn't doubt for a second that our crew and our plane couldn't be the cause for this horrible plane crash. 'These were our best guys and girls. The best.' It comes after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday doubled down on the intelligence information that pointed towards missiles being fired. 'We do believe that it's likely that the plane was shot down by an Iranian missile,' Pompeo said during a White House briefing announcing new sanctions against Iran. 'We're going to let the investigation play out before we make a final determination. It's important that we get to the bottom of it.' Pompeo was the first US official to publicly confirm the intelligence judgments. Bodies of the victims are laid out in body bags as the crash site is cleared Rescue workers and emergency crews searched the crash site where Ukrainian jet was accidentally shot down by the Iranian military after mistaking the aircraft for a hostile target Bulldozers clean up debris at the crash site on Wednesday, just hours after the Ukraine International Airlines jet came down Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement on Twitter following the recent revelations, calling the incident a 'national tragedy' and calling the Iranian government to cooperate. 'Tonight, Iran acknowledged that Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by its own armed forces,' he said. 'Our focus remains closure, accountability, transparency, and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims. This is a national tragedy, and all Canadians are mourning together. We will continue working with our partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation, and the Canadian government expects full cooperation from Iranian authorities.' Trudeau called for a full investigation into the matter 'to be convinced beyond all doubt.' He said: 'We recognize that this may have been done accidentally. The evidence suggests very clearly a possible and probable cause for the crash.' Justin Trudeau revealed in a tweet that he met with the Minister of National Defense, Harjit Sajjan, and Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francois-Philippe Champagne, to discuss the latest on investigation developments Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement following Iran's admission, saying: 'We will continue working with our partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation, and the Canadian government expects full cooperation from Iranian authorities' Before Iran's admission, Trudeau revealed he met with the Minister of National Defense Harjit Sajjan and Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne to discuss the latest on investigation developments. A memorial service was held at The University of Windsor on Saturday to honor five students who were among the 63 Canadians killed. The Federal Aviation Administration also revealed on Friday American lives were possibly saved after it issued a notice barring US civilian planes from flying over Iran and Iraq. The FAA confirmed to DailyMail.com it published a 'notice to airmen' (NOTAM) warning of potential hazards along the flight routes in the area just three hours before the plane was shot down. 'Our NOTAMs were published roughly three hours before the accident,' a spokesperson for the FAA told Washington Free Beacon. The notice specified 'flight restrictions that prohibit US civil aviation operators from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, and the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. 'The FAA will continue closely monitoring events in the Middle East,' the NOTAM said. 'We continue coordinating with our national security partners and sharing information with US air carriers and foreign civil aviation authorities.' When the FAA was asked if the order saved American lives, an official from the agency said it would not 'speculate on what effect [the notice] might have had'. But one senior congressional official who is familiar with airlines issues said that the order 'may well have saved American lives'. 'Iran is not a normal country, and they regularly act in reckless and unprofessional ways,' said the congressional source. 'The FAA showed vigilance and competence in publishing the NOTAMs when they did, and they may well have saved American lives.' The FAA's ban remains in effect. Iran cleared up the crash site where the passenger jet came down and, before admitting its responsibility on Friday, said it wanted to handle the black box data itself. Bulldozers have been operating at the crash site before Ukrainian investigators even arrived - sparking fears of an Iranian cover-up A large piece of debris is towed away by a bulldozer, with the crash site now unsupervised and left open to scavengers Iranian authorities said they recovered the crashed plane's black box, or flight recorder, from the scene, but the devices sustained a level of damage because of the incident The general was the architect of Iran's shadow warfare and military expansion in the Middle East The debris of the Boeing 737 has been removed from the crash site near Tehran before Ukrainian investigators even arrived, sparking fears of an alleged cover-up. Iranian officials initially denied the debris had been bulldozed despite several instances of photographic evidence. Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran's ambassador to Britain, called the notion 'absolutely absurd'. Authorities in Iran said they recovered the plane's flight recorder, known as a black box, from the crash scene but they sustained damage from the crash and fire. There was a possibility pertinent information stored electronically in them had been lost, but investigators could access some useful data from the impaired devices. Ukraine was granted access to the black box, Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Friday. Tehran says it is 'opening' the flight recorders today but has indicated it will not allow the US government to analyze their contents. Washington and its allies believe that the plane was shot down by two Iranian missiles which were launched just minutes after the airliner took off. It was feared that Iranian forces may have mistaken the passenger plane for a military jet, hours after Iran launched missile strikes on US bases in Iraq. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who normally sides with President Trump, announced earlier Thursday that he planned to vote alongside the Democrats President Trump encouraged all House Republicans to vote against the Democrats War Powers Resolution in an a.m. tweet Tensions between Iran and the US flared after an airstrike killed Qassem Soleimani, a top military leader in Iran, outside the Baghdad International Airport on January 3. Trump said in a press conference Soleimani was killed to prevent a war, adding that the commander was plotting 'imminent and sinister' attacks against Americans. 'We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war,' the president said in brief remarks at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to 224-194 to limit President Trump's ability to wage war with Iran. The vote on the War Powers Resolution saw Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican and top Trump ally, voting with the Democrats. 'If our service members have the courage to fight and die in these wars, Congress ought to have the courage to vote for or against them. I'm voting for this resolution,' Gaetz said. Trump had encouraged House Republicans to vote against it. 'Hope that all House Republicans will vote against Crazy Nancy Pelosi's War Powers Resolution. Also, remember her 'speed & rush' in getting the Impeachment Hoax voted on & done. Well, she never sent the Articles to the Senate. Just another Democrat fraud. Presidential Harassment!,' the president tweeted. On Wednesday, on the heels of a Congressional briefing on the president's decision to kill Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Pelosi announced that the vote would come Thursday. 'The House will move forward with a War Powers Resolution to limit the president's military actions regarding Iran,' Pelosi said. The speaker also left the door open for future resolutions, including one that would repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force, and one that wouldn't allow any money to fund military actions in Iran not authorized by Congress. Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is extremely dismayed by the unfair and politically motivated sentence of one year in jail and a fine of three million shilling (US$300) against Horn Cable TV editor, Abdikadir Saleban Asayr (Coday) overspreading propaganda against Egal International Airport by the Hargeisa-based Marodi Jeh Regional Court on Saturday 11 January, 2020. The journalists colleagues, who were at the court told SJS that early on Saturday editor Abdikadir Saleban Asayr (Coday) was taken to the court where the government attorney read a charge sheet accusing the journalist of spreading propaganda against Egal International Airport. The government attorney was referring a news report on 2 November, 2019 about an air safety related incident involving Flydubai, a UAE-owned airline which reportedly complained against the services at Hargeisas Egal International Airport. Colleague journalists said the court hastily announced its verdict on Saturday. Lawyers representing Mr. Coday said they were preparing to appeal against the verdict. Editor Abdikadir Saleban Asayr (Coday) was arrested on 18 November, 2019. A day later (19 November), Marodi Jeh Regional Court approved police request to remand him in custody for seven days and has remained in jail since. SJS is also concerned about the journalists health condition as he is reported to be suffering from cardiac problems and hypertension, according to colleagues and a member of his family. We are saddened to learn about the one year jail sentence and the fine of three million shilling against our colleague journalist Abdikadir Saleban Asayr (Coday) in Hargeisa by Marodi Jeh Regional Court. It is regrettable, despite Somalilands Constitution clearly guarantees freedom of the press, that still such scenarios continue to happen, said Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS). SJS calls Somaliland authorities to quash this unfair verdict and unconditionally free journalist Abdikadir Saleban Asayr (Coday), Mr. Mumin adds. Abdikadir becomes the second journalist languishing in Somaliland jails after Abdimalik Muse Oldon who is currently serving three and half years jail term sentenced to him in July last year. Separately, Somalias police on Wednesday 8 January, 2020, detained privately-owned CNA TV journalist, Ahmed Abdi Adawe in Mogadishu while six other journalists namely: Abdullahi Mohamed Sheikhdon (CNA TV); Farhan Mohamed Hussein (Radio Kulmiye); Mohamed Dalal (Radio Kumiye); Ali Elmi Salad (Radio Kulmiye); Mohamed Osman Gurey (Al-Jazeera Arabic) were their cameras confiscated and their footage deleted by the police following a deadly car bomb near the countrys Parliament. Reuters photojournalist Feisal Omar and Al-Jazeera Arabic freelance cameraman, Mohamed Osman Gurey also said they were attacked by the police. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe In case you hadn't noticed all the people calling out sick, health officials are reminding people that we're in the heart of flu season. Looking statewide, California isn't faring worse this flu season than it has in years past -- so far. "Right now things are looking like similar to what we have seen in usual flu seasons," said Dr. James Watt, chief of the division of communicable disease control with the California Department of Public Health. But that's not the case in Los Angeles County, which is "experiencing high levels of influenza activity," according to an advisory issued Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu is turning up at a rate higher than the peak of all but one of the last five influenza seasons, according to the county's most recent "Influenza Watch" update. That's also the case for the rate of ER visits for influenza-like illnesses in the county. The only recent season that saw a higher rate for flu and ER visits was the 2017-18 season, which was particularly severe. While the statewide situation is not cause for alarm, we are still in the middle of flu season, so the disease "is circulating widely throughout the state right now," Watt said. The state says there have been 70 influenza-related deaths in California since September. So far, the main culprits nationally are the B/Victoria and A(H1N1) strains and that's true in California, too. The B strains are more likely to affect children, while A(H1N1) primarily impacts older folks. Doctors say this season's flu vaccine is mostly effective against the strains that are circulating, although it's not clear yet if the vaccine will prove successful at fighting certain substrains of the B/Victoria virus. "There are a couple different substrains of that [B/Victoria] virus that are circulating," said Watt. "Some of those substrains are very similar to what's in the vaccine, some of them appear to be a little bit different, but we don't know yet whether that difference will translate into any reduced effectiveness of the vaccine." THERE'S STILL TIME FOR A FLU SHOT Doctors and health officials say there's still time to get a flu shot; they recommend vaccination for anyone older than six months. Neha Nanda, hospital epidemiologist with Keck Medicine of USC, is urging her patients to get vaccinated -- not just for themselves -- but for the greater good. "Because if we reach a certain threshold of herd immunity, our immunocompromised group -- our transplant patients, our stem cell transplant patients -- they are at a lower risk for influenza," she said. Allison Hill assumes the role of CEO of the American Booksellers Association on March 1, taking over from Oren Teicher, who retired in November after 10 years in the job. Hill is moving to the position from Vromans Bookstore in Pasadena, Calif., where she was president and CEO. Unsurprisingly, Hill credits a book with leading her to pursue the job. Two years ago, I was reading Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett, which asks you to use design principles to envision three different paths to your future, Hill said. One path was to own Vromans one day, one was to leave the industry entirely, and the third was to be CEO of the ABA. And here we are today! Hill, who is from suburban Detroit, has held numerous positions in publishing and bookselling, on both coasts. After graduating from Tufts University in the early 1990s, she went to work for Simon & Schuster in the textbook division in Boston, where she focused on rights and licensing and became a series editor responsible for putting together multicultural anthologies for universities. That was a very interesting and gratifying job, she said. Looking for a change, Hill took a part-time sales job at Waterstones, which then had three stores in the Boston area. I said, Ill do this while I figure out what Im going to do next, she recalled. But I fell in love with bookselling immediately. Hill eventually rose to the position of assistant manager of the Waterstones flagship store but left before the chain shut down U.S. operations. It really was a special time for bookselling in Boston, with Waterstones, Doubleday [Book Shops], Rizzoli, and so many others that are now gone, she said. I am still in touch with many people from that time, many of whom still work in books. She mentions Sara Hinckley, senior v-p of books for the Hudson Group, as a fellow Waterstones veteran and someone with whom shes collaborated, having put Vromans pop-up stores inside Hudson outlets at LAX airport. When Hill headed to California, she thought she was done with the industry. Then she walked in to Book Soup in West Hollywood to buy a book. Someone came over to ask if I needed anything, she said, and I replied, I think I need an application. She was hired as general manager. In 2004, Hill was recruited to become general manager of Vromans, made v-p and COO in 2007, and was named president and CEO in 2013. Under her watch, Vromans was the recipient of Publishers Weeklys Bookstore of the Year Award in 2008. Shell remain a member of the board of directors and a shareholder of the company while working at the ABA. Hill said that despite her long pedigree in bookselling, she hasnt previously been too involved with the ABA. She is the former treasurer and v-p of the now-defunct Southern California Independent Booksellers Association and is a former member of ABAs Booksellers Advisory Council. She is also the most recent past president of the Independent Booksellers Consortium. She acknowledged that her experience has primarily been working with larger-format stores, which are a minority among ABA members. The demographics of bookselling are changing, and our growth as an organization has been driven for the most part by the opening of small stores, Hill said. Its both a very exciting and a very challenging time for the organization right now. I think we need to change the conversation we are having in bookselling. As an organization we have to ask who we are and what we do best. I think its pretty clear now that we are not, at the end of the day, just in the business of selling books. Hill explained that with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other retailers offering books, people go to independent bookstores for something specific. The question I like to ask my staff at Vromans is, What is it that we offer that others dont? and What are customers in the market for? Thats a question I plan to pose to the ABA as a whole. The short answer, Hill said, is that booksellers are in the business of community. To develop this further, booksellers need to seek out opportunities to reinforce that value and ensure we are meeting the communitys needs, she added. She views bricks-and-mortar bookselling as a delicate ecosystem that balances the priorities of booksellers, publishers, and customers. As for the competition, regarding Amazon she said only, Im not sure that the typical Amazon customer is our customer. As for B&N, she said that James Daunt taking over leadership of the chain is a net positive for bookselling. It infuses new energy into the ecosystem. And regardless of how he chooses to proceed, and regardless of whether we think of each other as partners or competitors, the reality is that were all in this together. The first thing Hill plans to do in her new job is to try to find out just how many ABA stores are truly profitable, how many are just getting by, and how many are at risk. Then I want to address the ways in which the business model might beI lack a better word herebroken, she said. I think youll be hearing a lot about our conversations with publishersnot to ask them for things, but recognizing what both parties bring to the table. I think that will be an important shift in the dialogue. In the meantime, between now and March 1, Hill has one other goal: move her life across the country from Los Angeles to Westchester County, N.Y., where the ABA is based. Ive bought long underwear and a winter coat, she said, adding, And so the adventure begins! Welcome to 2020! As we begin a new decade, the challenges of understandable healthcare issues will continue to be a major stress in our lives. The election cycle adds confusion when clarity is preferred. Most of us, however, dont understand our health care benefits until we need them whether it is workers compensation, commercial, liability, traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage. As each employer has their yearly renewal, the plans change as premiums are addressed which can result in higher deductibles and out of pocket expenses. Alternative plans, such as a health savings account, are discussed, but the question should be asked: What does this really mean to the patient? As we tackle fun topics for 2020, we will continue to address the how this works and what does this mean for many issues within healthcare. Stay tuned! We wont be bored. New community outreach boot camps The Patient Financial Navigator Foundation is thrilled to announce a second boot camp program beginning in 2020! It is all about our veterans. The first 2020 Veterans Health Insurance Benefit Options Turning 65 Boot Camp will be held 6 to 8 p.m. March 10 at the College of Southern Idaho Fine Arts Building. Topics will include the overview of veterans health care benefits, new program updates, a case study of real situations who is the primary payer, Medicare 101, community outreach programs plus Veteran Advocacy groups. Health care experts will share their expertise at the 2020 Medicare 101, Social Security Benefits and Assistance for Seniors Boot Camp from 8 a.m. to noon at the CSI Fines Arts Building. Programs are free, and all ages are welcome. All class material will be posted on PFNFinc.com prior to each boot camp. Hope to see you there! Day Egusquiza is the president and founder of the Patient Financial Navigator Foundation Inc. All historic articles and training material are available on the foundations webpage: PFNFinc.com. The foundation is an Idaho-based, family foundation formed in 2017. Call 208-423-9036 for more information. Do you have a topic for Health Care Buzz? Send it to daylee1@mindspring.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Lisa Snowdon has revealed the secret to her natural beauty is an 800 non-surgical skin-tightening treatment - but admitted sometimes she still thinks 'this is the week I'll get it all lifted up'. The model and television presenter, 47, spends hundreds of pounds on acupuncture and various facials to maintain her youthful visage, and admitted it can often amount to at least 300 every six weeks. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Lisa - who is undertaking Japanuary instead of veganuary or dry January this year, spoke candidly about entering her menopausal years, dealing with 'hideous night sweats' and 'accepting ageing'. Lisa Snowdon EXCLUSIVE: The model, 47, has revealed the secret to her natural beauty is an 800 non-surgical skin-tightening treatment When asked what advice she might have for other women - on the countdown to her 48th birthday later this month - she admitted: 'Drink lots of water, have good sleep and you can do a lot for yourself by accepting ageing. 'Its not always easy. Sometimes I look in the mirror and think this is the week Ill get it all lifted up. 'Exercise makes me feel good so I stop picking holes in myself. Exercise can improve massively how you feel on a day to day basis. Get out and move. 'Movement is medicine. You dont worry about those lines. You look in the mirror and buy an eye cream instead. Is that vanity? I don't know.' Youthful: The model and television presenter, 47, spends hundreds of pounds on acupuncture and various facials Lisa, who counts George Clooney among her exes, revealed she goes to Dr Galyna Selezneva at Dr Rita Rakus clinic in Knightsbridge for an 800 course of UltraCel skin tightening. She added: 'It's expensive I know but so worth it. I have hydrafacials from 260. They have an amazing selection of machines. 'Also Lisa Franklin does the most wonderful facial. So skin tightening and facials... between the two I'm very lucky and I need them both in my life. Beauty: In an exclusive interview with MailOnline Lisa spoke candidly about entering her menopausal years, dealing with 'hideous nightsweats' and 'accepting ageing' 'Repare and renew is a bespoke treatment with lots of lymphatic drainage.' The This Morning fashion expert has 175-a-pop facial acupuncture sessions and her visits to Lisa Franklin add up to 150 a treatment. Lisa has managed to avoid undergoing any actual surgery - despite some celebrities in their 20s admitting to having botox to avoid future wrinkles - but is an avid believer in 'each to their own'. She added: 'The craze is finishing now. I still see people who are young that do it.' Perhaps alluding to a recent trend for lip fillers, she said: 'It's certain makeup trends where I dont judge people. Healthy: When asked what advice she might have for other women - on the countdown to her 48th birthday later this month - she admitted: 'You can do a lot by accepting ageing' 'I think that for me its about skin tone and texture. Luckily Ive got good skin. 'My mum and dad have good skin so I had a base to start from. Exercise helps to build collagen, I do a lot of treatments and non-surgical things.' The star went on to admit she has been battling her first months of the menopause, and often gets night sweats, 'raging hot flushes', food cravings and bouts of anger. She said: 'Its really unfair. I love being a woman and if I could come back in another life I would be a woman. But we have to deal with a lot of extra stuff.' Lisa has previously spoken about dealing with hormones that were 'all over the place' and left her feeling suddenly angry. 'When I was younger I couldnt put my finger on what it was, if youre lucky enough to have regular cycles you can work out the patterns,' she added. Ageing gracefully: Lisa, who counts George Clooney among her exes, revealed she goes to Dr Galyna Selezneva at Dr Rita Rakus clinic in Knightsbridge for an 800 course of UltraCel (pictured in 2004) 'That was the period. Now mine have stopped and the hot flushes are coming back its hard to know what to do. 'Our hormones are all different. Theyre all over the place. Theyre constantly changing. Its quite tricky. 'The night sweats are hideous. You get really hot and icy cold and cant warm up that quickly so the hormones are bouncing around.' She expressed sympathy with the other women she sees rapidly removing layers of clothing as they go through a hot flush while on the tube in London. 'Youre just trying to hold it down. When I get on the tube and Im bundled in scarves and coats and I have a raging flush and Im trying to get everything off,' she said. 'You see other women getting their tissues out and wiping their brows. It is an ongoing situation I havent quite grasped.' Successful: The This Morning fashion expert has 175-a-pop facial acupuncture sessions and her visits to Lisa Franklin add up to 150 a treatment Despite being hopeful for a future without hormone-related mood swings, Lisa is 'worried' about a life without a period. She added: 'I know the menopause will stop one day and thats piece of mind. But I still want my period. Its not a fertility issue but I always had it. 'It seems weird for it to stop. The things Im worried about is bone density and osteoporosis. 'When the hormones dip other things can occur. Im doing weight lifting to help. Its another stage that Im embracing.' Lisa currently deals with the changes in her hormones by starting her day at 5am and heading to the gym for a workout. She revealed she gets up at the same time as her fiance George Smart, 40, and the pair work up a sweat with separate trainers. She revealed: 'I did a 6am gym workout this morning. George and I work out together at the same time with different trainers. We get out at 5am and do what we need to do.' Hormonal: The star went on to admit she has been battling her first months of the menopause, and often gets night sweats, 'raging hot flushes', food cravings and bouts of anger The couple first met 18 years ago before being reintroduced and falling in love in 2015. She gushed: 'Hes very supportive. We have a lot of respect for each other. Theres that love, respect, support and we feel like a team which I havent had before.' On potential bust ups she said: 'I sometimes say I dont agree and he says he thinks something else but we never get angry. 'Hes the calm one, I get angry. We talk about stuff, we communicate. Its about being honest, transparent and you can work things out. 'Every day hes the most loving, attentive, supportive person ever. Weve both been through relationships that didnt serve us in the best way or at the time. 'We went full circle and its about fate and timing.' 'A team': Lisa revealed she deals with the hormones by getting up at the same time as her fiance George Smart, 40, and working up a sweat with her personal trainer Lisa and George have been engaged for three years, with George popping the question with a diamond sparkler while they were enjoying a quiet Sunday at home in 2017. And the couple want an equally low-key wedding, as Lisa revealed it could happen at any moment. She said: 'I want to marry George but do I want to spend a fortune? No. We may do it in a registry office or where the moment takes us but we haven't got any plans.' Lisa would rather spend money on a new roof or a boiler, rather than 'wasting' it on a wedding. Sweet: Lisa and George have been engaged for three years, with George popping the question with a diamond sparkler while they were enjoying a quiet Sunday at home in 2017 But she added: 'Watch this space. We know this is for keeps and nothing is going to change it.' Last week Lisa posted a message on Instagram revealing she sometimes craves 'a family of my own', despite admitting 'it is too late' for her to have her own children. She told MailOnline: 'I didnt have kids and that decision was made for me. I wasnt with the right people so I didnt want to bring a child into a relationship where I wasnt happy or would have to do it by myself. 'Im quite fortunate that I came to terms with not having my own family but that doesnt stop me when looking at Instagram. 'FOMO': Last week Lisa posted a message on Instagram revealing she sometimes craves 'a family of my own', despite admitting 'it is too late' to have her own children 'It didnt happen for me. Its too late for me. Ive come to terms with that. Im sad for people that cant come to terms with it, my heart breaks for them. Its the maternal instinct that will never go.' But Lisa is really close to her nephews and nieces; Filey, 8, Willow, 6, Rudie 3, Sidney, 3, and Stella, six months, and loves that she can give them back to their parents at the end of the day. She said: 'Sometimes you think the grass is greener. But Im grateful for what Ive got. Grass greener? She told MailOnline: 'I didnt have kids and that decision was made for me. I wasnt with the right people' 'Im with my sister and her kids a lot. Georges brother has two gorgeous little girls aged three and six months. 'Finley is eight, Willow is six and Ruthie is three. I dont feel childless because I get all the fun stuff and then I can give them back. 'Theyre a nightmare to get out the house when we have a time frame. I feel very lucky I have that fix. 'I dont think I could love them anymore if Id had them and birthed them. I love them so much.' She advises other women in her situation to 'get amongst your friends' kids' for 'cuddles, connection and love'. Love: Lisa is really close to her nephews and neices; Filey, 8, Willow, 6, Rudie 3, Sidney, 3, and Stella, six months, and loves that she can give them back to their parents at the end of the day It comes as Lisa revealed she is undertaking Japanuary, instead of veganuary or dry January, this year. The top model will be following a wellness calendar full of activities and healthy food recipes. She said: 'People do want to make changes in the new year. Dry January is restrictive. Veganuary is restrictive. Really into it: The presenter has also been indulging in colourful animal sheet masks that heat up to help relaxation before sleep, and she's convinced George to get involved 'When you put too many rules in place you only set up yourself for a fail. Japanuary is just to implement a few changes to balance mind, body and spirit in a more gentle way.' Lisa has also been indulging in colourful animal sheet masks that heat up to help relaxation before sleep, and she's convinced George to get involved. 'We're doing the facemasks. I love sheet masks and they're a lovely way to pump vitamins into the skin. They're from the Tokyu Hands shop which is wicked. 'I've got George into facemasks. These ones heat up and you use them at night to relax you. These help you slow down and relax. That'll be our Friday night in.' Financial figures being what they are, that means there are going to be some big financial changes for the company in 2020, including a cost-cutting program that puts at least one model on the guillotine. Despite the introduction of the DBX, 2019 was a very tough year for Aston Martin, which posted a pre-tax loss of $118 million through September of 2019. Now, Aston Martin has warned that its annual profit for 2019 will be cut in half, while Reuters is reporting that December sales were so disappointing that wholesale volumes dropped by seven percent in 2019. All told, annual profits for 2019 (converted from GBP to USD) will sit between about $170 million and $182 million - a far cry from the companys $325 million profit in 2018. Say Goodbye to the Aston Martin Rapid E The Car We Barely Got to Know If anything, Id expect the entire Rapide lineup to find itself on the chopping block. Aston Martin has, essentially, pulled a Chrysler (or a Dodge, if you will) and kept the same model on the market for a decade now. The Rapide, in general, has not been updated since it launched in 2010, with the exception of various trim levels that were launched here and there the most recent of which was the Rapide AMR that launched in 2018. Seeing the lineup as a whole nixed wouldnt be that surprising with that in mind, but the Rapid E, despite the fact that its basically an electric Rapide, had some promise. It was introduced as a concept back in 2015 and shown off in full production form in April 2019 before it ran up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in all-electric silence. Now, thanks to a bad year, and despite its production readiness, the Rapid E has been sent to the grinder the same fate that fell upon the rebadged electric Scion iQ that Aston Martin was going to sell back in 2011 or 2012. According to a report from Autocar, the Rapid E will live on to some extent. Apparently, the production-ready EV has been transformed into a research production to help the company in furthering its EV agenda in the years down the road. The Aston Martin Rapide E in a Nutshell The Rapid E was basically an all-electric version of the aging and practically obsolete Rapide. It was designed to incorporate a pair of electric motors in the rear, one at each wheel, that produced a total of 601 horsepower and 701 pound-feet of torque. Aston Martin had high hopes for the electric sedan and promised that it could run to 60 mph in less than four seconds and from 50 mph to 70 mph in just 1.5 seconds while topping out at 155 mph. Apparently, it had a 65 kWh battery pack that was good for 200 miles on the WLTP scale, but perhaps thats part of where the Rapid E would have fallen short. The Rapid E Was Doomed From the Start When Aston Martin introduced the Rapid E in 2015 as a concept, the Rapide is was based on was only five years old. So, that wasnt a big deal. Bringing an electric car to the market in 2020, based on a 10-year-old car, however, is just asking for trouble. The performance figures werent bad, so to speak, but it still wouldnt have been able to compete with the likes of the Tesla Model S P100D or even the Model 3 Performance, for that matter. It was only scheduled to be produced in just 155 examples, though, so it wasnt set to be a mass-produced project anyway. Despite this, I find it hard to believe anyone wants an EV thats outdated the day it goes on sale, and the Rapid E would have been. Furthermore, that 65 kWh battery pack just wouldnt hold up in todays market. The Tesla Model S and X P100D, for example, rocks out 100 kWh batteries. Even the Chevy Bolt would be damn close at 60 kWh and would offer more range. Fords new Mach-E, Mustang-inspired SUV comes with either a 75.7 kWh battery pack or one rated at 98.8 kWh. If the Rapid Es 65 kWh battery pack would have given 200 miles on the WLTP scale, then it would have anywhere between 160 and 180 miles in the real world, depending on the driver. Can you say obsolete? Whats Next for Aston Martin Will the DBX Save the Day? Aston Martin may have had a bad year on paper, but 2019 was also the year that the company introduced its very first SUV, the DBX. Built on a bespoke (at least for now) platform, the results since its introduction in November of 2019 look promising. Aston Martin has received around 1,800 orders for the DBX during its two months on the market, and deliveries are set to commence sometime between April and June of 2020 (Q2 2020.) Pricing for it starts at $189,900, and it could be in very high demand, so its bound to be a very important model for Aston Martin, and it may, in fact, help make 2020 much better. In short, Aston Martin needs the DBX to do for it what the Cullinan did for Rolls-Royce. So, where does the company go from here? Well, Aston Martin is going to push the DBX hard,, and you can bet that research and development is going to be scaled back for at least 2020, or until profits improve for the brand. The Rapid E and its aging chassis will probably see the ax in the very near future too. Outside of that, other models like the Vantage, DB11, and the DBS will probably continue on as they are as Aston relies on the DBX to breathe some fresh life into the company. Its not out of the question for a special edition or different version of the DBX to come to life, as this kind of thing is relatively cheap to do in the grand scheme of things, so dont expect Aston Martin to rest and wait for too long. A bad situation like this could turn ugly very fast if the DBX turns out to be a flop. Press Release January 8, 2020 Bong Go renews call for creation of Department for OFWs amid rising tensions in the Middle East; calls for justice for slain OFW in Kuwait: A life for a life During the launch of the Malasakit Center in Taguig-Pateros District Hospital, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go renewed his call for the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipinos that will be responsible for the promotion of welfare and protection of rights of Filipino migrant workers and other overseas Filipinos amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The creation of the department is one of Go's campaign promises during the May 2019 elections. "Ako nanawagan sa mga kasamahan ko sa Senado at sa liderato sa Congress na sana ay ipasa na ang 'Department of Overseas Filipino Workers'," Go said during an ambush interview on Wednesday, January 8. "Huwag na po nating hintayin na magkaroon pa ng crisis o may mapatay ulit na OFW," he added, referring to the murder of Jeanelyn Villavende in Kuwait. The Pinay domestic helper was allegedly killed by her employers. "Tungkulin ng ating pamahalaan na pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mamamayan na nasa abroad. Dapat nating gawin ang lahat di lamang para makamit ang hustisya para kay Jeanelyn Villavende. We should make sure that all Filipinos in distress are given timely assistance and that measures are also undertaken to prevent abuse," said Go. "A life for a life. Dapat maximum o death penalty if found guilty (ang suspect/s). We lost the life of a Filipino. Those who took life, their lives must be taken," Go added, emphasizing that justice must be served for the death of Villavende. Villavende's remains were repatriated today even as the government assured it will conduct follow through investigations. Meanwhile, tensions are currently high in the Middle East region after an American air strike near Baghdad's international airport in Iraq killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. This prompted Iran to launch counter missile attacks on American bases in Iraq Wednesday. Under his proposed Senate Bill (SB) 202 or the Department of Overseas Filipinos Act of 2019, Go said that the Philippine government will no longer have any confusion as to which representative to send to other countries in times of crisis or issues involving Filipino workers as it will put all OFW affairs under one umbrella department. The bill aims to put certain government agencies dealing with the OFWs under one umbrella. These will address certain issues, such as the lack of coordination among offices, hence the need to put them together under one roof and to put an end to the practice of finger-pointing among agencies concerned with OFW affairs; immediate legal assistance to OFWs in distress; lack of full migration cycle approach in promoting migrant's rights from pre-employment, onsite and reintegration services; and lack of shared database system that contains all information of all OFWs to aid in tracking their status and fast track delivery of assistance to distressed workers. Services and information are scattered throughout several offices, causing delays in reaction time. "Katulad ngayon, pinadala si Sec. Roy Cimatu, tapos iba pa work ni Sec. Locsin at Sec. Bello. If mayroon na tayong department for OFWs, isa na lang ipapadala natin dun, iisa na lang ang lalapitan at iisa na lang ang makikipag coordinate," he said. According to the senator, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Secretaries Roy Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and former special envoy to the Middle East, Teodoro Locsin of Foreign Affairs and Silvestre Bello III of Labor and Employment to coordinate with their counterparts abroad to ensure the safety of OFWs and all Filipinos residing in the Middle East. "Hangad natin ang security and stability sa Middle East. Kasama tayo ng international community in calling for deescalation of tensions," said Go. Go also said that President Duterte has also instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to utilize all their resources to ensure the immediate repatriation of all Filipinos in the Middle East amid the rising tensions. "As soon as possible, ang utos ng Pangulo ay to ensure the safety of every Filipino na maaring maapektuhan sa Middle East," he said when asked on the time frame of the government as far as the repatriation of OFWs is concerned. In a memorandum dated January 7 and addressed to the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment, National Defense, Environment and Natural Resources, Interior and Local Government, and Transportation, and the National Security Council, the President directed the creation of a committee to oversee the repatriation of Filipinos from the Middle East. It shall be chaired by the Defense Secretary with the National Security Adviser as the Vice Chair and the rest of the earlier mentioned departments as members. Citing government records, Go said that there are around 1,600 Filipinos living in Iran, including 400 who are married to Iranian citizens. As Tanaiste Simon Coveney reminded the world that "Lyra's murder brought us back to these talks" outside Stormont Castle, our hearts shattered all over again and tears broke through their temporary dams. It should never have taken the murder of our beautiful wee Lyra to bring Northern Ireland's politicians back to the talks table that would, eventually, lead to the New Decade, New Approach deal. In the days that followed Lyra's murder, the people of Northern Ireland were given hope that "Dormant Stormont" would soon be given a new lease of life. But that didn't happen. As weeks turned into months, out of sheer frustration and the very fact that the politicians chose to use our tragedy as a springboard to end the political stagnation that they created, our family launched a campaign to remind politicians that "Failure is NOT an Option". Having received responses to our letters and postcards from a wide range of political and public leaders from Her Majesty the Queen to local city councillors, we found that every respondent purported to be as desirous for a return of the power-sharing institutions as we were. Yet, for some time, it appeared that our politicians would rather fail than try a new approach to governing that would meet the needs of ALL of the people in our "beautiful tragedy". During the campaign, as family representative, I met with both Julian Smith and Simon Coveney. These true statesmen, gave personal assurances that they would continue to encourage our politicians to return to talks, support them in reaching a deal that was equitable and sought to assist our family in our aim to ensure that "TRUE PEACE becomes Lyra McKee's lasting legacy". Keeping in touch after our personal meetings, it was very clear to us that these leaders were both genuine and honourable. The announcement outside Stormont Castle and the deal, testifies to the accuracy of this assessment. By sharing Lyra's poetic description of "home", Coveney reminded us of our shared dark past that led to our greatest personal tragedy: her murder. His decision to quote Lyra in this context, helps us to believe that Lyra's death was not in vain. This does not absolve the permanent pain of our great loss, but it does help us to believe that other families may be saved from being forced to experience this inescapable pain through no fault of their own. It helps us to have hope that "It won't always be like this. It's going to get better" just as Lyra envisaged. Through New Decade, New Approach we may see the day when Northern Ireland finally breaks free from "the chains of its past" that have "strangled" it for decades. It will be a challenge for EVERYONE, not just our politicians. Although, sometimes, like Lyra, we may "love it and hate it in equal measure", we are collectively responsible for helping to develop a truly peaceful, inclusive and equitable society because: WE deserve better. WE deserve PEACE. Failure is no longer an option. The Managing Director of the company, Vineshen Ramsamy, has presented during a press conference held on the 10th January 2020, the objectives set for the present year. He said to the membres of the press present that My objectives for the year 2020 are to help women and youngster to develop entrepreneurship skills and for the young graduates to have a decent employment. To promote innovation as it is crucial that we equip our youths with required skills. One can boost up productivity due to entrepreneurship skills, which is also relevant to the job market. In case, we must support the youth to overcome challenges as well as helping them to seize opportunities in the future. Young people will be encouraged to be their own leader by being self-employed. My aim is also to help people will be finding business ideas. Along with entrepreneurship skills, youngsters will get the freedom to pursue their own vision. As from now it will be very easy for an start up business to work as they will get there Trade License directly from the Registrar of Companies and they can have their SME Certificate more easily as they can benefits from the services of SME Mauritius. Vineshen Ramsamy also presented the services proposed by Millenium Services Co Ltd, namely, Graphic Services, Business Consultancy, Accounting, Printing Services, Website, Marketing Strategic, etc. The contact numbers for the company was also revealed, +230 52592468 and +230 52534874 Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires The company said the committee, headed by independent director D Sundaram and assisted by independent legal counsel Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, found that the allegations are substantially without merit. Infosys on Friday said an audit committee found no evidence of financial impropriety or executive misconduct at the firm as alleged by whistleblower letters last year. The investigation was carried out with the help of external agencies. On the day when Infosys announced its financial earnings for the third quarter of financial year 2019-20 (FY20), the Bengaluru-headquartered firm in a seven-page release rejected each of the allegations made in the whistleblower complaint disclosed with the company on October 21, 2019. The company said the committee, headed by independent director D Sundaram and assisted by independent legal counsel Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, found that the allegations are substantially without merit. Based on the findings, the committee said, it does not warrant restatement of previously announced financial statements or other published financial information. The committee took the complaints seriously and commissioned a thorough investigation. "It determined that there was no evidence of financial impropriety or executive misconduct, said Sundaram. Infosys co-founder and chairman Nandan Nilekani, who was present at the earnings press conference, vouched for the firms corporate governance standards and ethics, which he said continues to remain undiluted. I am pleased that after a rigorous investigation, the committee has found no wrongdoing by the company or its executives. "CEO Salil Parekh and CFO Nilanjan Roy are strong custodians of the companys proud heritage, he said. The investigation conducted by Infosys, however, is independent of two other investigations being conducted by the US market regulator SEC, and Indian regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), based on the same whistleblower complaints. Additionally, the NYSE-listed company is also facing a shareholders class action lawsuit that was filed in the district court of New York, in October. The company said, it would contest the lawsuit. The Group is subject to legal proceedings and claims, which have arisen in the ordinary course of business. "The companys management does not reasonably expect that these legal actions, when ultimately concluded and determined, will have a material and adverse effect on the companys results of operations or financial condition, a statutory filing by Infosys disclosed to the exchanges, said. In a letter dated September 20, 2019, an anonymous group calling itself as Ethical Employees, had alleged that Infosys current management was taking unethical steps to inflate short-term revenue and profit. In the letter, the whistleblower flagged concerns about several zero-margins deals, saying they were closed by flouting norms. The whistleblower also made several personal charges against Parekh, and Roy. During the probe, Infosys said, the investigation team conducted an extensive analysis, 128 interviews with 77 persons, including relevant company officials mentioned in the allegations. The process also involved identifying 46 custodians for collection of relevant documents and electronic data apart from reviewing over over eight terabytes of electronic data involving 210,000 documents from electronic sources and imaged devices. Additionally, the company consulted independent internal auditors Ernst & Young on large deals and treasury-related processes, the findings of which were shared with the probe team. While our business is focused on delivering solutions for a changing world, for 38 years our culture and values have remained constant, said Nilekani. Infosys is a model of strong corporate governance, and the companys handling of these allegations from start to finish has been consistent with these high standards of governance. Photograph: Abhishek N Chinnappa/Reuters Iran announced Saturday that its military unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases. A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned toward a sensitive military center of the Revolutionary Guard. The military was at its highest level of readiness," it said, amid the heightened tensions with the United States. In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit, the statement said. It apologized for the disaster and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent such mistakes in the future. It also said those responsible for the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. Iran's acknowledgement of responsibility for the crash was likely to inflame public sentiment against authorities after Iranians had rallied around their leaders in the wake of Soleimani's killing. The general was seen as a national icon, and hundreds of thousands of Iranians had turned out for funeral processions across the country. But the vast majority of the plane victims were Iranians or Iranian-Canadians, and the crash came just weeks after authorities quashed nationwide protests ignited by a hike in gasoline prices. "A sad day," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lower the nation's death toll from 63. This is the right step for the Iranian government to admit responsibility, and it gives people a step toward closure with this admission," said Payman Parseyan, a prominent Iranian-Canadian in western Canada who lost a number of friends in the crash. I think the investigation would have disclosed it whether they admitted it or not. This will give them an opportunity to save face. This is a developing story. New Delhi: Dramatic visual of controlled demolition of one of the four illegal apartment complexes is going viral on the internet. The demolition drives are being conducted by the Kerala government. This is one of the largest demolition drives in India involving residential complexes. Before starting the demolition drive, the prohibitory order was declared by the Ernakulam District Collector. Section 144 of CrPC was imposed on the land, water and in the air in the evacuation zone of all the illegal waterfront apartment complexes in Kochi. The complexes housing a total of 343 flats were brought down using the implosion method. The companies engaged for it had completed the filling of explosives in the structures on Wednesday. People witnessed the implosion from outside the evacuation zone. Earlier, residents in the evacuation zone were directed to switch off the electricity and all appliances before leaving their homes. They were also advised to close all windows and doors to protect their houses from dust. All traffic airborne, waterborne, land-based was prohibited in the evacuation zone, police. Maradu Flat Owners Plea Was Rejected By Supreme Court Earlier in December, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea by some owners of Maradu flats in Kochi seeking direction to the Attorney General to grant permission to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against concerned authorities for allegedly misleading the court in the matter. The top court had on September 30 refused to entertain a plea of flat owners seeking a stay on its order to demolish four apartment complexes in Maradu which were built in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone norms. On September 27, the top court had directed demolition of these flats within 138 days, a timeline given by the Kerala government, and had asked the state to pay Rs 25 lakh interim compensation to each flat owner within four weeks. For all the Latest India News, South News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. West Bengal Higher Minister Partha Chatterjee has said the state government instructed the universities, which have announced to conduct semester examination on January 30, to defer it due to Saraswati puja. The minister also said it would not be a suitable time for conducting examinations as the Saraswati puja is on January 29 and the festivities will continue till the next day. "I have come to know about it (semester examination scheduled on January 30) from various students' bodies including the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and have instructed the universities concerned to postpone it," Chatterjee said. He wondered how the authority of any university took such a decision without checking the calendar and consulting with the higher department. "I was surprised. It seems the authorities concerned are lacking practical sense," Chatterjee said. According to TMCP sources, the Calcutta University has scheduled some undergraduate examination on January 30. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Qaboos was a direct descendant of the founder of the Al Bu Said dynasty and he ruled the Gulf state since 1970. Omans Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said died on Friday after half a century as the countrys ruler. The late sultan was born on November 18, 1940, in Salalah, the capital of Omans southern province of Dhofar. Qaboos is a direct descendant of the founder of the Al Bu Said dynasty, which created the sultanate in the 1600s after expelling the Portuguese from Muscat, now Omans capital. The late sultan was educated in India and at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. After completing his military training with the British army in Germany, he studied local government and embarked on a global cultural tour. He returned to Oman in 1964, and spent most of his time thereafter studying Islamic law and Omani history. When Sultan Qaboos seized power from his father in a bloodless coup in 1970, Oman was an isolated and impoverished state. Throughout Sultan Qabooss five-decade rule, he was credited with using Omans oil wealth to transform the sparsely populated Gulf nation into a rich country with a vibrant tourism industry and high standards of living. Sultan Qaboos will first and foremost be remembered for initiating the Omani Renaissance, undertaking social, economic, educational and cultural reforms as well as opening Oman up to the world, Jeffrey Lefebvre, associate professor of political science at the University of Connecticut, told Al Jazeera. In a conservative society, he also took the lead in promoting women to positions of influence in the government [like] the Omani ambassador to the United States, and ensuring representation in popularly elected legislative councils, Lefebvre added. Sultan Qaboos, seen here in London with Britains Queen Elizabeth II, ruled Oman since 1970 following a bloodless coup against his father [File: Bob Dear/AP] Due to a murky succession process, the identity of the next sultan was expected to be not be known for days. But just hours after the announcement of Qabooss death, his cousin Haitham bin Tariq Al Said was chosen as his successor. When Sultan Qaboos came to power, he not only named himself the countrys ruler but also appointed himself as prime minister, defence minister, finance minister, foreign affairs minister and commander of the armed forces. Sultan Qaboos was the only child born to the former Sultan Said bin Taimur and Princess Mazoon al-Mashani. He married his cousin in 1976, but the marriage did not last and the couple soon got divorced. The sultan never remarried or had any children. According to Omans Basic Law, promulgated by Sultan Qaboos in 1996, a successor must come from the royal family and be chosen by a family council within three days of the sultans death. Under this provision, if the process fails to choose a successor, then a sealed letter written by Sultan Qaboos will be opened in which he lists his preferred successors. I have already written down two names, in descending order, and put them in sealed envelopes in two different regions, Sultan Qaboos told Foreign Affairs magazine in a 1997 interview. Sultan Qaboos with the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during his visit to Tehran in 2013 [File: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA] In addition to his domestic policy achievements, Sultan Qaboos has also been credited with transforming Oman into a regional player capable of bridging diplomatic divides, as seen in its role as mediator in nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in recent years. Throughout 2012 and 2013, Sultan Qaboos mediated secret talks between US and Iranian officials. These culminated in the interim nuclear deal of November 2013, reached in Geneva between Iran and the so-called P5+1 powers, which comprises the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany. In [mediating the talks], Oman continued to serve its unique and traditional role as a diplomatic bridge between the West and the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] on one side, and the Islamic Republic [of Iran] on the other, said Giorgio Cafiero, the co-founder of the think tank Gulf State Analytics. Cafiero told Al Jazeera that Omans unique religious identity the majority of the population are Ibadi Muslims, who are neither Sunni nor Shia furthers the countrys interest in developing relations with Iran. In light of the Saudi Arabian religious establishments intolerant views of Ibadi Muslims, most in Oman believe that maintaining political, economic, social, and religious independence from Riyadh is an important foreign policy priority, he said. Omans government has viewed closer ties with Iran as a means to achieve this objective. The late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, right, was lauded for his skills in diplomacy and willingness to meet leaders from all sides including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, who visited Oman in October 2018 [File: Hamid Al-Qasmi/EPA] Mediation Under Sultan Qabooss leadership, Oman also mediated and oversaw talks between the warring sides of Yemens ongoing war. In November 2019, Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels held indirect, behind-the-scenes talks in a bid to end the devastating five-year war in Yemen. The rapprochement could pave the way for more high-profile negotiations in the near future, a Houthi official had said. When fellow GCC nations broke ties with Qatar in 2017, sparking a diplomatic crisis, Oman opted out and avoided the fray instead of following suit with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt who imposed a land, sea and air blockade on Qatar. Resistance to Sultan Qabooss reign was not immune during the popular Arab uprisings of 2011 when hundreds began protesting at a roundabout in Omans Sohar province demanding salary increases and an end to government corruption. The three-month uprising prompted Sultan Qaboos to reshuffle his government and expand the consultative assembly to ease the unrest. The governments proactive reaction to the peoples demands in 2011 allowed for a much more peaceful uprising in Oman compared to other countries in the Arab world, said Haribi. In December 2012, Omanis were allowed to vote in their first municipal elections when 192 were elected from among 1,475 candidates. Because of his swift response in allowing for democratic changes, we did not see a repeat of protests and demands from the people. Omanis were appreciative of the efforts put forth in building state institutions post-2011, Haribi added. In an unexpected move, Sultan Qaboos extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2018. Marking what was the first visit by an Israeli leader to the sultanate in over two decades, Netanyahus office said in a statement the visit in October 2018 followed lengthy contacts between the two countries. His office added that it formed part of a policy of deepening relations with the states of the region. A joint statement said the two sides discussed ways to advance the Middle East peace process and a number of issues of mutual interest to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East. A day after Netanyahus visit, Oman described Israel as a state in the Middle East, drawing criticism from Palestinian officials. It was not long after that an Israeli minister visited Oman to attend an international transport conference, which saw him pitch a railway project that aims to link the Gulf to the Mediterranean via Israel, according to media reports. Rights record However, Sultan Qabooss human rights record has been condemned in recent years when scores of activists were convicted of defamation or of using social media networks to insult the sultan. Others have been convicted of, or are facing trial for, taking part in demonstrations calling for political reform. Among the biggest challenges Omans next ruler will face is that of weaning the sultanate of its dependency on oil revenues, which account for as much as 75 percent of the government budget. The main focus right now is to continue building human capital through education, civil society and the building of state institutions, said Haribi. Its not panic time yet. While were running out of natural resources, we have to wait and see how the coming few years in the post-Sultan Qaboos era will look like for everyday Omanis, Haribi added. Despite Omans presence in the media throughout 2018, Sultan Qaboos spent much of the past year out of sight. In early December, he was taken to Belgium for a medical checkup, according to a royal court statement. There is certainly no love lost between chef Kevin Dobson from Below Deck and charter guest Justine Vastano. Vastano recently took to Instagram to blast Dobsons food and behavior during her charter. Kevin Dobson |Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images The two definitely seem to be on the same page with how they feel about each other. In a Below Deck After Show Dobson didnt hold back shading Vastano, doubling down on calling her an Instagram chef too. He says the relationship got off to a bad start the minute she came on board when she told him she a chef and would be watching him. Dobsons observations and comments likely didnt stem from Vastanos Instagram blast, but it is clear the two wont be collaborating any time soon. Dobson says the guest started the rift Dobson started by (again) calling Vastano an Instagram chef. Adding, The first thing she said to me was like, Im a chef, Ive got my eye on you. Im like, Where the f**k do you come off?' He adds that she gave him a hard time about the matzo ball soup. Dobson admits he had never made matzo ball soup beforehand and took great pains to create homemade chicken stock for the soup. I made this beautiful chicken stock, like roasted the bones and made this really lovely chicken stock and made these balls, he recounts. Got the chicken fat from f**king Thailand. I remember when I was putting this matzo ball soup down in front of Zacs wife, her eyes started welling up, like nearly crying, he recalled. He added that on her preference sheet she commented that if Dobson could make the soup, hed be their hero. So thats why I put so much effort into it! he exclaimed. And then Justine comes into the galley, like what the f**k, Dobson says. He added that he showed her he was looking after the primaries, who requested the soup. But straight away I just know youre not a professional chef because thats like nothing youd ever say, he added. She said Chef Kevin lowered the crews tip Vastano asserted that Dobsons food was the reason why the Valor crew didnt make more cash. She slammed him in her Instagram story. I thought when I was entering the kitchen that I was going to be speaking to a professional. Not some high school girl, she said. Although Dobson explained the care and time he put into the matzo ball soup, Vastano blasted the dish. Everybody on the boat was calling his food cracker ball soup not matzo ball soup, she continues. Because it tasted like saltines thrown into soup. Worst pizza theyd ever tasted. Didnt know why we were eating diner food on this luxury vacation that we all paid the same amount for and we were all expecting a similar experience for. But uh yeah good job Kevin, she concluded giving the camera a thumbs up. On taking thousands off of everybodys tip because we really wanted to leave more. But we couldnt. Because of you. The guests left the crew a $17,700 tip. Rescue teams are pictured among bodies and debris at the crash site. (Photo: AFP/Rouhollah VAHDATI) The cause of the crash is to be announced on Saturday after an investigating committee meeting in the presence of foreign and local parties involved, Iran's Fars news agency said, quoting an "informed source". The report came as Ukraine said its experts had been granted access to the black box flight recorders and as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeated it was "likely" an Iranian missile had downed the plane. Tehran has been facing mounting international pressure to allow a "credible" investigation into the crash, which several Western governments have blamed on an accidental missile strike. "One thing is for certain, this airplane was not hit by a missile," Iran's civil aviation chief Ali Abedzadeh said, after Tehran invited the US, Ukraine, Canada and others to join the investigation. The Boeing 737 crashed on Wednesday shortly after Iran launched missiles at US forces in Iraq in response to the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad. It was Iran's worst civil aviation disaster since 1988 when the US military said it shot down an Iran Air plane over the Gulf by mistake, killing all 290 people on board. The majority of passengers on Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752 were dual national Iranian-Canadians but also included Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes. Vadym Prystaiko, the foreign minister of Ukraine which has sent around 50 experts to Tehran to take part in the Iran-led inquiry, said Friday: "Our team has now access to the black boxes". The experts, he said, also had access to the radio exchanges between the UIA pilots and Tehran air traffic control and were receiving "full cooperation" from Iran. The Ukraine team, granted access to plane fragments and the crash site, will start analysing the contents of the black boxes, he added. Pompeo, echoing several world leaders, said "we do believe it's likely the plane was shot down by an Iranian missile", adding a final determination would be made after a probe is conducted. CANADA DEMANDS ANSWERS Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said intelligence sources indicated an Iranian surface-to-air missile downed the aircraft after it took off from Tehran. "We know this may have been unintentional. Canadians have questions, and they deserve answers," he said. Abedzadeh rejected the claim. "Any remarks made before the data is extracted (from the plane's black box flight recorders) ... is not an expert opinion," he said." Video footage, which The New York Times said it had verified, emerged and appeared to show the moment the airliner was hit. Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 Tehran crash infographic A fast-moving object is seen rising at an angle into the sky before a bright flash appears, which dims and then continues moving forward. Several seconds later, an explosion is heard and the sky lit up. Iran said a 10-member Canadian delegation was on its way to help with the probe, although the two countries cut diplomatic relations in 2012. The Islamic republic also invited US plane maker Boeing to "participate" in the investigation. Canada and the US National Transportation Safety Board said they received the invitations and would join the probe. Abedzadeh said Tehran had invited "Americans, Canadians, the French, Ukrainians and the Swedish" to be present during the investigation. "The important thing now is that everything is completely investigated. Nothing must be swept under the table," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington officials believed the Kiev-bound Boeing 737 was struck by an Iranian missile. RADIO SILENCE Unidentified officials told US media that satellite, radar and electronic data indicated Tehran's air defence units downed the aircraft. But Iran's aviation authority chief said the missile theory could not be "scientifically correct" because it was not possible for an airliner to be hit and "continue flying for 60 to 70 seconds". "The debris collected has been in a very limited area. If there was an explosion in the wings it should have been much more scattered," Abedzadeh said. The airliner went down in the dark just minutes after takeoff, with no radio message from the pilot to indicate distress, Iranian aviation authorities said. The pilot did not call the tower because "he must have been trying to save the airplane before anything else", Abedzadeh said. German carrier Lufthansa said Friday it was cancelling all flights to and from Tehran until Jan 20 "due to the unclear security situation for the airspace around Tehran airport". And Sweden said it was stopping Iran Air flights between the two countries because of safety concerns, and Australian Airlines also scrapped its flights to Tehran. Several other airlines also announced they would avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace. Investigators are pursuing several possibilities, including engine failure, a missile strike or an act of terror. As speculation about the cause grew, Hesamodin Ashena, a senior advisor to President Hassan Rouhani, warned Iranians working for Farsi-language media abroad to "not participate in the psychological warfare" against Iran over the plane crash. China granted its 2019 International Science and Technology Cooperation Award, the nation's highest scientific honor for foreign scientists, to 10 foreign scientists from eight countries on Friday. Both the number of recipients and their countries of origin are a record high. This award recognizes the key roles foreign scientists have played in China's scientific development, as well as China's growing effort to diversify its scientific partners in recent years, according to the National Office for the Science and Technology Awards. Of the 10 winners, three are from the United States, while the United Kingdom, Russia, Finland, Italy, Norway, Austria and Pakistan have one winner each. It is the first time scientists from Norway, Austria and Pakistan have won the award. "I feel very much honored to be given the award, which represents profound recognition of the collaborative work I've been involved in with Chinese scientists over the last 25 years," said Nils Stenseth, a noted Norwegian evolutionary biologist and a professor at the University of Oslo in Norway. Last year, China and Norway celebrated the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, and this relationship has facilitated recent government-level scientific cooperation between the two countries, he said. In 2015, the Research Council of Norway launched a new funding program to support its international scientific projects and partnerships, which involved Chinese partner institutions, he said. Some notable examples include the study of ecology and the evolution of plague, the social impact of climate change and photovoltaics for sustainable development. "This partnership is of the utmost importance for the higher education and research sector in Norway," he said, adding that China and Norway are powerhouses in research and education in fields such as marine science and the environment. "We thus have much to learn from each other." "Close China-Norway cooperation is important in order to further strengthen world-leading research groups, and for some fields help develop knowledge platforms to address the many global challenges facing us today," he said. "China's contribution is essential to solve the global challenges in areas such as poverty reduction, climate, health, energy and environment." Through these dialogues and cooperation, Stenseth said he has learned much about China just as Chinese scientists have learned much about the academic traditions and cultures of other countries. "Such collegial interactions and dialogues do for sure contribute to a better and more harmonious world," he added. Austrian civil engineer and winner of the cooperation award Herbert Mang said when he first visited China in the 1980s, the country's science and technology were lagging behind European countries. "Now, China's science and technology have caught up mightily." "As a civil engineer, I have always been fascinated by China's unique activities in the design of key infrastructure, such as long-span bridges and tunnels in geologically demanding and seismically challenging areas," he said. "These types of structures have also played an important role in Austrian civil engineering, and their safe and economic design requires great scientific effort." Through decades of collaboration between China and Austria in civil engineering, Mang said, one of the main benefits is that both countries have fostered a group of well-trained, promising young engineers for academia and industry. "I'm optimistic that the mutual scientific esteem of Chinese and Austrian researchers will result in the further intensification of joint research activities for the benefit of the two countries and beyond," he said. Police car and tape cordon A hit-and-run victim whose mum helped catch the pensioner who ran her over has said she can finally move on after he was prosecuted. Amber Carter-Thompson, 28, suffered a broken tibia when she was hit by minicab driver Arthur Desborough, 87, while walking across Wellingborough Road, in Northampton, last April. Ms Thompsons mum Gail Thompson took it upon herself to find CCTV of the incident and post it on Facebook when police did not follow up with her daughter. Cops eventually caught up with Desborough after viewing the video surveillance. Northampton Fire Station and Magistrates Court building (Picture: Getty) Desborough admitted driving without due care and attention and failing to stop. He was given eight points on his licence and handed a 633 fine by Northampton town magistrates. Ms Carter-Thompson, from Sevenoaks, Kent, told the BBC: I am glad the court case is over so that I can move on from the ordeal. Accidents happen and I hold no grudges. I am grateful that I continue to have fantastic support from friends and family. READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Printing firms want compensation after May bank holiday change 'costs them hundreds of thousands of pounds' Commuters can save money on expensive routes with new 'split ticketing' Trainline feature Stargazers enjoy amazing scenes of 'Wolf Moon' across the UK Ms Carter-Thompsons mums Facebook appeal had urged people to catch the scumbug driver who hit her daughter. She wrote: Did anyone on the Wellingborough Road, Northampton, at about 10pm on Friday night see a minicab hit my daughter and drive off? She's now in hospital with a fractured tibia and has to have an operation to set it. Please share and catch this scumbag. The Queen will host crisis talks with senior royals and the Duke of Sussex on Monday in a bid to find a solution to Meghan and Harrys future roles. The head of state will be joined at her private Norfolk estate of Sandringham by the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge for the crunch meeting where the next steps will be decided, a source has told the PA news agency. It will be the first time the four will have met since the issue engulfed the royal family, and it is thought William will be travelling from his Kensington Palace apartment and Harry from Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle. Charles was in Oman on Sunday to attend a condolence ceremony following the death Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, and was expected to travel back to the UK in time for the talks at Sandringham. Before them will be a range of options, and it is likely the royals will try to come to some agreement before the meeting ends to stop the immediate crisis causing lasting damage to the monarchy. The Queen is expected to attend church at Sandringham on Sunday morning. Harry and Meghan are said to have left the Queen and senior royals feeling hurt by their bombshell announcement they plan to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and split their time between the UK and North America. On Thursday, the Queen, Charles and William gave orders for their households to work with the Sussexes team to quickly find a workable solution to their desire to change the direction of their royal lives, but still support the Queen. A royal source said: The family will gather on Monday at Sandringham to talk things through, attended by Her Majesty, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex. Following a series of meetings and consultations across the last few days, there are a range of possibilities for the family to review which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week. As we have said previously, making a change to the working life and role in the monarchy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex requires complex and thoughtful discussions. Next steps will be agreed at the meeting, the request for this to be resolved at pace is still her Majestys wish the aim remains days not weeks. There is genuine agreement and understanding that any decision will take time to be implemented. Meghan flew to Canada a few days ago where she spent an extended festive break with Harry and baby son Archie in the province of British Columbia. She is with her child, but the source said it is hoped the duchess will be able to participate remotely in the meeting. Ahead of the meeting, the royals will be given written proposals produced by their offices and others, including relevant government departments from the UK and Canada, where it is thought Harry and Meghan will establish a second home. It is not known who else, if anyone, will be at the meeting but it is likely the private secretaries of the four royals may join part of the talks to assist with any questions. The atmosphere could be tense in light of how the Sussexes announcement was made, with the Queen and other senior royals not consulted about its content or timing. The Sussexes statement and a new official Sussexroyal.com website have thrown up important questions about funding for the couples round-the-clock security, media access to their royal events and how they will pay for their future lifestyles. And their desire for a half-way house, as both members of the monarchy and private individuals making a living, has been described as a toxic mix by David McClure, an investigator into royal finances. He said: The history of senior royals making money the two is a toxic mix. It hasnt worked well in the past. How can you be half-in, half-out half the week perform public duties and the other half earn your own income with TV, lectures, books? It is fraught with dangers. He estimated Harrys wealth as between 10-15 million, while he suggested former actress Meghan was worth 2-3 million. Harry and Meghan receive the majority of the funding for their public duties, and some of their private costs, from Charles who pays the expenses out of the multimillion-pound income from his private Duchy of Cornwall estate. But they wish to stop receiving money from the taxpayer in the form of Sovereign Grant funds so they can earn what their website describes as a professional income. Other important issues to resolve include who will pay for the substantial security cost of protecting the couple and their baby son if they spend large portions of the year in Canada and possibly America. Protesters took to the streets in Tehran as tensions boiled over inside Iran - Anadolu Protesters took to the streets of Tehran on Saturday night after the regime was forced into the embarrassing admission that it accidentally shot down a civilian airliner. After three days of officially denying any involvement in the crash, Iran abruptly reversed course and said human error had led its forces to shoot down Flight PS752 after mistaking it for a US cruise missile. The announcement was met with fury on the streets of Tehran, where crowds of students gathered to denounce the Revolutionary Guard. Shame on you, the protesters shouted. End your rule over the country. The surging anger over the crash and the days of false denials comes at a sensitive moment in Iran and just weeks after the regimes forces killed hundreds of civilians while crushing nationwide protests. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei quickly insisted he was not responsible for misleading the public about the real cause of the Ukraine crash and moved to place the blame on the military. As soon as the supreme leader was informed of the catastrophic mistake he ordered the truth to be "made known to the people explicitly and honestly, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tried to distance himself from blame Credit: IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER PRESS OFFICE / HANDOUT/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images In an official statement on his website, he ordered the military to address shortcomings and expressed sincere condolences but stopped short of apologising for the crash. There were indications that the relatively moderate circle around Hassan Rouhani, Irans president, was also seizing the moment to push blame towards its hardline rivals inside the Revolutionary Guard. Hesamedin Ashena, an advisor to Mr Rouhani, said the Revolutionary Guard had cheated the public by denying its involvement in Wednesdays disaster. What they regarded as news was a lie. What they regarded as a lie was actually the news, he said. May god save us from cover ups. The anger directed towards the Revolutionary Guard marked a sharp reversal from earlier in the week, when an estimated million people turned out to the public funeral of Qassim Soleimani, one of the forces top leaders, and many celebrated Irans missile barrage against the US. Story continues General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the same commander who triumphantly took credit for the missile attack on US forces in Iraq on Wednesday, appeared looking forlorn in front of state television cameras yesterday to take responsibility for his mens mistake. Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, aerospace commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, pointing at a map during a televised press conference Credit: Photo by -/IRINN/AFP via Getty Images When I learned of this error, I wished to die. I accept all responsibility for this, the general said, in a rare expression of remorse from a senior Revolutionary Guard figure. He said his forces had been braced for US retaliation to the missiles fired hours earlier and that a single air defence operator had mistaken the Boeing 737 for an incoming US cruise missile and made the decision to fire. He had ten seconds to decide. He could have decided to strike or not to strike and under such circumstances he took the wrong decision, Gen Hajizadeh. Despite the show of transparency, Iran was still facing serious questions over how it could have shot the aircraft down early on Wednesday yet still insisted until Friday night that the crash had been the result of engine failure or some other mechanical problem. There was also confusion over whether the government tried to halt civilian flights after the missile attack, with the Revolutionary Guard saying it called for the grounding of civilian aircraft but aviation authorities saying they received no such order. Mr Rouhani promised Iran would continue to investigate the crash and suggested his government would prosecute those responsible. The armed forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane and death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake, he said. Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 The Iranian president was due to speak to Volodymyr Zelensky, his Ukrainian counterpart, about the disaster on Saturday. Ukraine said it was heartened by Irans admission of responsibility but Mr Zelensky also demanded that Iran bring the guilty to the courts as well as pay compensation. We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction, he said. One Ukrainian MP compared Irans behaviour favourably with Russias years of denials that it was responsible for the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 despite widespread evidence of Russian involvement. "Iran has shown itself more civilised than Russia, said Volodymyr Ariev, a pro-Western MP. Tehran has admitted its guilt in three days while Russia continues to try to get out of it. The acknowledgement of responsibility will have been especially difficult for Iran because of the legacy of Iran Air 655, a civilian passenger jet accidentally shot down by the US Navy in 1988, killing all 290 aboard. While the US admitted responsibility and apologised, Iran has long insisted that US forces deliberately shot down the aircraft and the memory of the doomed flight is often invoked by Iranian politicians as a symbol of American brutality. Tehran now finds itself in the same position the US was 31 years ago as it tries to explain how it could mistake a slow-moving civilian airliner travelling along a normal flight path for an incoming missile attack. The Revolutionary Guard claimed that the Ukrainian aircraft had turned off its planned course and was heading towards a sensitive military area but that was quickly contradicted by Irans civil aviation agency, which said the flight maintained a normal course after it left Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport at 6.12am. In the flights final moments it was far from its planned trajectory and heading in the wrong direction. But analysts said that was likely because it had veered out of control after being struck by the missile and flown a wide arc before crashing. Logs showed that at least eight other flights took off from the airport inbetween the time Iran fired its missile barrage and the shootdown of flight PS752 and that flights resumed again just over an hour after the crash. ELKTON Elkton residents shared mixed feelings about the possibility of having either a medical or recreational marijuana store in their village during a meeting Thursday night. The Elkton Village Council invited residents to speak their mind about the possibility of having a recreational marijuana store in town, which would require overturning the villages current marijuana ordinance. In February, Elkton passed an ordinance prohibiting recreational marijuana businesses from opening in the village, having already opted out of allowing medical marijuana businesses. Board trustees clarified that no action would taken on the ordinance now and that they have not received interest about opening a store, but they wanted public input on the matter. Melissa Helmuth asked the board about what boundaries would possibly be in place, stating that she was not opposed to marijuana for health reasons, but has concerns about what would happen if youths get ahold of it. She also had concerns about now that the community is growing again, there may be people smoking marijuana at school games or community events. There are days where our family cannot enjoy our backyard because our neighbor smokes marijuana standing next to his back door, and it drifts into our backyard, Helmuth said. My kids say to me frequently, Why do we have to smell it just because hes smoking it? Ean Green, a pastor with the Community Wesleyan Church of Elkton, spoke about the work he has done with the Celebrate Recovery program, where he has seen how chemical dependencies can tear people apart. He also quoted scripture saying, Love of money is the root of all evil. He also had concerns about youth marijuana use and what security measures would be in place for such a store in Elkton. My brother-in-law lives in Colorado, Green said. He pulled his son out of school because he was coming home with edible gummy bears in his backpack. Dwayne Keller, a member of the Elkton Community Club, said he has mixed feeling about recreational marijuana, but has been following the medical side and feels people who are prescribed it should have local access to their medicine. You would have to drive to Bay City to get your medication, Keller said. Times have changed. We cant have this discrepancy when we sell alcohol and cigarettes here. Other attendees spoke about how they have seen the positive impacts medical marijuana has, asked about what other community changes could come along with a store, or said they do not need any such establishments in the village. Village trustee Gail Schember clarified what the state law is regarding recreational marijuana, as anyone can grow up to 12 plants for personal consumption, and people can possess up to 10 ounces, but they have to give away the rest. The trustees also spoke about how taxes from recreational marijuana will be distributed to participating Michigan municipalities, as the state started to collect taxes from it in December. Funds would not be distributed until 2022, but 15% would go to municipalities with a marijuana retail stores based on proportion to the number of stores, 15% would go to counties with marijuana retail stores based on proportion to the number of stores, 35% would be used to fund K-12 education, and 35% would go to the Michigan transportation fund for road and bridge repair and maintenance. Five months after the initial opening of Edens Cafe, Bradfield announced the fully-vegan grab-and-go restaurant would shut its doors shortly before Christmas, citing an unsustainable business model as the primary reason for the restaurants closure. Iraq's caretaker prime minister asked Washington to work out a road map for an American troop withdrawal, but the U.S. State Department on Friday bluntly rejected the request, saying the two sides should instead talk about how to recommit to their partnership. Thousands of anti-government protesters turned out in the capital and southern Iraq, many calling on both Iran and America to leave Iraq, reflecting their anger and frustration over the two rivals both allies of Baghdad trading blows on Iraqi soil. The request from Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi pointed to his determination to push ahead with demands for U.S. troops to leave Iraq, stoked by the American drone strike on Jan. 3 that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. In a phone call Thursday night, he told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that recent U.S. actions were unacceptable breaches of Iraqi sovereignty and a violation of their security agreements, his office said. He asked Pompeo to send delegates to Iraq to prepare a mechanism" to carry out the Iraqi Parliaments resolution on withdrawing foreign troops, according to the statement. The prime minister said American forces had entered Iraq and drones are flying in its airspace without permission from Iraqi authorities, and this was a violation of the bilateral agreements, the statement added. Abdul-Mahdi signaled he was standing by the push for U.S. forces to leave despite signs of deescalation by Tehran and Washington after Iran retaliated for Soleimani's death by firing missiles that hit two Iraqi bases where American troops are based but caused no casualties. Iraqis feel furious and helpless at being caught in the middle of the fighting. Abdul-Mahdi has said he rejects all violations of Iraqi sovereignty, including both the Iranian and U.S. strikes. The State Department flatly dismissed Abdul-Mahdi's request, saying U.S. troops are crucial for the fight against the Islamic State group and it would not discuss removing them. Pompeo indicated Friday the troops would remain, adding that the U.S. would continue its mission to help train Iraqi security forces and counter the Islamic State group. We are happy to continue the conversation with the Iraqis about what the right structure is," Pompeo said at the White House during an unrelated appearance. Our mission set there is very clear. Weve been there to perform a training mission to help the Iraqi security forces be successful and to continue the campaign against ISIS, to continue the counter-Daesh campaign, he said, using alternate acronyms for the militant group. "Were going to continue that mission but, as times change and we get to a place where we can deliver upon what I believe and what the president believes is our right structure with fewer resources dedicated to that mission, we will do so," Pompeo said. He said a NATO team was at the State Department working on a plan to get burden-sharing right in the region, as well, so that we can continue the important missions to protect and defend, and keep the American people safe while reducing costs and burdens borne by the U.S. Earlier in the day, Pompeo's spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, said any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership - not to discuss troop withdrawal, but our right, appropriate force posture in the Middle East. Iraqi lawmakers passed a resolution Sunday to oust U.S. troops, following the U.S. drone strike that killed Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Baghdad's airport. The nonbinding vote put the responsibility on the government to formally request a withdrawal. Abdul-Mahdi urged lawmakers at the time to take urgent measures to ensure the removal of the troops. In speaking to Pompeo, Abdul-Mahdi stopped short of requesting an immediate withdrawal, allowing time to draw up a strategy and timeline for departure. In its initial readout of the call, the State Department made no mention of Abdul-Mahdi's request on the troops. It said Pompeo, who initiated the call, reiterated the U.S. condemnation of the Iranian missile strikes and underscored that President Donald Trump "has said the United States will do whatever it takes to protect the American and Iraqi people and defend our collective interests. There are some 5,200 U.S. troops in Iraq assisting and providing training to Iraqi security counterparts to fight IS. An American pullout could deeply set back efforts to crush remnants of the group amid concerns of its resurgence during the political turmoil. Both the U.S. and Iran have fought to defeat IS, and neither wants to see it stage a comeback. IS gloated in its first comments on Soleimani's slaying, saying his death pleased the hearts of believers, in an editorial in the group's al-Nabaa online newspaper. It carried a photo of Soleimani and al-Muhandis, saying that God brought their end at the hands of their allies. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker said future talks between Baghdad and Washington were expected to focus on the nature of their strategic relationship, We provide assets that no other coalition ally can provide. ... If the United States wasnt in Iraq, its hard to imagine the coalition being in Iraq," he told reporters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at the end of a visit to the region in which he met with Iraqi officials in the northern Kurdish region. Schenker added that the U.S. and its partners have provided $5.4 billion to the Iraqi military in the last four years. Ortagus said the U.S. and Iraqi governments need to talk about security as well as "our financial, economic and diplomatic partnership." She did not elaborate. Iraq is highly dependent on Iran sanctions waivers from Washington to continue importing Iranian gas to meet electricity demands, and the U.S. has consistently used this as leverage. The current waiver expires in February, and without a new one, Iraq could face severe financial penalties. The demand for a troop withdrawal is not universal among Iraqis. Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers, who oppose the Parliament resolution, see the U.S. presence as a bulwark against domination by the majority Shiites and Iran. Kurdish security forces have benefited from U.S. training and aid. Protesters criticized the ongoing crisis involving Iraq, the U.S. and Iran in demonstrations across the capital and in the southern provinces. Thousands massed in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the protest movement, and many chanted Damn Iran and America! Large demonstrations also were held in Basra, Dhi Qar, Najaf and Diwanieh provinces as the movement seeks to regain momentum after regional tensions overshadowed the uprising. Amid the protests in Basra, Iraqi journalist Ahmed Abdul Samad was found dead in his car outside a police station from a gunshot wound to the head, according to a security official who requested anonymity in line with regulations. A photographer covering the protests was injured and is in critical condition. Meanwhile, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani urged rival political factions to unite and put private interests aside, saying they risked creating more unrest. The factions have yet to agree on a nominee to replace the outgoing Abdul-Mahdi, who resigned in December under pressure from the protesters. "Everyone is required to think carefully about what this situation will lead to if there is no end to it, he added. In Ireland, on the most recent count, 250,000 children are living below the poverty line. The existence of this high level of deprivation is shamefully taken for granted as the price we pay for the alleged benefits of the free play of market forces. There are a number of factors that underpin this glaring neglect; chief among these is the fact that any form of remedial support, other than that provided by charities, has been seen as toxic political intervention, with its roots in socialism. In addition, there is no real political will to seriously confront the increasing levels of crippling adult poverty. Here we have a clear moral demand for consistency between what we know and what we do. At the heart of our pragmatic political lives is the tension between the forces of wealth creation and those concerned with the distribution of wealth. It is often assumed that the wealthy deserve their wealth as they worked hard to create it. Sadly, it is also assumed that the poor, the unemployed and the homeless are feckless, lazy and unworthy. As the concept of socialism was played out in recent political debates in Britain, Boris Johnson peddled a malicious association of modern socialism with old-time Marxism and communism. Here was a clear case of dishonesty on stilts, intended to mislead and to frighten. More crucially, however, Johnson's elitist ideology seems intent on manufacturing failure in order to highlight success. Socialism in Ireland has had a chequered history. Not having the blessing of the Catholic Church weakened its impact. The Church saw itself as the guardian of the individual against the intrusion of the State into family and personal life. One obvious route to a more equitable access to wealth creation is to place more effective emphasis on the distribution of the means of wealth creation. This involves breathing more life into programmes of education and training that move steadily closer to parity of esteem between academic and the vocational worlds. In this respect, we have much to learn from the German experience. Philip O'Neill Oxford, England RTE's 'fairness' rule does not apply to presenters RTE is to appeal the retirement case it lost to one of its former producers, who was forced to retire at the age of 65 against her wishes. RTE argued it was necessary for Anne Roper to retire in order "to ensure intergenerational fairness and to facilitate the promotion of younger producers". Gay Byrne spent 37 years as presenter of 'The Late Late Show' and never completely retired from RTE, Marian Finucane worked for RTE for over 40 years until her death at the age of 69, and Larry Gogan also worked for over 40 years for the broadcaster before his death at 85 this week. While all of these presenters were renowned for their talent and professionalism, they blocked up options for younger blood to bring new life to these important roles. It's a poor reflection on RTE, and in a wider sense on Ireland, that RTE management didn't ensure intergenerational fairness and to facilitate the promotion of younger presenters for these positions also. Pat Fitzpatrick Brussels, Belgium Deficiencies of democracy not unique to Ireland It is truly ironic that as we approach commemoration and celebration of a century of Irish democratic rule, we endure what must be the most irrelevant Government this State has ever experienced. An election now will appear of little consequence to many; regardless of the result, an increasing number of the big decisions will be taken by the EU, while really big ones are taken by multinationals. Present governance of Ireland consists of posturing Government and Opposition; both appear to have given up on what were once paramount concerns of health, housing and safety of citizens. Oireachtas members appear obscenely complacent with keeping each other in lucrative office despite blatant discovery of vote rigging, expense abuse and compensation exploitation. The holy grail 'backstop', which incidentally after two years of utter prominence is rarely mentioned anymore, was heralded as the reason for Government/Opposition collusion. It was ill judged and mismanaged to such a degree that, despite 11th-hour capitulation, Ireland's attitude helped stoke sufficient resentment to bring hard-line political will to the forefront of British politics, which could result in the hardest Brexit imaginable. Opening salvos from President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commissioner Phil Hogan and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson do not augur well for easy agreement. To be fair, Ireland is not alone suffering deficiencies of democracy at the moment. Many democracies have similar and far worse problems; ranging from grave political hostility to simmering and active protest and social strife. Some democracies are acting like dictatorships with extreme external activity which could be difficult to excuse even in wartime. Failure to adapt to the vast life enhancement abilities modern technology has wrought, together with lack of action to distribute benefits to all, results in a perception that democratic government increasingly favours the rich and powerful. Padraic Neary Tubbercurry, Co Sligo Seven reasons to celebrate disbandment of the RIC RIC (1822-1922), whose senior personnel were predominantly Anglo-Irish Protestants, was a quasi-military police force and was frequently armed by the British administration to quash "civil unrest". Here are seven reasons to celebrate its disbandment: 1. The Tithe War 1830-1836; 2. The Famine 1845-1849; 3. The Young Irelander Rebellion 1848; 4. The Fenian Rising 1867; 5. The Land War 1879-1882; 6. The Uprising 1916; 7. The War Of Independence 1919-1921. Rossa O Snodaigh Scrinidh Cluainin, Co Liatroma Narrow nationalism will push back reunification As I head towards my 80s, I recall that the Ireland of the '40s, '50s and '60s was dominated by the twin forces of oppressive Catholicism and narrow nationalism. It was also the high noon of the ban on 'foreign' games. Primary school trainee teachers had these influences drilled into them and they, in turn, drummed the same ethos into us, the gullible pupils of the time. The power and dominance of the Catholic Church has, thankfully, been eroded by many fine people - including broadcasters such as Gay Byrne and Marian Finucane. However, no such influences have tackled the poison of narrow-minded nationalism. Meanwhile, the inclusive vision of Wolfe Tone and others continues to be eroded. Having been fortunate to have known some of the great leaders and volunteers of the War of Independence in West Cork, particularly Liam Deasy, Tom Hales, Dinny Callaghan and Danny Canty - men who were big hearted and generous - I am saddened by the pettiness of some of our younger and, supposedly, better educated politicians in the matter of the proposed RIC commemoration. Not for the first time have some of younger lads proven their pettiness. It was young Fine Gael which opposed an invitation to the late Brian Linehan to speak at a commemoration to Michael Collins in Beal na mBlath some years ago. But they probably consider themselves more progressive than those of us of my generation. When Sean Lemass as Taoiseach met with Terence O'Neill, the then prime minister of Northern Ireland, he showed the kind of courage, vision and leadership that will be required in the future if we are ever going to build an agreed and inclusive Ireland. Yes, there are men and women in the Dail and in the media of such quality, but they will not be found in the ranks of narrow nationalism and those who think that they are "a better class of Irishman". They are the ones, sadly, who together with the Provos push back the prospect of an agreed and unified Ireland. If they cannot find it in their hearts to accommodate dead Irish policemen and their relatives what prospect do they have of finding common cause with our unionist neighbours who have their own backward constituency to deal with? I wish Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and mature politicians of all parties well and hope we continue to commemorate the events of our difficult history in a spirit of respect and generosity. Pat O'Mahony Dalkey, Co Dublin Beirut (AFP) - Crisis-hit Lebanon on Saturday said it "regrets" being among seven countries stripped by the United Nations of voting privileges in the General Assembly for failing to pay their dues. The UN decision could "harm Lebanon's interests, its prestige and reputation," the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency. The ministry which "regrets" the move called for a solution to be found "as quickly as possible", saying the situation "could be corrected". The finance ministry later said Lebanon's arrears would be paid on Monday. It was not immediately clear how much Beirut owed the United Nations. On Friday the United Nations said seven countries -- Lebanon, Yemen, Venezuela, Central African Republic, Gambia, Lesotho and Tonga -- have fallen behind in their financial contributions and would not be able to in the 74th session of the General Assembly. Under Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations, member states that are behind on the payment of dues in an amount that equals or exceeds the contributions due for two preceding years can lose their vote in the General Assembly. Member states that can show that inability to pay is due to conditions beyond their control are allowed an exception. The Lebanese foreign ministry argued that it had "performed all of its duties and completed all transactions within the deadline" but did not explain who is to blame or why the funds were not transferred to the UN. The finance ministry hit back saying it did not receive any request to make the payment. Lebanon is facing its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. The World Bank estimates that Lebanon is in recession, and has warned that the number living in poverty could increase from a third to half the population. The economic downturn coincides with an anti-government protest movement that has remained mobilised since October 17. Protesters are demanding the removal of a political class they deem incompetent and corrupt. Anti-government demonstrators want outside forces to respect Iraqs sovereignty as they fight for political change. Baghdad, Iraq In the late hours of a crisp winters night, Ahmed al-Rikabi and others are huddled under blankets in a tent in Baghdads Tahrir Square. For these men, most of whom did not know each other before coming to the square but have now formed strong friendships, this tent has been home for almost three months. They are but few of thousands of young Iraqis who have taken to the streets in an effort to change Iraqs political system a system which, since 2003, has been dominated and defined by foreign powers and corruption. Across the Tigris River, in the capitals Green Zone, momentum has been building for an effort by pro-Iranian politicians to expel United States forces from the country in the wake of last weeks US assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdads airport. A non-binding parliamentary motion tabled on Sunday passed with a landslide though almost all Kurdish and Sunni ministers of parliament boycotted the vote. Yet, while the political tide is moving in one direction, those in the square the hub of the months-long protest movement are not convinced it is flowing the right way. For some like al-Rikabi, there is the fear that the Baghdad elite may try to hijack the sacrifices of his fellow protesters at least 500 have been killed in a vicious clampdown by security forces since October and many of those in Tahrir Square allege that Iran was partly to blame for it. We here have all seen and felt what this government has done, al-Rikabi said. They have done it with Iranian help, they did it with Qassem Soleimani too. Meanwhile, there was President Donald Trumps threat of sanctions in the event of a US withdrawal. Itll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame, Trump warned, referring to the punishing economic measures reimposed by Washington as part of a maximum pressure campaign against Tehran. That threat evoked memories of the 1990s when Iraqs economy and infrastructure was punished by crippling sanctions in the wake of President Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait then it was the people who paid the price. We don't want our politicians to force us into camps to either be pro-US or pro-Iran. Sajad Jiyad, managing director of Bayan Center For some in Parliament, the killing of Soleimani and al-Muhandis was the final straw for an unwelcome US presence in the country that had already lasted too long. Baghdads political class claims it has galvanised political support for Tehran and Iraqs pro-Iran leaders. They lost a person [Soleimani] but they regained the people, said Sami al-Askari, a former minister of parliament and chief of staff to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. I think the Iranians have now won most of the Iraqi Shias, even the voices against Iran have vanished. For almost three months, thousands of Iraqis have taken to the streets in an effort to change Iraqs political system [Gareth Browne/Al Jazeera] Yet for many protesters, the assassination of Soleimani in Baghdad and the events that followed including Irans retaliatory missile strikes on Wednesday at Iraqi bases housing US troops raised fears their country could become a playground of conflict between Tehran and Washington. We do not hate America, we just want the world to respect our sovereignty. This is about Iran just as much it is about anyone who tries to violate our sovereignty, said Asrhad al-Karbali, who said he gave up his job as a policeman to come to Tahrir. Others said the effort by some politicians and militia heads to capitalise on the moment laid bare a significant disconnect between those who have camped out in cities across the country and Iraqs political class. We dont want our politicians to force us into camps to either be pro-US or pro-Iran I dont think thats healthy, said Sajad Jiyad, managing director of Bayan Center, a think-tank based in Baghdad. For the average Iraqi, the protesters, they dont want to be talking in terms of the US and Iran, he added. They want to be talking about whats happening for us on the ground in terms of services, the protection of rights and political reforms. 3,000 Lankan refugees willing to return, says Dinesh after India visit By Chris Kamalendran View(s): View(s): Around 3000 Sri Lankan refugees living in India are willing to return to their motherland on their own accord, International Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Sunday Times. In his first official visit to India as minister in charge of foreign affairs early this week, Mr Gunawardena met Indias External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and during talks they discussed the return of Sri Lankans who had fled to India during the war. Around 80,000 Sri Lankans who fled the country during the war live in welfare centres in Tamil Nadu. We are making arrangements to accept the returnees and we will provide necessary facilities to them through the respective District Secretariats. The first batch of returnees is expected early February. We will make arrangements with State agencies in the north and east to provide immediate assistance to resettle them in their original lands, the Minister said. He said most of those willing to return were elderly persons and a list of their names had already been prepared. Once they return, we will verify their identities and arrange them to resettle, he said. See for yourself how and where vaccinations are ramping up, plus how COVID-19 infections and deaths still persist in most states. A federal judge called security at one of the U.S. Navys bases in Key West lax at best and foolish, days after two Chinese nationals entered a military property by simply ignoring the guard at the entrance and driving through. It boggles the mind, said U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lurana Snow, on the bench in Key West on Friday. But, Snow added, the case at hand remains a troubling one. Yuhao Wang and Jielun Zhang, who are full-time students in masters degree programs at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, are accused in a complaint of defying the guard at the gate at the entrance to Sigsbee Park Annex the morning of Jan. 4 so they could take illegal photos of sensitive military assets. Snow on Friday ordered Wang and Zhang detained until their cases are resolved, agreeing with prosecutors that they are a flight risk. Despite her shock at how easily the pair got onto Sigsbee and roamed around for nearly a half-hour, Snow says she is taking the incident seriously. Its not my belief either of the defendants are undercover agents or master spies, Snow said. But, she said she thinks their purpose on the base that morning was to obtain information thats valuable to someone other than these two defendants. FBI agents said it took 30 minutes to find the two 24-year-olds, who face misdemeanor charges of trespassing in order to photograph military installations. Neither has been indicted. A Navy spokeswoman Thursday said the search was closer to 15 minutes. The students defense is that they were tourists on vacation. Things arent always what they seem, said federal public defender Juan Michelen, who represents Wang. I can see why this can be a salacious case. They could have videoed everything and sent it to the world by the time security caught up with them, Snow said. Im horrified. Sigsbee Park is one of seven annexes the Navy maintains throughout Key West and the Lower Keys, bases that include nearly 30 miles of shoreline. Story continues Sigsbee, which is on an island called Dredgers Key, is largely a residential neighborhood for about 500 families, both military and civilian. The school district has a public charter school on base and there is a restaurant and bar, car wash, commissary, baseball fields and a waterfront RV park. That park is where Wang and Zhang reportedly took their photos, aiming cellphones and a Nikon camera at Fleming Key, a nearby island across the water where the Navy keeps small arms in weapons bunkers, said Naval Air Station Key West spokeswoman Trice Denny. Only one road connects Sigsbee to Key West proper, off North Roosevelt at Kennedy Drive in the New Town area of the city. The entrance has a guard station and a parking arm that is usually up during the day, some residents said. We have had problems with trespassing, said Denny. We stay vigilant. Its the 27 miles of shoreline thats the problem. The same day Wang and Zhang drove onto the base, Denny said two men came ashore after docking their boat behind a home on Sigsbee. Police were called and escorted them off the base. Sigsbee Park They said they were lost, Denny said. Weve had those things happen in the past. Weve also had Cubans land on the base as well. Thats another form of trespassing. Denny said the Navy trains for trespassing incidents, just as it does for active shooters. Amid rising spy concerns, 2 more Chinese students held after shooting photos at base Hopefully, something will change, Snow said. Im not fussing at the Navy because this is a new phenomenon but I truly hope they will do something. That phenomenon is a growing number of cases in which Chinese civilians are recruited by Beijing to collect sensitive military technology and reports, according to the online business journal Quartz. Quartz refers to a 2018 podcast interview with William Evanina, head of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center since 2014. China is number one, Evanina said in the chat with former deputy CIA director Michael Morell. Existentially, long term, theyre the largest threat to our national security, bar none its not even close. Evanina said, Those out-of-embassy jobs where they send over engineers, businessmen, students to do the same type of collection, recruitment, co-opting of information at mass scale. Key West has seen two previous cases involving two more Chinese nationals being caught illegally on Navy bases. 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. He was stopped by federal agents who found photos on his cellphone of military facilities. A 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 was lost 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. Dan Clifford and a comrade were hiding out in a house in the Gurrane mountains outside Cahirciveen. The troops surrounded the house and ordered the pair to surrender. They emerged from the house with their hands raised. A short time later they were summarily shot dead. The killing of the two men was an atrocity, a war crime. It was perpetrated not by the crown forces or any of the crowns agents in Ireland, but instead by the National Army. The army was acting with the authority of the provisional government of Ireland, elected by the people in 1922. Their brief was to defeat forces opposed to the Anglo Irish Treaty. At times the Civil War descended into depravity. The killing of my grand-uncle on March 6, 1923, was an atrocity that was largely forgotten, simply because so many other atrocities plumbed far darker depths around that time, particularly in Kerry. Shortly after Dan was summarily executed, his brother Michael, my grandfather, got word and left his shop in the town to go up to Gurrane. When he arrived near to the scene shots were fired at him and heretreated in fear of his life. Later, Michael was told that pro-treaty elements were threatening to burn down his shop. Michael took no part in the Civil War but his brothers involvement had rendered him a target. This is the kind of state-sponsored terror that would in time feature in places such as Mugabes Zimbabwe, Saddams Iraq and the West Bank. Over the coming months and years the State will commemorate those who oversaw the terror from 1922-23. None of which is to suggest that the anti-treaty forces were innocent victims in the Civil War. They were acting in a profoundly undemocratic manner. They were attempting to destroy the newly created Free State for which the majority of people had voted. They were complicit in a violent response to oppose and suppress the democratic wishes of the majority on the island. That quote was used by Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan this week to describe the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). It also perfectly describes the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War. The political leader of the anti-Treaty side, Eamon de Valera, had declared that the people have no right to be wrong when they voted for acceptance of the Treaty. In pursuing their aims the anti-Treaty side also preyed on the civilian population to spread terror. Over the coming months and years the State will commemorate those who took up arms in defiance of democracy in 1922-23. The War of Independence which preceded the Civil War threw up plenty of atrocities. The war had some democratic legitimacy through the elections of December 1918. But contrary to the unquestioned narrative peddled until recent decades, the IRA of the time were perfectly apt at spreading terror as they saw fit. Over the coming months and years the State will honour the men and women of the IRA who fought in the War of Independence. These harsh realities may be self evident to many but need to be spelled out in light of the hullabaloo this week about the proposed State commemoration for the RIC and Dublin Metropolitan Police. Much of the criticism of the now aborted event centred on the police forces reputation for brutality and committing atrocities. Some members of the police were brutal, others revelled in inflicting terror, and many more were simply doing a job. But the narrative that the RIC and DMP had a monopoly on depravity should be with de Valera, in the grave. One example of the tone and content during the week was a piece in the Irish Examiner written by Padraig Og O Ruairc who has written several books about the period. He enumerated a succession of brutal atrocities for which the RIC were responsible. But the average reader and certainly the average Twitter user would have walked away from the article believing that depravity was the preserve of the losing side in the War of Independence. The reality is that many goodmen and women on both sides did bad things at a terrible time and often had to make accommodations with themselves by internalising it for the rest of their lives. Why should the Irish Government expect the Irish people to commemorate them? Mr O Ruairc asked. Well, maybe because they also were Irish, drawn from the same towns, farms and families as those who fought for independence and then fought each other. Maybe because Irish history is messy and complicated and far removed from the dated depiction of virtuous freedom fighters taking on the perfidious and evil crown forces. Maybe because it would be a good signal to send to the one million or so unionists in the north of the island that we have grown up down here and can acknowledge a shared history which is painful on both sides. The frenzied reaction this week betrayed nothing as much as a partitionist mentality. Anybody who genuinely cares about a United Ireland has to recognise that it is be made up of two very different traditions. If the majority tradition down here cant come to terms with what was perpetrated by the other side 100 years ago, how can we expect the majority tradition up there to do likewise over what they were subjected to just 30 years ago? The proposed commemoration was very poorly handled. There should have been proper consultation and debate ahead of it. Holding it as the first event of this seminal year in the centenary of the violent upheaval was a major misstep. But the reaction spoke volumes of how far we have to travel in this state. One outstanding feature of the hullabaloo suggests we have gone back to the future. In de Valeras Ireland, the cartoonish narrative of goodies versus baddies prevailed. Then, with some revision, the view through the rear mirror was broadened out. Now in the time of social media, public debate has regressed. Once more its goodies versus baddies, anger and stridency squeezing out any nuance or perspective. Negative reaction to the proposed commemoration was driven and amplified on Twitter in particular. Many who gave their considered opinion on Twitter believed the event was to celebrate the Black and Tans. Say no more. What would Sean O Faolain have made of it all? The writer was an IRA combatant during the period and subsequently a rare subversive voice in a submissive state. His father had been an RIC inspector. Men like my father were dragged out in those years and shot as traitors to their country so be it. Shot for cruel necessity so be it. Shot to inspire necessary terror so be it. But they were not traitors. They had their loyalties and stuck to them. Then again, sure what would Sean O Faolain know? The man never tweeted in his life. Agriculture minister and Cork North West TD Michael Creed is understood to have confirmed he will be attending the latest in a series of crisis meetings in Baile Mhuirne to address the year long failure to replace a Public Health Nurse in the Gaeltacht. Local TDs and senior representatives of the HSE, the Garda Siochana and County Council have been invited to attend the meeting to address the shortage of a Public Health Nurse, the failure to appoint a new Garda Sergeant and the poor state of the roads in the area. The delay in the appointment of a replacement Public Health Nurse for the area has led to no local checks of newly born babies and confusion and frustration over the provision of palliative care for elderly and terminally ill patients. At the meeting before Christmas it was disclosed that no new born child had been assessed in the local Ionad Slainte/Health Centre since the retirement of the Public Health Nurse in February of last year. There was also difficulty and confusion regarding medication for the very ill. At the last meeting the state of the roads locally was also raised as an issue which is preventing people getting proper access to health care facilities in Macroom. At that meeting also it was claimed that the recently retired Garda Sergeant couldn't be replaced because of the stipulation that Gardai placed in Gaeltacht stations would have to be fluent in Irish. The meeting will be held in the Abbey Hotel in Baile Mhuirne at 8pm on Monday, January 13. A survey carried out by Comharchumann Forbartha Mhuscrai regarding services will also be discussed. Your family's electricity bills might zoom this year as Vietnam is set to buy 1.5 billion kWh of power from Laos. Nguyen Dang Anh Thi It has become necessary since a shortage is forecast for several years starting in 2020. With the seventh National Power Development Plan (2011-2020) focusing primarily on traditional energy sources like thermal and hydropower, 47 out of 62 power projects, the majority being thermal, are behind schedule due to lack of funding and local resentment against thermal plants. At the end of the decade, with the government drafting the eighth National Development Plan, it is a good time to have a look back at the power sector. The electricity shortage is due to three main causes: uncontrolled industrial development, overreliance on thermal power and inefficient energy usage. To fulfill the dream of making Vietnam an advanced industrialized nation by 2020, the government gave substantial support to the industrial sector in terms of electricity prices. However, despite consuming 54 percent of the electricity, the industrial sector only contributes 28 percent of GDP. Meanwhile, thermal remains the main source of electricity. In the last 10 years electricity generated from coal has gone up 15-fold as 20 new plants were commissioned. In the next 10 another 40 thermal energy plants will be built as envisaged in the seventh national power plan, increasing capacity by three times. They will require much larger volumes of coal than Vietnam can produce, forcing the country to import over 60 percent of its requirements. In contrast, renewable energy projects are stalling for reasons such as lack of infrastructure and facilities, and have to queue up behind thermal projects. Industrial use of energy lacks efficiency. In 2010 a new economical energy usage law was passed, but with little practical effect. Thus, the electricity required to increase GDP by $1 is still 250 percent of the global average. Its rate is 1.3 times China and India's, 1.7 times Malaysia's, 2.6 times the Philippines, 3.8 times Japans, and 4.7 times Singapore's. One example of the energy usage law's failure can be seen in the cement industry. It required all factories with a capacity of over 2,500 tons of clinker per day to install subsidiary power generators to utilize the heat generated from burning clinker before 2015. But only 10 out of 74 factories complied. Workers install solar power panels at a solar power plant in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam. Photo by Binh Phuoc Newspaper. The international community is turning away from thermal energy because it is highly polluting and not energy efficient. One clear indication of this is global investors' shift toward clean, renewable energy. As the international community commits to reduce fossil fuel use and combat climate change, Vietnam should be part of the solution, not the problem. So, while ensuring national development, it needs to take action on both sides -- supply and demand -- to sustainably meet energy needs. First, it needs to change its approach toward electricity usage and economic development. With energy usage as a prominent criterion, the government should focus on industries where energy efficiency is high to prevent excessive use of power by industry, potentially causing an energy crisis in the country. Second, Vietnam should undertake a large-scale energy saving campaign. Since the cost of generating 1 kWh of electricity is four times that of conserving it, saving energy will be worth the investment. It is estimated that 10,300 MW of thermal power can be saved before 2030 if factories start to implement energy-saving actions since the nation has the potential to save up to 40 percent of the energy it uses, the World Bank said. Furthermore, domestic consumption can also be reduced with nationwide demand-side management and installation of a smart grid to minimize the energy loss between the production and consumption stages. Finally, Vietnam should also add renewable energy to the national power grid to ensure energy security with lowered environmental and social costs. If the government stops saying things like "Not growing thermal energy would threaten energy security" and "local governments should not discriminate against thermal energy," Vietnam might impress foreign investors that it is moving in the right direction and in lockstep with the international community. Hopefully, PM Nguyen Xuan Phucs famous exhortation, "Do not sacrifice the environment for economic development," will serve as a guide to all of Vietnams future economic activities. *Nguyen Dang Anh Thi is an expert on energy and environment. The opinions expressed are personal. PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-11 00:11:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 688 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 KINGSTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2020 / Delta Resources Limited ("Delta") (TSXV:DLTA) is pleased to announce that it will be attending the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference to be held on January 19 and 20, 2020 at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. Delta invites investors to visit Booth 1009. Management will be available to discuss the Delta-1 property in Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Delta-2 property in Chibougamau, Quebec in more detail.Delta will also be presenting a summary of its activities at 14h40pm Monday January 20th at Workshop 1 of the conference.Other NewsDelta Resources announces today that Michael Zurowski has resigned from the Company's board of directors to pursue other opportunities."On behalf of our board of directors and the whole Delta team, I thank Michael for his valuable service and contributions over many years and wish him well in his future endeavors," stated Frank Candido, Chairman of Delta Resources Limited.About Delta Resources LimitedDelta Resources Limited is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on growing shareholder value through the acquisition of high-potential gold and base-metal projects in Canada, exploring these projects with state-of-the-art methods, and potentially developing these projects into mines.On October 3rd, 2019, Delta announced the acquisition of the Eureka Gold Discovery in the Thunder Bay area and on October 16th, 2019, the acquisition of the Delta-2 Property which hosts the R-14 Gold Prospect in the Chibougamau Mining District of Quebec.Delta also owns a 100% interest in the Bellechasse-Timmins gold deposit in southeastern Quebec, Canada which contains a 43-101 gold resource of 171,000 ounces at an average grade of 1.83 g/t gold in the indicated category and an additional 95,000 ounces at an average grade of 1.36 g/t gold in the inferred category (SGS Canada Inc., Bellechasse-Timmins Property Resource Estimate, Southeastern Quebec, August 1, 2012).The company's focus is currently to build a strong portfolio of mineral exploration properties with a high potential for economic discoveries in Canada while evaluating the long-term potential of its 100% owned Bellechasse-Timmins gold deposit in southeastern Quebec.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DELTA RESOURCES LIMITED.Andre C. TessierPresident, CEO and DirectorWe seek safe harbor. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.For Further Information:Delta Resources LimitedFrank Candido, ChairmanTel : 514-969-5530fcandido@ deltaresources.ca orAndre Tessier, CEO and PresidentTel: 613-328-1581atessier@ deltaresources.ca Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking InformationSome statements contained in this news release are " "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the use of proceeds of the non-brokered private placement and payment of the debt settlements. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event.SOURCE: Delta Resources Limited Read what is in the news today. Society -- Local authorities at Hong Hai Ward in Ha Long City in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh organized an emergency relocation of 16 households to a safer area on Friday after an embankment had collapsed in the early morning of the same day. -- As many as 269 people registered to donate their blood at the eighth blood donation campaign organized by the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam on Friday. -- Areas throughout the north of Vietnam, including the capital Hanoi, are bracing themselves for a cold snap which is forecast to arrive on Saturday, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. -- A decision to reprimand Trieu Tai Vinh, deputy head of the Communist Party's Central Economic Commission and former Party chief of Ha Giang, was issued by the Politburo at a meeting on Friday for his violations during the organizing of the national high school exams in 2018, when many students had their grades altered by officials in charge of the exam papers. -- The Politburo on Friday warned Hoang Trung Hai, Party chief of Hanoi and former Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam between 2007 and 2016, over several violations in overseeing the expansion of state-owned steel company TISCO. Business -- Vu Thanh Truc, PR and sustainability manager at Coca-Cola Vietnam, said on Friday afternoon that the beverage company had paid VND471 billion (US$20.4 million) of the VND821 billion ($35.4 million) of fines and tax arrears it is asked to pay by Vietnam's tax authorities due to incorrect tax declaration. -- Vietcombank, one of Vietnam's 'big five' state-owned banks, said on Friday that it has reached the target of $1 billion in profit one year ahead of schedule. Lifestyle -- The Balade en France food festival featuring French cuisine is taking place for the second time in Hanoi at a pedestrian street near downtown Hoan Kiem Lake until Sunday. -- Tet Viet Festival, an annual traditional event in the lead up to the Lunar New Year in Ho Chi Minh City, is being held at the Youth Culture House in District 1 until January 29, offering a variety of activities that typically represent Vietnams cultural identity. Sports -- Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates collected a point each after playing out a goalless draw at Buriram Stadium in Thailand to kick off their AFC U23 Championship 2020 Group D campaign on Friday evening. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Jayadev Galla on Saturday said that his party will keep on opposing Register of Citizens (NRC) until it becomes clear that it would not be detrimental to the interests of Muslims in the country. He said that TDP supported Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) during the Monsoon session of Parliament. "We thought the citizenship law would be helpful for the refugees of three neighbouring countries. But now we realised that it would be problematic if CAA and NRC would be implemented together," Jayadev said. Responding on the imposition of section 144 in Amaravati villages, he said that it is in force in the area since December 19. "We heard of emergency, but now we are seeing it in Andhra Pradesh. It is undemocratic to use colonial-era laws like section 144. Jagan government is acting in an autocratic, fascist and dictatorial manner. It is unconstitutional to suppress the people's right to protest," said Jayadev. The TDP MP slammed the YSRCP government for the idea of three capitals. "It will increase the expenditure and would not be cost-effective," he said. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The cost of Carlos Ghosn's escape included $14m (12.6m) in forfeited bail money, while the operation that saw him celebrate New Year's Eve in Beirut could have cost $15m or more. That includes $350,000 for the private jet that spirited the former auto executive from Osaka to Istanbul, and millions of dollars for his multi-country extraction that would have taken a team of as many as 25 people half a year to plan, according to a private security expert who said he was not involved and asked not to be identified. Such outflows have seen Mr Ghosn's fortune shrink by 40pc since he was arrested more than a year ago at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, according to estimates by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His fortune is now calculated to be about $70m, down from around $120m at the time of his first court appearance a year ago. In fiery, freewheeling form at a two-and-a-half-hour press conference in Beirut on Wednesday, Mr Ghosn, 65, repeatedly proclaimed his innocence against allegations he understated his income and raided corporate resources for personal gain; accused Japanese prosecutors, government officials and Nissan executives of conspiring to topple him; and insisted he would clear his name. "I am used to what you call mission impossible," he said in response to questions. "You can expect me in the next weeks to take some initiatives to tell you how I'm going to clear my name." That might include a tell-all book. Mr Ghosn plans to publish the story of his arrest, according to a report by Japanese public broadcaster NHK. His downfall has already seen him lose millions in payouts. Last year, Nissan cancelled retirement and stock-linked compensation. Renault said he would not benefit from a non-compete agreement he signed in 2015 and stock-based payments that were conditional on his staying at the company. Many of the charges against him centre on retirement payments, totaling more than $140m, which he had not yet received. That may be just the start. French investigations examining the possible misuse by Mr Ghosn of Renault's money to host parties and pay consulting fees are at a preliminary stage. The former auto executive also agreed to pay $1m to settle a civil complaint from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which said he failed to properly disclose potential retirement payments, without admitting or denying wrongdoing. At his press conference, Mr Ghosn claimed he had done nothing untoward in hosting an event at the Palace of Versailles. Regarding the SEC fine, Mr Ghosn's lawyers said previously: "We are pleased to have resolved this matter in the US with no findings or admission of wrongdoing." Mr Ghosn's US law firm, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP, declined to comment on Bloomberg's wealth estimates or on the SEC settlement. His Lebanese lawyer also declined to comment. Nissan is looking at bringing legal action against Mr Ghosn in Lebanon, people familiar with the company's plans said, to recover money it claims he used improperly. The car maker is trying to evict him from the villa in Beirut to which he still has access. Nissan purchased it for $8.75m, renovated it and furnished it for him, according to a person familiar with the matter. "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 auto maker said on Tuesday. Authorities may be looking to seize some of his assets. In Switzerland, where Mr Ghosn reportedly banks with Julius Baer Group, authorities received a legal aid request from the Tokyo District Attorney's Office a year ago, a spokeswoman for the agency that received the notice said. It examined the request before forwarding it to the Zurich prosecutor's office in March. A spokesman for the Zurich prosecutor's office declined to comment on the nature of the request or what it is doing with it. At Japan's request, Interpol issued a so-called Red Notice in Mr Ghosn's name, making it known to other law enforcement authorities that the country considers him a fugitive. Lebanese prosecutors have issued a travel ban for Mr Ghosn and took his French passport, justice minister Albert Sarhan said in an interview. It is not clear if any of Mr Ghosn's assets have been seized. In criminal court cases in Japan, a defendant's assets cannot be confiscated until a court verdict is reached, according to Taichi Yoshikai, a law professor at Kokushikan University. Assets can only be frozen if they are linked to certain types of offences, related mainly to organised crime. Bloomberg Australians are facing an 'unprecedented health crisis' as doctors gear up to deal with decades of illness stemming from the bushfire crisis. Air quality levels across the country have been among the worst on earth, with residents forced to barricade themselves inside with the windows shut. Those who have ventured outside have often been met with a blanket of thick smoke. For months, Sydneysiders have woken up to heavy smog - often blocking all views across the harbour. Australia faces a new crisis as pressure mounts on the public health system during the nationwide bushfire crisis. Sydney has been blanketed in toxic smog (pictured) Pedestrians are seen wearing masks as smoke haze from bushfires in NSW blankets the CBD in Sydney (pictured) in December The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, which represents more than 17,000 doctors, says Australia is in uncharted territory when it comes to assessing the long-term health effects of the current bushfire season. It is also concerned about the long-term mental health impact on those impacted by this season's fires. Respiratory expert and RACP president-elect Professor John Wilson said a comprehensive and coordinated public health response was needed. 'This is an unprecedented public health crisis and we don't yet know the impact this prolonged exposure to bushfire smoke is going to have,' he said in a statement. Blazes such as this one at the town of Sussex Inlet in NSW (pictured on New Year's Eve) could leave residents with an array of health problems Doctors warned people could suffer health problems for years to come (stock image) and called for a 'comprehensive response' to the crisis It is unknown what the health impact will be on the thousands of firefighters (pictured) battling blazes like this one in Bilpin, NSW, in December 'Since the bushfire crisis began, doctors have already seen an increase in patients presenting with respiratory issues. 'It's critical that there is a comprehensive and coordinated response to this health crisis, and that all who need healthcare have timely access to expert health services.' It is crucial to also keep mental health impacts in mind when considering the effects of the bushfire disaster, Professor Wilson said. A child is helped onto a helicopter as the fire ravaged community of Mallacoota is evacuated (pictured) on January 5 Evacuees arriving from Mallacoota (pictured) aboard the HMAS Choules are brought to shore on landing crafts in Hastings, Victoria on Wednesday Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine president Linda Selvey said the spread of contagious diseases was a risk as recovery efforts began in bushfire-ravaged disaster zones. 'There are also potential health risks relating to evacuation such as food and water supply and quality, and communicable diseases from many people collected together in small places for prolonged periods,' she said. 'There are longer-term health risks to people directly affected, particularly relating to mental health and risk of injury and illness associated with the clean-up and rebuilding process. 'All of these factors need to be taken into consideration as we tackle this national public health crisis.' The RACP was one of 22 organisations that signed a joint statement in December calling on the federal government to combat the health impacts of climate change. Iran's army says it was downed because of "human error." Iran admitted that it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner that it mistook for a threat during hostilities with the U.S., marking a dramatic reversal after insisting that the deadly crash was caused by mechanical failure. Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was flying close to a sensitive Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military site when it was downed because of "human error," the army said after conducting its own investigation, Bloomberg reported. Read alsoUkraine to demand compensation if downing of its plane in Iran proved Foreign Ministry IRGC officials will elaborate on the crash on state media, it said. It promised that the "culprits" would be identified and referred to judicial authorities. "Iran's armed forces went on high alert following U.S. threats to target Iranian sites," the army said. "Under such highly sensitive and critical circumstances, the Boeing Flight 752 flew close to a sensitive IRGC military site at an altitude and angle that made it look like a hostile target. The plane was hit due to human error and unintentionally." As recently as Friday, Iran denied that it had fired a missile at the plane and accused western governments of "psychological warfare." Officials in multiple western countries have said they believe it was shot down accidentally. A U.S. spy satellite detected the firing of two SA-15 surface-to-air missiles, a person familiar with the intelligence said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, Bloomberg said. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif blamed "human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism" for the disaster, according to a post on Twitter. A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020 The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday night. There are no obvious military sites visible on satellite photos of the plane's flight path. A power plant and an industrial park are in the area where the Ukrainian jet stopped transmitting its position, as well as large areas of undeveloped land, according to Google. The plane appeared to fly on a normal path to the northwest of the airport on the same heading as the runway from which it departed, according to the flight-tracking service FlightRadar24. It flew straight for just over two minutes after takeoff, according to the company. At that point, it made a slight turn to the right and continued for another 42 seconds. As UNIAN reported earlier, Kyiv-bound UIA flight PS752 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport in the early hours of Wednesday, January 8. It was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members on board. Two passengers and the crew members were Ukrainians. There were also 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and the United Kingdom each. There were no survivors. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Muhammad Beni Saputra (The Jakarta Post) Jambi Sat, January 11, 2020 If there is one big surprise of President Joko Jokowi Widodos second term in office, its probably the appointment of some millennials to his new Cabinet. Among them, Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim is the shining star. Nadiem is undoubtedly a prime role model for the Indonesian millennial generation: He is young, inspiring, smart and of course very successful with his Gojek decacorn. However, Nadiem was born into a wealthy family in first world Singapore, went to high-quality international schools, entered world class universities in the West and mastered perfect English. His life story would have been so different had he been destined to grow up in a poor rural family like the ones studied recently by the Smeru Institute. Smeru found that children born into poverty are likely to remain poor and unsuccessful as adults. Of course, as scholars argue, brilliant persons like Nadiem cannot be replaced by digital technology. Being aware of this, Minister Nadiem looks determined to improve the quality of Indonesians through radical changes in the education sector. In a coordination meeting he expressed his top priorities as the new minister: student effectiveness, institutional structures, Jokowis mental revolution and technological development. Nadiem also urged teachers to revolutionize the way they educate. Nadiem should expand his focus to encompass improving the quality of education in the village to break the cycle of poverty among villagers and the widening gap between the rich and the poor as well as to increase the poverty depth index. These problems affect student performance, as many families cannot afford nutritious food or obtain quality education. Research shows that childhood conditions and parental income greatly affect student success. The economic disadvantages faced by village students have seen them lag far behind their big city counterparts in the number of highly skilled pupils. Rural students underperformance does not result from a shortage of talents but rather the mediocre quality of the educational institutions they enroll in, reflecting long-term inequality in Indonesian education. The rich can seek other alternatives, such as going to private schools, enrolling in paid courses or studying at top-notch universities in the United States or Europe. This is what happened to Nadiem and the majority of millennials appointed by Jokowi, most of whom are foreign university graduates from privileged families. Underprivileged rural students, on the other hand, have no option but to cope with whatever the government provides. I was fortunate enough to be sent to the city to learn English, with which I could study abroad on an LPDP scholarship. Students whose regional governments take more care of education and have enough funds for it can be as lucky as Billy Mambrasar. Billy is an anomaly in Jokowis millennial team who, despite his humble origin, went to the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), sponsored by the Papuan government. The only way for most students to get a degree is through local, low quality higher education institutions. Local universities are usually costly, because they are mostly privately owned, and the majors offered are very limited. Also, local campuses do not have government assistance schemes for underprivileged students, such as the Single Tuition Fee (UKT), a subsidized university tuition fee. As a consequence, rural poor students from the very beginning of their education journey find themselves unfit for various government-sponsored programs. They are not able to compete for an overseas scholarship, because most grant providers require high English proficiency as well as exceptional academic achievement; affirmative scholarships also still require proof of English proficiency. Some policies are worthy to be considered by Nadiem. First, the minister needs to send more highly qualified teachers and lecturers to village schools and local universities. If possible, recruit talented, academically exceptional locals for the positions. Second, improve school and university infrastructure including good internet access. Teachers and lecturers can use the internet to get students enrolled in free online classes offered by reputable universities. Third, build state universities in regencies and apply the UKT scheme to regional private universities to enable local students to access quality and affordable education close to home. Last but not least, reinsert English in the elementary school curriculum. It is really regretful that Indonesia as the biggest Southeast Asian country does not make it mandatory for English to be introduced in primary school despite its importance for academic and professional success. In addition, the policy would give village students an opportunity to study English for free. It is imperative for Nadiem to solve the inequality problem of Indonesian education so that village students can become like him in the future. Should Nadiem fail to resolve the issue, the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045 (Golden Indonesia 2045), when we celebrate our centenary, will differ little from the present, where the ruling elites are limited to those of fortunate family background. We dont want this to happen, do we? ___________ Lecturer at State Islamic University (UIN) Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan 11 (ANI): As many as twenty people are feared dead after a double-decker bus carrying at least 45 passengers collided with a truck at Dewar Marg in Kannauj district here late on Friday and went up in flames. "A bus travelling from Kannauj to Jaipur collided with a truck at Dewar Marg in Kannauj, following which both went up in flames. Locals rushed to the spot and rescued several people from the bus," Inspector General of Police, Kanpur, Mohit Agarwal said on Saturday. He said that 25 passengers have been safely rescued from the bus and are either receiving treatment at local hospitals or have been discharged. "However, the remaining 20 people are unaccounted for. The bodies are badly burned, their bones are scattered, so only a DNA test by the forensic team will determine the death toll," Agarwal said. "Prima facie the remains of 8-10 people seem to be on the bus but the damage is so extensive that casualties can be determined only through DNA test," he added. Kannauj MP Subrata Pathak, who visited the spot, said that at least 20 people have died in the fire and several others have been injured. Earlier, Kannauj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar had said that several people reportedly escaped from the bus but did not visit the hospital and went home. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had expressed condolences over the collision and announced Rs 2 lakh each compensation for the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those grievously injured in the incident. Adityanath also sought a report of the incident from the District Magistrate. (ANI) Black flags and angry chants of "Modi, go back" greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived on a 2-day visit here on Saturday but nicety was not abandoned as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared dais with him while remaining insistent on annulment of the new citizenship law. Banerjee, arguably the most bitter critic of the prime minister on the CAA, met him at Raj Bhavan, after deciding not to receive him at the airport, and also shared stage at a colourful programme to celebrate 150 years of the Kolkata Port Trust. "I told him that we are against CAA, NRC and NPR. I told him there should be no discrimination among masses and no citizens are left out and tortured," she told journalists after meeting Modi at Raj Bhavan. Moments later, she was present at an anti-CAA protest nearby. Banerjee, who called her meeting with Modi a "courtesy visit", said the prime minister had asked her to come to New Delhi to discuss the vexatious issues. An hour or so later, Modi and Banerjee were seated on stage at the Millennium Park, savouring a delightful dance performance on the Hooghly river as the iconic Howrah Bridge was aglow in hues of red, purple, yellow and green light. The politically significant meet, which had exposed chinks in the opposition unity, came just two days after the TMC chief had declared to boycott an opposition meeting called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on January 13 over the JNU violence, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and other "anti-people" policies of the Centre. The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Banerjee drew sharp reactions from the Congress and CPI(M), which said Trinamool Congress' "double standard" is now exposed. The Trinamool Congress leadership denies claims of "political match-fixing" and said the meeting between the two leaders was just a government-to-government meet. The brief meeting between the two had kicked off a fresh storm as Left students activists protested against her and demanded an explantion from her for diluting the fight against the CAA. Banerjee tried to clarify by saying the decision to meet the PM was her "constitutional obligation" and tried to pacify the protesting students. "We have been protesting from the day one against CAA. The issue of both of us is the same. So please don't deviate from it. I would request you all to protest in a democratic way," she said while trying to pacify the protesting students. Modi arrived here amidst protests across the city against CAA. The protesters burnt effigies of the PM and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for bringing in a "divisive law". Several organisations, both political and civil, staged protests at every nook and corner of the state. Hundreds of protesters holding black flags demonstrated outside the Kolkata airport gate number one crossing. The police had put up a barricade to prevent them from crossing over to the airport side. Modi was greeted by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, state Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and other party leaders at the airport. He took a helicopter to the Royal Calcutta Turf Club and from there went to the Raj Bhawan, as protesters had blocked several major crossings with an intention to show him black flags. Later at Raj Bhawan, Modi met a delegation of state BJP leadership. In the evening, Modi dedicated to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings of the city - the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe Hall and the Victoria Memorial Hall. After inaugurating a sound and light show at the iconic Howrah Bridge from the Millenium Park on the banks of the Hooghly, Modi took a boat ride to the Belur Math, where he met monks and interacted with Ramakrishna Mission president Swami Smaranananda and retired for the day. On Sunday, the PM is scheduled to attend a prayer meeting at Belur Math on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, founder of the Ramakrishna Mission. Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Sunday. The prime minister and the chief minister will share dais at the programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The demonisation of journalists must end By Leon Willems, exclusive to the Sunday Times View(s): View(s): AMSTERDAM Five years ago this month, Said and Cherif Kouachi stormed the Paris offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and, in a nightmare lasting just minutes, killed 12 people. In the days that followed, millions marched in France and elsewhere to express solidarity with the murdered journalists. For Europeans, the Charlie Hebdo killings represented the first mass attack on journalists close to home. #JeSuisCharlie (I am Charlie) became one of the most popular Twitter hashtags ever. Press freedom was trending. Since then, however, the fight to defend journalistic freedom has flagged, and public mobilization has proved to be fleeting including in the case of Charlie Hebdo. In January 2019, the magazines staff complained in an editorial that people no longer wanted to hear about the shootings. Perhaps you should move on! they were reportedly told. This apparent indifference has a lot to do with what many believe Charlie Hebdo represents: the freedom to express yourself in a way that might provoke others. And this freedom has come under even more pressure in the last five years. Such a trend is evident in the responses directed at journalists who shine a light on unpopular or inconvenient facts and opinions. They are exposed to a daily barrage of attacks on their integrity, including by important political leaders. In the United States, President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to journalists who are critical of him as the enemy of the people. And at a press conference two years ago, Czech President Milos Zeman brandished a replica of an AK-47 inscribed with the words for journalists. By indulging in such behaviour, these and other leaders normalise attacks against members of the press. And members of the press are very much under attack. According to Reporters Without Borders, 49 journalists worldwide were murdered in 2019 because of their work. (The annual average for the last five years is even higher, at 81.) In addition, the number of journalists who were arbitrarily detained rose to 389 last year. Threats on social media, against female journalists in particular, are an everyday occurrence, and journalists are routinely beaten up, teargassed, or robbed of their equipment. Violence against journalists is an assault on an essential pillar of democracy. And as long as these attacks continue, it is not time to move on at all. On the contrary, its time for European Union leaders to wake up and better protect journalists at risk. Efforts like the PersVeilig initiative in the Netherlands, in which police, public prosecutors, the journalists union, and editors collaborate to counter violence against journalists, should be implemented across Europe. Politicians who verbally attack journalists must be held accountable, and media organisations should do more to show solidarity with colleagues at rival outlets. More generally, there is an urgent need for greater awareness and a stronger public defence of journalisms value for society. And there have been successful examples of this in recent years. The murders of journalists Jan Kuciak in Slovakia and Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta sparked mass protests that forced these two countries prime ministers to resign. In addition, the investigation by United Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, raised public awareness of the criminal behaviour of the Saudi Arabian leadership. These cases needed and received long-term attention. But who has heard of Norma Sarabia from Mexico, or Eduardo Dizon from the Philippines, who also paid the ultimate price for practising their profession? Nigerian journalist Jones Abiri went to prison for the second time last year on trumped-up charges, while a Nicaraguan photographer recently told us that he has stopped working as a journalist for the time being, because it meant risking his life every day. Who is standing up for these lesser-known figures? The justice system should give higher priority to prosecuting attacks against journalists, yet a series of relevant resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly and Security Council have yielded limited results. A better way to end judicial inaction would be to establish an internationally mandated investigation committee, which also would clear the way to resolving the hundreds of cold cases of journalists killed for doing their job. Dozens of journalists are murdered every year, and in nine out of ten cases, the perpetrators walk free. As long as such impunity exists, it pays to kill journalists. Five years ago, we were all Charlie. Today, let us also be the hundreds of other journalists who have been killed since then. (Leon Willems is Director of Free Press Unlimited.) Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2020. www.project-syndicate.org The Ukrainian side had had evidence of a missile strike on the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane in Iran on December 8, even before Iran took the blame for the tragedy, NSDC secretary Oleksiy Danilov said in a comment to the BBC.Ukraina on Saturday. "Even before Iran changed its position, we knew this information. We knew this information even before our respected partners from other countries began to publish it," he said. According to him, experts found evidence that it was a missile. "With high probability we know the name of this missile, we know when the Iranian authorities bought it, and we know who they bought it from," the NSDC secretary said. Danilov believes that it is precisely the presence of this evidence that Kyiv had at its disposal, as well as public statements that the main version is shooting down by a missile, influenced Iran to admit its guilt. "We understand why Iran has changed its position: they did not expect our specialists would act this way," he said. He stressed that Ukrainian experts immediately after arriving at the crash site, passed information to Kyiv. According to him, those same specialists worked at the crash site of the MH-17 aircraft in Donbas. "Due to a very short period of time, combining all the pieces of information, we realized what had happened. We couldn't do it immediately in public, we had to work more. Iran is a very complicated country and we worried very much so that they don't send our specialists back to the country," Danilov explained. The NSDC secretary also added that the holes on the photos published by the President's Office clearly show openings from the exit of explosive elements. "These are the holes from the missile. We can't say now what kind of missile it is, but we figure it out and we know its name." According to him, Ukraine will not stop the investigation into this catastrophe, despite Iran's official recognition of the missile strike, since it will demand the punishment of those responsible. "There is a preliminary understanding today that Iran agreed to compensate for all this, since they officially recognized it," Danilov said. On January 9, Danilov told the Censor.net e-zine: "Our commission is agreeing with the Iranian authorities on admission to the crash scene and is planning to search for fragments of a Russian Tor missile system in order to check into the information that was made public in the Internet. We are using all practices of the investigation into the attack on Boeing MH17 in order to find the truth also in the case on the crash of the Ukrainian aircraft in Tehran." Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kolkata and told him to withdraw central government's contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) along with NRC and NPR. "We are against CAA and NRC and NPR. It should be ensured that no one leave the country. There should not be atrocities on anyone. The government should re-consider NRC and CAA. PM said that I am here for other engagement we can discuss the issue in Delhi," Mamata Banerjee said. Earlier today, PM Modi reached in the city on a two-day visit amidst protests against the CAA and "Go back" slogans. PM Modi on his arrival was greeted at the NSC Bose International Airport by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, city Mayor and state Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and other senior BJP leaders. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not present at the airport. The PM's visit comes at a time when West Bengal has been witnessing widespread protests against the contentious Act. Hundreds of protesters holding black flags demonstrated outside Kolkata airport gate number one crossing. The police had put up a barricade to prevent them from crossing over to the airport side. From the airport he took a chopper to the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) and from there left for the Raj Bhavan. As his convoy emerged outside the sprawling RCTC, protesters stood at the AJC Bose Road flyover flank and waved national flags and black flags and shouted slogans against CAA. During his visit, Modi held a one-on-one meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday evening. The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail and the BJP is pressing for its implementation. Also Read: Kolkata Protesters Prepare To 'Greet' PM With Black Balloons And 'Go Back Modi' Posters SFI activists assembled near Jadavpur University, Golpark, College Street, Hatibagan and Esplanade areas of the city with placards which read 'Students Against Fascism.' They burnt effigies of PM Modi and union home minister Amit Shah protesting against the "divisive Act". The Left Front activists staged protests on Saturday against the new citizenship law in various parts of North 24 Parganas district. The prime minister will dedicate to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata -- the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall. Also Read: Amid Ongoing Anti-CAA Protests, PM Modi To Reach Kolkata Today For 2-Day Visit The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic buildings and put up new exhibits, while curating the old galleries. Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Saturday and Sunday. The prime minister and the chief minister will share the dais at programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present. Modi is likely to spend the night at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, on Saturday night. The West Bengal administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the visit. Heavy deployment of police personnel was made in different crucial points of the city namely Dharmatala, College Street, Golpark, Hatibagan, Jadavpur, Central Avenue owing to planned protests by several organisations affiliated to the Congress and Left Front parties against the CAA and the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Oman is perhaps best known internationally for the role it played in secret negotiations leading up to the signature of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, serving as the initial conduit for communications between the Obama administration and Tehran. It has also sought to mediate in other regional disputes. But as Qabooss health deteriorated during last weeks confrontations between Iran and the United States, the Omani authorities issued a terse statement saying they would not be acting as an intermediary in this dispute. In yet another border incident, Pakistan on Saturday, January 12, violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Degwar sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports, Pakistan started firing at around 9.30 in the night. To this, the Indian Army retaliated. Further reports stated that the ceasefire damaged a residential area in Degwar. Earlier incidents Earlier in December last year, the Indian Army had foiled an infiltration attack by Pakistan's BAT along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir. It was reported that the Indian Army along the LoC had noticed a suspicious movement that appeared to be a border exchange. As the Indian Army challenged the infiltrators, the Pakistan Army retaliated and started an exchange of fire. Read: Afghan government says Taliban should accept US offer of ceasefire agreement Similarly, the Indian Army had foiled a major infiltration bid by terrorists after Pakistan violated ceasefire along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district in November last year. Earlier, the Pakistani Rangers have violated the ceasefire in the same area. Read: Indian Army retaliates to Pak ceasefire violation in PoK's Neelum Valley, visuals accessed Pak violated ceasefire over 1000 times post-August 5 Baffled over the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A from Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has made over 1000 attempts to target the civilians along the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. As per reports, around 950 ceasefire violation incidents were reported in the last three months. On the first day of the Winter Session of the Parliament, MoS MoD Shripad Naik had stated, "Pakistan has been resorting to Ceasefire Violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control. There have been 950 incidents of CFVs along Line of Control and 79 incidents of CFVs along International Border in the Jammu region in the last three months (August to October 2019)." Read: Republic Exclusive: After Lakdawala, Mumbai Police accesses Prasad Pujari's location Read: Pakistan rattled; tweets after COAS Naravane's 'Will get PoK if Parliament says' remark (With ANI inputs)